JP2014032549A - Ordering device and order reception program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To suppress the ordering of menu items from being forgotten.SOLUTION: The ordering device includes: a display unit; display control means; reception means; transmission means; a cover member; detection means; and notification means. The display control means displays the list of menu items at the display unit. The reception means receives the designation of any menu item from the list of the menu items displayed at the display unit. When a transmission button for performing transmission is depressed, the transmission means transmits item information indicating the menu items whose designation has been received by the reception means to an external device. The cover member is configured so as to open and close for covering the reception means when designation is not received. The detection means detects the opening/closing of the cover member. When the item information is not transmitted to the external device by the transmission means, and it is detected that the cover member has closed by the detection means, the notification means performs notification.

Description

  Embodiments described herein relate generally to an ordering apparatus and an order receiving program.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is an ordering device such as a handy terminal that displays a list of menu item display, receives designation of menu item display in the list, and manages orders of received menu items. When using this ordering device, the store clerk designates the menu item display corresponding to the menu item ordered by the customer and inputs the customer's order.

  In such a prior art ordering device, after receiving an order, if a user forgets to transmit the ordered menu item to the device receiving the order, a warning sound is sounded for a few seconds after a predetermined time has elapsed. However, if the store clerk does not notice the warning sound, the notification is not made again, and there is a possibility that the customer's order is not accepted.

  The ordering apparatus according to the embodiment includes a display, a display control unit, a reception unit, a transmission unit, a cover member, a detection unit, and a notification unit. The display control means displays a list of menu items on the display. The accepting unit accepts designation of any menu item from the list of menu items displayed on the display. When the transmission button for performing transmission is pressed, the transmission unit transmits item information representing the menu item whose designation is received by the reception unit to the external device. The cover member is configured to be openable and closable so as to cover the accepting means when designation is not accepted. The detecting means detects opening and closing of the cover member. The notification means notifies when the detection means detects that the cover member is closed without the item information being transmitted to the external device by the transmission means.

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram schematically showing a store system 1. FIG. 2 is a front view showing the handy terminal 101. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing electrical connection of the handy terminal 101. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the handy terminal according to the present embodiment. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example until notification is performed in the handy terminal 101 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an overall processing procedure in the handy terminal 101, the order station 501, and the kitchen printer 201 according to the present embodiment.

  Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram schematically showing a store system 1. As shown in FIG. 1, the store system 1 includes a plurality of handy terminals 101 as order terminals, a kitchen printer 201, a customer check printer 401, a POS (Point of Sales) terminal 301, and an order station. 501 and a wireless repeater 601.

  The POS terminal 301, the order station 501, the kitchen printer 201, and the customer check printer 401 are connected to each other via a communication cable 15 so that data communication is possible. The communication cable 15 is connected to a wireless repeater 601 installed on the ceiling of the store. The handy terminal 101 enables wireless data communication with the POS terminal 301, the order station 501, the kitchen printer 201, and the customer check printer 401 via the wireless repeater 601. Such a store system 1 is connected to a head office system (not shown) via a communication network 13.

  The POS terminal 301 includes a computer configuration control unit, and performs processing such as accounting processing. A hard disk drive device and a communication interface are connected to the control unit via a bus line. The communication interface enables data communication with the kitchen printer 201, the customer check printer 401, the order station 501, and the wireless repeater 601 via the communication cable 15. The control unit of the POS terminal 301 receives the menu master distributed from the head office system, and stores the received menu master in its own hard disk drive device. Then, the control unit of the POS terminal 301 distributes the stored menu master to the handy terminal 101 or the order station 501.

  FIG. 2 is a front view showing the handy terminal 101. As shown in FIG. 2, the handy terminal 101 includes a left unit 102 and a right unit 103. The left unit 102 and the right unit 103 are connected to each other by a hinge 104 so as to be able to open and close. The handy terminal 101 is a portable ordering device and is used by being carried by a store clerk.

