Two-way touch-screen based communication system

• US 9,274,629 B2
• Filed: 01/30/2014
• Issued: 03/01/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Usual, Inc.
• Original Assignee: The Usual, Inc.
• Inventors: Lam, Andy
• Primary Examiner(s): Cheng, Joe H
• Application Number:
  US14/168,002
• Publication Number:
  US 20140149261A1
• Time in Patent Office: 761 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 an item from a 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.

Claims

1. A method to communicate with a first touch screen device of a customer, comprising:

receiving an order for an 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 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.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the parameter is associated with at least one of time, a price, a location, and a special instruction.

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 3, further comprising transmitting the history data associated with the customer to the first touch screen device to be displayed.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the history data associated with the customer includes at least one of information relating to prior purchases of the customer, profile information associated with the customer, and loyalty information associated with the customer.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the profile information includes at least one of identification information of the customer and a photograph of the customer.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising transmitting advertisements to the first touch screen device based on at least one of the order and the history data associated with the customer.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising modifying loyalty information associated with the customer as a part of completing processing of the order.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

making available the loyalty information for the second touch screen device of the merchant to retrieve, display, and respond to.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the first response includes incentives for the customer.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the incentives are based on the loyalty information associated with the customer.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

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

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the generating of the suggested response is further based on second history data associated with other customers, wherein the first history data and the second history data reflect a similar pattern.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the generating of the suggested response further comprises prioritizing processing of the order.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the suggested response includes a recommendation associated with the order.

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

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

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

receiving the parameter associated with the order, wherein the 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.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the proposal to modify the preference of the customer is based on a condition associated with the merchant.

20. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

verifying payment associated with the order has been approved or authorized as a part of completing processing of the order.

21. A method for a second touch screen device of a merchant to communicate with a first touch screen device of a customer, comprising:

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

displaying information associated with the order on the second touch screen device; and

prior to completing processing of the order, initiating a transmission of a first response to the preference of the customer to the first touch screen device via the network.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the parameter is associated with at least one of time, a price, a location, and a special instruction.

23. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

prior to initiating the transmission of the first response, retrieving history data associated with the customer.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the history data associated with the customer includes at least one of information relating to prior purchases of the customer, profile information associated with the customer, and loyalty information associated with the customer.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the profile information includes at least one of identification information of the customer and a photograph of the customer.

26. The method of claim 24, further comprising initiating a transmission of advertisements to the first touch screen device based on at least one of the order and the history data associated with the customer.

27. The method of claim 21, further comprising tracking and responding to loyalty information associated with the customer.

28. The method of claim 21, wherein the first response includes incentives for the customer.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the incentives are based on the loyalty information associated with the customer.

30. The method of claim 21, further comprising generating a suggested response based on first history data associated with the customer.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the generating of the suggested response is further based on second history data associated with other customers, wherein the first history data and the second history data reflect a similar pattern.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein the generating of the suggested response further comprises prioritizing processing of the order.

33. The method of claim 30, wherein the suggested response includes a recommendation associated with the order.

34. The method of claim 21, wherein the first response is a confirmation of the merchant'"'"'s acceptance of the preference of the customer.

35. The method of claim 21, wherein the first response is a proposal to modify the preference of the customer.

36. The method of claim 35, further comprising:

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

displaying the modified preference of the customer; and

prior to completing processing of the order, initiating a transmission of a second response to the modified preference of the customer to the first touch screen device via the network.

37. The method of claim 35, wherein the proposal to modify the preference of the customer is based on a condition associated with the merchant.

38. The method of claim 21, further comprising verifying payment associated with the order has been approved or authorized as a part of completing processing of the order.

39. A method to communicate with a first touch screen device of a customer, comprising:

transmitting information associated with a plurality of merchants to the first touch screen device to be displayed, wherein the plurality of merchants are in close proximity to the first touch screen device;

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

receiving a first response of the merchant to the preference of the customer after a second touch screen device of the merchant retrieves via a second network and displays the order and history data associated with the customer; and

prior to completing processing of the order, transmitting the first response to the preference of the customer to the first touch screen device via the first network.

