Systems and methods for ordering prepared food products

• US 8,888,492 B2
• Filed: 11/21/2011
• Issued: 11/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avery Dennison Retail Information Services LLC (Avery Dennison Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Daniel Riscalla
• Inventors: Riscalla, Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): GEBREMICHAEL, BRUK A
• Application Number:
  US13/301,390
• Publication Number:
  US 20130130208A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,093 Days
• Field of Search: 434/127, 705/15, 705/26.1, 705/27.1
• US Class Current: 434/127
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0603 Catalogue ordering
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0621 Item configuration or customization
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0643 Graphical representation of items or shoppers
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/12 Hotels or restaurants

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for ordering prepared food products via a network using an electronic device. A menu of available prepared food products may be presented on a display, and one of the prepared food products may be selected using an interface of the device. A menu of bread items available may be presented including visual representations of each available bread item. One of the bread items may be selected, whereupon a visual representation of the selected bread may be presented. One or more ingredients may be selected using the interface, whereupon visual representations of the ingredients are superimposed on the visual representation of the selected bread item. The systems and methods may provide an enhanced visual experience similar to ordering the product in person and watching the product being made.

Claims

1. A method for ordering prepared food products via a network using a wireless electronic device, comprising:

presenting a menu of available prepared food products on a display of the electronic device;

selecting one of the prepared food products using an interface of the electronic device, whereupon the electronic device presents a bread menu including visual representations of bread items available for making the selected prepared food product on the display, the menu including visual representations of each of the available bread items;

selecting one of the bread items using the interface, whereupon the electronic device presents an animation in a product image field that shows the selected bread item on the display being opened from a closed configuration to an open orientation for receiving ingredients;

presenting an ingredients menu on the display adjacent the product image field including visual representations of available ingredients for the selected prepare food product, wherein the ingredients menu is a scrollable menu including visual representations of the available ingredients presented adjacent the product image field on the display, and wherein the one or more ingredients are selected by scrolling the ingredients menu and touching the display over selected ingredients;

selecting one or more ingredients for the selected food product using the interface, whereupon the electronic device presents visual representations of the one or more ingredients superimposed on the visual representation of the selected bread item in the product image field, the one or more ingredients superimposed in a predetermined layering scheme that enhances identification of the selected ingredients when superimposed onto one another over the visual representation of the selected bread item;

inputting into the interface that the selected food product is complete, whereupon the electronic display presents a visual representation of the selected food product in a packaged configuration; and

transmitting an order including the selected food product via a network to a vendor server for fulfillment.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the visual representations of the available bread items and ingredients are stored in separate files in memory of the electronic device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the visual representations of the one or more ingredients includes an animation.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected bread item comprises a roll or bun, and wherein the visual representation of the selected bread item comprises an animation that shows the roll or bun being cut with a knife in the closed configuration, and opened to the open configuration.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the menu of available ingredients includes a sub-menu including different amounts of the available ingredients, the method further comprising selecting a desired amount of selected ingredients, whereupon a visual representation of the desired amount of the selected ingredients are superimposed on the selected bread item.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising touching the display a second time over one or more of the selected ingredients, whereupon a visual representation of an increased amount of selected ingredients are superimposed on the visual representation of the selected bread item.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the visual representation of the increased amount of selected ingredients comprises a second image file that is superimposed on a first image file of the selected ingredients, a first set of ingredients included in the first image file being offset from a second set of ingredients in the second image file such that at least portions of both sets of ingredients are visible on the display.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting one of the prepared food products using an interface of the electronic device comprises selecting a meat product, and wherein, when one of the bread items is selected, the electronic device presents a visual representation of the selected meat product on the selected bread item in the open orientation.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein, after selecting one or more ingredients, the method comprises:

selecting a new meat product different than that shown on the selected bread item, whereupon the display presents an animation in which the selected ingredients are lifted from the selected bread item, the previously selected meat product is removed, the new meat product is placed on the selected bread item, and the selected ingredients are lowered onto the new meat product.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected prepared food product is a sandwich and wherein the available bread items comprise a sandwich roll.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected prepared food product is a burger and wherein the available bread items comprise a bun.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising adding one or more additional food items to the order before transmitting the order to the vendor server.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

