Automated GUI Creation for Restaurant Chains

Solution Overview

Problem

The restaurant industry lacks effective automation for food ordering transactions due to the variety of food choices and customized promotions, leading to high costs and inefficiencies in creating customized GUIs and workflows for different establishments, which are not optimized for mobile devices.

Innovation Solution

A method for customizing graphical user interfaces (GUIs) using a Food Menu Design that is client-device independent, an N-level hierarchical tree to specify restaurant chains, and auto-creation of GUI presentations with HTML5 templates, allowing for efficient menu authoring, reduced database errors, and seamless transactions across various devices.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If customized GUIs and workflows are created for each establishment to accommodate variety of food choices and promotions, then the system can handle specific establishment requirements, but the time and cost to create these customized interfaces increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to different establishmentsVSAvoidtime to create customized GUIs

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies universality by creating a single, standardized GUI template that can be used across all establishments in the restaurant chain. This template is designed to be flexible enough to accommodate different food choices, promotions, and establishment-specific requirements without requiring custom development for each location. The standardized template serves multiple establishments simultaneously, eliminating the need to recreate interfaces for each site.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes parameter changes by allowing dynamic modification of GUI elements through configuration parameters rather than structural recreation. Establishment-specific information such as menu items, promotions, and workflows are injected into the standardized template through parameter changes, enabling each establishment to have its unique characteristics while using the same underlying GUI framework.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If customized GUIs are created for each establishment, then specific establishment requirements can be met, but the development cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecustomization capabilityVSAvoiddevelopment cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies universality by creating a single, standardized GUI template that can be used across all establishments in the restaurant chain. This template is designed to be flexible enough to accommodate different food choices, promotions, and establishment-specific requirements without requiring custom development for each location. The standardized template serves multiple establishments simultaneously, eliminating the need to recreate interfaces for each site.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes copying by replicating the same standardized GUI template across all establishments rather than creating unique interfaces for each location. This template copying approach ensures consistency across the chain while allowing for localized content customization through parameter injection, significantly reducing development costs compared to custom creation for each establishment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

3Adaptability or versatility

If a website interface designed for laptops is used, then the ordering system can be accessed, but the interface does not render well on smaller mobile devices

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice compatibilityVSAvoidinterface rendering quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by implementing a responsive GUI template that automatically adapts its layout and characteristics based on the display dimensions and capabilities of the device. The interface dynamically reconfigures itself to optimize rendering on mobile devices, tablets, and desktops, ensuring consistent and high-quality presentation across different form factors without requiring separate interface designs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS9459887B2Automatic graphical user interface creation

Publication Date: 2016.10.04 NCR VOYIX CORP

AI summary

Techniques for automated graphical user interface (GUI) creation and/or rendering are provided. Establishments are defined via items for sale and rules defining workflow processing for purchasing the items. Each establishment representing a sub hierarchy. A GUI is rendered to represent a custom hierarchy of the sub hierarchies and presented to a user. The user interacts with the GUI to select a specific establishment and perform a specific transaction with that establishment in accordance with that establishment's items for sale and rules.