IP Library Granted Patent US 12,169,862
Granted Patent B2
US 12,169,862 · App. 18/171,041 · Granted Dec 17, 2024

Online ordering for in-shop service

Inventors: Nathaniel B. Scholl (Oakland, CA); Jason Crawford (San Francisco, CA); Joshua Puckett (Palo Alto, CA)
Assignee: BYTEDANCE INC.
G06Q30/0635G06Q20/145G06Q30/02G06Q30/06G06Q50/12
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,169,862
App. No.
18/171,041
Granted
Dec 17, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

Systems and related methods providing for online ordering of menu items from a merchant are discussed herein. Circuitry may be configured to generate an online menu based on menu information stored in a menu database. The menu information may be also configured to facilitate point-of-sale functionality at the merchant, such as by a point-of-sale device. The online menu may be provided to a consumer device. An online order may be received from the consumer device. The circuitry may be configured to process the online order, such as by facilitating a reservation, order preparation, and payment.

Claims (61)

1. A method for managing an online menu configured for ordering menu items from a restaurant comprising:

accessing a menu database comprising a plurality of menu items, one or more of the menu items associated with a respective menu item quantity;

generating, by a networked processor, menu information based on the menu items;

generating an online menu including a first set of menu items using the menu information;

causing display of a consumer view of the online menu to a display of a consumer device;

receiving, from the consumer device, online order data associated with an online order indicating at least one item from the first set of menu items;

updating the menu item quantity associated with the at least one item in the menu database;

determining that the updated menu item quantity fails to satisfy a defined menu inclusion threshold; and

updating the online menu to remove the at least one item from the first set of menu items.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

transmitting point-of-sale data indicating the at least one item of the online order to a restaurant device associated with the restaurant; and

determining a trigger condition to begin preparation of the online order.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

receiving an indication of a dine-in selection for the online order,

wherein the trigger condition is based on one or more of a location of the consumer device, a reservation time for the dine-in selection, a preparation time of the online order, or a size of the online order.

4. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

prior to receiving the online order data, associating a payment account with a consumer associated with the consumer device; and

subsequent to an occurrence of the trigger condition, facilitating a financial transaction using the payment account.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:

receiving an additional order of an additional item subsequent to receiving the online order data; and

associating the additional item with the payment account before facilitating the financial transaction.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein receiving the additional order of the additional item is received online.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein receiving the additional order of the additional item is received from a device in the restaurant.

8. The method of claim 4 , further comprising associating an unpaid amount with the payment account.

9. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

receiving an indication to cancel the online order; and

responsive to receiving the indication to cancel the online order, canceling preparation of the online order.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

accessing a waitlist indicating table wait times;

adding an entry to the waitlist for a table based on a request received from the consumer device;

sending an estimated seating time for the table to the consumer device;

associating the online order data with the entry to the waitlist; and

sending an indication that the table is available to the consumer device.

11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

associating the online order with a plurality of payment accounts;

receiving payment data indicating how to allocate payment amounts among the plurality of payment accounts; and

facilitating financial transactions using the plurality of payment accounts according to the payment data.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the payment data indicates a ratio for allocating the payment amounts among the plurality of payment accounts.

13. A system for managing an online menu configured for ordering menu items from a restaurant, comprising:

circuitry configured to:

access a menu database comprising a plurality of menu items, one or more of the menu items associated with a respective menu item quantity;

generate menu information based on the menu items;

generate an online menu including a first set of menu items using the menu information;

cause display of a consumer view of the online menu to a display of a consumer device;

receive, from the consumer device, online order data associated with an online order indicating at least one item from the first set of menu items;

update the menu item quantity associated with the at least one item in the menu database;

determine that the updated menu item quantity fails to satisfy a defined menu inclusion threshold; and

update the online menu to remove the at least one item from the first set of menu items.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to:

transmit point-of-sale data indicating the least one item of the online order to a restaurant device associated with the restaurant; and

determine a trigger condition to begin preparation of the online order.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to receive an indication of a dine-in selection for the online order and the trigger condition is based on one or more of a location of the consumer device, a reservation time, a preparation time of the online order, and a size of the online order.

16. The system of claim 14 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to:

prior to receiving the online order data, associate a payment account with a consumer associated with the consumer device; and

subsequent to an occurrence of the trigger condition, facilitate a financial transaction using the payment account.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to:

receive an additional order of an additional item subsequent to receiving the online order data; and

associate the additional item with the payment account before facilitating the financial transaction.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the additional order of the additional item is ordered online.

19. The system of claim 17 , wherein the additional order of the additional item is ordered at the restaurant.

20. The system of claim 16 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to associate an unpaid amount with the payment account.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 10, 2024
From: GROUPON, INC.
To: BYTEDANCE INC.
Reel/Frame 068538/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 17, 2023
From: SCHOLL, NATHANIEL B.; CRAWFORD, JASON; PUCKETT, JOSHUA
To: GROUPON, INC.
Reel/Frame 062734/0948 →