Method and apparatus for automated food court operation
First Claim
1. Method for operating a food court, the food court comprising a plurality of restaurants, the method comprising:
- a) order step for automated acceptance for each customer of a respective customer'"'"'s order of selected menu items from one or more of the restaurants;
b) payment step for automated acceptance of payment from each customer in one or more forms selected by the customer for the customer'"'"'s order;
c) advising step of electronically advising each restaurant of selected menu items from the restaurant in each customer'"'"'s order;
d) service step of each restaurant preparing selected menu items from the restaurant for each customer'"'"'s order and making the selected menu items available for delivery to the customer; and
e) accounting step for automated accounting of sales revenue for menu items sold by each restaurant.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for automated food court operation utilizing an order station where a customer uses a touch screen to order menu items from one or more of the restaurants, a payment station where the customer uses a touch screen to pay for the order using forms of payment selected by the customer, a restaurant touch screen in each restaurant which notifies restaurant personnel of menu items ordered from the restaurant and allows restaurant personnel to acknowledge readiness of the items for delivery, a delivery screen in the dining area which notifies customers of items ready for delivery, and a central computer linking all of the components and providing sales and accounting information for distribution of revenue to the restaurants.
52 Citations
42 Claims
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1. Method for operating a food court, the food court comprising a plurality of restaurants, the method comprising:
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a) order step for automated acceptance for each customer of a respective customer'"'"'s order of selected menu items from one or more of the restaurants;
b) payment step for automated acceptance of payment from each customer in one or more forms selected by the customer for the customer'"'"'s order;
c) advising step of electronically advising each restaurant of selected menu items from the restaurant in each customer'"'"'s order;
d) service step of each restaurant preparing selected menu items from the restaurant for each customer'"'"'s order and making the selected menu items available for delivery to the customer; and
e) accounting step for automated accounting of sales revenue for menu items sold by each restaurant. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. Apparatus for automated food court operation, the food court comprising a plurality of restaurants, the apparatus comprising:
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a) order means for automated self-service selection of menu items by customers from menu offerings for each restaurant;
b) payment means for automated self-service payment by customers for orders placed;
c) advising means for advising each restaurant of menu items ordered and menu items paid for by customers;
d) service means for advising customers of ordered menu items which are ready for delivery; and
e) accounting means for automated accounting of sales revenue for menu items sold by each restaurant. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. Apparatus for automated food court operation, the food court comprising a plurality of restaurants, the apparatus comprising:
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a) one or more order stations;
b) one or more payment stations;
c) one or more restaurant touch screens in each restaurant;
d) one or more delivery screens;
e) central computer; and
f) communication means for linking the central computer to the order stations, the payment stations, the restaurant touch screens, and the delivery screens. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42)
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Specification