GB2561222A

GB2561222A - Speed ordering method and system

Info

Publication number: GB2561222A
Application number: GB1705557.5A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Walker Johnson Hugh
Original assignee: U Bill Ltd
Current assignee: U Bill Ltd
Priority date: 2017-04-06
Filing date: 2017-04-06
Publication date: 2018-10-10
Also published as: WO2018185492A1; GB201705557D0

Abstract

A method S100 of improving the speed of ordering goods/services that comprises the steps of: a] providing a plurality of pre-selected lists of goods/services for at least one vendor S101; b] on a user device, associating, a unique indicator with each of the pre-selected lists S102; c] storing the lists in a database on a server associated with the user device S103; d] on the user device, entering a vendor indicator which alters a user interface of the user device to be a vendor-specific user interface S103a; e] on the user device, forwarding a chosen unique indicator to the server to choose one of the pre-selected lists S104; and f] the server forwarding the chosen list to the vendor to order the goods/services S105. The vendor may be a restaurant or takeaway and the goods may be food items selected from a menu.

Description

(54) Title of the Invention: Speed ordering method and system

Abstract Title: A method and system for ordering goods/services via a user device.

(57) A method S100 of improving the speed of ordering goods/services that comprises the steps of: a] providing a plurality of pre-selected lists of goods/services for at least one vendor S101; b] on a user device, associating, a unique indicator with each of the pre-selected lists S102; c] storing the lists in a database on a server associated with the user device S103; d] on the user device, entering a vendor indicator which alters a user interface of the user device to be a vendor-specific user interface S103a; e] on the user device, forwarding a chosen unique indicator to the server to choose one of the pre-selected lists S104; and f] the server forwarding the chosen list to the vendor to order the goods/services S105. The vendor may be a restaurant or takeaway and the goods may be food items selected from a menu.

At least one drawing originally filed was informal and the print reproduced here is taken from a later filed formal copy.

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Speed Order Text word	Order Date	Restaurant	Total	Check Out	Edit Cart	View	Remove
»Vegi2 Type: Delivery	29- 10- 2015	Gourmet Oriental- Chelsea	£44.75	W	3	D	ffi
^kYung2 Type: Delivery	29- 10- 2015	Gourmet Oriental- Chelsea Λ	£43.75	W	3	D	ffi
* Hotl Type: Delivery	29- 10- 2015	Gourmet I Oriental- ί Knightsbridge	£38.30	w	3	D	ffi
► Chilli2 Type: Delivery	29- 10- 2015	Gourmet i Oriental- Chelsea	£38,70	w	3	D	ffi
►Thai2 Type: Delivery	29- 10- 2015	Gourmet i Oriental- Chelsea	£38.80	w	3	□	ffi

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FIND RESTAURANTS

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Olives £3.50	Oi ©
Pane	Oi ©
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Bruschetta £6.70	Oi ©

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Garlic Bread £6.70

TOTAL

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	Italian	PLACE ORDER

	Indian	PLACE ORDER

	Burrito	PLACE ORDER

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	ORDER	NO. 11
r c	Add as a favourite?
P	YES	NO .____________________.
83

Garlic Bread	1 £6.70

SUBTOTAL	4 £20.85
VAT	£4.17
TOTAL	£25.02

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FIG. 4c

FIG. 4d

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FIG. 4f

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ORDER NO. 11
ITEMS	QTY	PRICE
Olives	1	£3.50
Pane	1	£3.95
Bruschetta	1	£6.70
Garhc Bread	1	£6.70

SUBTOTAL	4 £20.85
VAT	£4.17
TOTAL	£25.02

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FIG. 4g

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Bellini Italian

Activate our App code beli6209

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BELLINI ITALIAN RESTAURANT MENU

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FAVOURITE MEALS

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Application No. GB1705557.5

RTM

Date :11 August 2017

Intellectual

Property

Office

The following terms are registered trade marks and should be read as such wherever they occur in this document:

Wi-Fi (Pages 10 & 12)

Intellectual Property Office is an operating name of the Patent Office www.gov.uk/ipo

Speed Ordering Method and System

The present invention relates to a method of improving the speed of ordering goods and/or services, in particular for the ordering of menu items from a restaurant. The invention further relates to a speed ordering system for improving the speed of ordering goods and/or services utilising said method.

With the advent of computer networks, it has become possible for transactions to be performed over the internet, greatly simplifying the ordering of goods and/or services for consumers. In particular, mobile phone ordering has increased exponentially in recent years for e-commerce purposes. Data suggests that one third of e-commerce sales occur via a mobile device such as a smartphone, and trends suggest that this proportion is only going to increase over time. In the past two years, mobile’s contribution to total e-commerce sales has increased by 175%.

In the takeaway food market, it has become possible to order food for delivery in this manner as well, in which the user, for example, logs into a website, selects the menu items they wish to be delivered, and then orders the menu items, choosing to either make payment online or pay with cash on delivery. Such as process is, however, relatively time consuming, and therefore it can often be quicker to contact the takeaway restaurant in question directly, for example, by telephone.

