Real-Time Service Matching Server with Dynamic Provider Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for connecting people to service providers, such as patients to healthcare professionals or students to tutors, are inefficient and time-consuming due to suitability, availability, and geographic challenges, leading to prolonged wait times.
Innovation Solution
A server-based method that uses application-specific rules to connect people with service providers in real-time by assessing personal information, sending offer messages to suitable providers, and expanding the search to less favored providers if initial options are unavailable, creating competition among providers to reduce wait times.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional methods are used to connect people to service providers, then the process is simple to implement, but the connection time is prolonged and efficiency is low
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-establishes a database of service providers with their availability status and sends proactive notifications when suitable providers become available. This preliminary preparation and proactive approach eliminates the need for continuous manual searching, significantly reducing connection time and improving efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements real-time feedback loops where provider availability status is continuously monitored and communicated to seekers. When a provider becomes available or a seeker requests a update, the system immediately notifies relevant parties, creating an efficient feedback mechanism that reduces wait times and improves connection speed.
2Reliability
If the system sends offer messages to multiple service providers, then the chance of finding a suitable provider increases, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the service provider pool into different categories or groups based on suitability criteria (e.g., by location, specialization, availability). This segmentation allows the system to manage and communicate with providers in an organized manner, improving match suitability while keeping system complexity manageable through structured data organization.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts search and notification parameters based on real-time availability status, priority levels, and matcher preferences. By changing parameters such as notification timing, provider selection criteria, and communication frequency, the system optimizes match suitability without requiring proportional increases in system complexity.
3Reliability
If the system prioritizes favoured service providers, then the connection quality improves, but the risk of no match increases if favoured providers are unavailable
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts provider priority levels and search criteria in real-time based on availability status. When favoured providers are available, the system prioritizes them for high-quality connections. When they become unavailable, the system automatically shifts to alternative providers, maintaining both connection quality and flexibility through dynamic adaptation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system prepares backup options and alternative providers in advance, cushioning against the risk that favoured providers may become unavailable. This prior preparation ensures that if the primary favoured provider cannot connect, alternative providers are already identified and ready, maintaining system flexibility and connection reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a method for execution by a server for connecting people with service providers in real-time. The server maintains a set of rules for connecting people with service providers. The server receives, from a first client computing device over a network, a request message having personal information identifying at least a personal issue. The server assesses the personal information against the set of rules to identify service providers that can address the personal issue. Next, for a first subset of service providers, the server sends offer messages and waits for an acceptance message. However, if no acceptance message is received within a timeout period, for a subsequent subset of service providers, the server sends offer messages and waits for an acceptance message. Advantageously, if no match can be established with the first subset, it may be possible to establish a match with the subsequent subset.