Abstract:
The present invention is an automated and online process for individual members of a group to perform online purchases under one group account. This method creates an account for the group with a particular merchant. The method uses purchaser information to generate a unique security key for the particular group purchase. The purchaser information includes a set of parameters that will govern a valid order by a group member. When a member of the group desires to make a purchase under the group account, that purchaser would use the key to gain access to the purchasing program. After the user has completed his/her menu selections, the purchaser would submit the order. The order is validated based on purchase criteria provided at the initiation of the account. After order validation, the order would be entered into a database containing the purchaser&#39;s account information. This process would also update the purchaser account information.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a method for performing automated purchasing a of a group sales order and in particular to a method for performing online group purchases, in which multiple people are ordering on the same purchasing transaction, using a customized purchasing certificate. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Customers are increasingly turning to computer networks, and the Internet in particular, to locate and purchase goods and services. So-called ‘online’ shopping involves the location and purchase of goods and/or services by way of a network. Increasingly, mobile phones and other wireless devices are being employed to this end. 
         [0003]    Online purchasing is typically done by selecting items from an online catalog of items and adding them to an online shopping cart. Once all required items have been added to the shopping cart a payment method is selected and the order is submitted. The items may then be shipped to the customer&#39;s address. 
         [0004]    Although many systems are currently in place to perform online purchasing operations, many ‘group orders’ are still performed by manual means. A group order in this context is described as several members from a group each having individual or unique orders included in one transaction. An example of group ordering is when the members of the group want to order a meal online. With the current approach, ordering items online for a group of people requires that someone manually take the orders and then input them on behalf of the members of the group. An example of this problem is when a manager orders lunch for a team of people. Someone has to create a list of orders. This activity requires the person to ask ea 
         [0005]    Depending on the composition of the group and the location of the group members, the task of gathering the information about the preferences of the individual members can be quite long. There remains a need for an automated online ordering method and system that will enable members of a group to place individual orders and have their orders included in one group transaction. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The present invention describes a method for individual members of a group to perform online purchases under one account. This method comprises an initial step of creating an account for the group with a particular merchant. The purchaser group would submit information to the merchant that will relate to the purchasing activity. The method would use this purchaser information to generate a unique security key for the particular group. When a member of the group desires to make a purchase under the group account, that purchaser would use the key to gain access to the purchasing program. After the user completed his/her menu selections, the purchaser would submit the order. At this point, the order would be validated using previously gathered purchaser information. If the order were validated, the order would be entered into a database containing the purchaser&#39;s account information. This process would also update the purchaser account information. 
         [0007]    In the information submitted by the purchaser, the purchaser could define detailed parameters that would govern any transaction under that purchaser&#39;s account. For example, the purchase account could limit the total cost of any transaction. It could also limit the time period an individual member has to place an order. With this method, the purchaser cold limit the particular items one could purchase or nor purchase. 
         [0008]    The system of the present invention would contain a database for storing client information. The database would also contain a set of security access keys. Each group would have an access key. The information contained on the access key could relate to the parameters that govern purchases under that account. The system has the processing software that determines whether one attempting to access the system is valid. When the user is valid, the system can contain another software routine that determines whether an order placed by the user is valid. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a conventional computing device used that can be used to transmit and receive electronic messages via a computer network. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a diagram of a computer network over which electronic messages may be transmitted between a sender and receiver in the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a flow diagram of the general method of the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a flow diagram of the method on the merchant end for initiating and processing a group order. 
           [0013]      FIG. 5   a  is a diagram of the fields that can comprise a security key for access to the system by an individual member of a group. 
           [0014]      FIG. 5   b  are diagrams of various criterion used describe different group orders and used to comprise various fields of security key. 
           [0015]      FIG. 5   c  illustrate correct and incorrect key entries for access to the account of a particular group. 
