Task assistance system, task assistance device, and task assistance method

Abstract

The present invention makes it possible to provide useful information for assisting shop staff in performing a task in relation to an order in a shop where orders are managed using paper slips. This task assistance system comprises: an order content recognition unit 52 for recognizing an order content indicated by an order slip 100 attached to a slip holder of an information processing device 4; a reference information generation unit 53 for generating, on the basis of the result of an analysis of the order content, task-related reference information for shop staff of a shop to refer to when performing an order handling task; and a display control unit 54 for displaying the generated task-related reference information on a display of the information processing device 4. Unlike a configuration that simply displays an elapsed time after reception of an order content or an order, by the task assistance system displaying, on the display, the task-related reference information generated on the basis of the result of an analysis of the order content, more useful information can be provided as information for assisting the shop staff in performing a task in relation to the order.

Description

Business support system, business support device, and business support method

[0001] The present invention relates to a business support system, a business support device, and a business support method, and is particularly suitable for use in a system that supports the execution of business performed by store clerks in relation to ordering food and drink.

[0002] Many restaurants manage orders by using paper slips, which are printed out from orders entered on an ordering terminal. For example, orders are managed by placing paper slips in an order clipper (also called slip holder) installed in the kitchen, lining them up on the counter, or placing them directly on dishes. Although this is essentially a manual, physical management method, there is strong demand for it because it can be easily customized in terms of operation.

[0003] Meanwhile, a technology called a kitchen display system has been proposed to improve the efficiency of order management in kitchens. This technology enables information management that cannot be achieved with paper slips, such as color-coding orders by table, indicating the urgency of an order, and deleting orders after cooking is complete. Also known is a cooking time management device that includes multiple slip holders and corresponding displays, each of which displays the elapsed time since the slip was detected as being placed in the slip holder (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0004] However, kitchen display systems have the disadvantage of requiring the chef to operate a tablet or other operating terminal while cooking. In contrast, the technology described in Patent Literature 1 allows the chef to manage cooking time simply by placing a receipt in a receipt holder, eliminating the need for the chef to operate a terminal while cooking. However, this only allows for management of cooking time, and is insufficient in terms of providing information to assist staff in the execution of order-related tasks.

[0005] There is also a known business support device that acquires print data of an order slip containing order information indicating the order contents from an order reception terminal and displays the order information for each orderer on a kitchen display (see, for example, Patent Document 2). Patent Document 2 also discloses that the business support device measures the elapsed time from the time the print data was acquired and displays each order information in association with the acquisition time and elapsed time. However, the information visible on the kitchen display in the technology described in Patent Document 2 is not significantly different from the information visible on the paper slip and display unit in the technology described in Patent Document 1.

[0006] Japanese Patent No. 3086448 Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2012-008632

[0007] The present invention has been made to solve such problems, and aims to provide useful information to assist store clerks in carrying out order-related tasks in stores that manage orders using paper slips.

[0008] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention recognizes the order contents indicated on one or more order slips, analyzes the order contents, and based on the analysis results, generates business-related reference information for store staff to refer to when handling orders, and displays the generated business-related reference information on the display of an information processing device.

[0009] According to the present invention configured as described above, in stores that use paper slips for order management, unlike configurations that simply display the order details or the elapsed time since the order slip was placed in the slip holder or since the order slip was printed, the display also displays task-related reference information generated based on the analysis of the order details, thereby providing more useful information to assist store clerks in carrying out their order-related tasks.

[0010] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the overall configuration of a business support system according to a first embodiment; FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a slip-specific display area and a collective display area set on the display of an information processing device; FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of a business support system according to a first embodiment; FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the business support system according to the first embodiment; FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing another example of the functional configuration of a business support system according to the first embodiment; FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the overall configuration of a business support system according to a second embodiment; FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of a business support system according to the second embodiment;

[0011] (First Embodiment) A first embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the overall configuration of a business support system according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the business support system according to the first embodiment includes a plurality of order terminals 1, an order reception device 2, a printer 3, an information processing device 4, and an order management device 5. The order terminal 1, the order reception device 2, the printer 3, and the information processing device 4 are installed inside a restaurant. Of these, the plurality of order terminals 1 are installed on a plurality of customer tables inside the restaurant. The printer 3 and the information processing device 4 are installed in the kitchen. Note that the printer 3 may be installed outside the kitchen. The order reception device 2 may also be configured as a cloud server outside the restaurant.

[0012] The order terminal 1, order reception device 2, information processing device 4, and order management device 5 are connected to a communication network 6 such as the Internet or a mobile phone network. The order reception device 2 and printer 3 are connected via a wireless communication means such as a wired or wireless LAN (Local Area Network), USB (Universal Serial Bus), or Bluetooth (registered trademark). When the order reception device 2 is configured as a cloud server outside the store, the printer 3 may be connected to the communication network 6, and the order reception device 2 and printer 3 may be connected via the communication network 6.

[0013] The ordering terminal 1 is a terminal that customers of the store operate to order food and beverages. A list of food and beverages that can be ordered is displayed on the display of the ordering terminal 1. By operating the ordering terminal 1, customers can specify the desired food and beverage items and the order quantity from the list and place an order. It is possible to specify one or more food and beverage items in one order, and by pressing the order button after specifying one or more food and beverage items and the order quantity for each, one piece of order information including one or more food and beverage items is sent from the ordering terminal 1 to the order receiving device 2. The order information sent at this time includes information indicating the order contents.

[0014] The ordering terminal 1 may be a customer's smartphone. For example, the customer may access the ordering site and place an order by reading a two-dimensional code indicating the address of the ordering site displayed on the display of the ordering terminal 1 with the customer's smartphone. The ordering terminal 1 may also be operated by a store clerk to input an order.

[0015] Order receiving device 2 accepts orders from order terminal 1. That is, order receiving device 2 receives order information transmitted from order terminal 1. Upon receiving the order information, order receiving device 2 generates print data for printing order slip 100 based on the order information and supplies the print data to printer 3. Printer 3 prints order slip 100 based on the print data received from order receiving device 2. The information printed on order slip 100 includes at least information indicating the order details. Kitchen staff check the order details printed on order slip 100 and prepare the food.

[0016] The information processing device 4 includes a slip holder 4a that detachably holds one or more order slips 100 printed by the printer 3, and displays 4b and 4c for displaying information. While FIG. 1 illustrates the slip holder 4a as being capable of holding a maximum of four order slips 100, it is actually possible for the slip holder 4a to hold a greater number of order slips 100. While FIG. 1 also illustrates a configuration in which one slip holder 4a holds one order slip 100, this is not a limitation. For example, a single horizontally elongated slip holder 4a may be configured to hold multiple order slips 100.