The difficulty lies in the need to individually select the desired menu items from the entire menu of the takeaway restaurant, which is time-consuming for an individual, particularly where the restaurant has an extensive menu with a breadth of choice. For instance, a particular restaurant may offer several base dishes within which different options can be chosen, for example, a stir-fry meal may be selected with a number of different protein options, such as chicken, pork, beef, prawns, or tofu. When the number of different options is multiplied across the range of base dishes, the list of menu items becomes extensive and difficult for a user to navigate easily.

Furthermore, there is the further problem that, where internet connectivity is poor, it may not always be possible to connect to the website of a desired restaurant or takeaway so as to place an order. Where internet connectivity has been severed for whatever reason, then a large number of people may attempt to contact the restaurant simultaneously by telephone in order to place an order; in this scenario, there is a limit to the number of successful orders which may be placed. This may result in lost business for the takeaway.

Furthermore, centralised software applications which aggregate menu information from various different restaurants can become quickly outdated, which can put the vendor at a disadvantage. Such applications are also impersonal, and the customer cannot readily determine from the central site the quality of a restaurant, or determine whether the menu information is up-to-date.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to improve the speed with which such goods and/or services can be ordered, particularly for mobile phone users, whilst also improving a user interface for a customer.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of improving the speed of ordering goods and/or services, the method comprising the steps of: a] providing a plurality of pre-selected lists of goods and/or services for at least one vendor, each vendor being associated a vendor indicator; b] on a user device, associating a unique indicator with each of the plurality of pre-selected lists; c] storing the plurality of pre-selected lists in a database on a server associated with the user device or a user account; d] on the user device, entering one said vendor indicator to automatically alter a user interface of the user device to be a vendor-specific user interface, the vendor-specific user interface being indicative of only the plurality of pre-selected lists of goods and/or services for the selected vendor; e] on the user device, forwarding a chosen unique indicator to the server to choose one of the plurality of pre-selected lists with which the chosen unique indicator is associated; and f] the server forwarding the chosen pre-selected list to the vendor to order the goods and/or services on the chosen pre-selected list.

The use of centrally stored pre-selected lists of desired goods and/or services allows the present invention to advantageously promote rapid ordering of the goods and/or services for the customer. Simultaneously, the user, on their own user device, can engage with the pre-selected lists via an automatically customized vendor user-interface. This promotes trust between the user and the vendor, without compromising the speed with which goods and/or services can be ordered.

Preferably, at least one of the plurality of pre-selected lists of goods and/or services may be a user-selected list of goods and/or services.

Permitting the user to select the goods and/or services of interest, and then save them for future use by association with a unique indicator, allows for a bespoke service to be offered to the individual user, without slowing the speed of ordering the specific goods and/or services in future.

At least one of the plurality of pre-selected lists of goods and/or services may be 10 populated based on historical user data, in which case, the at least one of the plurality of pre-selected lists of goods and/or services may be populated automatically based on historical user data stored on the user device and/or on the server.

Automatic population of prior lists simplifies the ordering process for a user. For example, in the context of ordering menu items from a restaurant, a previously-used list from a previous order can be readily populated and saved into the database at the time of ordering. Provided that the user associates a unique indicator with the list, then this simplifies the re-ordering process for the user.

Preferably, the database may be associated with the plurality of pre-selected lists is based on a mobile phone number associated with the user.

Association of a user account with a particular mobile phone number allows for ready identification of the user so as to further simplify the ordering process. Furthermore, the mobile phone number association beneficially allows for the activation of SMS messaging service ordering, which is ideally suited towards ordering goods and/or services based on the unique indicator.

The unique indicator may optionally comprise a user-input identifier.

Whilst a unique indicator may be automatically generated by the server or user device, it is preferred that the user generates their own user-input identifier which enables them to readily remember the unique indicator for future orders.

Preferably, the method may further comprise a step g] which is subsequent to step f] of delivering the products and/or services from the vendor to a user location, in which case, there may be a further step of transmitting a user location to the server, the server determining a viability of said step h] prior to undertaking step f] based on the user location relative to the vendor location. A step h] may also be provided, which is subsequent to step f], of the server sending a notification to the user device confirming the communication with the vendor.

Whilst the server may be arranged at a most basic level to order goods and/or services from vendors as soon as instructed, which may be fine for some vendors, it will be apparent that other vendors may place geographical or other restrictions on delivery. In such a scenario, it is best that the vendor provides some form of feedback to the server to ensure that orders are satisfactorily processed.

Optionally, a plurality of different pre-selected lists for different vendors may be storable in the database, which may supply different types of goods and/or services. In one embodiment, the said different vendors may be in different geographical locations. Different vendor indicators may be provided for each of the different vendors, the different vendor indicators being selectably entered to automatically alter the user interface of the user device to be a different vendor-specific user interface. Each vendor may be associated with a plurality of different vendor indicators, each vendor indicator being associated with a different group of pre-selected lists of goods and/or services, and during step d] the different vendor indicators can be entered on the user device to automatically alter the user interface to different vendor-specific user interfaces for the said vendor.

The selective alteration of the user interface on the user device so as to appear as a vendor-specific user interface for different vendors advantageously improves the accessibility of the system for users, without needing to switch between different applications to access bespoke user interfaces. This not only reduces maintenance costs for the vendors, but also improves a degree of trust between the user and the vendor. Furthermore, the provision of sets of different vendor-specific user interfaces, based on different vendor indicators for a single vendor, can advantageously allow the vendor to customize the user interface automatically to specific users, in order to present favoured pre-selected lists of goods and/or services.

