JP2007058800A - Reservation system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a reservation system capable of acquiring the using state of seats without placing burden on an employee, and regularly making an empty seat available. <P>SOLUTION: The reservation system 10 for performing acceptance and management of reservations through a network comprises a terminal device 70 through which a user makes a reservation; an empty seat detection means 30 acquiring the empty state of seats; a seat management server 40 managing the seats; and a reservation management server 42 managing the reservations. The terminal device 70 includes an input means 74 for inputting a reservation condition; a communication means 72 for transmitting the inputted reservation condition; and an information browsing means 76 for browsing information of a reservation object. This system includes a reservation update process for reporting, when a reserved customer does not arrive at a reserved seat even at a reservation time, arrival of the reservation time by e-mail or telephone, and maintaining or canceling the reservation according to a return mail or answer to the report by e-mail or telephone. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a reservation system.

  As a conventional reservation system, a reservation system that uses a telephone service to reserve, cancel, and wait for a service has been proposed (for example, a reservation system in Patent Document 1).

  Further, in the reservation system described in Patent Document 2, it is possible to notify by e-mail that a vacancy has occurred in the mail address of the corresponding notification destination.

  Furthermore, in the reservation system described in Patent Document 3, the customer introduces a store that meets the conditions simply by entering conditions such as the number of people, time, and area. You don't have to

  However, the number of vacancies changes from moment to moment, such as when a customer visits a store without making a reservation and the vacancies are filled. In order to cope with such changes, it is necessary for the manager to constantly update the vacant seat status each time. Alternatively, it is necessary to allow for a seat in consideration of the fact that the vacant seat cannot be updated in time.

JP-A-7-303144 JP 2002-245314 A JP 2002-279265 A

  In the conventional reservation system, the service supplier confirms the availability of seats at any time, and communicates that there is no excess or deficiency when waiting for cancellation or requesting a new reservation. In this case, if there is a visitor without a reservation, there will be one less vacant seat, and these changes must be updated as needed.

  The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and it is possible to receive a reservation while advertising the store by a dedicated terminal device installed outside the store. The purpose is to provide a reservation system that can check the vacancy before.

  Therefore, the present invention has been conceived by finding a method that automatically detects whether each seat is in use or vacant, and updates the reservation system data in a timely manner so that all vacant seats can be opened for reservation. .

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a reservation system capable of grasping the use status of a seat without burdening an employee and always accepting a reservation for a vacant seat.

  In order to achieve the above object, the reservation system according to the first invention is a reservation system that accepts and manages reservations via a network, and grasps a terminal device on which a user makes a reservation and a seat availability. Vacant seat detecting means, a seat management server for managing seats, and a reservation management server for managing reservations, wherein the terminal device is input means for inputting reservation conditions, and communication means for transmitting the input reservation conditions And an information browsing means for browsing the information to be reserved. If the reservation customer has not arrived at the reservation destination even at the reservation time, the reservation time is notified by e-mail or telephone. And a reservation renewal step of maintaining or canceling the reservation by replying or responding to the e-mail or telephone notification.

  According to this configuration, information to be reserved (for example, restaurant opening hours, menu, seat availability, etc.) can be viewed from a nearby terminal device, and a reservation can be made if the user likes it. In addition, it is possible to receive notification that it is time to make a reservation, making it easy to maintain or cancel the reservation. Furthermore, since the vacant seat detecting means detects the vacant seat of the in-store seat and updates the data in the seat management server based on the detection result, it is possible to reduce the labor of vacant seat management.

  A wide-area system can be realized by using a network. By using Internet technology in the network, notification to the mobile phone becomes easy. Further, it is possible to devise speeding up using a dedicated line.

  In the reservation system according to the second aspect of the invention, the vacant seat detection means includes a vacant seat detection sensor that automatically detects whether or not a seat is being used, so as not to accept a reservation for a seat in use, and has already been reserved. A warning is issued to the manager when a passenger other than the reservation person sits in the seat.

