Abstract: A method for dynamically programming and distributing a wearable in an automated vending machine includes receiving at the vending machine a request from a guest to issue a wearable and the determination of an identity of the guest from the request. The method additionally includes selecting a wearable within the vending machine from a repository of unprogrammed wearables and moving the selected wearable out of the repository and into a programming tray, within the vending machine, that is communicatively segregated from the repository within the vending machine. The method further includes programming the selected wearable while the selected wearable remains in the programming tray with information corresponding to the determined identity of the guest. Finally, the method includes ejecting the programmed selected wearable for retrieval by the guest at a dispensing outlet that is disposed within the vending machine but that is accessible from outside of the vending machine.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, system and computer program product for guest quarters coordination during muster on a vessel. In an embodiment of the invention, a guest quarters coordination method during muster on a vessel includes initiating a muster event on a vessel and responding to the muster event, in each cabin on the vessel, by activating a television display in the cabin, retrieving a muster location assigned to the cabin and displaying the muster location on the television display.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, system and computer program product for optimized shipboard health. In an embodiment of the invention, a method for optimized shipboard health includes first registering different mobile devices, each for a different passenger on an oceangoing vessel. Then, the state of each of different PPE dispensaries on board the vessel may be monitored, including a supply of PPE at each of the dispensaries and a number of passengers present at each of the dispensaries. Thereafter, in response to a request by one of the passengers received by way of a corresponding mobile device, a listing may be presented, in a user interface of the mobile device, of one or more dispensaries each having both a monitored threshold level of supply of the PPE and also less than a monitored threshold number of the passengers present at the dispensary.

Abstract: Photographic souvenir augmentation includes capturing a digital image of a guest at a location in an attraction and invisibly grid-striping of a portion of the guest based upon a two-dimensional grid. The augmentation additionally includes image sensing the grid-striped portion of the guest and correlating locations of the two-dimensional grid with locations of the grid-striped portion. The augmentation yet further includes selecting a graphical image and transforming the graphical image according to the correlation into a morphed graphical image. Finally, the augmentation includes superimposing the morphed graphical image onto the digital image of the guest and storing the digital image in association with an identifier for the guest.

Abstract: Distributed muster includes distributing to different mobile devices an identity of an assigned muster location of an ocean-going vessel, and associating each mobile device both with a corresponding passenger of the ocean-going vessel, and also with the assigned muster location. Thereafter, a timer initiates that defines a period during which a muster drill must be completed by all of the passengers and, in response, a message is transmitted to each mobile device that the muster drill has commenced. During the period, as each mobile device is sensed within a geographically defined area of a correspondingly assigned muster location, a record of the completion of the muster drill by the passenger associated with the sensed mobile device is recorded in the memory. As well, subsequent to a lapsing of the timer, a listing is displayed of any passenger not recorded as having completed the muster drill.

Abstract: Multifunction smart door devices may be part of a system of multifunction smart door devices installed within or near stateroom doors of a cruise ship. Each smart door device can control access to a stateroom based on facial recognition or a wireless credential and can perform other functions such as controlling stateroom personalization features, providing an electronic peephole function, allowing controlled access for authorized crew members, accommodating remote unlocking, and providing notifications. Data obtained by the smart door devices can be provided to the cruise operator for service, safety, or security purposes, such as for anonymized foot traffic analysis, hazard detection, and stateroom access auditing. Smart door device functionality may be implemented in part by customers' mobile devices.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for enhanced ship-based network connectivity using a content delivery network (CDN) edge server. An example method includes receiving user requests from user devices in wireless communication with a system, with the user requests being associated with applications executing on the user devices. An operating status associated with a satellite communication system is determined, the operation status being indicative of the satellite communication system having bandwidth and/or connectivity to route the user requests via a satellite network. Based on the operating status being negative, a first subset of the user requests is queued for transmission. A second subset of the user requests are responded to using an edge cache. Based on the operating status being positive, the user requests are transmitted via the satellite network to a shore-based system, the shore-based system routing the user requests to web applications associated with different functionality.

Abstract: Contract tracing systems and methods for infectious disease tracking are disclosed. An infectious disease tracking system includes a plurality of user devices, each user device configured to detect, using a wireless communication module, a signal emitted by another one of the plurality of user devices. The user device can determine that a strength of the signal exceeds a predetermined event initiation signal strength threshold corresponding to a physical proximity between users of the devices and can store a contact tracing event record in response to determining that the strength of the signal exceeds the predetermined event initiation signal strength threshold. The user device can transmit the contact tracing event records to a data center where they can be stored and used to identify close contacts when an index case of an infectious disease is identified.

Abstract: Systems and methods for firework water illusions are disclosed. In one aspect, a device for creating an illusion of rotary pyrotechnics includes at least one nozzle configured to rotate about an axis of the device and spray water in a radial direction while rotating. The device can also include a water supply configured to provide the water to the at least one nozzle and a lighting system configured to illuminate the water sprayed from the at least one nozzle to create an illusion of rotary pyrotechnics.

Abstract: Distributed muster includes distributing to different mobile devices an identity of an assigned muster location of an ocean-going vessel, and associating each mobile device both with a corresponding passenger of the ocean-going vessel, and also with the assigned muster location. Thereafter, a timer initiates that defines a period during which a muster drill must be completed by all of the passengers and, in response, a message is transmitted to each mobile device that the muster drill has commenced. During the period, as each mobile device is sensed within a geographically defined area of a correspondingly assigned muster location, a record of the completion of the muster drill by the passenger associated with the sensed mobile device is recorded in the memory. As well, subsequent to a lapsing of the timer, a listing is displayed of any passenger not recorded as having completed the muster drill.

