System and method for integrating interactive object and scenic spot experience

Abstract

An entertainment system includes a first storage area and a second storage area. Further, the system includes a first communicator and a second communicator each configured to read information from the interactive object, where the first communicator is configured to monitor the first storage area and the second communicator is configured to monitor the second storage area. A controller of the system includes a processor and a memory. The controller is configured to receive data from the communicator and query a database to determine one or more profiles associated with the data, determine a special effect associated with a first profile and a special effect associated with a second profile, and providing a command for presenting a first special effect at a first location based on the first storage area and providing a command for presenting a second special effect at a second location based on the second storage area.

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 present disclosure. It is believed that this discussion helps to provide the reader with background information to promote a better understanding of the various aspects of the present disclosure. Therefore, it should be noted that these statements are to be read in this light, rather than as an admission of prior art.

[0002] Entertainment companies often provide rides that incorporate special effects to improve the experience of customers running through rides. In recent years, entertainment companies have also begun to provide interactive objects that can be used throughout entertainment environments (e.g., in open areas and queues) to provide more general entertainment opportunities. For example, toys that can be detected or operated to be connected to game elements in theme parks through interfaces can be provided to customers to promote their increased enjoyment of theme parks. Before experiencing certain rides, customers can carry interactive objects (e.g., toy swords detectable by radio frequency identification technology) while waiting for rides in the queue, and can temporarily store the object in a storage area before entering the ride vehicle and / or ride environment. Storing interactive objects may be necessary to avoid the possibility of losing interactive objects or otherwise interfering with rides. However, it is now recognized that traditional storage technologies may cause undesirable disconnections between certain entertainment experiences and opportunities associated with interactive objects. Summary of the invention

[0003] Certain embodiments commensurate in scope with the originally claimed subject matter are summarized below. These embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure, but rather, these embodiments are intended only to provide a brief overview of certain disclosed embodiments. Indeed, the present disclosure may encompass a wide variety of forms that may be similar or different from the embodiments set forth below.

[0004] In one embodiment, an entertainment system includes: a first storage area and a second storage area; a first communicator and a second communicator, each configured to read information from an interactive object, wherein the first communicator is configured to monitor the first storage area and the second communicator is configured to monitor the second storage area. Additionally, the entertainment system includes: a controller, which includes a processor and a memory, wherein the controller is configured to: receive data from the first communicator and the second communicator, query a database to determine one or more profiles associated with the data, and determine a first special effect associated with the first profile and a second special effect associated with the second profile. Further, the controller is configured to: provide a command for presenting a first special effect at a first location based on the first storage area and provide a command for presenting a second special effect at a second location based on the second storage area.

[0005] In one embodiment, a method includes: receiving, via a receiver, first data from a first communicator associated with a first storage area and receiving second data from a second communicator associated with a second storage area. Further, the method includes: querying a database via a processor to determine a first profile associated with the first data and a second profile associated with the second data. Additionally, the method includes: determining, via a processor, a first special effect associated with the first profile and a second special effect associated with the second profile; and providing, via a transmitter, a command for presenting the first special effect at a first location associated with the first storage area and a command for presenting the second special effect at a second location associated with the second storage area.

[0006] In one embodiment, a locker system includes: a first storage area and a second storage area; and a first communicator and a second communicator, each configured to read information from an interactive object, wherein the first communicator is configured to monitor the first storage area and the second communicator is configured to monitor the second storage area. The system also includes: a controller, which includes a processor and a memory, wherein the controller is configured to: receive first data from the first communicator and receive second data from the second communicator; query a database to determine a first profile associated with the first data and a second profile associated with the second data; determine a first special effect associated with the first profile and a second special effect associated with the second profile; and initiate presentation of the first special effect at a first location associated with the first storage area and initiate presentation of the second special effect at a second location associated with the second storage area. 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 drawings, and in which:

[0008] Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of one embodiment of a storage area (e.g., lockers, storage containers, racks) and a ride show system according to the presented technology;

[0009] Figure 2 are schematic illustrations of additional embodiments of storage areas and ride show systems in accordance with the presented technology; and

[0010] Figure 3 is a flow chart of a method of linking a user interactive object to a customer location within a ride show system in accordance with the presented technology. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0011] One or more specific embodiments will be described below. In an effort to provide a concise description of these embodiments, not all features of an actual implementation are described in the specification. It should be appreciated 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 appreciated that such development work may be complex and time-consuming, but will be no more than a routine task of design, fabrication, and manufacturing for a person of ordinary skill having the benefit of this disclosure.

