US 2014/0279080 A1Published application

System and method for wideband audio communication with a quick service restaurant drive-through intercom

AssigneeH.M. Electronics, Inc.

InventorDavid O'Gwynn

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Abstract

This disclosure relates to a quick service restaurant intercom communication system. The system is configured such that communication between a customer and a staff member is accomplished in wideband audio. Intercom communication systems that utilize narrow band audio for communication between drive-through customers and staff members may be considered “good enough”. However, the low fidelity sound produced by narrow band audio systems often results in misunderstandings between customers and staff members, a high amount of background noise during communication, and/or other negative effects. Wideband audio may facilitate clearer communication between customers and staff members. Wideband audio communication may be costlier and/or more complicated to implement, but may result in increased staff efficiency and/or increased customer satisfaction. In some implementations, the system may include an audio order placement sub-system, a base station, an order entry device, a mounting mechanism, and/or other components.

Claims36

Dependent claims

An intercom communication system for a quick service restaurant drive-through, the drive-through including a menu board and/or a speaker post, the system comprising:

an audio order placement sub-system positionally associated with one or both of the menu board or the speaker post, the audio order placement sub-system comprising:
a first microphone configured to receive sound from a customer placing an order at or near the menu board, and to generate wideband order information signals that represent the received sound;
and
a first speaker configured to receive wideband order information signals and to generate sound represented in the received wideband order information signals such that the generated sound is audible to the customer at or near the menu board;
a base station, the base station comprising:
a first transceiver configured to transmit and receive encoded audio communication signals;
a first signal processor configured to encode wideband order information signals received from the first microphone into encoded audio communication signals for transmission by the first transceiver, and decode encoded audio communication signals received by the first transceiver into wideband order information signals for the first speaker;
and
an audio order receiving sub-system configured to be worn by a staff member, the audio order receiving sub-system located remotely from the audio order placement sub-system, the audio order receiving sub-system comprising:
a second transceiver configured to transmit encoded audio communication signals to the first transceiver and receive encoded audio communication signals from the first transceiver to facilitate communication between the customer and the staff member;
a second microphone configured to receive sound generated by the staff member and to generate wideband order information signals that represent the received sound;
a second speaker configured to receive wideband order information signals and to generate sound represented in the received wideband order information signals such that the generated sound is audible to the staff member;
and
a second signal processor configured to encode wideband order information signals received from the second microphone into encoded audio communication signals for transmission by the second transceiver, and decode encoded audio communication signals received by the second transceiver into wideband order information signals for the second speaker;
wherein the wideband order information signals and the encoded audio communication signals represent sound having a frequency range in a wideband audio frequency range such that communication between the customer and the staff member is accomplished in wideband audio.

12 more elements

A method of communication with an intercom communication system for a quick service restaurant drive-through, the quick service restaurant drive-through including a menu board and/or a speaker post, the method comprising:

positionally associating an audio order placement sub-system with one or both of the menu board or the speaker post;
receiving sound from a customer placing an order at or near the menu board and generating wideband order information signals that represent the received sound with a microphone of the audio order placement sub-system;
encoding, with a signal processor of a base station, the wideband order information signals that represent the sound received from the customer into encoded audio communication signals for transmission;
transmitting the encoded audio communication signals encoded with the signal processor of the base station with a transceiver of the base station;
receiving, with a transceiver of an audio order receiving sub-system, the encoded audio communication signals from the transceiver of the base station to facilitate communication between the customer and a staff member, the audio order receiving sub-system located remotely from the audio order placement sub-system, the audio order receiving sub-system configured to be worn by the staff member;
decoding, with a signal processor of the audio order receiving sub-system, the encoded audio communication signals received by the transceiver of the audio order receiving sub-system into wideband order information signals for a speaker of the audio order receiving sub-system;
receiving the wideband order information signals decoded with the signal processor of the audio order receiving sub-system and generating sound represented in the received wideband order information signals such that the generated sound is audible to the staff member with the speaker of the audio order receiving sub-system;
receiving sound generated by the staff member and generating wideband order information signals that represent the received sound with a microphone of the audio order receiving sub-system;
encoding, with the signal processor of the audio order receiving sub-system, the wideband order information signals received from the microphone of the audio order receiving sub-system into encoded audio communication signals for transmission by the transceiver of the audio order receiving sub-system;
transmitting, with the transceiver of the audio order receiving sub-system, the encoded audio communication signals encoded with the signal processor of the audio order receiving sub-system to the transceiver of the base station;
receiving, with the transceiver of the base station, the encoded audio communication signals transmitted by the transceiver of the audio order receiving sub-system,
decoding, with the signal processor of the base station, the encoded audio communication signals received by the transceiver of the base station into wideband order information signals for a speaker of the audio order placement sub-system;
and
receiving the wideband order information signals decoded by the signal processor of the base station and generating sound represented in the received wideband order information signals such that the generated sound is audible to the customer at or near the menu board with the speaker of the audio order placement sub-system;
wherein the wideband order information signals and the encoded audio communication signals represent sound having a frequency range in a wideband audio frequency range such that communication between the customer and the staff member is accomplished in wideband audio.

12 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.