JP5025969B2 - Self-order system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a self-order system, and is particularly useful when applied to ordering commodities in restaurants, karaoke boxes, and the like in the restaurant industry.

  For example, a general order entry system in a restaurant in the restaurant industry is to carry a “order input device” whose waitress is a terminal, individually listen to customer orders and enter the orders. The order entry system is labor intensive. In view of this, a “self-order system” has been proposed for the purpose of reducing labor costs and saving the trouble of calling a waitress each time. Here, the self-order system refers to a system in which an employee of a restaurant such as a waitress does not take an order for a customer, but the customer inputs an order by operating an order input device by himself. A typical TTO (Table Top Ordering) system is known as a self-order system of this type. In this TTO system, a display device corresponding to a liquid crystal screen of a personal computer is placed on each table on which a customer sits, and an order is placed by operating the touch panel of the display device on the table on which the customer is seated.

  FIG. 9 is an explanatory view conceptually showing this type of display device. As shown in the figure, in the TTO system, it is important to devise cooking pictures (pictures) and easy-to-understand panel layout so that even the first operating customer can easily input an order.

  Since the display device of such TTO system has a large display capacity, in addition to order entry and its guide, 1) display messages from the store (today's recommendations, etc.) for sales promotion, 2) waitress from the table It is easy to make the function such as calling wait, but it requires a large initial investment. This is the biggest obstacle to popularization.

  Therefore, the following business model has also been proposed. That is, the content provider lends the system to a restaurant and makes the ordering function via TTO a subsidiary, thereby reducing the cost of the self-order system. In such a system, billing for the provision of play content such as advertising revenue for various contents, games, and fortune-telling is the main operating cost. Since the content usage fee at this time is connected to the order entry system, it can be performed at the same time by a POS (Point of Sales) system at the time of meal settlement.

  The merits of the store that introduces such a system include the effect of attracting customers by attractive contents and the increase in the number of orders by self-order, but it has not yet spread widely.

  On the other hand, as a low-priced self-order system, instead of placing a high-function terminal like TTO, the terminal is formed with a limited function of the “order input device” used by the waitress. 1) When a customer enters the store The terminal is handed over to the representative and collected at the cash register at the time of accounting. 2) When collecting at the cash register at the time of accounting by placing it on each table, etc., a system that has an order slip function is conceivable. In other words, the terminal identification number and the customer (group) are associated one-to-one, and the order entered from a specific terminal is linked to the customer.

  However, since the number of terminals required in the store increases as in the case of TTO, the cost allowed for one terminal is severely limited. As a result, for example, it is necessary to finish the memory and display smaller than the terminals of a normal waitress, for example. is there. Moreover, in order to have a customer operate, it must be possible to ensure operability to such an extent that even a first customer can operate without resistance.

In addition, the following patent document 1 can be mentioned as a well-known technique relevant to this kind of self-order system.
JP-A-06-051933

  In view of the above prior art, the present invention simplifies the terminal function as much as possible and has necessary and sufficient functions as the entire system, and can be constructed at a low cost while having good operability. The purpose is to provide a self-order system.

  The present invention receives at least a menu with a code representing information for specifying an order item, code information sending means for reading the code information and sending it to the controller, and response information of the sent information from the controller A controller having a transmission result receiving means, a receiving means for receiving a code sent from the scanner, and a controller having a code confirmation means for referring to a menu database related to the received code and sending the result to the scanner A self-order system characterized by being configured is provided (first configuration).

    In the first configuration, the scanner has a display unit, and the display unit provides a self-order system for displaying the response information from the controller received by the transmission result receiving unit (second configuration). ).

In the second configuration, the menu includes the code and a second code that represents more detailed information about the code in stages, and the code confirmation unit refers to the menu database when the code is received. When it is necessary to receive the second code, a self-order system is provided, wherein a notification instructing the scanner user to read the second code is transmitted to the scanner. (Third configuration).
In a second configuration to a third configuration, a self-order system is provided in which the controller performs control defined in the code when the predetermined code is received (fourth configuration). .

In a fourth configuration, when the content of the code is to request transmission of the current order information of the scanner, the controller refers to an order table and transmits the code when receiving the code. The present invention provides a self-order system characterized in that current order information relating to the scanner is transmitted to the scanner (fifth configuration).
Further, the present invention receives at least a menu with a code indicating information for specifying an order, code information sending means for reading the code information and sending it to the controller, and response information for the sent information from the controller. A controller having a transmission result receiving means, a receiving means for receiving a code sent from the scanner, and a controller having a code confirmation means for referring to a menu database related to the received code and sending the result to the scanner A scanner used in a configured self-order system, wherein a display content of the scanner is determined by control by the controller (sixth configuration).

