Restaurant reservation management system, restaurant reservation management method, restaurant reservation management device, and restaurant reservation management program

Abstract

To provide a restaurant reservation management system, a restaurant reservation management method, a restaurant reservation management device, and restaurant reservation management program capable of smoothly managing a reservation without requiring to install a dedicated application in a terminal by a user and register an account in a dedicated web site.SOLUTION: A user terminal 20 makes a restaurant reservation management device 1 acquire transmission destination specification information for specifying a transmission destination to a user desiring a reservation in a transmission and reception tool which can transmit and receive information with many unspecified users. The user terminal 20 displays an input screen on a display part on the basis of inputting information transmitted with a transmission destination of the transmission and reception tool specified by the transmission specification information as a destination. The user terminal 20 receives an input of reservation information by the user through the input screen, and also transmits the inputted reservation information to the restaurant reservation management device 1.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a restaurant reservation management system, a restaurant reservation management method, a restaurant reservation management device, and a restaurant reservation management program for managing reservations made by users at restaurants. [Background technology]

[0002] There are known technologies for automatically managing user reservations for restaurants. For example, a reservation management system described in Patent Document 1 receives reservation information identified by a telephone number and registers the reservations in a reservation database in order. The reservation management system then reads out the telephone numbers registered as reservations in a predetermined order in the reservation database, and calls the read telephone numbers to send a call message. The reservation management system described in Patent Document 1 can also send a call message to a registered email address.

[0003] In recent years, some restaurants have been managing reservations by having users install a dedicated application for reservations, etc. on their devices and operate the application. Other restaurants require users to enter their account information and log in to a dedicated website, where they can then accept reservations. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-50002 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] By using a dedicated application or website, restaurants can not only smoothly manage reservations after sufficient communication with users, but also provide a variety of services to users. However, users who visit restaurants infrequently may not want to install a dedicated application on their device and register an account (membership) on the dedicated website. For example, foreign tourists who are only staying in a destination country temporarily may find it troublesome to install a dedicated application on their device and register an account on the dedicated website. Furthermore, users may decide to install the dedicated application or register an account on the dedicated website after a single visit to a restaurant and are satisfied with the experience. In this case, if a system requires users to install a dedicated application or register an account on the dedicated website in order to make automatic reservations, the restaurant may lose opportunities to attract new customers.

[0006] On the other hand, the technology described in Patent Document 1 allows users to make restaurant reservations using a phone number or email address without installing or registering an account. However, the technology described in Patent Document 1 registers reservation information even if the phone number or email address entered by the user is incorrect, if calls to the registered phone number are blocked, or if emails to the registered email address are blocked. As a result, the user who made the reservation may not be able to visit the restaurant smoothly, or a reservation may be registered for a user who has no intention of visiting the restaurant. As described above, it has been difficult with conventional technology to smoothly manage reservations without requiring users to install a dedicated application on their device and register an account on a dedicated website.

[0007] A typical objective of the present disclosure is to provide a restaurant reservation management system, a restaurant reservation management method, a restaurant reservation management device, and a restaurant reservation management program that enable smooth reservation management without requiring users to install a dedicated application on their terminal or register an account on a dedicated website. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] A typical embodiment of the present disclosure provides a restaurant reservation management system that includes a user terminal used by a user and a restaurant reservation management device capable of communicating with the user terminal via a network, and that executes the following steps: a destination identification step in which the user terminal causes the restaurant reservation management device to acquire destination identification information that identifies a destination for a user wishing to make a reservation in a transmission / reception tool that is capable of sending and receiving information to and from an unspecified number of users; an input screen display step in which the user terminal displays an input screen on the display unit based on input information for displaying an input screen that prompts the user to input reservation information including the number of people making a reservation for the restaurant and the reservation date and time, the input screen being sent by the restaurant reservation management device to the destination of the transmission / reception tool identified by the destination identification information; and a reservation information transmission step in which the user terminal accepts input of the reservation information by the user via the input screen and transmits the input reservation information to the restaurant reservation management device.

[0009] A restaurant reservation management method provided by a typical embodiment of the present disclosure is a restaurant reservation management method executed in a restaurant reservation management system having a user terminal used by a user and a restaurant reservation management device capable of communicating with the user terminal via a network, and includes: a destination identification step in which the user terminal causes the restaurant reservation management device to acquire destination identification information that identifies a destination for a user wishing to make a reservation in a transmission / reception tool that is capable of sending and receiving information to and from an unspecified number of users; an input screen display step in which the user terminal displays an input screen on the display unit based on input information for displaying an input screen on the display unit that prompts a user to input reservation information including the number of people making a reservation for the restaurant and the reservation date and time, the input screen having been sent by the restaurant reservation management device to the destination of the transmission / reception tool identified by the destination identification information; and a reservation information transmission step in which the user terminal accepts input of the reservation information by the user via the input screen and transmits the input reservation information to the restaurant reservation management device.

[0010] A restaurant reservation management device provided by a typical embodiment of the present disclosure is a restaurant reservation management device capable of communicating with a user terminal used by a user via a network, and a control unit of the restaurant reservation management device executes a destination acquisition step of acquiring destination identification information that identifies a destination for the user terminal used by the user wishing to make a reservation in a transmission / reception tool that is capable of sending and receiving information to and from an unspecified number of users; an input information transmission step of transmitting input information to the destination of the transmission / reception tool identified by the destination identification information, to display on a display unit an input screen that prompts the user to input reservation information including the number of people making a reservation for the restaurant and the reservation date and time; and a reservation content registration step of acquiring the reservation information input to the user terminal via the input screen and registering the reservation content indicated by the acquired reservation information in a database that manages reservation status.

[0011] A restaurant reservation management program provided by a typical embodiment of the present disclosure is a restaurant reservation management program executed in a restaurant reservation management device capable of communicating with user terminals used by users via a network, and when the restaurant reservation management program is executed by a control unit of the restaurant reservation management device, the restaurant reservation management device is caused to perform the following steps: a destination acquisition step of acquiring destination identification information that identifies a destination for a transmission / reception tool capable of sending and receiving information to and from an unspecified number of users, the destination of the transmission / reception tool being the destination for the user terminal used by the user who wishes to make a reservation; an input information transmission step of transmitting input information to the destination of the transmission / reception tool identified by the destination identification information, to display on a display unit an input screen that prompts the user to input reservation information including the number of people making a reservation for the restaurant and the reservation date and time; and a reservation content registration step of acquiring the reservation information entered into the user terminal via the input screen and registering the reservation content indicated by the acquired reservation information in a database that manages reservation status.

