Abstract:
An electronic communication system for increasing the efficiency of communication between restaurant patrons and wait-staff to enhance the dining experience using remotely connected communication devices. A communication device is used by patrons to electronically signal a desire to order, request service, or request a bill. Similarly, a communication device is worn by wait-staff to receive and acknowledge such requests.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    The present application is related to and claims priority from prior provisional application Ser. No. 61/378,222, filed Aug. 30, 2010 which application is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     COPYRIGHT NOTICE 
       [0002]    A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. 37 CFR 1.71(d). 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The following includes information that may be useful in understanding the present invention(s). It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art, or material, to the presently described or claimed inventions, or that any publication or document that is specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art. 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The present invention relates generally to the field of electronic communication devices and more specifically relates to electronic communication devices for use between patrons and wait-staff. 
       DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART 
       [0005]    Many individuals in modern society dine in restaurants. Dine-in restaurants may be used to alleviate the stress of preparing one&#39;s own meal or for other guests. When dining in these restaurants, most patrons have at one time or another struggled to gain the attention of the wait-staff assigned to serve them. Whether they have a desire to place an order, change an order, request a service, or request a bill, patrons require the help of wait-staff throughout their dining experience. This may cause inconvenience and delay in the dining experience as the waiter/waitress may have various guests that need to be served as well as the waiter/waitress often needs to be in various locations within the restaurant, thus may be inaccessible at certain times. Short of a patron leaving the table to seek out the waiter/waitress, few options are available to alert a server that service is required. 
         [0006]    Various attempts have been made to solve the above-mentioned problems such as those found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,636,835; 6,973,437; and 6,366,196. This prior art is representative of electronic communication devices. None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the invention as claimed. 
         [0007]    Ideally, an electronic communication device for use between patrons and wait-staff should be user-friendly and, yet, would operate reliably and be manufactured at a modest expense. Thus, a need exists for a reliable electronic communication system to promote communication between patrons and wait-staff to enhance the dining experience and to avoid the above-mentioned problems. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known electronic communication art, the present invention provides a novel Table Tek System. The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail is to provide better communication between patrons and wait-staff to enhance the dining experience. 
         [0009]    An electronic communication system for use between restaurant patrons and wait-staff is disclosed herein preferably comprising: at least one patron communication device and at least one wait-staff communication device. These patron communication device and wait-staff communication devices are preferably in remote wireless communication such that at least one message from a restaurant patron may be efficiently communicated to wait-staff. In preferred embodiments, the patron communication device may be table-mountable and the wait-staff communication devices are wearer-mountable. 
         [0010]    In preferred embodiments the patron communication device may comprise a transceiver, a receiver, and a converter for the transmission of electronic signals. This device may also comprise a plurality of color-coded input buttons. These color-coded input buttons may include green, yellow, and red buttons (in other embodiments, other colors may be used). The green color-coded input button may be used to facilitate at least one order, the yellow color-coded input button may be used to indicate at least one service needed, and the red color-coded input button may be used to request a bill (check, ticket, tab or other.) 
         [0011]    The wait-staff communication device may be wearable by wait-staff for convenience. This device may also comprise a receiver. The wait-staff communication device may also comprise an ear piece having a speaker and preferably a clip. To facilitate in receiving messages from a patron communication device, the wait-staff communication device may comprise a portable service device in communication with the ear piece. This portable service device may comprise an apparel clip, making it apparel-attachable in certain embodiments. This device may also comprise at least one indicator light and a vibrator for alerting wait-staff to incoming electronic signals. 
         [0012]    Electronic messages sent from restaurant patron(s) may be remotely communicated to wait-staff using the present invention. Wait-staff may then respond remotely to a placed order. In order to accommodate a wider range of restaurant patrons, modifications may be made to these devices for the blind and hearing impaired (e.g., for example the patron communication device may contain Braille, and/or audible means and the like). 
         [0013]    A method of using the electronic communication system for use between restaurant patrons and wait-staff is also described herein preferably comprising the steps of: activating the electronic communication system; (the patron) ordering at least one comestible; re-ordering at least one comestible or a service related to the comestible; and requesting a bill for paying. 
