JP2006163447A - Ordering system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enhance efficiency in customization at a restaurant and the like. <P>SOLUTION: A function for calling from a customer table is provided to a portable information terminal for inputting order contents of a customer. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an ordering system using an information terminal, and more particularly to an ordering system using an information terminal in which a mobile information terminal for inputting customer order details has a calling function from a customer table.

  Conventionally, as a system for a customer who enters a restaurant to call a store clerk, a transmitter is installed in each table or room, and when a customer requests a service, a push button switch or the like provided on the transmitter is pressed. A salesclerk calling system is known in which a table number and a room number are displayed on a display unit of a wireless receiver installed in a place where a salesclerk or the like can look around (see Patent Document 1).

However, in the above-described conventional service call system, when the customer presses the call switch of the transmitter, the store clerk such as the waitress uses the alarm sound and the number display on the wireless receiver that has received this signal to determine what number. Since the customer of the table was checking whether the push operation had been performed, a store clerk such as a waitress had to bother to see the display, and when the wireless receiver number display was not visible, the call table In some cases, the number could not be grasped and quick service could not be performed.
In order to solve such a problem, each store clerk carries a portable wireless transceiver and receives a call signal from the customer with the portable wireless transceiver so that the store clerk such as a waitress can be located at any position. A store clerk call system that can check the call table and the like has been proposed (see Patent Document 2).

On the other hand, at a restaurant such as a family restaurant or tavern where a relatively large number of customers visit, when a customer receives an order for food from a visitor, the clerk operates the handy terminal that the customer has ordered. When the name of the dish and the number of pieces are entered together with information such as the table number, the input information from the handy terminal is wirelessly displayed on a printer or display of the kitchen (cooking area) and also for POS (for later accounting processing). An ordering system in which data is also input to a (Point of Sales) terminal is known (see Patent Document 3).
JP 54-44500 A JP 11-161859 A JP-A-6-203551

However, conventionally, as described above, a portable wireless transceiver having a call display function from a customer table, a handy terminal having a function of inputting a dish name and the number ordered by a customer together with information such as a table number, and the like However, since they were devices of different systems, it was necessary to carry two types of devices at all times and change them depending on the situation in order to improve service to customers.
For this reason, the operation is troublesome for the store clerk, and a double capital investment is necessary for the store side, which is problematic in terms of cost.
The present invention has been made in view of the circumstances as described above, and an object of the present invention is to reduce the work burden on a clerk by providing an ordering system using a handy terminal having both of the two functions. This is to reduce the burden of capital investment on the store side.

The present invention relates to an ordering system in a store such as a restaurant, and the above object of the present invention is installed for each table seated by a customer who enters a store such as a restaurant, and a call signal to which identification information of each table is added. A wireless transmitter that transmits the calling signal, a wireless receiver that receives the calling signal from the transmitter, and a wireless portable terminal that is carried by each of a plurality of store clerk and inputs order information of the customer An ordering controller connected to the wireless receiver, one or a plurality of wireless LAN access points connected to the ordering controller and relaying data communication between the mobile terminal and the ordering controller, and the ordering An order that is communicably connected to the controller and displays or outputs the customer order information. A ordering system including a power equipment, the,
The ordering controller relays the call signal from the transmitter sent from the wireless receiver to the portable terminal via the wireless LAN access point, and the portable terminal includes the table included in the received call signal. The identification information of the mobile terminal is displayed on the display unit of the mobile terminal and the input order information of the customer is sent to the ordering controller, the ordering controller sends the order information received from the mobile terminal to the order output device, The order output device is achieved by an ordering system that displays or outputs order information sent from the ordering controller.
According to the present invention, both the call notification and the order input can be performed only by the portable terminal of the store clerk.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the portable terminal includes a link means for linking the table identification information of the customer displayed on the display unit and the ID information of the portable terminal. When the response information obtained by linking the identification information of the table to be tried and the ID information of the mobile terminal possessed by the store clerk is transmitted from the mobile terminal to the ordering controller, the ordering controller is possessed by all other store clerk. It is effectively achieved by the ordering system that transmits the responder information to a mobile terminal and displays the responder information on the mobile terminal.
As a result, all the store clerks can know which store clerk has responded to the customer at the table where the call is made, and double response can be prevented.

Further, the above object of the present invention is that the ordering controller stores area information obtained by dividing the store into a plurality of areas in association with identification information of a table belonging to the area, and the area information And the ID information of the mobile terminal of the clerk in charge of each area are stored in association with each other,
The ordering controller determines the area information to which the table belongs, using the identification information of the table included in the call signal from the transmitter sent from the wireless receiver as a clue, and is associated with the area information. This is achieved more effectively by the ordering system, wherein the calling signal is transmitted to a mobile terminal having ID information.

Still further, the object of the present invention is such that the ordering information is configured to be erased from all the mobile terminals after a lapse of a predetermined time since the response information is displayed on the mobile terminals. Effectively achieved by the system.
This is because it is not necessary to leave the already-accepted customer information on the portable terminal indefinitely.

