Diagnostic data interchange

• US 20020082924A1
• Filed: 09/04/2001
• Published: 06/27/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/1996
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: KB TLC Buyer LLC
• Original Assignee: Technology Licensing Corporation
• Inventors: Koether, Bernard G.
• Granted Patent: US 7,877,291 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/15
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 36/321 the electronic control being performed over a network, e.g. by means of a handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 2204/12 Determination or prediction of behaviour, e.g. likely power consumption or unusual usage patterns
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 2204/14 Displaying of utility usage with respect to time, e.g. for monitoring evolution of usage or with respect to weather conditions
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/12 Hotels or restaurants
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/002 with telemetering systems telemetering in general G08C
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/30 Smart metering, e.g. specially adapted for remote reading

Abstract

The present invention provides a bi-directional communication network which provides monitoring, data collection, and control of food service industry operations. The system includes a computer and control logic implemented by the computer which may be configured to perform various tasks. A communication network may be provided linking the computer with equipment and appliances having a microprocessor based controller capable of communicating with the system. In one embodiment, the system automatically verifies the performance of equipment-related manual tasks in food preparation. In another embodiment, the system schedules the maintenance of a plurality of kitchen appliances. In another embodiment, the system provides a hold timer for tracking the hold time of cooked food products and determines when the hold time elapses. In yet another embodiment, the system manages the inventory of cooked food products in a food preparation establishment.

Claims

1. A system for automatically monitoring the performance of equipment-related manual tasks involving equipment used in food preparation comprising:

at least one piece of equipment used in food preparation, said piece of equipment having a microprocessor-based controller;

at least one sensor capable of sensing a parameter related to the performance of at least one equipment-related manual task;

a control computer implementing control logic operative to automatically monitor the performance of the at least one equipment-related manual task; and

a communication network allowing communication between the control computer and one or both of the at least one piece of equipment and the sensor.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the communication network effectuates communications at least in part by wireless data transmission.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the communication network further effectuates communications at least in part over the Internet.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one piece of equipment is a kitchen appliance.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the kitchen appliance is a fryer.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the communication network effectuates communications at least in part over the Internet.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the parameter provides an indication of whether the at least one equipment-related manual task was completed.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the parameter provides an indication of whether the at least one equipment-related manual task was properly performed.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the control computer is a local kitchen base station.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the control computer is located at a control center.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the computer is capable of generating at least one message pertaining to the at least one equipment-related manual task.

12. The system of claim 11 further comprising a visual display monitor on which the at least one message may be displayed.

13. The system of claim 1 further comprising a database containing stored historical information related to the performance of the at least one equipment-related manual task.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the stored historical information comprises information related to one or more of the set of:

the type of the at least one equipment-related manual task;

when the task was performed; and

the identity of the person performing the task.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the communication between the control computer and one or both of the at least one piece of equipment and the sensor is at least in part by wireless data transmission.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the wireless data transmission is performed at least in part over the Internet.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein the communication network effectuates communications at least in part over the Internet.

19. The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of generating at least one message pertaining to the at least one equipment-related manual task.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising the step of displaying said at least one message on a visual display monitor.

15. A method for automatically verifying the performance of equipment-related manual tasks involving equipment used in food preparation comprising:

providing at least one piece of equipment used in food preparation, said piece of equipment having a microprocessor-based controller;

providing at least one sensor capable of sensing a parameter related to the performance of at least one equipment-related manual task;

providing a control computer implementing control logic operative to automatically monitor the performance of the at least one equipment-related manual task;

providing a communication network allowing communication between the control computer and one or both of the at least one piece of equipment and the sensor;

monitoring the at least one piece of equipment;

performing the at least one manual task involving the at least one piece of equipment; and

sensing the performance of the at least one equipment-related manual task.

21. A system for tracking the hold time of cooked food products comprising:

at least one cooked food product having a predetermined hold time;

a plurality of food holding areas for holding the at least one cooked food product;

a control computer; and

control logic implemented by the control computer, the control logic being operative to determine when the hold time for the at least one cooked food product elapses.