[0017] A kitchen employee places an order slip 100, which is printed by a printer 3, in a slip holder 4a each time order information is sent from a plurality of order terminals 1 to the order receiving device 2, and prepares one or more ordered foods and drinks according to the order details printed on the order slip 100. Then, when all the foods and drinks included in the order details printed on the order slip 100 have been prepared, the kitchen employee removes the order slip 100 from the slip holder 4a and places it near the dishes or hands it to a waiter employee.

[0018] Each slip holder 4a has a built-in sensor (e.g., a reflective optical sensor, a transmissive optical sensor, etc.) for detecting the insertion and removal of an order slip 100, making it possible to detect when an order slip 100 is inserted into or removed from the slip holder 4a. This sensor is installed in each position where an order slip 100 should be inserted, making it possible to detect at which position on the slip holder 4a the order slip 100 was inserted or removed. For example, if one slip holder 4a holds one order slip 100, each slip holder 4a has its own built-in sensor. Alternatively, if one horizontally long slip holder 4a holds multiple order slips 100, sensors are installed in multiple locations on the slip holder 4a, and each of these sensors detects the insertion and removal of an order slip 100 at each of these multiple locations. Information processing device 4 transmits information detected by the sensor in slip holder 4a regarding the attachment and detachment of order slip 100 to order management device 5 along with holder position information indicating the position of slip holder 4a in which order slip 100 is attached.

[0019] The first display 4b is a horizontally long LCD display device located above the slip holder 4a, spanning multiple attachment positions for order slips 100. As shown in FIG. 2, the first display 4b has multiple slip-specific display areas 401-404, positioned one-to-one with each slip holder 4a (each attachment position for an order slip 100). The slip-specific display areas 401-404 display business-related reference information (details described below) generated individually for each order slip 100 attached to the slip holder 4a. Instead of providing multiple slip-specific display areas 401-404 on a single LCD display device, multiple LCD displays may be arranged and used as the slip-specific display areas 401-404. The second display 4c is a LCD display device located to the side of the slip holder 4a, and business-related reference information generated collectively for multiple order slips 100 is displayed in the collective display area 405.

[0020] Note that the configuration of an information processing device 4 in which slip holders 4a and displays 4b are arranged horizontally, as shown in Figure 2, is referred to as a "rail type." As mentioned above, this rail type configuration may be either one in which multiple slip holders 4a are provided, each holding one order slip 100, or one in which a single horizontal slip holder 4a is provided, holding multiple order slips 100. It may also be one in which a single horizontal display 4b is provided across multiple order slip 100 mounting positions, or one in which multiple displays 4b are provided, one for each of the multiple order slip 100 mounting positions.

[0021] The information processing device 4 of this embodiment is not limited to the rail-type configuration described above. For example, it may be configured to have one slip holder 4a that holds one order slip 100 and a display 4b (referred to as a binder type). Furthermore, it may be configured to have multiple binder-type information processing devices 4 and one information processing device 4 that does not have a slip holder 4a and only has a display 4c. When the information processing devices 4 are configured as binder types, the multiple information processing devices 4 may be connected to each other via wireless communication means such as BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy).

[0022] Alternatively, the information processing device 4 may be configured in such a way that multiple slip holders 4a and displays 4b are arranged vertically and horizontally in a rectangular area having a certain area in both the vertical and horizontal directions (called a board type).The board type information processing device 4 may be configured to have multiple combinations of slip holders 4a and displays 4b arranged horizontally in the vertical direction, as with the rail type, and to have one or more displays 4c.

[0023] The order management device 5 corresponds to the business support device in the claims, and generates business-related reference information based on the order details printed on the order slip 100 attached to the slip holder 4a, sends it to the information processing device 4, and displays it on the displays 4b and 4c. The business-related reference information is information that supports the kitchen staff in carrying out order fulfillment tasks. The kitchen staff can perform order fulfillment tasks by checking the business-related reference information displayed on the displays 4b and 4c.

[0024] Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the business support system according to the first embodiment. As shown in Fig. 3, the order terminal 1 includes, as its functional configuration, an order processing unit 11. The order receiving device 2 includes, as its functional configuration, an order receiving unit 21 and a print data generating unit 22. The information processing device 4 includes, as its functional configuration, an attachment position display unit 41, an attachment / detachment detection unit 42, and a reference information display unit 43. The order management device 5 includes, as its functional configuration, an attachment position management unit 51, an order content recognition unit 52, a reference information generation unit 53, and a display control unit 54. The order management device 5 also includes, as a storage medium, an order information storage unit 55.

[0025] The functional block 11 of the order terminal 1, the functional blocks 21 and 22 of the order receiving device 2, the functional blocks 41 to 43 of the information processing device 4, and the functional blocks 51 to 54 of the order management device 5 can each be configured using any of hardware, a DSP (Digital Signal Processor), or software. For example, the above functional blocks are realized by the operation of a program stored in a storage medium such as RAM, ROM, a hard disk, or a semiconductor memory under the control of a microcomputer configured with a CPU, RAM, ROM, etc.

[0026] The order processing unit 11 of the ordering terminal 1 executes processing related to food and drink orders. As described above, the order processing unit 11 displays a list of orderable food and drink on the display of the ordering terminal 1. When a customer operates the ordering terminal 1 to specify the desired food and drink and the order quantity, and then presses the order button, the order processing unit 11 transmits order information indicating the order details, including one or more food and drink items and the order quantities for each, to the order receiving device 2.

[0027] The order receiving unit 21 of the order receiving device 2 receives the order information transmitted from the order terminal 1. When the order receiving device 2 receives the order information, it transmits the order information and order reception information indicating that the order has been received from the order terminal 1 to the order management device 5. The order reception information transmitted from the order receiving unit 21 is provided to the mounting position management unit 51, and the order information is provided to the order content recognition unit 52. Note that the order receiving unit 21 may be configured to transmit only the order information to the order management device 5, and not to transmit the order reception information.

[0028] Based on the order information received by order receiving unit 21, print data generation unit 22 generates print data for printing order slip 100 and supplies the data to printer 3. Print data generation unit 22 generates print data that will print on order slip 100 text information indicating at least the order details (the food and drink ordered and the order quantity).

[0029] Although the present embodiment illustrates a configuration in which the order receiving unit 21 forwards order information received from the order terminal 1 to the order management device 5, this is not limiting. For example, the printer 3 may be connected to the communications network 6 to communicate with the order receiving device 2 and the order management device 5, and the printer 3 may be equipped with a slip information generation unit that generates slip information from the print data of the order slip 100 generated by the print data generation unit 22, and this slip information may be sent from the printer 3 to the order management device 5. Alternatively, the order management device 5 may be equipped with a slip information generation unit, and the printer 3 may be equipped with a print data transmission unit, and the print data may be sent (transferred) from the printer 3 to the order management device 5, and the order management device 5 may generate slip information from the print data. Like the order information sent by the order receiving unit 21, the slip information generated by the slip information generation unit also includes information indicating the order details. The above-described variations may also be applied to the second embodiment, described below.

