Restaurant Assistant
User Manual
Version 1.0
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NOTICE
WARNING
All third-party hardware warnings and disclaimers must be adhered to. The
restaurant environment, coupled with electricity, can be volatile. All setup and operating
documentation for third party hardware and software must be followed.
Improper use of the third party hardware could result in serious injury or death.
Improper use of the software could result in incorrect data, money loss, or unhappy
customers. Read and understand all documentation, including all third party hardware
and software documents, before using the Restaurant Assistant system.
DISCLAIMER
The Restaurant Assistant Team is not responsible for misuse of the entire
Restaurant Assistant system, including all hardware and software. The Restaurant
Assistant Team is not responsible for the treatment, or use, of any third party application,
or hardware.
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Table of Contents
I Software License .........................................................................................................................4
II System Description ......................................................................................................................
Overall System ...................................................................................................................5
Software ................................................................................................................................
Server ........................................................................................................................
Description ..................................................................................................5
Installing ................................................................................................. 5-6
Client .........................................................................................................................
Description ..................................................................................................6
Installing .....................................................................................................7
Hardware ..............................................................................................................................
Description ..............................................................................................................7
Components ..............................................................................................................
Database Server .........................................................................................8
Personal Digital Assistant Controller.......................................................8
Printer .........................................................................................................8
Wireless Access Point ................................................................................9
Workstation ................................................................................................9
Touch Screen ..............................................................................................9
Wireless Print Server .................................................................................9
Wireless Temperature Sensor ............................................................. 9-10
Setup ..........................................................................................................................
Server and Access Point .........................................................................10
Clients.......................................................................................................10
III Software Menus ..........................................................................................................................
Employee ..................................................................................................................... 11-12
Resources ..............................................................................................................................
Setting Up ......................................................................................... 13-15
Printing Resource Labels ................................................................ 15-16
Checking Expiring Resource Items ................................................ 16-17
Deliveries ...............................................................................................................................
Checking in Your Delivery ....................................................................18
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Products ................................................................................................................................
Setting up the Products .................................................................. 19-23
Scanning Products Out for Service .....................................................23
Checking Expiring Product Items ................................................. 23-24
IV Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)................................................................................ 25-26
V Contacts.....................................................................................................................................27
VI Full Software License .............................................................................................................29
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I – Software License
This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of
the GNU General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation; either version 2
of the License, or (at your option) any later version. This program is distributed in the hope that
it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU General
Public License for more details.
You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License along with this program; if
not, write to:
Free Software Foundation, Inc.
59 Temple Place, Suite 330
Boston, MA 111-1307 USA
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II - Overall System
The Restaurant Assistant (RA) is a simple and user friendly system of automating the
labeling process for prepared food items. When an item is created, it is simply tagged via a
barcode selected from a terminal. The terminal could be a simple touch screen, like a point of
sale system, or it can be a hand-held personal digital assistant (PDA) device. The hand-held
terminal is also incorporated with a barcode scanner, which allows the user to monitor, on-thefly, prepared items by simply scanning the barcode in question. The terminals interface
wirelessly within the RA network, to a central restaurant database that constantly monitors the
prepared items. This monitoring allows the restaurant managers to focus on more productive
tasks. The database also has the capability to monitor the temperature of a walk-in refrigerator,
allowing an up-to-second notification of the current temperature. When foods near expiration or
the walk-in rises to a certain temperature, an alert is sent to a terminal, allowing a manager to
address the situation. The advantage of a database holding the prepared item information is that it
allows for a system of generating restaurant reports. Managers no longer have to spend countless
hours tallying up figures from poorly written food labels and prep-sheets to view their
productivity. Now, with a simple click of a mouse, reports can be generated to a multitude of
timescales and illustrated with graphs. The RA protects customers from expired food items,
saves restaurants from lawsuits, and generates reports, saving the business valuable time and
money.
Software
RA Server Software
The RA server software is the heart of the RA. This software handles the monitoring and
managing of the database. A licensed copy of MySQL database server is included within the
installation package. The RA server software also handles the generation of reports and
inventory re-ordering. This software also has the ability to communicate over the internet,
allowing for the automatic ordering of inventory, and reporting information to other restaurants,
such as the main headquarters.
