Abstract:
A restaurant system includes an electronic kiosk having opposed first and second sides. A first display is situated on the first side for use by the customer and a second display is situated on the second side for use by a bartender. The kiosk includes a first input device for use by the customer. A processor is in data communication with the displays and the first input device to retrieve data from the first input device, such as a drink order, and actuate the first and second displays. A user may select between inputting ordering options, watching television/video, or allowing advertisements to be displayed on the first display. Drink recipes may be displayed on the second display to aid a bartender in mixing drinks. The system may include a remote headset for audibly assisting a bartender with drink orders and may include an electronic mixing tin and lighted pour spout.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/688,278 filed Mar. 20, 2007 entitled Restaurant System. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates generally to restaurant ordering systems and, more particularly, to a restaurant system that incorporates innovative media and advertising components, mixed drink preparation devices, and a wireless headset component. 
         [0003]    Most restaurants share several common goals, such as providing accurate and efficient service as well as providing an enjoyable dining experience. When either goal is not met, the customers may be dissatisfied and may not return to the restaurant with any frequency or, worse yet, may not return at all. Some restaurants are successful with efficiency or with providing a friendly and enjoyable dining experience but few satisfy both goals fully or regularly. Other restaurants, particularly bars and casinos provide bartending with so-called “flair” techniques, e.g. tossing or spinning liquor containers prior to or in the process of preparing mixed drinks. 
         [0004]    Various electronic devices have been proposed in the art for either improving the efficiency of ordering or order fulfillment, such as by increasing speed or accuracy or both. Although assumably effective for their intended purposes, the existing devices do not maximize the entertainment value to customers while simultaneously assisting bartenders, kitchen staff, waiters, etc. with accurately and quickly preparing mixed beverages or food items. 
         [0005]    Therefore, it would be desirable to have a restaurant system having an electronic kiosk that may operate as a napkin dispenser or other condiment dispenser as well as an electronic display device. Further, it would be desirable to have a restaurant system having a database of drink recipes and one or more audio or visual means of communicating the recipes to a bartender. In addition, it would be desirable to have a restaurant system having innovative electronic mixing tins or pour spout devices for entertaining restaurant patrons while mixing beverages. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    Accordingly, a restaurant system according to the present invention includes an electronic kiosk having generally opposed first and second sides. A first display may be situated on the first side of the kiosk for use by the customer and a second display may be situated on the second side of the kiosk for use by a bartender. The electronic kiosk includes a first input device for use by the customer. A processor is in data communication with the first and second displays and with the first input device to retrieve data from the first input device and to actuate the first and second displays. As the first input device may be a touch screen display interface, a restaurant patron may select from food or drink ordering options, may choose to watch television or other special programming, or just allow advertisements to be displayed. The first input device may also include a card reader for receiving payment. 
         [0007]    The kiosk defines a storage area that is configured to contain napkins or condiments. The kiosk may include a second input device for use by a bartender, such as a touch screen. The second display may be in communication with a processor for displaying selected drink recipes. Thus, a user selects a desired drink using the first display, the corresponding drink recipe may be displayed on the second display to aid the bartender in fulfilling the order. In another aspect of the invention, the bartender may wear a headset remote from the processor to which the drink recipe may be transmitted and audibly recited into the bartender&#39;s ears to assist in preparing the drink. 
         [0008]    The system may also include an innovative electronic mixing tin for providing a bartender with instant access to drink recipes while also increasing the ambiance of the bar and entertainment value of watching a bartender mix drinks. Specifically, the mixing tin may include an LCD screen on its exterior by which to display drink recipes or even advertisements and lighting displays. 
         [0009]    Another aspect of the restaurant system includes a pour spout for attachment to liquor bottles that may be lit up with LED&#39;s. This component of the system would be especially effective when used with “flair” bartending techniques but also provides enhanced ambiance to any bar environment. 
         [0010]    Therefore, a general object of this invention is to provide a restaurant system for improving order and order fulfillment efficiency as well as improving a restaurant&#39;s ambiance and entertainment value. 
         [0011]    Another object of this invention is to provide a restaurant system, as aforesaid, that provides an interactive media and ordering component to a restaurant patron and an order fulfillment component to a restaurant employee. 
         [0012]    Still another object of this invention is to provide a restaurant system, as aforesaid, in which a napkin or condiment dispenser includes one or more electronic displays. 
         [0013]    Yet another object of this invention is to provide a restaurant system, as aforesaid, that includes a remote headset for audibly reciting mixed drink recipe instructions to a bartender. 
         [0014]    A further object of this invention is to provide a restaurant system, as aforesaid, having electronic mixing tin and pour spout devices for enhancing the ambiance and entertainment value of a bar or restaurant environment. 