[0030] As described above, the kitchen employee places the order slip 100 printed by printer 3 in slip holder 4a of information processing device 4. In this embodiment, the placement position management unit 51 of order management device 5 sends placement position instruction information indicating the placement position of order slip 100 in slip holder 4a to information processing device 4, and the placement position of order slip 100 is notified on display 4b. The kitchen employee places order slip 100 in the position of slip holder 4a notified on display 4b.

[0031] Attachment position management unit 51 manages which positions on slip holder 4a order slips 100 are attached and which positions on slip holder 4a order slips 100 are not attached by receiving attachment / detachment detection information (attachment detection information and detachment detection information) indicating the attachment or detachment of order slips 100 from attachment / detachment detection unit 42 of information processing device 4 each time. When attachment position management unit 51 receives order acceptance information from order acceptance device 2, it identifies the positions on slip holder 4a where order slips 100 are not attached, generates attachment position indication information specifying the unattached positions, and sends this information to information processing device 4.

[0032] The mounting position display unit 41 of the information processing device 4 displays the designated mounting position of the order slip 100 on the display 4b based on the mounting position instruction information sent from the mounting position management unit 51. For example, it is possible to light or flash a predetermined mark in one of the multiple slip display areas 401-404 that is located opposite the designated mounting position for the slip holder 4a. Alternatively, it is also possible to display text indicating the mounting position in one of the slip display areas 401-404.

[0033] Based on the detection results of a sensor built into slip holder 4a, attachment / detachment detection unit 42 of information processing device 4 detects when order slip 100 is attached to or removed from slip holder 4a, and sends each attachment / detachment detection information (attachment detection information and removal detection information) to order management device 5 along with holder position information indicating the position of slip holder 4a on which order slip 100 is attached. The attachment / detachment detection information and holder position information sent from attachment / detachment detection unit 42 are provided to attachment position management unit 51 of order management device 5.

[0034] If the attachment / detachment detection unit 42 detects that the order slip 100 has been attached in a position different from that instructed by the order management device 5, it may display warning information on the display 4b informing the user that the attachment position is incorrect. Alternatively, the table ID may be included in the information sent from the order terminal 1 to the order receiving device 2, and the table ID may be printed on the order slip 100 in addition to the information indicating the order details, and the table ID may be displayed on the display 4b of the information processing device 4 in addition to lighting or flashing a predetermined mark indicating the attachment position. In this way, the kitchen employee can visually compare the table ID printed on the order slip 100 with the table ID displayed together with the mark on the display 4b and attach the order slip 100 in the correct position.

[0035] After transmitting the attachment position indication information to information processing device 4, attachment position management unit 51 receives attachment detection information indicating the attachment of an order slip 100 together with holder position information from attachment / detachment detection unit 42, and then supplies the holder position information to order content recognition unit 52. Order content recognition unit 52 recognizes the order details printed on one or more order slips 100 attached to slip holder 4a based on the order information received from order receiving unit 21 and the holder position information received from attachment / detachment detection unit 42. Order content recognition unit 52 then associates the order information received from order receiving unit 21 with the holder position information and stores it in order information storage unit 55. This makes it possible to associate and manage the order information received from order receiving unit 21 with the position of the order slip 100 attached to slip holder 4a.

[0036] The reference information generation unit 53 analyzes the order details recognized by the order detail recognition unit 52 (the details of the order information stored in the order information storage unit 55) and, based on the analysis results, generates task-related reference information for the restaurant kitchen staff to refer to when performing order fulfillment tasks. The display control unit 54 controls the task-related reference information generated by the reference information generation unit 53 to be transmitted to the information processing device 4 and displayed. At this time, the reference information display unit 43 of the information processing device 4 receives the task-related reference information transmitted from the order management device 5 and displays it on the displays 4b, 4c. In this embodiment, the task-related reference information is provided in several patterns, which will be described below.

[0037] <<First Provision Pattern>> The reference information generation unit 53 analyzes the order details recognized by the order detail recognition unit 52 for each order slip 100, and generates business-related reference information for each order slip 100 based on the analysis results. The display control unit 54 controls the display of the business-related reference information generated by the reference information generation unit 53 in each slip display area 401-404 on the display 4b. A specific example is described below.

[0038] <Cooking Order> Based on the order details of the order slip 100 recognized by the order detail recognition unit 52, the reference information generation unit 53 determines the cooking order of multiple menu items included in one order slip 100 based on the target serving times preset for each food and drink (menu), and generates business-related reference information representing the cooking order. The display control unit 54 controls the display of each menu item in the slip-specific display area 401-404 corresponding to the position where the order slip 100 is attached. For example, business-related reference information is generated that specifies the cooking order of the menu items in order of shortest target serving time. In this case, drinks may be prioritized over food, and the order may be determined in order of earliest target serving time. Alternatively, the cooking order may be analyzed to minimize the cooking completion time for all menu items, assuming multiple menu items are being cooked in parallel. This displays an objective cooking order based on the target serving times, thereby preventing delays in serving.

[0039] <Cook> The reference information generation unit 53 identifies the cook corresponding to the ordered menu item based on the order details on the order slip 100 recognized by the order detail recognition unit 52, and generates work-related reference information identifying the cook. Information identifying the cook for each menu item is stored in advance in the order management device 5. The display control unit 54 controls the display of the cook in the slip-specific display area 401-404 that corresponds to the position where the order slip 100 is attached. For example, by defining menu items that are handled by less experienced cooks and those that are handled by more experienced cooks, it is possible to divide up the cooking roles. This can help prevent cooking errors and shorten cooking time.

[0040] <Supplemental Comments> The reference information generation unit 53 identifies supplemental comments accompanying the order details based on the order details on the order slip 100 recognized by the order detail recognition unit 52, and generates business-related reference information that displays the supplemental comments. The display control unit 54 controls the display of supplemental comments in the slip-specific display area 401-404 that corresponds to the position where the order slip 100 is attached. For example, if supplemental comments such as toppings, allergy warnings, or urgent requests are printed on the order slip 100, this can prevent kitchen staff from overlooking them and reduce the risk of the food having to be re-cooked.

[0041] <Alert> The reference information generation unit 53 identifies the ordered menu item based on the order details on the order slip 100 recognized by the order detail recognition unit 52, and generates work-related reference information displaying an alert when the warning time set for each menu item has passed. The display control unit 54 controls the display of the alert in the slip-specific display area 401-404 that corresponds to the position where the order slip 100 is attached. In this way, kitchen staff can recognize the alert that is displayed when a certain amount of time has passed since the order was received, and can prevent missed preparations.

