IP Verse

Item Selection Based On User Interactions

Patent No. US11037254 (titled "Item Selection Based On User Interactions") was filed by Doordash Inc on Jun 11, 2019.

What is this patent about?

’254 is related to the field of on-demand delivery services, specifically addressing the challenge of efficiently matching supply and demand in a system where couriers maintain a mobile inventory of perishable goods. The background involves the need to optimize item selection and inventory management to minimize spoilage and maximize profitability in a fast-delivery context, where delivery times are significantly shorter than traditional food delivery services.

The underlying idea behind ’254 is to use real-time data on user behavior within a delivery application to predict demand for specific items and optimize inventory levels. This is achieved by tracking how often an item is displayed to users ( menu-open-to-order value ) and comparing that to the actual order rate. This M/O value is then used to inform decisions about which items to offer, how much of each item to stock, and even how to adjust pricing dynamically to avoid spoilage.

The claims of ’254 focus on a method, system, and computer-readable medium for determining a candidate item, receiving delivery locations from buyer applications, sending item information to a subset of buyer devices based on those locations, receiving data on item display counts, receiving orders, comparing display counts to order counts to determine a menu-open-to-order (M/O) value , and sending a communication to a merchant device indicating an amount of the item to prepare based on the M/O value.

In practice, the system analyzes user interactions with the delivery application, specifically tracking when a menu is opened and an item is displayed. This data is then correlated with actual orders placed for that item. A high M/O value suggests strong demand, justifying higher inventory levels and potentially less aggressive pricing. Conversely, a low M/O value indicates weak demand, prompting adjustments to inventory or pricing to avoid spoilage. The calculated M/O value is then communicated to the merchant to inform their preparation quantities.

This approach differs from prior solutions by actively using real-time user engagement data to drive inventory and production decisions. Traditional delivery services often rely on historical sales data or static menu offerings, which can lead to inefficiencies and waste. By dynamically adjusting inventory based on the M/O value , the system aims to minimize spoilage risk and optimize resource allocation, ensuring that couriers are carrying the right items in the right quantities to meet immediate customer demand. The system can also trigger impromptu sales to reduce prices and sell off items before they spoil.

How does this patent fit in bigger picture?

Technical landscape at the time

In the mid-2010s when ’254 was filed, food delivery services were gaining traction, at a time when mobile apps were typically implemented using native or hybrid approaches. Systems commonly relied on GPS for location tracking rather than more advanced sensor fusion techniques. Hardware or software constraints made real-time optimization of delivery routes and item selection non-trivial.

Novelty and Inventive Step

The examiner agreed with the applicant's amendments. The examiner stated that the combination of elements presented in the claims was novel and non-obvious over the prior art. No non-patent literature was found that disclosed the claimed subject matter.

Claims

This patent contains 20 claims, with independent claims 1, 8, and 15. The independent claims are directed to a method, a system, and a computer-readable medium, respectively, all generally focused on determining a menu-open-to-order value for an item and communicating an amount of the item to prepare. The dependent claims generally elaborate on and refine the selection of candidate items and the use of transaction information.

Key Claim Terms New

Definitions of key terms used in the patent claims.

Term (Source)Support for SpecificationInterpretation
Buyer applications
(Claim 1, Claim 8, Claim 15)		“The detailed description is set forth with reference to the accompanying figures. In the figures, the left-most digit(s) of a reference number identifies the figure in which the reference number first appears. The use of the same reference numbers in different figures indicates similar or identical items or features.”Applications running on buyer devices that are used to place orders.
Candidate item
(Claim 1, Claim 8, Claim 15)		“The detailed description is set forth with reference to the accompanying figures. In the figures, the left-most digit(s) of a reference number identifies the figure in which the reference number first appears. The use of the same reference numbers in different figures indicates similar or identical items or features.”An item that is considered for being offered to buyers.
Delivery locations
(Claim 1, Claim 8, Claim 15)		“People may sometimes be at a location where they want food, but are not able to go to a restaurant or store. Accordingly, they may want to have food delivered to them. To meet this demand, a courier may obtain food prepared by a restaurant and deliver the food to a customer at a delivery location.”Locations to which items are to be delivered.
Item information
(Claim 1, Claim 8, Claim 15)		“The detailed description is set forth with reference to the accompanying figures. In the figures, the left-most digit(s) of a reference number identifies the figure in which the reference number first appears. The use of the same reference numbers in different figures indicates similar or identical items or features.”Data about an item that is displayed to buyers.
Menu-open-to-order value
(Claim 1, Claim 8, Claim 15)		“The detailed description is set forth with reference to the accompanying figures. In the figures, the left-most digit(s) of a reference number identifies the figure in which the reference number first appears. The use of the same reference numbers in different figures indicates similar or identical items or features.”A value determined by comparing the number of times item information is displayed to the number of times orders are placed.

Litigation Cases New

US Latest litigation cases involving this patent.

Case NumberFiling DateTitle
1:25-cv-00180Feb 14, 2025Ameranth Inc. V. Doordash, Inc.
2:22-cv-01776Dec 9, 2022Ameranth, Inc. V. Doordash, Inc.

Patent Family

Patent Family

File Wrapper

The dossier documents provide a comprehensive record of the patent's prosecution history - including filings, correspondence, and decisions made by patent offices - and are crucial for understanding the patent's legal journey and any challenges it may have faced during examination.

  • Date

    Description

  • Get instant alerts for new documents

US11037254

DOORDASH INC
Application Number
US16436997
Filing Date
Jun 11, 2019
Status
Granted
Expiry Date
Sep 7, 2035
External Links
Slate, USPTO, Google Patents