The present invention relates to a method of improving the speed of ordering goods and/or services, in particular for the ordering of menu items from a restaurant. The invention further relates to a speed ordering system for improving the speed of ordering goods and/or services utilising said method.

With the advent of computer networks, it has become possible for transactions to be performed over the internet, greatly simplifying the ordering of goods and/or services for consumers. In particular, mobile phone ordering has increased exponentially in recent years for e-commerce purposes. Data suggests that one third of e-commerce sales occur via a mobile device such as a smartphone, and trends suggest that this proportion is only going to increase over time. In the past two years, mobile's contribution to total e-commerce sales has increased by 175%.

In the takeaway food market, it has become possible to order food for delivery in this manner as well, in which the user, for example, logs into a website, selects the menu items they wish to be delivered, and then orders the menu items, choosing to either make payment online or pay with cash on delivery. Such as process is, however, relatively time consuming, and therefore it can often be quicker to contact the takeaway restaurant in question directly, for example, by telephone.

The difficulty lies in the need to individually select the desired menu items from the entire menu of the takeaway restaurant, which is time-consuming for an individual, particularly where the restaurant has an extensive menu with a breadth of choice. For instance, a particular restaurant may offer several base dishes within which different options can be chosen, for example, a stir-fry meal may be selected with a number of different protein options, such as chicken, pork, beef, prawns, or tofu. When the number of different options is multiplied across the range of base dishes, the list of menu items becomes extensive and difficult for a user to navigate easily.

Furthermore, there is the further problem that, where internet connectivity is poor, it may not always be possible to connect to the website of a desired restaurant or takeaway so as to place an order. Where internet connectivity has been severed for whatever reason, then a large number of people may attempt to contact the restaurant simultaneously by telephone in order to place an order; in this scenario, there is a limit to the number of successful orders which may be placed. This may result in lost business for the takeaway. It is therefore an object of the present invention to improve the speed with which such goods and/or services can be ordered, particularly for mobile phone users.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of improving the speed of ordering goods and/or services, the method comprising the steps of: a] providing a plurality of pre-selected lists of goods and/or services for at least one vendor; b] on a user device, associating a unique indicator with each of the plurality of pre-selected lists; c] storing the plurality of pre-selected lists in a database on a server associated with the user device or a user account; d] on the user device, forwarding a chosen unique indicator to the server to choose one of the plurality of pre-selected lists with which the chosen unique indicator is associated; and e] the server forwarding the chosen pre-selected list to the vendor to order the goods and/or services on the chosen pre-selected list.

The provision of pre-selected lists, where the user has chosen, or has had chosen for them, desired goods and/or services, which are associable with a unique indicator, advantageously simplifies the process by which the goods and/or services can be ordered. In turn, this accelerates the ordering process for the user, making them more likely to use the vendor in question. By providing a server intermediate the user and the vendor, it also beneficially becomes possible to provide user access to a plurality of different vendors from a single point of access, preferably without requiring any access to the internet. The simplification of the ordering process using the unique indicator achieves its goal through minimising the number of keystrokes or interactions required by a user in order to place an order.

Preferably, at least one of the plurality of pre-selected lists of goods and/or services may be a user-selected list of goods and/or services. Permitting the user to select the goods and/or services of interest, and then save them for future use by association with a unique indicator, allows for a bespoke service to be offered to the individual user, without slowing the speed of ordering the specific goods and/or services in future. At least one of the plurality of pre-selected lists of goods and/or services may be populated based on historical user data, in which case, the at least one of the plurality of pre-selected lists of goods and/or services may be populated automatically based on historical user data stored on the user device and/or on the server.

Automatic population of prior lists simplifies the ordering process for a user. For example, in the context of ordering menu items from a restaurant, a previously-used list from a previous order can be readily populated and saved into the database at the time of ordering. Provided that the user associates a unique indicator with the list, then this simplifies the re-ordering process for the user.

Preferably, the database may be associated with the plurality of pre-selected lists is based on a mobile phone number associated with the user.

