METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR EFFICIENT MEAL DELIVERY
First Claim
1. A method for scheduling and delivering a product to a buyer, comprising:
- (a) receiving an order for a product from a buyer;
(b) transmitting the order to a seller for production of the product;
(c) receiving the product from the seller;
(d) determining a plurality of pickup locations;
(e) receiving a delivery area identifier from the buyer;
(f) employing the delivery area identifier to select a pickup location for the buyer from among the plurality of pickup locations;
(g) loading the product onto a mobile pick up station;
(h) dispatching the mobile pickup station to the selected pickup location, the mobile pickup station containing the product ordered by the buyer; and
(i) stationing the mobile pick up station at the pickup location for a predetermined station time during which the buyer can pick up the order from the mobile pick up station, wherein the station time starts at a predetermined starting time and ends at a predetermined ending time, whereby the buyer can pick up the order from the mobile pick up station.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for accepting order and scheduling delivery of meals to buyers. A Mobile Pickup Station (MPS) server is placed within a computer network and lists a number of participating restaurants on its web site. A buyer logs onto the MPS web site to order food from a participating restaurant. The server passes the order to the participating restaurant for production. An optimal pickup location is selected and the order is picked up from the participating restaurant and is delivered to the pickup location for pickup. A temperature-controlled truck enclosing the buyer order is dispatched to the pickup location. The truck is then stationed at the pickup location for a determined period of time waiting for buyers to pick up their orders.
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Citations
33 Claims
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1. A method for scheduling and delivering a product to a buyer, comprising:
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(a) receiving an order for a product from a buyer;
(b) transmitting the order to a seller for production of the product;
(c) receiving the product from the seller;
(d) determining a plurality of pickup locations;
(e) receiving a delivery area identifier from the buyer;
(f) employing the delivery area identifier to select a pickup location for the buyer from among the plurality of pickup locations;
(g) loading the product onto a mobile pick up station;
(h) dispatching the mobile pickup station to the selected pickup location, the mobile pickup station containing the product ordered by the buyer; and
(i) stationing the mobile pick up station at the pickup location for a predetermined station time during which the buyer can pick up the order from the mobile pick up station, wherein the station time starts at a predetermined starting time and ends at a predetermined ending time, whereby the buyer can pick up the order from the mobile pick up station. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of procuring food from one or more food providers for delivery to one or more buyers at a pickup location, comprising:
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(a) providing a list of meals to the one or more buyers for a period of time;
(b) receiving one or more orders from the one or more buyers within the period of time, wherein each order comprises a selection of one or more meals, a delivery date for each of the meals, and a pickup location for each delivery date;
(c) determining a total of the orders placed by the one or more buyers for each of the meals for each delivery date;
(d) sending a request to each of the one or more food providers for an offer to fulfill some or all of the orders placed by the one or more buyers, wherein the offer specifies the orders that the food provider is willing to fulfill and a price for fulfilling said orders;
(e) receiving one or more offers;
(f) accepting one or more of the offers based on criteria including one or more of the following;
the price offered by the food provider, the reputation of the food provider, the value of the food provided by the food provider, and the location of the food provider, wherein accepted offers are from a selected group of the one or more food providers;
(g) picking up meals from the selected group of one or more food providers on the delivery date;
(h) delivering the meals with a vehicle to the pickup location on the delivery date; and
(i) stationing the vehicle at the pickup location for a period of time to allow buyers to pick up ordered meals. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A method of procuring food for delivery to one or more buyers at a pickup location, comprising:
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(a) sending a request to one or more food providers for an offer to produce meals, wherein the request comprises requirements which must be fulfilled in order for the offer to be accepted, the requirements comprising an identification of the meals to be produced, a quantity of the meals to be produced, and one or more delivery dates;
(b) receiving one or more offers from the one or more food providers to produce the meals pursuant to the requirements in the request;
(c) accepting one or more of the offers based on criteria selected including one or more of the following;
price, reputation of a food provider, value of the food provided by a food provider, and location of a food provider, wherein accepted offers are from a selected group of the one or more food providers;
(d) providing a list of the meals included in the accepted offers to one or more buyers for a period of time;
(e) receiving one or more orders from the one or more buyers, wherein each order comprises a selection of one or more of the meals, a quantity of each of the meals, a pickup date for each of the meals, and a pickup location for each delivery date;
(f) forwarding the orders to the selected group of food providers;
(g) picking up ordered meals from the selected group of food providers on the delivery date;
(h) delivering the meals to the pickup location by a vehicle on the delivery date; and
(i) stationing the vehicle at the pickup location for a period of time waiting for buyers to pickup orders. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33)
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Specification