Self-service ordering and transaction processing terminal
First Claim
1. A method, comprising:
- (1) providing at least one order entry station having at least one display at at least one restaurant;
(2) having a customer enter an identification code at said at least one station;
(3) having said customer enter a first order at said at least one station;
(4) accepting payment for and fulfilling said first order;
(5) after step (4), having said customer enter said identification code at said at least one station;
(6) after step (5), displaying said first order on said at least one display;
(7) after step (6), allowing said customer an option of entering a second order at said at least one station that is identical to said first order.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A self-service order-processing terminal is disclosed having a housing and having a display, coin dispenser, bill dispenser, and printer disposed in the housing. Separate locking means with different unlocking means are provided for accessing the coin dispenser, bill dispenser, and printer. The terminal has a database for storing customer order data and automatically sends and receives customer order data to and from a remote database. Diagnostic software runs checks and, if warranted, generates and sends error reports. The terminal is coupled with a display disposed in a food preparation area to notify employees of problems, such the need to replenish currency or printer paper. The terminal stores data relating to a customer'"'"'s order and, when the customer later enters an identification code, the terminal displays past orders in color coded fashion, allowing the customer to quickly place the same order, if desired.
119 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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(1) providing at least one order entry station having at least one display at at least one restaurant;
(2) having a customer enter an identification code at said at least one station;
(3) having said customer enter a first order at said at least one station;
(4) accepting payment for and fulfilling said first order;
(5) after step (4), having said customer enter said identification code at said at least one station;
(6) after step (5), displaying said first order on said at least one display;
(7) after step (6), allowing said customer an option of entering a second order at said at least one station that is identical to said first order. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method, comprising:
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(1) providing a self-service food order entry station having a first display at an order placement area of a food service location, said station having at least one currency storage bin storing currency for making change;
(2) providing a second display at a food preparation area of said food service location;
(3) having a customer enter an order on, make payment to, and receive change from said station;
(4) displaying data from said order on said second display; and
(5) displaying a low currency indicator on said second display when a value of said currency in said currency storage bin falls below a desired amount. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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15. A combination, comprising:
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a housing;
a display disposed in said housing;
a coin dispenser disposed in said housing;
a coin dispenser lock having a first unlocking means for restricting access to coins in said coin dispenser;
a bill dispenser disposed in said housing;
a bill dispenser lock having a second unlocking means for restricting access to bills in said bill dispenser;
a printer disposed in said housing; and
a printer lock having a third unlocking means for restricting access to said printer, said first, second, and third unlocking means being different. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification