Electronic table mat
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing point-of-sale systems in retail environments, such as public houses, often present information to customers at the point of supply rather than the point of consumption, lacking seamless integration of ordering and promotional engagement at the customer's location.
Innovation Solution
An electronic table mat system comprising wireless communication-enabled beverage coasters with display, input, and sensing capabilities, allowing remote content management and two-way communication with a user terminal for streamlined ordering and promotional interactions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional point-of-sale systems are used to present information to customers, then information can be displayed at the bar counter, but customers cannot access ordering and promotional information at their seating area
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the information delivery function into multiple distributed electronic table mats, each independently displaying content and receiving inputs. This segmentation allows customers to access ordering and promotional information at their specific seating location rather than requiring them to return to the bar counter, thereby improving ease of operation while managing complexity through modular design
Solution Approach 2:
Electronic table mats serve as intermediary devices between the customer and the ordering system. Each table mat acts as a local interface that receives customer inputs and communicates with the central system via wireless network, enabling customers to place orders and view promotions at their seating area without direct interaction with bar staff or central systems
2Adaptability or versatility
If electronic table mats with full ordering functionality are deployed, then customer engagement at seating area is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Each electronic table mat is designed as a multi-functional device that can display promotional content, present menu information, receive customer orders via touchscreen or buttons, and communicate with the central system. This universal design allows a single device type to handle multiple functions, improving adaptability while controlling complexity through standardization
Solution Approach 2:
The electronic table mats dynamically adjust their display content and functionality based on received signals from the central system and local user interactions. The system can update promotions, menus, and pricing in real-time across all table mats, providing versatility without requiring each device to have fixed, hard-coded functionality
3Productivity
If remote content management is implemented across multiple electronic table mats, then content updates are streamlined, but wireless communication requirements increase system complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements two-way wireless communication between electronic table mats and the user terminal, allowing the central system to send content updates to table mats and receive status information or order data back. This feedback mechanism enables streamlined remote content management while maintaining manageable communication complexity through standardized protocols
Data Source
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Figure 5
AI summary
An ordering system (1101) comprises a plurality of electronic table mats (101) and a user terminal (1102) comprising a wireless communication device (I 108) for communicating with a wireless communication network (1106). Each electronic table mat (101) comprises a body (102) having first and second faces (103, 104) and supporting an electronic system (105) that comprises: a display device (301), a data processor (304) with access to data storage (305) and for controlling a visual output displayed by the display device (301), a wireless communication device (306) for communicating with a wireless communication network (1106), an input device (307), and a power device (310). Each electronic table mat (101) is configured for two-way communication with the user terminal (1102) via the wireless network (1106), with each electronic table mat (101) being associated with a unique identifier. A method (1201) of use of the ordering system (1101). An electronic table mat (101).