IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,749,055
Granted Patent B2
US 12,749,055 · App. 18/745,725 · Granted Sep 29, 2026

Centralized restaurant management

Inventors: Bruce Bell (New York, NY); James Lintern (New York, NY); Brian Partridge (Brooklyn, NY); Ghassan Abu-Ghaida (New York, NY); Matthew T. Kursmark (Brooklyn, NY); Logan Johnson (Brooklyn, NY)
Assignee: Block, Inc.
G06Q20/102G06Q10/087G06Q20/202G07F9/002G07F17/40G07G1/0036H04L51/222G06Q50/12
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,749,055
App. No.
18/745,725
Granted
Sep 29, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Systems and methods for modifying a user interface of a device based on unavailability of an item offered for sale by a merchant are described. In examples, the techniques include receiving, by server(s) of a service provider, menu data indicating items offered for sale by the merchant. Based on the menu data, instructions that cause presentation of a user interface comprising icons corresponding to the items are sent by the server(s) to device(s) of a merchant and/or customer(s) of the merchant. The techniques further include the server(s) receiving an indication that one of the items is unavailable for sale by the merchant. Responsive to receiving the indication, instructions are sent by the server(s) to at least one of the devices, wherein the instructions cause presentation of a modified user interface that excludes from the user interface an icon corresponding to the unavailable item.

Claims (44)

1 . A computer-implemented process comprising:

receiving, by one or more computer servers of a service provider, menu data comprising an indication of a plurality of menu items offered for sale by a merchant;

based at least in part on the menu data, sending, by the one or more computer servers to one or more devices, first instructions that cause presentation of a user interface comprising a plurality of icons, wherein an individual icon of the plurality of icons corresponds to a respective item of the plurality of menu items, and wherein individual devices of the one or more devices are associated with at least one of the merchant or a customer of the merchant and configured to receive customer orders for one or more menu items;

receiving, by the one or more computer servers, an indication that an item of the plurality of menu items is temporarily unavailable for sale by the merchant; and

responsive to receiving the indication that the item is temporarily unavailable, sending, by the one or more computer servers to at least one device of the one or more devices, second instructions that cause modification of the user interface to an updated user interface by superimposing a notification on an icon corresponding to the first item, wherein the notification indicates that the item is temporarily unavailable for sale, and wherein the notification partially occludes the icon while leaving the icon at least partially visible and legible on the updated user interface.

2 . The computer-implemented process of claim 1 , wherein the indication that the item is temporarily unavailable for sale by the merchant comprises a user input to a merchant device, wherein the user input comprises an indication that the item is out of stock.

3 . The computer-implemented process of claim 1 , wherein receiving the indication that the item is temporarily unavailable for sale by the merchant comprises determining that the item is temporarily unavailable via monitoring an inventory of the merchant via communication with one or more computing devices associated with the merchant.

4 . The computer-implemented process of claim 1 , wherein the item is temporarily unavailable for sale by the merchant at one merchant location of a plurality of merchant locations, wherein the indication that the item is temporarily unavailable for sale by the merchant includes location data indicating that the item is temporarily unavailable at the one merchant location, and wherein the at least one device is associated with the one merchant location.

5 . The computer-implemented process of claim 1 , wherein the indication that the item is temporarily unavailable for sale by the merchant comprises an indication that the item is unavailable for sale during at least one of a time of day, a day of week, a season, or a holiday period.

6 . The computer-implemented process of claim 1 , wherein sending the second instructions happens in near real-time to receiving the indication that the item is temporarily unavailable for sale.

7 . The computer-implemented process of claim 1 , wherein individual icons of the plurality of icons are selectable icons, and wherein selection of a selectable icon causes an order to be generated for a corresponding item of the plurality of menu items.

8 . The computer-implemented process of claim 1 , wherein the modification of the user interface further comprises at least one of:

a changed position of the icon;

a changed size of the icon;

a changed shape of the icon;

a changed image associated with the icon; or

changed text associated with the icon.

