JP2003006748A - Order management system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an order input terminal, with which a desired menu can be inputted with a little number of key touches. SOLUTION: In this order management system, when a customer himself/ herself or waiter/waitress in charge of guidance selects customer class information on the order input terminal, a plurality of recommendable menus suited to that customer class accumulated beforehand are displayed on the top of an order input screen for menus.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an order management system in restaurants such as restaurants, taverns and hotels.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an order management system at a restaurant, a display terminal with a touch panel having a communication function is prepared at each seat as an input terminal, and the customer operates the display terminal to input order data. A system has been devised.

Display terminals for inputting orders include
Information such as menu name, menu image, price, etc., as well as the main ingredients can be displayed, and customers can enter the order menu by touching the menu name or menu image part that they want to order. Has become.

The input order data is sent to the data control device, stored in the data control device, sent to the output device as cooking instruction data for the kitchen, and accounting data for accounting processing at the POS register or the like. Is used as.

[0005]

The input terminal device in such an order management device, unlike a commonly used paper menu book, must be permanently installed on a table, and therefore its size is limited. Therefore, the area of the display screen itself is limited.

Further, in order input, since the customer touches the screen, it is necessary to secure a certain area area for detecting the touch. In addition, since menu images are also displayed so that customers can easily grasp the image of cooking, it is necessary to secure a certain area for each menu from this aspect.

Therefore, the menus that can be displayed on one screen are limited, and it is usually almost impossible to display all the menus on one screen in the menu order input screen. Therefore, in order to solve the problem, the menu screens are hierarchized, and further, the menu input screens are prepared for a plurality of pages for each hierarchy and the problem is solved by scrolling.

[0008] Therefore, when the customer inputs the menu he / she wants to eat, the larger the number of menus,
There was a problem in that the number of screens to be scrolled and the number of layers increased, and the screen touch had to be repeated many times until the desired menu was reached.

[0009] Also, each menu screen, in consideration of sales etc.
Follows the screen settings that you expect. Therefore, the menu screens displayed on all the input terminal devices are uniform, which is a factor that gives a negative image that the menu does not look good for customers who visit the store many times.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an input terminal device capable of inputting a desired menu with a small number of touches.

[0011]

[Means for Solving the Problems] A display unit arranged on each table of a store for displaying menu information, an input unit for inputting order data mainly by a customer's operation, and transmitting the input order data. In an order management system including a plurality of input terminal devices having a communication unit and a data control device that receives and manages the order data, the display unit is based on customer demographic information input from the input unit. It is characterized by deciding the layout of the menu displayed in. Further, in the order management system, based on the inputted customer segment information, a menu in which the customer segment can be expected to particularly sell may be displayed near the top of the order menu input screen displayed on the display section of the previous term.

[0012]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the entire system of the present invention.

In this order management system, first, there is an input terminal device 11 through which a customer directly inputs order data. The input terminal device transmits the order data input to the data control device 12 via a wireless or wired communication line. As a general rule, the input terminal device is arranged in each table, and a unique code that allows each table to be identified is assigned to each table in advance.

The data control device 12 checks the content of the received order data, stores it in its storage unit, is connected by a wireless or wired communication line, and is connected to the display terminal 13 as an output device in a kitchen or the like. Send to the restaurant printer 14. In the output device, the received cooking instruction data is displayed on the screen or printed as a slip to give a cooking instruction to a cook or a dish providing instruction to a waiter.

Separately from this, the order data stored in the data control device is also used as data for accounting processing at the POS terminal.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a device used as the input terminal device 11.

As shown in the figure, a liquid crystal color display as a display unit 21 and a touch panel are provided on the front surface of the housing, and a customer can order a menu by touching the screen. The input terminal device has a drip-proof structure in consideration of the usage environment of a restaurant or the like, and a replaceable film sheet is attached to the liquid crystal display in order to prevent dirt and scratches.

FIG. 3 is a control block diagram of the input terminal device 11 and the data control device 12.

As shown in the figure, the input terminal device 11 includes a CPU 31 as a main body of a control unit, a ROM 32 and a RAM 33 as storage units for storing programs and data, a communication unit 34 for communicating with a data control device, and images and characters. Is composed of a color liquid crystal display 35 for displaying, a touch panel 36 serving as an input means, and a speaker 37 for outputting a buzzer and voice.

