JP2007148998A - Beverage order receipt system inclusively handling service with no limit on number - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To deal with an order for a menu with no limit on number in a beverage order receipt system. <P>SOLUTION: In this beverage order receipt system, when a service ID is inputted by an attendant, an available time and an item ID set corresponding to the service ID are extracted from a service definition table, and initial processing for managing a residual time based on the available time and a lapse of time is carried out. When beverage item information in a menu database is displayed in response to an operation inputted by a customer input means, the fact that it is a target item of the service with no limit on numbers is displayed in addition to the beverage item information in the item ID set extracted by the initial processing for allowing the receipt of an order input for the item while the residual time is effective. Upon receipt of the order input for the displayed beverage item from the customer input means, the order item information is outputted from an output means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an act of allocating a computer terminal to a customer who enters a restaurant at a restaurant and the customer selecting the product by looking at the menu and the act of ordering the selected product from the store by the customer himself. In particular, the present invention relates to a system that is convenient for sharing with all-you-can-eat and all-you-can-drink service forms.

  Recently, at a restaurant or tavern, a customer is asked to enter a computer terminal, and the customer operates the computer terminal to select the product by looking at the menu and order the selected product from the store. Thus, a food order receiving system of a method to be performed is put into practical use. Such a system is also disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 2001-338035, 2002-7539, 2002-215755, and 2004-302582. Hereinafter, this computer terminal is referred to as a passenger seat terminal.

  As a passenger seat terminal, a tablet computer with a touch panel display is used. A menu is displayed on the display, and an order is placed by touch-inputting the displayed product. The guest room terminal is incorporated in the computer system of the store by a wireless LAN or the like. The store computer system includes a passenger terminal, a cash register terminal that performs accounting / settlement processing, a kitchen terminal that notifies the kitchen of ordered products, and a POS store computer that supervises these.

  Traditionally, in a restaurant, a clerk who serves customers has a handy terminal, the customer verbally tells the clerk the order of the product by looking at the menu of the printed matter, and the clerk operates the handy terminal to enter an order for the ordered item The system is in use. This clerk handy terminal also displays menus in a fine tabular format on the touch panel display, and the clerk touches with a pen to input items and numbers.

  On the other hand, the menu placed in the audience seats is a large and gorgeous printed material with many pages, and many kinds of food and drinks are posted with beautiful realistic photos. The customer turns the page of the menu, selects a product, and orders a product from the store clerk. The store clerk performs a necessary input by pen-touching the menu table of the handy terminal.

  In a system using the above-mentioned passenger seat terminal instead of a large-sized and large-sized menu printed material, improving the usability of the passenger seat terminal is the most important issue. The area of a tablet computer display screen is very limited. Very little information can be displayed on a single screen. However, it is easy to display various kinds of information by switching the screen by a computer program.

Utilizing this characteristic, various attribute information is added to each product item and the menu is made into a database, so that customers can select products without trouble by easy-to-understand multi-level classification search. It is important to build a practical search system.
JP 2001-338035 A JP 2002-7539 A JP 2002-215755 A JP 2004-302582 A

  In Chimata restaurants, all-you-can-drink and all-you-can-eat is very popular. There are many shops where you can add new all-you-can-drink and all-you-can-eat menus to attract customers, and you will be able to form a line.

  For example, if you order a 2000-yen “plum course” at a sushi restaurant, you can enjoy all-you-can-eat scrolls, tuna, squid and eggs for 30 minutes. Customers who order this plum course can order as many times as possible in 30 minutes for scrolls, tuna, squid and eggs. No matter how many of these items are ordered, this customer is only charged 2000 yen for the plum course. On the other hand, this is not the only sushi restaurant menu. Even customers who ordered the plum course can order items that are not included in the plum course, such as Hachimachi, Daitoro, etc., although there is a separate charge. In other words, even if the same customer orders tuna, squid, or egg, no additional fee other than 2000 yen will be incurred, but if you order an item that is not included in the plum course, such as hamachi, large toro, the price set for each will be Charges are added for the number of orders.

  In such a case, the customer cannot know whether the item he / she wants to eat is a course target item or a separate fee item, by checking with the menu table of the store. Also, when a store clerk places an order, whether the customer is using the course, if it is, which course is being used, and whether there is an additional charge for the ordered item You have to check carefully so as not to make a mistake.