Furthermore, there may be provided a step subsequent to step e] of determining a geographical proximity between the user device and the vendor associated with the chosen unique indicator, the server only forwarding the chosen pre-selected list to the vendor if the determined geographical proximity is less than a predetermined distance.

One of the strengths of the present invention is the ability to collate lists for several different vendors, such as different restaurants, in a single location, simplifying the user experience associated with the ordering process. In particular, this may allow a user who travels frequently to different locations, to automatically find their favourite goods and/or services in different geographic locations, which may even be in different countries and/or continents, without difficulty.

Preferably, the database may be accessible via a computer application on the user device. Additionally or alternatively, the database may be accessible via an SMS messaging service. The database may be preferentially accessible via a wireless internet network, the database being secondarily accessible via an SMS messaging service if no wireless internet network is accessible.

The provision of remote-access ordering which does not require direct user interaction with the vendor beneficially results in further speed enhancements for the ordering process. Furthermore, by allowing multi-step attempts to connect to the vendor via different communication means may be highly beneficial, for instance, in locations with poor internet connectivity.

The method may further comprise a step i] prior to step f] of validating the choice of pre-selected list at the user device. Said validation may include a requirement to process user payment details for the chosen pre-selected list of goods and/or services, in which case, the user payment details may be stored within the user device or user account, the validation requiring a single user confirmation before proceeding to step f].

Validation of the choice of list, preferably via a payment requirement, advantageously prevents the user from accidentally placing an order erroneously, which would present difficulties for both the user and vendor otherwise as an order is prepared and delivered erroneously.

Each of the plurality of pre-selected lists may be a pre-selected list of menu items, the vendor being a restaurant.

Preferably, the method may further comprise a step j] prior to step f] of the server 5 determining a closest applicable vendor to contact based on a user location.

Where a vendor has a plurality of individual locations from which the goods and/or services may be provided, for instance, in the case of franchised restaurants, then the server may optionally be able to determine a user location from the user device so as to permit automatic optimal selection of the appropriate vendor store. This prevents the user from accidentally ordering their goods and/or services from the wrong location, for instance, if they are in transit.

During step c], the plurality of pre-selected lists may be sorted based on a monitored hierarchy or order frequency. Additionally or alternatively, during step c], the plurality of pre-selected lists may be sorted based on a geographical proximity between the user and the or each vendor. Furthermore, there may comprise a step prior to step d] of the server prompting the selection of one of the plurality of pre-selected lists based on historical usage data.

The server may be advantageously arranged to highlight to a user their previous favourite orders of goods and/or services, which may include prompting based on historical usage data, such as previously times of orders being placed, or may be based on a real-time location of the user with respect to one or more vendors. Furthermore, this arrangement may allow users to order food for different geographical locations, for example, in a particular holiday destination. Beneficially, this may allow a user to place their order in advance of their arrival in a destination, such that their chosen goods and/or services are prepared for their arrival. Each individual branch of a particular vendor may have their own individual vendor-specific user interface or a coherent vendor-specific user interface could be used for all vendor in a given chain or franchise.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a speed ordering system for improving the speed of ordering goods and/or services, the system comprising: a server having at least one user device account associated therewith; a server-implemented database of pre-selected lists of goods and/or services for at least one vendor, each vendor being associated with a vendor indicator, the database being associated with the user device account; at least one user device communicable with the server and associated with one said user device account, the user device permitting user selection of a pre-selected list of goods and/or services from the server-implemented database of pre-selected lists, the user device having a user interface which is automatically alterable to be a vendor-specific user interface which is indicative of only the plurality of pre-selected lists of goods and/or services for the selected vendor based on the vendor indicator; and at least one vendor device communicable with the server to permit ordering of the user-selected pre-selected list of goods and/or services.

Preferably, the at least one user device account is accessible via a computer application on the user device. Additionally or alternatively, the at least one user device account may be accessible via an SMS messaging service on the user device.

Such a system beneficially allows a user to be provided with up-to-date pre-selected lists of goods and/or services which can be assured as being up-to-date by the use of the vendor indicator, and the overall appearance of the user interface on the user device helps to illustrate this to the user. For a restaurant, for example, this ensures that customers can readily and quickly order menu items, particularly for repeat orders, whilst using a customized user interface which provides confidence that there have been no unexpected changes to the prices or menu items offered by the restaurant.

Preferably, the at least one user device may include a user locator to determine a user location, the at least one vendor device includes a vendor locator to determine a vendor location, wherein the user location and vendor location are communicable to the server in order to determine a geographical proximity between the user and the or each vendor in the server-implemented database.

The server may include a vendor location ranking processor which is arranged to sort the or each vendor according to the determined geographical proximity.

The present arrangement may advantageously allow a user to find their nearest favourite vendors based on their current location. This may beneficially allow a user to, for example, disembark from a transportation means in a completely different location, and still be able to readily obtain their desired goods and/or services with ease.

Furthermore, the or each user device may include a wireless internet connectivity assessment processor arranged to determine whether the or each user device can connect to a wireless internet network, and, if not, permitting the at least one user device account to be accessible via an SMS messaging service on the user device.

