Order processing systems and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10657578-B2
Application number	US-201414529908-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 31, 2014
Priority date	Oct 31, 2014
Publication date	May 19, 2020
Grant date	May 19, 2020

Abstract

Example order processing systems and methods are described. In one implementation, a method identifies an order containing multiple items and receives an indication of multiple people associated with the order. The method also receives an indication of a particular person associated with each of the multiple items. Payment information is received for each of the multiple people and that payment information is used to purchase the particular items associated with the particular person. Order processing instructions are generated that identify particular items associated with each of the multiple people.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method being implemented via execution of computing instructions configured to run at one or more processors and stored at one or more non-transitory computer-readable media, the method comprising:
receiving a request to create a single order containing a plurality of items for a plurality of people, wherein the request comprises a set period of time when the single order remains open, and each respective person of the plurality of people enters a respective order at different times from each other during the set period of time, wherein the respective order of the each respective person of the plurality of people is transmitted directly to an online marketplace while the single order remains open;
sending instructions for display on each respective user interface of each respective mobile device of the each respective person of the plurality of people, the each respective user interface comprises a simultaneous display of a first window and a second window, wherein the first window presents a single list of the plurality of items included in all of the respective orders of the plurality of people, wherein the single list includes an indication of the each respective person associated with each respective one of the plurality of items based on the respective order of the each respective person, and wherein the second window presents (i) a list of additional items that can be selected to be added to the single order, and (ii) a respective selection for the each respective person of the plurality of people participating in the single order for adding one or more of the additional items to the respective order of the each respective person, wherein the each respective person enters the respective order for one or more of the plurality of items by using the each respective user interface of the each respective mobile device associated with the each respective person of the plurality of people while the single order remains open;
persisting in a database a state of the single order during the set period of time associated with the plurality of people;
automatically closing the single order after the set period of time expires;
receiving identification of the plurality of items in the single order;
receiving identification of the each respective person of the plurality of people associated with each of the plurality of items in the single order;
requesting respective payment information associated with the each respective person of the plurality of people;
receiving respective payments for the plurality of items in the single order using the respective payment information for the each respective person of the plurality of people and respective items of the plurality of items in the single order;
identifying a physical store to deliver the single order in a single shipment;
after receiving the respective payments, transmitting order processing instructions for the single order that identifies the plurality of items in the single order associated with the plurality of people; and
after transmitting the order processing instructions, generating order delivery instructions for the single shipment of the single order based on the physical store, as identified.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the physical store is identified based on an address associated with at least one of the plurality of people.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein identifying the physical store to deliver the single order further comprises receiving a selection of the physical store from one of the plurality of people.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising:
communicating the order processing instructions to the physical store, as identified, to deliver the single order.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the order processing instructions further comprise directions to put particular items of the single order in different containers based on the each respective person of the plurality of people associated with the particular item.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the different containers are different colors.

7. The method of claim 5 , further comprising generating separate order receipts for the each respective person of the plurality of people.

8. An apparatus comprising:
one or more non-transitory computer-readable media configured to store and
one or more processors configured to execute computing instructions and perform:
receiving a request to create a single order containing a plurality of items for a plurality of people, wherein the request comprises a set period of time when the single order remains open, and each respective person of the plurality of people enters a respective order at different times from each other during the set period of time, wherein the respective order of the each respective person of the plurality of people is transmitted directly to an online marketplace while the single order remains open;
sending instructions for display on each respective user interface of each respective mobile device of the each respective person of the plurality of people, the each respective user interface comprises a simultaneous display of a first window and a second window, wherein the first window presents a single list of the plurality of items included in all of the respective orders of the plurality of people, wherein the single list includes an indication of the each respective person associated with each respective one of the plurality of items based on the respective order of the each respective person, and wherein the second window presents (i) a list of additional items that can be selected to be added to the single order, and (ii) a respective selection for the each respective person of the plurality of people participating in the single order for adding one or more of the additional items to the respective order of the each respective person, wherein the each respective person enters the respective order for one or more of the plurality of items by using the each respective user interface of the each respective mobile device associated with the each respective person of the plurality of people while the single order remains open;
persisting in a database a state of the single order during the set period of time associated with the plurality of people;
automatically closing the state of the single order after the set period of time expires;
receiving identification of the plurality of items in the single order;
receiving identification of the each respective person of the plurality of people associated with each of the plurality of items in the single order;
requesting respective payment information associated with the each respective person of the plurality of people;
receiving respective payments for the plurality of items in the single order using the respective payment information for the each respective person of the plurality of people and respective items of the plurality of items in the single order;
identifying a physical store to deliver the single order in a single shipment;
after receiving the respective payments, transmitting order processing instructions for the single order that identifies the plurality of items in the single order associated with the plurality of people; and
after transmitting the order processing instructions, generating order delivery instructions for the single shipment of the single order based on the physical store.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to execute the computing instructions and perform:
receiving a selection of the physical store from one of the plurality of people; and
communicating the order processing instructions to the physical store, as selected, that will deliver the single order.

Assignees

• Wal Mart Stores Inc
• Walmart Apollo Llc

Inventors

• Carr David Jon
• Ramsden Richard Mark

Classifications

• G06Q30/0603

  Catalogue creation or management · CPC title

• G06Q30/06

  Buying, selling or leasing transactions · CPC title

• G06Q30/0601

  Electronic shopping [e-shopping] · CPC title

• G06Q30/0605

  Pooling transaction partners, e.g. group buying or group selling · CPC title

• G06Q30/0633

  Managing shopping lists, e.g. compiling or processing purchase lists (shipping orders G06Q10/083; order filling G06Q10/087) · CPC title