control device

Abstract

This will make it possible to improve convenience for customers. [Solution] A control device is provided in a display device installed at a seat, which displays images of multiple orderable products in a first area, displays images of products selected as order candidates and an order button for ordering said products in a second area, and when an operation is performed to indicate that an image of said product is selected in the first area, the control device displays the image of the selected product in the second area.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a control device.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, various systems for receiving customers' orders have been proposed in stores that provide food and beverages. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for detecting a customer's selection action with respect to image data of food and beverages scrolled and displayed on display means, and displaying data related to the selected food and beverages on the display means by mask processing.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, there is still a demand for providing a more convenient technology for customers. Moreover, such a demand is not limited to the stores that provide food and beverages described above, but is common to stores that provide goods. The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides a technology that enables improvement of convenience for customers.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] A control device according to one aspect of the present invention is a control device for controlling a display device installed in a seat, comprising a display means for displaying an order screen on the display device used by a customer seated in the seat when ordering a product, the order screen including a product movement area which is an area for displaying images of a plurality of products to be ordered so as to move in a predetermined direction, and further comprising a selection means for selecting a priority display product which is a product to be displayed preferentially to the customer as a plurality of products whose images are displayed in the product movement area, based on at least one of the elapsed time from the customer's first action and the time required from the customer's first action to a second action, the display means for displaying images of priority display products as a predetermined number of product images among a plurality of product images which are displayed so as to move in a predetermined direction per unit timing, and the images of priority display products are displayed at a higher frequency than images of products that are not selected as priority display products. [Effects of the Invention]

[0006] This invention makes it possible to improve convenience for customers. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0007] [Figure 1] This is a schematic block diagram showing the system configuration of the management system 100 of the present invention. [Figure 2] This figure shows a specific example of the appearance of the store system 110. [Figure 3] This diagram shows a concrete example of an order screen. [Figure 4] This diagram shows specific examples of how the display changes when a customer places an order for a product. [Figure 5] This diagram shows specific examples of how the display changes when a customer places an order for a product. [Figure 6] This diagram shows a specific example of the support settings screen. [Figure 7] This is a diagram to explain the product display function. [Figure 8] This figure shows an example where product image 432, which displays campaign information, is shown. [Figure 9] This figure shows an example of the screen when campaign information is manipulated. [Figure 10] This figure shows an example of the screen when campaign information is manipulated. [Figure 11] This figure shows a specific example of menu screen 436. [Figure 12] This is a schematic block diagram showing a specific example of the control device 20. [Figure 13] This figure shows a concrete example of a customer information table. [Figure 14] This is a schematic block diagram showing a specific example of the store control device 30. [Figure 15] This flowchart shows a specific example of the processing performed by the store control device 30. [Figure 16] This figure shows a schematic example of the hardware configuration of the information processing device 90 applied to this embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0008] Figure 1 is a schematic block diagram showing the system configuration of the management system 100 of the present invention. The management system 100 includes a customer terminal device 10, a management device 20, and a store system 110. The customer terminal device 10, the management device 20, and the store system 110 are communicated together via a network 70. The network 70 may be a wireless communication network or a wired communication network. The network 70 may be configured using, for example, the Internet, or a local area network (LAN). The network 70 may be configured by combining multiple networks.

[0009] The customer terminal device 10 is a terminal device used by customers who order and receive goods at stores managed by the management system 100. The stores managed by the management system may be, for example, stores that provide food and beverages to customers. In this case, the goods are food and beverages. However, the goods provided to customers at the stores managed by the management system are not limited to food and beverages. The customer terminal device 10 is an information processing device such as a smartphone, mobile phone, personal computer, tablet terminal, portable game console, or wearable computer. The customer terminal device 10 can communicate with other devices via the network 70.

[0010] The management device 20 is a device that manages the store system 110 installed in the stores that are managed by the management system 100. The management device 20 is composed of information processing devices such as personal computers, tablet terminals, and server devices. The management device 20 accepts registration of data (hereinafter referred to as "product group data") related to product groups that can be offered as menu items in the stores that are managed by the management system 100. Product group data includes, for example, images of each of the multiple products that can be offered as menu items, and information about each product (for example, the price, information about ingredients, information about cooking, etc.).

[0011] Product group data registration is performed by a person with the necessary authority, such as the administrator of the management device 20. Product group data registration can be performed in any way. For example, the administrator may operate an input / output device (user interface) provided on the management device 20. Alternatively, the administrator may transmit product group data to the management device 20 from another information processing device.

