System and method for crowd management and maintenance operation

Abstract

To provide a technology in the field of, in general, amusement parks.SOLUTION: A crowd management system includes a transceiver of at least one local controller. The transceiver receives guest data via wireless signals from guest-associated devices within a detection range of the at least one local controller. The crowd management system includes a remote central controller in communication with the at least one local controller and the guest-associated device. The remote central controller receives the guest data from the at least one local controller, and determines one or more crowd metrics of the individual attraction based on the received guest data. The remote central controller generates an activity command based on the one or more determined crowd metrics. The remote central controller transmits the activity command to at least one guest-associated device among the guest-associated devices.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure generally relates to the field of amusement parks. More particularly, embodiments of the present disclosure relate to methods and apparatus for managing crowd control and maintenance of equipment related to amusement park experiences.

Background Art

[0002] In recent years, theme parks and amusement parks have become more popular and accessible, resulting in an increase in the average number of customers visiting theme parks daily. The expansion of amusement parks with additional, more complex attractions (e.g., rides, restaurants, stores, and shows) generally provides additional capacity to handle a large number of visitors to the amusement park. However, additional attractions typically motivate potential visitors to visit the amusement park. Thus, while a particular amusement park adds additional capacity, the additional capacity does not always result in a high ability for visitors to participate in amusement park entertainment (e.g., shopping, show viewing, ride taking) or a reduction in wait times for attractions. This is because, in many cases, there is an accompanying increase in the number of attendees. On the other hand, visitors desire large, more sophisticated complex attractions, and visitors also expect a desirable overall experience. A desirable overall experience for amusement park visitors requires addressing specific problems related to controlling crowding and wait times associated with specific attractions. In practice, it is recognized that currently, amusement park visitors may be deterred from returning to a particular amusement park due to undesirable experiences caused by large crowds and resulting long wait times. Thus, it is recognized that improved amusement park crowd control systems and methods are desirable. Additionally, the increased visitor throughput causes equipment associated with attractions to require service more frequently than normal. Thus, it would be advantageous to improve amusement park maintenance systems and methods.

Summary of the Invention

Means for Solving the Problems

[0003] Certain embodiments corresponding to the subject matter recited in the original claims are summarized below. These embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Rather, these embodiments are only intended to present an overview of certain disclosed embodiments. In fact, the present disclosure can encompass various forms that may be similar to or different from the embodiments described below.

[0004] According to one embodiment, a congestion management system includes at least one local control device associated with an attraction area of an individual attraction within a theme park. The congestion management system includes a transceiver of the at least one local control device, and the transceiver receives visitor data through a wireless signal from a visitor-related device within the detection range of the at least one local control device. The congestion management system includes a remote central control device that communicates with the at least one local control device. The remote central control device receives visitor data from the at least one local control device, determines one or more congestion metrics for an individual attraction based on the received visitor data, generates an activity command based on the determined one or more congestion metrics, and transmits the activity command to at least one of the visitor-related devices.

[0005] According to one embodiment, a congestion management system includes a plurality of local control devices associated with respective attractions within a theme park. The system includes a central control device that communicates with the plurality of local control devices, and the central control device receives communication information from the plurality of local control devices. The communication information includes visitor count information based on the detection of wireless visitor devices proximate to respective attractions. The central control device determines one or more congestion metrics for each attraction based on the received communication information. The congestion metrics include visitor count information based on the detection of wireless visitor devices proximate to respective attractions. The central control device generates activity commands for individual visitors based on the one or more congestion metrics and transmits the activity commands to individual visitor-related devices.

[0006] According to one embodiment, the system includes an interactive device element of an individual attraction within a theme park. The interactive device element includes one or more sensors and a control device that receives data from the one or more sensors. The data includes information indicating a visitor who interacts with the interactive device element. The control device determines one or more maintenance-related metrics of the interactive device element based on the received data. The control device generates a maintenance command regarding the interactive device element based on the one or more maintenance-related metrics, and deactivates the interactive device element based on the maintenance command. The control device can activate another interactive device element when deactivating the interactive device element.

