Receiving terminal, order processing method, and order processing system

Abstract

To provide a visit notification system capable of improving convenience related to a pre-order, a ticket machine forming the visit notification system, and a visit notification method by the visit notification system.SOLUTION: In a visit notification system 100, a ticket machine 1 that is a receiving terminal connected to storage means for storing order information on a pre-order, and identification information for identifying the pre-order includes: input means (an input screen 10) for inputting the identification information by a customer's operation; control means for obtaining the order information corresponding to the identification information input to the input means from a managing device 2 that is the storage means, and for displaying the obtained order information; and settlement means for making a settlement for an order content based on the order information.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a reception terminal, an order processing method, and an order processing system.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 below discloses a ticket vending machine installed in a restaurant. When a customer touches the display operation unit of the ticket vending machine to select a menu and settles the price of the menu, a food ticket is issued from the ticket vending machine. The customer receives the selected menu dish in exchange for the food ticket at the receiving counter of the restaurant.

Prior Art Document

Patent Document

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In a restaurant or the like where the ticket vending machine described in Patent Document 1 is installed, in addition to the normal transaction in which a customer comes to the store and places a new order by the ticket vending machine, there is a transaction in which a customer places a pre-order by phone, the Internet, etc., and then the customer himself or a delivery operator comes to the store as a pre-order customer for takeout or the like.

[0005] An object of one embodiment of this invention is to provide a reception terminal, an order processing method, and an order processing system that can improve the convenience regarding pre-orders.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] This invention provides a reception terminal connected to a storage means that stores order information regarding a pre-order and specific information including a phone number or the customer's name for identifying the pre-order.

[0007] The receiving terminal includes an input means for inputting the specific information by a customer's operation, a control means for acquiring the order information corresponding to the specific information input to the input means from the storage means and displaying the acquired order information, and a settlement means for settling the order content based on the order information.

[0008] In addition, in one embodiment of the present invention, the input means includes an input screen for the customer to input specific information.

[0009] In addition, in one embodiment of the present invention, the input means includes a reading device for reading a code including the specific information.

[0010] In addition, in one embodiment of the present invention, the input means includes a reading device for reading the specific information stored in the mobile terminal by short-range wireless communication with the mobile terminal held by the customer.

[0011] In addition, one embodiment of the present invention is an order processing method by a receiving terminal connected to a storage means for storing order information about a pre-order and specific information for specifying the pre-order, the method including steps of inputting the specific information by a customer's operation, acquiring the order information corresponding to the input specific information from the storage means and displaying the acquired order information, and settling the order content based on the order information.

[0012] In addition, one embodiment of the present invention provides an order processing system including a storage means for storing order information about a pre-order and specific information including a telephone number or a customer's name for specifying the pre-order, an input means for inputting the specific information by a customer's operation, a control means for acquiring the order information corresponding to the specific information input to the input means from the storage means and displaying the acquired order information, and a settlement means for settling the order content based on the order information.

[0013] Further, an embodiment of the present invention is a reception terminal connected to a storage means for storing order information about a pre-order and specific information including a telephone number or the customer's name for identifying the pre-order, the reception terminal comprising: an input means for inputting the specific information by a customer's operation; a control means for acquiring from the storage means the amount included in the order information corresponding to the specific information input to the input means and displaying the acquired amount; and a settlement means for performing settlement according to the amount. Further, an embodiment of the present invention provides an order processing system comprising: a storage means for storing order information about a pre-order and specific information including a telephone number or the customer's name for identifying the pre-order; an input means for inputting the specific information by a customer's operation; a control means for acquiring from the storage means the amount included in the order information corresponding to the specific information input to the input means and displaying the acquired amount; and a settlement means for performing settlement according to the amount.

Effects of the Invention

[0014] According to an embodiment of the present invention, convenience regarding pre-orders can be improved.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0015]

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Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0016] Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings, embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an overview of a store arrival notification system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The store arrival notification system 100 is applied to a restaurant in this embodiment, but is applicable not only to restaurants but also to various types of stores that require customers to visit for receiving goods such as products. The goods handled in the store are not limited to items created by the store side and provided to customers like dishes, but may also be items returned to customers like clothes in a dry cleaner. The store arrival notification system 100 is also an automatic vending system including at least a ticket vending machine (reception means, reception terminal) 1 for food coupons installed inside or at the storefront of the restaurant, a management device 2 arranged at an arbitrary position inside or outside the restaurant, and a store terminal 3 arranged inside the restaurant. The store arrival notification system 100 may further include a telephone 4 arranged inside the restaurant. Although only one ticket vending machine 1 is shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of them may exist.

[0017] The ticket vending machine 1 is an example of a vending device. For example, it has a vertically long box shape, and on the upper region of its front, a display operation unit 10, which is an example of reception means, is provided. The display operation unit 10 is, for example, a liquid crystal touch panel formed in a rectangular shape that is long in the width direction of the ticket vending machine 1 (the left - right direction in FIG. 1). The display operation unit 10 may be a color screen or a monochrome screen. The display operation unit 10 has a function as a display unit on which various information is displayed and a function as an operation unit that is operated by a user such as a customer for menu selection and the like. The display unit and the operation unit may not be integrated into the display operation unit 10 but may exist separately. The same applies to other display operation units described later.

[0018] In the region below the display operation unit 10 on the front of the ticket vending machine 1, a detection unit 11 that detects the approach of a person, a coin insertion slot 12, a bill deposit slot 13, a ticket outlet 14 for tickets such as food tickets, a bill payout slot 15, a change return slot 16, and a reading unit 17, which is an example of reception means, are arranged in an easily accessible layout.

[0019] A customer who wants to purchase a food ticket at the ticket vending machine 1 first accesses the ticket vending machine 1 from the front side (the front side of the paper in FIG. 1). Then, the detection unit 11 detects the approach of this customer. In response to the detection by the detection unit 11, for example, the ticket vending machine 1, which has been in the standby mode until now, starts up and enters the standby mode, and on the display operation unit 10, a standby screen 10A (see FIG. 4) or a standby screen 10B (see FIG. 5), which will be described later, is displayed. When the customer touches the standby screen 10A, a sales screen (not shown) on which information about a plurality of menus handled at a restaurant is displayed is switched and displayed on the display operation unit 10. The standby screen 10B is itself a sales screen. The standby screen 10A and the standby screen 10B will be described in detail later. After seeing the sales screen, the customer touches the display operation unit 10 to select a desired menu and inserts cash as the price of that menu into at least one of the coin insertion slot 12 and the bill deposit slot 13 to settle the payment for that menu. As will be described later, in the ticket vending machine 1, settlements other than cash settlement are also possible.

[0020] After settlement, a food ticket printed with the name of the menu selected by the customer is issued at the outlet 14. Thereby, a transaction is established between the customer who selected the menu and the ticket vending machine 1. If there is change, among the change, banknotes are returned to the customer from the banknote dispenser 15, and coins are returned to the customer from the return port 16. The customer takes the food ticket taken out from the outlet 14 and goes to a receiving counter (not shown) in the restaurant. At the receiving counter, in exchange for the food ticket, the customer receives the selected menu dish. The customer may take out the received dish or eat and drink in the store.

[0021] The management device 2 is a so-called server or personal computer. The management device 2 in this embodiment includes a display unit 20 configured by a monitor or the like and an operation unit 21 configured by a keyboard or the like. The display unit 20 and the operation unit 21 may be integrated into a display operation unit configured by a liquid crystal touch panel or the like. The management device 2 is connected to a public line X such as the Internet or a telephone line.

[0022] An example of the store terminal 3 is a kitchen display 3A arranged in the store kitchen or a portable terminal 3B such as a tablet terminal carried by a store clerk. The ticket vending machine 1, the management device 2, and each store terminal 3 can communicate with each other via a network N configured by a wired or wireless communication line. At least a part of the network N may be configured by the public line X.

[0023] The telephone 4 is a fixed telephone or a mobile phone connected to the public line X. The telephone 4 and the portable terminal 3B may be the same smartphone. The customer's communication terminal 5 is a portable terminal 5A or a personal computer 5B connected to the public line X. An example of the portable terminal 5A is a smartphone.

[0024] Figure 2 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the store visit notification system 100. Each ticket vending machine 1 further includes a control unit 30, a valuable media processing unit 31, an issuing unit 32, a communication unit 33, and a storage unit 34 that are electrically connected to the control unit 30. The control unit 30 is composed of a microcomputer including a CPU, a ROM, etc. The same applies to other control units described later. The above-described display operation unit 10, detection unit 11, and reading unit 17 are electrically connected to the control unit 30. The control unit 30 controls the display on the display operation unit 10 and accepts operations on the display operation unit 10 by customers or store clerks. The detection result by the detection unit 11 is input to the control unit 30. The information read by the reading unit 17 is input to the control unit 30.

[0025] The valuable media processing unit 31 has a configuration for taking in the cash inserted into the coin insertion slot 12 and the bill deposit slot 13 (see FIG. 1) inside the ticket vending machine 1, a configuration for identifying the type and authenticity of the taken-in cash, and a configuration for discharging the change cash or the like to the bill payout slot 15 and the return slot 16 (see FIG. 1). The control unit 30 performs cash settlement for the selected menu by subtracting the price of the menu from the inserted cash. Therefore, the control unit 30 and the valuable media processing unit 31 are an example of a settlement means. Regarding settlement, the customer may deposit money before selecting a menu or after selecting a menu.

[0026] The reading unit 17 may be composed of a contactless IC card unit. In that case, the control unit 30 can also perform non-contact communication with the IC card with an electronic money function possessed by the customer by the reading unit 17 and settle using the electronic money associated with the IC card. If the reading unit 17 has a function of reading a credit card, credit card settlement is also possible. Thus, the reading unit 17 is also an example of a settlement means.

[0027] The issuing unit 32 is an example of an issuing means, and includes a configuration such as printing necessary information regarding the menu purchased by the customer on the food ticket in response to the completion of the settlement and issuing this food ticket to the outlet 14 (see FIG. 1). The communication unit 33 is an interface for the control unit 30 to communicate with the management device 2 and the store terminal 3, and is connected to the network N. The storage unit 34 stores various information such as the menu handled in the restaurant and the identification information assigned to each ticket vending machine 1.

[0028] The management device 2 further includes a control unit 40, a first communication unit 41, a second communication unit 42, and a storage unit 43 that are electrically connected to the control unit 40. The above-described display unit 20 and operation unit 21 are also electrically connected to the control unit 40. The control unit 40 controls the display on the display unit 20 and accepts the operation of the operation unit 21 by a store clerk or the like. The first communication unit 41 is an interface for the control unit 40 to communicate with the ticket vending machine 1 and the store terminal 3, and is connected to the network N. The second communication unit 42 is an interface for the management device 2 to communicate with the communication terminal 5, and is connected to the public line X. The storage unit 43 stores various information.

[0029] Each store terminal 3 includes a control unit 45, a display unit 46, and a communication unit 47 that are electrically connected to the control unit 45. Among the store terminals 3, the display unit 46 of the kitchen display 3A is configured by a relatively large monitor, and the display unit 46 of the mobile terminal 3B is configured by a relatively small display operation unit such as a touch panel (see FIG. 1). The display unit 46 of the kitchen display 3A may also be configured by a display operation unit. The control unit 45 has at least a function of controlling the display on the display unit 46. The control unit 45 of the mobile terminal 3B may be able to accept the operation of the display unit 46 by a store clerk. The communication unit 47 is an interface for the control unit 45 to communicate with the ticket vending machine 1 and the management device 2, and is connected to the network N.

[0030] Each communication terminal 5 includes a control unit 50, a display unit 51, an operation unit 52, a communication unit 53, and a storage unit 54 that are electrically connected to the control unit 50. In the case of the communication terminal 5 being the mobile terminal 5A, the display unit 51 and the operation unit 52 may be integrated as a display operation unit 55 such as a touch panel (see FIG. 1). In the case of the communication terminal 5 being the personal computer 5B, the display unit 51 may be configured by a monitor or the like, and the operation unit 52 may be configured by a keyboard or the like. The control unit 50 controls the display on the display unit 51 and accepts the operation of the operation unit 52 by the customer. The communication unit 53 is an interface connected to the public line X. The storage unit 54 stores various information.

[0031] Hereinafter, the method of notifying the arrival of a customer by such a customer arrival notification system 100 will be described. A customer can place a pre-order for a menu handled at a restaurant via the Internet or by phone. In the case of a pre-order via the Internet, the customer first operates the operation unit 52 of the communication terminal 5 to start an application for pre-order downloaded to the communication terminal 5 or access a pre-order site. As a result, on the communication terminal 5, the control unit 50 displays a pre-order screen (not shown) on the display unit 51. Thus, the customer who has seen the pre-order screen selects a desired menu and inputs orderer information, which is the customer's own information, by operating the operation unit 52. An example of the orderer information is the customer's name and phone number. In the case where the customer has already registered the orderer information by registering as a member, the input of the orderer information at the time of pre-order is not essential. The customer determines the selected content of the menu and the input content such as the orderer information by operating the operation unit 52.

[0032] According to the determination of the selection content and input content by the customer, the control unit 50 of the communication terminal 5 transmits order information about this advance order to the management device 2. The order information includes the name and quantity of the menu selected by the customer, the orderer information, and the scheduled arrival date and time when the customer or the delivery operator will visit the restaurant to pick up the dishes of the menu. The order information may also include the amount of the menu selected by the customer. In the management device 2 that has received the order information, the control unit 40 assigns an individual order number to this order information and returns confirmation information including at least this order number to the communication terminal 5 that is the source of transmission.

[0033] The control unit 50 of the communication terminal 5 that has received the confirmation information displays a confirmation screen (not shown) on the display unit 51. The order number and the order information in the confirmation information are displayed on the confirmation screen. The order information at this time may include the amount of the menu ordered in this advance order. Note that since the confirmation information is temporarily stored in the storage unit 54 of the communication terminal 5 at least until the receipt of the dishes is completed, the customer can view the confirmation screen and confirm the order number by starting the communication terminal 5.

[0034] The control unit 40 of the management device 2 that has received the order information and assigned the order number completes the acceptance of this advance order (the storage step in the store arrival notification method) by newly registering these order numbers and order information in the advance order table T1 (see FIG. 3) stored in the storage unit 43. In the advance order table T1, the order date and time, order number, and order information for each advance order are stored. The order date and time is the date and time when the control unit 40 returns the confirmation information to the communication terminal 5 that is the source of transmission. At the time of advance order, the customer can input whether the person visiting the store is themselves or the delivery operator, and the result may be stored in the advance order table T1 as a remark of the order information (see the remark of order number 0002).