         [0014]    The present invention holds significant improvements and serves as an electronic communication system. For purposes of summarizing the invention, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features of the invention have been described herein. It is to be understood that not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any one particular embodiment of the invention. Thus, the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein. The features of the invention which are believed to be novel are particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings and detailed description. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]    The figures which accompany the written portion of this specification illustrate embodiments and method(s) of use for the present invention, Table Tek Systems, constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective view illustrating an electronic communication system for use between restaurant patrons and wait-staff according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating the electronic communication system for use between restaurant patrons and wait-staff in an in-use condition according to an embodiment of the present invention of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view illustrating the electronic communication system for use between restaurant patrons and wait-staff as a receiver with indicator lights and a display screen according to an embodiment of the present invention of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  is a flowchart illustrating a method of use of the electronic communication system between restaurant patrons and wait-staff according to an embodiment of the present invention of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
       [0020]    The various embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein like designations denote like elements. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0021]    As discussed above, embodiments of the present invention relate to electronic communication devices and more particularly to a Table Tek System  102  as used to improve the communication between restaurant patron(s)  130  and wait-staff  140  to enhance the dining experience. 
         [0022]    Referring to the drawings by numerals of reference there is shown in  FIG. 1  a perspective view illustrating electronic communication system  100  for use between restaurant patron(s)  130  and wait-staff  140  according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0023]    Electronic communication system  100  for use between restaurant patron(s)  130  and wait-staff  140  preferably comprises: at least one patron communication device  110 ; and at least one wait-staff communication device  120 , wherein patron communication device  110  and wait-staff communication device  120  are preferably in remote wireless communication such that at least one message from restaurant patron(s)  130  may be communicated to wait-staff  140 . Within this particular embodiment, patron communication device  110  may be table-mountable (as shown), and in other versions it may not be table-mountable. Wait-staff communication device  120 , as shown in  FIG. 2 , is wearable by wait-staff  140 ; wherein a message from restaurant patron(s)  130  may be remotely communicated to wait-staff  140  such that wait-staff  140  may be able to remotely-respond to at least one placed-order or service request. 
         [0024]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating electronic communication system  100  for use between restaurant patron(s)  130  and wait-staff  140  in an in-use condition according to an embodiment of the present invention of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0025]    Patron communication device  110  preferably comprises a transceiver  112  which transmits electronic signals sent from restaurant patron(s)  130  to wait-staff  140  via wait-staff communication device  120 . In order to eliminate redundancy, patron communication device  110  preferably comprises a converter  114  which directs electronic signals sent from restaurant patron(s)  130  along a specified frequency correlating (preferably only) to wait-staff communication device  110  matched to the individual patron communication device  110  transmitting the electronic signal. Those with ordinary skill in the art will now appreciate that upon reading this specification and by their understanding the art of converters, transceivers, receivers as described herein, methods of such electronic communication and means for producing that electronic communication between devices will be understood by those knowledgeable in such art. 
         [0026]    Patron communication device  110  may comprise a plurality of color-coded input buttons by which restaurant patron(s)  130  submit order, service and bill requests to wait-staff  140 . In preferred embodiments the color-coded input buttons comprise green, yellow and red buttons; however in alternate embodiments other colors may be used. Green color-coded input button  115  may be depressed by restaurant patron(s)  130  to facilitate at least one order. Yellow color-coded input button  116  in a similar manner may be depressed by restaurant patron(s)  130  to indicate at least one service need. Red color-coded input button  117  may be depressed by restaurant patron(s)  130  to request a bill. Indicia may be used on the device to promote ease of use. 
         [0027]    Wait-staff communication device  120  may comprise an ear piece  124  in certain embodiments, wherein wait-staff  140  are relayed signals received from patron communication device  110  in an audible format through a speaker  125  of wait-staff communication device  120  ear piece  124 . Ear piece  124  may be comprised of a clip  126  for fastening to wait-staff&#39;s  140  person. Clip  126  may be used to secure ear piece  124  to wait-staff&#39;s  140  person such that communication is enabled without disrupting or impeding freedom of movement. Upon reading this specification, it should be appreciated that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as user preferences, design preference, structural requirements, marketing preferences, cost, available materials, technological advances, etc., other securing arrangements such as, for example, bands, VELCRO®, etc., may be sufficient. 
