WO2004075133A2 - A restaurant service management system - Google Patents

A restaurant service management system Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2004075133A2
WO2004075133A2 PCT/IB2004/000190 IB2004000190W WO2004075133A2 WO 2004075133 A2 WO2004075133 A2 WO 2004075133A2 IB 2004000190 W IB2004000190 W IB 2004000190W WO 2004075133 A2 WO2004075133 A2 WO 2004075133A2
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
restaurant
management system
service
control unit
indicator means
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/IB2004/000190
Other languages
French (fr)
Other versions
WO2004075133A3 (en
Inventor
Peter Dudley Dexter
Original Assignee
Peter Dudley Dexter
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Peter Dudley Dexter filed Critical Peter Dudley Dexter
Publication of WO2004075133A2 publication Critical patent/WO2004075133A2/en
Publication of WO2004075133A3 publication Critical patent/WO2004075133A3/en

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G08—SIGNALLING
    • G08B—SIGNALLING OR CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
    • G08B7/00—Signalling systems according to more than one of groups G08B3/00 - G08B6/00; Personal calling systems according to more than one of groups G08B3/00 - G08B6/00
    • G08B7/06—Signalling systems according to more than one of groups G08B3/00 - G08B6/00; Personal calling systems according to more than one of groups G08B3/00 - G08B6/00 using electric transmission, e.g. involving audible and visible signalling through the use of sound and light sources
    • G08B7/068—Signalling systems according to more than one of groups G08B3/00 - G08B6/00; Personal calling systems according to more than one of groups G08B3/00 - G08B6/00 using electric transmission, e.g. involving audible and visible signalling through the use of sound and light sources calling personnel in a restaurant, e.g. waiter call

