238 results about "Waiters/waitresses" patented technology

A payment card or other device (e.g., mobile telephone) is provided with a magnetic emulator operable to communicate data to a magnetic stripe read-head. A user can utilize buttons located on the card to perform activities that would otherwise be performed at an ATM, payment card reader, or by a waitress. A user can provide instructions on a card to accelerate a transaction. The information a user enters can be communicated to a point-of-sale device. For example, a user can enter into his/her card that the user desires $100 withdrawal from a checking account. The user can also enter his/her PIN into the card. The user can swipe his/her card into an ATM and instantly be provided with the desired $100.

An electronic conference support system having a structure in which one main common information processing apparatus having a common display unit having a size sufficiently large for attendants to commonly look and some personal information processing apparatuses for permitting each attendant to exclusively create, display and edit information adjacent to each attendant are connected to one another to form a network communication structure through a data communication passage. When a certain attendant acquires an operation right, an information input space is displayed on the personal display unit of the attendant while permitting the attendant to input information. Information inputted to the information input space is, after completed and as an information object, displayed on the common display unit of the common information processing apparatus and the personal display units of all of the personal information processing apparatuses. The attendant of the conference is enabled to easily input information and other attendants who look the attendant's operation are enabled to be free from adverse stimulus.

A group of “servant” devices each downloads a media presentation and renders the presentation to a local user. However, a “master” device directs the servants as to which chunks to download and when to render the presentation. In this way, the master keeps the presentations on the separate servants in synchrony. The master uses status information from the servants to coordinate the downloads. If, for example, one servant is having a difficult time keeping up with the presentation, then the master may choose to direct that servant to download a reduced-resolution version of the presentation (which requires less bandwidth to download). If the user of one of the servant devices enters a playback command, then that command is not executed locally but is instead sent to the master device which in turn sends the command to all of the servants so that they may execute the playback command in synchrony.

An apparatus and method are disclosed of a wireless system for customers to interact with attendants (e.g waiters) in restaurants. The system provides for a computing system that transmits electronic menus to wireless portable digital assistants (PDA's) and enables customers to place orders and make real-time service requests. For example, the customer is able to select food items from the menus, indicate preparation instructions for each food item, send comments to the attendants, and request drink refills. The customer is able to check on the status of food preparation via the PDA and observe the food being prepared by a camera link. Upon finishing the meal the restaurant can transmit an electronic bill to the customer.

A device for dispensing prizes includes a housing having a plurality of compartments, a door attached to the housing for coving the compartments, and a lock for limiting access to the compartments. The contents of the compartments are visible from the outside. Each compartment contains a prize, such as a diamond. The housing may be part of, or linked to, a gaming device. When a player wins a game, which entitles the player to select a tangible award, the device signals this fact to the player. The player then selects a compartment by pressing an input device located on the housing. An attendant opens an external door, and inserts an electronic key into a receptacle associated with the selected compartment, and enters a required code into the key. The compartment then opens, and the player obtains the prize. The device may also include an inventory control system which preferably uses an RFID apparatus for monitoring the contents of each compartment, and for keeping records of an inventory of prizes.

The systems and methods described herein may extend transactional memory implementations to support transaction communicators and/or transaction condition variables for which transaction isolation is relaxed, and through which concurrent transactions can communicate and be synchronized with each other. Transactional accesses to these objects may not be isolated unless called within communicator-isolating transactions. A waiter transaction may invoke a wait method of a transaction condition variable, be added to a wait list for the variable, and be suspended pending notification of a notification event from a notify method of the variable. A notifier transaction may invoke a notify method of the variable, which may remove the waiter from the wait list, schedule the waiter transaction for resumed execution, and notify the waiter of the notification event. A waiter transaction may commit only if the corresponding notifier transaction commits. If the waiter transaction aborts, the notification may be forwarded to another waiter.

An automated system for management of a restaurant or bar includes a server computer, several wireless hand-held units, and at least one stationary touchscreen unit. A master copy of a menu is stored in the server, and changes to the master copy are automatically made to local copies stored in the hand-held and touchscreen units. Thus, all copies of the menu, in all of the units, are quickly and automatically synchronized. The system allows a manager to indicate the quantity remaining of a particular item, and that quantity is updated, in all of the hand-held and touchscreen units, as orders for that item are placed. When the quantity remaining of the item reaches zero, the system rejects further orders for the item. The system allows a waiter to print an order or a bill from any one of a variety of selected printers. The system therefore greatly enhances the efficiency of operation of the restaurant or bar.