[0035] The order number is an example of specific information for identifying a pre-order, and the customer's phone number and name in the order information for the pre-order are also examples of specific information. The storage unit 43 and the management device 2 including the same are an example of storage means, and store the order information for the pre-order and the specific information for identifying the pre-order in association with each other in the pre-order table T1.

[0036] In the case of a pre-order by phone, the customer calls the restaurant using the mobile terminal 5A. The restaurant staff listens to the above-mentioned order information from the customer by phone 4, assigns an individual order number to this order information, and conveys the order number to the customer. The staff operates the display unit 46 of the mobile terminal 3B to transmit the order number and order information for this pre-order to the management device 2. When the management device 2 is present in the store, the staff may directly input the order number and order information into the management device 2 by operating the operation unit 21. The control unit 40 of the management device 2, to which the order number and order information are transmitted or input, completes the acceptance of this pre-order by newly registering these order number and order information in the pre-order table T1 of the storage unit 43.

[0037] The order number assigned by the staff during a pre-order by phone is determined so as not to overlap with the order number automatically assigned by the management device 2. In the order number T006 in FIG. 3, as can be seen that it is a pre-order by phone, as an example, the first letter T of "Telephone" is attached at the beginning. Note that instead of the staff assigning the order number, in response to the staff transmitting or inputting the order information to the management device 2, the control unit 40 of the management device 2 may assign an order number and notify the staff by displaying it on the display unit 20 or the display unit 46 (see FIG. 1). The staff conveys the notified order number to the customer verbally. The customer needs to write down the order number heard from the staff so as not to forget it.

[0038] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a standby screen 10A displayed on the display operation unit 10 of the ticket vending machine 1. When a customer who has placed an advance order or a delivery operator (hereinafter collectively referred to as the "advance order customer") who has been requested by this customer to deliver food comes to the restaurant where the store is located and accesses the ticket vending machine 1, the standby screen 10A is displayed on the display operation unit 10 of the ticket vending machine 1. On the standby screen 10A, a guidance text 60 for asking whether an advance order has been placed, an advance order key 61 for advance order customers, and a new order key 62 for new order customers who have not placed an advance order are displayed. The advance order key 61 and the new order key 62 are touch keys, and all keys that appear hereinafter are also touch keys. Note that physical mechanical buttons may be adopted instead of the touch keys. A new order is an order based on the conventional order pattern in which a customer who has come to the store (hereinafter referred to as a "general customer" to distinguish from advance order customers) selects a menu on the ticket vending machine 1. The advance order customer touches the advance order key 61, and the general customer touches the new order key 62.

[0039] On the display operation unit 10, instead of the standby screen 10A, a standby screen 10B shown in FIG. 5 may be displayed. The standby screen 10B also serves as a sales screen for general customers as described above. On the standby screen 10B, a guidance text 65 for prompting general customers to select a menu and a guidance text 67 for prompting advance order customers to touch the advance order key 66 at the lower end of the standby screen 10B are displayed. In almost the entire area of the standby screen 10B, for example, in the area between the guidance texts 65 and 67 and the advance order key 66, an order column 68, which is a main part of the sales screen, is displayed. In the order column 68, a selection key 69 provided for each selectable menu or each group of menus, a menu selection column 70, an amount column 71, and a cancel key 72 are displayed as an example.

[0040] When the standby screen 10B is displayed, the advance order customer touches the advance order key 66, while the general customer touches the selection key 69 corresponding to the desired menu. Note that when the selection key 69 is for selecting a group of menus, when the general customer touches the selection key 69, menu selection keys for selecting individual menus belonging to this group of the selection key 69 may be hierarchically displayed.

[0041] The menu name, quantity, and price, which are the contents of the menu selected by the general customer, are displayed in the menu selection column 70. Also, the total amount of the price of the menu selected by the general customer, the amount of cash deposited by the general customer, and the change amount obtained by subtracting the total amount from the deposited amount are displayed in the amount column 71. The general customer can cancel some or all of the selected menu by touching the cancel key 72. In response to the cancellation, the control unit 30 updates the display contents of the menu selection column 70 and the amount column 71. Thus, the control unit 30 and the display operation unit 10 function as an example of an order receiving means for receiving a new order. Note that for the general customer, it is possible to select the menu more quickly from the standby screen 10B than from the standby screen 10A.

[0042] Referring to FIG. 6, first, when a pre-order customer touches the pre-order key 61 on the standby screen 10A or the pre-order key 66 on the standby screen 10B of the display operation unit 10 of the ticket vending machine 1 (YES in step S1), the control unit 40 of this ticket vending machine 1 switches the display on the display operation unit 10 to the input screen 10C shown in FIG. 7 and waits for the input of specific information by the pre-order customer (step S2). Step S2 is a step of receiving specific information in the store notification method.

[0043] On the input screen 10C, there are a guidance text 75 prompting the advance-order customer to input the order number or phone number, which are specific information, an input field 76 for the order number, an input field 77 for the phone number, and an input unit 78 composed of a keyboard and a numeric keypad. The advance-order customer inputs their phone number or the order number notified during the advance order into the input unit 78. The input order number is displayed in the input field 76, and the input phone number is displayed in the input field 77. The input order number or phone number, that is, the specific information, is received by the control unit 30 of the ticket vending machine 1. On the input screen 10C, there may also be a continue key 79 that the advance-order customer touches to continue the procedure after inputting the specific information, a cancel key 80 that the advance-order customer touches when canceling the input of the current specific information, and a switch key 81 that the advance-order customer touches to return the content of the display operation unit 10 from the input screen 10C to the standby screen 10A or 10B.

[0044] On the display operation unit 55 of the advance-order customer's mobile terminal 5A, at least codes such as barcodes and QR codes (registered trademarks) representing specific information may be displayed. Instead of manually inputting the specific information into the input unit 78, the advance-order customer may let the reading unit 17 of the ticket vending machine 1 read this code. Assuming such an operation, the control unit 30 of the ticket vending machine 1 may display the input screen 10D shown in FIG. 8 on the display operation unit 10 prior to the display of the input screen 10C. On the input screen 10D, there are a guidance text 85 prompting the advance-order customer to select either manual input of specific information or code reading, a first selection key 86 touched by the advance-order customer who selects manual input of specific information, a second selection key 87 touched by the advance-order customer who selects code reading, and the aforementioned cancel key 80 and switch key 81.

[0045] When a pre-order customer touches the first selection key 86, the control unit 30 switches the display on the display operation unit 10 to the input screen 10C (see FIG. 7). Thus, the pre-order customer can manually input specific information as described above. When the pre-order customer touches the second selection key 87 to cause the code reading unit 17 to read the code on the mobile terminal 5A, the control unit 30 receives the specific information included in the code. Instead of using the code, the control unit 30 may receive the specific information stored in the storage unit 54 of the mobile terminal 5A by short-range communication between the mobile terminal 5A and the code reading unit 17.

[0046] Referring to FIG. 6, when the control unit 30 receives the specific information input by the pre-order customer at the display operation unit 10 or the code reading unit 17 (YES in step S2), the control unit 30 queries the management device 2 as to whether order information corresponding to this specific information exists in the pre-order table T1 of the storage unit 43 (step S3). Thus, the control unit 30, the display operation unit 10, and the ticket vending machine 1 including these are an example of reception means (reception terminal) for receiving specific information. When there are a plurality of ticket vending machines 1, when the control unit 30 of the querying ticket vending machine 1 queries the management device 2 for order information, the control unit 30 of the querying ticket vending machine 1 transmits the identification information of the querying ticket vending machine 1. The management device 2 can identify the querying ticket vending machine 1 based on this identification information.

[0047] If the corresponding order information exists (YES in step S4), the order information is transmitted to the querying ticket vending machine 1. Thus, the control unit 30 of this ticket vending machine 1, as an example of acquisition means, acquires the order information from the storage unit 43 of the management device 2, temporarily stores it in the storage unit 34, and displays it on the display operation unit 10 (step S5). Specifically, the order column 68 (see FIG. 5) in which the information of the pre-ordered menu in the order information is written in the menu selection column 70 and the amount column 71 is displayed on the display operation unit 10. The control unit 30 may display the amount included in the acquired order information as it is in the total amount column 71, or may calculate the total amount based on the pre-ordered menu and the price in the order information and display it in the total amount column 71.

[0048] Customers who have viewed the order column 68 can change the order content by touching the selection key 69 or the cancellation key 72 to add or delete items from the menu. In response to the change in the order content, the control unit 30 updates the display content of the menu selection column 70 and the amount column 71. In this way, the control unit 30 and the display operation unit 10 function as an example of a change means for changing the content of the advance order specified by the specific information received by the ticket vending machine 1 in step S2. Since the advance order customer can change the content of the advance order by adding or deleting items at the ticket vending machine 1, the convenience of the advance order customer can be improved.

[0049] If there is no change in the order content (NO in step S6), the control unit 30 waits for a payment equal to or greater than the total amount in the amount column 71 (step S7). If a payment is received (YES in step S7), the control unit 30 executes the settlement as described above (step S8). That is, the control unit 30 settles the order content based on the order information acquired in step S5 (including cases where it is changed in step S6). As a result, the store clerk is released from customer service tasks such as face-to-face handling of settlements and cash register settlements for the settlement, so the convenience of the store clerk regarding advance orders can be improved. Therefore, for example, the store clerk in charge of the kitchen can concentrate on kitchen work. Also, since the store clerk does not have to touch cash, troubles related to cash (such as amount errors, theft, and fraud) can be prevented, and it is hygienic. Note that the advance order customer can perform an advance settlement using a credit card, electronic money, etc. at the time of the advance order. In that case, if there is no change in the order content (NO in step S6), the settlement process in step S8 and the process in the immediately preceding step S7 are omitted.

