Interactive visual ordering system

Claim 2

A portable, interactive restaurant visual ordering system using photo-realistic images, the system comprising: a portable computer including a data input device; a video monitor electronically connected to the computer; a set of photo-realistic images digitally accessible to the computer; a set of food item characteristics digitally accessible to the computer and presentable in alphanumeric form, wherein at least some of the characteristics are associated with at least one of the images; computer readable code means digitally accessible to the computer for displaying one or more of the images and one or more of the characteristics associated with the image or images on the monitor in response to manipulation of the data input device and a wireless transmitter electronically connected to the computer and capable of transmitting signals generated by the computer in response to manipulation of the data input device to a kitchen area of the restaurant.

Claim 3

The system defined in claim 1, wherein the video monitor defines a visual display area, and the image comprises an area in a range of between 25% to 75% of the visual display area.

Claim 4

The system defined in claim 1, wherein the image is a full-color image.

Claim 5

The system defined in claim 1, wherein the system additionally comprises a database structure having a plurality of database objects organized in at least one database file, wherein each database object includes a plurality of database items, and wherein database items of a same type are stored in the same database file.

Claim 6

The system defined in claim 1, wherein the system additionally includes a configuration process capable of generating a sequence of steps for presenting menus to the customer.

Claim 7

The system defined in claim 5, wherein the system additionally includes a configuration file capable of storing the sequence of steps for presenting menus to the customer, said configuration file executed by the computer under interactive control of the customer.

Claim 8

An interactive restaurant visual ordering system utilizing photo-realistic images, the system comprising: a first subsystem in a restaurant, comprising: a first computer with a memory; a color visual display electronically connected to the computer; a set of photo-realistic images stored in the memory; a restaurant menu stored in the memory, a portion of said menu displayed on the visual display; a computer program stored in the memory enabling a customer of the restaurant to order at least one menu item, wherein the computer displays a full-color image representative of at least one menu item to the customer on the visual display, and wherein the program controls the display of the image based on interactive use of the menu on the computer by the customer; a second subsystem in the restaurant, comprising: a second computer with a memory; a color visual display electronically connected to the computer; a set of photo-realistic images stored in the memory; a restaurant menu stored in the memory, a portion of said menu displayed on the visual display; a computer program stored in the memory enabling a customer of the restaurant to order at least one menu item; a network of interactive visual ordering subsystems, wherein each subsystem additionally includes a wireless transmitter electronically connected to the respective computer capable of transmitting the at least one ordered menu item to a kitchen area of the restaurant.

Claim 9

An interactive restaurant visual ordering system utilizing photo-realistic images, the system comprising: a first subsystem in a restaurant, comprising: a first computer with a memory; a color visual display electronically connected to the computer; a set of photo-realistic images stored in the memory; a restaurant menu stored in the memory, a portion of said menu displayed on the visual display; a computer program stored in the memory enabling a customer of the restaurant to order at least one menu item, wherein the computer displays a full-color image representative of at least one menu item to the customer on the visual display, and wherein the program controls the display of the image based on interactive use of the menu on the computer by the customer; a second subsystem in the restaurant, comprising: a second computer with a memory; a color visual display electronically connected to the computer; a set of photo-realistic images stored in the memory; a restaurant menu stored in the memory, a portion of said menu displayed on the visual display; a computer program stored in the memory enabling a customer of the restaurant to order at least one menu item; a network of interactive visual ordering subsystems, wherein each subsystem additionally includes a wireless transmitter electronically connected to the respective computer capable of transmitting the at least one ordered menu item to a kitchen area of the restaurant.

Claim 10

The system defined in claim 4, wherein the images are alternatively stored in a server that is part of the network.

Claim 11

The system defined in claim 4, wherein the ordered menu items are accumulated at one computer.

Claim 12

The system defined in claim 7, wherein at least one computer is located in each of a plurality of restaurants.

Claim 13

The system defined in claim 10, wherein the computer/subsystems in the plurality of restaurants may communicate electronically with one another for the purpose of providing menu and ordering services from multiple vendors.

Claim 14

The system defined in claim 7, wherein the system has the ability to allow off-site computers/terminals to electronically communicate with the system for the purpose of receiving menu information and ordering.

Claim 15

The system defined in claim 12, wherein the off-site computers/terminals may also communicate with the system to perform other functions such as reserving seating or inquiring about orders electronically.

Claim 16

A computer program product and a computer system including a video monitor, a central processing unit, and means coupled to the central processing unit for storing a database containing restaurant menu item characteristics and digitized photo-realistic images associated with the characteristics, comprising: a data storage device including a computer usable medium having computer readable program means for permitting entry of user-generated input signals, the computer readable program means having: computer readable code means for causing the computer system to display the images and one or more of the characteristics associated with the image or images in response to the user-generated input signals; computer readable code means for generating a menu item order signal in response to the user-generated input signals; and a wireless transmitter for transmitting the menu item order signal.

Claim 17

A computer program product and a computer system including a video monitor, a central processing unit, and means coupled to the central processing unit for storing a database containing restaurant menu item characteristics and digitized photo-realistic images associated with the characteristics, comprising: a data storage device including a computer usable medium having computer readable program means for permitting entry of user-generated input signals, the computer readable program means having: computer readable code means for causing the computer system to display the images and one or more of the characteristics associated with the image or images in response to the user-generated input signals; computer readable code means for generating a menu item order signal in response to the user-generated input signals; and a wireless transmitter for transmitting the menu item order signal.

Claim 18

The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the computer system includes a network of computers.