`Kurland
`
`[19]
`
`[11] Patent Number:
`
`4,547,851
`
`[45] Date of Patent:
`
`Oct. 15, 1985
`
`.................... ., 358/86
`4/1981 Freeman et al.
`4,264,925
`8/1981 Lucero et al.
`................ .. 364/410 X
`4,283,709
`4,296,476 10/1981 Mayer et al.
`...................... ,. 364/900
`4,306,388 12/1981 Yuter . . . . . . .
`. . . . . . .. 52/6
`4,333,152
`1/1982 Best
`.. 364/410 X
`4,388,689
`l/1983 1-layman et al.
`.... .. 364/401
`4,396,985
`8/1983 Ohara ........ ..
`.. 364/405
`4,415,065 ll/1983 Sandstedt
`.. 235/383
`
`
`
`.
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`Wilkinson, Jr., “Restaurant System", IBM Technical
`Disclosure Bulletin. vol. 24, No. 9, Feb. 1982,
`(pp.
`4630-4631).
`
`Primary Examiner—Jerry Smith
`Assistant Examiner—Gary V. Harkcom
`Attorney, Agent. or F1'rm—Stiefel, Gross, Kurland &
`Pavane
`
`ABSTRACT
`[57]
`An interactive restaurant communication system (10)
`provides integrated food and entertainment processing
`which enables restaurant patrons to accomplish both
`food selection and select and receive entertainment on a
`common video monitor (56) at their table. The patrons
`can obtain menus for individual food selection on the
`video monitor (56) at their tables and individually enter
`their orders into a table station “intel1igent" terminal
`(12, 14, 16, 18, 20) at their tables. In addition they can
`select from and interactively play a variety of remotely
`retrievable interactive entertainment activities using the
`video monitor (56) while waiting for the food to arrive,
`and if desired, where applicable, have the food and
`entertainment charges automatically added to a com-
`posite bill which may be printed at the table station
`terminal (12, 14, I6, 18, 20) or at a remote central loca-
`tion. The food and entertainment functions of the termi-
`
`nal (12, 14, 16, 18, 20) are down-line loaded from a
`-
`1
`central data base (22, 32) in response to terminal re-
`‘1“°S13 ‘h‘=T°f°‘-
`
`11 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures
`
`p:7;;fl....F=IrF3~‘.
`
`
`I
`_1 1.2‘ _J
`1
`
`[54]
`
`INTEGRATED INTERACTIVE RESTAURANT
`COMMUNICATION METHOD FOR FOOD
`AND ENTERTAINMENT PROCESSING
`
`[76]
`
`Inventor:
`
`Lawrence G. Kurland, 26 Farmington
`La., Melville, N.Y. 11747
`
`[21] App1.No.: 474,983
`[22] Filed:
`Mar. 14, 1983
`
`[51]
`
`Int. Cl.“ ...................... .. G06F 3/04; G06F 15/24;
`G06F 15/44
`[52] U.S. C1. .................................. .. 364/401; 364/410;
`364/900
`[58] Field of Search .............................. .. 364/400-401,
`364/404-405, 410-412, 200 MS File, 900 MS
`File; 235/7 R, 383
`
`[56]
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`.. 364/900 X
`6/1971 Felcheck
`3,588,838
`178/5.6
`3,668,307 6/ 1972 Face et a1.
`178/58
`3,691,295
`9/1972 Fisk .............
`178/6,6 A
`3,746,780
`7/1973 Stetten et al.
`178/5.6
`3,752,908
`8/1973 Boenke et al.
`.. 325/308
`3,757,225
`9/1973 Ulicki ........ ..
`340/172.5
`3,836,888
`9/1974 Boenke et al.
`. 235/151.21
`3,903,402
`9/1975 Petit et al.
`178/6.8
`3,968,327
`7/1976 Gregg, III .... ..
`340/172.5
`4,001,785
`1/1977 Miyazaki et al.
`358/84
`.
`4,008,369
`2/1977 Theurer et al.
`4,028,733
`6/1977 Ulicki .................................... 360/10
`4,054,911 I0/1977 Fletcher et al.
`358/141
`.. 364/200
`4,064,490 12/1977 Nagel
`.. 364/200
`4,075,686
`2/1978 Calle et a1.
`.. 364/200
`4,084,229
`35/9 A
`4,117,605 10/1978 Kurland et al.
`..
`4,122,519 10/1978 Bielawski et a1.
`.. 364/200
`4,128,757 12/1978 Garner, Jr.
`....... .,
`.. 235/383
`
`
`
`..
`..
`
`..
`
`..
`
`4/1978 Taylor et al.
`
`
`
`4'143*360
`4,164,024
`4’l91,956
`4,222,111
`4,247,106
`4,251,691
`
`3/1979 Bernhart 9' 31‘
`8/1979 Gilbert ........
`3/1980 Gmmhuis
`9/1930 Sloan etal.
`1/19111
`Jeffers et a1.
`2/1931 Kakihara et al.
`
`.
`
`" 340/7“
`.. 364/900
`H 340/789
`.... .. 364/900
`. 364/4l0X
`179/2 TV
`
`1233,71... r.;:,71;:;.:.n_,_,';:,:;m, .F;;;~':...{7;7«Z,?. ::.“,;,7rHc;;;,7,
`
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`PMC Exhibit 212
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`Apple v. PM
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`Page 1
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`Apple v. PMC
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`PMC Exhibit 2124
`Apple v. PMC
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`PMC Exhibit 2124
`Apple v. PMC
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`PMC Exhibit 2124
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`Apple v. PM
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`PMC Exhibit 2124
`Apple v. PMC
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`Page 7
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`PMC Exhibit 212
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`Apple v. PM
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`PMC Exhibit 2124
`Apple v. PMC
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`
`
`INTEGRATED INTERACTIVE RESTAURANT
`COMMUNICATION METHOD FOR FOOD AND
`ENTERTAINMENT PROCESSING
`
`5
`
`1
`
`4,547,851
`
`2
`down-line loading and two-way communication with a
`central data base, can accomplish, among other things,
`transmission of orders to the kitchen,
`independently
`selectable down-loading of entertainment modules to
`the table stations for interactive play at the terminals;
`automatic computation of composite bills for both food
`CR0S5'RF-‘FERENCE TO RELATED
`and entertainment, and accumulation of detailed infor-
`APPLICATIONS
`matloh f0r restaurant mahagemeht
`This application is related to the commonly owned
`Th€56 dis”-dV3hta855 0t thfi Prior art are OVC-rcome by
`copending U.S. patent application entitled “Integrated
`Interactive Restaurant Communication System for to the System Of the Pre5€ht
`t"V€htl°"«
`Food and Entertainment Processin ”, filed Mar. 14,
`I983, bearing U.S. Ser. No. 474,984,gand naming Law-
`DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
`rence G1 Kurland, the named inventor herein, and Eli
`The present invention relates to an interactive inte-
`Gilbert as joint inventors, the contents of which is spe-
`grated restaurant
`information communication system
`cifically incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
`l5 for enabling both individualized food and entertainment
`TECHNICAL FIELD
`L32§"L°$lX§.Jfilfii§§‘§.§"Z£éi°§'$.‘i.?I§3,ii°,'l;..?$’n‘ills?§..“.§’.Zi
`The present invention relates to interactive communi-
`dia, between a central remote data base and a plurality
`C-'*1ti0r‘ Systems and Particularly t0 thtCraCttV¢ restaurant
`of different multipurpose table station terminals located
`Commuhlcattoh SY5t€mS-
`20 at various table stations throughout the restaurant for
`BACKGROUND ART
`use by the restaurant patrons for both food selection,
`based on down-line loaded food menu modules select-
`
`ably retrieved from the central data base, and entertain-
`I“t°”_‘°tl""_ °°"1’_“““l°3tl°“ _‘-Wstemsv “ch as th°§°
`ment selection and interactive play. such as video
`emPl°Y"18 ""d°° _d15Pl3Y te“m“3l5a are we" lm_"W“ "1
`the 3”! 5“°h 35 d‘5°l°5°d= by Way °f ex3mPl°- m U'S- 25 games, also based on down-line loaded entertainment
`Pat’ Nos‘ 4’o64'49O3 435479] 13 4’296'4763 4'143’3609
`modules selectably retrieved from the central data base.
`4'191'956i 4’122’5l9? 3’903’4029 4’001’8079 4’001’735;
`The charges, where applicable, for both the entertain-
`4’075'686i 4'D84’2295 4'25 L291; 3’746’78Oi 3’668’307i
`ment and food selections can be compositely automati-
`3,836,888; 3,752,908; 3,691,295; 3,968,327; 4,008,369;
`H b-H d
`h
`bl
`-
`- h
`h
`h
`r
`4028 733- 3 757 225- 3 814841-4117 605- 4264 925 and 30 Ca 3’.
`‘ °. ‘°‘. ‘"3. "‘‘“’°“’ W".
`‘.“’° Pam" a"'.“g
`4,164,024’ T’oda,
`tliislield is a ver activte one ’ mew
`a unique identification code for billing and/or service
`’
`’
`.
`‘
`y’
`.
`y
`’ pa .
`purposes, and the bills printed either centrally or at each
`larly with the advent and wide spread use of micro-
`table station
`processors in many business applications, as well as in
`'
`.
`.
`personal computers, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.
`The °"¥“““' datapase compnses 3 c.emra] mfam com‘
`4,296,476. These prior art interactive systems have ex- 35 Pmer which esscmmuy performs the mformanon rot“-
`panded dramatically in the field of cable television, such
`mg f"m.:”°ns’ and remote ""."‘°"“"'° smmge for swung
`as disclosed in many of the aforementioned exemplary
`the Van‘,ms foo‘? and emertammem, programs or sets of
`patents’ both in two_way communication systems’ such
`control instructions which are retrieved by the various
`as disclosed in
`Pat. Nos.
`and
`table Sta[IOIl terminals II] TCSPOIISC t0 S€leCIl0IlS miadelby
`way of example, and in one-way cyclical transmission 40 :)l:_eP’r:5‘::Sri‘;‘§:§£’§g:|:; ‘$2102:hglggllgligncfsrgtggggfi
`la: l\:lill;s1(;lc(’)sf.ecclxa1![]11‘§]Je?’a_sP‘:;‘te.]lN
`with kitchen and bar monitors, accumulation of restau-
`interactive systems such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.
`rant ma"a8_eme“t_ "‘f°{m3t'°“ and b'“"‘S 35 Wen, 33
`4,264,925 by way of examp]e_ Moreover, poim_0f_sa1e
`other functions,‘ if desired. Each of the table station
`terminals have become almost a total replacement for 45 terrhlth-_tl5 C0mPr_15e5 3 m1Cr0P_r0C°5S°r ahd lot‘-at Storage
`the cash register in today's businesses. The restaurant
`Whlch 1? d°W“'1‘"e l°3ded Wm‘ Selected Sets Of Control
`business, however_ has been very Slow to modernize in
`instructions from the central data base, under control of
`the area of service to the public except for modern
`3_ master °°“tr0l P_r03r3h_‘1: 1“ 1’€5P9h5€.t0
`l_35}tr0h 531°?‘
`fast-food operations, still relying on separate waitress
`t10r|a and 3 l0C3l V|d¢0 d15Dla_Y Which 15 Utilized t0 dis’
`serice for order taking and separate entertainment fea- 50 P133’ data {Or f°0d and ehtertalhmeht Selcctlorl 35 Well 35
`tures such as music boxes or video games, and the com-
`t0 h|t€raCtiVClY P13)’
`the 331113 Or entertainment _5€‘
`puter revolution has really not caught up. Rather, in-
`lectedi With the mtCr0D1'0Ce5S°r Processing thcomthg
`creased efficiency in restaurant service has primarily
`data to enzble ftlzaqod and elntctlsrtaizments Selectionslto :6:
`been focused on better manual s stems, such as the one
`transmitté
`t0 t E Cerltra
`ata
`356 an
`t0 6'13
`9 t 3
`developed at the Tifflin Inn in lysenver, Colo, where a 55 retrieved entertainment to be interactively played at the
`food coordinator person in the kitchen would interface
`tfirmhlal hl TBSPOHSC t0 the retrl€Ved 10C31lY 5t0red 53'
`between the waitresses, who never left the dining room,
`lected set of control
`instructions. The food orders.
