Structural food preparation systems and methods

• US 10,640,357 B2
• Filed: 04/10/2016
• Issued: 05/05/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Restaurant Technologies Incorporated (Goldman Sachs Group Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Restaurant Technologies Incorporated (Goldman Sachs Group Incorporated)
• Inventors: Burks, Michael, Beebe, Michael, Ermer, Laura, Bhaumik, Vijan, Frigo, Angelo, Crouse, Kyle, Carroll, Roger D, Muhs, Natalie, Pollard, Jeff, Steres, Jeffrey, Wilson, Kim
• Primary Examiner(s): Munson, Patricia H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Byrd, Uche
• Application Number:
  US15/095,133
• Publication Number:
  US 20160244311A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,486 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/46 Dispensing spouts, pumps, drain valves or like liquid transporting devices
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0858 using compression systems
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0888 Means comprising electronic circuitry (e.g. control panels, switching or controlling means)
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/10 Pump mechanism in general F04
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/18 involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/204 comprising interface for record bearing medium or carrier for electronic funds transfer or payment credit
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/322 Aspects of commerce using mobile devices [M-devices]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/326 Payment applications installed on the mobile devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3274 using a pictured code, e.g. barcode or QR-code, being displayed on the M-device
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0609 Buyer or seller confidence or verification
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0635 Processing of requisition or of purchase orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/12 Hotels or restaurants
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences

Abstract

An ordering app running on a mobile device, one or more central servers, one or more venue servers, one or more ordering apps, plug-ins, kiosks, point of sale systems, beacons, pucks, tents, and automated appliances cooperate to prepare orders for a customer. Methods embodied as software programs running on the venue servers and the central servers advance the customer'"'"'s order through various modules hosted on the venue server. A final module causes the customer'"'"'s order to be prepared.

Claims

1. An order transmission and notification system comprising:

a first venue server including a processor and memory and corresponding with a first venue;

a second venue server including a processor and memory and corresponding with a second venue;

an input device at each of the first and second venues, the input device to receive input indicative that a mobile device is within the corresponding one of the venues, wherein the input device is at least one of;

(a) a plurality of wireless beacons that detect when the mobile device is within the venue, or (b) an automated kiosk within the venue configured to receive an input of a code to identify the mobile device;

a central server located remotely from the first and second venues and including a processor and memory, wherein;

receive at the central server an order from a mobile device that does not specify a particular venue and then subsequently receive at the central server periodically transmitted information representing a current location of the mobile device;

link a first enclosed virtual area to the first venue at the central server, the first enclosed virtual area including a first coarse virtual geofence and a first fine virtual geofence;

link a second enclosed virtual area to the second venue at the central server, the second enclosed virtual area including a second coarse virtual geofence and a second fine virtual geofence;

in response to detecting the mobile device entering the coarse virtual geofence of one of the first or second enclosed virtual areas, transmit the order from the central server to a first module of the venue server of the corresponding venue; and

in response to detecting the mobile device entering the fine virtual geofence of one of the first or second enclosed virtual areas;

transmit the order to a second module of the venue server of the corresponding venue and delete the order from the first module of the venue server of any other venue, and

transmit a notification from the central server to the mobile device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the input device is an automated kiosk, and wherein the automated kiosk includes a code reader to read a scannable code that is generated by the mobile device.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the input device is an automated kiosk, and wherein the automated kiosk includes keypad to receive a code that is displayed by the mobile device.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the input device is an automated kiosk, and wherein the automated kiosk includes microphone to receive a voice code displayed by the mobile device.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the input device is the plurality of wireless beacons, and wherein each of the plurality of wireless beacons are located in the venue to facilitate approximation of the in-venue location of the mobile device.