40. A method for a second touch screen device of a merchant to communicate with a first touch screen device of a customer, comprising:

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

displaying information associated with the order, history data associated with the customer, and options to generate a first response to the preference of the customer on the second touch screen device;

prior to completing processing of the order, initiating a transmission of the first response to the preference of the customer to the first touch screen device via the network; and

displaying options on the second touch screen device for the merchant to modify status of the order.

41. A method to communicate with a first touch screen device of a customer, comprising:

transmitting information associated with a plurality of merchants to the first touch screen device to be displayed, wherein the plurality of merchants are in close proximity to the first touch screen device;

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

receiving a first response of the merchant to the preference of the customer after a second touch screen device of the merchant retrieves via a second network and displays the order and history data associated with the customer;

transmitting status of the order to the first touch screen device via the first network to be displayed; and

prior to completing processing of the order, transmitting the first response to the preference of the customer to the first touch screen device via the first network.

42. An apparatus, comprising:

a processor;

a file system;

a network interface coupled to a first network and a second network; and

a memory system including a set of executable instructions for a method to communicate with a first touch screen device of a customer, which in response to execution by the processor, cause the processor to

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

make available the order for a second touch screen device of the merchant to retrieve via the 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.

43. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the parameter is associated with at least one of time, a price, a location, and a special instruction.

44. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the processor is further configured to, prior to transmitting the first response, retrieve history data associated with the customer from the file system and transmit the history data to the second touch screen device via the second network.

45. The apparatus of claim 44, wherein the processor is further configured to transmit the history data associated with the customer to the first touch screen device to be displayed.

46. The apparatus of claim 44, wherein the history data associated with the customer includes at least one of information relating to prior purchases of the customer, profile information associated with the customer, and loyalty information associated with the customer.

47. The apparatus of claim 46, wherein the profile information includes at least one of identification information of the customer and a photograph of the customer.

48. The apparatus of claim 46, wherein the processor is further configured to transmit advertisements to the first touch screen device based on at least one of the order and the history data associated with the customer.

49. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the processor is further configured to modify loyalty information associated with the customer and store the modified loyalty information in the file system as a part of completing processing of the order.

50. The apparatus of claim 49, wherein the processor is further configured to make available the loyalty information for the second touch screen device of the merchant to retrieve, display, and respond to.

51. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the first response includes incentives for the customer.

52. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein the incentives are based on the loyalty information associated with the customer.

53. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the processor is further configured to prior to transmitting the first response, generate a suggested response based on first history data associated with the customer and transmitting the suggested response to the second touch screen device via the second network.

54. The apparatus of claim 53, wherein the generating of the suggested response is further based on second history data associated with other customers, wherein the first history data and the second history data reflect a similar pattern.

55. The apparatus of claim 53, wherein the generating of the suggested response further comprises prioritizing processing of the order.

56. The apparatus of claim 53, wherein the suggested response includes a recommendation associated with the order.

57. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the first response is a confirmation of the merchant'"'"'s acceptance of the preference of the customer.

58. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the first response is a proposal to modify the preference of the customer.

59. The apparatus of claim 58, wherein the proposal to modify the preference of the customer is based on a condition associated with the merchant.

60. The apparatus of claim 58, wherein the processor is further configured to:

receive the parameter associated with the order, wherein the 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.

61. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the processor is further configured to verify payment associated with the order has been approved or authorized as a part of completing processing of the order.

62. An apparatus of a merchant, comprising:

a processor;

a second touch screen device;

a file system;

a network interface coupled to a network; and

a memory system including a set of executable instructions for a method to communicate with a first touch screen device of a customer, which in response to execution by the processor, cause the processor to

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

display information associated with the order on the second touch screen device; and

prior to completing processing of the order, initiate a transmission of a first response to the preference of the customer to the first touch screen device via the network.