Definitions

  • THIS INVENTION relates to a restaurant service management system.
  • waiters It is well known that one of the major factors in the success of a restaurant relates to the provision of good service to patrons, i.e. by waiters and waitresses, hereinafter merely referred to as waiters.
  • Any reference hereinafter to a restaurant must be interpreted as a reference to a restaurant that has a number of tables therein that are numbered for identification purposes, with waiters being assigned to service particular tables.
  • the restaurant also will be associated with a person that is in charge of the restaurant, usually being the owner of the restaurant, or the manager of the restaurant.
  • a restaurant service management system which includes, in the operative configuration of the system within a restaurant, an indicator means located at each table in the restaurant, each indicator means having switching means, that can be operated for activating the indicator means in a manner that it indicates that service at the table where it is located is required and for deactivating the indicator means upon the service required being attended to by a waiter, and signal transmitting means, that can generate and transmit signals that can be remotely received and that can identify the table associated with the indicator means during periods between the indicator means having been activated and deactivated; and
  • control unit located in a location in the restaurant where it can be monitored by a person in charge of the restaurant, the control unit having signal receiving means, that can receive signals transmitted by the signal transmitting means of the respective indicator means and identify the tables in the restaurant from where the signals received were transmitted, and display means, that can display the tables where service is required at any particular time in response to signals received from the signal transmitting means of the indicator means located at these tables.
  • Each indicator means particularly includes a light source that can be energized and de-energized in response respectively to activation and de-activation of the indicator means, by operation of the switching means thereof.
  • the implementation of the restaurant service management system thus involves activation of an indicator means at a table by a patron when service is required, resulting in the light source of the indicator means being energized to thereby identify that service is required at the particular table. This will immediately facilitate the task of waiters to identify tables where service is required.
  • the signal transmitting means of the indicator means which signals are then received by the signal receiving means of the control unit, the number of the table where service is required will be displayed by the display means of the control unit. This permits a person in charge of the restaurant to continuously monitor the tables where indicator means have been activated and also to take suitable steps if the activation of an indicator means has not been responded to within a predetermined time period.
  • the signal transmitting means of each indicator means may be a radio frequency signal transmitter including an encoder, that can generate and transmit predetermined radio frequency coded signals that identify the table with which the indicator means is associated.
  • Each indicator means particularly is an integrated unit that has an outer body that is securely positionable on its table in the restaurant, thus ensuring the secure location of each indicator means with respect to its table.
  • the signal receiving means of the control unit particularly is a radio frequency signal receiver including a decoder that can receive and decode coded radio frequency signals transmitted by the signal transmitting means of any indicator means of the system and thereby identify the tables with which the indicator means from which signals have been received are associated.
  • the display means of the control unit may include light emitting diodes that can be energized to display numbers, with the numbers displayed being associated with tables where service is required as determined by indicator means that have been activated by the operation of the switching means of the particular indicator means.
  • the control unit of the restaurant service management system may include also first alerting means that is activated to emit an audible signal in response to the display means displaying that service at a particular table in the restaurant is required. This will ensure that the person in charge of the restaurant is alerted of the fact.
  • the control unit may include a timer, that operates to measure the time for which required service at a particular table has not been attended to, and a second alerting means, that is activated to emit a higher intensity audible signal to the signal emitted by the first alerting means when required service at a particular table has not been attended to for a predetermined time period.
  • the first alerting means and the second alerting means particularly form part of a single alerting means that can emit two different intensity signals.
  • control unit of the restaurant service management system may include a programmed logic controller having memory means that can serve to receive and store information relating to service provided in the restaurant, including information in respect of the tables where indicator means were activated, response times and occasions of activation of the second alerting means.
  • the programmed logic controller of the control unit may thus include interface means that can provide an interface between its memory means and a computer for permitting display of stored information and the generation of printouts of stored information in a suitable format.
  • the programmed logic controller also may permit, through the use of numbers, linking of waiters with tables in the restaurant that are serviced by the waiters.
  • the display means of the control unit by displaying relevant numbers, can identify also the waiters that are responsible for tables where service is required at any particular time.
  • An alternative configuration of the restaurant management system provides for the control unit to interface directly with a computer that is suitably programmed to fulfil the functions of the timer and the programmed logic controller as above defined.
  • the control unit of the restaurant service management system particularly comprises an integrated unit incorporating a housing that permits mounting of the unit in its required location within a restaurant.
  • the system may include more than one control unit, each control unit being located at a different location within the restaurant to enable monitoring of the activation of indicator means at such different locations.
  • At least one of the control units may be located in an area within the restaurant where waiters can monitor the unit for identifying tables where service is required.
  • the restaurant service management system as above defined clearly will continuously enable a person in charge of a restaurant to monitor service levels within the restaurant, while through the display, or the provision of printouts, of information stored in the memory of the programmed logic controller, or a computer interfacing directly with a control unit, formatted reports of service levels and the performance of individual waiters also can be obtained, thus permitting a person in charge of a restaurant to identify particular "problem waiters" that do not provide an adequate service to patrons of the restaurant.
  • This information clearly also can be utilized in order to enable a person in charge of a restaurant to optimize the number of waiters used within the restaurant at any particular time, while ensuring also that adequate service levels are maintained.
  • Figure 1 illustrates schematically in diagram form a restaurant service management system, in accordance with the invention, in its operative configuration in a restaurant;
  • Figure 2 shows in side view an indicator means of the system of Figure 1 ; and Figure 3 illustrates the configuration of a display panel of a display means forming part of a control unit of the system of Figure 1 .
  • Figure 1 illustrates a general layout of a restaurant that has ten tables 10 positioned in the eating area thereof and that includes an office area 12 for a person in charge of the restaurant, e.g. the owner or manager of the restaurant, from where the operation of the restaurant can be managed.
  • the restaurant is associated with a restaurant service management system, in accordance with the invention, the system including for each table 10 in the restaurant, an indicator means 14.
  • Each indicator means is associated with its particular table via a table number, the indicator means thus typically being numbered one to ten, respectively, as shown.
  • Each indicator means 14 includes, within the body thereof, a low intensity light source and a radio frequency signal transmitter and encoder, the signal transmitter and encoder being configured to transmit a radio frequency coded signal that can serve to identify the table with which its indicator means is associated.
  • Each indicator means also includes switching means including two switches, 16 and 18 respectively, which are manually operable, permitting a patron seated at a particular table, by operation of the switch 1 6, to energize the light source when service is required at his table and a waiter, by operation of the switch 18, again to de-energize the light source when service is being attended to.
  • the respective switches also serve to activate the signal transmitter and encoder for generating and transmitting different predetermined radio frequency coded signals that can be associated with the particular table involved, particularly for the purpose described in more detail hereinafter.
  • the configuration of the indicator means in relation to outward design as well as the components forming part thereof, is greatly variable, it being envisaged that the indicator means will be associated with state of the art components that can fulfil the required purposes.
  • the exact technical configuration of the indicator means also is greatly variable and insofar as persons skilled in the art will be easily able to design suitable indicator means, this is not described in further detail herein.
  • the outward design of the indicator means will be such that the effect that its use may have on the ambience within a restaurant, is minimized.
  • the system of the invention includes also a control unit 20 that is located within the office space 1 2 and that includes a radio frequency signal receiver and decoder that is associated with a suitable control circuit as well as a display means including a display panel 22.
  • the display panel permits, by energizing of light emitting diodes, the display of different numbers, as is explained in more detail hereafter.
  • the signal receiver and decoder of the control unit particularly is compatible with the signal transmitters and encoders associated with the indicator means 1 4, whereas the control circuit is configured so that, in response to the signal receiver receiving a first signal from a signal transmitter of an indicator means 1 4 associated with a particular table, in response to operation of the switch 1 6 of the indicator means, the number that coincides with the number of the table from which the signal has been transmitted, is displayed.
  • the control unit also includes a sound emitter that is controlled by the control circuit and that is energized in response to a number being displayed, to emit a low intensity sound, thus alerting the person in charge of the restaurant of the fact that service is required at a table within the restaurant.
  • a waiter attending to a table where service is required will operate the switch 1 8 of the associated indicator means, thereby providing for the light source to be de-energized and for a particular radio frequency coded signal to be generated and transmitted, this signal then being received by the radio frequency signal receiver and decoder of the control unit in order to provide for the light emitting diodes displaying the number of the relevant table to be de-energized and for the sound emitter to cease emitting a sound.
  • the control circuit also includes a timer that serves to time the duration for which a particular number is displayed and if this duration exceeds a predetermined time limit, the control circuit provides for the intensity of the sound emitted by the sound emitter to be increased, thus alerting the person in charge of the restaurant that the table that requires service has still not been attended to.
  • the relevant number displayed by the display panel of the control unit also will then start to flash, in order to identify the particular table involved.
  • the person in charge of the restaurant can then immediately take the necessary steps in order to rectify the situation, either by attending to the table himself, or by directing a waiter to immediately do so.
  • the restaurant service management system of the invention thus provides for patrons seated at tables in the restaurant and requiring service to activate the indicator means at their table. This will result in energizing of the light source associated with the indicator means and facilitate the task of waiters to identify their tables where service is required.
  • the operation of the control unit 20, within the office space 1 2 will allow the person in charge of the restaurant also to monitor the tables where service is required. He will be particularly alerted when service is not attended to within a predetermined time period, in order to ensure that the necessary steps are taken.
  • the control unit of the apparatus of the invention also includes a programmed logic controller having a memory that is linked with the control circuit and that can receive and store information in respect of indicator means activated, response times thereto and instances where service is not attended to within predetermined time periods.
  • An interface may be provided between the memory of the programmed logic controller and a computer, such as a personal computer or laptop, permitting display of this information and/or printout of this information. It will be understood that this information can then be interpreted to identify the service levels within the restaurant, as well as the performance levels of individual waiters which, it is submitted, can serve to greatly enhance the overall service levels within the restaurant.
  • control unit as such directly with a computer that is suitably programmed to fulfil the purpose of the programmed logic controller, and optionally the timer also.
  • control unit including its components and parts and the operation thereof clearly is greatly variable. Any person skilled in the art will be able to easily design a unit that can fulfil the purposes as above described, particularly with the use of state of the art components and parts. As such, the technical configuration of the control unit is not described in further detail herein.
  • the apparatus of the invention may include two or more control units that are located in different locations within a particular restaurant. It is envisaged also that the system of the invention may provide for a control unit to be located in a location where waiters often congregate, in order to ensure that they are immediately alerted when service at one of their tables is required.

