Order Processing for Remotely Ordered Goods

Abstract

A method for fulfilling a plurality of orders for goods at a provider location comprises obtaining an arrival sequence estimate for each of a plurality of users indicating the sequence in which the users are expected to arrive, and organizing completed orders according to the arrival sequence estimate. The arrival sequence estimate may be obtained by ordering users according to their respective radial distances from a target, and may also be used to schedule processing of the orders. Alternatively, arrival estimates for when each of the users is expected to arrive may be used to schedule processing of the orders. A dynamic arrival estimate may be obtained based on an expected travel path toward the destination during a first trip portion comprising travel within a constrained travel path network, and based on radial distance from the destination during a second trip portion subsequent to the first trip portion.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for processing a plurality of orders for goods at a provider location, comprising:
 (i) obtaining arrival estimates for when each of a plurality of users is expected to arrive, each user associated with a respective order;   (ii) using the arrival estimates to schedule processing of the orders;   (iii) obtaining an arrival sequence estimate for the users indicating a sequence in which the users are expected to arrive;   (iv) processing the orders to produce completed orders; and   (v) organizing the completed orders according to the arrival sequence estimate.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the arrival sequence estimate is continuously updated and step (v) is repeated responsive to a change in the arrival sequence estimate. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein processing the orders to produce completed orders comprises assembly of components of the orders into the completed orders. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the arrival sequence estimate is obtained by ordering users according to their respective radial distances from a target. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the radial distances are obtained using location information received from networked mobile wireless telecommunication computing devices carried by the users. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the location information comprises global positioning system coordinates. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the location information comprises cellular repeater triangulation coordinates. 
     
     
         8 . A method for processing a plurality of orders for goods at a provider location, comprising:
 (i) obtaining an arrival sequence estimate for each of a plurality of users indicating a sequence in which the users are expected to arrive, each user associated with a respective order;   (ii) using the arrival sequence estimate to schedule processing of the orders;   (iii) processing the orders to produce completed orders; and   (iv) organizing the completed orders according to the arrival sequence estimate.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the arrival sequence estimate is continuously updated and step (iv) is repeated responsive to a change in the arrival sequence estimate. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein processing the orders to produce completed orders comprises assembly of components of the orders into the completed orders. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the arrival sequence estimate is obtained by ordering users according to their respective radial distances from a target. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the radial distances are obtained using location information received from networked mobile wireless telecommunication computing devices carried by the users. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the location information comprises global positioning system coordinates. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the location information comprises cellular repeater triangulation coordinates. 
     
     
         15 . A method for fulfilling a plurality of orders for goods at a provider location, comprising:
 (i) obtaining an arrival sequence estimate for each of a plurality of users indicating a sequence in which the users are expected to arrive, each user associated with a respective order; and   (ii) organizing completed orders according to the arrival sequence estimate.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the arrival sequence estimate is continuously updated and step (ii) is repeated responsive to a change in the arrival sequence estimate. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein processing the orders to produce completed orders comprises assembly of components of the orders into the completed orders. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the arrival sequence estimate is obtained by ordering users according to their respective radial distances from a target. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the radial distances are obtained using location information received from networked mobile wireless telecommunication computing devices carried by the users. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the location information comprises global positioning system coordinates. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the location information comprises cellular repeater triangulation coordinates. 
     
     
         22 . A computer-implemented method for obtaining a dynamic arrival estimate for arrival at a destination, comprising:
 during at least a first trip portion comprising travel within a constrained travel path network, calculating the dynamic arrival estimate based on an expected travel path toward the destination through the constrained travel path network; and   during at least a second trip portion subsequent to the first trip portion, calculating the dynamic arrival estimate based on a radial distance from the destination.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein a transition from the first trip portion to the second trip portion is determined by detecting a departure from the constrained travel path network. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein a transition from the first trip portion to the second trip portion is determined by the dynamic arrival estimate falling below a predetermined threshold.