Menu Display System for Allergen Safety

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for serving groups in hotels and inns are inefficient in preventing check errors when accommodating food allergies, as they rely on human verification of allergen information, leading to potential health risks and customer dissatisfaction.

Innovation Solution

A menu display method using computer processing to input basic menu table information, dish table information with allergen priorities, and individual allergen information, which searches for overlapping allergens, provides prohibition displays, and outputs individual menu tables with alternative dishes, thereby eliminating human error and ensuring accurate allergen avoidance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If human verification of allergen information is used, then flexibility in menu planning is maintained, but check errors occur leading to health risks

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveallergen information accuracyVSAvoidhealth risks from allergic reactions

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical system of human verification with an automated computer-based matching system. The processor automatically compares individual allergen information with menu dish ingredients, eliminating human error in allergen identification and ensuring accurate matching between customer allergies and safe menu options.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables self-service by allowing the computer to autonomously perform the entire allergen checking process without human intervention. The automated system independently retrieves individual allergen data, matches it with menu ingredients, identifies safe dishes, and generates personalized menu recommendations, making the process both reliable and efficient.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If separate menus are prepared for people with and without food allergy, then allergen safety is improved, but menu variety and ingredient availability are limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveallergen safetyVSAvoidmenu variety

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by customizing menu recommendations for each individual based on their specific allergen profile, rather than creating entirely separate menus. The system identifies which specific dishes are safe for each person while allowing other group members to access the full menu variety, thus maintaining overall menu versatility while ensuring individual allergen safety.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system segments the menu into safe and unsafe options for each individual based on their specific allergens. Rather than creating separate complete menus, the patent divides the existing menu into accessible and inaccessible dishes for each person, maximizing the use of available ingredients while ensuring safety for those with allergies.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If computer processing is used to check allergen information, then check errors are eliminated, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveallergen information accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the computer system universal by designing it to handle multiple functions: retrieving individual allergen information, accessing menu dish ingredient data, performing matching operations, and generating personalized recommendations. This multi-functional approach consolidates what could be multiple separate systems into a single integrated solution, managing complexity while maintaining high reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Productivity

If automated menu generation is implemented, then productivity is improved, but ease of operation decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemenu planning efficiencyVSAvoidsystem usability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system incorporates feedback by automatically generating and displaying personalized menu recommendations to users based on their allergen information. This immediate feedback loop allows users to see the results of the automated processing and make informed selections, maintaining ease of operation while significantly improving productivity through automation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS11430038B2Menu display method, menu display device, and menu display program

Publication Date: 2022.08.30 MAKO ENTERPRISE CO LTD

AI summary

To provide a menu display method capable of preventing a check error while rationalizing the work of checking information of ingredients to avoid of dishes in plural menus with information of ingredients to avoid of users by performing computer processing, and further capable of clarifying which dish is to be changed from a changed menu table. As a solution, menu display procedures of the menu display method include Step S1 of extracting data, Step 2 of checking information of ingredients to avoid, Step S3 of determining whether first information of ingredients to avoid overlaps with second information of ingredients to avoid or not, Step S4 of searching a first dish name when the information of ingredients to avoid overlaps, Step S5 of determining whether the first dish name exists in basic menu table information or not, Step S6 of extracting a second dish name, Step S7 of giving a prohibition display to the first dish name, Step S8 of arranging the second dish name and Step S9 of outputting individual menu table information.