[0042] In this example, the order management device 5 further includes an elapsed time measurement unit. The elapsed time measurement unit measures the elapsed time from, for example, when the attachment position management unit 51 receives attachment detection information transmitted from the attachment / detachment detection unit 42 of the information processing device 4 (i.e., when it detects that the order slip 100 has been attached to the slip holder 4a). The reference information generation unit 53 generates business-related reference information indicating an alert when the elapsed time measured by the elapsed time measurement unit exceeds the warning time without receiving detachment detection information from the attachment / detachment detection unit 42. Note that the elapsed time measurement unit may also measure the elapsed time from when the attachment position management unit 51 receives order reception information from the order reception device 2.

[0043] <Multilingual Support> The reference information generation unit 53 converts the order details printed in Japanese into another language based on the order details on the order slip 100 recognized by the order detail recognition unit 52. The display control unit 54 controls the display of the order details in another language in the slip-specific display area 401-404 that corresponds to the position where the order slip 100 is attached. This allows foreign staff to understand the order details in their own language, reducing cooking errors. It also reduces the time it takes foreign staff to recognize the order details, which shortens cooking time.

[0044] <Remaining Ingredients> Based on the order details of the order slip 100 recognized by the order detail recognition unit 52, the reference information generation unit 53 determines the remaining number of ingredients used in the ordered menu item, and generates business-related reference information indicating the remaining number of ingredients or the number of menu items available for order. The display control unit 54 controls the display area 401-404 by displaying the remaining number of ingredients or the number of menu items available for order in the slip-specific display area corresponding to the position where the order slip 100 is attached. This eliminates the need to visually check the inventory status of ingredients. This business-related reference information may also be displayed in the collective display area 405.

[0045] In this example, the order management device 5 stores in advance the type and amount of ingredients used for each menu item. The order management device 5 also has a function to manage and store the remaining quantity of each ingredient in real time. Note that the order management device 5 may be configured to link with an inventory management system that manages ingredient stock, so that the order management device 5 inquires of the inventory management system about the remaining number of ingredients used in an ordered menu item.

[0046] <Recipe> The reference information generation unit 53 generates business-related reference information that shows the recipe (how to prepare) for the ordered menu item based on the order details of the order slip 100 recognized by the order detail recognition unit 52. The order management device 5 stores recipe information for each menu item in advance. The display control unit 54 controls the display of the menu item recipe in the slip-specific display area 401-404 that corresponds to the position where the order slip 100 is attached. This allows even inexperienced kitchen staff to understand the correct cooking procedures, reducing cooking errors. This business-related reference information may also be displayed in the collective display area 405.

[0047] <Ordering Method> The reference information generation unit 53 identifies the ordering method (e.g., in-store ordering, off-site ordering, takeout, food delivery, or telephone ordering) based on the order details on the order slip 100 recognized by the order detail recognition unit 52, and generates business-related reference information indicating the ordering method. The display control unit 54 controls the display area 401-404 to display the ordering method in the slip-specific display area corresponding to the position where the order slip 100 is attached. In this example, the order receiving device 2 has the function of accepting orders from the ordering terminal 1 placed on a table in the store, as well as orders via the website and telephone, and sends order information including the ordering method to the order management device 5.

[0048] Ordering instructions are typically written on order slip 100, but the part of order slip 100 where they are printed can vary depending on the service (such as a POS system for managing in-store orders or a food delivery ordering system). It is time-consuming for kitchen staff to visually check this. In contrast, by displaying the ordering instructions in slip-specific display areas 401-404 regardless of where on order slip 100 the ordering instructions are printed, the effort required for kitchen staff to visually check the instructions can be reduced.

[0049] <Estimated Delivery Time> Based on the order details of the order slip 100 recognized by the order detail recognition unit 52, the reference information generation unit 53 determines the estimated delivery time for a customer who placed a takeout order from outside the restaurant or a driver who will deliver the food for a food delivery order, and generates business-related reference information indicating the estimated delivery time. The display control unit 54 controls the display area 401-404 to display the estimated delivery time in the slip-specific display area corresponding to the position where the order slip 100 is attached. This allows kitchen staff to see at a glance when the food should be cooked by, preventing delays or starting cooking too early. It is also possible to generate business-related reference information indicating an alert and display it in the slip-specific display areas 401-404 or the all-at-once display area 405 when a predetermined time before the estimated delivery time arrives.

[0050] In the case of a takeout order from outside the store, the time the customer will come to the store to pick up the product may be specified when placing the order. In this case, the order receiving unit 21 sends order information including the pick-up time to the order management device 5. The reference information generating unit 53 specifies the pick-up time recognized by the order content recognizing unit 52 as the scheduled delivery time. On the other hand, in the case of a food delivery order, the reference information generating unit 53 obtains information on the scheduled time the driver will arrive at the store from the management server of the food delivery service, and specifies this scheduled arrival time as the scheduled delivery time.

[0051] <<Second Provision Pattern>> The reference information generation unit 53 analyzes the individual order details recognized by the order detail recognition unit 52 for each order slip 100, correlating them with each other, and generates business-related reference information for each order slip 100 individually or collectively for all order slips 100, based on the results of the correlation analysis. The display control unit 54 controls the display so that the business-related reference information individually generated by the reference information generation unit 53 is displayed individually in the slip-specific display areas 401-404 of the display 4b, or so that the business-related reference information collectively generated by the reference information generation unit 53 is displayed in the collective display area 405 of the display 4c. Specific examples are described below.

[0052] <Priority Ranking> The reference information generation unit 53 determines the priority of each order slip 100 based on predetermined rules, using the order details of one or more order slips 100 recognized by the order detail recognition unit 52, and generates business-related reference information indicating the priority. The display control unit 54 controls the display of the priority of each order slip 100 in the slip-specific display areas 401-404. The predetermined rules can be set arbitrarily. For example, priorities can be set in advance for ordering methods such as in-store orders, off-site orders, takeout, food delivery, and phone orders, and the priority can be determined based on these priorities. In this way, the orders that should be prepared with the highest priority are linked to the intentions of the restaurant owner or manager, rather than the subjective opinions of kitchen employees, thereby reducing the effort required to give instructions to kitchen employees.

[0053] When a higher priority order is placed after a lower priority order, the higher priority order may be prioritized higher than the lower priority order only if the elapsed time from the lower priority order to the higher priority order is shorter than a threshold, while if the elapsed time is longer than the threshold, the priority may be set in the order in which the orders were received.Furthermore, the priority may be set based on the priority only if the number of orders already placed at the time the new order is placed is less than a threshold, while if the number of orders is greater than the threshold, the priority may be set in the order in which the orders were received.

[0054] <Number of Menu Items Ordered> The reference information generation unit 53 determines the total number of menu items ordered on one or more order slips 100 attached to slip holder 4a based on the order details of one or more order slips 100 recognized by the order detail recognition unit 52, and generates work-related reference information indicating the total number of menu items ordered. The display control unit 54 controls the total number of ordered menu items to be displayed in the collective display area 405. This allows kitchen staff to see at a glance the total number of menu items ordered on the order slips 100 attached to slip holder 4a.

