Queue management
OwnerEran Ben-Alexanderinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disclosed are methods and devices for queue management that allow a person waiting in the queue to choose to receive at least one warning communication, for example on a wireless communication device such as a cellular telephone. In some embodiments, the person agrees to “buy” the warnings and concomitant free time by agreeing to pay for at least one warning communication and/or by agreeing to accept advertisements.
Claims10
A method for queue management for a service provided at a service location, comprising:
- a. positioning at least one turn-distributing terminal at a waiting area;
- b. upon request by a person for a turn from a said turn-distributing terminal,
- determining whether said person has pre-ordered a said turn prior to arriving at said waiting area;
- if said pre-ordering of said turn is confirmed through said turn-distributing terminal, assigning said person said turn, then:
- c. subsequent to ‘b’, offering said person an option of receiving at least one warning communication warning of the approach of said turn;
- d. subsequent to c, if said person accepts said offer, accepting a communication route of the person in said waiting area;
- and
- e. prior to said turn, transmitting to said person at least one said warning communication.
A method for queue management for a service provided at a service location, comprising:
- a. positioning at least one turn-distributing terminal at a waiting area;
- b. upon request by a person for a turn from a said turn-distributing terminal, assigning said person a turn in a queue;
- c. offering said person an option of receiving at least one warning communication warning of the approach of said turn;
- d. subsequent to c, if said person accepts said offer, accepting a communication route of said person in said waiting area;
- and
- e. prior to said turn, transmitting to said person at least one said warning communication.
- wherein said turn distributing terminal is configured to obtain positioning information,
- wherein said request by said person for a turn comprises said person accessing an application running on a mobile communication device, and
- wherein following said receipt of said request, said assigning a turn in said queue comprises said turn-distributing terminal obtaining positioning information for said mobile communication device, and assigning said person a turn in said queue only if said person is located in or near said waiting area, as indicated by said positioning information.
A method for queue management for a service provided at a service location, comprising:
- a. positioning at least one turn-distributing terminal at a waiting area;
- b. upon request by a person for a turn from a said turn-distributing terminal, assigning said person a turn in a queue;
- c. offering said person an option of receiving at least one warning communication warning of the approach of said turn;
- d. subsequent to c, if said person accepts said offer, accepting a communication route of said person in said waiting area;
- and
- e. prior to said turn, transmitting to said person at least one said warning communication.
- wherein said turn in a queue assigned to said person is a turn in a queue dedicated for people who have agreed to receive at least one said warning communication.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.