Weight-Based Food Tracking System to Prevent Theft and Pricing Loss
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Solution Overview
Problem
Restaurants and food establishments face losses due to inaccurate pricing and theft, as they often sell food by the piece rather than weight, leading to profit margins being averaged across varying customer consumption and potential theft, without precise tracking of food weight and type.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a system with identified plates or bowls equipped with tracking mechanisms, such as RFID chips, that record the weight of food added from weigh-scaled stations, ensuring accurate pricing based on individual food types and preventing theft by matching removed and added weights, and providing nutritional information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If food is sold by the piece rather than weight, then ease of operation is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual piece-based counting with an automated weigh scale system that continuously monitors food weight. The system uses electronic sensors and software to automatically track the weight of food on plates, eliminating the need for manual measurement and calculation while providing precise weight-based pricing.
2Ease of operation
If flat price buffet-style pricing is used, then ease of operation is improved, but loss of substance worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements real-time feedback by continuously monitoring the weight of food on each plate and comparing it against the charged amount. The weigh scales provide immediate data about actual food consumption, allowing the system to identify discrepancies between charged and actual food provided, thereby preventing loss of substance through accurate tracking.
3Measurement precision
If weight-based pricing is implemented, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs universal weigh scale components that serve multiple functions: measuring food weight, tracking consumption patterns, preventing theft through anomaly detection, and providing customer feedback. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate systems while maintaining measurement precision, thereby managing device complexity.
4Reliability
If tracking mechanisms are added to plates, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The tracking system operates autonomously without requiring manual intervention. Plates with embedded identifiers automatically register with the system, and the weigh scales automatically track and record food weight additions and removals. This self-service capability ensures reliable tracking while minimizing the operational complexity for staff.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system of managing the acquisition of food in a commercial environment. An example method includes receiving, from a first scale, a container weight of a container when food is removed from the container. The method also includes determining a removed weight of the food from the container based on the container weight relative to an initial container weight, receiving, from a second scale, a plate weight of a plate when the food is added to the plate. The method also includes determining an added weight of the food to the plate based on the plate weight relative to an initial plate weight, determining whether the removed weight and the added weight match, and responsive to determining that the removed weight and the added weight do not match, activating an alarm.