  According to this configuration, since the vacant seat status can be automatically grasped, it is not necessary to place a burden on the manager and employees. In addition, when a customer who has not made another reservation sits in a reserved seat, a warning is issued immediately, so that the problem can be dealt with before it becomes serious.

  In the reservation system according to a third aspect of the invention, the reservation object is a table seat and a food / beverage menu of a restaurant, the sales quantity of the food / beverage menu is managed, the inventory quantity is grasped, and the reservation reception from the terminal device The food and drink menu that is not in stock cannot be ordered.

  According to this configuration, when an order for a menu is received, it is possible to prevent a situation in which the menu cannot be provided due to out of stock.

  The reservation system according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the terminal device includes ticket issuing means for issuing a reservation ticket or a coupon ticket.

  According to this configuration, a reservation ticket convenient for reservation confirmation can be issued on the spot. Further, by issuing a coupon ticket that provides a service such as a discount, it is possible to encourage solicitation to use the service.

  In the reservation system according to the fifth aspect of the invention, the reservation management server performs group management of affiliated stores to be reserved, and displays the vacant seat information of affiliated stores when the store where the reservation status is viewed by the terminal device is full. It is characterized by that.

  According to this configuration, it is possible to provide a reservation system that can search for a vacant seat from a plurality of stores when there are a plurality of stores of the same series in a location close to the terminal device.

  The reservation system according to a sixth aspect of the present invention is the reservation system, wherein the terminal device further includes search means for performing a search based on the inputted desired conditions, and when the user makes a reservation, the date, day of the week, region, private room, menu In addition, priority is given to one item or a plurality of items of the budget and a search result based on the priority is output.

  According to this configuration, the user can search for a store that meets the desired conditions by inputting the desired conditions into the terminal device and performing a search. In addition, by performing a search with priorities assigned to desired conditions, it is possible to quickly find a store that meets the user's wishes.

  In a reservation system according to a seventh aspect, the reservation management server includes customer information management means for managing registered personal information and usage status, and advertisement distribution means for guiding services based on the personal information and usage status. In addition, it manages customer information for providing customer service according to the customer's personal information and usage status, and if the customer visit date is an anniversary, the manager is automatically Notification.

  In the reservation system from the first invention to the seventh invention described so far, the user may register personal information as a condition for using the service. Alternatively, the system may be used without registering personal information. Further, the user may be allowed to select whether to register personal information or not. The selection may be made in each registered content. When personal information (for example, name, address, telephone number, e-mail address, birthday, etc.) is desired to be registered and used, it is preferable to provide a service that allows the customer to benefit from the registration.

  According to the configuration of the reservation system according to the seventh aspect of the present invention, it is possible to grasp the usage situation of the store visitor by reservation, and for the user who has visited the store many times in the past, the number of times of use is determined. Special customer service can be provided. As the special customer service according to the number of times of use, for example, a service that discounts 5% of the total amount in the 10th use can be considered. In some cases, the date of birth can be determined from the registered personal information. Therefore, a special service can be provided to customers who make a reservation on their birthday when they visit the store. In addition, store advertisements and special services that can be received on birthdays may be introduced to past users whose birthdays are close. For example, it may be possible to send an e-mail notifying that there is a 5% discount one week before the birthday. These special services are not limited to the above, and a free customer service can be set.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a reservation system that reduces the time and effort required for an administrator to update vacant seat status and receives a reservation from a dedicated terminal device outside the store.

Example 1
Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a first embodiment of a reservation system 10 according to the present invention.

  The reservation system 10 includes an in-store information input terminal 20, a vacant seat detection means 30, a seat management server 40, a reservation management server 42, an in-store network 50, a network 60, and a terminal device 70. The vacant seat detection means 30 includes a vacant seat detection sensor 32 and a vacant seat detection processing unit 34. Further, the terminal device 70 includes a communication unit 72, an input unit 74, and an information browsing unit 76.

The terminal device 70 is installed outside the store and can make a reservation while browsing the store information using a network system. The communication means 72 is for connecting to a network, but may further have a function of performing data communication (for example, infrared communication) with a mobile phone.
The in-store information input terminal 20 is a terminal that performs input when a reservation is received in the store. Even if a network system is introduced, reservations may be received over the telephone as before, so that the in-store information input terminal 20 can perform input.

The vacant seat detection means 30 grasps the vacant seat situation in the store, and each seat detects a vacant seat by a vacant seat detection sensor 32 in the seat.
The seat management server 40 updates the seat availability for all seats in the store as needed. The reservation management server 42 updates the reservation status for all seats and tables in the store as needed. The reservation conditions include date and number of people, etc., so that seats at each time do not overlap in the reservation.

Next, the process will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the initial reservation process of the reservation system 10 according to the present invention.

The reservation input (S100) and transmission (S102) are performed from the terminal device 70, and the reservation management server 42 receives the data of transmission (S102), issues a reservation instruction to the seat management server 40 (S202), The management server 40 confirms vacancy (S300). In the reservation input (S100), the contents (for example, the store name, date / time, number of people, etc., for which reservation is desired) and personal information (for example, name, address, telephone number, e-mail address, etc.) of the applicant for reservation are input To do.
In the vacant seat confirmation (S300) in the seat management server 40, if it is a vacant seat, reservation registration to the seat management server 40 is performed (S302), and the fact that the seat registration is completed is transmitted to the reservation management server 42 (S304). ). The reservation management server 42 receives the transmission (S304) and performs reservation registration (S204). Furthermore, the reservation management server 42 transmits that the reservation has been completed to the terminal device 70 and the mobile phone (S206). Transmission to the mobile phone is performed by telephone and e-mail, but only the method specified at the time of reservation input may be used.

  In the vacant seat confirmation (S300) in the seat management server 40, if it is not vacant, it transmits that it cannot be reserved because there is no vacant seat (S306). Since it is necessary to consider the case where a time difference occurs in the system, even if the information browsing means 76 is vacant, the reservation cannot be ensured. Therefore, after the reservation registration is completed in the seat management server 40 and the reservation management server 42, the reservation completion notification is made.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the second and subsequent reservation steps of the reservation system 10 according to the present invention.
Reservation input (S100) and transmission (S102) are performed from the terminal device 70, and the reservation management server 42 receives the data of transmission (S102) and confirms the match with the registered data (S200). In the reservation input (S100), contents desired to be reserved (for example, a store name, date and time, the number of persons, etc., desired to be reserved) are input. Since the user registration is performed by inputting personal information in the first reservation, the input of personal information can be omitted after the second time.

  In the registration data confirmation (S200), if it matches the registration data, a reservation instruction (S202) is given to the seat management server 40, and the seat management server 40 confirms the vacant seat (S300). At this time, if the seat is vacant, the reservation registration to the seat management server 40 is performed (S302), and the fact that the seat registration is completed is transmitted to the reservation management server 42 (S304). The reservation management server 42 receives the transmission (S304) and performs reservation registration (S204). Furthermore, the reservation management server 42 transmits that the reservation has been completed to the terminal device 70 and the mobile phone (S206). Transmission to the mobile phone is performed by telephone and e-mail, but only the method specified at the time of user registration may be used.

In the registration data confirmation (S200), if it does not match the registration data, it transmits that it does not match (S208).
Further, in the vacant seat confirmation (S300) in the seat management server 40, if the seat is not vacant, a message indicating that the reservation cannot be made because there is no vacant seat is transmitted (S306). Since it is necessary to consider the case where a time difference occurs in the system, even if the information browsing means 76 is vacant, the reservation cannot be ensured. Therefore, after the reservation registration is completed in the seat management server 40 and the reservation management server 42, the reservation completion notification is made.

