US 5,845,263 A · Interactive visual ordering system

Abstract

A portable interactive visual ordering system and method utilizing full-color images. The system may be used by a restaurant to facilitate ordering menu items by a customer. The customer can request the system to display full-color images of a menu item as a help to decide what to order. The customer can also obtain a list of ingredients, method of preparation and nutritional information for a selected menu item. When the customer decides to order a particular menu item, the system captures the ordered item and tabulates a running bill. In another embodiment of the system, multiple visual ordering devices are networked together at the restaurant. An option in the networked system is to allow the customer to pay the bill by a credit card or debit means at his/her table. The system enables businesses to reduce labor costs in running the business and provides the customer with more information at the point of sale to make a more informed decision.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A portable, interactive restaurant visual ordering system using photo-realistic images, the system comprising:

a portable computer including a data input device;
a video monitor electronically connected to the computer;
a set of photo-realistic images digitally accessible to the computer;
a set of food item characteristics digitally accessible to the computer and presentable in alphanumeric form, wherein at least some of the characteristics are associated with at least one of the images;
computer readable code means digitally accessible to the computer for displaying one or more of the images and one or more of the characteristics associated with the image or images on the monitor in response to manipulation of the data input device and
a wireless transmitter electronically connected to the computer and capable of transmitting signals generated by the computer in response to manipulation of the data input device to a kitchen area of the restaurant.

3 more elements

An interactive restaurant visual ordering system utilizing photo-realistic images, the system comprising:

a first subsystem in a restaurant, comprising:
a first computer with a memory;
a color visual display electronically connected to the computer;
a set of photo-realistic images stored in the memory;
a restaurant menu stored in the memory, a portion of said menu displayed on the visual display;
a computer program stored in the memory enabling a customer of the restaurant to order at least one menu item, wherein the computer displays a full-color image representative of at least one menu item to the customer on the visual display, and wherein the program controls the display of the image based on interactive use of the menu on the computer by the customer;
a second subsystem in the restaurant, comprising:
a second computer with a memory;
a color visual display electronically connected to the computer;
a set of photo-realistic images stored in the memory;
a restaurant menu stored in the memory, a portion of said menu displayed on the visual display;
a computer program stored in the memory enabling a customer of the restaurant to order at least one menu item;
a network of interactive visual ordering subsystems, wherein each subsystem additionally includes a wireless transmitter electronically connected to the respective computer capable of transmitting the at least one ordered menu item to a kitchen area of the restaurant.

10 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Interactive visual ordering system

Life of this patent

Interactive visual ordering system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims15