Abstract: A system and method for assigning and managing patron reservations to one or more of a plurality of attractions receive reservation requests at personal communication devices (PCDs). Reservation requests are transmitted to a computer associated with the selected attraction, which determines a proposed reservation time based on information describing the attraction, the patron, previously-made reservations maintained in a virtual queue, and the current state of a physical queue associated with the attraction. Proposed reservation time is transmitted to the PCD for confirmation or rejection by the patron. Confirmed reservations are entered in the virtual queue. Patrons are alerted by the PCD when their reservation time is approaching.

Abstract: A system for providing interpretive information about objects or exhibits located in a facility employs a plurality of object identification devices, each disposed at an object or exhibit of interest, and each transmitting a signal identifying the object there located, and any number of personal interpretive devices that receive the signal and retrieve information from a storage device about the object identified by the received signal. The retrieved information includes text data, graphic data, and audio data, which is a recording of the text data. The text data is output on a display and the audio data is output by an audio output circuit in synchronism with the text display. The data is stored in a compressed format to increase the overall amount of information available. Information comparing an object with previous objects is retrieved when the object is one of predetermined set of objects, and others in the set having already been viewed.