System and method for utilizing transit data to determine where a transit traveler's order is placed in an order queue

Abstract

Embodiments described herein provide a system and method that utilize transit data to determine where a transit traveler's order is placed in an order queue at a vendor. A transit traveler may execute an application, associated with an ordering system, on a mobile device. Utilizing the application, the transit traveler may select one or more menu items from a selected vendor. The ordering system may then utilize the transit data, associated with a transit vehicle the transit traveler is traveling on or intends to board, to determine the anticipated time of arrival of the transit traveler at the selected vendor. The vendor device then executes order placement software, provided by the ordering system, to place the transit traveler's order in a particular position within an order queue utilizing the anticipated time of arrival and a fulfillment time.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system, comprising:
 a vendor device, including a processor and a memory, the vendor device configured to (1) receive a customer order including one or more items, and (2) execute order placement software, wherein the order placement software is configured to place the customer order at a particular position within an order queue based on at least the anticipated time of arrival of the customer,
 wherein the anticipated time of arrival of the customer is determined utilizing transit data, associated with a transit vehicle on which the customer has boarded or will board, when (1) a location of a mobile device operated by the customer substantially corresponds to a location of the transit vehicle, (2) a movement speed of the mobile device is substantially equal to a rate of travel of the transit vehicle, or (3) input is received at the mobile device indicating that the customer has boarded or will board the transit vehicle. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the order placement software is configured to place the customer order at the particular position within the order queue based on the anticipated time of arrival of the customer and a fulfillment time of the order. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the transit data indicates at least times when a transit vehicle is scheduled to stop at one or more predetermined stops along a route of the transit vehicle and rate of travel information for the transit vehicle. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the transit data further includes a delay time indicating an amount of time the transit vehicle is delayed in arriving at a particular predetermined stop along the route. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein sensor data from the mobile device is utilized to (1) determine the location of the mobile device, or (2) the movement speed of the mobile device. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the anticipated time of arrival is based on the transit data and a distance between a particular predetermined stop along a route of the transit vehicle and a vendor associated with the vendor device. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the order placement software is further configured to change the position of the order within the order queue based on update transit data indicating that that transit vehicle is delayed along a route or indicating that the transit vehicle is to arrive at a particular predetermined stop earlier than scheduled. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the transit vehicle is one of a bus line, a train-line, a shuttle line, a subway, or an air transportation vehicle. 
     
     
         9 . A method, comprising:
 receiving, at a vendor device including a processor and a memory, a customer order including one or more items; and   placing, by order placement software executing on the vendor device, the customer order at a particular position within an order queue based on at least the anticipated time of arrival of the customer,
 wherein the anticipated time of arrival of the customer is determined utilizing transit data, associated with a transit vehicle on which the customer is boarded or will board, when (1) a location of a mobile device operated by the customer substantially corresponds to a location of the transit vehicle, (2) a movement speed of the mobile device is substantially equal to a rate of travel of the transit vehicle, or (3) input is received at the mobile device indicating that the customer has boarded or will board the transit vehicle. 
   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising placing, by the order placement software, the customer order at the particular position within the order queue based on the anticipated time of arrival of the customer and a fulfillment time of the order. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the transit data indicates at least times when a transit vehicle is scheduled to stop at one or more predetermined stops along a route of the transit vehicle and rate of travel information for the transit vehicle. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the transit data further includes a delay time indicating an amount of time the transit vehicle is delayed in arriving at a particular predetermined stop along the route. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein sensor data from the mobile device is utilized to (1) determine the location of the mobile device, or (2) the movement speed of the mobile device. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the anticipated time of arrival is based on the transit data and a distance between a particular predetermined stop along a route of the transit vehicle and a vendor associated with the vendor device. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising changing, by the order placement software, the position of the order within the order queue based on update transit data indicating that that transit vehicle is delayed along a route or indicating that the transit vehicle is to arrive at a particular predetermined stop earlier than scheduled. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the transit vehicle is one of a bus line, a train-line, a shuttle line, a subway, or an air transportation vehicle. 
     
     
         17 . A system, comprising:
 a vendor device, including a processor and a memory, the vendor device configured to (1) receive a customer order including one or more items, and (2) execute order placement software, wherein the order placement software is configured to place the customer order at a particular position within an order queue based on at least the anticipated time of arrival of the customer and a fulfillment time of the order,   wherein the anticipated time of arrival of the customer is determined utilizing transit data, associated with a transit vehicle on which the customer has boarded or will board, when (1) a location of a mobile device operated by the customer substantially corresponds to a location of the transit vehicle, (2) a movement speed of the mobile device is substantially equal to a rate of travel of the transit vehicle.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the transit data indicates at least times when a transit vehicle is scheduled to stop at one or more predetermined stops along a route of the transit vehicle and rate of travel information for the transit vehicle. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the transit data further includes a delay time indicating an amount of time the transit vehicle is delayed in arriving at a particular predetermined stop along the route. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein sensor data from the mobile device is utilized to (1) determine the location of the mobile device, or (2) the movement speed of the mobile device.