TW201911207A - Method for facilitating management of an establishment, and system and device thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

There is provided a computer-implemented method for facilitating management of an establishment comprising a plurality of tables. The method includes receiving a first table request and a second table request from a first mobile communication device associated with a first customer and a second mobile communication device associated with a second customer, respectively, to join a first table of the plurality of tables; determining whether the first customer is allowed to join the first table; assigning the first customer as a first controller of the first table if the first customer is determined to be allowed to join the first table; determining whether the second customer is allowed to join the first table; and assigning the second customer as a second controller of the first table if the second customer is determined to be allowed to join the first table. There is also provide a corresponding system, a method of facilitating table management, and a corresponding mobile communication device.

Description

Method for facilitating management of institution, system and device thereof

The present invention is generally directed to a computer-implemented method for facilitating management of a mechanism and its systems, and for facilitating a table in a facility and its mobile communication device, and more particularly in a commercial facility for providing food and/or beverage to a customer. Managed computer implementation methods.

The present application claims the benefit of the priority of the Singapore Patent Application No. 10201700432U filed on Jan. 18, 2017, and the Japanese Patent Application No. 10201700722R, filed on Jan. 27, 2017, the disclosure of The manner of reference is incorporated herein.

There are various conventional techniques for managing an organization that provides services to customers. For example, with regard to restaurants, traditional restaurant management techniques generally require one or more restaurant staff to perform various tasks, such as table configuration/table assignment management for customers. For example, traditionally, restaurant staff at a restaurant can be assigned to arrange a table for a customer (or a group of customers). More specifically, when the customer arrives at the restaurant, the restaurant staff can notify the customer to wait at least temporarily while the restaurant clerk confirms whether there is a table available for receiving the customer. In this regard, whether there is a table available to the customer can be determined by the restaurant staff who personally enters the inside of the restaurant and checks if there is any available table, or via a communication device (eg via a radio walkie-talkie) The device communicates with another restaurant clerk on the inside of the restaurant to provide feedback on whether any table is available. If a table is available, the restaurant clerk can then direct the customer to the restaurant and to the available table. Otherwise, the customer can be asked to wait until a table is available.

However, there are various problems with the above-described conventional techniques of table allocation. For example, customer and restaurant staff reservations are required to find out if there is a table available at the restaurant. Therefore, if the restaurant staff is not available or is busy with serving another customer, the customer will not be able to find out if any table is available and will have to wait to be served. As a result, customers who experience the restaurant can be negatively affected, especially if the customer has to wait for an undesired long period of time before being served. Furthermore, there is also a problem whereby one or more table systems are available, but the restaurant staff assigned to the table assignment task may not properly update the waiting customer for various reasons, such as unaware of the one or more A table system is available and/or due to insufficient manpower. Thus, with this conventional technique, not only does the customer wait unnecessarily, but the table can also be vacant for a certain period of time, resulting in inefficiency in the occupancy of the table and loss of potential revenue for the restaurant. There is also an additional labor cost for training and dispatching restaurant staff to handle work for the customer's table assignment. Disputes regarding the distribution of the table between the restaurant clerk and the customer may also occur due to various reasons, such as misunderstandings and/or lack of feeling of timely action by the restaurant staff.

There is also a conventional technique whereby the restaurant staff responsible for the dining table assignment (for example instead of personally entering the inside of the restaurant and checking if any table is available or communicating with another restaurant staff on the inside of the restaurant via the communication device as described above) It can also be necessary to view the display and is still necessary for the customer who is booking with the restaurant staff to find out if there is a table available at the restaurant. The screen is available and offers an overview of the table occupancy at the restaurant. However, this conventional technique requires restaurant staff to update the status (e.g., utilization) of such dining tables, and also suffers from the same or similar problems as described above. For example, train and assign this restaurant staff to think that customers are dealing with table assignments. Similarly, even when one or more dining tables are indicated as available on the display screen, the waiting customer cannot be immediately updated by the restaurant staff, such as due to insufficient manpower (eg, the restaurant staff is still Busy with one or more previous customers, such as displaying them to their table and processing their requests). In other words, this traditional technology is still bottlenecked by the skills and abilities of the restaurant staff responsible for handling the table allocation.

There are also conventional techniques whereby each table is assigned an associated computer tablet for ordering items from any one or more customers occupying the table. The computer tablet is pre-programmed to be linked to the associated table so that any order made on the computer tablet is only considered to be used by any one or more customers occupying the associated table. However, in addition, this conventional technique still suffers from the same or similar problems as described above, for example, the restaurant clerk is still required to handle the table assignment for the customer, and it still requires the customer to book with the restaurant clerk in order to find out at the restaurant. Is there a table available, not to mention the high cost of providing and maintaining at least one computer tablet for each table in the restaurant.

Furthermore, for example, with respect to the aforementioned conventional technique of using a computer tablet for each table, the computer tablet generally provides only the ability of the customer occupying the table to order one or more items in the restaurant, but not Any payment skills will be provided. Accordingly, it is generally desirable to occupy one or more customers of the table requesting the bill to pay in full for all of the items ordered at the table, or the one or more customers must personally travel to the restaurant. The member pays in full. As a result, customers who experience the restaurant can also be negatively affected, especially if the customer is waiting to reach the desired amount before submitting the bill for payment, or when queuing at the restaurant cashier for full payment. Long time. Therefore, with this conventional technique, not only does the customer wait for the bill unnecessarily, but the table can also be vacated for a certain period of time (for example, when waiting to present the bill, or when lining up to pay for the bill) At the time of billing, it leads to the inefficiency in the occupancy of the table and the loss in the potential revenue for the restaurant.

There is therefore a need to provide a method for facilitating management in an organization, and systems and apparatus thereof that attempt to overcome or at least improve one or more deficiencies of conventional techniques, such as the conventional techniques described above, in managing an organization, particularly In contrast to commercial establishments that provide food and/or beverages to customers. Against this background, the invention has been developed.

100‧‧‧ method

200‧‧‧ system

202‧‧‧ memory

204‧‧‧ Processor

206‧‧‧ Circuitry

250‧‧‧ system

252‧‧‧Book Management Module

254‧‧‧Payment Module

256‧‧‧ Kitchen Module

300‧‧‧ method

400‧‧‧ system

402‧‧‧ memory

404‧‧‧ processor

408‧‧‧Table Management Module

450‧‧‧Mobile communication device

452‧‧‧Account Management Module

454‧‧‧Book Management Module

456‧‧‧Payment module

600‧‧‧ computer system

602‧‧‧Computer Module

604‧‧‧ keyboard

606‧‧‧ Mouse

608‧‧‧ display

610‧‧‧Printer

612‧‧‧ computer network

614‧‧‧ transceiver device

618‧‧‧ processor

620‧‧‧ random access memory

622‧‧‧Read-only memory

624‧‧‧I/O interface

626‧‧‧I/O interface

628‧‧‧ Busbar

700‧‧‧Mobile communication device

702‧‧‧Processor Module

704‧‧‧Digital keypad

706‧‧‧ display

708‧‧‧First communication unit

710‧‧‧Hive network

712‧‧‧Second communication unit

714‧‧‧Regional Network

716‧‧‧ processor

718‧‧‧ random access memory

720‧‧‧Read-only memory

722‧‧‧I/O interface

724‧‧‧I/O interface

726‧‧ ‧ busbar

800‧‧‧ system

802‧‧‧ server

804‧‧‧Mobile communication device

806‧‧‧Mobile communication device

902‧‧‧Restaurant

904‧‧‧Table

906‧‧‧POS (Point of Sale) System

908‧‧‧ Kitchen display unit

910‧‧‧waiter display device

912‧‧‧Printer

920‧‧‧Server

1000‧‧‧flow chart

1110‧‧‧ Items

1120‧‧‧ Items

1142‧‧‧ Items

1152‧‧‧ column

1154‧‧‧ column

1162‧‧‧Push

1164‧‧‧Push

1172‧‧‧ column

1174‧‧‧ column

1176‧‧‧ column

1302‧‧‧Copy button

1304‧‧‧Copy button

1400‧‧‧flow chart

1502‧‧‧Customer account for individuals

1504‧‧‧Talk bubbles

1506‧‧‧Talk bubbles

1508‧‧‧ column

1510‧‧‧ column

1512‧‧ ‧ booking table

1600‧‧‧flow chart

1702‧‧‧Talk bubbles

1704‧‧‧Talk bubbles

1706‧‧‧Booking Summary Page

1800‧‧‧flow chart

1900‧‧‧flow chart

2022‧‧‧ Price Summary

2024‧‧‧ Price Summary

2026‧‧‧ total price

2028‧‧‧ total price

2014‧‧‧Timer

2114‧‧‧ Notice of sudden rise

2200‧‧‧ Flowchart

2502‧‧ ‧ book preparation notice

2504‧‧‧Booking table ready notice

2506‧‧‧Booking table ready notice

The embodiments of the present invention will be better understood and readily apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments of the invention. An overview flow chart of a method of managing a mechanism including a plurality of dining tables; FIG. 2A depicts a schematic block diagram of a system (eg, a server) that facilitates management of a mechanism including a plurality of dining tables in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention; FIG. 2B depicts BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Various embodiments of the present invention manage a schematic block diagram of another system (e.g., a server) of a mechanism including a plurality of dining tables; and Figure 3 depicts a schematic flow chart of a method for facilitating table management in a mechanism including a plurality of dining tables; A schematic block diagram of a system (e.g., a mobile communication device) for managing a mechanism including a plurality of dining tables in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention is described; and Figure 5 depicts another embodiment for facilitating management of a mechanism including a plurality of dining tables in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention. A schematic block diagram of a system (such as a mobile communication device); Figure 6 depicts a schematic view of an example computer system, which is shown in Figure 2A and The system shown in FIG. 2B can be implemented; FIG. 7 depicts a schematic view of an example mobile communication device, wherein the systems shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 can be implemented; FIG. 8 depicts a schematic illustration of various implementations in accordance with the present invention. An example of an overview of a system including a server and one or more mobile communication devices; 9 depicts an exemplary overview of a restaurant in accordance with various exemplary embodiments of the present invention; FIG. 10 depicts a flowchart illustrating various aspects of a method for facilitating management of a restaurant, ie, related to table management, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 11G respectively shows exemplary screen shots on three mobile devices associated with three different customers/users for exemplary scenarios relating to the above-described aspects described with reference to FIG. 10; FIG. 12 depicts a flow chart, in accordance with the present invention Example embodiments illustrate aspects of a restaurant management method that facilitates order renewal; Figures 13A and 13B show exemplary screen shots on three mobile devices associated with three different customers/users, respectively, for reference Figure 12 depicts an exemplary scenario of the above-described aspects; Figure 14 depicts a flow chart illustrating aspects of a method for facilitating the management of a restaurant, i.e., regarding the login process, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; Figures 15A and 15B are shown in three positions, respectively. Demonstration screenshots on three mobile devices associated with different customers for exemplary scenarios with respect to the above-described aspects described with reference to FIG. 14; FIG. Illustrated in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a manner of facilitating the management of a restaurant, ie, a method related to the logout process; and FIG. 17 respectively showing exemplary screen shots on three mobile devices associated with three different customers, In the exemplary scenario relating to the above-described aspects described with reference to FIG. 16; FIG. 18 depicts a flow chart illustrating an aspect of a method for facilitating management of a restaurant, ie, a table state check process, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; FIG. Exemplary aspects of a method for facilitating management of a restaurant, i.e., related to a table update process, are illustrated in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; Figures 20A and 20B respectively show exemplary screen shots on three mobile devices associated with three different customers, For exemplary scenarios relating to the above-described aspects described with reference to FIG. 19; FIGS. 21A and 21B respectively show exemplary fireflies on two mobile devices associated with two different customers. Screen shots for another exemplary scenario relating to the above-described aspects described with reference to FIG. 19; FIG. 22 depicts a flow chart illustrating the ease of managing a restaurant, ie, relating to a confirmed reservation (eg, paid or submitted), in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention Aspects of the method of the process; Figures 23A through 23F show exemplary screen shots on three mobile devices associated with three different customers, respectively, for exemplary scenarios relating to the above-described aspects described with reference to Figure 22; 24A displays an example kitchen screen that is displayed for three booking tables made by the three customers; FIG. 24B shows an example waiter screen based on the same three booking tables as FIG. 24A; FIG. 25A depicts the first time in FIG. Point, three screen shots on the mobile device associated with the three customers when the order table item is indicated as ready; Figure 25B depicts the second time point (eg, after the first time point) Time point), after receiving the notice that the order of the order is ready, three screen shots on the mobile device associated with the three customers; Figure 25C is depicted at a subsequent point in time (for example, at the second time) Three screen shots on the mobile device associated with the three customers; FIGS. 26A and 26B depict exemplary screen shots on the exemplary POS system in accordance with various exemplary embodiments of the present invention; 27 Exemplary receipts are described in accordance with various exemplary embodiments of the present invention that can be used by the three customers for three booking tables.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a computer implementation method for facilitating management of a mechanism including a plurality of dining tables is provided, the method comprising: at a server associated with the mechanism, by a table management module, at a first time point a first mobile communication device associated with the first customer receives a first table request to connect the first table of the plurality of tables, and at a second point in time is received by a second mobile communication device associated with the second customer a second table request to join the first table, the second time point being after the first time point; and the table management module responding to the first table request based on being stored in the server The plurality of dining tables are associated with at least one table occupancy database, determining whether the first customer is allowed to join the first table; if the first customer is determined to allow the first table to be connected, the table management module Dispatching the first customer as the first controller of the first table; in response to the second table request, determining, by the table management module, whether the second customer is allowed to connect based on the table occupancy module a first table, and if the first customer is detected to have joined the first table, determining whether the second customer is allowed to connect to the first table based on another first mobile communication device associated with the first customer The first customer authorizes the response, the first customer authorization response is in response to a first customer authorization request from the table management module to the first mobile communication device, and an attempt is made by the first customer Whether the second customer is allowed to join the first table; and if the second customer is determined to allow the first table to be joined, the second customer is assigned to be the second of the first table by the table management module Controller.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system for facilitating management of a mechanism comprising a plurality of dining tables, the system comprising: a memory; at least one processor communicatively coupled to the memory and constructed to: Receiving, by a first mobile communication device associated with the first customer, a first table request at a point in time to join the first table of the plurality of dining tables, and at a second time point by a second action associated with the second customer The communication device receives a second table request to join the first table, the second time point is after the first time point; in response to the first table request, based on being stored in the server and the plurality of tables Have Correlating at least one table occupancy database, determining whether the first customer is allowed to join the first table; if the first customer is determined to allow the first table to be joined, assigning the first customer as the first table a first controller; in response to the second table request, determining, based on the table occupancy database, whether the second customer is allowed to join the first table, and if the first customer is detected to have joined the first table, determining Whether the second customer is allowed to connect to the first table and further based on a first customer authorization response from the first mobile communication device associated with the first customer, the first customer authorization response being responsive to the system a first customer authorization request of the first mobile communication device, and attempting to authorize the second customer to allow the second customer to join the first table; and if the second customer is determined to allow the first table to be joined, assigning the The second customer acts as the second controller of the first table.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, a computer program product embodied in one or more non-transitory computer readable storage media is provided, including instructions executable by at least one processor for facilitating management a method of a plurality of dining table mechanisms, the method comprising: receiving, at a first time point, a first table request by a first mobile communication device associated with the first customer to join the first table of the plurality of dining tables, and Receiving, by the second mobile communication device associated with the second customer, a second table request to join the first table at two time points, the second time point being after the first time point; in response to the first table request Determining whether the first customer is allowed to join the first table based on at least one table occupancy database stored in the server and associated with the plurality of tables; if the first customer is determined to allow the connection a dining table, the first customer is assigned as the first controller of the first dining table; Responding to the second table request, determining, based on the table occupancy database, whether the second customer is allowed to join the first table, and if the first customer is detected to have joined the first table, determining whether the second customer is Being allowed to join the first table is further based on a first customer authorization response from a first mobile communication device associated with the first customer, the first customer authorization response being responsive to the first table management module to the first a first customer authorization request of the mobile communication device; and if the second customer is determined to be permitted to connect to the first dining table, the second customer is assigned as the second controller of the first dining table by the table management module .