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Abstract

The invention relates to a restaurant management system that permits the service being provided in a restaurant to be monitored. The system, in its operative configuration in a restaurant, includes, at each table in the restaurant, an indicator means that can be activated by a patron to indicate that service is required and that can be deactivated by a waiter upon service being attended to. A control unit that is located in a location where a person in charge of the restaurant is positioned also is provided, the indicator means at the tables in the restaurant and the control unit permitting communication so that a display, forming part of the control unit, can display details of tables where service is required at any particular time. The person in charge can thus monitor the provision of service and take steps where required service is not promptly attended to.

Description

A RESTAURANT SERVICE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
THIS INVENTION relates to a restaurant service management system.
It is well known that one of the major factors in the success of a restaurant relates to the provision of good service to patrons, i.e. by waiters and waitresses, hereinafter merely referred to as waiters.
It is thus an object of this invention to provide a system that will facilitate the provision of good service by waiters in a restaurant and that will permit the performance of waiters to be monitored.
Any reference hereinafter to a restaurant must be interpreted as a reference to a restaurant that has a number of tables therein that are numbered for identification purposes, with waiters being assigned to service particular tables. The restaurant also will be associated with a person that is in charge of the restaurant, usually being the owner of the restaurant, or the manager of the restaurant.
According the invention there is provided a restaurant service management system which includes, in the operative configuration of the system within a restaurant, an indicator means located at each table in the restaurant, each indicator means having switching means, that can be operated for activating the indicator means in a manner that it indicates that service at the table where it is located is required and for deactivating the indicator means upon the service required being attended to by a waiter, and signal transmitting means, that can generate and transmit signals that can be remotely received and that can identify the table associated with the indicator means during periods between the indicator means having been activated and deactivated; and
at least one control unit located in a location in the restaurant where it can be monitored by a person in charge of the restaurant, the control unit having signal receiving means, that can receive signals transmitted by the signal transmitting means of the respective indicator means and identify the tables in the restaurant from where the signals received were transmitted, and display means, that can display the tables where service is required at any particular time in response to signals received from the signal transmitting means of the indicator means located at these tables.
Each indicator means particularly includes a light source that can be energized and de-energized in response respectively to activation and de-activation of the indicator means, by operation of the switching means thereof.
The implementation of the restaurant service management system thus involves activation of an indicator means at a table by a patron when service is required, resulting in the light source of the indicator means being energized to thereby identify that service is required at the particular table. This will immediately facilitate the task of waiters to identify tables where service is required. Through the transmission of signals by the signal transmitting means of the indicator means, which signals are then received by the signal receiving means of the control unit, the number of the table where service is required will be displayed by the display means of the control unit. This permits a person in charge of the restaurant to continuously monitor the tables where indicator means have been activated and also to take suitable steps if the activation of an indicator means has not been responded to within a predetermined time period.
The signal transmitting means of each indicator means may be a radio frequency signal transmitter including an encoder, that can generate and transmit predetermined radio frequency coded signals that identify the table with which the indicator means is associated.
Each indicator means particularly is an integrated unit that has an outer body that is securely positionable on its table in the restaurant, thus ensuring the secure location of each indicator means with respect to its table.
The signal receiving means of the control unit particularly is a radio frequency signal receiver including a decoder that can receive and decode coded radio frequency signals transmitted by the signal transmitting means of any indicator means of the system and thereby identify the tables with which the indicator means from which signals have been received are associated.
The display means of the control unit may include light emitting diodes that can be energized to display numbers, with the numbers displayed being associated with tables where service is required as determined by indicator means that have been activated by the operation of the switching means of the particular indicator means.
The control unit of the restaurant service management system may include also first alerting means that is activated to emit an audible signal in response to the display means displaying that service at a particular table in the restaurant is required. This will ensure that the person in charge of the restaurant is alerted of the fact. In addition, the control unit may include a timer, that operates to measure the time for which required service at a particular table has not been attended to, and a second alerting means, that is activated to emit a higher intensity audible signal to the signal emitted by the first alerting means when required service at a particular table has not been attended to for a predetermined time period. The first alerting means and the second alerting means particularly form part of a single alerting means that can emit two different intensity signals.
