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Method and system for centralized order status tracking in a decentralized ordering system

  • US 10,262,281 B1
  • Filed: 06/11/2007
  • Issued: 04/16/2019
  • Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2007
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method for tracking, from a central location, status of an order for a food item prepared at one of a plurality of decentralized food-preparation locations in a chain of food-service establishments for delivery to a customer at a customer location, the method comprising:

  • accepting, from the customer, an order for a food item at either a central computer system for the central location or an order processing computer system at any of the decentralized food-preparation locations, without requiring a login by the customer;

    assigning the order for the food item to a first decentralized food-preparation location of the plurality of decentralized food-preparation locations in the chain of food-service establishments, the first decentralized food-preparation location being selected based on a respective customer attribute;

    storing, in a respective order processing computer system for the first decentralized food-preparation location, status data for the order for the food item, and an identifier associated with the customer for the order and obtained during the accepting of the order, wherein the status data comprises data indicating at least one of real-time status of preparation at the first decentralized food-preparation location or real-time location of the food item prior to delivery;

    communicating periodically between the central computer system at the central location and the order processing computer system for the first decentralized food-preparation location to send order status data to the central location;

    accepting, at the central computer system at the central location, a status inquiry from the customer regarding the order without requiring a login by the customer and without requiring specification by the customer of the first decentralized food-preparation location, the status inquiry including the identifier associated with customer; and

    providing, by the central computer system at the central location, retrieved order status data to the customer, in response to the inquiry and based on the identifier associated with the customer, regardless of whether the order was accepted at the central location or at one of the plurality of decentralized food-preparation locations in the chain of food-service establishments.

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