Allocating shoppers for order fulfillment by an online concierge system accounting for variable numbers of shoppers across different time windows and varying capabilities for fulfilling orders
US11823102B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 5, 2021 |
| Grant date | Nov 21, 2023 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 17, 2041 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06Q10/0875
- 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. Each order may require a different set of characteristics for fulfilment by shoppers. Because different shoppers may have different capabilities, it is most efficient to reserve shoppers with specialized characteristics for orders that require them. The online concierge system maintains a set of hierarchical structures for different characteristics of shoppers, with each level in a hierarchical structure having a value. To select a shopper to fulfill an order, the online concierge system scores identifies groups of shoppers having characteristics capable of fulfilling the order based on levels in the hierarchical structure for each characteristic of a group. A shopper from a group having a minimum score is selected to fulfill the order.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.