Information processing device

Abstract

The present invention provides an information processing device and program that allows for easy editing of settings related to the display of controls for selecting products. [Solution] The system includes a display control means that displays an operation screen on a display unit on which operators corresponding to each of a plurality of products are arranged; a first receiving means that receives a selection operation for a product corresponding to an operator via the operator displayed on the operation screen; a processing means that, when operating in a first operating mode, executes a predetermined process based on the product selected via the operator; and a second receiving means that, when operating in a second operating mode, receives an editing operation for settings related to the state of the product selected via the operator, wherein the display control means changes the display form of the operator according to the content of the editing operation received by the second receiving means.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] An embodiment of the present invention relates to an information processing apparatus and a program.

Background Art

[0002] Information processing apparatuses such as order terminals used in restaurants and POS terminals used in mass retailers employ a user interface that allows a user to select a product via an operator displayed on a display screen. For example, conventionally, a POS terminal is known that displays a plurality of buttons respectively corresponding to different products on a touch panel, and allows a user to select the product assigned to the button by performing a touch operation on the button. Such an information processing apparatus holds a setting file in which the assignments between products and operators are set, and displays the operators for product selection on the screen based on the setting file.

[0003] Meanwhile, there is a demand to reflect the status of products to be sold in the operators for product selection. For example, when a product is out of stock, it is preferable to edit the setting file to display information such as out-of-stock on the operator of the corresponding product, so as to prevent the operator from being operated.

[0004] However, editing the setting file is performed using a dedicated application or a dedicated device, which makes the operation complicated and may take time until the edited content is reflected.

Summary of the Invention

Problem to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide an information processing apparatus and a program that can easily perform setting editing related to the display of operators for selecting products.

Means for Solving the Problem

[0006] The information processing device of this embodiment comprises a display control means, a first receiving means, a processing means, and a second receiving means. The display control means displays an operation screen on a display unit, on which operators corresponding to each of a plurality of products are arranged. The first receiving means receives a product selection operation via the operators displayed on the operation screen. When the processing means is operating in the first operating mode, it performs a predetermined process based on the product selected via the operators. When the second receiving means is operating in the second operating mode, it receives an editing operation for settings related to the state of the product selected via the operators. The display control means also changes the display form of the operators according to the content of the editing operation received by the second receiving means. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0007] [Figure 1] Figure 1 shows an example of the hardware configuration of an order terminal according to the first embodiment. [Figure 2] Figure 2 shows an example of the data structure of a product management file according to the first embodiment. [Figure 3] Figure 3 shows an example of the data structure of the display setting file according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4] Figure 4 shows an example of the functional configuration of an order terminal according to the first embodiment. [Figure 5] Figure 5 shows an example of an operation screen displayed by the display control unit of the first embodiment. [Figure 6] Figure 6 shows an example of an operation screen displayed by the display control unit of the first embodiment. [Figure 7] Figure 7 shows an example of an operation screen displayed by the display control unit of the first embodiment. [Figure 8] Figure 8 shows an example of an operation screen displayed by the display control unit of the first embodiment. [Figure 9] Figure 9 shows an example of an operation screen displayed by the display control unit of the first embodiment. [Figure 10]Figure 10 shows an example of an operation screen displayed by the display control unit of the first embodiment. [Figure 11] Figure 11 shows an example of an operation screen displayed by the display control unit of the first embodiment. [Figure 12] Figure 12 is a flowchart showing an example of the processing performed by the order terminal in the first embodiment. [Figure 13] Figure 13 shows an example of the configuration of an information processing system according to the second embodiment. [Figure 14] Figure 14 shows an example of the functional configuration of an order terminal according to the second embodiment. [Figure 15] Figure 15 shows an example of an operation screen displayed by the display control unit of the second embodiment. [Figure 16] Figure 16 is a flowchart showing an example of the processing performed by the order terminal in the second embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0008] The following describes the information processing device and program of the embodiment with reference to the drawings. The embodiment described below is an example applied to an order terminal used in a restaurant or other type of establishment, but is not limited to this embodiment.

[0009] (First embodiment) Figure 1 shows an example of the hardware configuration of an order terminal according to the first embodiment. The order terminal 10 is an example of an information processing device. The order terminal 10 is a terminal device used when ordering goods (food and beverages) in a store such as a restaurant. Examples of order terminals 10 include a staff-operated type order terminal 10 operated by store employees, and a self-operated type order terminal 10 operated by the customer. Hereinafter, unless otherwise distinguished, each type will be referred to as "order terminal 10".

[0010] The external configuration of the order terminal 10 is not particularly limited. For example, it may be a portable configuration such as a smartphone or a tablet terminal, or a stationary configuration.

[0011] As shown in Figure 1, the order terminal 10 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 11, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 12, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) 13.

[0012] The CPU 11 is an example of a processor, and comprehensively controls each part of the order terminal 10. The ROM 12 stores various programs. The RAM 13 is a workspace for loading programs and various data.

[0013] The CPU 11, the ROM 12, and the RAM 13 are connected via a bus or the like to constitute a control unit 100 having a computer configuration. The control unit 100 executes various processes as the CPU 11 operates according to a program stored in the storage unit 18 and loaded into the RAM 13.

[0014] In addition, the order terminal 10 includes a display unit 14, an operation unit 15, a communication unit 16, a storage unit 17, and the like.

[0015] The display unit 14 is a display device such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display). The display unit 14 displays various types of information under the control of the CPU 11. For example, the display unit 14 displays an operation screen (see Figure 5 and the like) for supporting product ordering operations, and the like.

[0016] The operation unit 15 is an input device for receiving operations from an operator. The operation unit 15 outputs the content of the operation received from the operator to the CPU 11. Note that in the present embodiment, the operation unit 15 is assumed to be a touch panel provided on the display screen of the display unit 14, but is not limited thereto, and may include hardware keys such as buttons and a keyboard, a pointing device, and the like.

[0017] The communication unit 16 is a wired or wireless communication interface that can connect to a network installed within the store. Under the control of the CPU 11, the communication unit 16 connects to the network and transmits and receives various types of data with other devices connected to the network (for example, other order terminals 10 or store servers).

