# US 12,223,538 B2 · Methods and non-transitory computer readable storage medium for showing availability of orders for concierge shopping service

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- Number: US 12,223,538 B2
- Document ID: US12223538B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/503,055
- Filed: 2023-11-06
- Published: 2024-02-29
- Granted: 2025-02-11
- Earliest claimed: 2021-04-23
- Assignees: Maplebear Inc.
- Applicants: Maplebear Inc.
- Inventors: Amy Luong; Michael Righi; Graham Adeson; Ross Stuart Williams; Aman Jain; Radhika Anand; Ganesh Krishnan
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12223538B2

## CPC

- G06Q 30/0635: {replenishment orders; recurring orders}
- G06Q 30/0639: {Locating goods or services, e.g. based on physical position of the goods or services within a shopping facility}
- G06Q 30/0641: {utilising user interfaces specially adapted for shopping}
- G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

## Abstract

For each retailer in the geographic region, an online system predicts a number of orders placed at the retailer and a capacity to fulfill orders during a forecast time period. The capacity of the retailer is predicted based on a number of pickers expected to be available to the retailer during the forecast time period. The online system determines demand for the services of a picker at the retailer based on a comparison of the predicted number of orders and the predicted capacity to fulfill those orders. The online system displays a user interactive map of the geographic region to the picker. The map displays a pin at the location of each retailer in the geographic region, which describes the categorization determined for the retailer. The picker selects a pin, which causes the user interactive map to display a notification characterizing the demand for services at the retailer.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A computer-implemented method comprising:
identifying a plurality of pickers and a plurality of retailers located within a geographic region during a time period;
computing a number of pickers available for a retailer of the plurality of retailers, wherein computing the number of pickers available for the retailer comprises:
determining portions of an availability of each picker of the plurality of pickers for the retailer based on a distance between each picker and the retailer; and
summing the portions of the availability of each picker of the plurality of pickers determined for the retailer;
for the retailer of the plurality of retailers:
predicting a number of orders placed at the retailer during a forecast time period; and
determining a demand for picker services at the retailer during the forecast time period based on a comparison of the predicted number of orders placed at the retailer during the forecast time period and the number of pickers available for the retailer;
generating, for display on a mobile device of a picker, a user interactive map of the geographic region displaying a location of each retailer of the plurality of retailers in the geographic region and a pin overlaying each location of each retailer of the plurality of retailer; and
responsive to the picker selecting the pin overlaying the location of the retailer of the plurality of retailers, updating the user interactive map to display an element characterizing the demand for picker services at the retailer during the forecast time period.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein determining the demand for picker services at the retailer during the forecast time period further comprises:
determining an expected number of pickers available to the retailer of the plurality of retailers during the forecast time period based on the computed number of pickers available to the retailer of the plurality of retailers; and
predicting a capacity to fulfill orders during the forecast time period based on the expected number of pickers available to the retailer of the plurality of retailers during the forecast time period, wherein each picker of the expected number of pickers available to the retailer during the forecast time period is capable of fulfilling one or more orders.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, further comprising:
determining the number of orders that each picker of the plurality of pickers can fulfill during the forecast time period;
determining a representative number of orders that pickers of the plurality of pickers can fulfill by averaging the number of orders determined for each picker of the plurality of pickers; and
predicting the capacity to fulfill orders during the forecast time period based on the expected number of pickers available to the retailer of the plurality of retailers and the representative number of orders that pickers of the plurality of pickers can fulfill.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the user interactive map further comprises a zoom scale, the method further comprising:
receiving an input of the picker interacting with the zoom scale to reduce a scale of the user interactive map,
responsive to receiving the input of the picker interacting with the zoom scale, determining a demand for picker services in the geographic region by aggregating the demand for picker services at each retailer located in the geographic region;
updating the user interactive map to display a second map of the geographic region and a plurality of surrounding geographic regions, the updated user interactive map displaying a pin overlaying the geographic region and a pin overlaying each surrounding geographic region of the plurality of surrounding geographic regions; and
receiving an input from the picker selecting the pin overlaying the geographic region, wherein the selection causes the user interactive map to display the demand for picker services in the geographic region.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the user interactive map further comprises a zoom scale, the method further comprising:
receiving an input of the picker interacting with the zoom scale to reduce a scale of the user interactive map;
responsive to receiving the input of the picker interacting with the zoom scale, determining a demand for picker services in the geographic region by aggregating the demand for picker services at each retailer located in the geographic region; and
updating the user interactive map to display a heatmap of the geographic region and a plurality of surrounding geographic regions, wherein the heatmap displays the demand for picker services in each of the geographic region and the surrounding geographic regions using color.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
at periodic intervals,
determining a demand for picker services at each retailer of the plurality of retailers in the geographic region for a subsequent forecast time period; and
updating the user interactive map, wherein the updated user interactive map displays an updated pin overlaying the location of each retailer of the plurality of retailers; and
receiving an input from the picker selecting an updated pin overlaying the location of the retailer of the plurality of retailers, wherein the selection causes the updated user interactive map to display a notification characterizing the demand for picker services at the retailer of the plurality of retailers for the subsequent forecast time period.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
determining that the picker is located beyond the geographic region in response to the picker moving to a new location;
identifying a second geographic region that includes the new location of the picker;
generating, for display on the mobile device of the picker, a second user interactive map of the second geographic region, the second user interactive map displaying a location of each retailer in the second geographic region and a pin overlaying the location of each retailer in the second geographic region; and
receiving an input from the picker selecting a pin overlaying the location of a retailer in the second geographic region, wherein the selection causes the second user interactive map to display a notification characterizing a demand for picker services at the retailer in the second geographic region.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the number of orders placed at the retailer of the plurality of retailers during the forecast time period further comprises one or more of:
a count of orders placed by customers during a time period preceding the forecast time period that were not assigned to the plurality of pickers;
a count of orders placed by customers operating mobile devices before the preceding time period that were not assigned to the plurality of pickers; and
a count of orders that were fulfilled by the plurality of pickers during the preceding time period.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
receiving a signal identifying each of a plurality of pickers located in the geographic region during a preceding time period;
for each retailer of the plurality of retailers:
accessing one or more eligibility conditions of pickers available to the retailer of the plurality of retailers; and
identifying a first subset of pickers of the plurality of pickers that satisfy the one or more eligibility conditions and a second subset of pickers of the plurality of pickers that do not satisfy the one or more eligibility conditions; and
determining that pickers of the second subset are not available to the retailer of the plurality of retailers.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein determining the demand for picker services at the retailer during the forecast time period further comprises:
determining a difference between the number of orders placed at the retailer of the plurality of retailers during the forecast time period and a capacity to fulfill orders during the forecast time period, wherein the difference represents the demand for picker services at the retailer during the forecast time period;
comparing the difference to a busyness threshold; and
responsive to the difference being greater than the busyness threshold, determining that the demand for picker services at the retailer during the forecast time period indicates a lack of available pickers in the geographic region during the forecast time period.

