Queue busting through assignment of kiosks to users
View Patent ↗A method of queue busting using a wireless computing device can include executing a portlet within a wireless computing device, wherein the portlet is configured to query for kiosk availability and receiving a request to reserve a kiosk for use by a customer from the wireless computing device. The wireless computing device can be local to the kiosk. The method further can include determining availability of the kiosk according to scheduling information for the kiosk and reserving the kiosk for use by the customer for a period of time according to the step of determining availability of the kiosk. A message, which specifies reservation information, can be sent to the wireless computing device or a representative scheduled to communicate with the customer through the kiosk. A characteristic of the kiosk can be automatically configured and a communication session with the kiosk can be established.
1. A method of queue busting using a wireless computing device comprising:
executing a portlet within a wireless computing device, wherein the portlet is configured to query for kiosk availability;
receiving a request to reserve a kiosk for use by a customer from the wireless computing device, wherein the wireless computing device is local to the kiosk;
determining availability of the kiosk according to scheduling information for the kiosk;
reserving the kiosk for use by the customer for an activity for a period of time according to said step of determining availability of the kiosk;
sending a message to the wireless computing device which specifies reservation information;
selecting a representative according to availability of the representative during the period of time for which the kiosk is reserved, according to context information for the representative, and a correspondence between an attribute of a profile of the representative and an attribute of a profile of the customer;
sending a notification to the representative over a communication channel selected from a plurality of communication channels according to the context information for the representative, wherein the notification indicates that a meeting has been scheduled with the customer via the kiosk;
automatically configuring at least one characteristic of the kiosk according to the activity for which the kiosk was reserved; and
establishing a communication session between a device of the representative and the kiosk over a communication channel during approximately the period of time for which the kiosk is reserved.
2. A method of assigning kiosks to customers of an organization comprising:
receiving a request, from a wireless communication device, to reserve a kiosk for use by a customer;
determining availability of the kiosk;
selecting a representative according to a correspondence between an attribute of a profile of the representative and an attribute of a profile of the customer;
determining availability of the representative according to context information for the representative;
reserving the kiosk for a period of time for use by the customer according to availability of the kiosk and availability of the representative;
sending a notification to the representative indicating that a meeting has been scheduled with the customer via the kiosk;
automatically configuring at least one characteristic of the kiosk responsive to the request to reserve the kiosk; and
establishing a communication session between a device of the representative and the kiosk over a communication channel selected from a plurality of communication channels according to context information for the representative, wherein the communication session is established over the selected communication channel during approximately the period of time for which the kiosk is reserved.
3. A machine readable storage, having stored thereon a computer program having a plurality of code sections executable by a machine for causing the machine to perform the steps of:
receiving a request to reserve a kiosk for use by a customer, wherein the request originates from a wireless computing device that is local to the kiosk;
determining availability of the kiosk according to scheduling information for the kiosk;
reserving the kiosk for use by the customer for an activity for a period of time according to said step of determining availability of the kiosk;
sending a message to the wireless computing device which specifies reservation information;
selecting a representative according to availability of the representative during the period of time for which the kiosk is reserved, according to context information for the representative, and a correspondence between an attribute of a profile of the representative and an attribute of a profile of the customer;
sending a notification to the representative over a communication channel selected from a plurality of communication channels according to the context information for the representative, wherein the notification indicates that a meeting has been scheduled with the customer via the kiosk;
automatically configuring at least one characteristic of the kiosk according to the activity for which the kiosk was reserved; and
establishing a communication session between a device of the representative and the kiosk over a communication channel during approximately the period of time for which the kiosk is reserved.