Abstract:
The present invention provides a prepayment system that uses a smart phone or similar device to present a unique graphic identifier to the retail individual that can quickly allow that retail individual to match purchasers with purchased items. The ability to work visually at a greater distance and in noisy environments can significantly reduce the point of exchange queue and improve the customer experience.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of US provisional application 61/677,361 filed Jul. 30, 2012 and hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    — 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The present invention relates to a system and method for managing retail sales, and in particular, to a prepayment system that allows rapid completion of a point of exchange transactions useful, for example, for potentially high-queue retail environments such as bars, concession stands and the like. 
         [0004]    The processing of retail transactions typically includes the stages of selecting an item for purchase, completing payment for the purchase, and taking possession of the purchased item typically at a point of exchange. These time and personnel costs required to complete these first two stages can be greatly reduced by on-line ordering, for example, allowing the consumer to select the item and process payment remotely, for example, using a remote computer. The consumer may view an online catalog or menu and make payment, for example, using a credit card processed over the Internet. 
         [0005]    The disadvantage of typical online purchasing is the delay in taking possession of the purchased item, a stage that is typically completed by shipping the product to the consumer. It is known, however, to combine the online ordering model with an option to pick up the purchased product at a retail outlet. In such cases, normally the customer will have entered unique identifying information at the time of payment processing, for example her name, which is then provided to sales personnel at the retail outlet who use this information to properly deliver the product to the customer. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The present inventors have recognized that the “hybrid” online ordering/retail pickup model, while speeding transactions in many cases, can fundamentally interfere with the immediacy of the retail experience in which the customer location at the retail environment may be part of the purchasing decision (impulse or convenience purchasing) and may be advantageously used by the customer to simplify the purchasing process (selecting among what is easily available). Further, the benefits of time efficiencies provided by online selection and ordering by the customer can often be lost when there is a bottleneck at the point of exchange, something that is relatively common in retail environments dealing with large volumes of goods and subject to significant peak demand, for example, at a busy bar or a concession stand at an event such as a baseball game, opera or the like. Queuing at the point of exchange can be a particular problem in such situations when the environment is noisy, and close proximity to the retail individual is necessary for the customer to identify herself and her purchase. 
         [0007]    The present invention addresses this latter problem by a prepayment system that uses a smart phone or similar device to present a unique graphic identifier to the retail individual that can quickly allow that retail individual to match purchasers with purchased items, The ability to work visually at a greater distance and in noisy environments can significantly reduce the point of exchange queue and improve the customer experience. The former problem, that the selection efficiencies of the retail model are lost with online ordering, is addressed through a geolocation system that provides the customer with a subset of purchases based on their location. 
         [0008]    These particular objects and advantages may apply to only some embodiments falling within the claims and thus do not define the scope of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a diagrammatic representation of principal components in one implementation of the present invention allowing an individual with a mobile phone to order a drink from a bar by communicating with a centralized server system; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a logical representation of a database implemented by the centralized server system for matching users to local bar locations and menus based on the user&#39;s current location 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a simplified map showing a location of a user in proximity to several retail environments; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a screenshot that may be displayed on a smart phone showing a listing of retail environments near the user; 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a screenshot similar to that of  FIG. 4  showing a menu for one retail environment selected by the user from the list of  FIG. 4 : 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a status display visible to the user of the smart phone after placement of and payment for the order indicating the order status and allowing entry of the tip; 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is a view of a terminal at the retail environment located at a separate point of exchange for online orders and showing a pull down menu for updating order status and the display of a unique graphic element for identifying each completed order; 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  is a screenshot similar to  FIGS. 5 and 6  showing the identifying graphic element matching that of the retail environment shown in  FIG. 7  as displayed on the user&#39;s smart phone; 
           [0017]      FIG. 9  is a screenshot of a message sent to a third party indicating that a drink has been purchased for them by the user using the system of the present invention; and 
           [0018]      FIG. 10  is a simplified logical representation of a bar tab over 24 hours showing aggregation of charges possible with the present invention for reduced processing fees. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0019]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a retailing system  10  of the present invention may work in a retail environment  12 , for example, a bar, for the sale of merchandise  14 . in this case alcoholic or other beverages desired by a customer  16 . 
