Abstract:
Exemplary embodiments herein provide a wireless transmitter/receiver which receives a unique identifier from a smart device and finds associated order history stored on an electronic storage device. A display controlling assembly may generate individualized image data based on the associated order history and transmits the individualized image data to the electronic menu board for display. In some embodiments, menu information is sent directly to the smart device.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/162,420, filed May 15, 2015 which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    Embodiments generally relate to electronic displays used for point of sale and quick service drive through applications. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE ART 
       [0003]    Electronic displays are now being used for menu boards in restaurants, both dine in, as well as drive through quick service restaurants. 
       SUMMARY OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
       [0004]    Exemplary embodiments provide a system and method for providing communication between a smart device and an electronic display menu board. A Bluetooth low energy transmitter/receiver is preferably used to determine if a compatible smart device is within close proximity to the display. If so, the system can perform a number of operations including checking to see if this smart device has been in close proximity before, and if so what was purchased. The system can also transmit the menu data to the smart device so that the user can review the menu and place an order through the smart device. 
         [0005]    The foregoing and other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following more detailed description of the particular embodiments, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]    A better understanding of an exemplary embodiment will be obtained from a reading of the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings wherein identical reference characters refer to identical parts and in which: 
           [0007]      FIG. 1  is a simplified bock diagram of one type of electronic menu board. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a schematic illustration of a user approaching one type of electronic menu board on foot. 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a schematic illustration of a user approaching a second type of electronic menu board while operating an automobile. 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is a logic flowchart showing one embodiment for operating the displays described herein. 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is a logic flowchart showing a second embodiment for operating the displays described herein. 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  is a logic flowchart showing a third embodiment for operating the displays described herein. 
           [0013]      FIG. 7  is a logic flowchart showing a fourth embodiment for operating the displays described herein. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0014]    The invention is described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the exemplary embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. In the drawings, the size and relative sizes of layers and regions may be exaggerated for clarity. 
         [0015]    The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. 
         [0016]    Embodiments of the invention are described herein with reference to illustrations that are schematic illustrations of idealized embodiments (and intermediate structures) of the invention. As such, variations from the shapes of the illustrations as a result, for example, of manufacturing techniques and/or tolerances, are to be expected. Thus, embodiments of the invention should not be construed as limited to the particular shapes of regions illustrated herein but are to include deviations in shapes that result, for example, from manufacturing. 
         [0017]    Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein. 
         [0018]      FIG. 1  provides a block diagram for various electronic components which may be used within an exemplary electronic display assembly. One or more power modules  21  may be placed in electrical connection with a backplane  22 , which could be provided as a printed circuit board which may facilitate electrical communication and/or power between a number of components in the display assembly. A display controlling assembly  20  may also be in electrical connection with the backplane  22 . The display controlling assembly  20  preferably includes a number of different components, including but not limited to a video player, electronic storage device, and a microprocessor which is programmed to perform any of the logic that is described within this application as well as other logic common to this technology but not explicitly described herein. It should also be noted that any storage of data for any of the embodiments described herein can occur at either: (1) the electronic storage device on the display controlling assembly  20 , (2) a remote server  42  which can be accessed through second data interface connection  33 , or (3) stored both on the local storage device on the display controlling assembly  20  as well as a periodic backup stored on the remote server  42 . 
         [0019]    This figure also shows a backlight  23 , LCD assembly  24 , and a front transparent display panel  25 . The backlight  23  may be a CCFL or light emitting diode (LED) backlight. 
         [0020]    It should be noted that although the setup for an LCD is shown, embodiments can be practiced with any electronic image-producing assembly. Thus any other flat panel display could be used, including but not limited to plasma, light-emitting polymers, and organic light emitting diode (OLED) displays. A fan assembly  26  is shown for optionally cooling displays which may reach elevated temperatures. One or more temperature sensors  27  may be used to monitor the temperature of the display assembly, and selectively engage fan assembly  26  when cooling is needed. An ambient light sensor  28  is preferably positioned to measure the amount of ambient light that is contacting the front display panel  25 . 
