SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DISPLAYING AND MANAGING ELECTRONIC MENUS

• US 20090309748A1
• Filed: 06/16/2009
• Published: 12/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Daniel R. Elgort, Scott T. Denegre, Shanon V. Levenherz
• Original Assignee: Daniel R. Elgort, Scott T. Denegre, Shanon V. Levenherz
• Inventors: Elgort, Daniel R., Levenherz, Shanon V., Denegre, Scott T.
• Granted Patent: US 8,436,715 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/686.600
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

Systems and methods display and manage wireless electronic menus that are capable of connecting to a computer terminal, a server and/or a database via one or more communication networks. The systems are capable of managing wireless electronic menus within a single site establishment or within multi-site establishments. The menus have one or more sensors for determining if the menus are in motion, idle, in use not in use or docked to a charging base to define a menu status for each menu. The terminal updates the menu content of the menus based on the menu status of each menu. A proximity sensor determines a location of the menus to define a configuration of the menus with respect a table or a table configuration of tables on a floor plan. Sensors, a user input and/or the computer terminal associate the menus with a menu grouping or with the table in close proximity of the menus so that common menu content may be display by each menu. The menus display menu content for available goods and/or services offered by a provider in one or more languages as selected by users of the menus. Usage of menus is accurately tracked by the proximity sensor and the sensors of the menus to eliminate false counts and to correct for errors generated by multiple uses of the menu by multiple users. The menus provide lists of goods and/or services in a format which is capable of being sorted and/or filtered based on the information and/or multimedia data indicative of the goods and/or services.

Claims

1. A system for displaying and managing wireless electronic menus comprising:

a first computer terminal connected to a first communication network, wherein the first communication network is a wireless communication network; and

a first electronic menu having a display, a memory, a first wireless transducer and a first sensor connected to a microprocessor, wherein the first electronic menu renders information and/or multimedia data via the display, wherein the first wireless transducer is connected to the first wireless communication network such that the first electronic menu communicates with the first computer terminal via the first communication network, wherein the first electronic menu is located at a position that is an open position or a closed position, wherein the first sensor detects the position of the menu and transmits the position of the menu to the first computer terminal via the first communication network.

2. The system according to claim 1 further comprising:

a second electronic menu having a display, a memory, a first wireless transducer and a first sensor connected to a microprocessor, wherein the first wireless transducer of the second electronic menu is connected to the first wireless communication network such that the second electronic menu communicates with the first computer terminal via the first communication network, wherein the second electronic menu is located at a position that is an open position or a closed position, wherein the first sensor of the second electronic menu detects the position of the second electronic menu and transmits the position of the second electronic menu to the first computer terminal via the first communication network.

3. The system according to claim 1 further comprising:

a proximity sensor connected to the first communication network, wherein the proximity sensor detects a location of the first electronic menu and/or a second electronic menu.

4. The system according to claim 3 further comprising:

a second wireless transducer connected to the microprocessor of the first electronic menu, wherein the second wireless transducer communicates with the proximity sensor.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein the second wireless transducer or the proximity sensor is an infrared communication device, a radio frequency identification tag, radio frequency identification reader, a Smart Card, a Smart Card reader, a ultrasonic position sensor, an optical position sensor or an electromagnetic sensor.

6. The system according to claim 1 further comprising:

a server and a database in communication with the first computer terminal via a second communication network.

7. The system according to claim 6 further comprising:

advertising media stored in the database, wherein the advertising media is rendered via the first electronic menu or the first computer terminal.

8. The system according to claim 7 further comprising:

a second computer terminal remote with respect to the first computer terminal and in communication with the first computer terminal or the database via the second communication network, wherein the advertising media is rendered via the second computer terminal.

9. The system according to claim 1 further comprising:

a second sensor connected to the microprocessor of the first electronic menu, wherein the second sensor detects movement of the first electronic menu from a first location to a second location.

10. The system according to claim 1 further comprising:

a third sensor connected to the microprocessor of the first electronic menu, wherein the third sensor is a touch sensor, a thermal sensor, or a pressure sensor.

11. The system according to claim 1 further comprising:

a card authorization system connected to the microprocessor of the first electronic menu.

12. The system according to claim 1, wherein the display of the first electronic menu is selected from the group consisting of an ultra-thin liquid crystal display, a passive liquid crystal display, a flexible or a rigid organic light emitting diode, light emitting polymer or organic electro-luminescence, electronic paper, a surface-conduction electron-emitter display, a field emission display and an electrochromic display.

13. The system according to claim 1, wherein the first sensor of the first electronic menu comprises a photo-sensor, a switch or a plunger.

14. The system according to claim 9, wherein the second sensor of the first electronic menu is selected from the group consisting of an optical sensor, an infrared sensor, a level sensor, a gyroscope sensor, a microphone, a photoelectric sensor, a photoswitch, an inclinometer, an infrared thermometer, and an accelerometer.

15. The system according to claim 1, wherein the information and/or multimedia data is menu information indicative of menu items, food ratings and reviews, nutritional information including calories and fat content, wine descriptions and pairings, suggestive selling, upgrades or add-ons, wine-maker features, staff tasting notes, a preparation style or procedure of the menu items, a preparing status of the menu items, promotional information, one or more cooking materials, a flavor of the menu items, nutrition ingredients of the menu items and/or health effects or allergic reactions associated with consumption of the menu items.

16. The system according to claim 2 further comprising:

means for determining a configuration of a table based on detected locations of the first and second electronic menus.

17. The system according to claim 2 further comprising:

means for grouping the first and second electronic menus together to form a new menu grouping based on the association of the first and second electronic menus with a table or based on acceleration data for the first and second electronic menus.

18. The system according to claim 1 further comprising:

means for selecting and ordering a menu item via the first electronic menu.

19. The system according to claim 1 further comprising:

user profile information accessible via the first electronic menu, the first computer terminal or a remote computer terminal.

20. The system according to claim 1 further comprising:

a notification or advertising media accessible via the first electronic menu, the first computer terminal or a remote computer terminal.