Diagnostic data interchange

• US 8,060,408 B2
• Filed: 06/20/2005
• Issued: 11/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: KB TLC Buyer LLC
• Original Assignee: Technology Licensing Corporation
• Inventors: Koether, Bernard G, Ceste, Mario G
• Primary Examiner(s): Alvarez; Raquel
• Application Number:
  US11/156,862
• Publication Number:
  US 20050251450A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,339 Days
• Field of Search: 705/15, 705/1.1, 705/30, 705/34
• US Class Current: 705/15
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 36/321 the electronic control being performed over a network, e.g. by means of a handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 2204/12 Determination or prediction of behaviour, e.g. likely power consumption or unusual usage patterns
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 2204/14 Displaying of utility usage with respect to time, e.g. for monitoring evolution of usage or with respect to weather conditions
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/12 Hotels or restaurants
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/002 with telemetering systems telemetering in general G08C
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/30 Smart metering, e.g. specially adapted for remote reading

Abstract

The present invention provides a bi-directional communication network which provides monitoring, data collection, and control of food service industry operations. The system includes a computer and control logic implemented by the computer which may be configured to perform various tasks. A communication network may be provided linking the computer with equipment and appliances having a microprocessor based controller capable of communicating with the system. In one embodiment, the system automatically verifies the performance of equipment-related manual tasks in food preparation. In another embodiment, the system schedules the maintenance of a plurality of kitchen appliances. In another embodiment, the system provides a hold timer for tracking the hold time of cooked food products and determines when the hold time elapses. In yet another embodiment, the system manages the inventory of cooked food products in a food preparation establishment.

Claims

1. A communication system for monitoring the operation and maintenance of at least one kitchen appliance, comprising:

a control center;

a database, operatively coupled to the control center, containing data related to said at least one kitchen appliance; and

a communication network interconnecting said at least one kitchen appliance with said control center,

wherein said system, responsive to data regarding the operation and maintenance of said at least one kitchen appliance, generates a message which results in a service activity for said appliance, and upon the completion of such service activity, generates a second at least one of an accounting or billing system which causes the transfer of funds associated with the service of a specific one of said at least one kitchen appliance, from a users financial institution to an agency'"'"'s financial account performing the service.

2. The communication system of claim 1, further comprising a repair vehicle, said repair vehicle in communication with said control center, said control center dispatching said repair vehicle in response to said data regarding maintenance of said at least one kitchen appliance.

3. The communication system of claim 2, wherein a repair is effected as a result of dispatching said repair vehicle and said billing data is a bill for said repair.

4. The communication system of claim 1, wherein data regarding the operation and maintenance of at least one kitchen appliance is the monitoring of the degradation of said at least one kitchen appliance.

5. The communication system of claim 4, wherein said control center causes a message to be displayed at said at least one kitchen appliance if said degradation exceeds a predetermined level.

6. The communication system of claim 4, wherein said control center disables said at least one kitchen appliance when said degradation exceeds a predetermined level.

7. The communication system of claim 4, wherein said control center communicates with said at least one kitchen appliance to change an operational parameter of said kitchen appliance to compensate for said degradation.

8. The communication system of claim 1, further comprising a handheld terminal, communicating with said control center and said kitchen appliance.

9. The communication system of claim 8, wherein said control center prepares and transmits an invoice to said handheld terminal upon completion of maintenance for said at least one kitchen appliance.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein said communication network is a wireless network.

11. The communication system of claim 1, wherein said data includes a serial number associated with said kitchen appliance.

12. A communication system for monitoring the operation and maintenance of at least one kitchen appliance, comprising:

a control center;

a database, operatively in communication with said control center, containing at least one of accounting and billing data for said at least one kitchen appliance; and

a communication network interconnecting said at least one kitchen appliance with said control center,

wherein said system, responsive to data regarding the operation and maintenance of said at least one kitchen appliance, prepares at least one of accounting and billing reports for said at least one kitchen appliance, said communication system charging a user'"'"'s financial account for expenses associated with service of said at least one kitchen appliance.

13. The communication system of claim 12, further comprising a repair vehicle, said repair vehicle in communication with said control center, said control center dispatching said repair vehicle in response to said data regarding maintenance of said at least one kitchen appliance.

14. The communication system of claim 12, wherein a repair is effected as a result of dispatching said repair vehicle and said billing data is a bill for said repair.

15. The communication system of claim 12, wherein data regarding the operation and maintenance of at least one kitchen appliance is the monitoring of the degradation of said at least one kitchen appliance.

16. The communication system of claim 15, wherein said control center causes a message to be displayed at said at least one kitchen appliance if said degradation exceeds a predetermined level.

17. The communication system of claim 15, wherein said control center disables said at least one kitchen appliance when said degradation exceeds a predetermined level.

18. The communication system of claim 15, wherein said control center communicates with said at least one kitchen appliance to change an operational parameter of said kitchen appliance to compensate for said degradation.

19. The communication system of claim 12, wherein said communication network is a wireless network.

20. The communication system of claim 12, further comprising a handheld terminal, communicating with said control center and said kitchen appliance.

21. The communication system of claim 20, wherein said control center prepares and transmits an invoice to said handheld terminal upon completion of maintenance for said at least one kitchen appliance.

22. The communication system of claim 12, wherein said data includes a serial number associated with said kitchen appliance.

23. A method of processing at least one of billing, accounting and diagnostic information for kitchen appliances wherein a plurality of kitchen appliances each transmits and receives data associated with their operating conditions across a communication system to a control center, comprising the steps of:

initiating service of a specific kitchen appliance upon the occurrence of a predetermined condition;

retrieving from said control center information associated with said specific kitchen appliance so as to thereby generate a repair invoice;

retrieving billing information from said control center for said specific kitchen appliance; and

transmitting said billing information to said communication system, said communication system electronically transferring funds for the repair of said specific kitchen appliance from a user'"'"'s financial account to an agency'"'"'s financial account performing the repair.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising the steps of providing a repair vehicle in communication with said control center, said control center dispatching said repair vehicle in response to said data regarding maintenance of said at least one kitchen appliance.

25. The method of claim 23, further comprising the step of effecting a repair as a result of dispatching said repair vehicle and said billing data is a bill for said repair.

26. The method of claim 23, further comprising the steps of monitoring the degradation of said at least one kitchen appliance.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein said control center causes a message to be displayed at said at least one kitchen appliance if said degradation exceeds a predetermined level.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein said control center disables said at least one kitchen appliance when said degradation exceeds a predetermined level.

29. The method of claim 26, wherein said control center communicates with said at least one kitchen appliance to change an operational parameter of said kitchen appliance to compensate for said degradation.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising the step of said control center sending software to said handheld terminal to effect one of maintenance and repair to said kitchen appliance.

31. The method of claim 29, further comprising the step of storing at least one of payment history, maintenance history, appliance part inventory, customer data, repair history, malfunction history, and warranty records for said at least one kitchen appliance in said database.

32. The method of claim 23, wherein said communication network is a wireless network.

33. The method of claim 23, further comprising the step of communicating with said control center and said kitchen appliance from a handheld terminal.

34. The method of claim 23, further comprising the step of updating at least one of the accounting, billing and maintenance in response to said service performed.