System, method, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for allowing a customer to place orders remotely and to pick-up the order at a store

• US 9,633,389 B2
• Filed: 11/20/2014
• Issued: 04/25/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC (WalMart Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Wal-Mart Stores Texas LLC (WalMart Inc.)
• Inventors: Carr, David Jon, Ramsden, Richard Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): WALSH, DANIEL I
• Application Number:
  US14/549,266
• Publication Number:
  US 20160148300A1
• Time in Patent Office: 887 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0836 Recipient pick-ups
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• 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 30/0641 Shopping interfaces

Abstract

Techniques for allowing customer to order goods on-line or remotely and to pick-up the goods at a desired location or store are disclosed. The techniques include receiving a customer order. The location for delivery of the item with a customer order. The customer order includes at least one good and an associated customer identification number, e.g., a customer motor vehicle license plate number. The techniques further includes capturing images of the license plates of motor vehicles as the motor vehicles enter an order pick-up area located at the store, and if the associated customer motor vehicle license plate number matches one of the received motor vehicle license plate numbers from the optical character recognition unit, delivering the customer order to the motor vehicle associated with the customer.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a database storing a list of stores available for customer pickup of orders, the list of stores including a first subset of stores that include an optical sensor for capturing images of license plates of motor vehicles and a second subset of stores that do not include an optical sensor for capturing images of license plates of motor vehicles;

a first server coupled to the database and being associated with the list of stores, the first server being configured to;

present the list of stores to a customer for selection of a store for pickup of an order;

receive a selection by the customer of a store from the list of stores;

determine whether the store selected by the customer is one of the first subset of stores;

display a dialogue box to the customer upon a determination that the store selected by the customer is one of the first subset of stores, wherein the dialogue box enables the customer to select a license plate number from a list of at least one previously stored license plate number or to enter a new license plate number;

receive a customer order associated with the customer, the customer order including at least one good and having an associated customer motor vehicle license plate number selected from the dialogue box, the associated customer motor vehicle license plate number being associated with a motor vehicle associated with the customer, the first server being further configured to store the customer order in the database;

a second server coupled to the first server and to the database and being located at the store, the second server being configured to receive the customer order placed by the customer and to assist in assembling the customer order for the customer;

an optical sensor located in a predetermined location within an order pick-up area associated with the store, the predetermined location being established to allow the optical sensor to capture images of license plates of motor vehicles as the motor vehicles enter the order pick-up area;

an optical character recognition unit coupled between the second server and the optical sensor, the optical character recognition unit being configured to receive the captured images from the optical sensor, to establish an associated motor vehicle license plate number for each captured image, and to send the associated motor vehicle license plate numbers to the second server; and

,

a visual indicator coupled to the optical character recognition unit and being positioned relative to the optical sensor to provide an indication to the customer that a suitable image has been captured by the optical sensor, the second server further being configured to receive the motor vehicle license plate numbers from the optical character recognition unit, to compare the motor vehicle license plate numbers from the optical character recognition unit with the associated customer motor vehicle license plate number, and, if the associated customer motor vehicle license plate number matches one of the received motor vehicle license plate numbers from the optical character recognition unit, to arrange the customer order to be delivered to the motor vehicle associated with the customer.

2. The system, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first server is further configured to allow the customer to place the customer order through a customer device coupled to the first server.

3. The system, as set forth in claim 2, wherein the first server is configured to present to the customer the first subset and the second subset of stores and to allow the customer to select the store from the first subset or the second subset of stores.

4. The system, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the database is configured to store data, associated with each store in the list of stores, indicating if each store has an associated optical sensor and optical character recognition unit.

6. The system, as set forth in claim 2, wherein the first server is configured to allow the customer to enter a desired pick-up time.

7. The system, as set forth in claim 1, further including a display unit coupled to the second server and being located relative to the order pick-up area at the store such that the display unit is visible to customers in the order pick-up area, the second server being further configured to display information related to the customer order.

8. The system, as set forth in claim 7, wherein the information related to the customer order includes the status of the customer order.

9. The system, as set forth in claim 7, wherein each order has an associated customer order number and wherein the information related to the customer order displayed on the display unit includes the customer order number.

10. The system, as set forth in claim 9, wherein the order pick-up area includes a parking area with a plurality of parking spots and the second server maintains a list of the parking spots, the list indicating whether each parking spot is occupied or empty.

11. The system, as set forth in claim 10, wherein the information related to the customer order directs the customer to an empty parking spot.

5. A system, comprising:

a database storing a list of stores available for customer pickup of orders, the list of stores including a first subset of stores that include an optical sensor for capturing images of license plates of motor vehicles and a second subset of stores that do not include an optical sensor for capturing images of license plates of motor vehicles;

a first server coupled to the database and being associated with the list of stores, the first server being configured to;

present the list of stores to a customer for selection of a store for pickup of an order;

receive a selection by the customer of a store from the list of stores;

determine whether the store selected by the customer is one of the first subset of stores;

display a dialogue box to the customer upon a determination that the store selected by the customer is one of the first subset of stores;

receive a customer order associated with the customer, the customer order including at least one good and having an associated customer motor vehicle license plate number selected from the dialogue box, the associated customer motor vehicle license plate number being associated with a motor vehicle associated with the customer, the first server being further configured to store the customer order in the database;

a second server coupled to the first server and to the database and being located at the store, the second server being configured to receive the customer order placed by the customer and to assist in assembling the customer order for the customer;

an optical sensor located in a predetermined location within an order pick-up area associated with the store, the predetermined location being established to allow the optical sensor to capture images of license plates of motor vehicles as the motor vehicles enter the order pick-up area; and

,

an optical character recognition unit coupled between the second server and the optical sensor, the optical character recognition unit being configured to receive the captured images from the optical sensor, to establish an associated motor vehicle license plate number for each captured image, and to send the associated motor vehicle license plate numbers to the second server, the second server further being configured to receive the motor vehicle license plate numbers from the optical character recognition unit, to compare the motor vehicle license plate numbers from the optical character recognition unit with the associated customer motor vehicle license plate number, and, if the associated customer motor vehicle license plate number matches one of the received motor vehicle license plate numbers from the optical character recognition unit, to arrange the customer order to be delivered to the motor vehicle associated with the customer, wherein the first server is configured to look up the selected store in the database and, if the selected store is one of the first subset of stores, perform one of the following;

(a) request, via the dialogue box, a motor vehicle license plate number from the customer that will be used;

(b) confirm, via the dialogue box, the motor vehicle license plate number if a customer motor vehicle license plate number is associated with the customer in the database;

or,

(c) pick, via the dialogue box, a motor vehicle license plate number for a list of motor vehicle license plate numbers associated with the customer in the database.

12. A method, comprising:

storing, in a database, a list of stores available for customer pickup of orders, the list of stores including a first subset of stores that include an optical sensor for capturing images of license plates of motor vehicles and a second subset of stores that do not include an optical sensor for capturing images of license plates of motor vehicles;

presenting, by a first server, the list of stores to a customer for selection of a store for pickup of an order;

receiving, by the first server, a selection by the customer of a store from the list of stores;

determining, by the first server, whether the store selected by the customer is one of the first subset of stores;

displaying, by the first server, a dialogue box to the customer upon a determination that the store selected by the customer is one of the first subset of stores, wherein the dialogue box enables the customer to select a license plate number from a list of at least one previously stored license plate number or to enter a new license plate number;

receiving, at the first server, a customer order associated with the customer, the customer order including at least one good and having an associated customer motor vehicle license plate number selected from the dialogue box, the associated customer motor vehicle license plate number being associated with a motor vehicle associated with the customer;

storing, by the first server, the customer order in the database;

arranging to have the customer order assembled at the store for the customer;

capturing images, using an optical sensor, of license plates of motor vehicles as the motor vehicles enter an order pick-up area located at the store;

receiving the captured images at an optical character recognition unit coupled between the second server and the optical sensor, establishing an associated motor vehicle license plate number for each captured image, and sending the associated motor vehicle license plate numbers to the second server;

providing, by a visual indicator coupled to the optical character recognition unit, an indication to the customer that a suitable image has been captured by the optical sensor;

receiving the motor vehicle license plate numbers at the second server;

comparing, by the second server, the motor vehicle license plate numbers from the optical character recognition unit with the associated customer motor vehicle license plate number; and

,

if the associated customer motor vehicle license plate number matches one of the received motor vehicle license plate numbers from the optical character recognition unit, arranging, by the second server, the customer order to be delivered to the motor vehicle associated with the customer.

