`
`(12) United States Patent
`McNally et al.
`
`(to) Patent No.: (cid:9)
`(45) Date of Patent: (cid:9)
`
`US 6,982,733 B1
`*Jan. 3, 2006
`
`(54) INFORMATION MANAGEMENT AND
`SYNCHRONOUS COMMUNICATIONS
`SYSTEM WITH MENU GENERATION, AND
`HANDWRITING AND VOICE
`MODIFICATION OF ORDERS
`
`5,802,526 A
`5,912,743 A
`5,991,739 A
`6,107,944 A
`
`9/1998 Fawcett et al.
`6/1999 Kinebuchi et al.
`11/1999 Cupps et al.
`8/2000 Behr
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`(75) Inventors: Keith R. McNally, San Diego, CA
`(US); Ken Rogers, San Diego, CA
`(US); Paul Rubin, San Diego, CA (US)
`
`EP
`WO
`WO
`
`0 779 759 A2 (cid:9)
`WO 98/20434 (cid:9)
`WO 98/41936 (cid:9)
`
`6/1997
`5/1998
`9/1998
`
`(73) Assignee: Ameranth Wireless, Inc., San Diego,
`CA (US)
`
`( * ) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 673 days.
`
`This patent is subject to a terminal dis-
`claimer.
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 10/016,517
`
`(22) Filed: (cid:9)
`
`Nov. 1, 2001
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`
`(63) Continuation-in-part of application No. 09/400,413, filed on
`Sep. 21, 1999, now Pat. No. 6,384,850.
`
`(51)
`
`Int. Cl.
`G06F 3/00 (cid:9)
`
`(2006.01)
`
` 345/810; 345/841
`(52) U.S. Cl. (cid:9)
` 345/810,
`(58) Field of Classification Search (cid:9)
`345/841, 765, 744, 781
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`5,724,069 A (cid:9)
`
`3/1998 Chen
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`"Graphic User Interface Builder Menu Construction Using A
`Tree-View Container" IBM Technical Disclosure Bullentin,
`vol. 38 No. 9 Sep. 1995.
`"Entertainment Industry Leader Rich Rank Takes Helm At
`Cybermeals, World's Largest Online Meal Ordering Sys-
`tem" Sep. 15, 1998, <URL:Http://www.food.com/food.sph/
`saisp . . . s/aboutus/pressrelease.jsp?id=228>, printed on
`Apr. 20, 2001.
`"W3C Putting Compact HTML, HDML to Test for Net
`Access—Mobile Markup Langueages Face Of Yoshiko
`Hara, Apr. 6, 1998, <URL:http://www.techweb.com/se/
`directlink.cgi?eet19980406s0089>, printed Sep. 2, 1999.
`
`Primary Examiner—Cao (Kevin) Nguyen
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Morgan & Finnegan, L.L.P.
`
`(57) (cid:9)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`An information management and synchronous communica-
`tions system and method facilitates database equilibrium and
`synchronization with wired, wireless and Web-based
`systems, user-friendly and efficient generation of computer-
`ized menus and reservations with handwritten/voice modi-
`fications for restaurants and other applications that utilize
`equipment with nonstandard graphical formats, display sizes
`and/or applications for use in remote data entry, information
`management and communication with host computer, digital
`input device or, remote pager via standard hardwired
`connection, the internet, a wireless link, printer or the like.