[0012] When introducing elements of various embodiments of the present disclosure, the articles "a, an" and "the, said" 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 in addition to the listed elements. One or more specific embodiments of the embodiments presented herein will be described below. In an effort to provide a concise description of these embodiments, all features of the actual implementation may not be described in the specification. It should be noted 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 noted that such development work may be complex and time-consuming, but will be no more than a routine task of design, production, and manufacturing for ordinary technicians who benefit from the present disclosure.

[0013] A patron in a theme park may carry one or more interactive objects (e.g., handheld objects, wearable objects) throughout one or more areas within the theme park. Each of the interactive objects may be linked to an individual patron and may be used to track the patron's experience throughout one or more rides and / or interactive areas of the theme park. For example, in addition to allowing patrons to interact with games or entertainment interfaces throughout a theme park or other entertainment venue, the interactive objects may also facilitate tracking of achievements, locations, interactions, etc. by allowing monitoring of the interactive objects and their use.

[0014] In some cases, it may not be desirable for a customer to maintain physical possession of an interactive object on a particular entertainment experience, such as a ride. For example, it may be desirable to store an interactive object (e.g., in a locker) to avoid losing the interactive object along a ride path or the like. However, it is now recognized that a customer may wish to personalize the ride experience to an individual customer by linking a customer interactive object to the customer's location (e.g., the customer's seated position on the ride vehicle) while within the ride. In this manner, the ride may display personalized special effects based on the customer's location within the ride. Therefore, it is now understood that the linking of a customer interactive object to the customer's location within the ride may enable a more personalized and enjoyable ride experience.

[0015] According to the presented embodiments, an interactive object (or one or more systems that detect interactive objects) may update a profile associated with a customer based on the customer's movement and / or experience within an entertainment experience system (such as a ride and / or interactive area). For example, the ride and / or interactive area may receive customer profile data from a customer interactive object or from a system for detecting and identifying interactive objects, and may personalize special effects within the ride and / or interactive area based on the customer profile.

[0016] Tracking one or more customers in a ride show and / or interactive environment separately using interactive objects may be challenging because users may sometimes need to be separated from the interactive objects.Before boarding a ride vehicle or entering an interactive area, a customer may wait in one or more teams and / or ride queue areas.During such waiting periods (e.g., when in a queue area), there may be opportunities for customers to adopt interactive objects for entertainment.Therefore, customers may be motivated to keep their holding of interactive objects.However, before boarding a ride vehicle and / or entering an interactive area, customers may need to relocate their interactive objects to lockers or storage areas to, for example, avoid potentially losing interactive objects.This may limit the functionality associated with interactive objects (e.g., limiting communication with interactive objects and tracking of interactive objects).To address this, according to the embodiments presented, a storage area (e.g., a locker) may include a detection system (e.g., including radio frequency isolation hardware) that can receive (e.g., obtain) a customer profile of a customer.Based on the detection of an interactive object and the identification of a customer profile associated with the detected interactive object, a customer profile may be received directly from the interactive object or from a computing system (e.g., a server, a database, and a cloud network). The presented embodiments may also be operable to link patrons to patron locations (e.g., seats of a ride vehicle and / or locations within an interactive environment). For example, a line or queue in which a patron is standing may correspond to a particular set of lockers and / or storage compartments that correspond to patron locations throughout the ride experience (e.g., based on a predetermined correspondence).