Selective determination of a communication means to use may advantageously allow users to contact vendors in geographical locations where internet connectivity is poor, for example.

According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of remotely ordering menu items from a restaurant, the method comprising the steps of a] providing a plurality of pre-selected lists of menu items for at least one restaurant, the restaurant being associated with a restaurant indicator; b] on a user device, associating a unique indicator with each of the plurality of pre-selected lists; c] storing the plurality of pre-selected lists on a database on a server associated with the user device or a user account; d] on the user device, entering one said restaurant indicator to automatically alter a user interface of the user device to be a restaurant-specific user interface, the restaurant-specific user interface being indicative of only the plurality of pre-selected lists of menu items for the selected restaurant; e] on the user device, forwarding a chosen unique indicator to the server to choose one of the plurality of pre-selected lists with which the chosen unique indicator is associated; and f] the server forwarding the chosen pre-selected list to the restaurant to order the menu items on the chosen pre-selected list.

Such a method allows the process by which the items on the pre-selected list are ordered to a three step process for a user: firstly, the desired order is selected, typically via a computer application; the user is prompted to proceed to payment; and then payment can be processed. This can all be achieved via a vendor-specific user interface, which is customized based on the entering of a specific vendor indicator on the user device. This significantly reduces the time required in searching for and individually selected items from a given list, as undesired vendors are quickly filtered out, greatly reducing the time taken for the user to submit an order.

The invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a pictorial representation of a system in accordance with the second aspect of the invention for implementing a method of improving the speed of ordering goods and/or services in accordance with the first aspect of the invention;

Figure 2 shows an indicative embodiment of a user interface of a computer application which may be associated with a system as shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 shows an exemplary diagrammatic representation of a method of improving the speed of ordering goods and/or services in accordance with the first aspect of the invention;

Figure 4a shows a login screen of a user interface for use with the method shown in Figure 3;

Figure 4b shows an indicative screen of the user interface of Figure 4a, indicating a list of restaurants available;

Figure 4c shows an indicative screen of the user interface of Figure 4a, indicating a list of goods available;

Figure 4d shows an indicative screen of the user interface of Figure 4a, indicating the option to add a unique identifier to a particular order;

Figure 4e shows an indicative screen of the user interface of Figure 4a, indicating a selection of pre-selected lists associated with unique identifiers;

Figure 4f shows an indicative screen of the user interface of Figure 4a, indicating the option to change between wireless internet connectivity and SMS messaging connectivity to the server;

Figure 4g shows an indicative screen of the user interface of Figure 4a, indicating a successful order placed by the user;

Figure 5 shows an indicative screen of a generic user interface on a user device as a vendor indicator is input; and

Figure 6 shows a vendor-specific user interface as illustrated on the user device.

Referring firstly to Figure 1, there is illustrated a system capable of implementing a method of improving the speed of ordering goods and/or services and which can be automatically configured to suit the vendor of choice, the system being indicated globally at 10.

The system 10 comprises a central server 12 onto which can be mounted and stored a 10 database 14 of pre-selected lists 16. The present invention can be used in a variety of contexts, in which the pre-selected list 16 relates to a list of any number of goods and/or services for one or more vendors; an indicative embodiment of a generic user interface for such a list is illustrated in Figure 2, as might be depicted on a user device 18. For the purposes of this description, however, the pre-selected lists 16 will be described in terms of lists of menu items chosen for a particular restaurant, in particular, for a takeaway food restaurant which offers delivery of the said menu items. This is not intended to be a limitation on the invention as described, but represents a particular embodiment of the envisioned concept. It is noted that the term restaurant is primarily directed towards takeaway restaurants, which offer delivery or collection of menu items, but any restaurant could feasibly utilise the present invention.

A user device 18 is provided which is communicable with the server 12, optionally via wireless communication means, such as via Wi-Fi communications or SMS messaging services. The user device 18 is preferably a personal computing device, such as a smartphone, tablet computer or laptop, but other computing or communications devices could be utilised. This user device 18 allows for the user to communicate with the server 12 so as to be able to make menu choices.

A vendor device 20 is also provided which is communicable with the server 12, again, optionally via wireless communication means. This vendor device 20 allows for the server 12 to communicate with the vendor in order to place an order for the chosen menu items, for delivery or collection by the user.

In a preferred embodiment, a computer application is loaded onto the user device 18 which permits the accessing of a user device account which is associated with one or more of the pre-selected lists 16 in the database 14. The user device account allows the user to connect with and choose a pre-selected list of menu items from a plurality of such pre-selected lists, which, for example, may have been pre-populated by the user via the user device account.

The pre-selected list 16 may, as indicated, be a list of menu items from a restaurant, which a user may wish to re-order more than once without having to re-select each individual menu item for every desired order. As illustrated in Figure 2, the user may have a plurality of different pre-selected lists 16 for different restaurants, each having different menu items. Additionally or alternatively, where a particular restaurant is a franchised restaurant, for instance, a generic list of menu items may be provided, and the server 12 is then able to determine which restaurant is most appropriate for delivery or takeaway service based on a user location which is forwarded by the user device 18 to the server 12.