Association of a user account with a particular mobile phone number allows for ready identification of the user so as to further simplify the ordering process. Furthermore, the mobile phone number association beneficially allows for the activation of SMS messaging service ordering, which is ideally suited towards ordering goods and/or services based on the unique indicator.

The unique indicator may optionally comprise a user-input identifier.

Whilst a unique indicator may be automatically generated by the server or user device, it is preferred that the user generates their own user-input identifier which enables them to readily remember the unique indicator for future orders. Preferably, the method may further comprise a step f] which is subsequent to step e] of delivering the products and/or services from the vendor to a user location, in which case, there may be a further step of transmitting a user location to the server, the server determining a viability of said step f] prior to undertaking step e] based on the user location relative to the vendor location. A step g] may also be provided, which is subsequent to step e], of the server sending a notification to the user device confirming the communication with the vendor.

Whilst the server may be arranged at a most basic level to order goods and/or services from vendors as soon as instructed, which may be fine for some vendors, it will be apparent that other vendors may place geographical or other restrictions on delivery. In such a scenario, it is best that the vendor provides some form of feedback to the server to ensure that orders are satisfactorily processed.

Optionally, a plurality of different pre-selected lists for different vendors may be storable in the database, which may supply different types of goods and/or services. In one embodiment, the said different vendors may be in different geographical locations. Furthermore, there may be provided a step subsequent to step d] of determining a geographical proximity between the user device and the vendor associated with the chosen unique indicator, the server only forwarding the chosen pre-selected list to the vendor if the determined geographical proximity is less than a predetermined distance.

One of the strengths of the present invention is the ability to collate lists for several different vendors, such as different restaurants, in a single location, simplifying the user experience associated with the ordering process. In particular, this may allow a user who travels frequently to different locations, to automatically find their favourite goods and/or services in different geographic locations, which may even be in different countries and/or continents, without difficulty.

Preferably, the database may be accessible via a computer application on the user device. Additionally or alternatively, the database may be accessible via an SMS messaging service. The database may be preferentially accessible via a wireless internet network, the database being secondarily accessible via an SMS messaging service if no wireless internet network is accessible.

The provision of remote-access ordering which does not require direct user interaction with the vendor beneficially results in further speed enhancements for the ordering process. Furthermore, by allowing multi-step attempts to connect to the vendor via different communication means may be highly beneficial, for instance, in locations with poor internet connectivity.

The method may further comprise a step h] prior to step e] of validating the choice of pre-selected list at the user device. Said validation may include a requirement to process user payment details for the chosen pre-selected list of goods and/or services, in which case, the user payment details may be stored within the user device or user account, the validation requiring a single user confirmation before proceeding to step e].

Validation of the choice of list, preferably via a payment requirement, advantageously prevents the user from accidentally placing an order erroneously, which would present difficulties for both the user and vendor otherwise as an order is prepared and delivered erroneously.

Each of the plurality of pre-selected lists may be a pre-selected list of menu items, the vendor being a restaurant.

Preferably, the method may further comprise a step i] prior to step e] of the server determining a closest applicable vendor to contact based on a user location.

Where a vendor has a plurality of individual locations from which the goods and/or services may be provided, for instance, in the case of franchised restaurants, then the server may optionally be able to determine a user location from the user device so as to permit automatic optimal selection of the appropriate vendor store. This prevents the user from accidentally ordering their goods and/or services from the wrong location, for instance, if they are in transit.

During step c], the plurality of pre-selected lists may be sorted based on a monitored hierarchy or order frequency. Additionally or alternatively, during step c], the plurality of pre-selected lists may be sorted based on a geographical proximity between the user and the or each vendor. Furthermore, there may comprise a step prior to step d] of the server prompting the selection of one of the plurality of pre-selected lists based on historical usage data.