[0017] The disclosed interactive object technology allows for user identification and / or interactive object identification, and is targeted at elements that promote ride performances. For example, when a customer enters a queue area and / or line for a ride performance, the customer may be assigned a specific shelf and / or locker for their interactive object, which is associated with a specific seat and / or location within the ride vehicle and / or interactive environment. The interactive object may be placed in a locker and / or storage area, which may include hardware that enables near field communication (NFC) between the interactive object and a communicator (e.g., a sensor, a detector, a barcode reader, an NFC device) in the locker and / or storage area, the communicator being operable to detect and transmit information associated with the interactive object. Such hardware may also include a charger for a rechargeable interactive object. Based on the correlation between the identifier of the interactive object (as detected by the communicator) and the customer profile, the communicator may receive or determine a customer profile associated with a customer located within a specific seat and / or location within the ride vehicle. The communicator may send the customer profile and / or identification information to a central controller along with the customer's ride location information. Based on the customer profile received via the interactive object, the central controller can then direct special effects within the ride show to specific customers within the ride seat. Additionally, the central controller can update the customer profile associated with the interactive object based on the special effects and customer experience displayed within the ride show system.

[0018] In one embodiment, such interactive objects may be toys or props used within an interactive environment to allow greater variability in special effect control by using personalized customer interactions. Interactive objects may include barcodes, radio frequency identification (RFID) tags, near field communication (NFC), etc. that facilitate one-way or two-way communication. User interactive objects may thus enable customer profiles to be associated with interactive objects. Customer profiles can then be identified and used to select special effects based on customer profiles. For example, customer preferences may be considered for variable effects. Further, it should be appreciated that although embodiments of the present disclosure are discussed in the context of toys, props, or handheld objects (such as swords, wands, tokens, books, balls, or figurines), it should be understood that the disclosed embodiments may be used for other types of objects. Such objects may include wearable objects (e.g., clothing, jewelry, bracelets, headdresses, medals, glasses) or other non-wearable objects (e.g., smart phones).

[0019] Although not limited to a particular environment, the disclosed systems and methods may include at least one ride show system with a theme area having a general theme, and additionally may include different ride show systems within a single theme area. Further, the disclosed systems and methods may include additional or other ride show systems having different themes but contained within a theme park or entertainment venue.

[0020] refer to Figure 1 , some aspects of the present disclosure may be better understood, Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of one embodiment of a ride show system 8 according to the present disclosure. In one embodiment, a central controller 10 of the ride show system 8 is configured to receive interactive object information (e.g., a unique device identification number) from one or more interactive objects 14A, 14B, 14C (collectively referred to as interactive objects 14) stored in a locker system 16. The locker system 16 (which may include multiple locker systems or lockers (e.g., lockers 16A, 16B, 16C)) may serve as a storage device (e.g., a lockable storage device) for the protection of the interactive objects 14. However, the locker system 16 may represent any storage area (e.g., storage area 16). For example, in other embodiments, the locker system 16 may include shelves, compartments, drawers, or the like, which may or may not be lockable. The locker system 16 may be used for storage of the interactive objects 14 prior to entering a ride or other entertainment experience for which storing the interactive objects 14 is desirable.

[0021] Interactive objects 14 may include features that facilitate customer interaction with interfaces in various locations (e.g., open areas, queues, restaurants, attractions) of a controlled environment (e.g., a theme park). For example, interactive objects 14 may be used to control a video display or video game. Interactive objects 14 may include processing and memory or may simply be detectable by an external computer-based system. Interactive objects 14 may be specifically associated with a particular individual or customer and may be used to track progress, experiences, and the like regarding games, attractions, venues, and the like. For example, identification information for a customer may be stored or accessible on a device of a particular interactive object (e.g., a radio frequency identification tag or on its memory) or on a separate device (e.g., a database that associates identification information for a customer with a readable serial number of an interactive object).

[0022] As noted above, while the interactive object 14 may simply be detectable by certain systems, in certain embodiments, the interactive object may include memory and or processing features that require power. Therefore, according to the presented embodiments, the interactive object 14 may include an energy source, such as a battery. These energy sources may be rechargeable energy sources (e.g., batteries, supercapacitors) that buffer and store energy from a power source (such as a communicator 18 or a separate charger) of the locker system 16. The rechargeable energy source may be used to complete the power boost effect and facilitate providing output regardless of the location of the interactive object 14. In one embodiment, the interactive object 14 may be charged while in the locker system 16 (such as via a near field communication device that may be incorporated therein).

