Network-based grocery store
OwnerSimon Foster, Bruce Clark +2inventors
InventorsSimon Foster, Bruce Clark, Chris Servais, Tom Zosel
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention is a method and system for a network-based grocery store. The invention provides for network-based order placement, fulfillment, and delivery.
Claims36
A method of fulfilling a network-based product order, the method comprising:
- providing product subgroups, each product subgroup having a distinct product subgroup area;
- separating the network-based product order into subgroup orders based on the product subgroups;
- and
- retrieving ordered products from each product subgroup area in an independent parallel fashion.
A method of retrieving ordered products for a network-based product order, the method comprising:
- providing an order label listing the ordered products;
- scanning the order label;
- providing a plurality of actuable indicators, each indicator being associated with a product;
- actuating the indicators associated with the ordered products based on the scanning of the order label;
- locating and retrieving each of the ordered products;
- placing the ordered products into a carrier;
- and
- transporting the carrier to a delivery area.
A method of retrieving ordered products for a network-based product order, the method comprising:
- providing a list of the ordered products;
- retrieving one of the ordered products;
- scanning an area of the one of the ordered products;
- providing a plurality of actuable indicators, each indicator being associated with a carrier for a single order;
- actuating the indicator associated with the carrier for the single order requiring the one of the ordered products;
- placing the one of the ordered products into the carrier for the single order requiring the one of the ordered products;
- and
- transporting the carrier to a delivery area.
A method of fulfilling network-based product orders and delivering ordered products, the method comprising:
- creating an order summary based on all received orders;
- separating the order summary into subgroup orders based on product subgroups;
- retrieving products from each of the product subgroups in an independent parallel fashion;
- and
- combining the products into delivery packages based on the received orders;
- and
- delivering the delivery packages.
A method of ordering and delivering a network-based product, the method comprising:
- providing a customer interface wherein a customer can place an order;
- allowing the customer to select at least one meal plan from a plurality of meal plans;
- designating for delivery each product required for the at least one meal plan selected by the customer;
- and
- adding each product required for the at least one meal plan to a delivery package;
- and
- delivering the delivery package.
The method of claim-16 further comprising allowing the customer to select a desired product from a product category and to add the desired product to the delivery package.
A fulfillment hub for fulfilling a network-based product order, the fulfillment hub comprising:
- at least two subgroup areas, each subgroup area designated for a particular type of product;
- a delivery area positioned to facilitate transportation of products between the delivery area and the at least two subgroup areas.
A network-based grocery store process for receiving, filling, and delivering grocery items, the items located in a plurality of predefined gathering sites, the process comprising:
- grouping items in an order based on their respective gathering site;
- concurrently gathering items in an order at their respective gathering site;
- and
- reassembling the order at a distribution point.
A method of supplying grocery items over a computer network, the method comprising:
- providing a website in communication over the computer network with an order receiving interface;
- placing each order into at least one subgroup;
- gathering items in each subgroup in parallel;
- reassembling the items gathered for each subgroup of an order to form a complete order;
- and
- delivering the order.
A network-based system for receiving an order for grocery items from a customer, filling the order, and delivering the order to the customer, the system comprising:
- a server adapted to receive the order from the customer over the network;
- a warehouse for storing a plurality of grocery items, the warehouse including a plurality of locations corresponding to a plurality of types of grocery items;
- a server engine programmed to place each of a plurality of requested grocery items included in the order into a plurality of subgroups, based on the corresponding location of the grocery item in the warehouse;
- a gathering system adapted to fill the items for each of the subgroups of the order, in parallel;
- a reassembly system adapted to gather the filled items for each subgroup of an order to form a complete order;
- and
- a plurality of delivery vehicles for transporting the completed order to the customer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.