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a computer implementation method for facilitating table management in a mechanism including a plurality of dining tables is provided, the method comprising: a first mobile communication device associated with a first customer by a table management module, Sending a first table request to a server associated with the institution at a first point in time in response to the first table selection input on the first mobile communication device coupling the first table of the plurality of tables; The first table request, by the table management module, receiving a server authorization response indicating whether the first customer is allowed to connect to the first table, the server authorization reaction is based on a plurality of dining tables stored in the server The associated table occupancy database is determined by the server, and if one or more other customers are detected to have joined the first table, the server authorization reaction is based on another one or more other customers. One of the customer authorization reactions determines; by the table management module, determining whether to join the first table based on the received server authorization reaction; a table management module, if the first customer is detected to have joined the first table, in response to a new table request from the new customer requesting the connection to the first table, the server receives a new customer authorization request; and responds to the a new customer authorization request, based on the table management module, based on the first line The customer authorization input on the mobile communication device provides a new customer authorization request to the server.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, a mobile communication device is provided, comprising: a memory; at least one processor communicatively coupled to the memory, and configured to: send the first table request to the first time point to a server associated with the mechanism including the plurality of dining tables, in response to the first table selection input on the first mobile communication device being coupled to the first dining table of the plurality of dining tables, the mobile communication device being associated with the first customer Corresponding to the first table request, receiving a server authorization response indicating whether the first customer is allowed to connect to the first table, the server authorization reaction being based on being associated with a plurality of tables stored at the server The table occupancy database is determined by the server, and if one or more other customers are detected to have joined the first table, the server authorization reaction is based on one of one or more other customers. Determining, by the customer authorization reaction, determining whether to join the first table based on the received server authorization response; responding to the request from the new customer to join the first table Request table, a customer receiving a new authorization request to the server; and in response to the authorization request new customers, based on the authorization input authorizing a new customer to the server in the reaction provides the customer first mobile communication device.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, a computer program product embodied in one or more non-transitory computer readable storage media is provided, comprising instructions executable by at least one processor to include a plurality of The table mechanism implements a method for facilitating table management, the method comprising: sending a first table request to a server associated with the institution at a first point in time in response to a first table selection on the first mobile communication device Entering a first table for joining the plurality of dining tables; in response to the first table request, receiving an indication of whether the first customer is allowed to join the first A server authorization response of the table, the server authorization reaction being determined by the server based on a table occupancy database associated with a plurality of tables stored in the server, and if one or more other customers are queried Detecting that the first table is connected, the server authorization reaction is further determined based on a customer authorization response from one of the one or more other customers; determining whether to join the first table based on the received server authorization response; If the first customer is detected to have joined the first table, in response to a new table request from the new customer requesting the connection to the first table, the server receives a new customer authorization request; and responds to the new customer authorization request Providing a new customer authorization request to the server based on the customer authorization input on the first mobile communication device.

Various embodiments of the present invention provide a method (computer-implemented method) for facilitating a management mechanism, including a plurality of dining tables, and systems thereof. Various embodiments of the present invention also provide a computer implemented method for facilitating table management in a facility comprising a plurality of dining tables, and a mobile communication device thereof (which may alternatively be referred to herein as a "mobile device"). In particular, the institution may be a commercial establishment that provides food and/or beverages to customers (eg, patrons), such as, but not limited to, restaurants (eg, from fast food restaurants to premium restaurants), pubs, clubs, dining events, and the like. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that a table as recited herein may mean a single dining table or a configuration (e.g., managed by the institution) to form a predetermined group of two or more dining tables, unless explicitly stated. group. For example, a predetermined group that will be aware of two or more dining tables may be coupled or configured adjacent to each other for various purposes to form a larger dining table.

As described in the background, various conventional techniques in managing commercial establishments that provide food and/or beverages to customers encounter various problems. For example, with regard to restaurants, customers do not necessarily have to wait to find out if there is a table available at the restaurant and/or even sit at the table when the table is available. This is because, for example, various traditional technologies require customers to make reservations to restaurant staff in order to try The restaurant gets a table and, as such, the table allocation phase is inevitably hampered by the skills and abilities of the restaurant staff responsible for the customer's handling of the table assignment. As a result, the customer experience for the restaurant can be negatively impacted, especially if the customer has to wait for an unpleasant long period of time before being served or sitting at the table. In this regard, it is not uncommon for a variety of reasons, such as misunderstandings and/or lack of feelings of timely action by the restaurant staff, to be a dispute between the restaurant staff and the customer regarding the acquisition of the table. Accordingly, not only do these problems lead to poor customer experience, they also result in lower turnover rates, which result in a loss of potential revenue for the restaurant.

Various embodiments of the present invention seek to overcome, or at least ameliorate, one or more of the deficiencies of conventional techniques in a management organization, such as the conventional techniques discussed in the prior art.

1 depicts an overview flow diagram of a method 100 (computer implemented method) for facilitating management of a mechanism including a plurality of dining tables in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention. As stated above, the institution may be a commercial establishment that provides food and/or beverages to customers. In various preferred embodiments, the mechanism is a restaurant and a plurality of dining tables are constructed to receive customers for dinner at the restaurant. In various embodiments, the method 100 may correspond to functions/operations performed by the associated computer server (which may be referred to herein simply as a "server"). In this regard, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that a server associated with an institution may be located within or adjacent to the mechanism or located remotely from the mechanism as long as the server is constructed to be relative to the The institution performs the method 100 and is capable of communicating with various systems and devices located within the restaurant, and vice versa, such as via any wired or wireless communication protocol known in the art. It will also be appreciated by those skilled in the art that a server can be implemented or implemented as a unit or a plurality of units (e.g., at a location or at a different location) by a unit or a plurality of units, as long as the unit Or the plurality of units are constructed to perform the method 100 with respect to the mechanism.

The method 100 includes a step 102 of receiving, by a table management module, a server associated with the mechanism, at a first time point, by a first mobile communication device associated with the first customer. The first table request is to join the first table of the plurality of tables, and at the second time point, the second table request is received by the second mobile communication device associated with the second customer to join the first table, the second time Pointing after the first time point; step 104, by the table management module responding to the first table request, based on at least one table occupancy database associated with the plurality of tables stored in the server Determining whether the first customer is allowed to join the first table; in step 106, if the first customer is determined to allow the first table to be connected, the first customer is assigned to the first table by the table management module a first controller of the dining table; step 108, in response to the second table request, by the table management module, determining, based on the table occupancy database, whether the second customer is allowed to join the first table, and if the a customer is detected to be connected to the first table, and the determining whether the second customer is allowed to connect to the first table is based on a first mobile communication device associated with the first customer Responding to the first customer authorization response, the first customer authorization response is in response to a first customer authorization request from the table management module to the first mobile communication device, and attempting to authorize the second customer to allow the second customer to connect The first table; and step 110, if the second customer is determined to allow the first table to be joined, the second customer is assigned as the second controller of the first table by the table management module.

In various embodiments, in response to the step 102, in response to the first table selection input of the first customer on the first mobile communication device, the first table request may be by the first mobile communication device. produce. The first table selection input corresponds to a table at a plurality of tables of the mechanism, and the first customer associated with the first mobile communication device wants to couple or lock the mechanism.

In various embodiments, with respect to step 104, the table occupancy database can be a library containing information about each of a plurality of tables at the institution. For example, the information may include a unique table identifier (eg, table number and/or name), the current status/status of the table, and an indication or record of each customer (one or more customers) connected to the table ( E.g The table currently occupied), such as a list of one or more customer accounts (eg, a unique customer account identifier, such as a customer account number and/or name) that is linked to the table corresponding to the one or more customers, such as The current state of the dining table may include an available or open condition/status indicating that the dining table is vacant and an occupied condition/status indicating that the dining table has been linked by one or more customers (eg, currently by one or more customers) Occupy one or more. The current status may additionally include a busy status/status indicating that the customer who joined the table has submitted his reservation, a payment status/status indicating that all of the reservations by the customer joining the table have been paid, and an indication of the connection to the table. The customer has left the table and/or left one or more of the organization's emptying conditions/states. Those skilled in the art will understand that the information about each table included in the above database is for example only and is used for various purposes as desired or as appropriate, the various types of information described above may be excluded or additional types. Information can be included for each table. In various embodiments, if the status of the first table is detected/decided as being available (ie, no customer has joined the first table), determining whether the first customer is allowed based at least on the table occupancy database Joining the first table may include determining that the first customer is allowed to join the first table.

In various embodiments, with respect to step 106, the table management module can be configured to store an indication or record in the table occupancy database that the first customer has been linked to the first table. For example, an indication or record of the first customer in the table occupancy database may be interpreted or classified as the first controller of the first table in accordance with various embodiments.

In various embodiments, regarding the step 108, the table management module can be configured to determine that the second customer is allowed to join the first table if the first table is detected/determined to be in an available state by the table occupancy database. a dining table. Furthermore, if it is also detected/decided that the first customer has been linked (eg, based on the table occupancy database), whether the second customer is allowed to join the first table is based on being associated with the first customer. The first customer authorization response of the first mobile communication device is further determined. In this regard, the first customer authorization response is in response to the meal The first management authorization request from the table management module to the first mobile communication device is attempted by the first customer to authorize whether the second customer is allowed to connect to the first dining table.

In various embodiments, with respect to the step 110, similar to the first controller, the table management module can be configured to store an indication or record in the table occupancy database that the second customer has joined the first table. . For example, the indication or record of the second customer in the table occupancy database can be interpreted or classified as a second controller of the first table in accordance with various embodiments. For example, if the first and second customers are assigned as the first and second controllers of the first table, they are the common controller of the first table (eg, have the same authority to decide whether to allow any new The customer joins the table).

In the case of the various embodiments, a customer who has joined a dining table (e.g., occupies the dining table) may only be referred to as a customer at the table.

Accordingly, various embodiments of the present invention advantageously provide a method of facilitating a management mechanism that enables a customer to manage table configuration/table assignments at the facility. As a result, in the case where the agency is a restaurant, the customer may no longer have to wait unnecessarily to find out if there is a table available at the restaurant and/or wait for the table to sit, even when the table is available. Time. For example, this is because the method advantageously eliminates the need for customer and restaurant staff reservations, or at least minimizes the need for customer and restaurant staff reservations in an attempt to obtain a table at the restaurant. As a result, the table dispensing phase can no longer be hampered by the skills and abilities of the restaurant staff responsible for handling the table assignments for the customer. As such, the customer's experience with the restaurant can be significantly improved. Moreover, due to the increase in efficiency in the distribution of the table, the turnover rate can also be improved, thus resulting in a potential increase in the revenue of the restaurant.

For example, those skilled in the art will be aware of various technical components such as, but not limited to, servers associated with the restaurant, databases (eg, table occupancy databases), and user devices (eg, customer mobile communication devices). Interacting with the method 100 for a large extent The management mechanism (e.g., for enabling customers to manage table assignments themselves in the restaurant) is a convenient way to address various specific or technical issues, such as those described above.

For example, various embodiments of the present invention advantageously assign customers who have joined a table at the restaurant as a controller (e.g., a common controller for the table), such that whether any new customer requests will be accepted to connect to the control of the same table To every customer. For example, if the first and second customers have joined the first table, the two customers are assigned to act as a controller for the first table. Accordingly, each customer at the table is provided with the opportunity to accept and/or reject new customers to join the table, thus advantageously providing control of the table to each customer at the table. Furthermore, since each of the customers who have joined the table is assigned to act as a controller for the table (eg, a common controller), in the case where the new customer has requested to join the table, the customer authorization reaction may be Provided by any of the customers at the table. In contrast to only one of the group of customers who have joined the table being assigned as a controller, since the table control among the group of customers is dispersed, this approach advantageously enhances the reliability of the method 100 (eg, Not easy to error). For example, if the battery of the customer's mobile communication device is dead, or if the customer of the mobile communication device is preempted by the other work on the mobile communication device or the new customer is unaware or neglected by the new customer Authorization request, if only one customer is assigned as a controller, a problem can occur.

In various embodiments, the method 100 further includes the step of receiving, by the table management module, a third table request by the third mobile communication device associated with the third customer at the third time point to join the first table. And the third time point is after the second time point; and, by the table management module, responding to the third table request, determining, according to the table occupancy database, whether the third customer is allowed to join the first table And if the first and second customers are detected to have joined the first table, the decision of whether the third customer is allowed to connect to the first table is further based on the first and second mobile communication devices Among the earliest customers authorized the response. For example, the third customer may be a friend of one of the customers at the table, and although at the meal Each of the customers of the table can accept a customer authorization request on its individual mobile communication device (ie, any of the customers at the table can authorize the new customer to join the same table) at the table The customer of the friend of the new customer may respond first and provide the customer with an authorized response to allow the new customer to join the same table. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the number of table requests (and the number of such customers) is not limited to three, and that fewer or more table requests may be based on the number of customers looking to join the table by the table management module. Received. For example, each new table request received may pass the same or similar process as the third table request.

In various embodiments, the method 100 further includes controlling, by the table management module, whether to process the first table request from the first mobile communication device based on the location of the first mobile communication device relative to the mechanism to determine the first Whether the customer is allowed to connect to the first table, and/or whether to process a second table request from the second mobile communication device to determine whether the second customer is allowed to connect based on the location of the second mobile communication device relative to the mechanism The first table. For example, whether to process a table request for a table in a restaurant may be based on whether the mobile communication device is determined to be in close proximity to the restaurant. For example, the control by the table management module can be implemented by setting a predetermined parameter (e.g., a predetermined distance) and determining whether the location of the mobile communication device satisfies the predetermined parameter (e.g., within the predetermined distance). For example, the table management module can receive a signal including a table request and location data of the mobile communication device. In this regard, the mobile communication device can include a positioning module capable of detecting/determining its position based on GPS and/or Wi-Fi signals, and generating the corresponding location data. When the location of the institution is known, the distance between the mobile communication device and the mechanism can be determined as such. Another technique may be based on time difference ranging (TOF) information transmitted by the server (eg, including a wireless beacon transceiver) and received by the mobile communication device (eg, a beacon). In this case, the distance between the mobile communication device and the mechanism can be determined based on the TOF of the signal. The predetermined parameters may be set by the institution as appropriate or as desired (e.g., the staff manages the institution). In various example embodiments, the predetermined parameter can be set, A table request from only customers near or very close to the restaurant will be processed. This advantageously provides the ability to control/filter to the institutional customer so that only customers who are able and ready to travel to the institution can request a table at the institution for various reasons (eg, unable to find the institution or change mind) The number of people who booked a seat but did not attend was minimized.

In various embodiments, the method 100 further includes, by the table management module, setting the state/condition of the first table to an available state when a predetermined time period expires, wherein one or more customers have been allowed to join the The first table has not been booked by any one of one or more customers. In other words, the time at which the table is joined by one or more customers, if the table is booked after a predetermined period of time and without any one of the one or more customers, the state of the table can then be changed to available by the occupancy. status. For example, this advantageously facilitates the detection of a person or customer who has booked a seat but does not attend, and then joins the table and then leaves the table (eg, changes mind) without notifying the staff of the institution. For example, if desired or as appropriate, the predetermined time period may be set by the institution (e.g., an employee who manages the institution).

In various embodiments, the assigning the first customer as the first controller of the first dining table includes connecting, by the table management module, an account associated with the first customer to the first dining table. In this regard, the account is established for the first customer's guest account if the first customer has not logged in, or for the first customer if the first customer has logged in Customer account. Similarly, assigning the second or new customer as the second or new controller of the first table may also include linking an account associated with the second customer or new customer to the first table. The account may also be for a guest account that was established for the second or new customer if the second or new customer has not logged in, or for the second or new customer if the second or new customer has logged in Personal customer account. For example, this provides flexibility to the customer to initially obtain a table using the guest account and then decide at a later stage to register or log in to the customer's personal account for the customer. For example, a customer account for an individual can be based on (for example) The customer account established by one or more detailed episodes of the customer, such as, but not limited to, one or more of a name, a phone number, an email address, a home address, a photo, and the like. For example, a guest account may be a customer account created without one or more detailed episodes of the corresponding customer.

In various embodiments, the method further includes, by the table management module, responding to the first customer being logged into the customer account for the individual by the guest account, and switching from the guest account to the customer account for the individual An account associated with the first customer linked to the first table. More particularly, the switch includes, if any, information transferred by the first customer to one or more items under the guest account to a reservation table to the customer account at the individual under. For example, if the customer account for the individual is only linked to the first table without performing the above switching, the customer account for the individual may be mistakenly treated as a new customer. Again, if it is considered a new customer, a new table request may be required by the new customer, and such customer authorization response may be required by the previous guest account. However, this customer authorization response could not be obtained because the previous guest account has been logged out. Thus, as an example, the above-described switching advantageously addresses this issue and enhances usability (eg, minimizes any inconvenience to the customer) as one or more of the customers are added to a reservation table. Items are also transferred to the account being logged in (for individual customer accounts).

In various embodiments, the method 100 further includes a second mobile communication device associated with the second customer, wherein the server maintains the first customer via the first action by the subscription management module The step of adding the communication device to the first current list of one or more items of the first order table; and maintaining, by the order management module, the first mobile communication device associated with the first customer The step of the second customer adding to the second current list of one or more items of the second order table via the second mobile communication device. In other words, the current list added to one or more of the items by the customer (such as a shopping cart) is also supplied to other customers who have joined the table, so that other customers may also have their own mobile communication devices. One or more of the customers joined by the customer Access to the current list of items (eg, viewable). For example, any changes made by the customer at their booking table can be immediately reflected at the table to other customers. For example, this provides a number of advantages, including the ability for the customer to see what other customers are ordering (eg, to get an idea), and also enables the customer to selectively pay for any one or more of the orders made by other customers at the table. , as the customer wants.

In various embodiments, the method 100 further includes the server receiving, by the payment module, a first payment request by the first mobile communication device associated with the first customer to pay at least the second subscription table, or Receiving, by the second mobile communication device associated with the second customer, a second payment request to pay at least the first subscription table; and transmitting, by the payment module, the first payment request notification to the second action The communication device is configured to set the second subscription table in the locked state on the second mobile communication device to prevent the second subscription table from being modified by the second customer in response to the first payment request, or to be second Sending a payment request notification to the first mobile communication device for setting the first subscription table to be in a locked state on the first mobile communication device to prevent the first subscription table from being responded to by the second payment request by the first A step modified by a customer. For example, the payment module can receive a payment request from a mobile communication device associated with the customer to pay for the customer's reservation table and a reservation table for one or more other customers made at the table by other customers. In response to the payment request, the payment module can be constructed to send a payment request notification to each mobile communication device of the one or more other customers, the subscription table of the one or more other customers has requested to be paid by the payment The customer pays. In particular, the payment request notification can be configured to set the subscription table on the individual mobile communication device to be in a locked state to prevent the subscription table on the individual mobile communication device from being modified by the individual customer. In other words, the ordering function on each individual mobile communication device can be disabled. For example, this advantageously avoids any mismatch or discrepancy between the booking table in the payment process and the actual booking table.

In various embodiments, the method 100 further includes, by using the payment module, Sending the first payment confirmation notice to the second mobile communication device when the second mobile communication device pays the second subscription device, or confirming the second payment when paying the first reservation table via the second mobile communication device The notification is sent to the first mobile communication device. In other words, if the payment for the reservation belonging to one customer has been successfully made at the table by another customer (via its mobile communication device), a payment confirmation notice will be sent to the customer (ie, to it) The mobile communication device) to inform the customer that his/her reservation has been paid. For example, a pre-determined booking and payment completion page (eg, thank you for paying for the page) can then be displayed to the customer.

In various embodiments, the method 100 further includes the server, when being submitted or paid by the server, sending the first order table and/or the second order table to a display device (eg, a kitchen display) Means for displaying information of the first reservation table and/or the second reservation table; receiving, by the kitchen module, a first one indicating that one or more items of the first reservation table are prepared The ordering table is ready to input and/or indicate that one or more items of the second ordering table are prepared for the second ordering table to be ready for input; and by the kitchen module, responding to the first order received The table is ready to input a first reservation ready notification to the first mobile communication device to indicate that one or more items of the first reservation table are ready, and/or in response to the received second reservation The good input is to send a second reservation ready notification to the second mobile communication device to indicate that one or more items of the second reservation table are ready steps. For example, the food preparation area of the restaurant (which may alternatively be referred to as a "kitchen") may have display means constructed to display information of one or more booking desks to the kitchen staff to prepare the order table. Once the preparation of the booking table has been completed, the kitchen staff can be via a user interface (eg, a graphical user interface (GUI)), such as a touch screen or input device (eg, a keyboard and/or a mouse) via the display device. The booking table is ready for input to the kitchen module. Upon receiving the subscription ready input, the kitchen module may then generate a reservation ready notification and send a reservation ready notification to the mobile communication device to notify the customer of the subscription via the mobile communication device. The table is ready. The customer can then perceive that the ordered item will be delivered soon, or as If the restaurant is self-service, the customer can then continue to retrieve the item at the pick-up counter.

Accordingly, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the method 100 in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention can advantageously enable a customer to self-manage table assignments at an institution (e.g., a restaurant) and improve the customer experience at the institution, such as The overall dining experience in the restaurant and improve the management of the institution, such as maximizing or optimizing the table occupancy.

2A depicts a block diagram of a method 200 for facilitating management of a mechanism comprising a plurality of dining tables, such as corresponding to a method 100 for facilitating a management mechanism in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention as previously described, in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention. In various embodiments, the system 200 can correspond to, or can be embodied as, a server associated with the mechanism.

The system 200 includes a memory 202 and at least one processor 204 communicatively coupled to the memory 202, and is configured to receive a first mobile communication device associated with the first customer at a first time point. a table request to join the first table of the plurality of tables, and at a second point in time, a second table request is received by the second mobile communication device associated with the second customer to join the first table, the second time point After the first time point; in response to the first table request, determining whether the first customer is allowed to join based on at least one table occupancy database stored in the server and associated with the plurality of tables a first table; if the first customer is determined to allow the first table to be joined, the first customer is assigned as the first controller of the first table; in response to the second table request, based on the table occupancy database Determining whether the second customer is allowed to join the first table, and if the first customer is detected to have joined the first table, the determining whether the second customer is allowed to join the first table Further based on a first customer authorization response from the first mobile communication device associated with the first customer, the first customer authorization response is in response to a first customer authorization request from the system 200 to the first mobile communication device, And attempting to authorize the second customer to allow the second customer to join the first table; and if the second customer is determined to allow the first table to be joined, assigning the second customer as the second of the first table Controller.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the at least one processor 204 can be configured to perform the desired functions or operations via a set of instructions (eg, a software module) executable by the at least one processor 204 for execution. The function or operation required. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 2A, the system 200 can additionally include a table management module or circuit 206 configured to receive a first table request by a first mobile communication device associated with the first customer at a first point in time. Connecting a first table of the plurality of dining tables, and receiving, by a second mobile communication device associated with the second customer, a second table request to join the first table at a second time point, the second time point being in the first After a time point; in response to the first table request, determining whether the first customer is allowed to join the first table based on at least one table occupancy database stored in the server and associated with the plurality of tables; If the first customer is determined to allow the first table to be joined, the first customer is assigned as the first controller of the first table; in response to the second table request, the second is determined based on the table occupancy database Whether the customer is allowed to join the first table, and if the first customer is detected to have joined the first table, the determining whether the first customer is allowed to join the first table is based on Responding to a first customer authorization response of the first mobile communication device associated with the first customer, the first customer authorization response being in response to a first customer authorization request from the system 200 to the first mobile communication device, Whether the first customer authorizes the second customer to join the first table; and if the second customer is determined to allow the first table to be joined, the second customer is assigned to act as the second controller of the first table. Accordingly, the at least one processor 204 can be constructed to execute computer-executable instructions (such as, for example, the table management module 206 and other modules, as appropriate) to perform one or more of the desired or desired functions. And the memory (computer readable storage medium) 202 can be communicatively coupled to the processor 204 and can store one or more computer executable sets of instructions therein (eg, as appropriate, for example The table management module 206 and other modules).

In various embodiments, the system 200 corresponds to the one described above with reference to FIG. The method 100, therefore, the various functions or operations that are constructed to be performed by the at least one processor 204 may correspond to the various steps of the method 100 described above, and thus are used for clarity and conciseness without being relative to the system 200. Repeated. In other words, the various embodiments described herein for the individual system or device are similarly effective in the context of the method, and vice versa.

For example, in various embodiments, the memory 202 can have stored therein a subscription management module, a payment module, and/or a kitchen module, as previously described with respect to the method 100 in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention. The description may be performed by the at least one processor 204 to perform the corresponding functions/operations as described.

2B depicts a schematic block diagram of a system 250 that facilitates managing a mechanism including a plurality of dining tables in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention, which may be the same or similar to system 200 described with reference to FIG. 2A, except that the system 250 further includes Various embodiments of the invention are stored in addition to one or more additional modules in the memory 202, such as the table management module 252, the payment module 254, and/or the kitchen described above in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention. Module 256.

3 depicts an overview flow diagram of a method 300 (computer implementable method) for facilitating table management in a facility comprising a plurality of dining tables. Similarly, as previously described, the mechanism can be a facility, such as a restaurant, that provides food and/or beverages to the customer's business. In various embodiments, the method 300 can correspond to functions/operations performed by a mobile communication device associated with a customer (eg, the customer's mobile communication device). In various embodiments, the method 300 can be related to the method 100 as described above, in the sense that the method 300 corresponds to functions/operations performed at the user/customer end (eg, by The customer has an associated mobile communication device. Conversely, the method 100 corresponds to the function/operation at the server/mechanism end (e.g., by a server associated with the mechanism). Thus, it can be appreciated that, from the perspective of the user/client, the various steps of the method 100 described above in accordance with various embodiments may also be applicable to the method 300.

The method 300 includes, by a table management module, a first mobile communication device associated with a first customer, sending a first table request to a server associated with the institution at a first time in response to the first a first table selection input on a mobile communication device, the step 302 of inputting the first table of the plurality of dining tables; and in response to the first table request, receiving, by the table management module, an indication of whether the first customer is allowed to be connected The first table server authorization reaction step 304, the server authorization reaction being determined by the server based on a table occupancy database associated with a plurality of tables stored in the server, and if one or a plurality of other customers are detected to be connected to the first table, the server authorization reaction being further determined based on a customer authorization response from one of the one or more other customers; by the table management module, based on the receipt The server authorization reaction determines whether to join the first table step 306; and the table management module, if the first customer is detected to have joined the first table, Step 308 of requesting a new customer authorization request by the server from a new customer requesting connection to the first table; and responding to the new customer authorization request, based on the table management module, based on The customer authorization input on the first mobile communication device provides a new customer authorization response to the server step 310.

With respect to step 302, as described above with respect to step 102 of the method 100, in response to the first table selection input by the first customer on the first mobile communication device, the first table request may be by the Generated by the first mobile communication device. The first table selection input corresponds to a table at a plurality of tables of the mechanism, and the first customer associated with the first mobile communication device wants to connect or obtain the table. In other words, by sending the first table request to the server, the first customer is requesting the server to join the first table.

With respect to step 304, the server authorization response may be generated by the server and sent to the first mobile communication device based on its decision as to whether the first customer is allowed to connect to the first table. For example, the server authorizes the response to be a positive response, such as "acceptance." To indicate that the first customer is allowed to join the first table, otherwise the server authorization reaction may be a negative reaction, such as "reject" to indicate that the first customer is not allowed to join the first table. Similarly, as previously described with respect to steps 104 and 108, determining whether the first customer is permitted to join the first table may be based on a table occupancy database associated with a plurality of tables stored at the server, and if One or more other customers are detected (eg, based on the table occupancy database) that have been linked to the first table, whether the first customer is allowed to join the first table and based on one of one or more other customers The customer is authorized to react at the first table.

In step 306, if the server authorizes the reaction to react positively, the table management module can be constructed to determine the connection to the first table. Otherwise, if the server authorizes the reaction to react negatively, the table management module can be built. The composition decides not to join the first table.

In step 308, if the first customer is detected to have joined the first table (and thus, the controller of the first table), the first mobile communication device associated with the first customer, if from the new The customer receives a new table request to join the first table to be received by the server, and the table management module can receive a new customer authorization request from the server. In this regard, as a controller of the first table, the first customer is provided with accepting the new customer (eg, if the new customer is a friend that the first customer is expecting) or rejecting the new customer ( For example, if the first customer is not expecting an opportunity for anyone or the first customer does not know the new customer. Accordingly, with respect to step 310, the first customer's decision can be entered on the first mobile communication device as a customer authorization input, which can then be sent to the server as a new customer authorization response. Similarly, the new customer authorization response may be a positive response, such as "acceptance" to indicate that the new customer is allowed to join the first table, otherwise the new customer authorization response may be a negative reaction, such as "reject" to indicate The new customer is not allowed to join the first table.

