# US 2018/0322431 A1 · Predicting realistic time of arrival for queue priority adjustment

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- Number: US 2018/0322431 A1
- Document ID: US20180322431A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/963,143
- Filed: 2018-04-26
- Published: 2018-11-08
- Earliest claimed: 2017-05-05
- Assignees: Walmart Apollo, LLC
- Applicants: Walmart Apollo, LLC
- Inventors: Travis Folck
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180322431A1

## CPC

- G06Q 10/06316: {Sequencing of tasks or work}
- G01C 21/3407: {specially adapted for specific applications}
- G01S 19/51: Relative positioning
- G06Q 30/0601: Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
- G06Q 10/0633: Workflow analysis
- 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
- G01C: MEASURING DISTANCES, LEVELS OR BEARINGS; SURVEYING; NAVIGATION; GYROSCOPIC INSTRUMENTS; PHOTOGRAMMETRY OR VIDEOGRAMMETRY (measuring liquid level G01F; radio navigation, determining distance or velocity by use of propagation effects, e.g. Doppler effects, propagation time, of radio waves, analogous arrangements using other waves G01S)
- G01S: RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES

## Abstract

A queue prioritization system and method for predicting a realistic time of arrival for performing a queue priority adjustment is provided. The method includes the steps of determining an estimated initial arrival time of a first user and a second user to a destination, the estimated initial arrival time being used to establish a queue priority, tracking a current location and predicting a route to be taken to arrive at the destination from the current location, detecting a schedule-altering event of the first user by analyzing: (i) the predicted route of the first user, or (ii) a current state of a vehicle, and reprioritizing the queue priority database, in response to calculating an updated queue priority of the first user that is lower than the queue priority of the second user, based on the detection of the schedule-altering event of the first user.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for predicting a realistic time of arrival for performing a queue priority adjustment, the method comprising:
determining, by a processor of a computing system, an estimated initial arrival time of a first user and a second user to a destination, the estimated initial arrival time being used to establish a queue priority of the first user and a queue priority of the second user, in a queue priority database, the queue priority of the first user being higher than the queue priority of the second user;
tracking, by the processor, a current location of the first user and a current location of the second user, during transit to the destination;
predicting, by the processor, a route to be taken to arrive at the destination from the current location of the first user and the current location of the second user, respectively;
detecting, by the processor, a schedule-altering event of the first user by analyzing: (i) the predicted route of the first user, or (ii) a current state of a vehicle; and
reprioritizing, by the processor, the queue priority database, in response to calculating an updated queue priority of the first user that is lower than the queue priority of the second user, based on the detection of the schedule-altering event of the first user.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein determining the estimated initial arrival time of the first user and the second user includes:
receiving, by the processor, a customer pick-up order and current GPS location information of the first user and the second user, the GPS location information obtained from a mobile device of the first user and the second user;
reviewing, by the processor, historical user data, including a historical path taken by the first user and the second user to the destination;
evaluating, by the processor, a complexity of the customer pick-up order to determine an earliest store pick-up time; and
comparing, by the processor, the earliest store pick-up time, the current GPS location of the first user and the second user, and the historical path taken by the first user and the second user to the destination, to determine the estimated initial arrival time, in response to: (i) prompting the first user and the second user to depart for the destination, or (ii) receiving confirmation from the first user and the second user that the first user and the second user have departed for the destination.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein prompting the first user and the second user to depart for the destination includes providing, by the processor, a suggested departure time based on at least one of: the earliest store pick-up time, current traffic conditions, current location of the first user and the second user, and historical traffic patterns of the first user and the second user.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein determining the estimated initial arrival time includes:
receiving, by the processor, scheduled delivery information and current GPS location information of the first user and the second user;
reviewing, by the processor, historical delivery pattern data, based on previous deliveries to the destination;
evaluating, by the processor, the scheduled delivery information, the current GPS location information of the first user and the second user, and the historical delivery pattern data, to determine an earliest delivery arrival time.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the detecting of the schedule-altering event includes receiving data from a plurality of data sources, the plurality of data sources including a current GPS location of the user received from a mobile device of the user, a real-time traffic data received from the mobile device of the user, a real-time traffic data received from a third party application server, a weather data received from the mobile device of the user, a weather data retrieved from a third party application server, a historical traffic pattern information of the user, a sensor data received from one or more sensors associated with the user, a vehicle and traffic information received from a vehicle-to-vehicle communication network, and a combination thereof.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the schedule-altering event is at least one of: a delay, a traffic jam, a traffic accident, a vehicle failure, a weather occurrence, an intervening stop by the first user, a wrong turn of the user, an alternative route taken by the user, a predicted traffic delay of the first user, and a predicted weather delay of the first user.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein predicting the route of the first user includes analyzing the current location of the first user, current traffic data, construction data, historical routes to the destination taken by the first user, and map data.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein reprioritizing the queue priority database causes: (i) an in-store pickup order associated with the second user to be available for pickup when the second user arrives at the destination, and before an in-store pickup order associated with the first user is available for pickup, or (ii) a delivery vehicle operated by the first user to be assigned to an available unloading location at the destination, when the first user arrives at the destination.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the first user and the second user is a customer, a delivery truck driver, an autonomous vehicle, or an unmanned drone.

