Electronic table mat
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing point-of-sale systems in retail environments, such as public houses, often require customers to order at the bar and wait for their beverages, lacking the ability to present content or facilitate ordering at the point of consumption.
Innovation Solution
An electronic table mat system comprising wireless, rechargeable beverage coasters with display, input, and sensing capabilities, allowing two-way communication with a user terminal for remote content management and enabling customers to place orders directly from their table.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional point-of-sale systems are used with ordering at the bar, then the system structure is simple, but customer service efficiency deteriorates due to waiting time and inability to order at consumption point
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the ordering function from the bar counter and distributes it to individual table mats at each consumption location. Each table mat becomes an independent ordering terminal, eliminating the need for customers to return to the bar and enabling parallel ordering across multiple tables, thus improving service efficiency without requiring a completely centralized complex system.
Solution Approach 2:
Customers use the table mat interface to place their own orders directly at their seating location. The table mat detects the customer's presence and enables self-ordering through touch interface or voice commands, reducing dependency on bar staff for each ordering interaction and significantly improving customer service efficiency.
2Ease of operation
If electronic table mats with display and communication capabilities are deployed, then content presentation at point of consumption is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The table mat is designed as a multi-functional device that combines display output, wireless communication, weight sensing, and touchscreen input capabilities within a single unit. This universal design allows the same device to serve multiple purposes: presenting menu content, receiving orders, tracking consumption, and enabling payment, thereby improving ease of operation while managing manufacturing complexity through standardized components.
Solution Approach 2:
The table mat acts as an intermediary device between the customer and the bar system. It includes a wireless communication module that mediates data exchange between the customer terminal and the bar management system, enabling content presentation and order transmission without requiring direct complex connections between all system components.
3Measurement precision
If table mats include weight sensors and wireless communication devices, then ordering accuracy and customer engagement are improved, but manufacturing cost and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The weight sensing capability is merged with the existing table mat structure and integrated into the same electronic system that handles wireless communication and display control. By combining these functions into a single integrated circuit board within the table mat, the patent reduces overall system complexity and manufacturing cost compared to having separate independent devices for each function.
Data Source
AI summary
An ordering system (1101) comprises a plurality of electronic table mats (101) and a user terminal (1102) comprising a wireless communication device (1108) 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).