[0012] The store system 110 is provided in one or more stores to be managed by the management system 100. The store system 110 is provided for each store where, for example, food and beverages are provided. In this case, each product included in the product group data is food and beverages. The store system 110 includes a store control device 30, a kitchen display device 40, a conveyance control device 41, a conveyance device 42, and a plurality of store display devices 43. Each device of the store system 110 is communicably connected via a network 71 provided in the store system 110. The network 71 may be configured using, for example, a LAN or a wireless LAN.

[0013] The store control device 30 is a device that controls each device provided in the store system 110. The store control device 30 is configured using an information processing device such as a personal computer or a server device. The store control device 30 receives, for example, product group data transmitted from the management device 20, determines products to be displayed (hereinafter referred to as "display target products") on the store display device 43 of the store system 110, and causes the store display device 43 to display images of the display target products. The store control device 30 may determine, for example, a product selected on the kitchen display device 40 as a display target product.

[0014] The kitchen display device 40 is a device used by a kitchen manager in the store system 110. The kitchen display device 40 is an information processing device such as a smartphone, a mobile phone, a personal computer, a tablet terminal, a portable game machine, a wearable computer, or a dedicated terminal. The kitchen display device 40 displays products included in the product group data transmitted from the management device 20 as product candidates. The kitchen display device 40 notifies the store control device 30 of a product selected by the kitchen manager. In addition, the kitchen display device 40 displays information regarding an order placed by a customer through an operation on the store display device 43 or the customer terminal device 10 (hereinafter referred to as "order information"). The order information may include, for example, information indicating the seat where the customer who placed the order is located, information indicating the ordered product, and information indicating the quantity of the ordered product. The kitchen manager prepares and provides products (food and beverages) to the customer according to the order information displayed on the kitchen display device 40.

[0015] The conveying control device 41 controls the operation of the conveying device 42. The conveying control device 41 may control the operation of the conveying device 42 according to, for example, a control signal transmitted from the store control device 30 or the kitchen display device 40. The conveying device 42 conveys the goods prepared by the kitchen manager to the customers. The conveying device 42 is configured using, for example, a conveyor.

[0016] The store display device 43 may be an image display device such as a liquid crystal display or an organic EL (Electro Luminescence) display. The store display device 43 may be configured as a touch panel further provided with an input device.

[0017] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a specific example of the appearance of the store system 110. A plurality of unit seats 44 are provided in the store. The unit seat 44 is a seat used by a group of one or more customers who are accounted for together. The unit seat 44 may be configured as a seat used by a single customer (for example, a single-person seat provided at the counter), or may be configured as a seat used by a plurality of people as shown in FIG. 2. One or more store display devices 43 may be provided for each unit seat 44.

[0018] In the example of FIG. 2, one store display device 43 is provided for one unit seat 44. For example, a store display device 43a is provided for the unit seat 44a, a store display device 43b is provided for the unit seat 44b, and a store display device 43c is provided for the unit seat 44c.

[0019] The conveying device 42 is provided so as to be able to convey goods from at least the kitchen to each unit seat 44. At least one receiving port 421 is provided in each unit seat 44. The conveying device 42 is configured to convey goods from the kitchen to the receiving port 421 and stop the goods at the receiving port 421.

[0020] The store display device 43 provided at each unit seat 44 displays a screen used by customers seated at each unit seat 44 when ordering products. Figure 3 shows a specific example of a normal screen. In the specific example in Figure 3, at least an image of the transport device 42 and one or more product images 432 are displayed. In addition, as shown in Figure 3, an information display area 431, an order operation area 433, and a setting operation area 441 may also be displayed.

[0021] The image of the conveying device 42 may be displayed so as to move at a predetermined speed and in a predetermined direction. The product images 432 may each be displayed so as to move at a predetermined speed and in a predetermined direction. For example, the image of the conveying device 42 and each product image 432 may be displayed so as to move from right to left at a predetermined speed. By displaying the image of the conveying device 42 and the product images 432 so as to move at the same speed and in the same direction, it will appear as if the products in each product image 432 are being loaded onto the conveying device 42 and moving. More specifically, such a display makes it possible to show customers, for example, the appearance of products (e.g., sushi) moving along a conveyor belt, similar to a conveyor belt sushi restaurant.

[0022] The store control device 30 or the store display device 43 may change the speed and direction of movement of these images in response to customer operations. Customer operations may be received, for example, as operations on the store display device 43 configured using a touch panel. For example, in response to a customer performing a flick operation on the touch panel that has a component in the opposite direction to a predetermined direction, the images of the transport device 42 and the product images 432 may be temporarily displayed to move in the opposite direction to the predetermined direction.