           [0016]      FIG. 5   d  is an illustration of menu items as implemented in the present invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is a detailed flow diagram of the steps in the method of the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  is a detailed flow diagram of the purchaser validation and order validation sequences of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0019]    With reference now to  FIG. 1 , there is depicted a pictorial representation of computing device  10  which may be used in implementation of the present invention. As may be seen, data processing system  10  includes processor  11  that preferably includes a graphics processor, memory device and central processor (not shown). Coupled to processor  11  is video display  12  which may be implemented utilizing either a color or monochromatic monitor, in a manner well known in the art. Also coupled to processor  11  is keyboard  13 . Keyboard  13  preferably comprises a standard computer keyboard, which is coupled to the processor by means of cable  14 . Also coupled to processor  11  is a graphical pointing device, such as mouse  15 . Mouse  15  is coupled to processor  11 , in a manner well known in the art, via cable  16 . As is shown, mouse  15  may include left button  17 , and right button  18 , each of which may be depressed, or “clicked”, to provide command and control signals to data processing system  10 . While the disclosed embodiment of the present invention utilizes a mouse, those skilled in the art will appreciate that any graphical pointing device such as a light pen or touch sensitive screen may be utilized to implement the method and apparatus of the present invention. Upon reference to the foregoing, those skilled in the art will appreciate that data processing system  10  may be implemented utilizing a personal computer. 
         [0020]    The method of the present invention may be implemented in a global computer network environment such as the Internet. With reference now  FIG. 2 , there is depicted a pictorial representation of a distributed computer network environment  20  in which one may implement the method and system of the present invention. As may be seen, distributed data processing system  20  may include a plurality of networks, such as Local Area Networks (LAN)  21  and  22 , each of which preferably includes a plurality of individual computers  23  and  24 , respectively. Of course, those skilled in the art will appreciate that a plurality of Intelligent Work Stations (IWS) coupled to a host processor may be utilized for each such network. Any of the processing systems may also be connected to the Internet as shown. As is common in such data processing systems, each individual computer may be coupled to a storage device  25  and/or a printer/output device  26 . One or more such storage devices  25  may be utilized, in accordance with the method of the present invention, to store the various data objects or documents which may be periodically accessed and processed by a user within distributed data processing system  20 , in accordance with the method and system of the present invention. In a manner well known in the prior art, each such data processing procedure or document may be stored within a storage device  25  which is associated with a Resource Manager or Library Service, which is responsible for maintaining and updating all resource objects associated therewith. 
         [0021]    Still referring to  FIG. 2 , it may be seen that distributed data processing system  20  may also include multiple mainframe computers, such as mainframe computer  27 , which may be preferably coupled to Local Area Network (LAN)  21  by means of communications link  28 . Mainframe computer  27  may also be coupled to a storage device  29  which may serve as remote storage for Local Area Network (LAN)  21 . A second Local Area Network (LAN)  22  may be coupled to Local Area Network (LAN)  21  via communications controller  31  and communications link  32  to a gateway server  33 . Gateway server  33  is preferably an individual computer or Intelligent Work Station (IWS), which serves to link Local Area Network (LAN)  22  to Local Area Network (LAN)  21 . As discussed above with respect to Local Area Network (LAN)  22  and Local Area Network (LAN)  21 , a plurality of data processing procedures or documents may be stored within storage device  29  and controlled by mainframe computer  27 , as Resource Manager or Library Service for the data processing procedures and documents thus stored. Of course, those skilled in the art will appreciate that mainframe computer  27  may be located a great geographical distance from Local Area Network (LAN)  21  and similarly Local Area Network (LAN)  21  may be located a substantial distance from Local Area Network (LAN)  24 . That is, Local Area Network (LAN)  24  may be located in California while Local Area Network (LAN)  21  may be located within Texas and mainframe computer  27  may be located in New York. 
         [0022]      FIG. 3  illustrates the general steps in the implementation of the present invention. In this invention, a group wants to place an order for multiple items. In addition, each member of the group will place their individual orders. Each individual&#39;s order will be included in the total order for that group. The description of the implementation of this invention is in the context of a group ordering meals from a restaurant. Initially, there is an arrangement and setup between the purchaser and the merchant (restaurant) to access this service. This arrangement comprises establishing some for of account. As part of setup, the group could receive a unique identification number, such as ‘AB72’. When the purchaser wants to submit a group order, in step  40 , a representative from the purchaser would submit (via a terminal device of  FIG. 1  and through a network such as shown in  FIG. 2 ) information to the merchant that characterizes the order. This information as shown in  FIG. 5   a  can include 1) the number of persons in the will place orders, 2) the time period to place an order, 3) the maximum dollar amount of an order and 4) a list of forbidden order items. Step  42  receives this information and generates a unique security key for that purchaser that covers the specific order. As shown in  FIG. 5   b , this key can comprise information that is unique to that order. Step  44  distributes this unique security key to each member of the purchaser group. At this point, in step  46 , a member of the purchaser group submits an order request. Step  48  validates this order request. The validation process can involve a verification of the information contained in the unique key submitted by the purchaser. If the key submitted by the member attempting to place the order does not match the key for that group, step  50  denies the purchase request. If the step  48  validates the key, then the member can place an order and step  52  adds that order to the purchase list for that purchaser group. 