The server may be advantageously arranged to highlight to a user their previous favourite orders of goods and/or services, which may include prompting based on historical usage data, such as previously times of orders being placed, or may be based on a real-time location of the user with respect to one or more vendors. Furthermore, this arrangement may allow users to order food for different geographical locations, for example, in a particular holiday destination. Beneficially, this may allow a user to place their order in advance of their arrival in a destination, such that their chosen goods and/or services are prepared for their arrival.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a speed ordering system for improving the speed of ordering goods and/or services, the system comprising: a server having at least one user device account associated therewith; a server-implemented database of pre-selected lists of goods and/or services for at least one vendor, the database being associated with the user device account; at least one user device communicable with the server and associated with one said user device account, the user device permitting user selection of a pre-selected list of goods and/or services from the server-implemented database of pre-selected lists; and at least one vendor device communicable with the server to permit ordering of the user-selected pre-selected list of goods and/or services.

Preferably, the at least one user device account is accessible via a computer application on the user device. Additionally or alternatively, the at least one user device account may be accessible via an SMS messaging service on the user device.

Such a system beneficially allows for a user to place orders for goods and/or services in a straightforward manner without needing to otherwise inspect the individual choices of goods and/or services which may be off-putting to placing of the order. This beneficially permits a user to, for example, order takeaway food whilst travelling in a rapid manner, which may then be delivered in time for their arrival at their destination.

Preferably, the at least one user device may include a user locator to determine a user location, the at least one vendor device includes a vendor locator to determine a vendor location, wherein the user location and vendor location are communicable to the server in order to determine a geographical proximity between the user and the or each vendor in the server-implemented database. The server may include a vendor location ranking processor which is arranged to sort the or each vendor according to the determined geographical proximity.

The present arrangement may advantageously allow a user to find their nearest favourite vendors based on their current location. This may beneficially allow a user to, for example, disembark from a transportation means in a completely different location, and still be able to readily obtain their desired goods and/or services with ease.

Furthermore, the or each user device may include a wireless internet connectivity assessment processor arranged to determine whether the or each user device can connect to a wireless internet network, and, if not, permitting the at least one user device account to be accessible via an SMS messaging service on the user device.

Selective determination of a communication means to use may advantageously allow users to contact vendors in geographical locations where internet connectivity is poor, for example.

According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of remotely ordering menu items from a restaurant, the method comprising the steps of: a] providing a plurality of pre-selected lists of menu items for at least one restaurant; b] on a user device, associating a unique indicator with each of the plurality of pre-selected lists; c] storing the plurality of pre-selected lists on a database on a server associated with the user device or a user account; d] on the user device, forwarding a chosen unique indicator to the server to choose one of the plurality of pre-selected lists with which the chosen unique indicator is associated; and e] the server forwarding the chosen pre-selected list to the restaurant to order the menu items on the chosen pre-selected list.

Such a method allows the process by which the items on the pre-selected list are ordered to a three step process for a user: firstly, the desired order is selected, typically via a computer application; the user is prompted to proceed to payment; and then payment can be processed. This significantly reduces the time required in searching for and individually selected items from a given list, greatly reducing the time taken for the user to submit an order.

The invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a pictorial representation of a system in accordance with the second aspect of the invention for implementing a method of improving the speed of ordering goods and/or services in accordance with the first aspect of the invention; Figure 2 shows an indicative embodiment of a user interface of a computer application which may be associated with a system as shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 shows an exemplary diagrammatic representation of a method of improving the speed of ordering goods and/or services in accordance with the first aspect of the invention; Figure 4a shows a login screen of a user interface for use with the method shown in Figure 3;

Figure 4b shows an indicative screen of the user interface of Figure 4a, indicating a list of restaurants available;

Figure 4c shows an indicative screen of the user interface of Figure 4a, indicating a list of goods available;

Figure 4d shows an indicative screen of the user interface of Figure 4a, indicating the option to add a unique identifier to a particular order;

Figure 4e shows an indicative screen of the user interface of Figure 4a, indicating a selection of pre-selected lists associated with unique identifiers; Figure 4f shows an indicative screen of the user interface of Figure 4a, indicating the option to change between wireless internet connectivity and SMS messaging connectivity to the server; and

Figure 4g shows an indicative screen of the user interface of Figure 4a, indicating a successful order placed by the user. Referring firstly to Figure 1, there is illustrated a system capable of implementing a method of improving the speed of ordering goods and/or services, indicated globally at 10.