         [0021]    A variety of different electrical inputs/outputs are also shown, and all or only a select few of the inputs/outputs may be practiced with any given embodiment. The AC power input  30  delivers the incoming power to the backplane  22 . A video signal input  31  can receive video signals from a plurality of different sources. In a preferred embodiment the video signal input  31  would be an HDMI input. Two data interface connections  32  and  33  are also shown. The first data interface connection  32  is preferably a Bluetooth low energy transmitter/receiver. In an exemplary embodiment, the data interface connection  32  is provided as an iBeacon transmitter/receiver. The second data interface connection  33  may be a network connection such as an Ethernet port, wireless network connection, or a satellite network connection. The second data interface connection  33  preferably allows the display assembly to communicate with the internet, and may also permit a remote user to communicate with the display assembly. The second data interface connection  33  can also provide the video data through a network source. The second data interface connection  33  can also be utilized to transmit display settings, error messages, and various other forms of data to a website for access and control by the user. Optional audio connections  34  may also be provided for connection to internal or external speaker assemblies. 
         [0022]    A backlight sensor  29  is preferably placed within the backlight cavity to measure the amount of luminance being generated within the backlight cavity. Additionally, a display luminance sensor  40  is preferably positioned in front of the display  24  in order to measure the amount of luminance exiting the display  24 . A camera  41  may be positioned to record the area surrounding the display and is also preferably placed in electrical connection with the backplane  22 . 
         [0023]    The Bluetooth low energy transmitter/receiver  32  allows communication with smart phone devices which may be within relatively close proximity of the electronic display. Generally speaking, the Bluetooth low energy transmitter/receiver  32  sends out a signal to notify smart phone devices in the area of the presence of the transmitter/receiver  32  and can both push data to these devices as well as pull data from these devices. A number of functions using this communication is described further below. 
         [0024]      FIG. 2  is a schematic illustration of a user  14  approaching one type of electronic menu board on foot. In this embodiment, three separate displays  10 ,  11 , and  12  are placed in a 1×3 array and contained within a housing that places a portion of the bezel  13  in between each display. Each display  10 ,  11 , and  12  may contain each of the components shown above in  FIG. 1  or only a portion of the shown components. Once the user  14  enters a certain proximity to the displays  10 ,  11 , and  12 , the transmitter/receiver  32  of one or more of the displays may begin communicating with the smart phone device  15  of the user  14 . 
         [0025]      FIG. 3  is a schematic illustration of a user approaching a second type of electronic menu board while operating an automobile  16 . Here, a single monolithic display  110  is contained within a housing. The assembly lacks the bezels which would need to be placed between each display. The display  110  can be driven in separately controllable areas  100   a - 100   f,  where in this case each area is being driven to show a different image. This assembly only requires a single collection of the components shown in  FIG. 1 . Once the automobile  16  enters a certain proximity to the display  110 , the transmitter/receiver  32  of the display may begin communicating with the smart phone device  15  within the automobile  16 . It should be noted that a user can approach a monolithic display such as this on foot (similar to what is shown in  FIG. 2 ). Further, it should also be noted that the array of displays shown in  FIG. 2  can be approached by a user operating an automobile  16 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0026]      FIG. 4  is a logic flowchart showing one embodiment for operating the displays described herein. Initially, the transmitter/receiver  32  transmits outgoing signals as well as receives incoming signals. The system then determines if a smart device is within close proximity to the display. If not, the system returns to transmit outgoing signals and receive incoming signals. 
         [0027]    If a smart device is in close proximity to the display, the system preferably begins to search through stored identifying information (which can be stored electronically on the electronic storage device on the display controlling assembly  20  or remotely on a server that can be accessed through second data interface connection  33 ) to determine if the smart device matches any of the stored identifying information. If not, the system preferably stores identifying information for the smart device along with the products ordered, which are stored in association with the identifying information for the smart device. 