Further, the data control device 12 includes a CPU 38 as a control unit main body, a communication unit 39 for communicating with each of the input terminal devices 11 and the display terminal 13 as an output device or the restaurant printer 14, programs and menu data, and An external storage device 3A, a ROM 3C, a RAM 3D as a storage unit for storing order data, a liquid crystal display 3E as a display device, a keyboard 3B as an input device, and a speaker 3 for outputting a buzzer or voice.
It is composed of F. As shown in FIG. 4, in the RAM 33 of the input terminal device 11, a table serving as a menu master of menu numbers, menu names, unit prices, and other message information (food ingredients, cooking methods) given in advance for each menu, A table as a menu image master in which the image data corresponding to the menu number is registered is stored. Further, a menu display position master that defines the display location of each menu on the order menu input screen (see FIG. 7) is stored.

On the other hand, a menu master, a menu image master, and a menu display position master are also stored in the external storage device 3A and the RAM 3D, which are storage units of the data control device 12, and these various master files are stored. In addition, aggregate information of past order data input from each input terminal device 11 is stored. The aggregated information of the order data allows the sales quantity of each menu to be grasped by customer class and time zone, and also manages information such as days of the week, weather and temperature.

These various master files are read from the external storage device 3A when the data control device 12 is activated, and are also expanded as an internal table in the RAM 3D.

The total information of the order data is loaded at the time of start-up, and the order data is input from the input terminal device 11 and registered as an order data file, and is simultaneously updated in real time, and the latest information is constantly updated. It is a mechanism.

The total information of the order data is reflected in the total immediately when the order menu is input, not when the accounting is completed at the POS terminal or the like. Therefore, even the menu that has been sold on the day is subject to aggregation and can be reflected in the aggregation data immediately after the store is opened.

Further, the input terminal device 11 communicates with the data control device 12 at the time of startup, so that the latest various master files at that time are downloaded from the data control device 12 through the communication line and stored in the RAM 33. It is designed to be remembered.

When the power of the input terminal device 11 is turned on, the initial routine stored in the ROM 32 is activated to establish communication with the data control device 12. When communication with the data control device is established, a transmission request for the main program and menu data is issued to the data control device. The data control device transmits the main program of the input terminal device 11 stored in the storage unit in response to the transmission request of the menu data, and from the menu file, a new number, menu name, unit price required for the input terminal device, Information such as image data, other message information (foodstuff, cooking method), and an identification code linked to the table number are transmitted to the input terminal device 11.

When the initial routine of the input terminal device 11 completes the reception of all programs and master data, it starts the main program. Then, the main program of the input terminal device 11 is activated, and the order data of the menu can be input.

When the main program of the input terminal device 11 is activated, an initial screen as shown in FIG. 5 is first displayed on the screen.

As the initial screen, it is desirable that the name of the store and the advertisement are displayed as images or moving images. Further, an order input start button 52, an operation explanation button 51, an attendant call button 53, etc. are arranged in one corner of the screen.

When the customer or the waiter who has guided the customer to the seat touches the order input start button 52, the input terminal device 11 communicates with the data control device 12 and is registered in the storage unit of the data control device 12. Confirm the order data stored in the table and confirm whether the customer in the corresponding table is a new order entry or an additional order entry. Here, when it is determined that a new order is input, in order to input the identification information accompanying the order information such as the number of people input 61 and the customer class input 62 as shown in FIG. 6 before the input of the order menu. The identification information input screen of is displayed. On the other hand, in the case of an additional order, such an input screen of the identification information is not displayed, and the input screen of the order menu is displayed as it is.

On the identification information input screen, after inputting the number of people information and the customer class information, by touching the decision button arranged on the screen, the number of people information and the customer class information are taken in, and this data is immediately collected. It is sent to the control device 12.

The customer segment includes presence / absence of input of “male”, “female” and “child” as number information, and customer segment information such as “high school student”, “college student”, “company employee”, “OL” and “housewife”. , "Family", "couple", and other selection items are displayed, and the selection is performed to make a determination.

When the data control device 12 receives this number of people and customer class information, it refers to the customer group-specific aggregate information of the past approximately one month among the total information stored in the storage unit, and the same. Weighting etc. is performed on the days of the week to grasp the average sales quantity of each menu per time period and rank the displayed menus.