[0023] The information display area 431 is an area where information to be provided to the customer is displayed. The information displayed in the information display area 431 may be controlled by the management device 20 or by the store control device 30. For example, the information to be provided may be transmitted from the management device 20 to the store control device 30 via the network 70, and the information selected by the store control device 30 may be displayed in the information display area 431. For example, information such as advertisements or coupons offered to the customer may be displayed, or a game screen that the customer can operate may be displayed. The advertisement information offered to the customer may be an advertisement related to the operator of the store where the store system 110 is installed, or it may be an advertisement related to another entity. If it is an advertisement related to another entity, the advertiser may pay an advertising fee to the store operator.

[0024] The order operation area 433 is the area used by customers when placing an order for a product. Figures 4 and 5 show specific examples of how the display changes when a customer places an order for a product. The order operation area 433 displays an order button 434 and multiple order candidate areas 435. The order button 434 is a button labeled "Place Order". The order candidate areas 435 are areas that show products selected by the customer as candidates for ordering. As shown in Figure 3, when the customer has not selected any order candidates, no product images are displayed in any of the order candidate areas 435, and an image indicating that nothing has been selected is displayed.

[0025] When a customer sees a product image 432 of the product they wish to order on the display screen, they perform a selection operation on the product image 432. For example, the selection operation may be a drag operation, a tap operation, or any other type of operation. If a drag operation is performed, the customer drags the product image 432 of the product they wish to order to the order operation area 433. If a tap operation is performed, the customer taps the product image 432 of the product they wish to order. When the customer performs a selection operation on a product image 432, the selected product image 432 is displayed in the order candidate area 435, as shown in Figure 5. As described above, the product image 432 displayed in the order candidate area 435 indicates that it has been selected by the customer as a candidate for ordering.

[0026] When a customer operates the order button 434, an order is placed for the product shown in the product image 432 displayed in the order candidate area 435 at the time the operation is performed. Once an order is placed, the store control device 30 registers information indicating the unit seat 44 where the order was placed and the product that was ordered. The store control device 30 displays this information on the kitchen display device 40. The kitchen manager (for example, the person doing the cooking) prepares the product based on the information displayed on the kitchen display device 40 and places it on the transport device 42 to transport it to the destination (the unit seat 44 where the customer who placed the order is located). The transported product (the ordered product) is then transported by the transport device 42 to the pick-up area 421 of the unit seat 44 where the customer who placed the order is located. The customer who placed the order can then pick up the product that has been transported to the pick-up area 421.

[0027] The settings operation area 441 displays the Support Settings button, the Product Menu button, and the Order History / Checkout button. When the Support Settings button is pressed, the Support Settings screen is displayed. Figure 6 shows a specific example of the Support Settings screen. In Figure 6, the Support Settings screen 442 replaces part or all of the area where the settings operation area 441 was displayed. The Support Settings screen displays the Call button, the Operation Instruction Tutorial button, the Allergen Information button, the Language Selection button, the Design Switching button, the ON / OFF button for displaying product information on the lane, and the ON / OFF button for mini-games.

[0028] When a call button is operated, an output indicating that the call button has been operated is sent via an output device provided in the store system 110 to the unit seat 44 where the call button was operated. For example, a lamp provided for each unit seat 44 may light up, or seat identification information for the unit seat 44 may be displayed or voiced.

[0029] When the operation instruction tutorial button is pressed, the operation instruction screen is displayed. The operation instruction screen may display videos or still images explaining the operation. When the allergen information button is pressed, information about the allergens of the products offered at that store is displayed. For example, a table showing the products offered and the allergens they contain may be displayed.

[0030] When the language selection button is operated, multiple language buttons for other languages ​​are displayed. For example, language buttons for English, French, German, Spanish, Chinese, and Korean may be displayed. When a language button is operated, the store display device 43 displays in the language assigned to the operated language button. When the design switching button is operated, the display design of the store display device 43 is switched to another design. Note that the effects of operating the language selection button and the design switching button are limited to the store display device 43 on which the operation was performed.

[0031] When the ON / OFF button for displaying product information on the lane is operated, the product information display function is switched on and off. In the state shown in Figure 6, the product information display function is off. Therefore, product information (such as the product name and price) is not displayed on each product image 432 flowing down the lane on the screen. Figure 7 is a diagram to explain the product display function. In Figure 7, the product information display function is on. In this case, product information is displayed on each product image 432 flowing down the lane on the screen. In the specific example in Figure 7, the product name and price are displayed as product information. The product information display area is placed, for example, for each product image 432 flowing down the lane, and moves in sync with the movement of the product image 432. Therefore, it appears as if the product image 432 and the image of the tag showing the product information are flowing down the lane together.

