Merchandise ordering system using a cell phone
First Claim
1. A merchandise order processing system comprising:
- a call center comprising;
a cell phone communication receiver for receiving an order from a customer, said order communicated by using a cell phone;
a location receiver for receiving location information for said customer from a location determination device;
a processor for associating said order and said location information with a customer identification number; and
an order transmitter for sending said order and said customer identification number to a selected retail establishment, said retail establishment selected based on said location information for said customer;
said selected retail establishment comprising;
an order receiver for receiving said order and said customer identification number from said order transmitter; and
a customer identifying device for determining said customer identification number from said customer at a delivery location so that merchandise may be delivered to said customer in accordance with said order.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A merchandise ordering system utilizing a cell phone for communicating order information and a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) device for customer location and identification. Orders are placed using the cell phone prior to arrival at the retail establishment. RFID customer location information indicating proximity of the customer to the retail establishment is combined with the order information to execute the order. At order pickup, the RFID information or cell phone information may be used to identify the customer for delivery of the order. An automated call center may handle multiple retail establishments or multiple chains of retail establishments. A method is disclosed for placing orders using a block of phone numbers. In one embodiment, computer controlled order delivery trays are used to match the orders with the RFID tag supplied identification and deliver the order to the customer. When the order is delivered to the customer, the customer'"'"'s credit card, debit card, or credit line may be charged according to prearrangements.
77 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A merchandise order processing system comprising:
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a call center comprising; a cell phone communication receiver for receiving an order from a customer, said order communicated by using a cell phone; a location receiver for receiving location information for said customer from a location determination device; a processor for associating said order and said location information with a customer identification number; and an order transmitter for sending said order and said customer identification number to a selected retail establishment, said retail establishment selected based on said location information for said customer; said selected retail establishment comprising; an order receiver for receiving said order and said customer identification number from said order transmitter; and a customer identifying device for determining said customer identification number from said customer at a delivery location so that merchandise may be delivered to said customer in accordance with said order. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An automated call center for use in a merchandise ordering system, said call center comprising:
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a cell phone call receiver for receiving an order placed over a cell phone by a customer; a memory for storing said order received by said cell phone call receiver, said order including a first identification of the customer placing said order; a position-identifier receiver for receiving a second identification of the customer, said position-identifier receiver located near a store such that the customer is identified by said position-identifier receiver before the customer arrives at said store; a first matching routine for matching the first identification of the customer with the second identification of the customer; and an order transmitter for sending said order and said second identification of the customer to said store such that said store may deliver merchandise to said customer in accordance with said order. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An automated order handling method comprising:
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receiving a cell phone communication at a call center from a customer, said cell phone communication including an order for merchandise and a first identification of the customer; determining a location of the customer and a second identification of the customer prior to said customer arriving at a store; associating said first identification of the customer and said order with said second identification of the customer; selecting said store based on said location of the customer; and transmitting said order and said second identification of the customer from said call center to said store. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification