Patents by Inventor Michael R. Nettles

Michael R. Nettles 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: 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
  • 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: 20160180477
    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: March 3, 2016
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Inventors: Blaine E. Hurst, Michael R. Nettles
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20150086179
    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: September 20, 2013
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Applicant: Pumpernickel Associates, LLC
    Inventors: Blaine E. Hurst, Michael R. Nettles
  • Publication number: 20150088594
    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: September 20, 2013
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Applicant: Pumpernickel Associates, LLC
    Inventors: Blaine E. Hurst, Michael R. Nettles