[0007] The above and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present disclosure will be better understood by reading the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals represent like elements.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0009] Embodiments of the present disclosure facilitate virtual congestion management within a theme park. As presented herein, a virtual congestion management system manages the number of visitors among and within various attractions of a theme park to limit or eliminate large crowds waiting in line or waiting to access features at a given attraction such as a ride. For example, if a particular ride or area of the amusement park becomes very congested, all or some of the visitors in the congested area can be notified that new rewards or features are available in other sections of the amusement park. These messages give users an incentive to relocate within the amusement park to reduce the number of visitors in the congested area and provide greater enjoyment. Additionally, the disclosed technology can be used to manage interactive device elements within the amusement park. In one embodiment, the interactive device elements can be dynamically actuated as an incentive to move visitors to new locations within and / or within a particular attraction of the amusement park. Further, the interactive device elements can be controlled to operate less or respond less when in a congested area. In this way, as the surrounding area becomes congested, visitors lose interest in a particular interactive device element, resulting in a feedback loop to locally reduce the congestion around the interactive element.

[0010] In certain embodiments, the disclosed technology includes a control device (e.g., a remote central controller) that evaluates metrics of visitor numbers and distribution (e.g., congestion metrics) and sends messages or other notifications that motivate a desired visitor distribution for the visitors. For example, the notifications relate to an activity sequence that motivates the visitors to leave a congested attraction that the visitors are about to perform. The system receives various inputs used to dynamically manage clusters and / or interactive devices from local controllers associated with attractions and / or visitors. In certain embodiments, congestion management can be managed in part by visitor devices such as active wearables (e.g., bracelets, attachment tags, necklaces, or badges), which are held by or associated with the visitors, interact with various attractions, and communicate to the visitors to leave an attraction and go to another attraction area or another area of the amusement park. In another embodiment, congestion management can be managed by an application on the visitor's mobile device.

[0011] The signal can also be used by the control device, which collects data regarding the maintenance of equipment related to a predetermined attraction and outputs a maintenance request to the display device or the operator when the equipment requires service. The control device can be configured to communicate with a maintenance control device, or the control device can monitor and control the maintenance of the equipment. For example, the maintenance of the equipment can be monitored by sensors such as impact sensors, accelerometers, operation time sensors, piezoelectric sensors, optical sensors, or any other suitable sensors for monitoring equipment related to an attraction (e.g., an interactive equipment element). The sensors can output signals indicating, for example, how long the attraction has interacted, how long the attraction has been in use or in operation, in order to indicate some wear of a part of the attraction. When a remote central control device determines that the equipment has reached a maintenance threshold (e.g., an operating upper limit value, the service is too long), the remote central control device can issue a warning to the operator or display a message on the display device indicating that service or maintenance work is required.

[0012] FIG. 1 is a flowchart of a method of using a congestion management system according to the present technology. Method 10 begins with receiving user identification information regarding a visitor (block 12) and detecting the entry of the visitor into the amusement park as soon as the visitor enters the amusement park (block 14). Once in the amusement park, method 10 includes receiving one or more signals regarding the visitor, such as data collected or provided as part of the credential information, in relation to the visitor (block 16). The data can be provided via a local control device and / or a visitor-related device (e.g., an active wearable), and this data can include information such as the location or whereabouts of the visitor. Method 10 can include determining a congestion metric for an individual attraction or within an attraction, such as when the attraction wait time exceeds a threshold (block 18). Method 10 includes generating an activity command based on one or more congestion metrics (block 20). In some embodiments, the activity command can include a message or notification to each individual visitor to go to a different one of the respective attractions. Method 10 can include sending the activity command to an application on a visitor-related device or the visitor's mobile device (block 22). Detailed aspects of method 10 are described in detail below with respect to the associated system features.

