Claims:We Claim:
1. The system for providing electronic menu for visually impaired person comprising,
a. a display for displaying food menu;
b. a web site database for storing all the information, and
c. the communication means such as internet for effective communication.
2. The process for providing electronic menu for normal person comprising the steps of:
a. pressing the display of the electronic menu by the customer;
b. connecting to the user;
c. entering the menu according to the requirement;
d. detecting menu position followed by transmitting the menu to database; and
e. delivering the menu to the customer.
3. The process as claimed in claim 2, wherein the said menu items can be reviewed by a visually impaired person using audio signals.
4. The process for providing electronic menu for visually impaired person comprising the steps of:
a. pressing the display of the electronic menu by the customer;
b. identifying the menu category related to particular buttons;
c. pressing the buttons as per requirement;
d. generating an audio in the form of voice output; and
e. placing order followed by paying the bill.
5. The process as claimed in claim 3, wherein the said buttons are having braile language to identify buttons easily by sensation by the user and each button corresponds to categorical contents of the restaurant's menu, such as appetizers, drinks, seafood, desserts, etc., or waiter service.
, Description:FIELD OF THE INVENTION:
The present invention relates to the spreading of information via portable electronic devices adapted for audio output. The present invention more particularly relates to an electronic menu system for restaurants adapted with audio menu content output for use by the visually impaired in reviewing and selecting desired items in restaurant environments.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION:
Restaurants generally offer large, extended printed menu cards. People are uncomfortable with such type of menu cards. Restaurant menus are organized to show breakfast, lunch, dinner, and special offers available for children, senior citizens. It seems that restaurants do not think even to provide any special type of menu information for visually impaired people.
Large restaurant chains invest heavily in media, but rely on their printed menus to use these expenses during the purchase. The visual impression on customers include attractive meal pictures, side menus, printed restaurant menus. If the number of offerings increase, their menus grow in depth and become complex to accept these changes.
Conventional printed restaurant menus fail to address the most powerful sensory delivery system, namely audio. Even though most of the restaurants now a day’s also relied upon the table server to help regular customers to solve their queries related to menu, ingredients, nutritional information of the dishes. So there is a need for a system and method for providing electronic menu with audio output to visually impaired customers.
US PATENT NO.7,026,916 discloses a tabletop signaling device to restaurants for visually signaling at least one of a plurality of messages to a waiter or waitress using plurality of light sources and switches for illuminating vertically spaced panels. The references discussed above fail to address the difficulties experienced by visually impaired customers in the restaurant environment.
The prior art disclosures do not completely address the problems faced by visually impaired people while reviewing and ordering items from a restaurant menu and do not shows a full range of electronic input and output functions to assist users. Restaurants can fully customize the menu and categorize various menu groups and items so that customers do not have to scroll through list of items.
So there is a need in the prior art to provide a system and method for providing electronic menu with audio output for visually impaired people. The present invention not only diminishes the gap between staff and visitor, but also brings the edge that visitor will love to come again and again.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION:
The main object of the present invention is to offer the patrons with visual experience of the food – its appearance, its ingredients and what all it includes, through its photos and minute descriptions.
Yet another object of the present invention is to create creative content menu boards, high-quality display screens, good quality interactive menu boards and audience targeted menu.
Other objects and benefits of the present invention will be more apparent from the following description, which is not intended to bind the scope of the present invention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:
The present invention is a system and method for providing electronic menu with audio output for visually impaired people.
Accordingly, a system and method for providing electronic menu with audio output to visually impaired individuals is disclosed. The process for providing electronic menu for visually impaired person comprising the steps of; pressing the display of the electronic menu by the customer; identifying the menu category related to particular buttons; pressing the buttons as per requirement; generating an audio in the form of voice output; and placing order followed by paying the bill. Buttons are having braile language to identify buttons easily by sensation by the user and each button corresponds to categorical contents of the restaurant's menu, such as appetizers, drinks, seafood, desserts, etc., or waiter service.
The present invention makes it easier for the customers to navigate and know exactly what they are looking for and allows website database to add descriptions and modifiers for the each item allowing guests to modify items whichever way they want.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:
Fig 1 shows the system and method for providing electronic menu with audio output for visually impaired people.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION:
The present invention is a system and method for providing electronic menu with audio output for visually impaired people. The present invention helps in reviewing and ordering items from a restaurant menu and shows a full range of electronic input and output functions to assist users. The present invention not only diminishes the gap between staff and visitor, but also brings the edge that visitor will love to come again and again in the restaurant.
By using present system, the owners have the ability to easily create and edit the menu contents, manage their restaurants and staff and see all their statistics. On the other hand, the waiters can have an overview of their orders with the ability to manage and print them. The electronic menu comprises a list of sections and categories; action buttons for showing the refreshment drink list, switching the language, summoning the waiter, paying for the order and showing your order list.
It also comprises of item list (dishes and beverages), item pictures and videos, item description, recommendations and user comments, item ratings and order button. When a guest makes an order, this is the screen where the waiter sees and manages them.
The menu information indicates menu items as well as food ratings and reviews from different customers , nutritional information including calories and fat content, refreshment drink descriptions and pairings, suggestive selling, upgrades, staff tasting notes, a preparation style or procedure of the menu items, a preparing status of the menu items, promotional information, one or more cooking materials, a flavor of the menu items, nutrition ingredients of the menu items and/or health effects or allergic reactions associated with consumption of the menu items. Customer reviews, comments about various products are also important in enhancing sales of the restaurant.
The electronic menu of the present invention comprising of a display for displaying food menu; a web site database for storing all the information, the communication means such as internet for effective communication.
In this system, the electronic menu display connects to the computer of the user and user enters the details on display according to his/her needs. The tracker detects the menu position and transmits the menu to database. Database is connected to various hotel/restaurant websites which stores the menu. As per the order of the customer, menu is delivered to the customer.
The process for providing electronic menu for normal person comprising the steps of;
Pressing the display of the electronic menu by the customer;
Connecting to the user;
Entering the menu according to the requirement;
Detecting menu position followed by transmitting the menu to database.
Delivering the menu to the customer.
The menu content of the menus may be updated based on an updatable state of the menus including the menu status of each menu. The menus may display menu content for goods and/or services offered by a provider and users may order desired goods and/or services with the menus. Usage of menus can be tracked by a tracker fitted within the display to eliminate false counts and to correct errors that may be generated by multiple uses of the menus by multiple users.
In preferred embodiment, in case user went directly to restaurant for food and wants to order the food, in that case a talking menu system is provided which include small electronic device having display showing menu, some buttons having braile language to identify buttons easily by sensation by the user. Each button corresponds to categorical contents of the restaurant's menu, such as appetizers, drinks, seafood, desserts, etc., or waiter service. Upon pressing a button, an audio is generated in the form of voice output which tells the customer which button is pressed.
The present invention thus provides a system for enabling a visually impaired person to review desired menu items using audio signals.