Patent Publication Number: US-2016224759-A1

Title: Purchasing interface

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Advancements in media delivery systems and data-related technologies continue to increase at a rapid pace. Increasing demand for accessible data has influenced the advances made to data-related technologies. Computer systems have increasingly become an integral part of data creation, data usage, and data storage. Computer systems may be used to carry out several data-related functions. The wide-spread access to data has been accelerated by the increased use of computer networks, including the Internet and cloud networking. 
     Many homes and businesses use one or more computer networks to generate, deliver, and receive data and information between the various computers connected to computer networks. Users of computer technologies continue to demand increased access to information and an increase in the efficiency of these technologies. Improving the efficiency of computer technologies is desirable to those who use and rely on computers. 
     With the wide-spread use of computers and mobile devices has come an increased presence of and continued advancements in mobile phone applications and commerce. For example, advancements in mobile devices allow users to purchase products from anywhere in the world. Nevertheless, benefits may be realized by providing systems and methods for improving commerce systems. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to at least one embodiment, a method for a purchase interface is described. In one embodiment, the method may include initiating an order for a prescription, prompting a user to capture a photo of the prescription, and fulfilling the order for the prescription upon receiving input based on capturing the photo of the prescription. The order for the prescription may be initiated from an application executing on a computing device and the photo of the prescription may be captured using a camera connected to the computing device. 
     In some embodiments, the method may include capturing the photo of the prescription and prompting the user to accept or reject the captured photo of the prescription. Upon determining the user rejects the captured photo of the prescription, the user may be prompted to take another photo of the prescription. 
     In some embodiments, the method may include querying the user to choose whether to take an additional photo of the prescription. Upon receiving a request to take an additional photo of the prescription, the method may include capturing an additional photo of the prescription. Upon determining the user accepts the captured photo of the prescription, the method may include prompting the user for a quantity of the order for the prescription. Upon determining the user&#39;s payment information is not received, the method may include prompting the user for payment information. 
     In some embodiments, upon receiving the captured photo of the prescription and the quantity of the order, the method may include displaying a confirmation page to the user. The confirmation page may display the captured photo of the prescription and/or indicate the quantity of the order selected by the user. In some cases, the confirmation page may display payment information. 
     In some embodiments, the method may include sending order information to a customer agent. The order information may include at least one captured photo of the prescription and the quantity of the order. In some cases, the method may include fulfilling the order for the prescription upon receiving input from the customer agent. The input from the customer agent may be based, at least in part, on at least one captured photo of the prescription. 
     A computing device configured for a purchase interface is also described. The computing device may include a processor and memory in electronic communication with the processor. The memory may store computer executable instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to perform the steps of initiating an order for a prescription, prompting a user to capture a photo of the prescription, fulfilling the order for the prescription upon receiving input based on capturing the photo of the prescription. The order for the prescription may be initiated from an application executing on a computing device and the photo of the prescription may be captured using a camera connected to the computing device. 
     A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing computer executable instructions is also described. When the instructions are executed by a processor, the execution of the instructions may cause the processor to perform the steps of initiating an order for a prescription, prompting a user to capture a photo of the prescription, fulfilling the order for the prescription upon receiving input based on capturing the photo of the prescription. The order for the prescription may be initiated from an application executing on a computing device and the photo of the prescription may be captured using a camera connected to the computing device. 
     Features from any of the above-mentioned embodiments may be used in combination with one another in accordance with the general principles described herein. These and other embodiments, features, and advantages will be more fully understood upon reading the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings illustrate a number of exemplary embodiments and are a part of the specification. Together with the following description, these drawings demonstrate and explain various principles of the instant disclosure. 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating one embodiment of an environment in which the present systems and methods may be implemented; 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustrating one example of a purchasing module; 
         FIG. 3  is a block diagram illustrating one example of an environment for a purchase interface; 
         FIG. 4  is a flow diagram illustrating one embodiment of a method for a purchase interface; 
         FIG. 5  is a flow diagram illustrating one embodiment of a method for a purchase interface; and 
         FIG. 6  depicts a block diagram of a computer system suitable for implementing the present systems and methods. 
