System and method for web-based customer check-in

• US 8,214,241 B2
• Filed: 10/11/2007
• Issued: 07/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Peter Kaiser
• Original Assignee: Peter Kaiser
• Inventors: Kaiser, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Carter, Candice D
• Application Number:
  US11/974,074
• Publication Number:
  US 20090055208A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,727 Days
• Field of Search: 705/1, 705/1.1, 705300-301
• US Class Current: 705/7.13
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063 Operations research, analysis or management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0631 Resource planning, allocation, distributing or scheduling for enterprises or organisations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06311 Scheduling, planning or task assignment for a person or group
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0603 Catalogue ordering
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0613 Third-party assisted
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces

Abstract

A web-based system and method allows customers to remotely check-in to a wait list for a service from a business. A website is provided through which an address submitted by the customer can be received. Multiple locations of the business in the vicinity of the address and wait times for the service at each location can then be geographically displayed. A selection of a location at which to receive the service can be received and the customer can then be placed on a waiting list for the selected location. The multiple locations can be displayed on a map showing the relative proximity of the address and the locations. The wait times can be calculated using historical data related to the performance of the service at each location, such as the amount of time that employees at the location have taken to perform the service in the past.

Claims

1. A method of providing internet-based, map based, customer check-in for customers desiring a service from a business, comprising:

providing an internet-based interface associated with the business;

receiving a location associated with a customer by way of the internet-based interface;

displaying to the customer multiple locations on a map of the business in the vicinity of the location associated with the customer;

displaying estimated wait times on the map for the service based on a no-appointment, first listed-first served waiting list at each displayed location;

receiving a customer selection of a location on the map at which to receive the service;

placing the customer on the waiting list inside a physical location of the business corresponding to the location selected on the map by the customer; and

transferring information about the customer to the selected location,

wherein the step of displaying estimated wait times includes using a computer processor to calculate the wait time at each location using historical data related to the performance of the service at the location, the historical data including a separate amount of service time that each of a plurality of specific employees at the location have taken to perform the service in the past; and

wherein the wait time is calculated at each location by;

determining which employees of the business are currently available to perform services at the location;

calculating a projected remaining service time for each employee currently serving a customer by averaging historical service times for the particular employee performing the particular service and subtracting an elapsed service time from the historical service time;

placing the employees in order of projected soonest availability based on the projected remaining service time;

matching the first employee projected to be available with the first customer on the waiting list and calculating a projected service time for that employee to provide a requested service for that customer based on average historical service times, adding the calculated projected service time to the employee'"'"'s projected remaining service time, and reordering the employees in order of projected soonest availability; and

matching each subsequent customer on the waiting list with a particular employee projected to be available when that customer is projected to be first on the waiting list based on historical service times, and calculating a projected service time for that employee to provide a requested service for that customer based on average historical service times for that employee until each customer on the waiting list is matched with a particular employee, wherein the wait time displayed is the smallest remaining total projected service time for an employee after each customer on the waiting list has been matched to an employee.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the multiple locations are displayed on the map showing the relative proximity of the location associated with the customer and the multiple locations.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the wait times are continuously updated.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the business is a no-appointment hair salon.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the service time for the service results primarily from the skill and experience of the specific employee.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of receiving a customer selection of a location on the map at which to receive the service is received by the customer selecting an icon on the map representing the location, wherein the icon includes the wait time for the location.

5. An internet-based customer check-in system for customers desiring a service from a business, comprising:

an internet-based interface configured to receive a location associated with a customer, display multiple locations of the business in the vicinity of the location associated with the customer on a map, and receive a customer selection made on the map of a location at which to receive the service;

software configured to calculate estimated wait times for the service based on a no-appointment, first listed-first served waiting list at each displayed location to be displayed on the map on the interface, the estimated wait time at each location being calculated using historical data related to the performance of the service at the location, the historical data including a separate amount of service time that each of a plurality of specific employees have taken to perform the service in the past, wherein the wait time at each location is calculated by matching each customer on the waiting list with a specific employee projected to be first available when the particular customer is first on the waiting list based on historical services times of the specific employees and utilizing historical data of each specific employee to calculate a projected service time for each customer on the waiting list to determine a total projected service time for each employee, and the wait time is the smallest remaining total projected service time for an employee; and

a computer at each location in communication with the website configured to display the waiting list for the location, wherein customers who enter the waiting list via the map on the website are automatically placed on the waiting list at the location and are served in the order they are placed on the waiting list and as customers receive services they can be removed from the waiting list via the computer.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein customers can also be entered on the waiting list manually via the store'"'"'s computer.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the multiple locations are displayed in the map in graphical format showing the relative location of the location associated with the customer and the multiple locations.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein the business is a no-appointment hair salon.

16. The system of claim 5, wherein the service time for the service results primarily from the skill and experience of the specific employee.