  A display 121 is provided on the housing 102 a of the left unit 102. The display device 121 is, for example, a liquid crystal display device. A touch panel 122 is laminated and attached to the display surface of the display 121. A key sheet 123 is provided on the lower side of the touch panel 122 (the lower side in FIG. 2) so as to overlap the touch panel 122. The key sheet 123 includes a numeric keypad 123a that displays numbers, an arrow key 123b that displays up and down arrows, a clear key 123c that displays “Clear”, a transmission key 123d that displays “Transmission”, and the like.

  Further, the housing 102a of the left unit 102 is provided with an open / close detection mechanism 105 that detects whether the right unit 103 is closed. The open / close detection mechanism 105 according to the present embodiment has a switch shape, and detects whether the right unit 103 is closed by detecting whether the switch is pressed.

  The right unit 103 is a cover member that can be opened and closed to cover the left unit 102 in order to prevent erroneous input when stays such as menu items are not accepted from the keyboard 131 or the touch panel 122. Further, the right unit 103 is provided with a keyboard 131 having a plurality of keys. The keys are a plurality of upper menu keys 131a on which characters for displaying an upper menu such as “Wazen” are printed, an enter key 131e on which characters “Enter” are printed, and the like.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing electrical connection of the handy terminal 101. 3 includes a display 121, a touch panel 122, a keyboard 131, a display controller 162, a touch panel controller 161, a keyboard controller 163, a ROM 154, a RAM 155, and a nonvolatile memory 156. The detection mechanism 105, a wireless communication I / F 164, a wireless unit 165, and an antenna 166 are provided.

  The CPU 152, the display controller 162, the touch panel controller 161, the keyboard controller 163, the ROM 154, the RAM 155, the nonvolatile memory 156, the open / close detection mechanism 105, and the wireless communication I / F 164 are connected to the bus line 153. Connected through.

  The handy terminal 101 is a computer configured by connecting a ROM 154 and a RAM 155 to a CPU 152 via a bus line 153. The CPU 152 performs various calculations and controls each part of the handy terminal 101 according to the order receiving program. The RAM 155 is used as a work area for the handy terminal 101. The ROM 154 stores in advance fixed information such as an order receiving program for operating the CPU 152. The RAM 155 stores various data in a rewritable manner.

  The touch panel controller 161 outputs an input signal from the touch panel 122 to the CPU 152 via the bus line 153. The display controller 162 drives and controls the display 121 based on the image data, and causes the display 121 to display an image corresponding to the image data. The keyboard controller 163 outputs an input signal from the keyboard 131 to the CPU 152. A wireless communication I / F (interface) 164 drives and controls the wireless unit 165.

  The open / close detection mechanism 105 detects whether or not the right unit 103 of the handy terminal 101 is closed, and outputs a signal indicating the detection result (detection result signal) to the CPU 152.

  Note that the present embodiment has described the example in which the switch mechanism of the open / close detection mechanism 105 detects whether the right unit 103 is closed. However, the opening / closing detection of the right unit 103 serving as the cover is not limited to the switch mechanism, and any method that can detect the opening / closing of the cover may be used. For example, the opening / closing may be detected using an optical sensor or a magnetic sensor.

  The wireless unit 165 performs wireless communication with the wireless repeater 601 via the antenna 166. Various information such as order data generated by the CPU 152 of the handy terminal 101 is transmitted from the wireless unit 165 to the wireless repeater 601. In the RAM 155 of the handy terminal 101, a menu master distributed from the POS terminal 301 via the wireless repeater 601 is stored.

