IP Library Granted Patent US 12,309,660
Granted Patent B2
US 12,309,660 · App. 17/731,584 · Granted May 20, 2025

Systems and methods for layered data reporting in an attraction

Inventors: Ron Bessems (Hobe Sound, FL); Patrick John Goergen (Orlando, FL); Martin Evan Graham (Clermont, FL)
Assignee: Universal City Studios LLC
H04W4/021
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,309,660
App. No.
17/731,584
Granted
May 20, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A layered reporting system for an attraction may include a primary and secondary wireless communication network that are separate from one another. Components of an attraction environment, such as augmented reality/virtual reality headsets and a ride vehicle having a controller, may generate operation data of the attraction. The components of the systems may also include communication circuitry that communicates a first subset of the operation data to the primary wireless network. A second subset of the operation data is communicated via a secondary wireless network having a bandwidth higher than the primary wireless network.

Claims (40)

1. A data reporting system for an attraction, the data reporting system comprising:

a primary wireless communication network;

a secondary wireless communication network separate from the primary wireless network, wherein the primary wireless network comprises access-restricted communication pathways and is configured to transmit data faster than the secondary wireless network; and

a ride vehicle of the attraction, the ride vehicle comprising:

a controller of the ride vehicle configured to provide ride vehicle operation data indicative of characteristics of the ride vehicle during operation; and

communication circuitry that communicates a first subset of the ride vehicle operation data to the primary wireless network and a second subset of the ride vehicle operation data to the secondary wireless network.

2. The data reporting system of claim 1 , wherein the primary wireless communication network does not receive data that is communicated via the secondary wireless network.

3. The data reporting system of claim 1 , wherein the first subset of the ride vehicle operation data comprises real-time ride vehicle operation data.

4. The data reporting system of claim 1 , comprising:

a data server that receives the first subset of the ride vehicle operation data from the primary wireless network and the second subset of the ride vehicle operation data from the secondary wireless network.

5. The data reporting system of claim 1 , comprising:

a display controller comprising configured to execute to:

transmit images to a AR/VR headset, wherein the AR/VR headset is coupled to the ride vehicle.

6. The data reporting system of claim 5 , wherein the AR/VR headset generates headset operation data, wherein a portion of the headset operation data is provided to the controller of the ride vehicle as part of the first subset of the ride vehicle operation data.

7. The data reporting system of claim 5 , wherein the AR/VR headset comprises headset communication circuitry that receives the transmitted images and that communicates headset operation data comprising a first portion of headset operation data and a second portion of the headset operation data to the secondary wireless network, wherein the first portion of the headset operation data is structured to facilitate faster communication than the second portion of the headset operation data.

8. The data reporting system of claim 7 , wherein the display controller receives the headset operation data and separates the data in the first portion and the second portion.

9. The data reporting system of claim 8 , wherein the display controller communicates the first portion of the headset operation data via the primary wireless network.

10. The data reporting system of claim 1 , wherein the first subset of the ride vehicle operation data comprises position data of the ride vehicle.

11. The data reporting system of claim 1 , comprising a plurality of sensors configured to detect guest interactions, wherein the plurality of sensors generate guest data that is communicated to a data server via the secondary wireless network.

12. The data reporting system of claim 1 , wherein the first subset of the ride vehicle operation data has a higher priority than the second subset of the ride operation data.

13. The data reporting system of claim 1 , wherein the first subset of the ride vehicle operation data comprises compressed ride vehicle operation data.

14. The data reporting system of claim 1 , wherein the first subset of the ride vehicle operation data comprises health data related to the ride vehicle, wherein the health data comprises operation status, malfunction identification, position data, speed, status of riders, sensor measurements, status of coupled devices, or a combination thereof.

15. The data reporting system of claim 1 , comprising an attraction controller communicatively coupled to the ride vehicle, wherein the controller of the ride vehicle is configured to determine whether a portion of the ride vehicle operation data belongs to the first subset of the ride vehicle operation data or the second subset of the ride vehicle operation data based on instructions from the attraction controller.

16. A method of data reporting for an attraction, the method comprising:

generating ride vehicle operation data indicative of characteristics of a ride vehicle of the attraction during operation;

communicating a first subset of the ride vehicle operation data via a primary wireless communication network; and

communicating a second subset of the ride vehicle operation data via a secondary wireless network separate from the primary wireless network, wherein the primary wireless network comprises access-restricted communication pathways and is configured to transmit data faster than the secondary wireless network.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the primary wireless network is a dedicated wireless network for the first subset of ride vehicle operation data.

18. The method of claim 16 , comprising:

determining that the primary wireless network is not available to communicate the portion of the first subset of the ride vehicle operation data; and

communicating the portion of the first subset of the ride vehicle operation data via the secondary wireless network.

19. The method of claim 16 , comprising:

determining that the primary wireless network is not available to communicate the portion of the first subset of the ride vehicle operation data; and

storing the portion of the first subset of the ride vehicle operation data on the ride vehicle until the primary wireless network becomes available.

20. The method of claim 16 , comprising:

compressing a portion of the ride vehicle operation data to generate a compressed portion of the ride vehicle operation data; and

communicating the compressed portion of the ride vehicle operation data as the first subset of the ride vehicle operation data via the primary wireless network.

21. The method of claim 16 , comprising:

compiling a portion of the ride vehicle operation data to generate a compiled portion of the ride vehicle operation data; and

communicating the compiled portion of the ride vehicle operation data as the second subset of the ride vehicle operation data via the secondary wireless network.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 28, 2022
From: BESSEMS, RON; GOERGEN, PATRICK JOHN; GRAHAM, MARTIN EVAN
To: UNIVERSAL CITY STUDIOS LLC
Reel/Frame 059765/0020 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63184892 · May 6, 2021
Related Publication 20220360938A1 · Nov 10, 2022
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