Queue wait time estimation system
The queue wait time estimation system of the present disclosure leverages its users' Internet-connected mobile devices—and the data they generate based on sensor feedback—to estimate the queue wait times at various establishments. The queue wait time estimation system communicates the estimated queue wait times to the users to enable the users to make an informed decision as to whether they'd like to visit a particular establishment based on its estimated queue wait time.
1. A method of operating a queue wait time estimation system, the method comprising:
establishing wireless communication with a user device;
periodically receiving, by a network interface and from the user device, location data associated with the user device;
monitoring, by a processor, the location data for an occurrence of an arrival event associated with an establishment;
responsive to an occurrence of the arrival event:
storing, in a memory device, an arrival time;
monitoring, by the processor, the location data for an occurrence of a departure event associated with the establishment;
receiving, by the network interface and from the user device, sensor data determined based on feedback from at least one sensor of the user device, wherein the sensor data included accelerometer data and magnetometer data;
monitoring, by the processor, the sensor data for an occurrence of a queue exit event;
determining, by the processor, that the queue exit event occurred responsive to determining that: (1) the accelerometer data indicates that fewer than a designated quantity of steps have been taken within a first designated time period;
and (2) the magnetometer data indicates that a direction in which the user device is pointed has not changed more than a designated amount for a second designated time period, wherein the queue exit event occurs when (1) and (2) occur within a third designated time period of one another,
responsive to an occurrence of the queue exit event, storing, in the memory device, a queue exit time; and
responsive to an occurrence of the departure event, storing, in the memory device, a departure time;
determining, by the processor, a queue wait time based on at least the arrival time and the queue exit time; and
determining, by the processor and based in part on the queue wait time, establishment data including an estimated queue wait time for the establishment.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the location data includes global-positioning system (GPS) coordinates of the mobile device.
3. The method of claim 2 , which includes determining, by the processor, that the arrival event associated with the establishment occurred responsive to determining that the GPS coordinates of the mobile device have been within a designated vicinity of GPS coordinates of the establishment for a designated period of time.
4. The method of claim 3 , which includes determining, by the processor, that the departure event associated with the establishment occurred responsive to determining that the GPS coordinates of the mobile device have been outside of the designated vicinity of the GPS coordinates of the establishment for a second designated period of time following the occurrence of the arrival event.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the occurrence of the arrival event indicates that the user device has arrived at the establishment and entered the queue, the queue exit event indicates that the user device has exited the queue, and the departure event indicates that the user device has departed the establishment.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the location data includes GPS coordinates of the mobile device and the sensor data includes accelerometer data and magnetometer data, and which includes:
determining, by the processor, that the arrival event occurred responsive to determining that the GPS coordinates of the mobile device have been within a designated vicinity of GPS coordinates of the establishment for a designated period of time;
determining, by the processor, that the departure event occurred responsive to determining that the GPS coordinates of the mobile device have been outside of the designated vicinity of the GPS coordinates of the establishment for a second designated period of time following the occurrence of the arrival event; and
determining, by the processor, that the queue exit event occurred responsive to determining that: (1) the accelerometer data indicates that fewer than a designated quantity of steps have been taken within a first designated time period; and (2) the magnetometer data indicates that a direction in which the user device is pointed has not changed more than a designated amount for a second designated time period.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the queue exit event occurs when (1) and (2) occur within a third designated time period of one another.
8. A queue wait time estimation system comprising:
a processor;
a network interface; and
a memory that stores instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
establish wireless communication with a user device via the network interface;
periodically receive, via the network interface and from the user device, location data associated with the user device;
monitor the location data for an occurrence of an arrival event associated with an establishment;
responsive to an occurrence of the arrival event:
store an arrival time in the memory device;
monitor the location data for an occurrence of a departure event associated with the establishment;
receive, via the network interface and from the user device, sensor data determined based on feedback from at least one sensor of the user device, wherein the sensor data included accelerometer data and magnetometer data;
monitor the sensor data for an occurrence of a queue exit event;
determining, by the processor, that the queue exit event occurred responsive to determining that: (1) the accelerometer data indicates that fewer than a designated quantity of steps have been taken within a first designated time period; and (2) the magnetometer data indicates that a direction in which the user device is pointed has not changed more than a designated amount for a second designated time period, wherein the queue exit event occurs when (1) and (2) occur within a third designated time period of one another;
responsive to an occurrence of the queue exit event, store a queue exit time in the memory device; and
responsive to an occurrence of the departure event, store a departure time in the memory device;
determine a queue wait time based on at least the arrival time and the queue exit time; and
determine, based in part on the queue wait time, establishment data including an estimated queue wait time for the establishment.
9. The queue wait time estimation system of claim 8 , wherein the location data includes global-positioning system (GPS) coordinates of the mobile device.
10. The queue wait time estimation system of claim 9 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to determine that the arrival event associated with the establishment occurred responsive to determining that the GPS coordinates of the mobile device have been within a designated vicinity of GPS coordinates of the establishment for a designated period of time.
11. The queue wait time estimation system of claim 10 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to determine that the departure event associated with the establishment occurred responsive to determining that the GPS coordinates of the mobile device have been outside of the designated vicinity of the GPS coordinates of the establishment for a second designated period of time following the occurrence of the arrival event.
12. The queue wait time estimation system of claim 8 , wherein the occurrence of the arrival event indicates that the user device has arrived at the establishment and entered the queue, the queue exit event indicates that the user device has exited the queue, and the departure event indicates that the user device has departed the establishment.
13. The queue wait time estimation system of claim 8 , wherein the location data includes GPS coordinates of the mobile device and the sensor data includes accelerometer data and magnetometer data, and wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
determine that the arrival event occurred responsive to determining that the GPS coordinates of the mobile device have been within a designated vicinity of GPS coordinates of the establishment for a designated period of time;
determine that the departure event occurred responsive to determining that the GPS coordinates of the mobile device have been outside of the designated vicinity of the GPS coordinates of the establishment for a second designated period of time following the occurrence of the arrival event; and
determine that the queue exit event occurred responsive to determining that: (1) the accelerometer data indicates that fewer than a designated quantity of steps have been taken within a first designated time period; and (2) the magnetometer data indicates that a direction in which the user device is pointed has not changed more than a designated amount for a second designated time period.
14. The queue wait time estimation system of claim 13 , wherein the queue exit event occurs when (1) and (2) occur within a third designated time period of one another.