Method, system and program for specifying an electronic menu with food preferences from a personal storage device

• US 6,618,062 B1
• Filed: 12/17/1999
• Issued: 09/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Lawrence, Kevin Roderick, Paolini, Michael A., Brown, Michael Wayne
• Primary Examiner(s): Luu, Sy D.
• Application Number:
  US09/465,999
• Time in Patent Office: 1,362 Days
• Field of Search: 345/810, 345/811, 345/968, 345/744, 345/745, 345/760, 345/821-824, 705/15, 705/26
• US Class Current: 715/822
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions

Abstract

Food preferences for a particular customer are retrieved from a personal storage device, wherein the personal storage device is proffered from the particular customer. The food preferences for the particular customer are compared with multiple previously stored food menu items. A food menu is selected wherein the food menu items that satisfy the food preferences for the particular customer are distinguished, such that an electronic food menu is specified for a particular customer.

Claims

1. A method for specifying an electronic food menu, said method comprising the steps of:

retrieving food preferences for a particular customer from a personal storage device carried by said particular customer, wherein said personal storage device is proffered from said particular customer;

comparing said food preferences for said particular customer with a plurality of previously stored food menu items;

presenting a food menu, wherein a plurality of food menu items that satisfy said food preferences for said particular customer are designated, such that an electronic food menu is specified for a said particular customer; and

graphically displaying said electronic food menu, wherein a plurality of food menu items that do not satisfy said food preferences for said particular customer are graphically distinguishable from said plurality of food menu items that do satisfy said food preferences for said particular customer.

2. The method for specifying an electronic food menu according to claim 1, said method further comprising the step of:

graphically displaying said electronic food menu according to a output preference for said particular customer, such that the graphical representation of said electronic food menu is provided to accommodate a display preference for said particular customer.

3. The method for specifying an electronic food menu according to claim 2, said step of graphically displaying said electronic food menu further comprising the step of:

graphically displaying only said plurality of food menu items of said electronic food menu that are designated.

4. The method for specifying an electronic food menu according to claim 2, said step of graphically displaying said electronic food menu further comprising the step of:

graphically displaying said electronic food menu in order from designated food menu items to non-designated food menu items.

5. The method for specifying an electronic food menu according to claim 2, said step of graphically displaying said electronic food menu further comprising the step of:

graphically displaying a tactile-detectable graphical representation of said electronic food menu, wherein said output preference for said particular customer designates a tactile-detectable graphical representation.

6. The method for specifying an electronic food menu according to claim 2, said step of graphically displaying said electronic food menu further comprising the step of:

graphically displaying a graphical representation of said electronic food menu utilizing a particular font size, wherein said output preference for said particular customer designates said particular font size.

7. The method for specifying an electronic food menu according to claim 2, said step of graphically displaying said electronic food menu further comprising the step of:

graphically displaying a graphical representation of said electronic food menu utilizing a particular language, wherein said output preference for said particular customer designates said particular language.

8. The method for specifying an electronic food menu according to claim 2, said step of graphically displaying said electronic food menu further comprising the step of:

graphically displaying a graphical representation of said electronic food menu wherein prices are displayed in a particular currency, wherein said output preference for said particular customer designates said particular currency.

9. The method for specifying an electronic food menu according to claim 1, said method further comprising the step of:

transmitting auditory output of said electronic food menu for said particular customer.

10. The method for specifying an electronic food menu according to claim 1, said method further comprising the step of:

graphically displaying said electronic food menu according to a generic style sheet.

11. The method for specifying an electronic food menu according to claim 1, said step of retrieving food preferences for a particular customer from a personal storage device, further comprising the step of:

receiving said food preferences from a smart card.

12. The method for specifying an electronic food menu according to claim 1, said step of retrieving food preferences for a particular customer from a personal storage device, further comprising the step of:

receiving said food preferences from a java ring.

13. The method for specifying an electronic food menu according to claim 1, said step of retrieving food preferences for a particular customer from a personal storage device, further comprising the step of:

receiving said food preferences from user input to a dumb terminal.

14. The method for specifying an electronic food menu according to claim 1, said step of retrieving food preferences for a particular customer from a personal storage device, further comprising the step of:

receiving said food preferences via a wireless connection to a device that reads said personal storage device.

15. The method for specifying an electronic food menu according to claim 1, said step of comparing further comprising the step of:

first, receiving said plurality of food menu items in a data transmission protocol.

16. The method for specifying an electronic food menu according to claim 1, said step of comparing further comprising the step of:

first, transmitting said food menu items in an extensible markup language protocol.

17. The method for specifying an electronic food menu according to claim 1, said step of retrieving food preferences for a particular customer from a personal storage device, further comprising the step of:

receiving said food preferences via a wired connection to a device that reads said personal storage device.

18. The method for specifying an electronic food menu according to claim 1, said step of comparing said food preferences for said particular customer with a plurality of

previously stored food menu items, further comprising the step of:

accessing said plurality of previously stored food menu items from a database, wherein each of said plurality of food menu items comprises a plurality of food and health identifiers.

19. The method for specifying an electronic food menu according to claim 1, said method further comprising the step of:

storing said electronic food menu on said personal storage device.

20. The method for specifying an electronic food menu according to claim 1, said method further comprising the step of:

storing said food preferences for said particular customer at a data storage medium.

21. The method for specifying an electronic food menu according to claim 20, said method further comprising the step of:

determining electronic coupons to provide a particular customer from said stored food preferences.

22. The method for specifying an electronic food menu according to claim 1, said method further comprising the steps of:

receiving an order from said particular customer for food menu items from said electronic food menu; and

transmitting said order to an order retrieval system.

23. The method for specifying an electronic food menu according to claim 22, said method further comprising the step of:

confirming electronic payment for said order.

24. The method for specifying an electronic food menu according to claim 1, said method further comprising the step of:

updating an electronic calendar on said personal storage device with said designated food menu items that are specified in said food preferences for a particular time period.

25. The method for specifying an electronic food menu according to claim 1, said method further comprising the step of:

receiving electronic coupons for said plurality of food menu items from said data storage medium.

26. The method for specifying an electronic food menu according to claim 25, said method further comprising the step of;

filtering said electronic coupons that are displayed to a particular customer according to said food preferences.

27. The method for specifying an electronic food menu according to claim 1, said method further comprising the step of:

designating those food menu items that do not meet said food preferences.

28. The method for specifying an electronic food menu according to claim 1, wherein said previously stored food preferences includes health rating preferences for said particular customer.

29. The method for specifying an electronic food menu according to claim 1, wherein said previously stored food preferences includes attributes of specified allowable ingredients and specified avoided ingredients for said particular customer.

50. The system for specifying an electronic food menu according to claim 23, wherein said system further comprises:

means for storing said electronic food menu on said personal storage device.

30. A system for specifying an electronic food menu, said system comprising:

a personal storage device comprising food preferences for a particular customer;

a data processing system enabled to access said personal storage device;

a graphical display monitor for displaying said electronic food menu such that a plurality of food menu items that do not satisfy said previously stored food preferences for said particular customer are graphically distinguishable from a plurality of food menu items that do satisfy said previously stored food preferences for said particular customer;

said data processing system comprising;

a communications medium for retrieving said previously stored food preferences for said particular customer from said personal storage device carried by said customer, wherein said personal storage device is proffered from said particular customer;

means for comparing said previously stored food preferences for said particular customer with a plurality of previously stored food menu items; and

means for presenting a food menu, wherein said plurality of food menu items that satisfy said previously stored food preferences for said particular customer are designated, such that an electronic food menu is specified for a particular customer.

31. The system for specifying an electronic food menu according to claim 30, said system further comprising:

a graphical display monitor for displaying said electronic food menu according to an output preference for said particular customer, such that the graphical representation of said food menu is provided to accommodate a display preference of said particular customer.

32. The system for specifying an electronic food menu according to claim 31, wherein said graphical display monitor only displays said plurality of food menu items of said electronic food menu that are designated.