         [0020]    The invention provides for a station  18  at the retail environment  12 , the station  18  providing a tablet computer  20  or the like configured for access by a retailing individual  22 , for example, a bartender. The station  18  may include a placard  24  indicating that it is a location for a point of exchange for the retailing system  10 , distinct from a point of exchange for conventional retailing, where the customer  16  may receive the merchandise  14  using the present invention. 
         [0021]    As will be discussed in further detail below, this invention works in conjunction with a smart phone  26  or similar device in the possession of the customer  16  through which the customer  16  may place orders to be picked up at the station  18 . 
         [0022]    Each of the tablet computer  20  and smart phone  26  may provide for a computing platform  30  having a processor  32  communicating with a memory  34 . The memory  34  may hold an operating system  36  and one or more application programs  38  including an application implementing a portion of the retailing system  10  of the present invention. In the case of the smart phone  26 , the computing platform  30  may include a geolocation device such as a GPS receiver  40  or wireless triangulation system. Both of the tablet computer  20  and smart phone  26  may provide for wireless communication through a wireless port  42  providing one or more of cellular phone connectivity or local area wireless connectivity, for example, a Wi-Fi connection. 
         [0023]    In a typical installation, the tablet computer  20  will communicate with a wireless router  44  communicating over the Internet  46  with a server computer  48 . The server computer  48  also provides at least one processor and an associated memory holding one or more computer programs to implement features to be described below. The server computer  48  may further provide a connection with a database  50  managing transaction data as will also be discussed. 
         [0024]    Generally the server computer  48  may also communicate with a credit card processing server  52  or the like over the Internet  46  for the processing of credit cards or other electronically implemented payment systems. Generally, the smart phone  26  may also communicate via the Internet  46  with the server computer  48  typically by way of a cell phone tower  54  or the like but also potentially through the wireless router  44 . 
         [0025]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , the database  50  may provide for a retail environment table  56  having logical rows each associated with a different retail environment  12  (such as a bar) and having logical columns indicating within each row, for example, the name of the retail environment  12 , its geographic location, a billing code, and a key ID. The key ID may be linked, for example, to a menu table  58  providing a menu for a given retail environment  12 . The menu table may include logical rows representing merchandise that can be purchased (e.g. drink types) and logical columns within each row providing details with respect to the merchandise, in this example, drink name, drink price, and discounts or specials for the particular retail environment  12  using the present invention. 
         [0026]    The server computer  48  may also hold a registered user table  60  providing information about each registered customer  16 . The registered user table  60  may provide for logical rows for each customer  16  and logical columns providing information about the customer, for example billing information (including, for example, a credit card number, expiration date and the like), demographic information (including age and gender), home address, preferred social network links for posting information about purchases, customer preferences and purchase history for frequent purchaser awards and the like. This registration process may be part of obtaining the application program  38  by the customer  16 . 
         [0027]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 , in an example use of the retailing system  10  of the present, the customer  16  may open the application program  38  which may employ the location hardware of the smart phone  26  to identify a location  62  of the customer  16  with respect to one or more retail environments  12   a - 12   c  near the customer  16 . For example, the customer  16  may be walking down a street and the retail environments  12   a - 12   c  may be buildings near the customer  16  or on a projected trajectory of the customer  16  to a time in the future that may optionally be correlated with preparation time for particular merchandise. 
         [0028]    The application server computer  48  may receive this information from the application program  38  using the hardware of the smart phone and the infrastructure described above. The server computer  48  upon receiving this information may consult with the database  50  to identify retail environments  12   a - 12   c  in the vicinity of the location  62  using the appropriate field in the retail environment table  56 . It should be noted that there need be no legal relationship between the retail environments  12  other than resulting from their association with the retailing system  10 . 
         [0029]    Referring now to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the identity and other information about these retail environments  12   a - 12   c  then may be sent to the smart phone  26  which will provide a display listing different retail environments  12  by their names  66 , for example, in order by distance. The customer  16  may then select one of the names  66 , for example, by tapping a touchscreen over the name  66  to bring up a menu screen  68  (shown in  FIG. 5 ) populated from the menu table  58  of the selective retail environment  12 . This menu screen  68  may include sub screens (not shown) of a type known in the art allowing particular items to be ordered, designating an ordered quantity, and allowing authorization of a charge to a preregistered credit card or credit card entered through the smart phone or other payment system accessible through the smart phone  26 . One subscreen may permit the customer  16  to add a free text note to the order either, for example, to indicate order details or preferences not otherwise provided by the menu screen  68 . 