The RA server software also has the ability to update itself with the latest version via the
internet connect of the RA server. The software can also download and “push” updates to the
client devices via the internal RA network, eliminating the need for each device to be updated
individually.
Installing the RA Server Software
The process of setting up the RA Server software is painless. Acquire the software which
is available on CD, or the internet. If you choose to download the software from our website
(www.cs.oud.edu/~cpi) ensure you have the proper license key, as provided to you upon
purchase. With the software attained, place the media inside your cd-rom drive, or advance to
the downloaded location on your hard drive. Start the installation and setup utility
(install_ra_server_<version>.exe). For best results, be sure you are connected to the internet, as
the software will compare your existing versions with the latest versions on our servers. If a
newer version is available, you will be prompted to download it. It is highly recommended that
you attain the latest RA software for your system, as it should have benefits not attainable within
the previous versions, including bug fixes.
With the latest software now on your system, run the installation utility. The installation
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utility will prompt you for your license key, which was provided to you upon purchase of the
software. Enter in this key and the software will begin to install itself to your system.
Congratulations! The RA server software is now installed on your system. Now its time to beef
up those clients!
RA Client Software
The RA client software handles all remote inputs to the RA database. The wireless client
software also has the ability to scan bar codes if the hardware can support such a need. Being a
client within the RA network, the device running this software can grab, or receive, the latest RA
client updates from the RA database server.
Figure2-1 depicts the flow of operations within the RA software. The user inputs data
via an interface, (PDA, touch screens, terminal/workstations). The RA software, which exists on
the database server, constantly handles these inputs. The software also generates reports, replies
to queries from the RA client devices, and continuously monitors the database for expired foods,
or invalid temperatures. The database server can then print out information and bar codes, as
needed.
Figure 2-1
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Installing the RA Client Software
Attain the proper client software for your machine. Since there are numerous clients
available, for different device types, ensure that you are installing the proper software for your
device. The setup utility to run is labeled as <device type>_ra_cleint_<version>.exe For best
results, be sure you are connected to the internet, as the software will compare your existing
versions with the latest versions on our servers. If a newer version is available, you will be
prompted to download it. It is highly recommended that you attain the latest RA software for
your system, as it should have benefits not attainable within the previous versions, including bug
fixes.
Next, the software will prompt you to enter in your RA client software license key, which
was provided to you upon purchase. Enter in this key and the software will begin to install itself
to your system. Congratulations! The RA client software is now installed on your system. Time
to make the doughnuts!
Hardware
The hardware for the RA system is all “consumer off the shelf” (COTS) available. This
availability allows the RA system to scale amongst a variety of devices. Simply add a new
device, with a licensed copy of the RA client software for the particular device type
(workstation, or PDA) and have the RA server authenticate it into the network. This consumer
availability also allows for the easy replacement, or repair, of a defective node.
The hardware design chart is depicted in Figure 2-2. This chart shows depicts the
simplicity of the RA hardware layout, and its ability to scale.
Figure 2-2
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Database Server
The heart of the RA relies upon a database server. This computer acts as the central
access point between all RA wireless clients such as workstations and PDA's. The database
server also contains the RA Server software. This software monitors the database to which
clients can update.
Minimum Specifications:
 1.0 GHz CPU
 Windows or Linux
 512 MB RAM
 USB interface (2 ports)
 1 or 2 100 Mbit Ethernet network interface card(s)
o One for wireless access point (if not USB supported), and another as optional for
an optional physical network connection, such as the internet.
o One card is needed if a switch or hub is purchased.
 SVGA video card
Personal Digital Assistant Controller
The RA equipped PDA allows for the wireless managing of inventory and prepared
foods. This device is equipped with the special Windows Pocket PC RA client software, a
wireless IEEE 802.11b interface, and a bar code scanner. RA alerts are sent directly to the PDA
and can be managed from the PDA's interface.
