AU740710B2 - Integrated food/drink ordering/dispensing/recording system - Google Patents

Description

Our Ref: 682146 P/00/011 Regulation 3:2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT

C.

C

C

Applicant(s): Electromagnetic Spectrum Pty Limited Rosebery Avenue Rosebery New South Wales 2018

AUSTRALIA

DAVIES COLLISON CAVE Patent Trade Mark Attorneys Level 10, 10 Barrack Street SYDNEY NSW 2000 Address for Service: Invention Title: Integrated food/drink ordering/dispensing/recording system The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me:- 5020 P:\WPDOCS\AJS\SPECI\682146_CLM.DOC- 11/4/97 -1- INTEGRATED FOOD/DRINK ORDERING/DISPENSING/RECORDING

SYSTEM

Background of the Invention The present invention relates to an integrated system for the ordering, dispensing, stock control, recording and billing of products, and in particular, for food and/or beverages.

Description of the Prior Art The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgment or any form of suggestion that that prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in Australia.

Presently, in establishments where food and beverages are ordered and dispensed, a variety of methods are used to record orders, log orders for preparation and/or delivery, ;and, consummate the transactions. Each of these procedures is a separate function, performed by machines and/or personnel.

Typically, in a restaurant situation, a waiter records customers' orders on an order pad. He then goes to a bar to obtain the customers' drinks, and, to the kitchen, to inform Cthe chef ofL the food order. This is a time consuming and often exhausting process. Such establishments have noted that, there are unacceptably high amounts of mistakes, wastage and/or theft, particularly of beverages, including both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.

As there is presently no means for identifying or tracking which of the staff of the establishments are responsible for these mistakes, wastage and/or theft, little can be done to take the appropriate actions to minimise same.

Summary of the Invention The present invention seeks to provide an integrated food/drink ordering, dispensing and recording system, which will simultaneously dispense the various beverages, log food orders, and consummate transactions in a one-step operation.

The present invention also seeks to provide a system for administering the dispensation of products whereby to order said products, identification information must be supplied to the system, which must then also be validated prior to the product(s) supply, consequently enabling tracking of mistakes, wastage and/or theft.

I P:\WPDOCS\AMD\SPECI\682146. ELE 1/4/97 -2- In one broad form, the present invention provides a system for administering the dispensation of product(s) such as food and beverages, comprising: input means, including security identification receiving means to receive a key, an encoded key or card, a password or other identification indicia, or like identification means unique to a particular user, and to receive and validate identification information pertinent to each particular user; and, product information selection means, such as a keypad, a touch screen, or the like, for a user to select said product(s), and, product supply means to dispense or otherwise supply said product(s).

Preferably, the system further comprises a transaction recordal means to record and provide an output indicative of said dispensed product(s), said transaction recordal means *comprising: ""correlation means to correlate information received from said product information selection means with monetary information pertinent to the price of said product(s); output means, such as a screen or printer to provide said monetary information details to said user; and, payment means, to receive payment information from said user, wherein said payment means comprises any one or combination of the following: :20 means to record the cash payment received by a user; (ii) means to receive a credit/debit card for automatic processing of payment, either external to or interconnected with a banking/credit organisation; (iii) means to receive account information for subsequent billing to a user.

In a further broad form, the present invention provides a system for administering the dispensation of product(s), comprising: input means, to receive and validate identification information pertinent to each particular user, and, to receive product information pertinent to each required product; and, product supply means to dispense or otherwise supply said product(s).

P:\WPDOCS\AMD\SPECI\682146. ELE- 11/4/97 -3- Preferably, said input means comprises: security identification receiving means to receive a key, an encoded key or card, a password or other identification indicia, or like identification which means unique to a particular user; product information selection means, such as a keypad, a touch screen, or the like, for a user to select said product(s).

Also preferably, said product supply means is a conventional-type drink dispensing and/or food vending machine.

Preferably, said product supply means comprises a printer, monitor or display means •..situated adjacent a remotely provided product preparation area, such that a product preparer S-observes said required product information, and prepares said product(s) manually in response thereto, and provides said product(s) to said user.

Also preferably, the system further comprises transaction recordal means to record and provide an output indicative of said dispensed product(s).

Preferably, said transaction recordal means comprises: :20 correlation means to correlate information received from said product information selection means with monetary information pertinent to the price of said product(s); output means, such as a screen or printer to provide said monetary information details to said user.

P:\WPDOCS\AMD\SPECl\682146.ELE- 11/4/97 -4- Also preferably, said transaction recordal means further comprises: payment means, to receive payment information from said user, wherein said payment means comprises any one or combination of the following: means to record the cash payment received by a user; (ii) means to receive a credit/debit card for automatic processing of payment, either external to or interconnected with a banking/credit organisation; (iii) means to receive account information for subsequent billing to a user.

Preferably, said product supply means comprises beverage dispensing means for dispensing hot and/or cold, alcoholic and/or non-alcoholic beverages.

Also preferably, said product supply means comprises an imperator.

a.

In a further broad form, the present invention provides an apparatus for ordering, 15 dispensing and monitoring the dispensation of discrete unit(s) of a product to a particular user, awherein, at a subsequent time, the supply of said product(s) to particular user(s) is identifiable.

°*oo Preferably, upon ordering, identification information pertinent to a particular user is supplied to said apparatus.

Also preferably, said identification information is supplied by use of a key, an electronic key, or by providing a unique password or like indicia to said apparatus.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention will become more fully understood from the following detailed description of the preferred but non-limiting embodiment, described in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 illustrates the various components of a system for administering the dispensation of a product, in this case, food and beverages; P:\WPLOCSVMD\SPEC\682 46. ELE 11/4/97 Fig. 2 illustrates a central processing unit of the system; Fig. 3 illustrates a hot beverage ordering and dispensing tower; Fig. 4 shows a conventional coffee machine; Fig. 5 shows a beverage dispensing tower; Fig. 6 shows a hand held multiple beverage dispenser Fig. 7 shows a machine that controls wall mounted spirit dispensers, controls menu pre-sets, releases bottle locking caps while reading encoded information, and dispenses liquor and wines into a glass; Fig. 8 shows an encoded magnetic doser for bottles containing liquor or wine, which device operates in conjunction with the device of Fig. 7; Fig. 9 shows an encoded magnetic bottle lock, which device operates in conjunction with the device of Fig. 7; Fig. 10 shows an array of wall mounted spirit dispensers, which devices are interconnected and controlled by device in Fig. 7; Fig. 11 shows a remote beer column and tap; Fig. 12 shows a printer used for printing kitchen orders, bills or reports; Fig. 13 shows a scanner; Fig. 14 shows a sequential pourer for cocktails/wines; Fig. 15 shows a remote a transmitter; Fig. 16 shows a menu order and transaction devices; and Fig. 17 shows a remote menu order.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S) In the drawing, is shown a system containing a plurality of product supply means, display means, and a transaction means, each device being interconnected in a network 3.

It will be appreciated that whilst various product supply means are illustrated in Fig. 1, these are shown to exemplify various product supply means. Other product supply means will be envisaged by persons skilled in the art and should also be considered to be able to be used with the present invention.

P:\WPDOCS\AMD\SPECI\682 46. ELE- I11/4/97 -6- In particular, various products supply means typically include a machine 4 for releasing an encoded lock from a bottle 5 and/or dispensing a measured portion from a bottle 6 with an encoded magnetic doser, a spirits dispenser 7, a machine for dispensing a sequence of measured portions from a plurality of bottles with an encoded magnetic doser 8, a hand held multiple beverages dispensing machine "gun" 9, a beer dispensing column and tap a beverages ordering and dispensing tower 11, a hot beverage ordering and dispensing machine 12, a conventional coffee machine 13, a food and beverage order menu and transaction control means 14, a device capable to scan bar codes 15, remote preset menu order and transaction control means 18. The information relating to the product desired to be ordered may be inputted to a remote present 18 and transferred via a network 1 using an encoded key or like device being transferred from the remote device 18 to the relevant device in the network via conventional cabling, RF (radio frequency) or other electromagnetic frequency signal, or other communications path.

Remotely connected to one or more of the dispensing machines may be provided "".beverage storage means 22 and refrigeration/carbonation means 23. Also interconnected to the network may be provided a cash drawer 16, a printing device 3 capable of printing a record of any transaction 17, a display monitor 2 or other means, for example to project an image containing kitchen menu orders in progress means 21 and a printing device capable to print menu orders to be prepared in the kitchen 20. It will be appreciated that any combination of one or more of the aforementioned devices may be provided.

As all the various components of the system are integrated, the ordering and dispensation of food and beverage products is able to be identified at any time. Furthermore, as security means is provided, the actual person, such as the waiter, or customer, ordering the products, is able to be also identified.

Preferably, in use, a particular user, who may be a customer in a 'self-serve' establishment, or, a waiter in a 'serviced' restaurant, supplies his or her identifying information into the system, preferably into the particular product dispensing means. For P:\WPDOCS\AMD\SPEC\682146.ELF 11/4/97 -7example, if a beverage is desired, then the identifying information is provided into the beverage tower, by means of a personalised key, an encoded key, a password or other identifying indicia via a keypad or the like. Once identifying information is provided into the system, which might optionally include table information to identify the particular tables at which customers are seated, and the information is validated or authorised, the product required may then be selected by means of the conventional dispensing keys or the like. That is, without the identification information being validated, no dispensing or any other function can take place. Most preferably, the waiter simply inserts his identifying encoded key into a specified slot in the tower, such that he is not required to remember or input any coded information into the device to identify himself, consequently, minimising the usage time of the beverage dispenser, to thereafter operate the beverage dispenser in a conventional manner.

Then, at the end of obtaining the required beverages, the waiter can simply remove the key and move to the next machine to place any additional orders. Likewise, the food order may be inputted into the keypad which can be connected to a remotely provided kitchen printer or monitor, such that the chef can prepare the food, as required. The preparation of food is obviously required to be done in a substantially conventional manual manner, with suitable identification being provided back to the waiter to indicate when the food is ready, such that the waiter can convey same to the customer in the restaurant. It will be appreciated that all of the other beverage supply means can be operated in a substantially similar manner.

If the customer requires a bottle of wine, then the waiter can select one of various bottles, which are pre-provided with a suitable magnetic locking cap thereover. The waiter is required to insert the bottles' locking cap into the device 8, in order to unlock the locking cap and thereafter supply the bottle to the customer. It will be appreciated that without supply of the locking cap into the device 8 that the locking cap cannot be removed, consequently ensuring that the bottles cannot be usefully stolen. This is somewhat analogous to known security tags which are provided on garments in department stores, whereby unauthorised attempts of the security tag cause damage to the garment such that it is not thereafter useful.

Also associated with the device 8, may be a device for dispensing a measured amount of wine or liquor from a bottle to a glass. Such a device is illustrated in more detail in Fig. 8. The P:\WPDOCS\AMD\SPECI\682 146.ELE 11/4/97 -8device 8 shown in the drawings also incorporates the software hardware to control the spirit dispensing means 7. It will be appreciated that it may be particularly useful in a self-serve situation to have additional 'age' criteria authenticated prior to dispensing of alcoholic beverages, cigarettes, etc. Such 'age' information may be pre-supplied into the system if the customers are known in a staff cafeteria situation) or, a reader or the like may be provided to read identification such as a driver's license or the like. A suitable scanner is illustrated in Fig. 13, which may also typically be used to scan bar codes on bottles or other merchandise. The product information is then retained in the processor such that the bar code may be correlated with a transaction.

