JP2002279154A - Customer waiting time measuring system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a customer waiting time measuring system capable of simply and surely measuring the waiting time of a customer, and making various developments of marketing by using the waiting time of the customer. SOLUTION: In this system, a store terminal device 1 and a host computer 2 can be communicated with each other. The store terminal device 1 to which the identification information of the customer is input at every entering and taking a seat transmits the identification information of the customer to the host computer 2. The host computer 2 starts to count the waiting time of the customer from the time of receiving the identification information of the customer when the customer enters the store, and transmits the waiting time of the customer to the store terminal device 1. The store terminal device 1 displays the waiting time of the customer at every designated time. The host computer 2 ends counting of the waiting time of the customer at the time of receiving the customer identification information when the customer takes a seat.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention has an object to provide a customer waiting time measuring system for measuring a waiting time from a customer entering a store to a predetermined reference time after entering the store.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, as the restaurant industry has become popular, various types of stores have been opened, and there are many stores that are highly popular and are crowded with customers. And in such popular stores,
Although the waiting time of the customer is inevitably increased, the waiting time of the customer is not particularly noticed, and a system for easily and reliably measuring the waiting time of the customer has hardly been proposed. .

[0003] However, if the customer waiting time can be measured, it can be used for various marketing. For example, discounts on settlement fees can be implemented according to the customer's waiting time, average waiting times can be calculated from each customer's waiting time data, and even customer mobile phones and other devices can be used based on the customer's average waiting time. Transmission of guidance information to the information terminal device is conceivable.

[0004] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned technical background, and can easily and surely measure the waiting time of a customer, and thus various marketing can be performed using the waiting time of the customer. It is an object to provide a customer waiting time measurement system that can be deployed.

[0005]

The object of the present invention is to provide a system in which one or a plurality of store-side terminal devices and a host computer are provided in a communicable state in a store, and when a customer enters the store from a predetermined reference time after entering the store. A customer waiting time measurement system that measures the waiting time of the customer until the store-side terminal device, at the time of the customer entering the store and at a predetermined reference time after entering the store,
Customer identification information input means for inputting customer identification information;
Means for transmitting customer identification information input by the customer identification information input means to the host computer, wherein the host computer receives the customer identification information transmitted from the terminal device. Means for receiving customer identification information, and counting the waiting time of the customer from the time when the customer identification information is received when the customer enters the store, and the time when the customer identification information is received at a predetermined reference after the customer enters the store The customer waiting time counting means for ending the counting of the customer waiting time, the customer identification information received by the customer identification information receiving means, and the customer waiting time counted by the customer waiting time counting means. And a customer waiting time storage means for storing in correspondence with each other. It is.

According to this, when the customer's identification information is input to the store-side terminal device when the customer enters the store, the host computer receives the customer's identification information from the store-side terminal device and calculates the waiting time of the customer from the time at which the customer's identification information is received from the store-side terminal device. Start counting.
Then, when the customer identification information is input to the store-side terminal device at a predetermined reference time (for example, when sitting down) after the customer enters the store,
At the time when the host computer receives the customer's identification information from the store side terminal device, the counting of the customer's waiting time is ended. Therefore, it is possible to easily and reliably measure the customer's waiting time from the time the customer enters the store until a predetermined reference time after entering the store, and it is possible to develop various marketing using the customer's waiting time. It becomes possible.

In the host computer, the customer waiting time storage means stores the waiting time of the customer whose counting has been started by the customer waiting time counting means at predetermined time intervals. A customer waiting time transmitting means for transmitting the customer waiting time stored in the time storage means to the store-side terminal device at predetermined time intervals, wherein the store-side terminal device further comprises: a customer waiting time transmitted from the host computer. Customer waiting time receiving means for receiving the waiting time of the customer, and customer waiting time display means for displaying the waiting time of the customer received by the customer waiting time receiving means at predetermined time intervals. Since the information is displayed on the shop terminal in a timely manner, the customer's current waiting time can be grasped.

In the case where the host computer further comprises an arithmetic means for averaging the waiting times of a plurality of customers stored in the customer waiting time storage means, the host computer may grasp the average waiting time of the customer in the store. Can be.

A customer waiting time measurement system in which the host computer and a customer information terminal device can communicate with each other, wherein the host computer further comprises:
If the average waiting time elapses from the time when the customer identification information is received by the customer identification information receiving means when the customer enters the store, the customer is provided with guidance information transmission means for transmitting guidance information to the information terminal device carried by the customer, The customer can enter the store again at an appropriate time according to the guide information transmitted to his / her own information terminal device.

