Web Enabled Patron Queuing System

1. Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering ECE 415/ECE 416 SENIOR DESIGN PROJECT 2007 College of Engineering - University of Massachusetts Amherst Web Enabled Patron Queuing System Team Members: Adnan Salam, Archit Agarwal, Thanh V. Nguyen Faculty Advisor: Prof. Weibo Gong Sandy’s Barber Shop Installation Background Many businesses have lost customers due to the impatient nature of the human being. People usually do not like to wait in a line; instead, they usually go on to the next available venue. Upon consulting with few of these businesses as well as few of the disgruntled users, team Gong discovered the importance of the Patron Queuing System. In order to meet the customers’ demands, our client has requested us to create a system where users can access real-time information on the number of customers in queue as well as the approximate wait time. A web-based queuing system will provide real-time information to the users hence smart customers would be spending less time in a line, providing the customers a greater level of satisfaction. This in-turn would help business provide better service and retain the patriotism of its customers. Wireless Router Controller • Sensors • Detects things in trigger zones • Infrared motion detectors • Pressure pads, door triggers Patron Queuing System Transmitter Laptop Receiver • Abstract • The Patron Queuing System would contain three main components: • Infrared Sensors • Reader/Controller/Communicator • Remote Web Server • The IR sensors will indicate to the controller whether a customer enters or exists. The controller will then transmit the information to the remote web server where the data will be processed and based on intelligent algorithms, data with best approximate wait time will be supplied to the customers. Customers can access the information on the Patron Queuing System Web Site via PDA or computers or cell-phones. • Controller • Receives various sensor signals • Determines direction of travel i.e. whether to inc/dec count • Updates current count • Pushes data to WIFI via RS232 Controllers / DataHunter • WIFI • Joins local WIFI network • Makes TCP connection w/ server • Receives data from controller • Transmits data to server Foundational Subsystems The PQS System consists of four sub-systems: IR Sensors, Controller Board, WIFI Data Relay, and Server. Data is captured by IR Sensors as 0's and 1's and transmitted to the Controller board. Upon receiving the data, the Controller board adds/subtracts from the count stored in its memory. This data is then transmitted to the DataHunter (Data Relay via WIFI) which transmits the count to the server remotely. All four subsystems are independent of other systems and will work accurately. This allows for further improvement on the individual systems in the future without hindering the process of other subsystems. AVR Controller Data Hunter • Server • Java • Listens for TCP connection port 6666 • Receives ASCII data from controller • Modifies html file • Apache serves Sandys’ PQS page • Store data in SQL Database LED/Count Indicators Summary All subsystems implement their function. The system was installed for a month of Fridays and two five day weeks. In that time piggy-backing due to sensor disarm delay was the only source of count error. Traffic/congestion was not of sufficient magnitude to warrant a public call for use or statistical analysis. Predictable sensor disarm performance is the main need of the system right now. Sandy’s Barber Shop Website Thanh Nguyen, Archit Agarwal and Adnan Salam ( left to right) Acknowledgments This work has been funded by the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. Team Gong would like to thank those whom made this project possible: Professor Weibo Gong – AdvisorProfessors C. V. Hollot and T. B. Soules - Course Coordinators Francis Caron – SDP Lab Technician Sandy Lorraine Robidoux - Events Coordinator School of Engineering Ashley and the Marcus Café Dudes And special thanks to John Danaher