JP2004078779A - Recognition device for service user circumstances - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a technique which enables a provider to grasp conditions of a user easily and quickly without relying on human hands and to perform appropriate provision of services. <P>SOLUTION: In an Internet cafe, a fast food restaurant or the like, a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag 1 is attached to a provision A to be handed to a user and, when the provision A is placed on a table seat of the user (user equipment B), storage information of the RFID tag 1 is read by an RFID reader 2 and transmitted from an RFID information transmitter 3 to an RFID information processor 4. On the basis of the storage information of the RFID tag 1 received, the RFID information processor 4 controls a provider system 6 so that services corresponding to the provision A are provided and recognizes the table seat or the like the user has taken. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an apparatus for recognizing a situation of a service user side, which enables a provider of various services to grasp the situation of the user side and to achieve convenience in service provision.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In the food and drink provision service in the store, the provider prepares several table seats (a seat consisting of a table and chairs) in the store, and the visitor sits on an item ordered by the visitor. It is implemented by delivering to the table seat. In such food and drink provision service, the provider grasps the table seats and order items of each visitor based on the order sheet created by the clerk or the memory or visual observation of the clerk, and cooks the order item. The delivery is made to each customer's table seat, and it is checked whether or not the order is delivered to each customer.
[0003]
On the other hand, in Internet cafes that provide Internet use services along with such food and drink provision services, it is common to collect fees for Internet use according to the Internet usage time, and the provider side uses the Clearing time is being performed. In this case, the use time is, for example, a clerk records Internet visit start time of each visitor in advance and calculates it at the time of settlement, or a communication terminal used by each visitor or a provider who centrally manages the communication terminal The clerk operates the system on the side and measures the Internet connection time so that the provider side can grasp.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
As described above, the provider of the food and drink providing service grasps the table seats and the like of each visitor from the store staff's memory and the like. In other words, in the conventional food and drink provision service, the provider exclusively uses the status of the visitor side, such as which table seat the visitor is sitting on, and which product the customer is ordering and waiting for. And so on. In such a service providing form, the burden on the clerk increases, the efficiency of service operation decreases, and it may be difficult to appropriately perform the service.
[0005]
In particular, in a store where a visitor places an order before sitting at a table seat, it is a great burden to manually grasp the situation on the visitor side. That is, in stores that provide food and drink providing services, there are also places where visitors make orders before sitting at table seats, for example, in a so-called fast food store such as a hamburger shop, there is a store clerk It is common to take an order at an order counter and then sit at a table seat. In stores that adopt this type of order, clerks often deliver items that take a long time to cook, so that customers who have finished ordering can freely select table seats and sit down. A clerk who delivers an order to a customer who has been seated must find the customer who may have made the order and may have been seated. A given number plate or the like is given to the customer so that the customer can see the table seat of the customer waiting for the ordered item, and is presented on the table seat, but the clerk manages the number plate and the like. In addition to the work of handing over to customers in advance when accepting orders, it is still necessary to search for customers even if they can rely on a number plate etc. It is a heavy burden for the clerk, and the service management is inefficient.
[0006]
Further, inconveniences caused by manually grasping the situation on the customer side are not limited to this. For example, in a store where table seats for customers are provided on a plurality of floors in a building, the availability of table seats on each floor is only known to the store clerk based on their own memories and so on. The visitor who came to the store does not know. Further, even if a new visitor asks the clerk about the vacancy status other than the floor where the customer is, only information based on the clerk's memory or the like is obtained, and it is not always possible to accurately grasp the vacancy status.
[0007]
On the other hand, in an Internet café, a customer who orders predetermined food and drink may be permitted to use the Internet free of charge for a certain period of time, or may discount a fee for using the Internet. In this case, it is the clerk of the provider that grasps the situation on the visitor side that ordered the predetermined food and drink and performs processing based on the situation as in the case of the food and drink providing service. In other words, the process of reducing or discounting the charges related to the use of the Internet is performed by the clerk himself grasping the situation on the customer side, operating the system on the provider side, or using predetermined data for reduction or discount at the time of settlement. Or by typing. For this reason, as described above, the burden on the clerk is increased, and the efficiency of service management is reduced.
[0008]
The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and as in the above-mentioned food and drink providing service and an Internet cafe, a user (a visitor) is required to immediately set a position where the provider cannot see. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a technology that enables a provider to easily and quickly grasp the situation of a user side without relying on humans in various services to be provided, thereby realizing appropriate service provision. And
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, a first recognition device according to the present invention for recognizing a situation on a user side is attached to an article to be provided to a user of a service, and an RFID in which identification information of the article is stored. A tag, provided at a user-side position where a user receives a service, and a reading unit that reads the identification information from the RFID tag when the offering is carried to the user-side position; and a reading unit that reads the identification information. Recognizing means for recognizing a situation at the user side position based on the obtained identification information. Thus, the recognizing means recognizes, for example, whether or not the offer has been carried to the user side position. Therefore, the configuration of the recognizing means is to recognize a situation where the user at the user side receives a predetermined service provided in correspondence with the provided matter, and to control the means for performing the predetermined service by controlling the means for performing the predetermined service. The predetermined service may be performed for a user at the user side position.
