JPH06131380A - Calling system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a calling system which can call the groups of different number of persons in accordance with the sizes of the vacant seats and the places (smoking/non-smoking seats). CONSTITUTION:The ticket issue keys are provided for each desired number of persons and seats for issue of the order tickets. A group control table stores the order numbers and the desired number of persons and seats opposite to each other. Then a clerk turns on a call key or confirmation the provided for each desired number of persons and seats to call a group. The group corresponding to the key turned on is retrieved out of the group control table and then called by the display/voice guidance.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a calling system for calling a customer waiting in a group in a restaurant such as a restaurant according to the number of vacant seats.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a restaurant or the like, many customers may wait for a seat. In such a case, in the past, a staff member called the first customer at his or her own discretion each time an available seat was available, but this could lead to a reduction in service to the customer due to a mistake.

On the other hand, in banks and the like, a device has been put into practical use in which a numbered ticket in which a serial number is printed is issued to a customer waiting in line at a counter and the customer is called in the order of this number. The device allowed customers to sit on the sofa and wait.

[0004]

However, with the device put to practical use in the above banks and the like, it was not possible to memorize the number of people for each number, so the next customer could not be called in with a small number of seats. Also, if a small group is called in when there is a large vacant seat, there is a disadvantage that space is wasted. Further, in recent years, the number of restaurants having a non-smoking section has increased, and it has become necessary to distinguish between a customer who desires a non-smoking seat and a customer who desires a smoking seat.

An object of the present invention is to provide a calling system capable of calling in according to a vacant seat by storing a reference number and a group type in association with each other.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, a plurality of ticket issuing keys operated by a customer in accordance with a non-smoking seat / smoking seat and a group type classified by the number of groups, and a series of arrangements when the ticket issuing key is turned on. A ticket issuing means for issuing a numbered ticket with a number printed thereon, a storage means for storing the reference number and the group type in the order of the reference number, a plurality of calling keys operated by an attendant by designating the group type, and calling When the key is turned on, a calling means for searching the earliest group corresponding to the type from the storage means and displaying and / or voice-guidance of the reference number is characterized by being provided.

[0007]

In the calling system of the present invention, when a group number is entered from the ticket issuing key, a numbered ticket in which a series of numbered numbers are printed is issued, and the numbered numbers and the number of groups are stored in correspondence (storage means). ). When a vacant seat is available, the clerk specifies the number of people in the group according to the size of the vacant seat and turns on the call key. In response to this ON, a group of the corresponding number of people is retrieved from the storage means and called (calling means). The call may be made by displaying the reference number or by voice guidance. Moreover, you may use them together.

The ticket issuing key is installed in a place where the customer can operate (waiting lobby, etc.), and the call key is installed in a place where the staff can operate (register, etc.). Other components can be installed anywhere.

[0009]

1 to 4 are external views of respective devices constituting a calling system according to an embodiment of the present invention. This device
Ticket issuing device 1, clerk device 2, display device 3 and calling device 4
And are connected to each other by a bus line. This device is a device installed in a restaurant or the like, and the ticket issuing device 1, the display device 3 and the calling device 4 are installed in a lobby for waiting for seats, and the attendant device 2 is a place where a customer attendant (waiter etc.) can easily operate ( It is installed in the cash register).

FIG. 1 is an external view of a ticket issuing apparatus 1 that controls the operation of this system. The ticket issuing device issues a serial numbered ticket to the customer. On the operation surface, the number keys 11 and 12 (11a to 11d, 12) for inputting the number of customers in the group
a to 12d), a ticket issuing slot 13 and a waiting group number indicator 14 are provided. The number key 11 is for non-smoking seats, and the number key 12 is for smoking seats. Also, the number of people keys 11a, 1
2a corresponds to the number of people up to 2 and the number of people key 11
b and 12b correspond to a group of up to 4 persons, the number of persons keys 11c and 12c correspond to a group of up to 6 persons, and the number of persons keys 11d and 12d correspond to a group of 7 or more persons. Ticketing slot 13 when any key is turned on
A numbered ticket is issued and released from. A series of numbers is printed on the numbered ticket regardless of the number of people in the group. At this time, the display of the waiting group number indicator 14 is also updated.

