System and method for processing product orders placed through a network
First Claim
1. A method for processing a restaurant takeout order, comprising:
- receiving an electronic request to place a takeout order from a computer by a consumer over a first communications network;
providing restaurant information to the consumer over the first communications network;
receiving an electronic order from the consumer over the first communications network;
formatting the electronic order into a text message in a form suitable for transmission over a second communications network; and
transmitting the text message to a selected restaurant over the second communications network to place the takeout order with the selected restaurant.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention provides a communications system and method for receiving at a network computer system electronic information from a multiple of sites (consumers) on a communications network, such as the Internet, and formatting and transmitting the information from the network computer system over a telecommunications network using simple protocols to a selected site. The invention provides a communications system and method particularly suited for processing electronic consumer orders including receiving at a network computer system a multiple of electronic order messages placed by consumers through a communications network or the Internet and transmitting the order messages to a multiple of designated vendors that do not have network communication capabilities or Internet access. The communications system and method enable the designated vendors without access to the Internet to receive electronic orders from consumers.
80 Citations
36 Claims
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1. A method for processing a restaurant takeout order, comprising:
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receiving an electronic request to place a takeout order from a computer by a consumer over a first communications network;
providing restaurant information to the consumer over the first communications network;
receiving an electronic order from the consumer over the first communications network;
formatting the electronic order into a text message in a form suitable for transmission over a second communications network; and
transmitting the text message to a selected restaurant over the second communications network to place the takeout order with the selected restaurant. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of receiving an order in a text format from a network computer system over a telephone line, comprising:
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detecting an incoming call;
receiving caller identification information for the incoming call;
comparing the caller identification information with stored caller identification information corresponding to the network computer system to identify a match;
receiving and printing the text message when a match is identified; and
coupling the telephone line to a telephone to route the incoming call to the telephone when a match is not identified. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A system for processing a restaurant takeout order, comprising:
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an input to receive an electronic order by a consumer over a first communications network;
a first output to provide restaurant information to the consumer over the first communications network;
a processor configured to format the electronic order into a text message in a form suitable for transmission over a second communications network; and
a second output to provide the text message to a selected restaurant over the second communications network to place the takeout order with the selected restaurant. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A receiver for receiving an order in a text format from a network computer system over a telephone line, comprising:
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an input to couple to a telephone line to receive an incoming call;
an output for connection to a telephone;
a telephone line interface unit;
a processor coupled to the telephone line interface unit; and
a switch having an input coupled to the input of the receiver, a first output coupled to the telephone line interface unit, and a second output coupled to the output of the receiver, the switch being coupled to the processor to receive control signals to couple the input of the switch to one of the first output and the second output;
wherein the processor is configured to receive caller identification information from the telephone line interface unit and to control the switch based on the information received to route text messages received by the receiver to the processor. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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Specification