System and method for wideband audio communication with a quick service restaurant drive-through intercom

• US 9,639,906 B2
• Filed: 03/12/2013
• Issued: 05/02/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HM Electronics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: HM Electronics Incorporated
• Inventors: O'Gwynn, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Frenel, Vanel
• Application Number:
  US13/797,339
• Publication Number:
  US 20140279080A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,512 Days
• Field of Search: 705 15, 705 261, 235383, 34028609, 34028606, 455517, 455 305
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/12 Hotels or restaurants

Abstract

This disclosure relates to a quick service restaurant intercom communication system. The system is configured such that communication between a customer and a staff member is accomplished in wideband audio. Intercom communication systems that utilize narrow band audio for communication between drive-through customers and staff members may be considered “good enough”. However, the low fidelity sound produced by narrow band audio systems often results in misunderstandings between customers and staff members, a high amount of background noise during communication, and/or other negative effects. Wideband audio may facilitate clearer communication between customers and staff members. Wideband audio communication may be costlier and/or more complicated to implement, but may result in increased staff efficiency and/or increased customer satisfaction. In some implementations, the system may include an audio order placement sub-system, a base station, an order entry device, a mounting mechanism, and/or other components.

Claims

1. An intercom communication system for a quick service restaurant drive-through, the drive-through including a menu board and/or a speaker post, the system comprising:

an audio order placement sub-system positionally associated with one or both of the menu board or the speaker post, the audio order placement sub-system comprising;

a first microphone configured to receive sound from a customer placing an order at or near the menu board, and to generate wideband order information signals that represent the received sound;

an analog-to-digital converter configured to receive the generated wideband order information signals from the first microphone and further configured to convert the generated wideband order information signals to digital form; and

a first speaker configured to receive wideband order information signals and to generate sound represented in the received wideband order information signals such that the generated sound is audible to the customer at or near the menu board;

a base station, the base station comprising;

a first transceiver configured to transmit and receive encoded audio communication signals;

a first digital signal processor configured to encode wideband order information signals received from the analog-to-digital converter into encoded audio communication signals for transmission by the first transceiver, and decode encoded audio communication signals received by the first transceiver into wideband order information signals for the first speaker; and

an audio order receiving sub-system configured to be worn by a staff member, the audio order receiving sub-system located remotely from the audio order placement sub-system, the audio order receiving sub-system comprising;

a second transceiver configured to transmit encoded audio communication signals to the first transceiver and receive encoded audio communication signals from the first transceiver to facilitate communication between the customer and the staff member;

a second microphone configured to receive sound generated by the staff member and to generate wideband order information signals that represent the received sound;

a second speaker configured to receive wideband order information signals and to generate sound represented in the received wideband order information signals such that the generated sound is audible to the staff member; and

a second signal processor configured to encode wideband order information signals received from the second microphone into encoded audio communication signals for transmission by the second transceiver, and decode encoded audio communication signals received by the second transceiver into wideband order information signals for the second speaker;

wherein the wideband order information signals and the encoded audio communication signals represent sound having a frequency range in a wideband audio frequency range such that communication between the customer and the staff member is accomplished in wideband audio.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the wideband order information signals and the encoded audio communication signals represent sound having a frequency range minimum and a frequency range maximum about 7000 Hz apart.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the wideband order information signals and the encoded audio communication signals represent sound having a frequency range minimum and a frequency range maximum greater than about 4000 Hz apart.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the wideband order information signals and the encoded audio communication signals represent sound having a minimum frequency between about 50 Hz and about 300 Hz and a maximum frequency of up to about 8000 Hz.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the first digital signal processor and the second signal processor are configured to compress wideband order information signals before transmission.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the first digital signal processor and the second signal processor are configured such that a compression ratio of the compression is up to about 8:

1.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the customer is in a drive-through lane of the quick service restaurant.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the first digital signal processor is configured to provide acoustic echo cancellation.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the second signal processor is configured to provide acoustic echo cancellation.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the first digital signal processor is configured to provide noise reduction processing.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the second signal processor is configured to provide noise reduction processing.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein one or both of the first microphone or the first speaker are mounted in the menu board.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein one or both of the first microphone or the first speaker are mounted in the speaker post.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the audio order receiving sub-system is associated with an order entry device configured to receive entry and/or selection of an order by the staff member.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the order entry device is configured to transmit the order to a kitchen display system of the quick service restaurant.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the order entry device is configured to process a payment.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the first microphone is an array of microphones.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the first speaker is an array of speakers.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the first transceiver and the second transceiver are configured to transmit encoded audio communication signals using multiple time slots.

