Table-Side Information Device Imaging Capture

摘要

A pay-at-the-table device is augmented to include an imaging sub-system having one or more image-capture components. A front-facing image sensor records video, or takes still photos. A wide view image sensor/lens captures a view of an entire table (or some portion thereof). When table images are captured by the imaging system, image post-processing is used to ensure that any details that can identify the individual patrons are masked or otherwise obscured; in this way, only generic demographic data (e.g., number of patrons, gender, approximate age, etc.) is captured, and all such data is maintained anonymously and without reference to any payment or other information that might provide the restaurant with the patron's true identity. The image-capture components may also include image sensors enable events (e.g., drinks needing refills, entrée arrival, etc.) to be monitored. An infrared image sensor captures thermal data, which can identify the temperature of the prepared food.

主权项

1. An apparatus adapted for table-side patron-based order entry, information display, and invoicing, comprising:
a hardware processor; an imaging system to capture image data at table-side; computer memory that stores computer program instructions, the computer program instructions executed in the hardware processor and comprising:
program code operative to receive image data captured by the imaging system, to process the received image data to generate processed image data, and to forward the processed image data from the apparatus.