Reception terminal, order processing method and order processing system

Abstract

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

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a reception terminal, an order processing method, and an order processing system. [Background technology]

[0002] The following Patent Document 1 discloses a ticket vending machine installed in a restaurant. When a customer touches the display operation unit of the ticket vending machine to select a menu item and pays for that menu item, the ticket vending machine issues a meal ticket. The customer then exchanges the meal ticket for the food from the selected menu at the restaurant's pick-up counter. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-79138 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In restaurants and other establishments where the ticket vending machine described in Patent Document 1 is installed, in addition to the usual transaction in which a customer enters the establishment and places a new order using the ticket vending machine, there is also a transaction in which a customer places an order in advance by telephone or internet, and then the customer or a delivery company comes to the establishment as a customer who has placed a pre-order for takeout or other purposes.

[0005] An object of one embodiment of the present invention is to provide a reception terminal, an order processing method, and an order processing system that can improve convenience regarding advance orders. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present invention provides a reception terminal, an order processing method, and an order processing system. The reception terminal is connected to a storage means for storing order information for advance orders and specific information including a telephone number or a customer's name for identifying the advance orders.

[0007] The reception terminal comprises an input means for inputting the specific information through operation by the customer, a control means for retrieving the order information corresponding to the specific information inputted to the input means from the storage means and displaying the retrieved order information, and a payment means for settling the order contents based on the order information.

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

[0009] In one embodiment of the present invention, the input means includes a reader that reads a code including the specific information.

[0010] In one embodiment of the present invention, the input means includes a reading device that reads the specific information stored in a portable terminal carried by the customer through short-range wireless communication with the portable terminal. The control means may acquire the order information from the storage means when the order information corresponding to the specific information input to the input means is already stored in the storage means.

[0011] In addition, one embodiment of the present invention provides an order processing method using a reception terminal connected to a storage means that stores order information for advance orders and specific information for identifying the advance orders, the order processing method comprising the steps of: inputting the specific information through a customer's operation; retrieving the order information corresponding to the input specific information from the storage means and displaying the retrieved order information; and settling the order contents based on the order information. The step of displaying the order information may include a step of retrieving the order information from the storage means if the order information corresponding to the input specific information is already stored in the storage means.

[0012] In addition, one embodiment of the present invention provides an order processing system comprising: a storage means for storing order information for advance orders and specific information including a telephone number or customer name for identifying the advance orders; an input means for inputting the specific information through operation by the customer; a control means for acquiring from the storage means the order information corresponding to the specific information input to the input means and displaying the acquired order information; and a payment means for paying for the order contents based on the order information. The control means may acquire the order information from the storage means when the order information corresponding to the specific information input to the input means is already stored in the storage means.

[0013] In addition, one embodiment of the present invention provides a reception terminal connected to a storage means for storing order information for advance orders and specific information including a telephone number or a customer's name for identifying the advance orders, the reception terminal comprising: an input means for inputting the specific information through operation by the customer; a control means for obtaining from the storage means an amount included in the order information corresponding to the specific information input to the input means and displaying the obtained amount; and a payment means for making payment according to the amount. The control means may acquire the order information from the storage means when the order information corresponding to the specific information input to the input means is already stored in the storage means. In addition, one embodiment of the present invention provides an order processing system comprising: a storage means for storing order information for a pre-order and specific information including a telephone number or a customer's name for identifying the pre-order; an input means for inputting the specific information through operation by the customer; a control means for obtaining from the storage means an amount included in the order information corresponding to the specific information input to the input means and displaying the obtained amount; and a payment means for making payment according to the amount. The control means may acquire the order information from the storage means when the order information corresponding to the specific information input to the input means is already stored in the storage means. In addition, one embodiment of the present invention provides an order processing method using a reception terminal connected to a storage means that stores order information for advance orders and specific information for identifying the advance orders, the order processing method comprising the steps of: inputting the specific information into an input screen by a customer's operation; if the order information corresponding to the input specific information is already stored in the storage means, obtaining the amount included in the order information from the storage means and displaying the obtained amount; and making a payment according to the amount. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] According to one embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to improve the convenience of advance orders. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram showing an overview of a store visit notification system according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the store visit notification system. [Figure 3] 10 is a diagram showing an example of an advance order table stored in a storage unit of a management device constituting the store visit notification system. FIG. [Figure 4] 10 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the display content on the display operation unit of a ticket vending machine that constitutes the store visit notification system. FIG. [Figure 5] 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the display content on the display operation unit of a ticket vending machine. FIG. [Figure 6] 10 is a flowchart showing the procedure of a process executed in the ticket vending machine. [Figure 7] 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the display content on the display operation unit of a ticket vending machine. FIG. [Figure 8] 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the display content on the display operation unit of a ticket vending machine. FIG. [Figure 9] 10 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the display content on the display unit of a store terminal that constitutes the store visit notification system. FIG. [Figure 10] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of display content on a display unit of a store terminal. [Figure 11] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a first ticket issued from a ticket vending machine. [Figure 12] A schematic diagram of a second ticket issued from a ticket vending machine. [Figure 13] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a sales management table stored in a storage unit of the management device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an overview of a restaurant visit notification system 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the restaurant visit notification system 100 is applied to a restaurant. However, the system is not limited to restaurants; it can also be applied to various types of stores where customers must visit the store to receive products. Products handled at a store are not limited to items prepared in the store and provided to customers, such as food, but may also be items returned to customers, such as clothing at a dry cleaner's. The restaurant visit notification system 100 is also a vending system that includes at least a ticket vending machine (reception means, reception terminal) 1 for meal tickets installed inside or at the front of the restaurant, a management device 2 located at an arbitrary location inside or outside the restaurant, and a store terminal 3 located inside the restaurant. The restaurant visit notification system 100 may further include a telephone 4 installed inside the restaurant. Although only one ticket vending machine 1 is illustrated in FIG. 1, multiple ticket vending machines 1 may be installed.

