The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 04, 2003
Filed:
Dec. 08, 1998
Leonard Sim, Berkshire, GB;
LO-Q PLC, Oxfordshire, GB;
Abstract
A queue management system comprises a plurality of portable modules, at least one docking station, a queue manager, signal transmitting means, at least one module detector and a communication means. Each portable module includes a memory means containing a unique identification code, an indicator means, transmitter means for transmitting the identification code over a short range, and docking means for downloading the identification code. The docking station registers the person in a queue by downloading the identification code for the portable module when docked. The queue manager maintains the queue sequence for each queue and includes a communication means for receiving the downloaded code. The signal transmitting means is associated with the queue manager for transmitting the signals to each portable module to instruct the person carrying the portable module to join the queue. The module detector detects transmitted identification codes from any portable module in its vicinity. The module detector is arranged at the queue to detect when the person carrying the portable module joins the queue. Finally, the communication means is arranged between the queue manager and the module detector to communicate any detected identification code to the queue manager.