“Apple Chief Executive Steve Jobs wants to patent a process that will save customers the hassle of waiting to order a cup of coffee at a local Starbuck or a fresh burger at the nearest fast food restaurant. Even better: The technology would let you jump the line of those ordering in person,” Brian Caulfield reports for Forbes.
MacDailyNews Take: Please define “fresh” as it relates to a fast-food burger.
Caulfield continues, “In an application with the U.S. Patent Office filed on Dec. 20, the Cupertino, Calif.-based computer and gadget company described a wireless system that would allow customers to place an order at a store using a wireless device such as a media player, a wireless personal digital assistant or a cellphone.”
“Apple’s application with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office describes a process for placing an order and then notifying customers when an order is ready to grab at a pick-up station. One goal, the patent application notes, is to avoid an ‘annoying wait in a long queue if the purchaser arrives before completion of the order,'” Caulfield reports.
“U.S. Patent Application #20070291710 describes a device that also would keep tabs on where a user shops and what he or she likes to buy. Computers at participating stores would keep track of regular customers and their favorite orders,” Caulfield reports.
“Customers might tap a button to order their favorite drink, say a double-shot mocha, as they stroll up to the nearest coffee shop. When the drink is ready go to, the device–such as an iPhone–would chime or blink to let the thirsty one know it’s time to scoop up the order at the counter,” Caulfield reports.
Full article here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “ChrissyOne” for the heads up.]
Using Apple products has been letting us bypass frustrations faced by the riffraff for years. This would just add one more benefit to the burgeoning list.
“Could this technology help me?”
No, but you could navigate to http://www.freerice.com from your iPhone.
Smartass.
Or you could let the Gates Foundation fix your problems:
“By pouring most contributions into the fight against such high-profile killers as AIDS, Gates grantees have increased the demand for specially trained, higher-paid clinicians, diverting staff from basic care. The resulting staff shortages have abandoned many children of AIDS survivors to more common killers: birth sepsis, diarrhea and asphyxia.
The focus on a few diseases has shortchanged basic needs such as nutrition and transportation, undermining the effectiveness of the foundation’s grants. Many AIDS patients have so little food that they vomit their free AIDS pills. For lack of bus fare, others cannot get to clinics that offer lifesaving treatment.”
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-gates16dec16,0,3743924.story
“I wish we had Carl’s Jr. in Washington. :(“
There are several here in Colorado you can have.
I’ll take Culver’s Butter Burger. MMmmmm!
I thought Carl’s Jr was known as Hardees on the East Coast?
As for the patent, I distinctly remember an article or someone’s post discussing this very idea, when the Starbucks iTunes store opened. The concept of not just ordering the latest song, but also a mocha frappa something, and applying that concept to stores as you pass them on the sidewalk.
@ KenC
re: Hardees
Yes.
I suppose this also means that you pay through your phone, using your debit or credit card, which makes the process that much more seamless.
Wait, is that a double negative? More seamless… Hmmm…
Also, Hardee’s is not the same as Carl’s Jr.
They share ownership, and have a similar menu, but where Carl’s Jr. char broils their burgers, Hardee’s fries theirs.
I’ve grown up with Carl’s Jr., and a few years ago I spent four months in Montana, where they have Hardee’s.
Unfortunately, they don’t compare. Carl’s Jr kicks Hardee’s’ ass.
I am not interested in this.
One, I really don’t care about Starbucks nor do I like much of what they offer.
Two, I would rather see this concept work in any store. I think it is a European concept actually. For some time they have been able to charge purchase to their cell phones. Maybe I am clueless on this but soeone will forgive me.
Three, is Jobs worried about MacroSloths Table computer? Hahahahah.
Four, why patent this? Ten years ago I attempted to get a business up and running called Orca… “Ordering Canada” where the inventory and order process were tied into an nice system using wireless Palm Pilots. One per waitress/waiter so they didn’t require to write up and order to the cook. Yeah, I am no Steve Jobs. Yet, I saw several other slick and serious competition in this field. It’s done already, yet, Apple maybe able to better implement it all. If you dig deep… this maybe where Apple will KILL the Palm for good. I can see a web-base system doing what I planned so easily. Take the iTouch and wow… Apple has it done. An INTRAnet base system for a restaurant… so simple.
Ok ok – I am buying more stock.
Sorry, does anyone know if there is a VNC enabled for iTouch or iPhone?
thx d
yeah… but he can customize CROW any way he wants it.
with the feathers,
without the feathers,
sunny side up,
where the sun don’t shine…
I think there is about sixty recipes if you are as innovative as a Zune
honest, you should start that service now!
Pimp yo iPhone – bitch!
my iPhone is the big ass device bb
funny thx
8000 grains of rice.
more tom when I have time
Is THIS the one they are talking about?
Looks like it, Joe.
And to thx, nice work on the free rice.
Too labor intensive for both the cell phone user and the poor order preparer…then they have to match up order to you when you finally show up…and a payment will have to be made AND verified or you ain’t leaving the premises, bub!…there is so much more to say…but this is a huge flop. Just call the coffee shop, give them your order and put it on your tab or have your credit/debit card on file with them, FOR CRYING OUT LOUD! There will be plenty of cold coffee/food left too long at the checkout spoiled and plenty of irritated customers upset that joe schmoe ordering from his car cut ahead of him in line. Thumbs DOWN to this “application”