Location-Based Reservation Scheduling for Seating Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current location-based services do not effectively allow service establishments, such as restaurants, to optimize seating capacity and revenue by informing them of patrons' expected arrival times, leading to inefficient resource utilization due to delays or early arrivals.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that utilizes location-based services to prioritize reservations based on users' projected and actual arrival times, allowing service establishments to adjust their schedules and broadcast availability to interested parties, enabling efficient seating management and revenue maximization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If service establishments rely on manual notification from patrons about arrival times, then the system is simple to operate, but resource utilization is inefficient and seating capacity is not maximized
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables automatic arrival notification where the mobile device autonomously communicates with the service establishment to convey arrival time information without requiring manual intervention from the patron. The location-based service automatically determines and transmits arrival expectations to the establishment, allowing the system to serve itself rather than requiring active participation from users.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a feedback loop where the service establishment receives real-time arrival information from patrons' mobile devices via location-based services, and this information is used to dynamically adjust seating arrangements and resource allocation. This closed-loop feedback mechanism enables continuous optimization of resource utilization based on actual arrival conditions.
2Productivity
If the system automatically notifies establishments of arrival times using location-based services, then resource utilization improves, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a location-based service as an intermediary component that mediates between the mobile device and the service establishment. This intermediary handles the complex tasks of determining location, calculating arrival times, and transmitting notifications, thereby simplifying the overall system architecture while enabling automatic arrival communication.
3Productivity
If service establishments do not have real-time arrival information, then the system is easier to operate, but seating capacity and revenue are not maximized
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-service by automatically determining and communicating arrival information without requiring active input from the patron. The mobile device autonomously provides location data, the system calculates arrival expectations, and notifications are sent to the establishment automatically, maintaining ease of operation while enabling real-time information sharing.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for providing reservation services to users of mobile devices. The system is implemented in a reservation computer device having computer executable code tangibly embodied on a computer readable medium. The reservation computer device is operable to prioritize a reservation schedule of a service establishment based on a route and projected arrival time of one or more subscribing users such that earlier arriving users and users that have already arrived at the service establishment are given priority in the reservation schedule regardless of prearranged reservations.