Similarly, as previously described with respect to the method 100, the method 300 for facilitating table management in accordance with various embodiments can advantageously allow a customer to self-administer meals at an institution such as a restaurant. Table configuration / table assignment. As a result, in an example where the institution is a restaurant, the customer may no longer have to wait unnecessarily to find out if there is a table available at the restaurant and/or sit on the table without waiting, even when the table is available. . This is because, for example, the method advantageously eliminates the need for the customer to make a reservation to the restaurant staff, or at least minimizes the need to try to get a table at the restaurant. As a result, the table allocation phase may no longer be hampered by the skills and abilities of the restaurant staff responsible for managing the table assignment for the customer. As such, the customer's experience with the restaurant can be significantly improved. Moreover, due to the increased efficiency in the distribution of the table, the turnover rate can also be improved, thus resulting in a potential increase in revenue in the restaurant.

For example, it can be understood by those skilled in the art that various technical components such as, but not limited to, servers associated with the institution, databases (eg, table occupancy databases), and user devices (eg, customer mobile communications) The apparatus) interacts with the method 300 of the facilitating organization to a significant extent (e.g., enables the customer to manage the table assignments themselves in the restaurant) and thereby facilitates the resolution of various specific or technical issues, such as those described above.

In various embodiments, the method 300 further includes maintaining, by the account management module, the account associated with the first customer after the first customer has been allowed to connect to the first customer. In this regard, when the first customer is allowed to join the first table, such as in the table occupancy database, the account is linked to the first table for use as the first customer An indication or record of the first table has been allowed to be joined. For example, the indication or record of the first customer in the table occupancy database can be interpreted or classified as the first controller of the first table in accordance with various embodiments. Furthermore, as previously described with respect to the method 100, if the first customer has not logged in, the account is a guest account established for the first customer, or if the first customer has logged in, the account is established A customer account for the first customer for the individual.

In various embodiments, the method 300 can additionally include managing the module by the account. a group, in response to the first customer being logged into the customer account for the individual by the guest account, switching from the guest account to the customer account for the individual and an account associated with the first customer linked to the first table . More particularly, if any, the switching includes transmitting, by the first customer, information of one or more items added to a reservation under the guest account to the customer account at the individual under. For example, the above switching by the account management module may include receiving login information (such as a username and password) by the first customer and including account information (such as a username and password) for each recorded customer. The account database, such as a server associated with the institution, confirms the login information. If the login information is successfully confirmed (ie, matches the corresponding account information stored in the account database), if any, along with the transmission of information on one or more items added to the reservation (eg Moving or copying, by the first customer under the guest account to be under the customer account for the individual, the account at the first mobile communication device will then be switched to the customer account of the corresponding individual . When the first customer is logged into the customer account for the individual by the guest account, the customer account for the first customer for the individual will also be linked to the first table instead of the guest account.

In various embodiments, the method 300 further includes, by the subscription management module, the first mobile communication device, if the second customer is detected to be connected to the first dining table, received by the server by the second a step of adding current information to the one or more items of the second reservation table; and providing access to current information associated with the second reservation table received by the first mobile communication device for display The steps. For example, the order management module of the first mobile communication device is not only constructed to receive information on items attached to the reservation table by the first customer associated with the first mobile communication device, but is also constructed Information on items attached to one or more other reservations (eg, all other reservations) is received at the same table by one or more customers, respectively. Further, information that is added to the item of one or more other reservations by the corresponding one or more other customers can be accessed for display on the first mobile communication device. For example, each order table can be presented separately from each other or Accessing and being selectable on the first mobile communication device by the first customer (e.g., a selectable column in the GUI) for viewing. For example, this provides a number of advantages, including for the customer to see what other customers are ordering (eg, having an idea) and also enabling the customer to selectively pay for any one or more of the other bookings made by other customers at the table. Ability, as the customer wants.

In various embodiments, the method 300 further includes receiving, by the payment module, the first payment option input on the first mobile communication device to at least pay the second subscription via the first mobile communication device by the first customer. And the step of, by the payment module, inputting, by the first mobile communication device, the first payment request to the server based on the first payment option. For example, in accordance with the payment option input by the customer, the payment module of the mobile communication device of the customer may generate a payment request to pay the customer's reservation table and by the corresponding one or more other customers. A table made by one or more other customers. For example, as described above, the customer is able to view a reservation table of one or more other reservations made at the table by the corresponding one or more other customers, and thus may also select one of these other reservations or Multiple for payment. The payment request can then be sent to the server for further processing, such as described above with respect to method 100 in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention. For example, in response to the request for payment, at the server, the payment module can be configured to send a payment request notification to each of the one or more other customers, the subscription table has been requested by This is being paid by the customer. In particular, the payment request notification can be configured to set the subscription to the locked state on the individual mobile communication device to prevent the subscription on the individual mobile communication device from being modified by the individual customer. In other words, the ordering function on each individual mobile communication device can be disabled. For example, this advantageously avoids any mismatch or discrepancy between the booking table in the payment process and the actual booking table.

Accordingly, in various embodiments, the method 300 further includes receiving, by the server, a payment request notification by the server through the subscription management module, the payment request The notification is in response to the second payment request from the second mobile communication device to the server to pay for at least one first reservation table joined by the first customer on the first mobile communication device; In response to the payment request notification, the order management module sets the first reservation table on the first mobile communication device in a locked state for preventing the first reservation table from being modified by the first customer.

In various embodiments, the method 300 further includes, by the subscription management module, setting the first subscription table to be in a free state for allowing the first subscription desk to be modified when the predetermined time period expires. Where the payment request notification has been received and no payment confirmation notification for the first subscription has been received by the first mobile communication device by the server. In other words, the time when the payment request notification has been received by the mobile communication device (and thus, the subscription function on the mobile communication device is disabled), if not used for the mobile communication device during the predetermined time period After the payment confirmation notification of the made booking has been received by the mobile communication device, the booking function on the mobile communication device can then be restored to a free or normal state for allowing the booking to be modified. For example, if desired or as appropriate, the predetermined time period may be set by the institution (e.g., an employee of the institution).

In various embodiments, the method 300 further includes the step of receiving, by the server, a first subscription ready notification by the server, the first subscription ready notification is reflected by the servo And receiving, by the device, one or more items of the first reservation table are ready for the first reservation table; and presenting (eg, displaying or stimulating a sound) the first subscription on the first mobile communication device The steps to prepare the notice for the table. For example, as previously described with respect to method 100 in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention, a food preparation area of a restaurant may have a display that is configured to display information on one or more reservations to the kitchen clerk to prepare the display of the reservation. Device. Once the preparation of the booking table has been completed, the kitchen staff can provide a reservation table for input via a user interface (eg, a GUI), such as a touch screen or input device (eg, a keyboard and/or a mouse) via the display device. To the kitchen module. The kitchen module can then be generated and accessed via the servo when the booking is ready for input. The server sends a reservation ready notification to the mobile communication device to inform the customer that the subscription table made by the mobile communication device is ready. The received subscription ready notification can then be presented on the mobile communication device, such as by displaying a notification of a sudden rise on the GUI or urging an audible notification. The customer can then perceive that the ordered item will be delivered quickly, or if the restaurant is self-service, the customer can then proceed to retrieve the item at the pick-up counter.

Accordingly, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the method 300 in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention can advantageously enable a customer to self-manage table assignments at an institution (e.g., a restaurant) and improve the customer's experience at the institution, such as The overall dining experience at the restaurant, and improved management of the institution, such as maximizing or optimizing the table occupancy ratio.

4 depicts a schematic block diagram of a system 400 that facilitates managing a mechanism comprising a plurality of dining tables, such as corresponding to a method 300 for facilitating management of a dining table at a facility comprising a plurality of dining tables in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention. In various embodiments, the system 400 can correspond to, or can be embodied as, a mobile communication device associated with a customer, such as, but not limited to, a smart phone, a smart watch, a tablet, and the like.

The mobile communication device 400 includes a memory 402 and at least one processor 404 communicatively coupled to the memory 402, and is configured to: send the first table request to a mechanism including a plurality of tables at a first time point Corresponding server, in response to the first table selection input on the first mobile communication device 400, coupled to the first table of the plurality of dining tables, the mobile communication device 400 is associated with the first customer; The first table request receives a server authorization response indicating whether the first customer is allowed to connect to the first table, the server authorization reaction based on a table occupancy database associated with a plurality of tables stored in the server Determined by the server, and if one or more other customers are detected to have joined the first table, the server authorization response is further based on a customer authorization reaction from one of the one or more other customers Decide; decide whether to join the first table based on the received server authorization response; in response to Receiving a new customer authorization request by the server from the new customer requesting the new table request; and responding to the new customer authorization request, based on the customer authorization input at the first mobile communication device, the new A customer authorization response is provided to the server. For example, the first table selection input or any other user input on the mobile communication device can be made via one or more input modules supported by the mobile communication device 400, such as, but not limited to, a touch screen, A microphone, camera, and/or one or more virtual buttons.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the at least one processor 404 can be configured to perform the desired functions or operations via a set of instructions (eg, a software module) executable by the at least one processor 404 for execution. The function or operation required. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 4, the mobile communication device 400 can further include a table management module or circuit 408 configured to send the first table request to the institution containing the plurality of tables at the first point in time. a server, in response to a first table selection input on the first mobile communication device 400, coupled to the first table of the plurality of dining tables, the mobile communication device 400 being associated with the first customer; and responsive to the Receiving, by the first table request, a server authorization response indicating whether the first customer is allowed to connect to the first table, the server authorization reaction is based on a table occupancy database associated with a plurality of tables stored in the server Determined by the server, and if one or more other customers are detected to have joined the first table, the server authorization reaction is further determined based on a customer authorization response from one of the one or more other customers Determining whether to join the first table based on the received server authorization response; responding to a new table request from the new customer requesting to join the first table, by the servo Receiving a new customer authorization request; and in response to the new customer authorization request, providing a new customer authorization response to the server based on the customer authorization input at the first mobile communication device. Accordingly, the processor 404 can be configured to execute computer executable instructions (eg, such as a suitable table management module 408 and other modules) to perform one or more desired or desired functions, and The memory (computer readable storage medium) 402 can be communicatively coupled to the at least one processor 404 and can be One or more computer executable instruction sets have been stored (eg, such as appropriate table management module 408 and other modules).

In various embodiments, the mobile communication device 400 corresponds to the method 300 as previously described with reference to FIG. 1. Accordingly, various functions or operations constructed to be performed by the at least one processor 404 may correspond to the foregoing description. The various steps of method 300, and thus so clear and concise, need not be repeated with respect to the mobile communication device 400. In other words, the various embodiments described herein are similarly valid for individual systems or devices, and vice versa, in the case of the method.

For example, in various embodiments, the memory 402 can additionally have an account management module, a subscription management module, and/or a payment module stored therein, as previously described with respect to the method 300 in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention. As described, it can be executed by the at least one processor 404 to perform the corresponding functions/operations as described.

5 depicts a schematic block diagram of a mobile communication device 450 that facilitates the management of a table containing a plurality of dining tables, which may be the same or similar to the mobile communication device 400 described with reference to FIG. 4, except for the action, in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention. The communication device 450 further includes one or more additional modules stored in the memory 402, such as an account management module 452, a subscription management module 454, and/or a payment module 456, in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention. As described above in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention.

A computing system, controller, microcontroller, or any other system that provides processing power can be provided in accordance with various embodiments in the present disclosure. Such a system can be employed to include one or more processors and one or more computer readable storage media. For example, the system 200/250 described above can be a device or system including a processor (or controller) 204 and a computer readable storage medium (or memory) 202, such as is used in Various treatments are as described herein. The memory or computer readable storage medium used in various embodiments may be For example, DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) volatile memory, or such as PROM (programmable read-only memory), EPROM (erasable programmable read-only memory), EEPROM (electrically erasable Non-volatile memory or flash memory of stylized read-only memory, such as floating memory, charge trapping memory, MRAM (magnetoresistive random access memory) or PCRAM (phase change random access) Memory).

In various embodiments, a "circuit" can be understood to be any type of logic implementing entity, which can be a special purpose circuitry or processor that executes software stored in memory, firmware, or any combination thereof. Thus, in one embodiment, a "circuit" can be a hardwired logic circuit or a programmable logic circuit, such as a programmable processor, such as a microprocessor (eg, a complex instruction set computer (CISC) processor or a reduced instruction. Set computer (RISC) processor). The "circuit" can also be a processor, executing software, such as any computer program, such as a computer program that uses virtual machine code, such as Java. In accordance with various alternative embodiments, any other implementation of the individual functions, which are described in greater detail below, may also be understood as "circuitry." Similarly, a "module" can be part of a system in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention and can encompass a "circuitry" as above, or any logical implementation entity that can be understood to be from there.

Portions of the present disclosure are expressly or implicitly presented in terms of algorithms and functional representations of functions and operations on data in a computer memory. These calculus narratives and functional or symbolic representations are those familiar to those skilled in the art of processing data to convey the content of their work most efficiently to those skilled in the art. The algorithm is here, and generally, conceived as a self-consistent sequence of steps leading to the desired result. These steps are those that require a physical quantity of physical operators, such as electrical, magnetic or optical signals that can be stored, transferred, combined, compared, and otherwise manipulated.

Unless explicitly stated otherwise, and as will become apparent hereinafter, it will be appreciated that throughout the specification, such as "receiving", "decision", "dispatching", "maintaining", The terms "connected", "sent", "switched" and the like mean the function and process of a computer system, or similar electronic device, the manipulation thereof and the data to be represented as physical quantities within the computer system are converted to similarly expressed as The computer system or other information stores, transmits or displays other data of physical quantities within the device.

This specification also discloses systems, devices or devices for performing the operations/functions of the methods described herein. Such a system, apparatus or device may be specially made for the required purpose, or may comprise a general purpose computer or another device selectively activated or reconfigured by a computer program stored in the computer. The algorithms presented herein are not inherently related to any particular computer or device. Various general purpose machines can be used with computer programs in accordance with the teachings herein. Alternatively, the construction of a more specialized apparatus that performs the required method steps may be suitable.

In addition, this specification also implicitly discloses at least a computer program or a software/function module, which will become apparent to those skilled in the art that the individual steps of the methods described herein can be implemented by computer code. . This computer program is not intended to be limited to any particular programming language or practice. It will be appreciated that various programming languages and their encodings can be used to implement the teachings of the disclosure contained herein. Furthermore, the computer program is not intended to be limited to any particular control process. There are many other variations to this computer program that can use different control processes without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Those skilled in the art will appreciate the various modules described herein (e.g., table management module 206, order management module 252, payment module 254, kitchen module 256, table management module 408, account management module). The group 452, the order management module 454 and/or the payment module 456) can be a software module implemented by a computer program or a set of instructions executable by a computer processor to perform the required functions, or A hardware module that is a functional hardware unit that is designed to perform the required functions. It will also be appreciated that a combination of hardware and software modules can be implemented.

Furthermore, one of the steps of the computer program/module or method described herein or Multiples can be performed in parallel rather than continuously. This computer program can be stored on any computer readable medium. The computer readable medium can include storage devices such as a magnetic or optical disk, a memory chip, or other storage device suitable for interfacing with a general purpose computer. A computer program that is loaded and executed on a general purpose computer results in a device that implements the steps of the methods described herein.

In various embodiments, a first computer program product is provided, embodied in one or more computer readable storage media (non-transitory computer readable storage media), including one or more An instruction executed by the computer processor (eg, the table management module 206, the order management module 252, the payment module 254, and/or the kitchen module 256) to implement the method 100 for facilitating management, as in the foregoing This is described with reference to FIG. Accordingly, various computer programs or modules described herein can be stored in a computer program product, which can be in a system (eg, a computer system or an electronic device), such as the systems shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B. The 200/250 is received for execution by at least one processor 204 of the system 200/250 to perform the desired or desired function.

In various embodiments, a second computer program product is provided, embodied in one or more computer readable storage media (non-transitory computer readable storage media), including one or more The instructions executed by the computer processor 404 (eg, the table management module 408, the account management module 452, the order management module 454, and/or the payment module 456) to implement a method for facilitating table management at the institution 300, as previously described with reference to FIG. Accordingly, various computer programs or modules described herein can be stored in a computer program product, which can be used in a mobile communication device, such as the mobile communication device 400/450 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. The receiving is performed by at least one processor 404 of the mobile communication device 400/450 to perform the desired or desired function.

The software or functional modules described herein can also be implemented as hardware modules. More particularly, in this hardware sense, the modules are designed as functional hardware units for use with other components or modules. For example, a module can be implemented using discrete electronic components. Or it can form part of an entire electronic circuit, such as an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC). There are many other possibilities. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the software or functional modules described herein can also be implemented as a combination of hardware and software modules.

The system 200/250 can be implemented by any computer system (e.g., mobile power or desktop computer system), such as computer system 600, as shown generally in Figure 6 and is merely exemplary and not limiting. Various methods/steps or functional modules (eg, the table management module 206, the order management module 252, the payment module 254, and/or the kitchen module 256) can be implemented as software, such as in A computer program executed within computer system 600 and instructing computer system 600 (in particular, one or more of the processors) to perform the methods/functions of the various embodiments described herein. The computer system 600 can include a computer module 602, input modules such as a keyboard 604 and a mouse 606, and a plurality of output devices such as a display 608 and a printer 610. The computer module 602 can be coupled to the computer network 612 via a suitable transceiver device 614 to enable access to, for example, the Internet or other network system, such as a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN). . The computer module 602 in this example can include a processor 618, a random access memory (RAM) 620, and a read only memory (ROM) 622 for executing various instructions. The computer module 602 can also include a number of input/output (I/O) interfaces, such as an I/O interface 624 to the display 608, and an I/O interface 626 to the keyboard 604. The components of the computer module 602 are typically communicated via an interconnect bus 628 and in a manner known to those skilled in the relevant art.

The mobile communication device 400/450 can be implemented by any mobile communication device (such as a smart phone, a smart watch, a tablet, etc.), such as shown schematically in FIG. 7 and only as an example and unlimited action. Communication device 700. Various methods/steps or functional modules (eg, the table management module 408, the account management module 452, the order management module 454, and/or the payment module 456) can be implemented as software, such as One or more computer programs executed within the mobile communication device 700 and indicating the mobile communication device 700 (in particular, at one or more of them) The method is to perform the methods/functions of the various embodiments described herein.

The communication device 700 can include a processor module 702, an input module such as a numeric keypad 704, and an output module such as display 706. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the display 706 can be a touch sensitive display, and thus an input module can be constructed in addition to or in lieu of the numeric keypad 704. That is, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the numeric keypad 704 can be omitted by the communication device as desired or as appropriate. The processor module 702 is coupled to a first communication unit 708 for communicating with the cellular network 710. The first communication unit 708 can include, but is not limited to, a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card loading rack. The cellular network 710 can be, for example, a 3G or 4G network. The processor module 702 is further coupled to the second communication unit 712 for connection to the area network 714. For example, the connection can be wired/wireless communication and/or accessed to, for example, the internet or other network system, such as a local area network (LAN), a wireless private area network (WPAN), or a wide area network (WAN). The second communication unit 712 can include, but is not limited to, a wireless network card or an Ethernet cable. In this example, the processor module 702 includes a processor 716, a random access memory (RAM) 718, and a read only memory (ROM) 720. The processor module 702 also includes a number of input/output (I/O) interfaces, such as an I/O interface 722 to the display 706, and an I/O interface 724 to the numeric keypad 704. The components of the processor module 702 are typically communicated via the interconnect bus 726 and in a manner known to those skilled in the relevant art. Various software or applications (or may be referred to herein simply as "apps") may be pre-installed in the memory of the mobile communication device 700 or may be read by reading the memory in which the applications have been stored. The card is transferred to the memory of the mobile communication device 700 by wirelessly downloading it from an application server (eg, an online app store).

Those skilled in the art will understand that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing various embodiments and is not intended to limit the invention. As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" are also intended to include the plural. This context is not explicitly indicated otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms "comprises" and/or "comprising", when used in this specification, designate the stated features, complete things, steps, operations, components, and / or the existence of a component, but does not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, complete things, steps, operations, components, components, and / or groups thereof.

FIG. 8 depicts a schematic diagram illustrating an overview of a system 800 including a server 802 and one or more mobile communication devices 804, 806 in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention. The server 802 can be implemented by the system 200/250 that facilitates the management mechanism, as previously described with reference to Figures 2A and 2B, and the mobile communication device 804/806 can be facilitated by the institution managing the mobile communication device 400/450 of the table. Implementation is as previously described with reference to Figures 4 and 5. The mobile communication device 804/806 and the server 802 can communicate with one another via any wireless communication protocol known in the art, such as, but not limited to, a cellular network (eg, 3G, 4G, or LTE), a Wi-Fi network. Road, Bluetooth, etc., and so are not necessarily described in detail herein.

The various exemplary embodiments of the present invention are to be construed as illustrative and not restrict However, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the present invention may be embodied in a variety of different forms or configurations and is not to be construed as being limited to the example embodiments set forth below. Rather, these examples are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and the scope of the invention will be fully disclosed to those skilled in the art.

In particular, the various exemplary embodiments of the present invention will now be described with respect to the structure of the restaurant, for a better understanding of the present invention and a non-limiting or general loss. However, as discussed above, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention is not limited to a restaurant, and that various other types of mechanisms are also within the scope of the present invention as long as the institution is providing food and/or beverage to the customer. In business.

Various example embodiments provide for a table management system for use in a restaurant (e.g., corresponding to the "System" 200/250 described above in accordance with various embodiments) that enables a customer (user) to manage the acquisition and occupation of the table, And accept or reject new customers to join the same table. For example, various traditional restaurant management systems may require restaurant staff to update the status of the dining table in the restaurant on an electronic display device. In contrast, various exemplary embodiments of the present invention advantageously attempt to automate the process of managing a table in a restaurant, instead of relying on a restaurant clerk, such as by enabling the customer to manage table assignments at the restaurant automatically (eg, without a restaurant clerk) Maintain the latest status of these tables.

According to various exemplary embodiments, the table management system assigns one or more customers coupled to a table to a corresponding one or more controllers of the table. For example, a first customer who successfully connects a table (e.g., an empty table) will be assigned to the controller of the table. The controller will then be provided with the ability to accept or reject subsequent new customers to join the table. In various exemplary embodiments, each of all customers who have successfully joined a table is assigned a controller (common controller) for the table. For example, this avoids various problems associated with the table as one of the controllers that have just a majority of customers, such as when needed (eg, when a new customer is attempting to join the table), the single control The device can be busy or can be a mobile device that cannot be used.

In various example embodiments, the customer may initially obtain a table using the guest account and may then decide to register or log in to the user account at a later stage. In this regard, various example embodiments of the present invention perform a switching/switching operation to switch/replace the guest account with the user account (e.g., corresponding to the "customer account for an individual" as described above in accordance with various embodiments. ), and transfer all items ordered under the guest account into the user account. For example, this avoids the problem that the customer is considered a new customer after having logged in and will then have to re-acquire the table, but the table is still occupied by the guest account (belonging to the customer itself before the customer logs in). It is still the controller at the table.

In various exemplary embodiments, the system is constructed to automatically release the table after the table is occupied by one or more multi-customers (i.e., change to an available state) and is not in any of the customers. A table booked at or after the scheduled time. For example, this advantageously solves a problem whereby the customer can thus join or occupy a table, but then decides to leave the restaurant without having to book a table. For example, the restaurant may set an appropriate time period in the system as a predetermined time period in the table management module.

Various exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide a technical solution to table management in a restaurant without the need for restaurant staff to intervene.

By way of an example, a customer can select a table in a restaurant to connect via his or her mobile device. If the table is detected as unoccupied by the table occupancy database by a system associated with the restaurant, the customer may be accepted by the system to allow the table to be joined, and further, by the system A controller assigned to the table. For example, as a controller, the customer has the ability to add more customers (such as friends) to the table. In this regard, each of the customers who have successfully connected the table is also the controller of the table. In various example embodiments, when a new customer requests to join the table, the system can be constructed such that all customers at the table will accept the request (e.g., corresponding to the "customer authorization request" described above in accordance with various embodiments. ), and each customer has an opportunity to choose whether to accept or reject the request. In various example embodiments, the system can be configured to determine whether the new customer is permitted to join the first table based on an earliest response received by the customer at the table (eg, corresponding to the foregoing in accordance with various embodiments) Describe the "customer authorization response").

In various exemplary embodiments, the system is constructed such that each customer at the table is able to view all other bookings (e.g., shopping carts) of all other customers at the table on their individual mobile devices. Furthermore, the system can be constructed to enable the customer to copy items ordered from one or more other reservations made by other customers at the table, and to add such items. To the table. In this regard, the system can be constructed such that any changes in the order made by the customer (eg, item additions, item updates, item deletions) will be immediately reflected to all other customers at the table (eg By maintaining the latest order of all other customers at the table in each customer's mobile device.

For illustrative purposes only, FIG. 9 depicts an exemplary overview of a restaurant 902 in accordance with various exemplary embodiments of the present invention. As shown, the restaurant 902 includes a plurality of dining tables 904 and a number of systems and/or devices, including a POS (point of sale) system 906, a kitchen display (or kitchen screen) 908, a waiter display (or waiter screen) 910. And a printer 912. As an example, Figure 9 also illustrates the state of the restaurant, whereby two customers have joined the dining table 1, and three customers have joined the dining table 2, whereas the dining table 3 and the dining table 4 are vacant. Each customer has an associated mobile device (not shown in Figure 9). In this example, the state of the dining table 1 may be "busy", the state of the dining table 2 may be "occupied", and the state of the dining table 3 and the dining table 4 may be "free". As illustrated by the arrows in FIG. 9, a server 920 associated with the restaurant 902 (e.g., corresponding to the "system" 200/250 as described above in accordance with various embodiments) is capable of interacting with each mobile device and Each of the above systems and/or devices communicates with the restaurant 902, such as via any wired or wireless communication protocol known in the art, such as, but not limited to, a cellular network Roads, Wi-Fi networks, Bluetooth, etc., and so are not necessarily described in detail herein.

FIG. 10 depicts a flow chart 1000 illustrating various aspects of a method of facilitating management of a restaurant related to table management in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

At 1002, the server 920 is constructed to determine if a new customer (i.e., a mobile device associated with the new customer) is sufficiently close to the restaurant, such as within a predetermined distance from the restaurant. For example, the mobile device may include a positioning module capable of detecting/determining its position based on GPS and/or Wi-Fi signals, and when the location of the restaurant is known, the distance between the mobile device and the restaurant may be such was decided. As an example, the server 920 can use the detection bit of the mobile device. Set (eg, longitude and latitude coordinates) to determine if the mobile device (and thus the relevant customer) is sufficiently close to the restaurant. For example, if the mobile device is determined to be within a predetermined distance from the restaurant, the server can be configured to process a table request from the customer for a table at the restaurant. Alternatively, if the mobile device is determined to be further away from the restaurant than the predetermined distance, the system can be constructed to ignore the table request (ie, not to process the table request) and send a notification (eg, Distance error message), and inform the customer that he/she is in close proximity to the restaurant in order to make a table request.

At 1004, the server 920 is constructed to determine if the new customer is allowed to join the table request. For example, if the status of the table is available, the server 920 may decide to allow the new customer to join the table and assign the new customer as a controller for the table. In another aspect, if the status of the table is occupied or busy, the server 920 can be configured to make a request (e.g., corresponding to a "customer authorization request" as described above in accordance with various embodiments), such as push delivery. To every existing customer at the table. Thus, each existing customer at the table will be given the opportunity to accept or reject a table request from the new customer.

At 1006, the server 920 is configured to decide whether to accept or reject the table request from the new customer based on a response from the existing customer (e.g., corresponding to a "customer authorization response" as previously described in accordance with various embodiments). In various example embodiments, the decision whether to accept or reject the table request may be based on a first (ie, the earliest) response received at the table by any of the existing customers. Once the decision is made by the server 920, the server 920 can then notify each existing customer of the results on its individual mobile device.

For illustrative purposes and without limitation, for exemplary scenarios, Figures 11A through 11G display exemplary screenshots (graphical user interfaces or GUIs) on three mobile devices associated with three different customers/users, respectively. At the same time, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a method for facilitating the management of a table in a restaurant, such as corresponding to the various embodiments described above in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention, is implemented. Method 300. It will be appreciated that various modules constructed to perform one or more of the steps described in relation to the method 300 or the mobile device 400/450 can be compiled together as a program/software application (or simply referred to as " App"), which may be stored in the mobile device and executed by at least one processor of the mobile device to perform the desired function/operation. In this regard, Figures 11A through 11G (and many subsequent illustrations) display exemplary screen shots of three mobile devices, each having the above stored therein and executed by at least one processor therein App to cause the individual user interface (GUI) to be displayed on the individual screen and as captured.

Figure 11A depicts three screen shots on a mobile device associated with three customers at a point in time (e.g., at a first point in time). For the purpose of test preparation and without limitation, the first customer (Customer 1), the second customer (Customer 2), and the third customer (Customer 3) may be referred to as "Quanfu", "Little Valley", respectively. And "Logit". As explained, at the first point in time, Customer 1 has not yet launched the app, and the corresponding screenshot is displayed as blank, Customer 2 has just arrived at the restaurant and the app has been launched, and the Customer 3 system has been in the first stage. Thus, he is at the restaurant and has added item 1110 to his reservation table (eg, an order list, which may also be referred to as a "shopping cart" or "booking trolley"). At the first point in time, Customer 2 has not logged into the user account (and is thus under the guest account), but Customer 3 has logged into his user account (e.g., corresponding to the foregoing description in accordance with various embodiments). For a personal customer account "), for example, as indicated by the presence of his name "LOGIT" 1112 on the user interface.

Figure 11B depicts three screen shots on the same three mobile devices at subsequent points in time (e.g., at a second point in time after the first point in time). As illustrated, at this second point in time, Customer 1 has not yet launched the app, and as such the corresponding screenshot is displayed blank, Customer 2 has now added item 1120 to his booking table while still in the guest account Next, and Customer 3 has now decided to select and join the table 5. In this example, in response to Customer 3 enters table selection 1122 on the GUI presented on his mobile device, which is constructed to generate and send a table request to a server associated with the restaurant for authorization.

