Wireless electronic drive-thru system and method

• US 20040214597A1
• Filed: 04/23/2003
• Published: 10/28/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Sbc Knowledge Ventures, L.P.
• Inventors: Patron, David, Suryanarayana, Lalitha, Grannan, Michael F.
• Granted Patent: US 7,343,174 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/552.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/204 comprising interface for record bearing medium or carrier for electronic funds transfer or payment credit
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/322 Aspects of commerce using mobile devices [M-devices]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/327 Short range or proximity payments by means of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3674 involving authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3676 Balancing accounts
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/12 Hotels or restaurants

Abstract

In a particular embodiment, the disclosure is directed to a system including a customer authentication and payment server, a merchant data server, a merchant network, and a merchant station. The merchant data server is coupled to a public data network and the public data network is coupled to the customer authentication and payment server. The merchant network is coupled to the merchant data server and the merchant station. The merchant station includes a communication interface to provide for wireless communication with customers located within a wireless coverage area using an ad hoc connection.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a customer authentication and payment server;

a merchant data server, the merchant data server coupled to a public data network, the public data network coupled to the customer authentication and payment server;

a merchant network coupled to the merchant data server; and

a merchant station coupled to the merchant network, the merchant station including a communication interface to provide for adhoc wireless communication with customers located within a wireless coverage area.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the merchant data server stores data about user preferences and previous history of transactions to provide a customized experience for the user.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein user preferences and history data of transactions are stored remotely from the merchant data server.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the customers is located within a vehicle having a telematics control unit and wherein a merchant representative, via the merchant station and the wireless communication interface, may communicate with the customer via the telematics control unit.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the adhoc wireless communication interface is one of a wireless local area network and a wireless personal area network.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the merchant station includes a cordless headset for use by the merchant representative.

7. The system of claim 4, wherein the telematics control unit includes a multi-modal customer interface, the multi-modal customer interface involving interactive menu selection via a selection input selected from at least one of a touch screen, a keyboard, natural language, pen input, and user movement.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the adhoc wireless communication interface carries voice data over a voice over internet protocol channel.

9. The system of claim 4, wherein data communicated between the telematics control unit and the merchant server has an XML type data format.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the XML type data is enhanced to provide further customization for display at a user interface of the telematics control unit.

11. The system of claim 4, wherein the telematics control unit is an on-board unit embedded within a dashboard area of the vehicle.

12. The system of claim 4 wherein the offboard TCU comprises of a wireless device.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the wireless device is one of a mobile phone, wireless personal digital assistant, and a laptop computer.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein a first customer is located within a first vehicle having a first telematics control unit, a second customer is located within a second vehicle having a second telematics control unit, the first and second vehicles located within the wireless coverage area, and wherein a merchant representative, via the merchant station and the wireless communication interface, may communicate with the first customer via the first telematics control unit and may communicate with the second customer via the second telematics control unit and wherein the merchant station is coupled to the merchant data server.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the first customer requests and receives order options and places a first order via the first telematics unit and the second customer requests and receives the order options and places a second order via the second telematics unit.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the merchant fulfills the first order and the second order and wherein the first customer makes a first electronic payment and picks up the first order and the second customer makes a second electronic payment and picks up the second order.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the first electronic payment and the second electronic payment are each separately authenticated and processed by the remote customer authentication and payment server.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein data associated with the first order and data associated with the second order is communicated over the merchant network and stored at the merchant data server.

19. The system of claim 16 wherein the merchant notifies at least one of the customers of the status of the order and procurement instructions.

20. A method of processing wireless electronic drive-thru orders comprising:

receiving notification at a merchant data server that a telematics control unit is detected within a wireless coverage area;

communicating an order selection menu from the merchant service terminal to the telematics control unit over a wireless channel;

receiving an order selection from the telematics control unit, the order selection communicated via data over the wireless channel;

authenticating the use of the telematics control unit at a networked authentication server remote from the merchant service terminal; and

fulfilling the order selection received from the telematics control unit.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the telematics control unit provides a multi-modal user interface to the user.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the networked authentication server returns identifying information associated with vehicles owned by a user to facilitate matching the vehicle with the drive-thru order at pickup or for providing a customized order menu.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein the wireless coverage area is a wide area cellular or wireless data network.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein the wireless coverage area is provided using Ultra Wideband technology.