  The order station 501 includes a control unit. A hard disk drive device and a communication interface are connected to this control unit via a bus line (both not shown). The communication interface enables data communication with the kitchen printer 201, the POS terminal 301, the customer check printer 401, and the wireless repeater 601 via the communication cable 15. A menu master distributed from the POS terminal 301 is stored in the hard disk drive device. Furthermore, the order file is stored in the hard disk drive. The order file is a file that stores order data transmitted from the handy terminal 101. Further, the order station 501 obtains the number of menu items in stock using the order file. When a menu item that is out of stock (out of stock) is detected, stock-out information indicating that the menu item is out of stock is transmitted to each handy terminal 101.

  Next, order processing executed by the CPU 152 of the handy terminal 101 according to the order receiving program will be described.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the handy terminal according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 4, the CPU 152 of the handy terminal 101 follows the order reception program, thereby receiving the reception control unit 171, the transmission control unit 172, the display control unit 173, the reception unit 174, and the detection control unit 175. , And operates as a determination unit 176 and a notification unit 177.

  The reception control unit 171 performs reception control of data from an external device connected via the wireless communication I / F 164. For example, the reception control unit 171 controls reception of the menu master distributed from the POS terminal 301. The received menu master is stored in the RAM 155.

  The display control unit 173 controls the display 121 to display a list of menu items based on the menu master via the display controller 162.

  The reception unit 174 receives various designations from the store clerk. For example, the accepting unit 174 accepts designation of any menu item from the list of menu items displayed on the display device 121 according to an order from the customer. The menu item is specified through the keyboard 131 and the touch panel 122 shown in FIG.

  Then, after the reception unit 174 receives the specification of the menu item, the handy terminal 101 presses the transmission key 123d for transmitting the item information representing the menu item for which the specification has been received to the order station 501 that is an external device. Accept.

  Then, the transmission control unit 172 performs data transmission control on an external device connected via the wireless communication I / F 164. For example, when the transmission key 123d is pressed, the transmission control unit 172 transmits item information representing the menu item that has been designated by the reception unit 174 to the order station 501.

  The detection control unit 175 detects and controls whether or not the right unit 103 of the handy terminal 101 is closed based on a signal output from the open / close detection mechanism 105.

  The determination unit 176 determines whether to perform notification. In the present embodiment, it is determined whether or not information indicating the menu item for which the designation has been received is left without being transmitted to the order station 501. In this embodiment, as a criterion for whether or not the user has been left without being transmitted, after a menu item is designated, a predetermined time has passed without any other key input being performed without the transmission key 123d being pressed. Or when it is detected that the right unit 103 is closed while the transmission key 123d is not pressed. In this embodiment, the default value is set to 50 seconds as the predetermined time, but it can be changed to a desired value according to a request from the user.

  Further, the determination unit 176 determines whether or not the transmission result from the order station 501 is abnormal.

  The notification unit 177 performs notification based on the determination result by the determination unit 176. In the present embodiment, the notification unit 177 performs notification when the transmission control unit 172 does not transmit information representing a menu item or when it is determined that the transmission result from the order station 501 is abnormal. . The notification method by the notification unit 177 is at least one of sound output and vibration.

  That is, conventionally, the notification is performed for several seconds on the assumption that an abnormality has occurred when the transmission key 123d is not pressed after the designation of the menu item is received and there is no input for a certain period of time. In contrast, in the present embodiment, notification is performed when the right unit 103 is closed without the transmission key 123d being pressed. Thereby, a salesclerk can be made to recognize a transmission forgetting quickly.

  By the way, conventionally, a handy terminal tends to be stored in a store clerk's pocket after being used. In this case, there is a possibility that the store clerk may not notice the sound or display alone. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the notification unit 177 according to the present embodiment enables notification by vibration in order to make it easier for the store clerk to recognize that an error has occurred even after being stored. Thereby, even when the handy terminal 101 is stored in a pocket or the like, it is possible to make the store clerk recognize that an error has occurred.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example until notification is performed in the handy terminal 101 according to the present embodiment. As shown in (1) of FIG. 5, the designation of the menu item is accepted from the keyboard 131 or the touch panel 122. After that, as shown in (2) of FIG. 5, it is assumed that the left unit 102 is closed by the right unit 103 without pressing the transmission key 123d. At that time, after detecting that the detection control unit 175 is closed, the notification unit 177 performs notification by sound output and vibration. Thereby, the store clerk can recognize forgetting to transmit.