[0018] The memory unit 17 is an auxiliary storage device such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or SSD (Solid State Drive). The memory unit 17 stores various programs and setting information that the CPU 11 can execute. The memory unit 17 also stores the product management file 171 and the display setting file 172.

[0019] Product management file 171 is a file that stores information about products. Product management file 171 stores information about each product, such as the product name and price (hereinafter also referred to as product information).

[0020] Figure 2 shows an example of the data structure of the product management file 171. As shown in Figure 2, the product management file 171 associates each product with an identifiable product code and stores product information related to the product corresponding to that product code. The product code is an example of product identification information that can identify a product.

[0021] Product information includes, for example, product name, price, and product image. The product name is information indicating the name of the product corresponding to the product code. The price is information indicating the price of the product corresponding to the product code. The product image is image data representing the product corresponding to the product code.

[0022] In this embodiment, the order terminal 10 holds the product management file 171, but the system is not limited to this configuration. The product management file 171 may also be held by another device accessible to the order terminal 10 (for example, a store server).

[0023] The display settings file 172 is a file that stores settings related to the display of the operation screen (see Figure 5, etc.), which will be described later. Specifically, the display settings file 172 stores information that defines the relationship between the operator (product selection button Bb, described later) used to select products to display on the operation screen and the products selected by operating the operator.

[0024] Figure 3 shows an example of the data structure of the display settings file 172. As shown in Figure 3, the display settings file 172 stores the category, product code, product image, additional information, and status information in association with each other.

[0025] The category is information that indicates the category of the menu displayed on the operation screen. Categories can be set by product type or arbitrary indicators, such as "Daily Special," "Recommended," "Main," "Side Dish," "Drinks," and "Dessert."

[0026] Product codes correspond to the product codes registered in the product management file 171 and are registered in association with categories. Furthermore, the product codes in the display settings file 172 define the display of the controls, and in the operation screen described later, controls for selecting the product corresponding to each product code are displayed. The registration order of the product codes in the display settings file 172 corresponds to the arrangement order of the controls, and in the operation screen described later, the controls are arranged in the order of the product codes registered in the display settings file 172. Note that information regarding the display layout, such as the arrangement order of the controls, may be stored as separate data.

[0027] The additional information stores information that can be added to the product operator corresponding to the product code for display. For example, the additional information stores information such as the product's logo.

[0028] The status information stores information indicating the status of the product corresponding to the product code. For example, the status information stores setting information indicating whether the product is out of stock or not, setting information indicating freshness such as freshly baked or freshly made, and the time required to provide the product. The status information stores settings such as "not out of stock", "freshness not set", and "standard time required to provide the product" as the default state.

[0029] The control unit 100 of the order terminal 10 displays an operation screen on the display unit 14 that allows the user to place an order for products, based on the product management file 171 and the display setting file 172. The user of the order terminal 10 can place an order by operating the operation screen displayed on the display unit 14, selecting the products to be ordered from among multiple products.

[0030] Next, the functional configuration of the order terminal 10 will be described with reference to Figure 4. Figure 4 is a diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the order terminal 10 according to the first embodiment.

[0031] As shown in Figure 4, the order terminal 10 includes a display control unit 101, an operation reception unit 102, an order processing unit 103, and a setting editing unit 104 as functional units.

[0032] Specifically, the control unit 100 (CPU 11) of the 10 realizes the above-described functional configuration by executing programs stored in the ROM 12 and the storage unit 17. In this embodiment, the functional configuration of the order terminal 10 is a software configuration realized through the cooperation of the processor and program of the order terminal 10, but it is not limited to this, and a hardware configuration in which some or all of the functional configuration is realized by dedicated circuits, etc., is also possible.

[0033] The display control unit 101 is an example of a display control means. The display control unit 101 controls the display unit 14 to display various screens on the display unit 14. For example, the display control unit 101 displays an operation screen, which will be described later, on the display unit 14 based on the product management file 171 and the display setting file 172.

[0034] The operation reception unit 102 is an example of the first and second reception means. The operation reception unit 102 works in cooperation with the operation unit 15 to receive operations from the operator. For example, the operation reception unit 102 receives operations on the operation screen displayed on the display unit 14.

[0035] The order processing unit 103 is an example of a processing means. When the product to be ordered is determined by an operation on the operation screen, the order processing unit 103 transmits order information specifying the product to an external device. Specifically, the order processing unit 103 generates order information that includes the product code and quantity of the ordered product, an identification code that identifies its own order terminal 10, etc. Then, the order processing unit 103 transmits the generated order information to an external device such as an order management device set up in the kitchen or a store server.

[0036] Here, we will explain an example of the operation of the display control unit 101, the operation reception unit 102, and the order processing unit 103, referring to the operation screen displayed by the display control unit 101.

[0037] Figure 5 shows an example of an operation screen G displayed by the display control unit 101 of the first embodiment. As shown in Figure 5, the operation screen G has a first region Ga, a second region Gb, a third region Gc, and a fourth region Gd.

[0038] The first area Ga is provided, for example, above the operation screen G. The first area Ga displays information such as the operating mode of the order terminal 10, the current date and time, and an identification code that can identify the order terminal 10, as well as operators such as a drawer menu DR. In addition, "Order" is displayed in the first area Ga to indicate that the order terminal 10 is in an operating mode in which products can be ordered (hereinafter also referred to as the order mode). The order mode is an example of the first operating mode.

[0039] The second area Gb is located, for example, below the first area Ga and to the left of the operation screen G. The second area Gb displays operation buttons that allow users to select categories. Specifically, the display control unit 101 displays an operation button in the second area Gb that represents the name of each category registered in the display setting file 172. Figure 5 shows an example in which category buttons Ba for six categories, "Daily Special," "Recommended," "Main," "Side Menu," "Drinks," and "Desserts," are displayed in the second area Gb.

[0040] The third region Gc is provided, for example, below the first region Ga and adjacent to the right of the second region Gb. The third region Gc displays product selection buttons Bb corresponding to each product code associated with the category selected in the second region Gb. Here, the product selection buttons Bb are an example of operators for selecting a product.

