USOO8738449B1
`
`(12) Unlted States Patent
`Cupps et al.
`
`(10) Patent N0.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 8,738,449 B1
`May 27, 2014
`
`(54) INTERNET ONLINE ORDER METHOD AND
`APPARATUS
`
`(75) Inventors Bryan T- Cupps, Bothell, WA (US);
`Tlm Glass, Amos, CA (US)
`_
`_
`(73) ASSlgneei IPDEV C0" Chlcagoi IL (Us)
`
`(52) US. Cl.
`USPC ............ .. 705/15; 705/26.1; 705/28; 715/821;
`715/823; 715/798; 715/701; 717/177; 709/203
`(58) Field of Classi?cation Search
`USPC ......... .. 705/15, 261, 27.1; 719/328; 345/156;
`715/701; 764; 235/381; 487
`See application ?le for complete search history.
`
`( * ) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer; the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U_S_C_ 15403) by 0 days
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`_
`(21) APP1~ NO" 13/592,199
`_
`(22) Flled:
`
`Aug. 22, 2012
`
`2004/0158494 A1 *
`8/2004 Suthar ........................... .. 705/15
`2012/0143730 A1* 6/2012 Ansari et a1.
`.. 705/271
`2013/0125031 A1 *
`5/2013 Calica et al. ................ .. 715/764
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`Related US. Application Data
`(63) Continuation of application No. 09/282,645; ?led on
`Mar. 31; 1999; Which is a continuation of application
`NO' 08/976’793’ ?led on NOV' 24’ 1997’ HOW pat NO'
`5’991’739'
`(51) Int Cl
`G06Q 30/00
`
`(2012.01)
`
`Primary Examiner * Vanel Frenel
`(74) Attorney’ Agem’ 0r Flrm i perkms C016 LLP
`(57)
`ABSTRACT
`A system and method for providing an online ordering
`machine that manages the distribution of products over a
`distributed computer system is herein disclosed.
`21 Claims, 20 Drawing Sheets
`
`100
`
`Cpu
`
`\120
`Operating System
`113 x Internet Access Procedures \122
`112
`Web Server Procedures
`\124
`Web Page Creation Free
`\126
`Order Database
`\128
`f114
`@f_@ Geocode Database
`\130
`Online Order Procedure
`\132
`_=§5§§§§§:“
`IVR Procedure
`\134
`User Interface
`Recorded Speech Database \136
`
`F_,
`1
`mg
`.7
`110 116
`113
`. . . Kb
`07M
`{IVR Hardware|——
`1 /
`/
`110
`
`Order Text _ _ Communications _ Voice Data File
`
`
`
`Inte'face
`Geocode Procedure
`Menu Web Pages
`Menu File System
`0 0 0
`Online Ordering
`Machine 106
`
`\1 \140
`
`\142
`\144
`x146
`
`r1 04
`Network lnterconnectivity
`(Switches, etc)
`
`CP U
`l
`
`Communications
`Interface
`11
`116/
`2
`119 Operating System
`f 114 \ lntemet Access
`QB Procedures
`
`\120
`\
`122
`
`$555555?"
`User Interface
`
`Client 102
`
`Apple, Exhibit 1055, Page 1
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`May 27, 2014
`
`Sheet 1 0f 20
`
`US 8,738,449 B1
`
`100
`W
`
`102A
`
`104
`\
`
`Client
`Corn uter
`p
`.
`-
`°
`
`108A
`\
`
`‘
`
`1 06 \
`1 10
`Online /‘>/
`‘—_* Ordering
`Machine
`
`Vendor
`
`:
`.
`
`102N \
`Client
`Computer
`
`‘
`
`EIBM \
`Vendor
`
`110
`
`FIG. 1
`
`Apple, Exhibit 1055, Page 2
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`May 27, 2014
`
`Sheet 2 0f 20
`
`US 8,738,449 B1
`
`100
`
`\120
`Operating System
`CPU _\ 1 18 \ Internet Access Procedures \122
`1 1 2
`Web Server Procedures
`\124
`Web Page Creation Proc
`126
`Order Database
`\128
`f 114
`_ (D Geooode Database
`\130
`Online Order Procedure
`\132
`IVR Procedure
`\1 34
`nggg‘ggggg?‘
`Recorded Speech Database x136
`user Interface
`Order Text File
`\1 38
`_
`_
`C°mmum°a?°n$ _ Voice Data File
`\140
`'nterface
`Geocode Procedure
`\142
`116-7
`Menu Web Pa es
`\144
`r113
`Menu File System
`\146
`>IVR Hardware
`. . .
