System and method to enable a customer to select a wine based upon available inventory

Abstract

A system for aiding a restaurant patron to make a wine selection from wines available in the restaurant wine inventory includes a plurality of dedicated patron display devices and a content management system including a processor, a communications interface and a database wherein the dedicated patron display devices are operable to receive and display screens transmitted from the content management system and transmit patron input to the content management system in order to select a wine from the restaurant inventory.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of enabling a restaurant patron to make a wine selection based on available wine inventory at the restaurant including:
 providing interactive patron display devices for use by patrons in making a wine selection based on available wine inventory at the restaurant;   displaying a first selection screen with an interactive patron display device, the first selection screen prompting a patron to make a first selection, the first selection screen identifying at least one characteristic associated with wines available in the restaurant inventory;   receiving a first selection from the patron with the interactive patron display device, the first selection identifying a first wine characteristic;   transmitting the first selection from the interactive patron display device to a content management system;   identifying a subsequent selection screen with the content management system, the subsequent selection screen being selected based upon one or more wine characteristics identified in response to one or more prior selection screens;   transmitting the subsequent selection screen from the content management system to the interactive patron display device;   displaying the subsequent selection screen to the patron with the interactive patron display device, the subsequent selection screen prompting the patron to make a subsequent selection, the subsequent selection identifying at least one characteristic associated with wines available in the restaurant inventory;   receiving a subsequent selection from the patron with the interactive patron display device, the subsequent selection identifying a subsequent wine characteristic;   transmitting the subsequent selection from the interactive patron display device to the content management system;   repeating steps e)-i) until the patron has made a wine selection;   transmitting a confirmation screen from the content management system to the interactive patron display device, the confirmation screen prompting the patron to select an order complete message   displaying the confirmation screen from the content management system to the interactive patron display device;   receiving the patron response to the confirmation screen with the interactive patron display device;   transmitting the patron response to the confirmation screen from the interactive patron display device to the content management system; and   recording the patron's responses to selected ones of the selection screens in a database associated with the content management system.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of providing interactive patron display devices for use by patrons in making a wine selection based on available wine inventory at the restaurant further comprises providing preprogrammed interactive hand held devices, the interactive hand held devices including a wireless communications interface operable to receive and transmit data from and to the content management system and a touch screen display wherein responses to selection screens are received when a patron uses the touch screen to input a response to a selection screen. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first selection screen prompts a patron to select one of a red wine or a white wine. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first selection screen prompts a patron to select one of a sparkling wine, a white wine, a rose wine, a red wine or a dessert wine. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein a subsequent selection screen prompts a patron to select one of a country of origin or region of origin. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein a subsequent selection screen prompts a patron to select a variety of grape used to produce a wine. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising displaying a screen with the interactive patron display device enabling the patron to place available inventory of a selected wine on hold. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising communicating a patron wine selection from the content management system to a point of sale device whereby the patron wine selection is processed. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising communicating patron wine selection from the content management system to an inventory control system whereby the inventory of available wines is updated on a real time basis. 
     
     
         10 . A system for aiding a restaurant patron to make a wine selection from wines available in the restaurant wine inventory, comprising:
 a plurality of dedicated patron display devices, the patron display devices each including a first communications interface and a display, the patron display devices operable to receive an input from a patron;   a content management system wherein the dedicated patron display devices are operable to receive display screens transmitted from the content management system, display the screens to patrons, receive input from patrons and transmit patron input to the content management system, the content management system including:
 at least one processor; 
 a second communications interface; 
 at least one data storage device associated with the processor, the data storage device having a database including wines available in inventory at the restaurant and characteristics of the wines available in inventory at the restaurant and a plurality of selection screens for display by the dedicated patron selection display devices; and 
   wherein the selection screens enable a patron to select a wine based upon characteristics associated with the wine.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10  wherein the patron display devices are portable, hand held devices including a graphical user interface and wherein the first and second communications interfaces are wireless interfaces. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10  further comprising a communications link between the content management system and a restaurant inventory control system whereby the available inventory of wines recorded in the restaurant inventory control system is updated on a real time basis. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10  further comprising a communications link between the content management system and a point of sale device whereby patron wine selections are transmitted from the content management system to the point of sale device for processing. 
     
     
         14 . A method of enabling a restaurant patron to make a drink selection based on available inventory at the restaurant including:
 providing interactive hand held display devices for use by the restaurant patrons, the interactive hand held display devices operable to sequentially receive and display a series of selection screens from a content management system, each selection screen prompting the patron to make a selection including a drink characteristic associated with drinks available in the restaurant drink inventory;   receiving sequential patron responses to each of the selection screens with the interactive hand held display devices;   transmitting the sequential patron responses to a content management system until a patron has made a drink selection;   transmitting a confirmation screen from the content management system to the patron, the confirmation screen prompting the patron to confirm the drink selection;   receiving a confirmation of the drink selection with the interactive hand held display device;   transmitting the confirmation from the interactive hand held display device to the content management system; and   storing the patrons responses to the sequential selection screens in a database associated with the content management system.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising transmitting informational display screens from the content management system to the interactive hand held devices, the informational screens including information on different varieties of wine, regions and countries of origin of the wines. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14  wherein a first selection screen prompts a patron to select one of a red wine or a white wine. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14  wherein a first selection screen prompts a patron to select one of a sparkling wine, a white wine, a rose wine, a red wine or a dessert wine. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein a subsequent selection screen prompts a patron to select one of a country of origin or region of origin. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17  wherein a subsequent selection screen prompts a patron to select a variety grape used to produce a wine. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising communicating a patron wine selection from the content management system to a point of sale device whereby the patron wine selection is processed.