[0013] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a theme park including a congestion management system according to the present technology. System 100 includes a remote central control system 102, a monitoring sensor 104, a wireless communication system 106, a local control system 107, a system display device 108, an active wearable 110 (e.g., a bracelet including accessible data and communication features), and other components that operate according to the present embodiment as described in detail below. Certain aspects of system 100 will be referenced in relation to the elements operating in method 10 illustrated in FIG. 1. Specifically, it should be noted that the present embodiment can facilitate congestion management and guide or motivate park visitors 120 to enter specific areas or attractions within the theme park. The present embodiment can function to encourage participation in other areas of the theme park, such as dining, shopping, and other entertainment venues (e.g., rides, shows) in other areas of the theme park.

[0014] As schematically shown in block 14 of method 10, when a visitor 120 arrives at a ticket issuing location (e.g., a visitor service counter, a park entrance), the visitor 120 is provided with an admission certificate (e.g., a ticket or an active wearable 110) in addition to other items such as a park map. Information media (e.g., audio, video) and instructional signs may be present at all of these ticket issuing locations. It should be understood that the specific disclosed embodiments are described in relation to visitor-related devices such as the active wearable 110, but the visitor-related devices may include visitor mobile devices (e.g., smartphones). In some examples, the visitor 120 can have an admission certificate obtained prior to arrival and can skip obtaining the admission certificate at the ticket issuing location. The admission certificate can be related to the user identification information (shown in block 12) provided by each visitor or the visitor profile.

[0015] As schematically shown in block 16 of method 10, the remote central control device 102 is operative to receive signals regarding the visitor 120 from a user-related device (e.g., active wearable 110). This signal can include visitor identification information and / or information regarding the location of the visitor 120 determined by a signal output from the user-related device (e.g., active wearable 110). Other information regarding the visitor 120, such as the waiting time of the visitor 120 in an area of the amusement park, the number of times the visitor 120 has attempted to interact with an attraction, as determined by interaction with one or more interactive device elements of the visitor, can be output from the attraction 148. As a specific example, if the visitor 120 is attempting to interact with a specific attraction 148, e.g., by repeatedly making physical contact with the interactive device element of the attraction 148, the active wearable 110 and / or the interactive device element can provide a signal to the local control device 107, which then conveys this signal to the remote central control device to indicate this.

[0016] As schematically shown in block 18 of method 10, method 10 can include determining when the number of visitors 120 and / or the expected waiting time regarding attraction 148 exceeds a threshold. For example, active wearable 110 can output a signal to remote central controller 102 indicating that visitor 120 has been waiting within the area of the attraction for a threshold time or more (e.g., 30 minutes or more). The waiting time can be determined from visitor location information and visitor identification information such that it is determined by signals from one or more active wearable sensors 109 (e.g., readers, wireless communication beacons) configured to receive identification signals from each active wearable 110 within range located at the attraction. For example, when an active wearable 110 having a specific visitor identification number is determined to be within the range of a specific active wearable sensor 109, the average waiting time can be estimated. In one embodiment, the average waiting time can be determined by comparing the previous position of visitor 120 and the new position of visitor 120 to determine how long visitor 120 has been staying in a position near attraction 148.

[0017] As schematically shown in block 20, method 10 can include generating an activity command when the waiting time for an attraction or other congestion management metric exceeds a threshold. As schematically shown in block 22, method 10 can include sending an activity command to a guest device (e.g., active wearable 110). This embodiment can function to encourage guest 120 to participate in other areas of the amusement park. For example, the activity command can require guest 120 to leave the ride where they are waiting in line and go to other areas of the amusement park to perform an activity (e.g., ride another ride). When the activity command (e.g., one or more tasks) is performed, guest 120 can receive a reward by being provided with an enhanced user experience when guest 120 returns to the ride where they were originally waiting. When guest 120 performs a task related to the activity command, guest 120 can mark the task completion on active wearable 110 by interacting with the display device of the active wearable (marking task completion). When guest 120 marks task completion, remote central controller 102 receives a signal from active wearable 110 that guest 120 has performed the task. In this way, remote central controller 102 is alerted that guest 120 may be ready to return to the first attraction. In some embodiments, remote central controller 102 can determine that the congestion at the first attraction 148 (i.e., pond attraction 148) is still very intense and the associated waiting time is very long. In response, remote central controller 102 can output other activity commands (e.g., other tasks) to encourage guest 120 to perform other tasks. The activity command can be further understood with reference to FIGS. 3-4.

