Generating a modified queue list in response to presentation and selection of an option

• US 8,589,819 B2
• Filed: 06/22/2010
• Issued: 11/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Allen, Ira L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hong, Stephen
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kells, Asher
• Application Number:
  US12/820,317
• Publication Number:
  US 20110314417A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,246 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 715/810
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0631 Resource planning, allocation, distributing or scheduling for enterprises or organisations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0281 Customer communication at a business location, e.g. providing product or service information, consulting

Abstract

A queuing method and system. The method includes retrieving by a computer processor of a stationary computing system or a computing device, queue data placing an individual onto an initial queue list for receiving a service and ID data identifying the individual. The computer processor presents a status of the individual with respect to the queue list. The computer processor receives a request associated with the service and in response presents options for the individual. The computer processor receives a selection for an option and generates a modified queue list.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

retrieving, by a computer processor of a computing device from a computing system, queue data placing an individual onto an initial queue list indicating an order with respect to additional individuals for an entity providing a service for said individual, wherein said service is provided for said individual at a single location associated with said entity, wherein said individual is currently located at said single location for said receiving said service, and wherein said initial queue list is stored within a first memory queue;

determining, by said computer processor, a specified perimeter associated with said single location;

retrieving, by said computer processor, ID data identifying said individual;

presenting, by said computer processor to said individual, a status of said individual with respect to said initial queue list;

receiving, by said computer processor from said individual, a request associated with said service;

presenting, by said computer processor to said individual in response to said request, options for said individual and a specified amount of time for responding to said options, wherein said options are associated with different wait times for receiving said options, wherein said options are associated with said service, previous experiences associated with said individual and said entity, different individuals for performing services differing from and associated with said service, and said initial queue list, and wherein each option of said options is associated with a different attribute associated with performing said service;

receiving, by said computer processor from said individual in response to said options, a selection for a first option of said options and a second option of said options, wherein said first option is associated with a first previous experience associated with said individual and said entity, and wherein said second option is associated with said first specified individual for performing an alternative service differing from and associated with said service;

generating, by said computer processor based on said selection for said first option and said second option, a modified queue list from said initial queue list, wherein said modified queue list indicates a modified order for said individual with respect to said additional individuals for providing said service for said individual; and

determining, by said computer processor, if said specified perimeter has been crossed by said individual thereby indicating that said individual has left said single location.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said modified queue list indicates that said service may be currently provided for said individual, and wherein said method further comprises:

presenting at a first level, by said computer processor to said individual, an indicator indicating that said service may be currently provided for said individual; and

presenting, by said computer processor to said individual, instructions advising said individual to go to a specified location with respect to receiving said service.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein a first time period has elapsed since enabling said presenting at said first level, and wherein said method further comprises:

presenting at a second level, by said computer processor to said individual, said indicator indicating that said service may be currently provided for said individual, wherein said second level exceeds said first level.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

retrieving, by said computer processor, a profile for said individual, wherein said profile comprises a frequent customer identifier for said individual with respect to previous visits to said entity, and wherein said profile further comprises preferences associated with said individual with respect to previous services associated with said previous visits to said entity;

presenting, by said computer processor to said individual in response to said preferences, additional options associated with said service and said modified queue list; and

receiving, by said computer processor from said individual in response to said additional options, a selection for an additional option of said additional options.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said generating said modified queue list is further based on said selection for said additional option.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

removing, by said computer processor based on said selection for said additional option, said individual from said modified queue list;

placing, by said computer processor in response to said selection for said additional option and said removing, said individual onto a secondary queue list indicating an order with respect to individuals for said entity providing a secondary service for said individual, wherein said secondary queue list differs from said initial queue list and said modified queue list, and wherein said secondary service differs from said service; and

placing, by said computer processor, said secondary queue list within a second memory queue differing from said first memory queue.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said secondary queue list indicates that said secondary service may be currently provided for said individual, and wherein said method further comprises:

presenting at a first level, by said computer processor to said individual, an indicator indicating that said secondary service may be currently provided for said individual; and

presenting, by said computer processor to said individual, instructions advising said individual to go to a specified location with respect to receiving said secondary service.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

placing, by said computer processor, said modified queue list within said first memory queue.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said computing device comprises a handheld computing device.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing at least one support service for at least one of creating, integrating, hosting, maintaining, and deploying computer-readable code in said computing system, wherein the code in combination with the computing system is capable of performing;

said retrieving said queue data, said retrieving said ID data, said presenting said status, said receiving said request, said presenting said options, said receiving said selection, and said generating.

