Skill: Search Available Slots

Overview

This skill implements the logic for finding available booking slots across all fields. It uses a 30-Minute Grid strategy to balance user flexibility with field utilization.

Search Strategy: 30-Minute Grid

Instead of searching on the hour (e.g., 10:00, 11:00) or using complex gap-filling logic, the system standardizes on a 30-minute interval grid.

Intervals: 00, 30 Start Times: 08:00, 08:30, 09:00, 09:30, ... 22:30, 23:00.

Why this strategy?

1. •Flexibility: Catches slots that start on the half-hour (e.g., 14:30) which hourly searches miss.
2. •Simplicity: Avoids complex logic to check "immediately after previous booking".
3. •Predictability: Users are accustomed to 30-minute increments.

Algorithm

1. •

   Define Search Window:

   • •Start: Math.max(OpenTime, CurrentTime + Buffer) (Rounded up to next 30 min)
   • •End: CloseTime (24:00)
   • •Step: 30 minutes
2. •

   Conflict Check:

   • •For each candidate start time S:
   • •Calculate E = S + Duration
   • •Check if S < Booking.End AND E > Booking.Start for any existing booking.
   • •If false, the slot is Available.

Usage in Code (searchService.ts)

const SEARCH_STEP_MIN = 30; // Grid interval

// Loop through the day in 30-minute steps
for (let start = startMin; start + duration <= endMin; start += SEARCH_STEP_MIN) {
    if (isSlotFree(start)) {
        slots.push({ start, end: start + duration });
    }
}

Best Practices

• •Do not revert to Hourly: This will miss revenue opportunities (e.g., 1.5hr slot starting at 13:30).
• •Frontend Display: Show results in a Carousel or List, sorted by time.