Patent Abstract:
An interactive ordering apparatus includes a processor and a memory. The memory is configured to store instructions and data. The processor is configured to execute the instructions to (i) produce a display in a viewable area of a touchscreen and to (ii) receive input from a user via the touchscreen. According to the instructions, the processor is configured to divide at least a portion of the display into a plurality of mutually exclusive sections, and display a first plurality of choices in a first section of the plurality of sections. The processor is also configured to, in response to selection by the user of a first choice of the first plurality of choices, (i) move the first plurality of choices to a second section of the plurality of sections and (ii) display a second plurality of choices in the first section.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/651,852, filed on Oct. 15, 2012. The entire disclosure of the application referenced above is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to electronic terminals for ordering and/or purchasing items. More particularly, the invention relates to electronic terminals designed to facilitate the ease of use thereof when ordering and/or purchasing items. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART 
     Point of Sale “POS” systems provide a means by which ordering and purchasing transactions can be carried out electronically at the store or other venue where goods or services are supplied. Many of these POS systems are used by the merchants themselves to consummate transactions with their customers. Cash registers were the first POS systems. Now most POS systems are computerized and many have dedicated touch screens designed particularly for that establishment using the POS system. At a minimum, the POS system generally includes a processor-based terminal device along with software running on the processor to carry out the functions of the POS system. One or more remote computers are typically connected to the terminal by, for example, a computer network to enable communication between the terminal and the computer(s) for the purpose of carrying out the transactions. 
     In many systems currently being used, the POS system includes a touch screen input device allowing the operator to press a virtual button that is programmed for a particular item or type of transaction. These buttons are typically arranged in a non-intuitive manner which requires a great deal of training to understand, locate, and utilize during a transaction. Oftentimes, these touch screen POS systems are developed with a sense of a business function. Therefore, the virtual buttons are not programmed in a manner which is the most conducive for quickly completing a transaction. 
     Such organization that is not based on completing a transaction delays delivery of the goods being provided and increases the amount of time and expense in training employees to operate the POS systems. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A food ordering terminal assembly for ordering selected food items from available items includes a processing unit for processing food orders. A memory unit is electrically connected to the processing unit for storing data therein. An input device is electrically connected to the processing unit to enter the food order for selected food items. A display is operatively connected to the processing unit to display the available items, the selected food items, and a tally of costs associated with the selected food items. The display includes a first display portion for displaying the tally costs and a second display portion for displaying the available items. The first display portion is fixed with respect to the display. Available items are displayed in a second display portion and cascade across the second display portion not occupied by the first display portion as items are selected for purchase. The second display portion moves in response to the selection of available items such that new available items and choices appear for consideration and selection as the selected items and the available items associated with the selected items are removed from the second display portion. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Advantages of the invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a POS system incorporating one embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram of the electronics incorporated into the POS system of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIGS. 3-10  show a sequence of screen shots of a display for a POS system incorporating one embodiment of the invention; and 
         FIG. 11  is a logic chart of one embodiment of a method incorporating the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The invention relates to a POS system or a self-service kiosk used to purchase items. The invention relates to using the POS system or the self-service kiosk to purchase items that are sequentially ordered. This typically occurs in a restaurant environment where a customer or operator is selecting items of a meal or meals from a menu. Therefore, the remainder of this disclosure will refer to the POS system and the self-service kiosk collectively as a food ordering terminal. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that this invention may be used outside of the food and restaurant arts. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a food ordering terminal is generally indicated at  10 . The food ordering terminal  10  is depicted as a POS terminal having a monitor  12 , a touch screen  14 , a card scanner  16 , and a drawer  18  for cash, paper coupons and the like. The monitor  12  is set on or is mounted onto a counter  20  and the cash drawer  18  is mounted therebelow. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the touch screen  14  may be replaced with a standard viewing screen and a keyboard (not shown). The food ordering terminal assembly  10  allows one to order selected food items from available items. A printer  19  ( FIG. 2 ) is used to generate receipts and, in some instances, menu numbers to assign a menu order to a particular number to facilitate retrieval of the proper meal. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , the food ordering terminal assembly  10  is shown to include a processing unit  22 . The processing unit  22  processes food orders. In processing food orders, the processing unit  22  receives data that is stored in memory  24  to generate the listings of available items, and receives input from the touch screen  14 , including a display  26  and an input device  28 , discussed in greater detail subsequently. The processing unit  22  also controls the opening and closing of the cash drawer  18  and finally the processing unit  22  communicates with the kitchen  30  and/or a central processing unit  32  to facilitate the fulfillment of the food order being placed. The central processing unit  32  may be local or it may be remote depending on the establishment utilizing the food ordering terminal assembly  10 . If the establishment utilizing the food ordering terminal assembly  10  is a single location establishment having a single food ordering terminal assembly  10 , many of the functions of the central processing unit  32  may be assumed by the processing unit  22 . 