  Furthermore, in the handy terminal 101 according to the present embodiment, after the notification unit 177 starts notification, the notification is continued until the pressing of the clear key 123c is accepted. That is, conventionally, when the notification is started without transmitting the menu item, the notification is often completed in a few seconds. On the other hand, in this embodiment, the clerk can recognize an error such as forgetting to transmit by continuing the notification until the pressing of the clear key 123c is accepted.

  Next, an overall processing flow in the handy terminal 101, the order station 501, and the kitchen printer 201 according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an overall processing procedure in the handy terminal 101, the order station 501, and the kitchen printer 201 according to the present embodiment.

  First, it is assumed that the handy terminal 101 is idle (step S601). Next, the reception unit 174 receives a menu item designation via the keyboard 131 or the touch panel 122 (step S602). Thereafter, the determination unit 176 determines whether or not the transmission key 123d has been pressed (step S603).

  If the determination unit 176 determines that the transmission key 123d has been pressed (step S603: Yes), the transmission control unit 172 performs control to transmit information representing the menu item for which the designation has been received to the order station 501 ( Step S604).

  The order station 501 is initially waiting to receive information from the handy terminal 101 (step S621). The order station 501 receives the information representing the menu item transmitted from the handy terminal 101 in step S604 (step S622).

  Then, the order station 501 transmits the communication result with the handy terminal 101 in step S622 to the handy terminal 101 (step S623).

  Thereafter, the order station 501 determines whether or not the communication result is normal (step S624). If it is determined that it is not normal (step S624: No), it enters a reception waiting state in step S621.

  On the other hand, if the order station 501 determines that the communication result is normal (step S624: Yes), it transmits a slip print request to the kitchen printer 201 (step S625). Thereafter, the process waits for reception in step S621.

  First, the kitchen printer 201 waits for a request to be received (step S631). Thereafter, when a voucher print request is received from the order station 501 (step S632), the voucher is printed (step S633).

  On the other hand, in the handy terminal 101, after the transmission control in step S604, the reception control unit 171 performs control to receive the communication result from the order station 501 (step S605). Then, the determination unit 176 determines whether or not the transmission of the order menu is an error in the communication result (step S606). When it is determined that the transmission is performed normally instead of an error (step S606: No), the idle state of step S601 is entered again. When it is determined that the transmission is an error (step S606: Yes), the process proceeds to step S609.

  If the determination unit 176 determines that the transmission key 123d has not been pressed (step S603: No), it determines whether the right unit 103 has been closed (step S607). When it determines with the right unit 103 being closed (step S607: Yes), it transfers to step S609.

  On the other hand, if the determination unit 176 determines in step S607 that the right unit 103 has not been closed (step S607: No), it determines whether or not a predetermined time has passed (step S608). When it is determined that the predetermined time has not elapsed (step S608: No), processing is performed from the determination of whether or not the transmission key 123d in step S603 has been pressed.

  If the determination unit 176 determines that the predetermined time has elapsed in step S608 (step S608: Yes), determines that the right unit 103 is closed in step S607 (step S607: Yes), or in step S606. When it determines with transmission having been an error (step S606: Yes), the alerting | reporting part 177 starts alerting | reporting (step S609).

  Thereafter, the reception unit 174 detects whether or not the pressing of the clear key 123c is received (step S610). When the pressing is not accepted (step S610: No), the notification is continued until the pressing is accepted.

  On the other hand, when the reception unit 174 receives pressing of the clear key 123c (step S610). The notification unit 177 stops the notification (step S611) and restarts the process from step S602.

  By the processing procedure described above, forgetting to send the specified order menu can be suppressed. Furthermore, it is possible to prompt retransmission when a transmission error occurs.

