Ordering device, ordering system, and program

Abstract

To provide an ordering device, an ordering system, and a program that can reduce the burden of ordering work on an owner who manages a plurality of stores.SOLUTION: An ordering device in an embodiment transmits order information on products of a store associated with its own device to a server device that manages order information on a plurality of stores. The ordering device includes: a registration unit that registers another store different from the associated store; an input unit into which order information on the other store registered by the registration unit is input; and a transmitting unit that transmits the order information input into the input unit to the server device.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 12

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Embodiments of the present invention relate to an ordering device, an ordering system, and a program.

Background Art

[0002] In many convenience stores and the like, there are stores based on franchise contracts. An operator who manages a store based on a franchise contract (hereinafter also referred to as an "owner") manages the store by utilizing the management know-how and product ordering system of the franchise headquarters.

[0003] For example, an owner places an order for a product by transmitting order information for the product from an ordering device composed of a PC (Personal Computer) or the like installed in the store to the head office server of the franchise headquarters. The franchise headquarters manages the order information from multiple stores and places an order for the product with the ordering company based on the order information from each store. The ordering device of each store is associated with the store.

[0004] By the way, in recent years, the number of owners who manage multiple stores based on franchise contracts has been increasing. In the conventional ordering system, it is necessary to use the ordering device of each store when placing an order. For an owner who manages multiple stores to place an order for the products of each store, the order must be placed by the ordering device of each store. Therefore, the order processing has been a burden for an owner who manages multiple stores.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide an ordering device, an ordering system, and a program capable of reducing the burden of the order processing for an owner who manages multiple stores.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The order placement device of the embodiment is an order placement device that transmits order placement information of products in a store associated with the own device to a server device that manages order placement information of a plurality of stores. The order placement device includes a registration unit that registers other stores different from the associated store, an input unit into which order placement information of the other stores registered by the registration unit is input, and a transmission unit that transmits the order placement information input into the input unit to the server device.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0007]

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Embodiment for Carrying Out the Invention

[0008] Hereinafter, an ordering device, an ordering system, and a program according to the embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described below. For example, in the embodiments described below, the head office server installed in the franchise head office integrates the ordering information of each store and transmits it to the order destination system, but it is not limited to this. The ordering information transmitted to the order destination system may be transmitted from an ordering device provided in each store.

[0009] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of the ordering system. The ordering system 1 according to the present embodiment includes, for example, an ordering device 2 installed in each store operated by an owner based on a franchise contract, a head office server 3 installed in a franchise head office that manages a plurality of stores, and an order destination system 4 that is a system of a company that supplies goods to the store. These plurality of ordering devices 2, head office servers 3, and order destination systems 4 are communicably connected to each other via a network N such as the Internet.

[0010] In the present embodiment, Store A, Store B, and Store C are stores operated by Owner X, Store D is a store operated by Owner Y, and Store E and Store F are stores operated by Owner Z. For convenience of explanation, only the stores of Store A to Store F are shown in FIG. 1, but the ordering system 1 includes ordering devices 2 of many other stores.

[0011] The ordering device 2 is composed of a PC or the like installed in each store. That is, the ordering device 2 is associated with each store, and the associated information is managed by the head office server 3. The ordering device 2 transmits the ordering information of the products input by the owner or the like to the head office server 3 as the ordering information of the store corresponding to the ordering device 2 (hereinafter also referred to as "own store"). The ordering information transmitted to the head office server 3 is information for the store to order products. In the present embodiment, it includes a store ID (store identification information) for identifying the store where the products are to be delivered, a product code (product identification information) for identifying the product to be ordered, quantity information indicating the quantity of the product to be ordered, information indicating the delivery date and time of the product, and the like.

[0012] In addition, the ordering device 2 can register other stores (hereinafter also referred to as "other stores") operated by the owner who operates the store where the ordering device 2 is installed. In the following description, registering other stores may be referred to as "other store registration". Here, when the ordering device 2 registers a store, it means storing information for specifying the store, such as the store ID, in the device itself or in the head office server 3.

[0013] In the present embodiment, the ordering device 2 of store A can register store B and store C. Similarly, the ordering device 2 of store B can register store A and store C, and the ordering device 2 of store C can register store A and store B. The owner X can arbitrarily determine which ordering device 2 registers which store. For example, the owner can register other stores only in the ordering device 2 of the store where he / she is permanently stationed.