         [0015]    A still further object of this invention is to provide a restaurant system, as aforesaid, that provides new and exciting opportunities for options for presenting advertising messages, food/drink specials, schedules, etc. to patrons of a restaurant. 
         [0016]    Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein is set forth by way of illustration and example, embodiments of this invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0017]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a restaurant system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  is an isolated perspective view of a kiosk as in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 3   a  is an isolated perspective view of a mixing tin as in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 3   b  is a top view of the mixing tin as in  FIG. 3   b;    
           [0021]      FIG. 3   c  is a sectional view taken along line  3   c - 3   c  of  FIG. 3   b;    
           [0022]      FIG. 4   a  is a perspective view on an enlarged scale of a lighted pour spout device as in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 4   b  is a top view of the pour spout device as in  FIG. 4   a;    
           [0024]      FIG. 5   a  is a sectional view taken along line  5   a - 5   a  of  FIG. 4   b ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 5   b  is an isolated portion on an enlarged scale of the pour spout device taken from  FIG. 5   a;    
           [0026]      FIG. 6  is a block diagram of the electronic components according to the preferred embodiment of the restaurant system; 
           [0027]      FIG. 7   a  is a block diagram illustrating the display options provided by the touch screen bartender display; 
           [0028]      FIG. 7   b  is a block diagram illustrating the display options provided by the touch screen customer display; 
           [0029]      FIG. 8  is a flowchart illustrating one exemplary method for using the restaurant system according to the present invention; and 
           [0030]      FIG. 9  is a flowchart illustrating another exemplary method for using the restaurant system according to the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0031]    A restaurant system  100  according to the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to  FIGS. 1 through 9  of the accompanying drawings. More particularly, a restaurant system  100  (which may also be referred to herein as a bar system) according to the current invention includes an electronic kiosk  110 . It should be understood references to a “bartender” through this detailed description may also refer to restaurant staff other than a literal bartender, e.g. wait staff, cooks, beverage preparers, etc. 
         [0032]    The electronic kiosk  110  has generally opposed sides  112   a ,  112   b . A display  114   a  may be on the side  112   a  for use by a customer, and another display  114   b  may be on the side  112   b  for use by a bartender. The electronic kiosk  110  may include an input device  116   a  for use by the customer and/or an input device  116   b  for use by the bartender ( FIG. 6 ). As shown in  FIG. 6 , a touch screen  117   a  may serve as both the display  114   a  and the input device  116   a , and a touch screen  117   b  may serve as both the display  114   b  and the input device  116   b .  FIGS. 7   a  and  7   b  show various predetermined (and non-exclusive) input and display options  117   c  that may be associated with the touch screens  117   a ,  117   b , respectively. Alternately, or additionally, at least one input device  116   a ,  116   b  may include a card reader  118  for receiving payment. 
         [0033]    As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the electronic kiosk  110  may define a storage area  119  configured to hold napkins or condiments (including such typical condiments as salt, pepper, and ketchup and such bar condiments as limes, olives, and straws, among others). The electronic kiosk  110  may include a kiosk transmitter  122  and/or a kiosk receiver  124  ( FIG. 6 ). A kiosk processor  125  may be in data communication with the displays  114   a ,  114   b , the input devices  116   a ,  116   b , the kiosk transmitter  122 , and the kiosk receiver  124  ( FIG. 6 ). Means for introducing programming to the kiosk processor  125  may be included, such as a connection (e.g., hard wired or wireless) to a network  125   a  ( FIG. 6 ) or a removable memory device, for example. 
         [0034]    Alternatively, the electronic kiosk  110  may include only a first display  114   a  for use by the consumer. This embodiment may be adequately explained with reference to  FIG. 1-2  and  7   b . The kiosk  110  would also include the kiosk processor  125  in communication with the first display  114   a  for actuating the first display  114   a . Preferably, the processor  125  would include programming enabling the first display  114   a  to display pictures or descriptions of menu items or other options as will be described later. In this embodiment, the kiosk  110  also defines a storage area  119  configured to hold napkins or condiments as described previously. It is understood that a kiosk  110  with a first display  114   a  and storage area  119  for customer use may be used independently or in combination with the other unique elements of a restaurant system as will be described later in greater detail. 