  In addition, all-you-can-eat / all-you-can-drink courses may be provided in various ways depending on the price and the range of the target items. For example, if you add 1000 yen to the above-mentioned “Plum course” and pay 3000 yen, the time limit will not change for 30 minutes, but you can rank up to “Bamboo course” where Toro and how much will be added, or add 2000 yen to the bamboo course And if you pay 5,000 yen, you can rank up to the “pine course” where the time limit is 1 hour and the target items are further added with conger and large toro, so there are multiple all-you-can-eat and all-you-can-drink courses. It is often set. Then, for example, Toro is included in the bamboo course, but not in the plum course, so there is no additional charge even if the bamboo course user orders Toro, but the plum course user and course are used There is an additional charge for customers who do not. As described above, since it becomes more complicated to confirm whether or not a separate fee is charged for each item order, it is very troublesome for the customer, and it is easy for the store side to make a payment error.

  Therefore, in the self-operated food order reception system that has begun to become popular, the present inventors have determined whether the item to be ordered is an item to be ordered for all-you-can-drink / all-you-can-eat customers in a limited display space. No, if it is a separately priced item, displaying it so that the price can be understood will improve the convenience of the customer, and if the order can be handled so that it will be understood, there will be no settlement error and it will be reasonable for the store side I thought it was, and created the present invention.

This invention is a food and drink order receiving system specified by the following items (1) to (10).
(1) A food and drink reception system including a menu database, a service regulation table, display means, customer input means, clerk input means, control means, and output means. (2) The menu database is A large number of food and drink item information associated with the item ID is stored. (3) The service definition table associates the usage frame time, the item ID set, and the service ID. (4) The display means is the control means. (5) The customer input means can accept operation input by the customer (6) The clerk input means can input the service ID by the clerk (7) The control means When the service ID is input, the initial process is performed, and the menu display process and the ordering process are performed. (8) The initial process is a service regulation table. Extract usage frame time and item ID set corresponding to service ID and manage remaining time based on usage time frame and elapsed time (9) Menu display processing responds to operation input of customer input means When the food item information in the menu database is displayed, the food item information in the item ID set extracted in the initial process is added as an item subject to unlimited quantity service while the remaining time is valid (10) The ordering process outputs the order item information when the order input for the food and drink item displayed in the menu display process is received from the customer input means. Output by

In the present invention, it is desirable that the menu display process does not display a price for the target item of the unlimited quantity service.
Furthermore, when displaying the target items of the unlimited quantity service, it is desirable to display the effective remaining time together.
In addition, the control means can accept the designation input of the unlimited quantity menu display mode, and when the menu display process accepts the designation input of the unlimited quantity menu display mode, only the target items of the unlimited quantity service are taken out. It is desirable to display.

  According to the food and drink order reception system of the present invention, among the multiple all-you-can-drink / all-you-can-eat courses, the items that can be ordered in the course selected by the user are displayed so that the user can understand. No longer worry about whether the item to be ordered is an all-you-can-drink / all-you-can-eat item. When an order for a course target item is made, the fact is displayed so that the store clerk and the kitchen can recognize this, so that troubles such as incorrect payment can be prevented. Since the remaining time of course usage is also monitored, customers can order without any hesitation. Since the store clerk does not need to pay extra attention, the store's operating efficiency increases and is convenient.

=== System configuration example ===
In order to easily understand the gist of the present invention, a food order receiving system in a Japanese restaurant where sushi, which has a plurality of all-you-can-eat courses, is taken up as an example. FIG. 1 illustrates a system configuration. A store computer 1 installed in one store, a front terminal 2 installed in the front, a kitchen terminal 3 installed in the kitchen, and a plurality of customer seat terminals 4 installed in each table of the customer seat Each apparatus is connected to the in-store LAN 5 to constitute a client server system in which the store computer 1 is a server computer. The front terminal 2 is accompanied by a cash register terminal.

  The store computer 1 is a general-purpose server computer. It has a user interface that can accept operation inputs from store clerk and owner. In the hard disk device, a menu database 6 described later is constructed and managed.

  The passenger seat terminal 4 is a tablet-type integrated personal computer and is operated by a user in the passenger seat. It has a user interface consisting of a liquid crystal display equipped with a transparent touch panel, and is configured to exchange information with users in an interactive manner. It is connected to the store LAN 5 via a wireless adapter and can communicate data with the store computer 1 via the LAN 5.

  The front terminal 2 is a general-purpose personal computer having a user interface capable of accepting an operation input of a front store clerk and communicating data with the store computer 1 via the LAN 5. When the user is guided to the seat, as will be described later, the store clerk is configured to be able to input the available time or check the remaining time of use in each room.

  The kitchen terminal 3 is also a client computer composed of a general-purpose personal computer, and performs data communication with the store computer 1 through the LAN 5 as appropriate. A printer is attached, and based on the order contents, an order receipt including the order contents such as the seat number, its item, and quantity is printed out. It has a user interface that accepts the operation input of the clerk in charge of cooking and serving and presents information, presents the order details such as the seat number ordered, its items, and quantity, and indicates that processing has been completed for the ordered order An operation input may be accepted.

  In addition, it is good also as a structure which installed the store computer 1 in the front and included the function as the front terminal 2. FIG. Further, only the display of the store computer 1 or the front terminal 2 may be installed in the kitchen in order to display information such as accepted order details.

=== Configuration of Menu Database 6 ===
As shown in FIG. 2, the menu database 6 attached to the store computer 1 includes item names of items for food and drink items that can be provided in the store (identified by item IDs assigned to the items), Various attribute items such as genre, fee, main material, calorie intake, and photo location information are described, and the item ID is stored and managed as key information.

  As other attribute items, required time information indicating a standard time required for a customer to finish eating and drinking after receiving an order through cooking and serving may be included. It may be set based on the average time from receipt of an order to delivery to the guest room and the average time required for the customer to enjoy eating and drinking with a margin. It is convenient because it can be used as a reference to decide which items to order according to the remaining time of the all-you-can-eat / drink course.

  The item information included in the menu database 6 is input and updated by the store clerk and the store owner through appropriate user interfaces provided in the store computer 1 at appropriate occasions such as maintenance hours before the start of work and after the end of work. Made.

  The store computer 1 communicates data with a karaoke server operated by a karaoke business operator connected to an external network such as the Internet via a communication interface such as a router connected to the LAN 5 at an appropriate time, and distributes update data. In response, the menu database 6 may be updated.

  Furthermore, in this embodiment, this menu database 6 is also attached to each passenger seat terminal 4. Data is communicated with the store computer 1 in a timely manner and updated based on the menu database 6 managed by the store computer 1, and the contents of both databases are managed to be the same during the business hours of the store.

=== Service specification table ===
For each course of all-you-can-eat and all-you-can-drink (unlimited quantity service), the store computer 1 uses the course name, time limit (usage time), set of item IDs of target items, and course fee as the service ID. The associated service regulation table is stored and managed in an appropriate storage unit.

  For example, the 2000 yen “Plum Course” has a time limit of 30 minutes, and the target menus are scrolls, tuna (red meat), squid and eggs, and the 3000 yen “Bamboo Course” has the same time limit of 30 minutes. Toro and Ikura have been added to the “Plum course” items, the 5000 yen “Pine course” has a time limit of 1 hour, and the target menu has the “Bamboo course” items, plus conger and large Toro. Let's say. In this case, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the service regulation table is associated with the service ID of “Plum course”, the fee is 2000 yen, the time limit is 30 minutes, and the target menu includes scrolls, tuna (red meat), A set of item IDs for each squid or egg is described. Also associated with the service ID of “Bamboo Course” is a fee of 3000 yen, a time limit of 30 minutes, and the target menu describes a set of item IDs for scrolls, tuna (red meat), squid, egg, Toro and salmon roe. The Similarly, it is associated with the service ID of “Matsu course”, the fee is 5000 yen, the time limit is 1 hour, the menu includes scrolls, tuna (red meat), squid, egg, Toro, salmon roe, conger, large Toro A set of IDs is described.