`and the cook using busboys to transport the orders
`under control of the central computer, are collected
`which were assembled on carts, This system, however,
`from the various table station terminals, and displayed
`although sucessfu], was still a manual system and did 60 on central kitchen and bar monitors, with the orders
`not integrate food and entertainment functions. Thus,
`being cleared from the monitor Screen. Such as by using
`although cash register type of point-of-sale systems and
`touch-sensitive screens, as they are filled for each table
`automatic order entry systems have made in-roads into
`station. If desired, the orders can be assembled by table
`the restaurant business, as has distributed interactive
`station, each having its unique patron identification
`video game technology, applicant is not aware of any 65 code, and transported to the pertinent
`table station.
`Thus, each table station terminal can independently
`prior art systems which have sucessfully integrated
`interactive entertainment and food functions so that a
`serve to provide both food selection and entertainment
`functions, interactively with a central data base, in the
`plurality of independent
`table station terminals, via
`
`PMC Exhibit 212
`
`Apple v. PM
`|PR2016-0075
`
`Page
`
`PMC Exhibit 2124
`Apple v. PMC
`IPR2016-00755
`Page 9
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`integrated restaurant communication system of the
`present invention, whereby the overall efficiency of the
`restaurant will be enhanced and better controlled.
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`4,547,851
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`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 is an overall functional block diagram of the
`presently preferred embodiment of the integrated inter-
`active restaurant communication system of the present
`invention for providing integrated food and entertain-
`ment processing in accordance with the present inven-
`tion;
`FIG. 2 is an overall schematic block diagram of a
`typical table station terminal for use in the system of
`FIG. 1;
`FIG. 3 is an illustrative diagram of a typical organiza-
`tion of the memory unit portion of the terminal of FIG.
`2;
`
`FIG. 4 is a condition responsive logic flow diagram
`of a typical table station terminal processing control
`program for the terminal of FIG. 2;
`FIG. 5 is a condition responsive logic flow diagram
`of a typical kitchen or bar monitor processing control
`program for a typical kitchen or bar monitor in the
`system of FIG. 1;
`FIG. 6 is a condition responsive logic flow diagram
`of a typical processing control program for the central
`computer of the system of FIG. 1; and
`FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic perspective illustration of a
`typical table station in the system of FIG. 1.
`BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE
`_
`INVENTION
`Referring now to the drawings in detail, and initially
`to FIG. 1 thereof, an overall functional block diagram
`of the presently preferred embodiment of the integrated
`interactive restaurant communication system, generally
`referred to by the reference numeral 10, of the present
`invention is shown. As will be described in greater
`detail hereinafter, the interactive restaurant communi-
`cation system 10 provides integrated food and entertain-
`ment processing which enables restaurant patrons to
`obtain menus for individual food selection on a video
`monitor at their tables, individually enter their orders
`into a table station “intelligent" terminal at their tables,
`select from and interactively play a variety of remotely
`retrievable interactive entertainment activities using the
`video monitor while waiting for the food to arrive, and
`if desired, where applicable, have the food and enter-
`tainment charges automatically added to a composite
`bill which may be printed at the table station terminal or
`at a remote central location. Moreover, as will be fur-
`ther described herein, the system 10 of the present in-
`vention is preferably integrated into the overall restau-
`rant operation so that the food orders placed at the
`various table station terminals, with five such table
`station terminals 12, 14, 16, 18 and 20 being shown by
`way of example in FIG. 1, can be collected and routed
`by a central computer 22 to the kitchen and bar for
`display on video terminals or monitors 24, 26 and 28,
`respectively, for the cook and bartender to enable the
`orders to be promptly filled. which orders, as illustrated
`in FIG. 5, can also be displayed by time logged into the
`system 10 to enable the oldest orders to be filled first. In
`addition, restaurant efficiency can also be monitored by
`comparing the time the order is logged with the time
`the order is filled.
`As shown and preferred in FIG. 1, each of the table
`station terminals 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, which will be de-
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`scribed in greater detail hereinafter with reference to
`FIGS. 2-4 and 7, is preferably connected via a conven-
`tional two-way communications link, such as conven-
`tional RS-232 lines, to the central computer or proces-
`sor 22 through a conventional multiplexed communica-
`tion port 30. The quantity of table station terminals 12,
`14, 16, 18, 20, which may be serviced or controlled by
`the central computer 22 is essentially limited primarily
`by the capacity of the central computer 22 and associ-
`ated memory 32 which is selected, the desired functions
`to be performed and the desired access time, all of
`which are considerations within the ordinary skill of the
`art based on the system 10 description provided herein.