[0050] The control unit 30 that executed the settlement outputs, as an example of output means, a store arrival notice to the management device 2 and the store terminal 3 through the communication unit 33 (step S9). The communication unit 33 is also an example of output means, and the ticket vending machine 1 including the control unit 30 and the communication unit 33 is also an example of output means. Furthermore, each store terminal 3 that has received the store arrival notice also outputs this store arrival notice as an example of output means. Specifically, in each of the kitchen display 3A and the mobile terminal 3B in the store terminal 3, the control unit 45 displays on the display unit 46, as a store arrival notice, that a pre-order customer has arrived, the content of the pre-order, and an exchange number for identifying the pre-order customer in the store (refer to the display regarding the pre-order in the third line from the top in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10). Therefore, the control unit 45 and the display unit 46 are also examples of output means. Note that the exchange number is automatically generated by the control unit 30 of the ticket vending machine 1 immediately before the store arrival notice (step S9).

[0051] The display unit 46 of the kitchen display 3A also displays the order content of a new order by a general customer, but the order content by a pre-order customer who has arrived is displayed in a manner different from that of the general customer's order content so that the pre-order takes precedence (refer to the message M in the pre-order in FIG. 9). Note that the display content may be different between the kitchen display 3A and the mobile terminal 3B, and it is sufficient that at least the store arrival notice is displayed on the display unit 46 of the mobile terminal 3B with a small display area (refer to FIG. 10).

[0052] In this way, when the specific information received by the ticket vending machine 1 is stored in the storage unit 43 of the management device 2 (YES in step S4), each of the ticket vending machine 1 and the store terminal 3 outputs a store arrival notice regarding the pre-order specified by the specific information (step S9: output step in the store arrival notice method). Thereby, the store clerk who has received the store arrival notice output at the store terminal 3 can promptly prepare the dishes related to the pre-order and deliver them to the pre-order customer.

[0053] If the dish is already cooked, the staff will promptly deliver this dish to the pre-ordered customer. On the other hand, for a dish with a short cooking time, the staff member who sees the in-store notice (see Figure 9) on the kitchen display 3A will prioritize cooking the dish related to the pre-order and promptly deliver it to the pre-ordered customer directly or through another staff member. In addition, when a pre-ordered customer adds a menu at the ticket vending machine 1, it is displayed on the kitchen display 3A that the dishes of the added menu are also prioritized. The staff will prioritize cooking the dishes related to the added menu. If the dish related to the pre-order is uncooked or being cooked, it is displayed on the kitchen display 3A with the menu related to the pre-order and the added menu linked together.

[0054] Also, before delivering the dish, the staff may go to the pre-ordered customer to confirm the identity in response to the call of the pre-ordered customer. At that time, the pre-ordered customer may tell the staff about their pre-order. In this case as well, the staff will prioritize handling the call of the pre-ordered customer over the call of general customers. In addition, the kitchen display 3A may pre-display the name and quantity of the menu in the order information of the pre-orders scheduled to be received on the same day and the scheduled arrival date and time. In that case, the staff may prepare the dishes in advance according to the scheduled arrival date and time and finish and deliver the dishes in response to the arrival of the pre-ordered customer.

[0055] As described above, the pre-ordered customer does not need to look for the staff to convey the requirements regarding the receipt of the dish and can receive the dish promptly. Therefore, regarding pre-orders, the convenience of the pre-ordered customer can be improved. Note that the output of the in-store notice (step S9) may be advanced so that it is carried out immediately after the control unit 30 of the ticket vending machine 1 acquires the order information from the management device 2 (YES in step S4). In any case, after finishing the in-store notice, the control unit 30 functions as an example of an issuing means together with the issuing unit 32 to issue the first ticket 91 shown in Figure 11 (step S10).

[0056] Also, the control unit 30 deletes the current order information in the storage unit 34 at the timing of issuing the first ticket 91 or before and after this timing, and instructs the management device 2 to delete the order information in the pre-order table T1. The control unit 40 of the management device 2 deletes the order information and the corresponding order number from the pre-order table T1. Note that these deleted information may be separately managed as history in each of the ticket vending machine 1 and the management device 2.

[0057] Note that it is assumed that there is no order information corresponding to the specific information acquired by the control unit 30 when the customer makes an order mistake or mistakes the store location. In this case (NO in step S4), the control unit 30 notifies the pre-order customer by displaying on the display operation unit 10 that the current transaction is impossible (step S11), and cancels the current transaction. The pre-order customer in this case can re-order the menu at the ticket vending machine 1 as a general customer. Also, even when there is order information but the pre-order customer cancels the current order itself by using the cancel key 72 etc. without making a payment (YES in step S12), the control unit 30 cancels the current transaction.

[0058] On the other hand, when a general customer selects a menu by touching the new order key 62 (see FIG. 4) on the standby screen 10A or touching the selection key 69 (see FIG. 5) on the standby screen 10B (NO in step S1 and YES in step S13), the control unit 30 displays the information of the selected menu in the menu selection column 70 and displays the corresponding total amount in the amount column 71 (step S14). Thereafter, the control unit 30 executes the processes after step S6, and in step S10, the issuing unit 32 issues the second ticket 92 shown in FIG. 12.

[0059] On the first ticket 91 shown in Fig. 11, for example, in order from the top, there are the name of the restaurant, a note 91A indicating that the first ticket 91 relates to a pre-order, the names and quantities of all the settled menus including the pre-order and additional orders at the ticket vending machine 1, the total amount, the paid amount, the change amount, the scheduled arrival date and time specified at the time of the pre-reservation, the delivery date and time (actual arrival date and time) which is the issue date and time of the first ticket 91, and the exchange number. The names and quantities of the settled menus and the scheduled arrival date and time are information regarding the order information acquired by the control unit 30 in step S5.

[0060] The store clerk who has prepared the dishes related to the menus described on the first ticket 91 identifies the pre-order customer at the delivery destination by the exchange number. For example, it may be notified in the store by a notification terminal (not shown) that the preparation of the dishes with the exchange number is completed. The pre-order customer who has received the first ticket 91 can receive the dishes from the store clerk in exchange for the first ticket 91. Thereby, mistakes in the delivery of the dishes can be prevented, and for pre-orders, the convenience of both the pre-order customer and the store clerk can be improved.

[0061] The first ticket 91 may be handed to the store clerk in exchange for the dishes, or may continue to be held by the pre-order customer as a receipt. When the first ticket 91 is handed to the store clerk in exchange for the dishes, in step S10, not only the first ticket 91 but also a receipt may be issued. Also, the dishes may not be handed by the store clerk, but may be temporarily stored in a delivery device such as a warming cabinet installed in the store and then taken out by the pre-order customer from the delivery device self-service.

[0062] The second ticket 92 shown in FIG. 12 is constituted by, as an example, an exchange voucher 92A and a receipt 92B. The second ticket 92 is provided with a perforation L that crosses between the exchange voucher 92A and the receipt 92B, and the exchange voucher 92A and the receipt 92B are separable. On each of the exchange voucher 92A and the receipt 92B, for example, in order from the upper side, the name of the food and beverage store, the type of the exchange voucher 92A or the receipt 92B, the name and price of a single menu item that has been settled, and the issue date and time of the second ticket 92 are described. The name and price of the menu are an example of information regarding a new order received by the control unit 30 in step S13. Note that an exchange number may be described next to the description of the type in the exchange voucher 92A. A pre-order customer who has received the second ticket 92 can receive the dish in exchange for the exchange voucher 92A of the second ticket 92.

[0063] In the case of a pre-order, one first ticket 91 (see FIG. 11) on which all the settled menus are collectively described is issued, whereas the second ticket 92 is issued one by one for each settled menu. That is, the control unit 30 issues the second ticket 92 in a mode different from that of the first ticket 91. Therefore, the store clerk can accurately grasp whether the order related to this ticket is a new order or a pre-order according to the mode of the ticket received from the pre-order customer, and can appropriately respond according to each order, thereby improving the convenience of the store clerk.

[0064] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a sales management table T2 stored in the storage unit 43 of the management device 2. In the sales management table T2, the settlement date and time, which is the issue date and time of the first ticket 91 or the second ticket 92, the settlement amount, which is the total amount of the first ticket 91 or the price of the second ticket 92, the order pattern of the advance order or the new order, and remarks such as the breakdown of the menu constituting the settlement amount and the settlement method are registered. Each time the first ticket 91 and the second ticket 92 are issued by a transaction at the ticket vending machine 1, sales information including the settlement date and time, the settlement amount, the order pattern, and the remarks in this transaction is transmitted from the ticket vending machine 1 to the management device 2. Therefore, the control unit 40 of the management device 2 updates the sales management table T2 by adding the received sales information to the sales management table T2.

[0065] In such a sales management table T2, the sales information based on the advance order and the sales information based on the new order are centrally managed. Therefore, a store clerk who views the sales management table T2 on the display unit 20 or the like of the management device 2 can easily grasp the breakdown of the sales. The sales management table T2 may also be viewed on the display unit 46 of the store terminal 3. The information in the sales management table T2 may be sorted so that the sales based on the advance order and the sales based on the new order can be separately totaled for comparison. Also, in the sales management table T2, cash managed at the restaurant may be managed together with the sales.

[0066] The present invention is not limited to the contents of the above embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope described in the claims.

[0067] For example, in the store arrival notification system 100, the ticket vending machine 1 may have the functions of the management device 2. In this case, instead of the management device 2 being omitted, the advance order table T1 and the sales management table T2 are stored in the storage unit 34 of the ticket vending machine 1. In this case, order information regarding the advance order is taken into the ticket vending machine 1.

[0068] In addition, since the first ticket 91 issued to the advance-order customer in the ticket vending machine 1 is omitted, in the above-described step S10, instead of actually issuing the first ticket 91, the content of the first ticket 91 may be transmitted from the ticket vending machine 1 to the portable terminal 5A of the advance-order customer by non-contact communication or the like of the reading unit 17. The advance-order customer can receive the dishes of the menu related to the order by showing the content displayed on the display operation unit 55 of the portable terminal 5A to the store clerk.