[0023] As noted above, the interactive object 14 may store or otherwise have a detectable link to the interactive object information. This may be detected and transmitted according to the embodiments presented. For example, the barcode of the interactive object may be scanned, or the memory of the interactive object 14 may be read and the associated information may be identified for the purpose of operating control. In fact, according to the embodiments presented, the central controller 10 may receive the interactive object information from the interactive object 14 via a communicator 18 (e.g., a reader, a receiver). The communicator 18 (which may include a plurality of separate communicators 18A, 18B, 18C) is positioned to communicate with the interactive object 14 when the interactive object 14 is stored in the locker system 16. For example, when the interactive object 14A is positioned in the locker 16A, the communicator 18A may be integrated with the interactive object 14A, placed in the interactive object 14A, aimed at the interactive object 14A, or otherwise positioned to communicate with the interactive object 14A. In some embodiments, the wall or other boundaries of the locker system 16 may be operable to block wireless communications other than the wireless communications available via the communicator 18. In addition, the locker system 16 may include a signal shield composed of a material that blocks wireless communications except for wireless communications provided by each of the communicators 18 located in the locker system 16 (e.g., communicator 18A located in locker 16A, etc.). For example, the locker system 16 may operate like a Faraday cage. This may facilitate an increased degree of certainty in the determined correlation between the location and detection of the interactive object 14. Indeed, certain communicators 18 may be configured to access (e.g., observe, read, monitor) specific storage areas (e.g., lockers 16A, 16B, 16C, etc.) but not other storage areas, which strengthens the detection / position correlation.

[0024] The communicator 18 can communicate with one or more interactive objects 14 using near field communication (NFC) or similar operations (e.g., radio frequency identification (RFID) operations) to receive interactive object information (e.g., customer profile information, identification number, identification code) from within the locker system 16 and then forward the interactive object information to the central controller 10. The transmission from the communicator 18 to the central controller 10 can be performed wirelessly or via a wired connection. Further, the communicator 18 may include a charging function for charging the energy storage device (e.g., battery) of the interactive object 14. This can be accomplished via induction or other charging techniques. Although in the illustrated embodiment, in addition to the communication mechanism, the communicators 18 each represent a charger, in other embodiments, the charger is provided separately from the communicator 18.

[0025] As shown, the ride show system 8 may include a plurality of ride queue areas 12A, 12B, 12C (collectively referred to as ride queue areas 12). It should be understood that, based on the occupancy and / or layout of the ride show system, according to the presented embodiment, any suitable number of ride queue areas 12 and / or locker systems 16 may be implemented. The ride queue areas 12 may each correspond to a customer position in the ride show system 8. For example, each ride queue area 12A, 12B, 12C may lead to a specific customer position, such as a seat or row in a ride vehicle 19. Therefore, a customer may enter a specific ride queue area in the ride queue area 12 to eventually be seated in a specific ride vehicle (e.g., the vehicle in front of a roller coaster train) or in a seat in a ride vehicle. As an example, a customer position may be a position of standing or sitting in a ride vehicle 19 of a ride show system 8 and / or in a ride show system 8.

[0026] The ride queue area 12 may include or provide access to one or more locker systems in the locker system 16 corresponding to each ride queue area 12. Thus, for example, a customer who is about to enter a ride vehicle from a queue area may store his or her interactive object in a locker that is accessible from the queue area and associated with the ride vehicle being entered. By positioning certain lockers to be accessible from certain ride queue areas, such lockers may be effectively associated with the ride queue area and the corresponding customer location (e.g., ride vehicle or seated in a ride vehicle). For example, a specific locker in the locker system 16 may be positioned before a specific entry point for a ride vehicle 19. Thus, when an interactive object associated with a customer is placed in such a locker, it can be concluded that information associated with that interactive object can be linked to the relevant customer location. For example, one or more lockers 16A, 16B, 16C may each include a communicator 18A, 18B, 18C for communicating with a corresponding one of the customer interactive objects 14A, 14B, 14C being stored therein. When, for example, interactive object 14A is detected by communicator 18A in locker 16A, interactive object 14A (and corresponding customer data) may be associated with the customer location corresponding thereto. Thus, information obtained via communicator 18 (e.g., communicator 18A) may be used to customize the experience for customers in the associated customer location.

