Methods, Systems, and Computer Program Products for Automatic Group Ordering of Food from Restaurants

• US 20070203801A1
• Filed: 12/26/2006
• Published: 08/30/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: George Istfan
• Original Assignee: George Istfan
• Inventors: Istfan, George
• Granted Patent: US 8,626,590 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/12 Hotels or restaurants

Abstract

The subject matter described herein includes methods, systems, and computer program products for automatic online group ordering of food from a restaurant. According to one method, input for creating a group online food order from a restaurant is received. The input defines a group of individuals to invite to participate in an online group food order from a restaurant is received. In response to the input, invitations are automatically and electronically sent to the individuals inviting the individuals to participate in the group order. Individual orders are received from at least some of the individuals. The individual orders are combined into a group order. The group order is automatically communicated to the restaurant.

Claims

1. A method for effecting an automatic online group order of food from a restaurant, the method comprising:

(a) receiving input for creating a group online food order from a restaurant, the input defining group of individuals to invite to participate in the group order;

(b) in response to the input, automatically and electronically sending invitations to the individuals inviting the individuals to participate in the group order;

(c) receiving individual orders from at least some of the individuals;

(d) combining the individual orders into the group order; and

(e) automatically communicating the group order to the restaurant.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving input includes presenting a user with a group selection screen via a web interface for selecting or defining the group of individuals.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving input includes receiving a cut-off time and ready time for the group order.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein automatically communicating the group order to the restaurant includes sending the group order to the restaurant in response to occurrence of the cut-off time.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein automatically and electronically sending invitations to the individuals to participate in the group order includes triggering, from a group ordering server, the sending email messages to the individuals.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein receiving individual orders from at least some of the individuals includes presenting links in the email messages through which the individuals can place their respective orders.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the links each include an order identifier for identifying the order and wherein combining the individual orders includes identifying individual orders made using the order identifier.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein automatically communicating the group order to the restaurant includes sending the group order to one of a restaurant point of sale system, fax machine, and email address.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein automatically communicating the group order to the restaurant includes communicating the group order to the restaurant in response to expiration of an order time period without intervention by an order creator.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein automatically communicating the group order to the restaurant includes communicating the group order to the restaurant prior to receiving all of the individual orders in response to the cut-off time of the order.

11. The method of claim 1 comprising optionally allowing an order creator or the individuals to pay for individual orders to be included in the group order.

12. A method for online group ordering of food from a restaurant, the method comprising:

(a) receiving input for creating a group online food order from a restaurant, the input defining group of individuals to invite to participate in the group order and a cutoff time for the order;

(b) presenting an order creator with an option to pay for the group order or to allow the individuals to pay for their respective portions of the group order;

(c) receiving input from the order creator selecting the option to pay for the group order;

(d) automatically and electronically sending invitations to the individuals inviting the individuals to participate in the group order;

(e) receiving individual orders from at least some of the individuals;

(f) combining the individual orders into the group order;

(g) in response to occurrence of the cutoff time, allowing the order creator to review and pay for the group; and

(h) communicating the group order to the restaurant.

13. The method of claim 12 comprising allowing the order creator to specify a spending limit for the individual orders.

14. A system for automatic online group ordering of food from a restaurant, the system comprising:

(a) a group manager for receiving for creating a group online food order from a restaurant, the input defining a group of individuals to invite to the group order;

(b) an invitation manager for automatically and electronically sending invitations to the individuals inviting the individuals to participate in the group order; and

(c) an order manager for receiving individual orders from at least some of the individuals, for combining the individual orders into the group order, and for automatically communicating the group order to the restaurant.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the group manager is adapted to present a group selection screen to a user via a web interface for allowing the user to define or select group members.

16. The system of claim 14 wherein the group manager is adapted to receive a cut-off time and a ready time for the group order and wherein the order manager is adapted to allow individuals to participate in the group order who respond within the time period defined by the cut-off time.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the order manager is adapted to automatically send the group order to the restaurant in response to occurrence of the cut-off time without intervention from an order creator.

18. The system of claim 14 wherein the invitation manager is adapted to invite the individuals to participate in the group order by sending emails to the individuals.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein each email includes a link for allowing the individual who receives the email to place an individual order via the order manager, the link including an order identifier for allowing the order manager to combine the orders received from the individuals into the group order.

20. The system of claim 14 wherein the order manager is adapted to communicate the group order to one of a point of sale system, fax machine, and email address at the restaurant.

21. The system of claim 14 wherein the order manager is adapted to optionally allow an order creator to pay for the group order or to invite the individuals to pay for their respective portions of the group order.

22. A computer program product comprising computer executable instructions embodied in a computer readable medium for performing steps comprising:

(a) receiving input for creating a group online food order from a restaurant, the input defining a group of individuals to invite to participate in the group order

(b) in response to the input, automatically and electronically sending invitations to the individuals inviting the individuals to participate in the group order;

(c) receiving individual orders from at least some of the individuals;

(d) combining the individual orders into the group order; and

(e) automatically communicating the group order to the restaurant.