Customer operable system for a retail store or fast-food restaurant having plural ordering stations

Claims

I claim:

1. A customer operable retail ordering system for reducing employee labor costs, comprising:

a plurality of customer stations including a first set of customer stations and a second set of customer stations, said first set of customer stations including a first customer station and a second customer station, said second set of customer stations including a third customer station and a fourth customer station;

each of said first, second, third and fourth customer stations including a terminal and input means for receiving customer-input orders, said terminal including means for displaying a list of ordered items and a running total relating to the ordered items;

an interactive first cashier station including a terminal for displaying customer-input orders and accepting control commands from a cashier, said first cashier station receiving customer-input orders only from one or more of said first set of customer stations including said first customer station;

an interactive second cashier station including a terminal for displaying customer-input orders and accepting control commands from a cashier, said second cashier station receiving customer-input orders only from one or more of said second set of customer stations including said third customer station and not from said first and second customer stations;

first processing means operatively connected to each of said first cashier station, said first customer station and said second customer station, said first processing means including a single first processor and said single first processor being the only processor for substantially controlling all of said receiving, displaying and providing said running total at each of said first and second customer stations and wherein only said single first processor substantially controls all of said displaying and said accepting of said control commands at said first cashier station, said first processing means for controlling the sending of inputs to said first cashier station using information received from at least one of said first and second customer stations; and

second processing means operatively connected to each of said second cashier station, said third customer station and said fourth customer station, said second processing means including a single second processor and said single second processor being the only processor for substantially controlling all of said receiving, displaying and providing said running total at each of said third and fourth customer stations and wherein only said second single processor substantially controls all of said displaying and said accepting of said control commands at said second cashier station, said second processing means for controlling the sending of inputs to said second cashier station using information received from at least one of said third and fourth customer stations;

wherein said single first processor does not control said accepting of said control commands at said second cashier station and said single second processor does not control said accepting of said control commands at said first cashier station;

said first set of customer stations, said first processing means and said first cashier station forming a first cluster means and said second set of customer stations, said second processing means and said second cashier station forming a second cluster means, wherein said first cluster means is separate from and operates independently of said second cluster means whereby the occurrence of a fault associated with the operation between one or more of said customer stations of said first set of customer stations and said first cashier station does not substantially affect the operation between said customer stations of said second set of customer stations and said second cashier station.

2. A system according to claim 1, further comprising:

an interactive runner station, communicating with said interactive first cashier station and operatively connected to said first processing means, including a runner terminal for selectively displaying the customer-input orders.

3. A system according to claim 2, wherein each of the terminals of said first cashier station, said first and second customer stations and said runner station includes a video monitor.

4. A system according to claim 1, further comprising central processing means, operatively connected to said first cashier station and said first and second customer stations, for collecting and consolidating order data from each of said first and second customer stations and said first cashier station.

5. A system according to claim 1, further comprising at least one interactive preparation station, operatively connected to said first processing means, including a video monitor for selectively displaying the customer-input orders at said preparation station.

6. A system according to claim 4, further comprising an interactive manager station, operatively connected to said central processing means and said first processing means, said interactive manager station monitoring the collected and consolidated data and monitoring data from said first and second customer stations and said first cashier station, said interactive manager station for inputting changes to the system.

7. A system according to claim 1, wherein each of said first and second customer stations is located substantially adjacent to said first cashier station.

8. A system according to claim 1, wherein the control commands inputted to said first cashier station include changes to the customer-input orders and new customer orders and in which said changes are displayed on said terminal of one of said first and second customer stations of said first set of customer stations.

9. A system according to claim 1, wherein said first cashier station also includes a cash drawer and a printer.

10. A system according to claim 1, wherein said terminal of said first cashier station includes a video monitor and a touch-sensitive screen mounted on the monitor for receiving the control commands from the cashier, and each of said terminals of said first and second customer stations includes a video monitor and said input means comprises a touch-sensitive screen mounted on the video monitor.

11. A system according to claim 1, wherein the customer-input orders from said first customer station are automatically inputted to said first cashier station.