[0027] As previously noted, each locker within locker system 16 (e.g., lockers 16A, 16B, 16C) may include communication isolation (e.g., radio frequency isolation) features (e.g., a Faraday cage) such that identification information from multiple ones of interactive objects 14 within locker system 16 is not received by a single one of communicators 18. This may avoid confusion based on a particular one of communicators 18 detecting a location of an interactive object 14 that is not stored in the corresponding locker. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, communicator 18A may be blocked from detecting interactive object information from interactive object 14B because communicator 18A is positioned to read data only from within locker 16A and is blocked from reading data from within locker 16B by a feature or functionality of locker 16B. Additionally, to avoid confusion associated with potential detection of multiple interactive objects 14, the lockers of locker system 16 (e.g., lockers 16A, 16B, 16C) may be configured (e.g., shaped and sized) to receive only a single interactive object 14. Because of such features in accordance with presented embodiments, central controller 10 may be able to reliably associate information from communicator 18A with locker 16A and the location associated therewith.

[0028] The communicator 18 (e.g., a radio frequency sensor) may transmit identification information and locker location information associated with the interactive object to the central controller 10 of the ride show system 8. The locker location information may simply be the identity of a particular communicator 18, and the central controller 10 may store and / or identify the association between the particular communicator 18 and a particular locker in the lockers 16. The central controller 10 may use the identification information to look up a customer profile associated with the customer interactive object 14 stored within one or more customer profile databases. The central controller 10 may then direct special effects corresponding to the customer location based on the customer's interactive object profile, which may include past customer experiences throughout one or more ride show systems. In this way, the customer experience throughout the ride show system 8 may be personalized based on past customer experiences throughout multiple ride show systems 8.

[0029] It is understood that customers may trade their interactive objects 14. Therefore, the possession and detection of a particular interactive object 14 may not conclusively indicate the presence of a particular customer associated with a customer profile. However, according to the presented embodiments, the detection of a particular interactive device associated with a particular customer may be considered to be correctly associated with the physical presence of the particular customer. One of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the presently disclosed systems and methods will operate accordingly.

[0030] As an example of how the embodiment presented can operate, the first customer 20A can enter the first queue area 12A corresponding to the first locker system. For the purpose of illustration, the first locker system can be represented by a locker 16A. The first customer 20A can place their interactive object 14A in the locker 16A, and the first locker 16A can include a communicator 18A, which transmits the identification number associated with the interactive object 14A of the first customer together with the customer's position data, which can be implicit from the detection performed by the communicator 18A. For example, the customer's position data can be related to or include the indication that the interactive object 14A (associated with the first customer 20A) is in the first queue area 12A corresponding to the first seat in the ride vehicle 19. Therefore, the first customer 20A can be regarded as being located in the first seat in the ride vehicle 19. At the same time, the second customer 20B can enter the second queue area 12B, and the third customer 20C can enter the third queue area 12C. The second queue area 12B may correspond to a second locker system (represented by locker 16B) and the third queue area 12C may correspond to a third locker system (represented by locker 16C). The second customer 20B and the third customer 20C may each place a second customer interactive object 14B and a third customer interactive object 14C in respective lockers 16B, 16C. Respective communicators 18B, 18C in each of the lockers 16B, 16C may detect and transmit the second customer interactive object information and the third customer interactive object information to the central controller 10, along with the second customer location within the ride vehicle 19 and the third customer location within the ride vehicle 19.

[0031] Continuing with the example provided above, the central controller 10 may query one or more databases for customer profiles corresponding to the first customer interactive object information, the second customer interactive object information, and the third customer interactive object information, and customize the effects for the ride show system 8 based on the customer profiles and their assumed seating arrangements to specifically entertain or otherwise correspond to the first customer 20A, the second customer 20B, and the third customer 20C. In this way, specialized effects can be provided to multiple different customers in the same ride. For example, the first customer 20A may prefer a first theme and the second customer 20B may prefer a second theme, and the effects can be adjusted to include appropriate themes for each customer on the same ride show system 8. If the first customer 20A and the second customer 20B trade their interactive objects 14, they can each be treated as each other (through the presented embodiment).

