METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ORDERING AND DELIVERING OF MEALS
First Claim
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1. A method of scheduling and delivering a product to a buyer, comprising:
- receiving an order for a product from a buyer;
receiving a delivery area identifier from the buyer;
employing the delivery area identifier to select a pickup location for the buyer'"'"'s order from among a plurality of predetermined pickup locations;
identifying the address of the selected pickup location;
loading the products into a mobile pickup station;
dispatching the mobile pickup station to the selected pickup location; and
stationing the mobile pickup station at the pickup location for a predetermined station time during which the buyer can pick up the order from the mobile pickup station;
wherein the station time starts at a predetermined starting time and ends at a predetermined ending time, the mobile pickup station being removable from the pickup location upon the end of the ending time, whereby the buyer can pick up the order from the mobile pickup station.
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Abstract
A method and system for taking orders, scheduling delivery and delivering products to customers. In the method, available pickup locations are selected, and a customer'"'"'s order to is delivered to a pickup location that is convenient for the customer. The entity operating the delivery process aggregates orders assigned to the same pickup location. A Mobile Pickup Station (MPS), carrying all the orders assigned to the pickup location, is dispatched to the pickup location and stays at the pickup location for a predetermined period of time waiting for customers to pick up their orders.
225 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method of scheduling and delivering a product to a buyer, comprising:
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receiving an order for a product from a buyer; receiving a delivery area identifier from the buyer; employing the delivery area identifier to select a pickup location for the buyer'"'"'s order from among a plurality of predetermined pickup locations; identifying the address of the selected pickup location; loading the products into a mobile pickup station; dispatching the mobile pickup station to the selected pickup location; and stationing the mobile pickup station at the pickup location for a predetermined station time during which the buyer can pick up the order from the mobile pickup station; wherein the station time starts at a predetermined starting time and ends at a predetermined ending time, the mobile pickup station being removable from the pickup location upon the end of the ending time, whereby the buyer can pick up the order from the mobile pickup 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 for scheduling and delivery of a product along a commuting route, comprising:
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determining a plurality of pickup locations; determining a location parameter value for each pickup location; receiving commuting information from a buyer, the commuting information including a beginning address and an ending address; calculating using a computer the commuting route traveled by the buyer, the commuting route connecting the beginning address and the ending address; determining the parameter value of each point on the commuting route; comparing the parameter value of each pickup location with the parameter value of each point on the commuting route; identifying a pickup location having the same parameter value with a point on the commuting route; selecting the pickup location as the pickup location to be used by the buyer; and delivering the product to the pickup location with a mobile pickup station. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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Specification