`
`16 Claims, 8 Drawing Sheets
`
`POSce-System (cid:9)
`
`CHECKS (cid:9)
`
`Login (cid:9)
`Choose Item: (cid:9)
`App
`
`Salads
`
`ORDER (cid:9)
`
`VIEW (cid:9)
`
`PAY
`
`Dessert
`
`Sdwch
`
`Tb167 (cid:9) 5st 2
`Drinks
`Entrees
`
`Soups
`
`MI
`
`15
`
`16
`
`7-
`
`Direction:
`MN
`Select Guest to Order for:
`
`PREV
`
`1
`
`2
`
`Last Selection
`
`PAGE
`
`NODS
`
`REMOVE LAST
`
`ok
`
`Cancel
`
`Browse
`
`Apple, Exhibit 1005, Page 1
`
`(cid:9)
`(cid:9)
`(cid:9)
`(cid:9)
`(cid:9)
`(cid:9)
`(cid:9)
`(cid:9)
`(cid:9)
`(cid:9)
`(cid:9)
`(cid:9)
`(cid:9)
`(cid:9)
`(cid:9)
`
`
`U.S. Patent (cid:9)
`
`Jan. 3, 2006
`
`Sheet 1 of 8 (cid:9)
`
`US 6,982,733 B1
`
`LC) (cid:9)
`
`c0
`
`CO (cid:9)
`
`a) (cid:9)
`
`Cr)
`
`cZ)
`CO CI Cal
`CZ)
`C/1
`
`•1"--
`
`0
`L
`
`g .8 in
`. =
`
`Display
`
`,7
`C,J
`
`11 1:4711
`CV Cs1
`
`Code (cid:9)
`
`II
`
`I (cid:9)
`
`0 (cid:9)
`
`1466 (cid:9)
`
`I Price
`
`ill
`km
`
`Ic
`
`Code (cid:9)
`
`s
`
`(1)/
`
`0
`
`E
`
`Modifier (cid:9)
`
`ft *
`
`Kg
`
`0
`
`—161x
`
`File Edit View help
`POS — Menu Explorer (cid:9)
`
`L.,
`cc
`__,Q
`Lo __.
` ,_ n (cid:9) d (cid:9)
`O (cid:9)
`=
`3 m (cid:9)
`[a (cid:9)
`J
`= = =
`K (cid:9)
`.-- m=
`(cid:9) I-1-1
`— (7) (cid:9)
`Gt-- nm==
`oo
`a 1—
`En t.-
`42,3CID
`'0 '0 '0 '0 'i?) Cr) -0 (cid:9)
`(I) 4- CD 17) (cid:9)
`5 (cid:9)
`-.
`M Li. j (cid:9)
`° (cid:9)
`c)
`LLI E (cid:9) 0 J (cid:9)
`0 (cid:9)
`171 (cid:9)
`(13 a,
`• - -1C) CID (cid:9)
`NI
`I
`:;---, (cid:9) 0) (cid:9)
`cr) .-- (cid:9) Cl)
`v -c, 7= in_
`.
`tr)
`c) (cid:9)
`.- (cid:9)
`0) to X
`(1,
`c..) i= a El El 111-J
`(cid:9) 2 =
`ci.) (cid:9)
`E Cl)c
`„ (cid:9)
`(cid:9) a
`_t.,- =
`= a_ an •1.-z
`a
`in_ cn
`V a 13 D 1E-
`-11 N.7 Ca cr) cr)
`= ¢ cn cn
`•
`ljj
`a, m 00 0
`a
`1: a-- (cid:9)
`--E 0 00
`
`
`
`,.
`
`(
`
`L.L.I
`
`(..0
`0 0
`
`0
`
`Sub Modifier (cid:9)
`
`=
`ZZ
`
`01 QUANTIT( (cid:9)
`
`Apple, Exhibit 1005, Page 2
`
`(cid:9)
`(cid:9)
`(cid:9)
`(cid:9)
`(cid:9)
`(cid:9)
`(cid:9)
`(cid:9)
`
`
`U.S. Patent (cid:9)
`
`Jan. 3, 2006
`
`Sheet 2 of 8 (cid:9)
`
`US 6,982,733 B1
`
`Modifier
`
`Long Name:
`
`Short Name:
`
`Code:
`
`Price:
`
`0
`
`OK
`
`Menu Category
`
`Long Name:
`
`Short Name:
`
`Cancel
`
`Browse
`
`FIG.2
`
`El
`
`10
`
`X
`
`11
`7—
`
`OK
`
`Cancel
`
`Browse
`
`FIG.3
`
`Apple, Exhibit 1005, Page 3
`
`(cid:9)
`(cid:9)
`(cid:9)
`
`
`U.S. Patent (cid:9)
`
`Jan. 3, 2006
`
`Sheet 3 of 8 (cid:9)
`
`US 6,982,733 B1
`
`a)
`cf)
`3
`0
`onL._ i
`
`0
`C
`0
`C.-.)
`
`0
`
`-4- •
`
`0
`
`1
`
`I
`
`Spices include lemon pepper, paprika, ginger.I
`steamed broccoli, carrots and zucchini.
`topped with a creamy cilantro sauce. Served with
`Flame broiled brandy marinated Tender Chicken Breast
`
`c•J
`,--
`
`X
`
`E E
`I-7
`id_
`cl) Li
`
`c-4 __
`
`5
`0_1
`
`I-0 cr)
`.---•
`
`5612
`
`h.;
`
`C-3 I
`
`cn
`.<7
`c....c..)
`
` in_a)
`. c.) a) =I
`
`Short Name:
`
`Chicken Alaska
`
`Long Name:
`
`E
`a.)
`-....,
`=
`a)
`M
`
`Apple, Exhibit 1005, Page 4
`
`(cid:9)
`
`
`U.S. Patent (cid:9)
`
`Jan. 3, 2006 (cid:9)
`
`Sheet 4 of 8 (cid:9)
`
`US 6,982,733 B1
`
`CL)
`C.,
`= 0
`C_.)
`
`O
`
`c
`3
`O
`al
`C)
`>
`O
`M
`
`LO
`
`• 0
`LT_
`
`a,
`E
`ci z
`
`A
`A
`C)
`ca
`c —1
`
`C)
`>.
`0
`E
`a.)
`C4
`V
`V
`
`Selected Columns
`
`14,
`
`K
`
`x
`
`>..,
`1=1 cl)
`CD
`CV
`ca -. CT) (cid:9)
`! -.3 . C-2
`c , ) 0 7
`6 -g C) Ot,
`
`Available Columns:
`
`Select Columns
`
`C)
`IV
`.
`E
`0
`ci) =
`U
`
`Apple, Exhibit 1005, Page 5
`
`
`
`U.S. Patent (cid:9)
`
`Jan. 3, 2006
`
`Sheet 5 of 8 (cid:9)
`
`US 6,982,733 B1
`
`CO d U-
`
`Waiting for message
`
`
`
`NI-
`
`
`
`— kAPccnnp Inn (cid:9)
`
`1
`
`1->-1<
`
`rint Log File View Log File Simulate
`Restaurant—Wireless Traffic Cont...
`
`•---. (cid:9)
`
`Apple, Exhibit 1005, Page 6
`
`(cid:9)
`
`
`U.S. Patent (cid:9)
`
`Jan. 3, 2006
`
`Sheet 6 of 8 (cid:9)
`
`US 6,982,733 B1
`
`N.
`0
`LI
`
`O
`
`(.0
`
`x
`
`Cr)
`CD
`0
`
`N
`
`Select Guest to Order for:
`
`0-
`
`=
`
`co
`_Ne
`
`CD
`
`cn
`0
`D
`0
`V)
`
`"V
`a) Cn
`
`CI)
`CV
`(=1
`
`..=
`U
`t)
`c..o
`
`E a)
`...-•
`0 Q-act
`a) cr) 0
`0 _.=
`C__I
`
`Cf2
`-CI
`ID
`0
`V)
`
`0
`
`V") SG
`WL.L.1
`=
`C-,
`
`=
`CT,
`0 —J
`
`Apple, Exhibit 1005, Page 7
`
`(cid:9)
`
`
`U.S. Patent (cid:9)
`
`Jan. 3, 2006 (cid:9)
`
`Sheet 7 of 8
`
`US 6,982,733 B1
`
`0
`
`Lt
`LD
`0
`
`cs
`
`-—
`
`-------,
`.----
`-
`
`------ (cid:9)
`
`Apple, Exhibit 1005, Page 8
`
`(cid:9)
`
`
`U.S. Patent (cid:9)
`
`Jan. 3, 2006
`
`Sheet 8 of 8 (cid:9)
`
`US 6,982,733 B1
`
`L. L." CS)
`OOCO0
`4- CY) ' C
`
`ro
`
`QC) C CU
`
`>
`Cf)
`
`r.'". (cid:9)
`rs4 2- (cid:9)
`
`Wireless Hub
`
`a) ZO C
`'t a) a.
`Cu-)
`0
`cr)
`0 + Ln
`
`Ameranth 21st Century Communications Integration
`
`Apple, Exhibit 1005, Page 9
`
`
`
`US 6,982,733 B1
`
`1
`INFORMATION MANAGEMENT AND
`SYNCHRONOUS COMMUNICATIONS
`SYSTEM WITH MENU GENERATION, AND
`HANDWRITING AND VOICE
`MODIFICATION OF ORDERS
`
`5
`
`The present application is a continuation-in-part of appli-
`cation Ser. No. 09/400,413, filed Sep. 21, 1999 now U.S.
`Pat. No. 6,384,850. The contents of application Ser. No.
`09/400,413 are incorporated herein by reference. (cid:9)
`
`10
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`This invention relates to an information management and
`synchronous communications system and method for gen-
`eration of computerized menus for restaurants and other 15
`applications with specialized display and synchronous com-
`munications requirements related to, for example, the use of
`equipment or sore with non-PC-standard graphical formats,
`display sizes and/or applications for use in remote data entry,
`information management and synchronous communication 20
`between host computer, digital input device or remote pager
`via standard hardwired connection, the internet, a wireless
`link, smart phone or the like.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION (cid:9)
`
`25
`
`While computers have dramatically altered many aspects
`of modern life, pen and paper have prevailed in the hospi-
`tality industry, e.g., for restaurant ordering, reservations and
`wait-list management, because of their simplicity, ease of
`training and operational speed. For example, ordering pre-
`pared foods has historically been done verbally, either
`directly to a waiter or over the telephone, whereupon the
`placed order is recorded on paper by the recipient or
`instantly filled.
`Although not previously adapted for wide-scale use in the
`hospitality industry, various forms of digital wireless com-
`munication devices are in common use, e.g., digital wireless
`messengers and pagers. Also in common use are portable
`laptop and handheld devices. However, user-friendly infor-
`mation management and communication capability not
`requiring extensive computer expertise has not heretofore
`been available for use in everyday life such as for restaurant
`ordering, reservations and wait-list management, Hundreds
`of millions of dollars have been spent on personal digital
`assistant ("PDA") development seeking to produce a small,
`light-weight and inexpensive device that could be adapted to
`such uses; yet none have yielded a satisfactory solution.
`One of the inherent shortcomings of PDA type devices is
`that, as they strive for small size, low weight and low cost,
`they must compromise the size and clarity of the operator
`display medium interface itself, which in most cases is one
`of a variety of LCD (liquid crystal display) type devices. As
`the size of the display shrinks, the amount of information
`that may be displayed at any one point or time is commen-
`surately decreased, typically requiring multiple screens and
`displays to display information to the operator. This reduces
`the overall utility of the device. Additionally, the smaller
`display and keyboard results in a non-optimal operator
`interface, which slows down operation and is thus unaccept-
`able for the time criticality of ordering, reservation and
`wait-list management and other similar applications. This
`necessitates many design compromises which in the aggre-
`gate have resulted in limited acceptance of PDA type
`devices in the restaurant and hospitality fields.
`Many of the negatives prevalent in earlier devices have
`been eliminated, but, to date, there is still no integrated
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`2
`solution to the ordering/waitlist/reservation problem dis-
`cussed above. With the advent of the Palm® and other
`handheld wireless devices, however, the efforts to make such
`devices ubiquitous have begun to bear fruit at least in some
`areas, e.g., personal calendars. However, substantial use of
`such devices in the restaurant and hospitality context has not
`occurred to date. As discussed above, at least one of the
`reasons PDAs have not been quickly assimilated into the
`restaurant and hospitality industries is that their small dis-
`play sizes are not readily amenable to display of menus as
`they are commonly printed on paper or displayed on, e.g.,
`large, color desktop computer screens. Another reason is that
`software for fully realizing the potential for wireless hand-
`held computing devices has not previously been available.
