WO2013056509A1 - 遥控数字化菜谱数据传输的方法和系统 - Google Patents

遥控数字化菜谱数据传输的方法和系统 Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2013056509A1
WO2013056509A1 PCT/CN2012/001388 CN2012001388W WO2013056509A1 WO 2013056509 A1 WO2013056509 A1 WO 2013056509A1 CN 2012001388 W CN2012001388 W CN 2012001388W WO 2013056509 A1 WO2013056509 A1 WO 2013056509A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
recipe
management terminal
remote controller
recipe management
card
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/CN2012/001388
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
朱曼平
Original Assignee
Zhu Manping
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
Priority claimed from CN 201110313756 external-priority patent/CN102354338A/zh
Application filed by Zhu Manping filed Critical Zhu Manping
Publication of WO2013056509A1 publication Critical patent/WO2013056509A1/zh

Links

Classifications

    • GPHYSICS
    • G08SIGNALLING
    • G08CTRANSMISSION SYSTEMS FOR MEASURED VALUES, CONTROL OR SIMILAR SIGNALS
    • G08C17/00Arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless electrical link

Definitions

  • the present invention pertains to information technology products for restaurants, and more particularly to a method and system for remotely digitizing digital recipe data transmission.
  • the waiter or customer of the restaurant can order food on various a la carte, and then send the order information directly to the kitchen via the wireless network and print it out to the chef, thus improving the operation efficiency of the restaurant.
  • the earliest product was a miniature handheld a la carte (often referred to as "a la carte") used by waiters. Due to the need for customers to order food, there are waiters at the same time, making the restaurant often busy during peak hours. In addition, paper recipes are inconvenient to modify, printing costs are high, and depreciation is also a potential problem.
  • invention A proposes a large size (usually 15-- in the invention application "a table partner" (patent number 200820178106.0, hereinafter referred to as "invention A”) for the problem of the existing touch screen a la carte. 30”) flat panel display, fully remotely operated, supported by a movable floor stand.
  • This product is used to satisfy the ordering needs of restaurant customers when they are dining, so it is called “remote-controlled digital recipes" (the name used in the application was not reasonable at the time of application).
  • Customers can operate with the remote control and complete a variety of a la carte activities with ease and comfort.
  • Invention A also proposes a product similar to the set-top box, which can be ordered on the TV by the remote control, that is, "TV recipe”.
  • Remote control digital recipes and TV recipes can be collectively referred to as “remote control digital recipes", that is, using the remote control as an electronic recipe for the control device. 8
  • control wireless network communication circuit which is generally equivalent to the wireless transceiver circuit in "A la carte", its main function is to send the customer's already ordered dishes to the catering information system and then on the kitchen printer. Print it out (or call it "dish”).
  • the wireless communication circuit is generally implemented by wireless data transmission of 433Mhz.
  • the invention A also has the function of updating the recipe data wirelessly, so that the restaurant manager can directly transmit the latest recipe data to the remote digital recipe by issuing a command directly at the main station. Since the amount of data to be updated is often much larger than the amount of data required for wireless ordering, such as the need to update media data such as pictures and videos, the update of recipe data can only be via wifi. However, the coverage of wifi is very small, and the communication speed is greatly reduced or even disconnected after passing through the wall or far away, so it is difficult to actually deploy in the restaurant.
  • one method of implementing the invention of the dish and updating the data is to use a U disk.
  • the waiter inserts a USB flash drive into the extended USB interface of Invention A, and then Invention A automatically deposits the order result into the USB flash drive, and then the waiter sends the USB flash drive to the main station.
  • the head office administrator can read the order results from the USB flash drive and enter the food information system (or automatically read from the USB flash drive by the food information system) and print it out in the kitchen.
  • the restaurant manager saves the new recipe content to the USB flash drive, and then goes to each remote control digital recipe to update it.
  • USB flash drive can be cumbersome to use. This is especially true when the dining room is complex in structure, large in size, and has a large number of remotely controlled digital recipes. For example, if a restaurant has 3 floors and 100 remote-controlled digital recipes, once the recipe content needs to be updated, you need to go to each layer to update each remote-controlled digital recipe with a USB flash drive. Not only is this inefficient, but it is also prone to errors and omissions. Moreover, it is very troublesome for the customer to insert the USB flash drive after the customer finishes the cooking.
  • the existing digital recipes also have the following problems: When performing management operations (such as shutting down, sending order results to the kitchen, etc.), the waiter needs to enter the job number and password, and the customer first needs to enter the table number after sitting. First, these operations are very troublesome. Second, the table number is easy to mistype. Summary of the invention
  • host refers to portions other than remote controls that remotely digitize recipes.
  • remote control digital recipe refers only to the remote control cart, and does not include the TV recipe, because the TV recipe does not require a battery.
  • the "food information system” as used herein and in the claims refers to a general term for computers, servers, catering management software, kitchen printers, and various network cabling, all of which are prior art.
  • the present invention proposes a method and system for remotely digitizing digital recipe data transmission, which is characterized by:
  • Remote control digital recipes include remote control carts and TV recipes
  • the remote control digital recipe consists of a host computer and a remote controller; the remote controller has a host interface with a remote controller interface; the host interface on the remote controller can be directly connected to the remote controller interface on the host through a remote control cable;
  • the remote control has a built-in service data storage
  • the host sends the collected service data generated by the host to the remote controller through wired or wireless, and then stores the data into the service data memory in the remote controller;
  • the host reads the updated service data from the service data memory in the remote controller by wire or wirelessly and stores it in the memory inside the host;
  • the components of the recipe management terminal include a processor, a memory, and a service data storage;
  • the recipe management terminal has a service communication interface, and the recipe management terminal is connected to the catering information system through the service communication interface;
  • the recipe management terminal has a remote control interface; the host interface on the remote controller can be directly connected to the remote controller interface on the recipe management terminal through a remote control cable;
  • the recipe management terminal When the remote controller is connected to the recipe management terminal, the recipe management terminal reads the collected service data from the remote controller, and sends the collected service data to the catering information system through the service communication interface;
  • the recipe management terminal When the recipe management terminal receives the updated service data from the catering information system through the service communication interface, the recipe management terminal stores the updated service data in its internal service data storage and sends it to the connection. All the remote controllers of the recipe management terminal are stored in the service data storage in each remote controller; when the remote controller is connected to the recipe management terminal, the recipe management terminal sends the stored update service data to the remote controller and stores Enter the business data memory in the remote control. It is also characterized by:
  • the recipe management terminal has a card reader and an anti-theft alarm system. Each waiter is equipped with a waiter card. After the waiter swipes the waiter card on the recipe management terminal, the recipe management terminal releases the anti-theft and records the attendant as the current login attendant; The waiter can remove the remote controller from the recipe management terminal. When the remote controller is removed, the recipe management terminal sends the current login attendant information, the number of the removed remote controller and the current time to the catering information system; if the burglar alarm is not removed When the remote controller is connected, the recipe management terminal issues an alarm; when the remote controller is connected to the recipe management terminal, if the collection service data stored in the remote controller at this time contains the a la carte result data and the attendant who saves the result is swiped on the digitized recipe. Record, the recipe management terminal directly uses the waiter as the current login attendant and removes the theft;
  • a target computer in the catering information system can be specified for each recipe management terminal.
  • the recipe management terminal notifies the target computer to automatically unlock the lock screen and display the recipe management terminal management interface as the waiter. If the waiter card has a result of the dish, the target computer also pops up a window to display the order result content of the waiter card for the operator to check, modify and confirm the sending; when inserting the stored dish result on the recipe management terminal and
  • the target computer automatically unlocks the lock screen and displays the recipe management terminal as the waiter, and also pops up a window to display the order result content in the remote controller for the operator to check and modify. Confirm sending
  • the digital recipe enters the management interface; when you choose to save the order result and the table number to the waiter card in the management interface, and then swipe the card again, the digital recipe will be selected by the card reader.
  • the order result and the table number are saved to the waiter card; when the waiter card that saves the result of the dish is swiped on the recipe management terminal, the recipe management terminal reads the order and table in addition to the currently registered attendant. And send it to the catering information system to complete the opening and adding operations;
  • the digital recipes store the member information of all members of the restaurant and the dining history information of all the stores;
  • the digital recipe records the customer as the current registered customer.
  • the customer's dining history can be viewed on the digital recipe and the dishes in the dining history are selected again; at the same time, all the recipes
  • the price of the dish becomes the member price corresponding to the member level of the customer;
  • the digital recipe records and displays the current table number;
  • the updated business data contains the dining history of all members of all the restaurants in the restaurant. ;
  • the collection business data includes the cardholder and the credit card time of the waiter card, the table card and the membership card throughout the ordering process;
  • the updated business data includes current ordering status for all tables in the restaurant and today's ordering history.
  • the utility model is further characterized in that: a recipe management terminal and a digital recipe respectively have a wireless ordering transceiver circuit, and the host sends the order result and the table number information to the remote controller through wireless, and the remote controller sends the same to the remote controller through the wireless order receiving and sending circuit.
  • the recipe management terminal is sent to the catering information system to realize the opening and adding operations; the catering information system can send the latest clarification status of the dishes, the price information and the actual weight of the weighing dishes to the recipe management terminal and then through the wireless point.
  • the dish transceiver circuit is sent to each digital recipe being used.
  • the utility model is also characterized in that: the recipe management terminal is connected to a tablet computer through a USB cable, the tablet computer is used as a USB device end, and the recipe management terminal is used as a USB host terminal; the tablet computer is connected to the service communication interface of the recipe management terminal through USB
  • the catering information system thus becomes a computer in the catering information system and serves as the target computer of the recipe management terminal; the recipe management terminal supplies power to the tablet through the USB interface; when the tablet and the recipe are disconnected without releasing the burglarproof
  • the recipe management terminal issues an alarm. It is also characterized in that - the recipe management terminal is powered by the POE;
  • the recipe management terminal reads the remaining power of the remote controller from each remote controller connected thereto, and sequentially charges the remote controller with insufficient power;
  • the collection business data includes the last use time of the digital recipe, the shutdown time, and the remaining battery power when the machine is turned off;
  • the remote control has a built-in USB hub, and the USB hub is connected to a USB microcontroller and a USB flash drive/card reader.
  • the recipe management terminal controls the opening and closing of the power supply of the remote control single-chip microcomputer and its peripheral circuits by controlling the opening and closing of the power supply of the downlink port of the USB hub in the remote controller; the recipe management terminal sends a command to the single-chip microcomputer of the remote controller to control the remote controller.
  • the power supply of the U disk/reader circuit inside is turned on and off.
  • the update service data includes setting information for automatically starting and shutting down the time of the digital recipe; the digital recipe is automatically turned on according to the setting at a specified time every day, and automatically stands by after being turned on; automatically standby from the specified time. Wake up and shut down. It is also characterized by: a remote microphone with a microphone and an audio ADC.
  • the host wirelessly notifies the remote controller to turn on/off recording, and the remote controller starts/stops recording and
  • the recording result is stored in its business data memory or the recording result is wirelessly transmitted to the host; the collected business data contains the recording result; after the recording result enters the catering information system, the manager can play back on the computer.
  • the utility model is also characterized in that: the recipe management terminal has a small ticket printer or an external small ticket printer, and the recipe management terminal can supply power to the small ticket printer; the recipe management terminal serves as a network print server, and provides a network printing service to the catering information system through the service communication interface.
  • the small ticket printer is represented as a network printer in the food service information system; at the same time, the recipe management terminal can also independently control the small ticket printer to directly print the ordering result in the remote controller.
  • the utility model is further characterized in that: after the remote controller is removed from the recipe management terminal, the remote controller periodically communicates with the recipe management terminal through the wireless order receiving transceiver circuit, and the recipe management terminal performs the current position of the remote controller through the strength of the received wireless signal. Track and send the tracking results to the food and beverage information system; if a remote control is found to lose its signal, an alarm is issued.
  • the invention is mainly for solving the problem of remote control digital recipes and external business data transmission.
  • acquisition business data includes: customer's order results (a la carte content, quantity, taste setting, unit price, total price); table number used by the customer; digital recipe's power on, off time and remaining power at shutdown ; Member cards, waiter cards, and table cards are swiped on digital recipes.
  • Typical "update business data” includes: recipe data update; multimedia data, such as restaurant introduction video, advertising video; member information of all restaurants in the restaurant and member's dining history; food clear information; dish weighing information; Dining history for all tables; current a la carte status for all tables.
  • the author of this paper proposes a remote control in the patent application "a remote control a la cart” (patent number 2011200582964, hereinafter referred to as invention B), which can not only wirelessly control the host but also pass the remote controller.
  • the cable is connected to the host.
  • the main unit has a remote control interface, and the remote control has a host interface, which can be connected through the remote control cable.
  • the interface on the general remote control is a USB male connector
  • the interface on the main computer is a USB female socket, so that the remote controller can also be directly inserted into the host without wires.
  • the remote controller and the host can be easily paired, and the remote controller can also be turned into a wired remote controller to serve as a backup input device.
  • the remote control should be inserted into the main unit to perform wireless pairing. Then, after the remote control is unplugged, the remote controller starts to communicate with the host through the wireless link.
  • the invention replaces the function of the U disk by a specially designed remote controller, so that the waiter can insert the remote controller into the host machine to complete the update of the recipe content, so the whole update method is very elegant and concise. Since each remote-controlled digital recipe must be paired with the remote control before it can be used, it is ensured that any remote-controlled digital recipes are updated to the latest recipes before they are used. For those remote-controlled digital recipes that are not used, you can not update them first, and then update them when you want to use them, thus greatly reducing the update workload.
  • the interface between the remote control and the host computer is a USB2.0 high-speed interface, and the transmission rate can reach 20MB/s, which is much higher than the average speed of IMB/s of wifi, so that any data update can be completed almost instantaneously. There is basically no need to wait for the completion of the update.
  • the other is absolute reliability, not like wifi-like possible disconnection at any time.
  • the remote controller of the present invention can also function to transmit the result of ordering. In the process of ordering customers, once the customer has a new operation, such as adding a certain dish to the list of a la carte, modifying the quantity of a certain order and the production requirements, etc., the host of the present invention will provide the information. Instantly send to the remote via wireless.
  • the remote controller of the invention A generally has a single chip microcomputer and an RF communication circuit.
  • the RF communication circuit refers to the ISM frequency band (the 433MHz and 2.4GHz frequency bands in China) wireless data transmission.
  • the 2.4GHz short-range wireless data transmission chip is generally used to implement the RF communication circuit.
  • the commonly used chips are such as the United States.
  • Texas Instruments' CC2500, CC2520, CC2530, etc. can also use off-the-shelf technologies such as Bluetooth.
  • the RF communication circuit supports two-way communication, that is, the remote controller can not only send the operation message of the customer on the remote controller to the host, but also receive the data packet sent by the host.
  • the host can send a wireless data packet to the remote controller, the data packet contains the latest operation content of the customer, and the remote controller receives the data packet and saves it (stored in the built-in microcontroller) In the SRAM or in the external memory of the microcontroller such as EEPROM or various types of flash memory or flash memory cards).
  • the remote control always stores all the customer's a la carte content and requirements and other business information. Once the customer orders the food, the remote control is equivalent to the point menu handwritten by the former restaurant waiter, and saves all the order results. At this point, the à la carte content stored in the remote controller can be transferred to the catering information system in some way.
  • the remote controller of the invention B can be used as either a wireless remote controller or a wired remote controller.
  • the remote control of Invention B When the remote control of Invention B is wired to the host, the remote control automatically switches to wired mode.
  • the result of the above-mentioned ordering sent to the remote controller through the RF communication circuit should be changed to be wired and sent through the remote control cable, that is, the result of sending the order by wireless or wired, depending on Whether the current remote control works in wireless remote control or wired remote control mode.
  • the host will automatically send the order result to the remote control by wire, but this method is not recommended, because the remote control is connected to the host after the order is finished, similar to the previous point before inserting. U disk, more trouble.
  • the customer's order results will be sent to the remote control instantly or once and saved by the remote control.
  • the waiter shuts down the remote digital recipe, then takes the remote control to the recipe management terminal and connects the remote control to a remote control interface on the recipe management terminal via the remote control cable (or directly Insert the remote control into the remote control interface on the recipe management terminal.
  • the recipe management terminal will automatically read the previously stored order result from the newly connected remote controller, and send the order result.
  • the "A la carte result” generally includes information such as the table number, and the information is sent to the catering information system through the "business communication interface" on the recipe management terminal, thereby realizing the operations of automatic opening and adding orders.
  • the "service communication interface” can be any wired or wireless communication interface.
  • the common method is wired Ethernet, wifi or ISM band wireless data transmission.
  • the ISM band wireless data transmission refers to the 433MHz or 2.4GHz wireless communication circuit (such as zigbee) generally used on the à la carte treasure.
  • the 433Mhz is characterized by strong wall penetration capability, so it can pass wireless and total without relay.
  • For the wireless base station communication please refer to the ordering products on the market. Wifi requires a wifi base station in the restaurant and its signal can cover the location of the recipe management terminal. Wired Ethernet is the most preferred method, not only fast, but also very stable, while wifi and ISM band wireless data transmission is basically not recommended technology.
  • the recipe management terminal accesses the network of the catering information system through the service communication interface, thereby being able to communicate with various computers, servers and network printers in the catering information system.
  • the recipe management terminal generally sends the order result to the catering management software on a computer or server in the restaurant, and the catering management software prints the order result in the target printer according to the setting of the previous restaurant, and deposits the order result at the same time.
  • the database is used for financial checkout and analysis after the restaurant (these are the basic functions of the existing catering management system).
  • a plurality of remote controller interfaces are generally provided on the recipe management terminal, so that multiple remote controllers can be connected at the same time. If the interface is a USB interface, then more interfaces are typically extended by an external USB hub.
  • the restaurant manager modifies the recipe content and needs to update, he only needs to operate the catering management software on a computer in the catering information system, and the software will send the new recipe content to each recipe management terminal in the restaurant. Or, upload the update content to the server, and then each recipe management terminal downloads the update from the server itself.
  • the recipe management terminal After receiving the updated business data, the recipe management terminal automatically saves the data to its internal memory (hard disk, flash card, etc.) and also updates it to each remote control currently connected to the recipe management terminal. In the device. If some of the remotes were not connected to the recipe management terminal (used by the restaurant customers), then when the remotes are used and connected to the recipe management terminal by the waiter, the result will be transferred from the remote to the remote control.
  • the recipe management terminal also simultaneously sends the latest update of the recipe content received to the remote controller.
  • the order result will be sent to the restaurant information system, and the latest recipe content is updated. It will also be saved to the remote control.
  • the remote control is continuously connected to the recipe management terminal to receive and save the latest recipe updates at any time.
  • the waiter removes a remote control from the recipe management terminal, connects the remote controller to the host and shuts down the machine.
  • the host automatically reads the latest recipe from the remote controller. Updated and updated to the internal memory of the movement module of Invention A, thus ensuring that the recipe content is up-to-date whenever the customer sees the recipe.
  • Invention B has to connect the remote control to the host to enable remote control pairing when booting up.
  • the present invention does not add any extra operations relative to Invention B, by inserting The opportunity for the remote control is updated, so it is very simple and elegant.
  • the data transmitted by the host to the food and beverage information system through the remote controller and the recipe management terminal is not limited to the ordering result, and may be any form of "acquisition of business data", and here is merely an example of the ordering result.
  • the data sent by the food information system to the host through the recipe management terminal and the remote controller is not limited to the recipe data update, but is arbitrary "update business data".
  • each recipe management terminal reads the current order status of all the tables in the restaurant and the order information of the day and stores it as updated business data in the remote controller from the restaurant information system, and then the information is updated to In every digital recipe.
  • any digital recipe can be used to recall the current order status of any table and the order history of today, which is convenient for tracking and additional ordering (ie, customers use digital recipes to add dishes again during the meal. Customers can see the dishes they have ordered before, at a glance).
  • the restaurant manager can also store the updated service data in the u disk and then insert the U disk sequentially.
  • Each recipe management terminal and thus the recipe management terminal reads data updates from the USB flash drive.
  • the number of recipe management terminals is far less than the number of remote control digital recipes, so it is still far and simple to use the u disk to update each remote digital recipe, and the most critical is that no active update is required.
  • Digital recipes for each remote control It can be seen that the recipe management terminal should also have a standard USB interface for connecting the USB flash drive and any other USB devices, such as a USB mouse, a keyboard, a touch screen, a printer, etc., so as to facilitate various functions.
  • the restaurant generally determines the number and placement of the recipe management terminal according to its actual situation. For example, a small restaurant needs to have a recipe management terminal at the main station. Large, multi-storey restaurants require one or more recipe management terminals per floor. Each waiter needs to go to the recipe management terminal closest to him to take and store the remote control.
  • each recipe management terminal can be connected to the catering information system in different ways. Conditional cable Ethernet can be used, and wireless can be used without conditions.
  • the recipe management terminal can be placed near the AC outlet, and then a power line communication adapter can be installed on the AC outlet (a power line communication adapter accessing the restaurant information system network is required in another part of the restaurant) Then, the two establish a connection through the power line), so that the recipe management terminal can access the catering information system through wired Ethernet and power lines, and still has a wired communication mode.
  • wifi is not recommended because of its slow speed, unreliability, and potential security issues.
  • the recipe management terminal also provides a function of charging the remote controller.
  • the remote control When the remote control is not normally used At this time, it is always connected to a recipe management terminal, so that the recipe management terminal can charge the remote controller at any time.
  • the recipe management terminal can acquire the remaining power of each remote controller (transmit the "Get Battery Power" command to the remote controller through the remote control interface and receive a reply from the remote controller). Therefore, the recipe management terminal can first obtain the remaining power of each remote controller connected thereto, and if there is less power remaining in the remote controller, the charging is started. If the power is sufficient, the charging will not be performed. After the charging is completed, the recipe management terminal can notify the remote controller to enter the sleep state.
  • the remote controller will be woken up again and the update will be stored in the remote controller.
  • the charging power is relatively large, the total power that the recipe management terminal can provide is relatively small. Therefore, the method of rotating charging is generally adopted, that is, after filling a remote controller and then starting to charge a remote controller, the remote controller with the lowest power can be preferentially performed. Charging.
  • the recipe management terminal can also have an interface such as a serial port and a USB port, so that it can be connected to an external ticket printer.
  • This design brings two advantages: First, when the waiter connects the customer's used remote control to the recipe management terminal, in addition to sending the order information to the restaurant information system, it will automatically print the order on the ticket printer. The result is then handed over to the customer for standby; and when the customer needs to checkout, the waiter does not need to go to the front desk to take the bill, as long as it is printed on the nearest recipe management terminal; second, if the recipe management terminal goes to the restaurant information system Problems with the connection result in the inability to deliver the order, and the waiter can manually send the order to the kitchen, ensuring that the restaurant's business can continue at any time.
  • the recipe management terminal generally provides a network printing service to the catering information system through the "service communication interface", that is, any software in the catering information system can be performed on any printer connected to the recipe management terminal.
  • Print In fact, whether it is a la carte confirmation order printing or a checkout bill printing after a la carte, it is generally done by a software module in the food information system to print on the printer connected to the recipe management terminal instead of the recipe management.
  • the terminal controls printing, and the recipe management terminal only provides a print service (equivalent to a network print server).
  • the recipe management terminal described above goes to the communication terminal of the catering information system or the catering information system (for example, the server is down)
  • the recipe management terminal directly connects to the recipe according to the result of the order in the remote controller. Printing on the small ticket printer does not require relying on the food information system. For example, if the recipe management terminal finds that it cannot successfully send a la carte result to the restaurant information system, it can automatically switch to the direct print mode. After direct printing, the waiter can send the clicked menu directly to the kitchen without affecting The operation of the restaurant business. It can be seen that the recipe management terminal can print on its own or provide a network printing service to the restaurant information system.
  • the menu management terminal has a card reader and an anti-theft alarm system.
  • the card reader is typically an RFID reader.
  • the invention solves the problem of management and anti-theft of the remote controller by setting a card reader and an alarm system on the recipe management terminal.
  • the remote control is connected to the recipe management terminal by wire, so when any remote controller is removed, the recipe management terminal can find it in time. For example, if the remote controller is connected to the recipe management terminal through the USB interface, when the remote controller is unplugged, the recipe management terminal detects the pull-out event of the USB device and learns that the remote controller is unplugged.
  • the recipe management terminal has a built-in alarm system, which is generally implemented with a high loudness buzzer.
  • the recipe management terminal can also alert the catering information system through the "service communication interface". For example, once the recipe management terminal needs an alarm, on the one hand, the buzzer will start beeping, on the other hand, the recipe management terminal will send an alarm message to the catering information system through the network, and any computer of the catering information system will generate a screen after receiving the alarm message. The pop-up prompts so that the manager can immediately pay attention.
  • the recipe management terminal can also perform alarms wirelessly. For example, each recipe management terminal can arrange a management attendant, who wears an alarm receiver. When an alarm is needed, the recipe management terminal sends the alarm to the alarm receiver via wireless (generally 433Mhz, similar to the existing wireless calling product).
  • the recipe management terminal can have a built-in battery, so that it can effectively alarm even if the power is turned off. If the recipe management terminal is issuing an alert, you can stop the alert by swiping the waiter card.
  • the restaurant issues a waiter card for each waiter (generally an RFID card, such as a Mifare card, which has an authorized password, which is written by the restaurant at the time of card making).
  • a waiter card for each waiter (generally an RFID card, such as a Mifare card, which has an authorized password, which is written by the restaurant at the time of card making).
  • the waiter should first swipe the waiter card on the recipe management terminal. After the card is swiped, the recipe management terminal releases the anti-theft system, and the recipe management terminal also serves the attendant. As the current login attendant. At this point, the waiter can safely remove the remote control from the recipe management terminal, and can remove multiple remote controls.
  • the recipe management terminal will record the event, that is, when the waiter has removed which remote controller, the ID of the waiter and the ID of the remote controller will be recorded, and the information will be sent to the restaurant.
  • Information system for future day-to-day management It can be seen that any operation of the waiter on the recipe management terminal will be recorded.
  • any remote control is taken by which waiter, it is also well documented, thus achieving orderly remote control management and anti-theft.
  • the restaurant can assign a "target computer" to each recipe management terminal.
  • the target computer is a computer in the catering information system, which runs catering management software (this catering management software is generally provided by remote digital recipes vendors).
  • the computer is usually a computer placed next to the recipe management terminal.
  • the recipe management terminal After the waiter swipes the card on the recipe management terminal, the recipe management terminal automatically sends a message to the target computer (via the "service communication interface"), notifying the target computer that the attendant has logged in to the recipe management terminal. After receiving the message, the catering management software on the target computer will automatically unlock the lock screen (ie, log in) as the waiter. When the catering management software is not operating normally, it is usually in the lock screen state. Any waiter who needs to operate must first enter the job number and password to log in.
  • the waiter saves the previous login operation: as long as the card is swiped on the recipe management terminal, it can automatically log in on the corresponding target computer, although the recipe management terminal and the target computer are two terminals, but It seems to be the same computer. Further, after logging in, the target computer also automatically displays the recipe management terminal management interface. In this interface, you can see which remote controllers are currently connected to this recipe management terminal, the recipe data version in each remote control, and so on.
  • the information is obtained in a variety of ways, and the recipe management terminal can periodically send the information to the catering information system (and store it in the database of the catering information system, and then any computer can access it at will), or each recipe management terminal can
  • the catering information system provides data services (ie some form of network services, such as web services or custom web application layer protocols, recipe management terminals as servers, target computers as clients), and any computer in the catering information system needs to obtain these When accessing data, just access the data service provided by the recipe management terminal.
  • the recipe management terminal can also be controlled in the recipe management terminal management interface, for example, "safely pull out the remote controller". There is a button in the recipe management terminal management interface "Safely Unplug the Remote Control". This button is similar to the "Safely Remove Hardware" in Windows.
  • the recipe management terminal For example, if the recipe management terminal is performing a data update operation on a remote controller, if the waiter removes the remote controller at this time, data corruption will occur, similar to the case where the USB flash drive is unplugged from the Windows computer without safely deleting the hardware.
  • the recipe management terminal first unlocks the anti-theft system and notifies the target computer to unlock the screen and automatically logs in. Then the attendant first clicks the "safely pull out the remote control" button on the target computer (the target computer is generally It is placed next to the recipe management terminal, so the waiter can see the interface of the target computer and can start the operation immediately after swiping the card.
  • the waiter should wait patiently for the recipe management terminal to complete the update operation currently in progress. If the recipe management terminal does not currently perform any update operation, the recipe management terminal management interface will immediately display "The security can be safely pulled out. The remote control is ", if it is being updated, it will display information such as "Updating, please wait”. Once the "Remote remote control" is displayed, the recipe management terminal will not start any update operation. In this way, as long as the waiter can safely pull out the remote control and then pull out the remote control, there will be no data corruption.
  • each recipe management terminal should provide a network service, any The target computer can control the recipe management terminal through the network through the network service provided by the recipe management terminal.
  • the à la carte content window is automatically popped up after the automatic login on the target computer (the specific process is The recipe management terminal first sends the order result to the catering information system and stores it in the database server, and then the target computer can read the order results from the database. At this time, although the order results have entered the database, they are not Sent to the kitchen printer, waiting for the waiter to verify the status), this window lists the details of the ordering results stored in the remote control or waiter card, such as the contents, quantity, taste, unit price, membership discount, total price, etc. .
  • This pop-up window is mainly used by the service personnel for the final manual confirmation of the à la carte content.
  • the waiter can modify the order of the order, or add other dishes before sending. It can be seen that the waiter can confirm and modify the target computer before sending it to the kitchen, which is more stable and secure.
  • the recipe management terminal should have an indicator light to indicate whether the remote control can be safely removed, and a mechanical button for "safely unplugging the remote control" should be provided.
  • a mechanical button for "safely unplugging the remote control” should be provided.
  • the indicators and buttons on the recipe management terminal replace the interface on the target computer.
  • the order result in the remote controller or the waiter card will be automatically sent to the kitchen, and the waiter will not be confirmed again, and no modification can be made before sending.
  • the recipe management terminal itself is a calculation with a display and an input device.
  • the machine is equivalent to combining the "recipe management terminal" and the "target computer” in the previous article.
  • this form is not recommended because it reduces the flexibility of use.
  • the recipe management terminal is generally placed in the foreground, and the front desk generally places a PC. In this case, it is the best solution to use the PC as the target computer.
  • the recipe management terminal is specifically implemented, it is generally designed to be a small-sized product similar to a home broadband router. It has only a remote control interface and a business communication interface, and has no display screen, and its control mainly passes through the target computer. achieve.
  • the recipe management terminal of the present invention also supports the function of providing network access to the tablet through the USB interface. For example, when the tablet is connected to the recipe management terminal via USB, the tablet acts as a USB device and can be presented as a USB RNDIS device, or a USB CDC device.
  • the tablet is a USB network card.
  • the recipe management terminal accesses the network of the catering information system through the service communication interface, so that the tablet computer also accesses the network of the catering information system (the recipe management terminal needs As a routing function, the tablet can be used as a target computer because it is not fundamentally different from any other computer in the food information system (although the tablet is generally ARM-based and runs Android).
  • manufacturers of remote-controlled digital recipes generally need to provide two sets of management interface software, one for PC, suitable for large-screen mouse operation. A set for the tablet, suitable for 7-inch touch screen operation.
  • the general tablet can be directly operated by the USB-provided power of the recipe management terminal without any external power supply.
  • the recipe management terminal can also implement the anti-theft function of the tablet. If the USB cable of the tablet is unplugged without releasing the alarm, the recipe management terminal will detect the event and issue an alarm.
  • the USB cable of the tablet is forbidden to be pulled out by the general waiter. Therefore, only the waiter card with the tablet management authority (such as the waiter's card held by the manager) can swipe the card to release the anti-theft alarm to the tablet.
  • IC card à la carte products have appeared in the market, that is, the use of IC cards to transfer the order results from the à la carte machine to the catering Management system.
  • the present invention also provides similar functionality, and also uses an RFID card for table entry and a waiter to log in on a digital recipe.
  • the remote control digital recipe has a card reader.
  • the card reader can be located on the main unit or on the remote control. It is the best solution on the remote control, because the remote control is in the hands of the waiter or customer who operates the digital recipe, it is very convenient to brush, even without the need to pull out the card, for example, the waiter puts the remote control in the pocket (the waiter is placed in the pocket) Card, the card is an RFID card. The card can be swiped on the previous shot. The customer will put the remote control in the trouser pocket (the PIN card in the trouser pocket, the card is also the RFID card).
  • the digital recipe automatically displays the management interface.
  • the management interface is mainly used to shut down, send and save the order results. These operations cannot be performed by the customer at random, so they must be operated by the waiter.
  • Existing products (such as tablet ordering products) generally require the waiter to enter the job number and password, which is very troublesome.
  • the invention realizes the automatic identity authentication by swiping and automatically enters the management interface, which is very simple and does not input and re-enter.
  • One of the functions in the digital recipe management interface is to save the order results to the waiter card (you can save only some of them, such as when the customer needs to make a certain dish in advance). After selecting this function, the screen will prompt you to brush the waiter card. At this time, when the waiter swipes the card, the digital recipe will write the order result to the waiter card. If the card reader is on the remote control, the host will wirelessly send the result of the order to the remote controller and then write the attendant card from the remote controller. After that, the waiter should card to the nearby recipe management terminal to swipe the card. After swiping the card, as described above, not only will the user automatically log in on the target computer, but also automatically read the order result in the waiter card and pop up the window. The waiter confirms the delivery.
  • the clerk card can also transmit any other small amount of data.
  • Information System This table has been occupied, that is, the opening operation is realized. If you do not have this function, you must wait until the customer has finished ordering and start the transfer when the order is transmitted by the remote control. Restaurants often issue loyalty cards to customers. Customers can directly swipe the RFID membership card on the remote digital recipe. The remote control digital recipe keeps all the members' information and dining history records of all the restaurants in the restaurant.
  • the customer swipes the card they will automatically complete the member registration on the digital recipe.
  • the customer can browse the history of the past meal. kind. Customers can also order some dishes they have ordered in the past. Join "My Table" directly, see the contents of Invention A for details. Further, after the customer logs in, the price of the dish on the digital recipe will automatically become the discount price that the customer member level can enjoy.
  • the history of meals stored in the remote digital recipes is also transmitted to the remote digital recipes via the remote control.
  • the headquarters server collects the order records from each store every day, and then distributes them to each store, then enters each recipe management terminal of each store, and then enters the remote control connected to the recipe management terminal. Finally, the host of the digital recipe is passed through the remote control.
  • the catering management software of each store automatically downloads the latest data from the headquarters server every day and saves it in the database server of the catering information system. Then each recipe management terminal in the store automatically downloads the latest data from the database server and then Update to each remote. That is to say, the database of the restaurant information system of each store, each recipe management terminal, each remote controller and each host store a complete member database and member dining history.
  • This design is equivalent to a distributed storage system that allows the restaurant to quickly log in and browse the dining history on any digital recipe without the need for wifi cabling. It should be noted that this is a distributed system, and the contents stored by each storage node are basically never identical but basically the same, because the synchronization of data before each node is delayed.
  • the restaurant can also be equipped with a table card RFID card, that is, an RFID card is placed inside the table card, so that when the customer is seated, the table card can be automatically shot on the digital card reader. Entering the table number solves the problem that the manual entry of the table number is easy to make mistakes. Whether it is a waiter card or a membership card or a table card, any card event during the ordering process will be recorded by digital recipes (card type, card number and card time). These card records will eventually be transferred to the recipe management through the remote control. The terminal is then finally transmitted to the restaurant information system for the administrator to view later.
  • a table card RFID card that is, an RFID card is placed inside the table card, so that when the customer is seated, the table card can be automatically shot on the digital card reader. Entering the table number solves the problem that the manual entry of the table number is easy to make mistakes. Whether it is a waiter card or a membership card or a table card, any card event during the ordering process will be recorded by digital recipes (card type, card number
  • the remote controller when the remote controller is connected to the recipe management terminal, if the remote controller has a memory result and a card reader who saves the order result on the digitized recipe, the remote controller is equivalent to the recipe.
  • the waiter card is swiped on the management terminal, so that the recipe management terminal releases the anti-theft system and notifies the target computer to unlock the screen and log in. This is because, after the customer has ordered the food, it is necessary to confirm and save the order result by the restaurant waiter.
  • the waiter must first swipe the waiter card on the digital recipe to enter the tube The interface, then select "Save order results and shut down" in the management interface. In this way, the remote control saves both the order result and the waiter's credit card record on the digital recipe.
  • the waiter will insert the remote control into a recipe management terminal. It can be seen that in this case, the information stored in the remote controller can prove that the person holding the remote controller is the waiter, so that the waiter can perform the card swiping operation on the recipe management terminal.
  • the present invention also provides the functions of the digital recipe and the wireless data transmission of the recipe management terminal.
  • This kind of wireless data transmission refers to the traditional wireless ordering method, such as 433Mhz wireless data transmission, zigbee and wifi and other long-distance wireless transmission technologies, generally recommended is 433MHz (in some countries is 868MHz/915Mhz) Wireless data transmission.
  • Both the recipe management terminal and the digital recipes have wireless à la carte transceiver circuits.
  • the preferred implementation of the wireless ordering transceiver circuit on the digital recipe is to install it in the remote controller instead of the host, because the remote controller can be easily moved, and the direction and position of the remote controller can be changed when the wireless signal is not good. To find the signal.
  • digital recipes and recipe management terminals can also pass wireless transceiver data. For example, when the table card is swiped on the digital recipe, the digital recipe can immediately send the opening message to the recipe management terminal wirelessly, and the message is finally passed to the catering information system, so that the manager can immediately see that the table has been opened. Taiwan, otherwise you must wait until the order is finished.
  • the customer needs to make a certain dish in advance, they can also send it in this way, no need to use the RFID card (the waiter does not need to go to the recipe management terminal to swipe the card in order to make a certain dish in advance).
  • the kitchen can directly enter the actual weighing weight on the computer, and then the food management software will send the weight information to the recipe management terminal, and then the recipe management terminal sends it to the wireless management terminal.
  • the target digitizes the recipe, and then the weight and price of the dish on the digital recipe are automatically recalculated. If you do not have this feature, you will need to send a person in the kitchen to inform the waiter responsible for the table to modify the actual weight on the digital recipe interface.
  • the recipe management terminal is actually equivalent to the "radio base station" of the a la carte.
  • the remote control itself already has a “remote control wireless communication circuit” (see Invention A), so another kind
  • the current mode is that the remote controller borrows the existing "remote control wireless communication circuit" as the wireless ordering transceiver circuit (the same wireless communication circuit should be added to the recipe management terminal). That is to say, the hardware of the "remote control wireless communication circuit" simultaneously accesses two different wireless networks, and one network is a remote control network composed of a remote controller and a host.
  • the other is a service data wireless transmission network composed of a remote controller and a recipe management terminal.
  • the technology of accessing two networks at the same time by a set of physical hardware is similar to that of a Bluetooth device that can access two piconets at the same time, and is implemented by a time division multiplexing method.
  • the system is a wireless network that accesses two completely different protocols. To achieve this goal, the wireless protocols of the two networks must be specially designed and coexisting proprietary protocols.
  • the recipe management terminal can also track the position of the remote controller.
  • the remote controller can periodically send wireless data packets to the recipe management terminal, and the recipe management terminal can roughly determine the distance from the remote controller to the recipe management terminal according to the strength of the received signal. Although this judgment is very inaccurate, it can still be Give a rough reference.
  • the manager can not only see the status of each remote controller connected to the recipe management terminal, but also the status of each remote controller in use. For example, if it is found that a remote controller has not sent a packet for a long time, it may prompt the administrator that the remote controller may have been stolen.
  • the recipe management terminal can also serve as a base station for wireless calls.
  • Some restaurants use wireless calling products, which place a pager on each table.
  • the caller will send a wireless data packet to the calling base station by pressing the button on the caller, and then the calling base station will send a data packet to the call receiver worn by the server.
  • the recipe management terminal can also act as a wifi base station, thereby eliminating the need for a separate wifi base station.
  • the host can also send the remaining battery power to the remote via wireless packets.
  • the recipe management terminal can read the remaining battery power of the remote digital recipe from the remote controller, and then can send the remaining battery power to the restaurant information system. The restaurant manager can then see the remaining battery power of each remote digital recipe. It is enough to read the remaining power when the remote digital recipe is turned off. Because the remote control digital recipe is turned off, the power consumption is extremely low, and the battery power will not change.
  • Every remote digital recipe has A serial number
  • the remote controller not only stores the remaining power when the power is turned off, but also stores the serial number of the connected remote digital recipe (also obtained from the host through the wireless data packet) and sends the serial number and the remaining power together to the catering information system.