[0014] The ordering device 2 can also transmit to the head office server 3 the ordering information regarding the registered other stores (hereinafter also referred to as "registered stores"). In other words, the ordering information regarding the registered stores transmitted by the ordering device 2 is authenticated by the head office server 3 as correct ordering information. Note that the ordering device 2 may be a portable type. In this case, the ordering device 2 can execute the processes related to ordering by accessing the ordering system 1 from outside the store.

[0015] The ordering device 2 is connected to a POS (Point Of Sales) terminal (not shown) of its own store and acquires information on the products sold at the store. Based on the information on the products delivered according to the ordering information transmitted to the headquarters server 3 and the information acquired from the POS terminal, the ordering device 2 manages the inventory information of the products sold at the store. The inventory information is information indicating the inventory quantity of the products sold at the store, and in this embodiment, it includes a product code (product identification information) and the inventory quantity of the product identified by the product code. Note that the inventory information managed by the headquarters server 3 also includes a store code (store identification information). Also, the inventory information may be managed by an inventory management device separately connected to the ordering system 1. In this case, the inventory management device substitutes for the functions related to inventory in the ordering device 2.

[0016] Also, the ordering device 2 can acquire the inventory information of the products sold at the registered stores. The ordering device 2 acquires the inventory information of the registered stores from the headquarters server 3 that manages the inventory information of each store. By displaying the inventory information of its own store managed by the device itself and the inventory information of the registered stores acquired from the headquarters server 3 on the input screen for ordering information, the ordering device 2 can contribute to the improvement of the efficiency of the ordering operation.

[0017] The headquarters server 3 manages the ordering information received from each ordering device 2 by store and transmits the ordering information related to each store to the ordering destination system 4. Thereby, an order is placed with the company that supplies products to the store (hereinafter also referred to as the "ordering destination company"). Also, the headquarters server 3 manages the inventory information of each store based on the inventory information received from each ordering device 2. The headquarters server 3 is an example of a server device. Note that the headquarters server 3 may be configured by a plurality of computers. In other words, the functions of the headquarters server 3 may be distributed among a plurality of computers.

[0018] The ordering destination system 4 is a system of the ordering destination company and manages the ordering information (order receipt information in the ordering destination company) received from the headquarters server 3. The ordering destination company supplies products to each store based on the ordering information managed by the ordering destination system 4.

[0019] Next, the order placement device 2 will be described in detail. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the main hardware configuration of the order placement device 2. The order placement device 2 includes a control unit 20, a memory unit 21, a display unit 22, an operation unit 23, and a communication unit 24. The control unit 20, the memory unit 21, the display unit 22, and the communication unit 24 are connected to each other via a bus 25 or the like.

[0020] The control unit 20 has a computer configuration including a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 201, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 202, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) 203. The CPU 201, the ROM 202, and the RAM 203 are connected to each other via the bus 25.

[0021] The CPU 201 controls the operation of the entire order placement device 2. The ROM 202 stores various programs such as programs used for driving the CPU 201 and various data. The RAM 203 is used as a work area for the CPU 201 and expands various programs and various data stored in the ROM 202 and the memory unit 21. The control unit 20 executes various control processes of the order placement device 2 by operating according to the control program stored in the ROM 202 and the memory unit 21 and expanded in the RAM 203.

[0022] The memory unit 21 is composed of a storage medium such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or a flash memory, and maintains the stored content even when the power is turned off. The memory unit 21 stores a control program 211, an order placement device ID unit 212, an orderable store information unit 213, an order placement information file 214, and an inventory information file 215.

[0023] The control program 211 is a program that realizes functions such as registering other stores in the memory unit 21 and / or the head office server 3, receiving input of order placement information for the own store and registered stores, and transmitting the received order placement information to the head office server 3.

[0024] The order device ID unit 212 stores an order device ID for identifying the own device. The order device ID is assigned by the franchise headquarters when the owner concludes a franchise contract with the franchise headquarters.

[0025] The orderable store information unit 213 stores information indicating other stores as needed. That is, the orderable store information unit 213 stores information indicating other stores that can place orders by the order device 2, for example, store IDs. The stores registered in the orderable store information unit 213 can be arbitrarily selected by the owner.

[0026] The order information file 214 is a file that stores the order information transmitted to the headquarters server 3. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the data configuration of the order information file 214. Each data registered in the order information file 214 has information indicating a product, the quantity, the order date, and the scheduled delivery date and time associated therewith.

