FR2858698A1 - Persons order of passage reservation method for e.g. butcher shop of superstore, involves activating mobile telephone using trusted third party when number of order of passage indicates time of arrival of imminent service - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves associating a number of an order of passage in virtual queue, with coordinates of a mobile telephone (10) of a person. The telephone is activated when the number indicates the time of arrival of imminent service, using a trusted third party (20). The party has a control and management unit (25) to generate a control order for a telephone unit (37) to call persons who have not yet received the service. An independent claim is also included for a device for reservation of an order of passage of person before a service provider provides the service.

Description

The invention relates to the implementation of services to

  individuals, and, more generally, to physical entities when these services are likely to implement a queue, real or virtual.

  In other words, the invention is more particularly for persons who have to access services, under the constraint of waiting for the time that other users, already on the premises, access the said 10 services.

  The services usually provided consist either in the provision of a given resource (allocation and immediate availability), or in the provision of a means of reservation for subsequent use (withdrawal of a ticket at a counter) for example.

  There already exist, in the everyday life, certain devices allowing a user to withdraw a paper ticket, allowing him to avoid certain constraints of the queue. Such systems are for example used in some administrations in contact with the public (Social Security, Fisc, gray card service in the Prefecture, etc.), or in some 20 specific departments of supermarkets (Charcuterie, Fromagerie ... ).

  These systems, while they represent an undeniable progress compared to traditional queues, nevertheless present some disadvantages.

  First, they force the users to move and physically go closer to the distributor to obtain a ticket. Most importantly, such systems imply that users are in close proximity to where the service will be delivered, so that they can be notified (orally or visually) that their turn has arrived.

  Thus, such systems, if they offer some amenities (possibility to go to sit while waiting to be received by a counselor, the user of supermarkets to go hastily buy his vegetables, while waiting to be called to be able to go and buy his ham), are nevertheless very limited.

  The object of the invention is to allow the user to overcome the constraint of waiting in a static way to be served (queue) and this more pleasant than in the configurations already proposed.

  In a preferred embodiment, it is also conceivable to allow the user to also overcome the constraint of physically going to a given location to remove a serial number in a queue.

  This object is achieved according to the invention by means of a method for booking the order of passage of a physical entity in front of an entity providing a service in the presence of the physical entity, in which process a physical entity is assigned a reservation. in the form of a passing order indicator, and this physical entity is called when its order of passage corresponds to an imminent delivery provision, the method being characterized in that it comprises the step of associating a passing order indicator with mobile telecommunication means coordinates of the physical entity, and the step of activating the mobile telecommunication means of the physical entity when the associated order of passage makes the subject of the provision of imminent service.

  It is also proposed according to the invention a device for booking the order of passage of a physical entity in front of an entity providing a service in the presence of the physical entity, the device comprising means for assigning the physical entities a reservation in the form a passing order indicator, the device further comprising means for issuing a call to the physical entity whose order of passage corresponds to an imminent delivery provision, characterized in that the means for issuing a reservation are provided for associating the order of passage as reserved with mobile communication coordinates of the physical entity, and in that the calling means are mobile telecommunications means provided for using these physical entity coordinates. when the latter is the subject of an impending supply of services.

  Other features, objects and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the detailed description which follows, made with reference to the appended figure, which is a schematic representation of a queuing device in accordance with FIG. the invention.

  For the called users, the embodiment that will be described now offers the means of very easily reserving a serial number in a virtual queue, allowing a potentially significant saving of time since allowing users to free themselves the obligation, very constraining, to take place and wait patiently in a real queue.

  For service providers, they have the opportunity to offer their customers a service with high added value in terms of ergonomics and comfort of use. In addition, they gain the possibility of retrieving information relating to the users using the service, in particular for purposes of statistics, surveys, marketing procedures, etc. Finally, they may have the possibility of reducing the costs relating to the structures necessary for customer reception, by reducing the space usually required by the existence of a real queue.

  For a telecommunications operator, it gains here the opportunity to stand out from the competition by the certainty of offering a real innovative value-added service. In addition, the prospect of generating revenues related to the use of the service (subscription, and / or pay-per-use, and / or generation of additional communications) is a definite advantage.

  Advantageously, the system here has the following provisions.

  The present embodiment is based on the fact of implementing a service that delivers serial numbers in a queue, these numbers being received by the users on their mobile terminal. This service allows users to virtually sit in a queue for delivery of a service as discussed above.

  In addition, the service that is the subject of the present invention will preferably comprise the additional functionalities of issuing a notice to the users as they approach their turn, of linking the service provider and the user to verify the legitimacy of the tour de role claimed, and possibly a remote reservation service of a serial number in a virtual queue.

  Subscription to the service is easy, and at a low cost or no cost depending on the case, the user easily accessing the list of providers to use this service.

  In case of reservation of remote order number, the user can easily identify and choose the provider for which he wishes to reserve a serial number.

  However, the system avoids the preventive and artificial reservations, if necessary by a dissuasive procedure (payment, even minimal, with the reservation for example, or followed by the seriousness of the users and quarantine possible).

  Advantageously, the user visualizes the fact that he has received a serial number on his mobile.

  Conversely, the service provider sees that an additional order number has just been issued and, where appropriate, information relating to the user.

  The user is notified when his turn arrives, in conditions such that they allow the user to appear before expiration of a possibly configurable delay, in order to actually see deliver the expected service.

  It is easily verified here that a user who comes forward to be delivered the service proceeds from a legitimate approach (it is his turn).

  If several users appear simultaneously, they are here able to know what is the order of passage, without each being obliged to reveal his serial number to others, this for convenience, and especially to to avoid discussions and possible disputes: it is the system that carries out the arbitration.

  Here, the provider is informed back, or the actual arrival of the customer within the time limits (for example, the customer is asked to send on his mobile an acknowledgment of receipt of the notice of passage), or the cancellation by the customer of the serial number.

  It is here impossible for a client to cheat, for example by modifying himself his serial number to gain a few places (for this purpose, a cryptographic signature solution of the serial number by a trusted third party is adopted).

  The reservation, the notification and the consumption of the same serial number are connected to each other, for example by means of a signed identifier.

  The means implemented for the implementation of this service are as follows: Of course, traditional mobile telephony means 10 are provided for the different users.

  There is further provided a centralized trusted third party 20 for automatically managing the virtual registration of a user (service subscriber) in the queue of a chosen provider, and the management of said queue. waiting.

  In addition, a system including a database 26, managed by a trusted third party, manages all the subscribed users and associated rules.

  A telephony system 27 administered by the trusted third party allows him to send serial numbers and notices to users.

  Finally, a logic system allows the automated implementation of the 25 elements described above and the implementation of the service.

  In FIG. 1, the service provider 30 comprises, meanwhile, a wired or wireless telephone unit 37 for communication with the trusted third party, a wireless link module 34 for exchanging with the telephone 10, and a communication unit. management and taking into account 36 of the order numbers that are communicated by the trusted third party 20.

  Alternatively, it is expected that each provider 30 itself manages its queue and the issuance of successive serial numbers.

  In this case, the service sending the numbers to the users should be informed at all times of the status of the queue (next number to be distributed) of these self-managed service providers.

  An example of a preferred process of booking and providing special service will now be described.

  Consider, therefore, a user wishing to use the means described.

  It may be envisaged that this user needs to subscribe to the service prior to any use, whether such a subscription is paid or not (simple referencing in this case).

  It is also conceivable that the user uses such a service without prior subscription, and paid or not.

  In any event, each time a user has to resort to the service, he performs the following operations: In a first step corresponding to a reservation phase, he dials on his mobile the number which enables him to enter the service. contact with the virtual queue ticket issuing service, or he uses the mobile as a means of proximity wireless communication, with a multimedia virtual ticket distribution terminal, beside which he is already (in the case where the virtual ticket distribution can be performed near the place where the service is delivered, and where the user goes temporarily before going to other occupations).

  If need be, it authenticates itself with the service, as a non-limiting example, either by entering a confidential code, or by voice authentication, or by means of a cryptographic signature produced by the mobile SIM card 25. .

  It identifies and chooses the service provider for whom the order number will be issued, for example by typing a number by voice invitation, or by drop-down menu under WAP.

  It specifies, if necessary, the modalities according to which it wishes to be warned that its turn is approaching (notice period according to the time it will take for it to go on the spot, mode of delivery of the notice (SMS, message voice, specific ring, ...), tolerance level accepted or requested (no delay allowed but immediate passage, slight delay on his part admitted but risk of short wait, ...).

  In a second step, the number issuing service performs a number of checks on the request of the user.

  Furthermore, the ticket issuing service is in constant contact with the service provider, so as to manage the incrementation of the distributed order numbers, the order numbers preferably indicating an order of passage, the logical succession of the numbers corresponding to the succession of people in the queue.

  It is also for the ticket issuing service to manage the incrementation of the order numbers corresponding to the customers served.

  In this way, in a third step, if the service is so provided, it will manage the list of unsuspecting informed customers, and still allowed to use their order number (validity period). The service provider is informed of the new request. In addition, it receives, if necessary, information relating to the user.

  In a fourth step, the user receives, on his mobile phone (by SMS for example) the serial number, accompanied by the digital signature of this number, issued by a trusted authority, verifiable by his own mobile phone. user and / or by the service provider.

