WO2018127775A1

WO2018127775A1 - System and method for placing an order at an eatery using a user device

Info

Publication number: WO2018127775A1
Application number: PCT/IB2017/058447
Authority: WO
Inventors: Yoel DSOUZA; Zeri DSOUZA
Original assignee: Dsouza Yoel; Dsouza Zeri
Priority date: 2017-01-04
Filing date: 2017-12-28
Publication date: 2018-07-12

Abstract

A system and a method for placing an order at an eatery using a user device are disclosed. In one embodiment, the first user device [102] scans a unique code present at a table of an eatery, pursuant to which the first user device receives a verification message from a vendor device [104] (of the eatery). The first user device [102] subsequently places the order. The present invention also encompasses placing of the order by one or more users in an event the 0 first user device [102] allows the second device [106A, 106B, 106C] to place the order. Subsequently, at least one of the first user device [102] and the second user device [106A, 106B, 106C] processes the payment based on the order.

Description

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PLACING AN ORDER AT AN EATERY USING A USER DEVICE

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to data processing. More particularly, the present invention relate to a system and method for placing an order at an eatery using a user device.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

The following description of related art is intended to provide background information pertaining to the field of the present invention. This section may include certain aspects of the art that may be related to various aspects of the present invention. However, it should be appreciated that this section be used only to enhance the understanding of the reader with respect to the present invention, and therefore, unless otherwise indicated, it should not be assumed that any of the approaches described in this section qualify as prior art merely by virtue of their inclusion in this section.

Presently, in an outgoing dynamic society, where everyone is running out of schedule, customers find it difficult to find time to sit in front of computers and make the online reservation or online ordering. Also, it will be hard for the restaurants to have a dedicated employee for handling online requests from the Internet users and respond timely. Further, there are many other limitations also faced by customers as well as restaurant owners such as limited seating arrangements, reduced customer satisfaction and thus, increased customer complaints. At the same time, customers are finding difficulty in finding a proper restaurant/hotel/cafe that have sufficient seating arrangement and satisfy their needs. Also, the diners and restaurant managers were not successful in efficiently arranging the time slots and/or tables reservations. This further resulted in development of an online table reservation system and method. In view of this, a number of restaurant/eatery/hotel/cafe, etc. owners, in a current market scenario, are persistently adapting new techniques and marketing goals for providing services to customers, thereby attracting new customers. For instance, there exist several known solutions/systems that face several limitations in managing reservations and fulfilling customer's needs. In one of the online systems, the restaurants can accept online reservations as well as manage the telephone/mobile bookings and walk-in customers. This allowed the restaurants to improve operational efficiency, increase revenue as well as leverage off the underlying customer database to provide better levels of service/s. However, there were certain limitations associated with said online conventional systems. One such limitation lies in lack of displaying/presenting menu to the customers, i.e. the customers will be able to view menu only on coming to the respective restaurant and subsequently wait for the waiter's/serving person's availability to place the order. Yet another limitation is the inability of the customers to place an order from their personal device/s within the restaurant. Currently, the restaurant waiters/serving persons opt to use pen/pencil and a paper as the medium of taking an order. This might create confusion in the event of multiple orders and customers may get bothered due to carelessness on part of the waiters, as the placed order may get misplaced or mixed with other orders. Further, said online conventional system lack time efficiency since the customers are not able to place an order while making online reservation and thus, have to first come and place order and wait for the completion of order. Therefore, said online conventional system failed to cater to the needs of the customers who are in hurry and don't have time to wait for the completion of order. Also, said systems were unable to provide a variety of options to the customers including take-away.

Hence, in light of the drawbacks which are aforementioned and inherent in the existing art, there is a need of an efficient system and method for placing an order at an eatery using a computing device by either making online reservations or tangibly visiting the eatery. SUMMARY

This section is provided to introduce certain objects and aspects of the present invention in a simplified form that are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify the key features or the scope of the claimed subject matter.

In view of the above shortcomings of the existing systems, as discussed in the background section, it is an object of the invention is to eliminate or at least substantially reduce the limitations of the prior art systems by providing a system and a method for smoothly and efficiently placing at least one order at an eatery using one first user device.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved and secured multiple payment modes that facilitate distributive payments. Yet another object of the invention is to provide the customers with an option of placing the order for either take away, dine-in or home delivery.

