Management of the flow of persons in relation to centers of crowd concentration

• US 7,222,080 B2
• Filed: 10/15/2003
• Issued: 05/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Disney Enterprises Incorporated (The Walt Disney Company)
• Original Assignee: Disney Enterprises Incorporated (The Walt Disney Company)
• Inventors: Stafford, Dale A., Hale, Gregory B., Schwalb, Andrew, Craven, Tom, Schweizer, Kenneth W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Knight; Anthony
• Assistant Examiner(s): HARTMAN JR, RONALD D
• Application Number:
  US10/687,190
• Publication Number:
  US 20040172315A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,315 Days
• Field of Search: 705 5- 6, 340/825, 340/825.28
• US Class Current: 705/5
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/025 Coordination of plural reservations, e.g. plural trip segments, transportation combined with accommodation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/04 Forecasting or optimisation specially adapted for administrative or management purposes, e.g. linear programming or "cutting stock problem" market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities G06Q30/0202
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• 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

Abstract

A method and system for the loading of patrons at multiple attractions at an entertainment includes the first-in first-out line and a priority based line. A cellular telephone is used to obtain and claim priority status. In other forms different priorities are established based on where, when and the number of priority spaces required. Different hierarchies are established for computer controlling the different lines for multiple attractions in the entertainment environment. The system and method also provide for moving people from an area of concentration to other locations.

Claims

1. A method of managing an evacuation of multiple persons located in different discrete places at a entertainment, wherein the evacuation is related to a crisis or disaster, comprising:

communicating with said multiple persons at the entertainment, through a wireless medium, and more selectively through a cellular telephone, in connection with the evacuation from the entertainment area;

receiving from at least one of said multiple persons an evacuation request for an allocation of an evacuation time at which the at least one of said multiple persons can drive away from the entertainment, the evacuation request being received at a central computer for regulating the numbers of persons evacuating the entertainment area;

transmitting a response to the at least one of said multiple persons, the response including an evacuation time at which the at least one of said multiple persons can drive away from the entertainment area; and

employing the evacuation time for permitting the evacuation of the at least one of said multiple persons from the entertainment area.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the entertainment area is an attraction area.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the evacuation request from the at least one of said multiple persons at the entertainment area is entered into a telephone keypad.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the evacuation request is effected from multiple entertainment areas, and wherein a keypad of a cellular telephone is used for permitting the evacuation from multiple entertainment areas to multiple selected destination areas.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein persons at the entertainment area who are not allocated an evacuation time, are permitted to evacuate on a first-in first-out availability basis.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the central computer further regulates a number of persons at the entertainment area relative to a number of persons being directed to at a destination area remote from said entertainment area .

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the evacuation request received from said at least one of said multiple persons at the entertainment area is made on behalf of a plurality of persons, and wherein the plurality of persons are permitted to evacuate based on the evacuation time.

8. A method of managing an evacuation of multiple persons located in different discrete places at a entertainment area , wherein the evacuation is related to a crisis or disaster, comprising:

communicating with said multiple persons at the entertainment area , through a wireless device, in connection with the evacuation from the entertainment area;

receiving from at least one of said multiple persons an evacuation request for an allocation of an evacuation time for evacuating the entertainment area by ground transportation, the evacuation request being received at a central computer for regulating the numbers of persons evacuating the entertainment area ;

transmitting a response to said at least one of said multiple persons, the response including a plurality of available evacuation times to evacuate the entertainment area;

receiving a selected evacuation time from said at least one of said multiple persons, the selected evacuation time being a selection from the plurality of available evacuation times; and

employing the selected evacuation time for permitting the evacuation of said at least one of said multiple persons from the entertainment area , thereby managing the evacuation of the multiple persons remaining in the entertainment area.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the entertainment area is an attraction area.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the evacuation request received from said at least one of said multiple persons at the entertainment area is made on behalf of a plurality of persons, and wherein die plurality of persons are permitted to evacuate based on the evacuation time.

