DEVICE AND METHOD FOR MONITORING CONSUMER DINING EXPERIENCE
First Claim
1. An apparatus, to be included in a smallware, for monitoring dining, the apparatus comprising:
- sensor circuitry to sense usage of the smallware and output a signal to indicate usage or non-usage of the smallware;
processing circuitry, coupled with the sensor circuitry, to monitor the signal and to detect for a period of inactivity of the smallware based on the monitoring of the signal; and
transmitter circuitry, coupled with the processing circuitry, to transmit, in response to a detection of the period of inactivity, at least one radio signal to indicate the detection of a period of inactivity.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Embodiments described herein relate generally to monitoring a dining session using smart smallwares. A smart smallware may sense usage or non-usage associated with a dining session of a customer. Based on the sensed non-usage of the smart smallware, the smart smallware may detect a period of inactivity. In response to the detected period of inactivity, the smart smallware may transmit an indication of the detected period of inactivity. This transmitted indication may cause an external monitoring device to notify a waitperson that a customer associated with that smart smallware may require attention. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.
11 Citations
25 Claims
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1. An apparatus, to be included in a smallware, for monitoring dining, the apparatus comprising:
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sensor circuitry to sense usage of the smallware and output a signal to indicate usage or non-usage of the smallware; processing circuitry, coupled with the sensor circuitry, to monitor the signal and to detect for a period of inactivity of the smallware based on the monitoring of the signal; and transmitter circuitry, coupled with the processing circuitry, to transmit, in response to a detection of the period of inactivity, at least one radio signal to indicate the detection of a period of inactivity. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A computer system for monitoring a dining session, the computer system comprising:
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a receiver to receive radio signals indicative of usage or absence of usage of one or more smallwares associated with the dining session; a dining session monitor to present, or cause to be presented, a notification to indicate a period of inactivity associated with the dining session based on the radio signals received. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method for monitoring a dining session, the method comprising:
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detecting, with a sensor integrated with a smallware used in the dining session, motion or contact with the smallware; outputting, by the sensor, one or more signals, in response to detection of motion or contact with the smallware; detecting for a period of inactivity associated with the smallware based on the receiving or non-receiving of the one or more signals; and wirelessly transmitting, to an external monitoring device, an indication of the detected period of inactivity. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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24. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media comprising computing device-executable instructions, wherein the instructions, in response to execution by a computing device, cause the computing device to:
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transmit at least one signal to a smallware to cause the smallware to begin monitoring for a period of inactivity associated with usage of the smallware; process at least one radio signal received from the smallware associated with inactivity of the smallware; present, or cause to be presented, a notification that indicates the period of inactivity associated with the dining session based at least in part on the at least one radio signal received from the smallware. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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Specification