Methods and apparatus for facilitation of orders of food items

• US 10,032,201 B2
• Filed: 09/10/2015
• Issued: 07/24/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panera LLC (Panera Bread Company)
• Original Assignee: Panera LLC (Panera Bread Company)
• Inventors: Hurst, Blaine E., Shaich, Ronald
• Primary Examiner(s): Danneman, Paul
• Application Number:
  US14/850,837
• Publication Number:
  US 20150379651A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,048 Days
• Field of Search: 705 15
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0621 Item configuration or customization
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0643 Graphical representation of items or shoppers
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/12 Hotels or restaurants

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention provide techniques which aid in correctly capturing what a restaurant customer intends to order, and may enhance the customer'"'"'s satisfaction with the ordering and dining process overall. For example, an interface may be provided through which a customer may specify an order, and the interface may clearly convey such information as each ordered item'"'"'s ingredients and nutritional content. The interface may enable the customer to customize ordered items, and may clearly convey any changes that the customer has made, allowing the customer to make informed choices about the items included in an order. The interface may embody a design which enables the customer to quickly and easily customize items, and/or to re-order previously customized items.

Claims

1. A method for facilitating an order of a food item by a customer, comprising acts of:

(A) during a first restaurant visit by the customer, causing a plurality of images each representing an ingredient of the food item to be displayed to the customer via a screen interface;

(B) during the first restaurant visit by the customer, receiving input from the customer specifying a change to the food item;

(C) during the first restaurant visit by the customer and in response to receiving the input in the act (B);

(C1) determining that the specified change comprises including in the food item a first ingredient having first physical dimensions instead of a second ingredient having second physical dimensions different than the first physical dimensions;

(C2) in response to the determining, causing one or more of the plurality of images on the screen interface to be re-scaled and/or rearranged to reflect the specified change; and

(D) during a second restaurant visit that is subsequent to the first restaurant visit by the customer, identifying the customer and causing the one or more re-scaled and/or rearranged images to be displayed to the customer in response to the identifying.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the act (B) comprises receiving input from the customer indicating that the food item is a favorite of the customer'"'"'s, and the act (D) comprises causing an indication to be displayed that the food item is a favorite of the customer'"'"'s.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the act (C) comprises receiving information indicating a proffer of a credit card from the customer as payment for an order of the food item, and the act (D) comprises identifying the first customer based at least in part on information indicating a proffer of the same credit card.

4. A method for facilitating an order of a food item by a customer, comprising acts of:

(A) causing a plurality of images each representing an ingredient of the food item to be displayed to the customer via a screen interface;

(B) receiving input from the customer specifying a change to the food item;

(C) in response to receiving the input in the act (B);

(C1) determining that the specified change comprises including in the food item a first ingredient having first physical dimensions instead of a second ingredient having second physical dimensions different than the first physical dimensions;

(C2) in response to the determining, causing one or more of the plurality of images on the screen interface to be re-scaled and/or rearranged to reflect the specified change;

(D) receiving from the customer an order of the food item; and

(E) in response to receiving the order, determining how the food item is to be prepared.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the food item comprises a sandwich or a salad having a predefined manner of preparation, and the act (E) comprises determining a second manner of preparation for the food item which is different than the predefined manner of preparation for the food item, the second manner of preparation varying from the predefined manner of preparation with respect to a sequence in which ingredients of the sandwich or salad are assembled.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the food item comprises a sandwich or a salad having a predefined manner of preparation, and the act (E) comprises determining a second manner of preparation for the food item which is different than the predefined manner of preparation for the food item, the second manner of preparation varying from the predefined manner of preparation with respect to a placement in the sandwich or salad of at least one ingredient.

