Remotely configurable wireless intercom system for an establishment

The present invention relates to a wireless intercom system in general, and more specifically to a wireless intercom system for commercial facilities.

In facilities such as retail stores, and especially restaurants, it is common to provide convenience for customers in the car with dedicated lanes and windows for servicing customers. Customers typically drive to the menu / order board and communicate their wishes from the car to staff, including tailors in the retail store. Customers who remain in the car go to one or more windows to pay for the goods if necessary and to receive the goods.

Intercom systems can facilitate communication within and around the facility, especially among vehicle occupants, customers, and staff within the facility. In the case of a "quick service" restaurant, speakers and microphones mounted on pillars near the menu board are connected by wires to a base station located inside the restaurant. The base station can wirelessly communicate with the portable device worn by the ordering person. A portable device is a walkie-talkie that is typically worn as a belt pack with a headset connected by wires. Alternatively, in some cases, the portable device is a wearable headset built-in type that eliminates the need for a belt set. The order clerk generally listens to the microphone mounted on the pillar continuously and presses a button to talk to the car occupant as needed.

In many systems and methods of ordering goods from a facility from boarding or drive-through equipment, the order is verbally mounted from a pillar-mounted speaker and microphone to order equipment, typically a drive-through in the facility wearing a headset. It will be communicated to the person in charge of receiving orders. The ordering specialist or other personnel collects the ordered items, handles the transaction with the customer at the boarding window, receives the price of the ordered items, pays the fishing, and hands the ordered items to the customer.

The drive-through ordering system is extremely important for restaurants that provide prompt service. Drive-throughs account for more than 60% of the facility's total revenue in some fast-service restaurants. For this reason, the use of reliable intercom systems is highly needed, for example when placing orders in drive-through equipment. If the intercom system becomes defective, misaligned, or otherwise malfunctions, the facility may not be able to handle orders from drive-through equipment, unless this happens. Not only will you not be able to secure the income you earn, but you may also alienate your customers.

Systems and methods for moving the ordering process away from the facility include, for example, US Patent Application Publication No. 2003/0225622, "Method and System For Entering Orders of" by Doan. Although developed as shown in "Customers)", such systems cannot avoid problems that are locally related to the facility's intercom system and disrupt communication.

In addition, many intercom systems utilize wireless techniques to facilitate communication between facility staff. Such wireless intercom systems can have parameters such as volume and gain that affect the ability of the intercom system to function properly and reliably. Over time, such intercom systems can become unreliable and / or unusable due to, for example, changing conditions, personnel, improper adjustments, and so on.

<p> The difficulty in building and maintaining reliable and effective intercom systems in facilities is the training of facilities using such intercom systems to maintain and repair such intercoms. This is because it is unevenly distributed in many geographical areas, including areas where there are no highly qualified personnel. These personnel are often well away from the facility, often hours away. Any failure or other inoperability of the intercom system in these geographical locations is a significant portion of the intercom system's downtime and facility's revenue, which is extremely long until maintenance and / or repair personnel can travel to the facility. Will take. Even if the facility is not far from the location of the service personnel, sending the service personnel in response to the service request will incur significant expenses, both financially and temporally to perform any necessary repairs. I have an expense.</p>