[0041] Specifically, the display control unit 101 refers to the display setting file 172 and identifies each of the product codes associated with the category selected in the second area Gb. Next, the display control unit 101 reads the product information (product name, price, product image, etc.) for the identified product codes from the product management file 171 and generates a product selection button Bb for each product code, representing the product name, price, product image, etc. Furthermore, the display control unit 101 generates product selection buttons Bb with additional information and images corresponding to the additional information and status information stored in association with the product code. Finally, the display control unit 101 displays the generated product selection buttons Bb in the third area Gc in the order set in the display setting file 172.

[0042] Figure 5 shows an example where the category "Recommended" is selected in the second area Gb, and product selection buttons Bb, representing each product associated with this category, are arranged in a predetermined order.

[0043] The operator of the order terminal 10 can select a product to be ordered by operating (for example, by touching) the product selection button Bb displayed in the third area Gc. If the operator selects another category from the second area Gb, the product selection buttons Bb for each product in the selected category will be displayed in the third area Gc. In other words, on the operation screen G, the product selection buttons Bb for products belonging to the selected category will be displayed in the third area Gc according to the category selection operation.

[0044] The fourth area Gd is displayed, for example, below the second area Gb and the third area Gc. The fourth area Gd displays the total number of items and the total price of the items selected for order in the third area Gc. The fourth area Gd also displays a confirmation button Bc that instructs the user to confirm the order. The operator of the order terminal 10 checks the information displayed in the fourth area Gd and, if they decide to order the items selected in the third area Gc, they touch the confirmation button Bc.

[0045] When the confirmation button Bc is pressed, the order processing unit 103 transmits order information, including the product code, quantity, and terminal identification code of the product selected by the product selection button Bb in the third area Gc, to an external device.

[0046] Thus, with the order terminal 10, it is possible to specify the product to be ordered and place an order by selecting an operator (product selection button Bb) that represents the product displayed on the display unit 14.

[0047] Incidentally, the status of products selectable on the aforementioned operation screen G generally changes dynamically. For example, a product may become out of stock depending on inventory levels and customer order status. Also, for products that require cooking or processing, there are predetermined freshness statuses, such as freshly baked or freshly made.

[0048] The status of the products mentioned above can be displayed on the operation screen G (for example, the third area Gc) to improve the convenience of product selection. For example, explicitly indicating out-of-stock products can prevent users from selecting out-of-stock items. Also, explicitly indicating freshly baked or freshly made products can encourage users to select those items.

[0049] However, in conventional configurations, it is common to directly edit the display settings file 172 using a dedicated application or terminal in order to reflect the status of the products described above on the operation screen G. Therefore, in conventional configurations, editing the information indicating the status of products (status information) takes time, which means that out-of-stock status cannot be reflected quickly, and there is a possibility that problems may occur, such as out-of-stock products being selected on the order terminal 10.

[0050] Therefore, the order terminal 10 of the present invention is equipped with a setting editing unit 104 for editing the status of products. The setting editing unit 104 is an example of a first receiving means, a second receiving means, and a switching means. The setting editing unit 104 works in cooperation with the display control unit 101 and the operation receiving unit 102, etc., to provide a user interface that allows editing of information indicating the status of products (status information), etc.

[0051] Specifically, when the operation screen G is displayed, the settings editing unit 104 switches the operation mode of the order terminal 10 from order mode to an operation mode (hereinafter also referred to as editing mode) in which information indicating the status of the product (status information), etc., can be edited. Then, in editing mode, the settings editing unit 104 works in cooperation with the display control unit 101 and the operation reception unit 102, etc., to display a user interface (GUI) on the operation screen G that allows editing of status information, etc. Note that editing mode is an example of a second operation mode.

[0052] The following describes an example of the operation of the settings editing unit 104, referring to the operation screen G. For example, when a predetermined operation is performed on the operation screen G shown in Figure 5, the settings editing unit 104 switches the operation mode of the order terminal 10 to editing mode.

[0053] The method for switching from order mode to edit mode is not particularly limited and can be set arbitrarily. For example, the settings editing unit 104 may switch to edit mode if an operator such as the category button Ba or the product selection button Bb is pressed and held for a predetermined time. Alternatively, for example, the settings editing unit 104 may switch to edit mode if an operation to switch to edit mode is performed from the drawer menu DR in the first area Ga.

[0054] Furthermore, if the order terminal 10 is a self-operation type, it is preferable to restrict switching to edit mode to only store employees in order to prevent accidental switching to edit mode by the customer. For example, the operation method may be made more complex, such as requiring multiple steps to switch to edit mode. Alternatively, for example, when switching to edit mode, the user may be required to enter verification information such as a predetermined password or employee ID. In this case, the setting editing unit 104 compares the entered verification information with the information to be verified that has been stored in advance in the storage unit 118, etc., and switches to edit mode if they match. Alternatively, for example, if the order terminal 10 can be used by switching between self-operation type and employee-operated type by entering verification information when the order terminal 10 is started up, the setting editing unit 104 may switch to edit mode only when operating in employee-operated type mode.

[0055] When the settings editing unit 104 switches to editing mode, it works in cooperation with the display control unit 101 to clearly indicate on the operation screen G that it is operating in editing mode.

[0056] Figure 6 shows an example of the operation screen G displayed by the display control unit 101 of the first embodiment. Here, Figure 6 shows an example of the operation screen G displayed in edit mode.

[0057] As shown in Figure 6, when the order terminal 10 is switched to edit mode, the operation screen G indicates that it is in edit mode. For example, "Editing" is displayed in the first area Ga of the operation screen G to indicate that it is in edit mode. Also, for example, the display format of the product selection button Bb displayed in the third area Gc is changed. In Figure 6, the product selection button Bb is displayed in a tilted state, and the display color of the border of the product selection button Bb is changed.

[0058] This allows the operator of the order terminal 10 to easily recognize that the order terminal 10 has entered edit mode by looking at the operation screen G. Note that the display indicating edit mode is not limited to the example in Figure 6. For example, the shape of the product selection button Bb may be changed, or the border of the product selection button Bb may be made to blink.

[0059] In the state shown in Figure 6, the operation screen G allows the user to select the product selection button Bb for the product to be edited. Furthermore, if the category is changed by operating the category button Ba, the product selection button Bb displayed in the third area Gc will be updated according to the changed category, similar to the order mode. In other words, in edit mode, the operation screen G allows the user to select the product to be edited using the same method as in order mode.

[0060] When a product to be edited is selected by operating the product selection button Bb, the setting editing unit 104 works in cooperation with the display control unit 101 to display an editing screen Ge to support the editing operation, as shown in Figure 7.

[0061] Figure 7 shows an example of an operation screen G displayed by the display control unit 101 of the first embodiment. Here, Figure 7 shows an example of an editing screen Ge that is displayed when a product to be edited is selected.

[0062] As shown in Figure 7, the editing screen Ge is displayed overlaid on the operation screen G, for example, in association with the product selection button Bb of the product to be edited (also called superimposed display or pop-up display). In Figure 7, an example is shown where the product selection button Bb for the product name "CCC" is selected, and the editing screen Ge is displayed in association with this product selection button Bb. In addition, the selected product selection button Bb for the product name "CCC" is highlighted so that it can be distinguished from other product selection buttons Bb.

[0063] The editing screen Ge displays controls that allow you to change information indicating the status of the product (status information). Figure 7 shows an example where the editing screen Ge displays the first toggle button Bd, the second toggle button Be, and the spin button Bf. The first toggle button Bd is a control to set whether or not the product is out of stock. The second toggle button Be is a control to set whether or not the product is freshly baked. The spin button Bf is a control to set the time required until delivery, and the set time is displayed in area A on the screen.

[0064] The operator of the order terminal 10 can change the status information of the selected product by operating the editing screen Ge. For example, Figure 7 shows an example where the product name "CCC" has been changed to an out-of-stock status.

[0065] The settings displayed on the editing screen Ge are defined in the status information, but are not limited to the example in Figure 7. For example, the editable settings may be changed depending on the type and characteristics of the selected product. In addition, the settings related to the display of the editing screen Ge may be stored in a separate file other than the status information. Furthermore, it may be configured to allow the input of any string other than the settings. In this case, for example, the entered string may be displayed overlaid on the product selection button Bb.

[0066] Furthermore, the editing screen Ge is equipped with a confirmation button Bg to indicate the finalization of the edited content. When the confirmation button Bg is pressed, the settings editing unit 104 reflects the edited content set on the editing screen Ge in the status information of the corresponding product in the display settings file 172. Specifically, the settings editing unit 104 searches the display settings file 172 for the product code corresponding to the selected product selection button Bb from among the product codes associated with the currently displayed category, and sets the edited content in the status information of the found product code. For example, in the case of Figure 7, the status information of the product name "CCC," which is stored in association with the category "Recommended," is set to indicate "Out of Stock."

[0067] Then, the settings editing unit 104 works in cooperation with the display control unit 101 to display the selected product selection button Bb in a display format corresponding to the changed status information. For example, if "Out of Stock" is set as the status information, information indicating "Out of Stock" will be displayed on the product selection button Bb, as shown in Figure 8.

[0068] Here, Figure 8 shows an example of the operation screen G displayed by the display control unit 101 of the first embodiment. Here, Figure 8 shows an example of the editing screen Ge when the "out of stock" status is set. As shown in Figure 8, when "out of stock" is set for the product name "CCC", the words or image indicating "out of stock" are superimposed on the product selection button Bb for this product. Also, the product selection button Bb is displayed in a grayed-out state. In this case, the setting editing unit 104 may cooperate with the operation reception unit 102 to disable the selection operation for the product selection button Bb of the product name "CCC" in order mode, thereby preventing out-of-stock products from being ordered.

[0069] Furthermore, in the state shown in Figure 8, it is also possible to edit the status of another product. For example, if the product with the product name "AAA" is selected as the target for modification, the settings editing unit 104 displays the editing screen Ge associated with the product with the product name "AAA," as shown in Figure 9.

[0070] Figure 9 shows an example of an operation screen G displayed by the display control unit 101 of the first embodiment. Here, Figure 9 shows an example of an editing screen Ge that is displayed when a product to be edited is selected.

[0071] As shown in Figure 9, when the product selection button Bb for product name "AAA" is selected, the editing screen Ge is displayed in association with this product selection button Bb. Here, the "Freshly Made" setting item on the editing screen Ge in Figure 9 is the same setting item as the "Freshly Baked" setting item on the editing screen Ge shown in Figure 7, and is defined by changing the wording according to the type or characteristics of the selected product.

[0072] Here, after the second toggle button Be is operated to set the state to "freshly made," if the confirm button Bg is operated, the setting editing unit 104 reflects the changed state in the state information of the corresponding product. Then, as shown in Figure 10, the setting editing unit 104 displays the selected product selection button Bb in a display format corresponding to the changed state information.

[0073] Figure 10 shows an example of the operation screen G displayed by the display control unit 101 of the first embodiment. Here, Figure 10 shows an example of the editing screen Ge when the "freshly made" status is set. As shown in Figure 10, when the "freshly made" status is set for the product name "AAA", information indicating "freshly made" is added to the product selection button Bb for this product.

[0074] Furthermore, the display of information such as "freshly made" added to the product selection button Bb may be configured to automatically disappear over time. For example, the system could automatically measure the time elapsed since "freshly made" was displayed, and after a predetermined time (e.g., 20 minutes), the display could be removed without any user intervention. This would prevent the inconvenience of a product continuing to display "freshly made" even when it is no longer in a state where it can be considered freshly made, simply because no action was taken to remove the display.