[0069] In the above-described embodiment, the ticket vending machine 1 also serves as a reception means (reception terminal) for receiving specific information from the advance-order customer. However, as the reception means (reception terminal), a reception terminal different from the ticket vending machine 1 may be arranged at the entrance of the restaurant. The reception terminal (a reception terminal different from the ticket vending machine 1) may have a function of receiving an in-store reservation by a customer who visits the store. Further, when the ticket vending machine 1 receives specific information from the advance-order customer (YES in step S2), regardless of the presence or absence of the corresponding order information, a store arrival notice may be output (step S9). Thereby, the advance-order customer can call the store clerk quickly. Note that the store arrival notice is not limited to the display on the display unit 46 of the store terminal 3, and may be output by voice. In that case, it may be output by voice by a notification device (not shown) that performs in-store broadcasting.

[0070] If there is a queue in front of the ticket vending machine 1 or the reception terminal, it is a waste of time for the advance-order customer who has made a reservation in advance. Therefore, for example, an authentication code for the advance-order customer may be displayed on the display operation unit 10 or the like of the ticket vending machine 1. In that case, the advance-order customer approaches the ticket vending machine 1 so as not to obstruct the queue, grasps the authentication code, and inputs the authentication code and the specific information on the application in the portable terminal 5A. In this case, the management device 2, which is an example of the reception means and the output means, may receive the authentication code and the specific information and output a store arrival notice to the store terminal 3. Thereby, the advance-order customer can be authenticated without standing in the queue, so that the store clerk can promptly recognize the arrival of the advance-order customer and respond. Note that the authentication code preferably changes periodically for the purpose of preventing mischief.

[0071] In addition, the store arrival notification system 100 may include a photographing device such as a surveillance camera. The photographing device is arranged at a position where it can photograph the front area of the ticket vending machine 1. The photographing device may be electrically connected to the control unit 30 as part of the ticket vending machine 1, or may be attached as a separate component from the ticket vending machine 1 at a position away from the ticket vending machine 1 such as the ceiling of a food and beverage store. The photographing device photographs a person accessing the ticket vending machine 1 from the front and transmits the photographed data to the management device 2. If the image data of a pre-order customer is included in the order information, the management device 2 executes identity authentication based on the photographed data and the image data, and in response to the success of the identity authentication, the management device 2 may output a store arrival notification to the store terminal 3. Further, if the current position of a pre-order customer can be tracked in the store arrival notification system 100 via the position information of the mobile terminal 5A by means of a GPS function or the like, the management device 2 may be caused to output a store arrival notification to the store terminal 3 on the condition that the current position of the pre-order customer is near the food and beverage store.

[0072] The various features described above may be appropriately combined as needed, subject to selection.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0073] 1 Ticket vending machine 2 Management device 3 Store terminal 10 Display operation unit 17 Reading unit 30 Control unit 31 Valuable media processing unit 32 Issuing unit 33 Communication unit 43 Storage unit 45 Control unit 46 Display unit 91 First ticket 92 Second ticket 100 Store arrival notification system

Claims

1. A reception terminal connected to a storage means for storing order information about a pre-order and identification information including a telephone number or a customer's name for identifying the pre-order, an input means for inputting the specific information by operation of a customer; a control means for acquiring, from the storage means, the order information corresponding to the specific information input to the input means, and displaying the acquired order information; a payment means for making a payment for the order based on the order information; A reception terminal comprising:

2. 2. The reception terminal according to claim 1, wherein said input means includes an input screen for said customer to input specific information.

3. 2. The reception terminal according to claim 1, wherein said input means includes a reader for reading a code including said specific information.

4. The reception terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the input means includes a reading device that reads the specific information stored in a mobile terminal carried by the customer through short-range wireless communication with the mobile terminal.

5. 1. An order processing method by a reception terminal connected to a storage means for storing order information about a pre-order and identification information for identifying the pre-order, comprising: inputting the specific information through an operation by a customer; acquiring the order information corresponding to the input specific information from the storage means, and displaying the acquired order information; A step of settling the order based on the order information; A method for processing an order, comprising:

6. A storage means for storing order information regarding a pre-order and identification information including a telephone number or a customer's name for identifying the pre-order; an input means for inputting the specific information by operation of a customer; a control means for acquiring, from the storage means, the order information corresponding to the specific information input to the input means, and displaying the acquired order information; a payment means for making a payment for the order based on the order information; An order processing system comprising:

7. A reception terminal connected to a storage means for storing order information about a pre-order and identification information including a telephone number or a customer's name for identifying the pre-order, an input means for inputting the specific information by operation of a customer; a control means for acquiring from said storage means an amount included in said order information corresponding to said specific information inputted to said input means, and displaying said acquired amount; A payment means for making a payment according to the amount; A reception terminal comprising:

8. A storage means for storing order information regarding a pre-order and identification information including a telephone number or a customer's name for identifying the pre-order; an input means for inputting the specific information by operation of a customer; a control means for acquiring from said storage means an amount included in said order information corresponding to said specific information inputted to said input means, and displaying said acquired amount; A payment means for making a payment according to the amount; An order processing system comprising:

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