As in the menu database 6, the contents of the service definition table are appropriately input and updated via the user interface or communication interface of the store computer 1.
This service regulation table is also managed in each passenger seat terminal 4 and front terminal 2. Data is communicated with the store computer 1 in a timely manner, and updated based on the service definition table managed by the store computer 1 as in the case of the menu database 6, and the contents of each service specification table are the same during the business hours of the store. It is managed to become.

  In the present embodiment, it is configured so that the item information of the target menu associated with each service ID can be extracted by comparing with the service definition table when referring to the menu database 6. It is not restricted to this structure. For example, each item information in the menu database 6 may have a flag indicating that it is a target item of each service ID.

=== Unlimited quantity service and usage time frame ===
The store computer 1 manages the usage status of each passenger seat. In this system, a passenger seat number is assigned to each passenger terminal 4 installed at each passenger seat.
When a front desk clerk assigns a seat to a visitor and takes a seat, if the customer wants an all-you-can-eat / all-you-can-drink course, the seat number that the clerk wants to seat through the user interface of the front terminal 2 Select and enter the desired course name. The food order reception / input system is configured to input a seat number and a service ID corresponding to the selected course.

  All-you-can-eat and all-you-can-drink courses are not always offered at the time of entry. Customers may want to use an all-you-can-eat / all-you-can-drink course because they noticed or changed their mind while eating and drinking after sitting. Even in this case, the store clerk inputs the seat number and the desired course from the front terminal 2 at the front.

  The front terminal 2 transfers the designated service ID and passenger seat number to the store computer 1 via the LAN 5. The store computer 1 refers to the service definition table based on the received service ID, and extracts the associated time limit and item ID set. Then, the use end time is calculated based on the current time and the time limit, stored in the storage unit in association with the seat number, and managed as a use time management book. The calculated use end time may be returned to the front terminal 2. In that case, there is no need to calculate at the front terminal 2, and the use end time managed by each device will not be different.

  Further, the store computer 1 transfers the signal indicating the start of the use of the passenger seat to the passenger seat terminal 4 corresponding to the customer seat number via the LAN 5 including the use end time and the service ID. The passenger seat terminal 4 manages the received service ID together with the use end time.

  In addition, the store computer 1 notifies the corresponding passenger seat terminal 4 of the update information whenever the use end time is updated, for example, when there is an order to start using all-you-can-drink / all-you-can-eat courses. To do. Based on the current time and the notified use end time, the passenger seat terminal 4 can know the remaining time of the use time of the passenger seat at the present time.

=== Menu display processing ===
In the passenger seat terminal 4, based on a predetermined operation input at the front terminal 2, processing for displaying a menu available in the passenger seat is performed. For example, FIG. 4 illustrates an initial screen when the desired course of the user seated in the seat number “15th table” is “pine course”. In addition to buttons for selecting and instructing available items, the screen displays the seat number, the name of the course used, the remaining time of use of the course, and the like.

  As described above, when the use end time and the service ID are transferred from the front terminal 2 together with the start of use of the seat, the seat terminal 4 recognizes the current time, and based on the current time and the use end time, The remaining time of usage time is calculated. Thereafter, the remaining time is reduced and displayed in synchronization with the elapse of the current time. Note that if the service ID is not notified to the passenger seat terminal 4 at the start of use of the passenger seat, the calculation of the remaining time is unnecessary and the remaining time is regarded as zero.

  Next, the passenger seat terminal 4 reads item information (item ID, genre, item name, fee, etc.) for a number of items included in the menu database 6. At this time, if the remaining time is not zero, the service ID table is referenced based on the service ID to extract the associated item ID set, and the quantity unlimited flag is displayed in the item information corresponding to these item IDs. Is added.

  Based on the read item information group, the touch panel display is used to allow the user to search for items to be ordered in an interactive manner, display a list of search results, and select and instruct the target item from the list. Displays information about the item. At this time, the item with the unlimited quantity flag is displayed as a course target item instead of a fee.

  As is well known, various items can be taken for searching for items contained in the menu database 6 based on the attribute items in the database 6. 4 to 5 show examples of searches based on the genre of each item. In addition, for example, a search by item name (instructing the character input button 41) or a search by specifying the item ID (instructing the order number input button 42) is also possible. Of course, it is also possible to display only a list of course target items to which the unlimited quantity flag is attached by arranging a menu button 43 for course and instructing the user.

