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.

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