`Such features would include fast and automatic synchroni-
`zation between a central database and multiple handheld
`devices, synchronization and communication between a
`World Wide Web ("Web") server and multiple handheld
`devices, a well-defined application program interface
`("API") that enables third parties such as point of sale
`("POS") companies, affinity program companies and inter-
`net content providers to fully integrate with computerized
`hospitality applications, real-time communication over the
`internet with direct connections or regular modem dialup
`connections and support for batch processing that can be
`done periodically throughout the day to keep multiple sites
`in synch with the central database. A single point of entry for
`all hospitality applications to communicate with one another
`wirelessly has also previously been unavailable. Such a
`single point of entry would work to keep all wireless
`handheld devices and linked Web sites in synch with the
`backoffice server (central database) so that the different
`components are in equilibrium at any given time and an
`overall consistency is achieved. For example, a reservation
`made online would be automatically communicated to the
`backoffice server and then synchronized with all the wireless
`handheld devices wirelessly. Similarly, changes made on
`any of the wireless handheld devices would be reflected
`instantaneously on the backoffice server, Web pages and the
`other handheld devices.
`For the foregoing reasons, paper-based ordering, waitlist
`and reservations management have persisted in the face of
`widespread computerization in practically all areas of com-
`merce. At most, computerization of these functions has been
`largely limited to fixed computer solutions, i.e., desktop or
`mainframe, because of the problems heretofore faced in
`configuring wireless handheld devices and maintaining data-
`base synchronization for such applications. Specifically, the
`unavailability of any simple technique for creating restau-
`rant menus and the like for use in a limited display area
`wireless handheld device or that is compatible with ordering
`over the internet has prevented widespread adoption of
`computerization in the hospitality industry. Without a viable
`solution for this problem, organizations have not made the
`efforts or investments to establish automated interfaces to
`handheld and Web site menus and ordering options.
`A principal object of the present invention is to provide an
`improved information management and synchronous com-
`munications system and method which facilitates user-
`friendly and efficient generation of computerized menus for
`restaurants and other applications that utilize equipment
`with non-PC-standard graphical formats, display sizes and/
`or applications.
`A further object of the present invention is to provide an
`improved information management and synchronous com-
`munications system and method which provides for entry,
`management and communication of information from the
`
`Apple, Exhibit 1005, Page 10
`
`(cid:9)
`
`
`US 6,982,733 B1
`
`3
`operator as well as to and from another computer, Web page
`menu, remote digital device using a standard hardwired
`connection, the internet or a wireless link
`A further object of the present invention is to provide an
`improved information management and synchronous com-
`munications system which is small, affordable and light-
`weight yet incorporates a user-friendly operator interface
`and displays menus in a readily comprehensible format.
`A further object of the present invention is to provide a
`synchronous information management and communications
`system which enables automatic updating of both wireless
`and internet menu systems when a new menu item is added,
`modified or deleted from any element of the system.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`5
`
`10
`
`15
`
`4
`ally communicated and exchanged. The resultant combined
`message of one or more fixed indications selected from a
`menu of a device such as a band-held, and dynamic hand-
`written messages and/or data provides an even more pow-
`erful tool than either modality used independently.
`For example a restaurant server taking a drink order could
`select from a menu of her hand-held device's screen "Iced
`Tea", and then manually write in the literal screen of her
`hand-held "with lemon" as shown in FIG. 8. The manually-
`written information could, for example, be printed or dis-
`played in front of a bartender preparing the drink order. The
`indication "Iced Tea" as selected from a menu of the
`hand-held would also be presented to the bartender, perhaps
`by printing and/or screen display. The server can also select
`any printer from within the hospitality establishment directly
`from the operator interface on the screen of the hand-held
`and have either the order or the receipt printed out where it
`is most convenient and efficient Similarly, a server taking a
`drink order could select from a menu of her hand-held
`device's screen "Iced Tea", and then record the voice
`message "with lemon" using her hand-held device integral
`microphone. The recorded information could, for example,
`be played on a speaker attached to a computer, POS system,
`or the like located near the bartender or chef preparing the
`order. The indication "Iced Tea" as selected from a menu of
`the hand-held would also be presented to the bartender/chef,
`perhaps by printing and/or screen display. Both the literal
`screen capture method and the voice recorded message
`method combine the power of automatic fixed menu gen-
`eration with the expanded flexibility to resolve operational
`issues that exist throughout the hospitality market without
`this innovative solution. Additionally, in certain
`embodiments, hand-writing and voice recognition technolo-
`gies can be utilized to convert the manual operator inputs
`into appropriate text messages which can be combined with
`the computer generated menu options to convey the com-
`bined information to, for example, a bartender or chef.
`Similarly, hand-held devices can link the above innova-
`tions to individual customers at specific tables through a
`graphical user interface on the hand-held screen that assigns
`each customer a number within a table. For example, table
`20 might have 6 customers (1-6) and each customer has a
`different order, By enabling the linkage of the orders to
`specific customer positions within the table and accessible
`from the hand-held screen, the servers can easily track and
`link the specific orders to the specific customers.
`The use of wireless handheld devices in the restaurant and
`hospitality industry is becoming increasingly pervasive as
`restaurant owners and managers become more aware of the
`benefits. With the proper wireless handheld system in place,
`restaurants can experience increased table turns from
`improved server productivity and shorter order taking and
`check paying times. Restaurants and POS companies seek-
`ing to provide a wireless handheld interface to their desktop-
`based POS systems or a Web page equivalent face several
`challenges. These challenges include building a menu using
`their existing database and transferring the menu onto hand-
`held devices or Web pages that will interface with servers
`wirelessly or to restaurants/customers over the internet The
`menu generation approach of the present invention is the
`first coherent solution available to accomplish these objec-
`tives easily and allows one development effort to produce
`both the handheld and Web page formats, link them with the
`existing POS systems, and thus provides a way to turn a
`complicated, time-consuming task into a simple process.
`The information management and synchronous commu-
`nications system of the present invention features include
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`The foregoing and other objects of the present invention
`are provided by a synchronous information management and
`communications system and method optimized for simplic-
`ity of operation which incorporates menu generation for
`creation of menus to be used with wireless remote handheld
`computer and PDA devices, the internet or any application
`where simple and efficient generation of menus is appropri-
`ate. The menu generation approach of the present invention
`includes a desktop software application that enables the
`rapid creation and building of a menu and provides a means
`to instantly download the menu configuration onto, e.g., a
`handheld device or Web page and to seamlessly interface
`with standard point of sale ("POS") systems to enable
`automatic database updates and communication exchanges
`when a change or input occurs in any of the other system
`elements. To solve the above and other related problems, an
`information management and communications system is
`provided which results in a dramatic reduction in the amount
`of time, and hence cost, to generate and maintain comput-
`erized menus for, e.g., restaurants and other related appli-
`cations that utilize non-PC-standard graphical formats, dis-
`play sizes or applications.
`The menu generation approach of the present invention
`has many advantages over previous approaches in solving
`the problem of converting paper-based menus or Windows®
`PC-based menu screens to small PDA-sized displays and
`Web pages. In one embodiment, the present invention is a
`software tool for building a menu, optimizing the process of
`how the menu can be downloaded to either a handheld
`device or Web page, and making manual or automatic
`modifications to the menu after initial creation.
`Manual modifications to the generated menus include
`handwritten screen captures and/or voice recorded message
`captures coupled with the standard menus and modifiers 50
`generated according to standard choices . Such manual
`modifications enable an extremely rapid and intuitive inter-
`face to enhance operations and further optimize the overall
`operator interface. This approach solves a long-standing,
`operational issue in restaurant/hotel/casino food/drink order- 55
`ing when customers want something unusual and not antici-
`pated and available through normal computerized selections.
`As seen in FIG. 8, the operator screen on the hand-held can
`capture handwritten information specific to a customers
`requests directly on the touch-sensitive screen of the wire- 60
`less computing device. This additional information can then
`be coupled with the fixed menu and modifier information
`generated automatically from the hospitality application
`software and the combined message can be sent to a res-
`taurant point of sale (POS) system, printer or/or display 65
`system. This unique operator interface enables universal
`languages and an unlimited set of information to be manu-
`
`40
`
`45
`
`Apple, Exhibit 1005, Page 11
`
`
`
`US 6,982,733 B1
`
`5
`fast synchronization between a central database and multiple
`handheld devices, synchronization and communication
`between a Web server and multiple handheld devices, a
`well-defined API that enables third parties such as POS
`companies, affinity program companies and internet content 5
`providers to fully integrate with computerized hospitality
`applications, real-time communication over the internet with
`direct connections or regular modem dialup connections and
`support for batch processing that can be done periodically
`throughout the day to keep multiple sites in synch with the 10
`central database.