[0075] The 20 minutes mentioned above as the time until automatic deactivation is just an example; it is desirable that a value be set for each product that takes into account changes over time. The time until automatic deactivation can be set by pre-determining a fixed value, or by allowing the user to set the value on the editing screen Ge or a separate screen as shown in Figures 7 and 9. In the former case, for example, it can be set together with the settings for the phrases "freshly baked" or "freshly made" mentioned above. In the latter case, for example, when the second toggle button Be for the "freshly made" setting item is operated on the editing screen Ge shown in Figure 9, a pop-up window that accepts input for the time until deactivation can be displayed. Of course, the time until automatic deactivation can be set by a method other than those described above.

[0076] Furthermore, another example related to automatic deactivation is the case of products with limited quantities. For example, in the case of products with a limited number of units available for sale, such as "limited to 50 units," a countdown process may be implemented where the number of orders received is subtracted from the limited quantity (50 in the example above), and the product is switched to "out of stock" when the limited quantity reaches "0."

[0077] The above case will be explained in more detail. First, in the case of a product with a limited number of units available for sale, this information is displayed on the product selection button Bb. That is, the display control unit 101 overlays the text, such as "Limited to 50 units," on the product selection button Bb. This text is determined according to the type or characteristics of the product, similar to the example of "Freshly Made" mentioned above. The process for displaying this text is as follows.

[0078] First, similar to the "Freshly Made" setting in the editing screen Ge shown in Figure 9, "Limited to n items" is displayed on the editing screen Ge as a selectable item that can be set by operating the second toggle button Be. When the state is set to "Limited to n items" by operating the second toggle button Be, the user is then prompted to input a numerical value to be used for "n" via a pop-up window, for example, as described above. This numerical value can be entered by changing the value using the up and down keys, or by selecting from the options.

[0079] Next, when the confirm button Bg is pressed, the settings editing unit 104 reflects the changed state in the status information of the corresponding product. Then, the settings editing unit 104 displays the selected product selection button Bb in a display format corresponding to the changed status information.

[0080] Subsequently, the control unit 100 of the order terminal 10 performs a countdown process each time an order for the product is received, subtracting the number of orders received from the limited quantity. When the limited quantity reaches "0" through the countdown process, the control unit 100 reflects the "out of stock" status in the status information of the corresponding product in the setting editing unit 104. The setting editing unit 104 then displays the selected product selection button Bb in a display format corresponding to the changed status information.

[0081] In addition, in editing mode, the edit confirmation button Bh is displayed in the fourth area Gd. The edit confirmation button Bh is an operator used to signal the end of editing mode. When the edit confirmation button Bh is operated, the setting editing unit 104 switches from editing mode to order mode. For example, if the edit confirmation button Bh is operated in the state shown in Figure 10, the order mode operation screen G is displayed, as shown in Figure 11, with the operation mode display in the first area Ga and the tilt of the product selection button Bb reset.

[0082] Figure 11 shows an example of the operation screen G displayed by the display control unit 101 of the first embodiment. Here, Figure 11 shows an example of the editing screen Ge when returning from editing mode to ordering mode. As shown in Figure 11, the product selection buttons Bb for products named "AAA" and "CCC" edited in editing mode are displayed in a display format according to the settings after editing, similar to Figure 10. In other words, the state of products edited in editing mode is maintained even after transitioning to ordering mode.

[0083] Thus, the order terminal 10 of this embodiment provides an interface that allows for easy editing of settings related to the display of product selection buttons Bb by directly using the operation screen G used for ordering products. As a result, when a status such as being out of stock occurs, the operator of the order terminal 10 can quickly reflect that status on the product selection button Bb for the corresponding product. Furthermore, since the operator of the order terminal 10 can edit the settings related to the display of product selection buttons Bb using the operation screen G used for ordering products, product ordering and status editing can be performed seamlessly. Therefore, the operator of the order terminal 10 can easily edit the settings related to the display of product selection buttons Bb.

[0084] In this embodiment, the system is configured to reflect the edited content in the display settings file 172 only when the confirmation button Bg on the editing screen Ge is operated, but this is not the only configuration. For example, the settings editing unit 104 may be configured to reflect the edited content of each product edited in previous operations into the display settings file 172 all at once, only when the edit confirmation button Bh is operated.

[0085] The following describes an example of the processing performed by the order terminal 10, with reference to Figure 12. Figure 12 is a flowchart showing an example of the processing performed by the order terminal 10 in the first embodiment.

[0086] First, as a prerequisite for this process, it is assumed that the operation screen G is displayed on the display unit 14 of the order terminal 10 (step S11). Also, it is assumed that the order terminal 10 is operating in order mode (step S12).

[0087] The operation reception unit 102 determines whether or not it has received a switch operation to switch to edit mode (step S13). If the switch operation is not received in step S13 (step S13; No), the operation reception unit 102 proceeds to step S14.

[0088] In step S14, the operation reception unit 102 determines whether or not it has received a product selection operation via the product selection button Bb (step S14). If the operation reception unit 102 does not receive a selection operation (step S14; No), the process proceeds to step S16. If the operation reception unit 102 has received a product selection operation (step S14; Yes), the order processing unit 103 sets the selected product as an item to be ordered (step S15).

[0089] Next, the operation reception unit 102 determines whether or not a decision operation to confirm an order has been performed (step S16). If the operation reception unit 102 does not accept the order decision operation (step S16; No), the process returns to step S13.

[0090] Furthermore, if the operation reception unit 102 receives an order confirmation operation (step S16; Yes), the order processing unit 103 generates order information based on the product codes of the products set as the target of the order in the previous processing (step S17). Then, the order processing unit 103 transmits the generated order information to the external device (step S18) and returns to step S13. If no products are set as the target of the order at the time the order confirmation operation is received, the order processing unit 103 does not proceed to step S17 and returns to step S13.

[0091] On the other hand, if the operation reception unit 102 accepts a switch to editing mode in step S13 (step S13; Yes), the setting editing unit 104 switches the order terminal 10 to editing mode (step S19).

[0092] Next, the operation reception unit 102 determines whether or not it has received a product selection operation via the product selection button Bb (step S20). If the operation reception unit 102 does not receive a product selection operation (step S20; No), the process proceeds to step S24. If the operation reception unit 102 does receive a product selection operation (step S20; Yes), the setting editing unit 104 displays the editing screen Ge associated with the selected product (step S21).