13. The method, as set forth in claim 12, wherein the method includes the steps presenting, by the first server, to the customer the first and second subset of stores and allowing the customer to select the store from the first and second subset of stores.

14. The method, as set forth in claim 13, including the step of allowing, by the first server, the customer to place the customer order through a customer device coupled to the first server.

15. The method, as set forth in claim 14, wherein the database is configured to store data, associated with each store in the list of stores, indicating if each store has an associated optical sensor and optical character recognition unit.

17. The method, as set forth in claim 14, including the step of allowing the customer to enter a desired pick-up time.

18. The method, as set forth in claim 13, including the steps of providing a display unit coupled to the second server and being located relative to the order pick-up area at the store such that the display unit is visible to customers in the order pick-up area, and displaying information related to the customer order on the display unit.

19. The method, as set forth in claim 18, wherein the information related to the customer order includes the status of the customer order.

20. The method, as set forth in claim 18, wherein each order has an associated customer order number and wherein the information related to the customer order displayed on the display unit includes the customer order number.

21. The method, as set forth in claim 20, wherein the order pick-up area includes a parking area with a plurality of parking spots and the second server maintains a list of the parking spots, the list indicating whether each parking spot is occupied or empty.

22. The method, as set forth in claim 21, wherein the information related to the customer order directs the customer to an empty parking spot.

16. A method, comprising:

storing, in a database, a list of stores available for customer pickup of orders, the list of stores including a first subset of stores that include an optical sensor for capturing images of license plates of motor vehicles and a second subset of stores that do not include an optical sensor for capturing images of license plates of motor vehicles;

presenting, by a first server, the list of stores to a customer for selection of a store for pickup of an order;

receiving, by the first server, a selection by the customer of a store from the list of stores;

determining, by the first server, whether the store selected by the customer is one of the first subset of stores;

displaying, by the first server, a dialogue box to the customer upon a determination that the store selected by the customer is one of the first subset of stores, wherein the dialogue box enables the customer to select a license plate number from a list of at least one previously stored license plate number or to enter a new license plate number;

receiving, at the first server, a customer order associated with the customer, the customer order including at least one good and having an associated customer motor vehicle license plate number selected from the dialogue box, the associated customer motor vehicle license plate number being associated with a motor vehicle associated with the customer;

storing, by the first server, the customer order in the database;

arranging to have the customer order assembled at the store for the customer;

capturing images, using an optical sensor, of license plates of motor vehicles as the motor vehicles enter an order pick-up area located at the store;

receiving the captured images at an optical character recognition unit coupled between the second server and the optical sensor, establishing an associated motor vehicle license plate number for each captured image, and sending the associated motor vehicle license plate numbers to the second server;

receiving the motor vehicle license plate numbers at the second server;

comparing, by the second server, the motor vehicle license plate numbers from the optical character recognition unit with the associated customer motor vehicle license plate number; and

,

if the associated customer motor vehicle license plate number matches one of the received motor vehicle license plate numbers from the optical character recognition unit, arranging, by the second server, the customer order to be delivered to the motor vehicle associated with the customer,

wherein the first server is configured to look up the selected store in the database and, if the selected store is one of the first subset of stores, perform one of the following;

(a) request, via the dialogue box, a motor vehicle license plate number from the customer that will be used;

(b) confirm, via the dialogue box, the motor vehicle license plate number if a customer motor vehicle license plate number is associated with the customer in the database;

or,

(c) pick, via the dialogue box, a motor vehicle license plate number for a list of motor vehicle license plate numbers associated with the customer in the database.

