Method and structure for automated crediting to customers for waiting
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorsParijat Dube, Giuseppe A. Paleologo, Laura Wynter
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and structure for reducing customer dissatisfaction for waiting includes a queue monitoring subsystem which detects an entry of a customer into a waiting queue. A reward computing subsystem calculates a reward for the customer for being in the waiting queue, and a communication subsystem communicates the reward to the customer. At least one of subsystems is automated.
Claims19
A system for reducing customer dissatisfaction for waiting, said system comprising:
- a queue monitoring subsystem that detects an entry of a customer into a waiting;
- a reward computing subsystem, as executed by a processor on a computing device that calculates a reward for the customer for being in the waiting queue;
- and
- a communication subsystem to communicate the reward to the customer as the customer is still waiting in the waiting queue as an incentive to continue waiting rather than leave the waiting queue, wherein:
- the queue monitoring subsystem detects an entry time of the customer into the waiting queue;
- the reward computing subsystem calculates the reward based upon an amount of time that the customer has waited in the queue;
- and
- the communication subsystem to communicate the reward to the customer comprises an annunciation module handed by a host or hostess to a customer upon entry into the waiting queue, the annunciation module further providing indication to the customer to return to the host or hostess for an immediate service.
A method for reducing customer dissatisfaction for waiting, comprising:
- detecting an entry of a customer into a waiting queue;
- calculating, using a processor on a computing device, a reward for the customer for being in the waiting queue;
- and
- communicating the reward to the customer as the customer is still waiting in the waiting queue, as an incentive to continue waiting rather than leave the waiting queue, wherein:
- the detecting detects an entry time of the customer into the waiting queue;
- the calculating the reward is based upon an amount of time that the customer has waited in the queue;
- and
- the communicating the reward to the customer comprises an annunciation module handed by a host or hostess to a customer upon entry into the waiting queue, the annunciation module further providing indication to the customer to return to the host or hostess for an immediate service.
A tangible, non-transitory storage medium tangibly embodying a program of machine-readable instructions executable by a digital processing apparatus to perform a method for reducing customer dissatisfaction for waiting, said method comprising:
- detecting an entry of a customer into a waiting queue;
- calculating, a reward for the customer for being in the waiting queue;
- and
- communicating the reward to the customer as the customer is still waiting in the waiting queue, as an incentive to continue waiting rather than leave the waiting queue,
- wherein said program of machine-readable instruction causes said digital processing apparatus to perform at least one of said detecting, said calculating, and said communicating, and
- wherein:
- the detecting detects an entry time of the customer into the waiting queue;
- the calculating the reward is based upon an amount of time that the customer has waited in the queue;
- and
- the communicating the reward to the customer comprises an annunciation module handed by a host or hostess to a customer upon entry into the waiting queue, the annunciation module further providing indication to the customer to return to the host or hostess for an immediate service.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.