Drive-thru / point-of-sale automated transaction technologies and apparatus

• US 10,140,602 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2017
• Issued: 11/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2016
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jolly Seven, Series 70 of Allied Security Trust I (Allied Security Trust)
• Original Assignee: Joseph Craig Kelly, Kevin Kelly
• Inventors: Kelly, Kevin, Kelly, Joseph Craig
• Primary Examiner(s): Masud, Rokib
• Application Number:
  US15/799,331
• Publication Number:
  US 20180122022A1
• Time in Patent Office: 392 Days
• Field of Search: 705 15, 705 16
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10762 Relative movement
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/12 specially adapted for electronic shopping systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/18 involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/202 Interconnection or interaction of plural electronic cash registers [ECR] or to host computer, e.g. network details, transfer of information from host to ECR or from ECR to ECR
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/208 Input by product or record sensing, e.g. weighing or scanner processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/327 Short range or proximity payments by means of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/12 Hotels or restaurants
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/52 about horizontal axes
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0064 for processing of food articles cooking vessels A47J37/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0071 Food articles which need to be processed for dispensing in a cold condition, e.g. ice and ice cream
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0078 Food articles which need to be processed for dispensing in a hot or cooked condition, e.g. popcorn, nuts
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/001 Interfacing with vending machines using mobile or wearable devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/009 User recognition or proximity detection

Abstract

The present invention includes methods and apparatus for the automated provision of goods through the use of scanning systems. More specifically, the present invention provides a method for automatically conveying which goods are being ordered, where the goods will be picked up, an associated method of payment, kitchen fulfillment, item tracking, and automatic delivery by a dispenser apparatus. In preferred embodiments, the present invention is applied to the automated ordering and pick-up of food items at a fast food restaurant.

Claims

1. A method for delivery of a food product, the method comprising:

receiving into a server comprising a processor and a memory storing executable code from a scanner located on site of a food preparation facility, an encoded unique transaction code comprising encoded information including a user identification, an order description, and a payment status; and

based upon receipt of the encoded unique transaction code, remotely operate a dispenser comprising a plurality of bins configured for storage of food items to dispense one or more stored food items;

receiving via wireless transmission a list of a plurality of users which may participate in a group order comprising multiple food items;

transmitting a communication to the plurality of users, wherein the communication offers an ordering session to the plurality of users;

receiving a digital communication comprising respective orders from two or more of the users the respective orders comprising food items;

transmitting a status of the group order to a first user;

placing the food items comprising the group order in one or more designated bins of the dispenser;

communicating a barcode image to the first user, wherein the barcode image comprises information for the user to interact with the dispenser and receive the food items of the group order from the one or more designated bins;

receiving a scan of the barcode from a scanner proximate to the dispenser; and

dispensing the food items comprising the group order from the one or more designated bins based upon the receiving of the scan of the barcode.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first user utilizes the executable code to provide payment for the plurality of users.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein one of the plurality of users utilizes the executable code for payment of another user.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein a license plate of an automobile of the first user is scanned while the first user drives into proximity to the dispenser, and wherein the scan of the license plate is used to identify an order and customer and activate a function of the dispenser.

5. The method of claim 1 additionally comprising the step of receiving a respective communication for each respective order of the group order, the respective communications comprising a payment modality for each respective order.

6. The method of claim 1 additionally comprising the step of associating each respective food item with a preferred temperature control during storage prior to dispensing of the respective food item.