     
    
    
     While the embodiments described herein are susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail herein. However, the exemplary embodiments described herein are not intended to be limited to the particular forms disclosed. Rather, the instant disclosure covers all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the appended claims. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
     The systems and methods described herein relate to a prescription purchasing interface. More specifically, the systems and methods described herein relate to a purchase interface in relation to prescription refill system. Some embodiments of the systems and methods described herein relate to a purchase interface in relation to an application executing on a computing device. The application may include a mobile application executing on a mobile device (e.g., an APPLE® mobile app executing on an IPHONE®, etc.). In some cases, the application may include a desktop application running on a desktop and/or laptop. In some embodiments, the application may include a web application executing on a browser. The computing device may include a desktop, laptop, tablet, smart phone, etc. 
     Users of prescription websites, mobile applications, and services may worry that the information that they enter may not be entered correctly, resulting in the hassle of dealing with an incorrect order, including purchasing return postage, purchasing postage insurance, taking the package to the post office, and not knowing whether the package will be lost or damaged on the return shipment. Currently, a user may have to contact his or her doctor and request that the doctor send a valid prescription before the prescription can be filled, resulting in additional inconvenience to the user and additional delays before receiving the prescription. 
     In one example, a user captures an image of a prescription using the camera on his or her mobile computing device. The system then prompts the user to enter a quantity. The system may prompt the user for payment information. In some cases, the system may prompt the user for shipping information. The system may send the captured photo and quantity to a customer agent. The system may enable the customer agent to complete the order by entering information relative to the captured photo. 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating one embodiment of an environment  100  in which the present systems and methods may be implemented. In some embodiments, the systems and methods described herein may be performed on a device (e.g., device  105 ). As depicted, the environment  100  may include a device  105 , server  110 , a display  130 , and a network  115  that allows the device  105  and the server  110  to communicate with one another. 
     Examples of the device  105  may include any combination of mobile devices, smart phones, personal computing devices, computers, laptops, desktops, servers, etc. Examples of server  110  may include any combination of a data server, a cloud server, a server associated with an automation service provider, proxy server, mail server, web server, application server, database server, communications server, file server, home server, mobile server, name server, etc. 
     In some configurations, the device  105  may include a camera  125 , a user interface  135 , application  140 , and purchasing module  145 . Although the components of the device  105  are depicted as being internal to the device  105 , it is understood that one or more of the components may be external to the device  105  and connect to device  105  through wired and/or wireless connections. For example, camera  125  may be connected to device  105  by wire and/or wirelessly. In some embodiments, device  105  may include an internal and/or external microphone. In some embodiments, application  140  may be installed on computing device  105  in order to allow a user to interface with a function of server  110 . 
     In some embodiments, device  105  may communicate with server  110  via network  115 . Examples of network  115  may include any combination of cloud networks, local area networks (LAN), wide area networks (WAN), virtual private networks (VPN), wireless networks (using  802 . 11 , for example), cellular networks (using  3 G and/or LTE, for example), etc. In some configurations, the network  115  may include the Internet. It is noted that in some embodiments, the device  105  may not include a purchasing module  145 . For example, device  105  may include application  140  that allows device  105  to interface with purchasing module  145  located on another device such as server  110 . In some embodiments, device  105 , automation controller  155 , and server  110  may include a purchasing module  145  where at least a portion of the functions of purchasing module  145  are performed separately and/or concurrently on device  105 , automation controller  155 , and/or server  110 . Likewise, in some embodiments, a user may access the functions of device  105  and/or automation controller  155  (directly or through device  105  via purchasing module  145 ) from computing device  150 . For example, in some embodiments, computing device  150  includes a mobile application that interfaces with one or more functions of device  105 , automation controller  155 , purchasing module  145 , and/or server  110 . 