  • the restaurant manager can quickly find the remote control digital recipe and the battery replacement according to the serial number (the serial number is usually attached to the remote digital recipe). Since restaurant customers generally require digital recipes to be ready to use, and general digital products start at a slower speed, the solution is to not turn off the digital recipes, but to stand by.
  • the present invention proposes an automatic boot and standby function. That is, the restaurant manager can set the automatic boot and automatic shutdown time of the digital recipe in the catering management software. For example, it automatically turns on at 11 am and 5 pm. Automatically shut down at 2 pm and 8 pm. These parameters are updated to each digital recipe via the remote control. After that, each digital recipe will be automatically turned on every day at the specified time (similar to the computer's automatic boot at the specified time), and will automatically stand by immediately after booting. This allows all digital recipes to be in standby during the peak meal period, so it can be turned on instantly and ready to use.
  • the digital recipe will automatically resume from standby and then shut down. In this way, it can be turned off for 18 hours in 24 hours, which greatly reduces the battery loss caused by standby.
  • customers order food, they often ask for the taste and production methods of the dishes.
  • the general requirements (such as polysaccharides, less spicy, etc.) can generally be set directly in the digital recipe interface, while the unique requirements are generally entered manually. For past hand-drinks and tablet ordering, manual entry is not a problem.
  • you use the remote control to operate the recipe it is more troublesome to enter the text message, because there is usually no full keyboard on the remote control.
  • the present invention therefore proposes a method of recording special requirements by voice.
  • the built-in microphone and audio ADC of the remote control when special requirements are required, first operate the host interface, turn on the recording, and then the host will notify the remote control to turn on the recording through the remote wireless communication circuit. At this time, the remote controller will turn on the audio ADC and start. Speak to the remote.
  • the result of the speech will be recorded by the remote controller and stored in the business data memory.
  • the remote control can also send the recording result to the host wirelessly and save it (and then return it to the remote controller to enter the business data memory in the remote controller).
  • the recording can be stopped from the digital recipe interface, or it can be stopped intelligently. For example, if the audio signal strength within 3 seconds is found to be lower than a certain value, the recording will stop automatically.
  • the recipe management terminal After the order is completed, when the remote controller is inserted into the recipe management terminal, the recipe management terminal reads the recording result from the remote controller and sends it together with the ordering result to the restaurant information system. after that The recorded result can be played back on the target computer, and then the operator can record the recorded content on the target computer in text form before sending it to the kitchen.
  • the best implementation mode for the recipe management terminal is to supply power through the POE. After adopting this method, the recipe management terminal only needs one Ethernet cable to realize the service communication interface and power supply.
  • the recipe management terminal Since various devices connected to the recipe management terminal, such as a USB hub, a remote controller, a tablet computer, and a small ticket printer, all take power from the recipe management terminal, this method finally realizes the recipe management terminal and its various external
  • the only interface between the system and the outside world is a network cable, which makes the whole system very clean and simple.
  • the invention also achieves high reliability of digital recipes. For example, if the customer has ordered a lot of dishes, and the digital recipe is broken, the customer will be very angry, because the dishes are white.
  • the present invention stores the order result wirelessly in the remote controller at any time, and thus is equivalent to realizing double backup of the order result in the host and the remote controller.
  • the previous order results can be restored after replacing the main unit or remote control. That is, when the remote controller is inserted into the host for pairing, if a result of the dish is stored in the host or the remote controller at this time, the result of the order is directly sent to the other party to achieve synchronization between the two parties.
  • the bar code gun can also be connected to the recipe management terminal to realize the operation of bar code drawing.
  • the host directly accesses the restaurant information system through wired Ethernet. In other words, for TV recipes, in addition to remote control, RFID card and wireless mode, there is also wired Ethernet.
  • the "business data memory" of the remote controller mentioned in the claims can be realized by various forms such as an internal SRAM of a single chip microcomputer, an internal EEPROM or a flash memory of a single chip microcomputer, a flash memory of a single chip microcomputer, a flash memory card, a U disk circuit, a card reader circuit, or the like. Mixed implementation of different ways (for example, using both SPI flash and independent U disk circuits connected to the microcontroller). If implemented with SRAM, the remote control should always be in standby mode and cannot be powered off.
  • the recipe management terminal is not mobile and is usually powered by an AC adapter, for example, a 9V DC power supply.
  • the present invention can not only realize the data transmission by using the remote controller, but also utilize the RFID card and the traditional wireless ordering method, thereby increasing the flexibility. Whether it is an RFID card or a remote control or wireless, it is essentially a means of transferring data between a remote-controlled digital recipe and a recipe management terminal. Thus, the data transmission in the digital recipe and food information system is finally realized.
  • the most important significance of the invention is that the wifi is no longer required for the restaurant.
  • the core data transmission path of the present invention is a remote controller (such as recipe data, member information, and the like, which can only be updated by a remote controller), and the RFID card and wireless are only an auxiliary means for transmitting small amounts of data occasionally.
  • the remote controller is basically used.
  • the present invention also achieves ultimate reliability: seamless, high speed and reliable two-way transmission of any type of business data at all times, regardless of any wireless problems.
  • the invention also realizes the simplicity of all operations, without the need for a USB flash drive, ensuring sheep operation.
  • Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of the overall structure and method of the present invention.
  • Figure 2 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of a remote controller with both USB and RS232 interfaces, but only the RS232 line is connected to the microcontroller.
  • Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a remote controller having only a USB interface but no USB hub.
  • Figure 4 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of a remote controller having a USB interface and having a USB hub.
  • Figure 5 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of a remote controller that simultaneously extracts USB and RS232 lines from a single chip microcomputer.
  • Figure 6 is a block diagram showing the structure of a remote controller with both an RS232 line and a hub.
  • Figure 7 is a schematic diagram showing the manner in which a 6-port USB hub and a remote controller are placed on a hub.
  • Figure 8 is a schematic diagram showing a typical peripheral connection mode of a typical recipe management terminal.
  • Figure 1 is an overall schematic view of the present invention. These include the remote control (1), the recipe management terminal (2), the main unit (3) and the remote control cable (4). The figure shows from left to right the remote control (1) is wired to the recipe management terminal (2), the remote control (1) is wired to the host (3) and the remote control (1) is wirelessly connected to the host (3) The situation.
  • the host interface on the remote controller and the remote controller interface on the host are generally implemented by a serial port (RS232) interface.
  • RS232 serial port
  • the serial port is mechanically heavy and is not suitable for a lightweight remote controller, it is often implemented by mechanically borrowing a USB interface and electrically using an RS232 signal.
  • the USB male connector (the same as the USB plug on the USB flash drive) is used on the remote controller, and the USB female socket is used on the host.
  • the remote control can be directly inserted into the host without the need for a remote control cable, which is more compact, and the remote control cable is mainly used when the wireless remote control fails due to interference and needs to be operated by wired remote control.
  • the advantage of using RS232 electrically is that its stability is higher than USB.
  • the biggest advantage is that the remote control interface on the host is simpler to implement. If you use USB, you need to run the USB host protocol stack on the microcontroller or SOC on the host, which is more complicated. Therefore, when implementing Invention B, the RS232 signal is often used, but the USB plug and cable are borrowed mechanically.
  • the power and ground lines on the USB cable function as the original function, while the USB D+ line carries the RS232 signal sent by the host to the remote control, while the USB D- line carries the RS232 signal sent to the host by the remote control.
  • the USB interface must be provided on the remote control. This must increase the number of lines in the remote control interface and remote control cable.
  • the invention therefore proposes an implementation that utilizes a USB 3.0 plug and cable.
  • the USB 3.0 plug and cable are fully compatible with 2.0, with just five more lines. In this way, as long as the USB2.0 male on the remote control is changed to USB3.0 male, and the USB2.0 female socket on the host is changed to USB3.0 female, 5 lines can be added.
  • the remote controller should have a built-in U disk circuit (composed of a U disk control chip and a NAND flash memory) or a card reader circuit (composed of a card reader control chip and a TF card).
  • the remote control interface on the host and the recipe management terminal should also adopt a USB3.0 female socket to simultaneously introduce an RS232 interface and a USB2.0 interface.
  • the built-in USB flash drive and the original remote control circuit in Invention B are completely isolated (except for the common power supply and ground). It can be seen that as long as the remote controller is plugged in, it is equivalent to inserting a remote controller and a USB flash drive all at once into the host or the recipe management terminal, which is very simple.
  • the recipe tube S terminal can update the recipe. Insert the built-in u disk into the remote control, and read the order result from the single-chip computer of the remote control.
  • the remote control when the remote control is plugged into the host or connected to the recipe management terminal, whether it is the ordering result or the recipe update, it can be stored in the built-in u disk of the remote control, or can be stored in the circuit of the remote control itself (ie, the microcontroller of the remote control).
  • the internal SRAM or external memory where can be selected according to actual needs. For example, for recipe updates, there is a best solution in a USB flash drive.
  • the U disk cannot be stored in this embodiment, because the single chip in the remote controller does not know the existence of the U disk, and can only The result is stored in a non-volatile memory such as an internal SRAM or an external EEPROM.
  • the order result can also be stored in the USB flash drive, because the built-in USB flash drive of the remote control is already connected to the host.
  • USB3.0 male 21
  • U disk control chip or card reader control chip 22
  • NAND flash memory or TF card 23
  • single chip 2
  • remote control wireless communication circuit 25
  • microcontroller external memory 26
  • remote control housing 27
  • USB2.0 line 28
  • RS232 line 29
  • the external memory (26) of the microcontroller (usually EEPROM, SPI flash, etc.) is optional, and the internal memory of the microcontroller can also be used to implement its functions.
  • the USB2.0 line (28) and the RS232 line (29) together lead the remote control through the USB 3.0 male (21).
  • USB 2.0 line 28
  • the remaining five USB 3.0 added lines (RX+, RX-, TX+, TX-, GND) are used to pull out the RS232 line (29), which can be used as follows: Ground or ground, RX+ and RX- RXD for RX232 (used as a line, shorted them), TX+ and TX- are used for RS232 TXD.
  • RXD and TXD are both relative to the remote control's single-chip microcomputer.
  • the signal layout of the USB3.0 female socket on the host and the recipe management terminal should also be set accordingly, but the RXD and TXD should be opposite to the remote control, thus finally making The transmission in the RS232 line of the remote controller is connected to the reception of the RS232 line in the host, and the reception in the RS232 line of the remote controller is connected to the transmission of the RS232 line in the host.
  • the remote control can also be connected to a standard USB 2.0 interface.
  • the remote control can be directly connected to a USB 2.0 interface on a standard computer.
  • the computer can only communicate with the USB flash drive in the remote control, but not with the RS232 cable in the remote control.
  • the remote control interface is implemented with a single USB, eliminating the need for RS232 signals.
  • a USB single-chip microcomputer is used in the remote controller (the single-chip microcomputer is the single-chip microcomputer in Invention B), and the single-chip microcomputer external storage flash memory/TF card and other large-capacity memory.
  • USB device with two Interfaces (USB terminology) will be enumerated, one is the mass storage interface, and the other is the remote interface (mainly used for The wireless pairing information is sent and received between the hosts.
  • USB interface is a custom interface of the remote digital recipe manufacturer, and the manufacturer is required to provide the device driver on the host and the recipe management terminal accordingly (the mass storage interface has a ready-made driver).
  • the interface on the remote control, host and recipe management terminal should use the standard USB2.0 interface.
  • Figure 3 which includes a USB 2.0 male (31), a USB microcontroller (32), a NAND flash or TF card (33), a remote wireless communication circuit (35), and a remote control housing (37). ).
  • a single-chip microcomputer with a USB port generally has only a full-speed USB port, and does not support high-speed USB. If the recipe data of several tens of megabytes is updated, the speed is still very slow. Therefore, there is another improvement of the embodiment, that is, inside the remote controller, the USB interface is first connected to a high-speed USB hub, and then a U disk circuit and a USB MCU are hung under the hub (the MCU is the MCU in Invention B). .
  • two USB devices instead of one device and two interfaces
  • a USB device and a remote device will be enumerated.
  • the U disk can support high-speed USB transmission, and the U disk is not realized by the control of the single-chip microcomputer, but is realized by a separate U disk control chip.
  • a scheme is shown in FIG. 4, which includes a USB 2.0 male head (41), a USB hub chip (42), a USB flash drive control chip or a card reader chip (43), a NAND flash memory or a TF card (44), USB microcontroller (45), remote control wireless communication circuit (46) and remote control housing (47).
  • USB3.0 male 51
  • single-chip 54
  • remote wireless communication circuit 55
  • microcontroller external memory 56
  • remote control shell 57
  • USB2.0 line 58
  • RS232 line 59
  • the one-chip computer is a USB single-chip computer, so that the USB2.0 line (58) and the RS232 line (59) can be simultaneously extracted from the single-chip microcomputer (54), and the use of the USB3.0 male (51) line is taken out. Similar to Figure 2.
  • USB is simultaneously extracted from the single chip microcomputer.
  • RS232 where RS232 is directly connected through the USB3.0 interface, and USB is connected to a downlink port of a USB hub, and then a U disk/reader circuit is connected under the hub, and finally the uplink port of the hub is passed USB3.0 male lead.
  • USB3.0 male 61
  • USB hub 62
  • U disk control chip or card reader chip 63
  • N AND flash or TF card 64
  • USB The interface of the single-chip 65
  • the wireless remote control transceiver circuit 66
  • the USB line 67
  • the RS232 line 68
  • the USB line 69
  • the PC/recipe management terminal passes the standard.
  • the USB2.0 interface can not only read and write the U disk inside the remote control, but also read and write the internal or external memory of the MCU.
  • This design makes the recipe management terminal only provide a standard USB2.0 interface.
  • the remote control is USB3.0 male, this interface is completely compatible with the standard USB2.0, only when connected to the standard USB2.0 interface.
  • the RS232 signal did not establish a connection.
  • the recipe management terminal only provides the standard USB2.0 port, which can greatly simplify the design of the recipe management terminal. Otherwise, the recipe management terminal needs to bring out multiple serial ports, and its design is complicated.
  • the main role of the RS232 signal on the remote control is to pair with the host:
  • the pairing system requires a more rigorous timing system, which is easier to implement with RS232. That is to say, the remote control interface on the host computer is a USB 3.0 interface that simultaneously extracts the USB 2.0 signal and the RS232 signal, and the remote control interface on the recipe management terminal is a standard USB 2.0 interface.
  • USB analog multiplexer turns on the USB single-chip microcomputer, so the recipe management terminal can communicate with the single-chip microcomputer through the USB, so that the command can be sent to the single-chip microcomputer, and the single-chip microcomputer can simulate the USB analog multiplexer. Switch to the USB stick/reader circuit. In other words, the USB microcontroller and the USB flash drive/card reader cannot communicate with the recipe management terminal at the same time.
  • the power of the remote controller ie, USB bus power
  • the remote controller is turned off. After turning the power on again, the remote control will return to the USB analog multiplexer to turn on the state of the microcontroller.
  • the large-capacity memory since the large-capacity memory is under the control of the single-chip microcomputer, it can be enumerated as a large-capacity storage interface, and enumerated into a vendor-defined one.
  • the disadvantage of enumerating the Interface into mass storage is that the stability of the U disk is not high when it is enumerated in a standard computer or an embedded computer.
  • the problem of not having a drive letter after the brain is that the controllability is too bad. In the restaurant environment, after 100% insertion is required, the enumeration succeeds in starting reading and writing. If you use a vendor-defined interface, you can bypass the large-capacity storage protocol stack and disk manager in the operating system and directly read and write the remote controller through USB. Of course, the manufacturer must provide the necessary drivers and application software.
  • RFID readers on digital recipes are typically located on the remote control.
  • the RFID card in the remote control should be equipped with an RFID reader chip (eg NXP's MFRC522) and an antenna. If the card reader is located on the host, it is generally provided with a PCB inside the bracket, which has an RFID card reader chip and an antenna and is connected to the movement module of the invention A via USB (equivalent to a USB RFID read). The card holder), so that the card can be swiped on the stand.
  • a plurality of remote controllers are connected at the same time on the recipe management terminal, and the recipe management terminal also needs to be able to detect the event that the remote controller is unplugged at any time, so the power management of the remote controller becomes a problem.
  • the current they consume is generally large because there are USB hubs on the remote, as well as U disk/reader circuits and microcontroller circuits. Its maximum current can reach hundreds of milliamps. If 20 remote controls are connected, the total current may reach several amps, which is the current that the recipe management terminal cannot provide via the USB bus. To solve this problem, the following methods can be used. First, the power of the U disk circuit/reader circuit is under the control of the microcontroller.
  • the U disk circuit/reader circuit When the remote control is just inserted into the recipe management terminal, the U disk circuit/reader circuit is completely powered off. After that, only the MCU receives the command of the recipe management terminal, it will turn on the power of the U disk circuit/reader circuit (this power is generally a 5V power switch, the input is USB VBUS, the output is U disk / card reader The 5V power supply of the circuit is controlled by the MCU. Second, there is a downlink port power on/off control pin on the general USB hub chip. This pin can be used to control the power supply of the microcontroller and its peripheral circuits. Normally, the remote control is in a complete sleep state, that is, the entire remote control is powered off.
  • the USB hub When the remote control is plugged into the recipe management terminal, the USB hub is powered up first, and then the USB driver software on the recipe management terminal causes the USB hub to turn on the downstream port power. Once turned on, the microcontroller is powered up. After all the operations of the remote controller are completed, the recipe management terminal can cause the USB hub to turn off the power of the downstream port, and then the microcontroller and its peripheral circuits are completely powered down.
  • the recipe management terminal controls the downstream port power on and off of the USB hub in the remote controller through the SetFeature (PORT_POWER) command in the USB standard. See the USB2.0 protocol standard for details. That is to say, the remote control can be in three power states when connected to the recipe management terminal: Only the hub is charged, the hub and the microcontroller and its peripheral circuits are charged and fully charged.
  • the conversion of the three states is in the recipe management terminal. Under the control of the software. When only the USB hub is energized, the total current is typically only 50 to 100 mA.
  • the recipe management terminal can turn on and off the power of the remote controller in turn by controlling the power state of each remote controller, so that no remote controller is in a high energy consumption state at any time, thereby solving the problem of insufficient total current. Moreover, even at the lowest current state, the USB hub is in operation, so the recipe management terminal can detect the pull-out event of the remote controller at any time. It can be seen that in order to achieve the above functions, the embodiment of the remote controller should be selected in the form of FIG. 4 or FIG.
  • the above description of the structure of the remote controller does not mention a circuit such as a rechargeable battery or a touch button, and is not relevant to the present invention.
  • the first implementation of the recipe management terminal is implemented using a standard PC.
  • the remote control design of Figure 2, Figure 3, Figure 4, Figure 5 and Figure 6 can be directly connected to the USB2 on the computer, whether using USB 3.0 male or USB 2.0 male. 0 interface, so it can be seen that the function of the recipe management terminal can be realized by a standard computer, and this implementation is more suitable for a miniature restaurant.
  • the card reader can be used with an external card reader.
  • This card or external USB device has a special USB3.0 interface, which can match Figure 2 and Figure 5.
  • USB3.0 interface the USB3.0 interface actually brings out the USB2.0 line and RS232 line at the same time.
  • the standard computer can not only connect the remote controller through the USB2.0 line, but also connect the remote controller through the RS232 line.
  • This card or device is actually a PCI to multi-USB and multi-port card or USB to multi-USB and multi-serial devices. But obviously this design is of little significance, as long as the remote can be connected to a standard computer via a USB 2.0 line.
  • the second implementation of the recipe management terminal is to use a single integrated embedded computer design to reduce cost and power consumption and improve integration.
  • the recipe management terminal generally consists of a casing and a main board.
  • the motherboard is equipped with a CPU (usually ARM9 core), DRAM, flash memory (generally NAND or SD card) and various interface circuits as described above, such as wired Ethernet interface, wireless ordering transceiver circuit, serial port, USB interface. ,and many more.
  • the motherboard usually also has an onboard RFID reader chip and an antenna to increase integration.
  • the most important thing is that there should also be several remote control interfaces.
  • the remote control interface can use USB3.0 plug to support both USB2.0 signal and RS232 signal, or it can be the standard USB2.0 interface, depending on the specific implementation of the remote controller.
  • the standard USB2.0 interface is push Recommended implementation mode, because the serial port is not needed, the design is greatly simplified. If the remote control interface on the recipe management terminal is a standard USB 2.0 interface, the remote controller is required to be designed according to the form of FIG. 6, otherwise the recipe management terminal cannot read the order result from the remote controller through the USB, because the order is The result is sent by the host to the remote control's MCU in real time during the ordering process and saved by the MCU in its built-in or external memory, and the memory can only be accessed by the MCU.
  • the design of FIG. 6 enables the recipe management terminal to access the U disk in the remote controller via USB for data update, and on the other hand, the memory of the single chip can be read by USB to read the collected service data.
  • the general recipe management terminal only provides 4 USB2.0 ports, and then expands more ports through an external USB2.0 high-speed hub.
  • an external USB2.0 high-speed hub For example, there is a ready-made 6-port USB hub as shown in Figure 7.
  • Figure 7 includes a 6-port USB 2.0 hub (71), a USB 2.0 port (72) on the hub, a remote control (73), and a USB 3.0 male (74) on the remote. It can be seen that in this case the hub can be considered part of the recipe management terminal.
  • FIG 8 is a typical implementation of a recipe management terminal.
  • the recipe management terminal (81) is designed to resemble a home broadband router and has no display.
  • Two 6-port USB hubs (82) connect to the standard USB 2.0 interface on the recipe management terminal (81).
  • the 12 USB2.0 ports on the two 6-port hubs are the “remote control interface” on the recipe management terminal.
  • the 12 remote controls can be plugged into two hubs at the same time without any cables.
  • the ticket printer (83) is connected to the recipe management terminal (81) via USB or serial port.
  • the tablet (84) is also connected to the recipe management terminal (81) via USB.
  • the recipe management terminal (81) has an RFID reader with its swipe area (86) on its housing.
  • the recipe management terminal (81) is connected to the outside through the network cable (85) (ie, the food information system).
  • the recipe management terminal (81) and the network cable (85) also support the POE, so that the network cable (85) can supply power to the recipe management terminal (81), thereby indirectly also being a tablet, a printer, a hub, and a remote controller plugged into the hub. powered by. It can be seen that the whole system is very compact, and only one network cable is needed to connect with the outside world.
  • the ticket printer (83) requires a separate DC power supply, such as a 9V supply. Therefore, the recipe management terminal (81) can be set to a 9V power supply port, so that the recipe management terminal (81) can supply the small ticket printer with a DC cable.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Cash Registers Or Receiving Machines (AREA)
  • Management, Administration, Business Operations System, And Electronic Commerce (AREA)