  Further, the present invention provides a code information sending step in which the scanner reads the code information of the menu to which at least a code indicating information specifying the order item is attached and sends it to the controller, and the controller sends the code sent from the scanner. The receiving step for receiving, the code referring step for the controller referring to the menu information relating to the received code and transmitting the result to the scanner, and the scanner receiving the response information of the transmitted information from the controller. And a transmission result receiving step. An order management method used in a self-order system is provided (seventh configuration).

  According to a seventh configuration, there is provided an order management method used in a self-order system, comprising a step of determining display contents of a display unit of the scanner by control by the controller (eighth configuration).

  In an eighth configuration, the controller stores menu data having the code and the second code included in the menu, and the code confirmation unit refers to the menu data when receiving the code, and When it is necessary to receive the second code, the order management used in the self-order system is characterized in that a notification instructing the scanner user to read the second code is transmitted to the scanner. A method is provided (ninth configuration).

The order management used in the self-order system according to any one of the eighth configuration to the ninth configuration, wherein the controller includes a step of performing control defined in the code when the predetermined code is received. (Tenth configuration).
In the tenth configuration, when the content of the code requests transmission of the current order information of the scanner, the controller refers to the order table and transmits the code when receiving the code. 11. The order management method used in the self-order system according to claim 10, further comprising a step of transmitting current order information relating to the completed scanner to the scanner (11th configuration).

  According to the present invention, it is possible to perform all operations related to ordering, such as selection of ordered items, by simply scanning a predetermined code attached to the menu. A predetermined order can be placed.

  Further, since the necessary processing functions related to the order at this time are provided on the controller side and the configuration of the scanner is simplified as much as possible, the cost of the entire system can be reduced.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a system configuration of a self-order system according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the self-order system includes a controller 1 that performs overall control and a plurality of pen-type scanners 2-1, 2-2,. Have.

Here, the predetermined unit refers to a unit of people in a range where receipts are shared, such as a table on which one group usually sits. Therefore, there may be one person who belongs to the predetermined unit. In addition, the pen type scanners 2-1, 2-2,. Normally, there are a plurality of lines, but in principle, a single line may be used. The controller 1 is configured so that necessary information can be exchanged between the two in a form in which the controller 1 can individually recognize one or more pen-type scanners 2-1, 2-2, ..., 2-n. It only has to be.
In this embodiment, a POS 10 that performs accounting processing and a printer 11 that prints a slip can also be connected.

  In this embodiment, the controller 1 and the pen-type scanners 2-1, 2-2,..., 2-n have a built-in transceiver that transmits and receives information wirelessly. If a wireless transceiver is not incorporated, the wireless transceiver is connected to the line, and the pen scanners 2-1, 2-2,..., 2-n are received from the line.

  Here, a unique identification ID is assigned to each pen type scanner 2-1, 2-2,..., 2-n, and each pen type scanner 2-1, 2-2,. , 2-n includes an identification ID information signal unique to the information signal, so that the controller 1 that has received the information signal can select any of the pen-type scanners 2-1, 2-2,. It is recognized whether 2-n is an transmitted information signal. On the other hand, the controller 1 specifies the pen-type scanners 2-1, 2-2,..., 2-n that are destinations by including a specific identification ID in the output signal.

  Further, the controller 1 records necessary information such as order information in the order table 18 for each identification ID, orders the ordered items to the kitchen, and settles food and beverage charges in response to requests from the POS 10 and the like. This is performed in a form linked to the identification ID.

  The pen type scanners 2-1, 2-2,..., 2-n read the product code 6, code 7 to code 9, which will be described in detail later with reference to FIG. Transmitting / receiving function for receiving information signals transmitted from the controller 1 and functions for visualizing the contents of the information signals and displaying them on the display units 3-1, 3-2,. It has a notification function for notifying whether or not the transmission of the code information has been performed properly with a buzzer sound. Here, of course, the scanner need not be the pen type scanner 2-1, 2-2,. There is no further limitation as long as it has a function of reading the product code 6, code 7 to code 9. Therefore, it is not necessary to have a wireless transmission function. Although it is slightly less convenient, it may be connected to the controller 1 with a connection cord. Also, a display function is not essential.

Here, the hardware configuration of the pen-type scanners 2-1, 2-2,..., 2-n will be described with reference to FIG. The pen-type scanners 2-1, 2-2,..., 2-n are a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 20, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 21, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 22, an input unit 23, and a communication unit. 24, display units 3-1, 3-2,..., 3-n, audio output unit 25, and the like are connected by a bus line.
The CPU 20 is a central processing unit and operates according to programs stored in the ROM 21, RAM 22, and the like, and performs various arithmetic processes, the input unit 23, the communication unit 24, the display units 3-1, 3-2,. -N, control of the audio output unit 25 and the like.
The input unit 23 is a device that recognizes and captures a menu code as data. A CCD (charge-coupled device), a C-MOS (complementary metal-oxide semiconductor) camera, or the like is used.

