Interactive route finder

Abstract

An interactive route finder system 12 includes an interactive route finder device 100 having device communication circuitry 123 and a display 105 that displays one or more pointers 106, 108, 110 directed in a direction of a destination 120 based on proximity information received from communication circuitry 148 of the destination 120. The destination 120 is presented on a display 105 as a displayed destination, and may be a scenic spot, a restaurant, an amusement park exit, a toilet, etc. The destination 120 may be selected based on the user input, the location of the interactive route finder system in the amusement park 10, or based on the user profile. Communication between the interactive route finder device 100 and the destination 120 may enable a special effect at the destination, an on-board effect on the interactive route finder device 100, or both. An interactive route finder device 100 may be capable of operating in several different modes.

Description

Background Art

[0001] This section is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects of the technology that may be related to various aspects of the technology described and / or claimed below. This discussion is believed to be helpful in providing the reader with background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the present disclosure. Therefore, it should be understood that these statements are to be understood in this light and not as admissions of prior art.

[0002] An amusement park or similar entertainment facility may have numerous attractions distributed over a wide geographic area. Visitors to an amusement park or similar entertainment facility may need assistance locating the various attractions, such as rides and interactive features. However, visitors may not know or be able to easily identify the location of each of these attractions. Summary of the Invention

[0003] Certain embodiments comparable in scope to the originally proposed subject matter are summarized below. These embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure, but rather are intended only to provide a brief summary of certain disclosed embodiments. Indeed, the present disclosure may encompass a variety of forms that may be similar or different from the embodiments described below.

[0004] In one embodiment, an interactive route finder system is disclosed. The interactive route finder system includes a destination having a transmitter and an interactive route finder device. The interactive route finder device includes a housing, a display coupled to the housing and including a pointer, and device communication circuitry disposed within the housing. The device communication circuitry is configured to receive proximity information from the transmitter. The interactive route finder device also includes a controller configured to control the display to change characteristics of the pointer based on the proximity information.

[0005] In another embodiment, an interactive route finder device is disclosed. The interactive route finder device includes a housing, a display including a pointer coupled to the housing, a memory disposed in the housing, an inertial measurement unit sensor disposed in the housing, and device communication circuitry disposed in the housing. The device communication circuitry is configured to receive proximity information from a plurality of transmitters over a wireless network and store the proximity information in the memory. The interactive route finder device also includes a controller configured to change a position of the pointer based on inertial data from the inertial measurement unit sensor, control the display based at least in part on the proximity information, and cause the display to present a displayed destination.

[0006] In another embodiment, a method for performing route finding using an interactive route finder device is disclosed. The method includes: receiving a first signal including first proximity information of a point of interest via wireless communication circuitry; providing instructions to cause a display of the interactive route finder device to display information related to the point of interest based on the first proximity information; receiving a second signal including second proximity information of the point of interest via the wireless communication circuitry; and providing updated instructions to cause the display of the interactive route finder device to display updated information related to the point of interest based on the second proximity information. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present disclosure will become better understood when the following detailed description is read with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like characters represent like parts throughout the several views, wherein: Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of an amusement park including attractions and an interactive route finder system according to the present embodiment; Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of an interactive route finder device of the interactive route finder system according to the present embodiment; Figure 3 is a block diagram of an interactive route finder device within an interactive route finder system according to the present embodiment; Figure 4A is a schematic diagram of an interactive route finder device of the interactive route finder system operating in a "hot and cold" mode according to the present embodiment, wherein the interactive route finder device is at a distance d1 from the interactive station; Figure 4B is a schematic diagram of an interactive route finder device of the interactive route finder system operating in a "hot and cold" mode according to the present embodiment, wherein the interactive route finder device is at a distance d2 from the interactive station; Figure 4C is a schematic diagram of an interactive route finder device of the interactive route finder system operating in a "hot and cold" mode according to the present embodiment, wherein the interactive route finder device is at a distance d3 from the interactive station; Figure 5A is a schematic diagram of an interactive route finder device of the interactive route finder system operating in a "hot and cold" mode according to the present embodiment, wherein the interactive route finder device points to a destination "park exit" based on the location of the interactive route finder device; Figure 5Bis a schematic diagram of an interactive route finder device of an interactive route finder system operating in a "hot and cold" mode according to the present embodiment, wherein the interactive route finder device points to a destination "Volcano Flow" based on a location of the interactive route finder device (e.g., based on a location of the interactive route finder device in an amusement park); Figure 5C is a schematic diagram of an interactive route finder device of an interactive route finder system operating in a "hot and cold" mode according to the present embodiment, wherein the interactive route finder device points to a destination "park" based on the location of the interactive route finder device (e.g., based on the location of the interactive route finder device outside of an amusement park); Figure 6A is a schematic diagram of an interactive route finder device of the interactive route finder system operating in a "classic compass" mode according to the present embodiment, wherein the destination is "Volcanic Flow"; Figure 6B is a schematic diagram of an interactive route finder device of the interactive route finder system according to the present embodiment operating in a "classic compass" mode, wherein the destination is "magnetic north"; Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of an interactive route finder device of the interactive route finder system according to the present embodiment; Figure 8 is a flowchart illustrating a method for performing route finding using an interactive route finder device according to the present embodiment; and Figure 9 FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an interactive route finder device in an interactive route finder system according to the present embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0008] One or more specific embodiments of the present disclosure will be described below. In order to provide a concise description of these embodiments, all features of the actual implementation may not be described in the specification. It should be recognized that in the development of any such actual implementation, as in any engineering or design project, many implementation-specific decisions must be made to achieve the developer's specific goals, such as compliance with system-related and business-related constraints, which may vary from one implementation to another. In addition, it should be recognized that such development work may be complex and time consuming, but will still be a routine task of design, construction and manufacturing for ordinary technicians who benefit from this disclosure. In addition, with respect to certain terms used herein (such as parallel, perpendicular, etc.), it should be understood that these terms allow for certain deviations from strict mathematical definitions, such as allowing for deviations associated with manufacturing defects and associated tolerances.

[0009] When introducing elements of various embodiments of the present disclosure, the articles "a," "an," and "the" are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms "comprising," "including," and "having" are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements. Furthermore, it should be understood that references to "one embodiment" or "an embodiment" of the present disclosure are not intended to be interpreted as excluding the existence of additional embodiments that also incorporate the recited features.

[0010] It is now recognized that visitors to amusement parks or similar facilities (e.g., shopping malls, concert venues, and campuses) may benefit from an interactive device that provides geographic guidance and interactive experiences. Throughout this disclosure, reference is frequently made to the use of the present embodiments in an amusement park; however, it should be understood that an amusement park is merely one example of many different venues in which the present embodiments may be employed. Indeed, it is now recognized that visitors to various venues may desire or even need assistance navigating to points of interest. Furthermore, it is now recognized that such visitors may seek opportunities for interactive experiences within the venue. Therefore, the present embodiments are directed to an interactive route finder device and system that, in addition to providing navigational guidance, can also interact with attractions within a certain distance, eliciting a response on the interactive route finder device, a response on the attraction, or both. As an example, an interactive route finder device according to the present disclosure can guide visitors to various attractions in an amusement park, including the nearest interactive features, and provide interactive options or experiences along the way directly from the interactive route finder device.

[0011] Figure 1 FIG2 is a schematic diagram of an amusement park 10 incorporating an interactive route finder system 12. The system 12 may include an interactive route finder device 100 associated with a guest 16. The interactive route finder device 100 may operate in different modes to help the guest 16 find a destination 120. The type of destination 120 may depend on the mode of the interactive route finder device 100. For example, in one mode, the destination 120 may be the nearest ride 54 or a popular ride associated with the zone of the amusement park 10 where the guest 16 is located. In another mode, the destination 120 may be the nearest interactive feature 40, such as a gesture interaction station (such as the puppet station 40), or an interactive feature 42 that interacts with the interactive route finder device 100 itself. The interactive features 40, 42 may be configured to interact only with guests who have the interactive route finder device 100, which may provide an incentive for the guest to purchase the interactive route finder device 100. In yet another mode, the destination 120 may be the park exit 80, the nearest restaurant 50, or the nearest restroom facility 56. In "Game" mode, destination 120 may be associated with a treasure hunt or other type of game.

[0012] The mode of the interactive route finder device 100 can be selected by the visitor 16 using the mode switch 114 (e.g. Figure 2 ), or may be automatically selected based on the visitor's location in the amusement park 10 or based on a user profile, or may be selected based on a combination of automatically detected information and visitor input (e.g., via the mode switch 114).

[0013] The interactive route finder device 100 may wirelessly communicate with sensors 60 at various destinations 120 in the amusement park 10 to determine the relative distance from the interactive route finder device 100 to the destinations 120 and update the display 105 (e.g., the location of the destination) on the interactive route finder device 100 accordingly. Figure 2 ). In an embodiment, the sensors 60 are associated with various destinations 120 as described above, which may include an entrance gate to an area of ​​the amusement park 10, an attraction entrance, an interactive feature 40, 42, a multiplayer gaming location 64, a park exit 80, a restaurant 50, or a restroom facility 56. In addition, the interactive route finder device 100 can activate reactions in interactive features or other attractions at various locations in the amusement park 10 (e.g., rotation of clock hands, rotation of pinwheel arms, sprays of water, bubbles, confetti). Such interactions and activations can be based on one or more of: detecting that the interactive route finder device 100 is within a threshold distance of an attraction, input provided via the interactive route finder device 100, actions performed on an interface of an interactive feature via or in the presence of the interactive route finder device 100, detected movement (e.g., gestures) of the person holding the interactive route finder device 100, and / or the like. In one example, the presence of the interactive route finder device 100 near a destination 120 (such as the interactive feature 42) activates a localized special effect, e.g., based on the proximity of the interactive route finder device 100 wirelessly communicated to the sensor 60. In another embodiment, the proximity of the interactive route finder device 100 to the interactive feature 40 may activate an in-device effect of the interactive route finder device 100, such as a change in the appearance of the display of the interactive route finder device 100, or a haptic effect, such as a vibration. In another embodiment, the proximity of the interactive route finder device 100 to the interactive feature 40 may activate a response in the interactive feature 40, and / or activate a localized special effect, and / or activate an in-device effect of the interactive route finder device 100.

[0014] The interactive route finder system 12 may include a central controller 70, which may be implemented as a distributed server or computer system 72. The central controller 70 may communicate with the interactive route finder device 100 and / or the sensors 60 via a network, such as a wireless network 76, and may allow operator input via an operator interface 78. Thus, the central controller 70 may monitor the operation of the interactive route finder device 100 throughout a region, which may facilitate data tracking and system maintenance. For example, the central controller 70 may be configured to identify faults in the interactive route finder device 100, the sensors 60, the interactive features 42, and the like.

[0015] Figure 2 FIG2 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of an interactive route finder device 100. In the illustrated embodiment, the interactive route finder device 100 includes a housing 102, a display 105 including a face 104, and pointers 106, 108, and 110. In the illustrated embodiment, the interactive route finder device 100 also includes a mode switch 114. The pointers 106, 108, and 110 are designed to move in a radial direction, with the end of the pointer farthest from the center of the face 104 moving in a manner similar to the hands on a clock (but not necessarily in a single direction related to time). Although the housing 102 is shown as rectangular, the housing 102 can take any shape. In one embodiment, the display 105 (including the face 104) is coupled to the housing 102 and can be a physical display, such as that on a clock or compass. In another embodiment, the display 105 (including the face 104) is coupled to the housing 102 and can be an electronic display, such as an LCD (liquid crystal display), an OLED (organic light emitting diode) display, or other electronic display. In one embodiment, pointers 106, 108, and 110 may be physical objects, such as physical pointers on a clock or compass. In another embodiment, pointers 106, 108, and 110 may be electronic pointers, such as an LCD display, an OLED display, or other electronic display. Display 105 may include face 104, which may also include one or more displayed destinations 112. Displayed destinations 112 represent destinations 120 and may be entrance gates to areas of amusement park 10, attraction entrances, interactive features 40, 42, multiplayer gaming area 64, park exit 80, restaurant 50, restroom facilities 56, or other destinations. In one embodiment, as described in more detail below, displayed destinations 112 may change depending on the operating mode of interactive route finder device 100.

[0016] Figure 3is a block diagram of one embodiment of an interactive route finder system 12, which includes an interactive route finder device 100 and a destination 120 having a sensor 60. As described in more detail below, once engaged, the interactive route finder device 100 may activate certain functions under the control of a processor 121 of a controller 118 and stored in a memory 122.

[0017] The processor 121 may include one or more processing devices, and the memory 122 may include one or more tangible, non-transitory, machine-readable media. For example, such machine-readable media may include RAM, ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, magnetic storage devices, or any medium that can be used to carry or store desired program code in the form of machine-executable instructions or data structures and that can be accessed by a processor or other processor-based device.

[0018] The interactive route finder device 100 may also include an inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensor 93. The IMU sensor may include a gyroscope to measure and report angular rate, an accelerometer to measure and report specific forces, and / or a magnetometer to measure the magnetic field surrounding the interactive route finder device 100. In an embodiment, the signal from the IMU sensor 93 drives the orientation of the display 105. The signal from the accelerometer of the IMU sensor 93 can be used to identify the correct orientation of the display 105 depending on how the interactive route finder device 100 is held. Additionally, the signal from the IMU sensor 93 can allow the pointer 110 ( Figure 2 ) points to "magnetic North" and also provides input to adjust pointers 106 and 108 ( Figure 2 “Magnetic North” means the direction in which the north end of a compass needle or other freely suspended magnet would point in response to the Earth’s magnetic field.

[0019] The interactive route finder device 100 may also include one or more sensors 130, such as a pressure sensor or an ambient light sensor (as an input for adjusting display brightness). These sensors 130 may be used alone or in combination with the IMU sensor 93 to facilitate certain operations. For example, changes in pressure or lighting may be used alone or in combination with position sensing to identify the location of the interactive route finder device 100. For example, changes in pressure and / or lighting may indicate or confirm that the interactive route finder device 100 has been moved into a climate-controlled building and / or that the interactive route finder device 100 is near an interactive feature 40, 42 that has a certain type of lighting.

[0020] The interactive route finder device 100 can have different levels of power supplied by the power supply 124, which can correspond to different power modes: standby mode, active mode, and off. For example, the power supply 124 can supply low power to the interactive route finder device 100 when in standby mode. For example, while in standby mode, the power supply 124 can provide enough power to the interactive route finder device so that the IMU sensor 93 can detect movement of the interactive route finder device 100, but not enough power to fully activate the display 105, face 104, and other features. Movement of the interactive route finder device 100, as detected by the IMU sensor 93, can switch the power supply 124 from standby mode (low power) to active mode (full power), in which the display 105 (including but not limited to the pointers 106, 108, and 110), face 104 (which can be an e-ink display or other low-power display, or can be an OLED display), and other features described herein are activated. Additionally, low power and / or high power can be activated from the power supply 124 of the interactive route finder device 100 by turning the power switch to "Standby / On" and / or "Working / On" (not shown). The power can be switched from the working mode to the standby mode after a certain period of time has passed without movement of the interactive route finder device 100, as determined by the IMU sensor 93. The power of the power supply 124 of the interactive route finder device 100 can be deactivated, for example, by turning the power switch to "Off" (not shown).

[0021] In certain embodiments, the interactive route finder device 100 may also include additional onboard features, such as a motor 92. The motor 92 may be powered by a power source 124. In embodiments where the pointers 106, 108, and 110 are mechanical (not graphical or display elements), the motor 92 may be used to adjust the position of the pointers 106, 108, and 110. As described below, the motor 92 may alternatively or additionally be used with built-in device effects 128. The motor 92 may be an induction motor, a stepper motor, or the like.

[0022] In embodiments, as described in greater detail below, the interactive route finder device 100 may also include built-in device effects 128, such as one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs), one or more haptic functions (e.g., a vibration function, a force function, etc.), a sound, a change in the display 105 (e.g., a change in the color of the display 105), a rotating pointer 106, 108, 110, or other built-in device effects activated in connection with an interactive event. These built-in device effects 128 may also be powered by the motor 92, or more generally, by the power supply 124. The interactive route finder device 100 may include other input / output devices 129 for user input, such as additional buttons, soft keys, notification devices, audio input / output devices, and the like.

[0023] The interactive route finder device 100 includes device communication circuitry 123, such as a transceiver, an antenna, a transmitter, a receiver, radio transceiver circuitry, and signal processing hardware and / or software (e.g., hardware or software filters, analog / digital converters, multiplexer amplifiers), or a combination thereof. The device communication circuitry 123 may be powered by a power source 124 and configured to communicate over a wireless communication path via infrared wireless communication, radio frequency transmission, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, near field communication (NFC), ultra-wideband (UWB), etc.

[0024] In some embodiments, the interactive route finder device 100 may establish a communication connection with the sensor 60 at the destination 120 using the wireless network 76 (e.g., a wireless communication path via IR wireless communication, radio frequency transmission, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, ultra-wideband (UWB), etc.). That is, the destination 120 may be equipped with a device including the sensor 60 that enables the interactive route finder device 100 to communicate with the sensor 60 at the destination 120. For example, the sensor 60 at the destination 120 may include destination communication circuitry 148, such as a transmitter and a receiver.

[0025] As provided herein, the device communication circuitry 123 of the interactive route finder device 100 can communicate with the destination communication circuitry 148 by sending a signal that is received by the sensor 60 of the destination 120. The destination communication circuitry 148 of the sensor 60 can transmit proximity information back to the device communication circuitry 123 of the interactive route finder device 100 via the destination communication circuitry 148 of the sensor 60. The proximity information can include information about the distance and orientation of the sensor 60 relative to the location of the interactive route finder device 100. The controller 118 of the interactive route finder device 100 receives the proximity information and can trigger an activity based on the received proximity information, including updating the position of the pointers 106, 108, 110, changing the appearance of the face 104, or activating a built-in device effect 128 of the interactive route finder device 100. As discussed above, updating of the positions of the pointers 106 , 108 , 110 may be accomplished based on communications between the device communication circuitry 123 of the interactive route finder device 100 and the destination communication circuitry 148 of the sensor 60 on the destination 120 , along with input from the IMU sensor 93 .

[0026] Figure 4A 、 4B4C are schematic diagrams of an embodiment of the interactive route finder device 100 in a particular mode that may be described as "hot and cold." As used herein, the terms "hot and cold" are not intended to reflect actual temperatures, but rather are used in a gaming environment where a person is considered to be getting "hotter" as they get closer to a desired destination, and "colder" as they get further away from the desired destination. Figure 4A As shown in FIG, the display 105 of the interactive route finder device 100 includes a face 104 and has a displayed destination 112 representing an interactive station 40 (such as a "puppet station"). The ends of the pointers 106 and 108 on the face 104 are located on either side of the displayed destination 112 on the face 104. Figure 4A 、 4B In the example shown in 4C, the destination 120 is a puppet station 40 and includes a sensor 60. Figure 4A In the embodiment shown in FIG, the sensor 60 receives a signal 149 from the device communication circuit 123 on the interactive route finder device 100. The destination communication circuit 148 within the sensor 60 responds with a signal 150, which is received by the device communication circuit 123 on the interactive route finder device 100. Figure 4B In the embodiment shown in , as described below, the sensor 60 at the destination 120 may be a transmitter that transmits a signal 151 (e.g., not a signal responsive to receiving a signal from the interactive route finder device 100), which is received by the device communication circuitry 123 in the interactive route finder device 100, causing the interactive route finder device 100 to adjust the position of one or more of the pointers 106, 108, 110.

[0027] like Figure 4A 、 4B 4C , the positions of the pointers 106 and 108 move depending on whether the interactive route finder device 100 is closer to the puppet station 40 or further away from the puppet station 40. In general, as the interactive route finder device 100 gets closer to the puppet station 40 (as determined by wireless interaction of the destination communication circuit 148 on the sensor 60 of the puppet station 40 with the device communication circuit 123 of the interactive route finder device 100), the pointers 106 and 108 move closer together in a radial direction, one on each side of the displayed destination 112, with the destination 112 being closer to the puppet station 40. Figure 4A 、 4Band 4C as a "puppet station." That is, as the guest holding the interactive route finder device 100 becomes "hotter," the ends of the pointers 106 and 108 move closer together. As the interactive route finder device 100 moves further away from the puppet station 40 (as determined by wireless interaction between the destination communication circuit 148 on the sensor 60 of the puppet station 40 and the device communication circuit 123 of the interactive route finder device 100), the pointers 106 and 108 move further apart in the radial direction. That is, as the guest holding the interactive route finder device 100 becomes "cooler," the ends of the pointers 106 and 108 move further apart. For example, Figure 4A In FIG, the distance between the interactive route finder device 100 and the puppet station 40 is d1. Figure 4A As shown in FIG, the tips of the pointer on the interactive route finder device 100 are located on either side of the displayed destination 112 "puppet station" on the face 104. Figure 4B As shown in FIG, the distance between the interactive route finder device 100 and the puppet station 40 is d2. Figure 4A In the example, distance d2 is greater than distance d1. As a result, Figure 4B The ends of the pointers 106 and 108 in the interactive route finder device 100 are larger than the ends of the pointers 106 and 108 on the surface 104 of the interactive route finder device 100. Figure 4A Further in. Figure 4C As shown in FIG, the distance between the interactive route finder device 100 and the puppet station 40 is d3. The distance d3 is less than d1 or d2. Figure 4C As shown in FIG, the tips of the pointer on the interactive route finder device 100 converge on the displayed destination 112 of the “puppet station” on the surface 104 .

[0028] When operating in "hot and cool" mode, the display 105 or a portion of the display 105 (such as the face 104) may change color. For example, as the interactive route finder device 100 gets closer to the destination 120 and thus gets "hotter," the color of the display 105 (e.g., the image or background of the display 105) may shift to a red hue. As the interactive route finder device 100 moves further away from the destination 120, the display 105 or a portion of the display 105 (such as the face 104) may shift to a green or blue hue to signal to the visitor that they are getting "cooler." In embodiments, the color of the pointers 106 and 108 may also change depending on whether the interactive route finder device 100 is closer to or further away from the destination 120.

