Information management and synchronous communications system with menu generation, and handwriting and voice modification of orders
DC CAFCFirst Claim
1. An information management and real time synchronous communications system for configuring and transmitting hospitality menus comprising:
- a. a central processing unit,b. a data storage device connected to said central processing unit,c. an operating system including a first graphical user interface,d. a master menu including at least menu categories, menu items and modifiers, wherein said master menu is capable of being stored on said data storage device pursuant to a master menu file structure and said master menu is capable of being configured for display to facilitate user operations in at least one window of said first graphical user interface as cascaded sets of linked graphical user interface screens, ande. menu configuration software enabled to generate a programmed handheld menu configuration from said master menu for wireless transmission to and programmed for display on a wireless handheld computing device, said programmed handheld menu configuration comprising at least menu categories, menu items and modifiers and wherein the menu configuration software is enabled to generate said programmed handheld menu configuration by utilizing parameters from the master menu file structure defining at least the menu categories, menu items and modifiers of the master menu such that at least the menu categories, menu items and modifiers comprising the programmed handheld menu configuration are synchronized in real time with analogous information comprising the master menu,wherein the menu configuration software is further enabled to generate the programmed handheld menu configuration in conformity with a customized display layout unique to the wireless handheld computing device to facilitate user operations with and display of the programmed handheld menu configuration on the display screen of a handheld graphical user interface integral with the wireless handheld computing device, wherein said customized display layout is compatible with the displayable size of the handheld graphical user interface wherein the programmed handheld menu configuration is configured by the menu configuration software for display as programmed cascaded sets of linked graphical user interface screens appropriate for the customized display layout of the wireless handheld computing device, wherein said programmed cascaded sets of linked graphical user interface screens for display of the handheld menu configuration are configured differently from the cascaded sets of linked graphical user interface screens for display of the master menu on said first graphical user interface, andwherein the system is enabled for real time synchronous communications to and from the wireless handheld computing device utilizing the programmed handheld menu configuration including the capability of real time synchronous transmission of the programmed handheld menu configuration to the wireless handheld computing device and real time synchronous transmissions of selections made from the handheld menu configuration on the wireless handheld computing device, andwherein the system is further enabled to automatically format the programmed handheld menu configuration for display as cascaded sets of linked graphical user interface screens appropriate for a customized display layout of at least two different wireless handheld computing device display sizes in the same connected system, andwherein a cascaded set of linked graphical user interface screens for a wireless handheld computing device in the system includes a different number of user interface screens from at least one other wireless handheld computing device in the system.
3 Assignments
Litigations
4 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An information management and synchronous communications system and method facilitates database equilibrium and synchronization with wired, wireless and Web-based systems, user-friendly and efficient generation of computerized menus and reservations with handwritten/voice modifications for restaurants and other applications that utilize equipment with nonstandard graphical formats, display sizes and/or applications for use in remote data entry, information management and communication with host computer, digital input device or remote pager via standard hardwired connection, the internet, a wireless link, printer or the like.
126 Citations
18 Claims
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1. An information management and real time synchronous communications system for configuring and transmitting hospitality menus comprising:
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a. a central processing unit, b. a data storage device connected to said central processing unit, c. an operating system including a first graphical user interface, d. a master menu including at least menu categories, menu items and modifiers, wherein said master menu is capable of being stored on said data storage device pursuant to a master menu file structure and said master menu is capable of being configured for display to facilitate user operations in at least one window of said first graphical user interface as cascaded sets of linked graphical user interface screens, and e. menu configuration software enabled to generate a programmed handheld menu configuration from said master menu for wireless transmission to and programmed for display on a wireless handheld computing device, said programmed handheld menu configuration comprising at least menu categories, menu items and modifiers and wherein the menu configuration software is enabled to generate said programmed handheld menu configuration by utilizing parameters from the master menu file structure defining at least the menu categories, menu items and modifiers of the master menu such that at least the menu categories, menu items and modifiers comprising the programmed handheld menu configuration are synchronized in real time with analogous information comprising the master menu, wherein the menu configuration software is further enabled to generate the programmed handheld menu configuration in conformity with a customized display layout unique to the wireless handheld computing device to facilitate user operations with and display of the programmed handheld menu configuration on the display screen of a handheld graphical user interface integral with the wireless handheld computing device, wherein said customized display layout is compatible with the displayable size of the handheld graphical user interface wherein the programmed handheld menu configuration is configured by the menu configuration software for display as programmed cascaded sets of linked graphical user interface screens appropriate for the customized display layout of the wireless handheld computing device, wherein said programmed cascaded sets of linked graphical user interface screens for display of the handheld menu configuration are configured differently from the cascaded sets of linked graphical user interface screens for display of the master menu on said first graphical user interface, and wherein the system is enabled for real time synchronous communications to and from the wireless handheld computing device utilizing the programmed handheld menu configuration including the capability of real time synchronous transmission of the programmed handheld menu configuration to the wireless handheld computing device and real time synchronous transmissions of selections made from the handheld menu configuration on the wireless handheld computing device, and wherein the system is further enabled to automatically format the programmed handheld menu configuration for display as cascaded sets of linked graphical user interface screens appropriate for a customized display layout of at least two different wireless handheld computing device display sizes in the same connected system, and wherein a cascaded set of linked graphical user interface screens for a wireless handheld computing device in the system includes a different number of user interface screens from at least one other wireless handheld computing device in the system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An information management and real time synchronous communications system for configuring and transmitting hospitality menus comprising:
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a) a central processing unit; b) a data storage device connected to said central processing unit; c) an operating system including a first graphical user interface, said operating system configured to interoperate with the central processing unit, the data storage device and application software; d) a master menu including menu categories and menu items, wherein said master menu is capable of being stored on said data storage device pursuant to a master menu file structure and said master menu is capable of being configured for display to facilitate user operations in at least one window of said first graphical user interface as cascaded sets of linked graphical user interface screens; and e) a modifier menu capable of being stored on said data storage device, and menu configuration software enabled to automatically generate a programmed handheld menu configuration from said master menu for display on a wireless handheld computing device, said programmed handheld menu configuration comprising at least menu categories, menu items and modifiers and wherein the menu configuration software is enabled to generate said programmed handheld menu configuration by utilizing parameters from the master menu file structure defining at least the categories and items of the master menu and modifiers from the modifier menu at least the menu categories, menu items and modifiers comprising the programmed handheld menu configuration are synchronized in real time with analogous information comprising the master and modifier menus wherein the menu configuration software is further enabled to generate the programmed handheld menu configuration in conformity with a customized display layout unique to the wireless handheld computing device to facilitate user operations with and display of the programmed handheld menu configuration on the display screen of a handheld graphical user interface integral with the wireless handheld computing device, wherein said customized display layout is compatible with the displayable size of the handheld graphical user interface, wherein the programmed handheld menu configuration is configured by the menu configuration software for display as cascaded sets of linked graphical user interface screens appropriate for the customized display layout of the wireless handheld computing device, wherein said cascaded sets of linked graphical user interface screens for display of the programmed handheld menu configuration are configured differently from the cascaded sets of related graphical user interface screens for display of the master menu on said first graphical user interface, and wherein the system is enabled for real time synchronous communications to and from the wireless handheld computing device utilizing the programmed handheld menu configuration including the capability of real time synchronous transmission of at least the menu categories, menu items and modifiers comprising the programmed handheld menu configuration to the wireless handheld computing device and real time synchronous transmissions of selections made from the handheld menu configuration on the wireless handheld computing device, and wherein the system is further enabled to automatically format the programmed handheld menu configuration for display as cascaded sets of linked graphical user interface screens appropriate for a customized display layout of at least two different wireless handheld computing device display sizes in the same connected system, and wherein a cascaded set of linked graphical user interface screens for a wireless handheld computing device in the system includes a different number of user interface screens from at least one other wireless handheld computing device in the system. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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13. An information management and real time synchronous communications system for use with wireless handheld computing devices and the internet comprising:
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a) a master database connected in said system and configured to store hospitality application information pursuant to a master database file structure; b) at least one wireless handheld computing device connected in said system and configured to display said hospitality application information; c) at least one web server connected in said system; d) at least one web page connected in said system and configured to display said hospitality application information; and
e) real time communications control software enabled to link and synchronize hospitality application information simultaneously between the master database, wireless handheld computing device, web server and web page,wherein the communications control software is enabled to utilize parameters from the master database file structure to synchronize the hospitality application information in real time between the master database, at least one wireless handheld computing device, at least one web server and at least one web page such that substantially the same information comprising the hospitality application information is capable of being displayed on the wireless handheld computing device, at least one web page and other display screens of the synchronized system, such that the hospitality application information is synchronized between any connected users, wherein the communications control software is enabled to act as a real time interface between the elements of the system and any applicable communications protocol, wherein the communications control software is enabled to automatically and simultaneously configure the hospitality application information for display on both the wireless handheld computing device and the web page in conformity with a customized display layout unique to the wireless handheld computing device or the web page, wherein said customized display layout is compatible with the displayable size of the handheld computing device display screen or the web page, and wherein the communications control software is further enabled to automatically format a programmed handheld configuration for display as cascaded sets of linked graphical user interface screens appropriate for a customized display layout of at least two different wireless handheld computing device display sizes in the same connected system, and wherein a cascaded set of linked graphical user interface screens for a wireless handheld computing device in the system includes a different number of user interface screens from at least one other wireless handheld computing device in the system, and wherein the system is enabled for real time synchronous transmission of the configured hospitality application information to the wireless handheld computing device, the web server and the web page and real time synchronous transmissions of inputs responding to the configured hospitality application information from the wireless handheld computing device, or the web server or the web page. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification