Order confirmation system and method of using same

• US 6,003,015 A
• Filed: 02/28/1996
• Issued: 12/14/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: HM Electronics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: HM Electronics Incorporated
• Inventors: Snyder, David W., Kang, Chao Ming, Stanford, Thomas H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tkacs, Stephen R.
• Application Number:
  US08/608,252
• Time in Patent Office: 1,385 Days
• Field of Search: 705/1, 705/13, 705/15, 705/16, 705/20, 705/24, 345/22, 345/326, 345/214, 345/2, 345/3, 345/10, 345/32, 345/84, 348/148, 348/150, 315/149, 315/151, 313/11, 313/55, 313/36, 313/37, 313/38, 312/7.2, 312/100, 312/114, 312/116
• US Class Current: 705/15
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/209 Specified transaction journal output feature, e.g. printed receipt or voice output
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/12 Hotels or restaurants

Abstract

A new and improved video order confirmation method and system that is adapted for use with a point-of-sale terminal and an audio order confirmation station to facilitate customer throughput. The video order confirmation system and method includes a point of sales terminal for receiving order input information from an order taker in response to order requests from a customer, and a video confirmation order terminal to facilitate order confirmation by the customer. The order confirmation terminal includes a free standing terminal housing having a microprocessor and display unit mounted therein for translating order items entered by an order taker at the point-of-sales terminal, into pixel images indicative of the description of the item ordered, the quantity of the item ordered, the unit price of the item ordered, the total price of the item or items ordered, and the accumulated total of all items ordered at any given time during the order process. For the purpose of protecting the display unit from vandalism, the system further includes a remote controlled motorized security shield that covers the display unit during non business hours.

Claims

1. An order confirmation system, comprising:

a point of sales terminal for receiving order input information indicative of quantity and purchase item information;

signal generating means responsive to said order input information for generating a customer information signal indicative of transaction information including a description of an item to be purchased, the quantity of the item to be purchased, the price of the item to be purchased and the accumulated charges associated with a given transaction;

a video confirmation terminal for use by a customer and having audio communication means including a speaker and microphone for facilitating full duplex communication between an order taker at said point of sales terminal and said customer, and display means responsive to said customer information signal for displaying accumulatively, line by line the transaction information for said given transaction to facilitate entire order and purchase item verification by said customer at any time during an order taking process; and

interface means for coupling together electrically said point of sales terminal and said video confirmation terminal to enable the customer to communicate order input information and verification information to said order taker and to enable the customer information signal to be coupled electrically to said display means to facilitate displaying the transaction information for verification by said customer;

wherein said video confirmation terminal includes a terminal housing for supporting said display means above the ground adjacent to a drive through lane; and

means for mounting said display means within said terminal housing in a proper orientation to enable said customer to view the displayed transaction information easily for verification purposes;

wherein said video confirmation terminal further includes climate control means for facilitating the reliable operation of said display means in a variety of different kinds of weather climate conditions;

wherein said climate control means includes fan means mounted within said housing for circulating air within said terminal housing;

temperature sensor means mounted at said terminal housing for generating a temperature signal indicative of the ambient temperature at said housing; and

microcontroller means responsive to said temperature signal for controlling said fan means to facilitate maintaining the temperature at said housing within a desired temperature range between a maximum temperature under hot weather conditions and a minimum temperature under cold weather conditions;

wherein the temperature range between said maximum temperature and said minimum temperature is between about +50°

C. and about -40°

C.;

wherein said climate control means further includes a heater mounted in close proximity to said fan means within said housing for helping to maintain the temperature within said housing at a temperature equal to or greater than minus 40°

C. under cold weather conditions; and

wherein said temperature sensor means includes over-temperature sensor means for generating an excess temperature signal when the temperature within said housing is greater than +50°

C.; and

wherein said microcontroller means includes shut-down means responsive to said excess temperature signal for causing said display means to be electrically de-energized when the temperature within said housing is greater than +50°

C.

2. An order confirmation system according to claim 1 wherein said climate control means further includes duct means mounted on said housing for directing air across a screen face portion of said display means to help maintain the temperature across the entire screen face at a substantially uniform temperature level.

3. An order confirmation system according to claim 2 wherein said display means is liquid crystal display means.

4. An order confirmation system according to claim 2, wherein said display means is light emitting diode display means.

5. An order confirmation system according to claim 2, wherein said display means is cathode ray tube display means.

6. An order confirmation system according to claim 2, wherein said means for mounting causes said screen face to be oriented in a forwardly downwardly orientation to help reduce glare on said screen face.

7. An order confirmation system according to claim 2, wherein said screen face is coated within an anti glare material to help reduce glare on said screen face.

8. An order confirmation system according to claim 2, wherein said climate control means further includes light sensor means mounted at said terminal housing for generating a light control signal indicative of the brightness of the ambient light enveloping said terminal housing;

and

wherein microcontroller means includes brightness control means responsive to said light control signal for causing the image brightness of the displayed transaction information to be adjusted relative to the brightness of the ambient light enveloping said terminal housing.

9. A method for taking and verifying an order using a point of sale terminal and a video confirmation terminal, the method comprising:

communicating a first ordered item via the video confirmation terminal to the point of sale terminal;

entering the first ordered item to initiate the sales transaction;

generating, responsive to the first item being entered, a first item signal indicative of the description, quantity, and price of the first ordered item;

generating, responsive to the first item being entered, a first subtotal signal, a first tax signal, and a first total signal for the first ordered item;

displaying, responsive to the generated first signals, continuously and uninterruptedly on the video confirmation terminal information indicative of the first item, the first subtotal, the first tax, and the first total signal so that the customer may view and verify that the video confirmation terminal display correctly identifies the ordered items and may also observe the current subtotal, current tax, and current total amounts due when the first item has been ordered;

communicating a next ordered item via the video confirmation terminal to the point of sale terminal;

entering the next ordered item;

generating, responsive to the next item being entered, an updated item signal indicative of the description, quantity, and price of the next ordered item;

generating, responsive to the next item being entered, an updated subtotal signal, an updated tax signal, and an updated total signal indicative of an accumulation of the first item ordered and the next item ordered;

deleting the display of the first subtotal, the first tax, and the first total, while continuing to display the first item;

displaying, responsive to the generated updated signals, continuously and uninterruptedly on the video confirmation terminal information indicative of the updated item, the updated subtotal, the updated tax, and the updated total; and

maintaining continuously and uninterruptedly the display of the first item so that the customer may verify that the video confirmation terminal correctly identifies the ordered items and may also observe the subtotal, tax, and total amounts due when the next item has been ordered.

10. A method according to claim 9 further including

supporting said video confirmation terminal above the ground adjacent to a drive through lane;

and

mounting said video confirmation terminal within said terminal housing in a proper orientation to enable said customer to easily view the displayed transaction information for verification purposes.

11. A method according to claim 9 further including

facilitating the reliable operation of said video confirmation terminal in a variety of different kinds of weather climate conditions.

12. A method according to claim 9 further including

generating a light control signal indicative of the brightness of the ambient light enveloping said video confirmation terminal.

13. A video confirmation terminal for use with a point of sales terminal adapted to generate a customer information signal in response to order input information indicative of the quantity and description of a purchase item information, said customer information signal being indicative of transaction information including a description of an item to be purchased, the quantity of the item to be purchased, the price of the item to be purchased, and the accumulated charges associated with a given transaction, comprising:

audio communication means having a speaker and microphone for facilitating full duplex communication between an order taker at said point of sales terminal and a customer at said video confirmation terminal;

display means responsive to said customer information signal for displaying accumulatively, line by line, the transaction information for said given transaction to facilitate verification by said customer at any time during an order taking process; and

interface means disposed for coupling electronically said point of sales terminal to said audio communication means and said display means to enable the customer to communicate order input information and verification information to said order taker and to enable the customer information signal to be coupled electrically to said display means to facilitate displaying the transaction information for verification by said customer; and

climate control means for facilitating the reliable operation of said display means in a variety of different kinds of weather climate conditions; and

wherein said temperature sensor means includes over-temperature sensor means for generating an excess temperature signal when the temperature within said housing is greater than 50°

C.; and

wherein said microcontroller means includes shut-down means responsive to said excess temperature signal for causing said display means to be electrically de-energized when the temperature within said housing is greater than 50°

C.

14. A video confirmation terminal for use with a point of sales terminal adapted to generate a customer information signal in response to order input information indicative of the quantity and description of a purchase item information, said customer information signal being indicative of transaction information including a description of an item to be purchased, the quantity of the item to be purchased, the price of the item to be purchased, and the accumulated charges associated with a given transaction, comprising:

audio communication means having a speaker and microphone for facilitating full duplex communication between an order taker at said point of sales terminal and a customer at said video confirmation terminal;

display means responsive to said customer information signal for displaying accumulatively, line by line, the transaction information for said given transaction to facilitate verification by said customer at any time during an order taking process; and

interface means disposed for coupling electronically said point of sales terminal to said audio communication means and said display means to enable the customer to communicate order input information and verification information to said order taker and to enable the customer information signal to be coupled electrically to said display means to facilitate displaying the transaction information for verification by said customer; and

climate control means for facilitating the reliable operation of said display means in a variety of different kinds of weather climate conditions; and

wherein said climate control means further includes duct means mounted on said housing for directing air across a screen face portion of said display means to help maintain the temperature across the entire screen face at a substantially uniform temperature level.

15. A method for taking and verifying transaction items at a drive-up station, the method using a point of sale terminal and video confirmation terminal, the method comprising:

communicating a first transaction item via the video confirmation terminal to the point of sale terminal;

entering the first transaction item into the point of sale terminal to initiate a commercial transaction;

generating a transaction list signal indicative of the description of the first transaction item;

generating a subtotal signal indicative of the cost of the first transaction item;

generating a tax signal indicative of the tax on the first transaction item;

generating a total signal indicative of the accumulation of the subtotal signal and the tax signal;

displaying to the customer continuously on the video confirmation terminal information indicative of the transaction list, the subtotal, the tax and the total so the customer may verify the transaction list, subtotal, tax, and total transaction information at all times after the initiation of the commercial transaction;

communicating via the video verification terminal another transaction item to the point of sale terminal;

entering the another transaction item into the point of sale terminal;

generating an updated transaction list signal indicative of the description of the first transaction item and the another transaction item;

generating an updated subtotal signal indicative of the cost of the first transaction item and the another transaction item;

generating an updated tax signal indicative of the tax on the first transaction item and the another transaction item;

generating an updated total signal indicative of the accumulation of the subtotal signal and the tax signal;

displaying to the customer continuously on the video confirmation terminal information indicative of the updated transaction list, the updated subtotal, the updated tax and the updated total so the customer may verify the updated transaction list, updated subtotal, updated tax, and updated total at any time in the commercial transaction.