A user interface of the computer application is configured to permit the user to interact with the user device account so as to define and associate contextual information data such as a unique indicator 22 with a particular pre-selected list or lists. This unique indicator 22 may be user-defined information which assists the user with recollection of the menu items on the list, the restaurant involved, or any appropriate mnemonic. However, it will be appreciated that the unique indicator 22 could also be generated by the server 12 or user device 18 for ease, if desired. The user may always amend the automatically-generated unique indicator 22 at a later juncture for ease of remembrance, if required.

Association of unique indicators 22 with pre-selected lists 16 allows for rapid selection of a given pre-selected list 16 of menu items, since it allows a user to readily navigate to a favourite selection of menu items without needed to trawl through the entire menu of the restaurant. This advantageous simplifies the process of ordering the menu items for the user.

There are other benefits associated with the unique indicator 22; since it is linked with a given pre-selected list 16 in the database 14, the user may advantageously make use of an SMS messaging service so as to order food. An SMS message may be forwarded to the server 12 from a user device 18 such as a smartphone, and then provided the user has included the unique indicator 22 in the body of the SMS message, the server 12 is capable of parsing the unique indicator 22 in order to process the order. This may advantageously further reduce the number of steps involved in the ordering of the process which will not have previously been possible without this association with a unique indicator 22.

This SMS ordering process is possible since the database 14 has not only stored the unique indicator 22 but also user information data, such as a mobile telephone number. This beneficially allows the user to process their order even if they are unable to connect to a computer network, for instance, if they have no Wi-Fi signal. The user device 18 may therefore be provided with a wireless internet connectivity assessment processor which is arranged to determine whether to user device 18 can connect to a wireless internet network. If it is not able to do so, then it may revert to the use of SMS ordering.

A typical process by which the method can be implemented is as follows: the computer application can be activated on the user device 18, which may then transmit user identification data to the server 12 upon activation. This user identification data may, for example, be login details of a user device account associated with the database 14, or may just be a mobile phone number associated with the user device 18. Having activated the computer application, the user may then create pre-selected lists 16.

The creation of pre-selected lists 16 may be performed manually, as the user inputs menu item choices into the computer application for the first time, and then the user is able to save the chosen pre-selected list 16 associated with a particular unique indicator

22. Alternatively, the pre-selected lists 16 could be pre-generated within the computer application, based on historical user data, or may just be populated with common menu orders from the restaurant or restaurants in question.

Once there is at least one pre-selected list 16 in the database 14, the user is able to select the pre-selected list based on the unique indicator 22, which is visible to the user in the computer application. Once chosen, the pre-selected list 16 can be preferably processed for payment details, which are transferred to the server 12 and processed.

The pre-selected list 16 is recognised on the server 12, which may identify the user 5 based on the user identification data, and the server 12 is then able to process the order.

The server 12 will be able to choose the correct menu items based on the unique indicator 22 provided, the correspondence between the unique indicator 22 and the actual pre-selected list 16 being stored in the database 14. The server 12 is then able to contact the vendor device 20, where the order can be processed.

The server 12 may be able to select between branches of a particular chain of restaurants, provided the location of the user is uploaded to the server 12 at the time of ordering. Furthermore, subsequent processing on the vendor device 20 may also occur so as to determine whether or not the order can be correctly fulfilled. This may comprise further checks, for example, to determine a delivery radius for the restaurant.

To this end, the user device 18 may be provided with a user locator, such as a GPS locator, which is able to determine a user location, and the vendor device 20 may also be provided with a vendor locator, such as a GPS locator or IP address. The user and vendor locators may then be communicable with the server 12 in order to determine a geographical proximity between the user and the relevant vendor.

The server 12 may only forward the chosen order associated with the unique identifier 22 to the vendor if the determined geographical proximity is less than a predetermined distance, which may preferably be the delivery radius of a restaurant or takeaway.

Once the restaurant has accepted the order, it may supply a collection or delivery time, at which point the server 12 can complete the payment processing and forward a confirmation of the order to the user device 18. The restaurant is then able to handle the delivery of the order, if appropriate.

Given the speed with which an order may be processed, it is preferable to provide a means of validating the choice of pre-selected list 16 prior to completion of the order.

This may be preferably performed by the above described request for payment details to the user. Preferably, however, this may be reduced to a single step, in which the user merely needs to confirm acceptance of the price in order to process the order. Payment details could be stored in the database 14, on the user device 18 or in the user device account in order to expedite the procedure.

This methodology is summarised in Figure 3, in which a method of improving the speed of ordering goods and/or services is generally illustrated at SI00. A plurality of pre-selected lists 16 of goods and/or services is provided, step S101, for at least one vendor. On a user device 18, a unique indicator 22 is associated, step S102, with each of the plurality of pre-selected lists 16. The plurality of pre-selected lists 16 is stored, step SI03, in a database 14 on a server 12 associated with the user device 18 or a user account.

On the user device 18, the user interface 24 can be automatically customized, step S103a, by the entering of a vendor indicator 28, which is specific to a vendor. This results in the automatic alteration of the user interface 24 into a vendor-specific user interface, without the user needing to divert from the central application on their user device 18. This step S103a may occur at any point during the process, up until the time at which the user submits their order. A chosen unique indicator 22 relating to the pre-selected list 16 is forwarded, step S104, to the server 12 to choose one of the plurality of pre-selected lists 16 with which the chosen unique indicator 22 is associated. The server 12 then forwards, step S105, the chosen pre-selected list 16 to the vendor to order the goods and/or services on the chosen pre-selected list.

