Two-way touch-screen based communication system

• US 8,436,826 B2
• Filed: 04/02/2011
• Issued: 05/07/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Usual, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Tumcw Incorporated
• Inventors: Lam, Andy
• Primary Examiner(s): Cheng, Joe H
• Application Number:
  US13/078,946
• Publication Number:
  US 20110242034A1
• Time in Patent Office: 766 Days
• Field of Search: 345/1.2, 345/173, 340/286.01, 707/705, 707/758, 705/15, 705/26.8
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/12 specially adapted for electronic shopping systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40 Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0226 Incentive systems for frequent usage, e.g. frequent flyer miles programs or point systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0255 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0281 Customer communication at a business location, e.g. providing product or service information, consulting
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0631 Item recommendations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0635 Processing of requisition or of purchase orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/12 Hotels or restaurants

Abstract

Embodiments of the disclosure generally set forth a two-way touch screen based communication system. One example method may include receiving an order for a food item submitted by the first touch screen device via a first network, wherein the order is associated with a first identification for a merchant, a second identification for the customer, and a negotiable parameter reflective of a preference of the customer. The method may also include making available the order for a second touch screen device of the merchant to retrieve via a second network and to display and prior to completing processing of the order, transmitting a first response to the preference of the customer to the first touch screen device via the first network, wherein the first response is submitted by the second touch screen device.

Claims

1. A method for communicating with a first touch screen device of a customer, comprising:

receiving an order for a food item submitted by the first touch screen device via a first network, wherein the order is associated with a first identification for a merchant, a second identification for the customer, and a negotiable parameter reflective of a preference of the customer;

making available the order for a second touch screen device of the merchant to retrieve via a second network and to display; and

prior to completing processing of the order, transmitting a first response to the preference of the customer to the first touch screen device via the first network, wherein the first response is submitted by the second touch screen device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the negotiable parameter includes a pick up time or a price.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

prior to transmitting the first response, transmitting history data associated with the customer to the second touch screen device via the second network.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

prior to transmitting the first response, generating a suggested response based on history data associated with the customer and transmitting the suggested response to the second touch screen device via the second network.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first response is a confirmation of the merchant'"'"'s acceptance of the preference of the customer.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first response is a proposal to modify the preference of the customer.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

receiving the negotiable parameter associated with the order, wherein the negotiable parameter is reflective of a modified preference of the customer;

making available the modified preference of the customer for the second touch screen device to retrieve via the second network and to display; and

prior to completing processing of the order, transmitting a second response to the modified preference of the customer to the first touch screen device via the first network, wherein the second response is submitted by the second touch screen device.

8. A computing device configured to support two-way communication between a first touch screen device of a customer and a second touch screen device of a merchant, comprising:

a processor coupled to a memory system, wherein the processor is configured to

receive an order for a food item submitted by the first touch screen device via a first network, wherein the order is associated with a first identification for the merchant, a second identification for the customer, and a negotiable parameter reflective of a preference of the customer;

make available the order for the second touch screen device to retrieve via a second network and to display; and

prior to completing processing of the order, transmit a first response to the preference of the customer to the first touch screen device via the first network, wherein the first response is submitted by the second touch screen device.

9. The computing device of claim 8, wherein the negotiable parameter includes a pick up time or a price.

10. The computing device of claim 8, wherein the processor is further configured to:

prior to transmitting the first response, transmit history data associated with the customer to the second touch screen device via the second network.

11. The computing device of claim 8, wherein the processor is further configured to:

prior to transmitting the first response, generate a suggested response based on history data associated with the customer and transmit the suggested response to the second touch screen device via the second network.

12. The computing device of claim 8, wherein the first response is a confirmation of the merchant'"'"'s acceptance of the preference of the customer.

13. The computing device of claim 8, wherein the first response is a proposal to modify the preference of the customer.

14. The computing device of claim 13, wherein the processor is further configured to:

receive the negotiable parameter associated with the order, wherein the negotiable parameter is reflective of a modified preference of the customer;

make available the modified preference of the customer for the second touch screen device to retrieve via the second network and display; and

prior to completing processing of the order, transmit a second response to the modified preference of the customer to the first touch screen device via the first network, wherein the second response is submitted by the second touch screen device.

15. A computer-readable medium containing a sequence of instructions for communicating with a first touch screen device of a customer, which when executed by a computing device, causes the computing device to:

receive an order for a food item submitted by the first touch screen device via a first network, wherein the order is associated with a first identification for a merchant, a second identification for the customer, and a negotiable parameter reflective of a preference of the customer;

make available the order for a second touch screen device of the merchant to retrieve via a second network and to display; and

prior to completing processing of the order, transmit a first response to the preference of the customer to the first touch screen device via the first network, wherein the first response is submitted by the second touch screen device.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, further including a sequence of instructions, which when executed by the computing device, causes the computing device to:

prior to transmitting the first response, transmit history data associated with the customer to the second touch screen device via the second network.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, further including a sequence of instructions, which when executed by the computing device, causes the computing device to:

prior to transmitting the first response, generate a suggested response based on history data associated with the customer and transmit the suggested response to the second touch screen device via the second network.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the first response is a confirmation of the merchant'"'"'s acceptance of the preference of the customer.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the first response is a proposal to modify the preference of the customer.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 19, further including a sequence of instructions, which when executed by the computing device, causes the computing device to:

receive the negotiable parameter associated with the order, wherein the negotiable parameter is reflective of a modified preference of the customer;

make available the modified preference of the customer for the second touch screen device to retrieve via the second network and to display; and

prior to completing processing of the order, transmit a second response to the modified preference of the customer to the first touch screen device via the first network, wherein the second response is submitted by the second touch screen device.