Line management based on user tolerance

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016148238-A1
Application number	US-201414554650-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 26, 2014
Priority date	Nov 26, 2014
Publication date	May 26, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A system or method is provided to detect the positions of various users in line and determine the users' tolerance for waiting in line. Based on the tolerance of the users for waiting in line, the system may rearrange the line positions of the users accordingly. The user's tolerance may be detected by their current position, their current movements and activities, the user's purchase or transaction history, interests and hobbies, past line waiting experience, and the like. In an embodiment, the system may determine incentives or rewards and may offer them to the users who are waiting in line to incentivize them to stay in line.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A system comprising:
a memory storing information about a user account of a user; and one or more processors in communication with the memory and adapted to:
detect a line position of the user in a line;
access information of the user stored with the user account;
determine an incentive for the user based at least in part on the information of the user;
determine whether the incentive is for the user to stay in the line or for the user to move back in the line; and
communicate the incentive electronically to the user on a user device.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are further adapted to detect the line position of the user by detecting a user device of the user by one or more Bluetooth beacons via Bluetooth communication.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are further adapted to:
determine a user tolerance of the user for waiting in the line; and moving the line position of the user in the line based on the user tolerance.

4 . The system of claim 3 , wherein the user tolerance is determined based on a current location and movement of the user.

5 . The system of claim 3 , wherein the user tolerance is determined based on the line position of the user and an estimated wait time of the user.

6 . The system of claim 3 , wherein the one or more processors are further adapted to calculate a tolerance score for the user indicating the user tolerance of the user for waiting in line.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the incentive is determined based on an interest level of the user for a product or a service offered at the line.

8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the incentive is determined based on one or more of a transaction history, a purchase history, and a line waiting history of the user.

9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the incentive is determined based on one or more of a calendar, a to-do list, a schedule, and a social networking account of the user.

10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are adapted to:
detect a current location of the user; determine a current activity of the user based on the current location; and determine the incentive based on the current activity of the user.

11 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the incentive comprises a coupon applicable to the current activity of the user.

12 . The system of claim 1 ,
wherein the incentive comprises reward points for a reward program; and wherein the reward points accumulate based on how long the user waits in line.

13 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the incentive comprises a voucher to skip a future line.

14 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the incentive is determined based on a merchant's customer preference for certain users waiting in line.

15 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the incentive is offered in exchange for moving the user back in the line.

16 . A method comprising:
detecting line positions of users in a line; determining user tolerances of the users for waiting in the line; generating incentives to incentivize the users to wait in line based on the user tolerances; and communicating the incentives to the users.

17 . The method of claim 16 further comprising rearranging line positions of the users based on the user tolerances of the users waiting in the line.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the rearranging comprises:
moving users with higher user tolerances backward in the line; and moving users with lower user tolerances forward in the line.

19 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the line is for access to a public venue and the method further comprises presenting the users with status information of the line comprising one or more of a number of the users in the line, a number of tickets sold for the public venue, and a capacity of the public venue.

20 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the line is for access to a merchant and the method further comprises presenting the users with status information of the line comprising one or more of a number of the users in the line, an inventory of products desired by the users, and a probability that the products are available for the users.

Assignees

• Ebay Inc

Inventors

• He Robert
• Luk Bryant Genepang
• Dides Emil
• Khalil Syed Muasir

Classifications

• G06Q30/0207 Primary

  Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates · CPC title

• G06Q30/0224

  based on user history · CPC title

• G06Q30/0217

  involving input on products or services in exchange for incentives or rewards · CPC title

• G06Q30/0208

  Trade or exchange of goods or services in exchange for incentives or rewards · CPC title

• G07C2011/04

  related to queuing systems · CPC title