QUASI-AUTOMATED ORDERING SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20150199745A1
• Filed: 01/15/2015
• Published: 07/16/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/2014
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: AWNEX, Inc.
• Original Assignee: AWNEX, Inc.
• Inventors: MCLENDON, CHARLES STEVEN
• Application Number:
  US14/597,950
• Publication Number:
  US 20150199745A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3278 RFID or NFC payments by means of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/405 Establishing or using transaction specific rules
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0226 Incentive systems for frequent usage, e.g. frequent flyer miles programs or point systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0631 Item recommendations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0635 Processing of requisition or of purchase orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/12 Hotels or restaurants

Abstract

A method, computer program product, and computing system for wirelessly obtaining a unique customer identifier for an entity positioned within a queue of a business. The unique customer identifier is associated with a particular customer. A potential order is identified for the particular customer. The particular customer is requested to confirm the potential order, In response to the particular customer confirming the potential order, the potential order is processed.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method executed on a computing system, the computer implemented method comprising:

wirelessly obtaining a unique customer identifier for an entity positioned within a queue of a business;

associating the unique customer identifier with a particular customer;

identifying a potential order for the particular customer;

requesting that the particular customer confirm the potential order; and

in response to the particular customer confirming the potential order, processing the potential order.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein the potential order is based, at least in part, upon one or more of:

a previous order made by the particular customer; and

a preferred order defined by the particular customer.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising:

identifying a predefined method of payment for the particular customer;

wherein processing the potential order includes;

processing the potential order using the predefined method of payment.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising:

identifying a customer loyalty program for the particular customer;

wherein processing the potential order includes;

applying one or more incentives to the customer loyalty program based, at least in part, upon the potential order.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein wirelessly obtaining the unique customer identifier for the entity positioned within the queue of the business includes one or more of:

obtaining the unique customer identifier proximate the beginning of the queue; and

obtaining the unique customer identifier proximate a point of sale terminal positioned within the queue.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein the queue of the business includes one or more of:

a customer line within the business; and

a drive through lane of the business.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6 wherein the unique customer identifier is defined within on or more of the following:

an RFID tag affixed to a vehicle positioned within the drive through lane of the business;

an optical tag affixed to the vehicle positioned within the drive through lane of the business;

a key fob in the possession of the particular customer; and

an application running on a handheld device in the possession of the particular customer.

8. A computer program product residing on a computer readable medium having a plurality of instructions stored thereon which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

wirelessly obtaining a unique customer identifier for an entity positioned within a queue of a business;

associating the unique customer identifier with a particular customer;

identifying a potential order for the particular customer;

requesting that the particular customer confirm the potential order; and

in response to the particular customer confirming the potential order, processing the potential order.

9. The computer program product of claim 8 wherein the potential order is based, at least in part, upon one or more of:

a previous order made by the particular customer; and

a preferred order defined by the particular customer.

10. The computer program product of claim 8 further comprising:

identifying a predefined method of payment for the particular customer;

wherein processing the potential order includes;

processing the potential order using the predefined method of payment.

11. The computer program product of claim 8 further comprising:

identifying a customer loyalty program for the particular customer;

wherein processing the potential order includes;

applying one or more incentives to the customer loyalty program based, at least in part, upon the potential order.

12. The computer program product of claim 8 wherein wirelessly obtaining the unique customer identifier for the entity positioned within the queue of the business includes one or more of:

obtaining the unique customer identifier proximate the beginning of the queue; and

obtaining the unique customer identifier proximate a point of sale terminal positioned within the queue.

13. The computer program product of claim 8 wherein the queue of the business includes one or more of:

a customer line within the business; and

a drive through lane of the business.

14. The computer program product of claim 13 wherein the unique customer identifier is defined within on or more of the following:

an RFID tag affixed to a vehicle positioned within the drive through lane of the business;

an optical tag affixed to the vehicle positioned within the drive through lane of the business;

a key fob in the possession of the particular customer; and

an application running on a handheld device in the possession of the particular customer.

15. A computing system including a processor and memory configured to perform operations comprising:

wirelessly obtaining a unique customer identifier for an entity positioned within a queue of a business;

associating the unique customer identifier with a particular customer;

identifying a potential order for the particular customer;

requesting that the particular customer confirm the potential order; and

in response to the particular customer confirming the potential order, processing the potential order.

16. The computing system of claim 15 wherein the potential order is based, at least in part, upon one or more of:

a previous order made by the particular customer; and

a preferred order defined by the particular customer.

17. The computing system of claim 15 further comprising:

identifying a predefined method of payment for the particular customer;

wherein processing the potential order includes;

processing the potential order using the predefined method of payment.

18. The computing system of claim 15 further comprising:

identifying a customer loyalty program for the particular customer;

wherein processing the potential order includes;

applying one or more incentives to the customer loyalty program based, at least in part, upon the potential order.

19. The computing system of claim 15 wherein wirelessly obtaining the unique customer identifier for the entity positioned within the queue of the business includes one or more of:

obtaining the unique customer identifier proximate the beginning of the queue; and

obtaining the unique customer identifier proximate a point of sale terminal positioned within the queue.

20. The computing system of claim 15 wherein the queue of the business includes one or more of:

a customer line within the business; and

a drive through lane of the business.

21. The computing system of claim 20 wherein the unique customer identifier is defined within on or more of the following:

an RFID tag affixed to a vehicle positioned within the drive through lane of the business;

an optical tag affixed to the vehicle positioned within the drive through lane of the business;

a key fob in the possession of the particular customer; and

an application running on a handheld device in the possession of the particular customer.