Abstract
In most organizations, queues for services have become a
generic problem. This thesis presents a prototyped wireless
menu selection system for electronic-queue based service
delivery. The developed system consists of a microprocessor,
interface circuit and an improvised blue tooth wireless system.
The model was configured to depict a financial institution while
the blue tooth wireless technology allows customers to have
remote access to the attendants (cashiers) for account balances
(x), crediting (y) and debiting (z) of accounts through the system
interface box using mobile phone keypad. The developed model
showed how electronic-queue based service delivery could be
achieved with great deal of cost benefits from reduced labour
force.
1.1 BACKGROUND OF STUDY
There has been continuous quest for man to improve his well being
through, reactions to problems and challenges posed by his
environment. Over the years, attendants in the cafeteria/ fast food joints
use to go from table to table in order to know what customers
demanded before they could serve them. This was a very hectic duty
and also slow mode of service. This has led to an overwhelming need
for a device that will always display the customers’ need on each table.
This project design is simply used to display the items demanded by
each customer. Each table has a remote with three by four set of menu
selection. The processor is able to decode whichever button is pressed.
The tables are numbered. Customer on every table orders the item he
or she needed with the remote. Then, a screen in the kitchen is used to
display the table number and the items demanded.
The major components used in this design are 8951 microprocessor,
crystal oscillator, Electronic switches, Display units (LCD), Buffer
(74244), 3-8 lines decoder (74138), and some other common readily
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available components. This project is microprocessor based, which is a
dedicated or embedded controller. This microprocessor is used to
control and display information in the device therefore it can be termed
a micro controller because of the controlling function it performs. The
type of micro controller used is the 8951 which is an 8051 family chip.
The 8051 micro controller has an external Read Only Memory (ROM)
but the 8951 has an internal Rom. The 8951 Micro processor accesses
external devices using all of its ports 0, 1, 2 and 3.The Rom inside the
8951 contains the program that the processor executes on boot up. The
program contained in the processor should be debugged and
troubleshot in order to get the device up and running, if not, any mistake
in the program will lead to improper working of the device. The 8051
operates based on an external crystal oscillator which it uses to
synchronize its operation.
A matrix of light emitting diodes is used in this prototype instead of liquid
crystal display (LCD) to display the information contained in the program
on the screen when the device is boot-up. This information is displayed
in a form that can be understood readily by the user or the operator. As
soon as an input is made using the remote control, an alarm sounds
from a loudspeaker to alert the attendants in the kitchen or receptionists
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to enable them check the screen. The design is reliable and has high
efficiency as a result of the micro controller and some other components
used.
1.2 MOTIVATION
The system of going from table to table in organizations and hospitality
industries in our society and asking customers what they need is
worrisome and hectic to the society. One is disturbed the time it takes,
as well as the difficulty it poses to the attendants who work in such
places. This device will enable the attendants to see the items
demanded from any table by looking on a screen thereby reducing
queue and saving cost.
1.3 JUSTIFICATION FOR THE PROJECT
It has been observed that the usual practice of attendants enquiring
from customers their needs before services are rendered in the
hospitality industries are associated with many problems which
includes:
? Queue.
? Increased cost (labour cost).
? Loss of customers due to dissatisfaction in service.
? Time wastage.
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To overcome these outlined problems, this prototype equipment is
designed.
1.4 SCOPE OF THE WORK
This wireless menu selection system prototype is intended to request for
x; y; z; services from customers in an organization. This research work
aimed at constructing effective software and hardware for wireless
menu selection system specifically has the following objectives:
To produce a device that:
? Saves the time of going from one table to another to ask
customers of their needs.
? Has program control remote, which helps to eliminate the use
of switches and running of cables.
? Create a system that can reduce sensitivity and ensure
integrity of the complete microprocessor system during all
forms of environmental stress (shock, transient noise) etc.
? Removes queues associated with services in organizations
and the hospitality industries.
The hardware construction is microprocessor- based.
1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
The significance of this research work is that the system designed can
be useful in the hospitality industries, cafeteria and large or small fast
food joints. The merits are:
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? Time: This work saves the time it takes to go from one table
to another to know customers need.
? Cost: The system reduces cost as the numbers of attendants
needed are minimal.
? Queues are greatly reduced thereby enhancing customer’s
satisfaction.
? This work can be used for academic purpose
? Generation of fund: When an organization makes greater
profit, they tend to pay larger tax to the government.
However, the use of this equipment reduces the number of
attendants required is the industry.
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1.6 BLOCK DIAGRAM OVERVIEW OF THE PROJECT
Figure 1.1is the block diagram overview of the project.
? Fig 1.1 Block diagram overview of a wireless
Menu selection system for electronic-queue based
Service delivery.
BRIEF BACKGROUND
OF STUDY OF THE
WORK
LITERATURE REVIEW
RESEARCH
METHODOLOGY AND
SYSTEM ANALYSIS
OF THE WORK
SYSTEM DESIGN
SYSTEM IMPLEMENTATION
SIMULATION AND
PERFORMANCE
EVALUATION
SUMMARY OF ACHIEVEMENT,
RECOMMENDATIONS,
SUGGESTIONS AND
CONCLUSION
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1.7 PROJECT OUTLINE
The design and construction of wireless menu selection system for
electronic- queue based service delivery has four major sections viz; the
regulated power supply, the control section, the display section and the
remote control section.
The regulated power supply is used to power the circuit; it is a regulated
power because digital IC’S were involved in the circuitry.
Control section is where the processes involved in this design were
controlled. It includes the 8951 microprocessor and the crystal oscillator.
The 8951 controls the program code in its ROM and other components
around it. The crystal is used by the 8951 to synchronize its operation.
The user or operator uses the display section to display the information
on the screen in a form that can be understood readily.
The remote control section is used by the customer on any of the tables
to indicate a particular item he wants.
This project work is organized as follows: Chapter two dealt with review
of some related literatures, discuss general principles for menu system
design, technologies used for the development, and applications. In
chapter three, methodology used was stated and system analysis done
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based on the chosen method. The chapter will conclude by discussing
the limitations of the system.
In chapter four we shall be dealing with the system design itself. We will
also make specifications; handle the design of input subsystems, output
subsystems, and the control subsystem. The control software design
statements and the corresponding control algorithm will also be
discussed here. The chapter shall end with an elaborate block diagram
of the entire system. The chapter five of this work will deal with the
implementation of the hardware and software designs, testing the
system, and performance evaluation. The chapter will conclude with
packaging issues, costing, and deployment. The last chapter (six) will
summarize the achievement of the project work, states problems
encountered and proffer solutions to them, as well as make
recommendations and suggestions for further improvement