[0017] The ticket vending machine 1 is an example of a vending device and has, for example, a vertically long box shape. A display operation unit 10, which is an example of a reception means, is provided in the upper area of ​​its front face. The display operation unit 10 is, for example, a liquid crystal touch panel formed in a rectangular shape extending in the width direction of the ticket vending machine 1 (the left-right direction in FIG. 1). The display operation unit 10 may have a color screen or a monochrome screen. The display operation unit 10 functions as a display unit that displays various information, and as an operation unit that is operated by a user such as a customer to select a menu, etc. The display unit and operation unit may exist separately rather than being combined into the display operation unit 10. The same applies to the other display operation units described below.

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

[0019] A customer who wishes to purchase a meal ticket from ticket vending machine 1 first accesses ticket vending machine 1 from the front side (the front side of the paper in FIG. 1). Detection unit 11 then detects the customer's approach. In response to the detection by detection unit 11, ticket vending machine 1, which was previously in sleep mode, starts up and enters standby mode, and standby screen 10A (see FIG. 4) or standby screen 10B (see FIG. 5), which will be described later, is displayed on display operation unit 10. When the customer touches standby screen 10A, a sales screen (not shown) displaying information about multiple menu items available at the restaurant is displayed on display operation unit 10. Standby screen 10B is itself a sales screen. Standby screen 10A and standby screen 10B will be described in detail later. After viewing the sales screen, the customer touches display operation unit 10 to select a desired menu item, and then deposits cash as the price for that menu item into at least one of coin slot 12 and bill slot 13 to pay for that menu item. As will be described later, the ticket vending machine 1 also allows payment methods other than cash.

[0020] After payment, a meal ticket with the name of the menu item selected by the customer printed on it is issued at the outlet 14. This completes the transaction between the customer who selected the menu item and the ticket vending machine 1. If change is due, the bills of the change are returned to the customer through the bill outlet 15, and the coins are returned to the customer through the return outlet 16. The customer takes the meal ticket taken out from the outlet 14 to a pick-up counter (not shown) inside the restaurant, where they exchange the meal ticket for the food from the selected menu. The customer can take the food they received as takeout, or eat it in the restaurant.

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

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

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

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

[0025] The valuable medium processing unit 31 includes components for taking cash inserted into the coin slot 12 or the banknote deposit slot 13 (see FIG. 1) into the ticket vending machine 1, for identifying the denomination and authenticity of the taken cash, and for discharging cash for return, such as change, into the banknote withdrawal slot 15 or the return slot 16 (see FIG. 1). The control unit 30 performs cash settlement for the menu selected by the customer by deducting the price of the menu item from the inserted cash. Therefore, the control unit 30 and the valuable medium processing unit 31 are an example of a settlement means. With regard to settlement, the customer may deposit money before or after selecting a menu item.