[0027] In the item of the product, information for identifying the product to be ordered is registered (stored). The information for identifying the product is information that can recognize the product by both the store and the ordering company, such as a product code such as a JAN (Japanese Article Number) code or a product name.

[0028] In the item of the quantity, information indicating the quantity of the product to be ordered is registered.

[0029] In the item of the order date, information indicating the date when the store placed an order for the product is registered. The order date may be the date when the order device 2 transmitted the order information to the headquarters server 3 or the date when the headquarters server 3 transmitted the order information to the ordering destination system 4.

[0030] In the item of the scheduled delivery date and time, information indicating the scheduled date and time when the ordered product is delivered to the store is registered. The delivery date and time is the scheduled delivery date and time agreed between the franchise headquarters and the ordering company.

[0031] The inventory information file 215 is a file that stores the inventory information of the store. The inventory information file 215 is updated according to the receiving information after inspection of the goods received for an order and the sales information of the store's POS terminal (not shown). The inventory information file 215 is updated periodically, for example, based on the above receiving information and sales information, and the data at the time of update is accumulated. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the data configuration of the inventory information file 215. Each data registered in the inventory information file 215 has information indicating the update date and time, the product, and the inventory quantity associated with it.

[0032] In the item of the update date and time, information indicating the date and time when the inventory information file 215 was updated is registered.

[0033] In the item of the product, information for identifying the products sold in the store is registered. The information for identifying the product is the same as the information registered in the product item of the order information file 214.

[0034] In the item of the inventory quantity, information indicating the inventory quantity of the product is registered. The inventory quantity is calculated based on the above receiving information and sales information.

[0035] Returning to FIG. 2, the hardware of the ordering device 2 will be described. The display unit 22 is composed of, for example, a liquid crystal panel and displays various information. For example, the display unit 22 displays an input screen for inputting the order information of the product. Details of the input screen will be described later.

[0036] The operation unit 23 is for inputting information to the control unit 20 and is composed of a keyboard, a mouse, a touch panel provided on the surface of the display unit 22, and the like. The operation unit 23 inputs various information to the control unit 20. For example, the operation unit 23 inputs the order information of the product to the control unit 20 based on the input screen displayed on the display unit 22.

[0037] The communication unit 24 is an interface for communicating with external devices such as the head office server 3 and the POS terminal (not shown) of the store where the ordering device 2 is installed. The control unit 20 can transmit and receive information (data) with the external device by being connected to the external device via the communication unit 24.

[0038] Next, the main functional configuration of the control unit 20 of the ordering device 2 will be described. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the control unit 20 of the ordering device 2. The control unit 20 functions as an input unit 2001, a registration unit 2002, an acquisition unit 2003, a display control unit 2004, and a transmission unit 2005 by operating according to the control program stored in the ROM 202 and the memory unit 21 by the CPU 201. Note that each of these functions may be configured by hardware such as a dedicated circuit.

[0039] Various types of information are input to the input unit 2001. For example, order information of the own store and order information of registered stores are input to the input unit 2001 by operating the operation unit 23. In addition, the store ID of another store is input to the input unit 2001 in order to register a store in the orderable store information unit 213 and / or the head office server 3. In other words, the store ID of the store to be registered in another store is input to the input unit 2001.

[0040] The registration unit 2002 registers another store different from the store associated with the ordering device 2. That is, the registration unit 2002 executes other store registration. Specifically, the registration unit 2002 stores the store ID of another store approved to be registered in the head office server 3 in the orderable store information unit 213 and also stores it in the head office server 3. The head office server 3 approves the registration when the store ID of another store included in the registration request received from the ordering device 2 is the store ID of the store operated by the owner of the store where the ordering device 2 is installed. Note that the registration unit 2002 may store the store ID to be registered in another store only in either the orderable store information unit 213 or the head office server 3.

[0041] In addition, the registration unit 2002 registers the order information input to the input unit 2001 in the order information file 214. The registration unit 2002 regularly registers inventory information in the inventory information file 215 based on the delivery information for the order information and the sales information of the POS terminals in its own store separately input to the input unit 2001.

[0042] The acquisition unit 2003 acquires the inventory information of other stores registered by the registration unit 2002. Specifically, the acquisition unit 2003 acquires the inventory information of the products in the registered stores from the head office server 3 that manages the inventory information of each store. Note that the acquisition unit 2003 may acquire the inventory information of the products in the registered stores from the ordering device 2 of the registered store without going through the head office server 3.

