Smart meal ordering method and device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional offline dining establishments face challenges in providing a seamless and convenient payment experience for diners, as they often require manual intervention for bill settlement, disrupting the flow of dining and increasing operational costs.
Innovation Solution
A smart meal ordering device equipped with body sensing hardware and communication capabilities that outputs a meal ordering interface when a diner takes a seat and automatically initiates debit settlement with a payment server when the diner leaves, using facial recognition and hovering gestures for interaction, enabling a hands-free and barrier-free payment system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual intervention is used for bill settlement, then payment accuracy can be ensured, but dining flow is disrupted and operational costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables automatic bill settlement through body sensing hardware that detects when diners have left their seats, triggering automated payment processing without requiring manual intervention from servers or cashiers. The smart meal ordering device autonomously completes the payment workflow, reducing operational costs while maintaining payment accuracy through automated verification processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical payment processes with an automated electronic system. Body sensing hardware detects diner presence and absence, automatically triggering the payment sequence. This substitutes the mechanical interaction of manual bill presentation and payment handling with sensor-based detection and automated electronic settlement, improving dining efficiency while managing system complexity through integrated automation.
2Ease of operation
If automated body sensing is implemented, then payment process is streamlined, but system complexity and initial costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The smart meal ordering device integrates multiple functions into a single system: it serves as both the ordering interface and the payment settlement device. The body sensing hardware is incorporated into the existing smart dining table infrastructure, allowing the same device to handle menu display, order taking, and automated payment processing. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated payment devices, managing complexity while improving ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The body sensing hardware acts as an intermediary between the diner's physical presence and the automated payment system. Rather than requiring direct user interaction with payment interfaces, the sensor detects seat occupancy changes and triggers the payment workflow automatically. This intermediary mechanism simplifies the user experience while managing system complexity through automated event-driven processing.
3Reliability
If facial recognition and gesture interaction are added, then user experience is enhanced, but security risks and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary facial recognition and payment account binding before the actual meal consumption begins. During the dining experience, the system has already established the connection between the diner's facial features and their payment account, allowing for rapid and secure automated settlement when they leave. This preliminary setup enhances security while reducing the complexity of real-time payment processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses facial recognition to create a digital copy or representation of the diner's identity, which is then used for payment verification. Instead of requiring physical payment methods or complex authentication during settlement, the system references the pre-captured facial data to verify identity and process payment. This copying approach enhances security and reliability while managing interaction system complexity through automated biometric verification.
Data Source
AI summary
A smart meal ordering method comprises: conducting body sensing of a diner by a body sensing hardware of a smart meal ordering device; outputting a meal ordering interface by a display screen of a smart meal ordering device in response to sensing that the diner has taken a seat, and obtaining information of one or more dishes selected by the diner on the meal ordering interface; and in response to sensing that the diner has left the seat, sending a total price of the dishes and identification information of the smart meal ordering device to a server.