[0093] Here, the operator of the order terminal 10 can change settings such as the status of the product via the editing screen Ge displayed in step S21. The setting editing unit 104 waits until the operation reception unit 102 receives a decision operation instructing it to decide to change the settings (step S22; No). When the operation reception unit 102 receives the decision operation (step S22; Yes), the setting editing unit 104 reflects the changed settings in the display setting file 172 (step S23). Accordingly, the product selection button Bb reflecting the edited settings is displayed on the operation screen G.

[0094] Next, the settings editing unit 104 determines whether the operation reception unit 102 has received a mode switching operation that instructs the end of editing mode (step S24). If the operation reception unit 102 does not receive a mode switching operation (step S24; No), the settings editing unit 104 returns to step S20. If the operation reception unit 102 does receive a mode switching operation (step S24; Yes), the settings editing unit 104 returns to step S12, thereby returning the operation mode of the order terminal 10 to order mode.

[0095] As described above, the order terminal 10 of this embodiment displays an operation screen G on the display unit 14, which has product selection buttons Bb corresponding to each of several products, and accepts product selection operations via the product selection buttons Bb. When the order terminal 10 is operating in order mode, it executes processing related to the order of the product selected via the product selection buttons Bb, and when it is operating in edit mode, it accepts editing operations for settings related to the status of the product selected via the product selection buttons Bb. The order terminal 10 then changes the display form of the product selection buttons Bb displayed on the operation screen G according to the content of the editing operation.

[0096] As a result, if a situation arises that requires a change in the status of a product, the operator of the order terminal 10 can edit the display settings of the product selection button Bb using the same operation screen G and product selection button Bb used for ordering the product. Therefore, in the order terminal 10 of this embodiment, the display settings of the product selection button Bb can be easily edited, and the edited status can be quickly reflected in the product selection button Bb.

[0097] As described above, this embodiment provides an information processing device and program that allows for easy editing of settings related to the display of operators for selecting products. With the information processing device provided in this embodiment, for example, out-of-stock products can be explicitly displayed, thereby preventing out-of-stock products from being selected. Also, for example, freshly baked or freshly made products can be explicitly displayed, thereby encouraging the selection of freshly baked or freshly made products and contributing to sales promotion.

[0098] (Second embodiment) The above-described embodiment explains a configuration in which the status of an order terminal 10 can edit on its own. However, in a configuration where multiple order terminals 10 are used in the same store, for example, it may be preferable to apply the status of an item edited on one order terminal 10 to the other order terminals 10 as well. For example, if an item is out of stock, it is appropriate to prevent orders for that item from being placed on any of the order terminals 10.

[0099] Therefore, in the second embodiment, a configuration will be described that allows the status of a product set in one order terminal 10 to be reflected in other order terminals 10. Note that components similar to those in the first embodiment will be given the same reference numerals and their descriptions will be omitted.

[0100] Figure 13 shows an example of the configuration of an information processing system according to the second embodiment. As shown in Figure 13, the information processing system 1 has a plurality of order terminals 20 and a server device 30. The order terminals 20 and the server device 30 are connected to each other so as to be able to communicate with each other via a network N such as a LAN (Local Area Network).

[0101] The order terminal 20 corresponds to the order terminal 10 in the embodiment described above, and has the same hardware configuration as the order terminal 10.

[0102] The server device 30 is, for example, a store server and has a computer configuration similar to that of the order terminal 10 described above. The server device 30 also stores and manages the product management file 171 and the display setting file 172 in a storage device such as an HDD.

[0103] The product management file 171 and display setting file 172 stored in the server device 30 are, for example, the basic information for the product management file 171 and display setting file 172 held by each of the order terminals 20, and are distributed to each of the order terminals 20 via the network N. In this case, the control unit 100 of the order terminal 20 receives the product management file 171 and display setting file 172 distributed from the server device 30 and stores them in the storage unit 17. Hereinafter, the display setting file 172 stored in the server device 30 will also be referred to as the "master".

[0104] Figure 14 shows an example of the functional configuration of the order terminal 20 according to the second embodiment. As shown in Figure 14, the order terminal 20 includes a display control unit 101, an operation reception unit 102, an order processing unit 103, and a setting editing unit 201 as functional units.

[0105] Specifically, the control unit 100 of the order terminal 20 realizes the above-described functional configuration by executing a program stored in the ROM 12 or the storage unit 17. In this embodiment, the functional configuration of the order terminal 20 is a software configuration realized through the cooperation of the order terminal 20's processor and program, but it is not limited to this, and a hardware configuration in which some or all of the functional configuration is realized by a dedicated circuit or the like may also be used.

[0106] The settings editing unit 201 is a functional unit corresponding to the settings editing unit 104 of the embodiment described above, and has the same functions as the settings editing unit 104. Furthermore, the settings editing unit 201 is an example of a reflection means, and when the status of a product is edited from the operation screen G, it performs processing to reflect the edited content in the master of the server device 30.

[0107] Specifically, when the status of a product is changed in editing mode and the server device 30 is instructed to reflect the edited content in its master, the settings editing unit 201 notifies the server device 30 of the category and product code of the edited product, as well as the settings of the edited items.

[0108] The control unit of the server device 30, which is implemented by the computer configuration of the server device 30, searches for products of the category and product code specified in the edit content from the display setting file 172 when it receives notification of edit content from the order terminal 20. The control unit of the server device 30 also reflects the settings of the items specified in the edit content in the status information of the searched products.

[0109] Then, when the control unit of the server device 30 updates the display setting file 172, it distributes the updated display setting file 172 to each of the order terminals 20. The control unit of the server device 30 may also distribute the updated display setting file 172 to the remaining order terminals 20, excluding the order terminal 20 that was notified of the edited content. Alternatively, the control unit of the server device 30 may distribute only the differential data corresponding to the updated portion of the display setting file 172. In this case, the order terminal 20 that receives the differential data will have the setting editing unit 201 (or control unit 100) update the display setting file 172 based on the differential data, thereby reflecting the status of the products edited by other order terminals 20 to its own order terminal 20.

