REMOTELY CONFIGURABLE WIRELESS INTERCOM SYSTEM FOR AN ESTABLISHMENT

• US 20070190966A1
• Filed: 02/10/2006
• Published: 08/16/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Awiszus, Steven
• Granted Patent: US 7,599,679 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/403
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0281 Customer communication at a business location, e.g. providing product or service information, consulting
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0623 Item investigation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/12 Hotels or restaurants
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/17 Detection of non-compliance or faulty performance, e.g. response deviations H04B17/18 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72502 with one base station connected to a single line
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72513 On hold, intercom or transfer communication modes
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/04 Arrangements for maintaining operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services

Abstract

A remotely configurable wireless intercom system and method for an establishment having a staff. A base station is connectable to a wide area communication network. A plurality of headsets are in two-way wireless communication with the base station. Wireless communication between each of the plurality of headsets and the base station are configurable with at least one parameter being adjustable by the staff of the establishment. The parameter is remotely reviewable and being remotely adjustable via the wide area communication network. Also disclosed is a method of providing a remotely configurable wireless intercom system. Wireless communication is configured between each of the plurality of headsets and the base station with at least one parameter being adjustable by the staff of the establishment. The parameter is remotely reviewed and adjusted via the wide area communication network. A parameter is reviewable and may be remotely reset via the wide area communication network, particularly if a fault condition exists.

Claims

1. A remotely configurable wireless intercom system for an establishment having a staff, comprising:

a base station connectable to a wide area communication network;

a plurality of headsets in two-way wireless communication with said base station;

said wireless communication between each of said plurality of headsets and said base station being configurable with at least one parameter;

said at least one parameter being adjustable by said staff of said establishment;

said at least one parameter being remotely reviewable and being remotely adjustable via said wide area communication network.

2. A remotely configurable wireless intercom system as in claim 1 comprising a plurality of parameters, at least one of said plurality of parameters being adjustable by said staff of said establishment and wherein said plurality of parameters are remotely adjustable via said wide area communication network.

3. A remotely configurable wireless intercom system as in claim 2 wherein said plurality of parameters are grouped into a template of parameters.

4. A remotely configurable wireless intercom system as in claim 3 wherein said template is saved for future recall.

5. A remotely configurable wireless intercom system as in claim 4 wherein said template is saved locally at said establishment.

6. A remotely configurable wireless intercom system as in claim 4 wherein said template is saved to a location remote from said establishment.

7. A remotely configurable wireless intercom system as in claim 4 wherein said plurality of parameters may be restored from said template previously stored.

8. A remotely configurable wireless intercom system as in claim 7 wherein said plurality of parameters may be remotely restored from said template previously stored remotely from said establishment.

9. A remotely configurable wireless intercom system as in claim 3 wherein said template is derived from another establishment.

10. A remotely configurable wireless intercom system as in claim 4 wherein said template of said plurality of parameters is established in conjunction with installation of said wireless intercom system and is saved.

11. A remotely configurable wireless intercom system as in claim 10 wherein said template of said plurality of parameters established in conjunction with installation is recalled at a point in time following said installation.

12. A remotely configurable wireless intercom system as in claim 4 wherein said template of said plurality of parameters is established as a factory default.

13. A remotely configurable wireless intercom system as in claim 12 wherein said template of said plurality of parameters established as default is recalled at a point in time following establishment.

14. A remotely configurable wireless intercom system as in claim 1 further comprising an ordering point and wherein wireless communication occurs between said ordering point and at least one of said plurality of headsets.

15. A remotely configurable wireless intercom system as in claim 14 further comprising a communication between said establishment and a remote facility allowing said remote facility to monitor communication on said wireless intercom system.

16. A remotely configurable wireless intercom system as in claim 15 wherein said at least one parameter is adjusted by said remote facility in response to monitoring of communication of said wireless intercom system.

17. A remotely configurable wireless intercom system as in claim 1 wherein said establishment comprises a quick service restaurant.

18. A remotely configurable wireless intercom system as in claim 1 wherein said at least one parameter comprises an audio level.

19. A remotely configurable wireless intercom system for an establishment having a staff, comprising:

a base station connectable to a wide area communication network;

a plurality of headsets in two-way wireless communication with said base station;

said wireless communication between each of said plurality of headsets and said base station being configurable with at least one parameter;

at least one parameter being remotely reviewable via said wide area communication network; and

said at least one parameter being remotely re-settable via said wide area communication network.

20. A remotely configurable wireless intercom system as in claim 19 wherein said at least one parameter is reset upon the detection of a fault condition via said wide area communication network.

21. A method of providing a remotely configurable wireless intercom system for a establishment having a staff, having a base station connectable to a wide area communication network and having a plurality of headsets in two-way wireless communication with said base station, comprising the steps of:

configuring wireless communication between each of said plurality of headsets and said base station with at least one parameter being adjustable by said staff of said establishment; and

remotely reviewing and adjusting said at least one parameter via said wide area communication network.

22. A method as in claim 21 wherein said at least one parameter comprises a plurality of parameters.

23. A method as in claim 22 further comprising the step of grouping said plurality of parameters into a template of parameters.

24. A method as in claim 23 further comprising the step of saving said template for future recall.

25. A method as in claim 24 wherein said template is saved locally at said establishment.

26. A method as in claim 24 wherein said template is saved to a location remote from said establishment.

27. A method as in claim 24 further comprising the step of restoring said plurality of parameters from said template previously stored.

28. A method as in claim 27 wherein said step of restoring said plurality of parameters is accomplished from said template previously stored remotely from said establishment.

29. A method as in claim 24 further comprising the step of deriving said template from another establishment.

30. A method as in claim 24 further comprising the step of establishing said template of said plurality of parameters in conjunction with installation of said wireless intercom system.

31. A method as in claim 30 further comprising the step of recalling said template of said plurality of parameters established in conjunction with installation at a point in time following said installation.

32. A method as in claim 24 further comprising the step of establishing said template of said plurality of parameters as a factory default.

33. A method as in claim 32 further comprising the step of recalling said template of said plurality of parameters established as default at a point in time following establishment.

34. A method as in claim 21 further comprising the step of wirelessly communicating between an ordering point and at least one of said plurality of headsets.

35. A method as in claim 34 further comprising the step of monitoring communication on said wireless intercom system by a remote facility.

36. A method as in claim 35 further comprising the step of adjusting said at least one parameter by said remote facility in response to monitoring of communication of said wireless intercom system.

37. A method as in claim 21 wherein said establishment comprises a quick service restaurant.

38. A method as in claim 21 wherein said at least one parameter comprises an audio level.

39. A method of providing a remotely configurable wireless intercom system for a establishment having a staff, having a base station connectable to a wide area communication network and having a plurality of headsets in two-way wireless communication with said base station, comprising the steps of:

configuring wireless communication between each of said plurality of headsets and said base station; and

remotely reviewing at least one parameter via said wide area communication network;

remotely determining if a fault condition exists with said plurality of parameters; and

resetting said at least one parameter to a predetermined value via said wide area communication network.

40. A method as in claim 39 wherein said at least one parameter is reset upon the detection of a fault condition via said wide area communication network.

41. A method as in claim 39 wherein said at least one parameter being adjustable by said staff of said establishment.