Patents by Inventor Blaine E. Hurst
Blaine E. Hurst has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
-
Patent number: 10891670Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 25, 2018Date of Patent: January 12, 2021Assignee: Panera, LLCInventors: Blaine E. Hurst, Ronald Shaich
-
Publication number: 20190073613Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: November 5, 2018Publication date: March 7, 2019Applicant: Panera, LLCInventors: Blaine E. Hurst, Michael R. Nettles, Bryan Wesley Griffith
-
Patent number: 10163067Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 19, 2018Date of Patent: December 25, 2018Assignee: Panera, LLCInventors: Blaine E. Hurst, Michael R. Nettles, Bryan Wesley Griffith
-
Publication number: 20180365609Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 19, 2018Publication date: December 20, 2018Applicant: Panera, LLCInventors: Blaine E. Hurst, Michael R. Nettles, Bryan Wesley Griffith
-
Publication number: 20180300785Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 25, 2018Publication date: October 18, 2018Applicant: Panera, LLCInventors: Blaine E. Hurst, Ronald Shaich
-
Patent number: 10089669Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 14, 2015Date of Patent: October 2, 2018Assignee: Panera, LLCInventors: Blaine E. Hurst, Ronald Shaich, Daniel Cohen
-
Patent number: 10032201Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 10, 2015Date of Patent: July 24, 2018Assignee: Panera, LLCInventors: Blaine E. Hurst, Ronald Shaich
-
Patent number: 10019686Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 28, 2016Date of Patent: July 10, 2018Assignee: Panera, LLCInventors: Blaine E. Hurst, Michael R. Nettles, Bryan Wesley Griffith
-
Publication number: 20160364661Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 28, 2016Publication date: December 15, 2016Applicant: Panera, LLCInventors: Blaine E. Hurst, Michael R. Nettles, Bryan Wesley Griffith
-
Publication number: 20160180477Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 3, 2016Publication date: June 23, 2016Inventors: Blaine E. Hurst, Michael R. Nettles
-
Patent number: 9336830Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 28, 2015Date of Patent: May 10, 2016Assignee: Panera, LLCInventors: Blaine E. Hurst, Michael R. Nettles
-
Publication number: 20160111132Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 28, 2015Publication date: April 21, 2016Applicant: Panera, LLCInventors: Blaine E. Hurst, Michael R. Nettles
-
Patent number: 9257150Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 20, 2013Date of Patent: February 9, 2016Assignee: PANERA, LLCInventors: Blaine E. Hurst, Michael R. Nettles
-
Publication number: 20160019617Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 14, 2015Publication date: January 21, 2016Applicant: Panera, LLCInventors: Blaine E. Hurst, Ronald Shaich, Daniel Cohen
-
Publication number: 20150379651Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 10, 2015Publication date: December 31, 2015Applicant: Panera, LLCInventors: Blaine E. Hurst, Ronald Shaich
-
Patent number: 9159094Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 15, 2013Date of Patent: October 13, 2015Assignee: PANERA, LLCInventors: Blaine E. Hurst, Ronald Shaich
-
Patent number: 9070175Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 15, 2013Date of Patent: June 30, 2015Assignee: Panera, LLCInventor: Blaine E. Hurst
-
Publication number: 20150088594Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 20, 2013Publication date: March 26, 2015Applicant: Pumpernickel Associates, LLCInventors: Blaine E. Hurst, Michael R. Nettles
-
Publication number: 20150086179Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 20, 2013Publication date: March 26, 2015Applicant: Pumpernickel Associates, LLCInventors: Blaine E. Hurst, Michael R. Nettles
-
Publication number: 20140279082Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2013Publication date: September 18, 2014Inventors: Blaine E. Hurst, Ronald Shaich