Further according to the invention, the control unit of the restaurant service management system may include a programmed logic controller having memory means that can serve to receive and store information relating to service provided in the restaurant, including information in respect of the tables where indicator means were activated, response times and occasions of activation of the second alerting means.
The programmed logic controller of the control unit may thus include interface means that can provide an interface between its memory means and a computer for permitting display of stored information and the generation of printouts of stored information in a suitable format.
The programmed logic controller also may permit, through the use of numbers, linking of waiters with tables in the restaurant that are serviced by the waiters. As such, the display means of the control unit, by displaying relevant numbers, can identify also the waiters that are responsible for tables where service is required at any particular time.
An alternative configuration of the restaurant management system provides for the control unit to interface directly with a computer that is suitably programmed to fulfil the functions of the timer and the programmed logic controller as above defined.
The control unit of the restaurant service management system particularly comprises an integrated unit incorporating a housing that permits mounting of the unit in its required location within a restaurant. In order to further facilitate the use of the system of the invention, the system may include more than one control unit, each control unit being located at a different location within the restaurant to enable monitoring of the activation of indicator means at such different locations. At least one of the control units may be located in an area within the restaurant where waiters can monitor the unit for identifying tables where service is required.
The restaurant service management system as above defined clearly will continuously enable a person in charge of a restaurant to monitor service levels within the restaurant, while through the display, or the provision of printouts, of information stored in the memory of the programmed logic controller, or a computer interfacing directly with a control unit, formatted reports of service levels and the performance of individual waiters also can be obtained, thus permitting a person in charge of a restaurant to identify particular "problem waiters" that do not provide an adequate service to patrons of the restaurant. This information clearly also can be utilized in order to enable a person in charge of a restaurant to optimize the number of waiters used within the restaurant at any particular time, while ensuring also that adequate service levels are maintained.
An example of a restaurant service management system, in accordance with the invention, is described hereafter with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings. In the drawings:
Figure 1 illustrates schematically in diagram form a restaurant service management system, in accordance with the invention, in its operative configuration in a restaurant;
Figure 2 shows in side view an indicator means of the system of Figure 1 ; and Figure 3 illustrates the configuration of a display panel of a display means forming part of a control unit of the system of Figure 1 .
Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 illustrates a general layout of a restaurant that has ten tables 10 positioned in the eating area thereof and that includes an office area 12 for a person in charge of the restaurant, e.g. the owner or manager of the restaurant, from where the operation of the restaurant can be managed.
The restaurant is associated with a restaurant service management system, in accordance with the invention, the system including for each table 10 in the restaurant, an indicator means 14. Each indicator means is associated with its particular table via a table number, the indicator means thus typically being numbered one to ten, respectively, as shown. Each indicator means 14 includes, within the body thereof, a low intensity light source and a radio frequency signal transmitter and encoder, the signal transmitter and encoder being configured to transmit a radio frequency coded signal that can serve to identify the table with which its indicator means is associated. Each indicator means also includes switching means including two switches, 16 and 18 respectively, which are manually operable, permitting a patron seated at a particular table, by operation of the switch 1 6, to energize the light source when service is required at his table and a waiter, by operation of the switch 18, again to de-energize the light source when service is being attended to. The respective switches also serve to activate the signal transmitter and encoder for generating and transmitting different predetermined radio frequency coded signals that can be associated with the particular table involved, particularly for the purpose described in more detail hereinafter.
It will be understood that the configuration of the indicator means in relation to outward design as well as the components forming part thereof, is greatly variable, it being envisaged that the indicator means will be associated with state of the art components that can fulfil the required purposes. The exact technical configuration of the indicator means also is greatly variable and insofar as persons skilled in the art will be easily able to design suitable indicator means, this is not described in further detail herein. The outward design of the indicator means will be such that the effect that its use may have on the ambience within a restaurant, is minimized.