[0010]
The second recognition device according to the present invention is attached to a product provided to a user of the service, and an RFID tag storing service information for specifying a predetermined service provided in correspondence with the product, A reading unit that is provided at a user-side position where a user receives a service and that reads the service information from the RFID tag when the offering is carried to the user-side position; Based on the service information, it recognizes a situation in which the user at the user side receives the predetermined service, and controls means for performing the predetermined service to control the predetermined service for the user at the user side. And a recognizing means for performing the following. Thus, even in the configuration in which the information specifying the service is stored in the RFID tag, it is possible to recognize the situation on the user side and execute the predetermined service.
[0011]
A third recognition device according to the present invention is attached to an offer provided to each user of a service, a plurality of RFID tags each storing identification information, and a plurality of users each receiving a service. Reading means provided at the side position and reading the identification information from the RFID tag of the provided item carried to each user side position; and the plurality of users based on the identification information read by the reading means. At the side position, there is a recognizing means for recognizing that there is a user who has received the offer at the user side where the offer has been carried. In the third recognition device, the location of each user may be notified to the service provider, or the availability of the position on the user side may be notified.
[0012]
Further, the first or third recognition device according to the present invention further includes a storage unit in which information of a deliverable to be passed to a user is stored in advance, and the identification information read by the reading unit and Based on the information stored in the storage unit, the recognizing unit may determine whether the provided product is a provided product to be given to a user. In this case, a warning is issued when the recognizing means determines that the provided product is not the provided product to the user, or the provided product that is not provided among the provided products to the user is described above. The notification may be performed based on the information stored in the storage unit and the determination result of the recognition unit.
[0013]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
<Basic configuration>
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a basic configuration of a service user side situation recognition system according to an embodiment of the present invention. This recognition system is used in a facility such as a store operated by a service provider, and recognizes a situation of a user (a visitor side) to which the provider's eyes cannot reach immediately by RFID (Radio Frequency Identification). As shown in the figure, as shown in the figure, a service user-side component device including an RFID tag 1 attached to a product A, an RFID reader 2 provided in a user facility B, and an RFID information transmitter 3 And a service provider-side component including an RFID information processing device 4, a provider input device 5, and a provider-side system 6.
[0014]
The RFID tag 1 is a tag for RFID recognition including a coil functioning as an antenna for transmitting and receiving radio signals and an IC (Integrated Circuit) or an LSI (Large Scale Integrated Circuit) for storing information and transmitting / receiving processing. It is attached to a predetermined portion of the offering A. The offer A referred to here is an article such as a predetermined container provided by the provider for the provision of the service to be handed to the user. For example, in the case of the food and drink provision service, the provision A is for providing the customer with food and drink. Tableware and trays correspond to this. The RFID tag 1 previously stores identification information for specifying the offering A, or provides service or the like for identifying the service to be provided in association with the offering A (attached to the offering A). Are stored as appropriate according to the form of the data. The information stored in the RFID tag 1 is used as information indicating the situation on the user side, and will be further described later with a specific application to a service.
[0015]
There are no special restrictions on the specifications of the RFID tag 1. The antenna may be a passive type in which it functions as a power source by induced electromotive force, or an active type in which the tag itself has a power source. The frequency of a radio signal to be transmitted and received may be any frequency from a band generally used for RFID recognition. May be selected. Regarding the information holding form, any of a read-only ROM type, a read / write (R / W) type (read / write) type, and a write-once / write-once / read-many (WORM) type can be used. May be. That is, the specifications of the RFID tag 1 are appropriately selected according to the environment in the facility where the present recognition system is used, the properties of the provided product A to which the RFID tag 1 is attached, the handling, and the like. For example, when the present recognition system is used in a restaurant and the RFID tag 1 is attached to dishes and trays, an inexpensive passive ROM type tag is used, and the use frequency is reduced in consideration of the adhesion of water due to washing or the like. It is good to choose.
[0016]
The RFID reader 2 is a contactless reader for RFID recognition that reads information stored in the RFID tag 1, and transmits and receives radio signals to and from the antenna of the RFID tag 1, and decodes a radio signal from the RFID tag 1. An electronic circuit for performing a predetermined error check or the like is provided. The RFID information transmitter 3 is a transmitter that transmits stored information and the like of the RFID tag 1 read by the RFID reader 2 to the RFID information processing device 4 on the provider side. The RFID reader 2 and the RFID information transmitter 3 are provided at a predetermined location of the user equipment B, and the RFID information transmitter 3 transmits information from the predetermined location to the RFID information processing device 4 by wire or wirelessly. I can do it. The facility B for the user referred to here is a facility prepared in advance at a place where the user actually receives the service (user-side position). For example, in the case of the food and drink service, a table on which a visitor is seated A seat etc. correspond to this.