20. A method of communication with an intercom communication system for a quick service restaurant drive-through, the quick service restaurant drive-through including a menu board and/or a speaker post, the method comprising:

positionally associating an audio order placement sub-system with one or both of the menu board or the speaker post;

receiving sound from a customer placing an order at or near the menu board and generating wideband order information signals that represent the received sound with a first microphone of the audio order placement sub-system;

receiving the generated wideband order information from the first microphone and converting the generated wideband order information signals to digital form;

encoding, with a first digital signal processor of a base station, the wideband order information signals that represent the sound received from the customer in digital form into encoded audio communication signals for transmission;

transmitting the encoded audio communication signals encoded with the first digital signal processor of the base station with a transceiver of the base station;

receiving, with a transceiver of an audio order receiving sub-system, the encoded audio communication signals from the transceiver of the base station to facilitate communication between the customer and a staff member, the audio order receiving sub-system located remotely from the audio order placement sub-system, the audio order receiving sub-system configured to be worn by the staff member;

decoding, with a second signal processor of the audio order receiving sub-system, the encoded audio communication signals received by the transceiver of the audio order receiving sub-system into wideband order information signals for a speaker of the audio order receiving sub-system;

receiving the wideband order information signals decoded with the second signal processor of the audio order receiving sub-system and generating sound represented in the received wideband order information signals such that the generated sound is audible to the staff member with the speaker of the audio order receiving sub-system;

receiving sound generated by the staff member and generating wideband order information signals that represent the received sound with a second microphone of the audio order receiving sub-system;

encoding, with the second signal processor of the audio order receiving sub-system, the wideband order information signals received from the second microphone of the audio order receiving sub-system into encoded audio communication signals for transmission by the transceiver of the audio order receiving sub-system;

transmitting, with the transceiver of the audio order receiving sub-system, the encoded audio communication signals encoded with the second signal processor of the audio order receiving sub-system to the transceiver of the base station;

receiving, with the transceiver of the base station, the encoded audio communication signals transmitted by the transceiver of the audio order receiving sub-system, decoding, with the first digital signal processor of the base station, the encoded audio communication signals received by the transceiver of the base station into wideband order information signals for a speaker of the audio order placement sub-system; and

receiving the wideband order information signals decoded by the first digital signal processor of the base station and generating sound represented in the received wideband order information signals such that the generated sound is audible to the customer at or near the menu board with the speaker of the audio order placement sub-system;

wherein the wideband order information signals and the encoded audio communication signals represent sound having a frequency range in a wideband audio frequency range such that communication between the customer and the staff member is accomplished in wideband audio.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the wideband order information signals and the encoded audio communication signals represent sound having a frequency range minimum and a frequency range maximum about 7000 Hz apart.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein the wideband order information signals and the encoded audio communication signals represent sound having a frequency range minimum and a frequency range maximum greater than about 4000 Hz apart.

23. The system of claim 20, wherein the wideband order information signals and the encoded audio communication signals represent sound having a minimum frequency between about 50 Hz and about 300 Hz and a maximum frequency of up to about 8000 Hz.

24. The method of claim 20, further comprising compressing wideband order information signals with the first digital signal processor and the second signal processor before transmission.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein a compression ratio of the compression by the first digital signal processor and the second signal processor is up to about 8:

1.

26. The method of claim 20, wherein the customer is in a drive-through lane of the quick service restaurant.

27. The method of claim 20, further comprising providing acoustic echo cancellation with the first digital signal processor.

28. The method of claim 20, further comprising providing acoustic echo cancellation with the second signal processor.

29. The method of claim 20, further comprising providing noise reduction processing with the first digital signal processor.

30. The method of claim 20, further comprising providing noise reduction processing with the second signal processor.

31. The method of claim 20, further comprising associating the audio order receiving sub-system with an order entry device configured to receive entry and/or selection of an order by the staff member.

32. The method of claim 31, further comprising transmitting, with the order entry device, the order to a kitchen display system of the quick service restaurant.

33. The method of claim 31, further comprising processing a payment with the order entry device.

34. The method of claim 20, wherein the first microphone of the audio order placement sub-system is an array of microphones.

35. The method of claim 20, wherein the speaker of the audio order placement sub-system is an array of speakers.

36. The method of claim 20, wherein the transceiver of the base station and the transceiver of the audio order receiving sub-system are configured to transmit the encoded audio communication signals using multiple time slots.