Methods and apparatus for determining wait times

US11928897B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Walmart Apollo, LLC · US

Inventors

• Shengyang Zhang · Santa Clara, US
• Mingang Fu · Palo Alto, US
• Arun Prasad Nagarathinam · Santa Clara, US
• Apeksha Mehta · Mountain View, US
• Pawan Kumar · Norwalk, US
• Madhavan Kandhadai Vasantham · Dublin, US
• Ankit Jasuja · San Jose, US
• Surnaik Srivastava · Santa Clara, US
• Jennifer Chen · Union City, US
• Vidyanand Krishnan · Sunnyvale, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 16, 2021
• Grant date: Mar 12, 2024
• Expiry date: Jun 2, 2042

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G07C2011/04
• WIPO field: IT methods for management
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

In some examples, a system may include a first computing device communicatively coupled to a second computing device. Additionally, the first computing device is configured to obtain, from the second computing device, check-in data indicating an arrival of the user of the second computing device at a first location, and in response to obtaining the check-in data, determine current wait times. Moreover, the first computing device is configured to determine a first number of customers waiting for service, determine a first number of associates available to assist the first number of customers, and determine an expected wait time for the user operating the second computing device based at least on the current wait times. In some examples, the first number of customers waiting for service, and the first number of associates available. Further, the first computing device is configured to transmit the expected wait time to the second computing device.