System and method for managing restaurant customer data elements

• US 20050043996A1
• Filed: 08/18/2003
• Published: 02/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Andrew Silver
• Original Assignee: Andrew Silver
• Inventors: Silver, Andrew
• Granted Patent: US 8,224,700 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/15
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/12 Hotels or restaurants

Abstract

This invention is a system and method for managing restaurant customer data elements.

Claims

1. A restaurant customer management system that manages customer data elements, the system comprising:

a software program that receives at least one customer unit request of at least one service from a restaurant, the restaurant having a customer managed post-dining system that processes at least one customer data element via a self-check out and payment processing system; and

a terminal device, located remotely from the software program, the terminal device adapted to allow a customer unit to operate the post-dining system.

2. The restaurant customer management system of claim 1 wherein the customer unit is a group of people.

3. The restaurant customer management system of claim 1 wherein the terminal device is a thin client.

4. The restaurant customer management system of claim 1 wherein the terminal device is a wireless enabled handheld computer.

5. The restaurant customer management system of claim 1 wherein the restaurant comprises a pre-dining system that identifies the customer unit, manages queue assignment, pages the customer unit, updates a table management system, and stores a least one customer data element in a database.

6. The restaurant customer management system of claim 1 wherein the restaurant comprises a dining system that provides an interactive menu.

7. The restaurant customer management system of claim 1 wherein the self-check out and payment processing system comprises a handheld terminal device having at least:

a payment means;

a digital signature capturing means; and

a graphical user interface.

8. The restaurant customer management system of claim 1 wherein the post-dining system provides a post-dining survey, collects at least one customer data element from the customer unit via a terminal device, and stores the customer data element in a database.

9. The restaurant customer management method of claim 1 wherein the post-dining system enables the customer unit to pre-purchase an entertainment unit prior to leaving the restaurant via a customer operated terminal device and receive a hard copy confirming the entertainment unit purchase.

10. A restaurant customer management system that manages customer data elements, the system comprising:

a software program that receives at least one customer unit request of at least one service from a restaurant, the restaurant having a customer managed post-dining system that processes at least one customer data element via a self-check out and payment processing system; and

a terminal device, located remotely from the software program, the terminal device adapted to allow a customer unit to operate the post-dining system, whereby, the method comprising;

a bill review act;

a gratuity assignment act;

a digital signature act;

a payment processing act;

a digital receipt storage act; and

a customer receipt act.

11. The restaurant customer management method of claim 10 wherein the customer receipt act prints a copy of a digital receipt.

12. The restaurant customer management method of claim 10 wherein the gratuity assignment act enables a customer to automatically select a predefined gratuity percent from a graphical user interface.

13. The restaurant customer management method of claim 10 wherein the customer data element is an online payment service provider account number.

14. The restaurant customer method of claim 10 wherein the restaurant is a cafeteria establishment having a customer managed cafeteria method comprising:

a cafeteria selection act; and

a customer check out act.

15. The restaurant customer method of claim 14 wherein the cafeteria selection act occurs when a customer unit takes a food or beverage items from a cafeteria countertop.

16. The restaurant customer method of claim 14 wherein the customer check out act is when a customer unit pays for food and beverage items selected via a payment means.

17. The restaurant customer management method of claim 14 wherein the payment means is an RFID card.

18. A method of splitting a customer bill on a terminal device comprising;

identifying a number of people at a table;

identifying a person associated with a menu item;

splitting at least one restaurant item between at least two people;

monitoring a bill balance; and

closing an individual bill balance.

19. The method of splitting a customer bill on a terminal device of claim 18 wherein identifying a person associated with a menu item is accomplished by a customer manipulating a software system graphical user interface on a terminal device.

20. The method of splitting a customer bill on a terminal device of claim 18 wherein closing an individual bill balance comprises:

a restaurant customer management system for processing a customer data element, tracking a customer data element, and storing a customer data element;

a terminal device having an operating system for running a graphical user interface software, digital signature capture software, and payment processing software; and

a printer for printing a customer receipt;