Abstract

提供一种遥控数字化菜谱数据传输的方法和系统,所述方法和系统通过内置业务数据存储器的遥控器充当传输点菜结果和菜谱更新的媒介的方式,解决了现有技术的难以无缝更新菜谱和传输点菜结果的问题。

Description

说明书
遥控数字化菜谱数据传输的方法和系统 技术领域
本发明属于用于餐厅的信息技术产品, 特别是一种遥控数字化菜谱数据传输 的方法和系统。
背景技术
随着数字时代的到来, 已经出现了各种用于餐厅的数字化信息技术产品, 如 无线点菜器、 触摸屏点菜器、 电子菜谱、 服务呼叫器、 包房 VOD (视频点播) 系统, 等等。
采用无线点菜系统以后, 餐厅的服务员或者顾客可以在各种点菜器上点菜, 然后通过无线网络将点菜信息直接发送到厨房并打印出来交给厨师,从而提高了 餐厅的运营效率。
最早出现的产品是由服务员使用的微型手持点菜器 (常称为 "点菜宝")。 由 于需要顾客点菜的同时有服务员在旁边职守, 使得餐厅在高峰期往往比较忙乱。 另外, 纸质菜谱不便修改, 印刷成本高, 折旧快也是潜在问题。
针对这一问题, 已经出现了触摸屏点菜器 (或者叫做电子菜谱), 这种产品 可以让顾客自己直接在触摸屏上点菜,无需服务员职守,而且可以随时改变菜谱 内容, 不用再印刷菜谱。这种产品就其功能来说比较有吸引力, 但目前的产品有 多个未解决的问题, 例如成本高、 容易摔坏和丢失、 使用不便, 从而难以推广。
作者针对己有的触摸屏点菜器的问题, 在发明申请 《一种桌台伴侣》 (专利 号 200820178106.0, 后文称之为 "发明 A") 中提出了一种采用大尺寸 (一般是 15-30英寸) 平板显示屏, 完全用遥控器操作, 由可移动的落地支架来支撑的产 品。 该产品用来满足餐厅顾客就餐时的点菜需要, 因此称为 "遥控数字化菜谱" (该发明在申请的时候所用名称并不合理)。 顾客可以用遥控器来操作, 十分轻 松舒适地完成各种点菜活动。 同时, 发明 A中也提出了一种类似机顶盒的产品, 可以用遥控器在电视上点菜, 即 "电视菜谱"。 遥控数字化菜谱和电视菜谱, 可 以统称为 "遥控数字化菜谱", 即用遥控器作为操控设备的电子菜谱。 8
2 发明 A存在如下问题。
发明 A内置了 "控制无线网络通信电路", 该电路一般相当于 "点菜宝"里 面的无线收发电路,其主要作用就是将顾客己经点好的菜品发送到餐饮信息系统 进而在厨房打印机上打印出来(或者称为"传菜")。 该无线通信电路一般是采用 433Mhz的无线数传实现。
但是, 很多餐厅的结构错综复杂, 因此很难做到整个餐厅中都有无线信号覆 盖。如果当时点菜的地方没有信号, 例如包间中, 则还要把遥控数字化菜谱推动 到有信号的地方进行发送, 十分麻烦。
另外, 发明 A—般还带有通过无线更新菜谱数据的功能, 从而餐厅管理者直 接在总台发布命令, 即可通过无线将最新的菜谱数据传递到遥控数字化菜谱中。 由于要过更新的数据量往往远大于无线点菜所需的数据量,例如需要更新图片和 视频等媒体数据, 因此, 菜谱数据的更新只能通过 wifi。但是 wifi的覆盖面十分 小,穿墙或者距离远后通信速度大幅降低甚至断线,因此在餐厅里很难实际部署。
因此为了解决上述问题,实现发明 A的传菜和更新数据的一个方法就是用 U 盘。 具体做法就是, 顾客点好菜后, 服务员将一个 U盘插入发明 A的扩展 USB 接口, 然后发明 A就会自动将点菜结果存入 U盘, 然后该服务员再将 U盘送到 总台, 总台管理员即可从 U盘中读取出点菜结果并录入到餐饮信息系统 (或者 由餐饮信息系统自动从 U盘读取) 并在厨房打印出来。 另一方面, 当需要更新 菜谱内容的时候, 餐厅管理者将新的菜谱内容存入 U盘, 然后依次到每台遥控 数字化菜谱上进行更新操作。
但是, 很显然, 用 U盘实现上述功能会使得使用起来十分麻烦。 尤其是当餐 厅结构复杂、面积大和遥控数字化菜谱数量多的时候就更为严重。例如, 如果一 个餐厅有 3层, 100台遥控数字化菜谱, 则一但有菜谱内容需要更新, 需要依次 去每一层用 U盘更新每台遥控数字化菜谱。 这样做不仅效率十分低下, 而且十 分容易出错和遗漏。 而且, 顾客点完菜后需要让服务员插入 U盘, 也十分麻烦。
另外, 现有的数字化菜谱还都普遍存在如下问题: 进行管理操作 (如关机、 发送点菜结果到厨房等等)时需要服务员输入工号和密码,而且顾客入座后首先 需要输入桌号。 第一, 这些操作第一十分麻烦。 第二, 桌号容易输错。 发明内容
本文以及权利要求中的 "主机"指遥控数字化菜谱的遥控器以外的部分。 本文以及权利要求中凡是涉及到遥控数字化菜谱的电池的问题, 则 "遥控数 字化菜谱"仅指遥控点菜车, 不包含电视菜谱, 因为电视菜谱无需电池。
本文以及权利要求中的 "餐饮信息系统"是指计算机、 服务器、 餐饮管理软 件、 厨房打印机和各种网络布线的总称, 这些都是现有技术。
本文中的 "遥控数字化菜谱"有时简称为 "菜谱"或 "数字化菜谱"。
为了解决现有技术的问题, 本发明提出了一种遥控数字化菜谱数据传输的方 法和系统, 其特征在于:
由遥控数字化菜谱、 菜谱管理终端和餐饮信息系统组成;
遥控数字化菜谱包括遥控点菜车和电视菜谱两种形式;
遥控数字化菜谱由主机和遥控器组成;遥控器上带有主机接口,主机上带有遥 控器接口;遥控器上的主机接口可以通过遥控器线缆或者直接连接到主机上的遥 控器接口;
遥控器内置业务数据存储器;
主机通过有线或者无线将其产生的采集业务数据发送给遥控器, 进而存入遥 控器内的业务数据存储器;
主机通过有线或者无线从遥控器内的业务数据存储器中读取更新业务数据 并将其存储到主机内部的存储器中;
菜谱管理终端的组件包括处理器、 内存、 业务数据存储器;
菜谱管理终端上带有业务通信接口, 菜谱管理终端通过业务通信接口连接到 餐饮信息系统;
菜谱管理终端上带有遥控器接口; 遥控器上的主机接口可以通过遥控器线缆 或者直接连接到菜谱管理终端上的遥控器接口;
当遥控器连接到菜谱管理终端时, 菜谱管理终端从遥控器读取采集业务数 据, 并将该采集业务数据通过业务通信接口发往餐饮信息系统;
当菜谱管理终端通过业务通信接口从餐饮信息系统接收到更新业务数据时, 菜谱管理终端将更新业务数据存入其内部的业务数据存储器,并将其发送给连接 到该菜谱管理终端的所有遥控器, 进而存入每个遥控器内的业务数据存储器; 当遥控器连接到菜谱管理终端时, 菜谱管理终端将其存储的更新业务数据发 送给该遥控器进而存入遥控器内的业务数据存储器。 还其特征在于:
菜谱管理终端上带有读卡器和防盗报警系统, 每个服务员配有服务员卡, 服 务员在菜谱管理终端上刷服务员卡后,菜谱管理终端解除防盗并将该服务员记为 当前登录服务员; 此时服务员可以从菜谱管理终端上取下遥控器, 遥控器被取下 时,菜谱管理终端将当前登录服务员信息、取下的遥控器的编号和当前时间发往 餐饮信息系统; 如果未解除防盗而取下遥控器, 则菜谱管理终端发出警报; 当遥控器连接到菜谱管理终端时, 如果此时遥控器内存储的采集业务数据中 含有点菜结果数据以及保存该结果的服务员在数字化菜谱上的刷卡记录,则菜谱 管理终端直接将该服务员作为当前登录服务员并解除防盗;
可以为每台菜谱管理终端指定餐饮信息系统中的一台目标计算机, 当在菜谱 管理终端刷服务员卡时,菜谱管理终端通知目标计算机自动以该服务员的身份解 除锁屏并显示菜谱管理终端管理界面, 如果该服务员卡中存有点菜结果, 则目标 计算机还弹出窗口显示此服务员卡中的点菜结果内容以供操作者核对、修改并确 认发送;当在菜谱管理终端上插入存有点菜结果和服务员在数字化菜谱上刷卡记 录的遥控器时, 目标计算机自动以该服务员的身份解除锁屏并显示菜谱管理终 端, 同时还弹出窗口显示遥控器中的点菜结果内容以供操作者核对、修改并确认 发送;
数字化菜谱上带有读卡器;
当服务员在数字化菜谱上刷服务员卡时, 数字化菜谱进入管理界面; 当在管 理界面中选择将点菜结果和桌号保存到服务员卡后, 然后再次刷卡时, 数字化菜 谱通过读卡器将所选点菜结果和桌号保存至该服务员卡中;当将保存有点菜结果 的服务员卡在菜谱管理终端上刷卡时, 菜谱管理终端除记录当前登录服务员外, 还将读取该点菜结果和桌号并将其发送到餐饮信息系统,进而完成开台和加单操 作;
数字化菜谱中保存了该餐厅全部会员的会员信息和在所有门店的就餐历史 信息; 当顾客在数字化菜谱上刷会员卡时, 数字化菜谱将此顾客记为当前登录顾 客,此时可以在数字化菜谱上查看此顾客的就餐历史并再次选用就餐历史中的菜 品; 同时, 菜谱中的所有菜品的价格变为此顾客的会员等级对应的会员价; 当在数字化菜谱上刷桌牌卡时, 数字化菜谱记录并显示当前桌号; 更新业务数据中包含此餐厅所有门店的所有会员的就餐历史;
采集业务数据中包含在整个点餐过程中服务员卡、桌牌卡和会员卡的刷卡人 和刷卡时间;
更新业务数据中包含餐厅中所有桌位的当前点餐情况和今日点餐历史。 其特征还在于: 菜谱管理终端和数字化菜谱上分别带有无线点菜收发电路, 主机通过无线将点菜结果和桌号信息发送给遥控器后,遥控器通过无线点菜收发 电路将其发送给菜谱管理终端, 进而发往餐饮信息系统从而实现开台和加单操 作;餐饮信息系统可以将菜品的最新沽清状态、价格信息和称重类菜品的实际重 量发送给菜谱管理终端进而通过无线点菜收发电路发送给每台正在使用的数字 化菜谱。 其特征还在于: 菜谱管理终端通过 USB线缆连接到一台平板电脑, 平板电 脑作为 USB设备端, 菜谱管理终端作为 USB主机端; 该平板电脑通过 USB进 而通过菜谱管理终端的业务通信接口连接到餐饮信息系统从而成为餐饮信息系 统中的一台计算机并作为此菜谱管理终端的目标计算机;菜谱管理终端通过 USB 接口为该平板电脑提供电源;当在未解除防盗的情况下断开平板电脑和菜谱管理 终端的 USB连接时, 菜谱管理终端发出警报。 其特征还在于- 菜谱管理终端通过 POE供电;
菜谱管理终端从连接在其上的每个遥控器读取遥控器剩余电量, 并对依次对 电量不足的遥控器进行充电;
采集业务数据中包含了数字化菜谱最后一次使用的开机时间、 关机时间和关 机时的剩余电池电量;
遥控器内置 USB集线器, USB集线器下接有 USB单片机和 U盘 /读卡器电 N2012/001388
6 路; 菜谱管理终端通过控制遥控器中 USB集线器的下行端口电源的开闭, 从而 控制遥控器单片机及其外围电路的电源的开闭;菜谱管理终端向遥控器的单片机 发送命令从而控制遥控器内的 U盘 /读卡器电路的电源的开闭。 其特征还在于: 更新业务数据中包含了对数字化菜谱自动开机和关机时间的 设定信息; 数字化菜谱根据这一设定在每天的指定时刻自动开机, 开机后自动待 机; 在指定时刻自动从待机唤醒并关机。 其特征还在于: 遥控器上带有麦克风和音频 ADC, 当通过数字化菜谱界面 上的操作开启 /停止录音时, 主机通过无线通知遥控器开启 /停止录音, 此时遥控 器启动 /停止录音并将录音结果存储在其业务数据存储器中或将录音结果通过无 线发送给主机; 采集业务数据包含录音结果; 录音结果进入餐饮信息系统后, 管 理者可以在计算机上进行回放。 其特征还在于: 菜谱管理终端上带有小票打印机或者外接小票打印机, 菜谱 管理终端可以为小票打印机供电; 菜谱管理终端作为网络打印服务器, 通过业务 通信接口向餐饮信息系统提供网络打印服务,该小票打印机在餐饮信息系统中表 现为一台网络打印机; 同时, 菜谱管理终端也可以自主控制小票打印机, 直接打 印遥控器中的点餐结果。 其特征还在于: 从菜谱管理终端上取下遥控器后, 遥控器通过无线点菜收发 电路定期和菜谱管理终端通信,菜谱管理终端通过收到的无线信号的强弱对遥控 器的当前位置进行追踪并将追踪结果发送给餐饮信息系统;如果发现某台遥控器 失去信号, 则发出报警。 其特征还在于: 当将存有点菜结果的遥控器连接到主机时, 主机自动从遥控 器加载其存储的点菜结果, 并将主机内当前存储的点菜结果发送给遥控器。 本发明主要是为了解决遥控数字化菜谱和外界的业务数据传输问题。在本文 和权利要求书中, 所有从遥控数字化菜谱传向外界的数据称为"采集业务数据", 所有从外界传入遥控数字化菜谱的数据称为 "更新业务数据"。 典型的 "采集业 务数据"包括: 顾客的点菜结果 (点菜内容、 数量、 口味设置、 单价、 总价); 顾客所用的桌位编号; 数字化菜谱的开机、 关机时间和关机时的剩余电量; 会员 卡、服务员卡和桌牌卡在数字化菜谱上的刷卡记录。 典型的 "更新业务数据"包 括: 菜谱数据更新; 多媒体数据, 如餐厅介绍的视频、 广告视频; 餐厅所有门店 的会员信息和会员的就餐历史记录; 菜品沽清信息; 菜品称重信息; 当天餐厅所 有桌位的就餐历史; 所有桌位的当前点菜状态。 本文作者在专利申请《一种遥控点菜车》(专利号 2011200582964, 后文称为 发明 B)中提出了一种遥控器, 这种遥控器不仅能对主机进行无线遥控, 还能通 过遥控器线缆连接到主机。 主机上带有遥控器接口, 遥控器上带有主机接口, 通 过遥控器线缆即可将这两个接口相连。另外, 一般遥控器上的接口是 USB公头, 主机上的接口是 USB母座, 从而遥控器也可以直接插入主机, 无需线缆。 遥控 器和主机相连后, 可以方便地实现遥控器和主机配对,而且遥控器还可以变为有 线遥控器, 从而充当备用输入装置。 具体描述参见发明 B的说明书。
在使用发明 B的时候, 一般在使用遥控器之前, 都要先将遥控器插入主机, 从而进行无线配对, 然后将遥控器拔下后,遥控器就开始通过无线链路和主机通 信了。
本发明通过特殊设计的遥控器代替了 U盘的功能, 这样, 借着服务员将遥控 器插入主机的的机会, 就能完成菜谱内容的更新, 因此整个更新方式十分优雅和 简洁。由于每台遥控数字化菜谱在使用的时候都必须要先插上遥控器配对后才能 操作, 因此, 就能确保任何遥控数字化菜谱在开始使用之前都更新到最新的菜谱 内容。 而对于那些没有使用的遥控数字化菜谱, 则可以先不更新, 等到要使用的 时候再更新, 从而大大减小了更新工作量。而且, 一般遥控器和主机的接口都是 USB2.0高速接口, 传输速率可达到 20MB/s, 远远高于 wifi的 IMB/s的平均速 率,从而使得任何数据更新几乎可以在瞬间完成, 开机的时候基本无需等待更新 的完成。 另外就是具有绝对的可靠性, 不会像 wifi—样随时可能断线。 另一方面, 本发明的遥控器还可以起到传送点菜结果的作用。 在顾客点菜过 程中, 一旦顾客有了新的操作, 例如将某个菜品加入已点菜列表、修改了某个已 点菜的数量和制作要求, 等等, 本发明的主机都将这些信息即时通过无线发送给 遥控器。 发明 A的遥控器中一般带有单片机和 RF通信电路。 此处 RF通信电路 指 ISM频段 (在中国是 433MHz和 2.4GHz频段) 无线数传, 实施发明 B的时 候一般采用 2.4GHz的短距离无线数传芯片来实现 RF通信电路, 目前常用的芯 片如美国德州仪器的 CC2500、 CC2520、 CC2530等等, 另外也可以采用现成的 技术如蓝牙。 这种 RF通信电路都是支持双向通信的, 即遥控器不仅可以向主机 发送顾客在遥控器上的操作消息, 还能接收主机发来的数据包。这样, 当顾客有 了新操作的时候, 主机即可给遥控器发送一个无线数据包, 该数据包中包含顾客 最新的操作内容, 遥控器收到这个数据包后进行保存 (保存在单片机的内置 SRAM里或者单片机外接存储器如 EEPROM或者各种类型的闪存或闪存卡中)。 这样,就能保证在整个点菜过程中,遥控器中始终存储了顾客的全部点菜内容和 要求等业务信息。一旦顾客点菜完毕,遥控器就相当于以前餐厅服务员手写的点 菜单了, 保存了全部点菜结果。此时只要通过某种途径将遥控器中存储的点菜内 容传递到餐饮信息系统中即可。 另外, 发明 B的遥控器既可以作为无线遥控器, 也可以作为有线遥控器。 当发明 B 的遥控器通过有线方式连接到主机的时候, 遥控器自动切换到有线模式下。 显然, 当遥控器切换到有线模式之后, 上述通过 RF通信电路发送给遥控器的点菜结果就都应改为通过遥控器线缆有线发送了, 即,通过无线还是有线发送点菜结果, 取决于当前遥控器工作在无线遥控还是有 线遥控模式下。 另外, 也可以等所有菜品点完之后再一次性发送给遥控器, 例如 在数字化菜谱界面中提供一个功能 "将点菜结果发送给遥控器", 也可以点完菜 后将遥控器插入主机,此时主机会自动将点菜结果通过有线方式发送并存入遥控 器, 但是这种方式并不推荐, 因为还要在点完菜后将遥控器连接到主机, 类似于 以前点完才后还要插入 U盘, 比较麻烦。 总之, 顾客的点菜结果会被即时地或 者一次性地发送给遥控器并被遥控器保存。
接下来, 顾客点完菜后, 服务员将遥控数字化菜谱关机, 然后将遥控器拿到 菜谱管理终端旁边,并将遥控器通过遥控器线缆连接到菜谱管理终端上的某个遥 控器接口 (或者直接将遥控器插入菜谱管理终端上的遥控器接口), 此时菜谱管 理终端会自动从刚连接的遥控器中读取之前存储的点菜结果,并将点菜结果发送 给餐饮信息系统。 此处"点菜结果"一般还包含桌位号等信息, 这些信息会一起 通过菜谱管理终端上的 "业务通信接口"被发往餐饮信息系统, 从而实现自动化 的开台和加单等操作。 "业务通信接口"可以是任意的有线或者无线通信接口, 一般常见的方式就是有线以太网、 wifi或者 ISM频段无线数传。 其中 ISM频段 无线数传就是指一般用于点菜宝上的 433MHz或者 2.4GHz无线通信电路 (如 zigbee), 其中 433Mhz的特点是穿墙能力比较强, 因此可以无需中继就能通过无 线和总台的无线基站通信, 具体请参考市场上的点菜宝产品。 wifi则需要餐厅中 设有 wifi 基站并且其信号能覆盖菜谱管理终端所在的位置。 有线以太网是最优 选的方式, 不仅速度快, 而且十分稳定, 而 wifi和 ISM频段无线数传则基本己 经是不推荐的技术了。菜谱管理终端通过业务通信接口接入了餐饮信息系统的网 络, 从而可以和餐饮信息系统中的各个计算机、服务器和网络打印机通信。菜谱 管理终端一般是将点菜结果发送给餐厅中某计算机或者服务器上的餐饮管理软 件,该餐饮管理软件再根据之前餐厅的设置在目标打印机中打印出点菜结果, 同 时将点菜结果存入数据库以备餐厅之后进行财务结账和分析(这些都是现有的餐 饮管理系统的基本功能)。 遥控器连接到菜谱管理终端并发送点菜结果后, 并不 需要断开并取走遥控器,而是始终将遥控器连接到菜谱管理终端, 直到下次需要 使用该遥控器的时候 (即有新的顾客要点菜的时候)。
