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:
 remotely monitoring computing devices of a plurality of service providers to receive provider data corresponding to positions of each computing device, as determined by location-based resources of each computing device, and to determine a service state of each service provider;   determining supply provisioning information for the network service based at least on the positions of each computing device and the service states of the plurality of service providers;   receiving, from a first service provider over a network, further provider data corresponding to a request to initiate a pause state with the network service, the pause state indicating that the first service provider is unavailable for a remaining duration of time;   in response to receiving the request, selecting a facility from a plurality of facilities located within a threshold distance from at least one of (i) the position of the first service provider and (ii) a destination of a service task that is to be completed by the first service provider, the facility selected based at least on the supply provisioning information for the network service for a surrounding area of each of the plurality of facilities; and   transmitting data corresponding to the selected facility to the computing device of the first service provider to be displayed on a user interface of the computing device.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the data corresponding to the selected facility is to be displayed within a list of facilities on the user interface of the computing device. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 receiving, from the first service provider, input choosing the selected facility from the list of facilities; and   transmitting navigation information corresponding to a route from the position of the computing device of the first service provider to the selected facility to be displayed on the user interface of the computing device.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the facility is selected based at least on one or more of reducing idle time for the first service provider, reducing costs to the first service provider, and increasing revenues for the first service provider. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the supply provisioning information includes current pricing data for the network service for the surrounding area of each of the plurality of facilities. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the supply provisioning information is an estimate of supply provisioning for a time when the pause state is expected to end. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein selecting the facility is also based on facility ratings, accessibility, cleanliness, service provider preferences, distance from the position or destination, and/or available discounts. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the data corresponding to the selected facility is displayed on the user interface upon determining that the first service provider is not currently providing service to a user. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving, from the first service provider, a selection of a type of facility accommodation, wherein types of facility accommodation include gas stations and restrooms; and   filtering the plurality of facilities based on whether they include the type of facility accommodation selected.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 selecting a default type of facility accommodation based on a current time of day and/or a duration of time the first service provider has been active that day.   
     
     
         11 . 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:
 remotely monitoring computing devices of a plurality of service providers to receive provider data corresponding to positions of each computing device, as determined by location-based resources of each computing device, and to determine a service state of each service provider; 
 determining supply provisioning information for a network service based at least on the positions of each computing device and the service states of the plurality of service providers; 
 receiving, from a first service provider over a network, further provider data corresponding to a request to initiate a pause state with the network service, the pause state indicating that the first service provider is unavailable for a remaining duration of time; 
 in response to receiving the request, selecting a facility from a plurality of facilities located within a threshold distance from at least one of (i) the position of the first service provider and (ii) a destination of a service task that is to be completed by the first service provider, the facility selected based at least on the supply provisioning information for the network service for a surrounding area of each of the plurality of facilities; and 
 transmitting data corresponding to the selected facility to the computing device of the first service provider to be displayed on a user interface of the computing device. 
   
     
     
         12 . The network computer system of  claim 11 , wherein the data corresponding to the selected facility is to be displayed within a list of facilities on the user interface of the computing device. 
     
     
         13 . The network computer system of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 receiving, from the first service provider, input choosing the selected facility from the list of facilities; and   transmitting navigation information corresponding to a route from the position of the computing device of the first service provider to the selected facility to be displayed on the user interface of the computing device.   
     
     
         14 . The network computer system of  claim 11 , wherein the facility is selected based at least on one or more of reducing idle time for the first service provider, reducing costs to the first service provider, and increasing revenues for the first service provider. 
     
     
         15 . The network computer system of  claim 11 , wherein the supply provisioning information includes current pricing data for the network service for the surrounding area of each of the plurality of facilities. 
     
     
         16 . The network computer system of  claim 11 , wherein the supply provisioning information is an estimate of supply provisioning for a time when the pause state is expected to end. 
     
     
         17 . The network computer system of  claim 11 , wherein selecting the facility is also based on facility ratings, accessibility, cleanliness, service provider preferences, distance from the position or destination, and/or available discounts. 
     
     
         18 . The network computer system of  claim 11 , wherein the data corresponding to the selected facility is displayed on the user interface upon determining that the first service provider is not currently providing service to a user. 
     
     
         19 . The network computer system of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 receiving, from the first service provider, a selection of a type of facility accommodation, wherein types of facility accommodation include gas stations and restrooms; and   filtering the plurality of facilities based on whether they include the type of facility accommodation selected.   
     
     
         20 . 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:
 remotely monitoring computing devices of a plurality of service providers to receive provider data corresponding to positions of each computing device, as determined by location-based resources of each computing device, and to determine a service state of each service provider;   determining supply provisioning information for a network service based at least on the positions of each computing device and the service states of the plurality of service providers;   receiving, from a first service provider over a network, further provider data corresponding to a request to initiate a pause state with the network service, the pause state indicating that the first service provider is unavailable for a remaining duration of time;   in response to receiving the request, selecting a facility from a plurality of facilities located within a threshold distance from at least one of (i) the position of the first service provider and (ii) a destination of a service task that is to be completed by the first service provider, the facility selected based at least on the supply provisioning information for the network service for a surrounding area of each of the plurality of facilities; and   transmitting data corresponding to the selected facility to the computing device of the first service provider to be displayed on a user interface of the computing device.