US Patent:
20100046510, Feb 25, 2010
Inventors:
Marcellus C.H. Koster - Reading MA, US
Mark J. Mildrum - Bedford MA, US
Eleanor F.R. Hagopian - Bolton MA, US
International Classification:
H04B 7/216
Abstract:
Among other things, a hardware-agnostic speech port carries, to and from any arbitrary speech device, analog speech signals associated with an order placed by a customer of a quick serve restaurant. A network port carries digitized versions of the speech signals through a packet-switched network to and from any arbitrary device that has access to the packet-switched network. A processor connected to the speech port and the network port processes and routes the speech signals to enable the arbitrary device to provide a function associated with processing the customer order. The function provided by the processor can include enabling a representative of the quick serve restaurant to listen in on a conversation associated with the order and/or to take over a conversation between the customer and an order taker.