菜谱管理终端上一般设有多个遥控器接口, 从而可以同时连接多个遥控器。 如果该接口是 USB接口, 则一般通过外置的 USB集线器来扩展更多接口。
当餐厅管理者修改了菜谱内容, 需要更新的时候, 只需要在餐饮信息系统中 的某台计算机上操作餐饮管理软件,该软件就会将新的菜谱内容发送给餐厅里面 的每个菜谱管理终端, 或者是将更新内容上传到服务器, 之后各个菜谱管理终端 自行从服务器下载更新。菜谱管理终端接收到更新业务数据之后, 就会自动将该 数据保存到其内部的存储器中 (硬盘、 闪存卡等等), 同时还会将其更新到当前 连接到该菜谱管理终端的每个遥控器中。如果当时某些遥控器没有连接到菜谱管 理终端 (正在被餐厅顾客使用), 则稍后这些遥控器使用完毕并被服务员连接到 菜谱管理终端的时候, 除了会将点菜结果从遥控器传送到菜谱管理终端以外,菜 谱管理终端还会同时将之前最新收到的菜谱内容更新发送给该遥控器。
可见, 按上述方式操作后, 就能做到, 只要一个遥控器使用完毕, 被连接到 菜谱管理终端之后, 点菜结果就会发送到餐饮信息系统,而最新的菜谱内容更新 也会被保存到遥控器内。之后, 遥控器就持续连接在菜谱管理终端上, 从而随时 接收并保存最新的菜谱更新。当下次又有顾客需要点菜的时候, 服务员从菜谱管 理终端上取下一个遥控器, 将该遥控器连接到主机并幵机, 在开机过程中, 主机 自动从遥控器中读取最新的菜谱更新并更新到发明 A的机芯模块的内部存储器 中, 从而就确保了任何时候当顾客看到菜谱的时候, 菜谱内容都是最新的。 当餐 厅管理者需要进行任何菜谱内容更新的时候, 只需通过餐饮管理软件发送一个 "更新命令", 就无需再关心后面的任何事情了, 就能保证之后任何顾客看到的 菜谱都是最新的菜谱。这种更新菜谱的模式的主要优势有以下几点: 首先, 不是 只要有更新就马上更新全部遥控数字化菜谱,而是遥控数字化菜谱开机的时候再 更新, 不用就先不更新; 第二, 无需要求遥控数字化菜谱所在地点有无线信号, 只要确保所有菜谱管理终端所在的地方有有线以太网连接或者有无线信号即可 (这显然很容做到, 因为菜谱管理终端是固定的), 因此遥控数字化菜谱可以根 据需要分布地放在餐厅的任何地点; 第三, 发明 B 开机的时候本来就得将遥控 器连接到主机从而实现遥控器配对, 本发明相对于发明 B 没有加入任何多余操 作, 借着插入遥控器的机会, 就实现了更新, 因此十分简洁和优雅。 第四, 遥控 器用完后就插入到菜谱管理终端上, 良好解决了遥控器用完后存放在哪里、如何 管理和防盗的问题。 如果未经授权 (在菜谱管理终端上刷服务员卡, 详见后文) 而从菜谱管理终端上取下遥控器, 则菜谱管理终端马上会发出报警。当顾客点菜 完毕之后,服务员只要将顾客用完的遥控器插入附近的某个菜谱管理终端,就无 需再关心后面的事情了, 可以确保点菜结果可靠地传入餐饮信息系统。
另外如后文所述, 主机通过遥控器和菜谱管理终端传输给餐饮信息系统的数 据不仅限于点菜结果, 可以是任何形式的 "采集业务数据", 而此处仅仅是以点 菜结果为例。而餐饮信息系统通过菜谱管理终端和遥控器发送给主机的数据也不 仅限于菜谱数据更新, 而是任意的 "更新业务数据"。 例如, 每个菜谱管理终端 都会实时从餐饮信息系统读取餐厅全部桌位的当前点菜状态以及当日的点菜历 史信息并将其作为更新业务数据存入遥控器中,之后这些信息会更新到每台数字 化菜谱中。这样, 任何一个数字化菜谱都可以随时调出任何一个桌位的当前点菜 状态和今日点菜历史了,方便进行追踪和追加点菜(即顾客在就餐过程中再次使 用数字化菜谱添加菜品, 此时顾客就能看到之前己经点过的菜品, 一目了然)。
显然, "更新业务数据"和 "采集业务数据" 的一个区别在于: 当菜谱管理 终端己经从遥控器读取采集业务数据后,会将遥控器中的采集业务数据删除, 因 为这些数据己经被传送到餐饮信息系统并永久保存了。 而对于更新业务数据来 说, 却始终保存在遥控器中。例如所有遥控器中会始终保存着完整的最新版的菜 谱数据, 这样当任何一台数字化菜谱开机时, 都可以从遥控器获取完整的、 最新 的菜谱数据。另外为了加快更新速度, 当数字化菜谱的主机从遥控器读取更新业 务数据时, 一般会先判定哪些数据是需要更新的, 从而仅更新需要更新的数据。 例如更新业务数据中可能含有数百张菜品图片, 主机只需要通过文件时间的扫 描, 仅复制那些修改时间和主机内相应文件不同的图片文件。
另外如果更新业务数据内容比较大(例如几十兆) 同时菜谱管理终端又不是 通过有线以太网接入餐饮信息系统,则餐厅管理者也可以将更新业务数据存入 u 盘然后将 U盘依次插入每个菜谱管理终端从而菜谱管理终端从 U盘读取数据更 新。 虽然也需要去插 u盘, 但是显然菜谱管理终端的数量远远少于遥控数字化 菜谱的数量, 因此仍然远远简洁于用 u盘去更新每台遥控数字化菜谱, 而且最 关键的是无需主动更新每台遥控数字化菜谱。可见, 菜谱管理终端上还应有带有 标准的 USB接口, 用于连接 U盘以及其它任何 USB设备, 例如 USB鼠标、 键 盘、 触摸屏、 打印机等等, 从而方便扩展各种功能。
餐厅一般根据自己的实际情况决定菜谱管理终端的使用数量和摆放位置。例 如小型餐厅之需要在总台放置一个菜谱管理终端就行了。而大型、多层餐厅则需 要每层放置一个甚至多个菜谱管理终端。每个服务员之需要去离自己最近的菜谱 管理终端取和存放遥控器即可。另外, 每个菜谱管理终端连接到餐饮信息系统的 方式也可以各不相同, 有条件的可以用有线以太网, 没条件的可以用无线方式。 另外, 对于没有有线以太网的情况, 可以将菜谱管理终端放置在交流插座附近, 然后在交流插座上安装一个电力线通信适配器(在餐厅另一个地方需要有一个接 入餐饮信息系统网络的电力线通信适配器, 然后两者通过电力线建立连接), 即 可让菜谱管理终端通过有线以太网和电力线接入餐饮信息系统了,仍然是一种有 有线通信模式。 总之, wifi由于速度慢、 不可靠以及潜在的安全问题, 并不是推 荐的方式。
另外, 菜谱管理终端还提供对遥控器进行充电的功能。 遥控器平时不用的时 候, 始终会连接到某个菜谱管理终端, 从而菜谱管理终端可以随时对遥控器进行 充电。而且, 菜谱管理终端可以获取每个遥控器的剩余电量(通过遥控器接口向 遥控器发送 "获取电池电量"命令并接收来自遥控器的回复即可)。 从而, 菜谱 管理终端可以先获取每个连接在它上面的遥控器的剩余电量,如果其中有遥控器 剩余电量比较少了再开始充电。如果电量都充足,则不进行充电,充电完毕之后, 菜谱管理终端就可以通知遥控器进入休眠状态。之后如果菜谱管理终端接收到了 新的菜谱更新数据, 则会再次唤醒遥控器, 并将更新存入遥控器。 而且由于充电 功率比较大, 菜谱管理终端能提供的总功率又比较小, 因此一般采用轮流充电的 方式, 即充满一个遥控器后再开始充下一个遥控器, 可以优先对电量最低的遥控 器进行充电。
菜谱管理终端上还可以带有串口和 USB 口等接口, 从而可以连接到外部小 票打印机。这种设计带来两个优势: 首先, 当服务员将顾客用完的遥控器连接到 菜谱管理终端的时候, 除了向餐饮信息系统发送点菜结果,还会自动在小票打印 机上打印出点菜结果从而交给顾客备用; 而当顾客需要结帐的时候,服务员也无 需走到前台取结帐单, 只要在最近的菜谱管理终端上打印即可; 第二, 如果菜谱 管理终端到餐饮信息系统的连接出现问题导致无法传送点菜结果,服务员可以直 接把点菜小票人工送到厨房, 从而可以确保餐厅的业务在任何时候都能继续进 行。 由于餐饮管理软件一般使用网络打印机, 因此菜谱管理终端一般通过 "业务 通信接口"向餐饮信息系统提供网络打印服务, 即餐饮信息体统中的任何软件都 可以在菜谱管理终端连接的打印机上进行任何形式的打印。实际上无论是点菜后 的点菜确认单打印还是结帐单的打印,一般都是由餐饮信息系统中的某个软件模 块在菜谱管理终端连接的打印机上进行网络打印,而不是由菜谱管理终端来控制 打印, 菜谱管理终端仅仅提供打印服务 (相当于网络打印服务器)。 但是对于前 文所述的菜谱管理终端到餐饮信息系统的通信终端或者餐饮信息系统出了问题 的情况 (例如服务器宕机), 则是菜谱管理终端直接根据遥控器中的点菜结果在 连接其上的小票打印机上进行打印, 无需依赖于餐饮信息系统。例如, 如果菜谱 管理终端发现无法成功向餐饮信息系统发送点菜结果,则可以自动转为直接打印 模式。直接打印之后, 服务员可以将打出来的点菜单直接送往厨房, 从而不影响 餐厅业务的运行。可见, 菜谱管理终端可以自主打印也可以向餐饮信息系统提供 网络打印服务。
菜谱管理终端上带有读卡器和防盗报警系统。 读卡器一般是 RFID读卡器。 本发明通过在菜谱管理终端上设置读卡器和报警系统,解决了遥控器的管理和防 盗问题。平时, 遥控器都是通过有线方式连接到菜谱管理终端的, 因此当任何一 个遥控器被取下时,菜谱管理终端都能及时发现。例如如果遥控器都是通过 USB 接口连接到菜谱管理终端的, 当遥控器被拔下时, 菜谱管理终端会检测到 USB 设备的拔出事件从而获知遥控器的拔出。菜谱管理终端内置报警系统,一般用高 响度蜂鸣器实现, 同时, 菜谱管理终端还可以通过"业务通信接口"向餐饮信息 系统报警。 例如, 一旦菜谱管理终端需要报警, 一方面蜂鸣器会开始蜂鸣, 另一 方面菜谱管理终端会通过网络向餐饮信息系统发送报警消息,餐饮信息系统的任 何计算机接收到报警消息后都会生成屏幕弹窗提示, 从而管理者马上能予以关 注。另外, 菜谱管理终端还可以通过无线进行报警。例如每台菜谱管理终端可以 安排一名管理服务员, 该服务员手戴报警接收器, 当需要报警时, 菜谱管理终端 通过无线 (一般是 433Mhz, 类似于现有的无线呼叫产品) 向报警接收器发送一 个报警消息,从而服务员佩戴的报警接收器会蜂鸣或者振动从而引起服务员的注 意。 另外, 菜谱管理终端可以内置电池, 从而可以做到即使断电也能有效报警。 如果菜谱管理终端正在发出警报, 则可以通过刷服务员卡来停止警报。
餐厅为每名服务员发放服务员卡 (一般是 RFID卡, 例如 Mifare卡, 该卡是 带有授权密码的, 授权密码是由餐厅在制卡的时候写入的)。 当服务员需要从菜 谱管理终端取下某个遥控器时, 该服务员首先应在菜谱管理终端上刷服务员卡, 刷卡完毕后, 菜谱管理终端就解除防盗系统了, 同时, 菜谱管理终端也将该服务 员作为当前登录服务员。此时,服务员就能从菜谱管理终端上安全地取下遥控器 了,可以取下多个遥控器。每取下一个遥控器,菜谱管理终端就会记录这一事件, 即哪位服务员在何时取下了哪个遥控器, 服务员的 ID和遥控器的 ID都会被记 录, 这些信息会被发往餐饮信息系统, 以供后日管理者进行查询。 可见, 服务员 在菜谱管理终端上的任何操作都会被记录在案。任何一个遥控器是何时被哪个服 务员取走的, 也都有据可查, 从而实现了有序化的遥控器管理和防盗。 一般地, 餐厅可以为每台菜谱管理终端指定一台 "目标计算机"。 目标计算 机就是餐饮信息系统中的某台计算机, 这些计算机上都运行着餐饮管理软件(此 餐饮管理软件一般就是遥控数字化菜谱厂商提供的)。 该计算机一般就是摆放在 菜谱管理终端旁边的计算机。当服务员在菜谱管理终端上刷卡后, 菜谱管理终端 会自动向目标计算机发送一个消息(通过 "业务通信接口"), 通知该目标计算机 此服务员已经登录到了此菜谱管理终端。目标计算机上的餐饮管理软件接收到这 一消息后, 会自动以该服务员的身份解除锁屏 (即登录)。 餐饮管理软件平时不 操作的时候一般处于锁屏状态, 任何服务员需要操作必须先输入工号和密码登 录。 可见, 有了上述功能后, 服务员省去了以往的登录操作: 只要在菜谱管理终 端上刷卡,就能自动在其对应的目标计算机上登录, 虽然菜谱管理终端和目标计 算机是两个终端, 但是却好像是同一台计算机一样。 进一步地, 登录之后, 目标 计算机还自动显示菜谱管理终端管理界面。在这个界面中能看到此菜谱管理终端 当前连接了哪些遥控器, 每个遥控器内的菜谱数据版本, 等等。 这些信息的获取 方式也是多样的, 可以是菜谱管理终端定期将这些信息发送给餐饮信息系统(并 存入餐饮信息系统的数据库中从而之后任何计算机可以随意访问), 也可是每台 菜谱管理终端对餐饮信息系统提供数据服务(即某种形式的网络服务, 例如 web 服务或者自定义的网络应用层协议, 菜谱管理终端作为服务器, 目标计算机作为 客户端), 当餐饮信息系统的任何计算机需要获取这些数据时, 只要访问菜谱管 理终端提供的数据服务即可。在菜谱管理终端管理界面中还能对菜谱管理终端进 行控制, 例如 "安全拔出遥控器"。 菜谱管理终端管理界面中会有一个按钮 "安 全拔出遥控器", 这个按钮的作用类似于 windows中的 "安全删除硬件"。 例如, 如果菜谱管理终端正在对某个遥控器进行数据更新操作,如果服务员此时拔下遥 控器,就会导致数据损坏,类似于未安全删除硬件就从 windows计算机中拔下 U 盘的情形。有了这个功能后, 服务员刷卡后, 菜谱管理终端首先解除防盗系统并 通知目标计算机解除锁屏并自动登录, 然后该服务员在目标计算机上首先点击 "安全拔出遥控器"按钮(目标计算机一般就摆在菜谱管理终端旁边, 因此服务 员刷卡后即可看到目标计算机的界面并马上可以开始操作), 然后服务员应耐心 等待菜谱管理终端完成当前正在进行的更新操作。如果菜谱管理终端当前没有进 行任何更新操作, 则菜谱管理终端管理界面上马上就会显示 "己经可以安全拔出 遥控器了", 如果正在更新, 则会显示 "正在更新中, 请稍候"之类的信息。一 旦显示 "可以安全拔出遥控器", 菜谱管理终端就不会再启动任何更新操作了。 这样, 只要服务员在可以安全拔出遥控器之后再拔出遥控器,就不会出现数据损 坏的情况。 当该服务员完成了全部操作, 即可点击目标计算机界面上的 "锁屏" 按钮, 锁屏后, 目标计算机会让菜谱管理终端会再次启动更新操作, 同时再次开 启防盗系统。 显然, 为了实现通过操作目标计算机来控制菜谱管理终端, 每个菜 谱管理终端都应提供一种网络服务,任何目标计算机通过菜谱管理终端提供的网 络服务即可通过网络控制菜谱管理终端了。
当将存有点菜结果的遥控器插入菜谱管理终端时, 或者将存有点菜结果的服 务员卡在菜谱管理终端上刷卡时,目标计算机上自动登录后还会自动弹出点菜内 容窗口(具体过程是, 菜谱管理终端首先将点菜结果发往餐饮信息系统并存入数 据库服务器, 然后目标计算机即可从数据库中读取这些点菜结果, 此时这些点菜 结果虽然已经进入了数据库,但是并未发往厨房打印机, 处于等待服务员核实的 状态), 该窗口中罗列了该遥控器或者服务员卡中存储的点菜结果详情, 例如菜 品内容、 数量、 口味、 单价、 会员优惠额、 总价格等等。 这个弹出窗口主要供服 务员对点菜内容进行最后的人工确认, 同时该窗口中还有一个"发送"按钮, 服 务员确认无误后, 点击 "发送", 即可最后将点菜内容发往厨房。 另外在发送之 前, 服务员还可以修改点菜内容, 或者添加其它菜品然后再发送。 可见, 在真正 将点菜结果发往厨房之前, 服务员可以在目标计算机上进行确认和修改, 从而更 稳稳妥。
对于希望降低成本的餐厅, 也可以不设置目标计算机。 对于这种情况, 菜谱 管理终端上应带有指示灯,用于指示是否可以安全拔出遥控器,还应提供一个"安 全拔出遥控器"的机械按钮。也就是说用菜谱管理终端上的指示灯和按钮代替了 目标计算机上的界面。 类似地, 也应该有一个 "锁定"机械按钮, 按这个钮后, 菜谱管理终端会再次开启防盗系统、 启动数据更新。 另外显然, 对于没有目标计 算机的情况, 遥控器或者服务员卡中的点菜结果会被自动发送给厨房, 不会再让 服务员进行确认了, 也无法在发送前进行任何修改了。
还有一种形式是, 菜谱管理终端本身就是一台带有显示屏和输入装置的计算 机, 也就相当于将前文中的 "菜谱管理终端"和 "目标计算机"合二为一了。 但 这种形式并不推荐, 因为降低了使用的灵活性。 例如, 对于中小型餐厅, 菜谱管 理终端一般就放在前台, 而前台一般也放置 PC机, 这种情况用该 PC作为目标 计算机就是最佳方案了。菜谱管理终端具体实施的时候一般被设计成一个体积很 小, 类似于家用宽带路由器的产品, 其上仅带有遥控器接口和业务通信接口, 没 有显示屏, 而对其的操控主要通过目标计算机实现。
另外, 由于现在平板电脑已经普及, 对于放在前台以外的地方 (例如大型酒 楼可能每层都分布地装有多个菜谱管理终端)的菜谱管理终端来说, 显然平板电 脑就是实现目标计算机的最佳设备了, 因为平板成本低、 功耗低、 体积小不影响 餐厅环境美观, 远强于现有的台式 15寸触摸屏产品。 为了方便使用平板电脑作 为目标计算机, 本发明的菜谱管理终端还支持通过 USB接口为平板提供网络接 入的功能。例如, 当平板通过 USB连接到菜谱管理终端时,平板作为 USB设备, 可以展现为一个 USB RNDIS设备, 或者 USB CDC设备, 总之, 在菜谱管理终 端看来, 平板电脑就是一个 USB网卡。这样通过 USB平板电脑就和菜谱管理终 端建立了网络连接,由于菜谱管理终端通过业务通信接口接入了餐饮信息系统的 网络, 从而平板电脑就也接入了餐饮信息系统的网络(菜谱管理终端需要起到路 由功能), 因此, 该平板电脑就可以作为目标计算机使用了, 因为它和餐饮信息 系统中的任何其他计算机没有本质区别(虽然平板一般是 ARM架构并且运行安 卓系统)。 可见, 遥控数字化菜谱的厂商一般需要提供两套管理界面软件, 一套 用于 PC, 适用于大屏幕鼠标操作。 一套用于平板, 适用于 7寸触摸屏的操作。 由于平板来说功耗很低,因此采用这种形式后一般平板可以直接靠菜谱管理终端 通过 USB提供的电力运行, 无需外接任何其它电源。 另外, 和遥控器类似, 菜 谱管理终端还能实现平板电脑的防盗作用, 如果未解除警报而拔下平板电脑的 USB线缆, 则菜谱管理终端会检测到这一事件并发出报警。 另外和遥控器不同, 平板电脑的 USB线缆禁止一般的服务员随意拔出, 因此只有具有平板电脑管理 权限的服务员卡(例如经理持有的服务员卡)刷卡后才能解除对平板电脑的防盗 警报。
市场中已经出现 IC卡点菜产品, 即用 IC卡将点菜结果从点菜机传输到餐饮 管理系统。 本发明也设置了类似的功能, 并且还将 RFID卡用于桌号录入和服务 员在数字化菜谱上进行登录。
遥控数字化菜谱上带有读卡器。 读卡器可以设在主机上, 也可以设在遥控器 上。其中设在遥控器上是最佳方案, 因为遥控器就在操作数字化菜谱的服务员或 者顾客的手中, 刷起来十分方便, 甚至无需掏出卡, 例如服务员将遥控器在腰包 (腰包中放着服务员卡, 该卡是 RFID卡) 上一拍即可完成刷卡, 顾客则将遥控 器在裤兜 (裤兜里的钱包中存有会员卡, 该卡也是 RFID卡) 一拍, 就也完成了 刷卡。
当服务员在数字化菜谱上刷服务员卡时, 数字化菜谱自动显示出管理界面, 管理界面主要用于关机、发送和保存点菜结果等操作,这些操作不能让顾客随意 进行, 因此必须由服务员操作。 现有的产品 (例如平板点餐产品), 一般都需要 服务员输入工号和密码,十分麻烦。本发明实现了刷卡就实现自动身份认证并自 动进入管理界面, 十分简洁, 也不会输错而重新输入。
在数字化菜谱的管理界面中, 其中有一个功能就是将点菜结果保存到服务员 卡 (可以仅保存其中某些菜品, 例如当顾客需要提前制作某个菜品的时候)。 选 中这个功能后, 屏幕会提示请刷服务员卡, 此时当服务员刷卡时, 数字化菜谱就 会将点菜结果写入该服务员卡中。如果读卡器在遥控器上, 则是主机将点餐结果 无线发送给遥控器然后由遥控器写入服务员卡。之后, 该服务员应持卡到附近的 菜谱管理终端上刷卡, 刷卡后, 如前文所述, 不仅会自动在目标计算机上登录, 还会自动读取该服务员卡中的点菜结果并弹窗让服务员确认发送。
类似地, 服务员卡还可以传输其他任何小量数据。 例如, 在数字化菜谱中输 入桌号后, 可以将桌号保存到服务员卡中(操作方式和保存点菜结果到服务员卡 的过程类似), 然后服务员去菜谱管理终端上刷卡, 即可自动通知餐饮信息系统 此桌位己经被占用了, 即实现了开台操作。如果没有这个功能, 则必须等到顾客 点菜完毕后, 借着遥控器传输点菜结果的时候进行开台。 餐厅经常会为顾客发放会员卡。 顾客可以直接将 RFID会员卡在遥控数字化 菜谱上刷卡。遥控数字化菜谱中保存了此餐厅所有门店的所有会员的信息和就餐 历史记录, 当顾客刷卡时, 会自动在数字化菜谱上完成会员登录, 登录后, 顾客 就能浏览以往的就餐历史了, 从而十分亲切。顾客也可以将以往点过的某个菜品 直接加入 "我的餐桌", 详见发明 A的内容。 进一步地, 顾客登录后, 数字化菜 谱上的菜品价格也都会自动变为该顾客会员等级所能享受的折扣价格。遥控数字 化菜谱中保存的就餐历史也是通过遥控器传入遥控数字化菜谱的。对于连锁店来 说,总部服务器每天会汇总来自各个门店的点菜记录,然后再将其分发给各个门 店,然后会进入各个门店的每个菜谱管理终端,然后进入连接在菜谱管理终端上 的遥控器, 最终通过遥控器传入数字化菜谱的主机。 具体来讲,一般是各个门店 的餐饮管理软件每天自动从总部服务器下载最新数据并保存在餐饮信息系统的 数据库服务器中,然后门店内的每台菜谱管理终端自动从数据库服务器下载最新 数据然后将其更新到每台遥控器中。也就是说,各个门店的餐饮信息系统的数据 库、每台菜谱管理终端、每台遥控器和每台主机中都存储着完整的会员数据库和 会员就餐历史。 这种设计相当于是一种分布式的存储系统, 使得餐厅无需 wifi 布线就能实现顾客在任何数字化菜谱上快速登录和浏览就餐历史。应注意这是一 个分布式系统, 各个存储节点存储的内容基本永远是不完全相同但基本相同的, 因为数据在各个节点之前的同步是有延时的。但是由于顾客就餐历史这类数据并 不要求更新和同步的实时性和绝对的正确性, 因此完全能满足实际要求。 另外, 餐厅还可以配备桌牌 RFID卡, 也就是在桌牌内部夹置一张 RFID卡, 这样, 当顾客入座后, 只要将桌牌在数字化菜谱上的读卡器上一拍, 即可自动录 入桌号, 从而解决了以往手工录入桌号容易出错的问题。 无论是服务员卡还是会员卡还是桌牌卡, 在点菜过程中的任何刷卡事件都会 被数字化菜谱一一记录 (卡型、 卡号和刷卡时间), 这些刷卡记录最终会通过遥 控器传输到菜谱管理终端进而最终传输到餐饮信息系统中, 以供管理者后日查 看。 进一步地, 当把遥控器连接到菜谱管理终端时, 如果该遥控器内存有点菜结 果和保存该点菜结果的服务员在数字化菜谱上的刷卡记录,则插上遥控器后就等 效于在菜谱管理终端上刷服务员卡,从而菜谱管理终端会解除防盗系统并通知目 标计算机解除锁屏和登录。这是因为, 当顾客点菜完毕后, 必然需要由餐厅服务 员确认并保存点菜结果。该服务员必须先在数字化菜谱上刷服务员卡从而进入管 理界面, 然后在管理界面中选择 "保存点菜结果并关机"。 这样, 该遥控器中就 同时保存了点菜结果和此服务员在数字化菜谱上的刷卡记录。之后,这个服务员 会将这个遥控器插入到某个菜谱管理终端。可见在这种情况下, 该遥控器内保存 的信息已经可以证明持有此遥控器的人正是该服务员,因此完全可以省去服务员 在菜谱管理终端上的刷卡操作了。
无论是通过遥控器传输数据, 还是通过 RFID卡传输数据, 都不能做到无线 传输, 因此本发明同时也提供了数字化菜谱和菜谱管理终端无线数据传输的功 能。 这种无线数据传输就是指传统意义上的无线点菜传输方法, 例如可以是 433Mhz无线数传、 zigbee和 wifi等远距离无线传输技术,一般推荐的是 433MHz (在某些国家是 868MHz/915Mhz) 无线数传。 菜谱管理终端和数字化菜谱中都 带有无线点菜收发电路。数字化菜谱上的无线点菜收发电路的优选实现方式是将 其安装在遥控器内, 而不是主机内, 因为遥控器是可以方便移动的, 当无线信号 不好时可以通过改变遥控器方向和位置来寻找信号。采用这种设计后, 数字化菜 谱和菜谱管理终端还可以通过无线收发器数据。例如, 当在数字化菜谱上刷桌牌 卡后,数字化菜谱立即可以通过无线方式向菜谱管理终端发送开台消息, 该消息 最终传入餐饮信息系统,进而管理者可以即时看到该桌位已经开台了, 否则必须 等到点菜完毕后才能看到。再如, 如果顾客需要提前制作某道菜品也可以用这种 方式发送, 无需再使用 RFID卡(服务员无需为了提前制作某个菜品而走到菜谱 管理终端刷卡)。 再如, 对于需要称重的菜品例如鱼类, 厨房可以直接在计算机 上录入实际称重重量, 之后餐饮管理软件会将此重量信息发送给菜谱管理终端, 然后菜谱管理终端通过无线将其发送给目标数字化菜谱,然后该数字化菜谱上此 菜品的重量和价格就都自动被重新计算了。如果没有这个功能, 则需要厨房派人 通知负责此桌的服务员在数字化菜谱界面上修改实际重量。再如, 当厨房某个菜 品沾清的时候或者需要临时修改某个菜品价格并且想即时生效的时候,都只有通 过无线发送才能实现, 否则正在使用的菜谱上这些修改是不会生效的, 只有在修 改之后才开机的菜谱上才会生效 (因为通过遥控器实现了更新)。
可见, 在这种情况下, 菜谱管理终端实际上相当于点菜宝的 "无线基站"。 遥控器中本身已经带有了 "遥控无线通信电路 "(见发明 A), 因此另一种实 现方式就是遥控器就借用现有的"遥控无线通信电路"作为无线点菜收发电路 (菜 谱管理终端中应加入同样的无线通信电路)。 也就是说 "遥控无线通信电路"的 硬件同时接入两种不同的无线网络, 一个网络是遥控器和主机组成的遥控网络
(详见发明 A),另一个是遥控器和菜谱管理终端组成的业务数据无线传输网络。 这种一套物理硬件同时接入两个网络的技术类似于蓝牙设备可以同时接入两个 微微网络, 采用时分复用的方法实现。但是和蓝牙不同的是, 本系统是接入两个 完全不同协议的无线网络, 为了实现这个目标,这两个网络的无线协议必须是经 过特殊设计的能相互配合共存的专有协议。
此外, 如果无线点菜收发电路设在遥控器内部, 则还能实现菜谱管理终端对 遥控器位置的追踪。遥控器可以定期向菜谱管理终端发送无线数据包, 菜谱管理 终端根据接收到的信号的强弱即可大致判断遥控器到菜谱管理终端的距离,虽然 这种判断是十分不精确的, 但是仍然可以给出大致的参考信息。菜谱管理终端将 这些信息发往餐饮信息系统后,管理者不仅能看到每个连接到菜谱管理终端的遥 控器的状态,还能看到每个正在使用中的遥控器的状态。例如如果发现某个遥控 器长时间没有发来数据包, 则可以提示管理者遥控器可能已经被盗。
此外, 菜谱管理终端还可以作为无线呼叫的基站。 某些餐厅使用了无线呼叫 产品, 即在每个桌位上摆放一个呼叫器。 当顾客需要叫服务员的时候, 只要按呼 叫器上的按钮, 呼叫器就会向呼叫基站发送无线数据包, 然后呼叫基站会给服务 员佩戴的呼叫接收器发送数据包。
此外, 如果菜谱管理终端上带有 wifi网卡, 则菜谱管理终端还可以充当一个 wifi基站, 从而无需单独的 wifi基站。 另外, 当点菜完毕要关闭遥控数字化菜谱的时候, 主机还可以把电池剩余电 量通过无线数据包发送给遥控器。当之后遥控器连接到菜谱管理终端的时候, 菜 谱管理终端就可以从遥控器读取该遥控数字化菜谱的电池剩余电量了,然后可以 将电池剩余电量发送给餐饮信息系统。从而餐厅管理者就可以看到每台遥控数字 化菜谱的电池剩余电量了。 在遥控数字化菜谱关机的时候读取剩余电量就足够 了, 因为遥控数字化菜谱关机后, 功耗极低, 电池电量基本不会改变。 这个功能 则可以方便餐厅无需人为检查就能即时看到哪个遥控数字化菜谱需要充电,从而 有效防止了顾客点菜过程中出现电量不足的情况。每台遥控数字化菜谱一般都有 一个序列号, 遥控器中不仅存储关机时的剩余电量,还存储所连接的遥控数字化 菜谱的序列号(也是通过无线数据包从主机获取的)并将序列号和剩余电量一起 发送给餐饮信息系统,这样餐厅管理人员就能根据序列号快速找到电量不足的遥 控数字化菜谱并更换电池 (遥控数字化菜谱上一般也贴有其序列号)。 由于餐厅顾客一般要求数字化菜谱能即开即用, 而一般数字产品开机速度都 比较慢, 因此解决方案是数字化菜谱平时不要关机, 而是待机。但是待机功耗仍 然会远大于关机功耗, 考虑到数字化菜谱一般是在就餐时间才会使用,本发明提 出了自动开机和待机的功能。即,餐厅管理者可以在餐饮管理软件中设定数字化 菜谱每天的自动开机和自动关机时间。 例如, 上午 11点和下午 5点自动开机。 下午 2点和晚上 8点自动关机。这些参数会通过遥控器更新到每台数字化菜谱中。 之后, 每台数字化菜谱每天都在会在指定的时间自动开机(类似于电脑的在指定 时间自动开机), 开机以后马上自动待机。 这样就实现了在就餐高峰期所有数字 化菜谱都处于待机状态, 因此能瞬间开机, 即开即用。 然后到了关机的时刻后, 数字化菜谱会自动从待机恢复, 然后关机。 采用这种方式后, 24 小时内可以做 到 18小时都处于关机状态, 大幅降低了待机带来的电池损耗。 顾客点菜的时候,往往会对菜品口味和制作方法提出要求。其中通用要求(如 多糖、少辣等要求)一般可以在数字化菜谱界面中直接设定, 而特有的要求则一 般要手工录入。对于以往的手写点菜和平板电脑点餐, 手工录入不成问题。但是 如果用遥控器操作菜谱,录入文字信息就比较麻烦, 因为遥控器上一般不会有全 键盘。因此本发明提出了通过语音来记录特殊要求的方法。遥控器内置麦克风和 音频 ADC, 当需要提出特殊要求的时候, 首先操作主机界面, 开启录音, 然后 主机会通过遥控无线通信电路通知遥控器开启录音, 此时遥控器会开启音频 ADC, 即可开始对遥控器讲话。 讲话结果会被遥控器录制并保存在业务数据存 储器中,遥控器也可以通过无线将录音结果发给主机并保存(之后再回传给遥控 器从而进入遥控器内的业务数据存储器中)。 录音的停止可以从数字化菜谱界面 上操作, 也可以智能停止录音,例如如果发现 3秒内的音频信号强度低于某值则 自动停止录音。 之后点菜完毕后, 将遥控器插入菜谱管理终端的时候, 菜谱管理 终端会从遥控器中读取录音结果并将其和点菜结果一起发往餐饮信息系统。之后 在目标计算机上可以对录音结果进行回放,然后操作者再根据录音回放内容在目 标计算机上将其以文字形式录入后再发送到厨房。 菜谱管理终端的最佳实现模式是通过 POE供电。 采用这种方式后, 菜谱管 理终端只需要一条以太网线即可实现业务通信接口和供电。由于接在菜谱管理终 端上的各种设备, 例如 USB集线器、 遥控器、 平板电脑和小票打印机, 都是从 菜谱管理终端取电的,因此这种方式最终实现了菜谱管理终端及其各个外设组成 的系统和外界的唯一接口就是一条网线, 这使得整个系统十分千净和简洁。 本发明还实现了数字化菜谱的高可靠性。例如,如果顾客己经点了很多菜品, 此时数字化菜谱坏了, 则顾客必然会十分恼怒, 因为菜都白点了。但是本发明随 时将点菜结果通过无线存储在遥控器中,因此相当于实现了点菜结果在主机和遥 控器中的双备份。无论是主机坏了还是遥控器坏了, 都能在更换主机或遥控器后 恢复之前的点菜结果。 即, 在将遥控器插入主机进行配对的时候, 如果此时主机 或者遥控器中存有点菜结果,则这个点菜结果会直接被发送给对方从而实现双方 的同步。 另外, 菜谱管理终端上还可以连接条码枪, 实现条码划菜等操作。 另外应说明的是, 对于电视菜谱这种实现形式来说, 最佳方式是主机直接通 过有线以太网接入餐饮信息系统。 也就是说对于电视菜谱来说, 除了遥控器、 RFID卡和无线方式外, 还有有线以太网这种方式。 对于新开的餐厅, 如果在装 修时将包间都安装好电视并进行网线布线,则电视菜谱可以采用这种数据传输形 式。 权利要求中所说遥控器的 "业务数据存储器"可以通过单片机内部 SRAM、 单片机内部 EEPROM或闪存、 单片机外挂闪存或闪存卡、 U盘电路、 读卡器电 路等多种形式来实现, 也可以是不同方式的混合实现(例如同时利用接在单片机 上的 SPI闪存和独立的 U盘电路)。如果用 SRAM实现则要求遥控器应始终处于 待机状态, 不能断电。 菜谱管理终端是不能移动的, 一般是通过交流适配器来供电, 例如, 9V 直 流电源。
可见, 本发明不仅可以用遥控器实现数据的传输, 还可以利用 RFID卡和传 统的无线点菜方式, 从而增加了灵活性。 无论是 RFID卡还是遥控器还是无线, 其本质都是在遥控数字化菜谱和菜谱管理终端之间传输数据的手段。从而最终实 现了在数字化菜谱接和餐饮信息系统的数据传输。本发明最重要的意义在于,餐 厅不再需要进行 wifi 布线了。 本发明的核心数据传输途径是遥控器 (像菜谱数 据、 会员信息等大宗数据, 只能通过遥控器更新), 而 RFID卡和无线仅仅是偶 尔传输小量数据的辅助手段。实际使用的时候是结合使用三种技术,但基本以遥 控器为主。本发明还实现了终极的可靠性:在任何时候,无论无线出现任何问题, 都能保证任何类型的业务数据的无缝、高速和可靠的双向传输。本发明还实现了 全部操作的简洁性, 无需 U盘, 确保了傻瓜式操作。
附图说明
附图 1是本发明的整体结构和方法示意图。
附图 2是同时带有 USB和 RS232接口, 但只有 RS232线路连接到单片机的 遥控器结构示意图。
附图 3是只有 USB接口但不带有 USB集线器的遥控器结构示意图。
附图 4是只有 USB接口且带有 USB集线器的遥控器结构示意图。
附图 5是从单片机同时引出 USB和 RS232线路的遥控器结构示意图。
附图 6是同时带有 RS232线路和集线器的遥控器结构示意图。
附图 7是 6口 USB集线器以及遥控器在集线器上的放置方式的示意图 附图 8是典型的菜谱管理终端极其外设连接方式的示意图。
具体实施方式
阅读后文之前请详细阅读发明 A和发明 B的说明书。 后文假设读者已经阅 读了这些内容。
附图 1是本发明的整体示意图。 其中包括遥控器 (1 )、 菜谱管理终端 (2)、 主机(3 )和遥控器线缆(4)。 该图从左到右依次给出了遥控器(1 )通过有线连 接到菜谱管理终端 (2)、 遥控器 (1 ) 通过有线连接到主机 (3 ) 和遥控器 (1 ) 通过无线连接到主机 (3 ) 的情形。
实施发明 B的时候,遥控器上的主机接口和主机上的遥控器接口一般用串口 (RS232) 接口实现。 但是由于串口在机械上很笨重, 并不适合要求轻巧的遥控 器, 因此实施的时候往往在机械上借用 USB接口而在电气上采用 RS232信号。 一般是遥控器上采用 USB公头(和 U盘上的 USB插头一样),而主机上釆用 USB 母座。采用这种设计后,遥控器无需遥控器线缆即可直接插入主机中,更为简洁, 而遥控器线缆主要用于无线遥控由于受到干扰而失效,需要采用有线遥控操作的 时候。 在电气上采用 RS232的好处是其稳定性高于 USB, 另外最大的好处就是 主机上的遥控器接口实现更为简单。 如果用 USB 则要求主机上的单片机或者 SOC上运行 USB主机协议栈, 比较复杂。 因此, 实施发明 B 的时候往往采用 RS232信号, 但在机械上借用 USB插头和线缆。 USB线缆上的电源和地线照样 作为原有功能,而 USB的 D+线路则承载主机发往遥控器的 RS232信号,而 USB 的 D-线路则承载遥控器发往主机的 RS232信号。