  The communication unit 24 is a device that transmits the read menu data to the order input terminal. Communication is connected by radio.

  Display units 3-1, 3-2,..., 3-n are devices that display data from the controller using LEDs (light-emitting diodes), a liquid crystal panel, and the like. The audio output unit 25 is a device that notifies the completion of transmission of menu data by an electronic sound or the like. The audio output unit 25 is not necessary depending on the system configuration.

  A hardware configuration diagram of the controller 1 will be described with reference to FIG. The controller 1 includes a CPU 10, a ROM 11, a RAM 12, an input unit 13, an output unit 14, a first communication unit 15, a second communication unit 16, a menu database 17, a storage device storing an order table 18, and the like connected by a bus line. Has been.

The CPU 10 is a central processing unit and operates according to programs stored in the ROM 11, RAM 12, and the like, and performs various arithmetic processes and controls of the output unit 14, the input unit 13, the first communication unit 15, the second communication unit 16, and the like. Do.
The input unit 13 is an input device such as a keyboard or a mouse. The output unit 14 is a device such as a display, a speaker, or an LED. The first communication unit 15 is a device that performs wireless communication with the pen-type scanners 2-1, 2-2, ..., 2-n. The second communication unit 16 is a device that communicates with other devices via a network.

  The menu database 17 has the same data structure as the menu data structure read by the pen-type scanners 2-1, 2-2,. It is necessary to read further information from the pen scanners 2-1, 2-2,..., 2-n for the codes sent from the pen scanners 2-1, 2-2,. This is used to determine whether or not there is.

The menu database 17 is configured by associating presence / absence of related information with respect to data described in the menu. For example, in the “steak set” of FIG. 3, the code “steak set” is associated with the code of “meat baking”, “rice or bread”, “drink” or a pointer to the code as lower information. Even if it is not the lower information itself, the information “there is lower information” may be associated with the information.
The order table 18 is a device that stores and manages the received menu code order in a storage device. The order table is composed of elements such as an identification number such as a slip number, a menu code, the number of items, an amount of money, and an accounting state. The controller 1 creates slip data for printing a slip from the menu code and transmits it to the printer 11. The printer 11 receives this slip data and prints the slip. The POS 10 recognizes the input of the slip number, requests unaccounted information from the controller 1, receives the information from the controller, and notifies the controller of completion of accounting when the accounting process is completed.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a product code 6 representing information identifying each item corresponding to the product 5 is embedded in the menu 4 for listing the products 5 and introducing them. There are no special restrictions on the format of this code. Anything such as a barcode, a two-dimensional code, an IC chip, or a digital watermark incorporated in image information may be used. Further, as a code, a code representing information for specifying a product is necessary at a minimum, but a code representing more detailed information related to the product may be included. In menu 4 above, for the steak set of product 5, code 7 regarding how to bake (medium, welldom, rare), code 8 for selecting rice or bread, code 9 for selecting drink after meal Is embedded. That is, a submenu for sending more detailed selection information related to the main menu called steak set to the controller 1 is formed in a hierarchy, and information indicating the contents corresponding to each submenu is coded. It has become. The menu structure in this case is shown in FIG.

  Therefore, when ordering a set such as a steak set, hamburger set, or drier set, select one of the submenus shown on the right side of the figure for each set selected as the main menu, as shown in FIG. To do. The selection is displayed on the display units 3-1, 3-2,..., 3-n of the pen-type scanners 2-1, 2-2,. In response to the contents of the messages to be transmitted, the messages are sequentially operated and transmitted to the controller 1 side.

  In this embodiment, the pen-type scanners 2-1, 2-2,..., 2-n operate according to the procedure shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, when the pen code scanners 2-1, 2-2, ..., 2-n read the product code 6, code 7 to code 9 of the menu 4 (step S51), then Read information is sent to the controller 1 (step S52). At this time, if it is normally transmitted to the controller 1, a confirmation sound indicating normal end is sounded (step S57), and the menu code can be read. If not transmitted normally, an error sound is emitted (step S56), and the menu code can be read.

  On the other hand, if the product code 6, code 7 to code 9 are not read, the presence / absence of a message from the controller 1 is determined (step S53). If there is a message, the display units 3-1, 3-2,. .., 3-n display contents are updated (step S54).