[0029] In an embodiment, the interactive route finder device 100 can operate in this "hot and cold" mode, wherein the position of the pointers 106 and 108 moves relative to the distance between the interactive route finder device 100 and the destination 120. In such an embodiment, the destination 120 can be selected by the interactive route finder device 100 based on the location of the interactive route finder device 100 in the amusement park 10. It should be understood that the location of the displayed destination 112 of the "puppet station" on the display 105 can change based on the orientation of the interactive route finder device 100. For example, if the interactive route finder device is rotated, the location of the displayed destination 112 on the display 105 will move relative to the route finder device to reflect the appropriate location and orientation of the puppet station 40.

[0030] Figure 5A 、 5B 5C are schematic diagrams of the interactive route finder device of the interactive route finder system operating in "hot and cold" modes, respectively, wherein the interactive route finder device is directed to a different destination 120 as selected by the interactive route finder device 100. The mode in which the interactive route finder device 100 selects the destination 120 is referred to herein as the "automatic mode." For example, if the interactive route finder device 100 is within a certain distance from the exit of an amusement park, then when in the "automatic mode," the interactive route finder device 100 (specifically, the controller 118 within the interactive route finder device 100) automatically selects the destination 120 as, for example, the park exit 80, and causes the display 105 to present the displayed destination 112 on the face 104 of the interactive route finder device 100. Figure 5A As shown in , the displayed destination 112 may be the park exit 80. As another example, Figure 5B As shown in , if the interactive route finder device 100 is within a certain distance from a popular attraction, then when in “automatic mode,” the interactive route finder device 100 (specifically, the controller 118 within the interactive route finder device) automatically selects the destination 120 as a popular attraction and causes the display 105 to present the displayed destination 112 as the selected destination 120 (e.g., presenting the name of the attraction, such as a volcanic flow, on the display 105). As another example, Figure 5C As shown in , when in “automatic mode,” if the interactive route finder device 100 is located outside an amusement park, the interactive route finder device 100 (specifically, the controller 118 within the interactive route finder device 100) automatically selects the destination 120 as, for example, the amusement park itself (e.g., the amusement park entrance) and causes the display 105 to present the displayed destination 112 as the amusement park.

[0031] The logic for evaluating the selection of the destination 120 based on the location of the interactive route finder device 100 in the amusement park 10 may reside on the controller 118 , or may reside on a central controller 70 that is in wireless communication with the interactive route finder device 100 .

[0032] In "automatic mode," in addition to the location of the interactive route finder device 100, the logic used to evaluate destination 120 selections may also consider the visitor's history associated with the visitor or user and associated with the user information, as informed by a user profile. The user information stored in the user or visitor profile may include information such as how many times the visitor has previously visited a particular destination 120, how many times the visitor has previously visited the amusement park 10, and so on. The interactive route finder device 100 may access the user profile, and when in "automatic mode," the user profile may inform the interactive route finder device 100's selection of destination 120. For example, if the visitor has already experienced a popular ride on a particular day or within a particular number of days, the logic used to evaluate destination 120 selections may select the next most recent or next most popular popular ride as destination 120. Alternatively, the visitor may provide a list of preferred popular rides, which the logic may use as a selection list.

[0033] In another embodiment, the guest 16 can select the type of destination 120 via the mode switch 114. The mode in which the guest 16 selects the destination 120 based on the guest's preference is referred to herein as the "guest selection mode." For example, the guest can use the mode switch 114 to select "Interactive Station," in which case the destination 120 is the interactive station, such as the gesture-interactive station closest to the interactive route finder device 100, such as the puppet station 40, and the displayed destination 112 on the face 104 of the interactive route finder device 100 is the puppet station. As another example, the guest can use the mode switch 114 to select "Ride," in which case the destination 120 is the ride closest to the interactive route finder device 100, and the displayed destination 112 on the display 105 of the interactive route finder device 100 is the closest ride. As another example, the guest can use the mode switch 114 to select "All," in which case the destination 120 is the destination 120 closest to the interactive route finder device 100 that has a sensor 60, such as a gesture-interactive station, a popular attraction, or a park exit. The displayed destination 112 on the display 105 of the interactive route finder device 100 is updated accordingly. The display 105 or a portion of the display 105, such as the face 104, may change color or otherwise change appearance depending on the mode in which the interactive route finder device 100 is operating. The logic for enabling the visitor 16 to select the destination 120 may reside on the controller 118 or may reside on a central controller 70 that is in wireless communication with the interactive route finder device 100.

[0034] In another embodiment, the visitor 16 may choose to operate the interactive route finder device 100 in a "game mode," where the destination 120 is associated with a game, such as a treasure hunt, object hunt, exploration, monster hunting, or other game related to finding a certain destination. In "game mode," the display 105, face 104, and / or pointers 106, 108, 110 of the interactive route finder device 100 may change appearance to match the theme of the game. For example, if the visitor selects "treasure hunt," the display 105 and face 104 may appear as a treasure map, and the pointers 106, 108, and 110 may appear in an old-fashioned style. As another example, if the visitor 16 selects "monster hunting," the display 105 and face 104 may appear as a monster, and the pointers 106, 108, and 110 may appear as stylized arrows.

[0035] Figure 6A and 6B are schematic diagrams of an interactive route finder device of an interactive route finder system operating in a "classic compass" mode, wherein a pointer 110 points in the direction of a destination 120, as shown in FIG. Figure 6A and 6B As shown in Figure 6A As shown in , the destination 120 may be a particular attraction, such as a popular attraction. In an alternative embodiment, as Figure 6B , destination 120 may be magnetic north, as in a typical compass. In an alternative, destination 120 may be any of the destinations described with reference to the "hot and cold" modes. Destination 120 in the "classic compass" mode may be automatically selected by the interactive route finder device 100, as in the "automatic mode" described above, or may be selected by the visitor 16, as in the "visitor selected" mode described above.

