Offline Order Messaging via Encrypted SMS Fallback

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional online concierge systems fail to receive orders from client devices when a data connection is unavailable, preventing the display of retailer items and order placement due to network unavailability.

Innovation Solution

The client device maintains a data connection and an alternative connection, such as SMS, to transmit order information using a text message when the data connection is unavailable, enabling order generation and transmission through locally stored retailer item sets and encryption for secure communication.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the system uses a data connection for order transmission, then communication reliability is improved, but the system becomes vulnerable to network unavailability that prevents order placement

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication reliabilityVSAvoidnetwork availability adaptability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes the communication parameter from data connection to SMS connection when network availability changes. The client application detects data connection unavailability and switches to using an SMS connection to transmit order information, thereby adapting to different network conditions and maintaining order placement capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system introduces an intermediary mechanism (SMS connection) that can bridge communication when the primary data connection fails. The SMS acts as a mediator to transmit order information between the client device and the online concierge system when the direct data connection is unavailable.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If the system stores item data locally to enable offline ordering, then order placement capability is improved, but device memory consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveorder placement capabilityVSAvoiddevice memory consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by downloading and storing item data from retailers locally on the client device before network unavailability occurs. This allows the client application to access item information and place orders offline without needing to consume additional memory during the ordering process itself.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates a local copy of item data from retailers and stores it on the client device. This copy enables offline access to item information for order placement without requiring continuous network connectivity or additional memory consumption during the ordering operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

3Adaptability or versatility

If the system uses SMS connection for order transmission, then network availability adaptability is improved, but communication efficiency deteriorates due to text message format limitations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork availability adaptabilityVSAvoidcommunication efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS20260080456A1Enabling ordering through a client application through text messages when a client device lacks a data connection to a network

Publication Date: 2026.03.19 MAPLEBEAR INC

AI summary

An online concierge system provides a client application executed on a client device for customers to generate orders for fulfillment by the online concierge system. If the client device is unable to establish a data connection to a network, the client application locally caches data on the client device for one or more retailers that includes items that have been previously purchased by the customer or that are popular among customers. The customer generates an order through the client application for a retailer based on the locally cached items for the retailer. The online concierge system application generates an encrypted text message based on the order that is transmitted to the online concierge system via short message service (SMS). The online concierge system may also return messages via SMS, which may be presented by the client application.