     In some embodiments, server  110  may be coupled to database  120 . Database  120  may be internal or external to the server  110 . In one example, device  105  may be coupled directly to database  120 , database  120  being internal or external to device  105 . Database  120  may include order information  160 . For example, device  105  may access order information  160  in database  120  over network  115  via server  110 . In some cases, at least a portion of order information  160  may be present on memory or a storage device of device  105 . In some cases, at least a portion of order information  160  may be generated on device  105 . Order information  160  may include data regarding a prescription, a captured image of a prescription, order quantity, brand information, payment information, user information, user confirmation, and the like. 
     Purchasing module  145  may enable a prescription fulfillment center to provide customers a timely and error-free system to order prescriptions. Many customers do not like the inconvenience of entering the information from their prescription to an online system. Moreover, the labels used on a prescription may not match the information on the ordering website. For example, although they mean the same thing, one prescription may prescribe a value for “Power” while another prescription may prescribe a value for “Sphere.” Also, the prescription may refer to the abbreviations OD (oculus dexter) instead of “right eye,” OS (oculus sinister) instead of “left eye,” or OU (oculus uterque) instead of “both eyes,” further adding to customer confusion. Furthermore, a customer may be more likely to make a mistake when entering prescription information from a mobile or handheld computer. The system and methods described herein, however, remove the inconvenience and apprehension a user experiences while using current systems for ordering prescriptions. Accordingly, in some embodiments, purchasing module  145  may be configured to perform the systems and methods described herein in conjunction with user interface  135  and application  140  to improve the customer experience in ordering prescriptions. Further details regarding the purchasing module  145  are discussed below. 
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustrating one example of a purchasing module  145 - a . Purchasing module  145 - a  may be one example of purchasing module  145  depicted in  FIG. 1 . As depicted, purchasing module  145 - a  may include imaging module  205 , ordering module  210 , and querying module  215 . 
     In one embodiment, purchasing module  145  may initiate an order for a prescription. The order for the prescription may be initiated from an application on a computing device. For example, a user may execute a mobile application configured to fill prescriptions online. The mobile application may prompt the user to capture an image of a prescription and fill a prescription based on the captured image. In some cases, the order may initiate via a browser running on a computing device (e.g., CHROME®, SAFARI®, INTERNET EXPLORER®, etc.). For example, a user on a desktop, laptop, or mobile device may browse to a website that enables the user to capture an image of the prescription via a camera attached to the computing device and accessible to the browser. In some cases, the prescription may be filled in conjunction with web application. Thus, a user may fill a prescription using a browser and/or web application. 
     In some embodiments, imaging module  205  may prompt a user to capture a photo of the prescription. The photo of the prescription may be captured using a camera on the mobile computing device (e.g., via camera  125  of  FIG. 1 ). In some cases, ordering module  210  may fulfill the order for the prescription upon receiving input based on capturing the photo of the prescription. In some cases, upon receiving an input from the user, imaging module  205  may capture the photo of the prescription. 
     In one embodiment, querying module  215  may prompt the user to accept or reject the captured photo of the prescription. Upon determining the user rejects the captured photo of the prescription, imaging module  205  may prompt the user to take another photo of the prescription. For example, querying module  215  may prompt the user to accept or reject the captured photo of the prescription on a display of the mobile computing device (e.g., display  130  of device  105 ). A user interface (e.g., user interface  135 ) may display an accept button and a reject button. If the user presses the accept button, then the captured image may be kept. If the user presses the reject button, then the captured image may be deleted. The querying module  215  may then prompt the user whether to capture another photo of the prescription. 
     In some embodiments, upon determining the user accepts a captured photo, querying module  215  may query the user to choose whether to take an additional photo of the prescription. Some prescriptions may be printed on a relatively large piece of paper. The user may capture a portion of the prescription with a first captured photo and capture another portion of the prescription with a second captured photo, and so forth. In some cases, the prescription may include two sides. Thus, the user may capture a first side with a first captured photo and a second side of the prescription with a second photo. In some embodiments, upon receiving a request to take an additional photo of the prescription, imaging module  205  may capture an additional photo of the prescription. 
