Solution for queue handling

• US 8,306,568 B2
• Filed: 06/23/2009
• Issued: 11/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Q-Matic AB (Q-MATIC Group AB)
• Original Assignee: Q-Matic AB (Q-MATIC Group AB)
• Inventors: Snyder, Michael Ray
• Primary Examiner(s): Aminzay, Shaima Q
• Application Number:
  US12/489,744
• Publication Number:
  US 20090325629A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,232 Days
• Field of Search: 455/526, 455/41.2, 455/42, 455/70, 455/71, 455/102, 455/108, 455/435.1, 455/466, 455/500, 455/507, 705/5, 705/6, 705/15, 463/40, 370/348, 348/155
• US Class Current: 455/526
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/189 in combination with wireless systems selective distribution or broadcast in wireless communication networks H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1895 for short real-time information, e.g. alarms, notifications, alerts, updates

Abstract

Technology is provided for a plurality of people that are waiting for a service/meeting with information relating to the queue. A registration unit is arranged to place people waiting for a service/meeting in a queue. At least one radio transmitter is arranged to transmit information relating to the queue to unidentified radio receivers so that the people may receive the information via the unidentified radio receivers.

Claims

1. A system for providing a plurality of people that are waiting in a queue for a service or a meeting with queue information, said system comprising:

a registration unit is arranged to place people waiting for a service or a meeting in a queue, and

at least one radio transmitter is arranged to broadcast information relating to the queue to unidentified radio receivers,

wherein said people may receive said information via said unidentified radio receivers.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said information relating to the queue comprises information concerning a person'"'"'s place in said queue and/or expected remaining waiting time.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein said at least one radio transmitter is a frequency modulated (FM) transmitter.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one radio transmitter is an Amplitude Modulated (AM) transmitter.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein said registration unit is arranged to allow people wanting to be placed in said queue to be registered at a location where said service or said meeting is to take place.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein said registration unit is arranged to allow people wanting to be placed in said queue to be registered from a location remote to the location where said service or said meeting is to take place.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein said registration unit is arranged to allow people waiting for said service or said meeting to select the type of information relating to the queue they wish to receive via their unidentified radio receiver.

8. A method for providing a plurality of people that are waiting for a service or a meeting with queue information, which comprises the steps of:

placing a plurality of people waiting for a service or a meeting in a queue by providing at least one queue number, and

broadcasting information relating to the queue to unidentified radio receivers, whereby said people may receive said information via said unidentified radio receivers.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein said information relating to the queue is transmitted using at least one frequency modulated (FM) transmitter.

10. The method according to claim 8, wherein the information relating to the queue is transmitted using at least one amplitude modulated (AM) transmitter.

11. The method according to claim 8, wherein further comprising the step of registering people waiting for said service or said meeting locally at a location where said service or said meeting is to take place.

12. The method according to claim 8, wherein further comprising the step of registering people waiting for said service or said meeting remotely from a location remote to the location where said service or said meeting is to take place.

13. The method according to claim 8, wherein further comprising the step of allowing people waiting for said service or said meeting to select the type of information relating to the queue they wish to receive via their unidentified radio receiver.

14. A computer program for managing a queue stored in a non-transitory, computer-readable medium and comprising instruction sets arranged to cause a processor to execute at least the steps of:

placing at least one person in the queue;

keeping track of current queue position; and

transmitting current queue position using at least one radio transmitter broadcasting queue information to unidentified radio receivers.