Allocating shoppers and orders for fulfillment by an online concierge system to account for variable numbers of shoppers across different time windows
US11803894B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 15, 2021 |
| Grant date | Oct 31, 2023 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 16, 2041 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06Q30/0284
- WIPO fieldIT methods for management
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An online concierge system allows users to order items within discrete time intervals later than a time when an order was received. The online concierge system allocates a specified percentage of an estimated number of shoppers during a discrete time interval to fulfilling orders received before the discrete time interval. An order may include a flag authorizing flexible fulfillment of the order along with a discrete time interval, which allows the order to be fulfilled earlier than the identified discrete time interval. The online concierge system generates groups of multiple orders authorizing flexible fulfillment and determines a cost for fulfilling different groups of orders. The online concierge system identifies a group of orders authorizing flexible fulfillment having a minimum cost for fulfillment by a shopper, allowing for more allocation of shoppers by enabling grouping of orders identifying different discrete time intervals.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.