[0036] In an embodiment, the interactive route finder device 100 can operate in both a "hot and cold" mode and a "classic compass" mode, and thus use the pointer 110 as a "classic compass" and the pointers 106 and 108 as "hot and cold" indicators, such as shown in FIG4 . For example, the interactive route finder device 100 can operate in the "classic compass" mode, where the pointer 110 points directly at the displayed destination 112 , where the displayed destination 112 corresponds to the destination 120 , while the interactive route finder device 100 can also operate in the "hot and cold" mode, where the pointers 106 and 108 are located on either side of the displayed destination 112 , and as the interactive route finder device 100 gets closer to the destination 120 , the pointers 106 and 108 get closer together.

[0037] The various modes in which the interactive route finder device 100 may operate can be summarized as follows, with the understanding that there may be additional modes or sub-modes that fall within the scope of the present disclosure. It should be understood that the interactive route finder device 100 may operate in one or more of the following modes or sub-modes at any given time.

[0038] In "hot and cold" mode, the destination 120 may be automatically selected by the interactive route finder device 100 ("automatic mode") or may be selected by the guest ("guest selected mode"). Additionally, the destination 120 may be selected from a variety of categories, including, but not limited to, attractions (e.g., nearest rides, most popular nearby attractions, nearest interactive features, which may include interactive features 42 that interact with the interactive route finder device 100 and / or another device (such as a wristband or other object)), games (e.g., where the destination 120 is associated with a game such as a treasure hunt), amenities (e.g., nearest restaurant 50, restroom facilities 56, park exit 80, etc.), or all destinations (e.g., multiple destinations, each having a corresponding displayed destination 112 on the face 104, with a designated pointer indicating the direction of the particular destination 120).

[0039] Similarly, in the "classic compass" mode, the destination 120 may be automatically selected by the interactive route finder device 100 ("automatic mode") or may be selected by the guest ("guest selected mode"). Additionally, the destination 120 may be selected from a variety of categories, including, but not limited to, magnetic north, attractions (e.g., nearest rides, nearby popular attractions, nearest interactive features 40, which may include interactive features that interact with the interactive route finder device 100 and / or another device (e.g., a wristband or other object)), games (e.g., where the destination 120 is associated with a game such as a treasure hunt), amenities (e.g., nearest restaurant 50, restroom facilities 56, park exit 80, etc.), or all destinations (e.g., multiple destinations, each having a corresponding displayed destination 112 on the face 104, with a designated pointer indicating the direction of the particular destination 120).

[0040] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of the present disclosure, wherein the interactive route finder device 200 may have more than one face in the housing 202. Figure 7 The embodiment shown in FIG has two faces 204 and 205, but it should be understood that embodiments can have more than two faces. Multiple faces in the same housing 202 will allow the interactive route finder device 200 to operate in a separate mode on each corresponding face, with each face displayed to the visitor at the same time. For example, face 204 can operate in a "classic compass" mode, with needle 210 pointing to "north," while face 205 operates in a "hot and cold" mode, with needles 206 and 208 guiding the visitor to a destination 120, such as a puppet station 40. Additional faces in the housing 202 can, for example, operate in a "hot and cold" mode to guide the visitor to a destination 120 (such as a popular attraction 54) or a park exit 80. Switching between modes can be achieved by using a mode switch 214.

[0041] The communication may include wireless communication protocols such as UWB, IR, or radio frequency transmission, which enable communication between electronic devices over a certain distance, such as between 4 meters (m) and 20 m. The communication may indicate that the interactive route finder device 100 is within a certain proximity of the sensor 60 on the destination 120. As described above, the communication may cause the interactive route finder device to adjust the position of one or more of the pointers 106, 108, and 110 on the interactive route finder device 100. As described above, in another embodiment, the sensor 60 on the destination 120 may be a transmitter that transmits a signal received by the device communication circuit 123 in the interactive route finder device 100, which causes the interactive route finder device 100 to adjust the position of one or more of the pointers 106, 108, and 110.

[0042] Figure 8is a flow chart illustrating one embodiment of a process 300 for operating the interactive route finder device 100 according to the present technology. It should be understood that the steps discussed herein are merely exemplary, and that certain steps may be omitted or added, and that the steps may be performed in a different order. In one embodiment, the steps of process 300 may be performed by the interactive route finder device 100 and other components of the system 12 (such as the destination 120 having the destination communication circuitry 148).

[0043] Process 300 includes the step of transmitting a signal including first proximity information via wireless communication circuitry (block 152). This signal may be transmitted by the device communication circuitry 123 of the interactive route finder device 100 and may include proximity information indicating the location of the interactive route finder device 100. This signal is received by the destination communication circuitry 148 on the sensor 60 at the destination 120, which transmits a signal in response. Process 300 also includes the step of receiving a second signal (i.e., a response signal) including second proximity information (block 154). The second proximity information indicates the relative position of the destination communication circuitry 148 on the sensor 60 at the destination 120 compared to the position of the device communication circuitry 123 of the interactive route finder device 100. Process 300 also includes the step of providing an instruction to cause the display 105 of the interactive route finder device 100 to display information based on the second proximity information (block 156). For example, displaying information based on the second proximity information may include moving pointers 106 and 108 on display 105 to either side of displayed destination 112 corresponding to destination 120 when interactive route finder device 100 is in "hot and cold" mode. When in "classic compass" mode, displaying information based on the second proximity information may include, for example, moving pointer 110 to point directly at displayed destination 112 corresponding to destination 120. The interactive route finder device 100 then transmits a third signal including third proximity information via wireless communication circuitry (block 158). This third signal is received by destination communication circuitry 148 of sensor 60 at destination 120, which transmits a fourth signal in response. This fourth signal includes fourth proximity information and is received by device communication circuitry 123 on interactive route finder device 100 (block 160). Updated instructions are provided based on the fourth proximity information to cause display 105 of interactive route finder device 100 to display updated information (block 162). As explained above, for example, displaying information based on the fourth proximity information may include moving pointers 106 and 108 on display 105 on either side of displayed destination 112 corresponding to destination 120 when interactive route finder device 100 is in the “hot and cold” mode. When in the “classic compass” mode, displaying information based on the second proximity information may include, for example, moving pointer 110 to point directly at displayed destination 112 corresponding to destination 120. In this way, display 105 updates as the position of interactive route finder device 100 changes relative to the position of destination 120 (and more specifically, the position of destination communication circuitry 148 of sensor 60 at destination 120).

