Method and Assembly for Displaying Menu Options

• US 20140337797A1
• Filed: 05/28/2014
• Published: 11/13/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nextep Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nextep Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: WOYCIK, Thomas, VARGA, Kevin, MASLANKA, Joseph
• Granted Patent: US 9,830,046 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/823
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/00 Information retrieval; Database structures therefor; File system structures therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces

Abstract

An interactive ordering apparatus includes a processor and a memory. The memory is configured to store instructions and data. The processor is configured to execute the instructions to (i) produce a display in a viewable area of a touchscreen and to (ii) receive input from a user via the touchscreen. According to the instructions, the processor is configured to divide at least a portion of the display into a plurality of mutually exclusive sections, and display a first plurality of choices in a first section of the plurality of sections. The processor is also configured to, in response to selection by the user of a first choice of the first plurality of choices, (i) move the first plurality of choices to a second section of the plurality of sections and (ii) display a second plurality of choices in the first section.

Claims

1. (canceled)

2. An interactive ordering apparatus comprising:

a memory configured to store instructions and data; and

a processor configured to execute the instructions to (i) produce a display in a viewable area of a touchscreen and to (ii) receive input from a user via the touchscreen,

wherein, according to the instructions, the processor is configured to;

divide at least a portion of the display into a plurality of mutually exclusive sections;

display a first plurality of choices in a first section of the plurality of sections; and

in response to selection by the user of a first choice of the first plurality of choices, (i) move the first plurality of choices to a second section of the plurality of sections and (ii) display a second plurality of choices in the first section.

3. The interactive ordering apparatus of claim 2, wherein the processor is configured to, prior to selection by the user of the first choice:

display a third plurality of choices in the second section;

receive a selection, by the user, of a third choice of the third plurality of choices; and

in response to the selection of the third choice, display the first plurality of choices in the first section.

4. The interactive ordering apparatus of claim 3, wherein the processor is configured to, in response to the selection of the third choice, maintain the third plurality of choices within the second section while displaying the first plurality of choices in the first section.

5. The interactive ordering apparatus of claim 4, wherein the processor is configured to, in response to the selection of the third choice, visually emphasize the third choice within the second section.

6. The interactive ordering apparatus of claim 3, wherein the processor is configured to,

in response to a selection being made by the user within the first section while the third plurality of choices is located in a last section of the plurality of sections,

move the first plurality of choices into the last section and remove the third plurality of choices from the display.

7. The interactive ordering apparatus of claim 6, wherein the plurality of sections consists of the first section, the second section, and the last section.

8. The interactive ordering apparatus of claim 2, wherein the processor is configured to, in response to the selection of the first choice, visually emphasize the first choice within the second section.

9. The interactive ordering apparatus of claim 2, wherein the processor is configured to position the sections according to data indicating whether the user is right-handed or left-handed.

10. The interactive ordering apparatus of claim 9, wherein the processor is configured to, in response to the data indicating that the user is right-handed, position the second section left of the first section.

11. The interactive ordering apparatus of claim 10, wherein the processor is configured to:

divide the display into a first portion and a mutually exclusive second portion, wherein the second portion comprises the plurality of sections;

display a tally of costs associated with menu items selected by the user within the first portion; and

in response to the data indicating that the user is right-handed, position the first portion left of the second portion.

12. The interactive ordering apparatus of claim 2, wherein the processor is configured to:

divide the display into a first portion and a mutually exclusive second portion, wherein the second portion comprises the plurality of sections; and

display a tally of costs associated with menu items selected by the user within the first portion.

13. The interactive ordering apparatus of claim 2 wherein the user is a customer of a business or an employee of the business.

14. An ordering device comprising:

the interactive ordering apparatus of claim 2; and

the touchscreen.

15. A method of operating an interactive ordering apparatus, the method comprising:

producing a display in a viewable area of a touchscreen of the interactive ordering apparatus;

receiving input from a user via the touchscreen;

dividing at least a portion of the display into a plurality of mutually exclusive sections;

displaying a first plurality of choices in a first section of the plurality of sections; and

in response to selection by the user of a first choice of the first plurality of choices, (i) moving the first plurality of choices to a second section of the plurality of sections and (ii) displaying a second plurality of choices in the first section.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising, prior to selection by the user of the first choice:

displaying a third plurality of choices in the second section;

receiving a selection, by the user, of a third choice of the third plurality of choices; and

in response to the selection of the third choice, displaying the first plurality of choices in the first section.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising, in response to the selection of the third choice, maintaining the third plurality of choices within the second section while displaying the first plurality of choices in the first section.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising, in response to the selection of the third choice, visually emphasizing the third choice within the second section.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising, in response to a selection being made by the user within the first section while the third plurality of choices is located in a last section of the plurality of sections, (i) moving the first plurality of choices into the last section and (ii) removing the third plurality of choices from the display.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the plurality of sections consists of the first section, the second section, and the last section.

21. The method of claim 15, further comprising, in response to the selection of the first choice, visually emphasizing the first choice within the second section.

22. The method of claim 15, further comprising positioning the sections according to data indicating whether the user is right-handed or left-handed.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the positioning includes, in response to the data indicating that the user is right-handed, positioning the second section left of the first section.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

dividing the display into a first portion and a mutually exclusive second portion, wherein the second portion comprises the plurality of sections;

displaying a tally of costs associated with menu items selected by the user within the first portion; and

in response to the data indicating that the user is right-handed, positioning the first portion left of the second portion.

25. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

dividing the display into a first portion and a mutually exclusive second portion, wherein the second portion comprises the plurality of sections; and

displaying a tally of costs associated with menu items selected by the user within the first portion.

26. The method of claim 15 wherein the user is a customer of a business or an employee of the business.

27. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions for execution by a processor, the instructions comprising:

producing a display in a viewable area of a touchscreen;

receiving input from a user via the touchscreen;

dividing at least a portion of the display into a plurality of mutually exclusive sections;

displaying a first plurality of choices in a first section of the plurality of sections; and

in response to selection by the user of a first choice of the first plurality of choices, (i) moving the first plurality of choices to a second section of the plurality of sections and (ii) displaying a second plurality of choices in the first section.