### Claim 11

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:
identify a plurality of pickers and a plurality of retailers located within a geographic region during a time period;
compute a number of pickers available for a retailer of the plurality of retailers, wherein computing the number of pickers available for the retailer-further cause the processor to:
determine portions of an availability of each picker of the plurality of pickers for the retailer based on a distance between each picker and the retailer; and
sum the portions of the availability of each picker of the plurality of pickers determined for the retailer;
for the retailer of the plurality of retailers;
predict a number of orders placed at the retailer during a forecast time period; and
determine a demand for picker services at the retailer during the forecast time period based on a comparison of the predicted number of orders placed at the retailer during the forecast time period and the number of pickers available for the retailer;
generate, for display on a mobile device of a picker, a user interactive map of the geographic region displaying a location of each retailer of the plurality of retailers in the geographic region and a pin overlaying each location of each retailer of the plurality of retailers; and
responsive to the picker selecting the pin overlaying the location of the retailer of the plurality of retailers, updating the user interactive map to display an element characterizing the demand at the retailer of the plurality of retailers for picker services during the forecast time period.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the instructions for determining the demand for picker services at the retailer during the forecast time period further cause the processor to:
determine an expected number of pickers available to the retailer of the plurality of retailers during the forecast time period based on the computed number of pickers available to the retailer of the plurality of retailers; and
predict a capacity to fulfill orders during the forecast time period based on the expected number of pickers available to the retailer of the plurality of retailers during the forecast time period, wherein each picker of the expected number of pickers available to the retailer during the forecast time period is capable of fulfilling one or more orders.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 12, further comprising instructions that cause the processor to:
determine the number of orders that each picker of the plurality of pickers can fulfill during the forecast time period;
determine a representative number of orders that pickers of the plurality of pickers can fulfill by averaging the number of orders determined for each picker of the plurality of pickers; and
predict the capacity to fulfill orders during the forecast time period based on the expected number of pickers available to the retailer of the plurality of retailers and the representative number of orders that pickers of the plurality of pickers can fulfill.