     The printer  19  is plugged into processing unit  22 , typically through a USB or serial port. The cash drawer  18  may be plugged into the processing unit  22 , either directly or indirectly, via an RJ11 port (not shown) found on the printer  19 . In the latter situation, when the cash drawer  18  is to be opened, a command is sent to the printer  19  and the RJ11 port changes state to open the cash drawer  18 . 
     The touch screen  14  is shown to have a display  26  and an input device  28 . The display  26  is illuminated with options of the available items from which an operator may select to create a food order. The input device  28  is typically overlaid on the display  26  to create what is commonly referred to as a touch screen  14 . The touch screen  14  utilizes an input device  28  that is a capacitive overlay so that when an operator touches an item that is displayed on the display  26 , the input device  28  registers that entry as being the one touched by the operator of the food ordering terminal assembly  10 . Other technologies that may be used to create a touch screen  14  include, but are not limited to, resistive, infrared, acoustic pulse, and surface acoustic wave technologies. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , the monitor  12  is shown with the touch screen, generally shown at  14 . The display component  26  is shown extending across the entire touch screen  14 , whereas the input device component  28  is shown to be a portion of the display component  26 . It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the input device component  28  may extend across the entire display component  26  and will be coextensive in many embodiments. The display component  26  is operatively connected to the processing unit  22  (as shown in  FIG. 2 ) and displays the available items for purchase. The display component  26  also displays the selected food items and a tally of costs associated with the food items. 
     The display component  26  includes a first display portion  34 . The first display portion  34  displays the tally of costs and a running total for the costs associated with the selected food items. As is shown in  FIG. 3 , a complete selected food item has yet to be selected and the total cost is represented as $0.00. Referring to  FIGS. 4-10 , the tally and total cost for the selected food items is shown to grow with each selection. The first display portion  34  is shown to be approximately one quarter of the total display component  26 . This percentage may vary depending on the execution of a particular embodiment of the invention. The first display portion  34  is also fixed with respect to the display component  26  in a specific portion of the display component  26 . In the embodiment shown, the first display portion  34  occupies the left-most portion of the display component  26  and is disposed adjacent a first side  36  of the display component  26 . Therefore, in the embodiment shown, the first side  36  is the left side of the monitor  12 . 
     The display component  26  also includes a second display portion  38  disposed between the first display portion  34  and a second side  40  of the display component  26 , which is the right side of the monitor  12  in the embodiment shown in the Figures. The second display portion  38  displays the available items that may be selected by an operator of the food ordering terminal assembly  10 . As selections are made, the available items found within the second display portion  38  will move across the display component  26  in response to the selection of the available items such that new available items and choices appear for consideration and selection as the selected items and the available items associated with those selected items are moved and/or removed from the second display portion  38 . The movement and subsequent removal of available items and selected items on the display component  26  will be discussed in greater detail subsequently. 
     The second display portion  38  is divided into a plurality of sections  42 . Each of the plurality of sections  42  includes a portion of the available items categorized such that one choice of these available items in one of the plurality of sections is chosen over the others in the one of the plurality of sections. In the embodiment shown in the Figures, each of the plurality of sections is actually a column extending parallel to the first display portion  34 . The items to be selected in each of these sections  42  are divided into categories. These categories can include any wide variety of available items for selection, the creation of which will be discussed in greater detail subsequently. 