[0055] As an example of the first provision pattern, the total number of menu items ordered on one order slip 100 attached to one slip holder 4a may be identified, and business-related reference information representing that total number may be generated and displayed in the slip-specific display areas 401 to 404.

[0056] <Simultaneous Cooking> Based on the order details of the multiple order slips 100 recognized by the order detail recognition unit 52, the reference information generation unit 53 identifies that the same menu item has been ordered among the multiple order slips 100 attached to slip holder 4a, and generates business-related reference information indicating the number of orders for the same menu item. The display control unit 54 controls the display of the number of orders for the same menu item in the collective display area 405. This prevents overlooking the fact that multiple orders of the same menu item can be cooked simultaneously when they are likely to be overlooked visually, and improves cooking efficiency compared to cooking each item individually.

[0057] Of the slip-specific display areas 401-404, those corresponding to multiple order slips 100 for which the same menu item has been ordered may be configured to display business-related reference information indicating that the same menu item has been ordered multiple times. For example, a specific mark may be lit or flashed in the slip-specific display areas corresponding to multiple order slips 100 for which the same menu item has been ordered.

[0058] <Message to the Cook> Based on the order details of the order slip 100 recognized by the order detail recognition unit 52, the reference information generation unit 53 identifies the cook corresponding to the ordered menu item and generates work-related reference information containing a message to the cook. The display control unit 54 controls the display of the message to the cook in the all-at-once display area 405. For example, each time the order management device 5 receives detachment detection information along with holder position information from the attachment / detachment detection unit 42, it counts the number of times the cook has processed the menu item included in the order slip 100 corresponding to that holder position information, and displays a message such as "50 dishes today!" when a predetermined number is reached. Alternatively, the order management device 5 may measure the elapsed time from receiving attachment detection information from the attachment / detachment detection unit 42 to receiving detachment detection information, and display a message such as "Fastest ever!" when the cook achieves the fastest time. This can be useful for self-analysis, such as determining whether the current method was the most efficient.

[0059] <<Third Provision Pattern>> Reference information generator 53 generates priority information representing the processing priority of each order slip 100 as business-related reference information, based on the attachment / detachment status of each order slip 100 in slip holder 4a detected by attachment / detachment detector 42. Display controller 54 controls display of the priority information generated by reference information generator 53 in slip-specific display areas 401-404 on display 4b.

[0060] For example, the reference information generator 53 determines the processing priority according to the order in which the order slips 100 were placed in the slip holder 4a, and generates a number representing that priority as business-related reference information. The display controller 54 displays this number in the slip display areas 401-404 of the information processing device 4. When an order slip 100 is removed from the slip holder 4a, the priority of one or more order slips 100 with a lower priority than the removed order slip 100 is increased by one, and the numbers displayed in the slip display areas 401-404 are updated so that the priority of the order slips 100 remaining in the slip holder 4a is maintained. This eliminates the need to arrange the order slips 100, for example, left-justified in order of priority, and then manually shift each order slip 100 to the left each time the order slip 100 is removed from the slip holder 4a after cooking is complete.

[0061] Fig. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the business support system according to the first embodiment configured as described above. Fig. 4 shows an example of the operation of the order terminal 1, order reception device 2, printer 3, information processing device 4, and order management device 5, each as a flowchart. The flowchart in Fig. 4 shows the flow of processing related to one order, and the processing of the flowchart is executed for each order. Note that, for ease of understanding, dotted arrows indicate how the processing of each flowchart is carried out in conjunction with each other, but the processing of each flowchart is executed independently.

[0062] First, the order processing unit 11 of the order terminal 1 generates order information indicating the order contents in accordance with the customer's operation on the order terminal 1, and transmits the order information to the order reception device 2 (step S11). When the order reception unit 21 of the order reception device 2 receives the order information transmitted from the order terminal 1 (step S21), it transmits the order reception information and the order information to the order management device 5 (step S22).

[0063] Furthermore, print data generation unit 22 of order receiving device 2 generates print data for printing order slip 100 based on the order information received by order receiving unit 21, and supplies the print data to printer 3 (step S23). Printer 3 prints order slip 100 based on the print data supplied from order receiving device 2 (step S31).

[0064] Upon receiving the order reception information transmitted from order reception device 2 in step S22, order management device 5's mounting position management unit 51 identifies the position of a slip holder 4a on which no order slip 100 is attached, generates mounting position instruction information specifying the unattached position, and transmits this information to information processing device 4 (step S51). Information processing device 4's mounting position display unit 41 displays the specified mounting position of order slip 100 on display 4b based on the mounting position instruction information transmitted from mounting position management unit 51 (step S41).

[0065] The attachment / detachment detector 42 then determines whether the order slip 100 has been attached to the specified position of the slip holder 4a based on the detection results of the sensor built into the slip holder 4a (Step S42). When the attachment / detachment detector 42 detects that the order slip 100 has been attached to the slip holder 4a, it sends the attachment detection information along with the holder position information to the order management device 5 (Step S43).

[0066] The order content recognition unit 52 of the order management device 5 recognizes the order content printed on the order slip 100 attached to the slip holder 4a based on the order information received from the order receiving unit 21 in step S22 and the holder position information received from the attachment / detachment detection unit 42 in step S43 (step S52). Here, the order content recognition unit 52 associates the order information received from the order receiving unit 21 with the holder position information and stores it in the order information storage unit 55.

[0067] Thereafter, the reference information generating unit 53 analyzes the order details recognized by the order detail recognizing unit 52 (the details of the order information stored in the order information storage unit 55) and generates business-related reference information based on the analysis results (step S53). Then, the display control unit 54 transmits the business-related reference information generated by the reference information generating unit 53 to the information processing device 4 (step S54). The reference information display unit 43 of the information processing device 4 receives the business-related reference information transmitted from the order management device 5 and displays the business-related reference information on the displays 4b and 4c (step S44).

[0068] As explained in detail above, the business support system of the first embodiment recognizes the order details printed on the order slip 100 attached to the slip holder 4a of the information processing device 4, analyzes the order details, and based on the analysis results, generates business-related reference information for kitchen staff to refer to when performing order processing work, and displays the generated business-related reference information on the displays 4b and 4c of the information processing device 4.

[0069] According to the first embodiment configured as described above, unlike a configuration in which the order details and the time elapsed since the order was received are simply displayed in a store that uses paper slips for order management, task-related reference information generated based on the analysis results of the order details is displayed on the displays 4b and 4c, making it possible to provide more useful information to assist store staff in carrying out tasks related to orders.