     In one embodiment, upon determining the user accepts the captured photo of the prescription, querying module  215  may prompt the user for a quantity of the order for the prescription. The purchasing module  145  may enable the user to select a quantity by entering a number and/or by scrolling through a quantity selection tool. In some cases, upon determining the user&#39;s payment information is not received (e.g., not previously given and/or not previously stored), querying module  215  may prompt the user for payment information. 
     In one embodiment, upon receiving the captured photo of the prescription and the quantity of the order, ordering module  210  may display a confirmation page to the user. In some cases, the confirmation page may display the captured photo of the prescription, indicate the quantity and/or other attributes like color of the order selected by the user, etc. In some cases, the confirmation page may indicate payment information. 
     In one embodiment, ordering module  210  may send order information to a customer agent. For example, ordering module  210  may send order information from device  105  to server  110  via network  115 . The customer agent may receive the ordering information via server  110 . The order information may include at least one captured photo of the prescription and the quantity of the order. Upon receiving a confirmation from the customer based on the user input received in response to display of the confirmation page, the ordering module  210  may send the order information to the customer agent. 
     Ordering module  210  may fulfill the order for the prescription upon receiving input from the customer agent. The input from the customer agent may be based on at least one captured photo of the prescription and the quantity of the order selected by the user. For example, the customer agent may enter information regarding a prescription that is contained in a captured image of the prescription. For example, the prescription may be written for a pair of optical contact lenses. The prescription may include one or more attributes associated with a contact lens prescription. Accordingly, the customer agent may receive a captured image of the prescription and transcribe one or more attributes contained in the photo of the prescription into the prescription order of the user. Based on the captured image, the order quantity selected by the user, the information entered by the customer agent based on the captured image, and the payment information, the user&#39;s order may be filled. 
       FIG. 3  is a block diagram illustrating one example of an environment  300  for a purchase interface. As depicted, the environment  300  may include a mobile device  305  and a prescription  310 . Although prescription  310  depicts an example prescription for contact lenses, it is understood that other types of prescriptions may be filled using the present systems and methods. The mobile device  305  may be one example of device  105  from  FIG. 1 . As illustrated, mobile device  305  may include a display  315 . Display  315  may be one example of display  130  from  FIG. 1 . 
     In one embodiment, a user may open a mobile application available on mobile device  305 . The mobile application may function in conjunction with purchasing module  145 . The mobile application may prompt the user to capture a photo of a prescription. As depicted, display  315  shows a captured image of prescription  310 . Display  315  also shows an element of a user interface  320  (e.g., user interface  135  from  FIG. 1 ). The user interface  320  depicts a prompt for a user to either “keep” or to “discard” the captured image of prescription  310 . Upon selecting “keep,” the user interface  320  may prompt the user to take another photo or to continue. Upon selecting “discard,” the user interface may prompt the user to take another photo to replace the discarded one. Upon capturing at least one photo of the prescription  310 , the user interface  320  may prompt the user to enter a quantity for the prescription. Additionally, or alternatively, user interface  320  may prompt the user to enter payment information. In some cases, user interface  320  may prompt the user to enter a brand name for the prescription. As depicted, prescription  310  includes a brand (e.g., “Lens Inc.”). However, user interface  320  may enable the user to select a different brand and/or confirm the brand specified on a prescription. Upon receiving input from the user, including at least one captured image of prescription  310 , the mobile application may send this user input to a customer agent. The customer agent may be enabled to fulfill the order by processing the user input (e.g., order quantity and/or payment information) and entering one or more aspects from the captured image of prescription  310 . For example, based on the example prescription  310 , the customer agent may enter a value for “power” of “−1.50” for the right eye and “−1.00” for the left eye, as well as a base curve of 8.6 and diameter of 14.5 for both eyes. With the information input from the user and the information input from the customer agent, the customer agent may be enabled to complete the order. Accordingly, when the user has previously provided payment information and this payment information is stored by the purchasing module  145 , the present systems and methods may enable the user to complete a prescription by simply providing a captured image and order quantity and submitting this information to a customer agent. 