[0018] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of a crowded area of a theme park using the congestion management system 100 according to the present technology. As described above, the theme park includes various attractions (for example, rides). A specific attraction or ride may be very popular at a certain time. In the illustrated embodiment, the attraction 148 attracts a large number of visitors 120 to the area 149 of the amusement park. Each active wearable 110 worn by each visitor 120 outputs its respective signal to the remote central control device 102, and the remote central control device 102 collects information from each signal to indicate the number of visitors in the area, the length of time the visitors spend in the area, and the like. Similarly, the remote central control device 102 can receive other signals.

[0019] For example, the remote central control device 102 can receive signals from an attraction 148 (e.g., a sensor 104 associated with the attraction 148). The sensor 104 can include an impact sensor, an accelerometer, an operation time sensor, a piezoelectric sensor, an optical sensor, a camera, a microphone, or other suitable sensors for monitoring the attraction. The sensor 104 can be associated with an interactive device element 147 (here shown as a duck food dispensing station) and can output signals indicating the following: namely, the signal indicates how long the attraction has been interacting, how long the attraction has been in use or in operation, and how many operations each interactive device element 147 has experienced in order to indicate some wear of the attraction. When the remote central control device 102 determines that an individual interactive device element 147 has reached its operating limit, has been in use for too long, etc., the remote central control device 102 can issue a warning to the operator 128 (see FIG. 2) or output a message to the display device 108 that service or maintenance work needs to be done. The illustrated interactive device element 147 is shown as a duck food dispenser (e.g., when a visitor 120 activates a button, a portion of the food is dispensed), but the interactive device element 147 can be configured according to an attraction story and configured to release items, provide special effects, and generate visitor rewards (e.g., associated with a visitor profile as a result). Further, the operation or interaction with the interactive device element 147 can be a physical contact, a detected movement of a stylus, a detected audible or visible visitor action, etc. In one embodiment, one or more sensors 104 can include an RFID reader that detects visitors approaching the interactive device element 147, whereby the remote central control device 102 and / or the local control device 104 record the proximity as a good visitor interaction. However, to enhance visitor engagement and enjoyment, the interactive device element 147 can include a mechanical or electrical reaction for a good interaction. Thus, visitors 120 with various physical or physical abilities can nevertheless achieve a good interaction with the interactive device element 147.

[0020] The remote central control device 102 can dynamically adjust the configuration of specific attractions pushed down to each local control device 107 and the active wearable 110. By adjusting the configuration related to the attractions, the remote central control device 102 can control the flow of visitor traffic and reduce the congestion in this area. Similarly, the remote central control device 102 can control the flow of visitor traffic and reduce the number of users interacting with the attractions when the attractions are being interacted with more than desired. For example, if a single user makes physical contact with a specific interactive device element 147 for longer than desired, the remote central control device 102 can generate a cool-down activity command. The cool-down activity command can be received by the local control device 107 and is designed to reduce the output of the affected attraction. In response, the interactive device element 147 can stop its response output to reduce the interaction with the visitor 120. For example, the interactive device element 147 can stop lighting up, making sounds, giving points, or generating reactions in response to interactions with the visitor. In other words, the attraction can limit the desired reaction to the visitor 120 and prompt the visitor 120 to end the interaction with the interactive device element 147 of the attraction 148.

