GB2344443A

GB2344443A - Waiter call system

Info

Publication number: GB2344443A
Application number: GB9826752A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Aleksandar Tomic; Ana Tomic
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-12-04
Filing date: 1998-12-04
Publication date: 2000-06-07
Also published as: GB9826752D0

Abstract

A waiter should have a receiver (Fig. 2) hung, for example, on a front pocket of his uniform, with a transmitter (Fig. 1) on every table. When a guest activates the transmitter, the waiter gets a signal calling his attention to the table by means of a sound or vibration, and a display of the table ID at the receiver. This electronic system enables the guests to send signals at any time just by depressing a single key. Regardless of conditions in a restaurant (loud music, crowd, noise) and the position of a waiter, he can easily be informed of a number of a table which he is needed at. A guest can call on a waiter discretely. Waiters don't have to constantly watch the guests, nor be unnecessarily close to their tables.

Description

ELECTRONIC MENU [Technical field] This invention is a new, more efficient system of wireless communication between customers and waiters in restaurants.

[Background] There are various combinations of electronic communication systems between guests and waiters in restaurants. Some are cable systems which limit the mobility of transmitter/receiver devices, others are wireless, but still with one device as a fixed central, then there are those which don't have unique transmitter ID codes. There are systems which demand the use of desktop computers, hence reducing, or disabling the mobility of at least one device. There are also systems which require more than one push of a key to send the information.

This invention ensures the mobility of both transmitter and receiver, the system is wireless, with a pocket-size receiver and an even smaller transmitter which has a unique ID code. With one push of a key on the transmitter, the receiver displays the unique ID code of the transmitter and announces the presence of information on the display by sound, or mechanical vibrations.

[Esential Tehnical features] Electronic menu consists of a receiver and multiple transmitters. The receiver is the size of a matchbox and has a key the depressing of which sends the unique code via electromagnetic waves. The receiver is the size of a standard pack of cigarettes and has a display which shows the ID code of an activated transmitter. At the time of receiving and displaying the code, the receiver activates a sound signal or mechanical vibrations to inform of the incoming code.

[Example] A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 1 shows in perspective, the transmitter approximate (proportion 1: 1).

Figure 2 shows in perspective, the receiver approximate (proportion 1: 1).

Figure 3 shows the receiver display at the moment of depressing a key on transmitter #17.

Figure 4 shows the application of the system in a restaurant.

Referring to the drawing, the figure 1 shows the transmitter.

The transmitter is located on a restaurant table. It has a key (fig. 1), the depressing of which sends the code to the receiver. Each table can have a transmitter. The waiter is usually the one who holds the receiver (fig. 2).

By depressing the key on the transmitter with code 17, the receiver immediately displays that code (fig. 3), simultaneously playing a sound or vibrating, hence informing of the code arrival. Figure 4 shows a situation in a restaurant in which the waiter is attending table 10 and at the same time receiving a call from table 17. The transmitter and the receiver don't even have to be in the same room, and the guests don't have to divert attention from their conversations in order to call on a waiter.

Claims

CLAIM 1. Electronic menu consists of a receiver and multiple transmitters.

The receiver is the size of a matchbox and has a key the depressing of which sends the unique code via electromagnetic waves. The receiver is the size of a standard pack of cigarettes and has a display which shows the ID code of an activated transmitter. At the time of receiving and displaying the code, the receiver activates a sound signal or mechanical vibrations to inform of the incoming code.
2. Electronic menu as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the guide means the receiver is an electronic device which receives electromagnetic waves carrying the code of a transmitter. This device has to convert the electromagnetic waves and the ID code into the alphanumeric system, which is simple and understandable to users.
3. Electronic menu as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the guide means the transmitter is an electronic device which sends its ID code via electromagnetic waves if key is depressed.
4. A electronic menu as claimed in, Claim 1, Claim 2 or Claim 3, wherein the guide means the ID code is the information telling of the time of activating a transmitter and its identification. This enables one receiver to distinguish multiple transmitters.
5. A electronic menu substantlially as described herein with reference to Figures 1-4 of the accompanying drawing.