Ulllted States Patent [19]
`Cupps et al.
`
`US005991739A
`[11] Patent Number:
`[45] Date of Patent:
`
`5,991,739
`Nov. 23, 1999
`
`[54] INTERNET ONLINE ORDER METHOD AND
`APPARATUS
`
`[75] Inventors: Bryan Cupps, Bothell, Wash; Tim
`Glass, Aptos, Calif.
`
`[73] Asslgnee: FOOD'COM’ San Franclsco’ Cahf'
`
`[21] Appl' NO‘: 08/976,793
`[22]
`Filed:
`NOV_ 24’ 1997
`
`[51] Int. Cl-6 .................................................... .. G06F 17/60
`[52] US. Cl. ............................... .. 705/26; 705/26; 705/37;
`705/27
`[58] Field of Search ............................. .. 705/26; 340/994;
`379/201
`
`[56]
`
`References Cited
`
`4,530,067
`4,569,421
`
`Us‘ PATENT DOCUMENTS
`7/1985 Dorr ...................................... .. 364/900
`2/1986 Sandstedt . . . . .
`. . . . .. 186/39
`364/401
`1/1989 Cotter --------- -
`4,797,818
`235/383
`4,882,475 11/1989 Miller et a1~
`.. 340/711
`4,971,406 11/1990 Hanson
`5,444,444
`8/1995 Ross ....... ..
`" 340/994
`379/201
`5,533,107
`7/1996 Irwin et a1. ........................
`5,559,707
`9/1996 DeLorme et a1. .................... .. 364/443
`
`5,648,770
`5,655,008
`
`340/994
`7/1997 Ross ............... ..
`8/1997 Futch et a1. ........................ .. 379/9101
`
`Primary Examiner—Kevin J. Teska
`Assistant Examiner—Mark J. Fink
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Flehr Hohbach Test Albritton &
`Herbert; Steven F, CaserZa
`
`ABSTRACT
`[57]
`A system and method for providing an online ordering
`machine that manages the distribution of home delivered
`products over a distributed computer system is herein dis
`closed. 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 custom
`ers With product information from various vendors Whose
`delivery range is Within the customer’5 location 0r with
`product information from vendors having take out service
`Within a speci?ed range from the customer’s location. The
`vendor’s and customer’s location is associated With a geo
`code representing the latitude and longitude coordinates of
`the location. The search for the vendors servicing the
`eusterner’s location is done using the geeeedes- 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. The vendor receives the
`telephonic order and responds to voice-prompted instruc
`t.
`d t
`? th
`d
`1on5 use 0 co“ m e or “
`
`40 Claims, 20 Drawing Sheets
`
`r 300
`Customer accesses online ordering
`machine
`
`Customer enters location and
`other information
`
`K302
`
`/ 304
`
`Obtain corresponding geocode
`for customer location
`
`i
`Online ordering machine
`generates menu web pages in
`response to customer requests
`
`K306
`
`Customer places order
`
`r308
`
`r310
`,
`Online ordering machine receives
`order and processes order
`l
`Return
`
` 1
`
`Petitioners' Exhibit 1039, Page
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 23, 1999
`
`Sheet 1 0f 20
`
`5,991,739
`
`100
`\I‘
`
`102A\
`
`Client
`Computer
`.
`-
`'
`
`104
`\
`
`‘
`
`108A \
`
`106 \
`110
`Online /‘)/
`‘—* Ordering
`Machine
`
`Vendor
`
`I
`.
