If you wanted to know how Apple's iPhone ordering and paying patent could work in Starbucks, check these amazing screens created by designer Phil Lu. They not only look like the real thing, but the most impressive thing is that they were actually made before the Apple patent was publicized:

We asked Phil about why his design used a Semacode to confirm payment when you pick up your order, since Apple didn't use this system and just a regular credit card payment system. His answers was very surprising:

This concept was designed before the Apple patent is widely publicized. Similar to ordering song through the web via iTune account, Semacode works like a digital "receipt," allowing the user to use their iTunes account for the transaction (which will bypass credit card transaction/identification, and speed up the pick-up process).

While these screens look so good that we wish they were the real thing, we will have to wait for next tuesday see how they really look (if Apple announces anything related to that patent, that is.) [Genoco - Thanks Sacha]

Send an email to Jesus Diaz, the author of this post, at jesus@gizmodo.com.