  In the example of FIG. 4, the target item is searched by allowing the user to select and specify the genre of the food item. When specifying a genre, following a well-known database search method, it is easy to understand and convenient if it is configured in a plurality of hierarchical structures. In the example of FIG. 4, first, the top menu categorizes the genre into appropriate categories, such as “sushi”, “soba / udon”, “rice”, “boiled food”, “alcoholic beverages”, “soft drinks”, and “dessert”. Display. Next, when “sushi” is selected, it is classified into “nigiri”, “roll” and “pressed sushi”. When “nigiri” is further selected, it is classified into “near sea”, “distant sea”, “local fish”, “red”, “white”, “shellfish”, and “shrimp / crab”. In this way, the attribute items (genres) in the menu database 6 are classified into a plurality of hierarchical categories. One genre may be classified into a plurality of categories.

  When the user's seat terminal 4 repeats the operation of selecting and specifying one of the displayed categories to reach and select and specify any genre, it is included in that genre as illustrated in FIG. Display items in an appropriate order. For example, it may be displayed based on any one attribute item or a combination of a plurality of attribute items, such as the order of the Japanese alphabetical order of the item name, the order in which the original charges are high, or the order in which data is updated. If it cannot be displayed on one page, it is divided into a plurality of pages so that the page can be turned or returned by a predetermined operation.

  When displaying the list of items as a search result, a charge is associated with each item and displayed. However, the item for which the unlimited quantity flag is set is displayed in association with the item included in the course being used. For example, in addition to the price display or instead of the price display, “Course Target” is displayed, a predetermined course indicator mark is added, or the course target is enclosed in a frame for easy understanding. (In the case where only the course target item is displayed, such as when the course dedicated menu button 43 is instructed, it is easier to understand the unit price of each item or not displaying it).

When a user selects and designates one item from among the displayed items, as illustrated in FIG. 6, detailed information such as calorie intake and a photograph about the item is displayed.
In FIG. 5, if the remaining time becomes zero, the charge is displayed for the item for which the unlimited quantity flag is set as well as the item of the separate charge menu.
In addition, when “character input” 41 is instructed in FIG. 4, the target item can be searched by designating the item name character by character from the beginning. When an “order number input” 42 is instructed, a target item can be searched by inputting a numerical value of the item ID.

  In this way, if the item that the customer wants to order is an item for an all-you-can-drink / all-you-can-eat course, it is displayed so that it can be understood. Since it is possible to search without distinguishing between course target items and other fee items, customers can search for items that they want to eat without paying particular attention to whether they are course target items, and finally whether they are price or course target items. You can select them while referring to them. In addition, since the passenger seat terminal 4 monitors the remaining time of use time, the user can concentrate on the order without hesitation, and the clerk does not need to pay extra attention.

  In the above example, the menu database 6 that is the same as the store computer 1 is managed by the passenger terminal 4, but the menu database 6 may be managed only by the store computer 1. In that case, the passenger seat terminal 4 refers to the menu database 6 through data communication with the store computer 1 every time the menu display processing is performed.

=== Order processing ===
As described above, the user performs a predetermined operation of turning and returning pages as appropriate on the touch panel display of the passenger terminal 4 while displaying the item to be ordered on the display and inputting a selection instruction ( Detailed information of the item is displayed (see FIG. 6). When the order quantity is designated and entered on the screen displaying the detailed information (61 in FIG. 6) and the order button 62 is designated and entered, the order with the item ID, item name, number of orders and seat number of the item is entered. A signal is generated.
At this time, when the user selects and orders an item for the all-you-can-eat course, the customer seat terminal 4 confirms that the remaining time is not zero and includes an unlimited quantity flag in the order signal.

  The generated order signal is transferred to the store computer 1 via the LAN 5. Based on the received order signal, the store computer 1 notifies the kitchen terminal 3 in association with the seat number, the item name, and the number of orders. The kitchen terminal 3 displays a list of seat numbers, item names, and order numbers on the display. The kitchen clerk looks at this and cooks and distributes the ordered items.

  The kitchen terminal 3 may manage the correspondence table between the item IDs and the item names so that the item names can be extracted based on the item IDs. This correspondence table is updated based on the menu database 6 by the data communication between the kitchen terminal 3 and the store computer 1 in a timely manner. Then, it is sufficient for the store computer 1 to transfer the order signal including the seat number and item ID of the signal transmission source to the kitchen terminal 3 as the order signal.

