Order processing

Abstract

In one aspect, orders for goods or services are enabled to be received from electronic devices situated at multiple points at which orders are to be placed, and the orders are received electronically through a communication medium that enables automatic identification of the location at which each of the orders is placed.

1 . A method comprising 
 at a place at which goods or services are offered, enabling orders for goods or services to be received from electronic devices situated at multiple points at which orders are to be placed, and    receiving the orders electronically through a communication medium that enables automatic identification of the location at which each of the orders is placed.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  in which the place at which goods and services are offered comprises a place at which each of the goods or services is to be provided quickly in response to the order.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  in which the place at which goods and services are offered comprises a quick-serve restaurant.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  in which the electronic devices comprise voice receiving devices.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  in which the electronic devices are within the place at which the goods or services are being offered.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  in which the electronic devices are not within the place at which the goods or services are being offered.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  in which the goods and services are made in response to the orders.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  in which the devices comprise telephone handsets.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  in which the devices comprise voice enabled computers using a voice over internet protocol.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  in which the multiple points at which the devices are situated are determined based on the IP addresses of the devices.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  in which the electronic devices comprise interactive terminals.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  in which the multiple points comprise points at which the goods or services are to be delivered.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  in which the points at which orders are placed comprise tables.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1  in which the communication medium comprises a network.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  in which the network comprises a telephone network.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1  in which the communication medium comprises a telephone switch.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  also including providing information about the points at which orders are placed to call management software running on a computer.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1  in which orders for the goods or services are entered at points different from the points at which the orders are placed.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1  in which the goods or services are delivered at points different from the points at which the orders are placed.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1  in which the points at which orders are placed comprise drive-through points.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 1  in which the points at which orders are placed comprise kiosks.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 1  in which the points at which orders are placed comprise areas of the place of commerce in which adults supervise children at play.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 1  in which the location at which an order is placed is associated electronically with a location at which the goods or services are to be delivered.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23  in which the association of the order location with the delivery may be changed after the order is placed and before the order is delivered.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 1  in which each of the orders is associated electronically with one of the order points and with a point at which the goods or services are to be delivered.  
     
     
         26 . The method  claim 25  in which the association may be changed after the order is placed and before the order is delivered.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 1  also including 
 automatically inferring a class of service for each of the orders based on the point at which the order is placed.    
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27  in which the class of service includes the urgency with which the goods or services must be delivered.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 27  in which the class of service depends on a status of a person who is placing an order.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29  in which the status includes a mode of transportation.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 27  in which a class of service is associated electronically with each of the order points.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31  in which the association may be changed at any time.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 1  in which one of the order points comprises a standalone phone tree at an entrance to a play place of a quick-serve restaurant.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 1  in which one of the order points comprises a front counter of a quick-serve restaurant.  
     
     
         35 . Apparatus comprising 
 in a place at which goods and services are offered:    a telephone switch,    telephones located at multiple points at which orders for the goods or services are to be placed,    a telephone network connecting the telephones to the switch, and    software that uses information received from the switch about which of the telephones is a source of a call, to infer points at which the goods and services being ordered should be delivered.    
     
     
         36 . Apparatus comprising 
 stations within a place at which goods or services are offered, at least one of the stations being a station at which orders for the goods or services are entered and at least one of the stations being a station at which the goods or services are prepared for delivery,    a network interconnecting the stations within the place, the network being configured for communication among the stations using a TCP/IP protocol.    
     
     
         37 . A method comprising 
 receiving from an electronic device located in a play place of a quick-serve restaurant, orders for meals.    
     
     
         38 . A method comprising 
 receiving orders for goods electronically at an order entry point, the orders to be fulfilled by delivery of the goods at a remote delivery point at which the goods are to be quickly prepared in accordance with the orders for delivery to customers at the delivery point, the orders being received by telephone.    
     
     
         39 . A method comprising 
 receiving orders for goods electronically at an order entry point, the orders to be fulfilled by delivery of the goods at a remote delivery point at which the goods are to be quickly prepared in accordance with the orders for delivery to customers at the delivery point, the goods comprising quick-serve food.    
     
     
         40 . A method comprising 
 receiving orders for goods electronically at an order entry point, the orders to be fulfilled by delivery of the goods at a remote delivery point at which the goods are to be quickly prepared in accordance with the orders for delivery to customers at the delivery point, the remote delivery point comprising a quick-serve restaurant.    
     
     
         41 . A method comprising 
 receiving orders for goods electronically at an order entry point, the orders to be fulfilled by delivery of the goods at a remote delivery point at which the goods are to be quickly prepared in accordance with the orders for delivery to customers at the delivery point, the prices of goods with respect to the delivery point being available at the order entry point.    
     
     
         42 . A method comprising 
 receiving orders for goods electronically at an order entry point, the orders to be fulfilled by delivery of the goods at a remote delivery point at which the goods are to be quickly prepared in accordance with the orders for delivery to customers at the delivery point, the goods being prepared for delivery at additional remote delivery points.    
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 42  in which prices of the goods differ for different ones of the delivery points and the different prices with respect to the different delivery points are available at the order entry point.  
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 43  in which prices of the goods further differ for different ones of the order points.  
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 44  in which the different delivery points are located in multiple time zones, the volume of received orders from all of the time zones varies in a predictable way during a 24-hour period, and staff employed at the order entry point are balanced in a manner that takes advantage of the predictable variation.  
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 44  in which menus of goods differ for different ones of the delivery points and the different menus with respect to the different delivery points are available at the order entry point.  
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 44  in which the different delivery points are associated with different brands.  
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 44  in which the different delivery points are located in different states or territories.  
     
     
         49 . (canceled)