[0012] According to the restaurant reservation management system, restaurant reservation management method, restaurant reservation management device, and restaurant reservation management program disclosed herein, reservations can be managed smoothly without requiring users to install a dedicated application on their terminal or register an account on a dedicated website. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a restaurant reservation management system 100. FIG. [Figure 2] 10 is a timing chart showing an example of a general reservation management process executed by the restaurant reservation management device 1 and the restaurant reservation management system 100. [Figure 3] 2 is a diagram showing an example of a search result display screen 30 displayed on the display unit 26 of the user terminal 20. FIG. [Figure 4] 10 is a diagram showing an example of a reservation status confirmation screen 40 displayed on the display unit 26 of the user terminal 20. FIG. [Figure 5]10 is a diagram showing an example of a destination specifying information request screen 50 displayed on the display unit 26 of the user terminal 20. FIG. [Figure 6] 10 is a diagram showing an example of a mail transmission completion notification screen 60 displayed on the display unit 26 of the user terminal 20. FIG. [Figure 7] 7 is a diagram showing an example of a URL-containing email screen 70 displayed on the display unit 26 of the user terminal 20. FIG. [Figure 8] 10 is a diagram showing an example of an input screen 80 displayed on the display unit 26 of the user terminal 20. FIG. [Figure 9] 10 is a diagram showing an example of a reservation details confirmation screen 90 displayed on the display unit 26 of the user terminal 20. FIG. [Figure 10] 10 is a flowchart showing an example of a dedicated reservation management process executed by the restaurant reservation management device 1. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] <Summary> The restaurant reservation management system exemplified in the present disclosure includes a user terminal and a restaurant reservation management device. The restaurant reservation management device is capable of communicating with the user terminal used by the user via a network. The restaurant reservation management method and restaurant reservation management program of the present disclosure are executed by the restaurant reservation management system (at least one of the user terminal and the restaurant reservation management device). The restaurant reservation management system executes a destination specification step, an input screen display step, and a reservation information transmission step. In the destination specification step, the user terminal causes the restaurant reservation management device to acquire destination specification information that specifies a destination for a user wishing to make a reservation in a transmission / reception tool capable of transmitting and receiving information to and from an unspecified number of users. In the input screen display step, the user terminal displays an input screen on the display unit based on input information for displaying an input screen that prompts the user to input reservation information, including the number of people making a reservation and the reservation date and time, transmitted by the restaurant reservation management device to the destination of the transmission / reception tool specified by the destination specification information. In the reservation information transmission step, the user terminal accepts input of reservation information by the user via the input screen and transmits the input reservation information to the restaurant reservation management device.

[0015] According to the technology disclosed herein, a user can make a restaurant reservation if they have access to a transmission / reception tool on their user terminal that can send and receive information to and from an unspecified number of users. In other words, a user can make a restaurant reservation without installing a dedicated application on their terminal or registering an account on a dedicated website. Furthermore, the restaurant reservation management device disclosed herein transmits input information to the transmission / reception tool's destination identified by the destination identification information. The user can enter reservation information only through the input screen displayed by the input information. Therefore, if the destination identification information is incorrect or if the information cannot be sent to the identified destination, the reservation information is not entered in the first place. This reduces the possibility that the user who made the reservation will not be able to smoothly visit the restaurant or that a reservation made by a user who is not interested in making a reservation will be registered. Therefore, according to the technology disclosed herein, reservations can be managed smoothly without requiring the user to install a dedicated application on their terminal or register an account on a dedicated website.

[0016] The restaurant reservation management device may use various devices capable of processing various types of information. For example, a server may be used as the restaurant reservation management device. In this case, the server may be a server of a manufacturer that provides cloud services (a so-called cloud server), or a server other than a cloud server (for example, a server owned by the restaurant). A device other than a server (for example, a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a "PC")) may be used as the restaurant reservation management device. Furthermore, the restaurant reservation management device may include one or more devices. For example, a server and a database may work together to function as the restaurant reservation management device, or multiple information processing devices (such as a server and PCs) may work together to function as the restaurant reservation management device. The restaurant reservation management device (for example, a server) may be located in a country different from the country in which the reservation management service is provided.

[0017] The restaurant reservation management device may execute an input information sending step of sending input information to a destination of the transmission and reception tool identified by the destination identification information, triggered by input of a reservation start instruction to start a reservation process for the restaurant into the user terminal. In the input screen display step, the user terminal may execute a confirmation screen display step of displaying, on the display unit, a reservation status confirmation screen showing the reservation status for each time slot of the restaurant at that time, based on information acquired from the restaurant reservation management device, before allowing the user terminal to accept input of the reservation start instruction.

[0018] In this case, the user can use the reservation status confirmation screen to check the reservation status for each time slot of the restaurant they wish to reserve in advance, and then decide whether or not to input a reservation start instruction. As a result, the frequency with which the user gives up on a reservation because they are unable to make a reservation for the desired time slot after inputting a reservation start instruction is significantly reduced. This appropriately prevents the user from wasting time operating the user terminal.

[0019] The method by which the user inputs the reservation start instruction into the user terminal can be selected as appropriate. For example, the restaurant reservation management device may display a reservation start button such as "Proceed to Reservation" or "Make a Reservation" on a screen (e.g., a web page screen or an application screen) displayed on the user terminal to accept reservations from users. In this case, the restaurant reservation management system may determine that the reservation start instruction has been input when the reservation start button is operated. Alternatively, the user terminal may determine that the reservation start instruction has been input when the user designates the URL of a website for reservations, or a button for transitioning to a reservation application screen, etc.

[0020] The user terminal may further execute, before executing the destination specification step, a confirmation screen display step of displaying, on a display unit, a reservation status confirmation screen showing the reservation status for each time slot of the restaurant at that time based on information acquired from the restaurant reservation management device. In the destination specification step, after displaying the reservation status confirmation screen on the display unit, the user terminal may accept input of destination specification information by a user and transmit the input destination specification information to the restaurant reservation management device, thereby causing the restaurant reservation management device to acquire the destination specification information.

[0021] In this case, the user can use the reservation status confirmation screen to check the reservation status of the restaurant for which they wish to make a reservation by time slot before deciding whether to input the destination specification information into their user terminal. As a result, the frequency with which the user gives up on a reservation because they are unable to make a reservation for the desired time slot after inputting the destination specification information is significantly reduced. This appropriately prevents the user from wasting time operating their user terminal.

[0022] The input screen displayed on the user terminal based on the input information may be a screen showing available reservation dates and times for each time slot. The arrangement of time slots on the reservation status confirmation screen and the input screen may be the same.

[0023] In this case, the user can easily see the available times on the reservation status confirmation screen, which has the same time slot layout, making it easier for the user to make restaurant reservations.

[0024] The specific method for having the user input the reservation date and time on the input screen displayed on the display unit of the user terminal can be selected as appropriate. For example, the user terminal may display on the input screen whether or not a reservation is available for each time slot. The user terminal may have the user specify one of the available time slots (time slots that have not yet been booked) displayed on the input screen, and acquire the specified date and time as the reservation date and time. In this case, the user can easily input the desired date and time as the reservation date and time after properly understanding the available time slots.

[0025] A link for transitioning to a page including a reservation status confirmation screen may be registered as business information in the business information display service. The business information display service collects and stores business information for each user who is conducting business, and displays the business information on a display screen of search results by a search engine.

[0026] In this case, when a search engine searches for a restaurant to be reserved, a link (for example, at least one of a link to a web page, a URL of the web page, a link to an SNS page, etc.) for transitioning to a page including a reservation status confirmation screen is displayed on the display screen of the search results. Therefore, the user can easily grasp the reservation status of the restaurant they plan to reserve by simply selecting the link displayed on the display screen of the search results.

[0027] It goes without saying that links to pages containing reservation status confirmation screens may be posted on various homepages (for example, homepages operated by restaurants, homepages of gourmet sites that introduce restaurants, etc.).

[0028] The restaurant reservation management device may further execute a location information acquisition step of acquiring, from the user terminal, location information indicating the location of the user terminal used by the user who wishes to make a reservation, and a nearby store presentation step of displaying on the user terminal, as a reservation candidate, a store among multiple restaurant stores that is closest to the location indicated by the location information.

[0029] In this case, the user can easily find out which stores are nearby and make a reservation at the store of their choice without having to specify the store to reserve in advance, which makes it easier and more appropriate to make a reservation.

[0030] The sending and receiving tool may be email. The destination specifying information may be an email address. In this case, as long as the user can send and receive emails on the user terminal they use, they can easily and appropriately make restaurant reservations without having to install any other sending and receiving tools. Furthermore, since email is used universally around the world, foreign tourists and others can easily make restaurant reservations.

[0031] However, it is also possible to use transmission and reception tools other than e-mail. For example, social networking sites (SNS) such as LINE (registered trademark) or Messenger may be used as transmission and reception tools. Also, short messages (SMS) may be used as transmission and reception tools.

[0032] The restaurant reservation management device may execute an input information sending step of sending, as input information, a link for transitioning to a web page including an input screen (for example, a link to the web page, or a URL of the web page, etc.) to a destination of the transmission / reception tool specified by the destination specifying information. In the input screen display step, the user terminal may display, on a display unit, the web page including the input screen when the user specifies the link sent as the input information.

[0033] In this case, the user can simply specify the link sent to display an input screen for entering reservation information on the display unit. Therefore, with just a general-purpose web browser installed on the user's device, the user can easily and appropriately make a reservation at a restaurant.

[0034] However, the specific method for displaying the input screen on the user terminal may be changed. For example, the restaurant reservation management device may send data for displaying the input screen on an SNS application installed on the user terminal as input information to a destination (e.g., an SNS account) specified by the destination specification information. In this case, the user can appropriately enter reservation information on the input screen displayed by the SNS application.

[0035] The restaurant reservation management device may execute a reservation content registration step of acquiring reservation information input to and transmitted from a user terminal via an input screen, and registering the reservation content indicated by the acquired reservation information in a database that manages reservation statuses. In this case, reservation contents by multiple users are appropriately managed in the database.

[0036] The restaurant reservation management system may further include a store terminal. The store terminal is located at the restaurant for which the reservation is made and is capable of communicating with the restaurant reservation management device via a network. The store terminal may execute a reservation status display step of displaying the reservation status of the restaurant registered in the database on a display unit. In this case, the reservation status registered in the database is appropriately understood at the restaurant. Therefore, services are appropriately provided at the restaurant to multiple users, including the user who made the reservation. The restaurant reservation management device may execute a reservation status transmission step of transmitting the reservation status of the restaurant registered in the database to the restaurant terminal. In this case, the restaurant terminal can appropriately display the reservation status on the display unit.

[0037] The restaurant reservation management device may further execute a dedicated registration step of acquiring reservation information, including the number of people making a reservation for the restaurant and the reservation date and time, via at least one of a dedicated application installed on the user terminal and a dedicated website that can be logged in with a registered account, and registering the reservation details indicated by the acquired reservation information. The database in which the reservation details are registered in the dedicated registration step may be the same as the database in which the reservation details are registered in the reservation details registration step.

[0038] In this case, a user can make a restaurant reservation using a transmission / reception tool that allows the user to send and receive information to and from an unspecified number of users, or can make a restaurant reservation using at least one of a dedicated application and a dedicated website. Therefore, a user can select the method that is most convenient for them from among multiple reservation methods to make a restaurant reservation. Furthermore, regardless of the method used to manage reservation details, the database in which the reservation details are registered is the same. Therefore, the restaurant reservation management device can appropriately accept reservations from users while reducing the possibility of problems such as duplicate reservations.

[0039] The period during which the user can make a reservation for the restaurant in the dedicated registration step may be longer than the period during which the user can make a reservation for the restaurant in the reservation details registration step.

[0040] In this case, since it is more beneficial for users to make reservations using the dedicated application or dedicated website, it is possible to provide users with an incentive to install the dedicated application or register an account on the dedicated website. The dedicated application and dedicated website not only allow users to manage their reservations, but also make it easier to provide users with a variety of services. This makes it easier to increase the number of customers visiting restaurants.

[0041] The restaurant reservation management system may execute a language switching step of switching the language used for the screen displayed on the user terminal in response to an instruction input by the user, which makes it easier for foreign tourists and the like to make reservations.

[0042] The restaurant reservation management system may also acquire information about the language used on the user terminal of the user wishing to make a reservation, and display the screen on the user terminal in the acquired language. In this case, reservations by foreign tourists and the like can be made more smoothly.

[0043] The restaurant reservation management device exemplified in the present disclosure is capable of communicating with a user terminal used by a user via a network. A restaurant reservation management program is executed by the restaurant reservation management device. The restaurant reservation management device executes a transmission destination acquisition step, an input information transmission step, and a reservation content registration step. In the transmission destination acquisition step, a control unit of the restaurant reservation management device acquires transmission destination identification information that identifies a transmission destination of a transmission / reception tool capable of transmitting and receiving information to and from an unspecified number of users, to the user terminal of the user wishing to make a reservation. In the input information transmission step, the control unit transmits input information to the transmission destination of the transmission / reception tool identified by the transmission destination identification information, for displaying on the display unit an input screen that prompts the user to input reservation information including the number of people making a reservation for the restaurant and the reservation date and time. In the reservation content registration step, the control unit acquires the reservation information entered into the user terminal via the input screen and registers the reservation details indicated by the acquired reservation information in a database that manages reservation status.

[0044] According to the restaurant reservation management device and restaurant reservation management program disclosed herein, as described above, a user can make a restaurant reservation if the user has access to a transmission / reception tool on the user terminal that allows the user to transmit and receive information to and from an unspecified number of users. Furthermore, if the destination specification information is incorrect or if the information cannot be transmitted to the specified destination, the input screen is not displayed on the user terminal, and the reservation information is not entered. As a result, the possibility that the user who made the reservation will not be able to visit the restaurant smoothly or that a reservation will be registered by a user who is not interested in making a reservation is reduced.

[0045] The control unit of the restaurant reservation management device may further execute a confirmation screen display step of displaying a reservation status confirmation screen on the user terminal, which shows the reservation status for each time slot of the restaurant at that time, before allowing the user terminal to accept input of a reservation start instruction.

[0046] In this case, the user can use the reservation status confirmation screen to check the reservation status for each time slot of the restaurant they wish to reserve in advance, and then decide whether or not to input a reservation start instruction. As a result, the frequency with which the user gives up on a reservation because they are unable to make a reservation for the desired time slot after inputting a reservation start instruction is significantly reduced. This appropriately prevents the user from wasting time operating the user terminal.

[0047] The control unit of the restaurant reservation management device may further execute a confirmation screen display step of displaying, on the user terminal, a reservation status confirmation screen showing the reservation status for each time slot of the restaurant at that time before executing the destination acquisition step. In the destination acquisition step, the control unit may acquire the destination specification information by having the user terminal input the destination specification information after displaying the reservation status confirmation screen on the user terminal.

[0048] In this case, the user can use the reservation status confirmation screen to check the reservation status of the restaurant for which they wish to make a reservation by time slot before deciding whether to input the destination specification information into their user terminal. As a result, the frequency with which the user gives up on a reservation because they are unable to make a reservation for the desired time slot after inputting the destination specification information is significantly reduced. This appropriately prevents the user from wasting time operating their user terminal.

[0049] As mentioned above, the input screen displayed on the user terminal based on the input information may be a screen showing available reservation dates and times for each time slot. The time slots on the reservation status confirmation screen and the input screen may be arranged in the same way. In this case, the user can easily find out the times that are available for reservation on the reservation status confirmation screen, even on the input screen where the time slots are arranged in the same way. This makes it easier for the user to make restaurant reservations.

[0050] In the input information transmitting step, the control unit may transmit a link (e.g., a link to a web page or a URL of the web page) for transitioning to a web page including an input screen as input information to the destination of the transmission / reception tool specified by the destination specifying information. In this case, the user can display an input screen for entering reservation information on the display device simply by specifying the transmitted link. Therefore, the user can easily and appropriately make a reservation for a restaurant simply by installing a general-purpose web browser on the user terminal.

[0051] The technology according to the present disclosure can also be expressed as follows.

[0052] A user terminal that is used by a user and is capable of communicating with a restaurant reservation management device via a network, wherein the control unit of the user terminal executes the following steps: a destination identification step of causing the restaurant reservation management device to acquire destination identification information that identifies a destination for a user wishing to make a reservation in a transmission / reception tool that is capable of sending and receiving information to and from an unspecified number of users; an input screen display step of displaying an input screen on the display unit that prompts the user to input reservation information, including the number of people making a reservation for the restaurant and the reservation date and time, sent by the restaurant reservation management device to the destination of the transmission / reception tool identified by the destination identification information; and a reservation information transmission step of accepting input of the reservation information by the user via the input screen and transmitting the entered reservation information to the restaurant reservation management device.

[0053] A restaurant reservation method executed on a user device used by a user and capable of communicating with a restaurant reservation management device via a network, the restaurant reservation method comprising: a destination identification step of having the restaurant reservation management device acquire destination identification information that identifies a destination for a user wishing to make a reservation in a transmission / reception tool that is capable of sending and receiving information to and from an unspecified number of users; an input screen display step of displaying an input screen on a display unit based on input information for displaying an input screen on the display unit that prompts the user to input reservation information, including the number of people making a reservation for the restaurant and the reservation date and time, sent by the restaurant reservation management device to the destination of the transmission / reception tool identified by the destination identification information; and a reservation information transmission step of accepting input of the reservation information by the user via the input screen and transmitting the entered reservation information to the restaurant reservation management device.

[0054] <Embodiment> (System Configuration) A typical embodiment of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. First, with reference to FIG. 1, an example of the system configuration of a restaurant reservation management system 100 according to this embodiment will be outlined. The restaurant reservation management system accepts and manages restaurant reservations made by users. The restaurant reservation management system 100 according to this embodiment includes a restaurant reservation management device 1, user terminals 20 (20A, 20B), and a store terminal 110.

[0055] The restaurant reservation management device 1 processes various types of information to manage restaurant reservations made by users. As an example, a server is used as the restaurant reservation management device 1 of this embodiment. More specifically, in this embodiment, a server of a manufacturer that provides cloud services (a so-called cloud server) is used as the restaurant reservation management device 1. However, a server other than a cloud server may also be used as the restaurant reservation management device 1. A device other than a server (for example, a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a "PC")) may also be used as the restaurant reservation management device 1. Furthermore, the restaurant reservation management device 1 may be made up of one or more devices. For example, a server and a database may work together to function as the restaurant reservation management device 1, or multiple information processing devices (such as a server and PCs) may work together to function as the restaurant reservation management device 1. The restaurant reservation management device 1 may be located in a country different from the country in which the reservation service is provided (the country of the restaurant to be reserved).

[0056] The restaurant reservation management device 1 includes a control unit 11 that controls various processes and a communication I / F 14. The control unit 11 includes a CPU 12, which is a controller responsible for control, and a storage device 13 that can store programs, data, and the like. The storage device 13 may store at least a portion of a restaurant reservation management program for executing a general reservation management process (see FIG. 2) and a dedicated reservation management process (see FIG. 10), which will be described later. The storage device 13 of this embodiment also functions as a database that manages (stores) reservation details indicated by reservation information entered into the user terminal 20. However, as described above, a separate database may also be provided. The communication I / F 14 connects the restaurant reservation management device 1 to external devices (e.g., multiple user terminals 20) via a network 5 (e.g., the Internet).

[0057] As an example, in this embodiment, the input of reservation information by a user is accepted on a web page displayed by the web browser of user terminal 20. Restaurant reservation management device 1 of this embodiment also functions as a web server that displays the web page on the web browser of user terminal 20. However, it goes without saying that a device that performs reservation management processing and a web server that displays the web page may be provided separately, and these devices may work together to function as the restaurant reservation management device.

[0058] The user terminal 20 (20A, 20B) is used by a user who uses the restaurant reservation service provided by the restaurant reservation management device 1. The user terminal 20 illustrated in this embodiment is a smartphone that can be carried by the user. However, a mobile terminal other than a smartphone (e.g., a tablet terminal) may also be used as the user terminal 20. Furthermore, a PC (e.g., a laptop PC) may also be used as the user terminal 20.

[0059] The user terminal 20 includes a control unit 21 (21A, 21B) that performs various control processes and a communication I / F 24 (24A, 24B). The control unit 21 includes a CPU 22 (22A, 22B) that is a controller responsible for control, and a storage device 23 (23A, 23B) that can store programs, data, and the like. The storage device 23 may store at least a portion of a restaurant reservation management program for executing a general reservation management process (see FIG. 2) and a dedicated reservation management process (see FIG. 10), which will be described later. The communication I / F 24 connects the user terminal 20 to an external device (e.g., the restaurant reservation management device 1) via the network 5. The user terminal 20 also includes an operation unit 25 (25A, 25B) and a display unit 26 (26A, 26B). The operation unit 25 is operated by a user to input various instructions to the user terminal 20. The operation unit 25 may be, for example, at least one of a touch panel, various buttons, a keyboard, a mouse, etc. A microphone or the like for inputting various instructions may be used together with or instead of the operation unit 25. The display unit 26 displays various images. An operation unit and a display unit externally connected to the user terminal 20 may be used instead of the operation unit 25 and the display unit 26 provided in the user terminal 20.

[0060] Each user terminal 20 is installed with a transmission / reception tool (transmission / reception software) that allows for the transmission and reception of information (at least text information) between the user terminal 20 and an unspecified number of users. As will be described in detail later, the restaurant reservation management device 1 of this embodiment can accept and manage restaurant reservations made by users after sufficiently communicating with the users via the transmission / reception tool that allows for the transmission and reception of information between the user terminal 20 and an unspecified number of users. Therefore, users can properly make restaurant reservations without having to install a dedicated application on their terminal or register an account on a dedicated website.

[0061] In this embodiment, e-mail is used as the transmission / reception tool used to accept and manage reservations from users. Therefore, as long as a user can send and receive e-mail on their user terminal 20, they can easily and appropriately make restaurant reservations without having to install any other transmission / reception tools. Furthermore, because e-mail is used universally around the world, foreign tourists and others can easily make restaurant reservations.

[0062] However, it is also possible to use transmission and reception tools other than e-mail. For example, social networking sites (SNS) such as LINE (registered trademark) or Messenger may be used as transmission and reception tools. Also, short messages (SMS) may be used as transmission and reception tools.

[0063] A dedicated application used by the user to make restaurant reservations, etc. can also be installed on the user terminal 20. In this case, the user can make restaurant reservations by operating the dedicated application. The user can also make restaurant reservations by registering an account on a dedicated website used by users to make restaurant reservations, etc., and logging in to the dedicated website using the registered account. In other words, the user can make restaurant reservations using a transmission / reception tool (email in this embodiment) that can send and receive information with an unspecified number of users, and can also make restaurant reservations using at least one of the dedicated application and the dedicated website. Thus, the user can make restaurant reservations by selecting the method that is easiest for them to use from multiple reservation methods.

[0064] The store terminal 110 is installed in the restaurant for which the user is making a reservation. If there are multiple restaurants for which a reservation is being made, it goes without saying that a store terminal 110 may be installed in each of the multiple restaurants. Also, multiple store terminals 110 may be installed in one restaurant. The store terminal 110 illustrated in this embodiment is a PC. However, a terminal other than a PC (for example, a dedicated terminal designed for the restaurant, a mobile terminal, etc.) may also be used as the store terminal 110.

[0065] The store terminal 110 includes a control unit 111 that performs various control processes and a communication I / F 114. The control unit 111 includes a CPU 112, which is a controller responsible for control, and a storage device 113 that can store programs, data, and the like. The communication I / F 114 connects the store terminal 110 to external devices (e.g., the restaurant reservation management device 1) via the network 5. The store terminal 110 also includes an operation unit 115 and a display unit 116. The operation unit 115 is operated by a user to input various instructions to the store terminal 110. The operation unit 115 may include at least one of a touch panel, various buttons, a keyboard, a mouse, and the like. Note that a microphone or the like for inputting various instructions may be used together with or instead of the operation unit 115. The display unit 116 displays various images. Instead of the operation unit 115 and display unit 116 provided in the store terminal 110, an operation unit and display unit externally connected to the store terminal 110 may be used.

[0066] (General reservation management processing) 2 to 9, a general reservation management process executed by the restaurant reservation management system 100 of this embodiment will be described. In the general reservation management process, restaurant reservations made by users are accepted and managed via a transmission / reception tool that can transmit and receive information to and from an unspecified number of users.

[0067] As an example, the general reservation management process of this embodiment includes a process executed by the CPU 12 of the restaurant reservation management device 1 and a process executed by the CPU 22 of the user terminal 20. The control unit of the restaurant reservation management system 100 (in this embodiment, the CPU 12 of the restaurant reservation management device 1 and the CPU 22 of the user terminal 20) executes the restaurant reservation management program stored in a storage device (for example, the storage device 13 or the storage device 23) to perform the general reservation management process shown in Fig. 2 .

[0068] First, a user wishing to make a reservation at a restaurant operates the operation unit 25 of the user terminal 20 to specify a reservation page (in this embodiment, a URL or link of a web page for reservations) (S1). The system remains in a standby state until the URL or link of the reservation page is specified (S1: NO). As shown in FIG. 3, in this embodiment, at least one of the URL and link of the reservation page (e.g., a reservation page including a reservation status confirmation screen 40 (see FIG. 4) described below) is registered as a piece of business information in the business information display service. FIG. 3 shows an example of a search result display screen 30 displayed on a web page by the business information display service. As shown in FIG. 3, the business information display service collects and stores business information for each user who operates a business, and displays the business information on a display screen of search results by a search engine. A well-known business information provision service is, for example, a service provided free of charge by Google (registered trademark), Inc.

[0069] As shown in FIG. 3 , business users (hereinafter referred to as “business users”) themselves can manage business information published (provided) by business information providing services. For example, Google My Business, provided by Google (registered trademark), includes a service that allows business users to manage business information published on search result display screens 30 and the like. By logging in to the business information display service with administrative privileges, business users can register and edit their own business information, which is displayed along with search results and the like. In this embodiment, the business user includes a link (at least one of a link and a URL for the reservation page) for transitioning to a reservation page in their own business information, which is displayed along with search results and the like. As a result, as shown in FIG. 3 , the search result display screen 30, which displays search results for the Kura Sushi Higashi-Kaizuka branch, automatically displays the URL 31 of the reservation page. Therefore, users can easily make reservations for restaurants by simply selecting the link displayed on the search result display screen 30.

[0070] However, it goes without saying that the link to the reservation page may be posted on various pages (for example, a homepage operated by a restaurant, or the homepage of a gourmet site that introduces restaurants, etc.).

[0071] The restaurant reservation management device 1 may acquire, from the user terminal 20, location information indicating the location of the user terminal 20 used by the user who wishes to make a reservation. The restaurant reservation management device 1 may cause the user terminal 20 to display, as a reservation candidate, a restaurant that is closest to the location indicated by the location information, among multiple restaurant restaurants that are the subject of the reservation. In this case, the user can easily identify nearby restaurants and make a reservation for the desired restaurant without having to specify the restaurant to reserve in advance. This makes it easier and more appropriate to make a reservation. The above processing may be realized by using functions of the business information providing service (for example, at least one of a function to acquire location information of the user terminal 20 and a function to display restaurants close to the location indicated by the location information on the search result display screen 30).

[0072] When a reservation page is designated by the user on the user terminal 20 by operating the operation unit 25 of the user terminal 20 (S1: YES), the user terminal 20 transmits a reservation page display request signal to the restaurant reservation management device 1 together with information for identifying the restaurant at which the user wishes to make a reservation (the restaurant designated by the user) (S2). When the restaurant reservation management device 1 receives the reservation page request signal from the user terminal 20, it acquires the reservation status of the restaurant designated by the user from the reservation statuses of multiple restaurants at that time stored in a database (storage device 13 in this embodiment) (S4). In this embodiment, S4 acquires the reservation status of the designated restaurant from the reservation status for the current day through one week from now. The restaurant reservation management device 1 displays a reservation status confirmation screen 40 (see FIG. 4 ) indicating the reservation status acquired in S4 on the display unit 26 of the user terminal 20 (S5). That is, the user terminal 20 displays the reservation status confirmation screen 40 on the display unit 26 based on the information transmitted by the restaurant reservation management device 1.

[0073] As shown in FIG. 4, the reservation status check screen 40 of this embodiment includes a date selection tab 41, a time slot reservation status display section 42, and a reservation start button 43. The date selection tab 41 is operated by the user to select the date for which the reservation status is to be displayed. The time slot reservation status display section 42 displays the reservation status of the restaurant for the date selected using the date selection tab 41, by time slot. The reservation start button 43 is operated by the user to input a reservation start instruction to the user terminal 20 to start the reservation process for the restaurant (in this embodiment, the restaurant specified by the user). In other words, the reservation status check screen 40 of this embodiment also serves as a screen for receiving a reservation start instruction input from the user.

