Reservation System Presence Detection and Reminder Logic
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Solution Overview
Problem
Un-cancelled reservations disrupt restaurant operations by reserving seating that could be used for other patrons, leading to reduced customer satisfaction and revenue due to longer wait times and idle tables.
Innovation Solution
A reservation system that uses cameras or beacon devices to determine if patrons are present at reserved tables, sending reminders or canceling reservations if they are not, thereby optimizing table usage and reducing idle times.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the system constantly monitors all tables to detect patron presence, then detection reliability is improved, but energy consumption and system burden increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by sending reminder notifications to patrons before the reservation time expires. This allows the system to proactively check patron presence and update reservation status without needing to continuously monitor all tables, thereby reducing energy consumption while maintaining reliable detection through targeted checks at critical moments
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of continuous monitoring, the system implements periodic action by scheduling detection and reminder activities at specific intervals - sending reminders at predetermined times before reservation expiration and performing presence detection only at these periodic intervals. This dramatically reduces energy consumption compared to constant monitoring while maintaining sufficient detection reliability through strategically timed checks
2Reliability
If the system sends frequent reminder notifications to patrons, then reservation confirmation reliability is improved, but patron annoyance and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system sends reminder notifications at predetermined times before the reservation time expires, allowing patrons sufficient time to respond and update their status. This preliminary action approach ensures reliable confirmation by giving patrons advance notice without requiring complex real-time tracking or frequent interruptions
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a feedback mechanism where reminder notifications are sent based on patron response status. The system monitors whether patrons have responded to previous reminders and adjusts subsequent reminder timing accordingly, sending follow-up notifications only to those who haven't responded. This feedback-driven approach maintains high confirmation reliability while avoiding unnecessary notifications that would increase system complexity and patron annoyance
3Use of energy by moving object
If the system monitors tables only at reservation time, then energy consumption is reduced, but detection precision for early arrivals or delays decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary presence detection and sends reminder notifications before the reservation time expires. This allows the system to identify patrons who are running late and extend their reservations accordingly, maintaining detection precision for early arrivals without requiring continuous monitoring throughout the entire reservation period
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements dynamic adjustment of reservation times based on detected patron presence and response to reminders. When patrons indicate delays or when presence detection occurs before reservation time, the system dynamically extends the reservation window. This dynamic approach maintains high detection precision for varying arrival times while keeping monitoring energy consumption low by activating detection only when needed
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for handling reservations including receiving a reservation request from a patron for a reservation time, reserving space at a venue based on the request, determining whether the patron is present at the venue at the reservation time and, if not, providing a notice to remind the patron of the reservation.