[0026] The reading unit 17 may be configured as a contactless IC card unit. In this case, the control unit 30 can use the reading unit 17 to communicate contactlessly with an IC card with an electronic money function held by the customer and make payments using the electronic money associated with the IC card. If the reading unit 17 has the function of reading a credit card, credit card payments are also possible. In this way, the reading unit 17 is also an example of a payment means.

[0027] Issuance unit 32 is an example of an issuing means, and includes a configuration for printing necessary information about the menu item purchased by the customer on the meal ticket upon completion of payment, and issuing this meal ticket to outlet 14 (see FIG. 1). Communication unit 33 is an interface that enables control unit 30 to communicate with management device 2 and store terminal 3, and is connected to network N. Memory unit 34 stores various information such as menu items available at the restaurant, as well as identification information assigned to each ticket vending machine 1.

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

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

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

[0031] The following describes a restaurant visit notification method using the restaurant visit notification system 100. A customer can pre-order a menu item from a restaurant via the Internet or by telephone. When pre-ordering via the Internet, the customer first operates the operation unit 52 of the communication terminal 5 to launch a pre-order application downloaded to the communication terminal 5 or access a pre-order website. The control unit 50 of the communication terminal 5 then displays a pre-order screen (not shown) on the display unit 51. Upon viewing the pre-order screen, the customer operates the operation unit 52 to select a desired menu item and input their own information, such as orderer information. Examples of orderer information include the customer's name and telephone number. Note that if the customer has already registered their orderer information by registering as a member, they are not required to input orderer information when placing a pre-order. The customer confirms their menu selection and input of orderer information by operating the operation unit 52.

[0032] In response to the customer's confirmation of the selection and input, the control unit 50 of the communication terminal 5 transmits order information for this advance order to the management device 2. The order information includes the name and quantity of the menu item selected by the customer, orderer information, and the planned date and time when the customer or delivery company will arrive at the restaurant to pick up the food from the menu. The order information may also include the price of the menu item selected by the customer. In the management device 2 that has received the order information, the control unit 40 assigns an individual order number to the order information and returns confirmation information including at least this order number to the communication terminal 5 that sent it.

[0033] The control unit 50 of the communication terminal 5 that has received the confirmation information displays a confirmation screen (not shown) on the display unit 51. The confirmation screen displays the order number and order information in the confirmation information. The order information at this time may include the price of the menu item pre-ordered. The confirmation information is temporarily stored in the memory unit 54 of the communication terminal 5 at least until the customer has completed receiving the food, so that the customer can view the confirmation screen and check the order number by activating the communication terminal 5.

[0034] The control unit 40 of the management device 2, which has received the order information and assigned an order number, newly registers the order number and order information in the advance order table T1 (see FIG. 3) stored in the memory unit 43, thereby completing the acceptance of this advance order (storage step in the store visit notification method). The advance order table T1 stores the order date and time, order number, and order information for each advance order. The order date and time is the date and time when the control unit 40 returns confirmation information to the communication terminal 5 that sent it. When placing an advance order, the customer can enter whether the customer is themselves or a delivery person, and the result may be stored in the advance order table T1 as a note on the order information (see the note for order number 0002).

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

[0036] When ordering in advance by telephone, a customer calls the restaurant using mobile terminal 5A. A restaurant staff member listens to the customer's order information via telephone 4, assigns an individual order number to the order information, and communicates the order number to the customer. The staff member operates the display unit 46 of mobile terminal 3B to send the order number and order information for this advance order to management device 2. If management device 2 is located inside the restaurant, the staff member may operate the operation unit 21 to directly input the order number and order information into management device 2. To which the order number and order information have been sent or input, control unit 40 of management device 2 newly registers the order number and order information in advance order table T1 in memory unit 43, thereby completing the acceptance of this advance order.

[0037] The order number assigned by the store clerk when placing an advance order by telephone is determined so as not to overlap with the order number automatically assigned by the management device 2. For example, order number T006 in FIG. 3 is prefixed with the initial letter T, which stands for "telephone," to indicate that it is an advance order placed by telephone. Note that instead of the store clerk assigning the order number, the control unit 40 of the management device 2 may assign an order number and display it on the display unit 20 or 46 (see FIG. 1) as the store clerk transmits or inputs the order information to the management device 2, thereby informing the store clerk. The store clerk verbally communicates the notified order number to the customer. The customer needs to write down the order number they receive from the store clerk so as not to forget it.