[0032] The embodiment presented can solve the lack of information from interactive objects by default or utilizing different technologies for identifying customer profiles. For example, in one embodiment, for the first customer 20A in the first queue area 12A, no locker input can be detected. In this example case, the communicator 18A associated with the first locker 16A can send a signal to the central controller 10, indicating that no customer interactive object 14 has been identified for the locker 16A, and the locker 16A is associated with a specific ride vehicle, seating area or the like. Based on the provision of this data, the central controller 10 can then send instructions to display default special effects (or no special effects) for the customer in the position associated with the locker 16A. Special effects may include any visual effects, tactile effects, audio effects, animated character effects or any other special effects corresponding to the ride performance system 8. In some cases, some special effects of the ride show system may be the same for all patrons (e.g., all patrons seated within the ride vehicle 19), and selection of one or more effects may be customized for each patron based on patron profile data associated with each of the patron's interactive objects 14A, 14B, 14C. Alternatively, facial recognition and other recognition mechanisms may be used to associate a particular patron with a patron profile with a special effect preference.

[0033] Figure 2 is a schematic illustration of an additional embodiment of a ride show system 8 according to the presented technology. Figure 2As shown, the ride show system 8 may include a ride vehicle 19 having a locker system 16 within the ride vehicle 19, so that customers can utilize lockers (e.g., lockers 16A, 16B, 16C) within the ride vehicle 19 (e.g., under the seats of the ride vehicle 19) for storage of interactive objects 14. As with the previously disclosed embodiments, the communicator 18 in the locker system 16 can detect the stored interactive objects 14. By identifying the specific communicator (e.g., communicator 18A, 18B, 18C) that detects a specific interactive object (e.g., interactive object 14A, 14B, 14C), the central controller 10 can be informed of possible user locations (e.g., seated locations within the vehicle). In fact, customers can be encouraged or instructed to store their interactive objects in their own seated locations. Further, in some embodiments, customers can be blocked from storing their interactive objects outside of the intended location by obstacles and physical structures. Therefore, if the interactive object 14A associated with the customer 20A is detected in the locker 16A, the central controller 10 can associate the profile for the customer 20A with the seating position corresponding to the locker 16A. Specifically, the central controller 10 can receive interactive object information (e.g., a unique device identification number) from the communicator 18 to identify the associated customer profile. Based on where the corresponding communicator 18 is located and which interactive object information is detected accordingly, the information corresponding to the customer profile can be associated with a specific location (e.g., a seating area). This may enable the personalization of special effects throughout the ride performance system 8 based on the customer profile of the customer in each seat of the ride vehicle 19. As in the previously discussed embodiment, each locker in the locker system 16 may include a communication isolation (e.g., radio frequency isolation) feature so that the identification information of the interactive objects 14A, 14B, 14C in the locker system 16 is blocked from being transmitted beyond certain boundaries.

[0034] As a further example of operation according to the presented embodiment, upon detecting interactive object information from interactive object 14A by communicator 18A (e.g., a radio frequency sensor), communicator 18A may transmit the interactive object information or related information (e.g., associated customer identification information) and location information (e.g., associated seat) to the central controller 10 of the ride show system 8. Since communicator 18A is in a particular orientation relative to seating (e.g., under the seat for customer 20A) and is blocked from detecting interactive objects 14 in other parts of the locker system 16, the central controller 10 may be operable to determine the location of customer 20A (i.e., the customer associated with interactive object 14A). Once again, it should be noted that customers may trade their interactive objects 14. Therefore, the detection and possession of a particular interactive object 14 may not conclusively indicate the presence of a particular customer associated with a customer profile. However, the detection of a particular interactive device associated with a particular customer will be treated as correctly associated with the particular customer, and those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the presently disclosed systems and methods will operate accordingly.

