Remotely configurable wireless intercom system for an establishment

• US 8,694,040 B2
• Filed: 08/22/2011
• Issued: 04/08/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Partech Incorporated (Par Technology Corporation)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Awiszus, Steven T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, David Q
• Application Number:
  US13/214,746
• Publication Number:
  US 20110306379A1
• Time in Patent Office: 960 Days
• Field of Search: 455/517, 455/3.05, 455/73, 455/403, 455/569.1
• US Class Current: 455/517
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0281 Customer communication at a business location, e.g. providing product or service information, consulting
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0623 Item investigation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/12 Hotels or restaurants
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/17 Detection of non-compliance or faulty performance, e.g. response deviations H04B17/18 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72502 with one base station connected to a single line
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72513 On hold, intercom or transfer communication modes
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/04 Arrangements for maintaining operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services

Abstract

Systems and methods associated with an intercom system for a drive-through, quick service restaurant facility is disclosed. Generally, a plurality of headsets is configured for communication with a base station. A speaker is associated with the drive-through facility is configured to be located near a menu board, and is configured for communication with the base station. A microphone is also configured to be located near the menu board and configured for communication with the base station. A plurality of parameters control the configuration of the intercom system, and the base station is connectable to a wide area communication network to enable remote adjustment of the plurality of parameters.

Claims

1. An intercom system, said intercom system being configurable for a drive-through, quick service restaurant establishment having a staff, comprising:

a base station having the ability to connect to a wide area communication network;

at least one headset configured for two-way wireless communication with said base station;

said wireless communication between the at least one headset and said base station being configurable with at least one parameter that adjusts a volume level of communications wirelessly received or wirelessly transmitted by the headset;

said at least one parameter being locally adjustable at the establishment;

said base station being configured to permit remote review and remote adjustment of said at least one parameter from a facility remote from the location of the establishment when said base station is connected to said wide area communication network; and

wherein said at least one parameter can be saved into a template of parameters for later use.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one parameter is a plurality of parameters that adjust volume levels of communications wirelessly received or wirelessly transmitted by said headset, said plurality of parameters being adjustable by the staff at the establishment and being remotely reviewable and remotely adjustable when said base station is connected to said wide area communication network, and wherein said plurality of parameters can be grouped and saved into said template of parameters for later use.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein one of said plurality of parameters is a vehicle alert.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said template of parameters can be saved locally at the establishment.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said template of parameters can be saved to a location remote from the establishment.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said template of parameters is a default.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said template of parameters is a factory default.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said template of parameters is configured for recall to reset the system.

9. The system of claim 2, wherein said plurality of parameters comprises a first parameter and a second parameter, wherein said first parameter adjusts a volume level of communications emitted by a speaker in the headset that were captured by a microphone in a drive-through lane, and wherein said second parameter adjusts a volume level of communications emitted by a speaker in the drive-through lane that were captured by a microphone in the headset.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one headset is a plurality of headsets.

11. The system of claim 2, wherein at least one of said plurality of parameters adjusts volume levels of communications between the headset and an ordering point in a drive-through lane.

12. The system of claim 1, further comprising an ordering point having a speaker and a microphone, wherein said ordering point is positioned near a menu board and is capable of communication with said base station.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein said ordering point is configured to be hard-wired to said base station.

14. The system of claim 1, further comprising software configured to determine if a fault condition exists in the system.

15. The system of claim 2, wherein one of said plurality of parameters is master volume.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein one of said plurality of parameters is master volume.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the remote adjustment of the at least one parameter need not be locally activated.

18. An intercom system, said intercom system being configurable for a drive-through, quick service establishment having a staff, comprising:

a base station having the ability to connect to a wide area communication network;

a plurality of headsets configured for two-way wireless communication with said base station;

said wireless communication between each of said plurality of headsets and said base station being configurable with at least one parameter that adjusts at least one volume level of communication between each of the headsets and at least one ordering point in a drive-through lane;

said at least one parameter being locally adjustable at the establishment;

said base station being configured to permit remote review and remote adjustment of said at least one parameter from a facility remote from the location of the establishment when said base station is connected to said wide area communication network; and

wherein said at least one parameter for each of said plurality of headsets is grouped into a template of parameters that can be saved for later use.

19. The system of claim 18, said at least one ordering point having a speaker and a microphone, wherein said ordering point is positioned near a menu board and is capable of communication with said base station.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein said template of parameters can be saved locally at the establishment.

21. The system of claim 18, wherein said template of parameters can be saved to a location remote from the establishment.

22. The system of claim 18, wherein said template of parameters is a default.

23. The system of claim 18, wherein said template of parameters is a factory default.

24. The system of claim 18, wherein said template of parameters is configured for recall to reset the system.

25. The system of claim 18, wherein said at least one parameter is a plurality of parameters.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein said plurality of parameters comprises a first parameter and a second parameter, wherein said first parameter adjusts a volume level of communications emitted by a speaker in one of said plurality of headsets captured by a microphone of the ordering point, and wherein said second parameter adjusts a volume level of communications emitted by a speaker of the ordering point captured by a microphone of said one headset of said plurality of headsets.

27. The system of claim 25, wherein said plurality of parameters further comprises a vehicle alert parameter.

28. The system of claim 19, wherein said ordering point is configured to be hard-wired to said base station.

29. The system of claim 18, further comprising software configured to determine if a fault condition exists in the system.

30. The system of claim 25, wherein one parameter of said plurality of parameters is master volume.

31. The system of claim 27, wherein one parameter of said plurality of parameters is master volume.

32. The system of claim 18, wherein the remote adjustment of the at least one parameter need not be locally activated.