[0038] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a standby screen 10A displayed on the display operation unit 10 of the ticket vending machine 1. When a customer who has placed an advance order or a delivery company requested by this customer to deliver food (hereinafter collectively referred to as a "customer who has placed an advance order") visits a restaurant and accesses the ticket vending machine 1, the standby screen 10A is displayed on the display operation unit 10 of the ticket vending machine 1. The standby screen 10A displays a message 60 asking whether or not the customer has placed an advance order, a pre-order key 61 for customers who have placed an advance order, and a new order key 62 for customers who are placing a new order but have not placed an advance order. The pre-order key 61 and the new order key 62 are touch keys, and all keys that appear hereinafter are also touch keys. Note that physical mechanical buttons may be used instead of touch keys. A new order is an order made in accordance with the conventional ordering pattern in which a customer who has visited the restaurant (hereinafter referred to as a "general customer" to distinguish them from customers who have placed an advance order) selects a menu item on the ticket vending machine 1. Customers who wish to place an advance order touch the advance order key 61, and general customers touch the new order key 62.

[0039] The display operation unit 10 may display a standby screen 10B shown in FIG. 5 instead of the standby screen 10A. As described above, the standby screen 10B also serves as a sales screen for general customers. The standby screen 10B displays a guide message 65 encouraging general customers to select a menu item, and a guide message 67 encouraging customers placing a pre-order to touch a pre-order key 66 at the bottom of the standby screen 10B. An order field 68, which is a key part of the sales screen, is displayed in almost the entire standby screen 10B, for example, in the area between the guide messages 65 and 67 and the pre-order key 66. The order field 68 displays, as an example, a selection key 69 provided for each selectable menu item or group of menu items, a menu selection field 70, a price field 71, and a cancel key 72.

[0040] When the standby screen 10B is displayed, a customer placing an advance order touches the advance order key 66, while a general customer touches the selection key 69 corresponding to the desired menu. If the selection key 69 is for selecting a menu group, when a general customer touches the selection key 69, menu selection keys for selecting individual menus belonging to the group of the selection key 69 may be displayed in a hierarchical manner.

[0041] The menu name, quantity, and price, which are the contents of the menu selected by the general customer, are displayed in the menu selection field 70. In addition, the total price, which is the sum of the prices of the menus selected by the general customer, the amount of cash deposited by the general customer, and the change amount obtained by deducting the total price from the deposited amount, are displayed in the amount field 71. General customers can cancel some or all of the selected menu by touching the cancel key 72. In response to the cancellation, the control unit 30 updates the display contents of the menu selection field 70 and the amount field 71. In this way, the control unit 30 and the display operation unit 10 function as an example of an order receiving means for accepting new orders. It should be noted that general customers can select a menu more quickly on the standby screen 10B than on the standby screen 10A.

[0042] 6, first, when a customer who has placed an advance order touches the advance order key 61 on the standby screen 10A or the advance order key 66 on the standby screen 10B on the display operation unit 10 of the ticket vending machine 1 (YES in step S1), the control unit 40 of the ticket vending machine 1 switches the display operation unit 10 to display the input screen 10C shown in Fig. 7, and waits for the advance order customer to input specific information (step S2). Step S2 is a step for accepting specific information in the store visit notification method.

[0043] Input screen 10C displays a guide message 75 prompting the customer placing an advance order to enter specific information such as an order number or phone number, an order number input field 76, a phone number input field 77, and an input unit 78 consisting of a keyboard or numeric keypad. The customer placing an advance order uses input unit 78 to enter their phone number or the order number provided when placing the advance order. The entered order number is displayed in input field 76, and the entered phone number is displayed in input field 77. The entered order number or phone number, i.e., the specific information, is accepted by control unit 30 of ticket vending machine 1. Input screen 10C may also display a continue key 79 that a customer placing an advance order who has entered the specific information touches to continue the process, a cancel key 80 that a customer placing an advance order touches to cancel the entry of the specific information, and a switch key 81 that a customer placing an advance order touches to return the contents of display operation unit 10 from input screen 10C to standby screen 10A or 10B.

