Allocating shoppers and orders for fulfillment by an online concierge system to account for variable numbers of shoppers across different time windows
US12198182B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 25, 2023 |
| Grant date | Jan 14, 2025 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 25, 2043 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06Q30/0284
- WIPO fieldIT methods for management
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An online concierge system receives two types of orders, one of which requires fulfillment in a specific time interval, while the other can be fulfilled anytime up to a specific time interval. A machine learning model, trained on historical data about available shoppers in discrete time intervals, is used to predict how many shoppers will be available to fulfill orders in each time interval. For each time interval, the system retrieves the relevant orders of both types and creates candidate groups including orders of both types. For each group, the system determines a fulfillment cost based on items in the orders. The candidate group with the lowest cost is selected, and the orders in the selected group are sent to devices of available shoppers in that interval, prompting the shoppers to view and fulfill the orders.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.