  Note that, in the handy terminal 101 according to the present embodiment, in the self mode, it is possible to set whether or not to perform notification with the optional item “order non-transmission prevention function in the self mode”. Thereby, it can be set up whether information is notified according to a user's demand.

  In the present embodiment, an example in which notification by vibration and notification by sound output is performed as the notification method by the notification unit 177 has been described. As a sound output method, a BeP sound or a sound output using sound data (for example, wav data) may be used. Also, the type of sound to be output may be settable. Furthermore, the sound volume when the notification unit 177 notifies increases in a stepwise manner. For example, every time an intermittent sound is played five times, the volume is increased by one, and when the maximum volume is reached, it is possible to continue sounding.

  In the notification by vibration, whether or not to use vibration can be switched by an option item. One type of vibration pattern may be used, or a plurality of types of vibration patterns may be selected. In the self mode, the vibration may not be used.

(Modification)
In the embodiment described above, the case where vibration and sound output are used as the notification method by the notification unit 177 has been described. However, the above-described embodiment is not limited to notification by vibration and sound output. Therefore, as a modification, it is conceivable to light an LED provided on the handy terminal 101. Thereby, the store clerk can grasp whether or not an error has occurred even when viewing the handy terminal 101 from a distance. The notification method may be any method that allows the store clerk to recognize, and other notification methods may be used.

  Moreover, although the portable type | mold (handy terminal 101) was demonstrated to the example as an ordering device, it is not restricted to this, Another aspect may be sufficient.

  As described above, according to the above embodiment, forgetting orders from customers can be suppressed at the handy terminal 101.

  Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. These embodiments and modifications thereof are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalents thereof.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 101 ... Handy terminal (ordering device), 102 ... Left unit, 103 ... Right unit, 105 ... Opening / closing detection mechanism, 121 ... Display, 122 ... Touch panel, 123 ... Key sheet, 123a ... Numeric keypad, 123b ... Arrow key, 123c ... Clear key, 123d ... transmission key, 131e ... enter key, 171 ... reception control unit, 172 ... transmission control unit, 173 ... display control unit, 174 ... reception unit, 175 ... detection control unit, 176 ... determination unit, 177 ... notification Part

JP-A-4-109396

Claims (6)

An indicator,
Display control means for displaying a list of menu items on the display;
From the list of menu items displayed on the display, receiving means for receiving designation of any menu item;
A transmission unit that transmits item information representing the menu item that has been designated by the reception unit to the external device when a transmission button for performing transmission is pressed;
An openable / closable cover member that covers the accepting means when the designation is not accepted;
Detecting means for detecting opening and closing of the cover member;
Informing means for informing when the item information is not transmitted to the external device by the transmitting means and the detecting means detects that the cover member is closed;
Ordering equipment comprising. The notification means is any one or more of sound output and vibration.
The ordering device according to claim 1. The informing means keeps informing until it starts receiving the notification and receives a press of a predetermined button,
The order device according to claim 1 or 2. The notifying means further notifies when the item information is transmitted to the external device by the transmitting means and then received from the external device that an abnormality has occurred in the transmission of the item information.
The ordering device according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The notification means further notifies when a predetermined time has passed without the item information being transmitted to the external device by the transmission means.
The ordering device according to any one of claims 1 to 4. An indicator,
A display control step for displaying a list of menu items on the display;
From the list of menu items displayed on the display, a receiving step of receiving designation of any menu item by a designation receiving unit;
A transmission step of transmitting, to an external device, item information representing the menu item that has been designated by the reception step when a transmission button for performing transmission is pressed;
A detection step of detecting opening / closing of an openable / closable cover member that covers the accepting means when the designation is not accepted;
An informing step for informing when the item information is not transmitted to the external device by the transmitting step and the cover member is closed by the detecting step;
An order reception program to make a computer execute.

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