[0044] A code such as a barcode or QR code (registered trademark) representing at least the specific information may be displayed on the display operation unit 55 of the advance order customer's mobile terminal 5A, and the advance order customer may have this code read by the reading unit 17 of the ticket vending machine 1 instead of manually entering the specific information using the input unit 78. In anticipation of such operation, the control unit 30 of the ticket vending machine 1 may display an input screen 10D shown in FIG. 8 on the display operation unit 10 prior to displaying the input screen 10C. The input screen 10D displays a guide 85 prompting the advance order customer to select either manually entering the specific information or having the code read, a first selection key 86 that is touched by an advance order customer who selects manually entering the specific information, a second selection key 87 that is touched by an advance order customer who selects having the code read, and the cancel key 80 and switch key 81 mentioned above.

[0045] When the customer placing an advance order touches the first selection key 86, the control unit 30 switches the display operation unit 10 to display the input screen 10C (see FIG. 7), allowing the customer to manually input the specific information as described above. When the customer placing an advance order touches the second selection key 87 to have the reading unit 17 read the code on the mobile terminal 5A, the control unit 30 accepts the specific information contained in the code. Note that instead of using the code, the control unit 30 may accept the specific information stored in the memory unit 54 of the mobile terminal 5A through short-range communication between the mobile terminal 5A and the reading unit 17.

[0046] Referring to Figure 6, when the control unit 30 receives the specific information input by the advance order customer on the display operation unit 10 or the reading unit 17 (YES in step S2), it inquires of the management device 2 whether order information corresponding to this specific information exists in the advance order table T1 in the storage unit 43 (step S3). In this way, the control unit 30, the display operation unit 10, and the ticket vending machine 1 equipped with them are an example of a reception means (reception terminal) that receives specific information. Note that if there are multiple ticket vending machines 1, the control unit 30 of the ticket vending machine 1 that made the inquiry will transmit identification information of the ticket vending machine 1 that made the inquiry when inquiring about order information to the management device 2. The management device 2 can identify the ticket vending machine 1 that made the inquiry using this identification information.

[0047] If there is matching order information (YES in step S4), this order information is sent to the ticket vending machine 1 that made the inquiry, and the control unit 30 of this ticket vending machine 1, as an example of an acquisition means, acquires the order information from the memory unit 43 of the management device 2, temporarily stores it in the memory unit 34, and displays it on the display operation unit 10 (step S5). Specifically, an order field 68 (see FIG. 5) in which information about the pre-ordered menu items in the order information is written in the menu selection field 70 and price field 71 is displayed on the display operation unit 10. The control unit 30 may directly display the price included in the acquired order information as the total price in the price field 71, or may calculate the total price based on the pre-ordered menu items and prices in the order information and display it in the price field 71.

[0048] A customer who has placed an advance order looking at the order field 68 can change the order details by touching the selection key 69 or the cancel key 72 to add or delete menu items. In response to changes to the order details, the control unit 30 updates the display contents of the menu selection field 70 and the price field 71. In this way, the control unit 30 and the display operation unit 10 function as an example of a change means for changing the details of the advance order identified by the specific information received by the ticket vending machine 1 in step S2. A customer who has placed an advance order can change the details of their advance order by adding or deleting them on the ticket vending machine 1, thereby improving convenience for the customer who has placed an advance order.

[0049] If there are no changes to the order details (NO in step S6), the control unit 30 waits for payment equal to or greater than the total amount in the amount field 71 (step S7). If there is payment (YES in step S7), the control unit 30 executes payment as described above (step S8). That is, the control unit 30 settles the order details based on the order information acquired in step S5 (including when changes are made in step S6). This frees the staff from customer service duties such as face-to-face interactions regarding payment and cash register settlement, thereby improving staff convenience for advance orders. Therefore, for example, staff in charge of the kitchen can concentrate on their kitchen duties. Furthermore, since staff do not need to handle cash, cash-related problems (such as incorrect amounts, theft, and fraud) can be prevented and it is hygienic. Note that customers who preorder can prepay by credit card, electronic money, etc. when preordering. In this case, if there are no changes to the order details (NO in step S6), the payment process in step S8 and the process in the immediately preceding step S7 are omitted.

[0050] After executing the payment, the control unit 30 outputs a store visit notification to the management device 2 and the store terminal 3 via the communication unit 33 (step S9), which is an example of an output unit. The communication unit 33 is also an example of an output unit, and the ticket vending machine 1 equipped with the control unit 30 and the communication unit 33 is also an example of an output unit. Furthermore, each store terminal 3 that receives the store visit notification also outputs the store visit notification, which is an example of an output unit. Specifically, in each of the kitchen display 3A and the mobile terminal 3B in the store terminal 3, the control unit 45 displays on the display unit 46 as a store visit notification that the advance order customer has arrived at the store, the contents of the advance order, and an exchange number for identifying the advance order customer within the store (see the display related to the advance order in the third row from the top in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10). Therefore, the control unit 45 and the display unit 46 are also examples of output units. The exchange number is automatically generated by the control unit 30 of the ticket vending machine 1 immediately before the store visit notification (step S9).