33. The system for specifying an electronic food menu according to claim 31, wherein said graphical display monitor displays said electronic food menu items in order from designated food menu items to non-designated food menu items.

34. The system for specifying an electronic food menu according to claim 31, wherein said graphical display monitor displays a tactile-detectable graphical representation of said electronic food menu.

35. The system for specifying an electronic food menu according to claim 31, wherein said graphical display monitor displays a graphical representation of said electronic food menu utilizing a particular font size.

36. The system for specifying an electronic food menu according to claim 31, wherein said graphical display monitor displays a graphical representation of said electronic food menu utilizing a particular language.

37. The system for specifying an electronic food menu according to claim 31, wherein said graphical display monitor displays a graphical representation of said electronic food menu wherein said prices are depicted utilizing a particular currency.

38. The system for specifying an electronic food menu according to claim 30, said system further comprising an audio element for transmitting auditory output of said electronic food menu for said particular customer.

39. The system for specifying an electronic food menu according to claim 30, said system further comprising a printing element for graphically printing said electronic food menu for said particular customer.

40. The system for specifying an electronic food menu according to claim 31, said system further comprising:

a graphical display monitor for displaying a graphical representation of said electronic food menu according to a generic style sheet.

41. The system for specifying an electronic food menu according to claim 30, wherein said communications medium for retrieving said previously stored food preferences for said particular customer from said personal storage device, further comprises:

a personal storage device input/output adapter accessible by said data processing system.

42. The system for specifying an electronic food menu according to claim 41, wherein said personal storage device further comprises a smart card reader.

43. The system for specifying an electronic food menu according to claim 41, wherein said personal storage device further comprises a java adapter.

44. The system for specifying an electronic food menu according to claim 41, wherein data transmission between said personal integrated circuit input/output adapter and said data processing system is a wireless transmission.

45. The system for specifying an electronic food menu according to claim 30, wherein said personal storage device further comprises a smart card.

46. The system for specifying an electronic food menu according to claim 30, wherein said personal storage device further comprises a java ring.

47. The system for specifying an electronic food menu according to claim 30, wherein said personal storage device further comprises a dumb terminal.

48. The system for specifying an electronic food menu according to claim 30, wherein said communication element further comprises a wireless transmission medium.

49. The system for specifying an electronic food menu according to claim 30, wherein said plurality of previously stored food menu items are accessible from a database, wherein each of said plurality of food menu items comprises food and health identifiers.

51. The system for specifying an electronic food menu according to claim 30, said system further comprising:

means for accumulating said previously stored food preferences for said particular customer at a data storage medium.

52. The system for specifying an electronic food menu according to claim 31, wherein said data processing system transmits an order from said particular customer of a customer selection of food menu items from said electronic food menu.

53. The system for specifying an electronic food menu according to claim 52, wherein said data processing system request confirmation of an electronic payment for said order.

54. The system for specifying an electronic food menu according to claim 52, wherein said personal storage device further comprises an electronic calendar that is updated with food menu items that are designated for a particular time period.

55. The system for specifying an electronic food menu according to claim 34, wherein said data processing system further comprises:

means for comparing said plurality of food menu items with a plurality of previously stored food preferences for a plurality of customers; and

means for selecting a food menu wherein said plurality of food menu items that satisfy said previously stored food preferences for said plurality of customers are distinguished, such that an electronic food menu is specified for said plurality of customers.

56. The system for specifying an electronic food menu according to claim 30, said system further comprising:

means for designating those food menu items that do not meet said food preferences.

57. The system for specifying an electronic food menu according to claim 30, wherein said previously stored food preferences includes health rating preferences for said particular customer.

58. The system for specifying an electronic food menu according to claim 30, wherein said previously stored food preferences includes attributes of specified allowable ingredients and specified avoided ingredients for said particular customer.

72. The program according to claim 55, said program further comprising:

means for designating those food menu items that do not meet said food preferences.