A customer waiting time measuring system in which the host computer and the electronic cash register can communicate with each other, wherein the host host computer further corresponds to the waiting time of the customer and the waiting time of the customer. A discount rate reference table in which a discount rate or a discount rate is set, and discount rate calculation means for calculating a customer discount rate or discount rate corresponding to the customer waiting time by referring to the discount rate reference table; Means for transmitting the discount rate or discount rate of the customer calculated by the discount rate calculation means to the electronic cash register, wherein the settlement fee can be automatically discounted according to the waiting time of the customer. it can.

[0011] The present invention also relates to a store-side terminal device used in the customer waiting time measuring system according to claim 1, wherein the customer identification information is stored when the customer enters the store and at a predetermined reference time after entering the store. Store-side terminal device, comprising: customer-identification-information input means for inputting customer identification information; and customer-identification-information transmitting means for transmitting the customer identification information input by the customer identification information input means to the host computer. Is also resolved by

According to this, the above-mentioned customer waiting time measuring system can be realized by arranging the shop side terminal device at a predetermined place in the shop or carrying it by a clerk.

[0013] The present invention also relates to a host computer used in the customer waiting time measuring system according to claim 1, wherein customer identification information receiving means for receiving customer identification information transmitted from the terminal device, The counting of the waiting time of the customer is started from the time when the identification information of the customer is received when the customer enters the store, and the counting of the waiting time of the customer at the time when the identification information of the customer is received at a predetermined reference after the customer enters the store. Customer waiting time counting means for ending, customer identification information received by the customer identification information receiving means, and customer waiting time stored in correspondence with the customer waiting time counted by the customer waiting time counting means. And a storage means.

According to this, by arranging the host computer in the store or at a predetermined location in the store, the above-described customer waiting time measuring system can be realized.

[0015] The present invention also relates to a computer readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program for measuring a customer's waiting time, wherein the computer is provided with a customer identification information receiving the customer identification information transmitted from the terminal device. The receiving means starts counting the customer waiting time from the time when the customer identification information is received when the customer enters the store, and waits for the customer at the time when the customer identification information is received at a predetermined reference after the customer enters the store. Customer waiting time counting means for terminating time counting, customer identification information received by the customer identification information receiving means, and customer waiting time counted by the customer waiting time counting means are stored in association with each other. And a computer-readable recording medium storing a program for functioning as customer waiting time storage means Therefore, it is resolved.

According to this, by installing the program recorded on the recording medium into the computer, it is possible to realize the function of the cooking support system on the computer.

[0017]

[Embodiment 1] Next, a customer waiting time measuring system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

In FIG. 1, (1) is a store-side terminal device in which an employee of a restaurant (A) inputs a customer identification number, and (2) is a dedicated line (3) connected to the store-side terminal device (1). )
Is a host computer communicably connected to the host computer. (4) is an entrance of the restaurant (A), and (5) is a customer table arranged at a predetermined location of the restaurant (A).

The shop side terminal device (1) is arranged near the entrance (4) of the restaurant (A), and as shown in FIG. 2, an input button (1a) for inputting a customer identification number. ) Is provided, and a monitor (1b) for displaying the identification number of the customer and the waiting time t is integrally provided so as to be visible. The identification number of the customer is input by the employee of the restaurant (A) when the customer enters and takes a seat.

Further, the store-side terminal device (1) has a CP
U (10) is built in. This CPU (10)
As shown in FIG. 3, it has a customer identification number transmission function (101) and a customer waiting time display control function (102).

The customer identification number transmission function (101)
The function is to transmit the customer identification number input by the input button (1a) to the host computer (2) when the customer enters the store and takes a seat.

The customer waiting time display control function (102)
Receives the customer identification number and the waiting time t transmitted from the host computer (2) as described later, and associates the received customer identification number and the waiting time t with the monitor (1a). A predetermined time (for example, 1
Second).

On the other hand, the host computer (2) is arranged at a predetermined place in the restaurant (A), and as shown in FIG. 4, a customer waiting time storage unit ( 21) and a CPU (20) for controlling the customer waiting time storage unit (21) and the like.

The CPU (20) controls various parts, transfers data, performs various calculations, temporarily stores data, and the like. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, a customer identification number receiving function ( 201), customer waiting time counting function (2
02), and a customer waiting time transmission function (203).

