System for preparation of customer orders in e.g. restaurant - has interactive terminals with keyboard and display communicating with central processor cooperating with display panel

摘要

The system has a number of counter stations accessible to customers, and allows orders to be placed by the customer for preparation at a location remote from the counter. In a restaurant a customer at a table would place orders for preparation of drinks at the bar. A central processing unit comprising a microprocessor has a static memory and input and output circuits. An intelligent terminal with display screen is available for each counter or restaurant table. These contain a microprocessor with an erasable memory and an alphanumeric keyboard. Each terminal is coded to permit recognition by the CPU and the electrical power is provided by a battery or via a cable. Connection to the CPU is effected by wires or by radio.