The separation of the user device 18 from the server 12 advantageously allows for an intermediate processing centre to be created between the user and the vendor. This means that a plurality of different vendors can be associated with a unique indicator 22, allowing the user to process orders via a single interface, rather than needed to proceed via the website of the vendor individually.

The storage of the pre-selected lists 16 on the server 12 also allows for additional functionality to be provided. For instance, it may be possible for the user device 18 to be set up to act as a monitoring device, allowing historical usage data relating to the user to be collected. In doing so, it may be possible for this information to be sent to the server 12 in order to act as a suggestion engine. For example, the frequency of selection of individual menu items across the plurality of pre-selected lists 16 may permit the automatic generation of other pre-selected lists 16 which are effectively global favourites. Furthermore, other information, such as the timing of placement of orders, may be used to prompt the user to select a given pre-selected list 16 based on their historical ordering behaviour.

It is noted that searching of the information in the database 14 can be performed in a plurality of different manners. For instance, the server 12 may permit a user to search by vendor, search by goods and/or services provided by the vendor, or may just search by the unique identifier 22, such that the user is able to readily access the desired pre-selected list 16.

The server 12 may also be provided with the ability to automatically translate an order which is provided to a vendor, for example, by using a translation processor. In the restaurant industry in particular, the language used in the kitchen during the preparation of an order may be different to the language in which the order was originally placed. The provision of a translation processor in the server 12 would overcome this difficulty.

An indicative user interface 24 which might be shown on the user device 18 is depicted in Figures 4a to 4g. A nominal login screen is illustrated in Figure 4a, via which the user will be able to access and view their pre-selected lists 16 in the database 14. Figure 4b illustrates a selection of various vendors which may be visible to the user via the user interface 24.

The user interface 24 may be able to readily depict the full range of goods and/or services for a particular vendor, as illustrated in Figure 4c, and individual goods and/or services can be selected in order to populate a pre-selected list 16. As shown in Figure

4d, once the user has populated the pre-selected list 16, it can be assigned a unique identifier.

The plurality of pre-selected lists 16 which have been input by a user can be visualised within the user interface 24, and each of the pre-selected lists 16 may be recognisable by its corresponding unique identifier 22; this is shown in Figure 4e.

In order to contact the server 12 to place an order, the user device 18 may possibly first attempt to connect via the internet, and, if this is not possible, as illustrated in the user interface 24 shown in Figure 4f, an offline mode may be engaged, in which orders are placed with the server via SMS messaging communication means.

Once the server 12 has received the order, and confirmed that it is indeed valid, the server 12 can contact the vendor device 20 to place the order. If this is successful, then payment as input on the user device 18 will be authorised, and a receipt sent to the user device 18 once confirmation of the order is accepted on the server 12. This can be seen in the user interface 24 of Figure 4g.

The database 14 of pre-selected lists 16 of goods and/or services can be difficult for a user to navigate; in any given geographical area, there are typically a plurality of different vendors, such as restaurants, which are capable of providing the relevant goods and/or services to a user. The present invention therefore provides a method of automatically customizing the user interface 24 on the user device 18 so as to be readily navigable for the user.

For the case where the vendor is a restaurant, it is reassuring for a user utilising the system 10 that the data in the database at least appears to be current, and therefore that menu choices and pricing is correct. It is therefore useful to customize the user interface 10 so as to reflect the stylistic choices of the restaurant in question. This could include at least altering the title page of the user interface 24 so as to be specific to the restaurant, and could further include adoption of the livery of the restaurant, specific formatting choices, inclusion of specific logos, trading names and/or other textual data for the restaurant. Other customization options for the vendor-specific user interface will be apparent to the skilled person.

To this end, it may be possible to provide a vendor indicator 28 associated with each vendor in the database 14, with each vendor being associated with one or more pre-selected lists 16 of goods and/or services. Preferably, the vendor indicator 28 is a machine-readable code which is providable by the vendor to a user. The vendor indicator 28 is unique to the vendor, and allows pre-selected lists 16 of goods and/or services to be collated from the database 14. One such example of a machine-readable code is indicated in Figure 5. This could be formed as an alphanumeric activation code, but could, for example, alternatively be formed as a QR code, barcode, or similar machine-readable code.

The vendor indicator 28 can be used not only to rapidly collate the associated 5 pre-selected lists 16 of goods and/or services in the user interface 24, but can also be used to customize the appearance of the user interface 24 so as to be more readily associable with the specific vendor. This can be seen in Figure 6.

The vendor indicator 28 may be created automatically by the server 12, and could be formed as an alphanumeric string which is unique to the vendor. Alternatively, the vendor indicator 28 could be bespoke formed by the vendor. In another alternative, the vendor indicators 28 for each vendor could be pre-formed and provided to the vendor, for example, in the form of a sticker having a machine-readable code which can be installed in a window of the vendor. Additionally, flyers or leaflets having the vendor indicator 28 could be pre-formed and distributed to the vendor. Once the vendor has received such materials, then an association between the vendor and the vendor indicator 28 can be made in the database 14.