`The central processor 22 and associated memory 32,
`such as a conventional disk memory, comprise the cen-
`tral or remote data base 22-32 which is remotely ac-
`cessed by the various table station terminals 12, 14, 16,
`18, 20 in accordance with the present invention. By way
`of example, the central processor 22, which is selected
`to be compatible with the table station terminals 12, 14,
`16, 18, 20 employed, may be one having the capabilities
`of a PDP 11/23 processor, available from Digital
`Equipment Corporation, having, by way of example,
`128K of memory, with the associated memory 32 being,
`by way of example a data storage medium of the type
`such as available from Data Systems Design as its DSD
`880 combination flexible and Winchester disk drive. In
`addition, by way of example, the communications multi-
`plexers 30 may be of the type such as the DLV 11. As
`further shown and preferred in FIG. 1, a printer 34,
`such as a conventional dot matrix printer, such as an
`Anadex 9625A, is connected to the central processor 22
`for printing bills, if desired, as well as restaurant man-
`agement information and any other reports desired,
`such as market survey data. In addition, a conventional
`master console terminal 36, such as an ADM-3A,
`is
`preferably connected to the central processor 22 to
`enable, for example, review of restaurant operations and
`changes to be made in the data base 22-32. If desired, a
`conventional type of cash register point-of-sale terminal
`38 may also be connected to the central processor 22.
`With respect to the kitchen terminals 24, 26 and bar
`terminal 28 employed with the central processor 22,
`these terminals 24, 26, 28 are preferably conventional
`and employ touch-sensitive screens, such as the E10-
`graphics E270, placed over the video monitor screen, to
`enable keyboard free data entry, such as, by way of
`example, to clear an item from the screen after the order
`has been filled or to indicate order status. The associ-
`ated processing to be performed by these conventional
`data terminal 24, 26, 28, which are also selected to be
`compatible with the central processor 22 employed, if
`desired, may preferably be limited to requested order
`display and clearing of filled orders in response to data
`entry, such as via the aforementioned associated touch
`sensitive screen, with central computer 22 logging the
`time that the order is cleared from the screen if desired.
`Such an exemplary arrangement is illustrated in FIG. 5
`which is a self-explanatory condition responsive logic
`flow diagram of a typical kitchen or bar monitor or
`terminal processing control program for a typical
`kitchen or bar terminal 24, 26, or 28, respectively, in the
`system 10 of the present invention, which may be con-
`ventionally programmed by one or ordinary skill in the
`art based on the description herein. It should be noted
`that although only two kitchen terminals 24, 26 and one
`bar terminal 28 are shown by way of example in the
`system of FIG. 1, any desired number of such terminals
`
`PMC Exhibit 212
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`Apple v. PM
`|PR2016-0075
`
`Page 1
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`PMC Exhibit 2124
`Apple v. PMC
`IPR2016-00755
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`5
`may be employed dependent upon the needs of the
`restaurant and the selected capacity of the system 10.
`Referring now to FIGS. 2-4 and 7, a typical pre-
`ferred table station terminal, such as terminal 12 located
`at table station 1 in the above example, shall now be
`described in greater detail. As was previously referred
`to, the table station terminals 12, 14, 16, 18, 20 are se-
`lected to be compatible with the central processor 22
`selected.
`In this regard, preferably the table station
`terminals are functionally similar to the type marketed,
`by way of example, by Atari, Inc. as its model 800, or
`such as the type described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,296,476,
`the contents of which is specifically incorporated by
`reference herein in its entirety, conventionally modified
`to provide a data communications interface or capabil-
`ity with the remote data base 22-32. In this regard, as
`shown and preferred in FIG. 2, which is essentially the
`type of terminal described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,296,476,
`which is a terminal employing a microprocessor 40
`based data processor having a programmable graphics
`generator,
`the peripheral memory devices, such as a
`local disk drive unit and cassette unit, have been re-
`placed by the down-line loading capability of the termi-
`nal 12 from the remote data base 22-32 into the local
`random access memory or RAM portion 42a of the
`terminal’s memory unit 42 under control of a master
`control program or executive or supervisory program,
`such as illustrated by way of example in FIG. 4, stored
`in the local read only memory or ROM portion 42b of
`the terminal memory unit 42. The capacity of the ROM
`and RAM portions of terminal memory unit 42 is pref-
`erably conventionally selected so as to permit the de-
`sired functions to be performed by the table station
`terminal 12.
