SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR WIDEBAND AUDIO COMMUNICATION WITH A QUICK SERVICE RESTAURANT DRIVE-THROUGH INTERCOM

摘要

This disclosure relates to a quick service restaurant intercom communication system. The system is configured such that communication between a customer and a staff member is accomplished in wideband audio. Intercom communication systems that utilize narrow band audio for communication between drive-through customers and staff members may be considered “good enough”. However, the low fidelity sound produced by narrow band audio systems often results in misunderstandings between customers and staff members, a high amount of background noise during communication, and/or other negative effects. Wideband audio may facilitate clearer communication between customers and staff members. Wideband audio communication may be costlier and/or more complicated to implement, but may result in increased staff efficiency and/or increased customer satisfaction. In some implementations, the system may include an audio order placement sub-system, a base station, an order entry device, a mounting mechanism, and/or other components.

主权项

1. An intercom communication system for a quick service restaurant drive-through, the drive-through including a menu board and/or a speaker post, the system comprising:
an audio order placement sub-system positionally associated with one or both of the menu board or the speaker post, the audio order placement sub-system comprising:
a first microphone configured to receive sound from a customer placing an order at or near the menu board, and to generate wideband order information signals that represent the received sound; anda first speaker configured to receive wideband order information signals and to generate sound represented in the received wideband order information signals such that the generated sound is audible to the customer at or near the menu board; a base station, the base station comprising:
a first transceiver configured to transmit and receive encoded audio communication signals;a first signal processor configured to encode wideband order information signals received from the first microphone into encoded audio communication signals for transmission by the first transceiver, and decode encoded audio communication signals received by the first transceiver into wideband order information signals for the first speaker; and an audio order receiving sub-system configured to be worn by a staff member, the audio order receiving sub-system located remotely from the audio order placement sub-system, the audio order receiving sub-system comprising:
a second transceiver configured to transmit encoded audio communication signals to the first transceiver and receive encoded audio communication signals from the first transceiver to facilitate communication between the customer and the staff member;a second microphone configured to receive sound generated by the staff member and to generate wideband order information signals that represent the received sound;a second speaker configured to receive wideband order information signals and to generate sound represented in the received wideband order information signals such that the generated sound is audible to the staff member; anda second signal processor configured to encode wideband order information signals received from the second microphone into encoded audio communication signals for transmission by the second transceiver, and decode encoded audio communication signals received by the second transceiver into wideband order information signals for the second speaker; wherein the wideband order information signals and the encoded audio communication signals represent sound having a frequency range in a wideband audio frequency range such that communication between the customer and the staff member is accomplished in wideband audio.