23. The system of claim 5, wherein the internet-based interface receives the customer selection of the location at which to receive the service by receiving a selection by the customer of an icon on the map representing the location, wherein the icon includes the wait time for the location.

9. A method of providing internet-based, map-based customer check-in for customers desiring a service from a no-appointment hair salon chain, comprising:

providing an internet-based interface associated with the salon chain;

receiving a location associated with a customer via the internet-based interface;

displaying to the customer multiple individual salons of the salon chain in the vicinity of the location directly on a map;

displaying estimated wait times for the service based on a no-appointment, first listed-first served waiting list at each individual salon on the map;

receiving a customer selection made on the map of an individual salon at which to receive the service; and

placing the customer on the waiting list at the selected salon, wherein the step of displaying estimated wait times includes using a computer processor to calculate the wait time at each salon using historical data related to the performance of the service at the salon, the historical data including a separate amount of service time that each of a plurality of specific stylists at the salon have taken to perform the service in the past; and

wherein the wait time at each individual salon is calculated by;

determining which stylists of the salon are currently available to perform services at the salon;

calculating the remaining service time for each stylist who is currently serving a customer by averaging historical service times for the particular stylist performing the particular service and subtracting the elapsed service time from the historical service time;

placing the stylists in order of projected soonest availability based on the remaining service time for each stylist;

matching the first stylist projected to be available with the first customer on the waiting list and calculating the service time for that stylist to provide the requested service for that customer based on average historical service times, adding the calculated service time to the stylist'"'"'s remaining service time, and reordering the stylists in order of soonest projected availability; and

matching each subsequent customer on the waiting list with a particular stylist projected to be available when that customer is projected to be first on the waiting list based on historical service times, and calculating a projected service time for that stylist to provide a requested service for that customer based on average historical service times for that stylist until each customer on the waiting list is matched with a particular stylist, wherein the wait time displayed is the smallest remaining total projected service time for a stylist after each customer on the waiting list has been matched to a stylist.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising providing driving directions from the location to the selected salon.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the individual salons are displayed on the map showing the relative location of the location and the individual salons.

17. The method of claim 9, wherein the service time for the service results primarily from the skill and experience of the specific stylist.

24. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of receiving a customer selection made on the map of an individual salon at which to receive the service is received by the customer selecting an icon on the map representing the salon, wherein the icon includes the wait time for the salon.

12. An interne-based method of checking in for a service from a business, comprising:

accessing an internet-based interface associated with the business;

providing a location through the interface;

selecting one business location from a plurality of business locations for the business on a map on the interface at which to receive the service, wherein a wait time for the service is displayed on the map based on a no-appointment, first listed-first served waiting list for each of the plurality of business locations, the wait time for each business location having been calculated with a computer processor using historical data related to the performance of the service at the business location, the historical data including a separate amount of service time that each of a plurality of specific employees have taken to perform the service in the past;

entering identification information through the interface;

being placed on the waiting list at the business location; and

receiving an estimate wait time for receiving the service at the business location, the wait time having been calculated by projecting a particular employee that will be available to perform the service when each customer on the waiting list will be the next to receive the service based on historical service times and utilizing historical data of each specific employee to calculate a projected service time for each customer on the waiting list to determine a total projected service time for each employee, and the wait time is the smallest remaining total projected service time for an employee.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising receiving driving directions from the location to the selected business location.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the business is a no-appointment hair salon.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the service time for the service results primarily from the skill and experience of the specific employee.

25. The system of claim 12, wherein the step of selecting one business location from a plurality of business locations for the business on a map on the interface at which toe receive the service is done by selecting an icon on the map associated with the business location, wherein the icon includes the wait time for the business location.

19. A method of providing internet-based, map based, customer check-in for customers desiring a service from a business, comprising:

providing an interne-based interface associated with the business;

receiving a location associated with a customer by way of the internet-based interface;

displaying to the customer multiple locations on a map of the business in the vicinity of the location associated with the customer;

displaying estimated wait times on the map for the service based on a no-appointment, first listed-first served waiting list at each displayed location;

receiving a customer selection of a location on the map at which to receive the service;

placing the customer on the waiting list inside a physical location of the business corresponding to the location selected on the map by the customer; and

transferring information about the customer to the selected location,

wherein the step of displaying estimated wait times includes using a computer processor to calculate the wait time at each location using historical data related to the performance of the service at the location, the wait time being calculated at each location by matching each customer on the waiting list with a particular employee projected to be available when that customer is first on the waiting list based on historical service times and utilizing historical data relating to the performance of the service by each of the particular employees to arrive at a projected service time for each customer, and the wait time is the smallest remaining total service time for an employee.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the multiple locations are displayed on the map showing the relative proximity of the location associated with the customer and the multiple locations.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the wait times are continuously updated.

26. The method of claim 19, wherein the step of receiving a customer selection of a location on the map at which to receive the service is received by the customer selecting an icon on the map representing the location, wherein the icon includes the wait time for the location.