Behavior-Driven Virtual Queue Control for Variable Resource Throughput
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing virtual queuing systems struggle to manage queues effectively when resource throughput varies and during temporary closures, leading to underutilized capacity and longer wait times, as well as difficulties in predicting user arrival times and ensuring access pass validity.
Innovation Solution
A virtual queuing system that uses user behavior data, such as location and device usage, to dynamically adjust the management of virtual queues, ensuring optimal resource utilization and minimizing physical queues by varying the de-queuing rate and access pass validity based on real-time user behavior.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If users are provided with access passes to skip physical queues, then user satisfaction and social distancing are improved, but resource capacity utilization deteriorates due to users not using their access passes
Solution Approach 1:
The system monitors user behavior data including location information and device usage patterns to determine whether users will actually use their access passes. This feedback loop allows the system to adjust the de-queuing rate dynamically - reducing it when no-shows are detected and increasing it when users are likely to utilize their passes, thereby optimizing resource capacity utilization while maintaining user satisfaction
Solution Approach 2:
The de-queuing rate is made dynamic rather than fixed. The system continuously adjusts the rate at which users are removed from the virtual queue and provided with access passes based on real-time user behavior data. This dynamic adjustment ensures that the system adapts to actual user patterns, maximizing resource utilization while preserving the benefits of virtual queuing
2Productivity
If the de-queuing rate is increased to optimize resource capacity, then resource utilization is improved, but physical queue formation worsens when users do not use their access passes
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses user behavior data as feedback to continuously adjust the de-queuing rate. When the system detects that users are not using their access passes (through location data showing they are not near the resource or device usage indicating they are engaged in other activities), it reduces the de-queuing rate to prevent excess users from being issued passes, thereby avoiding physical queue formation while maintaining high resource utilization when users do show up
3Ease of operation
If access pass validity period is extended to allow user flexibility, then user convenience is improved, but prediction accuracy of user arrival deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The access pass validity period is made dynamic rather than fixed. The system adjusts the validity duration based on individual user behavior patterns and real-time conditions. Users who show signs of being nearby or likely to use the pass receive longer validity periods, while those showing no-shall patterns receive shorter periods. This dynamic approach maintains user convenience for those who need flexibility while improving prediction accuracy by limiting the window for those unlikely to use their passes
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a virtual queuing system for managing a virtual queue for a resource, the system comprising a plurality of user devices and a virtual queue management unit, where each user device is configured to: allow a user to join a virtual queue for the resource by creating a virtual queue entry associated with the user device; wherein the virtual queue management unit is configured to: maintain a virtual queue comprising a sequence of virtual queue entries; and manage the virtual queue by sequentially removing virtual queue entries from the virtual queue and providing each user device associated with a removed virtual queue entry with an access pass allowing the user to access the resource; wherein the virtual queue management unit is further configured to: receive user behaviour data associated with one or more virtual queue entries that are within the virtual queue or that have been removed from the virtual queue; and vary the management of the virtual queue in response to the received user behaviour data. By using behaviour data associated with the virtual queue entries the system can more reliably match the supply of users to the actual throughput of the resource so that the capacity of the resource remains saturated while ensuring that a physical queue at the resource does not exceed a desired level.