`Online Ordering
`Machine 1 06
`
`f1 04
`Network lnterconnectivity
`(Switches, etc)
`
`CPU
`\112
`
`Communications
`Interface
`116—/
`1 19 Operating System
`f 1 14 \ Internet Access
`@f 6 Procedures
`
`\120
`\
`122
`
`.sEEEEEE?"
`User Interface
`
`Client 102
`
`FIG. 2
`
`Apple, Exhibit 1055, Page 3
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`May 27, 2014
`
`Sheet 3 0f 20
`
`US 8,738,449 B1
`
`FIG. 3A
`
`Apple, Exhibit 1055, Page 4
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`May 27, 2014
`
`Sheet 4 of 20
`
`US 8,738,449 B1
`
`152
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`Apple, Exhibit 1055, Page 5
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`May 27, 2014
`
`Sheet 5 of 20
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`US 8,738,449 B1
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`Apme,Exmbn1055,Page6
`
`Apple, Exhibit 1055, Page 6
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`May 27, 2014
`
`Sheet 6 0f 20
`
`US 8,738,449 B1
`
`FIG. 3D
`
`Apple, Exhibit 1055, Page 7
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`May 27, 2014
`
`Sheet 7 0f 20
`
`US 8,738,449 B1
`
`Apple, Exhibit 1055, Page 8
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`May 27, 2014
`
`Sheet 8 0f 20
`
`US 8,738,449 B1
`
`IEI
`
`ISQII % Hill LiiiiiiJ
`O (D (D LfiliiiJ
`
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`
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`9 lo.
`o Q. l2: 0 m
`
`T @l lmlgl | lol I |
`
`FIG. 3F
`
`Apple, Exhibit 1055, Page 9
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`May 27, 2014
`
`Sheet 9 0f 20
`
`US 8,738,449 B1
`
`_/_
`
`Latitude
`
`Apple, Exhibit 1055, Page 10
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`May 27, 2014
`
`Sheet 10 0f 20
`
`US 8,738,449 B1
`
`250 \
`
`252 \
`
`254 \
`
`09456,12943
`
`,
`
`A
`(1)
`
`c:
`(4)
`
`B
`(2)
`
`D
`(8)
`
`256 J
`
`258/
`
`FIG. 5
`
`Apple, Exhibit 1055, Page 11
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`May 27, 2014
`
`Sheet 11 0120
`
`US 8,738,449 B1
`
`Header:
`Order Number
`Order Type
`First Time Customer
`Delivery
`Special Instructions
`RDS Number
`Restaurant Name
`Restaurant Phone
`Restaurant Fax
`Customer Name
`Customer Email
`Customer Addresst
`Customer AddressZ
`Customer Cross St.
`Customer City
`Customer Phone
`Total
`Payment Type
`Special Count
`Item Count
`
`Special:
`ID
`Description of Item
`Price
`Item Count
`
`Special Item:
`ID
`Description of Item
`Price
`Item Count
`
`ltem:
`ID
`Description of Item
`Quantity
`Price
`
`Return Information:
`Return Code
`Delivery Time
`
`FIG. 6
`
`Apple, Exhibit 1055, Page 12
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`May 27, 2014
`
`Sheet 12 0f 20
`
`US 8,738,449 B1
`
`128
`- 126
`Order
`\
`Database
`Web Creation
`Procedures <——> User Requests
`
`146
`
`Menu File
`system
`
`144 \ I
`Menu Web
`Pages
`
`FIG. 7
`
`Apple, Exhibit 1055, Page 13
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`May 27, 2014
`
`Sheet 13 0f 20
`
`US 8,738,449 B1
`
`Pizza
`Delivery Restaurants
`The following restaurants were found in your area. To see a restaurant's menu,
`click the Logo, Restaurant Name, or Menu Button.