launching an application on the electronic device to perform the steps of claim 1, wherein launching the application comprises;

presenting one or more vendor locations on the display;

selecting a vendor location;

communicating with a vendor server associated with the selected vendor location; and

receiving any menu updates from the vendor server before performing the steps recited claim 1.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the menu updates are included in a database stored in memory of the electronic device, the database comprising a list of available food products and ingredients, and one or more of image files associated with respective food products and ingredients, animation files associated with respective food products and ingredients, prices associated with respective food products and ingredients, and nutritional information associated with respective food products and ingredients.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein presenting a menu of available prepared food products on a display of the electronic device comprises presenting a scrollable menu including visual representations of the available prepared food products.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein selecting one of the prepared food products comprises scrolling the scrollable menu and touching the display over selected prepared food product.

17. A method for ordering prepared food products via a network using a wireless electronic device, comprising:

presenting a menu of available prepared food products on a display of the electronic device;

selecting one of the prepared food products using an interface of the electronic device, whereupon the electronic device presents an animation that shows a receptacle in an open configuration for receiving ingredients of the selected prepared food product on the display in a product image field on the display;

presenting an ingredients menu on the display adjacent the product image field including visual representations of available ingredients for the selected prepare food product, wherein the ingredients menu is a scrollable menu including visual representations of the available ingredients presented adjacent the product image field on the display, and wherein the one or more ingredients are selected by scrolling the ingredients menu and touching the display over selected ingredients;

selecting one or more ingredients for the selected food product using the interface, whereupon the electronic device presents visual representations of the one or more ingredients superimposed on the visual representation of the receptacle in the product image field, the one or more ingredients superimposed in a predetermined layering scheme that enhances identification of the selected ingredients when superimposed onto one another over the visual representation of the receptacle;

inputting into the interface that the selected food product is complete, whereupon the electronic display presents a visual representation of the selected food product with the receptacle in a closed configuration; and

transmitting an order including the selected food product via a network to a vendor server for fulfillment.

18. An electronic device for ordering prepared food products via a network, comprising:

an interface;

a display;

one or more processors coupled to the interface and display for;

presenting a menu of available prepared food products on the display;

selecting one of the prepared food products using the interface, whereupon the electronic device presents a bread menu including visual representations of bread items available for making the selected prepared food product on the display, the menu including visual representations of each of the available bread items;

selecting one of the bread items using the interface, whereupon the electronic device presents an animation in a product image field that shows selected bread item on the display being opened from a closed configuration to an open orientation for receiving ingredients;

presenting an ingredients menu on the display adjacent the product image field including visual representations of available ingredients for the selected prepare food product, wherein the ingredients menu is a scrollable menu including visual representations of the available ingredients presented adjacent the product image field on the display, and wherein the interface comprises a touchscreen for scrolling the ingredients menu and touching the display over selected ingredients;

selecting one or more ingredients for the selected food product using the interface, whereupon the electronic device presents visual representations of the one or more ingredients superimposed on the visual representation of the selected bread item in the product image field, the one or more ingredients superimposed in a predetermined layering scheme that enhances identification of the selected ingredients when superimposed onto one another over the visual representation of the selected bread item; and

inputting into the interface that the selected food product is complete, whereupon the electronic display presents a visual representation of the selected food product in a packaged configuration; and

a transmitter for transmitting an order including the selected food product via a network to a vendor server for fulfillment.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein the interface comprises a keyboard or keypad.

20. The device of claim 18, wherein the transmitter comprises a wireless transceiver.

21. The device of claim 18, further comprising memory coupled to the one or more processors, wherein the visual representations of the available bread items and ingredients are stored as separate files in the memory such that the one or more processors selectively access desired files corresponding to the visual representations to superimpose on one another on the display.

22. The device of claim 18, further comprising memory comprising a database including a list of available food products and ingredients, and one or more of image files associated with respective food products and ingredients, animation files associated with respective food products and ingredients, prices associated with respective food products and ingredients, and nutritional information associated with respective food products and ingredients.