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Java Java Data Structures - Retired Efficiency! Call Center Queue

Jay Bhatt
Jay Bhatt
6,502 Points

Why is the operator not out of the queue even though I have used poll() to take him out?

I believe I have completed the challenge since the operator is out of the mSupportReps queue but it tells me that to use poll() to remove the customer rep while he is helping the customer. But i already did that

CallCenter.java
import java.util.ArrayDeque;
import java.util.Queue;

public class CallCenter {
  Queue<CustomerSupportRep> mSupportReps;

  public CallCenter(Queue<CustomerSupportRep> queue) {
    mSupportReps = queue;
  }

  public void acceptCustomer(Customer customer) {
    CustomerSupportRep csr;

    csr = mSupportReps.poll();
    while (mSupportReps.isEmpty()) {
      playHoldMusic();
    }

    csr.assist(customer);


    if (csr.getAssistedCustomers().contains(customer)) {
     mSupportReps.add(csr); 

    }

    /********************************************
     * TODO (1) 
     * Wait until there is an available rep in the queue.
     * While there is not one available, playHoldMusic
     * HINT: That while assignmentcheck loop syntax we used to 
      *      read files seems pretty similar
     ********************************************
     */

    /********************************************
     * TODO (2) 
     * After we have assigned the rep, call the 
     * assist method and pass in the customer
     ********************************************
     */

    /********************************************
     * TODO (3) 
     * Since the customer support rep is done with
     * assisting, put them back into the queue.
     ********************************************
     */

  }

  public void playHoldMusic() {
    System.out.println("Smooooooth Operator.....");
  }

}
CustomerSupportRep.java
import java.util.List;
import java.util.ArrayList;

public class CustomerSupportRep {
  private String mName;
  private List<Customer> mAssistedCustomers;

  public CustomerSupportRep(String name) {
    mName = name;
    mAssistedCustomers = new ArrayList<Customer>();
  }

  public void assist(Customer customer) {
    System.out.printf("Hello %s, my name is %s, how can I assist you.%n",
                      customer.getName(),
                      mName);
    System.out.println("...");
    System.out.println("Is there anything else I can help you with?");
    mAssistedCustomers.add(customer);
  }

  public List<Customer> getAssistedCustomers() {
    return mAssistedCustomers;
  }

}
Customer.java
public class Customer {
  private String mName;

  public Customer(String name) {
    mName = name;
  }

  public String getName() {
    return mName;
  }

}

2 Answers

Kourosh Raeen
Kourosh Raeen
23,733 Points

Hi Jay - Change the while loop to something like this:

csr = mSupportReps.poll();
while (csr == null) {
    playHoldMusic();
    csr = mSupportReps.poll();
}

So, first you poll before the loop and then if csr is null you keep polling until a rep because available and then you get out of the loop.

do you mean this?

while (mSupportReps.isEmpty()) {
  playHoldMusic();
}
csr = mSupportReps.poll();
csr.assist(customer);

??

Kourosh Raeen
Kourosh Raeen
23,733 Points

Hi Mark - There are several ways of coding the loop and mine is one of them. The way you wrote it should work too.