         [0030]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , once an order has been placed, for example, by tapping an authorization button (not shown) on the smart phone  26 , an order confirmation screen  70  may appear indicating that the order has been placed and providing an option for payment of a tip also using credit card or other payment information previously provided. The tip may be entered via a graphical widget  72 , for example, calculating a default tip from the bill and allowing incrementing up and downward of that amount as desired by the user. 
         [0031]    This order confirmation screen  70  will update itself indicating the status of the order as will be described below and may appear at this time and again after completion of the order when the merchandise  14  has been received by the customer  16 . This latter occurrence allows continued adjustment of the tip for predetermined time window after completion of the order. The act of ordering may trigger an update to social network sites, when this option is enabled by the user, for example, indicating the user&#39;s location and their purchase. 
         [0032]    Referring now to  FIG. 7 , the tablet computer  20  upon receipt of an order from a customer  16  using the retailing system  10  of the present invention, may provide a display comprised of multiple lines  73 , one for each order from each customer  16 . Each line  73  will provide identifying information about the order  74 , for example, a drink type, and may include free-text notes as provided through the subscreens of the menu screen  68  discussed above. Each line  73  may further provide for a dollar amount  76  indicating an amount of payment that is required and its status as authorized. 
         [0033]    Each line  73  may further include an order status button  79 . The status button  79  when tapped presents a status menu  80  allowing the bartender or retailing individual  22  to indicate a status of the order as “pending”, “done” or completed, “picked up”, or “forfeited”. This latter forfeited status allows the payment by the customer  16  to be forfeited, for example, in the case that the customer  16  is below illegal purchasing age. This option provides for a deterrent for misuse of the retailing system  10  in certain instances including the sale of alcoholic beverages that may offset any temptation for its use to avoid age restrictions. 
         [0034]    Importantly, once payment is confirmed per dollar amount  76 , the line  73  displays a unique graphical reference  78  that will be used to facilitate the exchange of the merchandise  14  with the customer  16  in a rapid and efficient way. Ideally the graphical reference  78  will be composed of simple combinations of colors and shapes that can be recognized from a distance of several feet to several yards when displayed on a typical smart phone display. For example, the graphical references  78  may be made up of a combination of a stock set of background symbols (for example geometric shapes), background colors, foreground symbols (different and smaller geometric shapes) and foreground colors. It will be recognized that as few as five of each of these categories of symbol characteristics can provide  625  different combinations that may be randomly selected to exclude those combinations currently associated with pending orders. Additional categories and symbols may be provided as necessary. 
         [0035]    Alternatively, other graphical representations, for example, including pictures that may be easily recognized may be chosen. In one embodiment, simple phrases that can also be spoken or displayed may be provided instead or as a backup matter. 
         [0036]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1 ,  7  and  8 , when the retailing individual  22  changes the status of line  73  to “done” on the tablet computer  20 , the cell phone  26  will display the graphical reference  78  associated with the particular line  73  and the order as pushed from the server computer  48 . The customer  16  may then approach the station  18  and quickly obtain the purchased merchandise  14  simply by displaying the phone  26  to be viewable by the retailing individual  22 . In noisy environments, no speaking is necessary for this transaction, and a skilled individual may be able to match orders to graphical references  78  and to dispense the merchandise  14  faster than a queue can form. 
         [0037]    The station  18  maybe removed, for example, from a cash register  94  used by other patrons to provide for two distinct exchange areas  96  and  98  eliminating a sense of unfairness that some individuals using the retailing system  10  of the present invention are able to receive their orders more quickly than those queuing for conventional transactions. The two exchange areas  96  and  98  may further provide improved point of exchange experience for all customers by separating them from a single queuing area. 