[0043] In addition, the acquisition unit 2003 acquires a registration completion notice from the head office server 3. The registration completion notice notifies that the head office server 3 has approved and registered the registration request for the other store registration sent to the head office server 3. Furthermore, the acquisition unit 2003 acquires weather information from an external device as necessary. The weather information acquired by the acquisition unit 2003 is displayed on the display of the order information input screen and utilized for the input of order information.

[0044] The display control unit 2004 controls the display unit 22 to display various information on the display unit 22. For example, the display control unit 2004 displays an input screen for inputting the order information of the product on the display unit 22. In addition, the display control unit 2004 displays the inventory information of its own store stored in the inventory information file 215 and the inventory information of the products in the registered stores acquired by the acquisition unit 2003 on the input screen for inputting the order information of the product.

[0045] The transmitting unit 2005 transmits the order information input to the input unit 2001 to the server device. Specifically, the transmitting unit 2005 transmits the order information of its own store input to the input unit 2001 and the order information of the registered stores to the head office server 3. Further, the transmitting unit 2005 transmits a registration request to the head office server 3. The registration request is information that requests enabling the ordering of other stores, that is, information that requests the registration of other stores, and includes the order device ID of the order device 2 that transmits the registration request and the store ID of the other store for which registration is requested.

[0046] Next, the head office server 3 will be described in detail. FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the main hardware configuration of the head office server 3. The head office server 3 includes a control unit 30, a memory unit 31, a display unit 32, an operation unit 33, and a communication unit 34. The control unit 30, the memory unit 31, the display unit 32, the operation unit 33, and the communication unit 34 are connected to each other via a bus 35 or the like.

[0047] The control unit 30 has a computer configuration including a CPU 301, a ROM 302, and a RAM 303. The CPU 301, the ROM 302, and the RAM 303 are connected to each other via the bus 35.

[0048] The CPU 301 controls the operation of the entire head office server 3. The ROM 302 stores various programs such as programs used for driving the CPU 301 and various data. The RAM 303 is used as a work area for the CPU 301 and expands various programs and various data stored in the ROM 302 and the memory unit 31. The control unit 30 executes various control processes of the head office server 3 by operating according to the control program stored in the ROM 302 and the memory unit 31 and expanded in the RAM 303.

[0049] The memory unit 31 is composed of a storage medium such as an HDD or a flash memory, and maintains the stored content even when the power is turned off. The memory unit 31 stores a control program 311, a store management file 312, an order device management file 313, an order information management file 314, and an inventory information management file 315.

[0050] The control program 311 is a program that realizes functions such as a function of receiving order information and inventory information from each ordering device 2, a function of managing the received order information and inventory information for each store, and a function of associating the ordering device 2 with the store ID based on a registration request received from each ordering device 2.

[0051] The store management file 312 is a file that manages information on the owner and the ordering device 2 for each store. The store management file 312 is updated based on the contract status between the franchise headquarters and the owner. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the data configuration of the store management file 312. Each data registered in the store management file 312 has each information indicating the owner, the store, and the ordering device associated therewith.

[0052] In the item of the owner, owner identification information for identifying the owner who manages the store is registered. The owner identification information is the owner ID, the name of the individual or corporation that is the owner, and the like. In the following description, it is assumed that the owner identification information is the owner ID.

[0053] In the item of the store, store identification information for identifying the store managed by the owner is registered. The store identification information is the store ID, the store name, and the like. In the following description, it is assumed that the store identification information is the store ID.

[0054] In the item of the ordering device, ordering device identification information for identifying the ordering device 2 installed in the store is registered. The ordering device identification information is the ordering device ID and the like. In the following description, it is assumed that the ordering device identification information is the ordering device ID.

[0055] The ordering device management file 313 is a file that manages the status of stores where the ordering device 2 can place orders. The ordering device management file 313 is updated in response to the approval of the registration request received by the headquarters server 3 from each ordering device 2. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the data configuration of the ordering device management file 313. Each data registered in the ordering device management file 313 has each information indicating the ordering device and the orderable store associated therewith.

[0056] In the item of the ordering device, ordering device identification information for identifying the ordering device 2 is registered. The ordering device identification information is the same as the information registered in the item of the ordering device in the store management file 312.

[0057] In the item of the orderable store, store identification information for identifying the stores that can be ordered by the ordering device 2 is registered. The store identification information is the same as the information registered in the item of the store in the store management file 312.