### Claim 10

A computer system, comprising:
a processor;
a memory device coupled to the processor; and
a computer-readable storage device coupled to the processor, wherein the storage device contains program code executable by the processor via the memory device to implement a method for predicting a realistic time of arrival for performing a queue priority adjustment, the method comprising:
determining, by a processor of a computing system, an estimated initial arrival time of a first user and a second user to a destination, the estimated initial arrival time being used to establish a queue priority of the first user and a queue priority of the second user, in a queue priority database, the queue priority of the first user being higher than the queue priority of the second user;
tracking, by the processor, a current location of the first user and a current location of the second user, during transit to the destination;
predicting, by the processor, a route to be taken to arrive at the destination from the current location of the first user and the current location of the second user, respectively;
detecting, by the processor, a schedule-altering event of the first user by analyzing: (i) the predicted route of the first user, or (ii) a current state of a vehicle; and
reprioritizing, by the processor, the queue priority database, in response to calculating an updated queue priority of the first user that is lower than the queue priority of the second user, based on the detection of the schedule-altering event of the first user.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The computer system of claim 10, wherein determining the estimated initial arrival time of the first user and the second user includes:
receiving, by the processor, a customer pick-up order and current GPS location information of the first user and the second user, the GPS location information obtained from a mobile device of the first user and the second user;
reviewing, by the processor, historical user data, including a historical path taken by the first user and the second user to the destination;
evaluating, by the processor, a complexity of the customer pick-up order to determine an earliest store pick-up time; and
comparing, by the processor, the earliest store pick-up time, the current GPS location of the first user and the second user, and the historical path taken by the first user and the second user to the destination, to determine the estimated initial arrival time, in response to: (i) prompting the first user and the second user to depart for the destination, or (ii) receiving confirmation from the first user and the second user that the first user and the second user have departed for the destination.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The computer system of claim 11, wherein prompting the first user and the second user to depart for the destination includes providing, by the processor, a suggested departure time based on at least one of: the earliest store pick-up time, current traffic conditions, current location of the first user and the second user, and historical traffic patterns of the first user and the second user.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The computer system of claim 10, wherein determining the estimated initial arrival time includes:
receiving, by the processor, a scheduled delivery information and a current GPS location information of the first user and the second user;
reviewing, by the processor, a historical delivery pattern data, based on previous deliveries to the destination;
evaluating, by the processor, the scheduled delivery information, the current GPS location information of the first user and the second user, and the historical delivery pattern data, to determine an earliest delivery arrival time.

### Claim 14 (depends on 10)

The computer system of claim 10, wherein the detecting of the schedule-altering event includes receiving data from a plurality of data sources, the plurality of data sources including a current GPS location of the user received from a mobile device of the user, a real-time traffic data received from the mobile device of the user, a real-time traffic data received from a third party application server, a weather data received from the mobile device of the user, a weather data retrieved from a third party application server, a historical traffic pattern information of the user, a sensor data received from one or more sensors associated with the user, a vehicle and traffic information received from a vehicle-to-vehicle communication network, and a combination thereof.

### Claim 15 (depends on 10)

The computer system of claim 10, wherein the schedule-altering event is at least one of: a delay, a traffic jam, a traffic accident, a vehicle failure, a weather occurrence, an intervening stop by the first user, a wrong turn of the user, an alternative route taken by the user, a predicted traffic delay of the first user, and a predicted weather delay of the first user.

### Claim 16 (depends on 10)

The computer system of claim 10, wherein predicting the route of the first user includes analyzing the current location of the first user, current traffic data, construction data, historical routes to the destination taken by the first user, and map data.

