PROXIMITY ORDER PROCESSING SYSTEM
First Claim
1. A proximity order processing system comprising:
- a wireless portable communication unit having;
a memory device for storing unit information;
a communication unit transmitter for transmitting an order confirmation signal that contains the unit information; and
an order confirmation input device operable by a user to initiate transmission of the order confirmation signal by the communication unit transmitter; and
an order handling system comprising;
one or more order handling receivers for receiving the order confirmation signal containing the unit information;
a database that associates unit information with default order information;
one or more computer processors for operating on the database to access default order information associated with the unit information contained in the order confirmation signal; and
an order placement interface for communicating the default order information to an order placement apparatus associated with an order fulfillment establishment.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A proximity-based order processing system provides a way for a customer of a restaurant or other retail establishment to set up a default order for food or other goods or services via a web page interface. The customer is issued a portable wireless communication device, such as an active RFID device, having an order-confirmation button. If the button is pressed while the portable unit is in range of a reader unit in the retail establishment, the portable unit transmits an order confirmation signal to the reader unit. Upon receipt of the order confirmation signal, a order handling computer system confirms that a default order on file for the customer and sufficient funds are available in the user'"'"'s monetary account. If the default order is on file and the funds are sufficient, the customer'"'"'s order is processed and made ready for pickup. In this manner, the customer need not stand in line to wait to place or pay for an order.
42 Citations
36 Claims
-
1. A proximity order processing system comprising:
-
a wireless portable communication unit having; a memory device for storing unit information; a communication unit transmitter for transmitting an order confirmation signal that contains the unit information; and an order confirmation input device operable by a user to initiate transmission of the order confirmation signal by the communication unit transmitter; and an order handling system comprising; one or more order handling receivers for receiving the order confirmation signal containing the unit information; a database that associates unit information with default order information; one or more computer processors for operating on the database to access default order information associated with the unit information contained in the order confirmation signal; and an order placement interface for communicating the default order information to an order placement apparatus associated with an order fulfillment establishment. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
-
20. A wireless portable communication unit for use in conjunction with a proximity order handling system, the wireless portable communication unit comprising:
-
a memory device for storing unit identification information and order confirmation information; a communication unit transmitter for automatically transmitting an identification signal at periodic time intervals, the identification signal containing the identification information, and for transmitting a order confirmation signal when manually activated to do so, the order confirmation signal containing the order confirmation information; an order confirmation input device operable by a user to initiate transmission of the order confirmation signal from the communication unit transmitter; a communication unit receiver for receiving user feedback signals transmitted from the proximity order handling system; and a user feedback device for communicating user feedback to the user of the wireless portable communication unit, wherein the user feedback is based on one or more characteristics of the user feedback signals. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
-
-
32. A method for placing a predetermined order for goods or services using a portable wireless communication unit, wherein the goods or services are to be provided by an order fulfillment establishment, the method comprising:
-
(a) operating a user input device on the portable wireless communication unit to initiate transmission of an order confirmation signal containing order confirmation information; (b) transmitting the order confirmation signal from the portable wireless communication unit; (c) receiving the order confirmation signal at a reader unit associated with the retail establishment; (d) extracting the order confirmation information from the order confirmation signal received by the reader unit; (e) determining the predetermined order based at least in part on the order confirmation information extracted from the order confirmation signal; and (f) communicating the predetermined order to an order placement apparatus associated with the order fulfillment establishment. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36)
-
Specification