Virtual beverage bar design and analysis system
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method for planning a virtual arrangement of beverage equipment on a virtual countertop work surface, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing an interface having a graphical representation of the virtual countertop work surface;
selecting a virtual countertop work surface area value, the virtual countertop work surface area value being an area having at least one of a width dimension and a length dimension;
setting an open space value to the virtual countertop work surface area value;
providing on the interface a graphical representation of at least one piece of beverage equipment for placement on the virtual countertop work surface;
attributing a space demand value to each piece of selected beverage equipment;
iteratively allowing a user to select a piece of beverage equipment and place a graphical representation of the selected beverage equipment onto the graphical representation of the virtual countertop work surface;
iteratively calculating a used space value by taking a sum of the space demand values for each piece of selected beverage equipment; and
iteratively recalculating the open space value by subtracting the used space value from the virtual countertop work surface area value.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system, method and computer program product for planning an arrangement of beverage equipment on a virtual surface or counter. The system allows a user to create a virtual surface of chosen dimension (32) and then select one or more beverage machines (36) to place on that surface while verifying that there is sufficient open space for the selected beverage machine (38). Also disclosed is a method of determining projected profit (48) based on the selection of beverage machines, entered values related to costs, and entered values related to serving size and pricing. The system reports on projected profits and/or how long the equipment needs to be operated to pay off the equipment'"'"'s cost.
21 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method for planning a virtual arrangement of beverage equipment on a virtual countertop work surface, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing an interface having a graphical representation of the virtual countertop work surface; selecting a virtual countertop work surface area value, the virtual countertop work surface area value being an area having at least one of a width dimension and a length dimension; setting an open space value to the virtual countertop work surface area value; providing on the interface a graphical representation of at least one piece of beverage equipment for placement on the virtual countertop work surface; attributing a space demand value to each piece of selected beverage equipment; iteratively allowing a user to select a piece of beverage equipment and place a graphical representation of the selected beverage equipment onto the graphical representation of the virtual countertop work surface; iteratively calculating a used space value by taking a sum of the space demand values for each piece of selected beverage equipment; and iteratively recalculating the open space value by subtracting the used space value from the virtual countertop work surface area value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A computer-implemented method for planning a virtual arrangement of beverage equipment on a surface having a selected area value and projecting income related to the arrangement, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing an interface having a graphical representation of the virtual countertop work surface; selecting a virtual countertop work surface area value, the virtual countertop work surface area value being an area having at least one of a width dimension and a length dimension; setting an open space value to the virtual countertop work surface area value; providing on the interface a graphical representation of at least one piece of beverage equipment for placement on the virtual countertop work surface; iteratively allowing a user to select a piece of equipment and place a graphical representation of the selected beverage equipment onto the graphical representation of the virtual countertop work surface to create a particular equipment configuration; attributing a space demand value to each piece of selected beverage equipment; iteratively calculating a used space value by taking a sum of the space demand values for each piece of selected beverage equipment; iteratively recalculating the open space value by subtracting the used space value from the virtual countertop work surface area value; assigning a cost value to the beverage equipment configuration; calculating a projected income value for the beverage equipment configuration; and displaying a profitability report based on the cost value and projected income value. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A computer-implemented method for planning a virtual arrangement of beverage equipment on a virtual countertop work surface having a selected area value and projecting income related to the arrangement, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing an interface having a graphical representation of the virtual countertop work surface; selecting a virtual countertop work surface area value, the virtual countertop work surface area value being an area having at least one of a width dimension and a length dimension; setting an open space value to the virtual countertop work surface area value; providing on the interface a graphical representation of at least one piece of beverage equipment for placement on the virtual countertop work surface; attributing a space demand value to each piece of selected beverage equipment; iteratively allowing a user to select a piece of beverage equipment and place a graphical representation of the selected beverage equipment onto the graphical representation of the virtual countertop work surface to create a particular equipment configuration; iteratively calculating a used space value by taking a sum of the space demand values for each piece of selected beverage equipment; iteratively recalculating the open space value by subtracting the used space value from the virtual countertop work surface area value; assigning a cost value to the equipment configuration; calculating a projected income value for the equipment configuration; displaying a profitability report based on the cost value and projected income value; and allowing the user to connect via a communication network to an interface for purchasing at least one of the pieces of beverage equipment in the beverage equipment configuration. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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Specification