In view of these and other objects, one aspect of the invention relates to a method for placing at least one order at an eatery using a first user device, the method comprising: scanning, by using the first user device, a unique code corresponding to the at least one table of the eatery; receiving a verification message at the first user device from a vendor device, in response to scanning the unique code by the first user device, wherein the verification message includes a table id of the eatery and a time-slot for the at least one order; placing the at least one order, by at least one of the first user device and at least one second user device, wherein placing the at least one order using the verification message, and placing the at least one order by the at least one second user device in an event the at least one second user device receives the verification message from the first user device; and processing a payment by at least one of the first user device and the at least one second user device, wherein the payment is processed through at least one of a payment mode based on the order. Furthermore, another aspect of the invention relates to a system for placing at least one order at an eatery using a first user device. In a preferred embodiment, the system comprises the first user device comprising: a first sensing unit configured to scan a unique code corresponding to the at least one table of the eatery, a first communication unit configured to: receive a verification message from a vendor device in response to scanning the unique code by the first user device, wherein the verification message includes a table id of the eatery and a time-slot for the at least one order, place the at least one order using the verification message; and a first processing unit configured to place the at least one order; and at least one second user device comprising: a communication unit configured to place the at least one order in an event the at least one second user device receives the verification message from the first user device, and a second processing unit configured to process a payment, wherein the payment is processed through at least one payment mode based on the order.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein, and constitute a part of this invention, illustrate exemplary embodiments of the disclosed methods and systems in which like reference numerals refer to the same parts throughout the different drawings. Components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present invention. Some drawings may indicate the components using block diagrams and may not represent the internal circuitry of each component. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that invention of such drawings includes invention of electrical components or circuitry commonly used to implement such components. The connections between the sub-components of a component have not been shown in the drawings for the sake of clarity, therefore, all sub-components shall be assumed to be connected to each other unless explicitly otherwise stated in the invention herein.

Figure 1 illustrates a system architecture [100] for placing at least one order at an eatery using one of a first user device in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention. Figure 2 illustrates block diagram of the first user device [102] for placing at least one order at an eatery in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

Figure 3 illustrates block diagram of the at least one second user device [106] for placing at least one order in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

Figure 4 illustrates an exemplary method flow diagram [400] comprising the method for placing at least one order at an eatery using a first user device in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

The foregoing shall be more apparent and clear from the following more detailed explanation of the invention and the afore-mentioned drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In the following description, for the purposes of explanation, various specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the disclosed embodiments. It will be apparent, however, that the disclosed embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. Several features described hereafter can each be used independently of one another or with any combination of other features. Embodiments of the present invention may relate to a system and a method for placing at least one order at an eatery using a first user device. The system encompasses scanning a unique code present on a table at the eatery pursuant to which the user receives a verification message from a vendor device present at the eatery. Subsequently, the user, through the first user device, may either directly place the order or share the verification message with at least one second user, thereby allowing them to place the order. The system further encompasses processing of the payment either by the first user device or jointly by the first user device and the at least one second user device.

The "eatery" as used herein may refer to any place where people visit to place orders (food/drink orders). More particularly, the eatery may include, but not limited to, a restaurant, a hotel, a cafeteria, an outlet, a bar or any such eating/drinking place as may be obvious to person skilled in the art.

The "unique code" as used herein may refer to any machine-readable information. More particularly, the unique code refers to a barcode, a Q code or any such code as may be obvious to person skilled in the art. Also, the unique code corresponds to the at least one table of the eatery.

The "first user device" as used herein may refer to a device of a user, more particularly, the first user device is the device of a primary user who initiates the mechanism of placing of the order.

The "second user device" as used herein may refer to the device of other users except for the primary user, wherein the other users refer to those users to whom the primary user has provided the access for placing the order.

The "vendor device" as used herein may refer to the device of the vendor of the eatery where the user/s have visited.

Further, the "first user device", the "second user device" and the "vendor device" as used herein may refer to any electrical, electronic, electromechanical and computing device. More particularly, the first user device, the second user device and the vendor device include, but not limited to, a smart phone, a feature phone, a tablet, a computer, a laptop, a phablet or any such device obvious to a person skilled in the art. Further, the first user device, the second user device and the vendor device may comprise an input means such as a keyboard, an operating system, a memory unit, a display interface, etc. Furthermore, the first user device, the at least one second user device and the vendor device are configured to communicate with each other through a network entity.

The "verification message" as used herein refers to an authentication message. More particularly, the verification message includes, but not limited to, a table id of the eatery and a time-slot for the at least one order. Further, the present invention encompasses a one-time authentication, by the vendor device, of the user at the time of scanning the unique code.

As used herein, "connect", "configure", "couple" and its cognate terms, such as "connects", "connected", "configured" and "coupled" may include a physical connection (such as a wired/wireless connection), a logical connection (such as through logical gates of semiconducting device), other suitable connections, or a combination of such connections, as may be obvious to a person skilled in the art.

As used herein, "send", "transfer", "transmit", and their cognate terms like "sending", "sent", "transferring", "transmitting", "transferred", "transmitted", etc. include sending or transporting data or information including, but not limiting to, the verification message from one unit or component to another unit or component, wherein the content may or may not be modified before or after sending, transferring, transmitting.

Further, figure 1, figure 2 and figure 3 illustrate a system architecture [100] for placing at least one order at an eatery using a first user device [102] in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention. As shown in said figures (figure 1, figure 2 and figure 3), the system [100] comprises the first user device [102], the at least one second user device [106A, 106B, 106C], the vendor device [104], the network entity [108], central server [110] and at least one memory. Said devices i.e. the first user device [102], the at least one second user device [106A, 106B, 106C] and the vendor device [104] are configured to communicate with each other through the network entity [108], wherein the network entity [108] may correspond to a personal area network, a local area network, a metropolitan area network, a wide area network, the Internet, or a combination thereof. In a preferred embodiment, the central server [110] may be a cloud server.

The first user device [102] comprises a first sensing unit [202], a first communication unit [204] and a first processing unit [206], wherein the first sensing unit [202] and the first communication unit [204] are coupled/connected/configured with the first processing unit [206]. Similarly, the at least one second user device [106A, 106B, 106C] comprises a second communication unit [302] and a second processing unit [304], wherein the second communication unit [302] is coupled/connected/configured with the second processing unit [304]. Further, in an event, the user visits the eatery, the first sensing unit [202] of the first user device [102] is configured to scan the unique code corresponding to the at least one table of the eatery. The first sensing unit [202] as used herein may refer to any non-transitory media, including, but not limiting to, a sensor, a camera or any such device as may be obvious to a person skilled in the art.

On scanning the unique code, the communication unit [204] of the first user device [102] receives the verification message from the vendor device [104], wherein the vendor device [104] receives the verification message from the central server [110]. In an embodiment, the verification message includes, but not limited to the table id and the time slot. In another embodiment, the time slot refers to a valid session allotted to the first user device [102] for placing the at least one order.

Subsequently, on receiving the verification message, the first communication unit [204] of the first user device [102] is configured to place the at least one order. In an embodiment where the user wishes to allow the at least one second user device [106A, 106B, 106C] also to place the at least one order, the first user device, through the first communication unit [204], shares the verification message with the second communication unit [302] of the at least one second user device [106A, 106B, 106C], thereby allowing the at least one second user device [106A, 106B, 106C] to jointly place the at least one order with the first user device [102]. The at least one order includes, but not limited to, placing a food/drink order, wherein the at least one order comprises one of a take-away order, a dine-in order and a home delivery order. Therefore, the system [100] encompasses placing of the at least one order by the first user device [102], the at least one second device [106A, 106B, 106C] or a combination thereof.