The system of the invention includes also a control unit 20 that is located within the office space 1 2 and that includes a radio frequency signal receiver and decoder that is associated with a suitable control circuit as well as a display means including a display panel 22. The display panel permits, by energizing of light emitting diodes, the display of different numbers, as is explained in more detail hereafter. The signal receiver and decoder of the control unit particularly is compatible with the signal transmitters and encoders associated with the indicator means 1 4, whereas the control circuit is configured so that, in response to the signal receiver receiving a first signal from a signal transmitter of an indicator means 1 4 associated with a particular table, in response to operation of the switch 1 6 of the indicator means, the number that coincides with the number of the table from which the signal has been transmitted, is displayed. The control unit also includes a sound emitter that is controlled by the control circuit and that is energized in response to a number being displayed, to emit a low intensity sound, thus alerting the person in charge of the restaurant of the fact that service is required at a table within the restaurant.
In practise, a waiter attending to a table where service is required will operate the switch 1 8 of the associated indicator means, thereby providing for the light source to be de-energized and for a particular radio frequency coded signal to be generated and transmitted, this signal then being received by the radio frequency signal receiver and decoder of the control unit in order to provide for the light emitting diodes displaying the number of the relevant table to be de-energized and for the sound emitter to cease emitting a sound. The control circuit also includes a timer that serves to time the duration for which a particular number is displayed and if this duration exceeds a predetermined time limit, the control circuit provides for the intensity of the sound emitted by the sound emitter to be increased, thus alerting the person in charge of the restaurant that the table that requires service has still not been attended to. The relevant number displayed by the display panel of the control unit also will then start to flash, in order to identify the particular table involved. The person in charge of the restaurant can then immediately take the necessary steps in order to rectify the situation, either by attending to the table himself, or by directing a waiter to immediately do so.
The restaurant service management system of the invention thus provides for patrons seated at tables in the restaurant and requiring service to activate the indicator means at their table. This will result in energizing of the light source associated with the indicator means and facilitate the task of waiters to identify their tables where service is required. The operation of the control unit 20, within the office space 1 2, will allow the person in charge of the restaurant also to monitor the tables where service is required. He will be particularly alerted when service is not attended to within a predetermined time period, in order to ensure that the necessary steps are taken.
The control unit of the apparatus of the invention also includes a programmed logic controller having a memory that is linked with the control circuit and that can receive and store information in respect of indicator means activated, response times thereto and instances where service is not attended to within predetermined time periods. An interface may be provided between the memory of the programmed logic controller and a computer, such as a personal computer or laptop, permitting display of this information and/or printout of this information. It will be understood that this information can then be interpreted to identify the service levels within the restaurant, as well as the performance levels of individual waiters which, it is submitted, can serve to greatly enhance the overall service levels within the restaurant. It is envisaged in the above regard that with the use of the programmed logic controller individual waiters that are responsible for particular tables also may be associated with numbers, the display means of the control unit thus providing for display not only of table numbers where service is required, but also of the numbers of waiters that are responsible. Referring particularly to Figure 3 in this regard, it will be understood that the particular display illustrated indicates that service is required at table 3 where waiter 1 is responsible, at tables 7 and 8 where waiter 3 is responsible, at table 2 where waiter 5 is responsible and at table 1 0 where waiter 8 is responsible.
The above clearly can be achieved also by interfacing a control unit as such directly with a computer that is suitably programmed to fulfil the purpose of the programmed logic controller, and optionally the timer also.
The complete control unit including its components and parts and the operation thereof clearly is greatly variable. Any person skilled in the art will be able to easily design a unit that can fulfil the purposes as above described, particularly with the use of state of the art components and parts. As such, the technical configuration of the control unit is not described in further detail herein.
Insofar as it is known that persons in charge of restaurants often move around within their restaurants, it is envisaged that the apparatus of the invention may include two or more control units that are located in different locations within a particular restaurant. It is envisaged also that the system of the invention may provide for a control unit to be located in a location where waiters often congregate, in order to ensure that they are immediately alerted when service at one of their tables is required.
It will be understood that within the principles of the restaurant service management system as above described, the system and particularly the configuration of the components and parts as used within the system can be varied in various different respects. The invention extends also to all such variations of the system which still incorporate the essential principles of the present invention.