`As shown and preferred in FIGS. 2 and 7, the table
`station terminal 12 includes a console 44, game control
`apparatus 46, such as the four conventional video game
`joystick controllers 46a—46d illustrated in FIG. 7, and a
`video display unit 48, which preferably is a conven-
`tional television monitor with console 44 providing a
`suitable radio frequency signal corresponding to a tele-
`vision raster scan signal to the video display unit 48 via
`line 50. The table station terminal 12 preferably has two
`basic modes of operation, the food selection mode and
`the entertainment mode in which the terminal 12 can
`function, by way of example, as an interactive video
`game unit. In the entertainment mode, as will be de-
`scribed in greater detail hereinafter, the table station
`terminal can be programmed, via down-line loading
`from the central data base 22-32, to provide various
`interactive entertainment activities such as interactive
`video games or interactive educational materials, such
`as involving text, diagrams and pictures displayed on
`video diaplay unit 48, as well as audio. An interactive
`dialogue can be conducted between the restaurant pa-
`trons seated at the table station terminal 12, such as at
`table station 1 in the above example, using a conven-
`tional keyboard 52 and/or, if desired, a conventional
`touch sensitive screen 54, such as the previously men-
`tioned Elographics E270, which could, if desired, pref-
`erably be placed over the normal video screen 56, to
`provide keyboard-free data entry. In either mode, the
`food selection mode or entertainment mode, the table
`station terminal is utilized by the restaurant patrons to
`store or retrieve information from the remotely located
`central data base 22-32. The video display unit 48 pro-
`vides the restaurant patrons located at the table station
`1 with graphics information, such as an alphanumeric
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`display and/or pictorial graphics, such as for games,
`that is conventionally formulated and transmitted to the
`video display unit 48 by the electronics contained in
`console 44 via the communicating line 5!).
`Apart from the master control program or executive
`or supervisory program for conventionally supervising
`the overall operation of data manipulation in the table
`station terminal 12, which is preferably permanently
`stored in ROM in memory unit 42, the desired operating
`programs or modules for providing the food selection
`and entertainment functions of the multipurpose table
`station terminal 12 are down-line loaded from the cen-
`tral data base 22—32_ for storage in the RAM section 42a
`of memory unit 42 in response to a request therefor
`which has been input by the restaurant patron via the
`keyboard 52, or touch sensitive screen 54 if desired.
`Regardless of the mode in which the table station termi-
`nal l2 operates, the operation of the associated internal
`circuitry illustrated in FIG. 2 remains essentially the
`same. Thus, the operating program or module, whether
`a food menu module used for food selection or order
`entry, or an entertainment module used for entertain-
`ment selection and interactive game or other entertain-
`ment activity, can display portions of the requisite infor-
`mation or data on video display unit 48. Preferably, the
`table station terminal 12 includes a conventional pro-
`grammable object graphics generator 58 which can be
`called upon to transfer graphics information from mem-
`ory unit 42 to the video display unit 48. In this regard,
`the conventional microprocessor unit 40, under direc-
`tion of the down-line loaded operating program or
`module, transfers a list of display instructions into the
`RAM section 420 (FIG. 3) of the memory unit 42, mak-
`ing the display instructions available to the micro-
`processor 40. The microprocessor 40 can modify por-
`tions of the display instructions, such as the addresses of
`the various instructions, thereby directing the object
`graphics generator 58 to those sections of the memory
`unit 42 containing the graphics information to be dis-
`played, such as alphanumeric characters, lines, heading
`marks and the like. Alternatively, such as in the enter-
`tainment mode,
`the down-line loaded operating pro-
`gram, such as a down-line loaded entertainment module
`for an interactive video game, may require information
`to be displayed in graph-like form, such as a playfield
`display in the form of a cartesian or other coordinate
`system displayed to the restaurant patron(s) at the table
`station 1 via video display unit 48. Further, the down-
`line loaded operating program may call for a moveable
`cursor to be displayed in which instance the operating
`program would contain a block of graphics information
`containing the picture data for the vertical column that
`the movable object generator 58 constructs on the
`video display unit 48, including the picture data for the
`cursor. The microprocessor would then conventionally
`write into a movable object DMA counter the address
`of the location within the memory unit 42 of the block
`of graphics information containing the cursor picture
`data. The microprocessor 40 would also preferably
`write a data word to a DMA control register whose
`contents are used to conventionally inform a DMA
`control unit that movable object graphics will be dis-
`played. Accordingly, as described in detail in U.S. Pat.