25. The method of claim 20, further comprising receiving payment approval from the user of the telematics control unit, and wherein communication between the telematics control unit and a merchant server coupled to the merchant service terminal is secured.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the payment is at least one of cash, smart card, electronic payment, debit card, credit card, points, coupons, and a stored profile in an authentication server.

27. The method of claim 20, further comprising an option to select a desired language option for the order selection menu.

28. The method of claim 20 wherein the order section menu is customized based on at least one of user preferences and history information derived from previous transactions.

29. The method of claim 20, wherein the order selection menu includes video, images, text descriptions and audio announcements associated with each of the available items.

30. The method of claim 20, wherein the order selection is made at the telematics control unit by at least one of a touch screen entry, a keyboard entry, and a spoken command.

31. The method of claim 20, further comprising initiating an interactive session between the user of the telematics control unit and a merchant representative operating the merchant service terminal.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the interactive session is one of a voice chat session and a text message chat session.

33. The method of claim 20, further comprising electronically confirming placement of the order selection.

34. The method of claim 33, further comprising offering a plurality of different payment options for the order selection.

35. The method of claim 34, further comprising communicating a unique order identifier associated with the order selection to the telematics control unit.

36. The method of claim 20, further comprising providing a subsequent notification of status of order and directions on pickup or delivery.

37. A method of placing a wireless electronic drive-thru order comprising:

receiving a service notification at a telematics control unit located within a wireless coverage area supported by a merchant electronic drive-thru service;

receiving and displaying an order selection menu communicated by the merchant electronic drive-thru service over an adhoc wireless channel;

sending an order selection from the telematics control unit to the merchant electronic drive-thru service over the wireless channel using a secured connection;

receiving electronic confirmation at the telematics control unit, the electronic confirmation associated with acceptance of the order selection; and

making a payment for the order selection.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the telematics control unit provides a multi-modal user interface to the user.

39. The method of claim 37 wherein the order selection menu is customized based on user preferences and historical information.

40. The method of claim 37, wherein the payment is at least one of cash, smart card, electronic payment, debit card, credit card, points, coupons, and a stored profile in an authentication server

41. The method of claim 37, further comprising remotely authenticating the telematics control unit at a networked authentication server.

42. The method of claim 37, wherein the order selection menu includes video, an image, a text description, and an audio announcement associated with at least one of the available items of the order selection menu.

43. The method of claim 37, wherein the order selection is made at the telematics control unit by at least one of a touch screen entry, a keyboard entry, and a spoken command.

44. The method of claim 37, further comprising initiating an interactive session between the telematics control unit and a representative of the merchant electronic drive-thru service.

45. The method of claim 37, further comprising receiving an electronic confirmation associated with the order selection.

46. The method of claim 37, further comprising receiving and storing a unique order identifier associated with the order selection at the telematics control unit.

47. The method of claim 46, further comprising communicating the unique order identifier from the telematics control unit to a fulfillment station terminal at a fulfillment station.

48. The method of claim 46, further comprising subsequently communicating the status of the order and procurement directions.

49. The method of claim 47, wherein the fulfillment station is a pick-up window.

50. The method of claim 47, wherein the fulfillment station is associated with delivery of at least one of food-items, dry-cleaning, and a pharmacy item.

51. The method of claim 37, further comprising fulfilling the order selection via delivery to a vehicle.

52. The method of claim 37, further comprising determining a default order selection based on a previous fulfilled order.

53. A method of processing a wireless data reservation request at a restaurant, the method comprising:

receiving a notification at a data server that a telematics control unit is detected within a wireless coverage area;

receiving a reservation request and notification instructions from the telematics control unit; and

sending a notification message indicating available seating at the restaurant, the message sent to the telematics control unit in accordance with the notification instructions.