Ordering ahead with a mobile device

Abstract

The present invention provides a computer-implemented method to order ahead with a mobile device. A user network device receives an input of an order from a user; communicates the order to a merchant network device; receives a preparation time for one or more components of the order; determines a location of the user device; monitors a projected time of arrival at the merchant based on the location of the user device; compares the projected time of arrival with the component preparation time; and notifies the merchant to begin preparation of at least one of the components in response to a determination that the projected time of arrival equals the preparation time of one or more components.

1 - 24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . A computer-implemented method to reduce merchant system monitoring of user locations, comprising:
 by one or more computing devices associated with a merchant system,
 receiving an order for one or more products from a user computing device, the one or more computer devices associated with the merchant system being separate and distinct from the user computing device; 
 monitoring a status of a preparation system preparing one or more of the products; 
 updating preparation times for the one or more products based on default preparation times and the status of the preparation system; 
 communicating the updated preparation times for the one or more products to the user computing device; and 
 initiating a preparation of the particular one of the products based on a notification received from the user computing device that a time until an estimated arrival of the user computing device is equal to an updated preparation time of a particular one of the products. 
   
     
     
         26 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 25 , further comprising:
 receiving an indication of a status of a product preparation time for a second particular product of the one or more products, wherein the status comprises a variance from the default preparation time;   determining an updated preparation time for the second particular product based on the default preparation time and the variance; and   communicating the updated preparation time for the second particular product to the user computing device.   
     
     
         27 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 26 , wherein the status variance is received from the merchant system based on actuation of a delay button at the merchant that will fill the order. 
     
     
         28 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 25 , wherein the merchant is a restaurant or a pharmacy. 
     
     
         29 . A computer program product, comprising:
 a non-transitory computer-readable storage device having computer-executable program instructions embodied thereon that when executed by a computer process orders from mobile devices and provide updated preparation times based on merchant systems statuses, the computer-executable program instructions comprising instructions to:
 receive an order for one or more products from a user computing device, the user computing device being separate and distinct from the computer; 
 monitor a status of a preparation system preparing the one or more of products of the order; 
 update preparation times for the one or more products based on default preparation times and the status of the preparation system; 
 communicate the updated preparation times for the one or more products of the order to the user computing device; and 
 initiate a preparation of a particular one of the products of the order based upon a notification received from the user computing device that a time until an estimated arrival of the user computing device is equal to an updated preparation time of the particular one of the products of the order. 
   
     
     
         30 . The computer program product of  claim 29 , wherein a status variance is received from the merchant system that will fill the order. 
     
     
         31 . The computer program product of  claim 30 , wherein the status variance is received from the merchant system based on actuation of a delay button at the merchant that will fill the order. 
     
     
         32 . A system to order ahead with a mobile device, the system comprising:
 a storage resource;   a network module; and   a processor communicatively coupled to the storage resource and the network module, wherein the processor executes application code instructions that are stored in the storage resource and that cause the system to:
 receive an order for one or more products from a user computing device, the user computing device being separate and distinct from the processor; 
 monitor a status of a preparation system preparing the one or more products of the order; 
 update preparation times for the one or more products of the order based on a default preparation time and the status of the preparation system; 
 communicate the updated preparation times for the one or more products of the order to the user computing device; and 
 initiate a preparation of the particular one of the products based on a notification received from the user computing device that a time until an estimated arrival of the user computing device is equal to an updated preparation time of a particular one of the products. 
   
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 32 , further comprising application instructions to:
 receive an indication of a status of a product preparation time for a second particular product of the products, wherein the status comprises a variance from the default preparation time;   determine an updated preparation time for the second particular product based on the default preparation time and the variance; and   communicate the updated preparation time for the second particular product to the user computing device.   
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein the status variance is received from the merchant system based on actuation of a delay button at the merchant that will fill the order.