In this ranking order, the menu ranked higher in the average sales volume in the relevant customer segment is extracted as the "recommended menu" category, and
In the sales order, the screen layout of the menu displayed on the input terminal device 11 is determined. An example of the display screen is shown in FIG.
Shown in.

Regarding the classification of each menu, the total sales amount of the menus belonging to each classification is grasped, and the classification index is determined in order from the largest total sales amount. On the input terminal device 11, the classification index is displayed in such a manner that the classification with the largest sales is placed in the front according to the customer class / time zone.

Further, each menu belonging to each category is also ranked and rearranged in descending order of average sales volume, and in this order, the screen layout of each menu on the order menu input screen for each category. Is determined.

The totaling period can be arbitrarily changed. For example, if the totaling period is one day, all sales data will be zero when the store opens, and the totaling will be performed every time the order menu is entered. Therefore, it is possible to control that the menu display order changes depending on the hot selling menu of the day.

In addition, new menu areas are provided for each category for new menus that do not have a track record or for menus that we would like to recommend as a store regardless of the amount of customer sales.
It is possible to set the menu display position master so that the process is displayed at that position for a limited time from the date when the menu is changed. Also, after a certain period of time, it will be incorporated into the regular control with the same sales quantity as the regular menu.

The "recommended menu" extracted in this way, the index of each classification, and the display position of the menu list for each classification are formed as update data of the menu display position master and are input to the input terminal device 11. Sent.

The input terminal device 11 transmits information on the customer base and the like, and constructs an order menu input screen in accordance with the menu display position master responded from the data control device 12.

The arrangement of the order input screens based on the customer class information is ensured by the input terminal device 11 until a new new order is input, and the same screen as that of the new order is displayed in the additional order. become.

When the customer completes all the order inputs and touches the "end" button displayed on the input screen of the order menu, the RAM 33 of the input terminal device 11 is until then.
The order data stored in is sent to the data control device 12 together with identification information such as table information and number of people information.

If there is no error in the received order data, the data management device 12 registers this order data,
Further, based on this order data, cooking instruction data and provision instruction data are generated and transmitted to the display device 13 and the restaurant printer 14 which are output terminals. The display terminal device 13 and the restaurant printer 14 display the screen and print the voucher for the sent data cooking instruction data and provision instruction data in accordance with the output type, and at the same time tabulate the ordered menu. When the information is updated and the next order is received, the aggregated information including this order will be referred to.

In this embodiment, the input terminal device 11 and the data control device 12 consider that the processing time is the shortest, and the data necessary for various processes are mutually held in each device. A method of storing all the data in the control device 12 and referring to the data in the input terminal device 11 as needed can be considered.

Although the input terminal device 11 is arranged in each table, when the input terminal device 11 and the data control device 12 are wirelessly connected, the input terminal device is not arranged in the table but is arranged in the table. As with the menu book, the waiter may distribute the table each time the customer is seated to reduce the number of cars used. In this case, the waiter and waitress, who is the waiter, inputs the identification code and the number of persons in the table.

[0047]

[Effects of the Invention] Since the customer can quickly reach the menu he / she wants to order, he / she can perform input operation without stress, and the order input time becomes faster. Therefore, the number of tables used on the store side increases. It leads to an increase in sales.

Since the arrangement of the menus changes every visit, the customers can continue to be given a fresh image.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall view of hardware that constitutes this system

FIG. 2 is an external view of the input terminal device.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an input terminal device and a data control device.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a configuration of various master data used in this system.

[Fig. 5] Example of initial screen of input terminal device

FIG. 6 shows an example of an identification information screen of an input terminal device.

[Figure 7] Order input screen of the input terminal device (default)

FIG. 8: Order input screen of the input terminal device (after change)

[Explanation of symbols]

11 Input terminal device 12 Data control device 13 Display terminal 14 Restaurant printer

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A display unit arranged on each table of a store for displaying menu information, an input unit for inputting order data mainly by a customer's operation, and a communication unit for transmitting the input order data. A plurality of input terminal devices having, a data control device for receiving and managing the order data,
An order management system, comprising: determining an arrangement of menus displayed on the display unit based on customer class information input from the input unit. 2. The menu, which is expected to be particularly sales for the customer base, based on the input customer base information is displayed near the top of the order menu input screen displayed on the display section of the previous term. The listed order management system.