The present invention provides restaurant management method in which a customer operates a computing device to make requests. A waiter can fulfill the request on the next visit to the customer's table, instead of having to visit the table first to obtain the request and requiring a second visit to fulfill the request.

An automated system uses a decisioning system to schedule service attendants to service events at patron locations. The decisioning system schedules the events for servicing using various factors to establish the priority of different events. Service attendants are paged by the system to inform them of a service to be provided.

A payment card or other device (e.g., mobile telephone) is provided with a magnetic emulator operable to communicate data to a magnetic stripe read-head. A user can utilize buttons located on the card to perform activities that would otherwise be performed at an ATM, payment card reader, or by a waitress. A user can provide instructions on a card to accelerate a transaction. The information a user enters can be communicated to a point-of-sale device. For example, a user can enter into his/her card that the user desires $100 withdrawal from a checking account. The user can also enter his/her PIN into the card. The user can swipe his/her card into an ATM and instantly be provided with the desired $100.

An improved system for providing an individually customized fresh brewed coffee beverage on demand by a consumer, in a wide range of variety and strength. Said brewing system for making relatively large quantities of fresh brewed coffee beverages (in particular, customized as to desired variety, body, character and/or strengths), as chosen by multiple individual consumers just prior to their consumption. Said system is easy to use by the consumer or other individual (e.g., restaurant wait staff) obtaining the customized beverage. Further, maintenance of the equipment requires only a small amount of personal attention by the owner/operator of the equipment. A general object of the present invention is to utilize “delayed dilution” of a concentrated extract to provide a beverage brewing system which immediately (upon customer selection) provides selective dilution (based on individual consumer's selections) of a fresh-brewed coffee extract after the extract has been allowed to brew and held as an extract before dilution.

A payment card or other device (e.g., mobile telephone) is provided with a magnetic emulator operable to communicate data to a magnetic stripe read-head. A user can utilize buttons located on the card to perform activities that would otherwise be performed at an ATM, payment card reader, or by a waitress. A user can provide instructions on a card to accelerate a transaction. The information a user enters can be communicated to a point-of-sale device. For example, a user can enter into his/her card that the user desires $100 withdrawal from a checking account. The user can also enter his/her PIN into the card. The user can swipe his/her card into an ATM and instantly be provided with the desired $100.

The objective of this invention is to create real-time and time-shifted wireless messaging system that handles devices pairing and notifications between two or multi-line parties (e.g., waiters and customers). The invention facilitates prompt and wireless communication channels between customers and restaurant staff, increases customer satisfaction and improves customer request fulfillment (i.e., responsiveness). The invention also promotes a professional social network and a recruitment system for hospitality servers where they may review their ratings and promote their services. This social medium will also help food servicing stores and hospitality companies o locate highly qualified servers, assess Quality of Service (QOS) and benchmark with other services directly through system analytics and user interactions and feedback.

The invention provides a restaurant management system based on a network. The restaurant management system based on the network comprises a background master server arranged on the network side, an intelligent terminal arranged on the user side and a restaurant server arranged in a restaurant. The restaurant server is connected with a reading pen. A database storing restaurant information is arranged in the restaurant server. The restaurant server is used for backing up the information in the database to the background master server and establishing communication with all terminals in the restaurant through a router. The terminals comprise the wireless ordering terminals arranged on dinning tables, the handheld service calling terminals arranged for servers, the cook cooking management terminal arranged in a kitchen, the cashing terminal and a customization machine, wherein the cashing terminal and the customization machine are arranged at a reception desk. According to the restaurant management system based on the network, the process of ordering at the dinning tables, the process of making dishes in the kitchen, the sequencing process and the cashing process are all improved, the performance and quality of restaurant service are improved entirely and partially, the practicability of the system is improved and the system is suitable for popularization and application.

An automated security attendant for a mechanical gate includes an interface that queries a visitor as to the name and destination of the visitor, and then automatically proceeds with authentication of the visitor. The system includes cameras and recording equipment for capturing the visitor's face and license plates, and records this information along with a time and date stamp of the event. The visitor can be authenticated in accordance with a pre-stored list of names or license plates, or can be authenticated in real time through contact with authorized personnel. The system can further initiate two way conversation with between the visitor and the authorized personnel, and provide the authorized personnel with the image of the visitor's face and/or license plate. The system can also monitor the gate for damage and alert authorities where the security of the gate has been compromised.

