A plurality of data entry terminals is connected to a microprocessor system which analyzes terminal data for display on a production CRT, intended to be located in a restaurant kitchen. Food items entered on the terminal are displayed with a corresponding symbol denoting a work station where such food item is to be prepared. As each item is prepared, the food preparer enters a display symbol to signify its completion. Upon completion of all items in a food order, the microprocessor system erases the order from the CRT. A separate CRT may be connected to the microprocessor system for use by a food expediter. As each order is completed by the food preparers, the order is visually displayed on the expediter CRT thereby alerting the food expediter to collect the items of an order in the kitchen so that they may be picked up by a waiter.
A computerized order/delivery system for use in the food service industry includes a central computer that accepts customer food orders and, based on a customer identifier, automatically selects the store that is to prepare the food and transmits the required information to that location.
A first cash register operating in a registration mode is connected by a communication line to a second cash register operating in a calculation mode to serve customers forming a waiting line extending from the first cash register to the second. Sales data are registered by the first cash register, with the data of an earliest one of the customers being displayed on a first display unit and the sales data of all the customers being stored sequentially into respective second storage areas when a communication line is busy. When the line becomes available, the sales data are transmitted to the second cash register from the second storage areas sequentially. The second cash register stores the transmitted sales data into third and fourth storage areas in succession and provides a simultaneous display of the sales data stored in the fourth storage areas on respective window areas of a second display unit. An adder sequentially calculates the sales data stored in the fourth storage areas in response to operation of a control key. Each cash register is operable independently in the registration and calculation modes.
An apparatus and a data processing methodology for the creation, display and/or generation of brand name specific advertising media based upon a combination of sponsor and consumer input, is provided by this invention. The apparatus and methodology of this invention have application in diverse environments with the principal utilization criteria being the consumer's need to compose an integrated listing of elements in the form of an individualized package from among a selection of products and/or services of unrelated suppliers (sponsors). The resultant listing derivative from this methodology is brand name specific, hence the characterization of such listing as an "advertising medium." For example, this brand name specific medium can be formated as a recipe card file or as an integrated shopping list. In both of the foregoing formats, the brand name of the product sponsor is featured for each item/ingredient of the meal/recipe. Typical apparatus used in the creation of this media can include one or more consumer accessible computer terminals located within a supermarket environment; or a terminal in the consumer's home. The system and methodology of this invention have application not only in the supermarket environment but also in the composition of a travel itinerary (travel agency environment) and estate/financial/investment planning (independent insurance agency environment).
A subsystem comprises an input device for inputting data, an operation device for operating the data, a memory device for memorizing the data, and a transmitting device for dividing the data into parts and transmitting every of the parts of the data into a master system. The master system comprises a receiving device for receiving the parts of the data. The capacity of the receiving device for receiving one of the parts of the data is identical with the capacity of the memory device for memorizing said one of the parts of the data. Preferably, a plurality of subsystems are connected to the sole master system. At least one of the master system and the subsystems is an electronic cash register.
An electronic cash register system of the register-in-line type includes a master machine and a plurality of slave machines which communicate with the master machine. A state determination system is included in each of the slave machines for storing a state indicating signal which indicates whether a reset operation or a read operation has already been conducted to the transaction data registered in the slave machine. When the transaction data is transmitted to the master machine, the state indicating signal is also transmitted to the master machine. Accordingly, the operator of the master machine can monitor the operational states of the respective slave machines.
