System and method for accepting customer orders

• US 6,415,555 B1
• Filed: 04/27/2000
• Issued: 07/09/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Restaurant Technologies Incorporated (Goldman Sachs Group Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Restaurant Technologies Incorporated (Goldman Sachs Group Incorporated)
• Inventors: Montague, Wayne
• Primary Examiner(s): Friedman, Carl D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HORTON, YVONNE MICHELE
• Application Number:
  US09/560,304
• Time in Patent Office: 803 Days
• Field of Search: 52/361-36, 354/333, 354/334, 354/342, 235/462.01, 235/383, 235/375, 700/233, 700/236, 700/232, 700/238, 707/101, 707/102, 707/27, 707/517, 705/26, 705/27
• US Class Current: 52/36.2
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0605 Supply or demand aggregation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface

Abstract

A kiosk system and method is provided for accepting and processing customer orders and payments in a retail environment. The kiosk system and method is particularly applicable to the restaurant business and may include a consumer display screen for visually displaying product information of products that can be ordered at the kiosk, structure that is operable by the consumer for placing a consumer order composed of at least one product selected from products for which information is displayed on the consumer display screen and structure for accepting payment for the order from the consumer, which typically will include a cash payment by the consumer.

Claims

1. A kiosk for use by consumers in a retail environment comprising:

a consumer display screen for visually displaying only product information of products currently available to be ordered from the kiosk for prompt delivery to the consumer;

means operable by the consumer for placing a consumer order composed of at least one product selected from products for which information is displayed on the consumer display screen; and

means for accepting payment for the order from the consumer.

2. The kiosk of claim 1 wherein the means for accepting payment accepts cash.

3. The kiosk of claim 1 wherein said display screen displays only currently available restaurant menu items.

4. The kiosk of claim 1 further comprising means for transmitting information for the consumer order placed by the consumer at the kiosk to an order production area.

5. The kiosk of claim 1 further comprising means for transmitting a consumer order placed by the consumer at the kiosk to a cashier terminal.

6. The kiosk of claim 4 wherein said means for transmitting the consumer order information does not transmit information the consumer order information until after receipt of payment by the consumer.

7. The kiosk of claim 1 further comprising means for reading a consumer data card provided by the consumer, said consumer data card having memory means containing historical order data on past orders of individual consumers, and order prompting means to prompt a consumer with an order suggestion based on data obtained from that consumer'"'"'s order data card.

8. The kiosk of claim 1 further comprising means for providing audio information to the consumer while at the kiosk relating to available products.

9. The kiosk of claim 7 wherein said order prompting means comprises audio prompting means.

10. The kiosk of claim 1 wherein the means operable by the consumer comprises a touch sensitive screen.

11. The kiosk of claim 1 wherein the kiosk operates using a computer means for transmitting and receiving information where said computer means is a personal computer.

12. The kiosk of claim 1 wherein the means for accepting payment accepts gift certificates.

13. The kiosk of claim 1 wherein the means for accepting payment accepts coupons.

14. The kiosk of claim 1 further comprising an order prompting means to prompt a consumer with an order suggestion.

15. The kiosk of claim 14 wherein the order suggestion displays a menu special.

16. The kiosk of claim 14 wherein the order suggestion displays at least one additional menu item which complements the consumer order.

17. The kiosk of claim 14 herein the order suggestion displays a promotional item.

20. The kiosk of claim 13 further comprising means for accepting cash payment from the consumer.

21. The kiosk of claim 13, further comprising a computer means for transmitting and receiving product, order, and payment information.

18. A kiosk for use by consumers in a retail environment comprising:

a consumer display screen for visually displaying only product information on products currently available to be ordered from the kiosk for prompt delivery to the consumer;

means operable by the consumer for placing a consumer order at the kiosk composed of at least one product selected from products for which information is displayed on the consumer display screen; and

means for transmitting information on the consumer order placed by the consumer at the kiosk to an order production area.

19. The kiosk of claim 18 further comprising means for transmitting information on the consumer order to a cashier terminal.

22. A method for automated ordering by consumers in a retail environment comprising:

(a) displaying visually on a consumer display screen only product information about at least one product that is currently available to be ordered for prompt delivery to the consumer;

(b) placing of a consumer order composed of at least one product selected from only the products that are currently available to be ordered; and

(c) payment for the order.

23. The method of claim 22 further comprising displaying visually on a display screen only restaurant items that are currently available to be ordered by the consumer for prompt delivery to the consumer.

24. The method of claim 22 further comprising:

(a) displaying visually on a display screen menus containing only categories of restaurant items that are currently available to be ordered for prompt delivery to the consumer;

(b) displaying visually on a display screen sub-menus of additional choices to complete the order;

(c) displaying visually on a display screen sub-menus containing additional menu items which complement the items ordered by the consumer;

(d) displaying visually on a display screen sub-menus containing menu specials; and

(e) displaying visually on a display screen sub-menus containing nutrition information about the menu items, wherein each of the displayed menu items are currently available for prompt delivery to the consumer.

25. The method of claim 22 further comprising touching of a touch sensitive screen by the consumer to select an item and electronically adding that item to the order.

26. The method of claim 22 further comprising:

(a) inserting a consumer data card into the kiosk by the consumer;

(b) electronically reading the consumer data card;

(c) offering the consumer the option of ordering the same thing he has ordered in the past;

(d) selecting the order by the consumer;

(e) transmitting the order; and

(f) storing data about the current order on the consumer data card.

27. The method of claim 22 further comprising transmitting the order to the order production area after the consumer has paid for the order.

28. The method of claim 22 further comprising accepting cash payment from the consumer for the order by the kiosk.

29. The method of claim 22 further comprising accepting a payment means other than cash by the kiosk.

30. The method of claim 22 further comprising accepting a coupon or discount as at least partial payment for the order.

31. The method of claim 22 further comprising transmitting the order to the cashier terminal.

32. The method of claim 22 further comprising providing the consumer with change.

33. The method of claim 32 further comprising providing change to the consumer by a register employee.

34. The method of claim 32 further comprising providing change to the consumer from the kiosk.

35. The method of claim 22, further comprising acquiring the order by the consumer.

36. The method of claim 35 further comprising providing the consumer with an order code.

37. The method of claim 36 further comprising locating the order code by the retail personnel and bringing the corresponding order to the consumer.

38. The method of claim 36 further comprising providing of the order code by the consumer to the register employee and receiving the corresponding order.

39. The method of claim 29 wherein the payment means is a gift certificate.

40. A kiosk for use by consumers in a retail environment comprising:

a consumer display screen for visually displaying product information of products available to be ordered from the kiosk;

means operable by the consumer for placing a consumer order composed of at least one product selected from products for which information is displayed on the consumer display screen; and

means for accepting payment for the order from the consumer, wherein the means for accepting payment accepts cash.

41. A method for automated ordering by consumers in a retail environment comprising:

(a) displaying visually on a consumer display screen product information about at least one product that is available to be ordered;

(b) placing of a consumer order composed of at least one product selected from the products that are currently available to be ordered for prompt delivery to the consumer; and

(c) accepting cash payment for the order by the kiosk.