`
`102N \
`Client
`Computer
`
`A
`
`2:81“ \
`Vendor
`
`110
`
`FIG. 1
`
` 2
`
`Petitioners' Exhibit 1039, Page
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 23, 1999
`
`Sheet 2 0f 20
`
`5,991,739
`
`100
`
`\120
`Operating System
`CPU \ 118 \ Internet Access Procedures \122
`112
`Web Server Procedures
`\124
`Web Page Creation Proc
`\126
`Order Database
`‘\128
`f‘ 114
`_ G Geocode Database
`‘\13O
`Oniine Order Procedure
`\132
`IVR Procedure
`\134
`_=§§§§§§§E“
`Recorded Speech Database \136
`User lmerface
`Order Text File
`\138
`_
`_
`Commumca?ons _ Voice Data File
`\140
`Interface
`Geocode Procedure
`\142
`116-’
`Menu Web Pages
`\144
`_ . . X /113
`Menu File System
`\146
`\ivR Hardware
`- - -
`/
`Online Ordering
`Machine 106
`
`[104
`Network lnterconnectivity
`(Switches, etc)
`
`CPU \112
`
`Communications
`Interface
`116/
`119 Operatilg System
`[114 \lnternetAccess
`Procedures
`
`[J
`
`\12o
`\
`122
`
`.:§§§§E§§=°
`User Interface
`
`Client 102
`
`FIG. 2
`
` 3
`
`Petitioners' Exhibit 1039, Page
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 23, 1999
`
`Sheet 3 0f 20
`
`5,991,739
`
`FIG. 8A
`
` 4
`
`Petitioners' Exhibit 1039, Page
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 23, 1999
`
`Sheet 4 0f 20
`
`5,991,739
`
`FIG. 3B
`
` 5
`
`Petitioners' Exhibit 1039, Page
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 23, 1999
`
`Sheet 5 0f 20
`
`5,991,739
`
`wk
`
`FIG. 3C
`
` 6
`
`Petitioners' Exhibit 1039, Page
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Nov. 23, 1999
`
`Sheet 6 0f 20
`
`5,991,739
`
`IIT_|
`_L
`
`< flR OlDLSpgSflOfiI
`‘l
`01d:
`
`50
`
`N O3|CD
`
`
`
`VERDE? C.
`I 1_|__L_L_L_L.L_LJ
`IvlvlvllllIL_L_L_J__L_|__L
`ET@@3|1
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`Ox’lCDINI8IU’I
`V
`VL.L‘”
`I'gT
`
`
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`U)C)~2. D.
` I]
`TeTg‘llg!Ila!
`
`
`L_L_|_J..LJ
`Li_L_L_L_|
`I
`O.
`
`I
`”o.fiSU”U_-U-)lglal'c?J
`T9
`
`
`F6“lgmm
`E
`
`
`
`| I
`
`T
`
`l|
`
`IVIII
`
`
`
`aid.
`H-
`Fail—o
`
`196
`
`Compgn1FeeS_tru
`Effictmnoj1 _ j
`
`@%—4.—
`
`Petitioners' Exhibit 1039, Page 7
`
` 7
`
`Petitioners' Exhibit 1039, Page
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 23, 1999
`
`Sheet 7 0f 20
`
`5,991,739
`
`FIG. 3E
`
` 8
`
`Petitioners' Exhibit 1039, Page
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 23, 1999
`
`Sheet 8 0f 20
`
`5,991,739
`
`k
`
`FIG. 3F
`
` 9
`
`Petitioners' Exhibit 1039, Page
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 23, 1999
`
`Sheet 9 0f 20
`
`5,991,739
`
`Latitude
`‘I- 'T " '" '1
`l
`I
`l
`
`.. ‘- .._\._
`‘
`‘
`Equator 1
`
`FIG. 4
`
` 10
`
`Petitioners' Exhibit 1039, Page
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 23, 1999
`
`Sheet 10 0f 20
`
`5,991,739
`
`250 \
`
`252 \
`
`254 \
`
`09456, 12943
`
`'
`
`A
`(1)
`
`c
`(4)
`
`B
`(2)
`
`D
`(8)
`
`256 J
`
`258/
`
`FIG. 5
`
` 11
`
`Petitioners' Exhibit 1039, Page
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 23, 1999
`
`Sheet 11 0f 20
`
`5,991,739
`
`Headen
`Order Number
`Order Type
`First Time Customer
`Delivery
`Special instructions
`RDS Number
`Restaurant Name
`Restaurant Phone
`Restaurant Fax
`Customer Name
`Customer Email
`Customer Address1
`Customer Address2
`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
`
`'
`
`Item:
`ID
`Description of item
`Quantity
`Price
`
`Return Information:
`Return Code
`Delivery Time
`
`FIG. 6
`
` 12
`
`Petitioners' Exhibit 1039, Page
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 23, 1999
`
`Sheet 12 0f 20
`
`5,991,739
`
`126 \
`Web Creation
`Procedures <—-—-> User Requests
`
`Menu File
`System
`
`144 x I
`Menu Web
`Pages
`
` 13
`
`Petitioners' Exhibit 1039, Page
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 23, 1999
`
`Sheet 13 0f 20
`
`5,991,739
`
`Regeat Customer
`Cuisines
`Q Restaurants
`
`User Pro?le
`mgortunitiei
`M2
`@out Us
`Nominate Restaurants
`
`Pizza
`Delivery Restaurants
`The following restaurants were found in your area. To see a restaurant's menu,
`click the Logo, Restaurant Name, or Menu Burton.
