Workflow System

• US 20150100439A1
• Filed: 10/08/2013
• Published: 04/09/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Jason Lu, Ocean S. Lu, Sky J. Lu
• Original Assignee: Jason Lu, Ocean S. Lu, Sky J. Lu
• Inventors: Lu, Jason, Lu, Ocean S., Lu, Sky J.
• Application Number:
  US14/049,205
• Publication Number:
  US 20150100439A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/15
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 9/1602 characterised by the control system, structure, architecture
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/12 Hotels or restaurants
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 901/01 Mobile robot

Abstract

A workflow system for streamlining a sequence of connected steps between a plurality of parties in an organization, such as a restaurant. The parties have different, but interconnected roles. The communication system enables communication between the parties with wireless technology, such as radio frequency identification. Each party has a role in an organization. Each party comprises an attribute for defining the role. The attribute include a function, a position, and a location of each party. Each party has a tag, such as a radio frequency identification tag, for identification and accessing the attribute. The tag enables a transfer of data between the parties and a data storage portion. The data storage portion stores the attribute. The attribute is accessible by the parties. The attribute is viewed by predetermined parties through a communication device. A scanning device scans the tag to enable access and viewing of the attribute.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a communication system, said communication system being configured to at least partially enable communication between a plurality of parties, each party being operable to have a role in an organization, each party comprising an attribute for defining said role, said attribute being operable to be accessed by at least one party, said attribute further being operable to be viewed by at least one party;

a data storage portion, said data storage portion being configured to store said attribute;

a tag, said tag being disposed to join with said plurality of parties, said tag being configured to be operatively linked to said data storage portion; and

a scanning device, said scanning device being configured to scan said tag for accessing and viewing said attribute;

wherein said plurality of parties comprise a client, and/or a chef, and/or a waiter, and/or a host, and/or a busser, and/or a cashier, and/or an order delivery fleet, and/or a manager, and/or a robot.

2. The system of claim 1, in which said communication system comprises a wireless technology, said wireless technology comprising a radio frequency identification tag and/or a smart phone with near field communication technology.

3. The system of claim 2, in which said organization comprises a restaurant, and/or a hotel, and/or a retail store.

5. The system of claim 3, in which said attribute comprises, a party location, and/or a party job title, and/or a party function, and/or a table location, and/or a food preference, and/or a price, and/or a wifi, and/or a server information, and/or an organization attribute.

6. The system of claim 5, in which said attribute is operable to be viewed through a communication device.

7. The system of claim 6, in which said communication device is configured to display an order from said client.

8. The system of claim 7, in which said communication device is operable to enable said client to view said chef in a kitchen.

9. The system of claim 8, in which said data storage portion comprises an organization location attribute, said organization location attribute being configured to be viewed by scanning an organization tag with a restaurant tablet and/or a smart phone comprising near field communication technology.

10. The system of claim 9, in which said tag is configured to be interchangeable with a smart phone having near field communication technology.

11. The system of claim 10, in which said tag comprises a client tag, said client tag comprising a personal information for said client, said personal information comprising an order history and a client contact information.

12. The system of claim 11, in which said client tag is configured to operatively link with a client food preference attribute, said client tag further being configured to be scanned for displaying a food preference of said client on a digital menu, said digital menu being configured to be viewed by said plurality of parties.

13. The system of claim 12, in which said tag comprises a table occupancy tag, said table occupancy tag being configured to be scanned for identifying availability of a table, said availability being viewable by said host and said waiter.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein said tag comprises a bill tag, said bill tag being configured to be scanned for enabling a plurality of clients to share a bill.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein said system is operable to at least partially enable said waiter to order for said client, and/or receive notification when said order is ready, and/or apply a tip to said bill.

16. The system of claim 15, in which said system is operable to at least partially enable said chef to lock said order, and/or display a status of said locked order to said plurality of parties.

17. The system of claim 16, in which in which said system is operable to at least partially enable said client to modify said order before being locked by said chef, and/or engage with said waiter, and/or request said bill to be printed and delivered, and/or pay said bill.

18. The system of claim 17, in which said system is operable to at least partially enable said manager to regulate said tag for said plurality of parties with a tablet, and/or void said order.