It will be appreciated that in a restaurant establishment, a remote device might preferably be used which may be interconnected to the system by a substantially conventional o.0 telecommunications means, e.g. radio frequency signals. This would enable a waiter to carry a hand held device around the tables, and, take the orders directly on to the device instead of 5 using a conventional order pad. Such a device is shown in Fig. 15. Various other types of .0':00 ordering devices may be embodied, such as shown in Figs. 15 and 16, the device of Fig. for example, being able to be embedded to a table or placed beside it.

o It will also be appreciated that the ordering of food beverages may be performed 20 from any of the component features shown in the drawings, that is, not necessarily the .o 0 specific menu ordering devices 18 and 19.

It will therefore be appreciated that at any time the customers wishes to depart the restaurant, since all the information relating to the ordering and supply of the products is provided in an updated manner within the central processing unit 2, the totalled amount is able to be instantaneously displayed in any location, and, if required, printed via any printer 3 or displayed on a customer display. That is, the orders are logged instantly. The processing unit 2 may be provided with some form of EFTPOS or credit/debit card receiving means, such that payment can be received and processed instantaneously without the requirement for separate components to perform such transactions. Alternatively, customers P:\WPDOCS\AMD\SPECI\682146.ELE 11/4/97 -9may have a pre-paid arrangement or an account, may be issued at regular intervals, e.g.

monthly.

The processing unit 2 obviously might be provided with some form of correlation means, such that information related to the products required by each particular waiter/or customer is automatically correlated with monetary information relating to the price of each product, such that this information is not required to be calculated by the customer/waiter.

It will be appreciated that the present invention has particular advantages either in a serviced restaurant establishment, or in a self-serve establishment.

.In a restaurant establishment, the obtaining of various products by a waiter on behalf of a customer is able to accurately tracked, to minimise wastage and/or theft, as every ordered item is recorded in the system, and, allocated to a particular customer/table. Of course, it will be appreciated that there should be some means of taking into account that ::•waiters occasionally make mistakes in ordering certain drinks. Obviously, such incorrect orders should not be billed to the customer. It will however be appreciated that there will be a record of such incorrect orders with the system of the present invention, such that, if the waiter has an unusually large number of incorrect orders, then an authorised supervisor may be alerted to the errors and can investigate reasons as to why such errors are occurring.

It will also be appreciated that the present invention might have application to a selfserve establishment, either in a staff cafeteria, or in a conventional retail outlet. For example, in a cafeteria establishment, each employee might likewise be provided with a suitable electronic key or code such that they can individually obtain food/drinks, as required, such that their particular orders might be able to, at the end of the pay period, be automatically deducted form their salary/wage. The implementation of a system in accordance with the present invention eliminates the necessity to employ a particular cafeteria staff member, whilst still being able to accurately track the ordering and supply of food/beverages to the employees/customers. It also enables automatic stock control and P:\WPDOCS\AMD\SPEC1\682146.ELE 11/4/97 ordering of further stocks with wholesalers.

It will be appreciated that the system of the present invention effectively achieves a one-step system. Prior art methods of ordering and dispensing have required the ordering of the product for stock or billing to be performed in separate steps. The system of the present invention allows this to be performed simultaneously, without mistakes and without theft.

It should be appreciated that, other than the novel system per se, various separate features are themselves novel. Such features include: encoded magnetic bottle doser; encoded magnetic bottle lock; ~liquor dispensing measured and controlled by software (computer); several interlocking theft preventing/deterrent; o *o the key, which is: encoded, ID is permanent; stores data; o• exchanges data with a computer; re-writable; and, shock resistant.

Each of these features should be considered to be encompassed within the scope of the present invention both separately and in any combination thereof.

It will also be appreciated that the present invention has applications outside the various food and beverage industries. For example, other saleable items, particularly items which may be dispensed from some sort of vending machine, may be usefully purchased in such a system, for example, in a department store situation.

P:\WPDOCS\AMD\SPECI682146.EL 11/4/97 11 Whilst a particular embodiment of the invention has been hereinbefore described, it will be appreciated that numerous variations and modifications to the embodiment may be envisaged by persons skilled in the art. All such variations and modifications which become apparent, should be considered to fall within the scope of the invention as broadly hereinbefore described and as hereinafter claimed.