Still further, the object of the present invention is such that the ordering controller further includes a response history management means, and stores the response information in the response history management means when receiving the response information from the portable terminal. It is effectively achieved by the ordering system characterized by the above.
As a result, the history information of the store clerk who responds remains, and the work status of the store clerk can be grasped later.

Also, the object of the present invention is effectively achieved by the ordering system, wherein the customer table information is displayed on the display unit of the portable terminal in the order of calling.
As a result, it is possible to give priority to the customer who has been called first.

Further, the above object of the present invention is characterized in that, when the portable terminal receives the call signal, the mobile terminal displays that the call signal has been received on a part of the order input screen for inputting the customer order information. Is effectively achieved by the ordering system.
As a result, even when the store clerk is inputting an order on the order input screen, it is possible to know that there has been a call, and a quick response is possible.

  Still further, the object of the present invention is that the ordering controller also has a function as a POS terminal such as totaling sales and billing amount for each customer based on order information received from the portable terminal. Alternatively, the order output device is more effectively achieved by using a printer and / or a display.

The ordering system according to the present invention employs a portable terminal having both an order input function and a clerk calling function, so that the clerk can catch the customer's call at any location in the store and use the same portable terminal. Therefore, the order efficiency can be improved and the burden of equipment investment on the store side can be reduced.
In addition, since it is possible to leave a response history in the ordering controller, it becomes possible to respond and manage the working status of the clerk who has received the order.

The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an ordering system according to the present invention. The ordering system includes a wireless table caller (transmitter) 1 and a wireless receiver for receiving a call signal from the transmitter 1. 2, an ordering controller 3 connected to the wireless receiver 2 by wire (for example, RS232C), a network device (for example, HUB or router) 4 connected to the ordering controller 3, the ordering controller 3 and the A plurality of wireless LAN access points 5 connected via a network device 4, a plurality of portable terminals 6 for transmitting / receiving data to / from the ordering controller 3 via the wireless LAN access point 5, and the network device 4 from the ordering controller 3 via Kitchen display 7 that receive and display order information which is intended to include a kitchen printer 8 for outputting said order information. The kitchen display 7 and the kitchen printer 8 are examples of order output devices.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the portable terminal 6, and the screen shows the order input mode. As described above, the portable terminal 6 has both an order input function and a clerk call function, and can switch between the order input mode screen and the clerk call mode screen as described below or automatically. It has become.
In the figure, 61 is a start / update button, 62 is a screen switching key, and 63 is a touch panel type liquid crystal panel. Reference numeral 64 denotes a menu division display. FIG. 2 shows that “lunch” is selected. Reference numeral 65 denotes a menu display for displaying actual menu contents included in the category. FIG. 2 shows that one parent-child bowl and two green onions are ordered. In addition, 66 is a quantity increase button and 67 is a quantity decrease button, respectively. When the order quantity of the same menu is increased, the quantity increase button 66 is pressed, and when it is decreased, the quantity decrease button 67 is pressed. When the order details are determined, when the clerk in charge presses the order transmission button 68, the order data is transmitted to the ordering controller 3 via the wireless LAN access point 5 by the built-in wireless LAN 69.
Reference numeral 70 denotes a sign indicating that a new call signal has been received, and it is possible to know that a new call has occurred even during order entry. At this time, by operating the screen switching key 62, a salesclerk call mode screen shown in FIGS. 4 to 7 described later can be displayed.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a flow of receiving the call signal from the customer in the ordering system according to the present invention and displaying it on the mobile terminal 6 of the store clerk until the store clerk responds to the customer based on the received call signal. is there. In addition, about the system which receives an order, inputs into the portable terminal 6, and transmits, since the thing of the said patent document 3 can be utilized, description is abbreviate | omitted.

  First, a customer who has entered the store and is seated presses a button on a table caller (transmitter) 1 provided on the table to transmit a call signal (added table identification information, time, etc.) (step). S1). The transmitted calling signal is received by the wireless receiver 2 and sent to the ordering controller 3 connected to the wireless receiver 2 by wire (step S2). Here, the ordering controller 3 uses the table identification information (for example, the table number and the room name) included in the call signal as a key to determine the area including the table and all of the areas in charge of the area. A call signal is sent to the clerk's mobile terminal (step S3). For this reason, in the ordering controller 3, table identification information, area information to which the table belongs, and ID information of a clerk in charge of the area are stored in association with a storage means (not shown). Needless to say, when the entire store is considered as one area, it is transmitted to all store clerk.

  Next, on the portable terminal 6 of the store clerk who has received the call signal, the identification information of the table that has been called is displayed (step S4), and it is possible to know from which table the call is made. If the store clerk is currently receiving an order, a call sign 70 is displayed as shown in FIG. 2. After the order is placed, the switch button 62 is operated to call the call sign 70. A screen can be displayed. FIG. 4 shows an example of the display screen of the portable terminal 6 at that time. In FIG. 4, the latest call information is surrounded by a large frame, and “No. 4” indicates the latest.