`The communication module also provides a single point
`of entry for all hospitality applications, e.g., reservations,
`frequent customer ticketing, wait lists, etc. to communicate
`with one another wirelessly and over the Web. This com- 15
`munication module is a layer that sits on top of any com-
`munication protocol and acts as an interface between hos-
`pitality applications and the communication protocol and
`can be easily updated to work with a new communication
`protocol without modifying the core hospitality applications. 20
`An exemplary system diagram of such a communications
`systemic relationship is shown in FIG. 9 and serves as an
`example of the power of the synchronization element of the
`invention through a common, linked solution. A single point
`of entry works to keep all wireless handheld devices and 25
`linked web sites in synch with the backoffice server appli-
`cations so that the different components are in equilibrium at
`any given time and an overall consistency is achieved. For
`example, a reservation made online can be automatically
`communicated to the backoffice server and then synchro- 30
`nized with all the wireless handheld devices wirelessly.
`Similarly, changes made on any of the wireless handheld
`devices are reflected instantaneously on the backoffice
`server Web pages and the other handheld devices.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`The foregoing features and advantages of the present
`invention can be appreciated more fully from the following
`description, with references to the accompanying drawings
`in which:
`FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a window dis-
`played on a computer display screen which shows a hierar-
`chical tree menu, modifier window and sub-modifier win-
`dow in conformity with a preferred embodiment of the
`present invention.
`FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of a modifier dialog
`box in conformity with a preferred embodiment of the
`present invention.
`FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of a menu category
`dialog box in conformity with a preferred embodiment of the
`present invention.
`FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of a menu item dialog
`box in conformity with a preferred embodiment of the
`present invention.
`FIG. 5 is a schematic representation of a display customi-
`zation dialog box in conformity with a preferred embodi-
`ment of the present invention.
`FIG. 6 is a schematic representation of a communications
`control window in conformity with a preferred embodiment
`of the present invention.
`FIG. 7 is a schematic representation of a point of sale
`interface on a wireless handheld device for use in displaying
`page menus created in conformity with a preferred embodi-
`ment of the present invention.
`FIG. 8 is an example of a literal, hand-written screen
`according to embodiments of the present invention.
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`6
`FIG. 9 is an exemplary system diagram relating to
`embodiments of the present invention.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`INVENTION
`Most personal computers today run under an operating
`system that provides a graphical user interface ("GUI") for
`accessing user applications. A GUI is used in the preferred
`embodiment of the present invention. Through an interface
`of windows, pull-down menus, and toolbars, GUI operating
`systems have simplified PCs and have rendered computer
`technology more user friendly by eliminating the need to
`memorize keyboard entry sequences. In addition, GUIs
`allow users to manipulate their data as they would physical
`entities. For example, a window can represent a file and the
`contents of the window can represent the records of the file.
`The window can be opened, closed, or set aside on a desktop
`as if it were an actual object. The records of the file can be
`created, deleted, modified and arranged in a drag-and-drop
`fashion as if they also were physical objects. The most
`common GUI operating systems that provide this "object-
`oriented" environment for personal computers are Microsoft
`Windows® systems, including Windows CEO for handheld
`wireless devices and the like. Generally, a particular appli-
`cation program presents information to a user through a
`window of a GUI by drawing images, graphics or text within
`the window region. The user, in turn, communicates with the
`application by "pointing" at graphical objects in the window
`with a pointer that is controlled by a hand-operated pointing
`device, such as a mouse, or by pressing keys on a keyboard.