     With the example starting in  FIG. 3 , the left-most column  44  of the second display portion  38  has a choice between soups, salads, sandwiches, desserts &amp; sides, beverages, extra bread, catering, merchandise, or a “kidz meal.” These options are types of things that may be selected to start the process of ordering a meal. When selected, a border  46  is highlighted. Alternatively, instead of the border  46  being highlighted, the background color of the button highlighting the item may change colors. In the example shown, the operator of the food ordering terminal assembly  10  has ordered a sandwich because the border  46  around the sandwich option has been highlighted. 
     The very next column to the right of the left-most column  44  is a middle column  48 . It is shown here by a highlighted border  50  that the half sandwich selection has been made. It should be noted that this “category” of available items includes “Half,” “Whole,” “Grilled Cheese-Kids” and “PB&amp;J,” which illustrates how a grouping in a category can be created—or subsequently modified—to include seemingly unrelated items. Additionally, if a particular establishment chooses to categorize more items in a particular category than can fit in any one column ( 44 ,  48  or  52 ), the method will divide them into multiple column categories and they would be displayed together (appear together and disappear together). The menu flow is very flexible. 
     In a right-most column  52  the type of sandwich that is being ordered is being selected. It is in this right-most column  52  that the order is being selected by the operator of the food ordering terminal assembly  10 . A right hand  54 , shown in phantom, is selecting the turkey club option. Because the turkey club option has not yet been selected in this example shown in  FIG. 3 , its border  56  is not highlighted. 
     In one embodiment of the invention, the left-most column  44  and the middle column  48  may have available items showing with the most likely chosen of the available items already preselected. This will save time and allow the operator to immediately move his or her hand  54  to the right-most column  52  and make the next selection. In another embodiment, none of the available items are preselected and the operator will manually make all of the selections. 
     Once the kind of sandwich has been selected, the second display portion  38  changes in appearance. The second display portion  38  changes in appearance because all of the options that were previously shown on the second display portion  38  as available items were completed by selecting an item from each of the plurality of sections  42 . Referring to  FIG. 4 , the plurality of sections  42  has changed in that the options in the left-most column  44  have been removed from the second display portion  38 . The available items in the middle column  48  of  FIG. 3  have been moved to the left-most column  44  ( FIG. 4 ) and a new set of available items is presented in the right-most column  52 . Continuing from the previously example, it is noted that the middle column  48  in  FIG. 4  includes a selection of the turkey club sandwich because the turkey club border is now highlighted. 
     In the right-most column  52  of  FIG. 4 , a new subset of available items is now presented. One of the items is the option to skip this subset of additional items by selecting the “No Thanks” button  58 . Therefore, for purposes of this disclosure, a selection is defined as either a selection of an item from the available items provided or a decision to select none of the items provided in the subset of available items. 
     Referring to the first display portion  34  in  FIG. 4 , it is noted that the tally has changed because the operator of the food ordering terminal assembly  10  had completed the selection process enough to note that one item was selected, e.g., a half of a turkey club sandwich. 
     Because one of the selections is no longer viewable on the display component  26 , a back button  60  appears in the left-most column  44 . If the operator of the food ordering terminal assembly  10  would want to see what was selected prior to those items that are shown as selected on the display component  26 , the operator would select the back button  60  to see the historical selections and optionally reselect new items. 
     Once the operator has selected one of the available items in the right-most column  52 , the available items in the second display portion  38  change again. The options found in the various plurality of sections  42  cascade from right to left allowing the introduction of a new set of available items to be selected in the right-most column  52 . Because the operator shows the “Try Two Combo” button, its border  62  is highlighted and the operator may then choose what type of soup to go with the half turkey club sandwich. 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , the available items shown on the second display portion  38  have again cascaded from right to left removing the available items in the left-most column  44  and providing new available items in the right-most column  52 . Continuing with this example, the operator has the opportunity to select a type of bread to accompany the meal in  FIG. 6 .  FIGS. 7-9  show additional cascading of available items representative of the types of selections that an operator would make when either the operator or a customer is selecting items to purchase for a meal. In  FIG. 7 , a quantity is being selected as opposed to an additional item. The operator chooses whether to order a cup or a bowl of soup. Therefore, it should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that an item as defined in this disclosure is either an item for purchase or an instruction regarding the size of an item being purchased. As such, selecting the “MAKE A CUP” button  62  is considered selecting an item even though it is actually quantifying an item previously selected. 