[0051] The display unit 46 of kitchen display 3A also displays the order details of new orders by general customers, but the order details of customers who have placed advance orders and come to the restaurant are displayed in a different format from the order details of general customers so that advance orders are given priority (see message M for advance orders in Figure 9). The display details may be different between kitchen display 3A and mobile terminal 3B, as long as at least the visit notification is displayed on display unit 46 of mobile terminal 3B, which has a smaller display area (see Figure 10).

[0052] In this way, when the specific information received by the ticket vending machine 1 is stored in the memory unit 43 of the management device 2 (YES in step S4), the ticket vending machine 1 and the store terminal 3 each output a store visit notification for the advance order specified by the specific information (step S9: output step in the store visit notification method). As a result, the store staff member to whom the store terminal 3 outputs the store visit notification can quickly prepare the food related to the advance order and hand it over to the customer who placed the advance order.

[0053] If the food has already been cooked, the waiter will quickly deliver it to the customer who ordered in advance. On the other hand, if the food requires a short cooking time, the waiter will see the arrival notification on kitchen display 3A (see Figure 9) and will give priority to cooking the pre-ordered food, and will then quickly deliver it to the customer who ordered in advance, either directly or via another waiter. If the customer who ordered in advance adds a menu item to the ticket machine 1, the kitchen display 3A will display a message indicating that the additional menu item will also be given priority. The waiter will also give priority to cooking the additional menu item. If the pre-ordered food item has not yet been cooked or is currently being cooked, the pre-ordered menu item and the additional menu item will be linked and displayed on kitchen display 3A.

[0054] Furthermore, before delivering the food, the waiter may visit the customer who has placed an advance order in response to their call to verify their identity, and the customer may inform the waiter of their advance order at that time. In this case, the waiter will also prioritize calls from customers who have placed an advance order over calls from general customers. Furthermore, the kitchen display 3A may display in advance the name and quantity of the menu items in the order information for advance orders scheduled for pickup on the day, as well as the expected date and time of arrival. In this case, the waiter may prepare the food in advance for the expected date and time of arrival, and then finish and deliver the food when the customer who has placed an advance order arrives.

[0055] As a result, customers who pre-order do not have to find a waiter to communicate their requirements for receiving the food, and can quickly receive their food, improving convenience for customers who pre-order. Note that the output of the arrival notification (step S9) may be brought forward so that it is performed immediately after the control unit 30 of the ticket vending machine 1 acquires the order information from the management device 2 (YES in step S4). In any case, after sending the arrival notification, the control unit 30 functions as an example of an issuing means together with the issuing unit 32, and issues the first ticket 91 shown in FIG. 11 (step S10).

[0056] Furthermore, at the time of issuing the first ticket 91, or around this time, the control unit 30 deletes the current order information from the memory unit 34, and commands the management device 2 to delete the order information from the advance order table T1. The control unit 40 of the management device 2 deletes the order information and the corresponding order number from the advance order table T1. Note that this deleted information may be managed separately as history in the ticket vending machine 1 and the management device 2.

[0057] It is possible that the order information corresponding to the specific information acquired by the control unit 30 does not exist, for example, because the customer made a mistake in ordering or went to the wrong store. In this case (NO in step S4), the control unit 30 will notify the customer who placed an advance order that the current transaction is impossible by displaying a message on the display operation unit 10 (step S11), and will cancel the current transaction. In this case, the customer who placed an advance order can reorder a menu item at the ticket machine 1 as a regular customer. Also, if order information exists but payment has not been made (NO in step S7), and the customer who placed an advance order cancels the current order using the cancel key 72 or the like (YES in step S12), the control unit 30 will cancel the current transaction.

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

[0059] 11 lists, for example, from top to bottom, the name of the restaurant, a note 91A indicating that the first ticket 91 is for a pre-order, the names and quantities of all paid menu items including pre-orders and additional orders placed on the ticket vending machine 1, the total amount, the amount deposited, the amount of change, the planned visit date and time specified at the time of advance reservation, the delivery date and time (actual visit date and time) which is the issue date and time of the first ticket 91, and the exchange number. The names and quantities of paid menu items and the planned visit date and time are information related to the order information acquired by the control unit 30 in step S5.

