Directing a movement of visitors in an event venue for maximizing revenue

• US 7,994,910 B2
• Filed: 12/10/2008
• Issued: 08/09/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Brooks, Patrick Joseph, Kumhyr, David Bruce, Childress, Rhonda L.
• Primary Examiner(s): POPE, DARYL C
• Application Number:
  US12/331,893
• Publication Number:
  US 20100141480A1
• Time in Patent Office: 972 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.13, 340/539.1, 340/539.2, 340/573.1, 340/573.4, 340/686.1
• US Class Current: 340/539.13
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/047 Optimisation of routes or paths, e.g. travelling salesman problem
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

The illustrative embodiments described herein provide a computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer program product for directing a movement of visitors in an event venue. In one embodiment, the process generates a visitor profile for each visitor at an event venue. The visitor profile may include, without limitation, a unique identifier and location data. The location data is collected from a set of sensors distributed throughout the event venue. The process then monitors a capacity of visitors at each venue destination using the location data. In response to determining that the capacity of visitors at a first venue destination exceeds a threshold capacity for the first venue destination, the process selects a second venue destination for accommodating visitors of the first venue destination. The process selects the second venue destination based on selection criteria. The process then dispatches a venue employee to the first venue destination to direct one or more visitors at the first venue destination to the second venue destination.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for directing movement of visitors, the computer implemented method comprising:

generating a visitor profile for each visitor at an event venue, wherein the visitor profile comprises a unique identifier and location data, and wherein the location data is collected from a set of sensors distributed throughout the event venue;

monitoring a capacity of visitors at each venue destination within the event venue;

responsive to determining that the capacity of visitors at a first venue destination exceeds a threshold capacity for the first venue destination, selecting a second venue destination for accommodating visitors of the first venue destination, wherein the second venue destination is selected based on selection criteria; and

dispatching a venue employee to the first venue destination to direct at least one visitor at the first venue destination to the second venue destination.

2. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein selecting the second venue destination further comprises:

selecting the second venue destination based on an attendance history.

3. The computer implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting, to a personal communications device, instructions to locate the second venue destination.

4. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein monitoring the capacity of visitors at each venue destination comprises:

tracking at least one of an identification tag and a personal communications device of each visitor at the event venue.

5. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the capacity of visitors comprises at least one of a number of visitors and a wait time.

6. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the dispatching step further comprises:

monitoring a location of each venue employee within the event venue; and

dispatching the venue employee closest to the first venue destination.

7. A computer program product for directing movement of visitors, the computer program product comprising:

a computer usable storage device;

first program instructions for generating a visitor profile for each visitor at an event venue, wherein the visitor profile comprises a unique identifier and location data, and wherein the location data is collected from a set of sensors distributed throughout the event venue;

second program instructions for monitoring a capacity of visitors at each venue destination within the event venue;

third program instructions for selecting a second venue destination for accommodating visitors of a first venue destination in response to determining that the capacity of visitors at the first venue destination exceeds a threshold capacity for the first venue destination, wherein the second venue destination is selected based on based on selection criteria;

fourth program instructions for dispatching a venue employee to the first venue destination to direct at least one visitor at the first venue destination to the second venue destination; and

wherein the first program instructions, the second program instructions, the third program instructions, and the fourth program instructions are stored on the computer usable storage device.

8. The computer program product of claim 7, wherein the third program instructions for selecting the second venue destination further comprises:

program instructions for selecting the second venue destination based on an attendance history.

9. The computer program product of claim 7, further comprising:

fifth program instructions for transmitting, to a personal communications device, instructions to locate the second venue destination, wherein the fifth program instructions are stored on the computer usable storage device.

10. The computer program product of claim 7, wherein the second program instructions for monitoring the capacity of visitors at each venue destination comprises:

program instructions for tracking at least one of an identification tag and a personal communications device of each visitor at the event venue.

11. The computer program product of claim 7, wherein the capacity of visitors comprises at least one of a number of visitors and a wait time.

12. The computer program product of claim 7, wherein the fourth program instructions comprise:

program instructions monitoring a location of each venue employee within the event venue; and

program instructions for dispatching the venue employee closest to the first venue destination.

13. An apparatus for directing movement of visitors, the apparatus comprising:

a bus system;

a memory connected to the bus system, wherein the memory includes computer usable program code; and

a processing unit connected to the bus system, wherein the processing unit executes the computer usable program code to generate a visitor profile for each visitor at an event venue, wherein the visitor profile comprises a unique identifier and location data, and wherein the location data is collected from a set of sensors distributed throughout the event venue;

monitor a capacity of visitors at each venue destination within the event venue;

select a second venue destination for accommodating visitors of a first venue destination in response to determining that the capacity of visitors at the first venue destination exceeds a threshold capacity for the first venue destination, wherein the second venue destination is selected based on based on selection criteria; and

dispatch a venue employee to the first venue destination to direct at least one visitor at the first venue destination to the second venue destination.