Queue Management System Allows queue number to be remotely obtained by Patients or customers
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- performing a queue management functionality;
for enabling patient or customer to remotely send the request for Short Message Service text message and receive back the assigned queue number, the estimated waiting time, the currently being served number, and numerous other configured functions deemed necessary by the hospital administrator. Ability to receive all remote requests of the queue number by Short Message Service (SMS) from any patient'"'"'s or customer'"'"'s cellular Telephone device. Also checking for duplicated requesting, and or generating a new queue number and or sending the assigned number via the Short Message Service back to the sender/requester identified from the caller ID telephone number. The sending SMS may include a currently being served number and an approximate time the requester is recommended to be present in the waiting hall to be called to receive health care service or customer service.What happens if client misses time of appointment? Back of line issue new #? This could be easily handled by user'"'"'s configurable in the firmware/software. The invented queue management device will handle it accordingly. In other word, that particular queue number could be allowed to be the next in line to be served. If the hospital administration sets the rule that way. Or it could be altogether canceled and patient or customer must request the new queue number over again.It may obtain or generate and issue a queue number from the central control subroutine in the software, or from the server software wherein the queue number will be sent to the requester with or without estimated waiting time and with or without current serving queue number.It may require that the patient or requester supply the national identification number, driver license number, patient number, or an acceptable identification source from the remote patient or requester.It may set forth rules of format of the Short Message Service text sentence format of the sentence that user or patients must follow to successfully obtain the queue number and necessary information related to the queue management
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Accused Products
Abstract
A device for queue management which can receive and transmit a Short Message Service (SMS) text. The patient or customer would be the sender requesting a queue number via SMS. Phone caller ID will also be utilized. Thereafter the queue management device or computer system will generate a queue number and send back to the patient or customer via SMS the requested queue number, the estimated time of service and/or approximate time that customer must be present at the waiting hall as well as current number of customer being served. Also a LED display and computing device will display current queue number being served as well. The walk-in customer can also press the touch screen button to get the printed queue ticket. The printed queue number will be consistent and concurrent with queue numbers issued and sent to remote customers.
40 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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performing a queue management functionality;
for enabling patient or customer to remotely send the request for Short Message Service text message and receive back the assigned queue number, the estimated waiting time, the currently being served number, and numerous other configured functions deemed necessary by the hospital administrator. Ability to receive all remote requests of the queue number by Short Message Service (SMS) from any patient'"'"'s or customer'"'"'s cellular Telephone device. Also checking for duplicated requesting, and or generating a new queue number and or sending the assigned number via the Short Message Service back to the sender/requester identified from the caller ID telephone number. The sending SMS may include a currently being served number and an approximate time the requester is recommended to be present in the waiting hall to be called to receive health care service or customer service.What happens if client misses time of appointment? Back of line issue new #? This could be easily handled by user'"'"'s configurable in the firmware/software. The invented queue management device will handle it accordingly. In other word, that particular queue number could be allowed to be the next in line to be served. If the hospital administration sets the rule that way. Or it could be altogether canceled and patient or customer must request the new queue number over again. It may obtain or generate and issue a queue number from the central control subroutine in the software, or from the server software wherein the queue number will be sent to the requester with or without estimated waiting time and with or without current serving queue number. It may require that the patient or requester supply the national identification number, driver license number, patient number, or an acceptable identification source from the remote patient or requester. It may set forth rules of format of the Short Message Service text sentence format of the sentence that user or patients must follow to successfully obtain the queue number and necessary information related to the queue management - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 18, 20)
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8. A method comprising:
An embedded device or computer systems consisting of a thermal printer, printable paper, power supply, touch screen, USB/serial ports, CPU and system board, the GSM/GPRS modem, SIM card from Cellular telephone company, hard drive, operating system, firmware/software to control and provide all functionality from all claims here in. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 19)
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11. A method comprising:
- The telephony software/firmware is implemented to handle the voice commands. In other words, the invented queue management device will be receiving a voice call, which allows patient who is the caller to press the key for options or speak out the commanding words. This method would help people who cannot read or write, or for the regular telephone that has no ability to compose the text nor send it via Short Message Service. i.e. land line, public telephone, etc.
- View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. One or more machine-readable media having stored therein instructions executable by a processor, wherein executing the instructions causes the processor to perform operations that comprise:
performing a first security measure with a security dongle for enabling a piece of software on a queue management machine; - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
Specification