Further, when an actual product 5 is ordered, information exchange between the pen-type scanners 2-1, 2-2,..., 2-n and the controller 1 is performed in a manner as shown in FIG. The case where a steak set is selected will be described with reference to FIG. First, the pen-type scanners 2-1, 2-2,..., 2-n select a steak set by scanning the product code 6, and read (read) the code (step S601). Thereafter, this information is transmitted to the controller 1 (step S602).
The controller 1 refers to the menu database 603 for the sent code “steak”, and as a result, the controller 1 determines that information on “how to bake” is necessary for the steak set (step S603), and sends a necessary message. Create (step S604) and send it to the pen-type scanners 2-1, 2-2,..., 2-n (step S605).
The pen type scanners 2-1, 2-2,..., 2-n receive this information from the controller 1 and display them on the display units 3-1, 3-2,. Step S606). Since this message can be viewed on the display units 3-1, 3-2, ..., 3-n of the pen-type scanners 2-1, 2-2, ..., 2-n, the customer scans the code 7. For example, “medium” can be selected.

The pen-type scanners 2-1, 2-2,..., 2-n read the “medium” code (step S607) and send it to the controller 1 (step S608).
The controller 1 receives this information and refers to the menu database 603. The controller 1 determines that the “pan / rice” selection information is necessary, creates a necessary message, and creates the pen-type scanners 2-1 and 2-1. -2, ..., send to 2-n. Thereafter, the same operation is repeated and the selection operation up to the final “select drink” is performed (step S609).

After the controller 1 recognizes that there is no code information that follows “select drink” (step S610), it creates data of instructions for reading the next new menu (step S611), and the pen scanner 2-1 2-2,..., 2-n (step S612).
The pen-type scanners 2-1, 2-2,..., 2-n receive and display this data (step S613), thereby recognizing that the customer may lead the next menu.
Although not shown in FIG. 6, when input of all codes desired to be ordered is completed, a code indicating order completion is read and transmitted to the controller 1. By receiving this, the controller 1 can make the orders entered so far into a batch.

  In the above embodiment, not only the product code 6 of the product 5 but also the codes 7 to 9 representing the detailed information about the product 5 in stages are embedded in the menu 4, but the code to be added to the product code 6 is It is not necessary to limit to this type of code 7-9. For example, a code representing information corresponding to an inquiry function or an editing function related to order contents may be embedded. In this case, the controller 1 that has received the code information performs necessary information processing, and returns appropriate information to the pen-type scanners 2-1, 2-2,. That is, the display units 3-1, 3-2,..., 3-n of the pen-type scanners 2-1, 2-2,. , The necessary information can be displayed on the display units 3-1, 3-2,..., 3-n while exchanging necessary information with the controller 1. At this time, display units 3-1, 3-2,..., 3-n of pen-type scanners 2-1, 2-2,. In addition, it is possible to make one controller 1 functionally correspond to the information processing unit of each terminal.

It is explanatory drawing which shows the self-order system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the menu in the said embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the structure of the menu in the said embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the procedure and aspect of the order in the said embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement procedure of the pen-type scanner in the said embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the aspect of transmission / reception of the information of the pen-type scanner and controller in the said embodiment. It is a hardware block diagram of the pen-type scanner in the said embodiment. It is a hardware block diagram of the controller in the said embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows notionally the display apparatus of the TTO system which concerns on a prior art.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Controller 2-1, 2-2, ..., 2-n Pen type scanner 3-1, 3-2, ..., 3-n Display part 4 Menu 5 Goods 6 Goods code 7-9 Code 10 POS
11 Printer

Claims (2)

A menu to be distributed to customers, in which at least the content of the product and the content related to the product are visible, and a code representing each of the content of the product and the content related to the product is embedded;
Code information sending means for sending the code to the controller each time the code is read, transmission result receiving means for receiving response information from the controller for the sent code, and display information included in the response information A scanner having a display unit;
Comprising: a receiving means for receiving the code sent from the scanner; and a controller having a code confirmation means for referring to a menu database related to the received code and sending the reference result to the scanner as response information.
The code representing the content related to the product is stored in stages as a second code associated with the code representing the product in the menu database,
The code confirmation means refers to the menu database when receiving a code indicating the product, and needs to receive the second code when the second code is stored in association with the code. And the display result of the message instructing the input of the related information is transmitted to the scanner as a reference result,
The code information sending means can read the next code after sending the code or displaying the display information included in the received response information on the display unit. Self-order system. The menu further includes a code that defines the contents related to the control of the controller,
Wherein the controller, self order system of claim 1, when receiving the code that defines the content related to the control of the controller and performs the control specified in the code.

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