在上述的发明 B的实施方式下, 由于 RS232接口速率过慢(只有 100Kbps), 因此仅通过 RS232 口来更新菜谱数据 (可能达到几十兆字节) 则根本不现实。 因此遥控器上必须同时提供 USB接口线路, 这就必须增加遥控器接口和遥控器 线缆中的线路个数。因此本发明提出了一种实现方式:利用 USB3.0插头和线缆。 USB3.0插头和线缆和 2.0完全兼容, 只是多了 5条线路。 这样, 只要遥控器上 的 USB2.0公头改为 USB3.0公头, 而主机上的 USB2.0母座改为 USB3.0母座, 即可多出来 5条线路。 在这种实施方式下, 遥控器应内置一套 U盘电路 (由 U 盘控制芯片和 NAND闪存组成)或读卡器电路(由读卡器控制芯片和 TF卡组成)。 相应地, 主机和菜谱管理终端上的遥控器接口也应采用 USB3.0母座同时引出了 一个 RS232接口和一个 USB2.0接口。 内置 U盘和发明 B中原有的遥控器电路 完全是隔离的(除了有共同的电源和地以外)。可见这样能实现只要插上遥控器, 就相当于把一个遥控器和一个 U盘一下子都插在了主机或者菜谱管理终端上, 十分简洁。当遥控器连接到菜谱管理终端后, 菜谱管 S终端就可以把菜谱更新存 入遥控器内置 u盘, 同时从遥控器的单片机中读取点菜结果。 另外, 当遥控器 插入主机或者连接到菜谱管理终端的时候, 无论是点菜结果还是菜谱更新, 既可 以存入遥控器内置 u盘, 也可以存入遥控器本身的电路 (即遥控器的单片机的 内部 SRAM或者外挂存储器), 具体存在哪里可以根据实际需要来选择。 例如, 对于菜谱更新来说, 则存在 U盘中是最佳方案。 而对于点菜结果来说, 如果是 通过无线从主机传送到遥控器的, 则在这种实施方案下无法存入 U盘, 因为遥 控器中的单片机完全不知道 U盘的存在, 只能将结果存入单片机内部 SRAM或 者外部 EEPROM等非易失存储器。 但是如果点完才后将遥控器插入主机来获取 点菜结果, 则点菜结果也可以存入 U盘, 因为此时遥控器内置 U盘已经连接到 主机了。 这种方式的结构如附图 2所示, 其中包括 USB3.0公头 (21 )、 U盘控 制芯片或者读卡器控制芯片 (22)、 NAND闪存或者 TF卡 (23 )、 单片机 (24)、 遥控无线通信电路 (25 )、 单片机外接存储器 (26)、 遥控器外壳 (27)、 USB2.0 线路(28)和 RS232线路(29)。其中单片机外接存储器(26) (—般是 EEPROM、 SPI 闪存等) 是可选的, 也可以用单片机内部存储器来实现其功能。 USB2.0线 路 (28)和 RS232线路 (29)共同通过 USB3.0公头 (21 ) 引出遥控器。 USB3.0 公头(21 )上共有 9条线路, 其中 4条是 USB2.0中就有的线路(VBUS、 GND、 D+和 D -), 这 4条线路即可用于引出 USB2.0线路(28)。 剩余的 5条 USB3.0中 新加入的线路 (RX+、 RX-、 TX+、 TX-、 GND) 则用于引出 RS232线路 (29), 可以如下使用: 地线还是地线, RX+和 RX-都用于 RX232的 RXD (作为一条线 路使用, 将它们短接), TX+和 TX-都用于 RS232的 TXD。 此处 RXD和 TXD都 是相对于遥控器的单片机来说的, 主机和菜谱管理终端上的 USB3.0母座的信号 布局也应相应设置, 但是 RXD和 TXD应和遥控器上相反从而最终使得遥控器 的 RS232线路中的发送连接到主机中 RS232线路的接收, 而遥控器的 RS232线 路中的接收连接到主机中 RS232线路的发送。 这种设计还有一个优点是, 遥控 器也能连接到标准的 USB2.0接口, 例如, 遥控器能直接连接到标准的计算机上 的 USB2.0接口。 当然, 计算机只能和遥控器里面的 U盘通信, 而不能连接到和 遥控器中的 RS232线路, 因此对于这种方式要求将点菜结果和菜谱更新都保存 在 U盘中。 另外要说明的是, RS232线路和单片机之间肯定还需要一个类似于 MAX3232的 232信号收发电路, 本文 (以及权利要求书) 为了简化因此并未提 及这一点。 另一种实施方式就是遥控器接口用单一的 USB来实现, 不再需要 RS232信 号。 此时, 遥控器中采用一个 USB单片机 (该单片机就是发明 B中的单片机), 该单片机外挂闪存 /TF卡等大容量存储器。 当遥控器连接到主机或者菜谱管理终 端的时候, 系统中将枚举一个带有两个 Interface (USB术语) 的 USB设备, 一 个是大容量存储 Interface, —个是遥控器 Interface (主要用于和主机之间收发无 线配对信息), 这些 Interface 都是通过单片机中的软件来实现的。 其中遥控器 Interface是遥控数字化菜谱厂商自定义的 Interface, 需要厂商相应地在主机和菜 谱管理终端上提供设备驱动程序 (大容量存储 Interface有现成的驱动程序)。 显 然, 在这种实施方式下, 遥控器、 主机和菜谱管理终端上的接口都应采用标准的 USB2.0接口。 这种实施方式如附图 3所示, 其中包含 USB2.0公头 (31 )、 USB 单片机 (32)、 NAND闪存或 TF卡 (33 )、 遥控无线通信电路 (35 )和遥控器外 壳 (37)。
上述这种方式的一个缺点是,带有 USB口的单片机一般都只有全速 USB口, 不支持高速 USB, 如果更新几十兆的菜谱数据, 则速度仍然十分缓慢。 因此这 种实施方式还有一种改进方案, 就是在遥控器内部, USB 接口首先连接一个高 速 USB集线器, 然后在集线器下挂一套 U盘电路和一个 USB单片机 (该单片 机就是发明 B中的单片机)。 这样, 当遥控器连接到主机或者菜谱管理终端的时 候, 将会枚举出两个 USB设备(而不是一个设备两个 Interface), 即一个 U盘设 备和一个遥控器设备。 U盘能支持高速 USB传输, 而且 U盘并不是通过单片机 的控制实现的, 而是通过单独的 U盘控制芯片实现的。 这种方案如附图 4所示, 其中包含 USB2.0公头 (41 )、 USB集线器芯片 (42)、 U盘控制芯片或者读卡器 芯片 (43 )、 NAND闪存或者 TF卡 (44)、 USB单片机 (45)、 遥控器无线通信 电路 (46) 和遥控器外壳 (47)。
还有一种实现方式, 就是仍然同时具有 USB和 RS232线路, 但是两种线路 都是从单片机引出的。如附图 5所示,其中包括 USB3.0公头(51 )、单片机(54)、 遥控无线通信电路 (55 )、 单片机外接存储器 (56)、 遥控器外壳 (57)、 USB2.0 线路 (58 ) 和 RS232线路 (59)。 其中单片机 (54) 是 USB单片机, 从而可以 从单片机 (54) 上同时引出 USB2.0线路 (58) 和 RS232线路 (59), 引出的时 候对 USB3.0公头 (51 ) 的线路的利用方式和图 2类似。
另外还有一种结合了附图 4和附图 5的实现方式,即单片机上同时引出 USB 和 RS232, 其中 RS232直接通过 USB3.0接口引出, 而 USB则连接到一个 USB 集线器的某个下行端口, 然后该集线器下还接有一个 U盘 /读卡器电路, 最后该 集线器的上行端口通过 USB3.0公头引出。 如附图 6所示, 其中包括 USB3.0公 头 (61 )、 USB集线器 (62)、 U盘控制芯片或者读卡器芯片 (63 )、 N AND闪存 或者 TF卡 (64)、 带有 USB接口的单片机 (65 )、 无线遥控收发电路 (66)、 从 单片机引出的 USB线路(67)、 从单片机引出的 RS232线路(68)、 USB集线器 的上行端口引出的 USB线路(69)。 这种方式的优势在于, 当遥控器连接到标准 的 USB2.0端口的时候(例如, PC机或者以标准 USB2.0端口作为遥控器接口的 菜谱管理终端), PC机 /菜谱管理终端通过标准 USB2.0接口不仅能读写遥控器里 面的 U盘, 还能通过读写单片机内部或者外接的存储器。 这种设计使得菜谱管 理终端只要提供标准的 USB2.0接口就行了, 虽然遥控器上是 USB3.0公头, 但 是这个接口完全和标准的 USB2.0兼容,只是当连接到标准 USB2.0接口的时候, RS232信号没有建立连接。 菜谱管理终端仅提供标准 USB2.0端口能大幅简化菜 谱管理终端的设计, 否则菜谱管理终端还需要引出多个串口, 其设计比较复杂。 在这种设计下, 遥控器上引出的 RS232信号的主要作用是和主机进行配对: 配 对系统需要比较严格的定时系统, 通过 RS232更容易实现。 也就是说, 主机上 的遥控器接口是同时引出 USB2.0信号和 RS232信号的 USB3.0接口, 而菜谱管 理终端上的遥控器接口是标准的 USB2.0接口。
另外还有一种实现形式, 就是用 USB模拟多路选择器代替附图 4和附图 6 中的 USB集线器。 当遥控器刚连接到菜谱管理终端的时候, USB模拟多路选择 器接通 USB单片机, 因此菜谱管理终端可以通过 USB和单片机通信, 因此可以 向单片机发送命令, 让单片机将 USB模拟多路选择器切换到 U盘 /读卡器电路。 也就是说 USB单片机和 U盘 /读卡器不能同时和菜谱管理终端通信。当菜谱管理 终端对 U盘 /读卡器的读写完毕之后, 则可以切断遥控器的电源(即 USB总线电 源), 从而遥控器关机。 再次开启电源后, 遥控器就又会回到 USB模拟多路选择 器接通单片机的状态了。
对于附图 3和附图 5的实现形式来说, 由于大容量存储器都是在单片机的控 制之下的, 因此, 完全可以不枚举成一个大容量存储 Interface, 而枚举成一个厂 商自定义的 Interface 枚举成大容量存储的缺点在于: U盘无论是在标准计算机 还是嵌入式计算机中进行枚举的时候, 稳定性都不高, 经常会出现 U盘插入电 脑后不出来盘符的问题, 也就是说可控性太差。而在餐厅环境中, 要求做到百分 之百的插入后就枚举成功开始读写。 如果采用厂商自定义的 Interface, 则可以绕 开操作系统中的大容量存储协议栈和磁盘管理器,直接通过 USB读写遥控器了, 当然同时厂商必须提供配套的驱动程序和应用软件。
数字化菜谱上的 RFID读卡器一般就设在遥控器上。遥控器内的 PCB上应带 有 RFID读卡芯片 (如, NXP公司的 MFRC522) 和天线。 读卡器如果设在主机 上, 则一般设有一块装在支架内部的 PCB, 该 PCB上带有 RFID读卡芯片和天 线并通过 USB连接到发明 A的机芯模块 (相当于一个 USB RFID读卡器), 从 而在支架上即可刷卡。
一般菜谱管理终端上要同时连接多个遥控器, 而且菜谱管理终端还需要能随 时检测到遥控器被拔下的事件, 因此遥控器的电源管理就成为问题。如果所有遥 控器都处于正常工作的电源状态, 则其消耗的电流一般是比较大的, 因为遥控器 上有 USB集线器, 还有 U盘 /读卡器电路和单片机电路。其最大电流可以达到数 百毫安。 如果连接 20个遥控器, 则总电流可能达到数安培, 这是菜谱管理终端 无法通过 USB总线提供的电流。 为解决了这个问题, 可以采用如下方式。 首先, U盘电路 /读卡器电路的电源是在单片机的控制之下的。 遥控器刚插入菜谱管理 终端的时候, U 盘电路 /读卡器电路完全处于断电状态。 之后只有单片机接收到 菜谱管理终端的命令后, 才会开启 U盘电路 /读卡器电路的电源 (这个电源一般 就是一个 5V功率开关,其输入是 USB的 VBUS,输出是 U盘 /读卡器电路的 5V 供电, 开闭则由单片机控制)。 第二, 一般 USB集线器芯片上都有一个下行端口 电源开闭控制管脚。 可以用这个管脚来控制单片机及其外围电路的电源的开闭。 平时, 遥控器处于彻底的休眠状态, 即整个遥控器都断电。 当将遥控器插入菜谱 管理终端的时候, 首先 USB集线器上电, 然后菜谱管理终端上的 USB驱动软件 会让 USB集线器开启下行端口电源。 一旦开启, 单片机就上电了。 当针对该遥 控器所有的操作都进行完毕以后, 菜谱管理终端即可让 USB集线器关闭下行端 口电源, 之后单片机及其外围电路就彻底掉电了。 菜谱管理终端对遥控器中的 USB 集线器的下行端口 电源开闭的控制是通过 USB 标准中的 SetFeature(PORT— POWER)命令实现的, 详见 USB2.0协议标准。 也就是说, 遥 控器连接在菜谱管理终端的时候可以处于三种电源状态: 只有集线器带电、集线 器和单片机及其外围电路带电和全部带电。三种状态的转换都是在菜谱管理终端 上的软件的控制之下的。 当只有 USB集线器带电的时候, 总电流一般只有 50〜 100毫安。 而菜谱管理终端可以通过控制每个遥控器的电源状态, 依次打开和关 闭遥控器的电源, 从而实现任何时候不会有多个遥控器处于高耗能状态, 从而解 决了总电流不足的问题。 而且, 即使在最低电流状态下, USB 集线器也是处于 工作状态的, 因此菜谱管理终端可以随时检测到遥控器的拔出事件。 可见, 为了 实现上述功能, 遥控器的实施方式应选择附图 4或者附图 6的形式。
上述关于遥控器的结构的说明中都没有提及充电电池、 触摸按键等电路, 因 为和本发明不相关。
菜谱管理终端有多种具体实现方式。
菜谱管理终端的第一种实施方式是采用标准的 PC机来实现。附图 2、附图 3、 附图 4、 附图 5和附图 6的遥控器设计, 无论是采用 USB3.0公头还是 USB2.0 公头, 都是可以直接连接到计算机上的 USB2.0接口的, 因此可见用标准的计算 机就可以实现菜谱管理终端的功能,这种实现方式比较适合于微型餐厅。读卡器 则采用外接读卡器即可。 另外, 也可以在标准计算机上插上一块专门设计的 PCI 卡或者外接 USB设备, 这个卡或外置 USB设备上带有特殊的 USB3.0接口, 即 能和附图 2和附图 5匹配的 USB3.0接口,该 USB3.0接口实际同时引出了 USB2.0 线路和 RS232线路, 这样, 标准计算机不仅能通过 USB2.0线路连接遥控器, 还 能通过 RS232线路连接遥控器了。 这个卡或设备实际上就是一个 PCI转多 USB 和多串口卡或者 USB转多 USB和多串口设备。但是显然这种设计意义不大, 因 为只要遥控器能通过 USB2.0线路连接到标准计算机就足够了。
菜谱管理终端的第二种实施方式是采用单一整体的嵌入式计算机设计, 从而 降低成本和功耗、提高集成度。菜谱管理终端一般由外壳和主板组成。 主板上装 有 CPU (—般是 ARM9内核)、 DRAM, 闪存 (一般是 NAND或者 SD卡) 和 各种如前文所述的接口电路, 例如有线以太网接口、 无线点菜收发电路、 串口、 USB接口,等等。主板上一般还直接板载 RFID读卡器芯片和天线从而提高集成 度。另外最重要的就是还应带有若干个遥控器接口。 如前文所述, 遥控器接口可 以用 USB3.0插头来同时支持 USB2.0信号和 RS232信号, 也可以就是标准的 USB2.0接口, 这取决于遥控器的具体实施方案。 其中标准的 USB2.0接口是推 荐实现模式, 因为无需串口, 设计大幅简化。 如果菜谱管理终端上的遥控器接口 是标准的 USB2.0接口, 则要求遥控器按照附图 6的形式设计, 否则菜谱管理终 端无法通过 USB从遥控器中读取点菜结果, 因为该点菜结果是由主机在点菜过 程中实时通过无线发送给遥控器的单片机并由单片机保存在其内置或外挂存储 器中的, 而该存储器只能通过单片机访问。附图 6的设计使得菜谱管理终端一方 面可以通过 USB访问遥控器内的 U 盘从而进行数据更新, 另一方面可以通过 USB读取单片机的存储器从而读取采集业务数据。
具体实施的时候, 一般菜谱管理终端上仅提供 4个 USB2.0端口, 然后通过 外接 USB2.0高速集线器来扩展更多端口。 例如市场上有现成的如附图 7所示的 6口 USB集线器。 这种集线器的最大优点是多个遥控器可以同时并排插在上面, 无需任何线缆, 十分紧凑简洁。 附图 7中包括 6口 USB2.0集线器 (71 )、 集线 器上的 USB2.0端口 (72)、 遥控器 (73 ) 和遥控器上的 USB3.0公头 (74)。 可 见在这种情况下集线器可以视为菜谱管理终端的一部分了。
附图 8是菜谱管理终端的一个典型实现方式。 其中菜谱管理终端 (81 )被设 计成一个类似家用宽带路由器的外形, 没有显示屏。 两个 6口 USB集线器(82) 连接到菜谱管理终端 (81 ) 上的标准 USB2.0接口。 这两个 6 口集线器上的 12 个 USB2.0接口就是菜谱管理终端上的 "遥控器接口", 12个遥控器可以同时插 在两个集线器上, 无需任何线缆。 小票打印机 (83 ) 通过 USB或者串口连接到 菜谱管理终端 (81 )。 平板电脑 (84) 也通过 USB连接到菜谱管理终端 (81 )。 菜谱管理终端 (81 ) 上带有 RFID读卡器, 其刷卡区域 (86) 就在其外壳上。 因 此服务员需要刷卡的时候只要将服务员卡贴紧刷卡区域(86)即可完成刷卡操作。 菜谱管理终端 (81 ) 通过网线 (85 ) 连接到外界 (即餐饮信息系统)。 菜谱管理 终端(81 )和网线(85 )还支持 POE, 从而网线(85 )即可为菜谱管理终端(81 ) 供电,从而间接地也为平板电脑、打印机、集线器和插在集线器上的遥控器供电。 可见, 整套系统十分紧凑, 和外界只需要一条网线连接即可。一般地, 小票打印 机(83 )需要单独的直流电源供电, 如 9V供电。 因此相应地菜谱管理终端(81 ) 可以设置一个 9V电源供电口, 从而用一条直流线缆即可让菜谱管理终端 (81 ) 为小票打印机供电。

