ORDER TAKING SYSTEM FOR A QUICK SERVICE RESTAURANT USING MULTIPLE WIRELESS COMMUNICATION CHANNELS

• US 20070192196A1
• Filed: 02/10/2006
• Published: 08/16/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Awiszus, Steven
• Application Number:
  US11/276,044
• Publication Number:
  US 20070192196A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/15
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/12 Hotels or restaurants

Abstract

Order taking system for a quick service restaurant enabling a customer to place an order for an item from a drive-through lane, the quick service restaurant having a plurality of staff persons for completing the order. A drive-through order point is positioned in the proximity of the drive-through lane. A plurality of wearable headsets are adapted to be used by the plurality of staff persons. A first wireless voice communication link exists between the drive-through order point and a base station. A second wireless voice communication link exists between the base station and the plurality of headsets. At least one of the plurality of staff persons is able to communicate by voice with the customer at the drive-through lane using the first wireless voice communication link and the second wireless voice communication link. A third wireless voice communication link may exist between the drive-through order point and at least one of the plurality of headsets allowing the drive-through order point to function as a repeater in voice communications between the base station and at least one of the plurality of staff persons. A fourth wireless voice communication link may exist between one the plurality of headsets and another of the plurality of headsets allowing the first of the plurality of headsets to function as a repeater in voice communications between the base station and at least one of the plurality of staff persons.

Claims

1. An order taking system for a quick service restaurant enabling a customer to place an order for an item from a drive-through lane, said quick service restaurant having a plurality of staff persons for completing said order, comprising:

a drive-through order point located near said drive-through lane, said drive-through order point being capable of receiving said order for said item from said customer;

a base station;

a plurality of wearable headsets adapted to be used by said plurality of staff persons;

a first wireless voice communication link between said order placing equipment and said base station; and

a second wireless voice communication link between said base station and said plurality of headsets;

at least one of said plurality of staff persons being able to communicate by voice with said customer at said drive-through lane using said first wireless voice communication link and said second wireless voice communication link.

2. An order taking system as in claim 1 wherein said first wireless voice communication link is full duplex.

3. An order taking system as in claim 2 wherein said second wireless voice communication link is full duplex.

4. An order taking system as in claim 1 wherein said first wireless voice communication link and said second wireless voice communication link occur on a plurality of channels.

5. An order taking system as in claim 4 wherein said plurality of channels operate on a plurality of frequencies.

6. An order taking system as in claim 4 wherein said plurality of channels operate using time division multiple access (TDMA).

7. An order taking system as in claim 4 wherein said plurality of channels operate using code division multiple access (CDMA).

8. An order taking system for a quick service restaurant enabling a customer to place an order for an item from a drive-through lane, said quick service restaurant having a plurality of staff persons for completing said order, comprising:

a drive-through order point positioned in the proximity of said drive-through lane;

a base station;

a plurality of wearable headsets adapted to be used by said plurality of staff persons;

a first wireless voice communication link between said drive-through order point and said base station; and

a second wireless voice communication link between said base station and said plurality of headsets;

at least one of said plurality of staff persons being able to communicate by voice with said customer at said drive-through lane using said first wireless voice communication link and said second wireless voice communication link; and

a third wireless voice communication link between said drive-through order point and at least one of said plurality of headsets allowing said drive-through order point to function as a repeater in voice communications between said base station and at least one of said plurality of staff persons.

9. An order taking system as in claim 8 wherein said first wireless voice communication link is full duplex.

10. An order taking system as in claim 9 wherein said second wireless voice communication link is full duplex.

11. An order taking system as in claim 10 wherein said third wireless voice communication link is full duplex.

12. An order taking system as in claim 8 wherein said first wireless voice communication link, said second wireless communication link and said third wireless voice communication link occur on a plurality of channels.

13. An order taking system as in claim 12 wherein said plurality of channels operate on a plurality of frequencies.

14. An order taking system as in claim 12 wherein said plurality of channels operate using time division multiple access (TDMA).

15. An order taking system as in claim 12 wherein said plurality of channels operate using code division multiple access (CDMA).

16. An order taking system as in claim 8 further comprising a fourth wireless voice communication link between at least one of said plurality of headsets and another one of said plurality of headsets allowing said at least one of said plurality of headsets to function as a repeater in voice communications between said at least one of said plurality of headsets and another of said plurality of headsets.

17. A method of taking orders associated with a quick service restaurant enabling a customer to place an order for an item from a drive-through lane, said quick service restaurant having a plurality of staff persons for completing said order, comprising:

communicating on a first wireless voice communication link from a drive-through order point capable of receiving said order for said item from said customer to a base station;

communicating on a second wireless voice communication link from said base station to at least one of a plurality of wearable headsets adapted to be used by said plurality of staff persons;

whereby at least one of said plurality of staff persons are able to communicate by voice with said customer at said drive-through lane using said first wireless voice communication link and said second wireless voice communication link.

18. A method as in claim 17 wherein said first wireless voice communication link is full duplex.

19. A method as in claim 18 wherein said second wireless voice communication link is full duplex.

20. A method as in claim 17 wherein said first wireless voice communication link and said second wireless voice communication link occur on a plurality of channels.

21. A method as in claim 20 wherein said plurality of channels operate on a plurality of frequencies.

22. A method as in claim 20 wherein said plurality of channels operate using time division multiple access (TDMA).

23. A method as in claim 20 wherein said plurality of channels operate using code division multiple access (CDMA).

24. A method of taking orders associated with a quick service restaurant enabling a customer to place an order for an item from a drive-through lane, said quick service restaurant having a plurality of staff persons for completing said order, comprising:

communicating on a first wireless voice communication link from a drive-through order point capable of receiving said order for said item from said customer to a base station;

communicating on a second wireless voice communication link from said base station to at least one of a plurality of wearable headsets adapted to be used by said plurality of staff persons;

whereby at least one of said plurality of staff persons are able to communicate by voice with said customer at said drive-through lane using said first wireless voice communication link and said second wireless voice communication link; and

communicating on a third wireless voice communication link between said drive-through order point and at least one of said plurality of headsets allowing said drive-through order point to function as a repeater in voice communications between said base station and at least one of said plurality of staff persons.

25. A method as in claim 24 wherein said first wireless voice communication link is full duplex.

26. A method as in claim 25 wherein said second wireless voice communication link is full duplex.

27. A method as in claim 26 wherein said third wireless voice communication link is full duplex.

28. A method as in claim 24 wherein said first wireless voice communication link, said second wireless communication link and said third wireless voice communication link occur on a plurality of channels.

29. A method as in claim 28 wherein said plurality of channels operate on a plurality of frequencies.

30. A method as in claim 28 wherein said plurality of channels operate using time division multiple access (TDMA).

31. A method as in claim 28 wherein said plurality of channels operate using code division multiple access (CDMA).

32. A method as in claim 24 further comprising the step of communicating on a fourth wireless voice communication link between at least one of said plurality of headsets and another one of said plurality of headsets allowing said at least one of said plurality of headsets to function as a repeater in voice communications between said at least one of said plurality of headsets and another of said plurality of headsets.