[0021] In other embodiments, when the remote central controller 102 determines that the congestion metric of a given attraction 148 indicates undesirable congestion, the remote central controller 102 can generate an activity command. This activity command can include a request for a visitor 120 to perform an activity, a request for a visitor 120 to perform a predetermined number of tasks from a task list, a request to sequentially perform a predetermined task, and the like. In an exemplary embodiment, the remote central controller 102 can determine, based on the congestion metric collected from the active wearable 110 associated with the visitor, that there are too many clusters gathered at the attraction 148 (e.g., a pond attraction where ducks are fed). That is, in one embodiment, the congestion metric is the visitor density in a particular area 149 or attraction 148, which can be evaluated based on identifying the number of detection signals of active wearables regarding individual visitors 120 occurring within area 149 or attraction 148 at a particular time and comparing this number to a threshold. If the estimated number of visitors 120 within area 149 exceeds the threshold, the congestion metric can indicate undesirable congestion. In such an embodiment, the activity command can be sent to one or more visitor devices (e.g., active wearable 110) identified as being in the congested area 149 or attraction 148, prompting each visitor 120 to leave and go to another area 149 or attraction 148. Conversely, an area 149 or attraction 148 with few people can trigger an activity command based on a congestion metric indicating a low visitor density. Such an activity command can be sent to visitors 120 who are not in the area 149 or attraction 148 with few people but are located elsewhere in the amusement park. Other congestion metrics can include the waiting time at an attraction 148, the cluster density around a particular interactive device element 147, and the like. In other words, the remote central controller 102 generally monitors both attractions 148 with a high cluster density and areas 149 with few people simultaneously to determine which areas of the theme park visitors 120 can be moved to.

[0022] To move visitor 120 to a less crowded area 149, the remote central controller 102 can trigger an activity command based on a congestion metric and change the game configuration associated with an individual attraction 148, such as a pond attraction. As will be further described with reference to FIG. 4, to control the flow of visitor traffic and reduce traffic at the pond attraction, the activity command can include sending the activity command to a visitor-related device (e.g., active wearable 110) to encourage the visitor to move to another attraction (e.g., a horse attraction).

[0023] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of an uncrowded area 151 of a theme park that utilizes a congestion management system according to the present technology. In an exemplary embodiment, the activity command is pushed down from the remote central controller 102 to the local controller 107 and thus to the active wearable 110 associated with visitor 120. As described above, the activity command can include a request for visitor 120 to perform an activity, a request for visitor 120 to perform a predetermined number of tasks from a task list, a request to sequentially perform predetermined tasks, and the like. In an exemplary embodiment, to relieve congestion at the pond attraction 148, the activity command includes a request for visitor 120 to leave the pond attraction (FIG. 3) and visit the horse attraction 150. As will be further described below, by following this activity command, visitor 120 can receive an enhanced user experience when returning to the first attraction (i.e., the pond attraction 148).

[0024] Returning to the description of the activity command, visitor 120 can be notified to interact with the horse attraction 150 through the activity command output by the active wearable 110. In an exemplary embodiment, visitor 120 is instructed to perform the task of feeding an apple. When visitor 120 completes the task of this activity command, visitor 120 can mark the task completion on the active wearable 110 by interacting with the display device of the active wearable (marking the task completion). When visitor 120 marks the task completion, the remote central control device 102 receives a signal from the active wearable 110 that visitor 120 has completed the task. In this way, the remote central control device 102 is prompted that visitor 120 may be able to return to the first attraction (i.e., the pond attraction 148). In some embodiments, the remote central control device 102 can determine that the congestion at the first attraction 148 (i.e., the pond attraction 148) is still very intense and the waiting time associated therewith is very long. In response, the remote central control device 102 can prompt visitor 120 to perform other tasks. For example, the remote central control device 102 can output other activity commands instructing visitor 120 to perform other tasks in order to reduce the congestion within the area of the first attraction (i.e., the pond attraction 148) while visitor 120 remains in place. In some embodiments, the activity command can include only one task that visitor 120 performs. In other embodiments, the activity sequence can require visitor 120 to sequentially perform a predetermined number of tasks from the task list. When the activity sequence is completed, visitor 120 will be instructed to return to the first attraction (i.e., the pond attraction 148). By completing the activity sequence, visitor 120 can receive an enhanced user experience (e.g., enabling a unique virtual aspect of the attraction).For example, the visitor 120 can access the secret area of the pond 152, give more food to the ducks, etc. By performing the activity sequence, the visitor 120 will contribute to reducing the congestion in the area of the first attraction (i.e., the pond attraction 148).

