Automated self-service ordering system and method of use
First Claim
1. A method of self-service ordering at a restaurant, comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a kiosk at a first location in said restaurant, said kiosk comprising a touch-screen panel and a receiving means for receiving and transmitting information stored on a patron'"'"'s payment instrument;
(b) operating at said touch-screen panel by a patron to order at least one item;
(c) totaling the charges for said at least one item ordered by said patron;
(d) inserting a patron'"'"'s payment instrument into said receiving means on said kiosk;
(e) verifying the patron'"'"'s account represented by said payment instrument and approving the information stored on the patron'"'"'s payment instrument;
(f) debiting the patron'"'"'s account in the amount of said totaled charges; and
(g) assembling said at least one item at a second location remote from said first location using order information collected on said touch-screen panel and delivering said item to the patron at a location remote from said first location at which said kiosk is located.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides an automated touch-screen kiosks capable of receiving electronic payment in fast food restaurant for self-service customer ordering. The present kiosk system enhances customer satisfaction, lowers operation costs and increases sales and profits by facilitating easy use of credit card/debit card in the traditional cash only environment of fast food restaurant. Smart card reader can also be standard in the present touch-screen kiosk, thus enabling the application of smart card technology in fast food restaurant. The present system further promotes sales by giving customers suggestive sales appropriate to their orders through a rules-based software engine.
96 Citations
33 Claims
-
1. A method of self-service ordering at a restaurant, comprising the steps of:
-
(a) providing a kiosk at a first location in said restaurant, said kiosk comprising a touch-screen panel and a receiving means for receiving and transmitting information stored on a patron'"'"'s payment instrument;
(b) operating at said touch-screen panel by a patron to order at least one item;
(c) totaling the charges for said at least one item ordered by said patron;
(d) inserting a patron'"'"'s payment instrument into said receiving means on said kiosk;
(e) verifying the patron'"'"'s account represented by said payment instrument and approving the information stored on the patron'"'"'s payment instrument;
(f) debiting the patron'"'"'s account in the amount of said totaled charges; and
(g) assembling said at least one item at a second location remote from said first location using order information collected on said touch-screen panel and delivering said item to the patron at a location remote from said first location at which said kiosk is located. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 25)
-
-
8. A method of self-service ordering at a restaurant, comprising the steps of:
-
(a) providing a kiosk at a first location in said restaurant, said kiosk comprising a touch-screen panel and a receiving means for receiving and transmitting information stored on a patron'"'"'s payment instrument;
(b) operating at said touch-screen panel by a patron to order at least one item;
(c) suggesting to said patron additional items for sale that are appropriate to the items ordered by said patron, wherein said suggesting is delivered by a mean selected from the group consisting of a video display, an audio display and an audio-visual display. (d) totaling the charges for said at least one item ordered by said patron;
(e) inserting a patron'"'"'s payment instrument into said receiving means on said kiosk;
(f) verifying the patron'"'"'s account represented by said payment instrument and approving the information stored on the patron'"'"'s payment instrument;
(g) debiting the patron'"'"'s account in the amount of said totaled charges; and
(h) assembling said at least one item at a second location remote from said first location using order information collected on said touch-screen panel and delivering said item to the patron at a location remote from said first location at which said kiosk is located. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. A method of self-service ordering at a restaurant, comprising the steps of:
-
(a) providing a kiosk at a first location in said restaurant, said kiosk comprising a touch-screen panel and a receiving means for receiving and transmitting information stored on a patron'"'"'s payment instrument;
(b) operating at said touch-screen panel by a patron to order at least one item, said operating comprising verbalizing the name of said item to said kiosk;
(c) totaling the charges for said at least one item ordered by said patron;
(d) inserting a patron'"'"'s payment instrument into said receiving means on said kiosk;
(e) verifying the patron'"'"'s account represented by said payment instrument and approving the information stored on the patron'"'"'s payment instrument;
(f) debiting the patron'"'"'s account in the amount of said totaled charges; and
(g) assembling said at least one item at a second location remote from said first location using order information collected on said touch-screen panel and delivering said item to the patron at a location remote from said first location at which said kiosk is located. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
-
-
22. A method of self-service ordering at a restaurant, comprising the steps of:
-
(a) providing a kiosk at a first location in said restaurant, said kiosk comprising a touch-screen panel and a receiving means for receiving and transmitting information stored on a patron'"'"'s payment instrument;
(b) operating at said touch-screen panel by a patron to order at least one item;
(c) totaling the charges for said at least one item ordered by said patron;
(d) inserting a patron'"'"'s payment instrument into said receiving means on said kiosk;
(e) verifying the patron'"'"'s account represented by said payment instrument and approving the information stored on the patron'"'"'s payment instrument;
(f) receiving said patron'"'"'s electronic signature as an acceptance of said totaled charges for the food item ordered by said patron;
(g) debiting the patron'"'"'s account in the amount of said totaled charges; and
(h) assembling said at least one item at a second location remote from said first location using order information collected on said touch-screen panel and delivering said item to the patron at a location remote from said first location at which said kiosk is located. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24)
-
-
26. A self-service ordering system capable of receiving electronic payment at a restaurant, the system comprising:
-
a kiosk displayed at a first location in said restaurant, said kiosk comprising a touch-screen panel upon which a patron can select and order at least one item;
means for communicating said patron'"'"'s order to a second location remote from said first location in said restaurant, wherein said item ordered by said patron is assembled at said second location; and
means on said kiosk for receiving and transmitting information stored on said patron'"'"'s payment instrument for accessing said patron'"'"'s account represented by said payment instrument and debiting said account the total charge for the item ordered by said patron. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
-
-
33. The method of claim 36, wherein said item is a food item, a toy, or a newspaper.
Specification