7. A method for facilitating an order of a food item by a customer, comprising acts of:

(A) causing a plurality of images each representing an ingredient of the food item to be displayed to the customer via a screen interface;

(B) receiving input from the customer specifying a change to the food item; and

(C) in response to receiving the input in the act (B);

(C1) determining that the specified change comprises including in the food item a first ingredient having first physical dimensions instead of a second ingredient having second physical dimensions different than the first physical dimensions;

(C2) in response to the determining, causing one or more of the plurality of images on the screen interface to be re-scaled and/or rearranged to reflect the specified change;

wherein the act (B) comprises, prior to receiving the input specifying the change, providing access to a subset of changes that the customer could potentially make to the food item via a first screen interface, and providing access to other changes that the customer could potentially make to the food item via a second screen interface; and

wherein the input is received in the act (B) via at least one of the first screen interface and the second screen interface.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the subset of changes relates to one or more particular dietary goals, to one or more particular organizations, or to one or more particular individuals.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the subset of changes comprises changes commonly made by a population of other customers.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the population of other customers is associated with a particular geographic area.

11. A method for facilitating an order of a food item by a customer, comprising acts of:

(A) causing a plurality of images each representing an ingredient of the food item to be displayed to the customer via a screen interface;

(B) receiving input from the customer specifying a change to the food item; and

(C) in response to receiving the input in the act (B);

(C1) determining that the specified change comprises including in the food item a first ingredient having first physical dimensions instead of a second ingredient having second physical dimensions different than the first physical dimensions;

(C2) in response to the determining, causing one or more of the plurality of images on the screen interface to be re-scaled and/or rearranged to reflect the specified change;

wherein the act (A) comprises causing to be presented to the customer a page display comprising an input facility enabling the customer to select from among a plurality of different amounts of each at least one ingredient to be included in the food item.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the act (A) comprises causing the input facility to indicate a pre-selection of each at least one ingredient.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the page display comprises nutritional information for the food item, and wherein the act (C) comprises, in response to receiving the input, causing the nutritional information to be modified to reflect the change to the at least one ingredient of the food item.

14. At least one storage device having encoded thereon instructions which, when executed, cause a computer system to perform a method for facilitating an order of a food item by a customer, the method comprising acts of:

(A) during a first restaurant visit by the customer, causing a plurality of images each representing an ingredient of the food item to be displayed to the customer via a screen interface;

(B) during the first restaurant visit by the customer, receiving input from the customer specifying a change to the food item;

(C) during the first restaurant visit by the customer and in response to receiving the input in the act (B);

(C1) determining that the specified change comprises including in the food item a first ingredient having first physical dimensions instead of a second ingredient having second physical dimensions different than the first physical dimensions;

(C2) in response to the determining, causing one or more of the plurality of images on the screen interface to be re-scaled and/or rearranged to reflect the specified change; and

(D) during a second restaurant visit that is subsequent to the first restaurant visit by the customer, identifying the customer and causing the one or more re-scaled and/or rearranged images to be displayed to the customer in response to the identifying.

15. The at least one storage device of claim 14, wherein the act (B) comprises receiving input from the customer indicating that the food item is a favorite of the customer'"'"'s, and the act (D) comprises causing an indication to be displayed that the food item is a favorite of the customer'"'"'s.

16. The at least one storage device of claim 14, wherein the act (C) comprises receiving information indicating a proffer of a credit card from the customer as payment for an order of the food item, and the act (D) comprises identifying the first customer based at least in part on information indicating a proffer of the same credit card.

17. At least one storage device having encoded thereon instructions which, when executed, cause a computer system to perform a method for facilitating an order of a food item by a customer, the method comprising acts of:

(A) causing a plurality of images each representing an ingredient of the food item to be displayed to the customer via a screen interface;

(B) receiving input from the customer specifying a change to the food item;

(C) in response to receiving the input in the act (B);

(C1) determining that the specified change comprises including in the food item a first ingredient having first physical dimensions instead of a second ingredient having second physical dimensions different than the first physical dimensions;

(C2) in response to the determining, causing one or more of the plurality of images on the screen interface to be re-scaled and/or rearranged to reflect the specified change;

(D) receiving from the customer an order of the food item; and

(E) in response to receiving the order, determining how the food item is to be prepared.

18. The at least one storage device of claim 17, wherein the food item comprises a sandwich or a salad having a predefined manner of preparation, and the act (E) comprises determining a second manner of preparation for the food item which is different than the predefined manner of preparation for the food item, the second manner of preparation varying from the predefined manner of preparation with respect to a sequence in which ingredients of the sandwich or salad are assembled.

