Active Queue Management for Real-Time Port Entry Congestion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current electronic queue management systems at ports and facilities are inefficient, complex, and consume excessive resources, leading to recurring congestion and inadequate user categorization, which fails to manage vehicle and people queues effectively.
Innovation Solution
An active queue management system (AQMS) that includes a processor assembly and storage for transmitting queue notifications to devices based on real-time traffic input, allowing users to schedule arrival times and manage lane traffic efficiently.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If electronic queue management systems are implemented to manage vehicle and people queues, then queue management capability is improved, but system complexity and resource consumption increase excessively
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables users to self-register and receive queue management notifications through their own devices without requiring complex manual intervention. Users autonomously obtain queue positions and arrival time recommendations, reducing the need for complex human-operated control systems while maintaining effective queue management.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical/electronic queue management infrastructure with a lightweight software-based solution that uses mobile devices as the primary interface. This substitution reduces physical system complexity while maintaining or improving queue management capabilities through digital notification and information delivery.
2Productivity
If complex user categorization systems are created to expedite access, then access efficiency is improved, but physical congestion constraints remain and resource consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides universal queue management functionality to all users regardless of their category or authorization level. The same core notification and information delivery mechanism serves different user types (authorized and non-authorized users), eliminating the need for separate complex systems for each category while maintaining access efficiency improvements.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts queue management parameters such as recommended arrival times and notification schedules based on real-time conditions and user characteristics. This allows efficient access management without requiring rigid, resource-intensive categorization systems, as the same system adapts its behavior to different user needs and conditions.
3Productivity
If real-time traffic monitoring and dynamic notification systems are implemented, then queue optimization is improved, but system complexity and electronic resources consumed increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic notification delivery rather than continuous real-time updates. Notifications are sent at specific intervals or trigger events (such as when queue position changes or recommended arrival time is reached), reducing electronic resource consumption while maintaining effective queue optimization through timely information delivery.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses mobile devices as intermediaries between the queue management system and users. This intermediary approach allows the system to deliver optimization information efficiently without requiring direct, resource-intensive real-time communication with all users continuously. The mobile devices buffer and manage the information delivery, reducing the electronic resource burden on the central system.
Data Source
AI summary
In one aspect, an electronic active queue management system (AQMS) may be used to identify processing capacity of entry points and quantifiable amounts of congestion at a land port of entry (LPOE) based on one or more real-time measurements of traffic flow. Based on the amount(s) of congestion, the AQMS may dynamically manage arrival times at the LPOE through one or more lanes of the LPOE, controlling wait times in the queue system. As part of managing arrival times at the LPOE, the AQMS can schedule arrival times for vehicles and/or people at the dedicated lane of the LPOE. The arrivals may be scheduled through a dedicated AQMS app, through a web-based interface, and/or through telephone text messaging. Present principles may also be used for queue management at airports, concerts, sporting events, etc.