  Next, “Yamamoto”, one of the store clerk, touches the “No. 12” frame on the screen of his mobile terminal with a touch pen etc. in order to respond to the No. 12 table, and the color of the frame turns blue. The name changes (for example, the color before the change is pink), and the user's name is displayed in the frame (step S5, see FIG. 5). As a result, Yamamoto's mobile terminal ID information and table identification information are linked inside Mr. Yamamoto's mobile terminal, and the linked information (referred to as respondent information) is sent to the ordering controller 3. Stored (step S6). This information can be used as response history management information.

Next, the ordering controller 3 transmits the attendee information to the mobile terminal 6 of the salesperson of the person in charge of the area other than Mr. Yamamoto (step S7). A screen as shown in FIG. 5 is displayed on the display unit of the portable terminal 6 that has received the response information (step S8). As a result, the other store clerk can confirm that Mr. Yamamoto is responding to the “No. 12” table.
Here, since it is not necessary to continue displaying “No. 12” because the answerer of the “No. 12” table is determined, the information on the answerer is deleted after a predetermined time (for example, about 0 to several seconds). (Step S9). When “No. 12” is deleted, “No. 4” descends to the lower stage, and the uppermost frame (large frame) becomes blank (see FIG. 6). Next, when a new call signal is received, it is displayed in the uppermost large frame as shown in FIG. This is repeated below.

Note that the order information input by the portable terminal 6 is once sent to the ordering controller 3 to calculate a fee and the like, and the order information is output by a kitchen display or a kitchen printer and transmitted to the kitchen.

1 is an overall view showing an example of a configuration of an ordering system according to the present invention. It is a figure which shows an example (order input mode screen) of a portable terminal. It is an example of the flowchart which shows the flow of the salesclerk call function in the ordering system which concerns on this invention. It is an example of the screen in the salesclerk call mode of a portable terminal (there is a new call). It is an example of the screen in the salesclerk call mode of a portable terminal (response person information display). It is an example of the screen in the salesclerk calling mode of a portable terminal (state immediately after erasing). It is an example of the screen in the salesclerk call mode of a portable terminal (there is a new call).

Explanation of symbols

1 Desk caller (transmitter)
2 Wireless receiver 3 Ordering controller 4 Network device 5 Wireless LAN access point 6 Mobile terminal 7 Kitchen display 8 Kitchen printer

Claims (9)

A wireless transmitter that is installed for each table seated by a customer who entered a store such as a restaurant, and that transmits a call signal with identification information of each table;
A wireless receiver for receiving the call signal from the transmitter;
A plurality of salesclerks of the store carry each wireless portable terminal that inputs the customer order information;
An ordering controller connected to the wireless receiver;
One or more wireless LAN access points connected to the ordering controller and relaying data communication between the portable terminal and the ordering controller;
An order output device that is communicably connected to the ordering controller and displays or outputs the customer order information;
An ordering system including
The ordering controller relays the call signal from the transmitter sent from the wireless receiver to the mobile terminal via the wireless LAN access point,
The mobile terminal displays the identification information of the table included in the received call signal on the display unit of the mobile terminal, and sends the input order information of the customer to the ordering controller,
The ordering controller sends the order information received from the mobile terminal to the order output device,
The ordering system displays or outputs the order information sent from the ordering controller.
The portable terminal includes link means for linking the table identification information of the customer displayed on the display unit and the ID information of the portable terminal, and the identification information of the table to which any one store clerk tries to respond When the responder information linked with the ID information of the mobile terminal possessed by the store clerk is transmitted from the mobile terminal to the ordering controller, the ordering controller sends the responder information to the mobile terminals possessed by all other store clerk. The ordering system according to claim 1, wherein the information on the attendee is displayed on the portable terminal.
In the ordering controller, area information obtained by dividing the store into a plurality of areas and identification information of a table belonging to the area are stored in association with each other, and the area information and the store clerk in charge of each area are stored. Stored in association with the ID information of the mobile device,
The ordering controller determines the area information to which the table belongs, using the identification information of the table included in the call signal from the transmitter sent from the wireless receiver as a clue, and is associated with the area information. The ordering system according to claim 2, wherein the calling signal is transmitted to a mobile terminal having ID information.
4. The ordering system according to claim 2, wherein the response information is erased from all the mobile terminals after a predetermined time has elapsed since the response information is displayed on the mobile terminals.
3. The ordering controller further includes a response history management unit, and is configured to store the response information in the response history management unit when the response information is received from the portable terminal. 5. The ordering system according to any one of 4.
6. The ordering system according to claim 1, wherein the customer table information is displayed on the display unit of the portable terminal in the order of calling.
7. The mobile terminal, when receiving the call signal, displays that a call signal has been received on a part of an order input screen for inputting order information of the customer. The ordering system described in Crab.
8. The ordering controller also has a function as a POS terminal, such as summing up sales and billing amount for each customer based on order information received from the portable terminal. The ordering system according to any one of the above.
9. The ordering system according to claim 1, wherein the order output device is a printer and / or a display.

Images