Two-way touch-screen based communication system

• US 10,055,782 B2
• Filed: 02/29/2016
• Issued: 08/21/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Usual, Inc.
• Original Assignee: The Usual, Inc.
• Inventors: Lam, Andy
• Primary Examiner(s): Cheng, Joe H
• Application Number:
  US15/056,040
• Publication Number:
  US 20160180446A1
• Time in Patent Office: 904 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/12 specially adapted for electronic shopping systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40 Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0226 Incentive systems for frequent usage, e.g. frequent flyer miles programs or point systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0255 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0281 Customer communication at a business location, e.g. providing product or service information, consulting
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0631 Item recommendations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0635 Processing of requisition or of purchase orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/12 Hotels or restaurants

Abstract

Embodiments of the disclosure generally set forth a two-way touch screen based communication system. One example method may include receiving an order for an item from a first touch screen device via a first network, wherein the order is associated with a first identification for a merchant, a second identification for the customer, and a negotiable parameter reflective of a preference of the customer. The method may also include making available the order for a second touch screen device of the merchant to retrieve via a second network and to display and prior to completing processing of the order, transmitting a first response to the preference of the customer to the first touch screen device via the first network.

Claims

1. A method to support communication between a first touch screen device of a customer and a second touch screen device associated with a merchant, comprising:

receiving an order for an item or service submitted by the first touch screen device via a network, wherein the order is associated with a first identification for a merchant, a second identification for the customer, and a parameter reflective of a preference of the customer;

prior to initiating a transmission of a first response to the preference of the customer;

retrieving history data associated with the customer; and

generating a suggested response to the preference of the customer based on at least one of the history data associated with the customer and information received from the second touch screen device;

transmitting first information associated with the order to the first touch screen device and second information associated with the order to the second touch screen device via the network; and

prior to completing processing of the order, initiating the transmission of the first response to the preference of the customer to the first touch screen device via the network.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the parameter is associated with at least one of time, a price, a location, and a special instruction.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the history data associated with the customer includes at least one of information relating to prior purchases of the customer, profile information associated with the customer, and loyalty information associated with the customer.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the profile information includes at least one of identification information of the customer and a photograph of the customer.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising initiating a transmission of advertisements to the first touch screen device based on at least one of the order and the history data associated with the customer.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising tracking and responding to loyalty information associated with the order.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first response includes incentives for the customer.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the incentives are based on the loyalty information associated with the customer.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first response is generated based on the suggested response.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting the suggested response to the merchant via the network.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the first response is a confirmation of the merchant'"'"'s acceptance of the preference of the customer.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the first response is a proposal to modify the preference of the customer.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

receiving the parameter reflective of a modified preference of the customer; and

prior to completing processing of the order, initiating a transmission of a second response to the modified preference of the customer to the first touch screen device via the network.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising verifying payment associated with the order has been pre-approved or authorized as a part of completing processing of the order.

15. An apparatus, comprising:

a processor;

a file system;

a network interface coupled to a network; and

a memory system including a set of executable instructions for a method to support communication between a first touch screen device of a customer and a second touch screen device associated with a merchant, which in response to execution by the processor, cause the processor to;

receive an order for an item or service submitted by the first touch screen device via the network, wherein the order is associated with a first identification for a merchant, a second identification for the customer, and a parameter reflective of a preference of the customer;

prior to initiating a transmission of a first response to the preference of the customer;

retrieve history data associated with the customer; and

generate a suggested response to the preference of the customer based on at least one of the history data associated with the customer and information received from the second touch screen device;

transmit first information associated with the order to the first touch screen device and second information associated with the order to the second touch screen device via the network; and

prior to completing processing of the order, initiate the transmission of the first response to the preference of the customer to the first touch screen device via the network.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the parameter is associated with at least one of time, a price, a location, and a special instruction.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the history data associated with the customer includes at least one of information relating to prior purchases of the customer, profile information associated with the customer, and loyalty information associated with the customer.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the profile information includes at least one of identification information of the customer and a photograph of the customer.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the processor is further configured to initiate a transmission of advertisements to the first touch screen device based on at least one of the order and the history data associated with the customer.

20. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the processor is further configured to track and respond to loyalty information associated with the customer.

21. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the first response includes incentives for the customer.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the incentives are based on the loyalty information associated with the customer.

23. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the first response is generated based on the suggested response.

24. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the processor is further configured to transmit the suggested response to the merchant via the network.

25. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the generating of the suggested response is further based on second history data associated with other customers, wherein the first history data and the second history data reflect a similar pattern.

26. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the generating of the suggested response further comprises prioritizing processing of the order.

27. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the suggested response includes a recommendation associated with the order.

28. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the first response is a confirmation of the merchant'"'"'s acceptance of the preference of the customer.

29. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the first response is a proposal to modify the preference of the customer.

30. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the proposal to modify the preference of the customer is based on a condition associated with the merchant.

31. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the processor is further configured to:

receive the parameter reflective of a modified preference of the customer; and

prior to completing processing of the order, initiate a transmission of a second response to the modified preference of the customer to the first touch screen device via the network.

32. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the processor is further configured to verify payment associated with the order has been approved or authorized as a part of completing processing of the order.