Method and system for monitoring food tray activity

• US 20040135689A1
• Filed: 01/10/2003
• Published: 07/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Monismart Systems LLC
• Original Assignee: Monismart Systems LLC
• Inventors: Demetrops, John, Roberts, Stuart J., Schuster, Vladimir
• Granted Patent: US 7,075,432 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/568.1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1472 with force or weight detection
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/36 using visible light sources

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and system for monitoring tray activity in which a tray sensing device detects the presence of a tray in a given location. The tray can be a conventional tray for supporting food articles or can be supported or integral with a food cart. Information from the tray sensing device can be forwarded to a central information system. The central information system can display the information or activate an alarm. The alarm can be an audio or visual alert. The alarm can be deactivated upon removal of the tray from the given location or upon dispatching of personnel to the given location.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring a tray activity comprising the steps of:

placing the tray in a vicinity of a tray sensing device, and

detecting the presence of the tray in a given location with the tray sensing device.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

forwarding information from said tray sensing device indicating the presence of said tray at said given location to a central information system.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of:

activating an alarm at said central information system upon receipt of said information from said sensing device.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising the step of:

deactivating said alarm upon receipt of second information from said sensing device indicating the absence of said tray at said given location.

5. The method of claim 3 further comprising the step of:

continuing to forward said information from said sensing device while said tray is at said given location until said tray is removed from said given location and deactivating said alarm when said information is no longer forwarded.

6. The method of claim 3 further comprising the step of deactivating said alarm upon dispatching of personnel to said given location.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said tray sensing device further comprises a tray sensor coupled to a surface of said tray, said tray sensing device is positioned at said given location and said tray sensing device reads said tray sensor.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said given location is a hallway and said tray sensing device is an antenna positioned in said hallway, said antenna reads said tray sensor.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein said tray sensing device and said tray sensor is respectively either a transmitter or a receiver for sending or receiving a signal.

11. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

means for forwarding a control signal from said tray sensing device to a central information system.

12. The system of claim 11 further comprising:

alarm means for generating an audio alert or a visual alert, said alarm means being activated upon receipt of said control signal.

13. The system of claim 12 further comprising:

means for deactivating said alarm upon receipt of said information from said sensing device indicating the absence of said tray at said given location.

14. The system of claim 12 further comprising:

continuing to forward said information from said sensing device while said tray is at said given location until said tray is removed from said given location and deactivating said alarm when said information is no longer forwarded.

15. The system of claim 12 further comprising:

means for deactivating said alarm upon dispatching of personnel to said given location.

10. A system for monitoring tray activity comprising:

a tray sensing device for detecting the presence of the tray in a given location.

16. The system of claim 10 wherein said tray sensing device further comprises a tray sensor coupled to a surface of said tray, said tray sensing device is at said given location and said tray sensing device reads said tray sensor.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein said given location is a hallway and said tray sensing device is an antenna positioned in said hallway, said antenna reads said tray sensor.

18. The system of claim 16 wherein said tray sensing device and said tray sensor is respectively either a transmitter or a receive for sending or receiving a signal.

19. The system of claim 10 further comprising:

a plurality of said tray sensing devices arranged in a plurality of zones, each of said tray sensing devices relaying information from said tray sensing device over a communication path to a central information system.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein said communication path is a wired connection or wireless connection.

21. A system for monitoring tray activity comprising:

a tray sensing device for detecting the presence of the tray in a given location;

means for forwarding a control signal from said tray sensing device to a central information system upon detecting the presence of the tray; and

alarm means for generating an audio alert or a visual alert, said alarm means being activated upon receipt of said control signal.