Provided is a method and device for determining a queuing scheme. The method includes: obtaining candidate queuing schemes by using each to-be-executed item as a first-order item, using the to-be-executed item other than the first-order item as other items; for each candidate queuing scheme, obtaining a completion time for the first-order item according to a number of current queueing people and a unit execution time for the first-order item; determining a number of increased queuing people for each of the other items according to the completion time for the first-order item; obtaining the completion time for all the other items according to the number of the current queuing people, the number of the increased queuing people and the unit execution time for each of the other items; calculating a total time for completion of all the to-be-executed items in each candidate queuing scheme, and determining a target queuing scheme.

Aspects of the disclosure relate to a method of estimating a length of a queue associated with a resource within a venue. Images of the queue may be received, each image corresponding to a segment of the queue. A server may estimate a number of venue guests in the queue by: for each of a first subset of the images, estimating a number of pixels of the image that correspond to venue guests in the queue; and for each of a second subset of the images, detecting and counting individual venue guests visible in the image. A notification including the estimated number of venue guests in the queue, an estimated current wait time, and/or a time at which a venue guest joining the queue is permitted entry to the resource, may be sent to devices corresponding to venue guests.

Aspects of the disclosure relate to a method of estimating a length of a queue associated with a resource within a venue. Images of the queue may be received, each image corresponding to a segment of the queue. A server may estimate a number of venue guests in the queue by: for each of a first subset of the images, estimating a number of pixels of the image that correspond to venue guests in the queue; and for each of a second subset of the images, detecting and counting individual venue guests visible in the image. A notification including the estimated number of venue guests in the queue, an estimated current wait time, and/or a time at which a venue guest joining the queue is permitted entry to the resource, may be sent to devices corresponding to venue guests.

A system and method for managing virtual queues. A cloud-based queue service manages a plurality of queues hosted by one or more entities. The queue service is in constant communication with the entities providing queue management, queue analysis, and queue recommendations. The queue service is likewise in direct communication with queued persons. Sending periodic updates while also motivating and incentivizing punctuality and minimizing wait times based on predictive analysis. The predictive analysis uses “Big Data” and other available data resources, for which the predictions assist in the balancing of persons across multiple queues for the same event or multiple persons across a sequence of queues for sequential events.

A system and method for managing virtual queues. A cloud-based queue service manages a plurality of queues hosted by one or more entities. The queue service is in constant communication with the entities providing queue management, queue analysis, and queue recommendations. The queue service is likewise in direct communication with queued persons. Sending periodic updates while also motivating and incentivizing punctuality and minimizing wait times based on predictive analysis. The predictive analysis uses “Big Data” and other available data resources, for which the predictions assist in the balancing of persons across multiple queues for the same event or multiple persons across a sequence of queues for sequential events.

A property management apparatus for managing visitor access to a managed premises. The apparatus is configured to execute stored instructions to receive visit information of a proposed visitor from a user frontend through a data communication link, to store the visit information on the data storage, and to register the proposed visitor as an authorized visitor after receipt of the visit information. The visit information comprises information of an accessible destination within the premises and visit conditions. The user frontend is pre-registered with the apparatus as associated with an associated address within the premises, and the apparatus is to operate to identify the associated address upon data communication connection with the user frontend.

A technique for controlling access to one or more attractions is achieved using a number of access keys, each being issued to one or more users. An electronic queue management part manages a virtual queue in respect of each attraction and receives electronic requests for attraction access, each request relating to an access key and being for the users associated with it to access a particular attraction. Receipt of each request causes the respective users to be added to a corresponding virtual queue. A time at which each group of users reaches the front of the virtual queue and can access the attraction is determined. The users access the attractions by presenting an access key to an access control part, in communication with the electronic queue management part. Only a user presenting an access key at the correct time for accessing the attraction is allowed access to the attraction.

A technique for controlling access to one or more attractions is achieved using a number of access keys, each being issued to one or more users. An electronic queue management part manages a virtual queue in respect of each attraction and receives electronic requests for attraction access, each request relating to an access key and being for the users associated with it to access a particular attraction. Receipt of each request causes the respective users to be added to a corresponding virtual queue. A time at which each group of users reaches the front of the virtual queue and can access the attraction is determined. The users access the attractions by presenting an access key to an access control part, in communication with the electronic queue management part. Only a user presenting an access key at the correct time for accessing the attraction is allowed access to the attraction.

A method is provided for tracking a load when loading a vehicle. The load is provided with a load communication module and the vehicle includes, at an entrance, at least two entrance communication modules and, at a distance from the entrance and from the entrance communication modules, at least one vehicle communication module. The method includes, when the load is delivered to the vehicle, first communicating, by the load communication module with the at least two entrance communication modules and then communicating, by the load communication module with the vehicle communication module.

A method of assigning a passenger to a lavatory within an aircraft passenger cabin, wherein the aircraft passenger cabin comprises at least two lavatories, each having a waiting queue, and wherein the aircraft passenger cabin is divided into at least two spatial zones, includes: receiving a lavatory assignment request from a passenger; based on a seat location of said passenger, determining a particular spatial zone of the aircraft passenger cabin which includes the seat location of said passenger; and based on the particular spatial zone, adding the passenger to the waiting queue of a particular lavatory, associated with the particular spatial zone. The configuration of the at least two spatial zones is variable and it is based on a plurality of zone configuration parameters including a queue length of each of the waiting queues of the at least two lavatories.