The system 10 comprises a central server 12 onto which can be mounted and stored a database 14 of pre-selected lists 16. The present invention can be used in a variety of contexts, in which the pre-selected list 16 relates to a list of any number of goods and/or services for one or more vendors; an indicative embodiment of a user interface for such a list is illustrated in Figure 2, as might be depicted on a user device 18. For the purposes of this description, however, the pre-selected lists 16 will be described in terms of lists of menu items chosen for a particular restaurant, in particular, for a takeaway food restaurant which offers delivery of the said menu items. This is not intended to be a limitation on the invention as described, but represents a particular embodiment of the envisioned concept. It is noted that the term restaurant is primarily directed towards takeaway restaurants, which offer delivery or collection of menu items, but any restaurant could feasibly utilise the present invention.

A user device 18 is provided which is communicable with the server 12, optionally via wireless communication means, such as via Wi-Fi communications or SMS messaging services. The user device 18 is preferably a personal computing device, such as a smartphone, tablet computer or laptop, but other computing or communications devices could be utilised. This user device 18 allows for the user to communicate with the server 12 so as to be able to make menu choices. A vendor device 20 is also provided which is communicable with the server 12, again, optionally via wireless communication means. This vendor device 20 allows for the server 12 to communicate with the vendor in order to place an order for the chosen menu items, for delivery or collection by the user.

In a preferred embodiment, a computer application is loaded onto the user device 18 which permits the accessing of a user device account which is associated with one or more of the pre-selected lists 16 in the database 14. The user device account allows the user to connect with and choose a pre-selected list of menu items from a plurality of such pre-selected lists, which, for example, may have been pre-populated by the user via the user device account. The pre-selected list 16 may, as indicated, be a list of menu items from a restaurant, which a user may wish to re-order more than once without having to re-select each individual menu item for every desired order. As illustrated in Figure 2, the user may have a plurality of different pre-selected lists 16 for different restaurants, each having different menu items. Additionally or alternatively, where a particular restaurant is a franchised restaurant, for instance, a generic list of menu items may be provided, and the server 12 is then able to determine which restaurant is most appropriate for delivery or takeaway service based on a user location which is forwarded by the user device 18 to the server 12. A user interface of the computer application is configured to permit the user to interact with the user device account so as to define and associate contextual information data such as a unique indicator 22 with a particular pre-selected list or lists. This unique indicator 22 may be user-defined information which assists the user with recollection of the menu items on the list, the restaurant involved, or any appropriate mnemonic. However, it will be appreciated that the unique indicator 22 could also be generated by the server 12 or user device 18 for ease, if desired. The user may always amend the automatically-generated unique indicator 22 at a later juncture for ease of remembrance, if required.

Association of unique indicators 22 with pre-selected lists 16 allows for rapid selection of a given pre-selected list 16 of menu items, since it allows a user to readily navigate to a favourite selection of menu items without needed to trawl through the entire menu of the restaurant. This advantageous simplifies the process of ordering the menu items for the user.

There are other benefits associated with the unique indicator 22; since it is linked with a given pre-selected list 16 in the database 14, the user may advantageously make use of an SMS messaging service so as to order food. An SMS message may be forwarded to the server 12 from a user device 18 such as a smartphone, and then provided the user has included the unique indicator 22 in the body of the SMS message, the server 12 is capable of parsing the unique indicator 22 in order to process the order. This may advantageously further reduce the number of steps involved in the ordering of the process which will not have previously been possible without this association with a unique indicator 22.