=== Other processing ===
When the standard cooking time of each item is managed in the menu database 6 and the order is displayed on the kitchen terminal 3, the standard cooking time or the like may be displayed. When managing the correspondence table between the item ID and the item name in the kitchen terminal 3, the standard cooking time of each item may be included in accordance with the correspondence table. It can also be used to advance the processing while checking whether the actual cooking time is delayed from the standard time in the kitchen.

  Furthermore, in the menu database 6, for each item, the standard time required until cooking and serving are completed and the standard time required until the customer finishes eating and drinking are managed. A determination process as to whether or not the serving item can be served or eaten within the remaining time of course use may be added. The time limit for all-you-can-drink and all-you-can-eat can be managed not only by the time of ordering but also strictly by the time of serving or the end of eating and drinking.

  In addition, it is preferable that the order is completed by allowing the user to input the fact from the kitchen terminal 3 or the front terminal 2 when the arrangement ends. In this way, the state from ordering to completion can be managed, so that the order can be processed reliably.

  When the order is completed, the item ID, its charge, and quantity are stored for each seat number. For items with an unlimited quantity flag, the charge is zero. It may be stored in the kitchen terminal 3 or may be transferred to the store computer 1 and stored.

  When the front terminal 2 is notified of the end of use of the passenger seat, the store computer 1 may collect the data accumulated for the passenger seat number, create settlement data, and transfer it to the front terminal 2. When the service ID is input, the fee for the course is included in the settlement data, and the order for the item to which the unlimited quantity flag is added is not included in the settlement data. The charge amount of the item to which the unlimited quantity flag is added may be included as zero. The front terminal 2 charges the user for a food and drink fee based on the payment data at an attached payment register.

=== Other Embodiments ===
The food and drink order receiving system of the present invention can be applied to a banquet hall, an esthetic salon, a relaxation space, and the like. Install a guest seat 4 in the private room of the banquet hall, the treatment room of the beauty salon, the private room of the relaxation space, etc. The order can be configured to be accepted without charge.

It is the figure which illustrated the system configuration | structure of the food-drink order reception system which concerns on a present Example. It is the figure which illustrated the logical structure of the menu database which concerns on a present Example. It is the figure which illustrated the service regulation table which concerns on a present Example. The initial screen of the menu display process which concerns on a present Example is illustrated. It is an example of a menu display concerning a present Example. It is an example of the item detail display and order screen concerning a present Example.

Explanation of symbols

1 store computer 2 front terminal 3 kitchen terminal 4 passenger terminal 5 LAN
6 Menu database

Claims (4)

A food and drink reception system comprising a menu database, a service regulation table, display means, customer input means, clerk input means, control means, and output means,
The menu database stores a large number of food and drink item information associated with the item ID,
The service specification table associates the usage frame time, the item ID set, and the service ID,
The display means displays a menu under the control of the control means,
Customer input means can accept operation input by customers,
The clerk input means can input the service ID by the clerk,
The control means performs initial processing when a service ID is input, performs menu display processing, and order processing,
The initial process extracts the usage frame time and item ID set corresponding to the service ID from the service specification table, manages the remaining time based on the usage time frame and the elapsed time,
When the menu display process displays the food / beverage item information in the menu database in response to the operation input of the customer input means, the food / beverage item information in the item ID set extracted in the initial process is valid as long as the remaining time is valid. Is added and displayed as an item subject to unlimited quantity service, and it is possible to accept item order input,
The ordering process is a food and drink order receiving system that outputs order item information by an output means when an order input for the food and drink items displayed in the menu display process is received from a customer input means. The food / drink order reception system according to claim 1, wherein the menu display process does not display a price for an item subject to unlimited quantity service. The food / drink order reception system according to claim 1, wherein the menu display processing displays the effective remaining time together when displaying the target items of the unlimited quantity service. The control means is capable of accepting designation input of the unlimited quantity menu display mode,
The food and beverage order reception system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the menu display process takes out and displays only the target items of the unlimited quantity service when receiving a designation input in the unlimited quantity menu display mode.