`1 -5 w 1 1-1 1
`Ba-Ga Go-Pi Ro-Ro
`
`Click here to see
`
`' Waclal
`“vines
`Ballard Firehouse
`v 5429 Russell Ave NW Settle, WA
`Relax We‘ll bring it to you
`
`Cucinal Cucina!
`
`Regent Cuslomer
`Cuisines
`0 Restaurants
`
`Nominate Restaurants
`
`901 Fail-view)! Seattle, WA Where you will receive the ?nest food in town. Additional 3% charge on ' ‘ ~
`
`Visa, Master Card and American Express.
`Elliott Bay Pizza Company
`
`
`
`
`
`2] l5 Queen Anne Ave. N. Seattle, WA Queen Anne's newest pizzeria owned and operated by Wayne a Kelly
`
`Glass. The Gourmet Pizza is known for its distinctive marinara sauce.
`
`Enzo's
`A605 Queen Anne Ave N Seattle, WA
`""Relax we'll bring it to you
`
`-
`
`‘Gardelli's Pizza 8. Pasta
`_ 422 15! Ave. Sallie, WA
`_ aste the difference! Everything is home-made: Dough, pine sauce, ilalian
`‘Ysausage, dressings and clam sauce. We use low—lat cheese and no oil in
`ny of our sauces.
`6-10 11-11
`1-5
`Ba-Ga Go-Pi Ro-Ro
`
`FIG. 8
`
`Apple, Exhibit 1055, Page 14
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`May 27, 2014
`
`Sheet 14 0f 20
`
`US 8,738,449 B1
`
`Home
`Begeat Customer
`m
`Restaurants
`9 Menu
`
`QM
`Qggortunitie§
`m
`About Us
`Nominate Restaurants
`
`I
`
`Enzo's Delivery - Menu
`“05 Queen Anne Ave N Seattle, WA
`Categories
`Order Summary
`Pizza
`I
`Nothing Yet
`
`Sgecialg Pizza Antigastl
`Tabs" mm -
`Salad
`° ‘°°°°°
`Pesce Fresco
`For The Love Of Pasta
`Enzos Favorite Pastas
`Came E Pollo
`Enzos Classic Pastas
`Enzos Classic Pasta Side
`Orders
`Desserts
`Beverages
`
`Pizza Every Enzos Pim Begins With Fresh, Hand Tossed Dough. Then Covered
`With Our Rich Pizza Sauce And Real Mommlla.
`
`l — ll
`12" - 12.85,
`l4' — 14.60,
`16" -— l$.60
`10' - I335.
`12" - 14.35,
`
`[4" — 18.10.
`6“ - 19.
`
`FIG. 9
`
`Apple, Exhibit 1055, Page 15
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`May 27, 2014
`
`Sheet 15 0f 20
`
`US 8,738,449 B1
`
`Begeag Customer
`Cuisines
`Beam
`9 Menu
`
`ELM:
`922%;
`el
`@oui Us
`?ominate Restaurants
`
`Enzo's Delivery - Menu
`05 Queen Anne Ave N Seattle, WA
`Categories
`Order Summary
`Pizza
`L
`Nothing Yet
`Sgeclalg Pizza
`Antigasti
`Salad
`Pesce Fresco
`For The Love Of Pasta
`Enzos Favorite Pastas
`Came E Polio
`Enzos Classlc Pastas
`Enzos Classic Pasta Side
`Orders
`Desserts
`Bevera es
`
`Pesce Fresco All dinners served with tossed salad and bread.
`21 Bistecca i
`Tender moist halibut steak smothered in lemon
`aubm "3 er; "a butter sauce with mushrooms orour homemade
`sauce 1nd pasta side.
`Prawns sauteed in garlic and lemon with
`enushmoms and broccoli. Includes 1 side ofpasta.
`
`erving - 14.85
`
`crving - 14.85
`
`224 Gambenoni
`Con seinac]
`
`25 Pesee Del
`escatone
`
`Prawns in spicy tomato basil sauce with
`mushrooms. Includes a side ofpuu.
`
`Isms - 14.85
`Prawns sauteed in lemon butter sauce and tossed lServ-ing - 14.85
`with fresh spinach and tomatoes. Served over a
`hot hot! of?nguine.
`Halibut, prawns and fresh clams delicately
`sirnmerodinaipieyredsaueeandservedovera
`bed of lin uine.