[0044] The mode in which the interactive route finder device 100 operates can be switched by the guest 16. For example, the interactive route finder device 100 can be started in "automatic" mode, where the destinations 120 are selected based on the location of the interactive route finder device 100 in the amusement park 10 or informed by the guest's user profile, as described above. When the interactive route finder device 100 is located in a particular zone of the amusement park 10, the displayed destinations 112 may be popular attractions in that zone, interactive features 40 in that zone, and restaurants 50 in that zone. However, if the guest 16 is more interested in a specific category of destinations, the guest 16 can use the mode switch 114 to switch to "guest selection" mode, and the guest 16 can select a destination 120 based on a category of destinations, such as all restaurants in the amusement park or all popular attractions in the amusement park. This mode switching is accomplished using the mode switch 114 on the interactive route finder device 100.

[0045] The interactive route finder system 12 can be used to add a layer of entertainment to other entertainment features. In another embodiment, communication between the device communication circuitry 123 of the interactive route finder device 100 and the destination communication circuitry 148 of the sensor 60 at the destination 120 can result in a reaction at the destination 120, including a special effect such as the generation of bubbles, water spray, and / or confetti. In another embodiment, the communication can result in a reaction by the interactive route finder device 100, such as activating a built-in effect of the interactive route finder device 100. In another embodiment, the communication can result in both a special effect at the destination 120 and a reaction by the interactive route finder device 100.

[0046] For example, Figure 9 As shown in , the system 12 can be used in conjunction with interactive features in an amusement park to increase the visitor's enjoyment and immersion in the environment. Specifically, Figure 9A visitor 16 in a portion of an amusement park is shown using the system 12 to activate an interactive feature 42 (illustrated as a windmill) integrated into the environment. In this example, the device communication circuit 123 of the interactive route finder device 100 transmits a signal 406 from the interactive route finder device 100. The signal 406 is received by the destination communication circuit 148 of the sensor 60, and the circuitry within the sensor 60 causes a reaction in the interactive feature 42 that can be observed by the visitor 16, such as the windmill's blades spinning rapidly. The destination communication circuit 148 within the sensor 60 may also generate a response signal 406, which is received by the device communication circuit 123 in the interactive route finder device 100, causing the controller 118 to activate the device-based effect 128 of the interactive route finder device 100. It should be understood that the reaction triggered by the proximity of the interactive route finder device 100 to the destination 120 can be unidirectional (i.e., only one of the interactive route finder device 100 or the destination 120 reacts) or bidirectional (i.e., both the interactive route finder device 100 and the destination 120 react). As described above, the sensor 60 on the destination 120 can be a transmitter that transmits a signal (e.g., not in response to receiving a signal from the interactive route finder device 100), which is received by the device communication circuitry 123 in the interactive route finder device 100, causing the controller 118 to activate the built-in device effect 128 of the interactive route finder device 100.

[0047] As described above, the interactive route finder device 100 may be associated with a visitor or user profile associated with user information. The user information stored in the visitor profile may include information such as how many times the visitor 16 has previously visited a particular destination 120, how many times the visitor 16 has previously visited the amusement park 10, and so on. The reaction in the destination 120 may vary depending on the user information in the visitor profile of the interactive route finder device 100. For example, if the user information in the visitor profile indicates that the visitor 16 has never been to the destination 120, or has not been to the destination 120 for a long time, the reaction of the destination 120 may be more dramatic (e.g., the windmill blades may rotate faster) than if the visitor profile indicates that the visitor has recently visited the destination 120. Alternatively, the more times the visitor 16 is within a certain proximity of the destination 120, the more intense the reaction of the destination 120 may be, resulting in a gradually increasing reaction of the destination 120. While the reaction has been discussed as the rotation of windmill blades, it should be understood that other reactions are also within the scope of this disclosure, such as spraying water, flame blasts, sounds or songs, flashing lights, different colored lights, and so on.

[0048] In addition to influencing the response of the destination 120 as described above, the user information in the guest profile can also be used to assist in selecting the destination 120. For example, if the guest 16 has a favorite popular ride, then based on the user information calculating the number of times the guest 16 has visited that ride as informed by the guest profile, the interactive route finder device 100 may display the name of that popular ride as the displayed destination 112 on the face 104 of the interactive route finder device 100 when the guest 16 enters the amusement park 10.

[0049] In another embodiment, the interactive route finder device 100 can react to received input (e.g., input received via voice-over-data). As used herein, voice-over-data technology refers to the use of ultrasonic waves to transmit data between two devices using a transmitter (e.g., a speaker) and an input source (e.g., a microphone). With voice-over-data technology, data is encoded as an acoustic signal that is broadcast into space (e.g., air, a VoIP stream, a wired telephone line) and then received and demodulated by a listening device. The data is then decoded by the listening device or devices, and the original data is provided to the listening device.