23. One or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media, having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon, wherein when executed by at least one processor, the computer-executable instructions cause the processor to:

store, in a database, a list of stores available for customer pickup of orders, the list of stores including a first subset of stores that include an optical sensor for capturing images of license plates of motor vehicles and a second subset of stores that do not include an optical sensor for capturing images of license plates of motor vehicles;

present, by a first server, the list of stores to a customer for selection of a store for pickup of an order;

receive, by the first server, a selection by the customer of a store from the list of stores;

determine, by the first server, whether the store selected by the customer is one of the first subset of stores;

display, by the first server, a dialogue box to the customer upon a determination that the store selected by the customer is one of the first subset of stores, wherein the dialogue box enables the customer to select a license plate number from a list of at least one previously stored license plate number or to enter a new license plate number;

receive, at the first server, a customer order associated with the customer, the customer order including at least one good and having an associated customer motor vehicle license plate number, the associated customer motor vehicle license plate number being associated with a motor vehicle associated with the customer;

store the customer order in the database;

arrange to have the customer order assembled at the store for the customer;

capture images, using an optical sensor, of license plates of motor vehicles as the motor vehicles enter an order pick-up area located at the store;

receive the captured images at an optical character recognition unit coupled between the second server and the optical sensor, establishing an associated motor vehicle license plate number for each captured image, and sending the associated motor vehicle license plate numbers to the second server;

provide, by a visual indicator coupled to the optical character recognition unit, an indication to the customer that a suitable image has been captured by the optical sensor;

receive the motor vehicle license plate numbers at the second server;

compare, by the second server, the motor vehicle license plate numbers from the optical character recognition unit with the associated customer motor vehicle license plate number; and

,

if the associated customer motor vehicle license plate number matches one of the received motor vehicle license plate numbers from the optical character recognition unit, arrange, by the second server, the customer order to be delivered to the motor vehicle associated with the customer.

24. One or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media, having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon, wherein when executed by at least one processor, the computer-executable instructions cause the processor to:

store, in a database, a list of stores available for customer pickup of orders, the list of stores including a first subset of stores that include an optical sensor for capturing images of license plates of motor vehicles and a second subset of stores that do not include an optical sensor for capturing images of license plates of motor vehicles;

present, by a first server, the list of stores to a customer for selection of a store for pickup of an order;

receive, by the first server, a selection by the customer of a store from the list of stores;

determine, by the first server, whether the store selected by the customer is one of the first subset of stores;

display, by the first server, a dialogue box to the customer upon a determination that the store selected by the customer is one of the first subset of stores, wherein the dialogue box enables the customer to select a license plate number from a list of at least one previously stored license plate number or to enter a new license plate number;

receive, at the first server, a customer order associated with the customer, the customer order including at least one good and having an associated customer motor vehicle license plate number, the associated customer motor vehicle license plate number being associated with a motor vehicle associated with the customer;

store the customer order in the database;

arrange to have the customer order assembled at the store for the customer;

capture images, using an optical sensor, of license plates of motor vehicles as the motor vehicles enter an order pick-up area located at the store;

receive the captured images at an optical character recognition unit coupled between the second server and the optical sensor, establishing an associated motor vehicle license plate number for each captured image, and sending the associated motor vehicle license plate numbers to the second server;

receive the motor vehicle license plate numbers at the second server;

compare, by the second server, the motor vehicle license plate numbers from the optical character recognition unit with the associated customer motor vehicle license plate number;

if the associated customer motor vehicle license plate number matches one of the received motor vehicle license plate numbers from the optical character recognition unit, arrange, by the second server, the customer order to be delivered to the motor vehicle associated with the customer; and

,

look up the selected store in the database and, if the selected store is one of the first subset of stores, perform one of the following;

(a) request, via the dialogue box, a motor vehicle license plate number from the customer that will be used;

(b) confirm, via the dialogue box, the motor vehicle license plate number if a customer motor vehicle license plate number is associated with the customer in the database;

or,

(c) pick, via the dialogue box, a motor vehicle license plate number for a list of motor vehicle license plate numbers associated with the customer in the database.