12. A customer operable retail ordering system in which a cluster of computer hardware parts is utilized and where each cluster is adapted to operate independently of any other cluster that is available, comprising:

a plurality of customer stations including a first set of customer stations, said first set of customer stations including a first customer station and a second customer station;

said first customer station including a terminal and input means for receiving customer-input orders, said terminal including means for displaying a list of ordered items and a running total relating to the ordered items;

said second customer station including a terminal and input means for receiving customer-input orders, said terminal including means for displaying a list of ordered items and a running total relating to the ordered items;

an interactive first cashier station including a terminal for displaying customer-input orders and accepting control commands from a cashier, said first cashier station receiving customer-input orders only from one or more of said first set of customer stations including said first customer station and not receiving customer-input orders from any customer station that is not part of said first set of customer stations;

first processing means operably connected to each of said cashier station, said first customer station and said second customer station, said first processing means including a single processor and said single processor being the only processor for substantially controlling all of said receiving, displaying and providing said running total at each of said first and second customer stations and wherein only said single processor substantially controls all of said displaying and said accepting of said control commands at said first cashier station, said first processing means for controlling the sending of inputs to said first cashier station using information received from at least one of said first and second customer stations;

wherein said single processor does not control accepting of said control commands at any cashier station other than said first cashier station;

said first set of customer stations, said first processing means and said first cashier station forming a first cluster means wherein said first cluster means is separate from and operates independently of any cluster means different from said first cluster means whereby an occurrence of a fault associated with the operation between a customer station not part of said first set of customer stations and a cashier station other than said first cashier station does not substantially affect the operation between said customer stations of said first set of customer stations and said first cashier station.

13. A customer operable retail ordering system in which a cluster of computer hardware parts is utilized and where each cluster is adapted to operate independently of any other cluster that is available, comprising:

a plurality of customer stations including a first set of customer stations, said first set of customer stations including a first customer station and a second customer station;

said first customer station including a terminal and input means for receiving customer-input orders, said terminal including means for displaying a list of ordered items and a running total relating to the ordered items;

an interactive first cashier station including a terminal for displaying customer-input orders and accepting control commands from a cashier, said first cashier station receiving customer-input orders only from one or more of said first set of customer stations including said first customer station and not receiving customer-input orders from any customer station that is not part of said first set of customer stations;

wherein said control commands inputted to said first cashier station include information provided by a cashier of said first cashier station and said information includes changes to an order that has been entered by a customer and in which said changes made by the cashier are displayed on said terminal of one of said first and second customer stations;

processing means operatively connected to said first cashier station, said first customer station and said second customer station, said processing means for substantially controlling all of said receiving, displaying and providing said running total at each of said first and second customer stations, said processing means for controlling the sending of inputs to said first cashier station using information received from at least one of said first and second customer stations; and

said first set of customer stations, said processing means and said first cashier station forming a first cluster means, wherein said first cluster means is separate from and operates independently of any other available cluster means whereby an occurrence of a fault associated with the operation between a customer station different from a customer station of said first set of customer stations and a cashier station different from said first cashier station does not substantially affect operation between said customer stations of said first set of customer stations and said first cashier station.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to an extremely flexible integrated system for managing the placing and filling of orders in restaurants. Customers are able to place their orders via touch screen microprocessor terminals that are connected to restaurant employee terminals that display customer orders.

2. Description of the Related Art

Identifying, training and retaining courteous and capable personnel has become one of the most critical concerns in the management of restaurants. This is particularly true in those establishments that have come to be known as "fast food" restaurants. Such establishments emphasize the delivery of food in a timely and relatively inexpensive manner, while delivering consistently high quality products. Effective and capable employees are a prerequisite for obtaining each of these goals.

Unfortunately, the labor pool for such establishments is shrinking at the same time that a demand for such employees is increasing. Means for effectively reducing the number of employees in any single store can provide a significant cost advantage for the operation of a fast food restaurant.

There are relatively few references to integrated microprocessor-based systems for maximizing efficiencies and effectively reducing the number of employees required to staff a fast food establishment.

U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,722,053 of Dubno et al., 4,533,222 of Kurland, and 4,457,851 of Kurland et al. describe customer interactive systems for use in restaurants. An essential feature of each of these systems is the combined capabilities for customers to utilize microprocessor monitors located at individual tables for entertainment--such as playing video games--and ordering food. These systems are not designed primarily for efficiency, but as a unique restaurant concept or theme.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,675,515 of Lucero describes a drive-through credit card payment device for use by fast food restaurants. The system allows the customer to place his own order if desired at the remote drive through station. Efficiency improvements derived from this system are focused predominantly on the cash management aspects of the device. Also see U.S. Pat. No. 4,638,312 of Quinn, et al.

