KDS - Kitchen Display System

KDS is a specialized system designed for the food service industry to receive, process, and display orders from various channels, improving kitchen efficiency and order processing accuracy. The system supports a master/slave architecture, allowing orders to be distributed to different displays based on food categories, with real-time order status updates.

Features

• Multi-channel Order Reception: Support for receiving orders from online platforms, self-service kiosks, web, and more
• Master/Slave Architecture: Support for one master KDS and multiple slave KDS in a distributed setup
• Category-based Distribution: Orders are distributed to different displays based on food categories (drinks, hot food, cold food, desserts, etc.)
• Real-time Status Updates: Order status updates in real-time, including new orders, in-process, and completed
• Order Prioritization: Automatic ordering based on urgency and order time
• Inventory Management: Real-time tracking and updating of inventory, with support for low-stock alerts and sold-out marking
• Background Service: Support for Android devices to continuously receive orders even when the app is running in the background
• Multi-language Support: Interface available in Chinese and English
• Printing Functionality: Support for order receipt printing
• Data Statistics: Order data statistics and analysis features
• TCP Communication: Master-slave KDS communication based on TCP protocol, ensuring accurate order information transmission

System Architecture

The system uses a distributed architecture with the following components:

1. Master KDS:

   • Receives orders from all channels
   • Processes order categorization and distribution
   • Manages slave KDS connections
   • Synchronizes order status

2. Slave KDS:

   • Receives specific category orders distributed from the master KDS
   • Reports order status changes to the master KDS
   • Focuses on processing orders for specific categories

3. Background Service:

   • Maintains TCP server running continuously on Android devices
   • Periodically checks for new orders
   • Receives orders even when the app is in the background

4. Order Processing Flow:

   • Order Reception → Order Formatting → Category Classification → Order Distribution → Status Updates → Order Completion

Technology Stack

• Frontend: React Native + Expo
• Backend Communication: TCP Socket
• Storage: AsyncStorage
• State Management: React Context API
• UI Components: React Native Components + Custom Components
• Native Modules: Java/Kotlin (Android)
• Printing Support: Custom Printer Module
• Background Service: Android Foreground Service

Installation and Usage

Requirements

• Node.js 14+
• npm 6+
• Android Studio (for Android development)
• Xcode (for iOS development, Mac only)
• Expo CLI

Installation Steps

1. Install dependencies

   npm install

2. Start development server

   npm run android

3. Run on emulator or physical device (optional)

   • Press a to run on Android emulator
   • Press i to run on iOS simulator (Mac only)
   • Scan QR code with Expo Go app to run on a physical device

Configuration

1. Master KDS Setup:

   • Select "Master Display" role in the settings page
   • Configure TCP port (default 4322)
   • Add IP addresses and categories for slave KDS devices

2. Slave KDS Setup:

   • Select "Auxiliary Display" role in the settings page
   • Enter the master KDS IP address
   • Select the food category to display

3. Background Service Configuration (Android):

   • Enable "Background Order Reception" option in the settings page