Further, on receiving the at least one order from at least one of the first user device [102] and the at least one second device [106A, 106B, 106C], the vendor device [104] has an option to accept or reject the at least one order. In an event the vendor device [104] accepts the at least one order, at least one of the first processing unit [206] of the first user device [102] and the second processing unit [304] of the at least one second user device [106A, 106B, 106C] are configured to process the payment of the bill based on the at least one order, wherein the payment is processed through at least one payment mode based on the order. In an embodiment, the at least one payment mode comprises at least one of an online payment, a cash on delivery, a wallet system and a coupon. Thus, the present system [100] encompasses payment of the bill by the first user device [102] and the second user unit [106A, 106B, 106C] or a combination thereof. In an event the bill is processed by the first user device [102] and the at least one second user device [106A, 106B, 106C], the payment bill may or may not be equally distributed among the users. The "first processing unit [206]" and the "second processing unit [304]" as used herein may include one or more processors, wherein processor refers to any logic circuitry for processing instructions. A processor may be a general purpose processor, a special purpose processor, a conventional processor, a digital signal processor, a plurality of microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in association with a DSP core, a controller, a microcontroller, Application Specific Integrated Circuits, Field Programmable Gate Array circuits, any other type of integrated circuits, etc. The processor may perform signal coding data processing, input/output processing, and/or any other functionality that enables the working of the system according to the present invention.

The system [100] further comprises the at least one memory for storing a list of eateries and information of the at least one order, the first user device [102], the at least one second user device [106A, 106B, 106C] and the vendor device [104]. Further, the at least one memory is present in at least one of the first user device [102], the second user device [106A, 106B, 106C] and the central server [110]. The at least one memory may include, but not limited to, a random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), a hard disk drive (HDD), a secure digital (SD) card or any such memory as may be obvious to person skilled in the art.

Figure 4 illustrates an exemplary method [400] for placing the at least one order at the eatery using the first user device [102] in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The following method [400] includes detailed steps involved in placing the at least one order at the eatery, wherein the method [400] may initiate at step 402 where the user (with the first user device [102]) visits the eatery.

At step 404, the first sensing unit [202] of the first user device [102] is configured to scan the unique code corresponding to the at least one table of the eatery.

At step 406, on scanning the unique code by the first sensing unit [202], the vendor device [104] receives the verification message from the central server [110], wherein the verification message includes, but not limited to the table id and the time slot. At step 408, the vendor device [104] transmits the verification message to the communication unit [204] of the first user device [102].

At step 410, on receiving the verification message, the first user device [102] decides whether or not to allow the at least one second user device [106A, 106B, 106C] to also place the at least one order. In an event, the first user device [102] does not allow the at least one second user device [106A, 106B, 106C] to place the at least one order, the method [400] leads to step 412. On the other hand, if the first user device [102] allows the at least one second user device [106A, 106B, 106C] to also place the at least one order, the method [400] leads to step 414.

At step 412, where the at least one second user device [106A, 106B, 106C] is not allowed to place the at least one order, the first communication unit [204] of the first user device [102] is configured to place the at least one order.

At step 414, where the user allows the at least one second user device [106A, 106B, 106C] to place the at least one order, the first user device [102] shares the verification message with the at least one second user device [106A, 106B, 106C]. At step 416, on receiving the verification message from the first user device [102], the second communication unit [302] of the at least one second user device [106A, 106B, 106C] is configured to place the at least one order along with the at least one order placed by the first user device [102]. In an embodiment, the first user device [102] may not place the order but allows the at least one second user device [106A, 106B, 106C] to place the at least one order. At step 418, on receiving the at least one order from at least one of the first user device [102], and the at least one second device [106A, 106B, 106C], the vendor device [104] has an option to accept or reject the at least one order. In an event the vendor device [104] accepts the at least one order, the method [400] leads to step 420. Alternatively, the method [400] goes back to step 404. At step 420, the user after completion of arrival of the at least one order, the first user device [102] decides whether or not to share the payment with the at least one second device [106A, 106B, 106C]. In an event the first user device [102] decides to share the payment, the method [400] leads to step 422. Alternatively, the method leads to step 426.

At step 422, where the payment is shared, at least one of the first processing unit [206] of the first user device [102] and the second processing unit [304] of the at least one second user device [106A, 106B, 106C] are configured to process the payment of the bill based on the at least one order, wherein the payment is processed through at least one payment mode based on the order. In an embodiment, the payment bill may or may not be equally distributed among the users i.e. the first user device [102] and the at least one second user device [106A, 106B, 106C].

At step 424, where the first user device [102] decides not to share the payment, the first processing unit [206] of the first user device [102] alone is configured to process the payment of the bill based on the at least one order, wherein the payment is processed through at least one payment mode based on the order. At step 426, the method [400] terminates with accepting of the payment by the vendor device [104].