[0110] In this way, in the information processing system 1 of this embodiment, the status of a product edited on one order terminal 20 is reflected on the other order terminals 20. This means that, for example, if a product goes out of stock, changing the setting of the corresponding product to out of stock on one order terminal 20 will reflect that edit on the other order terminals 20, thus enabling synchronization of the operation screen G across all order terminals 20.

[0111] Furthermore, the settings editing unit 201 may be configured to reflect the edited product's content in the master when instructed to do so. In this case, for example, the operator may be asked whether or not to reflect the edited content in the master using the operation screen G shown in Figure 15.

[0112] Figure 15 shows an example of the operation screen G displayed by the display control unit 101 of the second embodiment. Here, Figure 15 shows an example of the operation screen G displayed in edit mode.

[0113] As shown in Figure 15, the operation screen G has a first region Ga, a second region Gb, a third region Gc, and a fourth region Gd, similar to the embodiment described above. In addition, in editing mode, selecting the product selection button Bb displayed in the third region Gc on the operation screen G displays the editing screen Ge, similar to the embodiment described above. Note that Figure 15 shows the state where the product selection button for the product name "CCC" is selected.

[0114] Meanwhile, in the fourth area Gd, a first button Bi is displayed to instruct the system to apply the edits made on the editing screen Ge only to this terminal, and a second button Bj is displayed to instruct the system to apply the edits to the master.

[0115] When the first button Bi is pressed, the settings editing unit 201 switches the operating mode of the order terminal 10 to order mode. In other words, when the first button Bi is pressed, the settings editing unit 201 does not notify the server device 30 of the edited content, so the edited content is limited to its own order terminal 20.

[0116] Meanwhile, when the second button Bj is pressed, the settings editing unit 201 notifies the server device 30 of the edited content and then switches the operating mode of the order terminal 10 to order mode. In other words, when the second button Bj is pressed, the settings editing unit 201 notifies the server device 30 of the edited content, so that the edited content set on its own order terminal 20 is reflected on other order terminals 20 as well.

[0117] In this way, by allowing users to choose whether or not to reflect the edited content set on the order terminal 20 in the master, that is, whether or not to reflect it in other order terminals 20, convenience can be improved.

[0118] In this embodiment, the editing content performed at one order terminal 20 is reflected to other order terminals 20 via the server device 30, but this is not the only configuration. For example, the setting editing unit 201 of the order terminal 20 where the product editing operation was performed may notify other order terminals 20 of the editing content, thereby directly reflecting it to the other order terminals 20.

[0119] In this case, the settings editing unit 201 on the other order terminal 20 that receives notification of the edited content updates the display settings file 172 stored in its own terminal's memory unit 17 based on the notified edited content. This makes it possible to reflect the status of products edited on one order terminal 20 to other order terminals 20.

[0120] Next, an example of the processing performed by the order terminal 20 of this embodiment will be described with reference to Figure 16. Figure 16 is a flowchart showing an example of the processing performed by the order terminal 20 of the second embodiment. Steps S31 to S44 in Figure 16 are the same as steps S11 to S23 described in Figure 12, so their explanation will be omitted.

[0121] If the operation reception unit 102 has received a mode switching operation in step S44 (step S44; Yes), the settings editing unit 201 determines whether the operation reception unit 102 has received an instruction to further reflect the edited content to other order terminals 20 (step S45). If the operation reception unit 102 has not received an instruction to reflect the content to other order terminals 20 (step S45; No), the settings editing unit 201 returns to step S32.

[0122] On the other hand, if the operation reception unit 102 receives an instruction to reflect the changes in another order terminal 20 (step S45; Yes), the setting editing unit 201 notifies the server device 30 or the other order terminal 20 of the edited content and reflects the edited content in the other order terminal 20 (step S46). Then, the setting editing unit 201 returns to step S32.

[0123] As described above, the order terminal 20 of this embodiment has the same configuration as the order terminal 10 of the above-described embodiment, and can reflect the contents of editing operations received on the operation screen G to other order terminals 20 by indirectly notifying them via the server device 30 or by directly notifying them.

[0124] As a result, stores using multiple order terminals 20 can achieve the effects of the embodiment described above, and the content of editing operations performed on one order terminal 20 can be reflected on other order terminals 20, thereby improving convenience.

[0125] As described above, according to this embodiment, the status of a product set on one order terminal 10 can be reflected on other order terminals 10. For example, in a configuration where multiple order terminals 10 are used in the same store, the status of a product edited on one order terminal 10 can be applied to other order terminals 10 as well. This allows, for example, when a product goes out of stock, the process of reflecting the out-of-stock product on the order screen to prevent orders for that product from being placed on all order terminals 10 can be done with significantly fewer steps compared to conventional configurations. Therefore, the cessation of order acceptance for out-of-stock products on the order terminals 10 can be completed quickly. Consequently, inconveniences caused by orders for out-of-stock products being entered can be prevented.

[0126] Furthermore, each of the embodiments described above can be modified and implemented as appropriate by changing some of the configurations or functions of the respective devices described above. Therefore, several modifications of each of the embodiments described above will be described below as other embodiments. In the following, we will mainly describe the differences from each of the embodiments described above, and will omit detailed explanations of points that are common with what has already been described. Also, the modifications described below may be implemented individually or in combination as appropriate.

[0127] (Variation 1) In the above-described embodiment, an example of application to an order terminal 10 for placing product orders was explained, but the application is not limited to this. For example, it can also be applied to product sales data processing devices such as POS terminals used in mass retailers such as supermarkets and convenience stores.

[0128] Generally, product sales data processing devices read a product code that identifies a product from a code symbol such as a barcode attached to the product, and then register the product purchased by the customer based on that product code. In addition, product sales data processing devices also place product selection buttons corresponding to multiple products sold in a store on the operation screen, and register the product selected via these product selection buttons.

[0129] In this case, the operation screen is displayed based on files similar to the product management file 171 and display settings file 172 described above. Furthermore, the product sales data processing device maintains at least the display settings file 172 on its own terminal.

