Patrick F Castor

US Patent:

55109799, Apr 23, 1996

Filed:

Mar 13, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/402809

Inventors:

Martin J. Moderi - Glen Ellyn IL
Shigeharu Matsumoto - Tokyo, JP
Paul M. Bouzide - Chicago IL
Yung-Chun Tsau - Oak Brook IL
Inge B. Kristiansen - Pasadena CA
Patrick F. Castor - Naperville IL
John W. Nelson - Chicago IL
Roger W. Carlson - Schamburg IL

Assignee:

Restaurant Technology, Inc. - Oak Brook IL

International Classification:

G07G 112

US Classification:

364405

Abstract:

A computer system for entering, processing and recording sales of items is provided, which is especially suitable for use in retail sales, particularly quick service restaurants. The system includes a plurality of programmable POS registers for entering and tabulating customer orders, an off-line processor for programming the programmable POS registers, shared memory for recording data entered and tabulated by the programmable POS registers, and a communication structure for networking a plurality of programmable POS registers, the off-line processor and the shared memory. In one embodiment, the system includes an access control system for enabling access to the POS registers, the off-line processor or the shared memory if operation of those are authorized. In another embodiment, each POS register includes a programmable display for displaying a hierarchial menu of a plurality of keys, each of the keys being visually associated with a label of salable items or categories of salable items, and a touch sensitive apparatus for detecting when one of the keys has been touched by a human operator. The programmable display is responsive to the touch-sensitive apparatus so that a human operator can enter a particular salable item into the programmable display by touching the key which is visually associated with the label corresponding to the particular salable item or category in which the particular salable item is included.

US Patent:

55902880, Dec 31, 1996

Filed:

Mar 13, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/402810

Inventors:

Patrick F. Castor - Naperville IL
Yung-Chun Tsau - Oak Brook IL
Inge B. Kristiansen - Pasadena CA
John W. Nelson - Chicago IL

Assignee:

Restaurant Technology, Inc. - Oak Brook IL

International Classification:

G06F 1337
G06F 13372

US Classification:

39520003

Abstract:

A distributed data processing system is provided that is particularly well-suited for enabling a plurality of single-tasking computers connected to a network to continuously process input from the network and each computer's respective peripherals. A polling routine, resident on each computer, periodically polls the peripherals (including a network adapter) which are connected to the computer. Layered communications software is also resident on each computer and enables each computer to send and receive data to and from the network. The polling routine and layered software call predetermined application procedures in response to input from the peripherals and the network.