Location-Aware Waiting Queue

• US 20180260863A1
• Filed: 03/07/2017
• Published: 09/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Inventors: Leclercq, Guy Gregoire Nicolas, Charignon, Laurent Gabriel Stephane
• Granted Patent: US 10,685,300 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06311 Scheduling, planning or task assignment for a person or group
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063116 Schedule adjustment for a person or group
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0613 Third-party assisted
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information

Abstract

Particular embodiments may receive, from a first client device, registration information for a service to be provided at a service location. Particular embodiments may add the first client device to a waiting queue for the service, wherein the waiting queue comprises one or more client devices. Particular embodiments may determine a target service time for the first client device based on location information received from the first client device and status information received from the client devices in the queue. Finally, particular embodiments may send, to the first client device, a notification regarding the target service time.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

by a computing device, receiving, from a first client device, registration information for a service to be provided at a service location;

by the computing device, adding the first client device to a waiting queue for the service, wherein the waiting queue comprises one or more client devices;

by the computing device, determining a target service time for the first client device based on location information received from the first client device and status information received from the client devices in the queue; and

by the computing device, sending, to the first client device, a notification regarding the target service time.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving registration information comprises:

receiving, from the first client device, a registration request that includes identification information for the service to be provided at the service location and identification information for the first client device; and

sending, to the first client device, a command to enable location reporting.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the command instructs the first client device to make itself discoverable to Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) beacons in a pre-determined area.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the command instructs the first client device to continually transmit the location information of the first client device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the location information comprises coordinates based on:

GPS satellite signals;

or

Indoor Positioning System (IPS) signals.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining the target service time for the first client device based on location information received from the first client device and status information received from the client devices in the queue comprises:

calculating an estimated service duration for the first client device;

identifying a service time gap in the queue based on current location information for each of the client devices in the queue, wherein the service time gap can accommodate the estimated service duration based on the location information received from the first client device;

inserting the first client device into the queue based on the service time gap.

adjusting the position of the first client device in the waiting queue by comparing the estimated arrival time of the first client device and the estimated arrival times of the other client devices in the waiting queue; and

determining the target service time for the first client device based on the position of the first client in the waiting queue, estimated service duration for each client device in the waiting queue and a number of service personnel at the service location.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein calculating the estimated arrival time of the first client device is further based on an estimated time to complete current activity, wherein the current activity is associated with the location indicated in the location information received from the first client device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the status information comprises location information.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprises:

receiving, from a second client device that is in the waiting queue, status information, wherein the status information comprises location information;

calculating an estimated arrival time of the second client device to the service location based on the status information; and

adjusting the position of the second client device in the waiting queue based on the status information received from the second client device and status information received from the client devices in the queue.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the status information comprises a notification that a client device is cancelling registration for the service.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, from a second client device that is in the waiting queue, status information, wherein the status information comprises a notification that the second client device is cancelling registration for the service; and

removing the second client device from the waiting queue.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the status information comprises a notification that a client device is being delayed for the service.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, from a second client device that is in the waiting queue, status information, wherein the status information comprises a notification that the second client device is being delayed for the service; and

adjusting the position of the second client device in the waiting queue based on the status information received from the second client device and status information received from the client devices in the queue.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the status information comprises an indication of service completion.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, from a second client device that is in the waiting queue, status information, wherein the status information comprises an indication of service completion; and

removing the second client device from the waiting queue.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the status information comprises an indication that a client device is being serviced.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, from a second client device that is in the waiting queue, status information, wherein the status information comprises an indication that the second client device is being served; and

adjusting the position of the second client device in the waiting queue to the front of the waiting queue, and changing an attribute of the second client device that the second client device is not to be moved back in the waiting queue.

18. One or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media embodying software comprising instructions operable when executed to:

receive, from a first client device, registration information for a service to be provided at a service location;

add the first client device to a waiting queue for the service, wherein the waiting queue comprises one or more client devices;

determine a target service time for the first client device based on location information received from the first client device and status information received from the client devices in the queue; and

send, to the first client device, a notification regarding the target service time.

19. The media of claim 18, wherein the instructions operable when executed to receive registration information comprises instructions operable when executed to:

receive, from the first client device, a registration request that includes identification information for the service to be provided at the service location and identification information for the first client device; and

send, to the first client device, a command to enable location reporting.

20. A system comprising one or more processors and a memory coupled to the processors comprising instructions executable by the processors, the processors being operable when executing the instructions to:

receive, from a first client device, registration information for a service to be provided at a service location;

add the first client device to a waiting queue for the service, wherein the waiting queue comprises one or more client devices;

determine a target service time for the first client device based on location information received from the first client device and status information received from the client devices in the queue; and

send, to the first client device, a notification regarding the target service time.