`The use of menus is conventional in GUIs for software
`applications. Menus are typically utilized to provide end
`users of applications with available choices or processing
`options while using the applications. For example, in a
`typical desktop or interactive application, selection of a
`"file" from a menu bar may cause display of a context menu
`which provides "file" options. File options can have addi-
`tional subordinate or child options associated with them. If
`a file option having subordinate options is selected, the child
`options are displayed in context in a child menu or submenu
`proximate to the selected parent option. One or more of the
`child options provided in the child menu may have further
`subordinate options. Thus, such a menu system comprises
`cascading sets of menus which are displayable in context to
`show the parent/child relationships between options of the
`context menu. A menu system of this type is incorporated
`into the preferred embodiment of the invention. The pre-
`ferred embodiment of the present invention uses typical
`hardware elements in the form of a computer workstation,
`operating system and application software elements which
`configure the hardware elements for operation in accordance
`with the present invention. A typical workstation platform
`includes hardware such as a central processing unit
`("CPU"), e.g., a Pentium® microprocessor, RAM, ROM,
`hard drive storage in which are stored various system and
`application programs and data used within the workstation,
`modem, display screen, keyboard, mouse and optional
`removable storage devices such as floppy drive or a CD
`ROM drive. The workstation hardware is configured by
`software including an operating system, e.g., Windows® 95,
`98, NT or CE, networking software (including internet
`browsing software) and application software components.
`The preferred embodiment also encompasses a typical file
`server platform including hardware such as a CPU, e.g.,
`Pentium® microprocessor, RAM, ROM, hard drive,
`modem, and optional removable storage devices, e.g., floppy
`or CD ROM drive. The server hardware is configured by
`
`Apple, Exhibit 1005, Page 12
`
`
`
`US 6,982,733 B1
`
`8
`files are stored on a PC with folders and subfolders. The
`menu structure is similar to the Windows® File Explorer in
`the way the items are organized hierarchically. Below is an
`example of how an item may be configured:
`
`Menu
`» Entrees
`» Red Meat
`NY Strip
`» Vegetables
`»
`Tomato
`»
`Lettuce
`Meat Temperature
`» Medium Rare
`
`10
`
`15
`
`7
`software including an operating system, e.g., Windows® 95,
`98, NT or CE, networking software (including Web server
`software) and database software.
`A computer workstation for use in the preferred embodi-
`ment also includes a GUI. As is conventional, the GUI is 5
`configured to present a graphical display on the display
`screen arranged to resemble a single desktop. Execution of
`an application program involves one or more user interface
`objects represented by windows and icons. Typically, there
`may be several windows and icons simultaneously present
`on the desktop and displaying information that is generated
`by different applications. The window environment is gen-
`erally part of the operating system software that includes a
`collection of utility programs for controlling the operation of
`the computer system. The computer system, in turn, interacts
`with application programs to provide higher level
`functionality, including a direct interface with the user.
`Specifically, the application programs make use of operating
`system functions by issuing task commands to the operating
`system which then performs the requested task. For
`example, an application program may request that the oper-
`ating system display certain information on a window for
`presentation to the user.
`An aspect of the preferred embodiment of the information
`management and communications system of the invention is
`shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 1 shows an example of the GUI
`provided by the operating system of the preferred embodi-
`ment of the present invention. With reference to FIG. 1, the
`preferred embodiment includes an intuitive GUI I from
`which to build a menu on a desktop or other computer. A
`hierarchical tree structure 2 is used to show the different
`relationships between the menu categories 3 (e.g., soups,
`salads, appetizers, entrees, deserts, etc.), menu items 4 (e.g.,
`green salad, chicken caesar salad, etc.), menu modifiers 5
`(e.g., dressing, meat temperature, condiments, etc.) and
`menu sub-modifiers 6 (e.g., Italian, French, ranch, bleu
`cheese, etc.).
`The procedure followed in configuring a menu on the
`desktop PC and then downloading the menu configuration
`onto the POS interface on the handheld device in conform-
`ance with the preferred embodiment is as follows.
`The menu configuration application is launched by click-
`ing on the appropriate icon on the desktop display screen.
`FIG. 1 will then be displayed. There are three windows on
`the screen shown in FIG. 1. The left window is the menu tree
`7, also called the tree view. The top right window is the
`Modifiers window 8 and the bottom right window is the
`Sub-Modifi