ELECTRONIC MENU SYSTEM WITH AUDIO OUTPUT FOR THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED

• US 20080243624A1
• Filed: 03/31/2008
• Published: 10/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Taylannas, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Taylannas, Inc.
• Inventors: Herbst, Richard, Perry, Susan
• Granted Patent: US 7,930,212 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/15
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1662 Details related to the integrated keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1688 the I/O peripheral being integrated loudspeakers
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/12 Hotels or restaurants

Abstract

An electronic talking menu system for the visually impaired includes a battery powered portable electronic, audio output device having large back-lighted buttons corresponding to menu items. Each button corresponds to contents of the restaurant'"'"'s menu, such as appetizers, drinks, seafood, desserts, etc. Pressing a particular button activates a pre-recorded description of the menu item, or menu items within the selected category. An electronic menus system thus provides a system for enabling a visually impaired person to review and select desired menu items using audio feedback. Delivery of pre-recorded content is accomplished via either a logically-managed service wherein formatted sound files are uploaded to a memory card from a personal computer via the Internet, and/or a courier-based service wherein formatted memory cards are delivered to restaurants via a third party parcel delivery service with a round-robin mailer to exchange memory cards.

Claims

1. An electronic restaurant menu system for providing audio information regarding menu items, said menu system comprising:

a portable electronic device having a housing;

a battery power source contained within said housing;

a computer processor in electrical communication with said power source;

data storage means for storing data including a plurality of audio files in electrical communication with said computer processor, said audio files comprising information relating to restaurant menu options;

means for audio output in electrical communication with said computer processor; and

means for selectively activating said audio files whereby information relating to restaurant menu options is provided as audio output.

2. An electronic restaurant menu system according to claim 1, wherein said means for storing data includes a data storage card in removable engagement with said electronic device.

3. An electronic restaurant menu system according to claim 1, wherein said means for audio output includes a speaker, said speaker adapted for use in both a first configuration wherein said speaker is removably engaging said housing and a second configuration wherein said speaker is in spaced relation with said housing.

4. An electronic restaurant menu system according to claim 1, wherein said means for selectively activating said audio files includes a plurality of manually actuated buttons, each button corresponding to at least one of said audio files.

5. An electronic restaurant menu system according to claim 4, wherein each of said buttons includes an embossed structure to allow the user to identify button locations by tactile sensation.

6. An electronic restaurant menu system according to claim 4, wherein each of said buttons includes Braille characters for providing alpha-numeric information relating to each button.

7. An electronic restaurant menu system for providing audio information regarding menu items, said menu system comprising:

a portable electronic device having a housing, said housing including a front;

a battery power source contained within said housing;

a computer processor in electrical communication with said power source;

data storage means for storing data in electrical communication with said computer processor, said data including audio files comprising information relating to restaurant menu options;

a speaker in electrical communication with said computer processor;

a plurality of manually actuated input buttons disposed on the front of said housing, each of said buttons in electrical communication with said computer processor and configured to activate at least one of said audio files upon actuation whereby information relating to restaurant menu options is provided as audio output by said speaker;

a faceplate removably attached to said housing in covering relation with said front, said faceplate including indicia and embossed structure corresponding to each of said buttons, said indicia including text identifying menu related information corresponding to the button, said embossed structure including Braille characters.

8. An electronic restaurant menu system according to claim 7, wherein said embossed structure further includes a raised surface disposed in aligned overlay relation with each of said buttons to allow the user to identify button locations by tactile sensation.

9. An electronic restaurant menu system according to claim 7, further including means for selecting output language from among at least two languages.

10. An electronic restaurant menu system according to claim 7, wherein said faceplate indicia includes text identifying menu related information corresponding to each button in two languages.

11. An electronic restaurant menu system according to claim 7, further adapted with a digital signal processor capable of wirelessly transmitting and receiving data using radio frequency signals.

12. An electronic restaurant menu system according to claim 7, further including a charging station adapted for removably storing a plurality of said portable electronic devices, said charging station provided with electrical power and adapted to recharge the battery power sources of each device stored in said charging station.

13. An electronic restaurant menu system according to claim 7, wherein said speaker is adapted for use in both a first configuration wherein said speaker is supported by said housing and a second configuration wherein said speaker is supported by the user in spaced relation with said housing.