[0074] In this embodiment, before the reservation start button 43 is operated, various instructions (such as an instruction to specify a reservation time) are not input even if the user operates the reservation status display unit 42 by time slot. However, the user can grasp the reservation status by time slot display unit 42. In other words, the reservation status confirmation screen 40, which shows the reservation status for each time slot of the restaurant at that time, is displayed on the display unit 26 of the user terminal 20 before the user terminal 20 is enabled to accept input of a reservation start instruction (operation of the reservation start button 43). Therefore, the user can determine whether or not to input a reservation start instruction after understanding the reservation status for each time slot of the restaurant for which the user wishes to make a reservation in advance by using the reservation status confirmation screen 40. As a result, the frequency with which the user gives up on a reservation because they are unable to make a reservation for the desired time slot after inputting a reservation start instruction is significantly reduced. This appropriately prevents the user from wasting time in the user terminal 20.

[0075] Returning to the explanation of Fig. 2, when the user operates reservation start button 43 and inputs a reservation start instruction to the user terminal (S7: YES), user terminal 20 transmits a reservation start request signal to eating and drinking reservation management device 1 (S8). Upon receiving the reservation start request from user terminal 20, eating and drinking reservation management device 1 displays destination identification information request screen 50 (see Fig. 5) on display unit 26 of user terminal 20 (S9).

[0076] As shown in FIG. 5, the destination specification information request screen 50 is a screen for requesting the user to input destination specification information. The destination specification information is information that specifies the destination of the user terminal 20 (i.e., the user terminal 20 used by the user who wishes to make a reservation) in a transmission / reception tool that can transmit and receive information to and from an unspecified number of users. As described above, in this embodiment, email is used as the transmission / reception tool, and therefore the destination specification information is the email address of the email. In this embodiment, as long as the user terminal 20 that the user uses can transmit and receive email, the user can easily and appropriately make a restaurant reservation without having to separately install another transmission / reception tool. Furthermore, because email is used universally worldwide, even foreign tourists can easily make restaurant reservations.

[0077] Returning to the explanation of FIG. 2, the user terminal 20 displays a reservation status confirmation screen 40 (see FIG. 4) on the display unit 26, and then accepts input of destination specification information (an email address in this embodiment) by the user. When the destination specification information is entered into the input field of the destination specification information request screen 50 and the user operates the send button, the input of the destination specification information is completed. When the input is completed (S11: YES), the user terminal 20 transmits the input destination specification information to the restaurant reservation management device 1, thereby causing the restaurant reservation management device 1 to acquire the destination specification information (S12). When the restaurant reservation management device 1 acquires the destination specification information, it displays an email transmission completion notification screen 60 (see FIG. 6) on the display unit 26 of the user terminal 20, and transmits input information for displaying an input screen 80 (see FIG. 8) on the display unit 26 of the user terminal 20 to the destination of the transmission and reception tool identified by the destination specification information (S13). The user terminal 20 displays an input screen 80 on the display unit 26 based on the input information transmitted by the restaurant management device 1. The input screen 80 is a screen for allowing the user to input reservation information including the number of people making a reservation for the restaurant and the reservation date and time.

[0078] 6, the email transmission completion notification screen 60 notifies the user that the transmission of an email including input information for displaying the input screen 80 (see FIG. 8) (in this embodiment, a link (URL in this embodiment) for transitioning to a web page that displays the input screen 80) to the user terminal 20 (more specifically, transmission to an email address that can be used on the user terminal 20) has been completed. By checking the email transmission completion notification screen 60, the user can smoothly check the email addressed to the email address entered on the destination specification information request screen 50.

[0079] 7 shows an example of a URL-containing email screen 70 displayed by email software on the user terminal 20 after an email sent from the restaurant reservation management device 1 to the input email address. As shown in FIG. 7, the email sent from the restaurant reservation management device 1 to the destination identification information (email address) in S13 includes, as input information, a link (at least one of a link and a URL) for transitioning to a web page that displays an input screen 80. When the user designates the link included in the email (S15: YES), the input screen 80 shown in FIG. 8 is displayed on the display unit 26 of the user terminal 20 (S16). Therefore, if a general-purpose web browser is installed on the user terminal 20 and the user terminal 20 can use email, the user can easily and appropriately make a restaurant reservation.

[0080] As shown in FIG. 8, the input screen 80 displayed on the user terminal 20 includes a number-of-guests selection tab 81, a date selection tab 82, and a time slot reservation information display / time specification section 83. The number-of-guests selection tab 81 is operated by the user to select the number of people for a reservation. The date selection tab 82 is operated by the user to select the date for which the reservation status is to be displayed. The time slot reservation information display / time specification section 83 displays the store's reservation status (i.e., whether reservations are available or not) for each time slot on the date selected using the date selection tab 82. Furthermore, unlike the time slot reservation status display section 42 (see FIG. 4) of the reservation status confirmation screen 40, the time slot reservation information display / time specification section 83 enables the user to enter a reservation time by operating buttons corresponding to each time slot. The user can enter a reservation time by operating the button for the desired time slot among the time slots available for reservations on the desired date. As described above, the user terminal 20 accepts the user's input of reservation information via the input screen 80 displayed on the display unit 26.

[0081] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 8 , in this embodiment, the arrangement of time slots indicating the reservation status in the time slot reservation status display section 42 (see FIG. 4 ) of the reservation status check screen 40 is the same as the arrangement of time slots indicating available dates and times in the time slot reservation information display / time specification section 83 of the input screen 80. Therefore, the user can easily understand the times that the user has determined to be available for reservation on the reservation status check screen 40, also on the input screen 80, where the time slot arrangement is the same. This makes it easier for the user to make restaurant reservations. Note that in this embodiment, not only the arrangement of time slots but also the size of the display area showing each time slot are the same between the reservation status check screen 40 and the input screen 80. However, even if the sizes of the display areas are different, if the arrangement of time slots is the same, the user can easily and appropriately make reservations for the desired times.

[0082] 9, when reservation information (in this embodiment, information on the number of people making a reservation and the reservation date and time) is entered on the input screen 80, a reservation details confirmation screen 90 is displayed on the display unit 26 of the user terminal 20. The user confirms the reservation details displayed on the reservation details confirmation screen 90 and operates the "Reserve" button to complete the entry of the reservation information.

[0083] Returning to the explanation of FIG. 2 , when the input of the reservation information is completed (S17: YES), the user terminal 20 transmits the reservation information input via the input screen 80 to the restaurant reservation management device 1 (S18). When the restaurant reservation management device 1 receives and acquires the reservation information, it registers the reservation details indicated by the acquired reservation information in a database (the storage device 13 in this embodiment) (S20). As will be described in detail later, the database in which the reservation details are registered in S20 is the same as the database in which reservation details acquired via a dedicated application or dedicated website are registered. Thereafter, the restaurant reservation management device 1 transmits the reservation results to the user terminal 20 (S21). The reservation results may be transmitted to the user terminal 20 by, for example, displaying a screen showing the reservation results on the display unit 26 of the user terminal 20 using a web browser or application, or by transmitting an email showing the reservation results to the destination specified in S12.

[0084] The store terminal 110 (see FIG. 1 ) acquires the reservation status information of the store registered in the database via the network 5 and displays it on the display unit 116. Therefore, the reservation status registered in the database can be properly understood at the restaurant. As a result, services can be properly provided at the restaurant to multiple users, including the user who made the reservation. As an example, in this embodiment, the restaurant reservation management device 1 transmits the reservation status of the store registered in the database to the store terminal 110. As a result, the store terminal 110 can display the reservation status on the display unit 116.

[0085] As described above, according to the general reservation management process (see FIGS. 2 to 9), a user can make a restaurant reservation as long as the user terminal 20 has a transmission / reception tool that allows the user to transmit and receive information to and from an unspecified number of users. In other words, the user can make a restaurant reservation without installing a dedicated application on the terminal or registering an account on a dedicated website. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the user can input reservation information only through the input screen 80 displayed by the input information. Therefore, if the destination specification information (an email address in this embodiment) is incorrect or if the information cannot be sent to the specified destination, the reservation information is not entered in the first place. This reduces the possibility that the user who made the reservation will not be able to smoothly visit the restaurant or that a reservation made by a user who is not interested in making a reservation will be registered. This allows for smooth reservation management.

[0086] Before acquiring the destination specification information in S12, the restaurant reservation management device 1 causes the user terminal 20 to display a reservation status confirmation screen 40 indicating the reservation status for each time slot of the restaurant at that time. In other words, before causing the restaurant reservation management device 1 to acquire the destination specification information, the user terminal 20 causes the display unit 26 to display the reservation status confirmation screen 40 based on the information acquired from the restaurant reservation management device 1. In S12, after the reservation status confirmation screen 40 is displayed by the user terminal 20, the destination specification information is input to the user terminal 20, and the destination specification information is acquired by the restaurant reservation management device 1. Therefore, the user can determine whether or not to input the destination specification information into the user terminal 20 after understanding the reservation status for each time slot of the restaurant for which the user wishes to make a reservation in advance through the reservation status confirmation screen 40. As a result, the frequency with which the user gives up on a reservation because they are unable to make a reservation for the desired time slot after inputting the destination specification information is significantly reduced. This appropriately prevents the user from wasting time in the user terminal 20.

[0087] (Dedicated reservation management process) With reference to FIG. 10, a dedicated reservation management process executed by the restaurant reservation management device 1 of this embodiment will be described. In the dedicated reservation management process, a reservation input by a user is accepted and managed via at least one of a dedicated application installed on the user terminal 20 and a dedicated website to which the user can log in using a registered account. As an example, the dedicated reservation management process of this embodiment is executed by the CPU 12 of the restaurant reservation management device 1. However, at least a part of the dedicated reservation management process may be executed by another device (e.g., the user terminal 20) within the restaurant reservation management system 100. The control unit of the restaurant reservation management system 100 (in this embodiment, the CPU 12 of the restaurant reservation management device 1) executes a restaurant reservation management program stored in a storage device (e.g., the storage device 13) to execute the dedicated reservation management process shown in FIG. 10.

[0088] As shown in Fig. 10, the restaurant reservation management device 1 determines whether or not the user terminal 20 has performed a process to acquire reservation information via a dedicated application or dedicated website (S31). If the reservation information has not been acquired (S31: NO), the process of S31 is repeated. If the reservation information has been acquired (S31: YES), the restaurant reservation management device 1 registers the reservation details indicated by the acquired reservation information in a database (the storage device 13 in this embodiment) (S32). Note that the database in which the reservation details acquired via the dedicated application or dedicated website are registered is the same as the database in which the reservation details are registered in S20 of the general reservation management process (see Fig. 2).

[0089] As described above, a user can make a restaurant reservation using a transmission / reception tool that allows the user to send and receive information to and from an unspecified number of users, and can also make a restaurant reservation using at least one of a dedicated application and a dedicated website. Therefore, a user can select the method that is most convenient for them from among multiple reservation methods to make a restaurant reservation. Furthermore, regardless of the method used to manage the reservation details, the database in which the reservation details are registered is the same. Therefore, the restaurant reservation management device 1 can appropriately accept reservations from users while reducing the possibility of problems such as duplicate reservations.

[0090] The period during which restaurant reservations can be made in the dedicated reservation process is set to two weeks, which is longer than the period during which restaurant reservations can be made in the general reservation management process (see FIG. 2) described above (one week in this embodiment). Therefore, since making reservations using the dedicated application or dedicated website brings more benefits to users, users can be given an incentive to install the dedicated application or register an account on the dedicated website. The dedicated application and dedicated website not only allow users to manage their reservations, but also make it easier to provide users with a variety of services. This makes it easier to increase the number of customers visiting restaurants.

[0091] Furthermore, the restaurant reservation management device 1 switches the language used on the screen displayed on the user terminal 20 in response to an instruction input by the user. This makes it easier for reservations by foreign tourists and the like to be made. Furthermore, the restaurant reservation management device 1 acquires information about the language used on the user terminal 20 used by the user who wishes to make a reservation, and displays the screen on the user terminal 20 in the acquired language. This makes it easier for reservations by foreign tourists and the like to be made.

[0092] The technology disclosed in the above embodiment is merely an example. Therefore, the technology exemplified in the above embodiment can be modified. For example, the reservation status confirmation screen 40, the destination identification information request screen 50, the email transmission completion notification screen 60, the input screen 80, and the reservation content confirmation screen 90 in the above embodiment are displayed by a web browser on the user terminal 20. However, at least one of these screens may be displayed by a social networking site (SNS) application such as LINE (registered trademark) or Messenger. In particular, when an SNS application is used as a transmission / reception tool capable of transmitting and receiving information to and from an unspecified number of users, displaying various screens using the application used will result in smoother screen transitions.

[0093] When an SNS application is used as a transmission / reception tool capable of transmitting and receiving information to and from an unspecified number of users, the restaurant reservation management device 1 may acquire the user's SNS account as the destination identification information. Furthermore, the restaurant reservation management device 1 may transmit, as input information, data for displaying an input screen 80 on the SNS application installed on the user terminal 20 to a destination (e.g., an SNS account) identified by the destination identification information. In this case, the user can appropriately input reservation information on the input screen 80 displayed by the SNS application. Furthermore, when SMS is used as the transmission / reception tool, the restaurant reservation management device 1 may acquire the phone number of the user terminal 20 as the destination identification information. In this case, the reservation from the user is appropriately accepted via SMS.

[0094] The process of acquiring destination specification information in S2 of FIG. 2 is an example of a "destination acquisition step." The process of transmitting input information to the user terminal 20 in S13 is an example of an "input information transmission step." The process of registering reservation details in the database in S20 is an example of a "reservation details registration step." The process of displaying the reservation status confirmation screen 40 on the user terminal 20 in S5 is an example of a "confirmation screen display step." The dedicated reservation management process shown in FIG. 10 is an example of a "dedicated reservation registration step."