[0035] The central controller 10 may utilize the information provided by the communicator 18A to look up a customer profile stored within one or more customer profile databases that is associated with the customer interactive object 14A. The central controller 10 may then direct special effects corresponding to the customer's location based on the customer's interactive object profile, which includes past customer experiences throughout one or more ride show systems 8. In this manner, the customer experience throughout the ride show system 8 may be personalized based on past customer experiences throughout multiple ride show systems 8.

[0036] Figure 3 A flow chart is illustrated of a method 20 of linking a customer interactive object 14 to a customer location within a ride show system 8 in accordance with the presented techniques. The method 20 includes a process of detecting an interactive object 14 located within a locker system 16 corresponding to a specific customer location within a ride vehicle 19. The locker system 16 may determine identification information of the interactive object 14 and transmit the identification information to the central controller 10 for use in determining a customer profile associated with the interactive object 14 and directing ride show system special effects to the specific customer location within the ride vehicle 19 based on the customer profile.

[0037] The method 20 includes: at box 22, the central controller 10 receives identification information associated with the interactive object 14 and the customer location associated with the interactive object 14 from the hardware of the locker system 16. The hardware of the locker system 16 may include receiver hardware that implements the NFC method to receive identification information from the interactive object 14 placed within the locker system 16. The interactive object 14 may transmit the interactive object information via a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag or any other suitable wireless and / or wired communication method. The identification information may include an identification number associated with the customer of the interactive object, a symbol associated with the customer of the interactive object, or any other suitable identification information. The locker system 16 may be located within the ride vehicle 19 or may be located outside the ride vehicle 19, in a queue system and / or waiting area of ​​the ride show system 8.

[0038] The location information may be sent based on the locker location and the associated ride vehicle seat. For example, each seat of the ride vehicle may correspond to a specific locker. In other embodiments, each queue may include a collection of lockers, and each queue may correspond to a specific seat of the ride vehicle. In this way, the locker system 16 may transmit the customer location along with the customer interactive object data.

[0039] At box 24, the central controller 10 queries one or more databases including customer profiles associated with the interactive object 14 based on the interactive object identification information. The central controller 10 may determine a customer profile corresponding to the interactive object 14. The customer profile may be included in a memory of the central controller 10, which may store customer profiles of a plurality of customers that have been previously matched to a plurality of interactive objects 14. The customer profile can then be updated based on the customer's experience that may occur throughout the ride show system. This historical data can then be used later to provide a variety of different experiences or make other such adjustments based on the historical data.

[0040] In some embodiments, the central controller 10 can update the customer profile based on the experience of the customer throughout one or more ride show systems. This enables special effects to be distinguished based on the customer profile data throughout the ride show system 8 and in multiple visits to the same ride show system 8. The customer profile can also include information associated with the customer, which may include customer-specific characteristics that are predetermined before the first use of the interactive object 14 and after its first use. These characteristics may enable further differentiation of special effect commands based on specific customers in the ride vehicle 19. For example, if a customer requests a specific affiliation to a group or selects a specific classification from a preset selection of classifications, the customer profile can be updated to display this information. The central controller 10 can then send a command to the special effects of the ride show system 8 to display special effect signals based in part on the customer profile. This may include the output of a specific color LED, sound effects, tactile effects, visual projections, or any combination thereof.

[0041] At box 26, based on the customer profile associated with each of the customers identified as (e.g., assumed to be) located within a ride seat, the central controller 10 sends a command to one or more special effects systems of the ride show system 8 to display a specific special effect to each of the seats in the ride seat of the ride vehicle. The customer is then able to perceive different special effects (e.g., visual, auditory, tactile) throughout the ride show system. Additionally, the central controller 10 may subsequently update one or more customer profiles associated with the customers of the ride vehicle 19 based on the special effects displayed to each of the customers during the experience throughout the one or more ride show systems. By storing data related to past experiences with special effects, future effects can be tailored for customers to encourage variety or to focus on effects that customers seem to prefer. It should be understood that customer profiles may be updated throughout the experience of customers in one or more ride show systems 8.

[0042] Although only certain features of the presently disclosed embodiments have been illustrated 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 present disclosure.