`1-5
`6-1011-11
`Ba-GaMBLRO
`
`Click here to see
`
`1 “53m
`saunas
`Ballard Firehouse
`5429 Russell Ave NW Seattle, WA
`Relax we'll bring it to you
`
`Cucina! Cucina!
`
`m i1.“
`
`901 FairviewN 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 211s QuccnAnnc Ave. N. Seattle, WA
`
`
`
`{4X '
`
`Y.
`
`’
`
`Queen Anne's newest pizzeria owned and operated by Wayne a Kelly
`Glass. The Gourmet Pizza is known for its distinctive marinara sauce.
`
`u;
`
`Enzo's
`605 Queen Anne Ave N Seattle, WA
`Relax we'll bring it to you
`m
`._ Gardelli's Pizza & Pasta
`32422 151 Ave. Seattle, WA
`Taste the difference! Everything is home-made: Dough, pina sauce, itallan
`sausage, dressings and clam sauce. We use low-fat cheese and no oil in
`any of our sauces.
`6-10 11-11
`1-5
`Ba-Ga Go-Pi Ro-Ro
`
`Mm
`
`FIG. 8
`
` 14
`
`Petitioners' Exhibit 1039, Page
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 23, 1999
`
`Sheet 14 0f 20
`
`5,991,739
`
`Enzo‘s Delivery - Menu
`05 Queen Anne Ave N Seattle, WA
`Categories
`Order Summary
`Pizza
`I
`Nothing Yet
`
`]
`
`$9.1m!‘ Rm! _
`7° PM
`
`0 . .
`
`SQecialg Pizza Antigasti
`mm
`
`53mm Sa'ad
`gggigjrsans
`Pesce Fresco
`0 Menu
`For The Love Of Pasta
`Enzos Favorite Pastas
`Came E Pollo
`Enzos Classic Pastas
`Enzos Classic Pasta Side
`Orders
`Desserts
`Beverages
`
`userprome
`9mm};
`Iii-‘5mm
`?ominate Restaurants
`
`Pizza Every Enzos Pizza Begins With Fresh, Hand Tossed Dough, 11m Covered
`Generously With Our Rich Pina Sauce And Real Mozzarella.
`cheese pizza
`___—_
`
`Small 10' - 73s,
`Medium 12" - 8.35,
`Large 14' - 935, Extra
`Large 16" - 10.35
`
`One Rem Pizza
`
`Two Item Pizza
`
`Three Item Pizza
`
`Four item P'gg
`
`ive Item Big;
`
`FIG. 9
`
`Small 10" - 8.85,
`Medium 12" - 9.85,
`Large14' -11.10,
`Em Large 16" — 12.10
`
`Small 10" - 10.35.
`Medium 12" --1135,
`Llrge 14" - 12.85,
`Extra Large 16" — 13.85
`
`Small 10" - 11.85,
`Medium 12" - 12.85.
`Luge 14" -14.60,
`Em Llrge 16" - 15.60
`Small 10' - 1335,
`Medium 12' -14.3S,
`L836 14" — 1635.
`Extra Llrge16" -1735
`Small 10' - 14.85.
`Medium 12" — 15.85,
`Large14' -18.10,
`Extra Lame 16' - 19.10
`
` 15
`
`Petitioners' Exhibit 1039, Page
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 23, 1999
`
`Sheet 15 0f 20
`
`5,991,739
`
`|
`
`Categories
`Pizza
`Sgeclalg Pizza
`Antigasti
`ome
`Memes salad
`Cuisines
`——
`Restaurants
`Pesce Fresco
`0 Menu
`For The Love Of Pasta
`Enzos Favorite Pastas
`Came E Pollo
`Enzos Classic Pastas
`Enzos Classic Pasta Side
`Orders
`Desserts
`Beverages
`
`1E9, Emme
`9mm
`Mega,‘ Us
`Nominate Restaurants
`
`Pesce Fresco All dinners served with tossed salad and bread.