     In  FIG. 10 , the cascading of available items has come to the conclusion of the meal ordering options. Therefore, the available items listed in the right-most column  52  are to either end the order, send the order to the kitchen, or return to the main menu for some additional purchases. Assuming the order is ended and sent to the kitchen, the operator would then find a total cost for the meal in the first display portion  34 . If another person were to order in the same order as that being taken in the example shown in  FIGS. 3-10 , the “MAIN MENU” button  64  may be selected allowing the next person to enter his or her order. 
     All through this process, there may be an overriding decision that must be made regardless of where the customer is in ordering his or her items for purchase. Such selections may be found in a selection window  66  allowing a selection to be made independent from the available items at any time during the ordering of the selected food items. The selection window  66  is found in the first display portion  34  as the first display portion  34  does not change through the ordering process. In the example shown, the selection window includes two buttons, they being a “Take Out” button and a “Dine In” button,  68 ,  70  respectively. 
     The food ordering terminal assembly  10  also includes a third portion  72  of the display component  26 . The third display portion  72  provides assistance in the ordering of the selected food items. The third display portion  72  is stationary within the display component  26 . The third display portion  72  may provide prompts to assist the operator of the food ordering terminal assembly to facilitate the ordering process. In the example shown in  FIGS. 3-10 , questions are displayed which may assist the operator in helping a customer select a particular menu item. 
     A fourth display portion  74  displays available control options  76  to control the food ordering terminal assembly  10  and any non-food ordering systems that may be controlled through the food ordering terminal assembly  10 . Such available control options  76  include order management, drawer management, order holding, cancelling orders, a no sale option, system management, personnel time clock options, and operator logging in and logging out options. The processing unit  22  controls which of these available control options  76  are displayed in the fourth display portion  74  based on where in the selection process the food item process is currently in. For example,  FIG. 3  does not show the option to hold an order or cancel an order because those options are not available to someone that has not initiated an order to the point where a full item is selected. The fourth display portion  74  is also stationary within the display component  26 . 
     Method of Operation 
     Referring to  FIG. 11 , a method for operating the food ordering terminal assembly  10  is generally indicated at  100 . The operation begins with an operator logging in at  102 . Preferences are read based on the operator logging in at  104 . Preferences may include the color of the screen or highlights. In addition, a profile of an operator may include whether the operator is a right handed person or a left handed person so that the screen may cascade from right-to-left or left-to-right, depending thereon. Other such profile preferences may be stored in the operator&#39;s profile to assist the operator in operating the food ordering terminal assembly  10 . 
     Once the profile of the operator is loaded, the display component  26  is divided into sections at the first display portion  34  is aligned opposite the preference of the operator at  108 . More specifically is designated that he or she is right handed the first display portion is aligned on the left side  36  of the display component  26 . This allows the operator to use his or her right hand to select items and not ever have the tally (first display portion  34 ) obscured thereby. 
     Food items are introduced in the section opposite and spaced from the first section at  110 . In the example shown in  FIGS. 3-10 , this section is defined as the right-most column  52 . The method then determines whether the first item is selected at  112 . If not, the same food items are maintained in the first section  52  of the display component  26 . If the first item is selected, the items in the first section are moved to a second section disposed adjacent the first section, namely the middle column  48  at  114 . It is then determined whether the next item is selected at  116  which is displayed in the right-most column  52  after the items that were previously in the right-most column  52  were cascaded to the middle column  48 . If not, the system waits for a selection to be made. If so, it is determined whether there is room on the display component  26  for another section at  118 . If so, the food items are cascaded to the next section disposed adjacent the section in which they were previously shown at  114  and new items are moved into the first section (right-most-column  52 ). If it is determined that the display component  26  has all of its sections  42  filled with items, the oldest section for item selection (left-most column  44 ) is removed at  122  and the remaining sections are cascaded to the sections  42  disposed adjacent thereto at  124 . A new category of food items is displayed in the right-most section  52  of the second display portion  38  at  126 . It is then determined whether the order is complete at  128 . If not, the method returns to decision diamond  116  to determine whether another item has been selected. And if the order is complete, the method terminates at  130 . 
     The invention has been described in an illustrative manner. It is to be understood that the terminology, which has been used, is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation. 
     Many modifications and variations of the invention are possible in light of the above teachings. Therefore, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described.

Technology Classification (CPC): 6