Mobile Dine-In Order Management System with Table Identification
Solution Overview
Problem
Dine-in restaurants face inefficiencies such as wait times for ordering and receiving checks, and physical menus can be outdated or unsanitary, leading to contamination and increased staff burden.
Innovation Solution
A mobile device-based system for dine-in location and on-demand order management, allowing customers to view menus, select items, and place orders electronically, with options for table identification using numbers or optical/electronic markers, enabling direct communication of orders to staff and reducing the need for physical menus.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If physical menus are used for ordering, then customers can view menu options, but the menus may be outdated or unclean leading to contamination and inefficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces physical menus with electronic menu displays on customer devices. The menu information is copied from the restaurant's central system to the customer's mobile device, allowing customers to view menu options, descriptions, and pricing without physical contact with shared materials, thereby eliminating contamination risks while maintaining ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes the mechanical physical menu system with an electronic digital system. Instead of paper or plastic menus that require physical handling and can become contaminated, the system uses electronic displays on customer devices that can be easily updated and sanitized, resolving the contradiction between safety and usability.
2Loss of time
If servers take orders manually, then customers receive personalized service, but wait times for ordering and receiving checks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service ordering and payment functionality where customers can independently browse menus, place orders, track order status, and complete payments through their mobile devices. This eliminates the time-consuming back-and-forth with servers for taking orders and bringing checks, significantly reducing wait times while maintaining service quality through automated processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows customers to preliminary view the entire menu and place orders before their food is prepared. The order is transmitted to the kitchen in advance, and customers can complete payment beforehand, eliminating the need to wait for servers to return with checks and process payments manually, thus reducing overall wait time.
3Quantity of substance
If physical menus are provided to each customer, then menu options are accessible, but the quantity of physical materials increases and sanitation burden on staff increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of distributing physical menu copies to each customer, the system creates digital copies on customer devices. A single central menu database serves multiple customers simultaneously, eliminating the need to print, distribute, collect, and sanitize physical menus for each customer, thereby reducing material quantity and sanitation burden.
Solution Approach 2:
The electronic menu system serves multiple functions: it provides menu information, takes orders, tracks preparation status, and processes payments, all through a single digital platform. This replaces the need for separate physical menus for each customer, reducing the quantity of physical materials and eliminating the sanitation burden associated with handling multiple physical menu copies.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and devices are described for dine-in location and on-demand order management through a customer mobile device. The customer may access a menu of available options, select one or more items, and place an order. Further, the customer may enter or otherwise provide a location identification when placing the order, which may allow a server or runner to deliver the order to the proper location (e.g., a table or other identified location within a dining area). Upon order placement, a confirmation may be provided that may include an estimated time for delivery of ordered items. Payment may be processed through the customer mobile device after delivery of the ordered items.