`
`Serving - 14.85
`
`FIG. 10
`
`Apple, Exhibit 1055, Page 16
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`May 27, 2014
`
`Sheet 16 0f 20
`
`US 8,738,449 B1
`
`/- 300
`Customer accesses online ordering
`machine
`1
`Customer enters location and
`other information
`
`f- 302
`
`1,
`Obtain corresponding geocode
`for customer location
`
`,- 304
`
`l
`Online ordering machine
`generates menu web pages in
`response to customer requests
`
`r- 306
`
`l
`Customer places order
`
`r 308
`
`f- 310
`1
`Online ordering machine receives
`order and processes order
`l
`Return
`FIG. 1 1
`
`Apple, Exhibit 1055, Page 17
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`May 27, 2014
`
`Sheet 17 0f 20
`
`US 8,738,449 B1
`
`Thai/\Ior-ldi's
`Order from your local restaurants.
`
`Repeat Customer
`Enter login name and password below.
`LOGIN NAME
`
`New Customer
`Register now to begin ordering.
`
`Switch to Text Version
`© 1997 cybermeals
`
`FIG. 12A
`
`Apple, Exhibit 1055, Page 18
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`May 27, 2014
`
`Sheet 18 0f 20
`
`US 8,738,449 B1
`
`Repeat Customer
`
`Welcome to cybermeals, c hart!
`To add or change an address click here.
`
`7 @work
`850 hanscn Way _ pale alm, ca 94304
`
`{_ Ualhwdbvdégjg?lnAnAdvmclOn
`
`Home
`6 Welcome Back
`
`User Pro?le
`i?e M
`MM
`254
`cminale Rest:
`g L—im >
`
`'
`
`43b MY
`
`a 1AK£ OUT
`3
`
`252
`
`Switch 19 Text Version
`O 1997 cybenneals
`
`FIG. 12B
`
`Apple, Exhibit 1055, Page 19
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`May 27, 2014
`
`Sheet 19 0f 20
`
`US 8,738,449 B1
`
`Cuisines
`
`Demo
`6 Cuisines
`
`0 ortunitie
`lielg
`About Us
`Nominate Restaurants
`
`Thank you for visiting cybermealsl As if you were at:
`The Seattle Space Needle - 219 Fourth Avenue North , Seattle, WA
`98109
`
`This is a DEMO - Reg'ster Now!
`
`Click Here to see All 56 Restaurants. A restaurant may be listed in more than one
`cuisine.
`
`Cravings (31)
`C‘Pina (11)
`PL" (3)
`Sandwiches
`(15)
`Coffee Shag (3)
`Hamburgers (9)
`Sala§ (19)
`greakfag (5)
`Seafood (1 0)
`Wraps
`Chicken (8)
`
`Chinese (8)
`3M (3)
`Jaganese (4)
`Indian (2)
`Korean (2)
`
`European (13)
`Italian (1 1)
`French
`Mediterranean
`Greek
`L580 (2)
`German
`English
`
`American (16)
`
`Exotic ( 1)
`
`Caribbean
`South American
`Persian
`North African
`Lebanese (1)
`
`Mexican (4)
`East Food (1)
`Health
`American (7)
`gar-Bgue (4)
`Soul Food (2)
`Southwestem
`] gx-Mex (1)
`
`FIG. 12C
`
`Apple, Exhibit 1055, Page 20
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`May 27, 2014
`
`Sheet 20 0f 20
`
`US 8,738,449 B1
`
`Place order in order database
`
`Generate order text file
`
`312
`
`314
`
`316
`
`320
`318
`
`
`Generate voice
`
`
`
`Format order for
`Y
`
`
`
`data informing
`facsimile transmission
`
`vendor of fax
`
`and fax order
`
`
`order
`
`Fax order?
`
`
`
`Generate voice data of order
`
`Transmit voice data Vla
`telephone call to restaurant
`
`326
`
`N
`
`Y
`Retrieve response from restaurant
`
`
`
`
`
`N
`
`328
`
`
`# of retries >
`
`limit?