[0130] When applied to a product sales data processing device, the product sales data processing device includes the display control unit 101, operation reception unit 102, and setting editing unit 104 as functional units. In this case, instead of the order processing unit 103, a functional unit of the product sales data processing device that performs registration processing of products selected via product selection buttons is an example of a processing means.

[0131] For example, in mass retailers, products may be out of stock depending on sales and inventory levels. Also, prepared foods may be cooked and sold, making it useful to indicate freshness, such as "freshly made." In convenience stores, fast food may be sold near the counter where the POS terminal is located. In such cases, similar to the embodiment described above, the operation screen can be displayed in edit mode, and the settings related to the status of the relevant product can be edited to easily reflect the product status in the product selection button.

[0132] Furthermore, any device that uses an operation screen to process product registration can be applied to devices other than product sales data processing devices. For example, nowadays, product registration is often done using smartphones or tablet devices, and this technology can be applied to these devices as well. Moreover, it can be applied to devices that perform processes other than order placement and registration on products selected via an operation screen.

[0133] (Modification 2) In the above-described embodiment, a method for editing settings related to the status of a product was explained using the operation screen G. However, the objects of editing are not limited to this.

[0134] For example, the content set in the additional information may be editable.

[0135] Furthermore, the display format of the product selection buttons Bb shown on the operation screen G may be made editable. Specifically, the operation screen G in edit mode may be configured to accept editing operations related to the table format of the product selection buttons Bb, such as editing (changing) the arrangement order of the product selection buttons Bb, or hiding or deleting the product selection buttons Bb.

[0136] For example, if an operation is performed to change the arrangement order of the product selection buttons Bb, the settings editing unit 104 changes the registration order of the records related to the corresponding product codes registered in the display settings file 172 according to the changed arrangement order of the product selection buttons Bb. This updates the layout of the product selection buttons Bb displayed on the operation screen G.

[0137] Furthermore, for example, if an editing operation is performed to hide a product selection button Bb, the setting editing unit 104 controls the operation so that the product selection button Bb is not displayed on the operation screen G by setting the status information related to the product code of the product selection button Bb that was the target of the operation to "hidden". In this case, the display control unit 101 may suppress the display of the product selection button Bb itself for the product code that has been set to "hidden", or it may display a blank area of ​​the same size as the product selection button Bb instead of the product selection button Bb. When operating in editing mode, it is preferable to make the set status visible by displaying information such as "hidden" on the product selection button Bb of the product code that has been set to "hidden". This makes it easy to undo the hide setting.

[0138] Furthermore, if, for example, an editing operation is performed to delete a product selection button Bb, the settings editing unit 104 controls the product selection button Bb to not be displayed on the operation screen G by deleting the data entry related to the product code of the product selection button Bb that was the target of the operation from the display settings file 172.

[0139] Furthermore, if editing operations are performed on the table format of the product selection button Bb, for example, and the edits made on one order terminal 10 are inadvertently reflected on another order terminal 10 (or order terminal 20), it may cause confusion for the operator of the other order terminal 10.

[0140] Therefore, the setting editing unit 104 (or setting editing unit 201) on the other order terminal 10 side that receives notification of the edited content may display a confirmation screen on the display unit 14 to confirm whether or not to reflect the edited content, and if instructed to reflect it, it may reflect the edited content in the display setting file 172 of its own terminal. In this case, it is preferable to display information indicating the notified edited content on the confirmation screen to facilitate the operator's understanding.

[0141] The programs executed in each of the above-described embodiments are provided pre-installed in ROM, storage, etc. Alternatively, the programs executed in each of the above-described embodiments may be provided as installable or executable files recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM, flexible disk (FD), CD-R, or DVD (Digital Versatile Disk).

[0142] Furthermore, the programs executed by each of the above-described embodiments may be stored on a computer connected to a network such as the Internet and provided by being downloaded via the network. Alternatively, the programs executed by each of the above-described embodiments may be provided or distributed via a network such as the Internet.

[0143] Although embodiments of the present invention have been described above, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments and their variations can be implemented in a variety of other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, changes, and combinations can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their variations are included in the scope and spirit of the invention, as well as in the claims of the invention and its equivalents. [Explanation of symbols]

[0144] 1. Information Processing System 10, 20 Order terminals 30 Server Devices 101 Display Control Unit 102 Operation Reception Section 103 Order Processing Unit 104, 201 Setting Editorial Department 171 Product Management File 172 Display settings file [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0145] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2011-113307

Claims

1. A display control means that displays an operation screen on the display unit, with controls corresponding to each of multiple products arranged therein, A first receiving means that accepts a selection operation for a product corresponding to the operator displayed on the aforementioned operation screen, When operating in the first operating mode, processing means that executes predetermined processing based on the product selected via the operator, When operating in the second operating mode, a second receiving means accepts an editing operation for the settings related to the status of the selected product via the operator, Equipped with, The display control means is an information processing device that changes the display form of the operator according to the content of the editing operation received by the second receiving means.

2. The system further includes a switching means for switching between the first operating mode and the second operating mode by performing a predetermined operation on the operation screen. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1.

3. The display control means displays on the operation screen in a way that allows identification of whether the operation is currently in the first operating mode or the second operating mode. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The system further includes a reflection means that indirectly notifies another information processing device of the content of the editing operation received by the second receiving means via an external device, or directly notifies another information processing device, thereby reflecting the content of the editing operation in the other information processing device. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1.

5. The reflection means reflects the contents of the editing operation to the other information processing device when instructed to do so by user operation via the operation screen. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4.

6. The computer of the information processing device, A display control means that displays an operation screen on the display unit, with controls corresponding to each of multiple products arranged therein, A first receiving means that accepts a selection operation for a product corresponding to the operator displayed on the aforementioned operation screen, When operating in the first operating mode, processing means that executes predetermined processing based on the product selected via the operator, When operating in the second operating mode, a second receiving means accepts an editing operation for the settings related to the status of the selected product via the operator, and make it work The display control means is a program that changes the display form of the operator according to the content of the editing operation received by the second receiving means.

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