[0025] FIG. 5 schematically shows an attraction including an operating subset of the interactive device element 147a and a non-operating subset of the interactive device element 147b. In the illustrated embodiment, the interactive device elements 147 can generally be of the same type, for example, configured as a wall 300 including an interactive panel 302, which, when activated, displays chicken eggs 304 for the egg collection feature of the attraction 148. The interactive panel 302 can be configured to be pressable to enable a visitor 120 to virtually collect the displayed eggs 304. As defined herein, collection can be recorded or associated with the visitor identification of a visitor device near an individual interactive panel 302. For example, the interactive panel 302 can include an RFID reader that reads the identification information of a visitor device (e.g., an active wearable 110). When interacting well, the active wearable 110 can also light up or otherwise indicate that the interaction is complete, prompting the visitor 120 to move forward and enabling other visitors 120 to interact with the wall 300. In one embodiment, once activated, the interactive panel 302 disappears or no longer displays the eggs 304, indicating that the eggs have been collected. Accordingly, next, the control device 302 can issue an activation command to one of the non-operating subsets of the interactive device element 147b, which can then dynamically become part of the operating subset and start displaying the eggs 304. In this way, the operating subset and the non-operating subset can dynamically change members in response to visitor actions. Further, the dynamic adjustment can randomly display new eggs 304 at any time, thus promoting the spread of visitors along the wall 300 and reducing congestion. In addition, the dynamic rearrangement can present alternative options to the visitors 120, hiding any non-functional or maintenance-pending interactive device elements 147.

[0026] FIG. 6 schematically shows a visitor device configured by the active wearable 110 according to the present embodiment. In an exemplary embodiment, the active wearable 110 includes a bracelet-shaped housing 400. However, in other embodiments, it can include a necklace, a headband, a ring, or other conveniently wearable articles. The device 402 can be incorporated within the housing 400. The device 402 can include a plurality of separate or integrated components that perform specific functions. In an exemplary embodiment, the device 402 includes a memory / identification means 404, a power module 406, a display device 408, an indicator 410, a transmitter 412, and a receiver 414. In some embodiments, the memory / identification means 404 can include a simple identification means (e.g., an RFID tag) that associates the remote central control device 102 with the visitor 120. In operation, the device 402 can be operative to receive information from at least the remote central control device 102 and provide information (e.g., activity commands) to the visitor 120. Specifically, the device 402 can communicate with the remote central control device 102 via the communication information system 106. In some embodiments, this can include communication information from the device 402 to the remote central control device 102. However, in other embodiments, using the monitoring sensor 104 (e.g., a proximity sensor) to detect the device 402 at any location in the amusement park area and analyzing this data at the remote central control device 102 can provide information about the device 402 (e.g., the number of users 120 near an attraction, the waiting time experienced by the user 120 associated with the device 402). The active wearable 110 can include one or more lights or other indicators that can blink or light up in response to a good interaction with the interactive device element 147, for example, in response to a wireless signal indicating a good interaction from the control device 102.

[0027] FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a control system 600 that can be implemented to manage congestion within a theme park and / or equipment maintenance within the theme park. System 600 includes a remote central controller 102 that communicates with one or more local controllers 107. The local controllers 107 can be co-located with a given attraction or disposed within a given radius of the attraction. Each local controller 107 can receive signals from active wearables 110 associated with respective guests 120. That is, in certain embodiments, each local controller 107 can monitor the number of guests in the vicinity of an attraction. One or both of the remote central controller 102 and the local controllers 107 can include communication circuitry (e.g., communication circuitry 604 or 606) such as an antenna, a wireless transceiver circuit, and signal processing hardware and / or software (e.g., a hardware or software filter, an A / D converter, a multiplexer, an amplifier), or combinations thereof, and the communication circuitry can be configured to communicate over a wired or wireless communication path by way of, for example, IR wireless communication, satellite communication, walkie-talkie, microwave wireless, Bluetooth, ZigBee, Wi-Fi, UHF, NFC, etc. Such communication can also include intervening communication devices such as a wireless tower. In one embodiment, the communication between the remote central controller 102 and the local controllers 107 is wired. Further, system 600 can include an interactive device element 147, and the interactive device element 147 can also include communication circuitry 602 and one or more sensors 104 as presented herein. The communication between the interactive device element 147 and the local controller 107 can be wired or wireless. Additionally, the local controller 107 can communicate with an additional reader or other guest device detector 609 that monitors guest location and identification to determine a congestion metric. Such a detector can include an information circuit 611 as presented herein.

