Abstract: A system (10) for determining a presence, identity, and duration of presence in a given area of an object includes one or more mobile transmitters (12) that periodically send out a beacon signal. A node (14) includes a receiver (16) that receives a beacon signal whenever a mobile transmitter (12) is within a threshold range of the node (14). The node (14) includes a controller (18) that determines a signal strength of each received beacon signal. The controller (18) compares the signal strength of each received beacon signal to a reference signal strength associated with the threshold range in order to determine whether the mobile transmitter (12) was within the desired detection area of the node (14). A base unit (24) sorts received information packets for processing by a base computer (28) in order to determine what mobile transmitter (12) was at what node (14) and for how long.

Abstract: An efficient residential dishwasher is disclosed. The residential dishwasher comprises a washing chamber, a rack within the washing chamber for holding dishes, a water tank for holding hot water to be used to clean dishes located on the rack, and at least one spray head within the washing chamber for cleaning dishes on the rack. After hot water has been delivered from the water tank to the washing chamber, the spray head sprays hot water to the dishes on the rack for the purpose of cleaning. The water tank will be filled with water from a fresh water line in response to a cooking apparatus being turned on.

Abstract: A method and system for monitoring service quality in a restaurant are disclosed. Multiple sensor modules are installed at each table of a restaurant for detecting restaurant customer service related information. The detected restaurant customer service related information is transmitted, preferably, over-the-air to a central computer unit having a receiver for receiving the detected restaurant customer service related information transmitted by the sensor modules over-the-air. A display monitor, coupled to the central computer unit, can be utilized to display the detected restaurant customer service related information received by the receiver to a restaurant manager in a real-time basis regardless of whether the restaurant manager is present at the restaurant or at a remote location.

Abstract: An efficient residential dishwasher is disclosed. The residential dishwasher comprises a washing chamber, a rack within the washing chamber for holding dishes, a water tank for holding hot water to be used to clean dishes located on the rack, and at least one spray head within the washing chamber for cleaning dishes on the rack. After hot water has been delivered from the water tank to the washing chamber, the spray head sprays hot water to the dishes on the rack for the purpose of cleaning. The water tank will be filled with water from a fresh water line in response to a cooking apparatus being turned on.