[0058] In the information registered in the store management file 312 of FIG. 7 and the ordering device management file 313 of FIG. 8, the stores operated by the owner X are three stores, store A, store B, and store C. Orders for store B and store C can be placed by the ordering device 2 numbered "1" installed in store A. Also, the ordering device 2 numbered "2" installed in store B and the ordering device 2 numbered "3" installed in store C can only place orders for their own stores.

[0059] Similarly, the stores operated by the owner Z are two stores, store E and store F. Either the ordering device 2 numbered "5" installed in store E or the ordering device 2 numbered "6" installed in store F can place orders for store E and store F.

[0060] The order information management file 314 is a file that manages the order information received from each ordering device 2 for each store. The order information management file 314 stores the information registered in the order information file 214 of the ordering device 2 in association with the store ID.

[0061] The inventory information management file 315 is a file that manages the inventory information received from each ordering device 2 for each store. The inventory information management file 315 stores the information registered in the inventory information file 215 of the ordering device 2 in association with the store ID.

[0062] Returning to FIG. 6, the hardware of the head office server 3 will be described. The display unit 32 is composed of, for example, a liquid crystal panel and displays various information. For example, the display unit 32 displays various information registered in the store management file 312, the order device management file 313, the order information management file 314, and the inventory information management file 315.

[0063] The operation unit 33 is for inputting information to the control unit 30 and is composed of, for example, a keyboard, a mouse, a touch panel provided on the surface of the display unit 22, etc. The operation unit 33 inputs various information to the control unit 20. For example, the operation unit 23 inputs data for updating the store management file 312 to the control unit 30.

[0064] The communication unit 34 is an interface for communicating with external devices such as the order device 2 and the order destination system 4. The control unit 30 can transmit and receive information (data) to and from the external device by being connected to the external device via the communication unit 34.

[0065] Next, the main functional configuration of the control unit 30 of the head office server 3 will be described. FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the control unit 30 of the head office server 3. The control unit 30 functions as a receiving unit 3001, a management unit 3002, an order unit 3003, and a transmitting unit 3004 by operating according to the control program stored in the ROM 302 and the memory unit 31 by the CPU 301. Note that each of these functions may be configured by hardware such as a dedicated circuit.

[0066] The receiving unit 3001 receives order information from each order device 2. Specifically, the receiving unit 3001 receives the order information of the own store of the order device 2 and the order information of the registered stores from the order device 2. In addition, the receiving unit 3001 receives inventory information from each order device 2. Further, the receiving unit 3001 receives a registration request from each order device 2.

[0067] The management department 3002 manages the order information by storing the order information received by the receiving department 3001 from each ordering device 2 in the order information management file 314 for each store. The management department 3002 manages the inventory information by storing the inventory information received by the receiving department 3001 from each ordering device 2 in the inventory information management file 315 for each store.

[0068] In addition, the management department 3002 updates the ordering device management file 313 based on the registration requests received by the receiving department 3001 from each ordering device 2. More specifically, when the receiving department 3001 receives a registration request, the management department 3002 refers to the store management file 312 to determine whether the ordering device ID included in the registration request is associated with the same owner ID as the store ID of another store. If it is associated, the management department 3002 approves the registration request and updates the ordering device management file 313. In other words, the management department 3002 also functions as an approval department that approves the registration requests received by the receiving department 3001 from the ordering device 2.

[0069] The ordering department 3003 outputs the integrated order information received from each ordering device 2 to the order destination system 4. More specifically, the ordering department 3003 transmits order information including the store ID of the store where the goods are to be delivered, the product code of the product to be ordered, the quantity information indicating the number of the products, the information indicating the delivery date and time of the products, etc. to the order destination system 4.

[0070] The transmission department 3004 transmits various information to the ordering device 2. For example, the transmission department 3004 transmits a registration completion notice for the registration request received by the receiving department 3001 to the ordering device 2. The registration completion notice notifies that the store ID of another store has been registered in the ordering device management file 313 after the management department 3002 approves the registration request for the registration request that requests the registration of another store. The transmission department 3004 notifies error information for the registration requests not approved by the management department 3002.

[0071] Next, the order registration process executed by the order device 2 in the order system 1 with the above configuration will be described. The other store registration process is executed so that the order device 2 can place orders for other stores in addition to placing orders for its own store. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the flow of the other store registration process by the control unit 20 of the order device 2.

[0072] The control unit 20 determines whether a registration request has been input to the input unit 2001 by an operation of the operation unit 23 (step S1). If not (N in step S1), it returns to step S1 and waits.