<p> Aspects of the invention allow the intercom system of a facility to be remotely adjusted by a technician or other user without the need to dispatch such technician or user to the facility itself, for a considerable amount of time and It can save money.</p><p> Technicians or other users may have access to the intercom system from a distance, eg through the Internet, and may be able to immediately remedy any of the numerous coordination-based problems. In addition, the intercom system itself may be able to self-report a defective state, such as a hardware issue, software issue, and tuning issue, or when the system is defective or before it becomes defective. It shall issue a warning that maintenance may be required. This avoids costly facility downtime and adds tremendous value to the facility.</p><p> In certain embodiments, the present invention provides a remotely configurable wireless intercom system for staffed facilities. The base station can be connected to a wide area communication network. Multiple headsets are in two-way wireless communication with this base station. Wireless communication between each of the headsets and the base station can be configured using at least one parameter that can be adjusted by facility staff. This parameter can be remotely inspected and adjusted remotely through a wide area communication network.</p><p> In certain embodiments, the present invention remotely resides in a facility that has staff, has a base station that can connect to a wide area communication network, and has multiple headsets that are in two-way wireless communication with the base station. Provides a way to provide a configurable wireless intercom system. Wireless communication is configured between each of the headsets and the base station using at least one parameter that can be adjusted by facility personnel. This parameter is checked and adjusted remotely through the wide area communication network.</p><p> In certain embodiments, the system further has a plurality of parameters, at least one of the plurality of parameters being adjustable by facility staff. The plurality of parameters can be adjusted remotely through a wide area communication network.</p><p> In certain embodiments, the plurality of parameters are grouped into a parameter template.</p><p> In some embodiments, this template is saved for later recall.</p><p> In certain embodiments, this template is stored near the facility.</p><p> In certain embodiments, this template is stored at a location remote from the facility.</p><p> In certain embodiments, the plurality of parameters are restored from a pre-stored template.</p><p> In certain embodiments, the plurality of parameters are remotely restored from a pre-stored template remotely from the facility.</p><p> In one embodiment, this template is sourced from another facility.</p><p> In certain embodiments, the template for the plurality of parameters is constructed and stored with the installation of the wireless intercom system.</p><p> In certain embodiments, the template of the plurality of parameters constructed with the installation is recalled at some point following the installation.</p><p> In certain embodiments, the template for the plurality of parameters is constructed as factory defaults.</p><p> In certain embodiments, the plurality of parameter templates constructed as defaults are recalled at some point following installation.</p><p> In certain embodiments, wireless communication is built between the order point and at least one headset.</p><p> In certain embodiments, remote equipment monitors the communication of the wireless intercom system.</p><p> In some embodiments, the parameters are adjusted by remote equipment to monitor the communication of the wireless intercom system.</p><p> In certain embodiments, the facility includes a restaurant that provides prompt service.</p><p> In some embodiments, this parameter is volume.</p><p> In certain embodiments, the present invention provides a remotely configurable wireless intercom system for staffed facilities. The base station can be connected to a wide area communication network. Multiple headsets are in two-way wireless communication with this base station. Wireless communication between each of the headsets and the base station can be configured with at least one parameter that can be remotely inspected through the wide area communication network. This parameter can be initialized remotely through a wide area communication network.</p><p> In certain embodiments, the present invention remotely resides in a facility that has staff, has a base station that can connect to a wide area communication network, and has multiple headsets that are in two-way wireless communication with the base station. Provides a way to provide a configurable wireless intercom system. Wireless communication is set up between each of the multiple headsets and the base station. At least one parameter is checked remotely through the wide area communication network. Whether or not a defective state exists is remotely determined by these plurality of parameters. If a bad condition exists, this parameter is initialized to a given value through the wide area communication network.</p><p> In certain embodiments, this parameter is initialized through a wide area communication network upon detection of a defective condition.</p><p> In certain embodiments, this parameter can be adjusted by facility staff.</p>

An intercom system, such as a wireless intercom system, used in a facility such as a restaurant that provides rapid service, can generally have several parameters that control the operation of the intercom system.

As shown in FIG. 1, the equipment 10 is equipped with the intercom system 12. Base station 14 wirelessly communicates with a plurality of headsets 16a, 16, ... 16n. Headsets 16a, 16, ... 16n are worn by personnel or staff at Facility 10, and in preferred embodiments they may be used by personnel such as those taking orders from drive-through equipment (not shown). At least one of the staff communicates with the customer to take an order from the customer of the drive-through equipment. This employee can wear one of the headsets 16a, 16, ... 16n and communicate through it, or can be wired and communicate with base station 14. Other staff members monitor the communication of staff members who mainly listen to or place orders with headsets 16a, 16, ... 16n, or headsets 16a, 16, ... 16n. To wear for.

The intercom system 12 of a facility 10, such as a restaurant that provides quick service, has several parameters that control the operation of the system. For example, each of the headsets 16a, 16, ... 16n can be in full duplex communication with the base pole 14, and each of the headsets 16a, 16, ... 16n can have this. There is a reception volume or volume associated with it, and / or a communication volume. Separate volumes, or gains, adjustments may be available for each of the headsets 16a, 16, ... 16n for their respective communication directions. Many other parameters, such as lane allocation, receive volume, transmit volume, speaker master volume associated with drive-through equipment, individual volume for each channel received by drive-through equipment, base station receive volume, etc. Base station transmit volumes, calls, greeters, vehicle detection alerts, vehicle approach alerts, and more are possible. Many, if not all, of these parameters may be available for personal adjustment to one or more personnel.

However, drive-through equipment, drive-through lanes, base stations 14, and potentially some headsets 16a, 16, where each unit is in a location with potentially unique environments and unique conditions. Intercom system 12 including ..16n can be complicated to configure and properly tune. Failure to perform proper setup and balance causes inadequate driving, such as disturbing feedback and / or instability that probably makes communication difficult, if not impossible, for one or more people. It is ideal to give staffing control over at least one parameter, eg the volume of their headset 16, given each individual's speaking pattern and listening ability. However, individual adjustments can upset the balance of the intercom system 12, making it unstable and / or unusable.