FIG. 2 is an external view of the clerk device 2. The clerk device 2 is operated by a clerk when an empty seat is available. Since the group (number of people) to be called differs depending on the vacant place (non-smoking seat / smoking seat) and the size, display 1 for each group type
5, 16 (15a to 15d, 16a to 16d) and call keys 17, 18 (17a to 17d, 18a to 18)
d), confirmation keys 19 and 20 (19a to 19d and 20a to
20d) is provided. The display unit 15 displays the number of waiting groups of the group of that type and the reference number of the next group. The division of groups is the same as that of the ticket issuing device 1. The call keys 17 and 18 are keys for calling the next group when a seat suitable for the group of the type is vacant. The confirmation keys 19 and 20 are keys for calling this group when there is no optimal group for vacant seats and the number of seats is appropriate but the group has different hopes for seat type (non-smoking seat / smoking seat). . In this case, in order to guide you to the seat after understanding that the type of seat may be different from your desired one, press the O confirmation key
A K key 21 is provided. O if you understand
The K key is turned on. If the consent cannot be obtained, the confirmation keys 19 and 20 are turned on again and the next candidate is searched. A recall key 22 is also provided to recall a group that has been called once.

FIG. 3 is an external view of the display device 3. The display device is provided with a waiting group number display 25 for displaying the total number of waiting groups and a waiting time display 26 for displaying a rough waiting time.

Further, FIG. 4 is an external view of the calling device 4. The calling device 4 is provided with a calling number display 27 for displaying the reference number of the group being called and a speaker 28 for emitting a calling voice.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the calling system. The operation of the entire system is controlled by the CPU 30 incorporated in the ticket issuing device 1. The CPU 30 has a ROM 32, a RAM 33, and a document R via a bus 31.
The OM 34, the calendar IC 35, the voice synthesis board 36, the ticket issuing device 37, the key switch 38, and the display unit 39 are connected. The ROM 32 stores a control program and the like. The group management table shown in FIG. 6 is set in the RAM 33. In this group management table, the reference number of the waiting group and the number of the group,
Non-smoking / smoking seats are stored in correspondence. Document ROM 34
Is detachably attached to the substrate via a socket, and the text printed on the surface of the numbered ticket is stored as Hex-coded bitmap data. Calendar IC3
Reference numeral 5 is an IC that automatically counts dates, and the date printed on a numbered ticket is read from this IC and printed. The voice synthesis board 36 is an LSI that synthesizes a call voice at the time of calling. The synthesized voice is an audio cable 6
1 to the speaker 28 (sound output unit 52).

The ticket issuing device 37 includes a printer, an auto cutter,
It has a ticket issuing sensor, a roll paper sensor, and so on. The printer is a thermal printer that prints the contents of the numbered ticket on roll paper. When the customer turns on the ticket issuing keys 11 and 12, the printer prints the contents of the numbered ticket so that the ticket is projected from the ticket issuing slot 13, and the auto cutter cuts the roll paper into a card shape at a predetermined length. This allows the customer to withdraw. The roll paper sensor is a sensor that detects that the remaining amount of roll paper used for a numbered ticket is low. The key switch 38 includes ticket issuing keys 11 and 12. The display unit 39 includes the waiting group number indicator 14 and a driver for this indicator.

Further, the bus 31 is connected to buses 40, 45, 50 of other devices via a bus cable 60. The bus 40 is the bus of the attendant device 2. Bus 40 has call keys 17 and 18, confirmation keys 19 and 20, and OK key 2
1, a key switch 41 including the recall key 22 and a display section 42 including the displays 15 and 16 are connected. The bus 45 is the bus of the display device 3. Display 2 on the bus 45
A display unit 46 including 5, 26 is connected. Bus 50
Is a bus of the calling device 4. A display unit 51 including a call number display 27 is connected to the bus 50. Also,
The calling device 4 includes a voice output unit 52 including the speaker 28. An audio cable 61 is connected to the voice output section 52 from the voice synthesis board 36. As a result, the guidance voice synthesized and output by the voice synthesis board 36 is output from the speaker 28.

7 and 8 are flowcharts showing the operation of the CPU 10 of the ticket issuing apparatus 1 which controls the overall operation of the calling system. First, when the system is started up, a setup process is performed (n1). This setup processing is an operation of resetting the number of people waiting, a reference number, etc., an operation of clearing the display contents, and the like. After the setup process, the standby operation of n2 to n6 is performed until the ticket issuing keys 11 and 12, the calling keys 17 and 18, the confirmation keys 19 and 20, the OK key 21 and the recall key 22 are turned on.

When the customer turns on the ticket issuing keys 11 and 12, n
If the judgment is 2, proceed to n10. At n10, the reference number stored in the reference number register is incremented by 1, and a numbered ticket with this number printed is issued and released to the ticket issuing slot 13 (n1
1). After this, 1 is added to the number of wait groups register (n1
2) Update the display of the number of waiting group indicators 13, 25 (n
13). Next, based on which ticketing key is turned on, the number of people in the group and the desire for non-smoking seats / smoking seats are calculated, and the contents are stored in the group management table together with the reference number (n14), and the operation returns to the standby operation.

