Patent ID: 8407101
Filing Date: 2013-03-26
Classification: G06Q

Abstract:
1. A method comprising: receiving, by a computing device of a referral service from a remote device of a user, an indication of an order for a plurality of food items from a restaurant; determining that the restaurant does not have a proprietary delivery service; in response to receiving the indication of the order for the plurality of food items from the restaurant and determining that the restaurant does not have a proprietary delivery service, determining, by the computing device of the referral service, that an auction process should be used to determine a delivery service provider from a plurality of delivery service providers to provide a delivery service for the order; in response to determining that the auction process should be used, providing information about the order to the plurality of delivery service providers; receiving the information about the order by a first delivery service provider of the plurality of delivery service providers; in response to receiving the information by the first delivery service provider, determining, by the first delivery service provider, a first bid for providing the delivery service for the order by the first delivery service provider based on a cost to the first delivery service provider to provide the delivery service; in response to determining the first bid, transmitting the first bid from the first delivery service provider to the computing device; receiving the information about the order by a second delivery service provider of the plurality of delivery service providers; in response to receiving the information by the second delivery service provider, determining, by the second delivery service provider, a second bid for providing the delivery service for the order by the second delivery service provider; in response to determining the second bid, transmitting the second bid from the second delivery service provider to the computing device; determining, by the computing device, based on the first bid and second bid, that the first delivery service provider should provide the delivery service for the order, and in response to determining that the first delivery service provider should provide the delivery service, facilitating, by the computing device, delivery of the order to the user by the first delivery service provider.