Network system with scheduled breaks

Abstract

A method and system for scheduled breaks are described. A network computer system receives provider data corresponding to a request to initiate a pause state with the network service and also receives a position of the service provider from a computing device equipped with a location-based resource. In response to receiving the request, the network computer system selects a facility, based on a selection objective, from facilities that are associated with the pause state and at least one of the position of the service provider and a destination of a service task that is to be completed. The network computer system transmits data corresponding to the selected facility to the computing device to be displayed on a user interface of the computing device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for operating a network service, the method being performed by one or more processors of a computing system and comprising:
 communicating with a service application, executed on computing devices of a plurality of service providers located in a geographic area, to receive provider data corresponding to a position of each computing device, as determined by a location-based resource of each computing device, and to determine a service state of each service provider, the service state being selected from a plurality of candidate service states including a pause state, which indicates the service provider is unavailable for a remaining duration of time;   processing multiple service requests over a time interval, each of the multiple service requests specifying a corresponding service location within the geographic area; and   while at least one of the multiple service requests are unassigned:
 selecting a service provider from the plurality of service providers to fulfill a first service request from the multiple service requests based on the service state and estimated time of arrival at the corresponding service location for the first service request for at least one of the plurality of service providers, wherein the estimated time of arrival for service providers in the pause state includes the remaining duration of time for the pause state; and 
 transmitting, to the computing device of the selected service provider, data corresponding to the first service request. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the estimated time of arrival at the corresponding service location for each service provider is calculated based on travel time from the position of the computing device of that service provider to the corresponding service location, and wherein the estimated time of arrival for service providers in the pause state is at least the sum of the travel time and the remaining duration of time that service provider is unavailable. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the travel time is determined from historical travel time data and local conditions, including traffic and weather. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein selecting the service provider to fulfill the first service request is based on minimizing the estimated time of arrival for the first service request. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 selecting, from the plurality of service providers, service providers for each of the multiple service requests, wherein selecting service providers includes implementing an optimization process to minimize the estimated time of arrival for at least two of the multiple service requests collectively.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the data corresponding to the first service request is transmitted to the computing device of the selected service provider to be displayed on a user interface of the computing device. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 increasing the remaining duration of time for a service provider in the pause state in response to receiving an extension request from that service provider.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the provider data is communicated from each computing device through execution of a corresponding service application. 
     
     
         9 . A network computer system comprising:
 one or more processors; and   one or more memory resources storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the network computer system to perform operations including:
 communicating with a service application, executed on computing devices of a plurality of service providers located in a geographic area, to receive provider data corresponding to a position of each computing device, as determined by a location-based resource of each computing device, and to determine a service state of each service provider, the service state being selected from a plurality of candidate service states including a pause state, which indicates the service provider is unavailable for a remaining duration of time; 
 processing multiple service requests over a time interval, each of the multiple service requests specifying a corresponding service location within the geographic area; and 
 while at least one of the multiple service requests are unassigned:
 selecting a service provider from the plurality of service providers to fulfill a first service request from the multiple service requests based on the service state and estimated time of arrival at the corresponding service location for the first service request for at least one of the plurality of service providers, wherein the estimated time of arrival for service providers in the pause state includes the remaining duration of time for the pause state; and 
 transmitting, to the computing device of the selected service provider, data corresponding to the first service request. 
 
   
     
     
         10 . The network computer system of  claim 9 , wherein the estimated time of arrival at the corresponding service location for each service provider is calculated based on travel time from the position of the computing device of that service provider to the corresponding service location, and wherein the estimated time of arrival for service providers in the pause state is at least the sum of the travel time and the remaining duration of time that service provider is unavailable. 
     
     
         11 . The network computer system of  claim 10 , wherein the travel time is determined from historical travel time data and local conditions, including traffic and weather. 
     
     
         12 . The network computer system of  claim 10 , wherein selecting the service provider to fulfill the first service request is based on minimizing the estimated time of arrival for the first service request. 
     
     
         13 . The network computer system of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 selecting, from the plurality of service providers, service providers for each of the multiple service requests, wherein selecting service providers includes implementing an optimization process to minimize the estimated time of arrival for at least two of the multiple service requests collectively.   
     
     
         14 . The network computer system of  claim 9 , wherein the data corresponding to the first service request is transmitted to the computing device of the selected service provider to be displayed on a user interface of the computing device. 
     
     
         15 . The network computer system of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 increasing the remaining duration of time for a service provider in the pause state in response to receiving an extension request from that service provider.   
     
     
         16 . The network computer system of  claim 9 , wherein the provider data is communicated from each computing device through execution of a corresponding service application. 
     
     
         17 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium that stores instructions, executable by one or more processors, to cause the one or more processors to perform operations that comprise:
 communicating with a service application, executed on computing devices of a plurality of service providers located in a geographic area, to receive provider data corresponding to a position of each computing device, as determined by a location-based resource of each computing device, and to determine a service state of each service provider, the service state being selected from a plurality of candidate service states including a pause state, which indicates the service provider is unavailable for a remaining duration of time;   processing multiple service requests over a time interval, each of the multiple service requests specifying a corresponding service location within the geographic area; and   while at least one of the multiple service requests are unassigned:
 selecting a service provider from the plurality of service providers to fulfill a first service request from the multiple service requests based on the service state and estimated time of arrival at the corresponding service location for the first service request for at least one of the plurality of service providers, wherein the estimated time of arrival for service providers in the pause state includes the remaining duration of time for the pause state; and 
 transmitting, to the computing device of the selected service provider, data corresponding to the first service request. 
   
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein the estimated time of arrival at the corresponding service location for each service provider is calculated based on travel time from the position of the computing device of that service provider to the corresponding service location, and wherein the estimated time of arrival for service providers in the pause state is at least the sum of the travel time and the remaining duration of time that service provider is unavailable. 
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 18 , wherein the travel time is determined from historical travel time data and local conditions, including traffic and weather. 
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 18 , wherein selecting the service provider to fulfill the first service request is based on minimizing the estimated time of arrival for the first service request.