Restaurant video conferencing system and method

• US 6,844,893 B1
• Filed: 03/08/1999
• Issued: 01/18/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Looking Glass, Inc. (Equifax, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Looking Glass, Inc. (Equifax, Inc.)
• Inventors: Phipps, Richard, Miller, William G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Eng, George
• Application Number:
  US09/263,812
• Time in Patent Office: 2,143 Days
• Field of Search: 348/14.01, 348 1403- 1404, 348 1408- 1409, 348/14.1, 348/14.11, 379 9312- 9313, 379/93.21, 379/110.01, 379/202.01, 379/373.01, 379/202, 725109-113, 186/38, 705/15
• US Class Current: 348/14.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/12 Hotels or restaurants
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41415 involving a public display, viewable by several users in a public space outside their home, e.g. movie theatre, information kiosk
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42203 sound input device, e.g. microphone
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4223 Cameras H04N23/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47211 for requesting pay-per-view content payment schemes payment architectures or payment protocols G06Q20/00, G07F
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4781 Games
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/142 Constructional details of the terminal equipment, e.g. arrangements of the camera and the display
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/147 Communication arrangements, e.g. identifying the communication as a video-communication, intermediate storage of the signals selecting H04Q
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/15 Conference systems

Abstract

The invention is a system and a method which combines restaurant services with video-conferencing and multi-media access for diverse customer appeal. The system and method employ a number of booths in a number of restaurants whereby each booth can video-conference with each other booth, particularly in different time zones, while also providing multi-media access such as satellite TV, cable, broadcast TV, computer programs and gaming, internet access. Each booth is linked to a local area network and is equipped with a display screen and video and audio controls. The local area network of each restaurant is linked to the local area network of each other restaurant forming a corporate intranet that allows media uses and various management capabilities such s scheduling, accounting, security, training and the like.

Claims

1. A restaurant videoconferencing system comprising:

a) a first plurality of booths installed as part of at least a first restaurant located in a first geographic location, a number of the first plurality of booths being located in an open area designed to promote high quality video conferencing, dining as well as to accommodate movement of restaurant workers and patrons, wherein the plurality of first booths are open to each other to promote a restaurant interactive social atmosphere;

b) a second plurality of booths installed as part of at least a second restaurant located in a second geographic location, a number of the second plurality of booths being located in an open area sized to accommodate movement of restaurant workers and patrons, wherein the plurality of second booths are open to each other;

c) the number of booths in each of the first and second locations being equipped with at least one flat viewing screen and connected via a private network providing both videoconferencing between booths in different geographic locations and multi-media access for each booth, wherein each booth has a curved table with a plurality of seating areas, directional microphones and speakers integrated within each booth, the curved table and the plurality of seating areas arranged so that viewing screen is sized and located to be visible from the plurality of seating areas, the plurality of seating areas further arranged so that individuals seated therein are in a face to face relationship during video conferencing with other individuals at a remote booth, the flat viewing screen having a wide aspect ratio and near eye level camera to enhance camera functionality and allow images of the plurality of individuals to fit in a natural configuration on the flat viewing screen during videoconferencing, adjacent booths separated by glass partitions to maximize booth privacy and inter-party communication and minimize intra-booth noise, and the table sized to accommodate serving a meal to a plurality of individuals in the seating areas;

wherein the booths of the first geographic location are in a different time zone from the booths in the second geographic location;

wherein each booth has high speed internet access, access to cable or satellite TV, access to a central server of computer games and programs, and access to productivity tools and resources;

wherein the booths in each of the restaurants;

i) are equipped with videoconferencing equipment that is part of the restaurant and which enables booths to videoconference with other booths within the private network and is capable of at least MPEG-2 speeds, and a computer having internet functionality, codec for compression and decompression of videoconferencing signals, a keyboard and a devices for multimedia access, and

ii) are connected to a point of sale system adapted to track and charge use of the multimedia access and videoconferencing by patrons in each booth.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein each booth has access to both of cable TV and satellite TV.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein each restaurant also includes at least one room, said at least one room having videoconferencing capability for a group of patrons to perform videoconferencing with other individuals at other restaurants via the private network.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein said at least one room has a computer station with videoconferencing capability for an individual to perform videoconferencing with other individuals at other restaurants via the private network.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein multiple parties interact at each booth for one of social and business pleasure in a public setting.

6. A method of restaurant videoconferencing comprising the steps of:

a) providing a plurality of videoconferencing booths in each of a number of restaurants, wherein at least two restaurants are in different time zones, each restaurant in a particular geographic location, the plurality of videoconferencing booths of each restaurant are installed as part of the restaurant and are located in an open area sized to accommodate movement of restaurant workers and patrons wherein the plurality of videoconferencing booths are open to each other to promote a restaurant interactive social atmosphere, wherein each booth has a flat viewing screen, a curved table with a plurality of seating areas, directional microphones and speakers integrated with the booth, the plurality of seating areas arranged so that viewing screen is visible from the plurality of seating areas, the plurality of seating areas further arranged so that individuals seated therein are in a face to face relationship during video conferencing with other individuals at a remote booth, the flat viewing screen having a wide aspect ratio and near eye level camera to enhance camera functionality and allow the plurality of individuals to naturally fit on the flat viewing screen during videoconferencing, adjacent booths separated by glass partitions to maximize booth privacy and inter-party communication, and the table sized to accommodate serving a meal to a plurality of individuals in the seating areas;

b) conducting videoconferencing between users in at least two booths in different restaurant locations at speeds of at least MPEG-2 using a codec in each booth for decompression and compression while offering food and beverages to the users in each booth, wherein the booths in the number of restaurants are interconnected by a private videoconferencing network, and each booth is equipped with video-conferencing equipment as part of the restaurant for enabling video-conferencing with booths at another restaurant in different geographic location; and

c) providing on site support by live personnel to aid in selection of media resources, videoconferencing, and technical assistance as needed;

wherein each of internet surfing, computer gaming, resources and computer programs are provided during step (a) via computer hardware located at each booth, and one or more of cable TV viewing, broadcast TV viewing, satellite TV are provided during step (a); and

a plurality of individuals are present at each booth and interact at each booth for one of social and business pleasure in a public setting; and

wherein patrons in each booth are charged for videoconferencing and services using a point of sale system.

7. The method of claim 6, comprising the step providing videoconferencing capability in private rooms for a group of patrons to perform videoconferencing with other individuals at other restaurants via the private network.

8. The method of claim 7, comprising the step of providing videoconferencing capability in rooms for an individual to operate a computer station to perform videoconferencing with other individuals at other restaurants via the private network.

9. The method of claim 6, where said at least two restaurants are located in different countries.