In the reservation step, user registration is performed by inputting personal information at the time of the first reservation, so the procedure may be simplified after the second time. For example, personal information can be input only by name. Alternatively, a user name and a personal identification number may be input, and it may be devised not to directly input personal information.
Until now, the description has been made on the assumption that user registration is performed. However, when the user wants to avoid personal information registration, a system in which the user does not perform user registration may be used. For example, the input of personal information may be an email address only. In this case, the second and subsequent reservation steps are the same as in FIG. 2 (an explanatory diagram showing the first reservation step).

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the reservation update process of the reservation system 10 according to the present invention.
When the reservation time comes, the reservation management server 42 notifies the user who made the reservation that the reservation time has come by e-mail or telephone. The user who made the reservation may be notified when the reservation time is reached, but may be sent before or after the reservation time (for example, 10 minutes before).

  The user who has received the notification of the reservation time by using the cellular phone can reply to the reservation maintenance or cancellation of the reservation. When it is received by e-mail, it is preferably sent by replying to the e-mail. When a call is received, it is good to reply (for example, distinguish between maintenance or cancellation by a tone signal) according to the telephone guidance.

  Upon receiving the reply, the reservation management server 42 confirms the registration data (S402), and then executes reservation maintenance or cancellation (S404).

In the case of reservation maintenance or cancellation (S404), if the updated content is reservation cancellation, the reservation management server 42 transmits cancellation information to the seat management server 40 (S406). When the seat management server 40 receives the cancellation information, the seat management server 40 updates the seat management data (S500), and transmits that the update is completed to the reservation management server 42 (S502). After receiving the update completion (S502), the reservation management server 42 updates the reservation management data (S408), and transmits that the cancellation has been completed to the mobile phone (S410). Transmission to the mobile phone is performed by telephone and e-mail, but only the method specified at the time of user registration may be used.
In the case of reservation maintenance or cancellation (S404), if the updated content is reservation maintenance, the processing ends as it is.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the reservation canceling process of the reservation system 10 according to the present invention.
The user who made the reservation inputs reservation cancellation to the terminal device 70 or the mobile phone (S900), and transmits it to the reservation management server 42 (S902). When receiving the cancellation information, the reservation management server 42 confirms the registration data (S700). The reservation management server 42 transmits cancellation information to the seat management server 40 (S702). Further, when the seat management server 40 receives the cancellation information, the seat management server 40 updates the seat management data (S800), and transmits the completion of the update to the reservation management server 42 (S802). After receiving the update completion (S802), the reservation management server 42 updates the reservation management data (S704), and transmits that the cancellation has been completed to the mobile phone (S704). Transmission to the mobile phone is performed by telephone and e-mail, but only the method specified at the time of user registration may be used.

(Example 2)
FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the reservation system 10 according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
In a restaurant, an operator may operate a plurality of stores. In addition, the plurality of stores (affiliated stores) may provide the same food and drink menu and operate in the same region. In such a case, the business operator wants to introduce another store operated by the business operator when he / she intends to make a reservation at a store where the user is fully booked. Furthermore, it is convenient for the user if the information browsing and reservation of the affiliated store becomes easy.

  In the reservation system 10 according to the second embodiment, the reservation management server (group management) 44 is installed not on the in-store system but on the network and manages all affiliated stores. Cost benefits can be obtained by consolidating the reservation management servers of affiliated stores in one place. The cost merit includes not only the cost of hardware but also the cost related to management operation by collective management.

  The reservation management server (group management) 44 includes customer information management means 46 and advertisement distribution means 48. The customer information management means 46 manages the personal information and usage status of the user, and the advertisement distribution means 48 advertises while referring to the personal information and usage status. For advertising, it is conceivable to send an event guide or service content by e-mail. In this case, the reservation management server (group management) 44 notifies the administrator (for example, transmits a work instruction message to the administrator by e-mail). It is good to do.

