Virtual Queue Control for Accurate Multi-Ride Wait Times
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing virtual queuing systems in amusement parks provide inaccurate wait times due to static ride capacity assumptions, leading to inefficient operation, ride underutilization, overcrowding, and waste of resources, as they fail to dynamically adjust to real-time queue conditions and ride closures.
Innovation Solution
A virtual queuing system that monitors and dynamically evaluates queue conditions, including scheduled times, current guest throughput, and historical data to accurately determine wait times, and automatically adjusts queue operations to prevent inefficiencies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If physical queues are used for attraction access, then guests can be managed in order, but guests spend excessive time waiting in line
Solution Approach 1:
A virtual queue management system acts as an intermediary between guests and physical queues. The system assigns virtual queue positions to guests via mobile devices, allowing them to wait remotely while maintaining organized access control. Ride vehicles serve as intermediaries by scanning virtual queue identifiers at loading stations to verify and manage guest access without requiring physical line formation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical physical queue system with an electronic/digital virtual queue system. Instead of guests physically standing in line formations, the system uses mobile devices to store and transmit virtual queue position data, with automated scanning and verification replacing manual queue monitoring and physical line management.
2Productivity
If multiple queues are created for different ride vehicles, then ride throughput is improved, but queue management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The virtual queue management system serves multiple functions through a single unified platform: it manages multiple ride vehicles, handles virtual queue position assignment, performs guest verification, provides wait time information, and coordinates with various attraction components. This multi-functional approach allows the system to manage multiple queues without proportionally increasing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the management of multiple ride vehicle queues into a single virtual queue system. Instead of maintaining separate physical queues for each vehicle, the system consolidates them into one virtual queue that dynamically assigns guests to appropriate vehicles based on availability, thereby simplifying overall queue management while maintaining high throughput.
3Reliability
If guests are required to physically queue, then access control is maintained, but guest convenience and accessibility are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Guests perform self-service functions through their mobile devices: they receive virtual queue position assignments, store their position data locally, and present their identifiers for verification. This self-service approach maintains reliable access control through automated verification while significantly improving convenience by eliminating the need for guests to physically queue or interact with queue management staff.
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile device serves as an intermediary between the guest and the queue management system. It stores virtual queue position data locally on the guest's device, providing a reliable and secure method of access control verification without requiring guests to physically present tickets or interact with queue infrastructure, thereby enhancing both reliability and convenience.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A virtual queue system, comprising a virtual queue controller comprising a processor and a memory. The memory stores instructions executable by the processor and is configured to cause the virtual queue controller to receive a request, the request being associated with an individual guest, for a position in a virtual queue of an attraction, the attraction comprising a plurality of rides, wherein the virtual queue permits access of the individual guest to one of the plurality of rides of the attraction, and wherein guests in the virtual queue are distributed between the plurality of rides of the attraction via the virtual queue. The processor is also configured to cause the virtual queue controller to assign the individual guest to the position in the virtual queue of the attraction in response to the request, receive ride schedule data for the attraction, wherein the ride schedule data comprises information about a change in status of individual rides of the plurality of rides; and determine a wait time for the individual guest for the attraction based at least on the position of the individual guest in the virtual queue, the ride schedule data, and historical guest throughput at the attraction. The virtual queue system also comprises communications circuitry configured to output a signal to a guest-associated device indicating the wait time for the attraction.