       FIG. 4  is a flow diagram illustrating one embodiment of a method  400  for a purchase interface. In some configurations, the method  400  may be implemented by the purchasing module  145  illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and/or 2 . In some configurations, the method  400  may be implemented in conjunction with the application  140  and/or the user interface  135  illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
     At block  405 , an order for a prescription may be initiated. The order for the prescription may be initiated from an application executing on a computing device. At block  410 , a user may be prompted to capture a photo of the prescription. The photo of the prescription may be captured using a camera connected to the computing device. At block  415 , the order for the prescription may be fulfilled upon receiving input based on capturing the photo of the prescription 
       FIG. 5  is a flow diagram illustrating one embodiment of a method  500  for a purchase interface. In some configurations, the method  500  may be implemented by the purchasing module  145  illustrated in  FIG. 1 or 2 . In some configurations, the method  500  may be implemented in conjunction with the application  140  and/or the user interface  135  illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
     At block  505 , an order for a prescription may be initiated based on a photo of the prescription taken by a camera of a computing device. At block  510 , upon capturing at least one photo of the prescription, the user may be prompted for a quantity of the order for the prescription. At block  515 , upon receiving the quantity for the order, the user may be prompted for payment information. In some embodiments, the user may be prompted to provide shipping information. In some cases, the user may be prompted and/or enabled to provide information regarding a prescription such as a quantity, a brand, a product or model of a brand, a requested shipment arrival date, a user&#39;s preference such as color preference for colored contact lens, etc. 
     At block  520 , order information may be sent to a customer agent. The order information may include at least one captured photo of the prescription and the quantity of the order. In some cases, a confirmation page may be displayed. The user may provide a confirmation in response to the display of the confirmation page. Upon receiving the confirmation from the user, the order information may be sent to the customer agent. At block  525 , the order for the prescription may be fulfilled upon receiving input from the customer agent. The input from the customer agent may be based, at least in part, on at least one captured photo of the prescription. 
       FIG. 6  depicts a block diagram of a computing device  600  suitable for implementing the present systems and methods. The device  600  may be an example of device  105 , computing device  150  and/or server  110  illustrated in  FIG. 1 . In one configuration, device  600  includes a bus  605  which interconnects major subsystems of device  600 , such as a central processor  610 , a system memory  615  (typically RAM, but which may also include ROM, flash RAM, or the like), an input/output controller  620 , an external audio device, such as a speaker system  625  via an audio output interface  630 . In some embodiments, audio interface  630  may include a microphone. In some cases, device  600  may include an external device, such as a display screen  635  via display adapter  640 , an input device  645  (e.g., remote control device interfaced with an input controller  650 ), multiple USB devices  665  (interfaced with a USB controller  670 ), and a storage interface  680 . In some cases, input device  645  may include a camera. Also included are at least one sensor  655  connected to bus  605  through a sensor controller  660  and a network interface  685  (coupled directly to bus  605 ). In some embodiments, sensor  655  may include a camera sensor and/or microphone sensor. 
     Bus  605  allows data communication between central processor  610  and system memory  615 , which may include read-only memory (ROM) or flash memory (neither shown), and random access memory (RAM) (not shown), as previously noted. The RAM is generally the main memory into which the operating system and application programs are loaded. The ROM or flash memory can contain, among other code, the Basic Input-Output system (BIOS) which controls basic hardware operation such as the interaction with peripheral components or devices. For example, the purchasing module  145 - b  to implement the present systems and methods may be stored within the system memory  615 . Applications (e.g., application  140 ) resident with device  600  are generally stored on and accessed via a non-transitory computer readable medium, such as a hard disk drive (e.g., fixed disk  675 ) or other storage medium. Additionally, applications can be in the form of electronic signals modulated in accordance with the application and data communication technology when accessed via interface  685 . 