[0050] For example, the device communication circuitry 123 in the interactive route finder device 100 can receive an ultrasonic signal from an ultrasonic transmitter or speaker within an amusement park. The device communication circuitry 123 in the interactive route finder device 100 can interact with the controller 118, which can then activate the built-in effect 128 of the interactive route finder device 100. For example, the ultrasonic signal can be generated within the amusement park and encoded within certain songs, audio announcements, or other audio signals. Alternatively, when the interactive route finder device 100 is located outside the amusement park, the ultrasonic signal can be received via broadcast music or announcements sponsored by or otherwise affiliated with the amusement park. For example, if an amusement park advertisement is broadcast within a visitor's home, the interactive route finder device 100 can react while located within the visitor's home. In this example, as described above, the device communication circuitry 123 of the interactive route finder device 100 will receive the ultrasonic signal embedded within the acoustic signal of the amusement park advertisement, and the controller 118 can activate the built-in effect 128 of the interactive route finder device 100.

[0051] While only certain features of the present invention have been shown and described herein, many modifications and changes will occur to those skilled in the art. It is, therefore, to be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit of the disclosure.

[0052] The technology presented and claimed herein is cited and applied to specific examples of material objects and actual properties that significantly advance the art and is therefore not abstract, intangible, or purely theoretical. Furthermore, if any claim appended to the end of this specification contains one or more elements designated as "means for [performing] [the function]..." or "a step for [performing] [the function]...", such elements are intended to be interpreted under 35 U.S.C. § 112(f). However, for any claim containing elements designated in any other manner, such elements are not intended to be interpreted under 35 U.S.C. § 112(f).

Claims

1. An interactive route finder system comprising: Includes the destination of the transmitter; as well as An interactive route finder device comprising: case; a display coupled to the housing and including a pointer; device communication circuitry disposed within the housing, the device communication circuitry configured to receive proximity information from the transmitter; and A controller is configured to control the display to change a characteristic of the pointer based on the proximity information.

2. The interactive route finder system of claim 1 , wherein the interactive route finder device includes an inertial measurement unit sensor, and the controller is configured to cause the pointer to point in the direction of the destination based on information from the inertial measurement unit sensor.

3. The interactive route finder system of claim 1 wherein the display includes a displayed destination representative of the destination.

4. The interactive route finder system of claim 1 , wherein the pointer is a first pointer, the display includes a second pointer, and the display is configured to change based on changes in the proximity information by moving the first and second pointers closer together in a radial direction in response to proximity information indicating that the interactive route finder device is traveling in a direction of the destination, and by moving the first and second pointers apart in a radial direction in response to proximity information indicating that the interactive route finder device is traveling in a direction different from the direction of the destination.

5. The interactive route finder system of claim 4, wherein the first pointer and the second pointer are physical entities and are moved by motors contained within the interactive route finder device.

6. The interactive route finder system of claim 1, wherein the interactive route finder device includes built-in device effects controlled by the controller, and wherein communication between the transmitter and the device communication circuit activates one or more of the built-in device effects.

7. The interactive route finder system of claim 1, wherein the interactive route finder device is associated with a user profile, and wherein user information is stored in the user profile and communicated from a central controller to a memory in the interactive route finder device via the device communication circuitry.

8. The interactive route finder system of claim 7, wherein the user profile informs selection of a displayed destination by the controller, or informs selection of one or more device built-in effects by the controller.

9. The interactive route finder system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to select a displayed destination based on a relative location of the interactive route finder system in relation to a nearest point of interest or a nearest convenience.

10. The interactive route finder system of claim 1, wherein the destination includes a sensor, the sensor includes a destination communication circuit, and the device communication circuit communicates with the destination communication circuit, wherein the communication of the device communication circuit and the destination communication circuit causes a reaction at the destination.

11. The interactive route finder system of claim 10, wherein the reaction at the destination comprises launching confetti, water spray, bubbles, or a combination thereof.

12. The interactive route finder system of claim 10, wherein the interactive route finder device is associated with a user profile, wherein user information is stored in the user profile and communicated from a central controller to a memory in the interactive route finder device via the device communication circuitry, and wherein reactions at the destination are informed by the user profile.

13. The interactive route finder system of claim 1, wherein the display of the interactive route finder device comprises a first side and a second side, wherein the first side has a first displayed destination of magnetic north.

14. An interactive route finder device comprising: case; a display coupled to the housing and including a pointer; a memory disposed in the housing; an inertial measurement unit sensor disposed in the housing; a device communication circuit disposed in the housing, the device communication circuit configured to receive proximity information from a plurality of transmitters in a wireless network and store the proximity information in the memory; as well as A controller configured to: changing a position of the pointer based on inertial data from the inertial measurement unit sensor; controlling the display based at least in part on the proximity information; and The display is caused to present the displayed destination.

15. The interactive route finder apparatus of claim 14, wherein the interactive route finder apparatus includes one or more device-based effects activated by the controller based on the proximity information.

16. The interactive route finder device of claim 14, wherein the controller is configured to control an orientation of the display based on information received from the inertial measurement unit sensor.

17. A method for performing route finding using an interactive route finder device, the method comprising: receiving, via the wireless communication circuitry, a first signal including first proximity information of the point of interest; providing instructions based on the first proximity information to cause a display of an interactive route finder device to display information related to the point of interest; receiving, via the wireless communication circuitry, a second signal including second proximity information of the point of interest; as well as Providing updated instructions based on the second proximity information to cause a display of the interactive route finder device to display updated information related to the point of interest.

18. The method according to claim 17, comprising: A built-in device effect of the interactive route finder apparatus is activated based on receipt of the first signal or the second signal.

19. The method according to claim 17, comprising: A destination is selected, wherein the destination includes a destination communication circuit configured to send a second signal including the second proximity information via the destination communication circuit.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein selecting a destination is performed in response to receiving user input at the interactive route finder device.

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