Claims

权利要求书
1、 遥控数字化菜谱数据传输的方法和系统, 其特征在于:
由遥控数字化菜谱、 菜谱管理终端和餐饮信息系统组成; 遥控数字化菜谱包括遥控点菜车和电视菜谱两种形式;
遥控数字化菜谱由主机和遥控器组成;遥控器上带有主机接口,主机上带有遥 控器接口;遥控器上的主机接口可以通过遥控器线缆或者直接连接到主机上的遥 控器接口;
遥控器内置业务数据存储器;
主机通过有线或者无线将其产生的采集业务数据发送给遥控器, 进而存入遥 控器内的业务数据存储器;
主机通过有线或者无线从遥控器内的业务数据存储器中读取更新业务数据 并将其存储到主机内部的存储器中; 菜谱管理终端的组件包括处理器、 内存、 业务数据存储器;
菜谱管理终端上带有业务通信接口, 菜谱管理终端通过业务通信接口连接到 餐饮信息系统;
菜谱管理终端上带有遥控器接口; 遥控器上的主机接口可以通过遥控器线缆 或者直接连接到菜谱管理终端上的遥控器接口;
当遥控器连接到菜谱管理终端时, 菜谱管理终端从遥控器读取采集业务数 据, 并将该采集业务数据通过业务通信接口发往餐饮信息系统;
当菜谱管理终端通过业务通信接口从餐饮信息系统接收到更新业务数据时, 菜谱管理终端将更新业务数据存入其内部的业务数据存储器,并将其发送给连接 到该菜谱管理终端的所有遥控器, 进而存入每个遥控器内的业务数据存储器; 当遥控器连接到菜谱管理终端时, 菜谱管理终端将其存储的更新业务数据发 送给该遥控器进而存入遥控器内的业务数据存储器。
2、根据权利要求 1所述的遥控数字化菜谱数据传输的方法和系统, 其特征在于: 菜谱管理终端上带有读卡器和防盗报警系统, 每个服务员配有服务员卡, 服 务员在菜谱管理终端上刷服务员卡后,菜谱管理终端解除防盗并将该服务员记为 当前登录服务员; 此时服务员可以从菜谱管理终端上取下遥控器, 遥控器被取下 时,菜谱管理终端将当前登录服务员信息、取下的遥控器的编号和当前时间发往 餐饮信息系统; 如果未解除防盗而取下遥控器, 则菜谱管理终端发出警报; 当遥控器连接到菜谱管理终端时, 如果此时遥控器内存储的采集业务数据中 含有点菜结果数据以及保存该结果的服务员在数字化菜谱上的刷卡记录,则菜谱 管理终端直接将该服务员作为当前登录服务员并解除防盗;
可以为每台菜谱管理终端指定餐饮信息系统中的一台目标计算机, 当在菜谱 管理终端刷服务员卡时,菜谱管理终端通知目标计算机自动以该服务员的身份解 除锁屏并显示菜谱管理终端管理界面, 如果该服务员卡中存有点菜结果, 则目标 计算机还弹出窗口显示此服务员卡中的点菜结果内容以供操作者核对、修改并确 认发送;当在菜谱管理终端上插入存有点菜结果和服务员在数字化菜谱上刷卡记 录的遥控器时, 目标计算机自动以该服务员的身份解除锁屏并显示菜谱管理终 端, 同时还弹出窗口显示遥控器中的点菜结果内容以供操作者核对、修改并确认 发送; 数字化菜谱上带有读卡器;
当服务员在数字化菜谱上刷服务员卡时, 数字化菜谱进入管理界面; 当在管 理界面中选择将点菜结果和桌号保存到服务员卡后,然后再次刷卡时, 数字化菜 谱通过读卡器将所选点菜结果和桌号保存至该服务员卡中;当将保存有点菜结果 的服务员卡在菜谱管理终端上刷卡时, 菜谱管理终端除记录当前登录服务员外, 还将读取该点菜结果和桌号并将其发送到餐饮信息系统,进而完成开台和加单操 作;
数字化菜谱中保存了该餐厅全部会员的会员信息和在所有门店的就餐历史 信息;
当顾客在数字化菜谱上刷会员卡时, 数字化菜谱将此顾客记为当前登录顾 客,此时可以在数字化菜谱上査看此顾客的就餐历史并再次选用就餐历史中的菜 品; 同时, 菜谱中的所有菜品的价格变为此顾客的会员等级对应的会员价; 当在数字化菜谱上刷桌牌卡时, 数字化菜谱记录并显示当前桌号; 更新业务数据中包含此餐厅所有门店的所有会员的就餐历史; 采集业务数据中包含在整个点餐过程中服务员卡、桌牌卡和会员卡的刷卡人 和刷卡时间;
更新业务数据中包含餐厅中所有桌位的当前点餐情况和今日点餐历史。
3、根据权利要求 1所述的遥控数字化菜谱数据传输的方法和系统, 其特征在于: 菜谱管理终端和数字化菜谱上分别带有无线点菜收发电路,主机通过无线将点菜 结果和桌号信息发送给遥控器后,遥控器通过无线点菜收发电路将其发送给菜谱 管理终端,进而发往餐饮信息系统从而实现开台和加单操作; 餐饮信息系统可以 将菜品的最新沽清状态、价格信息和称重类菜品的实际重量发送给菜谱管理终端 进而通过无线点菜收发电路发送给每台正在使用的数字化菜谱。
4、根据权利要求 2所述的遥控数字化菜谱数据传输的方法和系统, 其特征在于: 菜谱管理终端通过 USB线缆连接到一台平板电脑, 平板电脑作为 USB设备端, 菜谱管理终端作为 USB主机端;该平板电脑通过 USB进而通过菜谱管理终端的 业务通信接口连接到餐饮信息系统从而成为餐饮信息系统中的一台计算机并作 为此菜谱管理终端的目标计算机; 菜谱管理终端通过 USB接口为该平板电脑提 供电源;当在未解除防盗的情况下断开平板电脑和菜谱管理终端的 USB连接时, 菜谱管理终端发出警报。
5、根据权利要求 1所述的遥控数字化菜谱数据传输的方法和系统, 其特征在于: 菜谱管理终端通过 POE供电;
菜谱管理终端从连接在其上的每个遥控器读取遥控器剩余电量, 并对依次对 电量不足的遥控器进行充电;
采集业务数据中包含了数字化菜谱最后一次使用的开机时间、 关机时间和关 机时的剩余电池电量;
遥控器内置 USB集线器, USB集线器下接有 USB单片机和 U盘 /读卡器电 路; 菜谱管理终端通过控制遥控器中 USB集线器的下行端口电源的幵闭, 从而 控制遥控器单片机及其外围电路的电源的开闭;菜谱管理终端向遥控器的单片机 发送命令从而控制遥控器内的 U盘 /读卡器电路的电源的开闭。
6、根据权利要求 1所述的遥控数字化菜谱数据传输的方法和系统, 其特征在于: 更新业务数据中包含了对数字化菜谱自动开机和关机时间的设定信息;数字化菜 谱根据这一设定在每天的指定时刻自动开机,开机后自动待机; 在指定时刻自动 从待机唤醒并关机。
7、根据权利要求 1所述的遥控数字化菜谱数据传输的方法和系统, 其特征在于: 遥控器上带有麦克风和音频 ADC, 当通过数字化菜谱界面上的操作开启 /停止录 音时, 主机通过无线通知遥控器开启 /停止录音, 此时遥控器启动 /停止录音并将 录音结果存储在其业务数据存储器中或将录音结果通过无线发送给主机;采集业 务数据包含录音结果; 录音结果进入餐饮信息系统后,管理者可以在计算机上进 行回放。
8、根据权利要求 1所述的遥控数字化菜谱数据传输的方法和系统, 其特征在于: 菜谱管理终端上带有小票打印机或者外接小票打印机,菜谱管理终端可以为小票 打印机供电; 菜谱管理终端作为网络打印服务器, 通过业务通信接口向餐饮信息 系统提供网络打印服务, 该小票打印机在餐饮信息系统中表现为一台网络打印 机; 同时, 菜谱管理终端也可以自主控制小票打印机, 直接打印遥控器中的点餐 结果。
9、根据权利要求 1所述的遥控数字化菜谱数据传输的方法和系统, 其特征在于- 从菜谱管理终端上取下遥控器后,遥控器通过无线点菜收发电路定期和菜谱管理 终端通信,菜谱管理终端通过收到的无线信号的强弱对遥控器的当前位置进行追 踪并将追踪结果发送给餐饮信息系统; 如果发现某台遥控器失去信号, 则发出报 警。
10、根据权利要求 1所述的遥控数字化菜谱数据传输的方法和系统,其特征在于- 当将存有点菜结果的遥控器连接到主机时,主机自动从遥控器加载其存储的点菜 结果, 并将主机内当前存储的点菜结果发送给遥控器。
PCT/CN2012/001388 2011-10-17 2012-10-15 遥控数字化菜谱数据传输的方法和系统 WO2013056509A1 (zh)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CN 201110313756 CN102354338A (zh) 2011-10-17 2011-10-17 遥控点菜车和遥控点菜车管理终端
CN201110313756.8 2011-10-17
CN201210102374 2012-04-10
CN201210102374.5 2012-04-10

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2013056509A1 true WO2013056509A1 (zh) 2013-04-25

Family

ID=48140345

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/CN2012/001388 WO2013056509A1 (zh) 2011-10-17 2012-10-15 遥控数字化菜谱数据传输的方法和系统

Country Status (2)

Country Link
CN (1) CN103093403A (zh)
WO (1) WO2013056509A1 (zh)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN104615350A (zh) * 2015-01-14 2015-05-13 小米科技有限责任公司 在锁屏界面上展示信息的方法及装置

Families Citing this family (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
KR101497649B1 (ko) * 2013-05-28 2015-03-03 이만봉 웹 편집기를 이용한 전자메뉴판 서비스방법 및 그 시스템
WO2015018181A1 (zh) * 2013-08-06 2015-02-12 Zhu Manping 带有无线数据服务器的数字化菜谱及其信息系统
CN105592571A (zh) * 2016-02-24 2016-05-18 江苏木盟智能科技有限公司 通信连接辅助系统
CN106708772A (zh) * 2017-03-09 2017-05-24 海南众合天下科技有限公司 一种智能usb集线器
CN113923811A (zh) * 2020-07-09 2022-01-11 广东美的厨房电器制造有限公司 数据传输方法、烹饪电器和存储介质

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN201383151Y (zh) * 2008-07-04 2010-01-13 朱曼平 一种桌台伴侣
CN102169624A (zh) * 2010-03-15 2011-08-31 朱曼平 一种遥控点菜车
CN102354338A (zh) * 2011-10-17 2012-02-15 朱曼平 遥控点菜车和遥控点菜车管理终端

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN201383151Y (zh) * 2008-07-04 2010-01-13 朱曼平 一种桌台伴侣
CN102169624A (zh) * 2010-03-15 2011-08-31 朱曼平 一种遥控点菜车
CN102354338A (zh) * 2011-10-17 2012-02-15 朱曼平 遥控点菜车和遥控点菜车管理终端

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN104615350A (zh) * 2015-01-14 2015-05-13 小米科技有限责任公司 在锁屏界面上展示信息的方法及装置

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CN103093403A (zh) 2013-05-08

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
WO2013056509A1 (zh) 遥控数字化菜谱数据传输的方法和系统
CN107577620A (zh) 信息处理装置、信息处理方法以及记录介质
US20100077119A1 (en) Method and Devices for Data Transfer
CN107409056A (zh) 使用中继器选择性启用第一通信路径和第二通信路径
JP2016521475A (ja) 無線通信可能な配電ユニット及びこれと通信する技術
CN101231773A (zh) 投币式游戏系统
CN102845046A (zh) 用于系统级通信的连接器的动态配置
CN1782956A (zh) 唤醒主计算机系统以预取辅助计算设备的数据
CN108351852A (zh) 通用串行总线(usb)type-c电缆上的增强型通信
US8589597B2 (en) Computer having removable input/output device
CN101609353A (zh) 一种具有多种使用模式的个人计算机
TW201349794A (zh) 具隨插即用介面之多電腦網路共享系統
CN101685374A (zh) 经由电脑切换器在多个电脑主机间传输档案的方法
CN102592070B (zh) 双屏幕pc
CN107341556A (zh) 一种基于红外传感器的远程自助就餐选座系统
WO2010057361A1 (zh) 桌台伴侣及其信息系统
CN203084733U (zh) 基于Android平台的餐饮终端
CN111224900A (zh) 一种基于蓝牙的数据中心交换机管理系统及方法
CN103853814B (zh) 远程装置上的媒体的发现、预览和控制
CN106127945A (zh) 一种基于mdb/icp协议的支付控制装置
CN201662808U (zh) 一种点餐器
CN105224059B (zh) 远端存取数据的方法以及本地端装置
WO2018137174A1 (en) Vending apparatus and vending method for digital files
CN102354338A (zh) 遥控点菜车和遥控点菜车管理终端
CN203490739U (zh) 一款基于安卓操作系统的自助式智能点餐终端

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
121 Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application

Ref document number: 12841314

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: A1

NENP Non-entry into the national phase

Ref country code: DE

122 Ep: pct application non-entry in european phase

Ref document number: 12841314

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: A1