System and method for selectively allowing the passage of a guest through a region within a coverage area

• US 20020082859A1
• Filed: 09/28/2001
• Published: 06/27/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Linda Noble, Richard Noble
• Original Assignee: Virtualtrak Incorporated
• Inventors: Lancos, Kenneth J., Land, Thomas J.
• Granted Patent: US 6,873,260 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/1
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2011/02 related to amusement parks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/27 with central registration
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence

Abstract

A system and method for selectively allowing the passage of a guest through a region within at a coverage area. The system includes a turnstile system having an RFID reader, a network interface, an entry mechanism and a processor, and a central server having a network interface, a non-volatile memory, and a processor. An RFID reader reads a tag identifier from an RFID tag worn by a guest. The tag identifier is transmitted from the turnstile system to the central server. The central server processor access a guest data object using the tag identifier and reads a data field containing information related to the guest. Based on this information, the central server transmits a control signal to the turnstile system to activate its entry mechanism, thereby allowing the guest to pass through. The information may relate to monetary credits of the guest, statistical information of the guest, and restrictions, disabilities, health conditions and special access of the guest.

Claims

1. A method of preventing a child-guest from exiting a coverage area without an authorized adult-guest, comprising:

creating a child-guest data object including a first data field containing information related to an identify of said child-guest, and a second data field containing information related to an identity of said authorized adult-guest;

reading a first tag identifier from a first tag worn by said child-guest;

reading a second tag identifier from a second tag worn by an adult accompanying said child-guest;

accessing said child-guest data object using said first tag identifier;

comparing said second tag identifier to said information related to an identify of said authorized adult-guest; and

allowing said child to exit said coverage area if said second tag identifier correlates with said information related to said identify of said authorized adult-guest, or preventing said child from exiting said coverage area if said second tag identifier does not correlate with said information related to said identify of said authorized adult-guest.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said first and second tags comprises radio frequency identification (RFID) tags.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein reading said first and second tag identifiers respectively from said first and second tags comprises using an RFID reader to read said first and second tag identifiers.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting said first and second tag identifiers from a turnstile system to a central server by way of a communications link.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein a central server processor of said central server receives said first and second tag identifiers, accesses said child-guest data object using said first tag identifier, and compares second tag identifier to said information related to said identify of said authorized adult-guest.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said central server transmits a control signal to said turnstile system to activate an entry mechanism to allow said child-guest to exit said coverage area if said second tag identifier correlates with said information related to said identify of said authorized adult-guest.

7. A method of selectively allowing a guest to pass through a particular region of a coverage area, comprising:

creating a guest data object including a first data field containing information related to an identify of said guest, and a second data field containing other information related to said guest;

reading a tag identifier from a tag worn by said guest;

accessing said guest data object using said tag identifier; and

allowing said guest to pass through said region based on said other information related to said guest in said second data field.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said tag comprises a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein reading said tag identifier from said RFID tag comprises using an RFID reader to read said tag identifier.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising transmitting said tag identifier from a turnstile system to a central server by way of a communications link.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein a central server processor of said central server receives said tag identifier, and accesses said guest data object using said tag identifier.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said central server transmits a control signal to said turnstile system to activate an entry mechanism based on said other information related to said guest in said second data field of said guest data object.

13. The method of claim 7, wherein said other information relates to statistical information of said guest.

14. The method of claim 7, wherein said other information relates to monetary credits information of said guest.

15. The method of claim 7, wherein said other information relates to restrictions, disabilities, health, or special access of said guest.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein said reader comprises a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said other information relates to statistical information of said guest.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein said other information relates to monetary credits information of said guest.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein said other information relates to restrictions, disabilities, health, or special access of said guest.

16. A turnstile system, comprising:

a reader to read a tag identifier stored in an identification tag worn by a guest at a coverage area;

a network interface to communicate with a central server;

an entry mechanism to selectively allow said guest to pass through; and

a processor to cause a transmission of said tag identifier to said central server by way of said network interface, and to receive a control signal from said central server by way of said network interface which causes an activation of said entry mechanism.

18. A central server to control the passing of a guest through a turnstile system, comprising:

a non-volatile memory to store a guest data object including a first data field containing information related to an identify of said guest, and a second data field containing other information related to said guest;

a network interface to communicate with said turnstile system; and

a processor to receive a tag identifier of said guest from said turnstile system by way of said network interface, and to transmit a control signal to said turnstile system by way of said network interface based on said other information related to said guest.

22. A guest data object stored in a memory comprising a first data field containing information related to an identify of a tag worn by a guest and a second data field containing other information related to said guest.

23. The guest data object of claim 22, wherein said other information relates to statistical information of said guest.

24. The guest data object of claim 22, wherein said other information relates to a monetary credits information of said guest.

25. The guest data object of claim 22, wherein said other information relates to restrictions, disabilities, health, or special access of said guest.

27. The data structure object of claim 26, wherein said other information relates to statistical information of said guest.

28. The data structure object of claim 26, wherein said other information relates to monetary credits information of said guest.

29. The data structure of claim 26, wherein said other information relates to restrictions, disabilities, health, or special access of said guest.

26. A data structure stored in a memory defining a first data field for containing information related to an identification of a tag worn by a guest and a second data field containing information related to said guest.