         [0038]    Referring now to  FIG. 9 , the present invention allows an individual to make the purchase described above but to designate (in a sub screen of the menu screen  68 ) another individual to receive the order. A list of friends for whom drinks may he purchased may be for example imported from a social networking site such as Facebook using the Facebook API. In this case, the server computer  48  pushes a message  90  to a cell phone  26 ° of the third-party indicating the fact of the purchase, its status, and the location of the retail environment  12 . Alternatively this message may be pushed via a social network service. Accepting this purchase per accept button  91 , will provide a screen display similar to that shown in  FIG. 8 . Such third-party purchases may, for example, be associated with discounts in the menu database  50  (displayed on the menu screen  68 ) in order to promote possibly new customers into trying a particular retail environment  12  frequented by their friends. Knowledge about the demographics of the customer  16  making the purchase may also be used to selectively provide particular records of the menu table  58  including discounts or sales. 
         [0039]    Referring now to  FIG. 10 , the database  50  may keep a running chronological tab, for example, in a tab table  92  logically linked to an individual in the customer table  60 , that may postpone invoking of a credit card processing server  52  until the end of a day so as to aggregate multiple small purchases into a larger purchase subject to lower credit card transaction completion fees. 
         [0040]    Generally it will be appreciated that the database  50  may also hold an ongoing transaction log that can be used to obtain marketing information relative to particular retail environments  12  and customer  16  including, for example, providing the ability to identify the most popular retail environments  12 , the amount of money received by each retail environment  12 , what drinks or merchandise  14  are most popular, the gender ratios of those using the retailing system  10 , trends in sales of products from given retail environments  12 , clusters of sales in times and breakouts according to any of the demographic elements held in the table  60 . This information may be used to target particular sales or specials to individuals and to provide for useful feedback to the retail environment  12  and manufacturers of merchandise  14 . This information may also be used to reward customer loyalty or affinity points, for example, in the form of graphic icons (“badges) or the like provided to the user cell phone  26  indicating their purchase of particular products in particular time windows which may also be used to generate promotions coupons and discounts for the individual. 
         [0041]    The status updates may include more information about the time necessary to prepare the product, for example, when used with food items that need to be cooked or prepared so that an individual may preorder efficiently before they arrive at the retail environment  12 . Clearly the system may be used to provide for standard table reservations, questionnaires and the like in adjunct to its principal purpose of providing a retail conduit. 
         [0042]    Certain terminology is used herein for purposes of reference only, and thus is not intended to be limiting. For example, terms such as “upper”, “lower”, “above”, and “below” refer to directions in the drawings to which reference is made. Terms such as “front”, “back”, “rear”, “bottom” and “side”, describe the orientation of portions of the component within a consistent but arbitrary frame of reference which is made clear by reference to the text and the associated drawings describing the component under discussion. Such terminology may include the words specifically mentioned above, derivatives thereof, and words of similar import. Similarly, the terms “first”, “second” and other such numerical terms referring to structures do not imply a sequence or order unless clearly indicated by the context. 
         [0043]    When introducing elements or features of the present disclosure and the exemplary embodiments, the articles “a”, “an”, “the” and “said” are intended to mean that there are one or more of such elements or features. The terms “comprising”, “including” and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements or features other than those specifically noted. It is further to be understood that the method steps, processes, and operations described herein are not to be construed as necessarily requiring their performance in the particular order discussed or illustrated, unless specifically identified as an order of performance. It is also to be understood that additional or alternative steps may be employed. 
         [0044]    References to “a microprocessor” and “a processor” or “the microprocessor” and “the processor,” can be understood to include one or more microprocessors that can communicate in a stand-alone and/or a distributed environment(s), and can thus be configured to communicate via wired or wireless communications with other processors, where such one or more processor can be configured to operate on one or more processor-controlled devices that can be similar or different devices. Furthermore, references to memory, unless otherwise specified, can include one or more processor-readable and accessible memory elements and/or components that can be internal to the processor-controlled device, external to the processor-controlled device, and can be accessed via a wired or wireless network. 
         [0045]    It is specifically intended that the present invention not be limited to the embodiments and illustrations contained herein and the claims should be understood to include modified forms of those embodiments including portions of the embodiments and combinations of elements of different embodiments as come within the scope of the following claims. All of the publications described herein, including patents and non-patent publications, are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.