11. A method comprising:

retrieving, by a computer processor of a central computing system from a computing device, queue data associated with an individual;

placing, by said computer processor in response to said retrieving said queue data, said individual onto an initial queue list indicating an order with respect to additional individuals for an entity providing a service for said individual, wherein said initial queue list is stored within a first memory queue, wherein said service is provided for said individual at a single location associated with said entity, and wherein said individual is currently located at said single location for said receiving said service;

determining, by said computer processor, a specified perimeter associated with said single location;

retrieving, by said computer processor, ID data identifying said individual;

transmitting, by said computer processor to said computing device, a status of said individual with respect to said initial queue list, wherein said computing device presents said status to said individual;

receiving, by said computer processor from said individual, a request associated with said service;

determining, by said computer processor in response to said request, options for said individual, wherein said options are associated with said service and said initial queue list;

transmitting, by said computer processor to said computing device, said options and a specified amount of time for responding to said options, wherein said computing device presents to said individual, said options and said specified amount of time, wherein said options are associated with different wait times for receiving said options, wherein said options are associated with said service, previous experiences associated with said individual and said entity, different individuals for performing services differing from and associated with said service, and wherein each option of said options is associated with a different attribute associated with performing said service;

receiving, by said computer processor from said individual in response to said options, a selection for a first option of said options and a second option of said options, wherein said first option is associated with a first previous experience associated with said individual and said entity, and wherein said second option is associated with said first specified individual for performing an alternative service differing from and associated with said service;

generating, by said computer processor based on said selection for said first option and said second option, a modified queue list from said initial queue list, wherein said modified queue list indicates a modified order for said individual with respect to said additional individuals for providing said service for said individual; and

determining, by said computer processor, if said specified perimeter has been crossed by said individual thereby indicating that said individual has left said single location.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said modified queue list indicates that said service may be currently provided for said individual, and wherein said method further comprises:

generating at a first level, by said computer processor for said individual, an indicator indicating that said service may be currently provided for said individual, wherein said computing device presents said indicator at said first level to said individual; and

generating, by said computer processor for said individual, instructions advising said individual to go to a specified location with respect to receiving said service, wherein said computing device presents said instructions to said individual.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein a first time period has elapsed since said generating said indicator, and wherein said method further comprises:

generating at a second level, by said computer processor for said individual, said indicator indicating that said service may be currently provided for said individual, wherein said second level exceeds said first level, and wherein said computing device presents said indicator at said second level to said individual.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

retrieving, by said computer processor, a profile for said individual, wherein said profile comprises a frequent customer identifier for said individual with respect to previous visits to said entity, and wherein said profile further comprises preferences associated with said individual with respect to previous services associated with said previous visits to said entity;

generating, by said computer processor for said individual in response to said preferences, additional options associated with said service and said modified queue list, wherein said computing device presents said additional options to said individual; and

receiving, by said computer processor from said individual in response to said additional options, a selection for an additional option of said additional options.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said generating said modified queue list is further based on said selection for said additional option.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

removing, by said computer processor based on said selection for said additional option, said individual from said modified queue list;

placing, by said computer processor in response to said selection for said additional option and said removing, said individual onto a secondary queue list indicating an order with respect to individuals for said entity providing a secondary service for said individual, wherein said secondary queue list differs from said initial queue list and said modified queue list, and wherein said secondary service differs from said service; and

placing, by said computer processor, said secondary queue list within a second memory queue differing from said first memory queue.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said secondary queue list indicates that said secondary service may be currently provided for said individual, and wherein said method further comprises:

generating at a first level, by said computer processor for said individual, an indicator indicating that said secondary service may be currently provided for said individual, wherein said computing device presents said indicator at said first level to said individual; and

generating, by said computer processor for said individual, instructions advising said individual to go to a specified location with respect to receiving said service, wherein said computing device presents said instructions to said individual.

18. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

providing at least one support service for at least one of creating, integrating, hosting, maintaining, and deploying computer-readable code in said computing system, wherein the code in combination with the computing system is capable of performing;

said retrieving said queue data, said retrieving said ID data, said presenting said status, said receiving said request, said presenting said options, said receiving said selection, and said generating.

19. A method comprising:

retrieving, by a computer processor of a central computing system from a computing device, queue data associated with an individual;

placing, by said computer processor in response to said retrieving said queue data, said individual onto an initial queue list indicating an order with respect to additional individuals for an entity providing a service for said individual, wherein said service is provided for said individual at a single location associated with said entity, wherein said individual is currently located at said single location for said receiving said service, and wherein said initial queue list is stored within a first memory queue;

determining, by said computer processor, a specified perimeter associated with said single location;

retrieving, by said computer processor, ID data identifying said individual;

transmitting, by said computer processor to said computing device, a status of said individual with respect to said initial queue list, wherein said computing device presents said status to said individual;

analyzing, by said computer processor, data associated with said service;

generating, by said computer processor based on said results of said analyzing, options for said individual and a specified amount of time for responding to said options, wherein said options are associated with said service, previous experiences associated with said individual and said entity, different individuals for performing services differing from and associated with said service, and said initial queue list, wherein said computing device presents said options and said specified amount of time to said individual, wherein said options are associated with different wait times for receiving said options, and wherein each option of said options is associated with a different attribute associated with performing said service;

receiving, by said computer processor from said individual, a selection for a first option of said options and a second option of said options, wherein said first option is associated with a first previous experience associated with said individual and said entity, and wherein said second option is associated with said first specified individual for performing an alternative service differing from and associated with said service;

associating, by said computer processor for said individual based on said selection, said first option and said second option with said service and said individual; and

determining, by said computer processor, if said specified perimeter has been crossed by said individual thereby indicating that said individual has left said single location.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

placing, by said computer processor, said initial queue list within said first memory queue.