The customer identification number receiving function (201)
This function is to receive the customer identification number transmitted from the store-side terminal device (1) via the dedicated line (3) when the customer enters and takes a seat. The customer identification number receiving function (201) stores the customer identification number received when the customer enters the store, into the customer waiting time storage unit (2).
Remember in 1).

The customer waiting time counting function (202)
Starts counting the waiting time t of the customer at the time when the customer identification number is received when the customer enters the store, and stores the counted waiting time t of the customer in the customer waiting time storage unit (21) every predetermined time. This function updates and stores the information. The customer waiting time t count function (202)
Has a function of ending the counting of the customer waiting time t at the time when the customer identification number is received when the customer is seated.

The customer waiting time transmission function (203)
This is a function of transmitting the customer identification number and the waiting time stored in the customer waiting time storage unit (21) to the store side terminal device (1) at predetermined time intervals.

Next, the operation of the customer waiting time measuring system according to this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. In the following description and drawings, “step” is abbreviated as “S”.

First, as shown in FIG. 6, when the customer enters the store, the employee of the restaurant (A) inputs the customer identification number to the store-side terminal device (1) using the input button (1a). Then (S1), the shop terminal device (1) transmits the input customer identification number to the host computer (2) (S2).

Then, the host computer (2) receives the customer identification number transmitted from the store side terminal device (1) by the customer identification number receiving function (201) (S3), and then receives the received customer identification number. Is stored in the customer waiting time storage unit (21) (S4).

The host computer (2) starts counting the customer waiting time t at the time when the customer identification number is received when the customer enters the store by the customer waiting time counting function (202) (S5). Then, the waiting time t of the customer is updated and stored in the customer waiting time t storage unit (21) every predetermined time (S6).

Further, the host computer (2) uses the customer waiting time transmission function (203) to store the customer identification number and the waiting time t stored in the customer waiting time storage unit (21) in the store terminal. It is transmitted to the device (1) every predetermined time (S7).

Then, the store-side terminal device (1) uses the customer waiting time display control function (102) to store the customer identification number and the waiting time t transmitted from the host computer (2) at predetermined time intervals. The received identification number of the customer and the waiting time t are displayed on the monitor (1a) at predetermined intervals so as to correspond to each other (S9).

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 7, when the customer sits on the customer table (5), the employee of the restaurant (A) inputs the identification number corresponding to the customer by using the input button (1a). When input to the terminal device (1) (S11), the shop terminal device (1) transmits the input customer identification number to the host computer (2) (S12).

Then, the host computer (2) receives the customer identification number transmitted from the shop terminal device (1) by the customer identification number receiving function (201) (S).
13) At the reception time, the counting of the customer waiting time t by the customer waiting time counting function ends (S14).

According to this, it is possible to easily and surely measure the waiting time of the customer from the time when the customer enters the store to the predetermined reference time after entering the store. Can be expanded. Further, in this embodiment, the waiting time of the customer is displayed in a timely manner on the terminal device (1) on the shop side, so that the current waiting time of the customer can be grasped.

In this embodiment, the store-side terminal device (1) is provided separately and independently in the vicinity of the store entrance (4). However, the terminal device (1) is integrated with an electronic cash register. Alternatively, it may be formed in a small size so that a clerk can carry it.

Although the store-side terminal device (1) is provided with an input button (1a) externally, the store-side terminal device (1) may be of a touch panel type in which the input button is simulated and displayed on a monitor (1b). .

Although the store-side terminal device (1) and the host computer (2) can communicate with each other through the dedicated line (3), they may communicate with each other wirelessly.

Although the identification number of the customer is used as the identification information of the customer, other identification information may be used.

The host computer (2) updates and stores the counted customer waiting time t in the customer waiting time storage unit (21) at predetermined time intervals. The total waiting time of the customer from the start to the end of the counting may be stored.

Further, as a predetermined reference time after the customer enters the store,
Although the seating time of the customer is adopted, it may be a reference time after entering the store of another customer, such as at the time of guiding the customer or ordering.

The host computer (2) transmits the stored customer waiting time to the store terminal device (1) every predetermined time. However, the host computer (2) transmits the customer waiting time t to the store terminal device (1). ) May not be transmitted.

Although the host computer (2) is arranged at a predetermined location in the store, the host computer (2) is arranged at a predetermined location outside the store, and the terminal on the store side is connected via a computer network such as a dedicated line or the Internet. It may be connected to the device (1).