         [0028]    If the smart device matches any of the stored identifying information, the system should preferably access the electronic storage device to retrieve previous product orders by this smart device. Ideally, the system would then generate a message for the smart device making an offer to sell a previous product or previous purchase to the user. This message is transmitted to the smart device. Alternatively, the system could also display the previous order on the display, prompting the user on whether they would like to place the same order. The system would then receive incoming signals and determine if the smart device indicates an acceptance of the offer by the user (if using the embodiment where the offer is sent to the smart device). If yes, the system would place the order for the accepted offer and optionally display the order confirmation to the user on the display. If not, the system simply returns to again transmit outgoing signals and receive incoming signals until another smart device is detected. 
         [0029]      FIG. 5  is a logic flowchart showing a second embodiment for operating the displays described herein. Similar to the initial start of the method shown in  FIG. 4 , the transmitter/receiver  32  transmits outgoing signals as well as receives incoming signals. The system then determines if a smart device is within close proximity to the display. If not, the system returns to transmit outgoing signals and receive incoming signals. 
         [0030]    In this embodiment, if a smart device is detected in close proximity to the display, the system will transmit menu data to the smart device. In this embodiment, the menu data can be stored electronically on the electronic storage device on the display controlling assembly  20 . The transmitter/receiver  32  would then receive any incoming signals and determine if the smart device has placed an order for a menu selection. If not, the system returns to transmit outgoing signals and receive incoming signals. If so, the system places the order for the menu selection and optionally displays a confirmation of the order to the user through the display. 
         [0031]      FIG. 6  is a logic flowchart showing a third embodiment for operating the displays described herein. This embodiment is similar to the logic shown above in  FIG. 4 , but with a couple notable differences. First, in this embodiment, if the system does not detect a smart device in close proximity, a message is displayed which prompts the viewer to turn on their smart device Bluetooth functionality. The second difference between this embodiment and that of  FIG. 4  is that the time elapsed during the taking and/or filling of the order can be stored. This permits a later statistical analysis of the times for taking an order and filling an order, to improve or analyze the performance of the system. 
         [0032]      FIG. 7  is a logic flowchart showing a fourth embodiment for operating the displays described herein. This embodiment would preferably utilize the camera  41  described above. In this embodiment, the display would normally be driven with the backlight at a reduced power level in order to save power (as well as wear and tear on some of the electronics and fans). As the system receives data from the camera  41 , the backlight power can be increased once a vehicle or viewer is determined to be in close proximity to the display. Once the system determines that a vehicle or viewer is in close proximity to the display, the system may check to see if the viewer&#39;s sex can be identified. Optionally, the system can also check to see if the viewer&#39;s age can be identified as well. If the viewer&#39;s age and sex can be identified, then an offer is displayed or transmitted to the viewer which is tailored to the viewer&#39;s age and sex. If the viewer&#39;s age can be determined but not sex, then an offer is displayed or transmitted to the viewer which is tailored to the viewer&#39;s age. If the viewer&#39;s sex can be determined but not age, then an offer is displayed or transmitted to the viewer which is tailored to the viewer&#39;s sex. If neither the viewer&#39;s sex nor age can be determined, then the system may display or transmit the normal menu offerings. As used in this embodiment, the term ‘transmit’ is used to mean the electronic transmission of an offer to the user&#39;s smart device. 
         [0033]    Camera recognition software having the functionality described herein is commercially available from KeyLemon in Switzerland (www.keylemon.com) as well as FaceFirst in Westlake Village, Calif. (www.facefirst.com). 
         [0034]    Having shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention, those skilled in the art will realize that many variations and modifications may be made to affect the described invention and still be within the scope of the claimed invention. Additionally, many of the elements indicated above may be altered or replaced by different elements which will provide the same result and fall within the spirit of the claimed invention. It is the intention, therefore, to limit the invention only as indicated by the scope of the claims.