Memory Card Programmable Timer Device and Method

• US 20090125682A1
• Filed: 11/12/2007
• Published: 05/14/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Prince Castle LLC (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Prince Castle LLC (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Inventors: Dice, Keith, Schroeder, Jeff, Thorne, Richard L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,659,978 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 711/115
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management

Abstract

A timing device, that may be used in connection with food preparation, holding or service equipment, is programmable via a portable, replaceable media. In particularly, the timing device may be adapted to receive or associate with a media containing a set of instructions to affect operation of the timing device. Upon association with the timing device, transfer of the programming instructions from the media to the timing device occurs affecting programming of the timing device.

Claims

1. A timer module for a food service device comprising:

a processor and a memory coupled to the processor;

the memory comprising a set of instructions to implement a timer associated with a food item of a food processing device; and

the set of instructions having been obtained from a media coupled to the timer module.

2. The timer module of claim 1, the media comprising a portable memory device.

3. The timer module of claim 2, the media comprising a SD memory card, a memory stick or a USB memory device.

4. The timer module of claim 1, the timer module comprising a media coupling configured to receive the media and operably couple the media to the processor.

5. The timer module of claim 4, the media coupling comprising an electrically coupling of the media to the processor.

6. The timer module of claim 4, the media coupling comprising a radio frequency coupling of the media to the processor.

7. The timer module of claim 4, the media coupling comprising a magnetic coupling of the media to the process.

9. The memory media of claim 5, comprising a portable memory device.

10. The memory media of claim 6, the media comprising a SD memory card, a memory stick or a USB memory device.

11. The memory media of claim 6, comprising an electrical coupling.

12. The memory media of claim 6, comprising a radio frequency coupling.

13. The memory media of claim 6, comprising a magnetic coupling.

8. A memory media comprising at least one set of instructions to affect operation of a timer module associated with a food processing device for implementing a timer for a food item of the food processing device.

14. A workstation for the generation of media, the media including a memory containing a set of instructions to affect operation of a timer module associated with a food processing device for implementing a timer for a food item of the food processing device, the workstation comprising:

a processor, a memory coupled to the processor, a database coupled to the processor and a media interface;

the memory comprising operating instructions and the database comprising data upon which the processor is operable in accordance with the operating instructions to generate the set of instructions and to affect transfer of the set of instructions to the media via the media interface.

15. The workstation of claim 14, the media comprising a portable memory device.

16. The workstation of claim 15, the media comprising a SD memory card, a memory stick or a USB memory device.

17. A method of programming a timer module of a food processing device of a food preparation facility comprising:

providing a media containing a set of instructions for the timer module;

coupling the media to the timer module; and

transferring the set of instructions from the media to a memory within the timer module.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein providing the media comprises delivering by mail or courier the media to the food preparation facility.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein providing the media comprises generating the set of instructions at a workstation and transferring the set of instructions from the workstation to the media.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the media comprises a portable memory device.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the media comprises a SD memory card, a memory stick or a USB memory device.