`
`330
`
`329
`Y Initiate failure
`actions
`
`Return
`
`332
`
`N
`
`334
`Initiate failure actions
`and update order
`database
`
`Return
`
`Y
`
`336
`
`Update order database and
`respond to customer
`
`Return
`
`FIG. 13
`
`Apple, Exhibit 1055, Page 21
`
`Apple, Exhibit 1055, Page 21
`
`

`

`US 8,738,449 B1
`
`1
`INTERNET ONLINE ORDER METHOD AND
`APPARATUS
`
`
`
`
`CROSS-R a F a RENC 4 TO RELATED
`
`APPLICATIONS
`
`
`
`This application is a continuation of U.S. patent applica—
`tion Ser. No. 09/282,645, filed Mar. 31, 1999 and now pend—
`ing, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser.
`No. 08/976,793, filed Nov. 24, 1997 and now US. Pat. No.
`5,99 1,739, both ofwhich are incorporatedherein by reference
`in their entirety.
`The present invention relates to systems and methods for
`electronic conmierce and particularly to an Internet self-or-
`dering mechanism.
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`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
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`telephones the Waiters on Wheels office. The office in tum
`calls the consumer to inform them of the problem.
`PizzaNet is another prior art online ordering system that
`provides Internet consumers with a web site including menus
`of participating pizza restaurants. To place an order, consum—
`ers enter their zip code, telephone area code, and the first three
`digits of their phone number. A list of participating pizza
`restaurants within the consumer’ s location is provided along
`with their menus. The consumer can then select the restaurant
`of his or her choice and order from its menu. PizzaNet
`receives the order from the Internet and faxes to the restaurant
`a copy of the order. In some instances, PizzaNet verifies the
`order by a return phone call and in other cases the pizza
`restaurant verifies the order by return phone call.
`A shortcoming of the Waiter on Wheels and PizzaNet
`systems is in its method of communicating with the restaurant
`through a fac sirnile machine. The additional expense incurred
`in installing a facsimile machine can deter prospective res-
`taurants from participating in this system. Further, once an
`order is received, all subsequent commtmications between
`the customer and the delivery system are performed via tele-
`phone calls which requires manual intervention.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`invention pertains to an online ordering
`The present
`machine that manages the distribution of home delivered
`products over a distributed computer system. The distributed
`computer system includes a group of customers connected to
`client computers and at least one server computer system that
`executes the online ordering machine. The online ordering
`machine provides the customers with product information
`from various vendors whose delivery range is within the
`customers location or with product information from vendors
`having take out service within a specified range from the
`customers location. The online ordering machine accepts
`orders from the customer for a particular product from a
`selected vendor. The order is converted into voice instructions
`which are transmitted to the vendor through a telephone call.
`Alternatively, the order can be transmitted via facsimile trans-
`mission with follow up voice instructions transmitted via a
`telephone call seeking a response. The vendor responds to the
`voice-prompted instructions which are their used to confirm
`the order.
`In an embodiment of the present invention, the online
`ordering machine enables Internet customers to order food
`products from various participating restaurants. The online
`ordering machine is a Web server including a web creation
`procedure that dynamically generates menu web pages in
`response to a customers request. The menu web pages list the
`various products for delivery or takeout service. An Internet
`customer is provided with a menu web page listing those
`vendors or restaurants that service the customer’ s location. In
`addition, the online ordering machinc indicates which restau-
`rants are open at the time the customer makes the request.
`The online ordering machine categorizes the location of
`each participating restaurant by a set oflongitude and latitude
`coordinates. Each customer’s delivery location is also catego-
`rized by a set oflongitude and latitude coordinates. The online
`ordering machine searches for those restaurants whose deliv-
`ery area lies within the customer’s location based on the
`restaurant’s and customer’s longitude and latitude coordi-
`nates. Likewise, the online ordering machine searches for
`those restaurants having takeout service within the custom—
`er’s location based on the restaurant’s and customer’s longi-
`tude and latitude coordinates.
`
`Apple, Exhibit 1055, Page 22
`
`The Internet has provided consumers with a new medium
`for electronic commerce. Currently, there exist several Inter—
`net services that provide consumers with access to menus for
`food products that can be ordered online.
`World Wide Waiters is one such service in which each
`consumer and participating restaurants are linked via the
`Internet to the World Wide Waiter server. The World Wide ,
`Waiter server provides a web site that includes web pages
`having menus of several participating restaurants with home
`delivery and/or take—out service. The consumer can search for
`a menu either using a restaurant’ s name or a city.
