Assigning and managing patron reservations for distributed services using wireless personal communication devices

• US 20040225540A1
• Filed: 06/03/2004
• Published: 11/11/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lo-Q PLC
• Original Assignee: Amir H. Raubvogel, Robert R. Sachs, William Waytena
• Inventors: Waytena, William, Sachs, Robert R., Raubvogel, Amir H.
• Granted Patent: US 7,516,148 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/5
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 11/00 Arrangements, systems or apparatus for checking, e.g. the occurrence of a condition, not provided for elsewhere
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2011/02 related to amusement parks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2011/04 related to queuing systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface

Abstract

A system and method for assigning and managing patron reservations to one or more of a plurality of attractions receive reservation requests at personal communication devices (PCDs). Reservation requests are transmitted to a computer associated with the selected attraction, which determines a proposed reservation time based on information describing the attraction, the patron, previously-made reservations maintained in a virtual queue, and the current state of a physical queue associated with the attraction. Proposed reservation time is transmitted to the PCD for confirmation or rejection by the patron. Confirmed reservations are entered in the virtual queue. Patrons are alerted by the PCD when their reservation time is approaching.

Claims

1. A system for assigning and managing patron reservations to one or more of a plurality of attractions, comprising;

at least one personal communication device (PCD), each PCD associated with at least one patron, each PCD for generating at least one reservation request specifying a selected one of the attractions, for transmitting the reservation request, and for receiving a proposed reservation time for the reservation request; and

at least one computer, each computer associated with at least one of the attractions, each computer for receiving a transmitted reservation request specifying the attraction associated with the computer, for determining a proposed reservation time for the received reservation request, and for transmitting the proposed reservation time to the PCD which generated the reservation request.

2-34. -34. (Canceled)