     Storage interface  680 , as with the other storage interfaces of device  600 , can connect to a standard computer readable medium for storage and/or retrieval of information, such as a fixed disk drive  675 . Fixed disk drive  675  may be a part of device  600  or may be separate and accessed through other interface systems. Network interface  685  may provide a direct connection to a remote server via a direct network link to the Internet via a POP (point of presence). Network interface  685  may provide such connection using wireless techniques, including digital cellular telephone connection, Cellular Digital Packet Data (CDPD) connection, digital satellite data connection, or the like. In some embodiments, one or more sensors (e.g., motion sensor, smoke sensor, glass break sensor, door sensor, window sensor, carbon monoxide sensor, and the like) connect to device  600  wirelessly via network interface  685 . 
     Many other devices or subsystems (not shown) may be connected in a similar manner (e.g., entertainment system, computing device, remote cameras, wireless key fob, wall mounted user interface device, cell radio module, battery, alarm siren, door lock, lighting system, thermostat, home appliance monitor, utility equipment monitor, and so on). Conversely, all of the devices shown in  FIG. 6  need not be present to practice the present systems and methods. The devices and subsystems can be interconnected in different ways from that shown in  FIG. 6 . The aspect of some operations of a system such as that shown in  FIG. 6  are readily known in the art and are not discussed in detail in this application. Code to implement the present disclosure can be stored in a non-transitory computer-readable medium such as one or more of system memory  615  or fixed disk  675 . The operating system provided on device  600  may be iOS®, ANDROID®, MS-DOS®, MS-WINDOWS®, OS/2®, UNIX®, LINUX®, or another known operating system. 
     Moreover, regarding the signals described herein, those skilled in the art will recognize that a signal can be directly transmitted from a first block to a second block, or a signal can be modified (e.g., amplified, attenuated, delayed, latched, buffered, inverted, filtered, or otherwise modified) between the blocks. Although the signals of the above described embodiment are characterized as transmitted from one block to the next, other embodiments of the present systems and methods may include modified signals in place of such directly transmitted signals as long as the informational and/or functional aspect of the signal is transmitted between blocks. To some extent, a signal input at a second block can be conceptualized as a second signal derived from a first signal output from a first block due to physical limitations of the circuitry involved (e.g., there will inevitably be some attenuation and delay). Therefore, as used herein, a second signal derived from a first signal includes the first signal or any modifications to the first signal, whether due to circuit limitations or due to passage through other circuit elements which do not change the informational and/or final functional aspect of the first signal. 
     While the foregoing disclosure sets forth various embodiments using specific block diagrams, flowcharts, and examples, each block diagram component, flowchart step, operation, and/or component described and/or illustrated herein may be implemented, individually and/or collectively, using a wide range of hardware, software, or firmware (or any combination thereof) configurations. In addition, any disclosure of components contained within other components should be considered exemplary in nature since many other architectures can be implemented to achieve the same functionality. 
     The process parameters and sequence of steps described and/or illustrated herein are given by way of example only and can be varied as desired. For example, while the steps illustrated and/or described herein may be shown or discussed in a particular order, these steps do not necessarily need to be performed in the order illustrated or discussed. The various exemplary methods described and/or illustrated herein may also omit one or more of the steps described or illustrated herein or include additional steps in addition to those disclosed. 
     Furthermore, while various embodiments have been described and/or illustrated herein in the context of fully functional computing systems, one or more of these exemplary embodiments may be distributed as a program product in a variety of forms, regardless of the particular type of computer-readable media used to actually carry out the distribution. The embodiments disclosed herein may also be implemented using software modules that perform certain tasks. These software modules may include script, batch, or other executable files that may be stored on a computer-readable storage medium or in a computing system. In some embodiments, these software modules may configure a computing system to perform one or more of the exemplary embodiments disclosed herein. 
     The foregoing description, for purpose of explanation, has been described with reference to specific embodiments. However, the illustrative discussions above are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in view of the above teachings. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the present systems and methods and their practical applications, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the present systems and methods and various embodiments with various modifications as may be suited to the particular use contemplated. 
     Unless otherwise noted, the terms “a” or “an,” as used in the specification and claims, are to be construed as meaning “at least one of.” In addition, for ease of use, the words “including” and “having,” as used in the specification and claims, are interchangeable with and have the same meaning as the word “comprising.” In addition, the term “based on” as used in the specification and the claims is to be construed as meaning “based at least upon.”