         [0023]      FIG. 4  is a flow diagram of the method on the merchant end for initiating and processing a group order. In the initial step  60 , a purchase request is received at the merchant processing software. At this point, in step  62 , the method sends to the potential purchaser a query for specific information about the order. Part of this query can be for the purchaser to identify whether they are new or whether they have a previously existing account. An existing purchaser would probably be asked to include their account identification. With the purchasing criteria information received from the query, step  64  would generate a unique security key for that purchaser. At the completion of the setup, the process would go into monitor mode for this particular order. As part of the order criteria, there can be a designated time period to place orders. For example, if the time were currently 8:00 am and the order time period is 10:00 am to 11:30 am, then activation would occur at 10:00 am, but not before that time. If a member attempted to order before 10:00 am, the system would not recognize the order. At 10:00 am, step  66  would activate the process to receive orders. Step  68  receives an order from an individual in the purchaser group. As previously discussed, step  70  validates this order request. The validation process can involve a verification of the information contained in the unique key submitted by the purchaser. If the key submitted by the member attempting to place the order does not match the key for that group, step  72  denies the purchase request. If the step  70  validates the key, then the member can place an order and step  74  adds that order to the purchase list for that purchaser group. 
         [0024]      FIG. 5   a  is a diagram of the fields that can comprise a security key for access to the system by an individual member of a group. The number of fields can vary as desired and can contain various kinds of information as desired. The information that comprises the security key can directly relate to a particular transaction. As shown, in  FIG. 5   a , this key has five fields. The first field  80  can contain an identifier for the purchaser group. The second field  82  contains the number of persons in the group that will place orders. This field can serve as a security mechanism to prevent more orders added to the account than the purchasing group desires. Field  84  is a time range. As previously mentioned, the purchaser can designate a time period in which the orders are to occur. Field  86  attaches a maximum dollar amount to each order. Another approach is to have a maximum dollar amount for the entire group. However, the maximum per individual approach may better reduce potential confusion if a group maximum is reached before everyone in the group has had an opportunity to order. Field  88  restricts the orders to certain items on the menu. For example, if the purchase does not want anyone to order an appetizer or alcoholic beverage, then an attempt to order an appetizer or alcoholic beverage would cause a rejection of the specific containing the prohibited item(s). 
         [0025]      FIG. 5   b  shows the information in the fields as the information may appear in a database. As shown, each category of information would be stored in records. These records could have pointers  90  to the next item in the field in the record.  FIG. 5   c  shows an example of a generate security key used in the present invention. This figure also shows how a key entry would appear for someone attempting to gain access to this online ordering process. Key  92  is a legitimate and correct key entry for someone in group ‘AB72’. The group identity is the ‘AB72’ entry shown in the first field. This group identification tells the process which record to examine. This particular key contains the parameters that form the order criterion for that group. The ‘10’ is the maximum number of persons that place orders. The ‘35’ is the time period to place the order. In this example, the 35 number stands for three and one-half hours. The amount limit is $8.50. For this group, there is an item limitation as indicated by the ‘Y’. Entry  94  is an incorrect key entry. In this entry, the time range and the item limitation fields are incorrectly entered. This key entry would not match and therefore the individual would not receive access to place an order.  FIG. 5d  shows menu items coded to allow individuals to identify the items and place orders. Each item has a coded that the individual can enter to indicate the ordering of that item. The menu can have various categories of items such as entrees, beverages and desserts. A record for each order can also fields that correspond to the various categories. In implementation, an individual placing an order would enter the corresponding number for the desired item in the appropriate field. Record  98  shows an order that includes a cheese burger ( 135 ), coffee ( 215 ) and pudding ( 315 ). Each category of items can have an identifier number. For example, all entrees are  100 &#39;s, all beverages are  200 &#39;s and all deserts are  300 &#39;s. 