[0032] When the mini-game ON / OFF button is pressed, the mini-game can be played using part or all of the screen of the store display device 43. For example, when the mini-game ON / OFF button is pressed, the mini-game application is launched and the mini-game screen is displayed. The customer can then play the mini-game by operating the operation buttons displayed on the store display device 43. Coupons may be issued based on the performance in the mini-game.

[0033] Figure 8 shows an example where a product image 432 indicating campaign information is displayed. The product image 432 on the lane of the store display device 43 may display an image indicating a campaign being held at the store, rather than the product itself. Figures 9 and 10 show examples of screens when campaign information is manipulated. When the image indicating the campaign is manipulated, a campaign display area 444 showing the content of the campaign is displayed. The campaign display area 444 is displayed on a layer above the lane images and other product images 432. Therefore, the campaign display area 444 is displayed statically, but the lanes and product images 432 may be displayed continuously in the background.

[0034] When a menu button is operated in the campaign display area 444, text and images (campaign menu image) 445 indicating the menu are displayed in the campaign display area 444. Figure 10 shows a specific example of the display of the campaign menu image 445. The campaign menu image 445 displayed in the campaign display area 444 displays images, names, and prices of the products handled in that campaign. When a specific product is operated in the campaign menu image 445, the operated product is displayed in the order candidate area 435 and becomes available for order.

[0035] Figure 11 shows a specific example of the menu screen 436. When any one button is operated on the menu selection screen, the menu screen 436 corresponding to the operated button is displayed. The menu screen 436 may be displayed superimposed on the product images 432 in the area where the product images 432 are displayed. In this case, the position of the menu screen 436 is fixed, but each product image 432 may continue to move in a predetermined direction at a predetermined speed. Buttons for one or more products are displayed on the menu screen 436. The product selected on the menu screen 436 (for example, the product for which a button was operated) is displayed in the order candidate area 435. Thus, the operation of selecting the product to be ordered may be, for example, an operation of dragging and dropping the product image 432 into the order candidate area 435, an operation on a button displayed on the menu screen 436, or it may be implemented in other ways.

[0036] Figure 12 is a schematic block diagram showing a specific example of the management device 20. The management device 20 is configured using information equipment such as a personal computer and a server. The management device 20 includes a communication unit 21, an input unit 22, an output unit 23, a storage unit 24, and a control unit 25.

[0037] The communication unit 21 is a communication device. The communication unit 21 may be configured, for example, as a network interface. The communication unit 21 communicates data with other devices via the network 70 in accordance with the control of the control unit 25. The communication unit 21 may be a wireless communication device or a wired communication device.

[0038] The input unit 22 is configured using existing input devices such as a keyboard, pointing device (mouse, tablet, etc.), buttons, or touch panel. The input unit 22 is operated by the administrator when inputting instructions from the user (administrator) of the management device 20 to the management device 20. The input unit 22 may also be an interface for connecting the input device to the management device 20. In this case, the input unit 22 inputs the input signal generated in the input device in response to the administrator's input to the management device 20. The input unit 22 may also be configured using a microphone and a speech recognition device. In this case, the input unit 22 acquires the acoustic signal generated by the administrator's speech, performs speech recognition on the words spoken by the administrator, and inputs the recognized string information to the management device 20. The speech recognition processing may be performed by the control unit 25. The input unit 22 may be configured in any way that allows the administrator's instructions to be input to the management device 20.

[0039] The output unit 23 outputs information in a format that can be recognized by the administrator. The output unit 23 may be an image display device such as a liquid crystal display or an organic EL (Electro-Luminescence) display. The output unit 23 may also be an interface for connecting the image display device to the management device 20. In this case, the output unit 23 generates a video signal for displaying image data and outputs the video signal to the image display device connected to it. The output unit 23 may also be a device that outputs sound, such as a speaker. The output unit 23 may also be an interface for connecting an audio output device such as a speaker or headphones to the management device 20. In this case, the output unit 23 generates an audio signal for playing audio data and outputs the audio signal to the audio output device connected to it. The output unit 23 may also be configured as a touch panel integrated with the input unit 22.

[0040] The storage unit 24 is configured using a storage device such as a magnetic hard disk drive or a semiconductor storage device. The storage unit 24 stores data used by the control unit 25. The storage unit 24 stores data necessary when the control unit 25 performs processing. The storage unit 24 functions, for example, as a content information storage unit 241, a customer attribute information storage unit 242, and an estimation model storage unit 243.