19. The at least one storage device of claim 17, wherein the food item comprises a sandwich or a salad having a predefined manner of preparation, and the act (E) comprises determining a second manner of preparation for the food item which is different than the predefined manner of preparation for the food item, the second manner of preparation varying from the predefined manner of preparation with respect to a placement in the sandwich or salad of at least one ingredient.

20. At least one storage device having encoded thereon instructions which, when executed, cause a computer system to perform a method for facilitating an order of a food item by a customer, the method comprising acts of:

(A) causing a plurality of images each representing an ingredient of the food item to be displayed to the customer via a screen interface;

(B) receiving input from the customer specifying a change to the food item; and

(C) in response to receiving the input in the act (B);

(C1) determining that the specified change comprises including in the food item a first ingredient having first physical dimensions instead of a second ingredient having second physical dimensions different than the first physical dimensions;

(C2) in response to the determining, causing one or more of the plurality of images on the screen interface to be re-scaled and/or rearranged to reflect the specified change;

wherein the act (B) comprises, prior to receiving the input specifying the change, providing access to a subset of changes that the customer could potentially make to the food item via a first screen interface, and providing access to other changes that the customer could potentially make to the food item via a second screen interface; and

wherein the input is received in the act (B) via at least one of the first screen interface and the second screen interface.

21. The at least one storage device of claim 20, wherein the subset of changes relates to one or more particular dietary goals, to one or more particular organizations, or to one or more particular individuals.

22. The at least one storage device of claim 20, wherein the subset of changes comprises changes commonly made by a population of other customers.

23. The at least one storage device of claim 22, wherein the population of other customers is associated with a particular geographic area.

24. At least one storage device having encoded thereon instructions which, when executed, cause a computer system to perform a method for facilitating an order of a food item by a customer, the method comprising acts of:

(A) causing a plurality of images each representing an ingredient of the food item to be displayed to the customer via a screen interface;

(B) receiving input from the customer specifying a change to the food item; and

(C) in response to receiving the input in the act (B);

(C1) determining that the specified change comprises including in the food item a first ingredient having first physical dimensions instead of a second ingredient having second physical dimensions different than the first physical dimensions;

(C2) in response to the determining, causing one or more of the plurality of images on the screen interface to be re-scaled and/or rearranged to reflect the specified change;

wherein the act (A) comprises causing to be presented to the customer a page display comprising an input facility enabling the customer to select from among a plurality of different amounts of each at least one ingredient to be included in the food item.

25. The at least one storage device of claim 24, wherein the act (A) comprises causing the input facility to indicate a pre-selection of each at least one ingredient.

26. The at least one storage device of claim 24, wherein the page display comprises nutritional information for the food item, and wherein the act (C) comprises, in response to receiving the input, causing the nutritional information to be modified to reflect the change to the at least one ingredient of the food item.

27. A computer system, comprising:

at least one storage device storing instructions; and

at least one computer processor, programmed via the instructions to;

during a first restaurant visit by a customer, cause a plurality of images each representing an ingredient of a food item to be displayed to the customer via a screen interface;

during the first restaurant visit by the customer, receive input from the customer specifying a change to the food item;

during the first restaurant visit by the customer and in response to receiving the input;

determine that the specified change comprises including in the food item a first ingredient having first physical dimensions instead of a second ingredient having second physical dimensions different than the first physical dimensions;

in response to the determining, cause one or more of the plurality of images on the screen interface to be re-scaled and/or rearranged to reflect the specified change; and

during a second restaurant visit that is subsequent to the first restaurant visit by the customer, identify the customer and cause the one or more re-scaled and/or rearranged images to be displayed to the customer in response to the identifying.

28. The computer system of claim 27, wherein the at least one processor is programmed to receive input from the customer during the first restaurant visit indicating that the food item is a favorite of the customer'"'"'s, and to cause, during the second restaurant visit by the customer, an indication to be displayed that the food item is a favorite of the customer'"'"'s.

29. The computer system of claim 27, wherein the at least one processor is programmed to receive information indicating a proffer of a credit card from the customer as payment for an order of the food item during the first restaurant visit, and to identify the first customer during the second restaurant visit based at least in part on information indicating a proffer of the same credit card.