         [0026]      FIG. 6  is a detailed flow diagram of the steps in the method of the present invention. As previously mentioned, a group purchaser desires to arrange a group order at the merchant establishment. The steps in the transaction would occur over a communications network and could electronic devices such as the terminal described in  FIG. 1 . In step  100 , the process receives a group purchase request. Step  102  would send a query to the group purchaser making the request. The group purchase requester would then submit information describing the order. The query sent to the purchaser could be in the form of a questionnaire containing fields in which the purchaser would supply information. The above-mentioned fields for number of persons, time range, amount limit and item limit would have fields in which the purchaser would enter information. After receiving the query information, step  104  would generate a specific security key for that group and that transaction. If the purchaser is a repeat purchaser, the purchaser identification may be the same for multiple orders or it could be the same each time that purchaser arranges a group order purchase. Step  106  would then store in a database or storage location, the information about the order for the particular purchaser. 
         [0027]    At this point, the system could go into an idle and monitoring mode until the start of the order time period. This process can have a clock or timer that will trigger to activate the process for this account at the beginning of the time period for this particular order. Another approach to activating an order at the beginning of the time period is for there to be a set of active orders and a set of inactive orders (those whose start time has not yet been reached). The process would only monitor the active orders. If someone attempted to order before the beginning of the time period, the process would not recognize the order because that order would be in the inactive set. 
         [0028]    The process receives an order in step  108 . Next, in step  110 , the process validates the individual attempting to place an order. This requestor validation queries the individual for the key. The individual should have previously received the key. The requestor enters information in designated fields. This information is compared with the key for that order. When there is a match, the process validates the requester, which allows the requester to place an order. Step  112  will query the requester to place an order. This query can have the requester provide information for specific fields as shown in  FIG. 5   d . Again, the process receives the order in step  114 . In step  116 , the process validates this order. This validation can vary depending on the requirements of the order. Since in  FIG. 5   b , there is an item limitation, each item code has to be checked to verify that the selected item is a permissible item. If there were no item limitation, this check would not be necessary. Without the item limitation, the next check would be to total up the cost of the items to determine whether this total exceeds a maximum amount for each individual. In the database each menu item would have the identification code and also the item price. This price is used to determine the total cost of the article. If there were a prohibited item or if the cost exceeded the maximum, the requestor would be prompted to resubmit the order. The requestor could also be told the nature of the problem with the previously submitted order. At the point, when the order is completed and validated, step  118  stores the order in the database under the account for that group purchaser. Step  120  will update the group file information to reflect the newly taken order. As part of the update, the number of persons having submitted ordered would be incremented. This update is important because step  122  terminates the process when the designated number of persons have ordered. 
         [0029]      FIG. 7  is a detailed flow diagram of the purchaser validation and order validation sequences of the present invention. In step  130 , the process receives the order request. After the purchaser query, step  132  receives the order key. Step  134  validates the group purchaser key. As mentioned, this validation process comprises the comparison of a key entry by a requestor with the established generated key for that particular account. If the key is not a match, step  136  rejects the access attempt and terminates the process. If the key entry is valid (matches the generated key), the process moves to the second step  138  of the validation, which is a determination of whether the attempted order is in the time range for orders for this particular account. If the attempted is not within the time period for that order, again the process terminates in step  136 . When the order is within the time period, the process moves to step  140 , which determines whether the maximum number of orders has been reached. If the maximum number of orders has already been reached, the process again terminates in step  136 . When the maximum of orders has not been reached, the process moves to step  142 . At this point, the process has completed the group purchaser validation process. 
         [0030]    In step  142 , the process receives an individual order. The individual has indicated their menu preferences. In step  144 , there is a determination of whether the order contains prohibited items. Comparing the selected items to a list of prohibited items can perform this task. When there are no matches, then the selected items are allowable and the process continues. If the order does contain a prohibited item, the purchaser is alerted of the problem and the process returns to step  142  where the requestor is prompted to resubmit the order. As previously mentioned, this particular step of checking for prohibited items is done only if this category of prohibited items is initially selected. When the order with regard to prohibited items is valid, the next step  146  is to determine if the total amount of the order exceeds the maximum order amount for an individual. If the order exceeds this amount, the process alerts the requestor and the process returns to step  142  where the requester is prompted to resubmit the order. When the order with regard to price is valid, the order validation is complete. The process then moves the step  148 , which stores the order. 
         [0031]    It is important to note that while the present invention has been described in the context of a fully functioning data processing system, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the processes of the present invention are capable of being distributed in the form of instructions in a computer readable medium and a variety of other forms, regardless of the particular type of medium used to carry out the distribution. Examples of computer readable media include media such as EPROM, ROM, tape, paper, floppy disc, hard disk drive, RAM, and CD-ROMs and transmission-type of media, such as digital and analog communications links.