[0041] The content information storage unit 241 stores content information. The content information includes characters, images, etc., that are displayed on the store display device 43 of the store system 110. The content information includes, for example, information about products that may be offered at stores managed by the management system 100 (product group data), information about advertisements, and information about games offered to customers.

[0042] The customer attribute information storage unit 242 stores a customer attribute information table containing information about the attributes of customers registered in the management system 100 (hereinafter referred to as "customer attribute information"). Figure 13 shows a specific example of the customer attribute information table. The customer attribute information table has multiple customer attribute information records. Each customer attribute information record has, for example, customer identification information, attribute information, order history, and visit frequency values. Each customer attribute information record contains customer information registered by a single customer.

[0043] Customer identification information is identification information assigned to each customer. Attribute information may include, for example, information about gender and age. Order history is information showing the history of past orders placed by that customer. Order history may show the history for a predetermined period of time going back in time, or the history for a predetermined number of products going back in time, or may be defined in other ways. Visit frequency is information showing how often that customer visits the store. For example, predetermined categories (daily, several times a week, once a week, once a month, etc.) may be defined in advance, and information indicating which category the customer belongs to may be used as the visit frequency value.

[0044] The estimation model storage unit 243 stores the estimation model. The estimation model is used to estimate the products that a customer is likely to order based on customer attribute information. The estimation model may be configured as a trained model obtained by machine learning using training data, for example. In this case, for example, the combination of explanatory variables and the target variable of the training data may be a combination of actual customer attribute information (e.g., attribute information and order history) and the products actually ordered by customers corresponding to that customer attribute information. In addition, the combination of explanatory variables and the target variable may be defined in any other way. For example, a combination of past order history and the classification of products actually ordered may be used. For example, a combination of the elapsed time from the first action described later and the products actually ordered thereafter, or the product classification, may be used. For example, a combination of the time taken from the customer's first action to the second action described later and the products actually ordered thereafter, or the product classification, may be used. The estimation model may also be information such as a LUT (Look Up Table) obtained by performing analytical processing based on past statistics, etc.

[0045] The control unit 25 is composed of a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and memory (main memory). The control unit 25 functions as a content control unit 251, a customer attribute information control unit 252, and a determination unit 253 when the processor executes a program. Note that all or part of the functions of the control unit 25 may be implemented using hardware such as an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), a PLD (Programmable Logic Device), or an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array). The above program may be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium. Computer-readable recording media include, for example, portable media such as flexible disks, magneto-optical disks, ROMs, CD-ROMs, and semiconductor memory devices (e.g., SSDs: Solid State Drives), as well as storage devices such as hard disks and semiconductor memory devices built into computer systems. The above program may be transmitted via a telecommunications line.

[0046] The content control unit 251 accepts registration of content information. For example, the content control unit 251 receives content information received via the communication unit 21 or content information input via the input unit 22. The content control unit 251 records the received content information in the content information storage unit 241. The content control unit 251 may transmit the content information stored in the content information storage unit 241 to all store systems 110 at a predetermined timing (for example, once a day at a predetermined time). The content information transmitted from the content control unit 251 is received, for example, by the store control device 30 of each store system 110.

[0047] The customer attribute information control unit 252 controls the customer attribute information stored in the customer attribute information storage unit 242. The customer attribute information control unit 252 may, for example, receive customer attribute information transmitted as a registration request from the customer terminal device 10, generate a new customer attribute information record using the received customer attribute information, and register it in the customer attribute information table. The customer attribute information control unit 252 may also receive information indicating the customer's order history from the store control device 30 and update the order history in the customer attribute information.

[0048] When the determination unit 253 receives a determination request, it determines which products (hereinafter referred to as "priority display products") should be displayed preferentially to the customer indicated by the customer attribute information included in the determination request. The determination unit 253 transmits the determination result, the priority display products, to the sender of the determination request. The sender of the determination request (for example, the store control device 30) displays the product images 432 of the products included in the priority display products on the store display device 43 of the unit seat 44 where the customer is seated.

[0049] The determination unit 253 may, for example, estimate products that are likely to be ordered by the customer and determine the estimated products as priority display products. Such determination may be performed by any process. More specifically, it may be as follows:

[0050] For example, the determination unit 253 may estimate products that a customer is likely to order based on customer attribute information and an estimation model stored in the estimation model storage unit 243. The determination unit 253 may estimate products that a customer is likely to order based on customer attribute information included in the customer attribute information. For example, products may be estimated based on information such as gender and age included in the attribute information and an estimation model. The determination unit 253 may estimate products that a customer is likely to order based on the customer's past order history included in the customer attribute information. In this case, the determination unit 253 may estimate products that a customer is likely to order based on an estimation model stored in the estimation model storage unit 243 and the order history.

