Method and apparatus for processing orders from customers in a mobile environment

A computer-implemented method for processing orders, comprising:

• receiving an order from a personal assistant agent acting on behalf of a customer, wherein the order includes customer identifying information;
• receiving information reflecting a location of a mobile unit associated with the order;
• identifying a facility capable of fulfilling the order, based on an estimated time until arrival of the mobile unit at the facility derived at least in part from the information reflecting the location of the mobile unit and an estimated time required by the facility to process the order;
• and
• transmitting information describing the determined facility to the mobile unit.

A computer-implemented method for placing orders, comprising:

• transmitting an order associated with a customer from a mobile unit;
• transmitting information reflecting a location of the mobile unit;
• and
• receiving information identifying a facility able to fulfill the order, the identified facility having been identified based on an estimated time until arrival of the mobile unit at the the facility and an estimated time required by the facility to process the order, wherein the estimated time until arrival of the mobile unit is derived at least in part from the information reflecting the location of the mobile unit.

A system for processing orders comprising:

• a memory having program instructions that
• receive an order associated with a mobile unit,
• receive information reflecting a location of the mobile unit,
• identify a facility capable of fulfilling the order based on a time of arrival of the mobile unit at the facility derived at least in part from the information reflecting the location of the mobile unit and an estimated time required by the facility to process the order, and
• transmit information describing the determined facility to the mobile customer;
• and
• a processor for executing the program instructions.

A system for processing orders, comprising:

• a memory having program instructions that
• receive an order from a personal assistant agent acting on behalf of a customer, wherein the order includes customer identifying information,
• receive information reflecting a location of a mobile unit associated with the order,
• identify a facility capable of fulfilling the order based on an estimated time until arrival of the mobile unit at the facility derived at least in part from the information reflecting the location of the mobile unit and an estimated time required by the facility to process the order, and
• transmit information describing the identified facility to the mobile unit;
• and
• a processor for executing the program instructions.

A system for processing orders comprising:

• a memory having program instructions that
• receive an order from a personal assistant agent on behalf of a mobile customer, wherein the order includes customer identifying information and
• identify a facility capable of fulfilling the order from among a plurality of facilities based on the customer's desired time for fulfillment of the order and an estimated time required by the facility to fulfill the order;
• and
• a processor for executing the program instructions.

A system for placing orders with a service provider, comprising:

• a memory having program instructions that
• transmit an order associated with a customer to a service provider from a mobile unit;
• transmit information to the service provider reflecting a location of the mobile unit;
• and
• receive information identifying a facility that is able to fulfill the order, the identified facility having been identified based on an estimated time until arrival of the mobile unit at the the facility and an estimated time required by the facility to process the order, wherein the estimated time until arrival of the mobile unit is derived at least in part from the information reflecting the location of the mobile unit;
• and
• a processor for executing the program instructions.

A method for using a computer to process orders comprising:

• inputting into the computer an order associated with a mobile unit, the order including customer identifying information;
• inputting into the computer information reflecting a location of the mobile unit;
• identifying a facility from among a plurality of facilities capable of fulfilling the order based on an estimated time until arrival of the mobile unit at the facility derived at least in part from the information reflecting the location of the mobile unit and an estimated time required by the facility to process the order;
• and
• transmitting information indicating the identified facility to the mobile unit.