A cloud-based AI information system for seat allocation in auditoriums

Abstract

A cloud-based AI auditorium seating information system, consisting of: a seat occupancy detection unit with one or more infrared sensors (IR sensors) configured to detect the occupancy status of the corresponding seats in an auditorium and to generate occupancy signals indicating an occupied or free state; a control and monitoring unit that is communicatively coupled to the seat occupancy detection unit, wherein the control and monitoring unit is configured to receive the occupancy signals, process the received data and generate output control commands according to the detected seat status; a plurality of seat indicator units, each assigned to a corresponding seat and comprising a light-emitting diode (LED) configured to light up in a first color when the seat is free and in a second color when the seat is occupied, wherein the seat indicator units are controlled by the control and monitoring unit; a cloud server unit connected to the control and monitoring unit via an Internet of Things (IoT) network, wherein the cloud server unit is configured to store, synchronize and transmit real-time seat occupancy data to remote interfaces; a physical display unit connected to the control and monitoring unit, comprising an electronic miniature replica of the auditorium layout with indicator lights corresponding to the auditorium seats and configured to display the occupancy status of each seat in real time; and a user-interactive unit, implemented as a mobile application, connected to the cloud server unit and configured to display a virtual dashboard with real-time seat occupancy information to enable remote management and reservation of seats by an administrator and to provide artificial intelligence-based assistance to visually impaired users in finding available seats; wherein the control and monitoring unit simultaneously updates the seat display units, the physical display unit and the user-interactive unit in real time based on the occupancy signals received from the seat occupancy detection unit, thereby providing an automated, cloud-integrated information and management system for auditorium seats.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of intelligent infrastructure management systems, in particular cloud-based, AI-supported, and IoT-enabled seating information systems for auditoriums and similar venues. More specifically, the invention relates to an automated seating monitoring and management system for auditoriums that utilizes infrared (IR) sensors, IoT communication modules, cloud servers, and artificial intelligence (AI) to provide real-time seating information, automated dashboard displays, and mobile application-based control for efficient auditorium management.

[0002] Auditoriums are frequently used in educational institutions, corporate offices, government buildings, and public venues for various events such as conferences, cultural programs, meetings, and seminars. In most auditoriums, seating assignments and occupancy management are still handled manually, often resulting in inefficient space utilization, confusion among attendees, and difficulty finding available seats—especially when occupancy exceeds 75% of the total capacity. In many cases, poor lighting during events further complicates the search for newcomers, leading to restlessness, discomfort, or even panic among the audience. Traditional seat reservation methods, such as marking seats or employing volunteers, require continuous human intervention, additional staffing, and increased operating costs.These methods are also unsuitable for visually impaired, elderly, or otherwise disabled individuals who may find it difficult to navigate the auditorium safely. Existing technologies, including cinema ticketing systems or simple seat allocation software, are not designed for dynamic environments such as institutional or public auditoriums where seats are typically unreserved and change in real time. They lack the features necessary for efficient seat management, such as real-time data integration, automation, and intelligent analytics.Therefore, there is a need for a technologically advanced, automated and intelligent information system for auditorium seating that provides both administrators and users with real-time insight into seat occupancy, minimizes human effort, ensures efficient space utilization and improves visitor safety and overall experience.

[0003] To solve this problem, the present invention offers a cloud-based AI seating information system for auditoriums.

[0004] The system enables real-time monitoring, management and visualization of seat occupancy in an auditorium through a combination of infrared (IR) sensors, Internet of Things (IoT) technology and artificial intelligence.

[0005] The system automatically detects seat occupancy using IR sensors and displays the status of each seat through color-coded LED indicators, eliminating the need for human monitoring during events.

[0006] The system can be operated semi-autonomously or fully autonomously with minimal human intervention, utilizing machine learning for path planning and obstacle avoidance.

[0007] The system is able to process sensor data and transmit it to both physical dashboards at the entrance of the auditorium and virtual dashboards that can be accessed via a mobile application.

[0008] The system allows administrators to manage, reserve, and monitor seats from any location via the cloud-based mobile application interface, ensuring seamless control and scalability.

[0009] The system can reduce dependence on labor and ensure optimal space utilization even at full capacity.

[0010] The system can be operated continuously with minimal maintenance and improves the visitor experience as well as the overall image of the institution.

[0011] One embodiment of the present invention is to provide a cloud-based AI seating information system for auditoriums. The present invention provides a cloud-based, artificial intelligence (AI)-powered seating information system for auditoriums designed for real-time detection, monitoring, and management of seat occupancy without human intervention. The system integrates infrared (IR) sensors, Internet of Things (IoT) modules, a central control unit, cloud servers, and a mobile application to create an intelligent and automated platform for auditorium seating information. The control unit is connected to a cloud server, enabling real-time data synchronization and remote access. The cloud server hosts the control software, which manages input and output signals, maintains seating data, and communicates with physical and virtual dashboards.A physical dashboard at the auditorium entrance displays a miniature replica of the seating arrangement, with small LED lights indicating occupied and vacant seats. Simultaneously, a virtual dashboard is provided via a mobile application. This app allows administrators to view and manage auditorium seating in real time, reserve specific seats, and access occupancy analytics from anywhere in the world. The application also includes AI-powered chatbot assistance that guides visually impaired or elderly users to the nearest available seat. The cloud infrastructure ensures high scalability, low latency, and remote controllability, while AI enhances predictive management and user interaction. The system maximizes the auditorium's seating capacity, eliminates confusion during crowded events, and improves visitor safety and comfort.Thus, the invention offers a comprehensive, intelligent and autonomous information and management system for auditorium seating, increasing operational efficiency, reducing dependence on manpower and improving the user experience.

