Remotely configurable wireless intercom system for an establishment

• US 9,154,599 B2
• Filed: 04/06/2015
• Issued: 10/06/2015
• 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:
  US14/679,765
• Publication Number:
  US 20150215442A1
• Time in Patent Office: 183 Days
• Field of Search: 455/517, 455/403, 455/73, 455/569.1, 455/63
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 configured for a drive-through, quick service restaurant establishment, comprising:

an intercom system base station configured for installation at the restaurant establishment, the base station connectable to a wide area communication network;

a plurality of headsets configured for two-way wireless communication with the base station, wherein the wireless communication between the plurality of headsets and the base station is configurable with a plurality of parameters, wherein at least one parameter of the plurality of parameters adjusts a volume level of a communication emitted by a speaker of at least one of the plurality of headsets, where the communication was captured by a microphone in a drive-through facility; and

memory configured for communication with the base station, wherein the memory is configured to store a group of settings of each of the plurality of parameters as a template of parameters;

wherein, when in communication with the wide area communication network, the base station is configured for remote review and remote adjustment of the plurality of parameters from a facility remote from the establishment; and

wherein remote adjustment comprises accessing the memory over the wide area communication network to activate the template of parameters in the intercom system.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the memory is configured to be located remotely from restaurant establishment.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the memory is configured to be located remotely from the restaurant establishment and remotely from the remote facility.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the memory is configured to be located at the restaurant establishment.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the intercom system is configured to detect if a fault condition exists in the system and send notification in response to the detection of a fault condition over the wide area communication network.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the intercom system is configured to detect if a fault condition exists in the system and provide indication of the fault condition that is reviewable by the remote facility.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the base station is configured to, when in communication with the wide area communication network, transmit the template of parameters to a location remote from the restaurant establishment over the wide area communication network.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the template of parameters defines a particular operational scheme for the intercom system established in conjunction with installation of the intercom system at the establishment.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the template of parameters is a factory default.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of parameters are adjustable locally at the restaurant establishment.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of parameters further comprises a second parameter that adjusts a base station transmit volume.

12. The system of claim 1, further comprising the drive-through facility having a speaker and the microphone, wherein the drive-through facility is positioned near a menu board and is capable of communication with the base station.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the speaker and microphone of the drive-through facility are configured to be hard-wired to the base station.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of parameters comprises a vehicle alert.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of parameters comprises a master volume.

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

17. An intercom system configured for a drive-through, quick service establishment having a staff, comprising:

a base station connectable to a wide area communication network;

a plurality of headsets configured for two-way wireless communication with the base station, wherein the wireless communication between the plurality of headsets and the base station is configurable with a plurality of parameters, wherein at least one parameter of the plurality of parameters adjusts a volume level of a communication emitted by a speaker of at least one of the plurality of headsets, where the communication was captured by a microphone in a drive-through facility;

wherein the plurality of parameters is locally adjustable at the establishment and the plurality of parameters is adjustable from a facility remote from the establishment over the wide area communication network when the base station is connected to the wide area communication network; and

wherein the intercom system is configured to detect if a fault condition exists in the system and provide an indication of detection of the fault condition to the remote facility.

18. The system of claim 17, further comprising memory configured for communication with the base station, wherein the intercom system is configured to store a specific configuration of the plurality of parameters in a template of parameters in the memory for subsequent activation.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the memory is configured to be located remotely from restaurant establishment.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the memory is configured to be located remotely from the establishment and remotely from the remote facility.

21. The system of claim 18, wherein the memory is configured to be located at the establishment.

22. The system of claim 18, wherein the base station is configured to, when in communication with the wide area communication network, transmit the template of parameters to a location remote from the establishment over the wide area communication network.

23. The system of claim 18, wherein the template of parameters defines a particular operational scheme for the intercom system established in conjunction with installation of the intercom system at the establishment.

24. The system of claim 18, wherein the template of parameters is a default.

25. The system of claim 18, wherein the template of parameters is a factory default.

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

27. The system of claim 17, further comprising the drive-through facility having a speaker and the microphone, wherein the drive-through facility is positioned near a menu board and is capable of communication with the base station.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the speaker and microphone of the drive-through facility are configured to be hard-wired to the base station.

29. The system of claim 17, wherein the plurality of parameters further comprises a second parameter that adjusts a base station transmit volume.

30. The system of claim 17, wherein the plurality of parameters further comprises a vehicle alert parameter.

31. The system of claim 17, wherein the plurality of parameters further comprises a master volume.

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

33. The system of claim 17, wherein providing an indication of a fault condition comprises sending a notification of the fault condition to the remote facility over the wide area communication network.

34. An intercom system configured for a drive-through, quick service restaurant establishment, comprising:

an intercom system base station configured for installation at the restaurant establishment, the base station connectable to a wide area communication network;

a plurality of headsets configured for two-way wireless communication with the base station, wherein the wireless communication between the plurality of headsets and the base station is configurable with a plurality of parameters, wherein the plurality of parameters are adjustable locally at the restaurant establishment, and wherein at least one parameter of the plurality of parameters adjusts a volume level of a speaker of the drive-through lane;

memory configured to be located at the establishment, wherein the memory is configured for communication with the base station, and wherein the memory is configured to store a specific configuration of the plurality of parameters as a template of parameters;

wherein, when in communication with the wide area communication network, the base station is configured for remote review and remote adjustment of the plurality of parameters from a facility remote from the restaurant establishment;

wherein remote adjustment comprises accessing the memory over the wide area communication network to activate the template of parameters in the intercom system; and

wherein the intercom system is configured to detect if a fault condition exists in the system and provide an indication of detection of the fault condition to the remote facility.