[0043] The technology presented and claimed herein is cited and applied to specific examples and substantial objects that arguably improve the practical nature of the art, and thus is not abstract, intangible, or purely theoretical. Further, if any claim appended to the end of this specification contains one or more elements designated as "a means for [performing] ... [function]" or "a step for [performing] ... [function]," it is intended that such elements be interpreted in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 112(f). However, for any claim containing elements designated in any other manner, it is intended that such elements not be interpreted in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 112(f).

Claims

1. An entertainment system comprising: a first storage area and a second storage area; a first communicator and a second communicator, the first communicator and the second communicator each configured to read information from an interactive object, wherein the first communicator is configured to monitor the first storage area and the second communicator is configured to monitor the second storage area; A controller comprising a processor and a memory, wherein the controller is configured to: receiving data from the first communicator and the second communicator; querying a database to determine one or more profiles associated with the data; determining a first special effect associated with the first profile and a second special effect associated with the second profile; and A command for presenting the first special effect at a first location based on the first storage area is provided, and a command for presenting the second special effect at a second location based on the second storage area is provided.

2. The entertainment system of claim 1, wherein: The first storage area includes a signal shield to block wireless communications other than from the first communicator.

3. The entertainment system of claim 1, wherein: The first communicator is integrated with or disposed in the first storage area.

4. The entertainment system of claim 3, wherein: The first storage area includes a locker configured to be locked.

5. The entertainment system of claim 1, comprising a ride show system, wherein: The first storage area is a first locker, and wherein the second storage area is a second locker.

6. The entertainment system of claim 1, wherein: The controller is configured to receive position data indicative of the first position from the first communicator.

7. The entertainment system of claim 1, wherein: The first storage area includes one or more collections of lockers accessible from a first queue area, wherein the first queue area is configured to direct customers to the first location.

8. The entertainment system of claim 1, wherein: The first storage area and the second storage area are within or integrated with one or more ride vehicles.

9. The entertainment system of claim 1, wherein: The first storage area and the second storage area each include a radio frequency isolation device.

10. The entertainment system of claim 1, wherein: The first storage area includes one or more racks, one or more shelves, one or more compartments, or any combination thereof.

11. The entertainment system of claim 1, wherein: The first communicator is configured to read the information using near field communication (NFC).

12. The entertainment system of claim 1, wherein: The controller is configured to update the one or more profiles based on determining the ride system associated with the entertainment system.

13. A special effect method, comprising: receiving, via a receiver, first data from a first communicator associated with a first storage area and second data from a second communicator associated with a second storage area; querying, via a processor, a database to determine a first profile associated with the first data and a second profile associated with the second data; determining, via the processor, a first special effect associated with the first profile and a second special effect associated with the second profile; as well as A command is provided via a transmitter for rendering the first special effect at a first location associated with the first storage area and a command is provided for rendering the second special effect at a second location associated with the second storage area.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein: The first data includes interactive object data associated with one or more objects.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein: The one or more objects are stored in the first storage area and the second storage area.

16. The method of claim 13, comprising: determining, via the processor, that third data is not received from a third communicator associated with a third storage area; as well as A command is provided via the transmitter to render a default special effect at a third location associated with the third storage area.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein: The first data and the second data respectively include first position data indicating the first position from the first communicator and second position data indicating the second position from the second communicator.

18. A locker system comprising: a first storage area and a second storage area; a first communicator and a second communicator, the first communicator and the second communicator each configured to read information from an interactive object, wherein the first communicator is configured to monitor the first storage area and the second communicator is configured to monitor the second storage area; A controller comprising a processor and a memory, wherein the controller is configured to: receiving first data from the first communicator and receiving second data from the second communicator; querying a database to determine a first profile associated with the first data and a second profile associated with the second data; determining a first special effect associated with the first profile and a second special effect associated with the second profile; and Presentation of the first special effect is initiated at a first location associated with the first storage area and presentation of the second special effect is initiated at a second location associated with the second storage area.

19. The locker system of claim 18, wherein: The first storage area includes one or more collections of lockers accessible from a first queue area, wherein the first queue area is configured to direct customers to the first location.

20. The locker system of claim 18, wherein: The controller includes a central controller associated with the ride system.

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