[Second Embodiment] Next, a customer waiting time measuring system according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

As shown in FIG. 8, the customer waiting time measuring system according to this embodiment includes a host computer (2 ') and a customer information terminal device (for example, a mobile phone).
(6 ') is made communicable, and the average waiting time T is calculated by averaging the total waiting time T of each customer.
m is derived, and the guide information is transmitted to the customer's information terminal device (6 ') after the average waiting time Tm has elapsed since the customer entered the store.

That is, the host computer (2 ')
As shown in FIG. 9, the CPU (20 ') further includes an averaging operation function (204') and a guide information transmission function (20).
5 ′).

The averaging operation function (204 ') performs an averaging operation on the total waiting time T of the customer stored in the customer waiting time storage section (21), thereby obtaining an average waiting time Tm.
Is a function to derive

The guide information transmitting function (205 ') is provided when the customer waits for the average waiting time Tm from the time when the customer identification information is received by the customer identification information receiving function (201)' when the customer enters the store. This is a function for transmitting guidance information to the information terminal device (6 ′) to be carried. The guide information is information that informs the customer that seating is possible or is approaching, but may be other various information according to the store.

According to this, the averaging operation function (20
By deriving the average waiting time Tm of the customer according to 4 ′), the average waiting time of the customer in the store can be grasped. Guide information transmission function (205 ')
By transmitting the guide information to the customer's information terminal device (6 '), the customer can enter the store again at an appropriate time according to the guide information.

In this embodiment, the CPU (2
0 ') has the guide information transmission function (205'), but may not have it. In this case, the average wait time Tm of the customer is determined by the average wait time T
It is used only to grasp the trend of m. [Embodiment 3] Next, a customer waiting time measurement system according to still another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11. FIG.

The customer waiting time measuring system according to this embodiment comprises a store side terminal device (1 ") having the function of an electronic cash register and a host computer (2").
Are communicably connected to each other, and a discount rate P is set in the host computer (2 ″) according to the waiting time t of the customer.
Is calculated, and a discount operation is performed at the store-side terminal device (1 ″) by the discount fee P from the customer's settlement fee.

That is, the host computer (2 ″)
Has a customer waiting time t and a discount rate reference table (22 ″) in which a discount rate corresponding to the waiting time t is set, as shown in FIG. 11, and a CPU (20) as shown in FIG. ) Is a discount charge calculation function (20
4 ") and a discount charge transmission function (205").

The discount charge calculation function (204 ") is a function for calculating the discount charge P corresponding to the waiting time t of the customer by referring to the discount charge reference table (22"). In addition, the discount rate transmission function (205 ")
This is a function of transmitting the customer's discount rate P calculated by the discount rate calculation function (204 ") to the store-side terminal device (1").

According to this, the settlement fee can be automatically discounted according to the waiting time of the customer, and the dissatisfaction degree that increases according to the waiting time of the customer can be reduced.

In this embodiment, the discount rate is calculated, but a discount rate may be calculated.

[0057]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the customer's identification information is input to the store-side terminal device when the customer enters the store, the host computer receives the customer's identification information from the store-side terminal device. Start counting customer wait time from the time. Then, when the customer's identification information is input to the store-side terminal device at a predetermined reference time (for example, when sitting down) after the customer enters the store, the host computer receives the customer's identification information from the store-side terminal device at the time when the customer's identification information is received from the store-side terminal device. End the counting of the waiting time. Therefore, it is possible to easily and reliably measure the customer's waiting time from the time the customer enters the store until a predetermined reference time after entering the store, and it is possible to develop various marketing using the customer's waiting time. It becomes possible.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the waiting time of the customer is displayed in a timely manner on the terminal device on the store side.
The customer's current waiting time can be ascertained.

According to the invention of claim 3, it is possible to grasp the average waiting time of the customer in the store.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the customer follows the guidance information transmitted to his / her own information terminal device.
You can re-enter at the right time.

According to the invention of claim 5, it is possible to automatically discount the settlement fee according to the waiting time of the customer.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the above-described customer waiting time measuring system can be realized by arranging the store side terminal device at a predetermined place of the store or carrying it by a store clerk.

According to the invention of claim 7, by arranging the host computer in the store or at a predetermined place in the store, the above-described customer waiting time measuring system can be realized.

According to the invention of claim 8, by installing the program recorded on the recording medium into the computer, it is possible to realize the function of the computer as a cooking support system.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a customer waiting time measurement system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the store-side terminal device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of a CPU in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram of the host computer of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a configuration of a CPU in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation of the customer waiting time measurement system of FIG. 1 at the start of waiting time counting.

7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the customer waiting time measurement system of FIG. 1 when the waiting time counting is completed.