4. (canceled)

19. A system comprising:

a robot, said robot being configured to at least partially deliver an order to a client and/or a plurality of parties, said robot being operable to follow a predetermined path for delivering said order, said robot comprising a tag, said tag being configured to identify an attribute of said robot;

a robot communication device, said robot communication device being configured to at least partially enable said robot to communicate with said client and/or said plurality of parties by scanning said tag; and

at least one serving receptacle, said at least one serving receptacle being disposed to join with said robot, said at least one serving receptacle being configured to at least partially carry said order for storage and transport along said predetermined path, said at least one serving receptacle being operable to display and serve said order in conjunction with a command from said client and/or said plurality of parties, said at least one serving receptacle comprising a mechanically self-balancing order holding basket, wherein said plurality of parties comprise a client, and/or a chef, and/or a waiter, and/or a host, and/or a busser, and/or a cashier, and/or an order delivery fleet, and/or a manager, and/or a robot.

20. A system consisting of:

a communication system, said communication system comprising a wireless technology, said wireless technology comprising a radio frequency identification tag and/or a smart phone with near field communication technology, said communication system being configured to at least partially enable communication between a plurality of parties, said plurality of parties comprising a client, and/or a chef, and/or a waiter, and/or a host, and/or a busser, and/or a cashier, and/or an order delivery fleet, and/or a manager, and/or a robot, each party being operable to have a role in an organization, said organization comprising a restaurant, and/or a hotel, and/or a retail store, each party comprising an attribute for defining said role, said attribute further comprising, a party location, and/or a party job title, and/or a party function, and/or a table location, and/or a food preference, and/or a price, and/or a wifi, and/or a server information, and/or an organization attribute, said attribute being operable to be accessed by at least one party, said attribute further being operable to be viewed by at least one party, said attribute further being operable to be viewed through a communication device, said communication device being configured to display an order from said client, said communication device being operable to enable said client to view said chef in a kitchen;

a data storage portion, said data storage portion being configured to store said attribute, said data storage portion comprising an organization location attribute, said organization location attribute being configured to be viewed by scanning an organization tag with a restaurant tablet and/or a smart phone comprising near field communication technology;

a tag, said tag being disposed to join with said plurality of parties, said tag being configured to be operatively linked to said data storage portion, said tag being configured to be interchangeable with a smart phone having near field communication technology, said tag comprising a client tag, said client tag comprising personal information for said client, said personal information comprising an order history and a client contact information, said client tag being operatively linked to a client food preference attribute, said client tag being configured to be scanned for displaying a food preference of said client on a digital menu, said digital menu being configured to be viewed by said plurality of parties, said client tag further comprising at least one coupon, said tag further comprising a table occupancy tag, said table occupancy tag being configured to be scanned to identify availability of a table, said availability being viewable by said host and said waiter, said tag further comprising a bill tag, said bill tag being configured to be scanned for enabling a plurality of clients to share a bill, said tag further comprising a chef tag, said chef tag being configured to be scanned for identifying a plurality of chefs for enhancing collaboration between each chef; and

a scanning device, said scanning device being configured to scan said tag for accessing and viewing said attribute, said scanning device comprising a laser scanner,

said system being operable to at least partially enable said waiter to order for said client, and/or receive notification when said order is ready, and/or apply a tip to said bill, said system further being operable to at least partially enable said chef to lock said order, and/or display a status of said locked order to said plurality of parties, said system further being operable to at least partially enable said client to modify said order before being locked by said chef, and/or engage with said waiter, and/or request said bill to be printed and delivered, and/or pay said bill, said system further being operable to at least partially enable said cashier to view and process said bill by scanning said tag and an associated credit card, said system further being operable to at least partially enable said manager to regulate said tag for said plurality of parties with a tablet, and/or void said order, said system further comprising a restaurant staff logon history for enabling said manager to identify compensation data and perform shift management, said system further comprising an order runtime, said order runtime being operable to delete said order after a predetermined duration, said order runtime being configured to join with a Web Socket communication, said Web Socket communication being configured to provide a real time response to a user interaction, wherein said plurality of parties comprise a client, and/or a chef, and/or a waiter, and/or a host, and/or a busser, and/or a cashier, and/or an order delivery fleet, and/or a manager, and/or a robot.