[0070] In the first embodiment, the method for recognizing the order details printed on the order slip 100 attached to the slip holder 4a is not limited to the method described above. For example, the order details can be recognized using the configuration shown in Figure 5 or Figure 6.

[0071] 5, the order receiving device 2' has an order receiving unit 21' instead of the order receiving unit 21, the information processing device 4' has a slip photographing unit 44 instead of the mounting position display unit 41, and the order management device 5' has an order content recognition unit 52' instead of the order content recognition unit 52. In addition, the order management device 5' does not have the mounting position management unit 51 shown in FIG.

[0072] When an order receiving section 21' of an order receiving device 2' receives order information transmitted from the order terminal 1, the order receiving section 21' does not transmit order reception information indicating that the order has been received from the order terminal 1 and the order information to an order management device 5'.

[0073] When the attachment / detachment detection unit 42 detects that an order slip 100 has been placed in any position on the slip holder 4a, the slip photographing unit 44 photographs the placed order slip 100 with a camera and sends the photographed image to the order management device 5'. The camera is, for example, installed in a predetermined location in the kitchen, facing the slip holder 4a. While kitchen staff could photograph the order slip 100 with a portable camera, this increases the kitchen staff's workload. Therefore, it is preferable to install the camera in a fixed location and configure the camera to automatically photograph the order slip 100 when the attachment / detachment detection unit 42 detects that the order slip 100 has been placed. Alternatively, the information processing device 4' may be equipped with a camera, and when a kitchen staff member places the order slip 100 in the slip holder 4a, the printed side of the order slip 100 may be pointed toward the camera and the photograph button on the information processing device 4' may be pressed. This configuration minimizes the additional work required by the kitchen staff.

[0074] The captured image of order slip 100 is provided to order detail recognition unit 52' along with holder position information indicating the position of slip holder 4a detected by attachment / detachment detection unit 42. Order detail recognition unit 52' analyzes the captured image to recognize the order details printed on order slip 100 and converts the order information into text. Order detail recognition unit 52 then associates the converted order information with the holder position information and stores it in order information storage unit 55.

[0075] Although the example described above involves sending a captured image of the order slip 100 from the information processing device 4' to the order management device 5' and performing image analysis in the order content recognition unit 52' of the order management device 5', the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the information processing device 4' may convert the order information into text through image analysis, and then send the textual order information from the information processing device 4' to the order management device 5'. In this case, the order content recognition unit 52' recognizes the order content based on the textual order information received from the information processing device 4'.

[0076] In the configuration example shown in FIG. 6, the order receiving device 2" has an order receiving unit 21" and a print data generating unit 22" instead of the order receiving unit 21 and the print data generating unit 22, the information processing device 4" has a code reader 45 instead of the mounting position display unit 41, and the order management device 5" has an order content recognizing unit 52" instead of the order content recognizing unit 52. In addition, the order management device 5" does not have the mounting position management unit 51 shown in FIG. 3.

[0077] Order receiving unit 21" operates in the same way as order receiving unit 21' shown in FIG. 5. Based on the order information received by order receiving unit 21", print data generation unit 22" generates print data for printing order slip 100 and supplies it to printer 3. In doing so, print data generation unit 22" generates print data that prints on order slip 100 not only text information indicating the order details, but also a barcode or two-dimensional code (hereinafter simply referred to as "code") recording the order information. For example, an API (Application Programming Interface) that codes the text information indicating the order details could be built into order receiving device 2" as auxiliary software, and print data generation unit 22" could use this API to generate the code.

[0078] Although the example of generating a code in the order receiving device 2" has been described above, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a program for encoding the order details indicated by the print data may be incorporated into the firmware of the printer 3, and the printer 3 may use this firmware to encode the order details indicated by the print data supplied from the order receiving device 2" and print the encoded code on the order slip 100. Alternatively, the printer 3 may communicate with another server (not shown) and print the code encoded by a program on that server together with text information indicating the order details.

[0079] The code reader 45 obtains text order information by reading and decoding the code printed on the order slip 100 attached to the slip holder 4a. For example, when a kitchen employee attaches the order slip 100 to the slip holder 4a, the code reader 45 of the information processing device 4" aims the code printed on the order slip 100 at the code reader 45 to read it, causing the code reader 45 to obtain the text order information from the code. The code reader 45 then transmits the obtained order information to the order management device 5" together with holder position information indicating the position of the slip holder 4a detected by the attachment / detachment detection unit 42.

[0080] The order content recognition unit 52 ″ of the order management device 5 ″ stores the order information received from the information processing device 4 ″ in the order information storage unit 55 in association with the holder position information.

[0081] Second Embodiment Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. Unlike the first embodiment, in which one order slip 100 was printed for one order, the second embodiment prints multiple order slips 100 for each order, categorizing the food and drink items (menus) included in the order.

[0082] Figure 7 is a diagram showing an example of the overall configuration of a business support system according to the second embodiment. In Figure 7, components having the same functions as those shown in Figure 1 are assigned the same reference numerals. As shown in Figure 7, the business support system according to the second embodiment includes multiple order terminals 1, an order reception device 2B, a printer 3, multiple information processing devices 4, and an order management device 5B. The multiple information processing devices 4 are installed in different locations and are used to hold multiple order slips 100a, 100b printed for a single order in slip holders 4a.

[0083] FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of a business support system according to the second embodiment. In FIG. 8, components with the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 3 have the same functions, and therefore redundant description will be omitted here. As shown in FIG. 8, in the second embodiment, the order receiving device 2B includes an order receiving unit 21B and a print data generating unit 22B instead of the order receiving unit 21 and the print data generating unit 22. The order management device 5B includes a mounting position management unit 51B, an order content recognition unit 52B, a reference information generation unit 53B, and a display control unit 54B instead of the mounting position management unit 51, the order content recognition unit 52, the reference information generation unit 53, and the display control unit 54.

[0084] When the order receiving unit 21B receives the order information transmitted from the order terminal 1, it transmits the order information and order reception information indicating that the order has been received from the order terminal 1, together with an order ID that can uniquely identify the order, to the order management device 5B. The order reception information and order ID transmitted from the order receiving unit 21B are provided to the mounting position management unit 51B, and the order information and order ID are provided to the order content recognition unit 52B.

[0085] Print data generation unit 22B generates print data for printing multiple order slips 100a, 100b from a single order based on the contents of the multiple food and drink items (menus) included in the order accepted by order acceptance unit 21B, and supplies the print data to printer 3. For example, print data generation unit 22B identifies a category for each of the multiple menu items included in a single order, and generates print data for order slips 100a, 100b for each category. As a specific example, print data generation unit 22B classifies each of the multiple menu items included in a single order into either the food or drink category, and generates print data for printing food order slip 100a and drink order slip 100b.