[0012] The system comprises a variety of interconnected components to enable real-time monitoring, remote control, and user interaction without human intervention. Each seat in the auditorium is equipped with an IR sensor, part of a seat occupancy detection unit that determines whether a seat is occupied or vacant. When a user occupies a seat, the IR sensor detects their presence and generates an electronic signal indicating the occupied status. Conversely, the sensor sends a signal indicating the vacancy status when the seat becomes available. These signals are transmitted via IoT modules to a control and monitoring unit, which serves as the system's central processing element.The control and monitoring unit receives, processes, and interprets the input signals from all connected IR sensors and generates corresponding output commands for the seat LED light unit (indicator) connected to each seat. The LED indicators show the current status of the seat—green light means the seat is free, red light means the seat is occupied. The control unit also communicates with a cloud server unit, which provides functions for remote data storage, synchronization, and management. The cloud server enables the system to operate across multiple auditoriums and locations, thus ensuring scalability and remote access. A physical display unit (dashboard) is located near the auditorium entrance and functions as a miniature electronic model of the seating arrangement within the auditorium.The dashboard consists of small LED displays, one corresponding to each physical seat in the hall, which show the color-coded occupancy status in real time. This allows new visitors to easily identify available seats before entering the auditorium, resulting in less confusion and greater order, even at fully booked events. The system (100) also includes an interactive user unit, implemented as a mobile application that connects to the cloud server. This mobile application acts as a virtual dashboard for administrators and invitees, displaying the real-time occupancy map of the auditorium. The application allows the administrator to remotely manage and reserve seats, view seat occupancy analytics, and control the entire seating arrangement from anywhere in the world.The mobile application is integrated with AI-based chatbot support, providing voice-guided navigation for visually impaired or elderly users, enabling them to find available seats nearby without human assistance. When a person occupies a seat, the IR sensor sends an occupancy signal to the control and monitoring unit, which then switches the corresponding seat's LED from green to red. Simultaneously, this same data is updated on the physical dashboard and transmitted to the cloud server, which synchronizes it with the mobile application's user interface. When a seat becomes vacant, the system automatically updates the corresponding LED to green and updates the real-time data on all connected platforms.The administrator can also reserve or block specific seats in advance via the mobile application, and this reserved status is displayed on both dashboards.

Claims

[1] A cloud-based AI auditorium seating information system, consisting of: a seat occupancy detection unit with one or more infrared sensors (IR sensors) configured to detect the occupancy status of the corresponding seats in an auditorium and to generate occupancy signals indicating an occupied or free state; a control and monitoring unit that is communicatively coupled to the seat occupancy detection unit, wherein the control and monitoring unit is configured to receive the occupancy signals, process the received data and generate output control commands according to the detected seat status; a plurality of seat indicator units, each assigned to a corresponding seat and comprising a light-emitting diode (LED) configured to light up in a first color when the seat is free and in a second color when the seat is occupied, wherein the seat indicator units are controlled by the control and monitoring unit; a cloud server unit connected to the control and monitoring unit via an Internet of Things (IoT) network, wherein the cloud server unit is configured to store, synchronize and transmit real-time seat occupancy data to remote interfaces; a physical display unit connected to the control and monitoring unit, comprising an electronic miniature replica of the auditorium layout with indicator lights corresponding to the auditorium seats and configured to display the occupancy status of each seat in real time; and a user-interactive unit, implemented as a mobile application, connected to the cloud server unit and configured to display a virtual dashboard with real-time seat occupancy information to enable remote management and reservation of seats by an administrator and to provide artificial intelligence-based assistance to visually impaired users in finding available seats; wherein the control and monitoring unit simultaneously updates the seat display units, the physical display unit and the user-interactive unit in real time based on the occupancy signals received from the seat occupancy detection unit, thereby providing an automated, cloud-integrated information and management system for auditorium seats. [2] System according to claim 1, wherein each of the infrared sensors (IR sensors) is configured to continuously monitor the presence or absence of a user at the respective seat and transmits the corresponding signal to the control and monitoring unit via a wireless Internet of Things (IoT) communication protocol. [3] System according to claim 1, wherein the control and monitoring unit comprises a microcontroller or microprocessor-based circuit configured to process input data, generate output signals and communicate with the cloud server unit via a wireless communication interface such as Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. [4] System according to claim 1, wherein the seat indicator units are configured such that the LED lights up green to indicate a free seat and red to indicate an occupied or reserved seat. [5] System according to claim 1, wherein the physical display unit (dashboard) comprises a miniature replica of the seating arrangement in the auditorium, with small LED lights representing each actual seat, the LEDs reflecting the real-time occupancy status of the respective seats. [6] System according to claim 1, wherein the interactive user unit comprises a mobile application that displays a virtual dashboard for real-time monitoring and management of seat occupancy and is configured to allow an administrator to reserve or release seats remotely. [7] System according to claim 1, wherein the mobile application comprises an artificial intelligence (AI) based chatbot or voice assistant module configured to guide visually impaired or elderly users to the nearest available seat by means of voice or text interaction. [8] System according to claim 1, wherein the cloud server unit is configured to enable real-time data synchronization, remote access and scalability of the seating information system, enabling administrators to monitor and control the seating arrangement in the auditorium from any location. [9] System according to claim 1, wherein the integration of IR sensors, IoT modules and a cloud-based architecture eliminates the need for human intervention in seating management in the auditorium, thus ensuring fully automated operation, high efficiency and safety during events.