Furthermore, the reservation system 10 according to the second embodiment includes a ticket issuing unit 78 and a search unit 80 in the terminal device 70. When making a reservation from affiliated stores, it is difficult to memorize the reservation store without making a mistake, and it is conceivable that the reservation store is mistaken. Therefore, it is convenient to issue a reservation ticket. Further, by searching with the search means 80 of the terminal device 70, it is possible to quickly find a store desired by the user.
In addition, if a coupon for a store is issued by the ticket issuing means 78 to a user of the terminal device 70 who has not made a reservation, the advertising and the effect of attracting customers can be expected.

In the above-described embodiment, the restaurant reservation system has been described.
However, the present invention can be used not only in restaurants, but also in reservation systems such as beauty salons, hospitals, and consulting. For example, seats and services may be managed in a beauty salon. The service corresponds to a restaurant menu. That is, it can be used when the location and service content are specified and the reservation time is managed.

  Although the preferred embodiment has been described above, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment, and it goes without saying that many modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of Example 1 of the reservation system which concerns on this invention. It is explanatory drawing showing the first reservation process of the reservation system which concerns on this invention. It is explanatory drawing showing the reservation process after the 2nd time of the reservation system which concerns on this invention. It is explanatory drawing showing the reservation update process of the reservation system which concerns on this invention. It is explanatory drawing showing the reservation cancellation process of the reservation system which concerns on this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of Example 2 of the reservation system which concerns on this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Reservation system 20 In-store information input terminal 30 Vacant seat detection means 32 Vacant seat detection sensor 34 Vacant seat detection processing part 40 Seat management server 42 Reservation management server 44 Reservation management server (group management)
46 Customer information management means 48 Advertisement distribution means 50 In-store network 60 Network 70 Terminal device 72 Communication means 74 Input means 76 Information browsing means 78 Ticket issuing means 80 Search means

Claims (7)

  A reservation system for accepting and managing reservations via a network, in which a user makes a reservation, a vacant seat detection means for grasping the seat availability, a seat management server for managing seats, and reservations A reservation management server for managing, and the terminal device includes an input unit for inputting a reservation condition, a communication unit for transmitting the input reservation condition, and an information browsing unit for browsing information to be reserved. If the customer has not arrived at the reservation destination even when the reservation time arrives, the customer will be notified by e-mail or telephone that the reservation time has already been reached, and a reply or response to the e-mail or telephone notification will indicate the reservation time. A reservation system comprising a reservation update process for maintaining or canceling.   The vacant seat detecting means includes a vacant seat detecting sensor that automatically detects whether or not a seat is used, prevents a reserved seat from being reserved, and allows a passenger other than the reserved person to seat a reserved seat. 2. The reservation system according to claim 1, wherein a warning is issued to an administrator when seated.   The reservation object is a table seat and a food / beverage menu of a restaurant, the inventory quantity is grasped by managing the sales quantity of the food / beverage menu, and an order of a food / beverage menu that is not in stock at the reservation reception from the terminal device 3. The reservation system according to claim 1, wherein the reservation system is not allowed to be performed.   The reservation system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the terminal device includes ticket issuing means for issuing a reservation ticket or a coupon ticket.   The reservation management server performs group management of affiliated stores to be reserved, and displays vacant seat information of affiliated stores when a store whose reservation status is viewed by the terminal device is full. The reservation system according to claim 4.   The terminal device further includes search means for performing a search based on the inputted desired condition, and when the user makes a reservation, one item of date and time, day of the week, region, private room, menu and budget, or The reservation system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein priorities are assigned to a plurality of items, and search results based on the priorities are output. The reservation management server further comprises customer information management means for managing registered personal information and usage status, and advertisement distribution means for guiding services based on the personal information and usage status, It manages customer information for providing customer service according to usage conditions, and automatically notifies the manager when the visit date is an anniversary in the customer management. The reservation system according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

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