Figure 11C depicts three screen shots on the same three mobile devices at subsequent points in time (e.g., at a third point in time after the second point in time). As explained, at the third point in time, Customer 1 just launched the app (for example, he just arrived at the restaurant or nearby), and Customer 2 has now decided to select and join the table 5 that Customer 3 is already occupying, and Customer 3 The table 5 has been successfully joined because when the table is vacated at that time, he has decided to allow the table to be joined by the server. Customer 3 is now also assigned as the controller for Table 5 by this server. Similarly, in response to Customer 2, in response to a table selection input 1132 on the GUI presented by Customer 2 on his mobile device, the mobile device is constructed to generate and send a table request to a server associated with the restaurant. For authorization.

Figure 11D depicts three screen shots on the same three mobile devices at subsequent time points (e.g., at a fourth time point after the third time point). As illustrated, at this fourth point in time, Customer 1 has logged into his user account and has added two items 1142 to his booking table under his user account. As also shown in Figure 11D, the table request from Customer 2 for the table 5 (still under his guest account) has been sent to the server because Customer 2 was determined to be sufficiently close to the restaurant, and Customer 3 (as the controller of the table 5) has been prompted, for example via push 1144 on his mobile device, to make an authorization response on whether to accept or reject the table request from Customer 2 (eg corresponding to The "Customer Authorization Response" described above in accordance with various embodiments. In this regard, the server can be configured to send a customer authorization request to Customer 3 in response to a table request from Customer 2, and then based on the server will then decide whether to accept Customer 2 to join table 5 to be received by Customer 3 The customer authorizes the response.

Figure 11E at a subsequent point in time (e.g., fifth time after the fourth time point) Interpoints) Three screenshots depicting the same three mobile devices. As explained, at this fifth point in time, Customer 1 has now decided to select and join the table 5. Customer 2 has successfully joined the table 5 because he has been decided to allow the table to be joined by the server. In this example, although the table is occupied at this time, the current Customer 3 has accepted the table request from Customer 2. In addition, since Customer 2 has been allowed to join the table 5, the server has also assigned Customer 2 as the controller (common controller) of the table. Furthermore, as illustrated on the GUIs on the mobile devices of Customers 2 and 3, both Customers 2 and 3 are able to view each of the other current subscription tables, such as via individual selections that are presented on the individual GUI. Columns 1152, 1154. If it can be observed on the GUI on the mobile device associated with Customer 3, when Customer 2 has not logged in, Customer 2 is still under the guest account.

Figure 11F depicts three screen shots on the same three mobile devices at subsequent time points (e.g., at a sixth time point after the fifth time point). As explained, at the sixth time point, the table request from Customer 1 for the table 5 has been sent to the server and is processed by the server because Customer 1 has been determined to be sufficiently close to the restaurant. . However, since the table 5 is currently being occupied by Customer 2 and 3, the server is constructed to send a customer authorization request to each of Customer 2 and 3 to find a customer authorization response. Thus, as shown in the GUIs of the mobile devices of both Customers 2 and 3, each of the two Customers 2 and 3 will receive a customer authorization request, such as via pushes 1162, 1164 on the individual mobile device, Make a customer authorization response on whether to accept or reject the table request from Customer 1. Accordingly, each existing customer at the table will have the opportunity to accept or reject a table request from a new customer.

Figure 11G depicts three screen shots on the same three mobile devices at subsequent time points (e.g., at a seventh time point after the sixth time point). As explained, at the seventh point in time, Customer 1 has successfully joined the table 5 because he has decided to be allowed to The server is coupled to the dining table. In this example, although the table is occupied by Customer 2 and 3, the existing Customer 3 first accepts the table request from Customer 1. In this example, the server is configured to make the decision at the table from among the existing customers based on the earliest or fastest customer authorization response, and in this example, Customer 3 is the fastest to provide the Customer authorized response. As a result, Customer 2 has missed the opportunity to accept or reject the table request from Customer 1, and the push 1162 on the mobile device of Customer 2 can thus disappear. When Customer 1 has also been allowed to join the table 5, the server has assigned Customer 1 as the controller (common controller) for the table. Thus, at the seventh time point, the dining table 5 has three controllers. Similarly, as previously described, as shown in Figure 11G, each customer at the table will be able to view each other customer's current reservation at the table, such as via a selectable bar presented on the individual GUI. Mark 1172, 1174, 1176.

12 depicts a flow chart 1200 illustrating aspects of a method for facilitating management of restaurant updates related to a restaurant in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

In various exemplary embodiments, in response to the customer updating a reservation table (eg, adding items, removing items, editing items (eg, quantity and/or size)) on his/her mobile device at a table, the user is updated The information on the booking table will be sent to the server by the mobile device, which will then provide the information on the updated booking table at the same table to each of the other customers. Thus, at 1204, the server can be configured to determine whether there are other existing customers at the table in response to receiving information on the updated reservation table, and if there are other existing customers, the server is configured to send the information. Up to every other existing customer at the table, so that each customer at the table will have access to the current (ie, up-to-date) booking table made at the same table by each of the other existing customers, and Ability to view the current reservation table. For example, when a customer changes/modifies their order on their mobile device, the changes will also be reflected to all existing customers at the same table, so that each existing customer at the table will be able to view the changes instantly. If other existing customers have been created Change. Each customer at the table can also copy one or more items ordered by the other existing customers at the same table and add the items to their reservation table.

For illustrative purposes only and without limitation, Figures 13A and 13B display exemplary screen shots (GUIs) on three mobile devices associated with three different customers, respectively, for the above-described aspects described with reference to FIG. Demonstration plot. For example, Figures 13A and 13B can be continued by the exemplary scenario described above with reference to Figures 11A through 11G.

Figure 13A depicts three screen shots on a mobile device associated with three customers at a point in time (e.g., at an eighth time point after the seventh time point). As explained, at the eighth point in time, Customer 1 is modifying the items in his order. In this example, the number of "Ice Lemon Tea" was modified from one to three. Customer 2 and 3 are able to view Customer 1's current reservation, which is still "1 x Ice Lemon Tea" because Customer 1 has not submitted his item updates. Figure 13A also illustrates a "copy" button 1302, 1304 that allows any Customer 2 or 3 to copy/copy one or more items in a customer order table, as well as various options/selections (eg, the number and/or size) for the item. And by adding the virtual "copy" button 1302, 1304 to its own subscription table.

Figure 13B depicts three screen shots on the same three mobile devices at subsequent time points (e.g., at a ninth time point after the eighth time point). As explained, at this ninth time point, Customer 1 has submitted his item update to "3 x Ice Lemon Tea" and has selected to enlarge the amount of beverage. Accordingly, as shown in the GUIs on the mobile devices of Customer 2 and 3, the changes in the items in the order table by Customer 1 are also immediately reflected in the existing mobile devices of Customer 2 and 3 at the same table. On each.

Figure 14 depicts a flow diagram 1400 illustrating aspects of a method for facilitating management of a restaurant related login process in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

In various exemplary embodiments, the server can be constructed to process each at the table Existing customers are treated as individual customers. For example, even if the customer does not log in or has not logged in, the server can still create and assign an account (such as a guest account) to the customer. The guest account may have the same capabilities and functionality as the customer account for the individual, since the guest account is still associated with an individual customer, but the guest account has just more details about the customer, such as name, phone number, email address. , photos, etc.

At 1402, in response to the customer posting to his/her customer account for entry, it is determined (e.g., by the server) whether the customer has joined a table. If the customer has not joined any of the tables, the app can continue to the main page (such as the home page or menu page). On the other hand, if it is determined that the customer has joined a table, the guest account linked to the table is switched to the customer account for the individual logged in by the customer. Again, at 1404, it is determined (e.g., by the server) whether the customer has any existing items that are added to his order. If so, the order made under the guest account is transferred or copied into a subscription table under the customer account for the individual that is logged into by the customer. Each of the other existing customers at the table may also be notified that the customer is logged in.

For illustrative purposes only and without limitation, Figures 15A and 15B show exemplary screen shots on three mobile devices associated with the three different customers, respectively, for use in relation to the above-described aspects described with reference to FIG. Demonstration plot. For example, Figures 15A and 15B can be continued by the exemplary scenario described above with reference to Figures 13A and 13B.

Figure 15A depicts three screen shots on a mobile device associated with three customers at a point in time (e.g., at time 10 after the ninth time point). As illustrated, at the 10th time point, Customer 1 may be watching the current reservation made by Customer 3, and Customer 3 may be watching the current reservation made by Customer 2. For example, Customer 2 can realize that he has forgotten to log in, and thus decides to log in now by continuing to the login page and entering his login details (such as user name or email address and password).

Figure 15B depicts three screen shots on the mobile device associated with the three customers at subsequent time points (e.g., at time 11 after the 10th time point). As explained, at the 11th time, Customer 2 has successfully logged into his personal account for the individual, and when he has joined the table 5, his previous guest account linked to the table is linked to his login. Personal customer account switching. For example, this can be implemented by removing or removing the link of the guest account to the table and linking the customer account for the individual to the table. Further, when he has added an existing item to his order made under the guest account, the existing items are transferred or exchanged to a reservation table under the personal account 1502 for the individual. For example, the server can also be constructed to remember where Customer 2 has recently visited, and immediately redirect Customer 2 to the same page to advantageously provide a seamless login process. For example, the server may also notify Customer 2 of each of the existing customers at the table, such as via chat bubbles 1504, 1506.

For example, without the above-described switching process, there may be a problem whereby Customer 2 under the guest account has been assigned to a table, and if Customer 2 logs into his personal account for the individual, the customer for the individual Customer 2 under the account can then be considered to no longer occupy the table, while Customer 2 under the guest account remains attached to the table.

16 depicts a flow chart 1600 illustrating aspects of a method for facilitating management of a restaurant related logout process in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

At 1604, when the customer logs out, the server can be constructed to determine whether the customer is currently connected to (i.e., connected) the table. In this regard, if the customer has joined the table, the server can be constructed to remove the customer from the table. In other ways, the account to which the customer is linked may be switched to the guest account by the customer account for the individual.

At 1606, the server can determine if any other customer has joined the table. If so, a notification (eg via a push, such as a chat bubble) can be sent to each of the tables An existing customer, informing the customer that the customer has left the table, and then the account to which the customer is linked can be switched to the guest account by the customer account for the individual. Otherwise (ie, if no other customer is present at the table), the server may only continue to travel to switch the account linked by the customer to the guest account by the customer account for the individual. Any order made by a customer who has left the table will no longer be viewable or accessible by existing customers at the table. In this regard, for example, in the case where another customer is viewing a booking made by a customer who has just left, the mobile device can be constructed to redirect to another page (eg, a home page or a menu page). And can no longer watch the reservation table.

For illustrative purposes only and without limitation, FIG. 17 shows exemplary screen shots (GUIs) on three mobile devices associated with three different customers, respectively, for use in relation to the above-described aspects described with reference to FIG. Demonstration plot. For example, Figure 17 can be continued by the exemplary scenario described above with reference to Figures 15A and 15B.

Figure 17 depicts three screen shots on a mobile device associated with the three customers at a point in time (e.g., at time 12 after the 11th time point). As explained, at the 12th time, Customer 2 has been logged out and has been redirected to the home page. In this regard, the server can be configured to send a notification (e.g., via push, such as talk bubbles) 1702, 1704 to Customer 1 and 3 to inform them that Customer 2 has left the table. It can also be viewed by Figure 17 that the GUI on the mobile devices of each of Customer 1 and 3 no longer provides access to any of the subscriptions made by Customer 2 (e.g., as shown in Figure 15B). The selectable tabs 1508, 1510 provided by the custom table provided by Customer 2 have been removed). For example, Customer 3 may have viewed Customer 2's booking 1512, as shown in Figure 15B, but has now been redirected to display his own booking summary page 1706. The table occupancy database stored in the server can also be updated to reflect that the Customer 2 is no longer linked to the table 5 and is therefore no longer the controller of the table.

Figure 18 depicts a flow chart 1800 illustrating aspects of a method for facilitating management of a restaurant status check process in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

For example, because various embodiments of the present invention enable a customer to manage table assignments themselves at a facility, such as a restaurant, the server can be configured to perform periodic inspections on the status of the table in accordance with various example embodiments.

At 1802, for each table, the server can be constructed to determine if the table is occupied. If the table is not occupied, the process can be terminated until the next check interval. On the other hand, if the table is detected as being occupied, at 1804, the server can be constructed to determine if there are any existing reservations made at the table. If so, the process can be terminated until the next check interval because the existing reservation table can indicate that the table is properly utilized by existing customers. On the other hand, if no existing bookings are detected at the table, at 1806, the server can be constructed to determine how long the customer will be connected to the table. If the customer has joined the table for a longer period of time than the predetermined period of time, by removing all existing customers from the table (eg, by disconnecting their account from the table) and setting the status of the table to an available state, the servo The device can then be constructed to release the table. Otherwise, the process can be terminated until the next inspection interval.

Therefore, the server can also be constructed to periodically check the status of the table in the restaurant to determine if any of the tables that should be set to be vacant are incorrectly occupied, such as the customer has been connected but then decides to leave. Without making any reservations.

For example, the status of the table may include an available or open condition/status indicating that the table is vacated, an occupied condition/status indicating that the table has been joined by one or more customers, a customer indicating that the table has been joined has been submitted A busy situation/status for ordering a table, such as waiting for a queue or meal, indicating the payment status/status that has been paid by all the customers who have joined the table, and indicating that all customers connected to the table have left the table and/or Or leave one or more of the conditions/states of the organization.

Thus, in accordance with various exemplary embodiments, the server can be constructed to periodically check the table that is held in occupancy. For example, there may be cases where customers have joined the table but have not given any bookings for a long time because they may have changed their minds and decided to leave the restaurant. If the table is occupied for a period of time longer than a predetermined threshold, the server can be constructed to remove all of the customers who have been detected to have joined the table, and to set the table again to be available for vacancy dining table. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the predetermined threshold can be set to any value, such as by restaurant staff or management, such as, but not limited to, 3 to 15 minutes, 4 to 10 minutes, or 5, as appropriate for various purposes. Up to 7 minutes.

Accordingly, various example embodiments are advantageously capable of acting as a controller for a customer and managing its own table at an institution, such as a restaurant.

Various embodiments of the present application can be applied to, but not limited to, the food and beverage industry. As an example, various embodiments can be applied in the same or similar manner to various services/shops that require a reservation, such as a karaoke store, where the customer can then manage their own room (eg, corresponding to the foregoing description in accordance with various embodiments) The table is treated as such a controller.

In various embodiments, each of the customer's reservations (eg, including one or more items added thereto) is treated as an individual order table (eg, an individual shopping or cart). In this regard, various exemplary embodiments of the present invention enable a user to perform group payment for most purchases or carts ordered at a table.

For example, traditional booking tables and payment applications used in restaurants may allow customers to pay for their own individual reservations. Therefore, in a group of customers (such as friends), where a customer pays the entire bill (i.e., by paying all the reservations by the group of customers), the traditional way of achieving this is to pay the customer. Under the merger of everyone's booking table. This typically requires each customer to inform the customer who is paying in turn of his/her desired item so that the customer who is paying to join the item under his/her reservation. As a result, this is not only time-consuming, it is what one customer wants. The item may be incorrectly understood by the customer who is paying, thus resulting in a booking table with incorrect items.