[0051] The determination unit 253 may determine products that are similar to products that the customer has ordered relatively often in the past as priority display products, for example, based on the relationships between similar products that are defined in advance. For example, if products related to "tuna" have been ordered frequently in the past, the group of products defined as similar to tuna products may be determined as priority display products. For example, products in the same or similar price range as products that have been ordered relatively often in the past may be determined as priority display products. If products classified as high-priced have been ordered more often than a predetermined criterion in the past, the group of products classified as high-priced products may be determined as priority display products. It is desirable that the relationship between price range and products be defined in advance.

[0052] For example, the determination unit 253 may determine the priority display product based on the time elapsed since the customer's first action. A specific example of the first action is entering a store. In this case, the determination unit 253 determines the priority display product based on the time elapsed since the customer entered the store. Specifically, if the time elapsed since entering the store is shorter than a predetermined time (e.g., 1 minute, 5 minutes), the determination unit 253 may determine beverages (e.g., soft drinks or alcoholic beverages) as the priority display product. If the time elapsed since entering the store is longer than a predetermined time (e.g., 30 minutes, 1 hour, or, if the store has a time limit for use, a predetermined time before the time limit (e.g., 10 minutes before), etc.), the determination unit 253 may determine products classified as desserts or products classified as tea (including coffee) as the priority display product.

[0053] Such a determination may be made not based on the elapsed time since entering the store, but rather when a predetermined condition (for example, the condition that no order has been placed yet) is met. Alternatively, the determination may be based on the elapsed time since the customer was seated, or on the elapsed time since the seat identification information and customer identification information were registered. In this case, the first action would be the action of sitting down or the action of registering the seat identification information and customer identification information.

[0054] Another specific example of the first action is the action of placing an order. In this case, the determination unit 253 determines the priority display items based on the time elapsed since the customer last placed an order. Specifically, if a predetermined amount of time has elapsed since the customer last placed an order, the determination unit 253 may determine that items classified as a final meal (e.g., rice bowls or ramen), items classified as desserts, or items classified as tea (including coffee) are priority display items.

[0055] For example, the determination unit 253 may determine the priority display product based on the time taken from the customer's first action to the second action. For example, the first action and the second action could be the second-to-last order action and the last order action, respectively. In other words, the priority display product may be determined based on the length of time taken between orders. If this time taken is longer than a predetermined threshold, the priority display product may be determined to be an item classified as a final meal (e.g., a rice bowl or ramen), an item classified as a dessert, or an item classified as tea (including coffee).

[0056] Figure 14 is a schematic block diagram showing a specific example of the store control device 30. The store control device 30 is configured using information equipment such as a personal computer and a server. The store control device 30 includes a communication unit 31, an input unit 32, an output unit 33, a storage unit 34, and a control unit 35.

[0057] The communication unit 31 is a communication device. The communication unit 31 may be configured, for example, as a network interface. The communication unit 31 communicates data with other devices via the network 71 in accordance with the control of the control unit 35. The communication unit 31 may be a device that performs wireless communication or a device that performs wired communication.

[0058] The input unit 32 is configured using existing input devices such as a keyboard, pointing device (mouse, tablet, etc.), buttons, or touch panel. The input unit 32 is operated by the store manager when inputting instructions from the user of the store control device 30 to the store control device 30. The input unit 32 may also be an interface for connecting the input device to the store control device 30. In this case, the input unit 32 inputs the input signal generated in the input device in response to the store manager's input to the store control device 30. The input unit 32 may also be configured using a microphone and a speech recognition device. In this case, the input unit 32 acquires the acoustic signal generated by the store manager's speech, performs speech recognition on the words spoken by the store manager, and inputs the recognized string information to the store control device 30. The speech recognition processing may be performed by the control unit 35. The input unit 32 may be configured in any way that allows the store manager's instructions to be input to the store control device 30.

[0059] The output unit 33 outputs information in a format that can be recognized by the store manager. The output unit 33 may be an image display device such as a liquid crystal display or an organic EL display. The output unit 33 may also be an interface for connecting an image display device to the store control device 30. In this case, the output unit 33 generates a video signal for displaying image data and outputs the video signal to the image display device connected to it. The output unit 33 may also be a device that outputs sound, such as a speaker. The output unit 33 may also be an interface for connecting an audio output device such as a speaker or headphones to the store control device 30. In this case, the output unit 33 generates an audio signal for playing audio data and outputs the audio signal to the audio output device connected to it. The output unit 33 may also be configured as a touch panel integrated with the input unit 32.