Claims

1 . A restaurant service management system which includes, in the operative configuration of the system within a restaurant,
an indicator means located at each table in the restaurant, each indicator means having switching means, that can be operated for activating the indicator means in a manner that it indicates that service at the table where it is located is required and for de-activating the indicator means upon the service required being attended to by a waiter, and signal transmitting means, that can generate and transmit signals that can be remotely received and that can identify the table associated with the indicator means during periods between the indicator means having been activated and deactivated; and
at least one control unit located in a location in the restaurant where it can be monitored by a person in charge of the restaurant, the control unit having signal receiving means, that can receive signals transmitted by the signal transmitting means of the respective indicator means and identify the tables in the restaurant from where the signals received were transmitted, and display means, that can display the tables where service is required at any particular time in response to signals received from the signal transmitting means of the indicator means located at these tables.
2. A restaurant service management system as claimed in Claim 1 , in which each indicator means includes a light source that can be energized and de-energized in response respectively to activation and de-activation of the indicator means, by operation of the switching means thereof.
3. A restaurant service management system as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, in which the signal transmitting means of each indicator means is a radio frequency signal transmitter including an encoder, that can generate and transmit predetermined frequency coded signals that identify the table with which the indicator means is associated.
4. A restaurant service management system as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3, in which each indicator means is an integrated unit that has an outer body that is securely positionable on its table in a restaurant.
5. A restaurant service management system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the signal receiving means of the control unit is a radio frequency signal receiver including a decoder that can receive and decode signals transmitted by a signal transmitting means of any indicator means of the system and thereby identify the table with which the indicator means from which a signal has been received is associated.
6. A restaurant service management system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the display means of the control unit includes light emitting diodes that can be energized to display numbers, with the numbers displayed being associated with tables where service is required as determined by indicator means that have been activated by the operation of the switching means of the particular indicator means.
7. A restaurant service management system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the control unit includes first alerting means that is activated to emit an audible signal in response to the display means displaying that service at a particular table in the restaurant is required.
8. A restaurant service management system as claimed in Claim 7, in which the control unit includes a timer, that operates to measure the time for which required service at a particular table has not been attended to, and second alerting means, that is activated to emit a higher intensity audible signal to the audible signal emitted by the first alerting means when required service at a particular table has not been attended to for a predetermined time period.
9. A restaurant service management system as claimed in Claim 8, in which the first alerting means and the second alerting means form part of a single alerting means that can emit two different intensity signals.
10. A restaurant service management system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the control unit includes a programmed logic controller having memory means that serves to receive and store information relating to service provided in the restaurant, including information in respect of the tables where indicator means were activated, response times and occasions of activation of the second alerting means.
1 1 . A restaurant service management system as claimed in Claim 10, in which the programmed logic controller of the control unit includes interface means that can provide an interface between its memory means and a computer for permitting display of stored information and the generation of printouts of stored information in a suitable format.
12. A restaurant service management system as claimed in Claim 10 or Claim 1 1 , in which the programmed logic controller permits, through the use of numbers, linking of waiters with tables in the restaurant that are serviced by the waiters and in which the display means of the control unit, by displaying relevant numbers, can identify the waiters that are responsible for tables where service is required at any particular time.
13. A restaurant service management system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the control unit comprises an integrated unit incorporating a housing that permits mounting of the unit in its required location within a restaurant.
14. A restaurant service management system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, which includes more than one control unit, each control unit being located at a different location within the restaurant to enable monitoring of the activation of indicator means at such different locations.
15. A restaurant service management system as claimed in Claim 14, in which at least one of the control units is located in an area within the restaurant where waiters can monitor the unit for identifying their tables where service is required.
1 6. A restaurant service management system substantially as described in the specification with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
PCT/IB2004/000190 2003-02-19 2004-01-27 A restaurant service management system WO2004075133A2 (en)

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ZA2003/1356 2003-02-19
ZA200301356 2003-02-19

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Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE202004008782U1 (en) * 2004-06-02 2005-10-13 Grotepass, Hans-Peter, Dr. Waiter calling system has satellite calling units switched between call and no call and central unit recording call durations and satellite unit status

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2080001A (en) * 1980-07-04 1982-01-27 Oswald Leonhard Service Call Arrangements e.g. for Restaurants
US4701849A (en) * 1986-03-07 1987-10-20 Elden Michael G System for summoning service personnel and monitoring their response time
DE19616908A1 (en) * 1996-04-16 1997-10-23 Engelbert Buening Modular call indicator e.g. for hospitals
DE19622309A1 (en) * 1996-05-19 1997-11-20 Norbert Hartz Table-top apparatus for requesting of attention from waiter
US5828294A (en) * 1994-01-31 1998-10-27 Shank; Edward J. Customer activated signal for service
WO2000026877A1 (en) * 1998-11-03 2000-05-11 Garcia Fernandez, Casimiro Remote wireless warning equipment for hotels and the like

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2080001A (en) * 1980-07-04 1982-01-27 Oswald Leonhard Service Call Arrangements e.g. for Restaurants
US4701849A (en) * 1986-03-07 1987-10-20 Elden Michael G System for summoning service personnel and monitoring their response time
US5828294A (en) * 1994-01-31 1998-10-27 Shank; Edward J. Customer activated signal for service
DE19616908A1 (en) * 1996-04-16 1997-10-23 Engelbert Buening Modular call indicator e.g. for hospitals
DE19622309A1 (en) * 1996-05-19 1997-11-20 Norbert Hartz Table-top apparatus for requesting of attention from waiter
WO2000026877A1 (en) * 1998-11-03 2000-05-11 Garcia Fernandez, Casimiro Remote wireless warning equipment for hotels and the like

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE202004008782U1 (en) * 2004-06-02 2005-10-13 Grotepass, Hans-Peter, Dr. Waiter calling system has satellite calling units switched between call and no call and central unit recording call durations and satellite unit status

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