Various embodiments of the present invention advantageously address, or alleviate, the above-described problems associated with the above-described conventional techniques. In this regard, various exemplary embodiments of the present invention advantageously enable each customer to customize and issue their own subscription table, and by selecting the subscription table he/she wants to pay (eg, a customer's individual shopping or trolley) Any one of the customers at the same table has the ability to pay for any one or more of the reservations made by others on the same table. Accordingly, the various embodiments advantageously enable each customer to have their own separate ordering table and independently manage their own ordering table, while providing the customer with a booking table for one or more other customers along with their own booking table. The ability to (such as a friend's booking table).

In various embodiments, a method is provided, comprising receiving, by a payment module of the server, a first payment request by a first mobile communication device associated with the first customer to pay for at least the second subscription table, Or receiving, by the second mobile communication device associated with the second customer, a second payment request to pay at least the first subscription table; and sending, by the payment module, the first payment request notification to the second a mobile communication device for setting the second subscription table in the locked state on the second mobile communication device to prevent the second subscription table from being modified by the second customer in response to the first payment request, or Sending a second payment request notification to the first mobile communication device, configured to set the first subscription table to be in a locked state on the first mobile communication device to prevent the first subscription table from being responded to by the first customer The step of modifying the second payment request.

For example, the payment module can receive a payment request from a mobile communication device associated with the customer to pay for the customer's reservation table and a reservation table for one or more other customers at the table by other customers. In response to the payment request, the payment module can be constructed to send a payment request notification to each of the one or more other customers, the subscription table has been requested to be served by the customer who is paying Pay. In particular, this payment request notification can be constructed The setting table is configured to be in a locked state on the individual mobile communication device to prevent the subscription table from being modified by the individual customer on the individual mobile communication device. In other words, the ordering function on each individual mobile communication device can be disabled. For example, this advantageously avoids any mismatch or discrepancy between the booking table and the actual booking table that the customer is in during the payment process, and also avoids unwanted episodes, thereby allowing other customers to change the course of their payment. The final payment amount continues to change when the table is booked.

However, if the customer who is paying fails to pay successfully (for example, such reasons as leaving the restaurant, the mobile device has no battery, credit card errors, changing minds, etc.) and all such bookings that should have been paid may be so Unsatisfactory retention in the locked state, which identifies the above-described book locking technique in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention can cause a problem in sequence. Various embodiments of the present invention address this issue by releasing each of the subscription tables, which have been locked after a predetermined period of time. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the predetermined time period can be set as appropriate or as desired, such as by a restaurant clerk or manager. By way of example and without limitation, the predetermined time period may be distributed from 30 seconds to 5 minutes, 1 minute to 4 minutes, or 2 minutes to 3 minutes.

Accordingly, various embodiments of the present invention advantageously facilitate organization, such as group payment in a restaurant, and provide order management.

Various exemplary embodiments of the invention are described below by way of example only and without limitation. However, those skilled in the art will understand that the invention may be embodied in various forms or configurations and is not to be construed as limited to the example embodiments set forth below. Rather, these examples are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and the scope of the invention will be fully disclosed to those skilled in the art.

19 depicts a flow diagram 1900 illustrating aspects of a method for facilitating management of a restaurant-related order renewal process in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

At step 1904, in response to the customer modifying his/her subscription table, due to another customer In the process of paying for the order, the server can be constructed to determine whether the order is in a locked state. If so, when the subscription is in the process of being paid by another customer, the server can be constructed to notify the customer that his subscription is in a locked state. Otherwise, the server can be constructed to allow the customer to modify his/her subscription table.

At step 1906, the server can be configured to detect the presence of other customers at the table (e.g., based on the table occupancy database). If so, the server can be configured to deliver information on the updated reservation to each of the other customers at the same table.

For example only, modified and updated styles may also include adding items to a table, removing items, and editing items (such as quantity and/or size).

Accordingly, the above table updating process advantageously solves the above problem, whereby one or more booking tables in the payment process are modified, resulting in the customer being tied to the booking table in the payment process and the actual booking table. Does not match or does not match.

For illustrative purposes only and without limitation, Figures 20A and 20B show exemplary screen shots (GUIs) on three mobile devices associated with three different customers, respectively, for the above discussion with reference to Figure 19; Demonstration plot of the pattern.

Figure 20A depicts three screen shots on a mobile device associated with three customers at a point in time (e.g., at a first point in time). As explained, at this first point in time, Customer 1 can modify the items he ordered from "1 x Ice Lemon Tea" to "3 x Ice Lemon Tea", and Customer 2 can pay for the selection at a reservation table, whereby he Already selected to pay for all three booking tables, ie for bookings made with Customer 1 and 3, and for the bookings made by him, and Customer 3 can also pay for the selection at the booking table and have chosen to pay only A book made by himself and Customer 1. For example, the order payment selection page may display a plurality of check boxes, and a check box is used for each existing customer at the table, the check box is selectable to pay for the order made by the corresponding customer. table. Furthermore, based on the selected checkbox, pick A receipt for the item under the corresponding order made by the customer can be displayed for verification by the customer.

Figure 20B depicts three screen shots on a mobile device associated with the three customers at a subsequent point in time (e.g., at a second point in time after the first point in time). As explained, at this second point in time, Customer 1 has modified the item to "3 x Ice Lemon Tea." In this regard, the server is constructed to send information on the update order to Customer 2 and 3 via Customer 1. As a result, as shown in FIG. 20B, the price summary 2022, 2024 of Customer 1 for GUIs displayed on the mobile devices of both Customers 2 and 3 is updated. The total price 2026, 2028 of the bookings selected to be paid is also updated to take into account items modified by Customer 1.

For illustrative purposes only and without limitation, FIGS. 21A and 21B show exemplary screen shots (GUI) on two mobile devices associated with two different customers (Customers 2 and 3), respectively, for reference to FIG. Demonstrated the above-mentioned exemplary plot of the aspect. For example, Figures 21A and 21B can be continued by the exemplary scenario described above with reference to Figures 20A and 20B.

Figure 21A depicts two screenshots on a mobile device associated with two customers at a subsequent point in time (e.g., at a third point in time after the second point in time). As illustrated, at this third point in time, Customer 2 has traveled to the payment page to pay for the selected bookings on the previous booking payment selection page (in this case, all three of the bookings). For example, timer 2104 can be activated to provide the time at which the payment must be completed within. When Customer 2 is on the payment page, Customer 3 decides to modify his order to add an item.

Figure 21B depicts two screenshots on a mobile device associated with two customers at a subsequent point in time (e.g., at a fourth point in time after the third point in time). As explained, at this fourth point in time, the Customer 2 is still on the payment page, although the timer 2014 is now down to the remaining 23 seconds. Relative to Customer 3, since the server is constructed to The order of Customer 3 is set to be in the locked state, and while Customer 2 is paying for the booking made by Customer 3, the intention to update the item by Customer 3 will be rejected by the server. As a result, for example, the above problems, such as mismatches or inconsistencies between the customer's subscription to the booking process and the actual booking table, can be avoided. As shown, Customer 3 may also be notified (e.g., via a sudden rise notification 2114) that his subscription is tied to the locked state, and waiting for the duration of the queuing (corresponding to a timer on the payment page).

Figure 22 depicts a flow diagram 2200 illustrating aspects of a method for facilitating management of a restaurant's processing (e.g., being paid or submitted) in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

At 2202, in response to the confirmed reservation, the server can be constructed to determine the type of the reservation, such as, but not limited to, an appointment type, a pre-book style (eg, before arriving at the restaurant or while waiting at the restaurant) One or more items may be pre-ordered when the table is available), meal type, or take-away type (ie, not used for meals in the restaurant and items ordered will be taken away). If the order type is a meal or take-away type, the server can then be configured to send the information of the order to the printer for printing the details of the order (eg, customer name, table number, And the receipt of the item and/or the information on the order table is sent to the kitchen/waiter display device for displaying the order details to, for example, a kitchen clerk for preparing items in the order table. The server may also be constructed to notify the user that the subscription has been submitted and/or paid.

At 2206, the server can be constructed to determine whether the order includes one or more reservations made by other customers at the table (eg, the customer can also decide to pay for the other customers at the table). One or more booking tables). If so, the server can be constructed to notify each of the subscribers of the subscription table that their subscription has been submitted and paid. For example, the payment thank you page can then be displayed on the GUI on the individual mobile device while the booking table is prepared. On the other hand, if the order does not include any of the bookings made by other customers at the table (e.g., the customer has decided to pay only his own reservation), the server can be constructed at 2210. Decision Whether there are other booking tables made at the table that have not yet been paid. If so, the server can be constructed to notify each of the subscribers of the subscription desk that the subscription desk has been submitted (but not yet paid) by the customer who submitted the subscription. The server can then be configured to display a table summary page for another customer of each of the booking tables, including the total cost of the customer's booking table, along with the same payment option.

For illustrative purposes only and without limitation, Figures 23A through 23F show exemplary screen shots (GUIs) on three mobile devices associated with three different customers, respectively, for the above discussion with reference to Figure 22; Demonstration plot of the pattern.

According to the exemplary scenario, Customer 2 then decides to pay three bookings made by himself and Customer 1 and 3, and FIG. 23A depicts that each of the three customers is associated at a point in time (eg, at the first point in time). Three screenshots of the mobile device. As illustrated, at this first point in time, Customer 1 may be on the booking summary page (eg, viewing his order trolley), Customer 2 may be the payment page in the process of paying the three bookings, and Customer 3 may be an option to select a summary page with an option to pay for one or more reservations.

Figure 23B depicts three screen shots on a mobile device associated with three customers at a subsequent point in time (e.g., at a second point in time after the first point in time). As illustrated, at this second point in time, Customer 1 may still be on the booking summary page, Customer 2 may proceed to pay for the three bookings, and Customer 3 may still be on the payment option summary page.

Figure 23C depicts three of the mobile devices associated with three customers at a subsequent point in time (e.g., at a third point in time after the second point in time) once Customer 2 has successfully paid for the three subscriptions. Screenshot of the screen. As illustrated, at the third point in time, the server can then be constructed to direct the mobile device of each of Customer 1, 2, and 3 to the payment thank you page. In this regard, the mobile device of Customer 1 is directed by the order summary page to the payment thank you page, and the mobile device of Customer 2 is represented by the payment option summary page shown in Figure 23B. Guide to the payment thank you page.

According to another exemplary scenario, thus Customer 2 decides to pay only two bookings made by himself and Customer 3, and FIG. 23D depicts that each of the three customers is associated at a point in time (eg, the first point in time). Three screenshots on the mobile device. As illustrated, at this first point in time, Customer 1 may be in a payment option summary page with options to pay for one or more bookings, and Customer 2 may be a payment page in the process of paying for the three bookings. And Customer 3 can be on the booking summary page (for example, watching his order trolley).

Figure 23E depicts three screen shots on a mobile device associated with the three customers at a subsequent point in time (e.g., at a second point in time after the first point in time). As illustrated, at this second point in time, Customer 1 may still be on the payment option summary page, Customer 2 may proceed to pay for the two reservations, such as by performing a sliding action on the GUI, and Customer 3 may Still on the booking summary page.

Figure 23F depicts three of the mobile devices associated with the three customers at a subsequent point in time (e.g., at a third point after the second time point) once Customer 2 has successfully paid the two subscriptions. Screenshots of the screen. As illustrated, at the third point in time, the server can then be constructed to direct the mobile device of each of Customer 2 and 3 to the payment thank-you page, while the mobile device of Customer 1 is directed to the payment option summary. page. The option that can be observed to pay for Customers 2 and 3 is no longer available (because its booking has been paid) and the total cost of the booking has been updated accordingly. The server may also be constructed to notify Customer 1 that the Customer 3 has submitted the booking. Customer 1 can then proceed to pay for the unpaid bill.

Accordingly, various embodiments of the present invention advantageously enable a user to perform group payments while still being able to independently manage their own subscriptions.

In various exemplary embodiments, when the order is successfully submitted or paid, the server can be constructed to form information on the order (eg, customer name, table number, item description, And any special request) to the restaurant POS system, kitchen/waiter screen, and/or printer for printing the order receipt. As an illustrative example, Figure 24A shows an example kitchen screen that is shown for three bookings made by the three customers. As shown, the displayed information may include the customer's name, their table number, and the items they have ordered, along with any special requests. In various exemplary embodiments, each item of the order table can be individually listed item by item so that the status of each order table can be individually updated and illustrated. As an example, Figure 24B displays an example waiter screen based on the same three booking tables. For example, the kitchen clerk can indicate that the ordering table item is ready (eg, via the touch sensitive display screen, which can be sent to the server by the kitchen staff's ordering table, which can then be sent to the server), and this can be Reflected in the waiter screen (based on the subscription ready notification from the server), as shown in Figure 24B, such that the waiter staff can take the desired action to ship the item to the customer and / or request the customer to collect the item at the collection counter.

Figure 25A depicts three screen shots on a mobile device associated with the three customers at a point in time (e.g., at a first point in time) when the items on their order are indicated as being prepared by a kitchen clerk, for example. As shown, each customer's mobile device can individually receive subscription ready notifications 2502, 2504, 2506 from the server.

Figure 25B depicts on a mobile device associated with the three customers at a subsequent point in time (e.g., at a second point in time after the first point in time) after receiving the item whose booking is ready Three screen shots. For example, Customer 1 may be able to view the notification history page and display the history of notifications about his subscription table received by his mobile device. Customer 2 may only remain on the payment thank-you page, and Customer 3 may be able to Viewing the meal history page displays the history of the restaurant where he has eaten as appropriate, along with various information, such as the total cost of the individual.

Figure 25C depicts at a subsequent point in time (e.g., after the second time point) Three time points) Three screen shots on the mobile device associated with the three customers. For example, Customer 1 may be a receipt page that is capable of viewing a summary of items showing a paid reservation, Customer 2 may only be left on the payment thank you page, and Customer 3 may be on the meal history page. Furthermore, on the meal history page, it may provide a review or feedback of its experience with the restaurant.

For illustrative purposes only, FIG. 26A depicts an exemplary screen shot on an exemplary POS system in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. As shown, the POS system can be constructed to display a variety of information about the table and the order made at the restaurant, including each table and the order made by each customer. In the case where the customer can choose to pay cash, the POS system can also have a payment acceptance option. For example, as shown in Figure 26B, the POS system can also be constructed to analyze a customer's meal history at the restaurant and generate a number of parameters or statistics on the history of the restaurant, for example, based on previous visits. The restaurant is stored with information on the server. For example, the generated parameters or statistics may include the total access count, the most recent access date and time, the total count of each item ordered, and one or more favorite items (eg, based on the highest of the one or more items) count). Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various other parameters or statistics may be included as appropriate or as desired. This advantageously enables the restaurant staff to better understand the preferences of their customers and to be able to achieve a more personalized service for the customer (e.g., the customer can be automatically prompted if they would like to order their favorite items).

By way of example only and not limitation, FIG. 27 depicts exemplary receipts that may be generated for the three booking tables by the three customers in accordance with various exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, various embodiments of the present invention can be implemented to operate with existing POS systems in a restaurant.

