Abstract: According to an example implementation, a method comprises generating a graphical asynchronous messaging user interface including an input region containing a set of digital images of items and an activity region displaying graphical messaging elements respectively representing messages sent between a consumer node and a provider node, displaying the graphical asynchronous messaging user interface, receiving a first user input from a user via the input region selecting a first digital image associated with a first item from the set of digital images of items in the input region, generating a first message including the first digital image associated with the first item, including the first message including the first digital image associated with the first item in a first messaging element in the activity region displayed to the user on the display device, and transmitting the first message via a public computer network as a request to the provider node.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method and system are described for ordering items within a zone of a physical location. An example method may include wirelessly receiving at a server via a computer network a unique identifier associated with a physical ordering device, the physical ordering device being remotely located from the server, retrieving, at the server from an information source, item information describing an item configured to be associated with the unique identifier of the physical ordering device, retrieving, at the server from the information source, shipping data including a physical location uniquely associated with the physical ordering device, and generating at the server a purchase request for re-ordering the item. The method may further include processing at the server the purchase request, and authorizing at the server shipment of the item to the physical location associated with the physical ordering device responsive to the processing of the purchase request.