The vendor could provide a plurality of different vendor indicators 28 which are associated with different pre-selected lists 16 of goods and/or services. For example, different favourite or promoted goods and/or services could be sorted into pre-selected lists 16 by the vendor, and different vendor indicators 28 could then be used to create different vendor-specific user interfaces, each promoting different pre-selected lists 16 of goods and/or services. This may be in addition to existing pre-selected lists 16 of goods and/or services, for example, those created by the user.

The system 10 may therefore be provided with an order management control hub, which may be a computer- or web-based application, via which they can see which users are accessing particular vendor-specific user interfaces, and then customize their pre-selected lists 16 of goods and/or services accordingly, by amendment of the association between the vendor indicators 28 and the groups of pre-selected lists of goods and/or services.

An order management control hub is preferably hosted on the server 12, and may allow the vendor to determine the identity and/or location of their customers based on the information received via the user device 18, may allow the vendor to market and/or promote special offers to the user, whilst also potentially permitting email and SMS contact capability to advise the user of any issues relating to their order. The order management control hub may also allow the vendor to delay orders when busy, or create new pre-selected lists 16 of goods and/or services in real-time, along with associated vendor indicators 28, in order to promote specific goods and/or services whilst the vendor is less busy.

As previously mentioned, whilst the present invention has been primarily described in terms of its utility for ordering menu items from a restaurant, the method and system of ordering can readily be utilised in a number of other contexts. For instance, where a user performs grocery shopping online, a standard set of products may be regularly ordered, in which case, the present invention would be ideal for use. Furthermore, using the present invention, it is possible to provide an interface in which a plurality of pre-selected lists is provided for different vendors, which may supply different types of goods and/or services. For example, the user may be able to access a commonly used list of products sold by a department store, a supermarket, grocery store, wholesaler or other retailer where bulk or multiple ordering may be common, from the same interface from which they are able to access the pre-selected lists of menu items for restaurants.

The provision of pre-selected lists, where the user has chosen, or has had chosen for them, desired goods and/or services, which are associable with a unique indicator, advantageously simplifies the process by which the goods and/or services can be ordered. In turn, this accelerates the ordering process for the user, making them more likely to use the vendor in question. By providing a server intermediate the user and the vendor, it also beneficially becomes possible to provide user access to a plurality of different vendors from a single point of access, preferably without requiring any access to the internet.

The simplification of the ordering process using the unique indicator achieves its goal through minimising the number of keystrokes or interactions required by a user in order to place an order.

The system beneficially allows for a user to place orders for goods and/or services in a straightforward manner without needing to otherwise inspect the individual choices of goods and/or services which may be off-putting to placing of the order. This beneficially permits a user to, for example, order takeaway food whilst travelling in a rapid manner, which may then be delivered in time for their arrival at their destination.

It is therefore possible to provide a means by which the speed of ordering goods and/or services can be ordered by a user by the association of a unique indicator with a particular list of goods and/or services to allow for ready selection of the said list by the user multiple times. This is of particular use in the context of takeaway restaurant ordering, since such orders will generally be repeated, and comprise several different items which would otherwise have to be individually selected every time the menu items are ordered.

The method beneficially negates the need for direct human interaction between the user and the vendor, which would typically slow the ordering process, whilst eliminating the potential for incorrectly placed orders by verifying that an order can be fulfilled prior to the server forwarding an order to the vendor.

The words ‘comprises/comprising’ and the words ‘having/including’ when used herein with reference to the present invention are used to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof.

It is appreciated that certain features of the invention, which are, for clarity, described in the context of separate embodiments, may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features of the invention which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any suitable sub-combination.

The embodiments described above are provided by way of examples only, and various other modifications will be apparent to persons skilled in the field without departing from the scope of the invention herein described and defined.

Claims

Claims

1. A method of improving the speed of ordering goods and/or services, the method comprising the steps of:

a] providing a plurality of pre-selected lists of goods and/or services for

5 at least one vendor, each vendor being associated with a vendor indicator;

b] on a user device, associating a unique indicator with each of the plurality of pre-selected lists;

c] storing the plurality of pre-selected lists in a database on a server associated with the user device or a user account;

10 d] on the user device, entering one said vendor indicator to automatically alter a user interface of the user device to be a vendor-specific user interface, the vendor-specific user interface being indicative of only the plurality of pre-selected lists of goods and/or services for the selected vendor;

e] on the user device, forwarding a chosen unique indicator to the server

15 to choose one of the plurality of pre-selected lists with which the chosen unique indicator is associated; and

f] the server forwarding the chosen pre-selected list to the vendor to order the goods and/or services on the chosen pre-selected list.
2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of

20 pre-selected lists of goods and/or services is a user-selected list of goods and/or services.
3. A method as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein at least one of the plurality of pre-selected lists of goods and/or services is populated based on historical user data.
4. A method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the at least one of the plurality of

25 pre-selected lists of goods and/or services is populated automatically based on historical user data stored on the user device and/or on the server.
5. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the database is associated with the plurality of pre-selected lists is based on a mobile phone number associated with the user.
6. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the unique 5 indicator comprises a user-input identifier.
7. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a step f] which is subsequent to step e] of delivering the products and/or services from the vendor to a user location.
8. A method as claimed in claim 7, further comprising the step of transmitting a

10 user location to the server, the server determining a viability of said step g] prior to undertaking step f] based on the user location relative to the vendor location.
9. A method as claimed in claim 7 or claim 8, further comprising a step h] subsequent to step f] of the server sending a notification to the user device confirming the communication with the vendor.