When the call keys 17 and 18 are turned on, the process proceeds to n20 with the determination of n3. The call keys 17 and 18 are turned on by an attendant when calling a group that is most suitable for vacant seats. n
At 20, the flag described later is reset. In n21, the group management table is searched for the earliest group that matches the turned-on call keys 17a to 17d and 18a to 18d. The reference number of the retrieved group is displayed on the calling number display 23 (n22), and the reference number is sent to the voice synthesis board 36 (n23). This number is input to the register in the voice synthesis board 36. Based on this number, the voice synthesizing board 36 synthesizes a voice such as "Customer No. XX, please come to the counter because seats are available" (n24). Then, the corresponding data is deleted from the group management table (n25).
At the same time, the lower data of this data is shifted at the same time. Furthermore, after subtracting 1 from the number of wait groups register (n2
6) The display of the waiting number is updated (n27). This operation of updating the number of waiting groups is performed for both the display device 3 and the attendant device 2. After that, it returns to the standby operation.

It is also possible to provide a display device in the passenger seat so that the customer can be guided directly to the seat by the display device simultaneously with the voice guidance.

On the other hand, when the confirmation keys 19 and 20 are turned on, the process proceeds to n30 or less in the judgment of n4. Confirmation key 19,
20 is the number of vacant seats (number of people) and location (non-smoking seat / smoking seat)
When there is no corresponding group, the group is turned on to call a group having the same number of people and different hopes for the place. At n30, it is determined whether or not a flag for storing the fact that confirmation is in progress is set. When the flag is not set, the first group corresponding to the confirmation keys 19 and 20 is searched from the group management table (n3).
1). When the flag is set, the next group corresponding to the confirmation keys 19 and 20 is searched from the group management table (n32). The reference number of the retrieved group is displayed on the calling number display 23 (n
33), and sends this reference number to the voice synthesis board 36 (n34). This number is input to the register in the voice synthesis board 36. Speech synthesis board 3 based on this number
No. 6 synthesizes a voice such as “Customer No. XX, please come to the counter.” (N35). That is, in this case, since it is necessary to inquire whether a seat different from the customer's request may be asked, the content of the guidance is different from n24. After that, a flag for storing that the confirmation is in progress is set (n36).

When the OK key 21 is turned on, the process proceeds to n40 or less in the judgment of n5. The OK key 21 is turned on when the group called by the confirmation key understands that there is an empty seat at that time. When the flag is not set, this key is meaningless, so that the operation returns to the standby operation. When the flag is set, it means that the vacant seat is OK for the group called by confirmation at that time, so the corresponding data is deleted from the group management table,
At the same time, lower data of this data is shifted (n4
1). Furthermore, after subtracting 1 from the number of wait groups register (n
42), the display of the number of waiting persons is updated (n43). After this, the flag is reset (n44) and the operation returns to the standby operation.

On the other hand, when the recall key 22 is turned on, the process proceeds from n6 to n50 to send the guide voice generation trigger again to the voice synthesis board 36. Thus, if the customer who has called once does not appear in the counter, the call to the same customer can be repeated. When the calling customer does not come, the next customer can be called by newly turning on the calling keys 17 and 18 or the confirmation keys 19 and 20.

With this configuration, customers suitable for vacant seats can be called up in a waiting order, and when the vacant seats or waiting passengers are biased toward either non-smoking seats or smoking seats,
Customers with different wishes can be called and confirmed, and then they can be guided to their seats, enabling smooth management of waiting customers.

[0025]

As described above, according to the calling apparatus of the present invention, customers waiting for an empty seat can be stored so as to be identifiable by group type and can be called for each group type corresponding to an empty seat. The most suitable customer can be called up in a waiting order, which can contribute to the improvement of service.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view of a ticket issuing device of a calling system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an external view of a staff member of the calling system.

FIG. 3 is an external view of a display device of the calling system.

FIG. 4 is an external view of a calling device of the calling system.

FIG. 5 is an overall block diagram of the calling system.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a customer management table set in the calling system.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the calling system.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the operation of the calling system.

[Explanation of symbols]

1-ticket issuing device, 2-valet device, 3-display device, 4-calling device.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of ticket-issuing keys operated by a customer according to the group type classified by non-smoking / smoking seats and the number of groups, and a ticket issued with a serial number when the ticket-issuing key is turned on. Ticketing means, storage means for storing the reference numbers and group types in association with the reference numbers, a plurality of call keys operated by an attendant by designating the group types, and the storage key when the call keys are turned on. A calling system comprising: a calling means that searches the earliest group corresponding to the type from the means and displays the reference number and / or voice guidance.