Enhanced customer-centric restaurant system

• US 20030078793A1
• Filed: 10/24/2001
• Published: 04/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Mark E. Toth
• Original Assignee: Mark E. Toth
• Inventors: Toth, Mark E.
• Application Number:
  US10/037,681
• Publication Number:
  US 20030078793A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/12 Hotels or restaurants

Abstract

A method and system for providing an automated, extremely efficient, restaurant experience for the customers of a sit-down style restaurant. The system and method of the present invention presents options to the customer which include, but are not limited to: a virtual server as part of the user interface allowing a customer to have a more human-like interaction with the restaurant communication system; a data mining analysis tool for analyzing transactions performed by the restaurant communication system; functionality to allow the restaurant diner to pay for the food and drinks with cash, a check, credit card, or a gift certificate; Internet access to the restaurant diner for receiving information on movies; the option to purchase movie theater tickets or gift certificates; a module to place an order from a remote location via the Internet; an incentive program to encourage the restaurant diner to order the food and the drinks; human resource capability for a restaurant; options to send Internet e-mail messages or messages to other diners; or voice recognition and voice synthesis to allow the restaurant diner to operate the restaurant communication system even with a vision impairment. The extreme versatility of the various embodiments of the present invention facilitate providing a highly customized system for any given restaurant business.

Claims

1. A computer code embodied on a computer readable medium for a customer-centric restaurant communication system, comprising:

a code segment that provides a user interface that allows a restaurant diner to order food and drinks without interaction with a human server;

a code segment that provides a virtual server as part of the user interface, for assisting the restaurant diner with the user interface;

a code segment that provides bill payment functionality to allow the restaurant diner to pay for the food and drinks with cash, a check, credit card, or a gift certificate; and

a code segment that provides entertainment services to occupy the attention of the restaurant diner.

2. The computer code embodied on a computer readable medium for a customer-centric restaurant communication system from claim 1, wherein the entertainment service is movie information access.

3. The computer code embodied on a computer readable medium for a customer-centric restaurant communication system from claim 1, wherein the entertainment service is a game.

4. The computer code embodied on a computer readable medium for a customer-centric restaurant communication system from claim 1, wherein the entertainment service is Internet access for browsing websites.

5. The computer code embodied on a computer readable medium for a customer-centric restaurant communication system from claim 1, wherein the entertainment service is Internet access in which browsing is limited to a predetermined set of websites.

6. The computer code embodied on a computer readable medium for a customer-centric restaurant communication system from claim 1, further comprising a code segment that allows the restaurant diner to send Internet e-mail messages.

7. The computer code embodied on a computer readable medium for a customer-centric restaurant communication system from claim 1, further comprising a code segment that allows the restaurant diner to send messages to a second restaurant diner also using the restaurant communication system.

8. The computer code embodied on a computer readable medium for a customer-centric restaurant communication system from claim 1, further comprising a code segment that provides a data mining analysis tool for analyzing transactions performed by the restaurant communication system.

9. The computer code embodied on a computer readable medium for a customer-centric restaurant communication system from claim 1, further comprising a code is segment that allows the restaurant diner to purchase restaurant gift certificates.

10. The computer code embodied on a computer readable medium for a customer-centric restaurant communication system from claim 1, further comprising a code segment that allows the restaurant diner to place an order from a remote location via the Internet.

11. The computer code embodied on a computer readable medium for a customer-centric restaurant communication system from claim 1, further comprising a code segment that manages an incentive program to encourage the restaurant diner to order the food and the drinks.

12. The computer code embodied on a computer readable medium for a customer-centric restaurant communication system from claim 1, further comprising a code segment that provides integrated human resource capabilities for a restaurant.

13. The computer code embodied on a computer readable medium for a customer-centric restaurant communication system from claim 1, further comprising a code segment that performs voice recognition and voice synthesis to allow the restaurant diner to operate the restaurant communication system even if disabled.

14. The computer code embodied on a computer readable medium for a customer-centric restaurant communication system from claim 1, wherein the virtual server is an animated figure that emulates human personality traits.

15. The computer code embodied on a computer readable medium for a customer-centric restaurant communication system from claim 1, wherein the virtual server teaches the restaurant diner how to operate the restaurant communication system.

16. The computer code embodied on a computer readable medium for a customer-centric restaurant communication system from claim 1, wherein the virtual server suggestively sells the food and the drinks to the restaurant diner.

17. The computer code embodied on a computer readable medium for a customer-centric restaurant communication system from claim 1, further comprising a code segment that allows the restaurant diner to make a restaurant reservation via the Internet.

18. A computer code embodied on a computer readable medium for a customer-centric restaurant communication system, comprising:

a code segment that provides a user interface that allows a restaurant diner to order food and drinks without interaction with a human server;

a code segment that provides a virtual server as part of the user interface, for assisting the restaurant diner with the user interface;

a code segment that provides bill payment functionality to allow the restaurant diner to pay for the food and drinks; and

a code segment that provides entertainment services to occupy the attention of the restaurant diner.

19. The computer code embodied on a computer readable medium for a customer-centric restaurant communication system from claim 18, further comprising a code segment that allows the restaurant diner to send messages to a second restaurant diner also using the restaurant communication system.

20. The computer code embodied on a computer readable medium for a customer-centric restaurant communication system from claim 18, further comprising a code segment that manages an incentive program to encourage the restaurant diner to order the food and the drinks.