[0073] When a registration request is input to the input unit 2001 by an operation of the operation unit 23 (Y in step S1), the registration unit 2002 causes the transmission unit 2005 to transmit a registration request including the other store ID. The transmission unit 2005 transmits the registration request to the head office server 3 based on the instruction of the registration unit 2002 (step S2). In other words, the registration unit 2002 causes the head office server 3 to store the store ID of the other store using the registration request transmitted from the transmission unit 2005. Thereby, the registration unit 2002 performs other store registration in the head office server 3.

[0074] Subsequently, the control unit 20 determines whether the acquisition unit 2003 has acquired a registration completion notification from the head office server 3 (step S3). When the acquisition unit 2003 acquires a registration completion notification from the head office server 3 (Y in step S3), the registration unit 2002 stores the store ID stored in the head office server 3 in the orderable store information unit 213. Thereby, the registration unit 2002 performs other store registration in the orderable store information unit 213 (step S4). Then, the control unit 20 ends the other store registration process.

[0075] In the process of step S3, if the acquisition unit 2003 does not acquire a registration completion notification from the head office server 3 (N in step S3), in other words, if the acquisition unit 2003 acquires an error notification from the head office server 3, the display control unit 2004 causes the display unit 22 to perform an error display (step S5). Then, the control unit 20 ends the other store registration process.

[0076] Through the above-mentioned other store registration process, an owner who manages multiple stores can place orders for other stores using the ordering device 2 of any one of the stores.

[0077] Next, the ordering process executed by the ordering device 2 will be described. The ordering process is executed for the ordering device 2 to place orders for its own store and registered stores. FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the flow of the ordering process by the control unit 20 of the ordering device 2.

[0078] The control unit 20 determines whether information indicating the start of input of ordering information has been input to the input unit 2001 by an operation of the operation unit 23 (step S11). If not (N in step S11), it returns to step S11 and waits.

[0079] When information indicating the start of input of ordering information is input to the input unit 2001 by an operation of the operation unit 23 (Y in step S11), it is determined whether the store ID of another store is registered in the orderable store information unit 213. That is, the control unit 20 determines whether another store is registered (step S12).

[0080] If another store is registered (Y in step S12), the acquisition unit 2003 acquires the inventory information of another store, that is, the registered store, from the head office server 3 (step S13). For example, the acquisition unit 2003 acquires the inventory information of the registered store output by the head office server 3 in response to the inventory information request (including the store ID of the registered store) transmitted by the transmission unit 2005.

[0081] Next, the acquisition unit 2003 reads the inventory information from the inventory information file 215 to acquire the inventory information of its own store (step S14). In the process of step S12, if there is no registration of another store (N in step S12), the control unit 20 skips the process of step S13 and proceeds to step S14.

[0082] The display control unit 2004 causes the display unit 22 to display an input screen for order information (step S15). In the process of step S15, the display control unit 2004 causes a plurality of input screens to shift on the screen according to the operation of the operation unit 23.

[0083] For example, the display control unit 2004 displays an input screen for specifying the product to be ordered, and subsequently displays an input screen for specifying order information (quantity, store for delivery, scheduled delivery date, etc.) related to the specified product. In the present embodiment, on the input screen for specifying order information related to the product, quantity information is input by operating the operation unit 23. At this time, the display control unit 2004 causes the inventory information acquired by the acquisition unit 2003 in the processes of steps S13 and S14 to be displayed on the input screen.

[0084] Subsequently, the control unit 20 determines whether order information has been input (step S16). If no order information has been input (N in step S16), the process returns to step S16. The control unit 20 performs the process of step S16 by determining whether information indicating that the input of order information has been completed has been input to the input unit 2001 by operating the operation unit 23.

[0085] When order information has been input (Y in step S16), the transmission unit 2005 transmits the order information including the order device ID stored in the order device ID unit 212 to the head office server 3 (step S17).

[0086] Next, the registration unit 2002 registers the order information input to the input unit 2001 in the order information file 214 (step S18). Then, the control unit 20 ends the order process.

[0087] By the above order process, the order device 2 can display not only the inventory information of its own store but also the inventory information of the registered stores, and can transmit the order information of the own store and the registered stores to the head office server 3.

[0088] Here, the order information input screen will be described. FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of the input screen after the product to be ordered is specified. The input screen shown in FIG. 12 is an input screen capable of inputting the order quantity by the scheduled delivery date. The input screen is formed with a header section 221, a medium classification display section 222, a reference information display section 223, a product name display section 224, a store-by-store order information display section 225, a function key display section 226, and an instruction button display section 227.

[0089] In the header section 221, the date and time at the point when the input screen is being displayed are shown as the order date and time. Also, in the header section 221, the name of the major classification to which the specified product belongs and the characters "Bento Order" indicating that it is the order screen are displayed.

[0090] In the medium classification display section 222, the classification code and classification name of the medium classification to which the specified product belongs are displayed.

[0091] In the reference information display section 223, reference information that is useful for the owner when inputting order information is displayed. The reference information is information regarding the weather, temperature, and events on the scheduled delivery date. Also, the delivery service for delivering the product on the scheduled delivery date is displayed as reference information.

[0092] In the product name display section 224, the name of the specified product, that is, the product for which the order quantity is to be input, is displayed.

[0093] The store-by-store order information display section 225 is formed in multiple numbers on the input screen and displays various information for each store. When multiple store-by-store order information display sections 225 are displayed, that is, when inputting the order information for the own store and the registered stores, the information of the own store is displayed in the topmost store-by-store order information display section 225. Each store-by-store order information display section 225 is formed with a store name display section 2251, an inventory quantity display section 2252, a price display section 2253, and an order quantity input section 2254, respectively.

[0094] The store name display section 2251 displays the store name. The inventory quantity display section 2252 displays the inventory quantity based on the inventory information acquired by the acquisition section 2003 when information indicating the start of input of order information is input to the input section 2001. The price display section 2253 displays the price of the product. The order quantity input section 2254 is an area for inputting the order quantity. The order quantity can be input by purchase planned date and delivery method.

[0095] The function key display section 226 displays a plurality of function keys. The function keys are, for example, keys for viewing detailed inventory information and keys for viewing the sales trend of specific products.

[0096] The instruction button display section 227 displays a plurality of instruction buttons. The instruction buttons are buttons for ending the input of order information, buttons for returning to the previous screen (input screen for specifying a product), and the like.

[0097] The owner can input the order quantities of a plurality of stores for one product on the same input screen while referring to the reference information on the input screen. When the input of the order quantity for one product is completed, the display section 22 changes the screen to the input screen of another product.

[0098] Next, the order information reception process executed by the control section 30 of the headquarters server 3 will be described. FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the flow of the order information reception process by the control section of the headquarters server 3.

[0099] The control section 30 determines whether the reception section 3001 has received order information from the ordering device 2 (step S21). If not received (N in step S21), it returns to step S21 and waits.

[0100] When the reception section 3001 receives the order information (Y in step S21), the management section 3002 determines whether the order information received by the reception section 3001 includes the order information of other stores (step S22).

[0101] If the order information received by the receiving unit 3001 includes the order information of other stores (Y in step S22), the management unit 3002 determines whether there is an association with the other store (step S23). More specifically, the management unit 3002 refers to the order device management file 313 and determines whether the order device ID included in the order information is associated with the store ID of the other store. In other words, the management unit 3002 determines whether the order information of the other store included in the order information received by the receiving unit 3001 is the order information of a registered store.

[0102] If there is an association with the other store (Y in step S23), the management unit 3002 registers the order information received by the receiving unit 3001 in the order information management file 314 (step S24). Then, the control unit 30 ends the order information reception process.

[0103] In addition, in the process of step S22, if the order information received by the receiving unit 3001 does not include the order information of other stores (N in step S22), the control unit 30 skips the process of step S23 and proceeds to the process of step S24.

[0104] Also, in the process of step S23, if there is no association with the other store (N in step S23), the transmission unit 3004 transmits error information to the order device 2 (step S25). The error information to be transmitted is information indicating that the order information of the other store included in the order information transmitted by the order device 2 is not that of the registered store of the order device 2. Then, the control unit 30 ends the order information reception process.

[0105] Through the above order information reception process, the headquarters server 3 accepts the order information received from the order device 2 on the condition that the order information received from the order device 2 does not include the order information of other stores that are not registered stores. Thereby, the headquarters server 3 can prevent accepting order information that the order device 2 does not have permission to receive from the order device 2.

[0106] As described above, the order placing device 2 of the above-described embodiment is an order placing device 2 that transmits order information of products in a store associated with the own device to a head office server 3 that manages order information of a plurality of stores. The order placing device 2 includes a registration unit 2002 that registers a store different from the associated store, an input unit 2001 into which order information of products in the store registered by the registration unit 2002 is input, and a transmission unit 2005 that transmits the order information input into the input unit 2001 to the head office server 3.

[0107] Thereby, in the order placing system 1 constructed across a plurality of stores, the order information of other registered stores can be transmitted to the head office server 3 by the order placing device 2 of one store. That is, it is possible to place an order for products of other stores with the order placing device 2 of one store. For this reason, it is possible to reduce the burden of the order placing work of an owner who manages a plurality of stores under a franchise contract.

[0108] Further, the order placing device 2 of the above-described embodiment further includes an acquisition unit 2003 that acquires inventory information of products in the store registered by the registration unit 2002, and a display control unit 2004 that causes the display unit 22 to display the inventory information acquired by the acquisition unit 2003.

[0109] Thereby, when an owner who manages a plurality of stores places an order for products of other stores with the order placing device 2 of one store, it is possible to check the inventory information of the other store. For this reason, the owner can also place an appropriate order according to the inventory number of products even in the order placing of other stores.

[0110] Furthermore, the display control unit 2004 of the order placing device 2 of the above-described embodiment causes the input screen for inputting the order information of products to display the inventory information of the products acquired by the acquisition unit 2003.

[0111] Thereby, the owner can input the order information of the other store while checking the inventory information of the other store. For this reason, it is possible to improve the operability of inputting order information by the owner.

[0112] In addition, the display control unit 2004 of the order placing device 2 of the above-described embodiment causes the input screen for order placing information to display information indicating a product and information indicating other stores registered by the registration unit 2002 in association with each other.

[0113] Accordingly, the owner can input order placing information for a plurality of stores on the same input screen with respect to the order placing information for one product. Also in this respect, the operability of inputting order placing information by the owner can be improved.

[0114] In the above-described embodiment, the control programs executed by the respective devices of the order placing device 2 and the head office server 3 may be configured to be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM and provided. Further, the control programs executed by the respective devices may be configured to be stored on a computer connected to a network such as the Internet and provided by being downloaded via the network, and furthermore, may be configured to be provided via a network such as the Internet.

[0115] Although the 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. The above-described embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the gist of the invention. This embodiment and its modifications are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are also included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalent scope thereof.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0116] 1 Order placing system 2 Order placing device 3 Head office server (server device) 22 Display unit 2001 Input unit 2002 Registration unit 2003 Acquisition unit 2004 Display control unit 2005 Transmission unit 3001 Reception unit 3002 Management Department

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0117]

Patent Document 1

Claims

1. An order placing device that transmits order information of products in a store associated with the device to a server device that manages order information of multiple stores, a registration unit that registers other stores different from the associated store, an input unit into which order information of other stores registered by the registration unit is input, a transmission unit that transmits the order information input into the input unit to the server device, and an order placing device comprising the same.

2. an acquisition unit that acquires inventory information of other stores registered by the registration unit, a display control unit that causes the display unit to display the inventory information acquired by the acquisition unit, and the order placing device according to claim 1, further comprising the same.

3. The display control unit causes the inventory information of the product acquired by the acquisition unit to be displayed on an input screen for inputting order information of products in the other stores, and the order placing device according to claim 2.

4. The display control unit causes the input screen to display information indicating a product and information indicating other stores registered by the registration unit in association with each other, and the order placing device according to claim 3.

5. An order placing system comprising an order placing device associated with each store and a server device that receives order information from the order placing device and manages order information of multiple stores, wherein the order placing device comprises a registration unit that registers other stores different from the store associated with the device itself, an input unit into which order information of products in other stores registered by the registration unit is input, and a transmission unit that transmits the order information input into the input unit to the server device, and the server device comprises a reception unit that receives order information from the order placing device, and a management unit that manages the order information received by the reception unit for each store, and an order placing system comprising the same.

6. When the order information received by the reception unit includes order information of the other stores, the management unit registers the order information received by the reception unit on the condition that the store associated with the order placing device and the other store are pre-associated with each other, and the order placing system according to claim 5.

7. A program for controlling a computer to function as an order placing device that transmits order information of products in a store associated with the device itself to a server device that manages order information of multiple stores, wherein the computer functions as a registration unit that registers other stores different from the associated store, an input unit into which order information of other stores registered by the registration unit is input, and a transmission unit that transmits the order information input into the input unit to the server device, A program that functions as...

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