Aggregated Retail Menu Interface for Group Food Selection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Finding desired food while traveling, especially for groups with varying tastes, is challenging due to existing search methods focusing on cuisine or restaurant names rather than specific food types, and is further complicated by multiple mobile apps and advertisements.

Innovation Solution

A system that aggregates restaurant menus based on user-defined food preferences, allowing users to receive a prioritized list of food options from multiple retailers within a geographical range, accessible on mobile devices, and enables profile sharing for groups to find mutually acceptable choices.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If users search for restaurants using mobile apps or browsers, then they can access restaurant information, but the search process becomes complicated and time-consuming due to multiple apps and advertisements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefood selection informationVSAvoidtime to find desired food
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple restaurant menu data sources into a single aggregated menu interface. The system collects food items from multiple restaurants within a geographical area and presents them unified in one view, eliminating the need to switch between multiple apps or websites. This merging approach consolidates scattered information into a comprehensive food selection interface.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary system that acts as a mediator between users and restaurant information. This intermediary application aggregates data from multiple restaurants and presents it through a unified interface, filtering out advertisements and unnecessary information. The intermediary processes and organizes food selection information, delivering only relevant details to users.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If users manually check multiple restaurant websites and menus, then they can find desired food, but the process is time-consuming and effort-intensive

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefood preference accommodationVSAvoidtime to locate desired food
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary actions by pre-aggregating food items from multiple restaurants before the user needs them. The system collects, organizes, and structures menu information in advance, creating a ready-to-use aggregated menu. When users open the application, the food selection information is already prepared and filtered according to their preferences, eliminating the need for manual searching.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of information organization by transforming scattered menu data into a structured aggregated format. The system reorganizes food items based on user-defined preferences, dietary restrictions, and taste profiles, dynamically adjusting the presentation of information to match user parameters rather than restaurant parameters.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If users use multiple mobile apps to find food, then they can access different food options, but the device complexity and difficulty of operation increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefood option varietyVSAvoidease of finding desired food
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a universal application that performs multiple functions: it aggregates menu data from various restaurants, filters information based on user preferences, displays aggregated menus, and facilitates food selection all in one interface. This single application replaces the need for multiple specialized apps, providing versatile food search capabilities while maintaining ease of operation through a unified design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Quantity of substance

If advertisements are displayed in mobile apps, then retailer revenue increases, but the user experience deteriorates with irrelevant ads interfering with food selection

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadvertising contentVSAvoidease of making retail decision
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by selectively placing advertisements only in specific areas of the interface that do not interfere with the aggregated menu display. Ads are positioned in designated zones separate from the food selection content, ensuring that advertising material does not obscure or complicate the primary function of finding and selecting food items.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS10902505B2Automated assistance in retail decisions
Publication Date: 2021.01.26 NCR VOYIX CORP
  • US10902505B2 patent drawing
  • US10902505B2 patent drawing
  • US10902505B2 patent drawing

AI summary

User-defined criterion defines goods and services of interest to a user. An aggregated listing of the goods and services is generated that spans multiple retailers within a geographic range of a current location of the user. The aggregating listing is presented to the user for making a retail decision.