The location of Facility 10 may be very far from the location of a qualified service technician, and if such a service technician is called, they will arrive at Facility 10's location to begin repairs. It may take a considerable amount of time. In some cases, facility 10 may be hours away from the service technician. Even if facility 10 is not extremely far from a qualified service technician, sending the service technician to the site for repairs can be a significant expense, both in terms of time and money.

However, the intercom system 12 allows personnel at facility 10 to call technical service equipment 18 at a location remote from facility 10.

However, a wide area network such as the Internet has a parameter in which the technical service facility 18 located remote from the facility 10 controls the intercom system 12 automatically or by other means by the staff of the facility 10. You may be notified to access remotely through. The service technician has access to the parameters associated with the intercom system 12, checking the parameters of the intercom system 12 to bring the intercom system 12 back into operation, or to improve the operation of the intercom system 12. To do so, potentially adjust the parameters.

The service technician can solve the problem of the intercom system 12 quickly without having to send the service technician to the site of the facility 10. Remote facility 10 sites can save hours of facility downtime, saving a full day if service technicians need to fly to very remote sites by plane or other means of transportation It may be possible in some cases. Even if the site of the facility is not remote, service technicians can work on far more facilities and work with more problems more efficiently by making remote adjustments than by undertaking site visits. Can be resolved. Adjusting the parameters of the remote intercom system 12 may minimize or eliminate the interruption of work at facility 10.

It is recognized and understood that one or more parameters of the intercom system 12 can be accessed, inspected, and potentially modified or modified. One parameter, eg, the master volume of the intercom system 12, may be the only parameter to inspect and / or adjust. On the other hand, multiple parameters may be checked and one or more checked parameters may be adjusted. For example, the volume levels of all headsets 16a, 16, ... 16n may be checked. Following the inspection, there may be only one headset 16, which may be the headset 16a, but it may be necessary to adjust the volume level of this, or two or more or all headsets 16a, 16, ... It may be desirable to adjust the 16n volume.

Because multiple parameters may be involved in the configuration, adjustment and balancing of the intercom system 12, and one parameter may also have an effect on other aspects of the intercom system. It is desirable to form a parameter set with multiple parameters. A given set of parameters for the intercom system 12 forms template 22, which is a set of parameters for the intercom system 12 that, when executed, raises certain operating characteristics of the intercom system 12. .. For example, known settings of parameters that indicate a particular response or performance of the intercom system 12 or that generally eliminate the usual problems associated with parameter misalignment are formed as templates. For example, templates for such parameters are utilized at a later time for the same facility or a similar intercom system 12 or different facilities having similar equipment, configurations and / or layouts.

Individual parameters or templates 22 or parameter templates are saved or stored for later recall. Template 22 is stored in memory 24 located close to facility 10. The template 22 or one of the plurality of templates 22 once stored in the memory 24 is recalled later to initialize the intercom system 12 or to bring about a desired change in operating parameters. If the parameters of the intercom system 12 are adjusted unfavorably, the previously saved template will be recalled from the memory 24 and used to provide a new operating guidebook for the intercom system 12. In particular, a service technician who is remote from the location of facility 10 accesses memory 24, recalls the pre-saved template 22, and enables the parameters attached to that template 22. In addition, a remotely located service technician recalls the pre-saved template 22 from memory 24, and perhaps improves or optimizes the performance characteristics of the intercom system 12 for one or more individual parameters. Further adjustments or changes can be made for this purpose.

It is also intended that the parameters of facility 10 be stored remotely from facility 10. For example, the same broadband communication network that allows a service technician at a remote facility 18 to access the parameters of the intercom system 12, preferably to store or store the parameters in template 22 in memory 26. It is also used to send to remote equipment, or instead. These parameters or templates 22 are subsequently recalled as described to provide an operating plan for the intercom system 12, as described above for parameters and / or templates 22 stored nearby. In addition, the memory 26 associated with the remote facility 18 is used to store one or more templates 22 that may be applied to a facility such as two or more facilities 10. For example, a particular brand or chain of facilities may store the appropriate template 22 in a "standard" rapid service restaurant, many of which are built in different locations. When stored in this way, the service technician can use the template 22 to initialize and operate the intercom system 12 in a new location or new equipment that meets the "standard" layout of the brand or chain. It will be relatively easy to recall. As mentioned above, of course, the service technician may fine-tune the operating parameters of the intercom system 12. However, standard template 22 gave service technicians a substantial advantage and made the whole process easier and faster. It is recognized that the memory 26 is directly connected to the remote equipment 18 as shown, and that the memory 26 may be remote not only from the facility 10 but also from the remote equipment 18. Understood. The memory 26 may be physically located in the remote equipment 18 or in any location and is remoted by the remote equipment 18.

