Ordering method and system for restaurants
First Claim
1. A method of ordering menu items for delivery to a station at a premises, the method comprising the steps:
- (a) a mobile device running an application interacting with a physical tag to receive a station input, the station input comprising a station identifier and a premises identifier together identifying the station at the premises, the premises identifier defining a venue and the station identifier defining a location within the venue;
(b) the mobile device retrieving a menu over the internet from a platform, the platform comprising a web-based server, and the menu comprising menu items and being automatically selected from a database at the platform based on the premises identifier;
(c) the mobile device displaying the retrieved menu;
(d) the mobile device receiving an order input, the order input indicating a selection of at least one of the output menu items;
(e) the mobile device sending the order input over the internet to the platform;
(f) a processor of the platform using the premises identifier to automatically determine and select an appropriate electronic point of sale (EPOS) adapter from a number of stored EPOS adapters, together with a corresponding communication protocol and a corresponding communication network; and
(g) the processor of the platform automatically causing transmission of an order to the premises identified by the input premises identifier, the order including the station identifier and the selection of the at least one of the output menu items, wherein the at least one processor transmits the order to the premises using the selected EPOS adapter, the selected communication protocol and the selected communication network, whereby electronic ordering is enabled without the need to install a dedicated system for the venue.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of ordering menu items for delivery to a station at a premises, such as a table at a restaurant, includes the steps: Launch App; Scan QR code or NFC tag on table; Identify location. The location is identified using the restaurant and table identifier(s) extracted from the QR code. This location is used to identify the correct restaurant menu from the central platform database; Download menu; Add menu items to order; Confirm order; Pay order; Route order. The restaurant identifier is used to determine the appropriate EPOS adaptor based on the EPOS system in use by the specific restaurant; Transmit to restaurant. The correct communication protocol and authentication details are then used in order to route the order to the restaurant EPOS system or printer.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method of ordering menu items for delivery to a station at a premises, the method comprising the steps:
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(a) a mobile device running an application interacting with a physical tag to receive a station input, the station input comprising a station identifier and a premises identifier together identifying the station at the premises, the premises identifier defining a venue and the station identifier defining a location within the venue; (b) the mobile device retrieving a menu over the internet from a platform, the platform comprising a web-based server, and the menu comprising menu items and being automatically selected from a database at the platform based on the premises identifier; (c) the mobile device displaying the retrieved menu; (d) the mobile device receiving an order input, the order input indicating a selection of at least one of the output menu items; (e) the mobile device sending the order input over the internet to the platform; (f) a processor of the platform using the premises identifier to automatically determine and select an appropriate electronic point of sale (EPOS) adapter from a number of stored EPOS adapters, together with a corresponding communication protocol and a corresponding communication network; and (g) the processor of the platform automatically causing transmission of an order to the premises identified by the input premises identifier, the order including the station identifier and the selection of the at least one of the output menu items, wherein the at least one processor transmits the order to the premises using the selected EPOS adapter, the selected communication protocol and the selected communication network, whereby electronic ordering is enabled without the need to install a dedicated system for the venue. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A non-transitory computer program product comprising one or more sequences of machine-readable instructions for execution by a mobile device and for use in ordering menu items for delivery to a station at a premises, the instructions being adapted to:
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cause the mobile device running the non-transitory computer program product to interact with a physical tag to receive a station input, the station input comprising a station identifier and a premises identifier together identifying the station at the premises, the premises identifier defining a venue and the station identifier defining a location within the venue, so as to enable automatic selection of an appropriate electronic point of sale (EPOS) adapter from a number of EPOS adapters stored in a platform based on at least the premises identifier and thereby facilitate communication between the mobile device and the premises through the platform, the platform comprising a web-based server; cause the mobile device to retrieve a menu over the internet from the platform, the menu comprising menu items and being selected from a database at the platform based on at least the premises identifier; cause the mobile device to display the retrieved menu; cause the mobile device to receive an order input, the order input indicating a selection of at least one of the output menu items; and cause the mobile device to send the order input over the internet to the platform and automatically from the platform to the premises using the selected EPOS adapter, whereby electronic ordering is enabled without the need to install a dedicated system for the venue. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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13. A system for ordering menu items for delivery to a station at a premises, the system comprising:
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a mobile device running an application operable to; (a) interact with a physical tag to receive a station input, the station input comprising a station identifier and a premises identifier together identifying the station at the premises, the premises identifier defining a venue and the station identifier defining a location within the venue; (b) retrieve a menu over the internet from a platform, the platform comprising a web-based server, the menu comprising menu items and being automatically selected from a database at the platform based on the premises identifier; (c) display the retrieved menu; (d) receive an order input, the order input indicating a selection of at least one of the output menu items; and (e) send the order input over the internet to the platform; and the system further comprising; the platform remote from the premises for communicating over the internet with the mobile device and further comprising a number of stored EPOS adapters and a processor operable to; use the premises identifier to automatically determine and select an electronic point of sale (EPOS) adapter from a number of stored EPOS adapters, together with a corresponding communication protocol and a corresponding communication network; and
to cause automatic transmission of an order to the premises identified by the input premises identifier, the order including the station identifier and the selection of the output menu items, wherein the processor causes automatic transmission of the order to the premises using the selected EPOS adapter, the selected communication protocol and the selected communication network, whereby electronic ordering is enabled without the need to install a dedicated system for the venue.
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14. A non-transitory computer program product comprising one or more sequences of machine-readable instructions for execution by a platform, the platform comprising a web-based server, and being adapted to:
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cause the platform to receive over the internet a station input and a request for a menu from a mobile device running an application, the station input comprising a station identifier and a premises identifier together identifying the station at the premises, the premises identifier defining a venue and the station identifier defining a location within the venue; cause the platform to automatically send a menu over the internet to the mobile device; cause the processor to receive an order over the internet from the mobile device; cause a processor of the platform to automatically select, using the premises identifier, an appropriate electronic point of sale (EPOS) adapter from a number of stored EPOS adapters, together with a corresponding communication protocol and a corresponding communication network; and to cause automatic transmission of the order to the premises identified by the input premises identifier, the order including the station identifier and the selection of the output menu items, wherein the at least one computer causes automatic transmission of the order to the premises using the selected EPOS adapter, the selected communication protocol and the selected communication network, whereby electronic ordering is enabled without the need to install a dedicated system for the venue.
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Specification