Methods and apparatus for food brokering services
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of brokering food services, the method comprising:
- facilitating a first call from a customer to a call center operator;
determining a geographical identifier associated with the customer;
determining a restaurant based on the geographical identifier;
facilitating a second call from the call center operator to an order taker associated with the restaurant;
connecting the customer, the call center operator, and the order taker in at least a three-way call; and
facilitating a recording of information by the call center operator during the at least three-way call, the information being associated with a food order given to the order taker by the customer, the information being transmitted from a computer associated with the call center operator to a computer associated with a food services broker in real-time.
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Abstract
Methods and apparatus for brokering food services are disclosed. The methods and apparatus described herein provide quality controlled room service to guests of hotels that do not otherwise have traditional room service available. A call center operator routes each call to the appropriate restaurant and stays on the phone line to monitor the call. The restaurant delivers the order and collects the appropriate fee. Data captured by the call center is transmitted to the broker, and the broker uses this data to maintain customer service and to determine the amount of money each restaurant collected on behalf of the broker.
44 Citations
43 Claims
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1. A method of brokering food services, the method comprising:
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facilitating a first call from a customer to a call center operator;
determining a geographical identifier associated with the customer;
determining a restaurant based on the geographical identifier;
facilitating a second call from the call center operator to an order taker associated with the restaurant;
connecting the customer, the call center operator, and the order taker in at least a three-way call; and
facilitating a recording of information by the call center operator during the at least three-way call, the information being associated with a food order given to the order taker by the customer, the information being transmitted from a computer associated with the call center operator to a computer associated with a food services broker in real-time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An apparatus for brokering food services, the apparatus comprising at least one computing device structured to:
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facilitate a first call from a customer to a call center operator;
determine a geographical identifier associated with the customer;
determine a restaurant based on the geographical identifier;
facilitate a second call from the call center operator to an order taker associated with the restaurant;
connect the customer, the call center operator, and the order taker in at least a three-way call; and
facilitate a recording of information by the call center operator during the at least three-way call, the information being associated with a food order given to the order taker by the customer, the information being transmitted from a computer associated with the call center operator to a computer associated with a food services broker in real-time. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A computer-readable medium storing instructions to cause at least one computing device to:
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facilitate a first call from a customer to a call center operator;
determine a geographical identifier associated with the customer;
determine a restaurant based on the geographical identifier;
facilitate a second call from the call center operator to an order taker associated with the restaurant;
connect the customer, the call center operator, and the order taker in at least a three-way call; and
facilitate a recording of information by the call center operator during the at least three-way call, the information being associated with a food order given to the order taker by the customer, the information being transmitted from a computer associated with the call center operator to a computer associated with a food services broker in real-time. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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Specification