         [0035]    The restaurant system  100  may include a mixing tin  130  as shown in  FIGS. 3   a  through  3   c . The mixing tin  130  may include a housing with a double wall construction (i.e., two walls  131  spaced apart in a waterproof manner) that defines a mixing area  132 . The mixing tin  130  may include a display  134  (e.g., a LCD display, etc.), and the display  134  may be sandwiched between the walls  131  for durability. If sandwiched between the walls  131 , an outer wall  131  may include a transparent material so that the display  134  may be seen from outside the mixing area  132 . The mixing tin  130  may include at least one light  136  (e.g., a LED, etc.), and a mixing tin processor  135  may be in data communication with the display  134  and the mixing tin light(s)  136  for actuating the display  134  and the light(s)  136  ( FIG. 6 ). It is understood that various other lighting options are possible, such as means for continual or periodic “backlighting”. Means for providing data to the mixing tin processor  135  may be included. More particularly, the mixing tin  130  may include a receiver  137  (referred to as a “mixing tin receiver”) in data communication with the processor  135  for receiving data from the kiosk transmitter  122  ( FIG. 6 ), and/or the mixing tin  130  may include a removable memory device  138 , for example. In this regard, data such as drink recipes may be received and displayed on the display so as to aid a bartender in preparing drinks for customers. It is understood that the kiosk transmitter  122  may be an RFID transmitter and the mixing tin receiver  137  may be an RFID receiver. 
         [0036]    As shown in  FIGS. 4   a  through  6 , the restaurant system  100  may include a pour spout  140  for use with a bottle  10  containing a fluid (e.g., a bottle of alcohol, mixer, cooking oil, etc.). The pour spout  140  includes a coupling portion  141  that has a configuration complementary to a configuration of the bottle  10  so that the coupling portion  141  may be selectively attached to the bottle  10 . The coupling portion  141  may fit inside the bottle  10  similar to a cork, or the bottle may be threaded and the coupling portion  141  may attach to the bottle threads, for example. An interior portion  142  of the pour spout  140  is configured to extend inside the bottle  10 , and the interior portion  142  and the coupling portion  141  collectively define a through opening  143  for dispensing the fluid from inside the bottle  10 . A valve  144  (e.g., a variable flow valve, etc.) may be in communication with the through opening  143  to restrict the dispensing of the fluid from inside the bottle  10 . 
         [0037]    The interior portion  142  may include at least one light  146  (e.g., a LED, etc.) and a battery  147  in electrical communication with the pour spout light(s)  146 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , a processor  145  may be in data communication with the light(s)  146  for selectively actuating the light(s)  146 . The interior portion  142  may include a translucent material to allow the light(s)  146  to illuminate an extended area (e.g., an area larger than would otherwise be lit), and the interior portion  142  may display advertising indicia. More particularly, the interior portion  142  may include advertising indicia  148  (e.g., printed thereon, etched thereon, formed therein, etc.), or a transparent sleeve that includes advertising indicia may be positionable about the interior portion  142 . Other backlighting light configurations are also contemplated. 
         [0038]    Means for providing data to the pour spout processor  145  may be included. More particularly, the pour spout  140  may include a receiver  147  (referred to as a “pour spout receiver”) in data communication with the pour spout processor  145  for receiving data from the kiosk transmitter  122  ( FIG. 6 ), and/or the pour spout  140  may include a removable memory device, for example. Though not shown in the accompanying drawings, the pour spout  140  may include a display (e.g., a LCD display, etc.) in data communication with the pour spout processor  145  that may also be capable of enhancing the lighting options. 
         [0039]    The restaurant system  100  may include a headset  150  as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 6 . The headset  150  may include a headset speaker  152 , a headset receiver  154  for receiving data from the kiosk transmitter  122 , and a headset processor  155  in data communication with the headset speaker  152  and the headset receiver  154 . A microphone  156  may be in data communication with the headset processor  155 , and a headset transmitter  157  may be in data communication with the headset processor  155  ( FIG. 6 ). The headset  150  enables drink recipes or the like to be transmitted from the kiosk transmitter  122  to the headset receiver  154  and played through the headset speakers  152 , thus assisting the bartender in mixing selected/ordered drinks ( FIG. 6 ). The headset  150  is also important in enabling a waiter to be summoned, as described below. 
         [0040]    While the transmitters and receivers described herein may utilize active or passive RFID technology (Radio Frequency Identification), it should be appreciated that other more traditional data transmission systems as well as those employed in the future may also be appropriate. 
         [0041]      FIG. 8  shows one exemplary method  100   a  of using the restaurant system  100 . At a first step S 1 , a customer utilizes the input device  116   a  to request waiter assistance. The kiosk processor  125  (or another appropriate processor) determines if the customer&#39;s table has been assigned to a waiter at step S 2 . If so, the method proceeds to step S 3  where the kiosk processor  125  actuates the kiosk transmitter  122  to send data to the headset receiver  154  worn by the appropriate waiter. The headset processor  155  may then actuate the speaker  152  to alert the waiter. The method then ends at step S 4 . If the customer&#39;s table has not been assigned to a waiter, the method instead proceeds to step S 5  where the kiosk processor  125  actuates the kiosk transmitter  122  to send data to the headset receiver  154  worn by the waiter closest to the table. The headset processor  155  may then actuate the speaker  152  to alert the waiter. The method then ends at step S 4 . 