[0086] The kitchen staff places the multiple order slips 100a, 100b printed by printer 3 into the slip holders 4a of the multiple information processing devices 4. Here, the kitchen staff places food order slip 100a into slip holder 4a of the information processing device 4 installed in the space where food is prepared. Also, the kitchen staff places drink order slip 100b into slip holder 4a of the information processing device 4 installed in the space where drinks are prepared.

[0087] The mounting position management unit 51B executes the same processing as the mounting position management unit 51 described in the first embodiment for multiple information processing devices 4. As a result, the mounting positions of the food order slips 100a and the drink order slips 100b are managed in association with the same order ID. The mounting positions here are indicated by a combination of identification information (e.g., a holder ID) that can uniquely identify multiple information processing devices 4 and holder position information.

[0088] Furthermore, order detail recognition unit 52B performs the same processing as order detail recognition unit 52 described in the first embodiment on both food order slip 100a and drink order slip 100b, which are associated with the same order ID. As a result, order detail recognition unit 52B stores the food order information and drink order information in order information storage unit 55, associating them with the corresponding holder ID and holder location information, as well as the common order ID.

[0089] Reference information generation unit 53B generates business-related reference information for each of multiple order slips 100a, 100b based on the order details recognized by order detail recognition unit 52B. For example, reference information generation unit 53B generates the various types of business-related reference information described in the first embodiment. In addition, based on the attachment / detachment status of order slips 100a, 100b to / from slip holder 4a detected by attachment / detachment detection unit 42, reference information generation unit 53B generates at least one of processing progress status information related to the attachment of order slips 100a, 100b to slip holder 4a and processing progress status information related to the removal of order slips 100a, 100b from slip holder 4a as business-related reference information.

[0090] Attaching a food order slip 100a to slip holder 4a means that the kitchen has accepted the customer's food order. Removing the food order slip 100a from slip holder 4a means that the food ordered by the customer has been prepared. Similarly, attaching a drink order slip 100b to slip holder 4a means that the kitchen has accepted the customer's drink order. Removing the drink order slip 100b from slip holder 4a means that the drink ordered by the customer has been prepared.

[0091] The display control unit 54B treats the above-mentioned processing progress information as second business-related reference information and other business-related reference information (the various types of business-related reference information described in the first embodiment) as first business-related reference information, and controls the first business-related reference information generated by the reference information generation unit 53B for a single order slip to be displayed on the displays 4b and 4c of an information processing device 4 having a slip holder 4a to which the single order slip is attached, and also controls the second business-related reference information generated by the reference information generation unit 53B for a single order slip to be displayed on the displays 4b and 4c of an information processing device 4 other than the information processing device 4 having the slip holder 4a to which the single order slip is attached.

[0092] As an example, display control unit 54B causes first business-related reference information generated by reference information generation unit 53B for food order slip 100a to be displayed on displays 4b and 4c of information processing device 4 having slip holder 4a to which food order slip 100a is attached. Similarly, display control unit 54B causes first business-related reference information generated by reference information generation unit 53B for drink order slip 100b to be displayed on displays 4b and 4c of information processing device 4 having slip holder 4a to which drink order slip 100b is attached.

[0093] Furthermore, display control unit 54B causes second task-related reference information generated by reference information generation unit 53B for food order slip 100a (e.g., processing progress status information indicating that food preparation has finished) to be displayed in slip-specific display areas 401-404 of information processing devices 4 to which drink order slip 100b managed with the same order ID is attached. Similarly, display control unit 54B causes second task-related reference information generated by reference information generation unit 53B for drink order slip 100b (e.g., processing progress status information indicating that drink preparation has finished) to be displayed in slip-specific display areas 401-404 of information processing devices 4 to which food order slip 100a managed with the same order ID is attached.

[0094] In this way, kitchen staff in charge of food can know the status of drink preparation at a remote location.Similarly, kitchen staff in charge of drinks can know the status of food preparation at a remote location.This shortens the route taken by kitchen staff compared to having to travel to a remote location and communicate verbally after food preparation is complete.

[0095] In the second embodiment, an example in which only one printer 3 is installed has been described, but this is not limiting. For example, multiple printers 3 may be installed in each space in which multiple information processing devices 4 are installed. In this case, the print data generation unit 22B distributes and transmits the generated multiple pieces of print data to the multiple printers 3.

[0096] Furthermore, in the second embodiment, an example has been described in which the order receiving device 2B analyzes the order contents and classifies them into categories, but this is not limiting. For example, the order receiving device 2B may transmit the order information received from the order terminal 1 to the order management device 5B, where the order management device 5B may classify the order into categories and return the classification results to the order receiving device 2B. Alternatively, the order receiving device 2B may generate one piece of print data based on the order information received from the order terminal 1 and transmit it to the order management device 5B, where the order management device 5B may classify the order into categories to generate multiple pieces of print data, and then transmit the multiple pieces of print data to the printer 3.

[0097] In the second embodiment, multiple menu items included in a single order are classified by category, and order slips 100a and 100b are printed for each category. However, this is not limiting. For example, multiple menu items included in a single order may be classified based on the kitchen space where the items will be prepared (the location where multiple information processing devices 4 are located), and order slips 100a and 100b may be printed for each kitchen space.

[0098] In the second embodiment, a variation of the first embodiment configured as shown in Figure 3 was described in which multiple order slips 100a, 100b were printed from a single order and each displayed the business-related reference information. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a variation of the configuration shown in Figure 5 or 6 could involve printing multiple order slips 100a, 100b from a single order and displaying the business-related reference information on each.

[0099] In the first and second embodiments, various types of business-related reference information are shown on displays 4b and 4c, but the present invention is not limited to these examples. For example, the time elapsed since order slip 100 was inserted into slip holder 4a may be displayed. Alternatively, the time elapsed since order slip 100 was printed by printer 3 may be displayed. Furthermore, if order slip 100 is difficult to see in a dark store, displays 4b and 4c may be displayed at a brightness that makes it easy to see.

[0100] A cancellation notice may also be displayed when an order slip 100 is canceled. Typically, when an order is canceled, a new order slip 100' with the same slip number and "cancelled" written on it is issued, and the order slip 100 is then compared and removed from slip holder 4a. However, by displaying "cancelled" in the slip-specific display area 401-404 that corresponds to the position of the order slip 100 to be canceled, the work of matching and printing a cancellation slip can be eliminated.

[0101] Additionally, seating information (for example, a map of the restaurant) that can be seen at a glance from the table ID (seat number, etc.) of the order may be displayed. This allows kitchen staff who have not yet memorized the seat numbers to know which seat the order is for, and provides supplementary information when kitchen staff decide the timing of cooking while checking the table situation in an open kitchen.

