GB2314647A

GB2314647A - System for ordering goods and services

Info

Publication number: GB2314647A
Application number: GB9613479A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Brendan Mulreany
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1996-06-27
Filing date: 1996-06-27
Publication date: 1998-01-07
Also published as: GB9613479D0

Abstract

An integrated system for ordering goods and services from a plurality of tables comprises an interactive station at each table with means for displaying a menu and allowing a customer to make choices from the menu and a central station for displaying the orders so that they can be fulfilled. The system may allow the ordering of food or drinks or selection of games or music from a jukebox. The choices available may be biased according to the time of day. Goods or services may be ordered from organisations separate from that where the system is installed. Quizzes may be played between the tables. The central station includes a bill production printer and a credit card reader to allow payment for the goods and services ordered.

Description

ORDERING SYSTEM The present invention relates to a system for ordering goods and services in a premises, particularly though not exclusively food, drinks and entertainment in a bar.

The object of my invention is to provide an integrated system for customers to be able to place orders without attendance of waiters at their tables.

According to my invention, I provide: an interactive station at each table, comprising a means for displaying a menu and means for customer choice to be made from the menu, and a central station for displaying the orders so that they can be fulfilled.

Normally, each interactive station will be incorporated into its table. Each can incorporate a microprocessor connected as a client to a further computer at the central station acting as a server to the network of interactive stations. Whilst each interactive station could include a separate keyboard or keypad and display screen, it will preferably incorporate a touch sensitive screen. The system will be programmed to display simple menu choices, which are selectable by touching the choices or boxes associated with them.

It is anticipated that the menu choices will include not only food and drinks, but also entertainment, such as music from played from a conventional system for playing successive pieces of music such as a CD or record player of the type used by a disc jockey. In this case the jukebox can be controlled by the central station.

A variety of menu configurations can be envisaged, of which examples are given below.

Additional features can comprise the connection of a number of individual systems into an external network, enabling common control of pricing etc. and reporting of audit information to a headquarters. Within one system, means can be provided for bill production at the central station and possibly the facility for payment by credit card. The system may also be arranged to place orders from customers, who must give their contact details, for goods and services to be provided from organisations separate from the bar in which the system is installed.

To help understanding of the invention, a specific embodiment thereof will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of a system according to the invention; Figures 2 to 10 are views of menus displayed on the screens of the system during use.

Referring first to Figure 1, there is shown a number of tables 1 having computers 2 installed beneath with touch sensitive screens 3 on the table top. Each individual computer is connected to a central computer 4 associated with a bill production printer 5 and a credit card reader 6, these items being installed in a servery 7.

In use, a first menu - Figure 2 - gives the customers at each table the ability to choose between: Music Drinks Food Games Information with Help and Cancel options.

Figures 3 and 4 show music choice menus behind the main Music choice. Further menus will be provided behind the alphabetic Figure 4 menu, which can be representative of artist, musical work or composer initial letter. The central computer is programmed to display the list of music selections made by the customers at the various different tables, giving them priorities and disallowing predominance of choice from a single table. The choices available can be biased according to time of day, day of the week etc. In the system shown in Figure 1, the music choices are shown in a queued list on the screen 8 of the central computer 4 for the bar staff to play using recorded music playing equipment.

Figure 5, 6 and 7 show the menus behind the Drinks choice in the menu of Figure 2. They are self-explanatory and will now be described in detail. Once the customers at the table in question have confirmed their order, it is displayed with the corresponding table number in a list of pending orders and printed at the servery. The order is made up, cancelled from a list of pending orders, and the drinks are delivered to the table by the bar staff. If appropriate, the order can be paid for by credit card or with cash. Should a further round of drinks be required, a repeat order can be readily made by virtue of the previous order continuing to be displayed. Alternatively, a different order can be made.

Figures 8, 9 and 10 show three food menus, which are also self-explanatory.

Other functions can be incorporated into the system, such as inter-table quizzes, with questions being displayed simultaneously at various tables and the multiple answers being selectable on the the screens. Further, supply of other goods and services via orders placed using other screens is possible. The goods and services, such as CD recordings and travel and entertainment tickets, may be supplied at the bar or from other suppliers. They can be paid for by credit card at the bar.

It should be noted that the invention is not restricted to use in a bar. It could be used in a restaurant for instance. Its details can be altered. For instance, the central computer may have an additional large screen arranged for display of the queued pieces of music, together with an indication of which tables' choices are displayed.

Claims

Claims.

1. An integrated system for ordering goods and services from a plurality of tables including: an interactive station at each table, comprising a means for displaying a menu and means for customer choice to be made from the menu, and a central station for displaying the orders so that they can be fulfilled.

2. An integrated system as claimed in claim 1, wherein each interactive station is incorporated into its table.

3. An integrated system as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein each interactive station can incorporate a microprocessor connected as a client to a further computer at the central station acting as a server to the network of interactive stations.

4. An integrated system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein each interactive station incorporates a touch sensitive screen for computer inputs.

5. An integrated system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the system is programmed to display simple menu choices, which are selectable by touching the choices or boxes associated with them.

6. An integrated system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein each interactive station includes a separate keyboard or keypad and display screen.

7. An integrated system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the menu choices will include food and drinks choices.

8. An integrated system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the menu also includes entertainment choices.

9. An integrated system as claimed in claim 8, wherein a jukebox can be controlled by the central station.

10. An integrated system as claimed in any preceding claim, including connection of a number of individual systems into an external network.

11. An integrated system as claimed in claim 10, including means for bill production at the central station.

12. An integrated system as claimed in any preceding claim, including means to place orders from customers, who must give their contact details, for goods and services to be provided from organisations separate from the bar in which the system is installed.

13. An integrate system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the central station has an associated servery including a bill production printer and a credit card reader.

14. An integrated system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the are biased according to the time of day, or day of the week.

15. An integrated system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein orders received at an interactive station are displayed with corresponding table number at the central station with a list of pending orders and printed at the servery.

16. An integrated system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a repeat order can be made by virtue of the previous order continuing to be displayed.

17. An integrated system as claimed in any preceding claim, including means for inter-table quizzes.

18. An integrated system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 10 of the accompanying drawings.