COMBINED LABEL FOR FOOD PREPARERS AND FOOD SERVERS IN TABLE SERVICE RESTAURANTS AND METHOD OF USING SAME

• US 20140214561A1
• Filed: 01/31/2013
• Published: 07/31/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Iconex LLC
• Original Assignee: NCR Corporation
• Inventors: Butler, Jerry
• Granted Patent: US 9,886,728 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/15
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0621 Item configuration or customization
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/12 Hotels or restaurants

Abstract

A method is provided of processing a food order in a table service restaurant. The method comprises receiving a food order including a table identifier, and electronically by a computer terminal, printing a food order label including the table identifier and providing the printed food order label. The method also comprises by a food preparer, preparing a food dish based upon the printed food order label, and by the food preparer, placing the prepared food dish in a position in vicinity of the printed food order label. The method further comprises by the food preparer or a food server, picking up the prepared food dish and attaching the printed food order label to the food dish with the table identifier being visible, and by a food server, delivering the prepared food dish to the table indicated by the visible table identifier on the printed food order label and thereby delivering the prepared food dish to a customer in the table service restaurant.

Claims

1. A method of processing a food order in a table service restaurant, the method comprising:

receiving a food order including a table identifier;

electronically by a computer terminal, printing a food order label including the table identifier and providing the printed food order label;

by a food preparer, preparing a food dish based upon the printed food order label;

by the food preparer, placing the prepared food dish in a position in vicinity of the printed food order label;

by the food preparer or a food server, picking up the prepared food dish and attaching the printed food order label to the food dish with the table identifier being visible; and

by a food server, delivering the prepared food dish to the table indicated by the visible table identifier on the printed food order label and thereby delivering the prepared food dish to a customer in the table service restaurant.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the table identifier includes a combination of alphanumeric characters.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the table identifier includes a combination of numeric characters.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein receiving a food order including a table identifier includes receiving the food order including the table identifier from a food server.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein receiving a food order including a table identifier includes receiving the food order including the table identifier from a self-ordering station located at a table at which the customer is sitting.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein receiving a food order including a table identifier includes receiving the food order including the table identifier from a smart phone or tablet of the customer.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein receiving a food order including a table identifier includes receiving the food order including the table identifier from a smart kiosk located in the table service restaurant.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein receiving a food order including a table identifier includes receiving the food order including the table identifier from an order taker at a counter located in the table service restaurant.

9. A method of processing a food order in a table service restaurant, the method comprising:

receiving a food order including a table identifier;

electronically by a computer terminal, printing a food order label including the table identifier and providing the printed food order label;

by a food preparer, preparing a food dish based upon the printed food order label;

by the food preparer, placing the prepared food dish in a position in vicinity of the printed food order label;

by the food preparer or a food server, picking up the prepared food dish and folding the printed food order label along a perforation;

by the food preparer or a food server, attaching the printed food order label which has been folded along the perforation to the food dish with the table identifier being visible; and

by a food server, delivering the prepared food dish to the table indicated by the table identifier on the folded, printed food order label and thereby delivering the prepared food dish to a customer at the table in the table service restaurant.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein the table identifier includes a combination of alphanumeric characters.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein the table identifier includes a combination of numeric characters.

12. A method according to claim 9, wherein receiving a food order including a table identifier includes receiving the food order including the table identifier from a food server.

13. A method according to claim 9, wherein receiving a food order including a table identifier includes receiving the food order including the table identifier from a self-ordering station located at a table at which the customer is sitting.

14. A method according to claim 9, wherein receiving a food order including a table identifier includes receiving the food order including the table identifier from a smart phone or tablet of the customer.

15. A method according to claim 9, wherein receiving a food order including a table identifier includes receiving the food order including the table identifier from a smart kiosk located in the table service restaurant.

16. A method according to claim 9, wherein receiving a food order including a table identifier includes receiving the food order including the table identifier from an order taker at a counter located in the table service restaurant.

17. A combined label for a food preparer to prepare a food order placed by a table customer in a table service restaurant and for the food server to deliver the prepared food order to the table customer at a table in a table service restaurant, the combined label comprising:

a substrate layer having a front side and a back side opposite the front side;

a first thermally-sensitive coating layer disposed on the front side of the substrate and for, when heat activated, providing food order information to the food preparer to prepare the food order which has been placed by the table customer;

a second thermally-sensitive coating layer disposed on a first portion of the back side of the substrate and for, when heat activated, providing information including customer table information to the food server to deliver the food order which has been prepared by the food preparer; and

an adhesive layer disposed on a second portion of the back side of the substrate such that (i) the combined label can be attached to bottom of a serving dish on which the food preparer has placed the prepared food order, (ii) the food server can see information including the customer table information provided on the first portion of the back side of the substrate, and (iii) the food server can deliver the serving dish with the prepared food ordered thereon to the table of the customer based upon the customer table information.

18. A combined label according to claim 17, further comprising at least one sense mark disposed on the back side of the substrate and in vicinity of the adhesive layer.

19. A combined label according to claim 18, wherein (i) the adhesive layer includes a plurality of adhesive spots disposed along a side edge of the combined label, and (ii) the at least one sense mark includes a plurality of sense marks disposed along the side edge of the combined label.

20. A method of processing a food order in a table service restaurant, the method comprising:

receiving a food order including a table identifier; and

electronically by a computer, printing the food order and the table identifier on an adhesive food order label to create a printed adhesive food order label with a pattern of adhesive on one side of the printed adhesive food order label suitable for attachment to an underside of a plate;

wherein the printing of the table identifier occurs on the one side opposite the pattern of adhesive.