59. A program, residing on a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means, said program comprising:

means for retrieving food preferences for a particular customer from a personal storage device carried by said particular customer, wherein said personal storage device is proffered from said particular customer;

means for comparing said food preferences for said particular customer with a plurality of previously stored food menu items;

means for generating an electronic food menu designating a selection of said plurality of food menu items that satisfy said food preferences for said particular customer; and

means for graphically displaying said electronic food menu, wherein said plurality of food menu items that do not satisfy said food preferences for said particular customer are graphically distinguishable from said plurality of food menu items that do satisfy said food preferences for said particular customer.

60. The program according to claim 59, said program further comprising:

means for enabling a graphical display of said generated food menu for said particular customer.

61. The program according to claim 59, said program further comprising:

means for enabling said graphical display of said generated food menu according to an output preference for said particular customer.

62. The program according to claim 59, said program further comprising:

means for enabling a hyperbraille graphical representation of said generated food menu.

63. The program according to claim 59, said program further comprising:

means for enabling a graphical representation of said generated food menu utilizing a particular language.

64. The program according to claim 59, said program further comprising:

means for enabling a graphical representation of said generated food menu wherein prices are displayed in a particular currency.

65. The program according to claim 59, said program further comprising:

means for enabling auditory output of said generated food menu for said particular customer.

66. The program according to claim 59, said program further comprising:

means for enabling tactile-detectable output of said generated food menu for said particular customer.

67. The program according to claim 59, said program further comprising:

means for receiving said food preferences from a smart card.

68. The program according to claim 59, said program further comprising:

means for receiving said food preferences from a java ring.

69. The program according to claim 59, said program further comprising:

means for receiving said food preferences from user input to a dumb terminal.

70. The program according to claim 59, said program further comprising:

means for storing said electronic food menu on said personal storage device.

71. The program according to claim 59, program further comprising:

means for transmitting an order from said particular customer of a customer selection of food menu items from said electronic food menu.

73. The program according to claim 59, wherein said previously stored food preferences includes health rating preferences for said particular customer.

74. The program according to claim 59, wherein said previously stored food preferences includes attributes of specified allowable ingredients and specified avoided ingredients for said particular customer.

75. A method for specifying an electronic food menu, said method comprising the steps of:

retrieving food preferences for a particular customer from a personal storage device carried by said particular customer, wherein said personal storage device is proffered from said particular customer;

comparing said food preferences for said particular customer with a plurality of previously stored food menu items; and

presenting a food menu, wherein a plurality of food menu items that are indicated to be avoided by said previously stored food preferences for said particular customer are presented in said food menu and are designated in a manner to distinguish from other food menu items presented in said food menu, such that a customized electronic food menu is specified for a particular customer.

76. A system for specifying an electronic food menu, said system comprising:

a personal storage device comprising food preferences for a particular customer;

a data processing system enabled to access said personal storage device;

said data processing system comprising;

a communications medium for retrieving said food preferences for said particular customer from said personal storage device carried by said customer, wherein said personal storage device is proffered from said particular customer;

means for comparing said food preferences for said particular customer with a plurality of previously stored food menu items; and

means for presenting a food menu, wherein a plurality of food menu items that are indicated to be avoided by said previously stored food preferences for said particular customer are presented in said food menu and are designated in a manner to distinguish from other food menu items presented in said food menu, such that a customized electronic food menu is specified for a particular customer.

77. A program, residing on a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means, said program comprising:

means for retrieving food preferences for a particular customer from a personal storage device carried by said particular customer, wherein said personal storage device is proffered from said particular customer;

means for comparing said food preferences for said particular customer with a plurality of previously stored food menu items; and

means for generating a food menu presenting a selection of said plurality of food menu items indicated to be avoided by said previously stored food preferences for said particular customer and a selection of said plurality of food menu items not indicated to be avoided by said previously stored food preferences for said particular customer, wherein said selection of said plurality of food menu items indicated to be avoided is designated in a manner to distinguish from said selection of said plurality of food menu items not indicated to be avoided by said previously stored food preferences for said particular customer.