Communication generated by intercom system 12 is monitored by other personnel within or associated with facility 12 by listening through base station 14 or one or more headsets 16a, 16, ... 16n. .. Alternatively or additionally, the personnel associated with the remote equipment 18 monitor the communications that occur in the intercom system 12, especially those used when receiving orders from customers. In addition to performing the usual quality control of the ordering function, these personnel associated with the remote equipment 18 analyze the quality of the communication and preemptively access the parameters associated with the intercom system 12 to request it. For example, these parameters are adjusted or changed in order to maintain or improve the operating characteristics of the intercom system 12. In this case, the personnel associated with the facility 10 do not need to request the assistance of the service technician, and may not even know that the service technician is servicing the intercom system 12 from the remote equipment 18.

In addition, the intercom system 12 may contain hardware and / or software to determine if bad conditions exist, i.e. a service technician should inspect the intercom system 12. Used for the purpose of In that case, the intercom system 12 informs the service technician at the remote facility 18 that there are defective conditions determined by commonly available hardware and / or software, and the service technician at the remote facility 18. Remotely inspects the parameters and / or other conditions of the intercom system 12. The service technician may adjust and / or repair the intercom system 12, which also preemptively checks and / or adjusts or modifies the parameters associated with the intercom system 12.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing how to remotely configure a wireless communication system, such as that used for intercom system 12 in facility 10. This wireless intercom system is configured, in part, by setting parameters that accompany the system (110). Such settings are made nearby, by conventional methods, or by recalling or installing template 22, even when performed remotely, for example using remote equipment 18, or otherwise. .. Once configured, the wireless intercom system is ready to communicate (112) with facility 10. Optionally, the communication generated by the wireless intercom system can be monitored (114) near or remotely, for example by a remote facility 18. In response to a request from facility 10, the remote facility 18 remotely checks the communication parameters associated with the wireless intercom system via the broadband communication network 20 in response to a failure indication or preemptive response (116). .. The service technician or automated device associated with the remote equipment 18 analyzes the settings of these parameters to remotely adjust or change the operation of the wireless intercom system and, if necessary, one or more communication parameters. Generally, these adjustments are made to improve the operation of the wireless intercom system or to make the wireless intercom system operational.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a setting method of the wireless intercom system using the saved and then recalled parameters. The wireless intercom system is configured, in part, by setting the communication parameters associated with the system (130). Again, such a setting can be done nearby, by conventional methods, or by recalling or installing template 22, even if it is done remotely, for example using remote equipment 18, or otherwise. Will be done. Once configured, the wireless intercom system is ready to communicate with facility 10. Communication parameters associated with the wireless intercom system are stored in nearby memory or in memory located remote from facility 10 (132). These parameters are preferably stored in template 22 as a set of parameters. After storing these parameters, one or more of these parameters are recalled from memory (134) and used, at least in part, to build the operating characteristics of the wireless intercom system. Once constructed, the wireless intercom system is used to communicate (136) within the operating environment of the facility.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method of remotely setting the wireless intercom system in response to a defective state. The wireless intercom system is configured, in part, by setting the communication parameters associated with the system (150). Again, such a setting can be done nearby, by conventional methods, or by recalling or installing template 22, even if it is done remotely, for example using remote equipment 18, or otherwise. Will be done.

The remote facility 18 remotely checks the communication parameters associated with the wireless intercom system via the broadband communication network 20 (152). A service technician or automated device associated with the remote facility 18 analyzes the setting of these parameters and the operation of the wireless intercom system to determine if a defective condition is present (154). Bad conditions are the result of one or more improper communication parameter settings, or other hardware and / or software bad conditions. By determining the defect, the remote equipment initializes the communication parameters associated with the wireless communication system in an attempt to eliminate the defect condition (156).

As described above, an embodiment of a wireless intercom system for facilities that can be set remotely has been disclosed. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention can be implemented in embodiments other than those disclosed. The disclosed embodiments are presented for purposes of illustration, without limitation, and the present invention is limited only by the claims described above.

<figref num="1">Block diagram of the functional components of the intercom system.</figref><figref num="2">A flowchart illustrating monitoring of intercom communication and remote adjustment of intercom system parameters.</figref><figref num="3">A flowchart illustrating storage of intercom system parameters and subsequent recall.</figref><figref num="4">A flowchart illustrating remote inspection of defective intercom systems and remote initialization of these parameters.</figref>