[0017]
The RFID information processing device 4 is constituted by a computer or the like having predetermined arithmetic means, storage means and control means, receives information from the RFID information transmitter 3 and the provider input device 5, and uses the information based on the received information. It recognizes the situation on the provider side and controls the provider system 6 according to the recognition result. The provider input device 5 is an information input unit used by a clerk on the provider side or the like, and displays the contents of a service requested by the user (for example, an order item in the food and drink providing service) as necessary. input. The provider-side system 6 is a system that is installed in order to provide convenience in service provision, and is appropriately installed by the provider according to the service providing form and the like. The RFID information processing device 4, the provider input device 5, and the provider system 6 have various forms according to the type of service. For this reason, the form will be further clarified by giving a configuration example in the form of application to a specific service described below.
[0018]
<Specific form of application to service>
(1) First application form
Next, a specific embodiment in which the recognition system having the above-described basic configuration is applied to various service providing scenes will be described. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a first application form in which the above recognition system is applied to an Internet use service in an Internet cafe, and illustrates a configuration example of the RFID tag 1 and the like in the application form.
[0019]
In an Internet café, users who order predetermined food and drinks are permitted to use the Internet free of charge for a certain period of time, or discount the fees related to the use of the Internet. Therefore, in this application mode, the RFID tag 1 is affixed to the predetermined food / drink container as the above-mentioned offer A, and the table of the table where the user sits is the above-mentioned user equipment B and the RFID reader 2 and the RFID reader 2 are used. An information transmitter 3 is provided. Then, a place for placing the container is provided in the RFID reading area (RFID detectable area of the antenna) of the RFID reader 2, and the user places an order for the predetermined food and drink by reading the RFID tag 1 of the container placed there. And provide free internet use services for a certain period of time.
[0020]
In the configuration example of FIG. 2, hot coffee is used as the predetermined food and drink, and the RFID tag 1 is attached to the bottom surface of the tray (offer A) of the coffee cup. The RFID reader 2 and the RFID information transmitter 3 indicated by dotted lines are embedded and installed in the table (user equipment B) on which the communication terminal 10 is placed. Above the antenna coil, a container storage space 11 is formed in which the top plate is hollowed out in a reverse taper shape that matches the diameter of the tray. In FIG. 2, cables, antennas, and the like connecting the RFID information transmitter 3 and the RFID information processing device 4 are omitted.
[0021]
In such a configuration, when the hot coffee is carried to the table of the user and placed in the container storage 11, the information of the RFID tag 1 is read by the RFID reader 2. As the information of the RFID tag 1, for example, identification information for specifying the offering A is stored in advance, the identification information is read and transmitted from the RFID information transmitter 3, and the RFID information processing device 4 has a table of the table. It recognizes that the user who has ordered the prescribed food and drink. Alternatively, command information (contents of a service to be provided corresponding to the offer A) indicating that the use of the Internet is permitted for free for a certain period of time is stored in the RFID tag 1 in advance, and the command information or the like is read and the RFID is read. The information is transmitted from the information transmitter 3, and the RFID information processing device 4 recognizes that the user sitting at the table is allowed to use the Internet free of charge for a certain period of time.
[0022]
The RFID information processing device 4 controls the provider system 6 based on the recognition result. In a simple form of Internet café, each communication terminal provided at each table seat connects to its own telephone line and allows users who order predetermined food and drinks to use the Internet free of charge for a certain period of time. The above-described recognition may be performed by software in the terminal 10 and the Internet connection operation of the communication terminal 10 may be controlled (connection established for a certain period of time) according to the recognition result. In this case, the RFID information transmitter 3 is connected to the communication terminal 10, the part of the communication terminal 10 related to the software constitutes the RFID information processing device 4, and the part related to the Internet connection of the communication terminal 10 is the provider It corresponds to the side system 6. On the other hand, in an Internet cafe constructing an in-store LAN (Local Area Network) in which the communication terminal provided at each table is centrally managed by a server on the provider side, the server performs the above recognition. The Internet connection processing of the communication terminal 10 in the LAN may be controlled according to the recognition result. In this case, the RFID information transmitter 3 is connected to the server via a predetermined cable or a short-range antenna, a communication terminal 10, or the like, and a part of the server constitutes an RFID information processing device 4, and the LAN Corresponds to the provider system 6.
[0023]
In this application form, a service corresponding to the offer A, such as free use of the Internet for a certain period of time, is provided only once to the user to whom the offer A is provided, and It is necessary to prevent one offer A from being offered multiple times. As a countermeasure for this, for example, unique identification information is assigned to each provided material A used in the store such as the above-mentioned saucer and stored in each RFID tag 1, and based on the identification information, the RFID information processing device 4 is used. The provider system 6 may be controlled so as not to permit the once used product A to use the Internet again. In this case, the RFID information processing apparatus 4 stores and holds a list of the identification information of the once used item A, and corresponds to the item A only when the identification information received from the RFID information transmitter 3 is not in the list. Service, and additionally stores the received identification information in a new list. On the provider side, the clerk operates the provider input device 5 to input an instruction to delete the identification information to the RFID information processing device 4 before collecting and once again using the used product A. Then, the identification information of the collected offer A is deleted from the list. In addition, as another simple countermeasure, for example, a weight sensor, a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, or the like is provided in the container storage 11 to detect an initial state in which a constant amount or a constant temperature of hot coffee is poured. In this way, the RFID reader 2 may be operated only when the initial state is sensed. In this way, it is possible to prevent redundant provision of services with a simple configuration without causing a burden on the provider side, which also contributes to saving power consumption of the RFID reader 2 and the like.
