Wait Time Prediction Using Network Signal Scanning
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Customers often face long wait times and uncertainty when picking up purchased goods at store locations, as existing systems do not provide real-time or accurate estimates of wait times, leading to inefficient customer service experiences.
Innovation Solution
A system that includes a server and remote terminals to automatically generate expected wait times by scanning network signals, determining the user's distance to the pickup location, and transmitting current wait times, thereby enhancing transaction efficiency and reducing wait times through organized consumer interactions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If customers arrive at the store to pick up purchased goods, then they can retrieve their items, but they experience long wait times and uncertainty about when assistance will be available
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors store pickup queue status and provides real-time feedback to customers through the mobile device. The server receives location data from the customer's device, determines current wait time based on queue position and service rate, and transmits this information back to the customer, enabling them to understand expected wait times without needing to physically enter the store first.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by calculating and communicating estimated wait times before the customer actually enters the store. By determining wait time based on location data and queue status in advance, the system provides customers with advance information about what to expect, reducing anxiety and allowing better planning of their visit.
2Productivity
If customers physically enter the store to pick up items, then they can receive assistance, but the process lacks efficiency and organization
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/physical queueing system with an electronic one. Instead of customers physically lining up and manually being served, the system uses mobile devices, server-side processing, and automated location tracking to manage the pickup process. This substitution increases efficiency by enabling parallel processing of multiple customers and providing automated wait time calculations without requiring complex physical infrastructure changes at the store.
3Loss of information
If the system provides real-time wait time information, then customer awareness improves, but additional processing and communication requirements are introduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-service by automatically calculating wait times based on publicly available data such as queue length, service rate, and customer location. Rather than requiring manual input or complex processing, the system uses straightforward algorithms that multiply queue position by average service time and adjust for location-based factors, providing accurate information with minimal processing overhead.
Data Source
AI summary
A system is provided and generally includes a server (e.g., application server), an associate computing device, and a client computing device. The server can receive a user arrival notification that indicates a user has arrived to pick up purchased goods. The server can transmit a scan initiation request to a remote terminal that causes the remote terminal to scan at least one network. The server can receive scan data for the scanned network from the remote terminal indicating, for example, a signal strength of that network. The server can determine a current wait time based on the received scan data for the scanned network, and can transmit the current wait time to the remote terminal.