PATRON SERVICE SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20110173092A1
• Filed: 03/28/2011
• Published: 07/14/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tiare Technology, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Julie M. Werbitt
• Inventors: WERBITT, Julie M.
• Granted Patent: US 9,202,244 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26.8
• 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 30/0281 Customer communication at a business location, e.g. providing product or service information, consulting
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/12 Hotels or restaurants
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/18 Network protocols supporting networked applications, e.g. including control of end-device applications over a network

Abstract

A method provides for using a portable patron unit in a venue or in a vicinity of the venue. The method includes wirelessly connecting the patron unit to be in communication with the venue, and providing at least one display on the patron unit enabling a patron to place a patron order for at least one item or service provided by the venue. The method also includes displaying the patron order and a location of the patron unit on the patron unit and at least one portable staff unit, and updating a status of the patron order, and a location of the patron unit when the patron moves to a different location, on both the patron unit and the at least one staff unit. The method further includes indicating that the at least one item or service ordered has been completed on both the patron unit and the at least one staff unit when the at least one item or service ordered has been provided to the patron.

Claims

1. A method for using a portable patron unit in a venue or in a vicinity of the venue, comprising:

wirelessly connecting the patron unit to be in communication with the venue;

providing at least one display on the patron unit enabling a patron to place a patron order for at least one item or service provided by the venue;

displaying the patron order and a location of the patron unit on the patron unit and at least one portable staff unit;

updating a status of the patron order, and a location of the patron unit when the patron moves to a different location, on both the patron unit and the at least one staff unit; and

indicating that the at least one item or service ordered has been completed on both the patron unit and the at least one staff unit when the at least one item or service ordered has been provided to the patron.

2. The method of claim 1,

wherein the patron unit comprises one of an interactive portable communication device provided for use by the patron in the venue or in the vicinity of the venue, and a patron-owned portable communication device having a downloaded venue specific application provided therein.

3. The method of claim 1,

wherein the method includes a plurality of patron units that include both interactive portable communication devices provided for use by a plurality of patrons in the venue or in the vicinity of the venue, and patron-owned portable communication devices having a downloaded venue specific application provided therein.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

entering a request into the patron unit for immediate assistance by a staff member, which is displayed on both the patron unit and the at least one staff unit.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

entering a request into the patron unit for a bill for the at least one item or service provided to the patron, the request being displayed on both the patron unit and the at least one staff unit.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

paying the bill by entering electronic payment information into the patron unit, wherein at least a portion of the electronic payment information is displayed on the staff unit.

7. The method of claim 2,

wherein the at least one display on the patron unit displays items or services provided by the venue, including at least one item or service previously ordered by the patron during a prior visit to the venue.

8. The method of claim 7,

wherein the at least one item or service previously ordered by the patron during a prior visit to the venue is stored in an electronic database, together with information identifying the patron, and is transmitted over a network for display on both the patron unit and the staff unit.

9. The method of claim 2,

wherein the at least one display on the patron unit displays cross-sell and/or up-sell recommendation from the venue based on the at least one item or service currently ordered by the patron.

10. The method of claim 2,

wherein a staff member can emulate the patron unit display on the at least one staff unit to enter the patron order into the staff unit for the patron, the staff member entered patron order being displayed on both the patron unit and the staff unit.

11. The method of claim 2,

wherein the patron order is displayed on the at least one staff unit while the patron order is in progress, prior to the patron order being submitted by the patron.

12. The method of claim 4,

wherein entering the request into the patron unit for immediate assistance by a staff member, also provides an audible signal on the at least one staff unit.

13. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

providing the patron with access to entertainment media though the patron unit.

14. The method of claim 2,

wherein wirelessly connecting the patron unit to be in communication with the venue is performed over one or more networks.

15. The method of claim 14,

wherein the one or more networks includes the Internet.

16. The method of claim 2,

wherein the location of the patron unit and the different location of the patron unit are automatically determined without entry of location information into the patron unit by either the patron or a staff member.

17. A system for using a portable patron unit in a venue or in a vicinity of the venue, comprising:

a patron unit that is wirelessly connected to be in communication with the venue; and

at least one staff unit that is wirelessly connected to be in communication with the venue,

wherein the patron unit provides at least one display enabling a patron to place a patron order for at least one item or service provided by the venue,

wherein the patron order and a location of the patron unit are displayed on the patron unit and the at least one portable staff unit;

wherein a status of the patron order, and a location of the patron unit when the patron moves to a different location, are updated on both the patron unit and the at least one staff unit; and

wherein both the patron unit and the at least one staff unit indicate that the at least one item or service ordered has been completed when the at least one item or service ordered has been provided to the patron.

18. The system of claim 17,

wherein the patron unit comprises one of an interactive portable communication device provided for use by the patron in the venue or in the vicinity of the venue, and a patron-owned portable communication device having a downloaded venue specific application provided therein.

19. The system of claim 17,

wherein the system includes a plurality of patron units that include both interactive portable communication devices provided for use by a plurality of patrons in the venue or in the vicinity of the venue, and patron-owned portable communication devices having a downloaded venue specific application provided therein.

20. A non-transitory computer readable medium for execution on at least one computer that includes computer executable instructions for using a portable patron unit in a venue or in a vicinity of the venue, the medium including instructions for:

wirelessly connecting the patron unit to be in communication with the venue;

providing at least one display on the patron unit enabling a patron to place a patron order for at least one item or service provided by the venue;

displaying the patron order and a location of the patron unit on the patron unit and at least one portable staff unit;

updating a status of the patron order, and a location of the patron unit when the patron moves to a different location, on both the patron unit and the at least one staff unit; and

indicating that the at least one item or service ordered has been completed on both the patron unit and the at least one staff unit when the at least one item or service ordered has been provided to the patron.