`Z1 Bistecca Di
`Tender moist halibut steak smothered in lemon
`alibu‘ Ana 6 - "a butler sauce with mushrooms or our homemade
`sauce and pasta side.
`Prawns sauteed in garlic and lemon with
`mushrooms and broccoli. Includes a side ofpma.
`
`Prawns in spicy tomato basil sauce with
`‘mushrooms. Includes a side ofpasu
`
`‘Serving — 14.85
`
`erving - 14.85
`
`erving - 14.85
`
`B24 Gamberoni
`‘con seinaci
`
`25 Pesce Del
`escatore
`
`Pmvns sauteed in lemon butter sauce and tossed lServing - 14.85
`wirh fresh
`and tomatoes. Served over a
`lie! bed of ' h
`Halibut. pnwns and fresh dams delicately
`spicyredsauceandaervod oven
`bed oflmgume.
`
`Serving - 14.85
`
`FIG. 10
`
` 16
`
`Petitioners' Exhibit 1039, Page
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 23, 1999
`
`Sheet 16 0f 20
`
`5,991,739
`
`r 300
`Customer accesses online ordering
`machine
`1
`Customer enters location and
`other information
`1,
`Obtain corresponding geocode
`for customer location
`
`r 304
`
`r 302
`
`i
`Online ordering machine
`generates menu web pages in
`response to customer requests
`
`r 306
`
`J,
`Customer places order
`
`r- 308
`
`r 310
`1
`Online ordering machine receives
`order and processes order
`l
`Return
`FIG. 1 1
`
` 17
`
`Petitioners' Exhibit 1039, Page
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 23, 1999
`
`Sheet 17 0f 20
`
`5,991,739
`
`TheWorld’sI1éét'lakemtandDeIiveryService!
`
`1:51
`
`7
`
`Order from your local restaurants.
`
`Demo cybermeials
`Visit cybermeals
`
`Repeat Customer
`Enter login name and password below.
`LOGIN NAME
`
`New Customer
`Register now to begin ordering‘
`
`Here!
`
`Rare! '
`
`PASSWORD
`
`- Click
`
`Switch to Text Version
`© 1997 cybermeals
`
`FIG. 12A
`
` 18
`
`Petitioners' Exhibit 1039, Page
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 23, 1999
`
`Sheet 18 0f 20
`
`5,991,739
`
`?ame
`° Welcome Back
`
`ger Pro?le
`O rtunitie
`ILIQ
`
`Switch to Text Versign
`O 1997 cybermcals
`
`252
`
`Repeat Customer
`
`Welcome to cybermeals, c hart!
`To add or change an address c?ck here.
`
`@work
`8S0 hanscn way . pllo alto, ca 94304
`
`‘
`
`U“ I SIM o??vfmvm? § Piln An Advancl Oq
`
`FIG. 12B
`
` 19
`
`Petitioners' Exhibit 1039, Page
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 23, 1999
`
`Sheet 19 0f 20
`
`5,991,739
`
`Cuisines
`
`Thank you for visiting cybermeais! As if you were at:
`The Seattle Space Needle - 219 Fourth Avenue North , Seattle, WA
`warm
`98109
`
`This is a DEMO — Register Now!
`
`Click Here to see All 56 Restaurants. A restaurant may be listed in more than one
`cuisine.
`
`Cravings (31)
`Asia (17)
`Chinese (8)
`trPizza (11)
`IL“ (3)
`PL“ (3)
`Jaganese (4)
`m
`)nc?an (2)
`(1 5)
`Coffee Shog (3)
`Korean (2)
`?amburgers (9)
`Salads (19)
`greakfast (5)
`Seafood (1 O)
`Wraps
`Chicken (8)
`
`European (13)
`lta?an (1 1)
`French
`Mediterranean
`Greek
`Eisb'o (2)
`German
`English
`
`American (16)
`
`Exotic (1 )
`
`Caribbean
`South American
`Persian
`North African
`Lebanese (1)
`
`Mexican (4)
`Fast Food (1)
`Heaith
`American (7)
`Bar-B-Que (4)
`Soul Food (2)
`Southwestem
`Tex-Mex (1 )
`
`FIG. 12C
`
` 20
`
`Petitioners' Exhibit 1039, Page
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`N0v.23, 1999
`
`Sheet 20 0f 20
`
`5,991,739
`
`312
`
`314
`
`316
`
`318
`
`320
`Generate voice
`
`
`
`-Y
`
`N
`
`
`
`
`Format order for
`
`data informing
`facsimile transmission
`
`vendor of fax
`and fax order
`
`
`order
`
`
`
`Generate voice data of order
`
`Transmit voice data via
`telephone call to restaurant
`
`326
`
`N
`
`Y
`
`328
`
`
`# of retries >
`
`limit?
`
`
`330
`
`329
`Y Initiate failure
`actions
`
`Return
`
`Retrieve response from restaurant
`
`332
`
`N
`
`334
`
`Initiate failure actions
`and update order
`database
`
`Return
`
`Y
`
`336
`
`Update order database and
`respond to customer
`
`Return
`
`FIG. 13
`
`Petitioners' Exhibit 1039, Page 21
`
` 21
`
`Petitioners' Exhibit 1039, Page
`
`

`

`5,991,739
`
`1
`INTERNET ONLINE ORDER METHOD AND
`APPARATUS
`
`The present invention relates to systems and methods for
`electronic commerce and particularly to an Internet self—
`ordering mechanism.
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`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 he 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
`W'aiter 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
`W'aiter server. The World Wide Waiter server then emails the
`order over the Internet
`to the restaurant. The restaurant
`confirms the order to the World Wide Waiter server. Upon
`receiving 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 W'aiters allows a customer to fax
`the order directly to the World Wide Waiters office. Person-
`nel at the World Wide Waiters office 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
`delivery 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
`burden since it hampers the maintainability and scalability
`of the server to take on additional restaurants.
`
`Waiters on Wheels is another Internet online ordering
`service that provides Internet 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. Aconsumer 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
`telephones the Waiters on Wheels office. The office in turn
`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,
`consumers enter their zip code, telephone area code, and the
`first three digits of their phone number. A list of participating
`
`10
`
`tom
`
`30
`
`L»or
`
`40
`
`60
`
`2
`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 restau-
`rant through a facsimile machine. The additional expense
`incurred in installing a facsimile machine can deter prospec—
`tive restaurants from participating in this system. Further,
`once an order is received, all subsequent communications
`between the customer and the delivery system are performed
`via telephone calls which requires manual intervention.
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTTON
`
`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 order—
`ing machine provides the customers with product informa-
`tion from various vendors Whose delivery range is within the
`customer’s location or with product information from ven—
`dors having take out service within a specified range from
`the customer’s 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 transmission with follow up voice instructions
`transmitted via a telephone call seeking a response. The
`vendor responds to the voice—prompted instructions which
`are then 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 customer’s 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 machine indicates
`which restaurants are open at the time the customer makes
`the request.
`The online ordering machine categorizes the location of
`each participating restaurant by a set of longitude and
`latitude coordinates. Each customer’s delivery location is
`also categorized by a set of longitude and latitude coordi-
`nates. The online ordering machine searches for those res—
`taurants whose delivery area lies within the customer’s
`location based on the restaurant’s and customer’s longitude
`and latitude coordinates. Likewise,
`the online ordering
`machine searches for those restaurants having takeout ser-
`vice within the customer’s location based on the restaurant’s
`and customer’s longitude and latitude coordinates.
`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
`segments. The IVR procedure automatically places a call to
`the restaurant and transmits the voice file which is played
`
`Petitioners' Exhibit 1039, Page 22
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`5,991,739
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`3
`when the call is received. In addition, the IVR procedure can
`transmit 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.
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`Additional objects and features of the invention will be
`more readily apparent from the following detailed descrip-
`tion and appended claims when taken in conjunction with
`the drawings, in which:
`FIG.
`1
`is a block diagram of an embodiment of a
`distributed computer system incorporating the present
`invention.
`
`10
`
`FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the 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 of
`a 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. 8710 are schematic representations of exemplary
`menu web pages that are dynamically created in response to
`a customer’s response.
`illustrating the steps used to
`FIG. 11 is a [low chart
`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.
`
`DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
`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 communication 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 ofthe
`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,
`workstations, laptops, and/or mainframe computers. One or
`more users (not shown) can be associated with each client
`computer 102.
`
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`FIG. 2 illustrates the client computer 102 which includes
`a CPU 112, a user interface 114, a memory 119, and a
`communication interface 116. The communications inter-
`face 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 imple-
`mented 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, Inter-
`active Voice Recognition (IVR) hardware [13, a user inter-
`face 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, workstations, laptops, and/or mainframe com—
`puters. The communications interface 116 is used to com-
`municate 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 recogni-
`tion capabilities including voice processing, speech
`recognition, and text—to—speech 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 pro—
`vide the online ordering machine 106 with 60 or more
`facsimile channels, the facsimile board enables communi-
`cation between the online ordering machine 106 and a
`facsimile machine 107 associated with a vendor 108; (2) one
`or more DialogicTM D/24OSC-T1TM boards that provide 24
`digital signal processor (DSP)—based ports to an on—board
`T-1 telephone interface; and (3) one or more DialogicTM
`D/41 JzSCTM boards that provide four DSP-based voice ports
`to an on—board analog telephone interface. The facsimile
`board enables communication between the online ordering
`machine 106 and a facsimile machine 107A associated with
`a vendor 108. The D/240SC—T1TM board enables interactive
`voice recognition capabilities between the online ordering
`machine 106 and a vendor 108 having an analog telephonic
`interface, and the D/41 ESCTM board enables interactive
`speech recognition 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.dialogic.com which is
`hereby incorporated by reference as background informa—
`tion.
`invention is not
`the present
`It should be noted that
`constrained to the preferred IVR hardware and that other
`such hardware devices can be used that provide a similar
`capability.
`The memory 118 of the online ordering machine 106 may
`be implemented as RAM (random access memory) or a
`combination 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;
`
`Petitioners' Exhibit 1039, Page 23
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`5,991,739
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`5
`web page creation procedures 126 that dynamically generate
`menu web pages in response to a customer’s 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
`latitude 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 an ASCII representation of the
`order in a preferred format;
`a voice data file 140;
`a geocode procedure 142 that is used to convert a geographic
`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
`vendor, preferably, the menu files are binary files stored in
`a NS encoded format; and
`other procedures and data structures.
`FIG. 3 illustrates the schema of the 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 customer’s 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 restaurant
`table 160 that is used to identify a category associated
`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 restaurant’s 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;
`an IVR fax disposition table 202;
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`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
`relational database shown in FIG. 3 can be utilized as well.
`
`Geocodes
`
`invention uses gcocodcs to determine
`The present
`whether a customer is within a specified geographic area of
`a restaurant’s delivery area or whether a restaurant is within
`a specified geographic area of the customer’s takeout range.
`The use of geocodes has the advantage of producing more
`accurate search results. The prior art use of zip codes, cities,
`or telephone prefixes generally produces unsatisfactory
`results listing restaurants that do not deliver to the custom-
`er’s location.
`In addition,
`the geocodes can be used to
`specify a geographic location anywhere within the globe,
`thereby enabling the online ordering machine to accommo-
`date international locations 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. Aspecific geographic
`location can be defined in this system by its respective
`longitude 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 coordinate is specified in latitude degrees and a
`longitude coordinate is specified in latitude degrees.
`The technology of the 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 con-
`verts 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 database 142 to
`make the appropriate selections.
`In a preferred embodiment, the grid size for the United
`States was selected between 0.25 and 0.3 miles. For
`example, a 0.3 mile grid equates to 0.0054 longitude degrees
`and 0.0043 latitude degrees. Thus, in order to convert the
`latitude and longitude coordinates of a customer or restau-
`rant location into a geocode, the following mathematical
`equations can be used:
`Latitude Id=tnlnc [(latilude in degreesv105)/43OO]+1,
`Longitude Id=abs (trunc[-(longitude in degrees*105:)/5400]+1),
`Geocode=Latitude Id, Longitude Id
`
`Petitioners' Exhibit 1039, Page 24
`
` 24
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`Petitioners' Exhibit 1039, Pa