### Claim 17 (depends on 10)

The computer system of claim 10, wherein reprioritizing the queue priority database causes: (i) an in-store pickup order associated with the second user to be available for pickup when the second user arrives at the destination, and before an in-store pickup order associated with the first user is available for pickup, or (ii) a delivery vehicle operated by the first user to be assigned to an available unloading location at the destination, when the first user arrives at the destination.

### Claim 18 (depends on 10)

The computer system of claim 10, wherein the first user and the second user is a customer, a delivery truck driver, an autonomous vehicle, or an unmanned drone.

### Claim 19

A computer program product, comprising a computer-readable hardware storage device storing a computer-readable program code, the computer-readable program code comprising an algorithm that when executed by a computer processor of a computing system implements a method for predicting a realistic time of arrival for performing a queue priority adjustment, the method comprising:
determining, by a processor of a computing system, an estimated initial arrival time of a first user and a second user to a destination, the estimated initial arrival time being used to establish a queue priority of the first user and a queue priority of the second user, in a queue priority database, the queue priority of the first user being higher than the queue priority of the second user;
tracking, by the processor, a current location of the first user and a current location of the second user, during transit to the destination;
predicting, by the processor, a route to be taken to arrive at the destination from the current location of the first user and the current location of the second user, respectively;
detecting, by the processor, a schedule-altering event of the first user by analyzing: (i) the predicted route of the first user, or (ii) a current state of a vehicle; and
reprioritizing, by the processor, the queue priority database, in response to calculating an updated queue priority of the first user that is lower than the queue priority of the second user, based on the detection of the schedule-altering event of the first user.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The computer program product of claim 19, wherein determining the estimated initial arrival time of the first user and the second user includes:
receiving, by the processor, a customer pick-up order and a current GPS location information of the first user and the second user, the GPS location information obtained from a mobile device of the first user and the second user;
reviewing, by the processor, historical user data, including a historical path taken by the first user and the second user to the destination;
evaluating, by the processor, a complexity of the customer pick-up order to determine an earliest store pick-up time; and
comparing, by the processor, the earliest store pick-up time, the current GPS location of the first user and the second user, and the historical path taken by the first user and the second user to the destination, to determine the estimated initial arrival time, in response to: (i) prompting the first user and the second user to depart for the destination, or (ii) receiving confirmation from the first user and the second user that the first user and the second user have departed for the destination.

### Claim 21 (depends on 20)

The computer program product of claim 20, wherein prompting the first user and the second user to depart for the destination includes providing, by the processor, a suggested departure time based on at least one of: the earliest store pick-up time, current traffic conditions, current location of the first user and the second user, and historical traffic patterns of the first user and the second user.

### Claim 22 (depends on 19)

The computer program product of claim 19, wherein determining the estimated initial arrival time includes:
receiving, by the processor, a scheduled delivery information and current GPS location information of the first user and the second user;
reviewing, by the processor, a historical delivery pattern data, based on previous deliveries to the destination; and
evaluating, by the processor, the scheduled delivery information, the current GPS location information of the first user and the second user, and the historical delivery pattern data, to determine an earliest delivery arrival time.

### Claim 23 (depends on 19)

The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the detecting of the schedule-altering event includes receiving data from a plurality of data sources, the plurality of data sources including a current GPS location of the user received from a mobile device of the user, a real-time traffic data received from the mobile device of the user, a real-time traffic data received from a third party application server, a weather data received from the mobile device of the user, a weather data retrieved from a third party application server, a historical traffic pattern information of the user, a sensor data received from one or more sensors associated with the user, a vehicle and traffic information received from a vehicle-to-vehicle communication network, and a combination thereof.

### Claim 24 (depends on 19)

The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the schedule-altering event is at least one of: a delay, a traffic jam, a traffic accident, a vehicle failure, a weather occurrence, an intervening stop by the first user, a wrong turn of the user, an alternative route taken by the user, a predicted traffic delay of the first user, and a predicted weather delay of the first user.

### Claim 25 (depends on 19)

The computer program product of claim 19, wherein predicting the route of the first user includes analyzing the current location of the first user, current traffic data, construction data, historical routes to the destination taken by the first user, and map data.

### Claim 26 (depends on 19)

The computer program product of claim 19, wherein reprioritizing the queue priority database causes: (i) an in-store pickup order associated with the second user to be available for pickup when the second user arrives at the destination, and before an in-store pickup order associated with the first user is available for pickup, or (ii) a delivery vehicle operated by the first user to be assigned to an available unloading location at the destination, when the first user arrives at the destination.

### Claim 27 (depends on 19)

The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the first user and the second user is a customer, a delivery truck driver, an autonomous vehicle, or an unmanned drone.