`The consumer can then place an order from the menu of a
`selected restaurant which is transferred to the World Wide
`Waiter server. The World W'ide Waiter server then emails the
`order over the Intemet to the restaurant. The restaurant con—
`firms the order to the World Wide Waiter server. Upon receiv-
`ing the restaurant’s confirmation, the World Wide Waiter
`server transmits to the consumer a confirming email that the
`restaurant has received the order and will deliver the order.
`In addition, World Wide Waiters allows a customer to fax
`the order directly to The World Wide Waiters olIice. Person-
`nel at the World Wide Waiters oflice contacts the restaurant in
`order to process the order.
`There are several shortcomings to this system. First, each
`participating restaurant needs to have Internet access to the
`World Wide Waiter server. This additional expense can deter
`restaurant proprietors from utilizing this type of home deliv-
`ery service.
`Second, the World Wide Waiter server downloads to the
`customer statically created HTML pages representing the
`menus of each participating restaurant. These menu web
`pages are preconfigured and stored in the server. The use of
`these statically configured menu web pages becomes a bur—
`den since it hampers the maintainability and scalability of the
`server to take on additional restaurants.
`W’aiters on Wheels is another Internet online ordering ser-
`vice that provides Intemct consumers with a web site to
`advertise menus of participating restaurants and that accepts
`consumer orders. It faxes an order to a participating restau-
`rant. It provides its own waiters which pick up the take-out
`order from a participating restaurant and deliver it to the
`consumer’s location.
`The menus are stored by the geographic location of a
`Waiters on Wheels office. A consumer searches those menus
`associated with the Waiters on Wheels office within their
`delivery location. A consumer can order online from the
`menu. The Waiters on Wheels server confirms receipt of the
`consumer’s order by telephone. If the restaurant cannot
`deliver the order to the Internet consumer, the restaurant
`
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`Apple, Exhibit 1055, Page 22
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`

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`US 8,738,449 B1
`
`3
`Once an Internet customer places an order, the order is
`converted into voice data. An interactive voice recognition
`(IVR) procedure receives the order as an order text file and
`converts the order into a voice file of recorded speech seg—
`ments. The IVR procedure automatically places a call to the
`restaurant and transmits the voice file which is played when
`the call is received. In addition, the IVR procedure can trans—
`mit the order as a facsimile transmission and follow up with
`an automated telephone call. In either case, voice prompts are
`used to obtain a response from the restaurant in the form of
`one or more DTMF tones. The online ordering machine then
`relays a status response to the customer.
`
`
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`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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`stations, laptops, and/or mainframe computers. One or more
`users (not shown) can be associated with each client computer
`102.
`FIG. 2 illustrates the client computer 102 which includes a
`CPU 112, a user interface 114, a memory 119, and a commu-
`nication interface 116. The communications interface 116 is
`used to communicate with the server computer 106 as well as
`other system resources not shown. The memory 119 of the
`client computer 102 may be implemented as RAM (random
`access memory) or a combination of RAM and non—volatile
`memory such as magnetic disk storage. The memory 119 can
`contain the following:
`an operating system 120;
`Internet access procedures 122;
`as well as other procedures and files.
`FIG. 2 also illustrates the online ordering machine 106
`which includes a central processing unit (CPU) 112, Interac-
`tive Voice Recognition (IVR) hardware 113, a user interface
`114, a memory 118, a communications interface 116. The
`online ordering machine 106 can be any type of computing
`device, such as but not limited to, desktop computers, work-
`stations, laptops, and’or mainframe computers. The commu-
`nications interface 1 16 is used to communicate with the client
`computers 102 as well as other system resources not shown.
`The IVR hardware 113 connects the online ordering
`machine 106 to a telephonic link 110 coupled to one or more
`telephonic devices, such as but not limited to a facsimile
`machine 107A and/or a telephone 107M. Each telephonic
`device 107 can be associated with a particular vendor 108.
`The IVR hardware 113 provides interactive voice recognition
`capabilities including voice processing, speech recognition,
`and text-to-speeeh processing.