As previously discussed, various embodiments of the present application can be applied to the food and beverage industry, but are not limited thereto. As another example, each of the payment functionality of the group Embodiments may be applied, for example, to shopping, such as online shopping or personal grocery shopping at a store, whereby a customer may decide to pay for one or more other customers' bookings (eg, in addition to their own reservations) Friend's reservation table).

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been particularly shown and described with respect to the specific embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is defined by the scope of the appended patent application. The scope of the present invention is intended to be limited by the scope of the appended claims and the scope of the invention

Claims (31)

A computer implementation method for conveniently managing a mechanism including a plurality of dining tables, the method comprising: a first action associated with a first customer at a first time point by a server associated with the institution by a table management module The communication device receives a first table request to connect the first table of the plurality of tables, and at a second point in time, receives a second table request by a second mobile communication device associated with the second customer to join the first table The second time point is after the first time point; and the table management module responds to the first table request, based on at least one table occupancy associated with the plurality of tables stored in the server a database determining whether the first customer is allowed to join the first table; if the first customer is determined to allow the first table to be joined, the first customer is assigned to the first table by the table management module a first controller of the dining table; in response to the second table request, the table management module determines, based on the table occupancy database, whether the second customer is allowed to join the first meal And if the first customer is detected to have joined the first table, determining whether the second customer is allowed to connect to the first table based on the first one from the first mobile communication device associated with the first customer The customer authorizes the response, the first customer authorization response is in response to the first customer authorization request from the table management module to the first mobile communication device, and attempts to authorize the second customer to allow the second customer to connect to the first a table; and if the second customer is determined to be permitted to join the first table, the second customer is assigned to act as the second controller of the first table by the table management module. The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving, by the table management module, a third table request by the third mobile communication device associated with the third customer at the third time point to join the first table The third time point is in the second After the time point; and by the table management module responding to the third table request, determining, based on the table occupancy database, whether the third customer is allowed to join the first table, and if the first and second customers are Detecting that the first table has been connected, determining whether the third customer is allowed to connect to the first table, and based on the earliest customer authorization response from the first and second mobile communication devices. The method of claim 1 or 2, further comprising controlling, by the table management module, whether to process the first table request from the first mobile communication device based on the location of the first mobile communication device relative to the mechanism Determining whether the first customer is allowed to connect to the first table, and/or processing a second table request from the second mobile communication device to determine the second based on a location of the second mobile communication device relative to the mechanism Whether the customer is allowed to join the first table. The method of any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising, by the table management module, setting the state of the first table to an available state when a predetermined time period expires, wherein one or more customers The first table has been allowed to be joined, and no book has been made by any one of the one or more customers. The method of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the distribution comprises, by the table management module, the account associated with the first customer being linked to the first table, wherein the account is The first customer has not been logged in to establish a guest account for the first customer, or a customer account for the first customer if the first customer has logged in. The method of claim 5, further comprising, by the table management module, responding to the first customer being logged into the personal account of the customer by the guest account, from the guest account to the customer account for the individual Switching to an account associated with the first customer linked to the first table, wherein the switch includes, if any, one or more of the first customer to be added to a reservation table under the guest account The information on the items is transferred to the customer account for that individual. The method of any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising: And a second mobile communication device associated with the second customer, wherein the server maintains, by the subscription management module, one or more added to the first reservation table by the first customer via the first mobile communication device a first current list of the plurality of items; and the first mobile communication device associated with the first customer is maintained by the second customer via the second mobile communication device by the subscription management module A second current list of one or more items on the second booking table. The method of claim 7, further comprising: receiving, by the server, a first payment request by the first mobile communication device associated with the first customer to pay at least the second subscription table Receiving, by the second mobile communication device associated with the second customer, a second payment request to pay at least the first subscription table; and sending, by the payment module, the first payment request notification to the second action The communication device is configured to set the second subscription table in the locked state on the second mobile communication device to prevent the second subscription table from being modified by the second customer in response to the first payment request, or to be second Sending a payment request notification to the first mobile communication device for setting the first subscription table to be in a locked state on the first mobile communication device to prevent the first subscription table from being responded to by the second payment request by the first Modified by a customer. The method of claim 8, further comprising, by the payment module, transmitting a first payment confirmation notice to the second mobile communication device when the second subscription table is paid via the first mobile communication device, or And transmitting a second payment confirmation notification to the first mobile communication device when the first reservation table is paid via the second mobile communication device. The method of any one of claims 7 to 9 further comprising: when the server is submitted or paid by the kitchen module, the first order table and/or the second order Sending a table to the display device for displaying information of the first reservation table and/or the second reservation table; Receiving, by the kitchen module, a first reservation table indicating that one or more items of the first reservation table are prepared to be input and/or indicating that one or more items of the second reservation table are ready The second ordering table is ready for input; and by the kitchen module, in response to the received first ordering table ready input, the first ordering table ready notification is sent to the first mobile communication device to indicate the first order One or more items of the table are prepared, and/or in response to the received second reservation ready input, the second reservation ready notification is sent to the second mobile communication device to indicate the second reservation One or more items are ready. A system for managing a mechanism including a plurality of dining tables, the system comprising: a memory; at least one processor communicatively coupled to the memory, and configured to be associated with the first customer at a first time point The first mobile communication device receives the first table request to connect the first table of the plurality of tables, and at the second time point receives a second table request by the second mobile communication device associated with the second customer to join the first a dining table, the second time point is after the first time point; in response to the first table request, based on at least one table occupancy database stored in the server and associated with the plurality of dining tables, determining the Whether the first customer is allowed to join the first table; if the first customer is determined to allow the first table to be joined, the first customer is assigned as the first controller of the first table; in response to the second table Requesting, based on the table occupancy database, determining whether the second customer is allowed to join the first table, and if the first customer is detected to have joined the first table, determining the second child Whether the first table is allowed to be coupled to the first customer based on a first customer authorization response from the first mobile communication device associated with the first customer, the first customer authorization response being in response to the first mobile communication from the system The first customer authorization request of the device, and the attempt is made by the first Whether the customer authorizes the second customer to join the first table; and if the second customer is determined to allow the first table to be joined, the second customer is assigned to act as the second controller of the first table. The system of claim 11, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to: at a third point in time, receive, by a third mobile communication device associated with the third customer, a third table request to join the first table The third time point is after the second time point; and in response to the third table request, determining, based on the table occupancy database, whether the third customer is allowed to join the first table, and if the first The second customer is detected to have joined the first table, and determines whether the third customer is allowed to connect to the first table and is based on the earliest customer authorization response from the first and second mobile communication devices. The system of claim 11 or 12, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to control whether to process a first table request from the first mobile communication device based on the first mobile communication device relative to the mechanism a location determining whether the first customer is allowed to connect to the first table; and/or controlling whether to process a second table request from the second mobile communication device based on the location of the second mobile communication device relative to the location Whether the second customer is allowed to join the first table. The system of any one of clauses 11 to 13, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to set the state of the first table to an available state when a predetermined period of time expires, wherein one or more customers The first table has been allowed to be joined, and no book has been made by any one or more customers. The system of any one of clauses 11 to 14, wherein when the first customer is allowed to join the first table, assigning the first customer includes linking an account associated with the first customer to the a first table, wherein the account is established for a guest account of the first customer if the first customer has not logged in, or is established for the first customer if the first customer has logged in For individual customer accounts. The system of claim 15, wherein the at least one processor is configured to respond to the first customer being logged into the customer account by the guest account, from the guest account to the customer account for the individual Switching an account associated with the first customer linked to the first table, wherein the switch includes, if any, one or more of the first customer to be added to a reservation table under the guest account The information on the item is transferred to the customer account for that individual. The system of any one of clauses 11 to 16, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to maintain, by the first customer, a second mobile communication device associated with the second customer The first mobile communication device is added to the first current list of one or more items of the first reservation table; and the first mobile communication device associated with the first customer is maintained by the second customer via the first A second current list of one or more items added to the second order table by the second mobile communication device. The system of claim 17, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to: receive, by the first mobile communication device associated with the first customer, a first payment request to pay at least the second subscription table, or Receiving, by the second mobile communication device associated with the second customer, a second payment request to pay at least the first subscription table; and in response to the payment request, transmitting the first payment request notification to the second mobile communication device, Used to set the second subscription table in the locked state on the second mobile communication device to prevent the second subscription table from being modified by the second customer in response to the first payment request, or to make a second payment Sending a notification to the first mobile communication device for setting the first subscription table in a locked state on the first mobile communication device to prevent the first subscription table from being responded to by the second payment request Modified by the first customer. The system of claim 18, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to send a first payment confirmation notification to the second line when the second subscription table is paid via the first mobile communication device The mobile communication device or the second payment confirmation notification is sent to the first mobile communication device when the first reservation table is paid via the second mobile communication device. The system of any one of claims 17 to 19, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to: when submitted or paid, send the first order table and/or the second order table to Displaying means for displaying information of the first order table and/or the second order table; receiving a first order table ready input and/or indicating that one or more items of the first order table are prepared Instructing one or more items of the second order table to prepare a prepared second order table; and in response to the received first order ready input, sending the first order ready notice to the first The mobile communication device instructs the one or more items of the first reservation table to be ready, and/or to send a second reservation ready notification to the second mobile communication in response to the received second reservation ready input The device indicates that one or more items of the second order table are ready. A computer program product embodied in one or more non-transitory computer readable storage media, comprising instructions executable by at least one processor for performing a method for conveniently managing a mechanism including a plurality of dining tables, the method The method includes: receiving, at a first time point, a first table request by a first mobile communication device associated with the first customer to connect the first table of the plurality of tables, and being associated with the second customer at the second time point The second mobile communication device receives the second table request to connect to the first table, the second time point is after the first time point; in response to the first table request, based on being stored in the server The plurality of dining tables have associated at least one table occupancy database, determining whether the first customer is allowed to join the first table; if the first customer is determined to allow the first table to be joined, assigning the first customer as a first controller of the first table; in response to the second table request, determining, based on the table occupancy database, whether the second customer is allowed to join the first table, and if the first customer is detected to be connected a first table, determining whether the second customer is allowed to connect to the first table and further reacting based on a first customer authorization from a first mobile communication device associated with the first customer, the first customer authorization response being a first customer authorization request from the table management module to the first mobile communication device; and if the second customer is determined to be allowed to connect to the first dining table, the second customer is dispatched by the table management module As the second controller of the first table. A computer implementation method for facilitating table management in a mechanism including a plurality of dining tables, the method comprising: sending, by a table management module, a first mobile communication device associated with a first customer at a first time point And a server associated with the institution to respond to the first table selection input on the first mobile communication device to connect the first table of the plurality of dining tables; in response to the first table request, by the table management a module receiving a server authorization response indicating whether the first customer is allowed to connect to the first table, the server authorization reaction being based on a table occupancy database associated with a plurality of tables stored in the server Determined by the server, and if one or more other customers are detected to have joined the first table, the server authorization reaction is further determined based on a customer authorization response from one of the one or more other customers; Determining, by the table management module, whether to join the first table based on the received server authorization reaction; by the table management module, if the Customer is detected is coupled to the first table, in response to a request from a new customer table is coupled to the first table of the new request is received by the server new customer authorization request; and In response to the new customer authorization request, the table management module provides a new customer authorization request to the server based on the customer authorization input on the first mobile communication device. The method of claim 22, further comprising maintaining, by the account management module, the account associated with the first customer after the first customer has been allowed to connect to the first customer at the first mobile communication device The account is linked to the first table, wherein if the first customer has not logged in, the account is a guest account established for the first customer, or if the first customer has logged in, the account is created A personal customer account for the first customer. The method of claim 23, further comprising, by the account management module, responding to the first customer being logged into the personal account of the customer by the guest account, from the guest account to the customer account for the individual Switching to an account associated with the first customer linked to the first table, wherein the switch includes, if any, the first customer will be added to a reservation table under the guest account The information on multiple items is transferred to the customer account for that individual. The method of any one of claims 22 to 24, further comprising: by the order management module in the first mobile communication device, if the second customer is detected to have joined the first dining table, The server receives current information on the one or more items that are added to the second subscription table by the second customer; and is associated with the second subscription table received for display by the first mobile communication device The current information provides access. The method of claim 25, further comprising: receiving, by the payment module, the first payment option input at the first mobile communication device to pay at least the first customer via the first mobile communication device And the second payment table; and by the payment module, the first payment request is sent to the server by the first mobile communication device based on the first payment option input. For example, the method of claim 25, further includes: Receiving, by the server, a payment request notification by the server, the payment request notification being in response to a second payment request from the second mobile communication device to the server to be paid by the first customer At least one first reservation table added to the first mobile communication device; and the first reservation table on the first mobile communication device is set to be locked by the reservation management module in response to the payment request notification In the state, it is used to prevent the first reservation table from being modified by the first customer. The method of claim 27, further comprising setting, by the order management module, the first order table in a free state for allowing the first reservation table to be accepted when the predetermined time period expires A modification wherein the payment request notification has been received and no payment confirmation notification for the first subscription has been received by the first mobile communication device by the server. The method of any one of claims 25 to 28, further comprising: receiving, by the server, a first reservation preparation notice by the server, the first reservation preparation notice Reacting to receive, by the server, one or more items of the first order table are ready for the first order preparation input; presenting the first reservation table on the first mobile communication device Notice. A mobile communication device includes: a memory; at least one processor communicatively coupled to the memory, and configured to: send the first table request to a mechanism including a plurality of tables at a first time point a server, in response to a first table selection input on the first mobile communication device, coupled to the first table of the plurality of dining tables, the mobile communication device being associated with the first customer; in response to the first table request Receiving a server authorization response indicating whether the first customer is allowed to connect to the first table, the server authorization reaction is based on a table occupancy database associated with a plurality of tables stored in the server by the server Determined if and if one or more Other customers are detected to be connected to the first table, and the server authorization reaction is further determined based on a customer authorization response from one of the one or more other customers; determining whether to join the first based on the received server authorization response a table; in response to a new table request from the new customer requesting the connection to the first table, the server receives a new customer authorization request; and in response to the new customer authorization request, based on the first mobile communication device Customer authorization input provides a new customer authorization response to the server. A computer program product embodied in one or more non-transitory computer readable storage media, comprising instructions executable by at least one processor to implement a method for facilitating table management in a mechanism comprising a plurality of dining tables, The method includes: transmitting, at a first point in time, a first table request to a server associated with the mechanism, in response to a first table selection input on the first mobile communication device to couple the first of the plurality of tables Responsive to the first table request, receiving a server authorization response indicating whether the first customer is allowed to connect to the first table, the server authorization reaction being based on being associated with a plurality of tables stored at the server The table occupancy database is determined by the server, and if one or more other customers are detected to have joined the first table, the server authorization reaction is further based on one of the one or more other customers Determined by the customer authorization response; determines whether to join the first table based on the received server authorization response; if the first customer is detected to be connected The first table, in response to a new table request from the new customer requesting the connection to the first table, receives a new customer authorization request by the server; and in response to the new customer authorization request, based on the first mobile communication device The customer authorization input provides a new customer authorization request to the server.