[0095] The process of acquiring destination specifying information in the restaurant reservation management device 1 in S12 of Fig. 2 is an example of a "destination specifying step." The process of displaying the input screen 80 in S15 and S16 is an example of an "input screen display step." The process of transmitting reservation information in S18 is an example of a "reservation information transmitting step." The process of displaying the reservation status confirmation screen 40 on the display unit 26 in S5 is an example of a "confirmation screen display step." [Explanation of symbols]

[0096] 1. Restaurant reservation management device 12 CPU 13 Storage device 20(20A, 20B) User terminal 26(26A,26B) Display section 30 Search result display screen 40 Reservation status confirmation screen 70 URL email screen 80 Input screen 100 Restaurant reservation management system 110 Store terminal

Claims

1. A restaurant reservation management system including a user terminal used by a user and a restaurant reservation management device capable of communicating with the user terminal via a network, a transmission destination specifying step in which the user terminal causes the restaurant reservation management device to acquire transmission destination specifying information that specifies a transmission destination for a user who wishes to make a reservation, in a transmission / reception tool that is capable of transmitting and receiving information to and from an unspecified number of users; an input screen display step in which the user terminal displays, on the display unit, an input screen that prompts a user to input reservation information including the number of people making a reservation for the restaurant and the reservation date and time, the input screen being transmitted by the restaurant reservation management device to the destination of the transmission / reception tool specified by the destination identification information; a reservation information transmitting step in which the user terminal receives input of the reservation information by the user via the input screen and transmits the input reservation information to the eating and drinking establishment reservation management device; A restaurant reservation management system that executes the above.

2. The restaurant reservation management system according to claim 1, In the input screen display step, the user terminal displays the input screen on the display unit when a reservation start instruction for starting a reservation process for a restaurant is input by the user, A restaurant reservation management system characterized in that, before the user terminal is able to accept input of the reservation start instruction, it further executes a confirmation screen display step of displaying on the display unit a reservation status confirmation screen showing the reservation status for each time slot of the restaurant at that time based on information obtained from the restaurant reservation management device.

3. The restaurant reservation management system according to claim 1, a confirmation screen display step of displaying, on the display unit, a reservation status confirmation screen showing the reservation status of the restaurant for each time slot at that time based on information acquired from the restaurant reservation management device, before the user terminal executes the destination specification step; In the destination identification step, the user terminal displays the reservation status confirmation screen on the display unit, then accepts user input of the destination identification information, and transmits the input destination identification information to the restaurant reservation management device, thereby causing the restaurant reservation management device to acquire the destination identification information.

4. The restaurant reservation management system according to claim 2, the input screen displayed on the user terminal based on the input information is a screen showing available reservation dates and times for each time slot, A restaurant reservation management system, characterized in that the arrangement of time periods on the reservation status confirmation screen and the input screen is the same.

5. The restaurant reservation management system according to claim 2, A restaurant reservation management system characterized in that a link to a page including the reservation status confirmation screen is registered as business information in a business information display service that collects and stores business information for each user conducting business and displays the business information on the display screen of search results by a search engine.

6. The restaurant reservation management system according to claim 1, the sending and receiving tool is email, The restaurant reservation management system is characterized in that the destination specifying information is an email address of the email.

7. The restaurant reservation management system according to claim 1, the restaurant reservation management device executes an input information transmitting step of transmitting, as the input information, a link for transitioning to a web page including the input screen to a destination of the transmission / reception tool specified by the destination specifying information; In the input screen display step, the user terminal displays the web page including the input screen on the display unit by specifying the link sent as the input information.

8. The restaurant reservation management system according to claim 1, A restaurant reservation management system characterized in that the restaurant reservation management device acquires the reservation information entered and transmitted to the user terminal via the input screen in the reservation information transmission step, and executes a reservation content registration step of registering the reservation content indicated by the acquired reservation information in a database that manages reservation status.

9. The restaurant reservation management system according to claim 8, a store terminal that is installed in a store of the restaurant that is the subject of the reservation and that is capable of communicating with the restaurant reservation management device via a network; The restaurant reservation management system is characterized in that the store terminal executes a reservation status display step of displaying the reservation status of the store registered in the database on a display unit.

10. The restaurant reservation management system according to claim 8, the restaurant reservation management device further executes a dedicated registration step of acquiring reservation information including the number of people making a reservation and the reservation date and time at the restaurant via at least one of a dedicated application installed on a user terminal and a dedicated website that can be logged in with a registered account, and registering the reservation details indicated by the acquired reservation information; The restaurant reservation management system is characterized in that, in the dedicated registration step, the reservation details are registered in the database in which the reservation details are registered in the reservation details registration step.

11. The restaurant reservation management system according to claim 10, The restaurant reservation management system is characterized in that the period during which the user can make a reservation for the restaurant in the dedicated registration step is longer than the period during which the user can make a reservation for the restaurant in the reservation content registration step.

12. A restaurant reservation management method executed in a restaurant reservation management system including a user terminal used by a user and a restaurant reservation management device capable of communicating with the user terminal via a network, a transmission destination specifying step in which the user terminal causes the restaurant reservation management device to acquire transmission destination specifying information that specifies a transmission destination for a user who wishes to make a reservation, in a transmission / reception tool that is capable of transmitting and receiving information to and from an unspecified number of users; an input screen display step in which the user terminal displays, on the display unit, an input screen that prompts a user to input reservation information including the number of people making a reservation for the restaurant and the reservation date and time, the input screen being transmitted by the restaurant reservation management device to the destination of the transmission / reception tool specified by the destination identification information; a reservation information transmitting step in which the user terminal receives input of the reservation information by the user via the input screen and transmits the input reservation information to the eating and drinking establishment reservation management device; A restaurant reservation management method comprising:

13. A restaurant reservation management device capable of communicating with a user terminal used by a user via a network, The control unit of the restaurant reservation management device a transmission destination acquisition step of acquiring transmission destination specification information that specifies a transmission destination for the user terminal used by a user who wishes to make a reservation, in a transmission / reception tool that is capable of transmitting and receiving information to and from an unspecified number of users; an input information transmitting step of transmitting input information to the destination of the transmission / reception tool specified by the destination specifying information, to display on a display unit an input screen that prompts a user to input reservation information including the number of people making a reservation for the restaurant and the reservation date and time; a reservation content registration step of acquiring the reservation information input to the user terminal via the input screen and registering the reservation content indicated by the acquired reservation information in a database that manages reservation status; A restaurant reservation management device that executes the above.

14. A restaurant reservation management program executed in a restaurant reservation management device capable of communicating with a user terminal used by a user via a network, The restaurant reservation management program is executed by a control unit of the restaurant reservation management device, a transmission destination acquisition step of acquiring transmission destination specification information that specifies a transmission destination for the user terminal used by a user who wishes to make a reservation, in a transmission / reception tool that is capable of transmitting and receiving information to and from an unspecified number of users; an input information transmitting step of transmitting input information to the destination of the transmission / reception tool specified by the destination specifying information, to display on a display unit an input screen that prompts a user to input reservation information including the number of people making a reservation for the restaurant and the reservation date and time; a reservation content registration step of acquiring the reservation information input to the user terminal via the input screen and registering the reservation content indicated by the acquired reservation information in a database that manages reservation status; The restaurant reservation management program causes the restaurant reservation management device to execute the above.

Images