Patent ID: 7685014

Claim:
A system for monitoring customers standing in a queue comprising: an entry sensor subsystem configured to sense entrance of customers into the queue; an exit sensor subsystem configured to sense exit of customers from the queue; and a processing system in communication with the entry and exit sensor subsystems configured to: log a customer sensed by the entry sensor subsystem as entering the queue; determine from the exit sensor subsystem if the logged customer has exited the queue within a predetermined time period; if the logged customer has exited the queue within the predetermined time period, log the customer as having received service; if the logged customer has not exited the queue within the predetermined time period, provide an indication to management personnel; track a current average customer flow time through the queue and determine whether a wait time for the logged-in customer exceeds the current average customer flow time by a selected amount; and log-out the logged customer in response to a determination that the wait time for the logged customer exceeds that current average customer flow time by the selected amount.