Remote ordering device

• US 6,435,406 B1
• Filed: 10/06/2000
• Issued: 08/20/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Remote Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Randolph M. Pentel
• Inventors: Pentel, Randolph M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Frech, Karl D.
• Application Number:
  US09/684,185
• Time in Patent Office: 683 Days
• Field of Search: 235/375, 235/380, 235/381, 235/383, 235/384
• US Class Current: 235/380
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0603 Catalogue ordering
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/12 Hotels or restaurants
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/00 Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/02 by keys or other credit registering devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/14 Systems including one or more distant stations co-operating with a central processing unit data transmission in general H04L; telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station H04Q9/00

Abstract

A cell phone or other wireless telecommunications device is used to communicate with an ordering station over a cellular telephone communications network and telephone line. A coded item number can be entered and transmitted to the ordering station, which decodes the coded item number and enters the order into the point of sale system by a communications link. Further, data such as the identity of the user by physical characteristics, personal identification numbers, credit card or charge information, and location of the sender of the data can also be obtained from the wireless communications device and transmitted to the order station. In this manner remote ordering of goods or services can be communicated and transactions completed without having to be present at the sales point.

Claims

1. A generalized remote ordering apparatus for customer use to place orders, determine the status of orders, access information, and allow the customer to pay the bill comprising:

a) a wireless telecommunications device having a data entry portion, a power source, a first memory, a first processor, a transmitter, and

b) an ordering station to receive information from the wireless telecommunications device through a telephone line from a wireless telecommunications receiver, a second processor adapted to decode information received from the wireless telecommunications device and produce decoded information, a second memory, adapted to store item numbers and prices, and a communications link to a point-of-sale system.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wireless communications device comprises a cellular phone.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wireless communications device comprises a device using a cell phone network to establish a communications link with the ordering station.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a global positioning system transceiver for determining the position of the wireless communications device transmitting to the ordering station.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a personal identification apparatus adapted to identify the user of the wireless telecommunications device.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the personal identification apparatus is adapted to identify the user directly by some physical characteristic.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the physical characteristic is selected from the group consisting of bioelectric, biochemical, and biomechanical characteristics.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the personal identification apparatus is adapted to identify the user'"'"'s thumbprint.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the personal identification apparatus is adapted to identify the user'"'"'s retinal pattern.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a credit card slot adapted to read the magnetic strip of a credit card.

11. A method for remotely ordering items comprising:

(a) establishing a wireless telecommunications link between a wireless telecommunications device and an ordering station,

(b) referring to an ordering code,

(c) entering the ordering code for purchases desired,

(d) transmitting the ordering code data to the ordering station through the wireless telecommunications link,

(e) decoding the ordering code by the ordering station,

(f) transmitting the decoded order from the ordering station to a point of sale system,

(g) optionally repeating steps (b) through (f) until all purchases are complete,

(h) tallying the purchases at the point of sale system.

12. A method for remotely ordering items as in claim 11 with the further step of:

transmitting credit card information from the a wireless telecommunications device to the ordering station.

13. A method for remotely ordering items as in claim 12 with the further step of:

transmitting the credit card information received from the ordering station over a communications link to a credit card authorization center for approval.

14. A method for remotely ordering items as in claim 11 with the further step of:

receiving customer identity information data from the wireless telecommunications device.

15. A method for remotely ordering items as in claim 11 with the further step of:

receiving customer position information from the wireless telecommunications device by way of a geopositioning satellite device connected to the wireless telecommunications device.

16. A method for remotely ordering items as in claim 11 with the further step of:

reading bar codes to enter ordering data into the wireless telecommunications device.