  It also receives if necessary an approximate time of passage, defined in particular according to the modalities fixed previously. Optionally and at the request of the user, it is even planned to regularly send to said user an estimate of the remaining waiting time, according to the elapsed time and the actual management of the customers waiting.

  Optionally, it is intended to allow the user to validate or cancel the receipt of the number on his mobile, allowing him respectively to accept or refuse, if necessary, the proposed order number.

  In this way, the provider, informed by return of the decision of the user, could manage more finely his waiting list by automatically eliminating the customers having changed their mind, and that would limit the use of abusive reservations.

  A fifth step is a notification phase. This is to ensure the sending of messages to notify the users concerned that their turn arrives / approach, depending on the progress of the queue, according to the terms of time and frequency of issuance d user-defined notices, by sending a voice message or an SMS message to the mobile of the user.

  The sixth step typically consists of a final consumption phase. Upon receipt of the notice of passage, the user goes to the provider (if necessary dialogue with a wireless link terminal proximity) to obtain the desired service, also consuming on this occasion the previously reserved order number .

  It should be noted that in the context of the present invention, the number number management service and the service provider can be grouped together in the same entity (server of the provider hosting the function of order number management for example).

Claims (17)

  A method of reservation of the order of passage of a physical entity in front of an entity providing a service in the presence of the physical entity, in which process a reservation is allocated to a physical entity (10) in the form of a passing order indicator (20), and this physical entity (10) is called when its order of passage corresponds to an imminent delivery supply, the method being characterized in that it comprises the step associating a passing order indicator (20) with mobile telecommunication means coordinates of the physical entity, and the step of activating the mobile telecommunication means of the physical entity (10) when the associated order of passage is the subject of said provision of imminent delivery, using means (20) for counting entities having used their order of passage, these means being means (25, 26, 36) of automatic processing i including a processor and a memory arranged to maintain a stored list of physical entities not yet served, these automatic processing means generating feedback control commands physical entity call means (27, 34).   2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the physical entities (10) are persons and the mobile telecommunications means are mobile telephones (10) of these persons.   3. Method according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that it comprises a step of reservation of a passage order (20) which consists in the activation of reservation means (20) via communication between the physical entity (10) and these reservation means (20).   4. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a step of relating the physical entity (10) to means for implementing the reservation when the physical entity is present at the service delivery location (30), this connection consisting of a comparison between an expected sequence number and the sequence number claimed by the physical entity.   5. Device for booking the order of passage of a physical entity in front of an entity providing a service in the presence of the physical entity, the device comprising means for assigning to the physical entities (10) a reservation in the form of a passing order indicator, the device further comprising means (27, 34, 37) for issuing a call to the physical entity (10) whose pass order corresponds to an imminent delivery provision, characterized in the means for providing a reservation (20) are provided for associating the order of passage as reserved with mobile communication coordinates of the physical entity (10), and in that the means of call are means mobile telecommunications services intended to use these physical entity coordinates when it is the object of an imminent delivery provision, the device further comprising means (20) for counting entities having used their order of passage, these means being means (25, 26, 36) for automatic processing including a processor and a memory arranged to maintain a stored list of physical entities not yet served, these automatic processing means generating return of the control commands of the physical entity call means (27, 34).   6. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that the physical entities are persons and in that the means of call are means for calling mobile telephones (10) of these persons.   7. Device according to any one of claims 5 to 6, characterized in that it comprises means (20) for maintaining several lists of physical entities and generate calls (27, 34) in these different lists, each of these lists corresponding to delivery supplies (30) distinct geographically or in the nature of the service.   8. Device according to any one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that it includes means (20) for updating the list of physical entities to be used, means which are located in a manner geographically distinct from the physical location of delivery of service (30).   9. Device according to any one of claims 5 to 8, characterized in that it includes reservation cancellation means provided for cancellation under the control of the mobile telecommunication means of the physical entity (10).   10. Device according to any one of claims 5 to 9, characterized in that it comprises means for indicating to the physical entity (10) an approximate time of passage.   11. Device according to any one of claims 5 to 10, characterized in that it comprises means for associating with the reservation a payment of this reservation by the physical entity (10).   12. Device according to any one of claims 5 to 11, characterized in that it comprises means for indicating a passage order number 15 by a transmission to the telecommunication means of the physical entity (10) .   13. Device according to any one of claims 5 to 12, characterized in that it comprises means of automatic cancellation of reservation beyond a pre-established time.   14. Device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it comprises means for choosing the duration of said preset time.   15. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises means for automatically arbitrating a priority between two physical entities (10) occurring at the same time at the service delivery location (30). .   16. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises means for informing the service provisioning location (30) of a consideration of the call by the physical entity ( 10).   17. Device according to any one of claims 5 to 16, characterized in that the order number management service and the service provider are grouped together in the same entity.