[0060] The waiter who prepares the dish corresponding to the menu listed on the first ticket 91 identifies the customer who has placed the order in advance and to whom the dish is to be delivered by the exchange number. For example, a notification terminal (not shown) may be used to notify the restaurant that the dish corresponding to the exchange number has been prepared. The customer who has placed the order in advance and received the first ticket 91 can receive the dish from the waiter in exchange for the first ticket 91. This prevents mistakes in the delivery of food, improving convenience for both the customer who has placed the order in advance and the waiter regarding advance orders.

[0061] The first ticket 91 may be handed over to a waiter in exchange for the food, or may be retained by the customer who has ordered in advance as a receipt. If the first ticket 91 is handed over to a waiter in exchange for the food, a receipt may also be issued in addition to the first ticket 91 in step S10. Furthermore, instead of being handed over by a waiter, the food may be temporarily stored in a delivery device such as a warming cabinet installed in the store, and then the customer who has ordered in advance may take it out of the delivery device themselves.

[0062] The second ticket 92 shown in FIG. 12 is, for example, composed of an exchange voucher 92A and a receipt 92B. The second ticket 92 has a perforation L that runs across the exchange voucher 92A and the receipt 92B, allowing the exchange voucher 92A and the receipt 92B to be separated. Each of the exchange voucher 92A and the receipt 92B contains, for example, from top to bottom, the name of the restaurant, the type of the exchange voucher 92A or the receipt 92B, the name and price of the menu item for which payment was made, and the issuance date and time of the second ticket 92. The menu item name and price are an example of information related to the new order accepted by the control unit 30 in step S13. An exchange number may be written next to the type on the exchange voucher 92A. A customer who has placed an advance order and received the second ticket 92 can exchange the exchange voucher 92A of the second ticket 92 for a meal.

[0063] In the case of advance orders, a single first ticket 91 (see FIG. 11) is issued that lists all the paid menu items, whereas a second ticket 92 is issued for each paid menu item. In other words, the control unit 30 issues the second ticket 92 in a format different from the first ticket 91. Therefore, depending on the format of the ticket received from the advance order customer, the waiter can accurately determine whether the order related to this ticket is a new order or a advance order, and can respond appropriately to each order, thereby improving the waiter's convenience.

[0064] 13 is a diagram showing an example of a sales management table T2 stored in the storage unit 43 of the management device 2. The sales management table T2 stores the payment date and time, which is the issuance date and time of the first ticket 91 or the second ticket 92, the payment amount, which is the total price of the first ticket 91 or the price of the second ticket 92, the order pattern (pre-order or new order), and notes such as a breakdown of the menu items that make up the payment amount and the payment method. Each time a first ticket 91 or a second ticket 92 is issued through a transaction at the ticket vending machine 1, sales information including the payment date and time, payment amount, order pattern, and notes for this transaction is sent from the ticket vending machine 1 to the management device 2. The control unit 40 of the management device 2 updates the sales management table T2 by adding the received sales information to the sales management table T2.

[0065] In this type of sales management table T2, sales information for advance orders and sales information for new orders are managed in a unified manner. Therefore, a store clerk who views the sales management table T2 on the display unit 20 of the management device 2 or the like can easily understand the breakdown of sales. The sales management table T2 may also be viewable on the display unit 46 of the store terminal 3. The information in the sales management table T2 may be sorted so that sales for advance orders and sales for new orders can be tallied separately for comparison. Furthermore, the sales management table T2 may also manage cash managed by the restaurant along with sales.

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

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

[0068] Furthermore, by omitting the first ticket 91 issued to the customer who has placed an advance order at the ticket vending machine 1, in step S10 described above, the first ticket 91 is not actually issued, but the contents of the first ticket 91 may be transmitted from the ticket vending machine 1 to the customer's mobile terminal 5A by contactless communication using the reading unit 17. The customer who has placed an advance order can receive the food from the menu related to their order by showing the contents displayed on the display operation unit 55 of the mobile terminal 5A to the waiter.

