US 11,989,991 B2
System and method for expediting the delivery of food orders to customers
Alexander Agapov, Los Angeles, CA (US); Steven R. Baker, Winter Garden, FL (US); Robert A. Baydale, Windemere, FL (US); Shawn C. Inman, New York, NY (US); Christopher M. Mele, New York, NY (US); Norman L. Norris, Bonita Springs, FL (US); Joseph F. Scutellaro, Brick Township, NJ (US); Stephen M. Scutellaro, Atlantic Highlands, NJ (US); Craig C. Stickler, Orlando, FL (US); and Richard L. Watts, New York, NY (US)
Assigned to GFC Automat Inc., Brick Township, NJ (US)
Filed by GFC Automat Inc., Brick Township, NJ (US)
Filed on Nov. 18, 2022, as Appl. No. 18/057,043.
Application 18/057,043 is a division of application No. 17/308,844, filed on May 5, 2021, granted, now 11,514,742.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/205,483, filed on Dec. 15, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/101,627, filed on May 7, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0081289 A1, Mar. 16, 2023
Int. Cl. G07C 9/33 (2020.01); G07C 9/00 (2020.01); H04W 4/14 (2009.01)
CPC G07C 9/33 (2020.01) [G07C 9/00309 (2013.01); G07C 9/00912 (2013.01); H04W 4/14 (2013.01)] 21 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for automated dispensing of food to customers comprising:
providing an array of food delivery enclosures for delivering food from a food supply area, each of the enclosures including a food delivery opening accessible by a customer and an automated, movable door for opening and closing the food delivery opening;
providing a computer system comprising at least one digital processor and a digital memory associated with the digital processor, the digital memory storing programmed instructions for the digital processor, the computer system including a customer ordering and billing subsystem receiving and billing different food orders from different customers using personal devices;
receiving a plurality of different food orders from a plurality of different customers using a plurality of different personal devices;
transmitting an SMS text to the different personal devices of the different customers confirming the different food orders and providing identical instructions enabling opening of the movable door on different enclosures receiving the food orders of the different customers; and
receiving an identical SMS reply with identical content to the SMS text from each of the different personal devices executing the identical instructions to enable the opening of the movable door of the different enclosures receiving the food orders of the different customers so as enable any one of the different customers to open the movable door of an enclosure receiving the food order of the one customer.