Remote ordering system

A method for remote ordering at least one desired item by a user from one of a plurality of merchants using a system having a user device, a central computer, one of a plurality of merchant databases, and a communications link including a multi-user network, said at least one desired item having a unique identifying code associated therewith, the method comprising:

• storing for a plurality of user-specific items, in an identifier database accessible at said user device for user perception at said user device, a user-cognizable identifier of said at least one item corresponding to said identifying code;
• user inputting said identifying code corresponding to said at least one desired item into said user device by machine recognition of said user input identifying code;
• accumulating from said identifier database selected ones of said user-cognizable identifiers corresponding to said input identifying codes in at least one list of desired items;
• selectively associating a transaction identifier having user and/or merchant identifications with said user device to identify a selected merchant database and/or to identify said user to a selected merchant database;
• commanding said user device to establish remote communication between said user device and said selected merchant database corresponding to said merchant identification through said central computer over said communications link including said multi-user network;
• interactively updating only said selected one of said user-cognizable identifiers in said identifier database of user-specific items with current information provided by said merchant database over said communications link in response to a user action at said user device, said user action including
• the communication of a provisional list of desired items transmitted to said selected merchant database for the purpose of providing said interactive updating, or
• the communication of an order list of desired items transmitted to said selected merchant database for the purpose of providing said interactive updating and remote ordering said desired items comprising said order list;
• and
• passing transaction specific information over said communications link including said identifying codes between said user device and said selected merchant database.

A remote ordering system for processing at least one order list of at least one user-selected item to be ordered, each said item having a corresponding item code, said system comprising:

• a central inventory database;
• a user-specific database of user-discernable item data corresponding to said item codes;
• central processing means for providing remote communication over a multi-user network between said central inventory database and said user-specific database in response to a user action for teaching user-discernable item data received from said central inventory database to said user-specific database, for interactively updating said user-discernable item data contained within said user-specific database with replacement user-discernable item data received from said central inventory database in response to a user action, and for aging-out infrequently accessed user-discernable item data from said user-specific database;
• memory means in communication with said central processing means and thus to said user-specific database for maintaining said at least one order list;
• and
• an order device associated with said user-specific database, in communication with said central inventory database via said central processing means and said multi-user network, and responsive to user input, said order device comprising:
• communication means for interfacing said order device with said central processing means;
• identifier means for providing said remote ordering system with user and/or merchant information;
• input means for providing said order service with said item codes corresponding to said at least one user-selected item to be ordered;
• a display in communication with said memory means and said central processing means for providing order pertinent information, including said user-discernable item data, to a user;
• and
• management means for controlling said display and said communication means, said management means responsive to said user input and said central processing means,
• wherein said user-discernable item data to be taught and said replacement user-discernable item data correspond only to said at least one user-selected item to be ordered of said at least one order list and are interactively receivable as a result of said central processing means, responding to said user input at said order device, transmitting to said central inventory database said at least one order list comprising a list of items to be ordered or a provisional list of items for which updated user-discernable item data is desired.