A medication administration system that includes a system of pillboxes, a pharmacy workstation, and a system of attendant workstation. The pharmacy workstation reads RFID or barcode tags on the pillboxes and medication wrappers containing medication units as the medication units are checked into the pillboxes to ensure that the pillboxes are filled in accordance the appropriate prescription regimens. The attendant workstations read the RFID or barcode tags on the pillboxes and medication wrappers as the medication units are checked out of the pillboxes to ensure that the medications are administered in accordance the appropriate prescription regimens. The attendant workstations may activate alarms, which may include communicating the alarms to a central monitoring station or mobile communication devices assigned to healthcare providers, when the determine that a pillbox in not correctly filled, when a medication has been checked out of a pillbox improperly, or when a medication has not been checked out on time.

Methods and apparatus are provided for managing information relating to consumer recycling activities. In one embodiment, a method is provided in which a consumer returns beverage containers to a redemption kiosk offering a significantly improved consumer experience. Rather than having to wait for an attendant to count the containers and provide value in exchange, an account is maintained for the consumer to which the containers' value is ascribed. The redemption kiosk projects a neat and sanitary appearance, and is designed to be situated in a parking lot outside a retail location so as not to occupy valuable floor space. Information on consumer recycling activities is captured and analyzed to support marketing activities.

An e-commerce real estate marketplace and platform includes one or more systems and methods for facilitating all aspects of cross-border real-estate transactions. Included are one or more unique machine learning techniques that together with multiple data processing steps perform mathematical calculations and/or automated reasoning tasks that allow buyers, sellers, and third parties to execute satisfactory transactions in a secure and confidential environment with complete certainty.

A system for interactively displaying and distributing information about a product, which may be any type of goods, services, equipment, facility that is capable of being illustrated graphically. A consumer engages in an Interactive Information Session with an attendant, such a help desk attendant. During the Interactive Information Session, the attendant and consumer see synchronized displays of images of the product, which may be manipulated by one of them. The attendant and the can communicate interactively by voice or text during at least part of the Interactive Information Session. In another embodiment, two or more users of a system according to the invention can collaboratively design a product in an Interactive Design Session. During the session one of the users controls the design at any time. Different users may have control at different times. The users can engage in interactive voice or text communications during at least part of he Interactive Design Session.

The embodiments of the invention provide an intelligent ordering method and apparatus, and relate to the technical field of telecommunication. The method and the apparatus aim at increasing efficiency of intelligent ordering and addressing the problem of prior art technology that ordering machines often fail to be delivered to clients in time when a restaurant is serving too many clients or waiters are too busy. According to the invention, the technical solution of the embodiment has the following steps: when it is detected that a sensing device which is at a preset position transmits a responding signal, starting current device and conducting powering voice broadcasting, receiving different voice ordering instructions and position information corresponding to the different voice ordering instructions, transmitting mobile instructions based on the position information corresponding to the different voice ordering instructions, conducting voice broadcasting based on the different voice ordering instructions, conducting statistics based on the received voice ordering information, generating an order. According to the invention, the method and the apparatus are intended for intelligent ordering.

A method and system for providing remote financial services are described. The method and system include receiving a request for financial transaction(s) from a customer through a kiosk at a remote location. The kiosk includes a first camera and a display, and is coupled with a call center at a location physically distinct from the remote location. The call center includes a second camera for an individual. The method and system also include displaying image(s) of the individual on the display of the kiosk to provide a virtual attendant who assists the customer with the financial transaction(s). Data is transferred from the call center to the kiosk and displayed on the kiosk. Other data is transferred from the kiosk to the call center and displayed to the individual. The method and system also include dispensing funds from the kiosk if the financial transaction(s) are successful.

The invention discloses a self-service order device which comprises a shell body, a touch screen which is arranged on the shell body for displaying dish information and sending the order information of a consumer to a control unit, a money identification device which is arranged on the shell body for receiving money, a first printer which is arranged on the shell body for printing an account bill voucher slip and an identification verification barcode, the control unit which is arranged inside the shell body and connected with the touch screen, the money identification device and the first printer respectively; the control unit is used for calculating the consumption amount according to the order information of the consumer, controlling the first printer to print the account bill voucher slip and the identification verification barcode according to the consumption amount and the money received by the money identification device. By the self-service order and billing on the self-service order device of the consumer, the workload and the number of waiters are reduced and the salary cost of a restaurant is saved; additionally, problems such as cash management, accounting error and missing and discount in the catering industry can be solved.