[0102] Furthermore, in the first and second embodiments, if the number of order slips 100 increases, it may become impossible to fit them all into slip holder 4a. To prepare for this, a temporary storage box may be provided in addition to slip holder 4a. The box may be equipped with a sensor that detects the presence of order slips 100 inside and a display unit, and the display unit may indicate that order slips 100 are stored in the box. Furthermore, when a space becomes available in slip holder 4a, the display unit may display information instructing the user to move the order slips 100 from the box to slip holder 4a.

[0103] Furthermore, in the above first and second embodiments, a configuration including information processing devices 4, 4', 4" and order management devices 5, 5', 5", 5B has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, if only business-related reference information is to be provided in the first provision pattern, the order management devices 5, 5', 5", 5B may be omitted, leaving only the information processing devices 4, 4', 4", and the information processing devices 4, 4', 4" may be configured to include an order content recognition unit 52, a reference information generation unit 53, and a display control unit 54.

[0104] Furthermore, the above-described embodiments are merely examples of specific embodiments for carrying out the present invention, and the technical scope of the present invention should not be construed as being limited thereby. In other words, the present invention can be carried out in various forms without departing from the gist or main characteristics thereof.

[0105] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 Order terminal 2, 2', 2", 2B Order reception device 3 Printer 4, 4', 4" Information processing device 4a Slip holder 4b, 4c Display 5, 5', 5", 5B Order management device (business support device) 11 Order processing unit 21, 21', 21", 21B Order reception unit 22, 22", 22B Print data generation unit 41 Mounting position display unit 42 Mounting / detachment detection unit 43 Reference information display unit 44 Slip photographing unit 45 Code reader 51, 51B Mounting position management unit 52, 52', 52", 52B Order content recognition unit 53, 53B Reference information generation unit 54, 54B Display control unit 55 Order information storage unit 401 to 404 Slip-specific display area 405 All-at-once display area

Claims

1. A business support system comprising an information processing device having a display and a slip holder that removably holds one or more order slips printed by a printer, and providing information based on the order details printed on the order slips attached to the slip holder, said business support system comprising: an order detail recognition unit that recognizes the order details indicated on the one or more order slips; a reference information generation unit that analyzes the order details recognized by the order detail recognition unit and, based on the analysis results, generates business-related reference information for store staff to refer to when handling orders; and a display control unit that controls the display of the business-related reference information generated by the reference information generation unit on the display.

2. The business support system described in claim 1, characterized in that the reference information generation unit individually analyzes each order content recognized by the order content recognition unit for each order slip and generates business-related reference information for each order slip whose content corresponds to the individual analysis results, and the display control unit controls the business-related reference information individually generated by the reference information generation unit to be displayed individually in the slip-specific display area of ​​the display or in a collective display area separate from the slip-specific display area.

3. The business support system described in claim 1, characterized in that the reference information generation unit analyzes the individual order contents recognized by the order content recognition unit for each order slip by correlating them with each other, and generates business-related reference information for each of the order slips individually or collectively for each of the order slips, the content of which corresponds to the results of the correlation analysis, and the display control unit controls the business-related reference information generated individually by the reference information generation unit to be displayed individually in a slip-specific display area of ​​the display, or the business-related reference information generated collectively by the reference information generation unit to be displayed in a collective display area separate from the slip-specific display area.

4. The business support system described in claim 1, further comprising an attachment / detachment detection unit in the information processing device that detects when the order slip is attached to the slip holder and when the order slip is removed from the slip holder, and the reference information generation unit generates priority information representing the processing priority of each of the order slips as the business-related reference information based on the attachment / detachment status of each order slip to the slip holder detected by the attachment / detachment detection unit.

5. The business support system described in claim 1 further comprising: an order reception unit that receives orders from an ordering terminal operated by customers of the store or staff of the store to order food and beverages; and a print data generation unit that generates print data for printing the order slip based on the contents of the order received by the order reception unit and supplies the print data to the printer, wherein the print data generation unit generates print data for printing multiple order slips from one order based on the contents of the multiple foods and beverages included in the order received by the order reception unit, and the reference information generation unit generates the business-related reference information for each of the multiple order slips based on the order contents recognized by the order content recognition unit.

6. A plurality of the information processing devices are installed in different locations for holding a plurality of order slips printed from the single order in the slip holder, and the information processing device further comprises an attachment / detachment detection unit for detecting when the order slip is attached to the slip holder and when the order slip is removed from the slip holder, and the reference information generation unit generates, as the business-related reference information, at least one of processing progress status information relating to the attachment of the order slip to the slip holder and processing progress status information relating to the removal of the order slip from the slip holder based on the attachment / detachment status of the order slip relative to the slip holder detected by the attachment / detachment detection unit, The business support system of claim 5, wherein the display control unit treats the processing progress information as second business-related reference information and other business-related reference information as first business-related reference information, controls the first business-related reference information generated by the reference information generation unit for a given order slip to be displayed on the display of the information processing device having the slip holder to which the given order slip is attached, and controls the second business-related reference information generated by the reference information generation unit for the given order slip to be displayed on the display of an information processing device other than the information processing device having the slip holder to which the given order slip is attached.

7. A business support system as described in claim 2 or 3, further comprising a business support device that executes processing related to the business-related reference information, wherein the business support device is equipped with the order content recognition unit, the reference information generation unit and the display control unit.

8. The business support system described in claim 4, further comprising a business support device that executes processing related to the business-related reference information, wherein the information processing device is equipped with the attachment / detachment detection unit, and wherein the business support device is equipped with the order content recognition unit, the reference information generation unit and the display control unit.

9. The business support system as described in claim 6, further comprising an order receiving device which receives orders from the order terminal, and a business support device which executes processing related to the business-related reference information, wherein the order receiving device is equipped with the order receiving unit and the print data generating unit, the information processing device is equipped with the attachment / detachment detection unit, and the business support device is equipped with the order content recognition unit, the reference information generating unit and the display control unit.

10. A business support device that provides information to an information processing device having a slip holder that removably holds one or more order slips printed by a printer and a display, based on the order details printed on the order slips attached to the slip holder, characterized in that the business support device comprises: an order detail recognition unit that recognizes the order details indicated on the one or more order slips; a reference information generation unit that analyzes the order details recognized by the order detail recognition unit and, based on the analysis results, generates business-related reference information for store staff to refer to when performing order processing tasks; and a display control unit that controls the display of the business-related reference information generated by the reference information generation unit on the display.

11. A business support method for providing information to an information processing device having a slip holder that detachably holds one or more order slips printed by a printer and a display, based on the order details printed on the order slips attached to the slip holder, the business support method comprising: a first step in which an order detail recognition unit of the business support device recognizes the order details indicated on the one or more order slips; a second step in which a reference information generation unit of the business support device analyzes the order details recognized by the order detail recognition unit and generates, based on the analysis results, business-related reference information for store staff to refer to when performing order processing tasks; and a third step in which a display control unit of the business support device controls the display of the business-related reference information generated by the reference information generation unit.

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