15 10. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein a plurality of different pre-selected lists for different vendors is storable in the database.

11. A method as claimed in claim 10, wherein at least some of the different vendors supply different types of goods and/or services.

12. A method as claimed in claim 10 or claim 11, wherein the said different vendors

20 are in different geographical locations.

13. A method as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 12, wherein different vendor indicators are provided for each of the different vendors, the different vendor indicators being selectably entered to automatically alter the user interface of the user device to be a different vendor-specific user interface.

25 14. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein each vendor is associated with a plurality of different vendor indicators, each vendor indicator being associated with a different group of pre-selected lists of goods and/or services, and during step d] the different vendor indicators can be entered on the user device to automatically alter the user interface to different vendor-specific user interfaces for the said vendor.

15. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a 5 step subsequent to step e] of determining a geographical proximity between the user device and the vendor associated with the chosen unique indicator, the server only forwarding the chosen pre-selected list to the vendor if the determined geographical proximity is less than a predetermined distance.

16. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the database is
10 accessible via a computer application on the user device.

17. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the database is accessible via an SMS messaging service.

18. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the database is preferentially accessible via a wireless internet network, the database being secondarily
15 accessible via an SMS messaging service if no wireless internet network is accessible.
19. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a step i] prior to step f] of validating the choice of pre-selected list at the user device.
20. A method as claimed in claim 19, wherein the validation includes a requirement to process user payment details for the chosen pre-selected list of goods and/or services.

20
21. A method as claimed in claim 20, wherein said user payment details are stored within the user device or user account, the validation requiring a single user confirmation before proceeding to step e],
22. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein each of the plurality of pre-selected lists is a pre-selected list of menu items, the vendor being a

25 restaurant.
23. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a step j] prior to step f] of the server determining a closest applicable vendor to contact based on a user location.
24. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein during step c], the plurality of pre-selected lists is sorted based on a monitored hierarchy or order frequency.

5 25. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein during step c], the plurality of pre-selected lists is sorted based on a geographical proximity between the user and the or each vendor.

26. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a step prior to step e] of the server prompting the selection of one of the plurality of

10 pre-selected lists based on historical usage data.

27. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the plurality of pre-selected lists of goods and/or services comprises at least one user-set list and at least one vendor-set list, the vendor indicator being determined based on the at least one vendor set list.

15 28. A speed ordering system for improving the speed of ordering goods and/or services, the system comprising:

a server having at least one user device account associated therewith;

a server-implemented database of pre-selected lists of goods and/or services for at least one vendor, each vendor being associated with a vendor

20 indicator, the database being associated with the user device account;

at least one user device communicable with the server and associated with one said user device account, the user device permitting user selection of a pre-selected list of goods and/or services from the server-implemented database of pre-selected lists, the user device having a user interface which is
25 automatically alterable to be a vendor-specific user interface which is indicative of only the plurality of pre-selected lists of goods and/or services for the selected vendor based on the vendor indicator; and at least one vendor device communicable with the server to permit ordering of the user-selected pre-selected list of goods and/or services.
29. A speed ordering system as claimed in claim 28, wherein the at least one user device account is accessible via a computer application on the user device.

5
30. A speed ordering system as claimed in claim 28 or claim 29, wherein the at least one user device account is accessible via an SMS messaging service on the user device.
31. A speed ordering system as claimed in any one of claims 28 to 30, wherein the at least one user device includes a user locator to determine a user location, the at least one vendor device includes a vendor locator to determine a vendor location, wherein the

10 user location and vendor location are communicable to the server in order to determine a geographical proximity between the user and the or each vendor in the server-implemented database.
32. A speed ordering system as claimed in claim 31, wherein the server includes a vendor location ranking processor which is arranged to sort the or each vendor

15 according to the determined geographical proximity.
33. A speed ordering system as claimed in any one of claims 28 to 32, wherein the or each user device includes a wireless internet connectivity assessment processor arranged to determine whether the or each user device can connect to a wireless internet network, and, if not, permitting the at least one user device account to be accessible via

20 an SMS messaging service on the user device.
34. A speed ordering system as claimed in any one of claims 28 to 33, wherein the server further comprises a translation processor arranged to translate the user-selected pre-selected list of goods and/or services into a language selected by the vendor.
35. A method of remotely ordering menu items from a restaurant, the method

25 comprising the steps of:

a] providing a plurality of pre-selected lists of menu items for at least one restaurant, the restaurant being associated with a restaurant indicator;

b] on a user device, associating a unique indicator with each of the plurality of pre-selected lists;

c] storing the plurality of pre-selected lists on a database on a server associated with the user device or a user account;

5 d] on the user device, entering one said restaurant indicator to automatically alter a user interface of the user device to be a restaurant-specific user interface, the restaurant-specific user interface being indicative of only the plurality of pre-selected lists of menu items for the selected restaurant;

e] on the user device, forwarding a chosen unique indicator to the server

10 to choose one of the plurality of pre-selected lists with which the chosen unique indicator is associated; and

f] the server forwarding the chosen pre-selected list to the restaurant to order the menu items on the chosen pre-selected list.