This SMS ordering process is possible since the database 14 has not only stored the unique indicator 22 but also user information data, such as a mobile telephone number. This beneficially allows the user to process their order even if they are unable to connect to a computer network, for instance, if they have no Wi-Fi signal. The user device 18 may therefore be provided with a wireless internet connectivity assessment processor which is arranged to determine whether to user device 18 can connect to a wireless internet network. If it is not able to do so, then it may revert to the use of SMS ordering. A typical process by which the method can be implemented is as follows: the computer application can be activated on the user device 18, which may then transmit user identification data to the server 12 upon activation. This user identification data may, for example, be login details of a user device account associated with the database 14, or may just be a mobile phone number associated with the user device 18. Having activated the computer application, the user may then create pre-selected lists 16.

The creation of pre-selected lists 16 may be performed manually, as the user inputs menu item choices into the computer application for the first time, and then the user is able to save the chosen pre-selected list 16 associated with a particular unique indicator 22. Alternatively, the pre-selected lists 16 could be pre-generated within the computer application, based on historical user data, or may just be populated with common menu orders from the restaurant or restaurants in question.

Once there is at least one pre-selected list 16 in the database 14, the user is able to select the pre-selected list based on the unique indicator 22, which is visible to the user in the computer application. Once chosen, the pre-selected list 16 can be preferably processed for payment details, which are transferred to the server 12 and processed.

The pre-selected list 16 is recognised on the server 12, which may identify the user based on the user identification data, and the server 12 is then able to process the order. The server 12 will be able to choose the correct menu items based on the unique indicator 22 provided, the correspondence between the unique indicator 22 and the actual pre-selected list 16 being stored in the database 14. The server 12 is then able to contact the vendor device 20, where the order can be processed.

The server 12 may be able to select between branches of a particular chain of restaurants, provided the location of the user is uploaded to the server 12 at the time of ordering. Furthermore, subsequent processing on the vendor device 20 may also occur so as to determine whether or not the order can be correctly fulfilled. This may comprise further checks, for example, to determine a delivery radius for the restaurant.

To this end, the user device 18 may be provided with a user locator, such as a GPS locator, which is able to determine a user location, and the vendor device 20 may also be provided with a vendor locator, such as a GPS locator or IP address. The user and vendor locators may then be communicable with the server 12 in order to determine a geographical proximity between the user and the relevant vendor.

The server 12 may only forward the chosen order associated with the unique identifier 22 to the vendor if the determined geographical proximity is less than a predetermined distance, which may preferably be the delivery radius of a restaurant or takeaway.

Once the restaurant has accepted the order, it may supply a collection or delivery time, at which point the server 12 can complete the payment processing and forward a confirmation of the order to the user device 18. The restaurant is then able to handle the delivery of the order, if appropriate. Given the speed with which an order may be processed, it is preferable to provide a means of validating the choice of pre-selected list 16 prior to completion of the order. This may be preferably performed by the above described request for payment details to the user. Preferably, however, this may be reduced to a single step, in which the user merely needs to confirm acceptance of the price in order to process the order. Payment details could be stored in the database 14, on the user device 18 or in the user device account in order to expedite the procedure.

This methodology is summarised in Figure 3, in which a method of improving the speed of ordering goods and/or services is generally illustrated at SI 00. A plurality of pre-selected lists 16 of goods and/or services is provided, step S101, for at least one vendor. On a user device 18, a unique indicator 22 is associated, step SI 02, with each of the plurality of pre-selected lists 16. The plurality of pre-selected lists 16 is stored, step SI 03, in a database 14 on a server 12 associated with the user device 18 or a user account. On the user device 18, a chosen unique indicator 22 is forwarded, step SI 04, to the server 12 to choose one of the plurality of pre-selected lists 16 with which the chosen unique indicator 22 is associated. The server 12 then forwards, step SI 05, the chosen pre-selected list 16 to the vendor to order the goods and/or services on the chosen pre-selected list.

The separation of the user device 18 from the server 12 advantageously allows for an intermediate processing centre to be created between the user and the vendor. This means that a plurality of different vendors can be associated with a unique indicator 22, allowing the user to process orders via a single interface, rather than needed to proceed via the website of the vendor individually.