[0028] In addition, one or both of the remote central control device 102 and the local control device 107 can include a display device 615 and a memory element (e.g., memory element 608 or 610) for storing instructions executable by a processor (e.g., processor 612 or 614) to perform the methods and control actions described herein. For example, processor 612 can execute instructions related to congestion management based on inputs from local control device 107 and data regarding a guest's participation in a ride and the guest's departure from the amusement park. Additional inputs can include the location of guests within the amusement park and the time a guest is near an attraction. For example, activity commands can be generated and output to a user's active wearable based at least in part on the location of the guest relative to an attraction determined by a wireless signal or global positioning system (GPS) information from the guest active wearable. System 600 can store the guest location upon amusement park visit and generate an accessible log of guest locations within the amusement park, which log is utilized to determine which guests are motivated to leave an attraction and then return for an enhanced user experience. When a guest is estimated to be located within a first distance of an attraction during a first period, a message regarding the guest's wait time situation is sent to the active wearable (e.g., "20 minutes until duck feeding"), which addresses the user being one of the first guests to arrive at the attraction. If the guest does not do so and arrives late at the attraction when the crowd exceeds the upper limit of the tolerance threshold, activity commands (e.g., "Feed the horse at the carousel attraction for a good duck feeding experience when you return") can be generated to address congestion and long wait times near attraction 148. In this way, guests who arrive late at an attraction can be motivated to return to the attraction after the crowd has dispersed or the crowd has been reduced to the allowed number of people.

[0029] The processor can include one or more processing devices, and the memory can include one or more tangible non-transitory machine-readable media. Exemplarily, such machine-readable media can be in the form of RAM, ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, or optical disk storage devices, magnetic disk storage devices or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium that can hold or store desired program code in the form of machine-readable instructions or data structures and is accessible by a processor or by other processor-based devices (e.g., mobile devices). For example, the remote central control device 102 and the local control device 107 can be accessible via an operator interface 620, such as a computer-based workstation or a mobile device, and / or can include an input / output interface 616.

[0030] In certain embodiments, the remote central control device 102 can dynamically display vehicle options to guests through the active wearable 110 and prompt the guest 120 to first access historically less crowded attractions, whereby the user can have an enhanced experience when accessing more crowded attractions.

[0031] Although only certain features of the disclosure of the present invention have been illustrated and described herein, many modifications and changes will occur to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and changes as falling within the true spirit of the disclosure of the present invention. Further, it is to be understood that the specific elements of the disclosed embodiments can be combined with or exchanged with each other.

Description of Reference Numerals

[0032] 100 Congestion management system 102 Remote central control device 107 Local control device 110 Guest-related device 148 Attraction 149 Attraction area 606 Transceiver

Claims

1. At least one local control device associated with an attraction area of each individual attraction within a theme park, a transceiver of the at least one local control device configured to receive visitor data through a wireless signal from a visitor-related device within the detection range of the at least one local control device, a remote central control device communicating with the at least one local control device, A congestion management system comprising: The remote central control device: receives visitor data from the at least one local control device, determines one or more congestion metrics for each individual attraction based on the received visitor data, generates an activity command based on the determined one or more congestion metrics, and transmits the activity command to at least one of the visitor-related devices among the visitor-related devices. A congestion management system configured as such.

2. The congestion management system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one local control device is disposed in an area proximate to the individual attraction, and the individual attraction is a vehicle.

