Systems and methods to implement point of sale (pos) terminals, process orders and manage order fulfillment

Abstract

Systems and methods to integrate point of sale processing, online order processing, and supply chain and store management over the Internet. In one aspect, a central server provides point of sale, online order processing, and supply chain and store management functions via browser based interfaces. The system enables users to enter orders from remote locations for order fulfillment at brick and mortar retail locations, where the POS terminals configured based on the browser based interfaces can be changed into a self service mode to allow customers to place orders for themselves at the retail locations.

1 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A computer-implemented method comprising:
 receiving, by a server, an identifier associated with a mobile device comprising a mobile application-based order interface;   obtaining, by the server, user data from a social network account based at least in part on the identifier, wherein the user data comprises one or more user photographs associated with and representative of the user;   receiving, by the server, a communication from the mobile device via the mobile application-based order interface, wherein the communication comprises a keyword associated with an order stored by the server;   retrieving, by the server, the stored order based at least in part on the keyword and the identifier associated with the mobile device;   associating, by the server, the user data to the stored order; and   transmitting, by the server, the stored order to an order queue at a point-of-sale terminal, wherein the stored order is identified at the point-of-sale terminal by the user data.   
     
     
         22 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 21 , wherein the mobile application-based order interface comprises a voice-based, touch-tone, or text message interface. 
     
     
         23 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 21 , wherein the mobile application-based order interface is configured to enable the mobile device to resubmit and modify the a) stored order, or b) a previously submitted order associated with the keyword. 
     
     
         24 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 21 , further comprising storing the order in association with a user account. 
     
     
         25 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 21 , further comprising modifying the stored order by changing a preference for a product associated with the stored order or deleting a product from an order. 
     
     
         26 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 21 , wherein the server comprises a voice response system configured to recognize voice messages comprising modifications to the stored order. 
     
     
         27 . A computer program product comprising at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable program code instructions stored therein, the computer-executable program code instructions comprising program code instructions for:
 receiving an identifier associated with a mobile device comprising a mobile application-based order interface;   obtaining user data from a social network account based at least in part on the identifier, wherein the user data comprises one or more user photographs associated with and representative of the user;   receiving a communication from the mobile device via the mobile application-based order interface, wherein the communication comprises a keyword associated with an order stored by the server;   retrieving the stored order based at least in part on the keyword and the identifier associated with the mobile device;   associating the user data to the stored order; and   transmitting the stored order to an order queue at a point-of-sale terminal, wherein the stored order is identified at the point-of-sale terminal by the user data.   
     
     
         28 . The computer program product of  claim 27 , wherein the mobile application-based order interface comprises a voice-based, touch-tone, or text message interface. 
     
     
         29 . The computer program product of  claim 27 , wherein the mobile application-based order interface is configured to enable the mobile device to resubmit and modify the a) stored order, or b) a previously submitted order associated with the keyword. 
     
     
         30 . The computer program product of  claim 27 , wherein the computer-executable program code instructions further comprises program code instructions for:
 storing the order in association with a user account.   
     
     
         31 . The computer program product of  claim 27  wherein the computer-executable program code instructions further comprises program code instructions for:
 modifying the stored order by changing a preference for a product associated with the stored order or deleting a product from an order. 
 
     
     
         32 . The computer program product of  claim 27 , wherein the computer-executable program code instructions further comprises program code instructions for:
 recognizing voice messages comprising modifications to the stored order.   
     
     
         33 . An apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to at least:
 receive an identifier associated with a mobile device comprising a mobile application-based order interface;   obtain user data from a social network account based at least in part on the identifier, wherein the user data comprises one or more user photographs associated with and representative of the user;   receive a communication from the mobile device via the mobile application-based order interface, wherein the communication comprises a keyword associated with an order stored by the server;   retrieve the stored order based at least in part on the keyword and the identifier associated with the mobile device;   associate the user data to the stored order; and   transmit the stored order to an order queue at a point-of-sale terminal, wherein the stored order is identified at the point-of-sale terminal by the user data.   
     
     
         34 . The apparatus of  claim 33 , wherein the mobile application-based order interface comprises a voice-based, touch-tone, or text message interface. 
     
     
         35 . The apparatus of  claim 33 , wherein the mobile application-based order interface is configured to enable the mobile device to resubmit and modify the a) stored order, or b) a previously submitted order associated with the keyword. 
     
     
         36 . The apparatus of  claim 33 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to at least:
 store the order in association with a user account.   
     
     
         37 . The apparatus of  claim 33 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to at least:
 modify the stored order by changing a preference for a product associated with the stored order or deleting a product from an order.   
     
     
         38 . The apparatus of  claim 33 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to at least:
 recognize voice messages comprising modifications to the stored order.