[0024]
The above is an example of the case where the above recognition system is used in an Internet cafe. Needless to say, the prescribed food and beverages that allow free use of the Internet for a certain period of time are not limited to hot coffee, but ordered other drinks poured into glasses or dishes served on plates In the case where the Internet use service is also provided to the user in the same manner, the RFID tag 1 is attached to a predetermined portion (the bottom surface or the like) of the glass or the dish, and the information stored therein is used for the user in the same manner as described above. What is necessary is just to read the equipment B (table) and control the provider system 6.
[0025]
Further, in the above-described application form, the RFID tag 1 is attached and attached to a tray for a coffee cup or the like. However, containers such as a tray for a cup, a glass, and a dish for cooking are made of plastic, and the The RFID tag 1 may be embedded and mounted in a bottom plastic plate or the like. In this way, even if a drink or food is spilled, it is possible to read the information of the RFID tag 1 without any trouble (this applies to the following application forms).
[0026]
(2) Second application mode
Next, a second application mode in which the above recognition system is applied to a food and drink providing service in a fast food restaurant such as a hamburger shop will be described. In many fast food restaurants, clerks later deliver items that take a long time to cook, so that the user who has completed the order can freely select a table seat and sit down. Therefore, in this application mode, when the user finishes ordering, food and drink (other than products to be delivered later) that does not take much time to cook are placed on the tray and handed to the user before sitting, and the tray is provided. The RFID tag 1 is attached to. FIG. 3 shows a configuration example of the RFID tag 1 and the like in this case.
[0027]
As shown in FIG. 3, in the present embodiment, the tray is the provision A, and the table prepared for the user is the facility B for the user. An RFID tag 1 indicated by a broken line is attached to the bottom of the tray of the offering A (or embedded in the bottom plate), and an RFID reader 2 indicated by a dotted line is displayed on a table of the user equipment B. And the RFID information transmitter 3 is embedded and installed. The installation positions of the RFID reader 2 and the RFID information transmitter 3 are appropriately determined so that the RFID tag 1 is located above the antenna coil of the RFID reader 2 when the user places the tray on the table. For example, as shown in the drawing, the table top plate may be located near the center in the longitudinal direction of both short-side edges of the table top plate, or at a position facing the table top plate from a chair (not shown). In FIG. 3, cables, antennas, and the like that connect the RFID information transmitter 3 and the RFID information processing device 4 are omitted.
[0028]
In such a configuration, when a clerk hands a tray on which drinks and the like are placed to the user who has completed the order, and the user selects a table seat and places the tray on the table, the information of the RFID tag 1 is read by the RFID reader 2. Read. For example, unique identification information is assigned to each of the trays used in the store, and the identification information of the tray to which the RFID tag 1 is attached is stored in advance in the RFID tag 1 according to the present application. Then, when the clerk accepts the user's order, the clerk inputs from the provider input device 5 the information for specifying the ordered item and the identification information of the tray to be handed to the user.
[0029]
The provider input device 5 mentioned here may be configured using a dedicated keyboard or the like. However, as the provider input device 5 for information for specifying an item to be ordered, for example, it is generally used at an order counter. The registered information may also be used, and the information on the ordered item input to the register may be supplied to the RFID information processing device 4. In addition, as the input device 5 for the provider of the identification information of the tray, for example, an RFID reader similar to the RFID reader 2 may be provided at the order receiving counter, and the RFID reader may be used. When inputting the identification information of the tray using a dedicated keyboard or the like, the identification information is also written on the tray as an easily visible identification number, and the identification number is checked and input by a clerk. do it.
[0030]
The RFID information processing apparatus 4 according to the present application is configured by a computer having predetermined calculation means, storage means, control means, and the like, and stores and holds a user side situation management table as shown in FIG. I have. Then, it receives the information read by the RFID reader 2 and the information input by the provider input device 5 as described above, and records the information in each item in the management table as shown in FIG.
[0031]
In the management table of FIG. 4, the item “floor” represents each floor when a plurality of floors of the building are open to the user, and the item “table No.” is prepared for each floor. The "RFID" item indicates the identification information of the RFID tag 1 read at each table seat, and the "Order" item corresponds to the identification information of the RFID tag 1. Represents the order item to be ordered. Of these, the items of “floor” and “table No.” are predetermined according to the in-store environment, and the items of “RFID” and “order” are updated and recorded as needed based on information received by the RFID information processing device 4. I do.
[0032]
That is, the RFID information processing device 4 receives the information on the ordered item and the identification information of the tray from the provider input device 5, and temporarily stores the information in the RAM (a general-purpose storage area of the storage means). Thereafter, when the user handed over the tray selects a table seat and sits down, and when the tray is placed on the table, the RFID reader 2 provided on the table reads the identification information of the tray and transmits the RFID information. The device 3 transmits to the RFID information processing device 4. As a result, the RFID information processing device 4 records the received identification information of the tray in the “RFID” column of the management table in association with the floor and table number of the source RFID information transmitter 3. Here, in order to identify the transmission source RFID information transmitter 3 of the identification information received by the RFID information processing device 4, for example, when each RFID information transmitter 3 transmits the identification information, the respective RFID information transmitters 3 The information on the floor on which No. 3 is installed and the table number may be transmitted together. Alternatively, each of the RFID information transmitters 3 is connected to the RFID information processing device 4 via a different communication path (different cable in the case of a wired connection, and different wireless communication channel in the case of a wireless connection). The side may recognize the floor and table number of the source RFID information transmitter 3 based on the receiving communication path.
[0033]
Further, when receiving the identification information of the tray from the RFID information transmitter 3, the RFID information processing device 4 searches the identification information stored in the RAM for identification information that matches the identification information of the tray. Then, the information of the ordered item stored at the same time as the identification information of the tray is extracted and recorded in the “order” column corresponding to the identification information of the tray.
[0034]
For example, if a user orders menu A and menu B, and the clerk puts only menu A on the tray with the identification information of the RFID tag 1 of “ID_1” and hands it over, the provider input device 5 sends “menu A”. , Menu B ”and the identification information“ ID_1 ”of the delivered tray are supplied to the RFID information processing device 4 and stored in the RAM. Thereafter, assuming that the user sits on the table seat of the table number “3” on the second floor and places the tray on the table, the RFID reader 2 installed on the table reads the identification information “ID_1” and reads this RFID. The information transmitter 3 transmits to the RFID information processing device 4. Accordingly, the RFID information processing device 4 receives the identification information “ID_1” and records the identification information “ID_1” in association with the floor “2” and the table number “3” of the transmission source RFID information transmitter 3. . Further, the RFID information processing apparatus 4 extracts the “menu A, menu B” stored simultaneously with the identification information “ID_1” from the RAM, and extracts “menu A, menu B” as an order item corresponding to the identification information “ID_1”. "Is recorded. In this way, “ID_1”, “Menu A”, and “Menu B” in FIG. 4 are recorded, and the other identification information (“ID_2”, “ID_3”, “ID_4”, “ID_5”) and the corresponding information. Order items ("Menu A, Menu C", "Menu B", "Menu D", "Menu C") are also recorded.
[0035]
As described above, the RFID information processing apparatus 4 uses the management table in which the identification information of the RFID tag 1 and the order item are recorded to determine which table seat each user is sitting on, It recognizes the situation on the user side that the user is waiting for the ordered item, and controls the provider system 6 based on the recognition result. As the provider system 6 in this application form, for example, a display device for a provider for a store clerk to grasp the table seats of each user (the location of each user) and the order items of each user, And a display device for the user for notifying the availability of the table seats on each floor.
[0036]
If the RFID information processing device 4 displays the information of the management table on the display device for the provider in the same notation form as in FIG. 4, the clerk can grasp the table seat of each user and the order item. As another display example, the item of “RFID” may be omitted, or the presence or absence of record identification information (the presence or absence of a seated user) may be displayed in each column of this item instead of the identification information. In addition, as for the ordered items, not all the items ordered by each user are displayed, but at the time of receiving the order, the items to be delivered first together with the tray and the items to be delivered later are distinguished by the input device 5 for the provider. Perform an input operation (input in different input modes for items to be handed over and items to be delivered later, and input flag information etc. to specify whether the item is to be delivered earlier or to be delivered later) ), And only the items to be delivered later may be displayed.
[0037]
By installing the display device for the provider on the clerk side of the reception counter or the like, the clerk can easily and quickly grasp the exact situation on the user side as to where the user who ordered the product is. . Therefore, when delivering the ordered item later, the table seat of the user who placed the order can be easily found, and the burden on the clerk can be greatly reduced. In addition, the efficiency of service provision is improved, and the user can receive the ordered item quickly and accurately, and the appropriate service is provided.
[0038]
On the other hand, on the display device for the user, for example, as shown in FIG. FIG. 5 shows a display example in which the entrance of the store is on the first floor above the ground and the vacancy on the second floor cannot be immediately seen and confirmed when the user comes to the store. The display device will be installed near the reception counter or near the stairs to the second floor. In the display example of FIG. 5, the outline of the table seats on the second floor, the stairs to the second floor, and the like are schematically shown, and the sketch shows the vacant state based on the management table of FIG. In the management table of FIG. 4, the identification information of the RFID tag 1 is recorded in the table numbers “2”, “4”, and “5” of the floor “2”, and the user is seated at those table seats. It is shown. The RFID information processing device 4 recognizes this situation and controls the display device for the user, and as shown in FIG. "In use" is displayed in 2, 4, and 5, and other table Nos. "Empty" is displayed on 1, 3, and 6 to notify the user of the availability of the second floor seats. As a result, a user who has newly arrived at the store can easily grasp the exact availability of table seats other than the floor where the user is.