63. The apparatus of claim 62, wherein the parameter is associated with at least one of time, a price, a location, and a special instruction.

64. The apparatus of claim 62, wherein the processor is further configured to prior to initiating the transmission of the first response, retrieve history data associated with the customer from the file system.

65. The apparatus of claim 64, wherein the history data associated with the customer includes at least one of information relating to prior purchases of the customer, profile information associated with the customer, and loyalty information associated with the customer.

66. The apparatus of claim 65, wherein the profile information includes at least one of identification information of the customer and a photograph of the customer.

67. The apparatus of claim 65, wherein the processor is further configured to initiate a transmission of advertisements to the first touch screen device based on at least one of the order and the history data associated with the customer.

68. The apparatus of claim 62, wherein the processor is further configured to track and respond to loyalty information associated with the customer.

69. The apparatus of claim 62, wherein the first response includes incentives for the customer.

70. The apparatus of claim 69, wherein the incentives are based on the loyalty information associated with the customer.

71. The apparatus of claim 62, wherein the processor is further configured to generate a suggested response based on first history data associated with the customer.

72. The apparatus of claim 71, wherein the generating of the suggested response is further based on second history data associated with other customers, wherein the first history data and the second history data reflect a similar pattern.

73. The apparatus of claim 71, wherein the generating of the suggested response further comprises prioritizing processing of the order.

74. The apparatus of claim 71, wherein the suggested response includes a recommendation associated with the order.

75. The apparatus of claim 62, wherein the first response is a confirmation of the merchant'"'"'s acceptance of the preference of the customer.

76. The apparatus of claim 62, wherein the first response is a proposal to modify the preference of the customer.

77. The apparatus of claim 76, wherein the proposal to modify the preference of the customer is based on a condition associated with the merchant.

78. The apparatus of claim 76, wherein the processor is further configured to:

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

display the modified preference of the customer on the second touch screen device; and

prior to completing processing of the order, initiating a transmission of a second response to the modified preference of the customer to the first touch screen device via the network.

79. The apparatus of claim 62, wherein the processor is further configured to verify payment associated with the order has been approved or authorized as a part of completing processing of the order.

80. An apparatus, comprising:

a processor;

a network interface coupled to a first network and a second network; and

a memory system including a set of executable instructions for a method to communicate with a first touch screen device of a customer, which in response to execution by the processor, cause the processor to

transmit information associated with a plurality of merchants to the first touch screen device to be displayed, wherein the plurality of merchants are in close proximity to the first touch screen device;

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

receive a first response of the merchant to the preference of the customer after a second touch screen device of the merchant retrieves via the second network and displays the order and history data associated with the customer; and

prior to completing processing of the order, transmit the first response to the preference of the customer to the first touch screen device via the first network.

81. An apparatus of a merchant, comprising:

a processor;

a second touch screen device;

a network interface coupled to a network; and

a memory system including a set of executable instructions for a method to communicate with a first touch screen device of a customer, which in response to execution by the processor, cause the processor to

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

display information associated with the order, history data associated with the customer, and options to generate a first response to the preference of the customer on the second touch screen device;

prior to completing processing of the order, initiate a transmission of the first response to the preference of the customer to the first touch screen device via the network; and

display options on the second touch screen device for the merchant to modify status of the order.

82. An apparatus, comprising:

a processor;

a network interface coupled to a first network and a second network; and

a memory system including a set of executable instructions for a method to communicate with a first touch screen device of a customer, which in response to execution by the processor, cause the processor to

transmit information associated with a plurality of merchants to the first touch screen device to be displayed, wherein the plurality of merchants are in close proximity to the first touch screen device;

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

receive a first response of the merchant to the preference of the customer after a second touch screen device of the merchant retrieves via the second network and displays the order and history data associated with the customer;

transmit status of the order to the first touch screen device via the first network to be displayed; and

prior to completing processing of the order, transmitting the first response to the preference of the customer to the first touch screen device via the first network.