30. A computer system, comprising:

at least one storage device storing instructions; and

at least one computer processor, programmed via the instructions to;

cause a plurality of images each representing an ingredient of a food item to be displayed to a customer via a screen interface;

receive input from the customer specifying a change to the food item;

in response to receiving the input;

determine that the specified change comprises including in the food item a first ingredient having first physical dimensions instead of a second ingredient having second physical dimensions different than the first physical dimensions;

in response to the determining, cause one or more of the plurality of images on the screen interface to be re-scaled and/or rearranged to reflect the specified change;

receive from the customer an order of the food item; and

in response to receiving the order, determine how the food item is to be prepared.

31. The computer system of claim 30, wherein the food item comprises a sandwich or a salad having a predefined manner of preparation, and the at least one computer processor is programmed to, in response to receiving the order, determine a second manner of preparation for the food item which is different than the predefined manner of preparation for the food item, the second manner of preparation varying from the predefined manner of preparation with respect to a sequence in which ingredients of the sandwich or salad are assembled.

32. The computer system of claim 30, wherein the food item comprises a sandwich or a salad having a predefined manner of preparation, and the at least one computer processor is programmed to, in response to receiving the order, determine a second manner of preparation for the food item which is different than the predefined manner of preparation for the food item, the second manner of preparation varying from the predefined manner of preparation with respect to a placement in the sandwich or salad of at least one ingredient.

33. A computer system, comprising:

at least one storage device storing instructions; and

at least one computer processor, programmed via the instructions to;

cause a plurality of images each representing an ingredient of a food item to be displayed to a customer via a screen interface;

receive input from the customer specifying a change to the food item; and

in response to receiving the input;

determine that the specified change comprises including in the food item a first ingredient having first physical dimensions instead of a second ingredient having second physical dimensions different than the first physical dimensions;

in response to the determining, cause one or more of the plurality of images on the screen interface to be re-scaled and/or rearranged to reflect the specified change;

wherein the at least one processor is programmed to, prior to receiving the input specifying the change, provide access to a subset of changes that the customer could potentially make to the food item via a first screen interface, and provide access to other changes that the customer could potentially make to the food item via a second screen interface; and

wherein the at least one processor is programmed to receive the input specifying the change to the at least one ingredient via at least one of the first screen interface and the second screen interface.

34. The computer system of claim 33, wherein the subset of changes relates to one or more particular dietary goals, to one or more particular organizations, or to one or more particular individuals.

35. The computer system of claim 33, wherein the subset of changes comprises changes commonly made by a population of other customers.

36. The computer system of claim 35, wherein the population of other customers is associated with a particular geographic area.

37. A computer system, comprising:

at least one storage device storing instructions; and

at least one computer processor, programmed via the instructions to;

cause a plurality of images each representing an ingredient of a food item to be displayed to a customer via a screen interface;

receive input from the customer specifying a change to the food item; and

in response to receiving the input;

determine that the specified change comprises including in the food item a first ingredient having first physical dimensions instead of a second ingredient having second physical dimensions different than the first physical dimensions;

in response to the determining, cause one or more of the plurality of images on the screen interface to be re-scaled and/or rearranged to reflect the specified change;

wherein the at least one processor is programmed to cause to be presented to the customer a page display comprising an input facility enabling the customer to select from among a plurality of different amounts of each at least one ingredient to be included in the food item, and to receive the input via the input facility.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the at least one computer processor is programmed to cause the input facility to indicate a pre-selection of each at least one ingredient.

39. The method of claim 37, wherein the page display comprises nutritional information for the food item, and wherein the at least one computer processor is programmed to, in response to receiving the input, cause the nutritional information to be modified to reflect the change to the at least one ingredient of the food item.

