SERVICE CALL-AHEAD SYSTEM AND METHOD
First Claim
1. A service order management system comprising:
- a processing device configured to execute logic instructions; and
a memory device in communication with the processing device, the memory device configured to store an order management program enabling the processing device to;
store an estimated travel time and estimated time of arrival (ETA) in the memory device, wherein the estimated travel time is defined by an estimated period of time for a servicer to travel from a start location to a service destination associated with a customer for whom the servicer is to perform a service job, and wherein the ETA is defined by an estimated time of day when the servicer is expected to arrive at the service destination;
calculate a call-ahead time defined by a time of day when the customer is to be notified of the ETA of the servicer at the service destination, wherein the calculation of the call-ahead time is based in part on a predetermined advanced-warning time period and the ETA, and wherein the predetermined advanced-warning time period is defined by a predetermined amount of time before the ETA for providing an advanced warning of the ETA; and
automatically notify the customer of the ETA of the servicer at the service destination no earlier than the call-ahead time.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods for managing service orders are disclosed herein. A computer implemented method, according to some implementations of the present disclosure, includes storing an estimated travel time and estimated time of arrival (ETA). The estimated travel time may be defined as an estimated period of time for a servicer to travel from a current location to a service destination associated with a customer who is to receive a service from the servicer. The ETA may be defined as an estimated time of day when the servicer is expected to arrive at the service destination. The computer implemented method also includes calculating a call-ahead time defined by a time of day when the customer is to be notified of the servicer'"'"'s ETA at the service destination. The calculation of the call-ahead time may be based in part on a predetermined advanced-warning time period and the ETA. The predetermined advanced-warning time period may be defined as a predetermined amount of time before the ETA for providing an advanced warning of the ETA. The method also includes automatically notifying the customer of the servicer'"'"'s ETA at the service destination no earlier than the call-ahead time.
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Citations
46 Claims
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1. A service order management system comprising:
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a processing device configured to execute logic instructions; and a memory device in communication with the processing device, the memory device configured to store an order management program enabling the processing device to; store an estimated travel time and estimated time of arrival (ETA) in the memory device, wherein the estimated travel time is defined by an estimated period of time for a servicer to travel from a start location to a service destination associated with a customer for whom the servicer is to perform a service job, and wherein the ETA is defined by an estimated time of day when the servicer is expected to arrive at the service destination; calculate a call-ahead time defined by a time of day when the customer is to be notified of the ETA of the servicer at the service destination, wherein the calculation of the call-ahead time is based in part on a predetermined advanced-warning time period and the ETA, and wherein the predetermined advanced-warning time period is defined by a predetermined amount of time before the ETA for providing an advanced warning of the ETA; and automatically notify the customer of the ETA of the servicer at the service destination no earlier than the call-ahead time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A computer implemented method comprising:
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storing an estimated travel time and estimated time of arrival (ETA), the estimated travel time being defined as an estimated period of time for a servicer to travel from a current location to a service destination associated with a customer who is to receive a service from the servicer, and the ETA being defined as an estimated time of day when the servicer is expected to arrive at the service destination; calculating a call-ahead time defined by a time of day when the customer is to be notified of the servicer'"'"'s ETA at the service destination, the calculation of the call-ahead time being based in part on a predetermined advanced-warning time period and the ETA, and the predetermined advanced-warning time period being defined as a predetermined amount of time before the ETA for providing an advanced warning of the ETA; and automatically notifying the customer of the servicer'"'"'s ETA at the service destination no earlier than the call-ahead time. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A computer implemented method comprising:
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receiving a service order from a business, the service order including information related to a service job to be performed for a customer, the information including at least a telephone number associated with the customer; automatically calling the telephone number to obtain confirmation of the service job; and enabling a recipient of the telephone call to connect with a live operator if desired. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A computer-readable medium encoded with computer-executable instructions, the computer-readable medium comprising:
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logic adapted to receive a service order from a business, the service order including information related to a service job to be performed for a customer, the information including at least a telephone number associated with the customer; logic adapted to automatically call a telephone number to obtain confirmation of the service job; and logic adapted to enable a recipient of the telephone call to connect with a live operator if desired. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. An order management program stored on a computer-readable medium, the order management program comprising:
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a service status receiving module configured to receive information regarding a starting location of a servicer and information regarding a service destination; an ETA module configured to store information regarding an estimated time of arrival (ETA) that the servicer is expected to reach the service destination, wherein the ETA is based in part on an estimated period of time for the servicer to travel from the starting location to the service destination, and wherein the service destination is associated with a customer for whom the servicer is to perform a service job; and an en route call module configured to calculate a call-ahead time defined by a time of day when the customer is to be notified of the ETA, wherein the calculation of the call-ahead time is based in part on a predetermined advanced-warning time period and the ETA, and wherein the predetermined advanced-warning time period is defined by a predetermined amount of time before the ETA at a time when an advanced warning of the ETA is to be provided; wherein the en route call module is further configured to automatically notify the customer of the ETA of the servicer at the service destination no earlier than the call-ahead time. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A portable communication device comprising:
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a processing device configured to execute logical instructions that are stored in memory; a user interface in communication with the processing device, the processing device being configured to cause the user interface to display information regarding a plurality of service jobs; and a transceiver device configured to wirelessly communicate with a service order management system that manages service orders for one or more servicers. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40)
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41. A computer implemented method comprising:
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receiving a service schedule that includes information about a plurality of service jobs to be performed; enabling a servicer to select a service job from the plurality of service jobs included in the service schedule; and transmitting a signal to a service order management system to indicate the selected service job. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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Specification