`In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the
`IVR hardware 113 consists of three types of devices: (1) one
`or more DialogicTM CP/12SCTM facsimile boards that provide
`the online ordering machine 106 with 60 or more facsimile
`channels,
`the facsimile board enables communication
`between the online ordering machine 106 and a facsimile
`machine 107 associated with a vendor 108; (2) one or more
`Dialogic"M D/24OSC-T1'1'M boards that provide 24 digital
`signal processor (DSP)—based ports to an on-board T—l tele-
`
`phone interface; and (3) one or more DialogicTM D/41 ESCTM
`boards that provide four DSP-based voice ports to an on-
`board analog telephone interface. The fac sirnile board
`enables communication between the online ordering machine
`106 and a facsimile machine 107A associated with a vendor
`108. The D/24OSC—T1TM board enables interactive voice rec—
`ognition capabilities between the online ordering machine
`106 and a vendor 108 having an analog telephonic interface,
`and the D/4l ESCTM board enables interactive speech recog-
`nition capabilities between the online ordering machine 106
`and a vendor 108 or customer having an analog telephone
`interface. A more detailed description of these devices can be
`found in the product literature for each of these products
`located at http://ww.dialogie.com which is hereby incorpo-
`rated by reference as background information.
`It should be noted that the present invention is not con-
`strained to the preferred IVR hardware and that other such
`hardware devices can be used that provide a similar capabil-
`itv.
`The memory 118 of the online ordering machine 106 may
`be implemented as RAM (random access memory) or a com-
`bination of RAM and non-volatile memory such as magnetic
`disk storage. The memory 118 can contain the following:
`an operating system 120;
`Internet access procedures 122;
`web server procedures 124;
`
`Apple, Exhibit 1055, Page 23
`
`Additional objects and features of the invention will be
`more readily apparent from the following detailed description
`and appended claims when taken in conjunction with the
`drawings, in which:
`FIG. 1 is a block diagram ofan embodiment ofa distributed
`computer system incorporating the present invention.
`FIG. 2 is a block diagram ofthe client computer and online
`ordering machine as shown in FIG. 1.
`FIG. 3 illustrates the order database schema in a preferred ,
`embodiment of the present invention.
`FIG. 4 illustrates the geocodes in a preferred embodiment
`of the present invention.
`FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating the partitioning ofa
`grid area into smaller areas in a preferred embodiment of the
`present invention.
`FIG. 6 is an exemplary format of the order text file in a
`preferred embodiment of the present invention.
`FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating the menu web page
`creation in a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
`FIGS. 8-10 are schematic representations of exemplary
`menu web pages that are dynamically created in response to
`a customers response.
`FIG. 11 is a flow chart illustrating the steps used to process
`an order in a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
`FIGS. 12A-12C are schematic representations of exem-
`plary menu web pages used to receive an order in a preferred
`embodiment of the present invention.
`FIG. 13 is a flow chart illustrating the steps used to process
`an order in a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
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`DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
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`EMBODIMENTS
`
`Computer Architecture
`
`FIG. 1 illustrates a system 100 representing an embodi-
`ment of the present invention including a number of client
`computers 102A-102N and one or more online ordering
`machines 106 in communication Via a communications link
`104. In a preferred embodiment, an online ordering machine
`106 is a server computer. An online ordering machine 106 is
`in comrmmication with one or more vendors 108A-108M
`through one or more telephone links 110.
`The communication link 104 generically refers to any type
`of wire or wireless link between computers, such as but not
`limited to a local area network, a wide area network, or a
`combination of networks. In a preferred embodiment of the
`present invention, the communications link 104 can be a
`network such as the Internet.
`A client computer 102 can be any type of computing
`device, such as but not limited to, desktop computers, work-
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`Apple, Exhibit 1055, Page 23
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`US 8,738,449 B1
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`6
`an IVR fax disposition table 202;
`a theme table 204;
`a disposition table 206;
`an hour table 208;
`a day of week table 210;
`a category table 212;
`a fee structure table 214;
`an order fee table 216;
`a RDS delivery table 218;
`a first category theme table 220 and a second category
`theme table 222;
`a credit card table 224; and
`a RDS zone delivery table 226.
`It should be noted that the present invention is not limited
`to the database schema shown in FIG. 3. Other schemas can
`be utilized and other types of databases; other than the rela-
`tional database shown in FIG. 3 can be utilized as wel .