40. A method for facilitating an order of a food item by a customer, comprising acts of:

(A) causing a plurality of images each representing an ingredient of the food item to be displayed to the customer via a screen interface;

(B) receiving input from the customer specifying a change to the food item; and

(C) in response to receiving the input in the act (B);

(C1) determining that the specified change comprises including in the food item a first ingredient having first physical dimensions instead of a second ingredient having second physical dimensions different than the first physical dimensions;

(C2) in response to the determining, cause one or more of the plurality of images on the screen interface to be re-scaled and/or rearranged to reflect the specified change;

wherein the act (C) further comprises recalculating, in response to receiving the input in the act (B), one or more nutritional values for the food item, and causing the recalculated nutritional values to be displayed to the customer via the screen interface.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein recalculating the one or more nutritional values comprises:

(C1) determining the one or more nutritional values for a standard version of the food item, for each ingredient of the standard version of the food item, and for each ingredient which may potentially be added to the food item;

(C2) subtracting from each of the one or more nutritional values for the standard version of the food item a value corresponding to an ingredient removed from the food item, and adding to each of the one or more nutritional values for the standard version of the food item a value corresponding to an ingredient added to the food item, to yield an updated value for each of the one or more nutritional values; and

(C3) applying at least one rounding rule to the updated value for each of the one or more nutritional values.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein (C3) comprises applying, to the updated value for each of the one or more nutritional values, at least one rounding rule promulgated by the United States Food and Drug Administration.

43. At least one storage device having encoded thereon instructions which, when executed by a computer system, cause the computer system to perform a method for facilitating an order of a food item by a customer, the method comprising acts of:

(A) causing a plurality of images each representing an ingredient of the food item to be displayed to the customer via a screen interface;

(B) receiving input from the customer specifying a change to the food item; and

(C) in response to receiving the input in the act (B);

(C1) determining that the specified change comprises including in the food item a first ingredient having first physical dimensions instead of a second ingredient having second physical dimensions different than the first physical dimensions;

(C2) in response to the determining, cause one or more of the plurality of images on the screen interface to be re-scaled and/or rearranged to reflect the specified change;

wherein the act (C) further comprises recalculating, in response to receiving the input in the act (B), one or more nutritional values for the food item, and causing the recalculated nutritional values to be displayed to the customer via the screen interface.

44. The at least one storage device of claim 43, wherein recalculating the one or more nutritional values comprises:

(C1) determining the one or more nutritional values for a standard version of the food item, for each ingredient of the standard version of the food item, and for each ingredient which may potentially be added to the food item;

(C2) subtracting from each of the one or more nutritional values for the standard version of the food item a value corresponding to an ingredient removed from the food item, and adding to each of the one or more nutritional values for the standard version of the food item a value corresponding to an ingredient added to the food item, to yield an updated value for each of the one or more nutritional values; and

(C3) applying at least one rounding rule to the updated value for each of the one or more nutritional values.

45. The at least one storage device of claim 44, wherein (C3) comprises applying, to the updated value for each of the one or more nutritional values, at least one rounding rule promulgated by the United States Food and Drug Administration.

46. A computer system, comprising:

at least one storage device storing instructions; and

at least one computer processor, programmed via the instructions to;

cause a plurality of images each representing an ingredient of a food item to be displayed to a customer via a screen interface;

receive input from the customer specifying a change to the food item; and

in response to receiving the input;

determine that the specified change comprises including in the food item a first ingredient having first physical dimensions instead of a second ingredient having second physical dimensions different than the first physical dimensions;

in response to the determining, cause one or more of the plurality of images on the screen interface to be re-scaled and/or rearranged to reflect the specified change;

wherein the at least one processor is further programmed to, in response to receiving the input, recalculate one or more nutritional values for the food item, and cause the recalculated nutritional values to be displayed to the customer via the screen interface.

47. The computer system of claim 46, wherein the at least one processor is programmed to recalculate the one or more nutritional values by:

determining the one or more nutritional values for a standard version of the food item, for each ingredient of the standard version of the food item, and for each ingredient which may potentially be added to the food item;

subtracting from each of the one or more nutritional values for the standard version of the food item a value corresponding to an ingredient removed from the food item, and adding to each of the one or more nutritional values for the standard version of the food item a value corresponding to an ingredient added to the food item, to yield an updated value for each of the one or more nutritional values; and

applying at least one rounding rule to the updated value for each of the one or more nutritional values.

48. The computer system of claim 47, wherein the at least one computer processor is programmed to apply, to the updated value for each of the one or more nutritional values, at least one rounding rule promulgated by the United States Food and Drug Administration.