The system disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,797,818 of Cotter includes a regional food order and delivery system. The system is comprised of a centralized order receiving center that inputs orders into a microprocessor and selects the appropriate outlet for delivery of the ordered food.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,567,359 of Lockwood describes a customer self-order system designed for the sale of insurance. A microprocessor system interacts with the customer, supplying various options based upon responses made by the customer to introductory questions.

Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 4,775,953 of Yourick describes an interactive video marketing system that is not related to the restaurant industry. This system "selects" what presentations should be made to the consumer based upon both historical experience (e.g. likelihood of type of user based on time of day or weather) and real time responses from the customer.

Computerized order systems in fast food restaurants are not uncommon. Generally, these systems require that the customers verbally convey their order to the cashier/counter person, who enters the order into a combined cash register/order input system that will calculate the total price and deliver the order to the food preparers. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,569,421 and 4,415,065 of Sandstedt, U.S. Pat. No. 4,388,689 of Hayman et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 4,530,067 of Dorr.

The computerized restaurant systems currently available are also limited in other manners. Typically, such systems can only be expanded to include approximately 10-20 input sources. With the development of new fast food marketing schemes, e.g., the food court concept whereby several fast food restaurants use a common dining area, this limitation of the previous systems could be critical.

There is a need for an integrated customer self-order system that will effectively accomplish the needs of the customer and the restaurant, particularly one which reduces the number of cashiers required to process a given number of customers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention describes an integrated customer self order system for the operation of fast food restaurants. According to the invention, two or more customer stations, through which customers place their own orders, are associated with a single cashier station. By shifting the responsibility for order placement to the customer, the cashier will not be routinely involved in the order taking process, but will be predominantly concerned with the settling of bills.

The system of the present invention also includes a manager station and a food preparation station. Optionally, the system may include both a runner station and a data consolidation station. The highly integrated nature of the system, controlled by a plurality of cooperatively programmed microprocessor units, creates an extremely efficient and flexible system for the operation of a fast food restaurant.

In a preferred embodiment, the customer stations, the cashier station, the manager station, the food preparation station and the runner station all include video terminals for the instantaneous display of critical information. In addition, the terminals of the customer stations and the cashier station are provided with touch screen overlays. The system is thereby adapted so that all routine interactive input with the microprocessor units of the system can be accomplished without the use of keyboards or other independent input means.

The integrated customer self order system of the present invention is further characterized by the degree of flexibility that is available to the manager of the individual restaurant. The visual display that is presented to the customer to initiate the ordering process, as well as that seen throughout the process, can be specifically adapted to the requirements of individual restaurants or preference of individual managers.

An integral function of the system is automatic processing and summarizing of short and long term data. The manager station of the system aids the restaurant manager by summarizing a large number of variables in order to assist the manager in inventory, personnel and product selection decisions.

The system provides a comprehensive scheme for the efficient operation of a fast food restaurant. The incorporation of a plurality of customer stations for each cashier station--coupled with the touch screen input--provides for an improved management tool.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a general block diagram showing an overview of an embodiment of a system for customer self-ordering;

FIG. 2 is a data entry screen displayed at customer stations according to a preferred embodiment; and

FIG. 3 is a flowchart describing steps performed in a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

This invention is specifically directed to use as a customer self-order system in a fast food restaurant. It is obvious, however, that the system described and claimed herein could be employed in a variety of different retail operations where minimizing customer contact may be desirable. Such a system could be used, for example, in an automobile parts store or a "catalogue" showroom store. Although certain adaptations would necessarily be required to fit the system to such other applications, the basic system could be adapted for such purposes.

The basic features of the present invention are the combination of (a) sets of one or more customer self-order stations equipped with touch screen input terminals, (b) a cashier station associated with one or more customer stations, (c) a food preparation station, and (d) a manager station. Alternative embodiments of the invention may include "runner" stations and a central data consolidation station.

Preferably, a customer places his own order at one of the customer stations. Of course, the system is designed in such a manner that