[0039]
The mark at the center of FIG. 5 is a partition such as a pillar or a houseplant. When the RFID information processing device 4 is installed on the clerk side of the reception counter on the first floor or in a predetermined control room, a relay receiving antenna is provided in the center partition of FIG. 5, and the relay receiving antenna is connected to the relay receiving antenna on the second floor. A wireless signal such as identification information may be transmitted from the RFID transmitter 3 at each table seat to relay information to the RFID information processing device 4 on the first floor.
[0040]
(3) Third application mode
The recognition system can be used in facilities other than stores, such as Internet cafes and fast food restaurants. For example, in hospitals, dietary restrictions often differ for each patient, and it is customary for each patient to determine a diet according to a medical condition or the like. Therefore, in a third application form, the RFID tag 1 is attached (or embedded) to a tray of a meal provided at a hospital, and the RFID reader 2 is attached to an over-table used by being laid on each patient's bed. And an RFID information transmitter 3.
[0041]
In this case, the RFID tag 1, the RFID reader 2, and the RFID information transmitter 3 are configured such that the table is an overtable of the bed in FIG. 3, and one RFID reader 2 and one RFID information transmitter 3 are installed at the center of the overtable. become. Then, the storage means of the RFID information processing device 4 stores and holds a meal management table as shown in FIG. 6, and appropriate serving is performed based on information from the RFID information transmitter 3 installed in the over table of each patient. A recognition judgment is made as to whether the
[0042]
In FIG. 6, the item “room” represents the number of each room, and the item “bed number” represents the number of each bed in each room, which are predetermined by the structure in the hospital or the like. The item of “meal” represents a menu of meals to be provided to a patient hospitalized in each bed of each hospital room. In the field of this item, a hospital-side person preliminarily inputs a restriction menu defined for each patient from the provider input device 5 and, as shown in FIG. , "Restricted menu b", "restricted menu c", etc.) are recorded in association with the hospital room number and bed number where each patient is hospitalized. When the patient moves, enters or leaves the hospital, or changes the menu, the type of the registered menu is changed as needed.
[0043]
In this application form, the hospital separates the trays to be used for each type of the restricted menu, and attaches the RFID tag 1 in which the identification information of the restricted menu using the tray is stored in advance to each tray.
[0044]
In such a configuration, when the meal of each restricted menu is placed on the tray and served to each patient, the RFID reader 2 reads the identification information from the RFID tag 1 of the tray in the over table of each patient, and reads the identification information. The information is transmitted to the RFID information processing device 4. Then, the RFID information processing apparatus 4 specifies the room number and bed number of the transmission source RFID information transmitter 3 of the received identification information in the same manner as in the second application mode, and manages the meal in accordance with the room number and bed number. The restricted menu recorded in the table is compared with the restricted menu indicated by the received identification information. By this comparison processing, the RFID information processing apparatus 4 recognizes and determines whether or not the correct restriction menu has been served to the patient. A predetermined display device to be monitored, a warning device, etc. (provider system 6) are controlled to warn that an incorrect serving has been made, and the room number or bed number where the incorrect serving has been made is added as necessary. Warning.
[0045]
In a hospital, the above recognition system can be used as described above, but it can also be used with another simpler configuration. That is, the RFID tag 1 and the like on the user side may be the same as described above, and the RFID information processing device 4 and the like on the provider side may be provided in a simple configuration for each bed of each patient. For example, an RFID information processing apparatus 4 (only having a storage element capable of recording identification information of one restriction menu and a comparison operation function) in which only identification information of a restriction menu determined for each patient is recorded. A sounder (provider-side system 6) that emits a warning sound indicating an incorrect serving is installed for each bed of each patient. Then, when the tray is placed on the over table in each patient's bed, the identification information is read from the RFID tag 1 and compared with the recorded identification information, and the read identification information is different from the recorded identification information. Controls the sounder to emit a warning sound. This makes it possible to grasp an error in serving.
[0046]
(4) Fourth application form
In the second application form, the case where the above-described recognition system is used in a fast food store has been described. However, general eating and drinking at a restaurant or the like in which a clerk visits a table seat and then receives an order after a user sits at a table seat. Stores can also use the above recognition system. A fourth application mode described below is a mode in which the above-described recognition system is applied to a food service in a general restaurant.
[0047]
In this application form, identification information is assigned in advance to each menu provided in a restaurant such as a restaurant, and an RFID tag 1 in which the identification information of each menu is stored in advance is attached to tableware or a tray of each menu. Further, the RFID reader 3 and the RFID information transmitter 3 are installed at each table seat. These specific configuration examples are the same as those shown in FIG. 2 and FIG.
[0048]
On the other hand, the RFID information processing device 4 on the provider side holds an order management table as shown in FIG. In FIG. 7, the items “floor” and “table No.” represent the table numbers for specifying each table and each table seat, similarly to the items of the same name in the second application form, depending on the environment in the restaurant. It is predetermined. In the item of “order” in this application mode, when the clerk receives an order from the user, the order menu is input by operating the provider input device 5 and the menu ordered by the user at each table is ordered. Is recorded from time to time. In this case, the provider input device 5 may be configured using a dedicated keyboard or the like, but also serves as a POS (Point-Of-Sales) terminal or the like for inputting an order received by a clerk. The input order may be transmitted to the RFID information processing device 4.