[0060] The storage unit 34 is configured using a storage device such as a magnetic hard disk drive or a semiconductor storage device. The storage unit 34 stores data used by the control unit 35. The storage unit 34 stores data necessary when the control unit 35 performs processing. The storage unit 34 functions, for example, as an inventory information storage unit 341, a content information storage unit 342, and an order information storage unit 343.

[0061] The inventory information storage unit 341 stores information about the inventory in the store where the device (store control device 30) is installed. The inventory information may be entered, for example, by a store manager operating the input unit 32. The inventory information may be updated based on the current inventory information, information about newly purchased items, and information about items provided to customers by order.

[0062] The content information storage unit 342 stores content information. The content information stored in the content information storage unit 342 may be content information transmitted from the management device 20. The content information may include information about products (food and beverages) that are out of stock at the store.

[0063] The order information storage unit 343 stores information about the history of orders placed by customers in the store where the device (store control device 30) is installed. For example, for each unit seat 44, the order information storage unit 343 includes customer information (e.g., identification information), order information, information indicating whether or not the items included in the order were provided, and information indicating whether or not payment was made.

[0064] The control unit 35 is composed of a processor such as a CPU and memory (main memory). The control unit 35 functions as a customer attribute information management unit 351, a display control unit 352, and an order control unit 353 when the processor executes a program. Note that all or part of the functions of the control unit 35 may be implemented using hardware such as an ASIC, PLD, or FPGA. The above program may be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium. Computer-readable recording media include, for example, portable media such as flexible disks, magneto-optical disks, ROMs, CD-ROMs, and semiconductor memory devices (e.g., SSDs: Solid State Drives), as well as storage devices such as hard disks and semiconductor memory devices built into computer systems. The above program may be transmitted via a telecommunications line.

[0065] The customer attribute information management unit 351 manages information about customers who visit the store where the device (store control device 30) is installed. The customer attribute information management unit 351 associates the unit seat 44 with the customer attribute information and registers it in the order information storage unit 343. The association between the unit seat 44 and the customer attribute information may be obtained by any process.

[0066] For example, when a customer enters a store, a predetermined reader in the store system 110 reads the code information displayed on the customer terminal device 10, and the unit seat 44 to be provided to that customer is registered by a store employee, thereby associating the unit seat 44 with customer attribute information. The unit seat 44 provided to the customer may be selected by the customer attribute information management unit 351 from among the available unit seats 44 according to the number of customers. The code information read by the predetermined reader may include customer identification information. The customer attribute information management unit 351 obtains the customer identification information by decoding the read code information. The customer attribute information management unit 351 associates the seat identification information indicating the unit seat 44 with the customer identification information and registers it in the order information storage unit 343.

[0067] For example, the code information displayed on the customer terminal device 10 may be captured by a predetermined imaging device installed on the unit seat 44, thereby associating the unit seat 44 with the customer attribute information. In this case, the imaging device transmits seat identification information indicating the unit seat 44 on which it is installed, along with the captured code information, to the store control device 30. The customer attribute information management unit 351 associates the customer identification information indicated by the code information with the seat identification information and registers it in the order information storage unit 343.

[0068] For example, a customer may read code information provided for each unit seat 44 using a customer terminal device 10, thereby associating the unit seat 44 with customer attribute information. In this case, for example, the customer terminal device 10 may transmit the customer identification information stored in the device, along with the store identification information and seat identification information obtained by decoding the code information, to the management device 20. The management device 20 transmits the customer identification information and seat identification information in association to the store control device 30 of the store system 110 indicated by the store identification information. The customer attribute information management unit 351 registers the received customer identification information and seat identification information in association with the order information storage unit 343.

[0069] The display control unit 352 controls the display on the store display device 43. For example, if no customer operation is performed, the display control unit 352 selects products to be displayed from the product group data stored in the content information storage unit 342. At this time, the display control unit 352 may select products that are in stock at the store where the device is installed as products to be displayed. The display control unit 352 displays the products included in the products to be displayed on the store display device 43. For example, the display control unit 352 may randomly select products from the products included in the products to be displayed and display them on the store display device 43 in the order they were selected.

[0070] The display control unit 352 may determine which products to be displayed preferentially (priority display products) for each unit seat 44 based on predetermined criteria. For example, the display control unit 352 may send a determination request to the management device 20 for each unit seat 44 and determine the priority display products according to the priority display products received as a determination result. In this case, the display control unit 352 may determine the priority display products from among the priority display products determined by the management device 20, from among the products that can be provided to customers (e.g., are in stock) at the store where the device is installed. The determination request includes information necessary for the management device 20 to determine the priority display products. Products determined as priority display products are displayed on the store display device 43 at a higher frequency than products that have not been determined as priority display products. Products displayed other than priority display products may be determined according to normal display control. For example, products displayed other than priority display products may be randomly selected from the products included in the products to be displayed, as described above.

[0071] The display control unit 352 may control the display of a predetermined number of products (hereinafter referred to as the "priority display number") per unit timing so as to display the product images 432 of the products determined to be priority display products. A unit timing may be defined as, for example, a unit of time (e.g., 30 seconds, 1 minute) or a unit of product count (e.g., 5 products, 10 products). If the unit timing is defined as 30 seconds and the priority display number is defined as 5, the display will be controlled so that 5 priority display products are displayed in 30 seconds.

[0072] The order control unit 353 accepts orders in response to customer operations. For example, when an order is placed based on customer operations as described in Figures 4 to 11, the order control unit 353 may associate the ordered product with the seat unit 44 to which the order was placed and register it in the order information storage unit 343. The order control unit 353 then displays the ordered product with the seat unit 44 to which the order was placed on the kitchen display device 40.

[0073] Figure 15 is a flowchart illustrating a specific example of the processing performed by the store control device 30. First, the display control unit 352 receives and acquires content information from the management device 20 (step S101). The display control unit 352 records the received content information in the content information storage unit 342. The display control unit 352 determines the display content for each store display device 43 (step S102) and causes each store display device 43 to display an image (step S103). By repeatedly executing steps S102 and S103, product images and the like are displayed on each store display device 43.

[0074] Figure 16 is a schematic diagram of an example hardware configuration of an information processing device 90 applied to this embodiment. The information processing device 90 comprises a processor 91, main memory 92, communication interface 93, auxiliary storage device 94, input / output interface 95, and internal bus 96. The processor 91, main memory 92, communication interface 93, auxiliary storage device 94, and input / output interface 95 are connected to each other via the internal bus 96 so as to be able to communicate with each other. The information processing device 90 may be applied to, for example, a management device 20 and a store control device 30. In this case, for example, the communication unit 21 and the communication unit 31 may be configured using the communication interface 93. For example, the storage unit 24 and the storage unit 34 may be configured using the auxiliary storage device 94. Also, the control unit 25 and the control unit 35 may be configured using the processor 91 and the main memory 92.

[0075] (modified version)

[0076] In this embodiment, the management device 20 and the store control device 30 are configured as separate devices, but they may be configured as a single integrated device. Alternatively, a part of the management device 20 and the store control device 30 may be configured as a single integrated device. For example, the store control device 30 may be configured to include an estimation model storage unit 243 and a determination unit 253. In this configuration, the store control device 30 can determine the priority display product without communicating (sending a determination request) to the management device 20.

[0077] The management device 20 may be implemented using multiple information processing devices. For example, the management device 20 may be implemented using a cloud or other device. For example, in the management device 20, the storage unit 24 and the control unit 25 may be implemented on different information processing devices. For example, the storage unit 24 of the management device 20 may be distributed and implemented on multiple information processing devices. For example, the control unit 25 of the management device 20 may be distributed and implemented on multiple information processing devices.

[0078] While embodiments of this invention have been described in detail above with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to these embodiments and includes designs and the like that do not depart from the spirit of this invention. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0079] 100…Management system, 110…Store system, 10…Customer terminal device, 20…Management device, 21…Communication unit, 22…Input unit, 23…Output unit, 24…Storage unit, 25…Control unit, 30…Store control device, 31…Communication unit, 32…Input unit, 33…Output unit, 34…Storage unit, 35…Control unit, 40…Kitchen display device, 41…Conveying control device, 42…Conveying device, 421…Receiving slot, 43…Store display device, 431…Information display area, 432…Product image, 433…Order operation area, 434…Order screen, 435…Order button, 436…Menu screen, 44…Unit seat

Claims

[Claim 1] A control device for controlling a display device installed in a seat, The display device includes a display means that displays an order screen used by a customer seated in the aforementioned seat when ordering a product. The order screen includes a product movement area, which is an area that displays images of multiple products to be ordered, so that each of them moves in a predetermined direction. The system further includes a selection means for selecting a priority display product, which is a product to be displayed preferentially to the customer, as a plurality of products whose images are displayed in the product movement area, based on at least one of the elapsed time from the customer's first action and the time taken from the customer's first action to the second action. The display means is a control device that, on the order screen, displays the image of the priority display product as one of a predetermined number of product images from a plurality of product images that are displayed to move in a predetermined direction per unit timing, and displays the image of the priority display product at a higher frequency than the images of products that are not selected as priority display products.

Images