11. A method of managing an evacuation of multiple persons Located in different discrete places at a entertainment area , wherein the evacuation is related to a crisis or disaster, comprising:

communicating with said multiple persons at the entertainment area , through a wireless device, in connection with the evacuation from the entertainment area;

receiving from at least one of said multiple persons an evacuation request for an allocation of an evacuation time for evacuating the entertainment area by foot the evacuation request being received at a central computer for regulating the number of persons evacuating the entertainment area;

transmitting a response to said at least one of said multiple persons, the response including an evacuation time to evacuate the entertainment area; and

employing the evacuation time for permitting the evacuation of said at least one of said multiple persons from the entertainment area.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the disaster area is a theater, a stadium, a house, or a building.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the first location area is a resort, an entertainment area or an attraction area.

14. A method of managing an evacuation of multiple persons located in different discrete places at a entertainment area , wherein the evacuation is related to a crisis or disaster, comprising:

communicating with said multiple persons at the entertainment area, through a wireless device, in connection with the evacuation from the entertainment area;

receiving from at least one of said multiple persons an evacuation request for an allocation of an evacuation time for evacuating the entertainment area by foot, the evacuation request being received at a central computer for regulating the numbers of persons evacuating the entertainment area;

transmitting a response to said at least one of said multiple persons, the response including a plurality of available evacuation times to evacuate the entertainment area;

receiving a selected evacuation time from said at least one of said multiple persons, the selected evacuation time being a selection from the plurality of available evacuation times; and

employing the selected evacuation time for permitting the evacuation of said at least one of said multiple persons from the entertainment area, thereby managing the evacuation of the multiple persons remaining in the entertainment area.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the entertainment area is a theater, a stadium, a house, or a building.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the entertainment area is a resort, an entertainment area or an attraction area.

17. A method of managing an evacuation of multiple persons located in different discrete places at a entertainment area , wherein the evacuation is related to a crisis or disaster, comprising:

communicating with said multiple persons at the entertainment area, through a wireless device, in connection with the evacuation from the entertainment area;

receiving from at least one of said multiple persons an evacuation request for an allocation of an exit route and an evacuation time for leaving the entertainment area, the evacuation request being received at a central computer for regulating the numbers of persons evacuating the entertainment area;

transmitting a response to said at least one of said multiple persons, the response including an evacuation time to evacuate the entertainment area;

employing exit route and an evacuation time for permitting the evacuation of said at one of said multiple persons from the entertainment area.

18. A method of managing an evacuation of multiple persons located in different discrete places at entertainment area, wherein the evacuation is related to a crisis or disaster, comprising:

communicating with said multiple persons at the entertainment area, through a wireless device, in connection with the evacuation from the entertainment area;

receiving from at least one of said multiple persons an evacuation request for an allocation of an exit route and evacuation time for leaving the entertainment area, the evacuation request being received at a central computer for regulating the numbers of persons evacuating the entertainment area,

transmitting a response to said at least one of said multiple persons, the response including a plurality of available evacuation times to evacuate the entertainment area;

receiving a selected evacuation time from said at least one of said multiple persons, the selected evacuation time being a selection from the plurality of available evacuation times; and

employing exit route and the selected evacuation time for permitting the evacuation of said at least one of said multiple persons from the entertainment area.

19. A method of managing an evacuation of multiple persons located in a

informing multiple persons located at the entertainment area about the evacuation through a wireless device, multiple persons being informed through a wireless device;

receiving from at least one of said multiple persons an evacuation request for an allocation of an evacuation time for evacuating the entertainment area by foot, the evacuation request being received at a central computer for regulating the numbers of persons evacuating the entertainment area;

transmitting a response to said at least one of said multiple persons, the response including the evacuation time to evacuate the entertainment area; and

employing the evacuation time for permitting the evacuation of said at least one of said multiple persons from the entertainment area.

20. A method of managing an evacuation of multiple persons located in different discrete places at the entertainment area, wherein the evacuation is related to a crisis or disaster, comprising:

communicating with said multiple persons at the entertainment area, through a wireless device, in connection with the evacuation from the entertainment area;

receiving from at least one of said multiple persons a departure request for an allocation of a departure time for leaving the entertainment area by foot, the departure request being received at a central computer for regulating the numbers of persons departing from the entertainment area;

transmitting a response to said at least one of said multiple persons, the response including a departure time to depart from the entertainment area;

employing the departure time far permitting the departure of said at least one of said multiple persons from the entertainment area.