Wireless maitre d' system for restaurants

• US 6,636,835 B2
• Filed: 04/04/2001
• Issued: 10/21/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: 3D Innovations Inc. (3d Innovations Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: 3D Innovations Inc. (3d Innovations Ltd.)
• Inventors: Kindell, Demeatres, Robinson, Deborah A., Ragsdale-Elliott, Deloris
• Primary Examiner(s): Rice, Kenneth R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BUCHANAN, CHRISTOPHER R
• Application Number:
  US09/824,719
• Publication Number:
  US 20020147647A1
• Time in Patent Office: 930 Days
• Field of Search: 705/15, 705/16, 705/26
• US Class Current: 705/15
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/12 Hotels or restaurants
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor

Abstract

A wireless maitre d'"'"' system and method for providing interactive two-way communication between patrons and restaurant service personnel who have direct interaction with the patrons during restaurant encounters. The wireless maitre d'"'"' system includes a first wireless device and a second wireless device. The first wireless device establishes an interactive two-way electronic communication between at least one patron and at least one restaurant service personnel by a wireless communication link, and the at least one restaurant service personnel directly interacts with the at least one patron during a restaurant encounter. The second wireless device engages in the interactive two-way communication between the at least one service personnel and the at least one patron by the wireless communication link. The interactive two-way electronic communication includes an order for a retail item from the at least one patron to the at least one restaurant service personnel.

Claims

1. A wireless maitre d'"'"' system for providing interactive two-way electronic communication between patrons and restaurant service personnel who have direct interaction with the patrons during restaurant encounters, said wireless maitre d'"'"' system comprising:

first wireless means for establishing an interactive two-way electronic communication between at least one patron and at least one restaurant service personnel by a wireless communication link, the at least one restaurant service personnel directly interacting with the at least one patron during a restaurant encounter, and

second wireless means for engaging in the interactive two-way electronic communication between the at least one service personnel and the at least one patron by the wireless communication link,

wherein the interactive two-way electronic communication includes an order for a retail item from the at least one patron to the at least one restaurant service personnel.

2. The wireless maitre d'"'"' system according to claim 1, wherein said first wireless means comprises a menu driven touch screen communicatively interconnected with a menu program residing in a memory of a computer, the menu program being configured for enabling said at least one patron to make visual orders and send messages to said at least one restaurant service personnel via said second wireless means.

3. The wireless maitre d'"'"' system according to claim 2, wherein the menu program is further configured for digitally accessing a set of selective photo-realistic images from the memory of the computer.

4. The wireless maitre d'"'"' system according to claim 3, further comprising a stand alone kiosk means for attracting roaming patrons and for providing menu order vouchers therefrom.

5. The wireless maitre d'"'"' system according to claim 4, wherein said kiosk means comprises an augmented program of readable source code configured for enabling a user to interactively review menu items linked to caloric expenditure data and health related information, the data and information being interactively linked to an organ symbol for visually indicating personal health related items.

6. The wireless maitre d'"'"' system according to claim 1, wherein said second wireless means is a hand-held palm size pager unit having a display and being equipped with multi-line scrolling and buffer capabilities for sending interactive page signals.

7. The wireless maitre d'"'"' system according to claim 6, wherein said pager unit is configured with attaching means for attaching to a user for hands-free use.

8. A wireless maitre d'"'"' system network for providing interactive two-way electronic communication between patrons and restaurant service personnel who have direct interaction with the patrons during restaurant encounters, said wireless maitre d'"'"' system network comprising:

at least one first wireless means for establishing an interactive two-way communication between at least one patron and at least one restaurant service personnel by a wireless communication link, the at least one restaurant service personnel directly interacting with the at least one patron during a restaurant encounter, the interactive two-way electronic communication including an order for a retail item from the at least one patron to the at least one restaurant service personnel;

at least one second wireless means for engaging in the two-way communication between the at least one restaurant service personnel and at the least one patron with the second wireless means by the wireless communication link; and

a stand alone kiosk means for attracting roaming patrons and for providing menu order vouchers therefrom, said kiosk means comprising an augmented program of readable source code configured for enabling a user to interactively review menu items linked to caloric expenditure data and health related information, the data and information being interactively linked to an organ symbol for visually indicating personal health related items;

wherein said at least one first wireless means comprises a menu driven touch screen communicatively interconnected with a menu program residing in a memory of a computer, the menu program being configured for enabling said at least one patron to make visual orders and send messages to said at least one restaurant service personnel via said second wireless means, and being configured for digitally accessing a set of selective photo-realistic images from the memory of the computer;

said at least one second wireless means is a hand-held palm size pager unit having a display means and equipped with multi-line scrolling and buffer capabilities for sending interactive pages, the pager unit being configured with attaching means for attaching to a user for hands-free use; and

the network is a local area network.

9. The method for providing wireless maitre d'"'"' service according to claim 8, said method further comprising:

logging into a service;

inputting personal data;

selecting advertisements and miscellaneous data;

selecting menu order information;

reserving selective seating;

selecting a maitre d'"'"';

selecting help; and

logging out by patron payment processing.

10. The method for providing wireless maitre d'"'"' service according to claim 9, wherein the logging into a service step further comprises:

activating a voice messaging system for remote menu orders.

11. The method for providing wireless maitre d'"'"' service according to claim 9, wherein the inputting personal data step further comprises inputting name, sex, age, zip code, and a soda-economic level indicator, said indicator being an annual salary value.

12. The method for providing wireless maitre d'"'"' service according to claim 11, wherein the inputting personal data step further comprises:

compiling data according to a group of parameters consisting of name, sex, age, zip code, and the socio-economic level indicator.

13. The method f or providing wireless maitre d'"'"' service according to claim 9, wherein the selecting advertisements and miscellaneous data step further comprises:

selecting a description of a selective advertisement;

selecting catering;

selecting for sale products in restaurant;

selecting job information opportunities;

selecting on-line games;

selecting trivia health questions; and

selecting toll free call/paging.

14. The method for providing wireless maitre d'"'"' service according to claim 9, wherein the selecting menu order information step further comprises:

selecting from a set of preselected photo-realistic images representative of particular restaurants menu of selective food items, the set including at least one touch activated organ symbol for visually indicating health related benefits for personal nutritional needs;

displaying order status;

selecting a new order; and

selecting a maitre d'"'"'.

15. The method for providing wireless maitre d'"'"' service according to claim 14, wherein the displaying order status step further comprises:

completing an existing order; and

updating order information.

16. The method for providing wireless maitre d'"'"' service according to claim 14, wherein the selecting a new order step further comprises:

displaying order items and preparation details; and

completing an existing order.

17. The method for providing wireless maitre d'"'"' service according to claim 14, further comprising:

paging the selected maitre d'"'"'.

18. The method for providing wireless maitre d'"'"' service according to claim 9, wherein the maitre d'"'"' selecting step further comprises:

selecting based on a personal profile;

selecting based on hobbies;

selecting based on professional health related skills; and

selecting based on a mobile page device number.

19. The method for providing wireless maitre d'"'"' service according to claim 9, wherein the selecting help step further comprises:

indicating a medical emergency;

requesting assistance with order;

activating a demo of the system;

requesting service for condiments;

requesting service for utensils;

requesting service for beverages; and

requesting service for sweeteners.

20. A method for providing wireless maitre d'"'"' service in a restaurant, said method comprising:

establishing an interactive two-way communication between at least one patron and at least one restaurant service personnel with a first wireless means by a wireless communication link, the at least one restaurant service personnel directly interacting with the at least one patron, and

engaging in the interactive two-way communication between the at least one service personnel and the at least one patron with a second wireless means by the wireless communication link, the at least one service personnel directly interacting with the at least one patron,

wherein the interactive two-way communication includes an order for a retail item from the at least one patron to the at least one restaurant service personnel.