Minimum Specifications:
 IEEE 802.11b interface
 Bar code scanner capable (Compact Flash
 Windows Mobile Pocket PC 2003
 128 Mb memory
 Compact Flash port
Printer
The printer is another node within the RA wireless network. This device can facilitate all
of the RA necessary printing tasks including the printing of the unique RA bar code labels. This
printer connects to the database server directly, or by an optional wireless print server.
NOTE: To avoid printing labels or bar codes on regular paper, or printing reports on label paper,
switching paper types might have to be done by hand. This swapping of paper types is printer
and printer setting dependent.
Minimum Specifications:
 Laser jet
 Resolution: 600x600 dpi
 Thermal bar code label paper (2”x4” labels)
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Wireless Access Point
For all clients to have the ability to communicate with the database server, they must be
authenticated by the wireless access point. This wireless device connects to the database server,
and relays all wireless communications between RA clients and the RA server. The wireless
communication protocol for the RA system is IEEE 802.11b.
Minimum Specifications:
 IEEE 802.11b Protocol
 USB interface preferred
 WEP Encryption (128 bit preferred)
Workstation
This workstation is equipped with the RA client software and allows for the creation of
prepared food items. This client to the RA system communicates wireless with the RA database
server over the IEEE 802.11b protocol. The workstation can be equipped with an optional touch
screen, easing the use of the GUI without the need for a keyboard or mouse.
Minimum Specifications:
 1.0 GHz CPU
 Windows or Linux
 512 MB RAM
 IEEE 802.11b interface
 SVGA video card
Touch Screen (optional)
The touch screen eliminates the need for a keyboard or mouse for the RA client
workstation. This device connects directly to the workstation, allowing a user to issue
commands by the touch of a finger.
Minimum Specifications:
 SVGA connector
 Resolution: 1024x768 pixels
Wireless Print Server (optional)
This device is an additional component for the RA printer. The IEEE 802.11b interface
connects the printer to the RA wireless network without need for a direct connection to the
database server.
 IEEE 802.11b interface
Wireless Temperature Sensor (optional)
This optional device relays current temperature reading over the RA network.
Minimum Specifications:
 IEEE 802.11b interface
 0º-60ºF (for refrigeration)
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 0º-300ºF (for heat)
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Hardware Setup
Server and Access Point
The setup of the RA hardware is no different than setting up a few computers and having
them networked together, like a home network. The first step in setting up, and establishing, the
RA network would be to assemble the RA database server. The assembly of the server should be
documented by the manufacturer of the computer. Power on the RA server and load the RA
server software upon it, as described in the section Installing the Server Software. Once the RA
server has been installed on the RA database server, the wireless access point can be connected.
The connection of the access point should be connected to the server as documented within the
particular access point’s manual. Once the RA server software is loaded upon the database
server, the rest of the RA network can be connected.
RA Clients
After installing the database server, and setting up the wireless access point, all other
components, or RA clients, can be brought online. These client devices include PDA’s, touch
screens, workstations, thermometers, and printers. Follow the instructions for setting up the
particular device, or devices, as documented by the manufacturer. Once brought online, the RA
client software can be installed on the particular device.
Congratulations! The hardware is setup, the software is installed; you are on your way to
saving time and money!
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III - Software Menus
Employee
The employees menu allows specific users, specifically managers, to record and recall
detailed information about the restaurant’s employees. This menu allows the manager to
regulate and monitor an employee’s salary, scheduling, and food preparation information. Only
users who have permission, can access this menu (see installing part to learn how to set
permission to specific users). The employee’s information consists of:
 Name
 Identification number (ID)
 Position
 Work history
 Salary
The managers will have menus to add, remove and edit their employees' information.
Once the authorized user clicks on the Employee menu button (Figure 3-1), they will be
able to add employees, edit employees, and view employees’ information. Once again, this
section is only accessible by managers, or employees who have gotten authorization from
managers.
Figure 3- 1
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To modify an employee’s information, click on the appropriate button (Add, Remove or
View). The pop up screen will prompt for the password, which only authorizes users who have
the ability to change or view the employee information.
Employee - Add
Once clicked, text boxes related for the entry of an employee’s information will be
presented. Press the back button to return to the main menu, located at the bottom of the screen.
Employee - Edit
To edit an existing employee, or group of employees, select the edit button. Once selected
a screen similar to the employee Add option is displayed. This menu allows for the modification
of a specific employee’s information, or a group of employees, all at once.
The edit button can also be used to remove an existing employee, or group of employees.
Once selected a list of employees with a check box appears beside each employee’s name.
Select the specific employee to remove by clicking on the check box beside their name.
After the employee has been selected, the next step is pressing the delete button located at
the bottom of the screen.
Be aware that the employee’s name and ID must be re-confirmed, to prevent deleting an
incorrect employee. The deleted employee data will be stored in a file and kept within the
database for one month, for restoring purposes.
To accept the changes, press the confirm button located at the bottom of the screen. Once
confirmed, the modified information will temporarily be highlighted.
To discard the modified information, select the back button, before confirming the
changes, located at the bottom of the screen.
Employee – View
To view an employee, or group of employees, select this option. This is a read-only
feature, and does not allow the user to modify information.
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Resources
Resources – Setting Up
Caution!!! The Restaurant Assistant team recommends that only the supervisors of the operation
have access to the resource section.
After the security access codes have been implemented, then the proper personnel can
initialize the resource options. These resources are also the imported delivery goods. When the
supervisor has knowledge of the current items their business is low on, they can click on the
resource button. This button is located at the top in the tool bar, as shown below:
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The next screen you should see is located below:
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From this screen you will be allowed to select from the different resource buttons to see
what the business currently has on hand. The resources will be empty until a delivery comes in.
Click on Add Resources, to input your requested resources you need currently. The screen you
should see is shown below with all the different information fields to be populated with:
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Throughout the remaining process, you will need to type in the resource name, amount to
order, the unit of amount (lbs. or individual), and desired delivery date. As you type in the
information for each item, click the submit button. By submitting, the will be prompted with the
spreadsheet located below. This spreadsheet is temporally stored in a database for 24 hours, or
until the item is received in a delivery. As you submit each item for the order, notices are
displayed alerting that an order code field is being populated. This field is a random number that
is not currently being used throughout your operation. The order code will be the number
associated with this particular item, until the item is used in a product or the item does not come
in on a delivery. If you make a mistake, simply click the item you wish to edit. This selection
will allow for you to make the proper corrections.
Resources - Printing Resource Labels
Caution!!! The Restaurant Assistant team recommends that only the supervisors of the operation
have access to the resource section.
Caution!!! Make sure that your label stickers are placed into the printer before printing labels.
Once all the items are inputted into the spreadsheet, you can push the print button. Once
the labels are printed, you should see one label for each item in the spreadsheet. The labels
should look similar to the one below:
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Supervisor Name:____John Smith____
Resource Name: _____Olive Oil_____
Amount: _0.25_ Amount Type: __lbs_
Delivery Date: ____April 29, 2005____
Expiration Date: __________________
Order Code:
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The Supervisor’s name field will always be printed with the manager’s name that placed
the order. If delivery containers have more than one individual container item in them, then
labels should be printed for each item in the container. An example of this aggregate label
printing would be when you order six one-gallon containers of olive oil, and they come in one
container. Another example would be if you order a case of lettuce, and it contains 25 heads of
lettuce. You would not want a label on each lettuce head, but simply one label for the entire box.
The label’s bar code number, the same number as the order code number, will have the number
of items in the case. When items are taken from the container, to be used for a product, the
number of items in the case will be updated. This update is explained in more detail in the
product section. Also notice that the amount is either in reference to lbs, as the example
indicates, or by individual items. The user has two options in filling out the Expiration Date
field on the label as well as in the database.
Option 1: If you have a PDA then the RA recommends that the user does not preprint the labels.
The user will be able to access the order in the resource options, and fill in the expiration date
corresponding to the proper item. After all the resource items are in the database, the user can
print the labels to be placed on the items.
Option 2: If you do not have a PDA, then the RA team recommends that the user hand write the
expiration dates on the labels and record the expiration dates into the database by the computer.
Resources - Checking Expiring Resource Items
Caution!!! The Restaurant Assistant team recommends that only the supervisors of the operation
have access to the resource section.
When the resources become within three days of their expiration dates, you will be
notified in the expiring items spreadsheet. This spreadsheet is located by selecting the Expiring
Resources button. The next screen you should see would be similar to the one located below:
Screen Shot Of The Expiring Resource Spreadsheet
This spreadsheet will contain all the resources that are nearing their expiration dates. The
RA team recommends that you use these items as soon as possible before they expire, possibly
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placing them into a restaurant special for that day of operation.
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Caution!!! Remember that it is illegal to serve food to customers that has expired.
Caution!!! Keep in mind that the expiration date of the product is determined by the expiration
date of the resource in that product. Example, if you had a resource that expiries in two days,
then the product being prepared would only have two days before expiring.
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Deliveries
Deliveries - Checking In Your Delivery
Caution!!! This process will require that you have the items’ preprinted labels and a
scanner, or PDA, to scan the items into the RA system.
When you have located an item in the delivery, you should confirm that it is not damaged
and that the expiration date has not occurred. Once confirmed, scan the bar code on the label
associated with that item, this will transfer the resource item from the temporary database into
the permanent resource database. After scanning the label, place it on the associated item in the
delivery.
Options:
If you have a PDA, you can simply type in the Expiration Date of the scanned item when
checking in the delivery. If you do not have a PDA, you will need to write down the
expiration dates of the items in the delivery, so you can later insert them into the Submitting
New Order spreadsheet.
The expiration date will be associated with the order code number of that item. These
data entries will be placed into the temporary and permanent database. These items will be
linked together for 24 hours in both databases. After 24 hours, the temporary database will be
deleted, to free up space in the database. This time period will have given the supervisor time to
fix corrections to possible missing delivery items as well as any other issues. After the delivery
items have been accounted for, and the labels are placed onto the proper items, then the resources
should be physically placed into their proper storage room. The items are now in the resource
database, and the Restaurant Assistant is recording their environment information while
watching their expiration dates for you.
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Products
Products - Setting Up the Products
Caution!!! The RA team recommends that this section be read by all employees who prepare
food.
Caution!!! Due to possible theft, the RA team recommends that only trusted employees should
use this section of the system.
When an employee is ready to prepare a product, they should collect only the amount of
resource items required to prepare that product. While the employee prepares the product, they
have to save the labels of each resource item being used. If a resource item is not completely
used, then that container should remain at the area in which the product is being made, until
completed. This storing of a resource will allow the user to scan that item when asked. Once
finished, the employee will login their employee number into the POS touch screen, which will
look like the screen below:
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The following screen will allow the user to select the Product button located on the top
tool bar. The user accessing the products should only have access to the Add New Product
button. This allows for only the supervisor to go in and edit the products, increasing the security
of the operation’s inventory. This screen should look like the one below:
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When an item button is selected the screen being viewed should be similar to the one
below:
The user will be able to scroll through the product names to locate the product they
prepared. Once found, the user will select the item name on screen. This selection will then
display a screen similar to the one below:
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The user will be prompted to scan in the resource items they used to prepare the product.
While the user scans the resource bar codes, the information of those items will be displayed
onto the spreadsheet. Once all the resource items have been scanned, the user can push the edit
button, which will allow the user to make corrections if needed. If a resource has not been
completely used, then the partial button should be selected for that item. This selection will
update the resource system that this particular item has been opened, but is not completely used.
After the user has finished scanning in all the resources, they will select Finished. Next, the the
user is prompted to select the type of measurement, lbs or individual. Only one selection will be
allowed. Next, type in the amount prepared and select the Finished button. Select the Clear
button if the amount is incorrect. Once completed, the printer will print out a label to be placed
with that product. The label should similar to the one below:
Employee Name:_____John Smith____
******************Product Name: ___________
Amount: _35_ Amount Type: ___lbs__
Prepared Date: ____April 30, 2005____
Expiration Date: ___March 03, 2005___
Product Code:
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The printed employee name will be the employee who prepared the item; this will link
the particular product item to that employee’s name. The supervisor will be able to bring up any
employees name in affiliation with any product prepared throughout the operations existence,
dating to the implementation of the RA into the establishment. This feature can be very useful if
any incidents occur with the employee’s productivity or the product. The expiration date will be
calculated by taking the resource item that is nearest expiration or placing a default date. The
default date will be determined by the type of product being prepared, since different food items
have longer expiration dates than others. Default dates will be up to the establishment to decide.
The product code will be a unique number that is not being occupied. This number will contain
the product’s characteristics. Once the label has been attached to the product, the product should
be immediately placed into proper storage until it is ready to be served.
Products - Scanning Products Out for Service
Caution!!! The RA system is only affective when the system is used properly. It is up to the
supervisor and employees to make sure that the products are scanned out for service, and
scanned back in when they are not used.
When an establishment is ready to take a product out of storage, that employee is
responsible to scan the barcode. After the product has been scanned, that product is taken out of
the product database and placed into a temporary database. The temporary database is for the
items being used that day of operation. Once the day of operation is over, the employee gives
the supervisor the products leftover who places the product back into the prepared product
database. It is up to the supervisor to input the correct amounts used for that day. This
managerial input will allow the supervisor to compare items sold with items lost due to improper
orders. If a product was completely used, then the label is simply thrown into the trash and the
product is not placed back into the product database. This item removal shows that the product
was trashed or sold.
Caution!! The RA team recommends that restaurants have employees notify the supervisor when
an order is improperly made or thrown out. This notification allows managers to properly update
the establishment’s records.
Products - Checking Expiring Product Items
Caution!!! The RA recommends that only trusted employees should use this section of the
system due to possible theft.
When the resources become within three days of expiration, you will be notified in the
expiring items spreadsheet. This spreadsheet is located by pushing the Expiring Products button.
The next screen you should see would be similar to the one located below:
Screen Shot Of The Expiring Product Spreadsheet
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This spreadsheet will contain all the products that are nearing their expiration dates.
The RA team recommends that you use these items as soon as possible before they expire,
possibly placing them into a restaurant special for that day of operation.
Caution!!! Remember that it is illegal to serve food to customers that has expired.
Caution!!! Keep in mind that the expiration date of the product is determined by the expiration
date of the resource in that product. Example, if you had a resource that expiries in two days,
then the product being prepared would only have two days before expiring.
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IV - Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I use this system on the machines that I already have?
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A: Yes, assuming the machines that you have meet the minimum requirements, the system will
work just fine. You will need to have the computers connected to a network if you have more
than. This is a simple solution and if your machines are less then three years old you should
have no problem setting the system up.
Q: What is a preparation station?
A: A preparation station is a computer on the same network as the main computer. This
computer is where you preparer will enter the data that he or she needs to enter when the product
that they are preparing is complete. This station will update the system with the new product and
inventory stock showing that the inventory was used to make the product.
Q: How does the system keep track of large containers of small inventory items?
A: Boxes of produce and equivalent types of inventory, like jumbo containers of marinara or
sour cream, require the system to keep track of the container’s contents. It is not possible to
label every ounce of sour cream and it would be too tedious to label every carrot in a box of 200
carrots. The system will automatically keep track of this aggregate inventory. When you tag the
container, you will be given the option of indicating to the system the size of the container. It
may be in ounces, pounds, or just a count. When the preparer prepares an item using the
preparation station, the system will remove the amount from the item’s specific database entry.
This system updating will allow you to keep track of remaining inventory.
Q: Is there any way that I can tell when I need to reorder stock?
A: When the system is first installed, there will be no history of the demand that you have for
certain times of the year. After the system has been in use for an extended amount of time, a
couple of months, the system will automatically generate reports based on your restaurant’s
specific demands. This inventory forecasting feature will let you know what and how much to
reorder. This forecasting option requires that you enter lead times, the amount of time that a
supplier takes to deliver your items. Inventory forecasting will help in minimizing the amount of
inventory that you hold while making sure that there is never a shortage.
Q: How do I reorder inventory stock?
A: There are several ways to reorder stock. The first is to continue reordering the old fashion
way. Once stock arrives, enter the arriving inventory into the system by hand. The second way
to reorder stock is to place your orders via the Restaurant Assistant. All of your suppliers should
be entered into the system. You would then choose an item and the number of that item needed.
The system will automatically set up a waiting inventory, and take care of the orders. If the
supplier requires orders to be phoned in, the system will prompt you to call the supplier with a
list of phone numbers and needed orders.
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Q: Why do I have to set up suppliers?
A: In all reality you do not have to set them up. If you choose to setup suppliers your daily
operations will become a little less hectic. By entering in the suppliers you will not always have
to manually order inventory. In many cases, depending on the supplier and the way that they
require orders, once you enter the inventory needed, the system will automatically order it from
the supplier for you.
Q: What is lead time?
A: Lead time is the average time that suppliers take to get an order to the recipient. This time is
normally measured in days, and helps with inventory management.
Q: How will I know when food has gone bad?
A: The only real way of knowing if food has gone bad is to look at it or smell it. The Restaurant
Assistant does make this management process easier, by reducing the occurrence of spoiling
supplies using database expiration queries. The system will keep track the expiration dates on all
of your supplies. The system will show the manager what foods have been in the inventory the
longest, and which ones should be used. In the event that some inventory is not used before the
expiration date has passed, the system will tell the manager that some food has gone bad, and
should be discarded.
Q: Will my employees be able to change things, like expiration dates and recipes?
A: Only those employees that you give access to will be able to make system changes. Each
employee will have an access level. This level will allow or prevent employees from changing
certain things within the system. Changing recipes and expiration dates on inventory are a few
examples of the many things that have this security.
Q: Will I be able to access my restaurant’s information from home?
A: At this time, that will not be possible. This feature would require that your Restaurant
Assistant have public access. This feature brings up some security issues that have not been
looked into yet, as well as extra expense. In the future, the RA will be public, allowing you to
access it from anywhere in the world to find out what your inventory levels are. For now the
system just provides local access. If you want to generate a report, you will need to be at the
server.
Restaurant Assistant – User Manual
V - Contacts
Website:
www.cs.odu.edu/~sokinsky
Office:
Restaurant Assistant Team
Engineering & Computational Sciences Bldg.
4700 Elkhorn Ave.
Suite 3300
Norfolk, VA 23529-0162
Phone:
1-888-4RA-TEAM
Technical Support: 1-888-4RA-TEAM ex. 100
Licensing: 1-888-4RA-TEAM ex. 101
Media: 1-888-4RA-TEAM ex. 102
Email:
cs410g2@yahoo.com
Credits (Alphabetical Order):
Matt Davis
mattdavis9@cox.net
Joel Hall
jhall@cs.odu.edu
Devin Hurst
dhurst@cs.odu.edu
Steven Okinsky
sokinsky@yahoo.com
Moon Bong Song
msong@cs.odu.edu
Roman Trifonov
rtrifono@cs.odu.edu
Page 27
Restaurant Assistant – User Manual
VI – Full Software License
GNU GENERAL PUBLIC LICENSE
Version 2, June 1991
Page 28
Copyright (C) 1989, 1991
Free Software Foundation, Inc.
59 Temple Place, Suite 330
Boston, MA 02111-1307 USA
Everyone is permitted to copy and distribute verbatim copies of this license document, but
changing it is not allowed.
Preamble
The licenses for most software are designed to take away your
freedom to share and change it. By contrast, the GNU General Public
License is intended to guarantee your freedom to share and change free
software--to make sure the software is free for all its users. This
General Public License applies to most of the Free Software
Foundation's software and to any other program whose authors commit to
using it. (Some other Free Software Foundation software is covered by
the GNU Library General Public License instead.) You can apply it to
your programs, too.
When we speak of free software, we are referring to freedom, not
price. Our General Public Licenses are designed to make sure that you
have the freedom to distribute copies of free software (and charge for
this service if you wish), that you receive source code or can get it
if you want it, that you can change the software or use pieces of it
in new free programs; and that you know you can do these things.
To protect your rights, we need to make restrictions that forbid
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These restrictions translate to certain responsibilities for you if you
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you have. You must make sure that they, too, receive or can get the
source code. And you must show them these terms so they know their
rights.
We protect your rights with two steps: (1) copyright the software, and
(2) offer you this license which gives you legal permission to copy,
distribute and/or modify the software.
Restaurant Assistant – User Manual
Also, for each author's protection and ours, we want to make certain
that everyone understands that there is no warranty for this free
software. If the software is modified by someone else and passed on, we
want its recipients to know that what they have is not the original, so
that any problems introduced by others will not reflect on the original
authors' reputations.
Page 29
Finally, any free program is threatened constantly by software
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The precise terms and conditions for copying, distribution and
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GNU GENERAL PUBLIC LICENSE
TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR COPYING, DISTRIBUTION AND MODIFICATION
0. This License applies to any program or other work which contains
a notice placed by the copyright holder saying it may be distributed
under the terms of this General Public License. The "Program", below,
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means either the Program or any derivative work under copyright law:
that is to say, a work containing the Program or a portion of it,
either verbatim or with modifications and/or translated into another
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Activities other than copying, distribution and modification are not
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is covered only if its contents constitute a work based on the
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Whether that is true depends on what the Program does.
1. You may copy and distribute verbatim copies of the Program's
source code as you receive it, in any medium, provided that you
conspicuously and appropriately publish on each copy an appropriate
copyright notice and disclaimer of warranty; keep intact all the
notices that refer to this License and to the absence of any warranty;
and give any other recipients of the Program a copy of this License
along with the Program.
You may charge a fee for the physical act of transferring a copy, and
Restaurant Assistant – User Manual
you may at your option offer warranty protection in exchange for a fee.
2. You may modify your copy or copies of the Program or any portion
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These requirements apply to the modified work as a whole. If
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Thus, it is not the intent of this section to claim rights or contest
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In addition, mere aggregation of another work not based on the Program
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Page 30
Restaurant Assistant – User Manual
3. You may copy and distribute the Program (or a work based on it,
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4. You may not copy, modify, sublicense, or distribute the Program
except as expressly provided under this License. Any attempt
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this License will not have their licenses terminated so long as such
Page 31
Restaurant Assistant – User Manual
parties remain in full compliance.
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If any portion of this section is held invalid or unenforceable under
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It is not the purpose of this section to induce you to infringe any
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Page 32
Restaurant Assistant – User Manual
to distribute software through any other system and a licensee cannot
impose that choice.
Page 33
This section is intended to make thoroughly clear what is believed to
be a consequence of the rest of this License.
8. If the distribution and/or use of the Program is restricted in
certain countries either by patents or by copyrighted interfaces, the
original copyright holder who places the Program under this License
may add an explicit geographical distribution limitation excluding
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the limitation as if written in the body of this License.
9. The Free Software Foundation may publish revised and/or new versions
of the General Public License from time to time. Such new versions will
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Each version is given a distinguishing version number. If the Program
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either of that version or of any later version published by the Free
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to ask for permission. For software which is copyrighted by the Free
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NO WARRANTY
11. BECAUSE THE PROGRAM IS LICENSED FREE OF CHARGE, THERE IS NO
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HOLDERS AND/OR OTHER PARTIES PROVIDE THE PROGRAM "AS IS" WITHOUT
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NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND
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AND PERFORMANCE OF THE PROGRAM IS WITH YOU. SHOULD THE PROGRAM
Restaurant Assistant – User Manual
Page 34
PROVE DEFECTIVE, YOU ASSUME THE COST OF ALL NECESSARY SERVICING,
REPAIR OR CORRECTION.
12. IN NO EVENT UNLESS REQUIRED BY APPLICABLE LAW OR AGREED TO IN
WRITING WILL ANY COPYRIGHT HOLDER, OR ANY OTHER PARTY WHO MAY
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OR THIRD PARTIES OR A FAILURE OF THE PROGRAM TO OPERATE WITH ANY
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END OF TERMS AND CONDITIONS