3. The congestion management system according to claim 1, wherein the activity command includes one or more text commands or notifications providing information about activities located far from the attraction area.

4. The congestion management system according to claim 3, wherein the remote central control device monitors the execution of one or more tasks indicated by the activity command, and when the one or more tasks indicated by the activity command are executed, generates a notification for the at least one visitor-related device to return to the attraction area.

5. The congestion management system according to claim 4, wherein the remote central control device is configured to present an enhanced attraction experience when the one or more tasks indicated by the activity command are executed.

6. The congestion management system according to claim 1, wherein the remote central control device is configured to determine that the number of visitors within the attraction area exceeds a threshold using the one or more congestion metrics.

7. The congestion management system according to claim 6, wherein the remote central control device is configured to activate an activity command when the number of visitors in the attraction area exceeds a threshold value.

8. The congestion management system according to claim 1, wherein the remote central control device is configured to estimate the position of each visitor device in the theme park based on one or more radio frequency signals from individual visitor devices.

9. The attraction area includes a plurality of interactive device elements, and only a subset of the interactive device elements is activated at a time. The remote central control device controls the activation of the subset based on at least the one or more congestion metrics. The congestion management system according to claim 1.

10. The activity command includes an indication of the position or identifier of the subset. The congestion management system according to claim 9.

11. The congestion management system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one local control device is configured to transmit the activity command to the at least one visitor-related device.

12. A plurality of local control devices associated with each attraction in the theme park, A central control device that communicates with the plurality of local control devices, A congestion management system comprising: The central control device, Receives communication information from the plurality of local control devices, Determines one or more congestion metrics for each of the attractions based on the received communication information. The congestion metric includes visitor number information based on the detection of wireless visitor devices in the vicinity of each of the attractions. Generates an activity command for an individual visitor based on the one or more congestion metrics, Transmits the activity command to a device associated with the individual visitor. The configured congestion management system.

13. The plurality of local control devices are co-located with each of the attractions. The congestion management system according to claim 12.

14. The device associated with the individual visitor is arranged at an individual attraction of each of the attractions. The activity command includes a message or notification to go to another attraction among the respective attractions for the individual visitor. The congestion management system according to claim 12.

15. The congestion management system according to claim 14, wherein the central control device is configured to generate a notification that each individual visitor can return to each individual attraction when the activity command is executed.

16. The congestion management system according to claim 12, wherein the central control device is configured to use the one or more congestion metrics to determine that the number of visitors near an individual attraction among the respective attractions has exceeded a threshold.

17. The congestion management system according to claim 16, wherein the central control device is configured to generate the activity command in response to the number of visitors near the individual attraction exceeding the threshold, and the activity command changes the activity or responsiveness of individual interactive device elements of the individual attraction.

18. An interactive device element of an individual attraction within a theme park, including one or more sensors, A control device, A system comprising: The control device, Receives data including information indicating a visitor interacting with the interactive device element from the one or more sensors, Determines one or more maintenance-related metrics of the interactive device element based on the received data, Generates a maintenance command for the interactive device element based on the one or more maintenance-related metrics, Deactivates the interactive device element based on the maintenance command, Activates another interactive device element in the inoperative state of the interactive device element, A system configured as such.

19. The system according to claim 18, wherein the control device is configured to transmit an activity command related to the another interactive device element to one or more visitor devices in the operating state of the another interactive device element.

20. The system according to claim 18, wherein the another interactive device element and the interactive device element are arranged at the individual attraction.

21. The system according to claim 18, wherein the control device is configured to send a maintenance command to a task program and put a maintenance request in a queue.

22. The system according to claim 18, wherein the maintenance command includes an order for servicing or replacing the device.

23. The one or more sensors include an impact sensor, an accelerometer, an operation time sensor, a piezoelectric sensor, an optical sensor, or a combination thereof, for the system according to claim 18.

24. The maintenance related metric includes the number of visitors interacting with the interactive device element, for the system according to claim 18.

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