[0049]
In such a configuration, when the clerk carries the ordered menu to the table of the user and places the dishes or trays of the menu on the table, the RFID reader 2 transmits the RFID tags 1 attached to the dishes or trays. The identification information is read, and the read identification information is transmitted from the RFID information transmitter 3 to the RFID information processing device 4. Then, the RFID information processing device 4 receives the identification information of the menu delivered to the user, and specifies the floor and table number of the transmission source RFID information transmitter 3 in the same manner as in the second application mode. Then, the menu recorded in the order management table corresponding to the specified floor and table number is compared with the menu indicated by the received identification information.
[0050]
As a result of the comparison, if the menu indicated by the identification information is included in the menu recorded in the order management table, the RFID information processing device 4 determines that the menu has been correctly delivered to the user, and determines the specified floor and The corresponding menu recorded corresponding to the table number is deleted. On the other hand, if there is no menu indicated by the identification information in the menu recorded in the order management table, the RFID information processing device 4 determines that the menu has been erroneously delivered to another user, and A predetermined display device, an alarm device, and the like (provider-side system 6) monitored by an administrator or the like are controlled to warn that incorrect serving has been performed. The warning at this time may be such that a sounding device is provided at each table seat to emit a warning sound, similarly to the third application mode, so that the clerk who has delivered the menu can immediately recognize the error.
[0051]
Further, in this application mode, the RFID information processing apparatus 4 is provided with a display device for the provider that displays the recorded contents of the order management table, and the order menu of each table seat is displayed in a notation form as shown in FIG. indicate. Then, the RFID information processing device 4 deletes the correctly delivered menu from the order management table as described above, and also deletes the menu from the display of the provider display device.
[0052]
Based on the comparison processing in the RFID information processing apparatus 4 and the warning and display in the provider system 6 as described above, the provider verifies the menu ordered by the user with the delivered menu, and the menu is correctly delivered. In addition to being able to know whether or not the menu has been received, it is also possible to easily understand the menu that has been received and not yet delivered.
[0053]
<Example of deformation>
Embodiments of the present invention are not limited to those described above, and various other modifications and applications are possible. For example, an RFID tag 1 of R / W type or WORM type is used, and an RFID reader 2 having a function of writing RFID information (RFID reader / writer) is installed. The information of the RFID tag 1 may be appropriately rewritten. In this case, for example, in the first application form, a flag information area indicating whether the provided product A has been used once (whether the corresponding Internet use service can be provided) is added to the RFID tag 1. The provision may be made so that the flag information is rewritten before the offering A is handed to the user and when the offering A is first handed and placed in the container storage 11 to prevent the service from being provided repeatedly.
[0054]
The RFID reader 2 only needs to be installed in a range where the RFID tag 1 can be read, and an installation location may be appropriately determined within the range. Since the RFID reader is also used for tracking wild animals and the like, and can be used for specifying the position of an object in a very wide range, the RFID reader 2 may be provided at an arbitrary position as necessary. it can. However, if it is attempted to widen the readable range too much, an active type RFID tag 1 may be used, the transmission radio signal power of the RFID reader 2 may be increased, or the RFID reader 2 may be provided with a plurality of antenna coils. Must be provided, so that the scale of the recognition system increases and the cost also increases. For this reason, it is preferable that the position where the RFID tag is placed is specified to some extent in advance and an RFID reader is provided in the vicinity of the position, as in the above-described application.
[0055]
Further, in the above-described application form, the specific position of the user equipment B is adopted as the installation location of the RFID reader 2 and integrated with the user equipment B such as the container storage space 11 of the table top, so that the RFID reader 2 is integrated. However, the present invention is not limited to such a configuration, and a separate member (another side-by-side table, an adjacent table, or the like) is provided near the user facility B, and the RFID reader 2 is provided at a predetermined position of the member. May be installed so that the RFID tag 1 is placed near the RFID reader 2.
[0056]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, an RFID storing identification information is attached to a product, and when the product is carried to a user-side position, the RFID identification information is read, and based on the read identification information, Therefore, the situation at the user side is determined, for example, the situation on the user side that a specific offer has been carried to the specific user side location or the specific situation on the specific user side location. It is recognized that there is a user who has been provided with the offer. As a result, the service provider can easily and quickly grasp the situation on the user side without human intervention, even when the user is in a position that is not immediately visible. it can. Therefore, the burden on the clerk or the like in grasping the situation is reduced, the service can be efficiently provided, and appropriate service can be provided.
[0057]
In this case, it is also possible to recognize that the user at the user side is in a situation of receiving a predetermined service from the provided product specified by the identification information of the RFID, and to control the service execution means in response to the recognition. Good. As a result, a specific service can be automatically provided to a user who has received a specific offer at a position on the user side (when the situation on the user side is manually grasped, Inevitably, the person who has grasped the situation must perform processing such as provision of a corresponding service). In such a service providing form, an RFID tag in which service information specifying a service is stored is attached to a provided item, and when the provided item is carried to a user side position, the service information of the RFID tag is read, and the read service is read. It can also be realized by recognizing that the user at the user-side position is in a state of receiving a predetermined service based on the information.
[0058]
Further, according to the present invention, the RFID tags each storing the identification information are attached to the deliverable provided to the service user, and the identification information of the RFID tag is read and read at each of the plurality of user-side positions. It is determined that there is a user who has received the offer at the location of the user to whom the offer has been delivered based on the identification information, so that the user who has delivered the offer is It is possible to grasp the situation on the user side such as whether or not the user is at the position. Therefore, based on this, if the location of each user is notified to the service provider, the clerk of the provider who delivers the order to the user can easily grasp the position of the user. Can be. Thereby, for example, even in a case where an ordered item is later delivered at a fast food store or the like, the clerk can easily grasp the whereabouts of the user who has freely selected a table seat after ordering and seated. You will not have to struggle to find the user. Also, if the vacancy status at the user side is to be reported based on the situation recognized and grasped, the newly visited users, etc. will also be able to accurately determine the vacancy status at the user side position (table seat, etc.) to receive the service. Can be easily grasped.
[0059]
Further, information on the deliverable to be given to the user is stored in advance, and based on the information and the read identification information, whether the offer given to the user is the offer to be given to the user or not. May be determined, and according to the result of this determination, in the serving of a meal to a hospitalized patient at a hospital or the serving of a menu to a visitor at a restaurant, a predetermined product ( It is possible to confirm whether or not a restricted diet or a menu ordered according to a medical condition or the like has been correctly delivered. Then, if a warning is issued when it is determined that the provided product delivered to the user is not a provided product to be provided to the user, an error in serving or the like can be easily grasped. In addition, if the user is to be notified of the undelivered deliveries among the deliverables that should be delivered to the user, for example, the provider side can easily grasp the types and quantities of the deliverables to be prepared. It becomes possible, and the service can be implemented appropriately.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a basic configuration of a service user side situation recognition system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a first application mode in which the recognition system of FIG. 1 is used in an Internet cafe.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a second application mode in which the recognition system of FIG. 1 is used in a fast food restaurant.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a management table held in an RFID information processing device 4 according to a second application mode.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a vacancy state of a second floor seat in a store displayed to a user by a provider system 6 in a second application mode.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a meal management table held by the RFID information processing device 4 in a third application mode in which the recognition system of FIG. 1 is used in a hospital.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of an order management table held by an RFID information processing device 4 in a fourth application mode in which the recognition system of FIG. 1 is used in a general restaurant.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 RFID tag
2 RFID reader
3 RFID information transmitter
4 RFID information processing device
5 Input device for provider
6 Provider system
10 Communication terminal
11 Container storage
A Offerings
B. User equipment

Claims (9)

An RFID tag attached to a product to be provided to a user of the service and storing identification information of the product;
A reading unit that is provided at a user side where a user receives a service and reads the identification information from the RFID tag when the provided item is carried to the user side position;
A recognition section for recognizing a situation at the user side based on the identification information read by the reading section. 2. The service user side situation recognition apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recognition unit performs a predetermined service provided in correspondence with the provided product based on the identification information read by the reading unit. A service user-side situation wherein the user at the side position is recognized and the means for performing the predetermined service is controlled to execute the predetermined service for the user at the user side position. Recognition device. An RFID tag which is attached to a product provided to a user of the service and stores service information for specifying a predetermined service provided in correspondence with the product;
A reading unit that is provided at a user side where a user receives a service and reads the service information from the RFID tag when the provided item is carried to the user side position;
Based on the service information read by the reading means, recognizes a situation in which the user at the user-side position receives the predetermined service, and controls the means for performing the predetermined service to control the user-side position. And a recognizing means for performing the predetermined service for the user. A plurality of RFID tags attached to the offerings respectively given to the service users, each of which stores identification information;
A reading unit that is provided at a plurality of user-side positions where a user receives a service, and reads the identification information from the RFID tag of a provided item carried to each user-side position;
Recognition means for recognizing that, at the plurality of user positions, there is a user who has received the provided product at the user side position where the provided product has been carried, based on the identification information read by the reading means. And a service user-side situation recognition device having: 5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the service provider notifies the service provider of the location of each user based on the recognition result of the recognition unit. 6. The service user side situation recognition apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the service user side situation is notified based on the recognition result of the recognition means. The user status recognition apparatus according to claim 1 or 4,
Further comprising storage means for pre-stored information of the offering to be passed to the user,
The recognizing unit determines whether the provided product is a provided product to be given to a user based on the identification information read by the reading unit and information stored in the storage unit. Recognition device for user status. 8. The apparatus for recognizing a user's situation according to claim 7, wherein a warning is issued when the recognizing means determines that the provided product is not a provided product to be delivered to the user. 8. The apparatus for recognizing a user-side situation according to claim 7, wherein the user is notified of a deliverable that has not been passed among the deliverables to be provided to the user based on the information stored in the storage unit and a determination result of the recognizer. .

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