### Claim 14 (depends on 11)

The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the user interactive map further comprises a zoom scale, the instructions further causing the processor to:
receive an input of the picker interacting with the zoom scale to reduce a scale of the user interactive map,
responsive to receiving the input of the picker interacting with the zoom scale, determine a demand for picker services in the geographic region by aggregating the demand for picker services at each retailer located in the geographic region;
update the user interactive map to display a second map of the geographic region and a plurality of surrounding geographic regions, the updated user interactive map displaying a pin overlaying the geographic region and a pin overlaying each surrounding geographic region of the plurality of surrounding geographic regions; and
receive an input from the picker selecting the pin overlaying the geographic region, wherein the selection causes the user interactive map to display the demand for picker services in the geographic region.

### Claim 15 (depends on 11)

The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the user interactive map further comprises a zoom scale, the instructions further causing the processor to:
receive an input of the picker interacting with the zoom scale to reduce a scale of the user interactive map;
responsive to receiving the input of the picker interacting with the zoom scale, determine a demand for picker services in the geographic region by aggregating the demand for picker services at each retailer located in the geographic region; and
update the user interactive map to display a heatmap of the geographic region and a plurality of surrounding geographic regions, wherein the heatmap displays the demand for picker services in each of the geographic region and the surrounding geographic regions using color.

### Claim 16 (depends on 11)

The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the instructions further cause the processor to:
at periodic intervals,
determine a demand for picker services at each retailer of the plurality of retailers in the geographic region for a subsequent forecast time period; and
update the user interactive map, wherein the updated user interactive map displays an updated pin overlaying the location of each retailer of the plurality of retailers; and
receive an input from the picker selecting an updated pin overlaying the location of the retailer of the plurality of retailers, wherein the selection causes the updated user interactive map to display a notification characterizing the demand for picker services at the retailer of the plurality of retailers for the subsequent forecast time period.

### Claim 17 (depends on 11)

The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the instructions further cause the processor to:
determine that the picker is located beyond the geographic region in response to the picker moving to a new location;
identify a second geographic region that includes the new location of the picker;
generate, for display on the mobile device of the picker, a second user interactive map of the second geographic region, the second user interactive map displaying a location of each retailer in the second geographic region and a pin overlaying the location of each retailer in the second geographic region; and
receive an input from the picker selecting a pin overlaying the location of a retailer in the second geographic region, wherein the selection causes the second user interactive map to display a notification characterizing a demand for picker services at the retailer in the second geographic region.

### Claim 18 (depends on 11)

The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the number of orders placed at the retailer of the plurality of retailers during the forecast time period further comprises one or more of:
a count of orders placed by customers during a time period preceding the forecast time period that were not assigned to the plurality of pickers;
a count of orders placed by customers operating mobile devices before the preceding time period that were not assigned to the plurality of pickers; and
a count of orders that were fulfilled by the plurality of pickers during the preceding time period.

### Claim 19 (depends on 11)

The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the instructions further cause the processor to:
receive a signal identifying each of a plurality of pickers located in the geographic region during a preceding time period;
for each retailer of the plurality of retailers:
access one or more eligibility conditions of pickers available to the retailer of the plurality of retailers; and
identify a first subset of pickers of the plurality of pickers that satisfy the one or more eligibility conditions and a second subset of pickers of the plurality of pickers that do not satisfy the one or more eligibility conditions; and
determine that pickers of the second subset are not available to the retailer of the plurality of retailers.

### Claim 20 (depends on 11)

The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the instructions for determining the demand for picker services at the retailer during the forecast time period further cause the processor to:
determine a difference between the number of orders placed at the retailer of the plurality of retailers during the forecast time period and a capacity to fulfill orders during the forecast time period, wherein the difference represents the demand for picker services at the retailer during the forecast time period;
compare the difference to a busyness threshold; and
responsive to the difference being greater than the busyness threshold, determine that the demand for picker services at the retailer during the forecast time period indicates a lack of available pickers in the geographic region during the forecast time period.