`No. 4,296,476 specifically incorporated by reference
`herein, the DMA control unit provides the moveable
`object DMA counter with signals that cause the DMA
`counter to sequentially address the memory locations of
`memory unit 42 containing the graphics information for
`
`PMC Exhibit 212
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`|PR2016-0075
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`the cursor. The data used by the microprocessor 40 in
`the entertainment mode and/or with respect to cursor
`movement, in either mode,
`is preferably provided by
`the joysticks 46a—46d or operation of the keyboard 52,
`or the touch-sensitive screen 56, by the restaurant pa-
`trons seated at the table station 1. Typically, the joy-
`sticks 46a—46d. assuming by way of example one for
`each of up to four restaurant patrons to be seated at the
`table station 1, provide user generated position informa-
`tion, and possibly other game information, which is
`communicated to the microprocessor 40 via a conven-
`tional data interface unit 60. The conventional joysticks
`46a—46d may typically be of the type disclosed in U.S.
`Pat. No. 4,091,234, the teachings of which are specifi-
`cally incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. In
`addition to the above, as further shown and preferred in
`FIG. 2, the terminal 12 also includes a conventional
`audio generator 62 for generating audio signals, a con-
`ventional timing unit 64 for generating the various tim-
`ing signals required such as those illustrated, by way of
`example,
`for use in the system of U.S. Pat. No.
`4,296,476, a conventional video summer circuit 66 for
`conventionally summing the color/luminance and com-
`posite sync signal output of the object graphics genera-
`tor 58, and a conventional RF modulator 68 which
`provides the displayable video signal to the video dis-
`play unit 48 via line 50. Furthermore, an optional con-
`ventional printer unit 70 may also be provided at the
`table station for local printing of bills, or other data if
`desired, with the printer 70 being connected to the
`microprocessor 40 via the data interface unit 60 and a
`serial (I/O)..bus through which the terminal 12 is con-
`nected to the central data base 22-32. It should be noted
`that after the desired food menu module or operating
`program or entertainment module or operating pro-
`gram is requested by and down-line loaded to the termi-
`nal 12, the microprocessor 40 can then process incom-
`ing data provided via the keyboard 52, player controls
`46 or touch sensitive screen 56 in accordance therewith
`so that food orders may be selected and transmitted
`back to the central data base 22-32 for billing and filling
`and/or interactive games may be played. In this regard,
`FIG. 3 provides an illustrative diagram of a typical
`organization of the memory unit 42, such as described in
`U.S. Pat. No. 4,296,478, and FIG. 4 provides a self-
`explanatory condition responsive logic flow diagram of
`a typical processing control program for the table sta-
`tion terminal
`l2, which may be conventionally pro-
`grammed by one of ordinary skill in the art based on the
`description herein.
`As shown and preferred in FIG. 7, by way of exam-
`ple, preferably each table station has a unique position
`identification for each restaurant patron to facilitate
`accurate order filling and billing. Thus, assuming four
`restaurant patrons per table station by way of example,
`the various restaurant patrons at table station 1 illus-
`trated in FIG. 7 would identify themselves to the table
`station terminal 12 as 1-1, 1-2, 1-3 and 1-4. In addition,
`by way of example, the video display unit 48 could be
`mounted on a universal swivel 80 so as to be rotatable
`for viewing by all of the patrons at the table station 1.
`with the keyboard 52 and joysticks 46a—46d being con-
`nected to the terminal 12