Wireless communication system

• US 8,072,956 B2
• Filed: 04/14/2010
• Issued: 12/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Fadell, Anthony M.
• Primary Examiner(s): LY, NGHI H
• Application Number:
  US12/760,479
• Publication Number:
  US 20100198704A1
• Time in Patent Office: 601 Days
• Field of Search: 370/338, 370/328, 370/310, 455/414.1, 455/421
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/025 adapted to a specific application
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0603 Catalogue ordering
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/61 taking into account QoS or priority requirements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/62 Establishing a time schedule for servicing the requests

Abstract

A processing system is described that includes a wireless communication interface that wirelessly communicates with one or more wireless client devices in the vicinity of an establishment. The wireless communication interface receives a remote order corresponding to an item selected by at least one of the wireless client devices. A local server computer located in proximity to the establishment generates instructions for processing the remote order received from the wireless communication interface. The local server computer then passes the processing instructions to an order processing queue in preparation for processing of the remote order.

Claims

1. A processing system, comprising:

a wireless communication interface in communication with the local server computer arranged to wirelessly communicate with one or more wireless client devices in the vicinity of the establishment, the wireless communication interface receiving a remote order corresponding to an item selected by at least one of the wireless client devices;

a local server computer located in proximity to the establishment having a memory arranged to store data that includes a customer preference file listing customer preferences that the local server computer consults in order to generate processing instructions for processing of the remote order; and

a processing center for processing the remote order in response to the processing instructions received from the local server computer,

wherein the stored data for the local server computer comprises;

a list of establishment recognized customers listing those customers having previously contacted the establishment;

the customer preference file which includes the customer preferences for the customers on the list of establishment recognized customers; and

a customer history file listing items previously selected by each of the customers on the list of establishment recognized customers.

2. A processing system as recited in claim 1, wherein each of the one or more wireless client devices comprise:

a processor for processing executable instructions;

a display coupled to the processor for displaying text and images;

a wireless interface coupled to the processor arranged to send and receive wireless signals; and

a memory arranged to store data.

3. A system as recited in claim 2, wherein the data stored in the memory of each of the one or more wireless client devices comprises:

a customer identifier (ID) that uniquely defines a customer;

a device customer preference file listing customer preferences for the customer;

a list of establishments recognized by the customer; and

a device customer history file for each of the recognized establishments listing items previously selected by the customer at each of the recognized establishments.

4. A system as recited in claim 3, wherein the stored data for the local server computer further comprises:

an establishment identifier (ID) that uniquely identifies the establishment in which the local server computer is in proximity.

5. A system as recited in claim 4, wherein if the local server computer determines that the customer preference file stored at the local server computer does not match the device customer preference file on an associated one of the one or more wireless client devices, then the local server computer updates the customer preference file to match the device customer preference file on the associated one of the one or more wireless client devices prior to generating the processing instructions for processing of the remote order.

6. A system as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a local processing station coupled to the local server computer and the processing queue arranged to process the selected item.

7. A method of processing a remote order provided by one or more wireless client devices in the vicinity of an establishment, comprising:

receiving a remote order corresponding to an item selected by at least one of the wireless client devices;

consulting stored data including a customer preference file that lists customer preferences, the stored data being consulted by a local server computer located in proximity to the establishment;

generating a processing instruction for processing the remote order by the local server computer based upon the consultation of the customer preference file; and

processing the remote order in response to the processing instruction,

wherein stored data includes at least (i) a list of establishment recognized customers listing those customers having previously contacted the establishment, (ii) the customer preference file which includes the customer preferences for the customers on the list of establishment recognized customers, and (iii) a customer history file listing items previously selected by the customers on the list of establishment recognized customers.

8. A method as recited in claim 7, wherein the at least one of the wireless client devices comprises:

a processor for processing executable instructions;

a display coupled to the processor for displaying text and images;

a wireless interface coupled to the processor arranged to send and receive wireless signals; and

a memory arranged to store data.

9. A method as recited in claim 8, wherein the data stored in the memory of the at least one of the wireless client devices comprises:

a customer identifier (ID) that uniquely defines a customer;

a device customer preference file listing customer preferences for the customer;

a list of establishments recognized by the customer; and

a device customer history file for each of the recognized establishments listing items previously selected by the customer at each of the recognized establishments.

10. A method as recited in claim 7, wherein the stored data consulted by the local server computer comprises:

an establishment identifier (ID) that uniquely identifies the establishment in which the local server computer is in proximity.

11. A method as recited in claim 7, further comprising:

notifying the at least one of the wireless client devices that originally sent the remote order to the establishment of an estimated amount of time until the selected item processing is complete.

12. A method as recited in claim 11, further comprising;

determining if the customer preference file on the local server computer requires updating; and

updating the customer preference file by the local server computer, if needed, prior to generating the processing instruction.

13. A method as recited in claim 12, wherein determining if the customer preference file on the local server computer requires updating comprises:

comparing the customer preference file on the local server computer to the device customer preference file on the at least one of the wireless client devices; and

overwriting the customer preferences on the local server computer by the corresponding device customer preferences on the at least one of the wireless client devices when the comparing indicates a no match condition.

14. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing at least computer program code executable by a computer processor for processing a remote order provided by one or more wireless client devices in the vicinity of an establishment, comprising:

computer code for receiving a remote order corresponding to an item selected by a particular wireless client device of the one or more wireless client devices;

computer code for accessing, by a local server computer located in proximity to the establishment, a list of establishment recognized customers listing those customers having previously contacted the establishment, a customer preference file that lists customer preferences for the customers on the list of establishment recognized customers, and a customer history file listing items previously selected by each of the customers on the list of establishment recognized customers;

computer code for generating a processing instruction for processing the remote order by the local server computer based upon the consultation of at least the customer preference file;

computer code for initiating processing the remote order in response to the processing instruction; and

computer readable medium for storing the computer code.

15. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 14, further comprising:

computer code for notifying the particular wireless client device that originally sent the remote order to the establishment of an estimated amount of time until the selected item processing is complete.

16. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 14, further comprising;

computer code for determining if the customer preference file on the local server computer requires updating; and

computer code for updating the customer preference file by the local server computer, if needed, prior to generating the processing instruction.

17. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 16, wherein determining if the customer preference file on the local server computer requires updating comprises:

computer code for comparing the customer preference file on the local server computer to the a device customer preference file on the particular wireless client device; and

computer code for overwriting the customer preferences on the local server computer by the corresponding device customer preferences on the particular wireless client device when the comparing indicates a no match condition.