Queue processing system

• US 8,527,575 B2
• Filed: 12/17/2010
• Issued: 09/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Xiao, Hong, Turner, Andre R., Wang, Dongchen
• Primary Examiner(s): HIGA, BRENDAN Y
• Application Number:
  US12/971,828
• Publication Number:
  US 20120158934A1
• Time in Patent Office: 991 Days
• Field of Search: 705/5, 709217-219, 709200-203
• US Class Current: 709/200
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

A method, performed by a server device, may include receiving a request from a user device to place a user, associated with the user device, in a particular queue; determining whether the user meets one or more qualifications associated with the queue; placing the user in the particular queue, when the user meets the one or more qualifications; monitoring whether the user continues to meet the one or more qualifications, while the user is in the queue; and removing the user from the particular queue, when the user fails to meet the one or more qualifications.

Claims

1. A method performed by a server device, the method comprising:

receiving, by the server device, a request from a user device to place a user, associated with the user device, in a queue;

determining, by the server device, whether the user meets one or more qualifications associated with the queue, wherein the one or more qualifications include that the user remains within a particular distance of a location associated with the queue;

placing, by the server device, the user in the queue, when the user meets the one or more qualifications;

monitoring, by the server device, whether the user continues to meet the one or more qualifications, while the user is in the queue; and

removing, by the server device, the user from the queue, when the user fails to meet the one or more qualifications.

2. The method of claim 1, where the one or more qualifications further include at least one of:

that the user is not in another queue at a same time as a time associated with the request,

that the user'"'"'s estimated arrival time at the location associated with the queue is less than a threshold time, or

that the user has an appointment, a membership, or an account associated with the queue.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing, to the user device, an update about the user'"'"'s status in the queue.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the update includes an estimated wait time for the user.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining an expected arrival time for the user to a location associated with the queue;

determining an expected service time for the user;

determining whether the expected arrival time is later than the expected service time; and

moving the user down the queue when the expected arrival time is later than the expected service time.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an indication of delay associated with the queue;

adjusting an appointment time associated with the user, based on the received indication; and

informing the user about the delay and the adjusted appointment time.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a request from the user to move up or down the queue;

transmitting the request to other users in the queue;

receiving a response from another user in the queue, the response indicating that the other user would like to switch positions with the user; and

switching a first position in the queue associated with the user with a second position in the queue associated with the other user, based on the received response.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a request from the user to move up the queue, the request including an offer of a particular amount that the user is willing to pay to move up the queue;

transmitting the request to other users that are ahead of the user in the queue;

receiving a response from another user, ahead of the user in the queue, the response indicating that the other user accepts the user'"'"'s offer;

informing a billing system that the particular amount should be transferred from an account associated with the user to an account associated with the other user, based on the received response; and

switching a first position in the queue associated with the user with a second position in the queue associated with the other user, based on the received response.

9. A system comprising:

a processor configured to;

detect that a mobile communication device is within a particular distance of the processor;

contact the mobile communication device to determine whether a user associated with the mobile communication device wants to be placed in a queue associated with the system; and

receive an indication from the mobile communication device that the user wants to be placed in the queue; and

a server device configured to;

receive the indication from the mobile device identifier component;

place the user in the queue in response to receiving the indication;

monitor whether the user continues to meet one or more qualifications associated with the queue, while the user is in the queue, wherein the one or more qualifications include that the mobile communication device remains within the particular distance of the processor; and

remove the user from the queue, when the user fails to meet the one or more qualifications.

10. The system of claim 9, where the server device is further configured to:

provide, to the mobile communication device, an update about the user'"'"'s status in the queue.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the update includes an estimated wait time for the user.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the server device is further configured to:

determine an expected arrival time for the user to a location associated with the queue;

determine an expected service time for the user;

determine whether the expected arrival time is later than the expected service time; and

move the user down the queue when the expected arrival time is later than the expected service time.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the server device is further configured to:

receive an indication of delay associated with the queue;

adjust an estimated wait time associated with the user, based on the received indication; and

inform the user about the delay and the adjusted estimated wait time.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the server device is further configured to:

receive a request from the user to move up or down the queue;

provide the request to other users in the queue;

receive a response from another user in the queue, the response indicating that the other user would like to switch positions with the user; and

switch a first position in the queue associated with the user with a second position in the queue associated with the other user, based on the received response.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein the server device is further configured to:

receive a request from the user to move up the queue, the request including an offer of a particular amount that the user is willing to pay to move up the queue;

provide the request to other users that are ahead of the user in the queue;

receive a response from another user, ahead of the user in the queue, the response indicating that the other user accepts the user'"'"'s offer;

inform a billing system that the particular amount should be transferred from an account associated with the user to an account associated with the other user, based on the received response; and

switch a first position in the queue associated with the user with a second position in the queue associated with the other user, based on the received response.

16. A mobile communication device comprising:

a memory to store instructions; and

a processor configured to execute the instructions to;

record a calendar event via a calendar application;

determine that the recorded calendar event is associated with a queue;

determine that the recorded calendar event is scheduled for a time that is within a particular period of time with respect to a current time;

send a request to a queue management system to place a user, associated with the mobile communication device, in the queue associated with the recorded calendar event, based on determining that the recorded calendar event is scheduled for the time that is within the particular period of time with respect to the current time;

receive an indication from the queue management system as to whether the user meets one or more qualifications associated with the queue, wherein the one or more qualifications include that the user remains within a particular distance of a location associated with the queue;

receive a confirmation from the queue management system that the user has been placed in the queue, when the user meets the one or more qualifications; and

receive an indication from the queue management system that the user has not been placed in the queue, or that the user has been removed from the queue, when the user fails to meet the one or more qualifications.

17. The mobile communication device of claim 16, where the processor is further configured to determine that the recorded calendar event is associated with a queue based on receiving an indication from the user, via an input device associated with the mobile communication device, that the queue is associated with the recorded calendar event.

18. The mobile communication device of claim 16, where the processor is further configured to determine that the recorded calendar event is associated with a queue based on:

providing text associated with the recorded calendar event to the queue management system; and

receiving, from the queue management system, an indication that the queue is associated with the recorded calendar event based on the provided text.