System and method for improved queuing, service-time, and capacity in drive-through operations

• US 20060006025A1
• Filed: 07/07/2005
• Published: 01/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: NextChoice, Inc.
• Original Assignee: NextChoice, Inc.
• Inventors: Samber, Mark, Dev, Roger H.
• Application Number:
  US11/176,097
• Publication Number:
  US 20060006025A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 186/36
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 10/06 for restaurant service systems table equipment A47G ; dirty crockery transport in association with crockery washing machines A47L15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/12 Hotels or restaurants
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 11/00 Arrangements, systems or apparatus for checking, e.g. the occurrence of a condition, not provided for elsewhere
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2011/04 related to queuing systems

Abstract

A system and method of queuing orders locates data-entry modules relative to a pickup location such that a customer who places an order after a customer who placed an earlier order can be signaled to approach a pickup location before the first customer if the second customer'"'"'s order is ready before the first customer'"'"'s order. The system can signal a customer to wait in a predetermined location until the order is ready or can signal the customer to approach the pickup location.

Claims

1. A drive-through operation system, comprising:

a data-receiving module;

a data-entry module capable of transmitting data indicative of an order for requested items by a customer to the data-receiving module; and

a signaling device coupled to the data-receiving module to indicate to the customer when to approach a pickup location to pick up the requested items.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the signaling device is a light.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the signaling device is visual.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the signaling device is capable of signaling the customer to wait in a predetermined location until a second signal is sent instructing the customer to approach the pickup location.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a payment acceptance device in communication with the data-receiving module for accepting payment for items ordered through the data-receiving module.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the payment acceptance device and the pick-up location are placed in disparate locations.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the payment acceptance device is proximate to the data-entry module.

8. A method for receiving orders in a drive-through operation, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving an order for at least one item from a customer at a data-entry module;

transmitting the order for at least one item as data from the data-entry module to a data-receiving module;

communicating from the data-receiving module to a signaling device that the at least one item is ready for pick-up; and

signaling the customer, using the signaling device, to approach a pickup location to pick up the at least one item.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the signaling device is a light.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the signaling device is visual.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising signaling the customer, using the signaling device, to wait in a predetermined location until a second signal is sent instructing the customer to approach the pickup location.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising receiving payment for the at least one item at a payment acceptance device.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of signaling the customer to approach a pickup location may only be performed after the step of receiving payment for the at least one item.