22. The system of claim 21 wherein the control logic is further operative to determine if the at least one cooked food product has been moved from a first food holding area to at least a second food holding area.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein the control logic is further operative to record the movement of the at least one cooked food product to the at least second food holding area.

24. The system of claim 21 wherein the control logic is further operative to generate an expiration signal when the hold time for the at least one cooked food product has elapsed.

25. The system of claim 24 further comprising an audiovisual indicator which, responsive to the expiration signal, provides an indication that the hold time for the at least one cooked food product has elapsed.

26. The system of claim 22 wherein the control logic is further operative to assign a batch identification number to the at least one cooked food product.

27. The system of claim 22 further comprising a data entry means permitting a batch identification number of the at least one cooked food product to be manually input into the system to identify in which food holding area the food has been placed.

28. The system of claim 27 wherein the data entry means is a keypad associated with a food holding area.

29. The system of claim 27 wherein the batch identification number is input into the system at least in part by wireless data transmission.

30. The system of claim 22 further comprising a sensor to measure some parameter related to the at least one cooked food product, said sensor providing, to said control computer, a signal relating to said parameter.

31. The system of claim 30 wherein the parameter relates to the presence or absence of the at least one cooked food product in a specific holding area.

32. The system of claim 30 wherein the parameter relates to the temperature of the at least one cooked food product.

33. A system for managing the inventory of cooked food products in a food preparation establishment comprising:

at least one cooked food product having a predetermined hold time;

a plurality of food holding areas for holding the at least one cooked food product;

a control computer; and

control logic implemented by the control computer, the control logic being operative to determine when the hold time for the at least one food product will elapse in the future and to provide advance notification of when the hold time will elapse.

34. The system of claim 33 further comprising advance notification times corresponding to different types of the at least one cooked food product being stored in a database accessible to the control logic.

35. The system of claim 33 further comprising the control logic being operative to generate an advance notification message signal indicative of when the hold time will elapse in the future.

36. The system of claim 35 further comprising an audiovisual indicator which, responsive to the advance notification message signal, provides an advance indication of when the hold time will elapse in the future.

37. The system of claim 33 further comprising the control logic being operative to generate a signal to cook more of the at least one food product.

38. The system of claim 37 further comprising an audiovisual indicator which, responsive to the signal, provides an indication to cook more of the at least one food product.

39. The system of claim 33 further comprising the control logic being operative to determine if more of the at least one cooked food product whose hold time will elapse in the future is available or being cooked in another location in the food preparation establishment.

40. A method for tracking the hold time of cooked food products comprising:

providing at least one cooked food product having a predetermined hold time;

providing a plurality of food holding areas for holding the at least one cooked food product;

providing a control computer;

providing control logic implemented by the control computer, the control logic being operative to determine when the hold time for the at least one food product elapses; and

determining when the hold time for the at least one cooked food product elapses.

41. The method of claim 40 further comprising providing a data entry means to manually input a batch identification number of the at least one cooked food product into the control computer.

42. The method of claim 41 further comprising determining if the at least one cooked food product has been moved from a first food holding area to at least a second food holding area.

43. The method of claim 40 further comprising displaying a message that the hold time has expired for the at least one cooked food product.

44. The method of claim 40 further comprising assigning a batch identification number to the at least one cooked food product.

46. The method of claim 45 further comprising notifying food preparation establishment personnel to cook more of the at least one cooked food product before the hold time elapses for the at least one cooked food product.

47. The method of claim 45 further comprising determining if more of the at least one cooked food product whose hold time will elapse in the future is available or being cooked in another location in the food preparation establishment.

45. A method for managing the inventory of cooked food products in a food preparation establishment comprising:

providing at least one cooked food product having a predetermined hold time;

providing a plurality of food holding areas for holding the at least one cooked food product;

providing a control computer;

providing control logic implemented by the control computer, the control logic being operative to determine when the hold time for the at least one food product will elapse in the future and to provide advance notification of when the hold time will elapse.

determining when the hold time for the at least one food product will elapse in the future; and

providing advance notification of when the hold time for the at least one food product will elapse in the future.