Abstract: Contract tracing systems and methods for infectious disease tracking are disclosed. An infectious disease tracking system includes a plurality of user devices, each user device configured to detect, using a wireless communication module, a signal emitted by another one of the plurality of user devices. The user device can determine that a strength of the signal exceeds a predetermined event initiation signal strength threshold corresponding to a physical proximity between users of the devices and can store a contact tracing event record in response to determining that the strength of the signal exceeds the predetermined event initiation signal strength threshold. The user device can transmit the contact tracing event records to a data center where they can be stored and used to identify close contacts when an index case of an infectious disease is identified.

Abstract: Deployable slackline systems are disclosed which can support a slackline at a desired height and nominal tension. The disclosed systems may maintain one or more slacklines and can adjust height and tension of individual slacklines while the slacklines are in use. The disclosed slackline systems are stowable; tensioning and termination assemblies of the slackline system can each fold into a compact housing having a height substantially less than a vertical range of motion of the slackline. The disclosed slackline systems can be implemented in aquatic or non-aquatic performance environments such as on cruise ships or other hospitality settings.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, system and computer program product for dynamically personalizing a respiratory mask. A method for the dynamic personalization of a respiratory mask includes electronically scanning an identification of a guest on an oceangoing vessel, querying a data store of images of guest faces for an image of a face matching the identification of the guest, retrieving the matching image of the face into memory of the computing system, loading a printer with a respiratory mask such as an N95 mask or a KN95 mask, printing onto the mask a portion of the matching image of the face corresponding to a portion of the face obscured by the mask when the mask is worn by the guest and ejecting the mask with the printing from the printer.

Abstract: An interactive serving tray is adapted to facilitate the delivery of food or beverages in a hospitality environment. The interactive serving tray includes a platter defined by a flat surface encompassed by a perimeter barrier, and a mobile computing device affixed to the platter, the device including at least one processor, memory, a communications adapter and a display. Finally, the interactive serving tray includes a delivery manager module stored in the memory and executing by the processor, and including computer program instructions operable to perform receiving into the memory through the adapter, an order of a food or beverage item and identity information of a customer associated with the order, such as a digital image of the customer, and displaying the identity information in the display.

Abstract: Socially distant seating arrangement management includes loading a seating chart for a seating area of an event venue into memory of a computer, setting both a social distancing parameter and also a seat width parameter for seats in the seating area and computing a number of successive seats with a combined width according to the seat width parameter minimally exceeding the social distancing parameter. The method further includes enabling for selection in a user interface to the seating chart, available ones of the seats in a selected row of the seating area that are separated from one another by the computed number of the seats and disabling from selection in the user interface, the seats separating the available ones of the seats. Finally, the method includes recording in the memory of the computer, different selections in the seating chart by different end users of the available ones of the seats.

Abstract: Socially distant seating arrangement management includes loading a seating chart for a seating area of an event venue into memory of a computer, setting both a social distancing parameter and also a seat width parameter for seats in the seating area and computing a number of successive seats with a combined width according to the seat width parameter minimally exceeding the social distancing parameter. The method further includes enabling for selection in a user interface to the seating chart, available ones of the seats in a selected row of the seating area that are separated from one another by the computed number of the seats and disabling from selection in the user interface, the seats separating the available ones of the seats. Finally, the method includes recording in the memory of the computer, different selections in the seating chart by different end users of the available ones of the seats.

Abstract: A method for determining population density of a defined space from multi-camera sourced imagery includes loading a set of images acquired from multiple different cameras positioned about the defined space, locating different individuals within each of the images and computing a population distribution of the located different individuals in respect to different locations of the defined space. The method additionally includes submitting each of the images to a convolutional neural network as training data, each in association with a correspondingly computed population distribution. Subsequent to the submission, contemporaneous imagery from the different cameras is acquired in real time and submitted to the neural network, in response to which, a predicted population distribution for the defined space is received from the neural network. Finally, a message is displayed that includes information correlating at least a portion of the population distribution with a specific location of the defined space.

Abstract: Systems and methods for firework water illusions are disclosed. In one aspect, a device for creating an illusion of rotary pyrotechnics includes at least one nozzle configured to rotate about an axis of the device and spray water in a radial direction while rotating. The device can also include a water supply configured to provide the water to the at least one nozzle and a lighting system configured to illuminate the water sprayed from the at least one nozzle to create an illusion of rotary pyrotechnics.

Abstract: A virtual testing platform for a cruise ship is described. An example platform obtains information indicative of passengers of a sailing of a cruise ship, the information indicating assignment of the passengers to respective cabins of the cruise ship. A first subset of the passengers who represent virtual passengers and a second subset of the passengers who represent real-world passengers are determined, with the virtual passengers being indicated as not having arrived to board the cruise ship, such that the virtual passengers are not counted as being embarked on the cruise ship. Requests for activities received from applications are responded to, with the responses indicating whether the bookings were successful, and with each request being determined as being associated with a virtual passenger or a real-world passenger. The successful bookings associated with virtual passengers are triggered for cancellation.

Abstract: Multifunction smart door devices may be part of a system of multifunction smart door devices installed within or near stateroom doors of a cruise ship. Each smart door device can control access to a stateroom based on facial recognition or a wireless credential and can perform other functions such as controlling stateroom personalization features, providing an electronic peephole function, allowing controlled access for authorized crew members, accommodating remote unlocking, and providing notifications. Data obtained by the smart door devices can be provided to the cruise operator for service, safety, or security purposes, such as for anonymized foot traffic analysis, hazard detection, and stateroom access auditing. Smart door device functionality may be implemented in part by customers' mobile devices.