Method and system to process remote orders

• US 20050086116A1
• Filed: 12/17/2001
• Published: 04/21/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kirkpatrick, Mark A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,359,868 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing

Abstract

A method and system for processing a remote order is described that allows a customer to remotely send a signal to a business. The signal contains the order information for the customer and what the customer wants from the business. Thus, this system allows the business to process such an order before the customer arrives at the business, preventing idle time by the customer at the business while the order is being processed.

Claims

1. A method of sending a remote order by a customer to a business, the method comprising:

creating a remote order on a transmitter for a product or a service; and

transmitting the order via a signal sent by the transmitter when the transmitter is within the receiving area of and detectable by a receiver in communication with the business, thereby allowing the business to receive and transform the signal back to the original order, and

wherein the order comprises information associated by the receiver with a type of make and model of vehicle from which the order is transmitted, and

wherein an employee of the business delivers the order to the vehicle by recognizing that the vehicle matches the make and model of the vehicle from which the order was placed, and

wherein the receiver is capable of transmitting a reply to the transmitter reporting a status of the order.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitter is a personal data assistant.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitter is a device that has no other substantial use other than to submit such a signal.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitter has an identifying code, the code also being included in the signal.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the business can identify the customer according to the code.

31. The method of claim 1, wherein a menu signal sent by the receiver prior to receiving the signal from the transmitter includes a menu of products.

6. A method of processing a remote order transmitted by a customer, the method comprising:

receiving, at a receiver, a first remote signal transmitted by a transmitter, the signal containing the order by the customer;

translating the signal to obtain the order; and

performing a task according to the order, wherein the order comprises information associated by the receiver with a make and model of vehicle from which the order is transmitted, wherein the order is delivered to the vehicle by an employee recognizing that the vehicle matches the make and model of vehicle from which the order was placed, and wherein the receiver is capable of transmitting a reply to the transmitter reporting a status of the order.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the transmitter is a personal data assistant.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the transmitter is a device that has no other substantial use other than to submit such a signal.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the transmitter has an identifying code, the code also being included in the signal.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the business can identify the customer according to the code.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of performing the task occurs before the customer arrives at the business.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the task includes preparing a food order for the customer to pick up.

32. The method of claim 6, wherein a menu signal sent by the receiver prior to receiving the first remote signal from the transmitter includes a menu of products.

13. A system for processing a remote order, the system comprising:

a transmitter for transmitting a first signal containing an original order created by a customer;

a receiver for receiving the first signal from the transmitter when the signal is within a receiving area, wherein the order comprises information associated by the receiver with a make and model of vehicle from which the order is transmitted, wherein the order is delivered to the vehicle by an employee recognizing that the vehicle4 matches the make and model of vehicle from which the order was placed, and wherein the receiver is capable of transmitting a reply to the transmitter reporting a status of the order;

a translator for translating the signal to a translated order, the signal also containing an identifying code; and

a reading device to allow an employee of the business to read the translated order and identifying code, thereby processing the original order.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the identifying code is unique to the transmitter.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the identifying code is unique to the customer.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the transmitter is a personal data assistant.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the transmitter is a device that has no other substantial use other than to submit such a signal.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein the transmitter is located inside of a vehicle.

19. The system of claim 13, wherein the translator also contains a database of identifying codes that correlate a transmitter with a customer.

20. The system of claim 13, wherein the translator assigns a cost to the customer associated with the processing of the order.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the costs are automatically charged to an account of the customer.

33. The method of claim 13, wherein a menu signal sent by the receiver prior to receiving the first signal from the transmitter includes a menu of products.

22. A system for processing a remote order, the system comprising:

means for transmitting a signal containing an original order created by a customer;

means for receiving the signal from the transmitter when the signal is within a receiving area;

means for translating the signal to a translated order, the signal also containing an identifying code; and

means for reading to allow an employee of the business to read the translated order and identifying code, thereby processing the original order, and

wherein the order comprises information associated by the means for receiving with a make and model of vehicle from which the order is transmitted, wherein the employee delivers the order to the vehicle by recognizing that the vehicle matches the make and model of vehicle from which the order is transmitted, and wherein the means for receiving is capable of transmitting a reply to the means for transmitting reporting a status of the order.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the identifying code is unique to the transmitter.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein the identifying code is unique to the customer.

25. The system of claim 22, wherein the means for transmitting is a personal data assistant.

26. The system of claim 22, wherein the means for transmitting is a device that has no other substantial use other than to submit such a signal.

27. The system of claim 22, wherein the means for transmitting is located inside of a vehicle.

28. The system of claim 22, wherein the means for translating also contains a database of identifying codes that correlate a means for transmitting with a customer.

29. The system of claim 22, wherein the means for translating assigns a cost to the customer associated with the processing of the order.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the costs are automatically charged to an account of the customer.

34. The method of claim 22, wherein a menu signal sent by the receiver prior to receiving the signal from the transmitter includes a menu of products.