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`web page creation procedures 126 that dynamically gen—
`erate menu web pages in response to a customers
`request;
`an order database 128 that includes information on each of
`the customers, vendors, and received orders;
`a geocode database 130 that is used to convert a geographic
`location such as a street address into longitude and lati-
`tude coordinates;
`an online ordering procedure 132;
`an interactive voice recognition (IVR) procedure 134 that
`is used to deliver a voice message and obtain a response
`to the voice message;
`a recorded speech database 136 including one or more
`recorded speech segments;
`an order text file 138 that is anASCII representation of the
`order in a preferred format;
`a voice data file 140;
`a geocode procedure 142 that is used to convert a geo-
`graphic location into its corresponding longitude and
`latitude coordinates;
`one or more menu web pages 144 that are dynamically
`created by the web creation procedure 126;
`a menu file system 146 including one or more menu files
`representing menu data associated with a particular ven—
`dor; preferably, the menu files are binary files stored in a ,
`NS encoded format; and
`other procedures and data structures
`FIG. 3 illustrates the schema ofthe order database 128. The
`order database 128 can include the following tables:
`a customer table 150 having an entry for each customer that
`tenders an order to the online ordering machine 106; the
`customer entry including information that characterizes
`a particular customer;
`an address table 152 having an entry for each customer and
`including the latitude 154 and longitude 156 coordinates
`associated with a customers address;
`an order master table 158 having an entry for each order;
`a restaurant table 160 having an entry for each restaurant
`containing information that describes the restaurant, its
`services and products; each entry including the latitude
`162 and longitude 164 coordinates associated with a
`restaurant;
`a restaurant category table 162 associated with the restau-
`rant table 160 that is used to identify a category associ-
`ated with a restaurant;
`a price range table 168 associated with the restaurant table
`160 identifying the price ranges for products offered by
`a restaurant;
`a time zone table 170 associated with the restaurant table
`160 indicating the time zone corresponding to a restau-
`rant;
`a restaurant delivery table 172:
`a payment type table 174;
`a restaurant payment table 176;
`a restaurant delivery service (RDS) gratuity table 178;
`a RDS table 180;
`a holiday table 182 associated with the restaurant table and
`indicating the restaurants holidays;
`an IVR fax code table 184;
`an EoSequence table 186;
`a RDS Category Fee table 188;
`a RDS Cross Zone Fee table 190;
`a company table 192;
`a RDS grid table 194;
`a company fee structure table 196;
`a food group table 198;
`a RDS zone table 200;
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`Geocodes
`
`The present invention uses geocodes to determine w iether
`a customer is within a specified geographic area of a restau-
`rant’ s delivery area or whether a restaurant is within a speci-
`fied geographic area of the customers takeout range. T 1e use
`of geocodes has the advantage of producing more accurate
`search results. The prior art use of zip codes; cities; or tele-
`phone prefixes generally produces unsatisfactory resul 5 list—
`ing restaurants that do not deliver to the customers location. In
`addition; the geocodes can be used to specify a geographic
`location anywhere within the globe; thereby enabling the
`online ordering machine to accommodate intemationa loca-
`tions as well as the United States.
`A geocode represents a particular geographic area or grid
`defined by longitude and latitude coordinates. Longitude and
`latitude coordinates are used to define a geographic location
`relative to the surface of the earth. The earth’s reference
`system is composed of surface divisions denoted by geo—
`graphic lines of latitude and longitude. A specific geographic
`location can be defined in this system by its respective longi-
`tude and latitude coordinates.
`FIG. 4 illustrates the earth with latitude and longitude lines.
`The area 240 is represented by a geocode associated with a
`latitude and a longitude coordinate. Typically; a latitude coor-
`dinate is specified in latitude degrees and a longitude coordi-
`nate is specified in latitude degrees.
`The technology ofthe present invention uses the geocodes
`to identify each customer and vendor in order to determine
`whether a customer is within a specified geographic area or
`grid of a restaurant’s delivery area or whether a restaurant is
`within a specified geographic area or grid of the customer’s
`takeout range. A geocode procedure 142 is used that converts
`the address of each customer and vendor into its respective
`latitude and longitude coordinates, The latitude and longitude
`coordinates then become the geocode which represents a
`particular grid. Next. the online order procedure 132 uses the
`geocode to search the order datab