Thus, the present invention encompasses a system [100] and a method [400] for placing at least one order at an eatery using one the first user device [102]. Said system and method in turn facilitates smooth placing of the at least one order by providing an efficient and user friendly mechanism for efficient placing of the at least one order and payment methods/options.

Though a limited number of the first user device [102], the second user device [106A, 106B, 106C], the vendor device [104], the central server [110] and the components/sub systems therein, have been shown in the figures; however, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the system [300] of the present invention encompasses any number and varied types of said entities/elements, the first user device [102], the second user device [106A, 106B, 106C], the vendor device [104], the central server [110] and the components/sub systems therein.

While considerable emphasis has been placed herein on the disclosed embodiments, it will be appreciated that many embodiments can be made and that many changes can be made to the embodiments without departing from the principles of the present invention. These and other changes in the embodiments of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art, whereby it is to be understood that the foregoing descriptive matter to be implemented is illustrative and non-limiting.

Claims

We claim

1. A method [400] for placing at least one order at an eatery using a first user device [102], the method comprising:

- scanning, by using the first user device [102], a unique code corresponding to the at least one table of the eatery;

receiving a verification message at the first user device [102] from a vendor device [104], in response to scanning the unique code by the first user device [102], wherein the verification message includes a table id of the eatery and a time-slot for the at least one order;

placing the at least one order, by at least one of the first user device [102] and at least one second user device [106A, 106B, 106C], wherein

placing the at least one order using the verification message, and

placing the at least one order by the at least one second user device [106A, 106B, 106C] in an event the at least one second user device [106A, 106B, 106C] receives the verification message from the first user device [102]; and

processing a payment by at least one of the first user device [102] and the at least one second user device [106A, 106B, 106C], wherein the payment is processed through at least one of a payment mode based on the at least one order.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one order comprises one of a takeaway order, a dine-in order and a home delivery order.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first user device [102], the at least one second user device [106A, 106B, 106C] and the vendor device [104] comprises one of a mobile, a smart phone, a tablet, a phablet, a laptop and a desktop.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first user device [102], the at least one second user device [106A, 106B, 106C] and the vendor device [104] are configured to communicate with each other through a network entity [108].

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the vendor device [104] receives the verification message from a central server [110] in an event the first user device [102] scans the unique code.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein processing the payment by the at least one second user device [106A, 106B, 106C] in an event the first user device [102] shares the payment with the at least one second user device [106A, 106B, 106C].

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one payment mode comprises at one of an online payment, a cash on delivery, a wallet system and a coupon.

8. A system [100] for placing at least one order at an eatery using a first user device [102], the system [100] comprising:

the first user device [102] comprising:

a first sensing unit [202] configured to scan a unique code corresponding to the at least one table of the eatery,

a first communication unit [204] configured to:

receive a verification message from a vendor device [104] in response to scanning the unique code by the first user device [102], wherein the verification message includes a table id of the eatery and a time-slot for the at least one order,

place the at least one order using the verification message; and

a first processing unit [206] configured to place the at least one order; and at least one second user device [106A, 106B, 106C] comprising:

a communication unit [302] configured to place the at least one order in an event the at least one second user device [106A, 106B, 106C] receives the verification message from the first user device [102], and

a second processing unit [304] configured to process a payment,

wherein the payment is processed through at least one payment mode based on the at least one order.

9. The system [100] as claimed in claim 8, wherein the system [100] further comprising at least one memory to store a list of eateries and information of the at least one order, the first user device [102], the at least one second user device [106A, 106B, 106C] and the vendor device [104].

10. The system [100] as claimed in claim 9, wherein the at least one memory is present in at least one of the first user device [102], the second user device [106A, 106B, 106C] and the central server [110].

11. The system [100] as claimed in claim 8, wherein the first user device [102] and the at least one second user device [106A, 106B, 106C] are configured to select a take-away, a dine-in and a home delivery for the at least one order. The system [100] as claimed in claim 8, wherein the vendor device [104] is configured to accept and process the at least one order and the payment in an event the first user device [102] places the at least one order and processes the payment.