[0069] In the embodiment described above, the ticket vending machine 1 also serves as a reception means (reception terminal) that receives specific information from customers who have placed advance orders. However, a reception terminal separate from the ticket vending machine 1 may also be placed at the front of the restaurant as a reception means (reception terminal). The reception terminal (separate from the ticket vending machine 1) may have a function for receiving restaurant entry reservations from customers. Furthermore, when the ticket vending machine 1 receives specific information from a customer who has placed an advance order (YES in step S2), it may output a restaurant arrival notification (step S9) regardless of whether or not there is corresponding order information. This allows the customer who has placed an advance order to quickly call a waiter. The restaurant arrival notification is not limited to a display on the display unit 46 of the store terminal 3, but may also be output as an audio message. In this case, the audio message may be output by an alarm device (not shown) that issues an in-house announcement.

[0070] A queue in front of the ticket vending machine 1 or the reception terminal is a waste of time for customers who have made the effort to place an order in advance. Therefore, for example, an authentication code for customers who have placed an order in advance may be displayed on the display / operation unit 10 of the ticket vending machine 1. In this case, the customer who placed an order in advance can approach the ticket vending machine 1 without disturbing the queue, obtain the authentication code, and enter the authentication code and specific information into an application on the mobile terminal 5A. In this case, the management device 2, which serves as an example of a reception means and output means, may receive the authentication code and specific information and output a store visit notification to the store terminal 3. This allows customers who placed an order in advance to be authenticated without having to wait in line, allowing store staff to quickly recognize and respond to the arrival of customers who placed an order in advance. It is preferable that the authentication code be changed periodically to prevent tampering, etc.

[0071] The store arrival notification system 100 may also include a camera such as a surveillance camera. The camera is positioned so as to capture an image of the area in front of the ticket vending machine 1. The camera may be electrically connected to the control unit 30 as part of the ticket vending machine 1, or may be attached as a separate component to the ticket vending machine 1 in a location separate from the ticket vending machine 1, such as on the ceiling of the restaurant. The camera captures an image of a person accessing the ticket vending machine 1 from the front and transmits the captured image data to the management device 2. If image data of a customer who has placed an advance order is included in the order information, the management device 2 may perform identity authentication based on the captured image data and the image data. If the identity authentication is successful, the management device 2 may output a store arrival notification to the store terminal 3. Furthermore, if the store arrival notification system 100 can track the current location of a customer who has placed an advance order via location information from the mobile terminal 5A using a GPS function or the like, the management device 2 may output a store arrival notification to the store terminal 3, provided that the current location of the customer who has placed an advance order is near the restaurant.

[0072] The various features described above may be selected and combined as needed. [Explanation of symbols]

[0073] 1 Ticket machine 2 Management device 3. Store terminal 10 Display operation section 17 Reading unit 30 Control Unit 31 Valuable Media Processing Department 32 Publishing Department 33 Communications Department 43 Storage section 45 Control Unit 46 Display section 91 1st Ticket 92 2nd Ticket 100 Store visit notification system

Claims

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

2. 1. An order processing method using a reception terminal connected to a storage means that stores order information about a pre-order and identification information for identifying the pre-order, comprising: a step of inputting the specific information into an input screen by an operation of a customer; a step of acquiring the order information corresponding to the input specific information from the storage means when the order information has already been stored in the storage means, and displaying the acquired order information; a step of settling the order based on the order information; An order processing method comprising:

3. a storage means for storing order information about a pre-order and identification information including a telephone number or a customer's name for identifying the pre-order; an input screen for inputting the specific information by operation of a customer; a control means for, when the order information corresponding to the specific information input on the input screen has already been stored in the storage means, acquiring the order information from the storage means and displaying the acquired order information; a payment means for making a payment for the order based on the order information; An order processing system comprising:

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

5. a storage means for storing order information about a pre-order and identification information including a telephone number or a customer's name for identifying the pre-order; an input screen for inputting the specific information by operation of a customer; a control means for, when the order information corresponding to the specific information input on the input screen has already been stored in the storage means, acquiring an amount included in the order information from the storage means and displaying the acquired amount; a payment means for making a payment according to the amount; An order processing system comprising:

6. An order processing method using a reception terminal connected to a storage means for storing order information about a pre-order and specific information for identifying the pre-order, comprising: a step of inputting the specific information into an input screen by an operation of a customer; a step of acquiring an amount included in the order information from the storage means when the order information corresponding to the input specific information has already been stored in the storage means, and displaying the acquired amount; making a payment according to the amount; An order processing method comprising:

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