Order Interface for Alternative Item Recommendation With Content Display
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Solution Overview
Problem
In existing order systems, customers often struggle to recognize recommended alternative articles when a designated item is out of stock, requiring manual confirmation from a menu table, which increases labor and time.
Innovation Solution
An information processing apparatus that determines a designated article's availability and, if unavailable, recommends alternative articles by analyzing attribute data from a menu database, providing detailed information on the recommended items.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a list of recommended article names is displayed, then alternative articles can be recommended when stockout occurs, but customers cannot recognize what kind of article the recommended article is
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the information display into two parts: the recommended article name list and the detailed article content description. By dividing the information presentation, the system can show both the recommendation (solving stockout issue) and the detailed description (solving recognition issue) without conflict
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary element - the article content description (such as menu table information) that mediates between the recommended article name and the customer's understanding. This intermediary provides the missing contextual information that helps customers recognize what the recommended article is
2Loss of information
If customers view menu tables to confirm recommended articles, then they can recognize article contents, but labor and time for confirmation increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the article content description directly with the recommended article display on the same screen or interface. By combining the recommendation list and the detailed description into a single integrated view, customers can confirm article contents without separately consulting menu tables, thereby reducing time and labor
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary action by pre-fetching and displaying the article content descriptions along with the recommended articles. This prepares the information in advance so that when customers need to confirm details, the information is already available, eliminating the need for additional lookup actions
3Ease of operation
If store clerks inform customers about recommended articles, then customers receive guidance, but labor for confirmation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables self-service by providing customers with direct access to article content descriptions through the display interface. Customers can independently view and understand recommended articles without requiring store clerk intervention, thereby maintaining ease of operation while improving ordering efficiency by reducing staff labor
Data Source
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AI summary
An information processing apparatus includes a determining section, a deciding section, and a notifying section. The determining section determines a designated article designated as a candidate of an order based on an operation by an operator. The deciding section decides, if the order of the designated article determined by the determining section cannot be received, another article as a recommended article. The notifying section notifies the recommended article decided by the deciding section to the operator together with a description about the recommended article.