The storage of the pre-selected lists 16 on the server 12 also allows for additional functionality to be provided. For instance, it may be possible for the user device 18 to be set up to act as a monitoring device, allowing historical usage data relating to the user to be collected. In doing so, it may be possible for this information to be sent to the server 12 in order to act as a suggestion engine. For example, the frequency of selection of individual menu items across the plurality of pre-selected lists 16 may permit the automatic generation of other pre-selected lists 16 which are effectively global favourites. Furthermore, other information, such as the timing of placement of orders, may be used to prompt the user to select a given pre-selected list 16 based on their historical ordering behaviour.

It is noted that searching of the information in the database 14 can be performed in a plurality of different manners. For instance, the server 12 may permit a user to search by vendor, search by goods and/or services provided by the vendor, or may just search by the unique identifier 22, such that the user is able to readily access the desired pre-selected list 16.

The server 12 may also be provided with the ability to automatically translate an order which is provided to a vendor, for example, by using a translation processor. In the restaurant industry in particular, the language used in the kitchen during the preparation of an order may be different to the language in which the order was originally placed. The provision of a translation processor in the server 12 would overcome this difficulty.

An indicative user interface 24 which might be shown on the user device 18 is depicted in Figures 4a to 4g. A nominal login screen is illustrated in Figure 4a, via which the user will be able to access and view their pre-selected lists 16 in the database 14. Figure 4b illustrates a selection of various vendors which may be visible to the user via the user interface 24.

The user interface 24 may be able to readily depict the full range of goods and/or services for a particular vendor, as illustrated in Figure 4c, and individual goods and/or services can be selected in order to populate a pre-selected list 16. As shown in Figure 4d, once the user has populated the pre-selected list 16, it can be assigned a unique identifier.

The plurality of pre-selected lists 16 which have been input by a user can be visualised within the user interface 24, and each of the pre-selected lists 16 may be recognisable by its corresponding unique identifier 22; this is shown in Figure 4e.

In order to contact the server 12 to place an order, the user device 18 may possibly first attempt to connect via the internet, and, if this is not possible, as illustrated in the user interface 24 shown in Figure 4f, an offline mode may be engaged, in which orders are placed with the server via SMS messaging communication means.

Once the server 12 has received the order, and confirmed that it is indeed valid, the server 12 can contact the vendor device 20 to place the order. If this is successful, then payment as input on the user device 18 will be authorised, and a receipt sent to the user device 18 once confirmation of the order is accepted on the server 12. This can be seen in the user interface 24 of Figure 4g.

As previously mentioned, whilst the present invention has been primarily described in terms of its utility for ordering menu items from a restaurant, the method and system of ordering can readily be utilised in a number of other contexts. For instance, where a user performs grocery shopping online, a standard set of products may be regularly ordered, in which case, the present invention would be ideal for use. Furthermore, using the present invention, it is possible to provide an interface in which a plurality of pre-selected lists is provided for different vendors, which may supply different types of goods and/or services. For example, the user may be able to access a commonly used list of products sold by a department store, a supermarket, grocery store, wholesaler or other retailer where bulk or multiple ordering may be common, from the same interface from which they are able to access the pre-selected lists of menu items for restaurants.

It is therefore possible to provide a means by which the speed of ordering goods and/or services can be ordered by a user by the association of a unique indicator with a particular list of goods and/or services to allow for ready selection of the said list by the user multiple times. This is of particular use in the context of takeaway restaurant ordering, since such orders will generally be repeated, and comprise several different items which would otherwise have to be individually selected every time the menu items are ordered. The method beneficially negates the need for direct human interaction between the user and the vendor, which would typically slow the ordering process, whilst eliminating the potential for incorrectly placed orders by verifying that an order can be fulfilled prior to the server forwarding an order to the vendor.

The words 'comprises/comprising' and the words 'having/including' when used herein with reference to the present invention are used to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof.

It is appreciated that certain features of the invention, which are, for clarity, described in the context of separate embodiments, may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features of the invention which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any suitable sub-combination.

The embodiments described above are provided by way of examples only, and various other modifications will be apparent to persons skilled in the field without departing from the scope of the invention herein described and defined.