Order and inventory information management system
First Claim
1. An electronic order and inventory information management system for use in managing a restaurant, comprising:
- a portable hand-held data entry terminal having a display and having means for inputting restaurant order information, said data entry terminal having a transceiver for transmitting said order information;
a database having a plurality of product records associated with products offered for sale at the restaurant, each product record including at least a menu selling price, a present inventory quantity, and an identifier associated with a vendor;
a host computer having a transceiver for receiving said transmitted order information, said host computer being electrically connected to said database and to a wide-area computer network;
means in said host computer for decrementing a respective inventory quantity of a respective product record corresponding to a respective product when said respective product is included in said transmitted order information; and
means in said host computer for transmitting a signal along said wide-area computer network to a vendor computer corresponding to a respective vendor identifier when said respective inventory quantity is less than a predetermined quantity, said signal being indicative of an order for an additional quantity of said respective product.
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Abstract
An order and inventory management system includes a hand-held data entry terminal having a display and input buttons. The display shows table and seat locations and a restaurant menu. The input buttons enable a waiter to select a table and seat location and to select food items ordered by a patron at the selected location. The order is transmitted to a remote host computer where it is routed to respective food and drink terminals for order fulfillment and to a billing terminal for bill printing. The host computer includes a database having a plurality of product records, each record having a menu price, inventory quantity, and vendor identifier associated with a respective restaurant product. Upon receipt of an order, the host computer modifies the quantity of ordered products and automatically delivers a signal to a respective vendor via a network connection to order an additional quantity, if necessary.
66 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An electronic order and inventory information management system for use in managing a restaurant, comprising:
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a portable hand-held data entry terminal having a display and having means for inputting restaurant order information, said data entry terminal having a transceiver for transmitting said order information;
a database having a plurality of product records associated with products offered for sale at the restaurant, each product record including at least a menu selling price, a present inventory quantity, and an identifier associated with a vendor;
a host computer having a transceiver for receiving said transmitted order information, said host computer being electrically connected to said database and to a wide-area computer network;
means in said host computer for decrementing a respective inventory quantity of a respective product record corresponding to a respective product when said respective product is included in said transmitted order information; and
means in said host computer for transmitting a signal along said wide-area computer network to a vendor computer corresponding to a respective vendor identifier when said respective inventory quantity is less than a predetermined quantity, said signal being indicative of an order for an additional quantity of said respective product. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An electronic order and inventory information management system for use in managing a restaurant, comprising:
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a portable hand-held data entry terminal having a display and having means for inputting restaurant order information, said data entry terminal having a transceiver for transmitting said order information;
a database having a plurality of product records associated with products offered for sale at the restaurant, each product record including at least a menu selling price, a present inventory quantity, and an identifier associated with a vendor;
a host computer having a transceiver for receiving said transmitted order information, said host computer connected to said database and connected to a wide-area computer network;
means in said host computer for associating said transmitted order information with respective menu selling prices from said plurality of product records in said database;
means in said host computer for decrementing a respective inventory quantity of a respective product record corresponding to a respective product when said respective product is included in said transmitted order information;
means in said host computer for transmitting a signal along said wide-area network to a vendor computer corresponding to a respective vendor identifier when said respective inventory quantity is less than a predetermined quantity, said signal being indicative of an order for an additional quantity of said respective product;
and wherein said host computer includes network circuitry for establishing a local area network between said host computer and remote network terminals positioned in the restaurant. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An electronic order and inventory information management system for use in managing a restaurant, comprising:
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a portable hand-held data entry terminal having a housing with front and back sides and defining an interior space, said data entry device further comprising;
a display positioned on said front side;
means on said front side for inputting restaurant order information;
a transceiver positioned in said interior space for transmitting said order information;
a handle fixedly attached to said back side of said housing and adapted to be gripped by a waiter, whereby to hold said data entry unit;
a support member fixedly attached to said back side of said housing and having a generally arcuate support member adapted to rest upon an arm of a waiter when said waiter is holding said handle;
a database having a plurality of product records associated with food and drink products offered for sale at the restaurant, each product record including at least a menu selling price, a present inventory quantity, and an identifier associated with a vendor;
a host computer having a transceiver for receiving said transmitted order information, said host computer including network circuitry for establishing a local area network between said host computer and remote network terminals;
a kitchen terminal electrically connected to said local area network and having a display for displaying a portion of said transmitted order information pertaining to a food order, said kitchen terminal adapted to transmit messages back to said host computer indicative of fulfillment of said food order;
a drink terminal electrically connected to said local area network and having a display for displaying a portion of said transmitted order information pertaining to a drink order, said drink terminal adapted to transmit messages back to said host computer indicative of fulfillment of said drink order; and
means in said host computer for decrementing a respective inventory quantity of a respective product record corresponding to a respective product when said respective product is included in said transmitted order information. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification