Static structures (e.g. – buildings) – Including component designed to receive a disparate article... – Task-area type repositionable component
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-27
2002-07-09
Friedman, Carl D. (Department: 3635)
Static structures (e.g., buildings)
Including component designed to receive a disparate article...
Task-area type repositionable component
C052S036100, C235S375000, C235S383000, C235S462010, C700S233000, C700S236000, C705S026640, C705S027200, C707S793000, C707S793000, C707S793000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06415555
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method and system for accepting and processing consumer orders and payments in a retail environment. More specifically, the present invention relates to ordering technology in restaurants.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The restaurant business is a labor-intensive business. The current labor market dictates high salaries for relatively unskilled positions. Additionally, staffing a restaurant is often an imprecise process based on past experience and one's prediction of future busy periods. This is exacerbated by the fact that busy periods requiring heavy staffing are often short, while an employee is often not willing to work for short shifts. Thus, there is a need for a system which allows for a more efficient use of one's staff and which allows the restaurant to balance its need for cost efficient staffing, sufficient staffing for busy periods, and the requirement that to retain quality employees one must be able to provide them with shifts of sufficient duration. Thus, there is a need for a system which automates the ordering process, thereby reducing labor costs and allowing for more efficient staffing of a restaurant.
However, the automated ordering system must also be accurate, efficient, fast and consumer friendly. Thus, there is also a need for an ordering system which improves the level of service in a restaurant at the same time it reduces overhead, and quickly and accurately receives and processes orders in restaurants.
Many customers expect fast and efficient service. While some customers want speed, other customers prefer to order at a more leisurely pace. Some customers may be discouraged from coming to a restaurant if they feel the process is too slow or other customers may be reluctant to frequent a restaurant if they feel bullied by others in a hurry to order or by register employees anxious to keep the order line moving. Thus, there is a need for a system which allows customers to order at their own pace, yet does not alienate customers. There is a need for a system which does not intimidate customers and is easy to use.
A need also exists for an improved kiosk which would be a cost efficient system for receiving and processing of customer orders, but which does not require specialized technology. The need exists for a kiosk system which is sufficiently inexpensive to operate and repair so that economically there could be a relatively large number of kiosks in a given locale for a single restaurant, thus, allowing customers to order at their own pace. The economic ability to have a large number of kiosks eliminates the frustration of customers who either must wait in line to order or who feel pressured to order more quickly.
There is a need for a system which allows consumers to order more efficiently. There is also a need for a system which streamlines the ordering process by allowing the consumer to select his most recent meal, his most common meal or to select a meal he has chosen in the past.
There is a need for a system which more efficiently and accurately takes orders. In the conventional quick service restaurants orders are given orally. There is a problem of miscommunications between the customer and the register employee. These miscommunications occur for any number of reasons including dialect or speech variances, hearing problems, mumbling and outside noise. The present invention eliminates mistakes due to miscommunication.
In a conventional system, a restaurant relies on its employees to sell complementary items or special deals. However, employees may not always remember to offer special deals or complementary items to the customer. Further, certain items are only available at particular times of the day. Thus, there is a need for a system which only offers items for sale when they are available and automatically offers complementary items and special deals.
In a conventional quick service restaurant, a customer waits in line for his food. Thus, there is a need for a system which eliminates the need for a customer to wait in line while his food is being prepared even though the food preparation time may be relatively short.
In a conventional quick service restaurant, the consumer reviews a menu board prior to making his selection. Almost half of Americans need corrective eyewear, thus, many customers cannot see the menu board clearly. Further, in many situations the customer must look for the information he wants. For example, the menus do not display nutrition information, and often time limits and other information is not easily identified on the board. Thus, there is a need for a system which makes the menu easier to access for the consumer. The present invention anticipates these problems and allows customers to view the menu at the ordering kiosk. Information is also provided audibly through its directional speaker.
In the conventional quick service restaurant, there is no way to track the habits of a particular customer. Knowing a customer's ordering habits makes it easier to service an individual customer. Thus, there is a need for a system which allows for more efficient service to individual customers.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention allows for automated ordering by customers in a retail environment. One use of the present invention would be by a quick service restaurant.
In one embodiment of the present invention a kiosk for consumer ordering is located in the retail environment. The kiosk may be located inside or outside of the establishment it is associated with. For example, the kiosk might be located within a quick service restaurant or the kiosk might be located in the parking lot area outside the restaurant. The kiosk might also be located in or near a food court area such as may be found in malls, airports or amusement parks. In another embodiment, the kiosk could be located near an entrance of a retail environment, such as the entrance to a mall or amusement park.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the kiosk is for customer use. The customer places his order and pays for his order at the kiosk. In accordance with one aspect of the present invention an automated system is provided for accepting consumer orders. In accordance with one aspect of the present invention an automated system is provided for accepting consumer payments. In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the present invention allows for consumers to enter their own orders.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the kiosk display screen has a series of menus and sub-menus which allow the customer to view information about the products for sale. In one embodiment of the present invention, the initial menu screen of the kiosk is displayed after a transaction is completed, when there has been no input for a designated period of time, or upon touch of a “new order” panel on the touch sensitive display screen.
The display consists of a touch screen allowing the consumer to move through a series of menus and sub-menus. Each screen shows at least one product or product category which the consumer has the opportunity to order. In one embodiment, the customer has the opportunity to select a product category, such as drinks, sandwiches, desserts and select the items he wants from that category.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the display screens are touch sensitive. In one embodiment, when the customer touches a particular item on the screen, it is added to his order. In another embodiment of the present invention, when the customer touches a particular item on the display screen, further information about the product, such as nutrition information is displayed. In one embodiment of the present invention, the first menu of the kiosk displays information about the product categories that are for sale. When a customer selects a product category by touching that category on the touch sensitive screen, another menu listing items in that product category may be displayed. The customer then orders an item by touching that item on the touch sensitive screen
Friedman Carl D.
Horton Yvonne M.
Restaurant Technology, Inc.
Ryndak & Suri
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