Patents Assigned to Panera, LLC
  • Publication number: 20210042026
    Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention enable a user to easily invoke the functionality of a mobile device designed to mitigate his/her disability, without having to gain physical access to hardware controls of the mobile device. A user may, for example, invoke such functionality through gesture-based input to the mobile device, such as to its touch-sensitive screen. These techniques may provide a simple, ergonomic and easy-to-understand way for a user to access functionality for mitigate the user's disability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2019
    Publication date: February 11, 2021
    Applicant: Panera, LLC
    Inventors: Raj Anbalagan, Sanjay Chaudhry, James E. Mason, JR., Matthew McGann
  • Patent number: 10891670
    Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention provide techniques which aid in correctly capturing what a restaurant customer intends to order, and may enhance the customer's satisfaction with the ordering and dining process overall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: Panera, LLC
    Inventors: Blaine E. Hurst, Ronald Shaich
  • Patent number: 10304020
    Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for deploying employees to roles in a restaurant. For example, some embodiments are directed to basing employee deployment decisions at least in part on a combination of quantitative data and qualitative assessments of performance by various employees in various roles. Qualitative assessments may, for example, relate to an employee's success in promoting customer satisfaction, or to the accuracy of quantitative data relating to a task or function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Panera, LLC
    Inventors: Charles Jarvis Chapman, III, Michael R. Nettles
  • Publication number: 20190108464
    Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for deploying employees to roles in a restaurant. For example, some embodiments are directed to basing employee deployment decisions at least in part on a combination of quantitative data and qualitative assessments of performance by various employees in various roles. Qualitative assessments may, for example, relate to an employee's success in promoting customer satisfaction, or to the accuracy of quantitative data relating to a task or function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2018
    Publication date: April 11, 2019
    Applicant: Panera, LLC
    Inventors: Charles Jarvis Chapman, III, Michael R. Nettles
  • Publication number: 20190073613
    Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for deploying employees to roles in a restaurant. For example, some embodiments are directed to basing employee deployment decisions at least in part on a combination of quantitative data and qualitative assessments of performance by various employees in various roles. Qualitative assessments may, for example, relate to an employee's success in promoting customer satisfaction, or to the accuracy of quantitative data relating to a task or function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2018
    Publication date: March 7, 2019
    Applicant: Panera, LLC
    Inventors: Blaine E. Hurst, Michael R. Nettles, Bryan Wesley Griffith
  • Patent number: 10163067
    Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for deploying employees to roles in a restaurant. For example, some embodiments are directed to basing employee deployment decisions at least in part on a combination of quantitative data and qualitative assessments of performance by various employees in various roles. Qualitative assessments may, for example, relate to an employee's success in promoting customer satisfaction, or to the accuracy of quantitative data relating to a task or function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Panera, LLC
    Inventors: Blaine E. Hurst, Michael R. Nettles, Bryan Wesley Griffith
  • Publication number: 20180365609
    Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for deploying employees to roles in a restaurant. For example, some embodiments are directed to basing employee deployment decisions at least in part on a combination of quantitative data and qualitative assessments of performance by various employees in various roles. Qualitative assessments may, for example, relate to an employee's success in promoting customer satisfaction, or to the accuracy of quantitative data relating to a task or function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2018
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Applicant: Panera, LLC
    Inventors: Blaine E. Hurst, Michael R. Nettles, Bryan Wesley Griffith
  • Publication number: 20180300785
    Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention provide techniques which aid in correctly capturing what a restaurant customer intends to order, and may enhance the customer's satisfaction with the ordering and dining process overall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2018
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Applicant: Panera, LLC
    Inventors: Blaine E. Hurst, Ronald Shaich
  • Patent number: 10089669
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide techniques which aid in correctly capturing what a restaurant customer intends to order, and may enhance the customer's satisfaction with the ordering and dining process overall. For example, an interface may be provided through which a customer may specify an order, and the interface may clearly convey such information as each ordered item's ingredients and nutritional content. The interface may enable the customer to customize ordered items, and may clearly convey any changes that the customer has made, allowing the customer to make informed choices about the items included in an order. The interface may embody a design which enables the customer to quickly and easily customize items, and/or to re-order previously customized items.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: Panera, LLC
    Inventors: Blaine E. Hurst, Ronald Shaich, Daniel Cohen
  • Patent number: 10032201
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide techniques which aid in correctly capturing what a restaurant customer intends to order, and may enhance the customer's satisfaction with the ordering and dining process overall. For example, an interface may be provided through which a customer may specify an order, and the interface may clearly convey such information as each ordered item's ingredients and nutritional content. The interface may enable the customer to customize ordered items, and may clearly convey any changes that the customer has made, allowing the customer to make informed choices about the items included in an order. The interface may embody a design which enables the customer to quickly and easily customize items, and/or to re-order previously customized items.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: Panera, LLC
    Inventors: Blaine E. Hurst, Ronald Shaich
  • Patent number: 10019686
    Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention are directed to systems and/or methods for analyzing the operations of a restaurant of other enterprise(s). Audio and/or video recordings of occurrences in the restaurant may be analyzed to generate a qualitative assessment of an employee's performance in a role in the restaurant during a particular time period. Quantitative data, such as may be generated by operational systems in the restaurant, may also provide an indicator of the employee's performance in the role during the same time period. An overall assessment of the employee's performance in the role during the time period may be based at least in part on the qualitative assessment and the quantitative data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: Panera, LLC
    Inventors: Blaine E. Hurst, Michael R. Nettles, Bryan Wesley Griffith
  • Patent number: 9965734
    Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for analyzing the deployment of employees in a restaurant. For example, some embodiments are directed to determining whether an employee who has vacated his/her assigned station has acted appropriately in doing so, and if not, causing the employee to be redirected to his/her assigned station. Determining whether an employee acted appropriately in leaving his/her assigned station may involve analyzing video recordings of the restaurant at or around the time the employee left his/her station, operational data describing events occurring in the restaurant at or around the time the employee left his/her station, and/or other information, which may supply valuable context in determining whether or not the employee acted properly. If the employee acted improperly, he/she may be redirected to his/her assigned station, using automated, semi-automated and/or manual techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Panera, LLC
    Inventors: Charles Jarvis Chapman, III, Michael R. Nettles
  • Publication number: 20180060794
    Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for analyzing the deployment of employees in a restaurant. For example, some embodiments are directed to determining whether an employee who has vacated his/her assigned station has acted appropriately in doing so, and if not, causing the employee to be redirected to his/her assigned station. Determining whether an employee acted appropriately in leaving his/her assigned station may involve analyzing video recordings of the restaurant at or around the time the employee left his/her station, operational data describing events occurring in the restaurant at or around the time the employee left his/her station, and/or other information, which may supply valuable context in determining whether or not the employee acted properly. If the employee acted improperly, he/she may be redirected to his/her assigned station, using automated, semi-automated and/or manual techniques.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2017
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Applicant: Panera, LLC
    Inventors: Charles Jarvis Chapman, III, Michael R. Nettles
  • Patent number: 9798987
    Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for analyzing the deployment of employees in a restaurant. For example, some embodiments are directed to determining whether an employee who has vacated his/her assigned station has acted appropriately in doing so, and if not, causing the employee to be redirected to his/her assigned station. Determining whether an employee acted appropriately in leaving his/her assigned station may involve analyzing video recordings of the restaurant at o around the time the employee left his/her station, operational data describing events occurring in the restaurant at or around the time the employee left his/her station, and/or other information, which may supply valuable context in determining whether or not the employee acted properly. If the employee acted improperly, he/she may be redirected to his/her assigned station, using automated, semi-automated and/or manual techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Panera, LLC
    Inventors: Charles Jarvis Chapman, Michael R. Nettles
  • Publication number: 20160364661
    Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention are directed to systems and/or methods for analyzing the operations of a restaurant of other enterprise(s). Audio and/or video recordings of occurrences in the restaurant may be analyzed to generate a qualitative assessment of an employee's performance in a role in the restaurant during a particular time period. Quantitative data, such as may be generated by operational systems in the restaurant, may also provide an indicator of the employee's performance in the role during the same time period. An overall assessment of the employee's performance in the role during the time period may be based at least in part on the qualitative assessment and the quantitative data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2016
    Publication date: December 15, 2016
    Applicant: Panera, LLC
    Inventors: Blaine E. Hurst, Michael R. Nettles, Bryan Wesley Griffith
  • Publication number: 20160364676
    Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for analyzing the deployment of employees in a restaurant. For example, some embodiments are directed to determining whether an employee who has vacated his/her assigned station has acted appropriately in doing so, and if not, causing the employee to be redirected to his/her assigned station. Determining whether an employee acted appropriately in leaving his/her assigned station may involve analyzing video recordings of the restaurant at or around the time the employee left his/her station, operational data describing events occurring in the restaurant at or around the time the employee left his/her station, and/or other information, which may supply valuable context in determining whether or not the employee acted properly. If the employee acted improperly, he/she may be redirected to his/her assigned station, using automated, semi-automated and/or manual techniques.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2016
    Publication date: December 15, 2016
    Applicant: Panera, LLC
    Inventors: Charles Jarvis Chapman, Michael R. Nettles
  • Publication number: 20160166116
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for combining food items is disclosed. A food preparation system includes a container, a lid and a divider. The container includes first and second sections for holding food items, the first and second sections defined at least in part by the divider. The divider includes a first partition and, in some embodiments, further includes a partition support The partition support includes at least two compartment for receiving food items. In some embodiments, the lid has have a volume equal to or greater than the sum of a first volume of the first section and a second volume of the second section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2014
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Applicant: Panera, LLC
    Inventors: Dan Kish, Jeff Watson
  • Patent number: 9336830
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide techniques for using operational data and/or video footage to identify and diagnose operational issues. In some embodiments, business metrics represented in data produced by a restaurant's operational systems are identified and stored, conditions which warrant attention are identified, and the metrics that may indicate potential causes for those conditions are identified. Video footage may be correlated with business metric data to assist in diagnosing and remediating issues.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: Panera, LLC
    Inventors: Blaine E. Hurst, Michael R. Nettles
  • Publication number: 20160111132
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide techniques for using operational data and/or video footage to identify and diagnose operational issues. In some embodiments, business metrics represented in data produced by a restaurant's operational systems are identified and stored, conditions which warrant attention are identified, and the metrics that may indicate potential causes for those conditions are identified. Video footage may be correlated with business metric data to assist in diagnosing and remediating issues.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2015
    Publication date: April 21, 2016
    Applicant: Panera, LLC
    Inventors: Blaine E. Hurst, Michael R. Nettles
  • Patent number: 9257150
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide techniques for using operational data and/or video footage to identify and diagnose operational issues. In some embodiments, business metrics represented in data produced by a restaurant's operational systems are identified and stored, conditions which warrant attention are identified, and the metrics that may indicate potential causes for those conditions are identified. Video footage may be correlated with business metric data to assist in diagnosing and remediating issues.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: PANERA, LLC
    Inventors: Blaine E. Hurst, Michael R. Nettles