Wireless point-of-sale system and method for management of restaurants
First Claim
1. A system for management of a restaurant or bar, comprising:
- a) a server computer, and b) at least one client computer, the client computer being capable of transmitting information to, and receiving information from, the server computer, wherein the server is programmed to store and update a menu of items available at the restaurant or bar, wherein the client computer is programmed to store a local copy of said menu, and to generate orders and to transmit said orders to the server, wherein the client computer is further programmed to synchronize the local copy of said menu with the menu as stored on the server computer, wherein the local copy of the menu is automatically updated in accordance with changes made in the server.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An automated system for management of a restaurant or bar includes a server computer, several wireless hand-held units, and at least one stationary touchscreen unit. A master copy of a menu is stored in the server, and changes to the master copy are automatically made to local copies stored in the hand-held and touchscreen units. Thus, all copies of the menu, in all of the units, are quickly and automatically synchronized. The system allows a manager to indicate the quantity remaining of a particular item, and that quantity is updated, in all of the hand-held and touchscreen units, as orders for that item are placed. When the quantity remaining of the item reaches zero, the system rejects further orders for the item. The system allows a waiter to print an order or a bill from any one of a variety of selected printers. The system therefore greatly enhances the efficiency of operation of the restaurant or bar.
92 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A system for management of a restaurant or bar, comprising:
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a) a server computer, and b) at least one client computer, the client computer being capable of transmitting information to, and receiving information from, the server computer, wherein the server is programmed to store and update a menu of items available at the restaurant or bar, wherein the client computer is programmed to store a local copy of said menu, and to generate orders and to transmit said orders to the server, wherein the client computer is further programmed to synchronize the local copy of said menu with the menu as stored on the server computer, wherein the local copy of the menu is automatically updated in accordance with changes made in the server. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A system for management of a restaurant or bar, comprising:
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a) a server computer, b) at least one client computer, the client computer being capable of transmitting information to, and receiving information from, the server computer, and c) a plurality of printers, wherein the client computer is programmed to store a copy of a menu of items available at the restaurant and to generate orders and to transmit said orders to the server, wherein the client computer is programmed to select one of said printers for printing of members of the group consisting of orders, checks, and receipts.
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13. A system for management of a restaurant or bar, comprising:
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a) a server computer, and b) at least one client computer, the client computer being capable of transmitting information to, and receiving information from, the server computer, wherein the server is programmed to store and update a menu of items available at the restaurant or bar, wherein the client computer is programmed to store a local copy of said menu, and to generate orders and to transmit said orders to the server, wherein at least one of the server computer and the client computer is programmed to store a count representing a quantity of a menu item remaining in stock, and to decrement said count when the menu item is ordered, wherein the client computer is programmed to display said count, wherein the client computer is programmed not to accept orders for an item whose count has reached zero.
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14. A method of managing a restaurant or bar, the method comprising:
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a) maintaining a menu of available items in a server computer, b) storing a local menu of available items in at least one client computer, the client computer being capable of transmitting information to, and receiving information from, the server computer, and c) updating the local menu stored in the client such that the local menu reflects changes made to the menu stored in the server. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method of managing a restaurant or bar, the method comprising:
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a) maintaining a menu of available items in a server computer, b) storing a local menu of available items in a plurality of client computers, the client computers being capable of transmitting information to, and receiving information from, the server computer, the client computers including a plurality of wireless hand-held units and at least one stationary touchscreen unit, c) updating the local menu stored in the server such that the local menus in each of the client computers reflect changes made to the menu stored in the server. d) establishing, in at least one of the server computer and the client computer, a count representing a quantity of a menu item remaining in stock, e) decrementing said count when the menu item is ordered, f) displaying said count in the client computer, g) rejecting orders for a menu item whose count has reached zero. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
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27. A method of managing a restaurant or bar, the method comprising:
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a) maintaining a menu of available items in a server computer, b) storing a menu of available items in at least one client computer, the client computer being capable of transmitting information to, and receiving information from, the server computer, and c) placing orders for items on the menu, the placing of orders being performed through the client computer, the placing step including choosing a printer which shall print each of said orders, the choosing step being performed through the client computer. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29)
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30. A method of managing a restaurant or bar, the method comprising:
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a) maintaining a menu of available items in a server computer, b) storing a menu of available items in at least one client computer, the client computer being capable of transmitting information to, and receiving information from, the server computer, c) placing orders for items on the menu, the placing of orders being performed through the client computer, and d) generating a bill to be presented to a customer, wherein at least one of steps (c) and (d) comprises choosing a printer to print said orders or bills, the choosing step being performed through the client computer. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32)
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Specification