9 . A system associated with a service provider, comprising:

one or more processors; and

one or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing instructions executable by the one or more processors, wherein the instructions cause the one or more processors to perform acts comprising:

receiving menu data comprising an indication of a plurality of menu items offered for sale by a merchant;

based at least in part on the menu data, sending, to one or more devices, first instructions that cause presentation of a user interface comprising a plurality of icons, wherein an individual icon of the plurality of icons corresponds to a respective item of the plurality of menu items, and wherein individual devices of the one or more devices are associated with at least one of the merchant or a customer of the merchant and configured to receive customer orders for one or more menu items;

receiving an indication that an item of the plurality of menu items is temporarily unavailable for sale by the merchant; and

responsive to receiving the indication that the item is temporarily unavailable, sending, to at least one device of the one or more devices, second instructions that cause modification of the user interface to an updated user interface by superimposing a notification on an icon corresponding to the first item, wherein the notification indicates that the item is temporarily unavailable for sale, and wherein the notification partially occludes the icon while leaving the icon at least partially visible and legible on the updated user interface.

10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the indication that the item is temporarily unavailable for sale by the merchant comprises a user input to a merchant device, wherein the user input comprises an indication that the item is out of stock.

11 . The system of claim 9 , wherein receiving the indication that the item is unavailable for sale by the merchant comprises determining that the item is unavailable via monitoring an inventory of the merchant via communication with one or more computing devices associated with the merchant.

12 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the item is temporarily unavailable for sale by the merchant at one merchant location of a plurality of merchant locations, wherein the indication that the item is temporarily unavailable for sale by the merchant includes location data indicating that the item is temporarily unavailable at the one merchant location, and wherein the at least one device is associated with the one merchant location.

13 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the indication that the item is temporarily unavailable for sale comprises an indication that the item is temporarily unavailable for sale during at least one of a time of day, a day of week, a season, or a holiday period.

14 . The system of claim 9 , wherein sending the second instructions happens in near real-time to receiving the indication that the item is temporarily unavailable for sale.

15 . One or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing instructions executable by one or more processors that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform acts comprising:

receiving, by one or more computer servers of a service provider, menu data comprising an indication of a plurality of menu items offered for sale by a merchant;

based at least in part on the menu data, sending, by the one or more computer servers to one or more devices, first instructions that cause presentation of a user interface comprising a plurality of icons, wherein an individual icon of the plurality of icons corresponds to a respective item of the plurality of menu items, and wherein individual devices of the one or more devices are associated with at least one of the merchant or a customer of the merchant and configured to receive customer orders for one or more menu items;

receiving, by the one or more computer servers, an indication that an item of the plurality of menu items is temporarily unavailable for sale by the merchant; and

responsive to receiving the indication that the item is temporarily unavailable, sending, by the one or more computer servers to at least one device of the one or more devices, second instructions that cause modification of the user interface to an updated user interface by superimposing a notification on an icon corresponding to the first item, wherein the notification indicates that the item is temporarily unavailable for sale, and wherein the notification partially occludes the icon while leaving the icon at least partially visible and legible on the updated user interface.

16 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 15 , wherein the modification of the user interface further comprises at least one of:

a changed position of the icon;

a changed size of the icon;

a changed shape of the icon;

a changed image associated with the icon; or

changed text associated with the icon.

17 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 15 , wherein the second instructions that cause modification of the user interface are sent after receiving an indication of an initial interaction with the user interface.

18 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 15 , wherein the modification of the user interface further comprises a changed color of the icon.

19 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 15 , wherein the icon is in a same position on the updated user interface and on the user interface.

20 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 15 , wherein icon in the updated user interface is non-interactable.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 17, 2024
From: BELL, BRUCE; LINTERN, JAMES; PARTRIDGE, BRIAN; ABU-GHAIDA, GHASSAN; KURSMARK, MATTHEW T.; JOHNSON, LOGAN
To: SQUARE, INC.
Reel/Frame 067749/0015 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jun 17, 2024
From: SQUARE, INC.
To: BLOCK, INC.
Reel/Frame 067768/0529 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation 17468622 · Sep 7, 2021
Continuation 16940291 · Jul 27, 2020
Continuation 15279782 · Sep 29, 2016
Related Publication 20240412183A1 · Dec 12, 2024
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