ONLINE MENU AND FOOD PREPARATION SYSTEMS AND METHODS

• US 20070150371A1
• Filed: 12/06/2006
• Published: 06/28/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Neon Rain Interactive, LLC
• Original Assignee: Neon Rain Interactive, LLC
• Inventors: Gangji, Arif
• Application Number:
  US11/567,714
• Publication Number:
  US 20070150371A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26
• 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 50/12 Hotels or restaurants

Abstract

Online menu and food preparation systems and methods are disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment, a method may comprise assisting an owner of a kitchen business to at least partially customize the plurality of customer screens. The method may also comprise using the customer screens to assist a customer of the kitchen business to build a meal online. The method may also comprise using the customer screens to schedule a session for the customer to come prepare the meal at a physical location of the kitchen business.

Claims

1. A system for online menu and food preparation comprising:

a database for storing and retrieving data related to a kitchen business;

a host computer operatively associated with the database;

program code executing at least in part on the host computer, the program code displaying a plurality of customer screens based at least in part on the data stored in the database and at least in part on data received from a customer, the plurality of customer screens assisting the customer to build a meal online and schedule a session far the customer to come prepare the meal at a physical location of the kitchen business.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the program code requires the customer to build a minimum number of meals online before scheduling a session for the customer to come prepare the meals.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising program code executing at least in part on the host computer, the program code displaying a plurality of owner screens based at least in part on the data stored in the database and at least in part on data received from an owner of the kitchen business, the plurality of owner screens assisting the owner to at least partially customize the plurality of customer screens.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the plurality of owner screens assists the owner as part of an integrated product to manage inventory, marketing, operations, ordering, delivery, sales, and franchise development/tracking for the kitchen business.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the program code generates reports for the kitchen business.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the program code manages special event sessions.

7. A computer-program product for online menu and food preparation comprising:

program code for storing and retrieving data in a database;

program code for receiving data from a customer;

program code for displaying a plurality of customer screens based at least in part on the data stored in the database and at least in part on data received from a customer, the plurality of customer screens assisting the customer to build a meal online; and

program code for scheduling a session for the customer to come prepare the meal at a physical location of the kitchen business.

8. The computer-program product of claim 7 further comprising flexible program code for maintaining either company-wide pricing for all of a plurality of kitchen businesses, per-kitchen pricing, or per-meal pricing.

9. The computer-program product of claim 7 further comprising program code for displaying a plurality of owner screens based at least in part on the data stored in the database and at least in part on data received from an owner of the kitchen business, the plurality of owner screens assisting the owner to at least partially customize the plurality of customer screens.

10. The computer-program product of claim 9 wherein the program code is fully integrated as an off-the-shelf software product.

11. The computer-program product of claim 7 further comprising program code as part of an integrated product for managing inventory, marketing, operations, ordering delivery, sales, and franchise development/tracking for the kitchen business.

12. The computer-program product of claim 7 further comprising program code for generating reports for the kitchen business.

13. A method for online menu and food preparation comprising:

assisting an owner of a kitchen business to at least partially customize the plurality of customer screens;

using the customer screens to assist a customer of the kitchen business to build a meal online; and

using the customer screens to schedule a session for the customer to come prepare the meal at a physical location of the kitchen business.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising assisting the owner of the kitchen business managing inventory, marketing, operations, ordering, delivery, and franchise development/tracking for the kitchen business.

15. The method of claim 13 further comprising automatically generating reports for the kitchen business based on customer interaction.

16. The method of claim 13 further comprising showing at least one of the following for a meal:

cooking instructions, cooking methods, nutritional information, suggested side dishes, and icon/text descriptions to represent various attributes of the meal.

17. The method of claim 13 further comprising showing customer ratings for a meal.

18. The method of claim 13 further comprising generating at least one report for the owner based on customer interaction with the kitchen business.

19. The method of claim 13 further comprising automatically generating an email for the customer reminding the customer of the scheduled session.

20. The method of claim 13 further comprising automatically generating an email for the customer reminding the customer to eat at least one meal from a session prior to an upcoming session.

21. The method of claim 13 further comprising generating at least one upgrade path.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the at least one upgrade path is for a user to upgrade meals to at least one of the following:

“

All Natural Meat,”

or “

Whole Wheat.”

23. The method of claim 21 further comprising determining which meals the upgrade path applies to and automatically charging an Upgrade Fee for those meals.