Offline Concierge Ordering via SMS and Local Item Cache
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional online concierge systems fail to receive orders from client devices when a data connection is unavailable, preventing the display of retailer items and order placement due to network unavailability.
Innovation Solution
A customer client device maintains a data connection and an alternative connection, such as SMS, to exchange data with the online concierge system, allowing order generation and transmission via encrypted text messages when the data connection is unavailable, using locally stored item sets and encryption data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the system relies solely on a data connection for order transmission, then the system architecture remains simple, but the system fails to operate when network connectivity is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches between data connection and SMS connection based on network availability. The client application monitors connection status and automatically selects the appropriate communication channel, making the system adaptive to changing network conditions without requiring complex manual configuration
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism (SMS connection) that bridges the gap when the primary data connection fails. The SMS acts as a fallback communication channel that allows order transmission to continue even when standard data networks are unavailable, effectively mediating the communication between client and server
2Adaptability or versatility
If the client device maintains only a data connection, then the device's network configuration remains simple, but ordering functionality is lost during network outages
Solution Approach 1:
The client device is configured with multi-functionality by supporting both data connection and SMS connection for order transmission. This universal approach allows the same device to operate across different network conditions using different communication protocols, making the system versatile without requiring specialized hardware for each connection type
3Ease of operation
If item catalogs are stored locally on the client device, then ordering can continue offline, but device storage requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by downloading and storing item catalogs locally on the client device before offline periods begin. This advance preparation ensures that when network connectivity is lost, the client can still display and order items from the pre-cached catalog without requiring real-time network access
Data Source
AI summary
An online concierge system provides a client application executed on a client device for customers to generate orders for fulfillment by the online concierge system. If the client device is unable to establish a data connection to a network, the client application locally caches data on the client device for one or more retailers that includes items that have been previously purchased by the customer or that are popular among customers. The customer generates an order through the client application for a retailer based on the locally cached items for the retailer. The online concierge system application generates an encrypted text message based on the order that is transmitted to the online concierge system via short message service (SMS). The online concierge system may also return messages via SMS, which may be presented by the client application.