         [0028]    Within this particular embodiment, wait-staff communication device  120  preferably comprises portable service device  150 . Portable service device  150  may comprise apparel clip  128 , as the device may be apparel-attachable such that it may be used by different wait-staff  140 . In other embodiments, portable service device  150  may not be apparel-attachable. Also in this embodiment, portable service device  150  comprises a vibrator  129  for attracting the attention of wait-staff  140  to incoming electronic signals (without making noise.) 
         [0029]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view illustrating electronic communication system  100  for use between restaurant patron(s)  130  and wait-staff  140  as a portable service device with receiver  151  and indicator light(s)  152  according to an embodiment of the present invention of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0030]    Wait-staff communication device  120  preferably comprises portable service device  150 , wherein receiver  151  receives, converts (via converter  121 ) and transmits (via transceiver  122 ) electronic signals sent from patron communication device  110  to ear piece 124 . In this way electronic signals may be converted to both visual and audible messages for wait-staff  140 . 
         [0031]    Indicator light(s)  152  are preferably used to visually designate which patron communication device  110  signaled and what type of service was requested by restaurant patron(s)  130 . An apparel clip  153  allows portable service device  150  to be apparel-attached, while in other embodiments, portable service device  150  may not be apparel-attached. Ear piece 124  may be inserted in or adjacent to the ear of wait-staff  140  such that an audible message may be heard. Ear piece 124  may comprise a receiver suitable for converting an electronic input signal to an output audible signal. 
         [0032]    In certain embodiments portable service device  150  may be used as an input device whereby wait-staff  140  may (remotely) indicate to restaurant patron 130  that the requested service/product is in progress. For example input button(s)  115  (including green color-coded input button  115 ; yellow color-coded input button  116 ; and red color-coded input button  117 ) may be caused to blink or stay solid to indicate the order is in progress. Various blinking or solid or other means may be used to indicate various stages, responses, acknowledgement or the like, as per user-preference. 
         [0033]    Electronic communication system  100  may be sold as kit  240  comprising the following parts: at least one patron communication device  110 ; at least one wait-staff communication device  120 ; at least one ear piece  124 ; and at least one set of user instructions. Electronic communication system  100  may be manufactured and provided for sale in a wide variety of sizes and shapes for a wide assortment of applications. Upon reading this specification, it should be appreciated that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as design preference, user preferences, marketing preferences, cost, structural requirements, available materials, technological advances, etc., other kit contents or arrangements such as, for example, including more or less components, customized parts, different color combinations, parts may be sold separately, etc., may be sufficient. 
         [0034]      FIG. 4  is a flowchart  450  illustrating a method of use  400  of electronic communication system  100  for use between restaurant patrons  130  and wait-staff  140  according to an embodiment of the present invention of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0035]    A method of using (at least hereby enabling method of use  400 ) an electronic communication system  100  for use between restaurant patrons  130  and wait-staff  140  preferably comprises the steps of: step one  401  activating electronic communication system  100 ; step two  402  (patron) ordering at least one comestible; step three  403  (patron) re-ordering at least one comestible or a service related to the comestible; step four  404  requesting a bill for paying; and step five  405  presenting payment of the bill. Optionally, as disclosed above wait-staff  140  may respond or acknowledge the service is in progress. 
         [0036]    It should be noted that steps  403  and  405  are optional steps and may not be implemented in all cases. Optional steps of method  400  are illustrated using dotted lines in  FIG. 4  so as to distinguish them from the other steps of method  400 . 
         [0037]    It should be noted that the steps described in the method of use can be carried out in many different orders according to user preference. Upon reading this specification, it should be appreciated that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as design preference, user preferences, marketing preferences, cost, structural requirements, available materials, technological advances, etc., other methods of use arrangements such as, for example, different orders within above-mentioned list, elimination or addition of certain steps, including or excluding certain maintenance steps, etc., may be sufficient. 
         [0038]    The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary and numerous modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readily envisioned to achieve substantially equivalent results, all of which are intended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of the invention. Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application.