Food information monitoring system
First Claim
1. A method of monitoring food information in a food service facility, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a central collection apparatus;
providing a plurality of remote sensor units, each remote sensor unit including a temperature sensor and a computer memory device;
installing and initializing each remote sensor unit at a food receptacle; and
after completing the installing and initializing step, operating each remote sensor unit without further user intervention, wherein the step of operating each remote sensor unit includes, at each remote sensor unit;
periodically detecting, via the temperature sensor of the remote sensor unit, food temperature data, storing the detected data in the computer memory device of the remote sensor unit, periodically determining whether wireless communication is enabled between the remote sensor unit and the central collection apparatus, and if wireless communication is enabled between the remote sensor unit and the central collection apparatus, transmitting the data stored in the computer memory device from the remote sensor unit to the central collection apparatus via a wireless communication interface.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods are provided for gathering temperature and other food condition information at a plurality of remote sensor units and transmitting it to a central collection location. Data may be buffered at each sensor unit until communications have been established between the unit and the central computer. A plurality of interface units may be provided for receiving data from the sensor units and relaying it to the central computer. At the central computer, the data may be compared to a preset limit, and if the limit is violated, an alarm may be generated at the corresponding remote sensor unit. If a deactivation request is received at a sensor unit, then a signal is transmitted to the central computer to warn of the deactivation, and the sensor unit is deactivated.
135 Citations
35 Claims
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1. A method of monitoring food information in a food service facility, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a central collection apparatus;
providing a plurality of remote sensor units, each remote sensor unit including a temperature sensor and a computer memory device;
installing and initializing each remote sensor unit at a food receptacle; and
after completing the installing and initializing step, operating each remote sensor unit without further user intervention, wherein the step of operating each remote sensor unit includes, at each remote sensor unit;
periodically detecting, via the temperature sensor of the remote sensor unit, food temperature data, storing the detected data in the computer memory device of the remote sensor unit, periodically determining whether wireless communication is enabled between the remote sensor unit and the central collection apparatus, and if wireless communication is enabled between the remote sensor unit and the central collection apparatus, transmitting the data stored in the computer memory device from the remote sensor unit to the central collection apparatus via a wireless communication interface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of gathering food information from a variety of locations in a food service facility, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a plurality of uniquely identifiable remote sensor units, each remote sensor unit including a food information sensor and a wireless transceiver;
providing a plurality of interface units, each interface unit including a wireless transceiver;
sensing, via the food information sensor at each remote sensor unit, data representative of a food characteristic;
selecting one of the plurality of remote sensor units;
wirelessly transmitting, via at least one of the interface units, a predetermined signal directed to the selected remote sensor unit; and
upon receiving the predetermined signal at the selected remote sensor unit, wirelessly transmitting the data sensed by the selected remote sensor unit to at least one of the interface units. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of gathering food information, the method comprising the steps of:
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installing each of a plurality of remote sensor units in a food service facility;
at each remote sensor unit;
repeatedly gathering data representative of a food characteristic, and after at least some of the gathering steps, communicating the gathered data from the remote sensor unit to a central computer;
initiating a deactivation request at a selected remote sensor unit;
upon receiving the deactivation request, transmitting a signal from the selected remote sensor unit to the central computer alerting the central computer that the selected remote sensor unit has received a deactivation request; and
after receiving the deactivation request, discontinuing the step of communicating the gathered data from the deactivated remote sensor unit. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A method of alerting a user to a temperature problem, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a plurality of portable remote sensor units, each remote sensor unit including a food temperature sensor and an input port;
at each remote sensor unit;
detecting data representative of a food temperature characteristic, and communicating the data to a central computer;
at the central computer, comparing the data received from each remote sensor unit to one or more predetermined temperature limit;
if the data from any of the remote sensor units violates any predetermined temperature limit, communicating a predetermined alarm signal from the central computer to the remote sensor unit that detected the data; and
if any remote sensor unit receives the predetermined alarm signal from the central computer, generating, at the remote sensor unit that receives the signal, a user-perceptible alert signal indicating the existence of a temperature problem. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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Specification