FIG. 8 is a schematic configuration diagram of a customer waiting time measurement system according to another embodiment of the present invention.

9 is a schematic configuration diagram of a CPU of the host computer of FIG.

FIG. 10 is a schematic configuration diagram of a host computer in a customer waiting time measurement system according to still another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of a configuration of a CPU in FIG. 10;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Store side terminal device 2 ... Host computer 3 ... Dedicated line 4 ... Entrance 5 ... Customer table

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) G06F 17/60 330 G06F 17/60 330 506 506

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A customer waiting device for arranging one or a plurality of store-side terminal devices and a host computer in a communicable state and measuring a customer's waiting time from when the customer enters the store until a predetermined reference time after entering the store. A time measuring system, wherein the store-side terminal device comprises: customer identification information input means for inputting customer identification information at the time of customer entry and at a predetermined reference time after entry; and the customer identification information input means. Customer identification information transmitting means for transmitting the customer identification information input by the user to the host computer, wherein the host computer receives the customer identification information transmitted from the terminal device. And counting the waiting time of the customer from the time when the customer's identification information is received when the customer enters the store, and the customer's identification information is determined at a predetermined reference after the customer enters the store. Customer waiting time counting means for ending the counting of the customer waiting time at the received time; customer identification information received by the customer identification information receiving means; and customer waiting time counted by the customer waiting time counting means. And a customer waiting time storage unit for storing the customer waiting time in correspondence with each other. 2. The host computer, wherein the customer waiting time storage means stores, for each predetermined time, the waiting time of the customer whose counting has been started by the customer waiting time counting means. A customer waiting time transmitting means for transmitting the customer waiting time stored in the time storage means to the store-side terminal device at predetermined time intervals, wherein the store-side terminal device further comprises a customer transmitted from the host computer. 2. The customer according to claim 1, further comprising: customer waiting time receiving means for receiving the waiting time; and customer waiting time displaying means for displaying the customer waiting time received by the customer waiting time receiving means at predetermined time intervals. 3. Latency measurement system. 3. The customer waiting time measurement according to claim 1, wherein the host computer further comprises an arithmetic unit that averages the waiting times of the plurality of customers stored in the customer waiting time storage unit. system. 4. A customer waiting time measuring system in which the host computer can communicate with an information terminal device of a customer, wherein the host computer further includes a customer identification information receiving unit when the customer enters the store. 4. The customer waiting time measuring system according to claim 3, further comprising: guidance information transmitting means for transmitting guidance information to an information terminal device carried by the customer after the lapse of the average waiting time from the time when the identification information of the customer is received. 5. A customer waiting time measuring system in which the host computer and an electronic cash register are provided so as to be communicable, wherein the host host computer further corresponds to a waiting time of the customer and a waiting time of the customer. A discount rate reference table in which a discount rate or a discount rate is set; discount rate calculating means for calculating a customer discount rate or a discount rate corresponding to the customer waiting time by referring to the discount rate reference table; The customer waiting time measuring system according to claim 1, further comprising: a discount rate transmitting unit configured to transmit a customer discount rate or a discount rate calculated by the discount rate calculating unit to an electronic cash register. 6. A store-side terminal device used in the customer waiting time measuring system according to claim 1, wherein identification information of the customer is input when the customer enters the store and at a predetermined reference time after entering the store. A store-side terminal device comprising: customer identification information input means; and customer identification information transmission means for transmitting customer identification information input by the customer identification information input means to the host computer. 7. A host computer used in the customer waiting time measuring system according to claim 1, wherein a customer identification information receiving means for receiving the customer identification information transmitted from the terminal device; The customer wait time starts counting the customer waiting time from the time when the customer identification information is received, and ends counting the customer waiting time at the time when the customer identification information is received at a predetermined reference after the customer enters the store. Time counting means, customer waiting time storage means for storing the customer identification information received by the customer identification information receiving means and the customer waiting time counted by the customer waiting time counting means in association with each other, A host computer comprising: 8. A computer-readable recording medium recording a program for measuring a waiting time of a customer, comprising: a computer for receiving customer identification information transmitted from the terminal device; The counting of the waiting time of the customer is started from the time when the identification information of the customer is received when the customer enters the store, and the counting of the waiting time of the customer at the time when the identification information of the customer is received at a predetermined reference after the customer enters the store. Customer waiting time counting means to be ended; customer identification information received by the customer identification information receiving means; and customer waiting time for storing the customer waiting time counted by the customer waiting time counting means in association with each other. Storage means, a computer-readable storage medium storing a program for functioning as