         [0042]      FIG. 9  shows another exemplary method  100   b  of using the restaurant system  100 . At step S 10 , a customer utilizes the input device  116   a  to place a drink order. The method proceeds to step S 11 , where the kiosk processor  125  receives the data from the input device  116   a  and actuates the display  114   b  so that a bartender may see the order. The kiosk processor  125  may also actuate the display  114   a  so that the customer may see the order. Additionally, or alternately, the kiosk processor  125  may actuate the display  114   a  to provide advertising or programming chosen by the customer (as shown in  FIG. 7   b , for example). The method then proceeds to step S 12 , where the kiosk processor  125  determines if the drink the customer ordered requires special mixing instructions. If not, the method proceeds to step S 13 ; if so, the method proceeds to step S 14 . 
         [0043]    At step S 13 , the kiosk processor  125  actuates the kiosk transmitter  122  to transmit data about the drink order to the bartender. The data may be received by the mixing tin receiver  137 , and the mixing tin processor  135  may actuate the mixing tin display  134  to convey the drink order to the bartender. Alternately, or additionally, the data may be received by the headset receiver  154 , and the headset processor  155  may actuate the headset speaker  152  to convey the drink order to the bartender. The method then ends. 
         [0044]    At step S 14 , the kiosk processor  125  actuates the kiosk display  114   b  to display the recipe of the drink. The method then proceeds to step S 15 . At step S 15 , the kiosk processor  125  actuates the kiosk transmitter  122  to transmit data corresponding to the drink recipe. The pour spout receiver  147  corresponding to the bottle needed to make the drink may receive the recipe data from the kiosk transmitter  122 , and the pour spout processor  145  may actuate the pour spout light(s)  146  and/or the pour spout display. Activation of the pour spout light(s) and/or the pour spout display may be considered “back-lighting”, though this need not be the case. The method then proceeds to step S 16 . At step S 16 , the kiosk processor  125  determines if the drink recipe requires a mixing tin. If so, the method proceeds to step S 17 ; if not, the method proceeds to step S 18 . 
         [0045]    At step S 17 , the kiosk processor  125  actuates the kiosk transmitter  122  to transmit drink recipe data to the mixing tin receiver  137 . The mixing tin receiver  137  may then receive the drink recipe data, and the mixing tin processor  135  may actuate the mixing tin display  134  to convey the drink recipe to the bartender. Activation of the mixing tin display  134  may be considered “back-lighting”, though this need not be the case. The mixing tin processor  135  may also (or alternately) actuate the mixing tin light(s)  136 . The method then continues to step S 18 . 
         [0046]    At step S 18 , the kiosk processor  125  determines if the bartender has chosen to receive an audio transmission of the drink recipe. If so, the method proceeds to step S 19 ; if not, the method proceeds to step S 20 . 
         [0047]    At step S 19 , the kiosk processor  125  actuates the kiosk transmitter  122  to transmit drink recipe data to the headset receiver  154 . The headset receiver  154  may then receive the drink recipe data, and the headset processor  155  may actuate the headset speaker  152  to convey the drink recipe to the bartender. The method then continues to step S 20 . 
         [0048]    At step S 20 , the kiosk processor  125  may determine if the bartender has used the input device  116   b  to indicate that the drink order has been filled. If not, the method may stay at step S 20 ; if so, the method may continue to step S 21 . At step S 21 , the kiosk processor  125  may cause the kiosk display  114   a  to indicate that the drink has been served. If a waiter is using the kiosk  110  instead of a customer, the kiosk display  114   a  may indicate to the waiter that the drink is ready to serve. 
         [0049]    In yet another exemplary method of using the restaurant system  100 , the bartender may speak into the headset microphone  156 , and the headset processor  155  may actuate the headset transmitter  157  to transmit data to the kiosk receiver  124 . The headset processor  155  may include instructions to recognize the data and proceed accordingly. For example, the bartender may request a recipe for a drink, the headset transmitter  157  may transmit data corresponding to that request, the kiosk receiver  124  may receive the request, and the kiosk processor  125  may understand the request and provide the instructions to the bartender. 
         [0050]    It is understood that while certain forms of this invention have been illustrated and described, it is not limited thereto except insofar as such limitations are included in the following claims and allowable functional equivalents thereof.