Geofence-Based Restaurant Order Timing Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ordering systems lack the ability to accurately determine when a customer is within a defined geofence relative to a restaurant, leading to potential inaccuracies in preparing orders, which can impact customer satisfaction and relationship building.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method and system that uses geofencing technology to monitor a user's location via GPS and determine if they are within a geofenced area around a restaurant, holding or releasing orders for preparation based on this proximity, ensuring orders are prepared only when the customer is within the designated area.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the system prepares orders immediately upon receiving them, then productivity is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates because the system cannot accurately determine customer proximity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces GPS technology and geofencing as intermediary tools to accurately determine customer location. The system creates a virtual geographic boundary (geofence) around the restaurant and uses GPS coordinates to detect when a customer enters this boundary, providing precise location measurement that enables accurate order preparation timing
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by prepping orders in advance once the customer's entry into the geofence is detected. This allows the kitchen to begin preparation work before the customer actually arrives at the counter, improving productivity while maintaining measurement precision through continuous GPS monitoring
2Measurement precision
If the system monitors customer location continuously via GPS, then measurement precision is improved, but use of energy worsens due to continuous GPS operation
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic GPS location checks instead of continuous monitoring. The server periodically requests location updates from the user's device and checks whether the device has entered the geofenced area. This periodic approach maintains measurement precision for detecting customer arrival while significantly reducing energy consumption compared to continuous GPS operation
Solution Approach 2:
The monitoring intensity is made dynamic - the system increases location check frequency when the customer is near the restaurant (within or near the geofence) and reduces frequency when the customer is farther away. This dynamic adjustment maintains measurement precision when needed while conserving energy during less critical periods
3Manufacturing precision
If the system holds orders until customer arrival within geofence, then manufacturing precision is improved, but loss of time worsens due to delayed order preparation
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary order preparation actions as soon as the customer enters the geofenced area, even before they reach the counter. The kitchen receives the order and begins prep work in advance, so that when the customer arrives at the designated pickup point, the order is already ready or nearly ready. This reduces the actual wait time for the customer while maintaining precise timing for order availability
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enhances customer satisfaction by ensuring orders are prepared accurately and efficiently, improving the overall service experience and fostering stronger customer relationships by ensuring orders are ready when the customer arrives, thus improving long-term success for restaurants.
Implementation Method 1
A computer-implemented method, according to various implementations disclosed herein, comprises receiving, in a computer system, a selection of an order by a user of a user device... and determining, by the computer system, if the user is within a geofence defined in regard to the restaurant
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for ordering systems and, more specifically, to a proximity based ordering system are disclosed herein. A computer-implemented method, according to some implementations of the present disclosure, includes receiving, in a computer system, a selection of an order by a user of a user device, the order including a selection of a restaurant and at least one item to purchase from the restaurant, determining, by the computer system, if the user is within a geofence defined in regard to the restaurant, upon determining that the user is not within the geofence, holding, by the computer system, the order from being prepared at the restaurant, and upon determining that the user is within the geofence, releasing, by the computer system, the order to be prepared at the restaurant.