JP3554718B2 - Ordering equipment - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an improvement of an ordering device used in a restaurant or the like.
[0002]
[Prior art]
An ordering device used in a restaurant or the like includes an ordering controller built in or separately provided from the POS main device, a plurality of order terminals for transmitting order information such as an input dish name to the ordering controller, and the ordering controller. And a cooking command device (kitchen printer) that outputs cooking command information based on the order information received in step (1).
[0003]
In a restaurant such as a family restaurant, when an attendant carries an order terminal and receives an order for food or the like at a customer table, the contents of the order, for example, the name of the dish, the name of the drink, the quantity, etc., are displayed on a touch panel or a keyboard. The order information is transmitted to the ordering controller via wireless transmission means using radio waves or infrared light and transmitted to the POS main unit.
[0004]
Upon receiving such order information, the ordering controller prints out the contents of the cooking on a kitchen printer for giving a cooking instruction to the kitchen under the operation control in cooperation with the POS main unit. , The series of operations from the order to the cooking instruction can be efficiently performed.
[0005]
In this case, the input of order information performed using the order terminal is performed in units of one table or in units of a group of people who came to the store at the same time.
[0006]
Therefore, if there is a new order from a visitor different from the input target person while inputting the order information, it is not possible to correspond to the new order on the spot, and the new order is After completing a series of order taking operations for the currently inputting visitor, order information corresponding to the new order is input again.
[0007]
In addition, when a new order is received, the customer himself or herself does not receive the new order, but takes other measures such as requesting support from another customer service and acting on behalf of the customer.
[0008]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The conventional ordering device immediately responds to a new order when one customer is inputting order information at the time of congestion and an order is simultaneously entered by a visitor who is not the target of the input. It is not a problem if the customer waiting for the customer notices it and enters the order with support, but there are many cases where there is no customer waiting for the customer when the store is crowded, so in this case you can enter a new order The problem is that people who place new orders are kept waiting.
[0009]
In addition, while entering order information, if there is no customer service nearby, there may be a case where the customer service is searched for by using in-store broadcasting. Other visitors may feel noisy or uncomfortable due to the lack of communication.
[0010]
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an ordering device capable of efficiently performing a series of operations from order taking to a cooking instruction, shortening the waiting time of a visitor, and improving the work efficiency of a customer clerk. Is to provide.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above problems, an ordering device according to the present invention employs a characteristic configuration as described below.
[0012]
(1) An ordering controller built in or provided separately from the POS main unit, a plurality of order terminals for transmitting input order information such as an input dish name to the ordering controller, and an order information received by the ordering controller. In the ordering apparatus consisting of a cooking command device that outputs cooking command information based on
Storage means which is built in at least one of the order terminal, the ordering controller, and the POS main device and stores a data file for managing settings such as table number data and message data;
When the information transmitted from one of the plurality of order terminals is received by the ordering controller, and the received content is searched and transmitted to other order terminals except the order terminal that transmitted the information among the plurality of order terminals. Simultaneously start a timer, and when there is a response from one of the other order terminals except the order terminal that transmitted the information among the plurality of order terminals within the standby time set in the timer, the reception is performed. ordering apparatus comprising control means for controlling so as to transmit a corresponding message to the order terminal to the response of the corresponding message from the ordering controller drawn from the data file contents.
[0013]
(2) An ordering apparatus, wherein the control means of (1) includes an individual transmission means capable of transmitting a message from an arbitrary order terminal of the plurality of order terminals to another order terminal.
[0014]
(3) The control means of (1) receives the information transmitted from the order terminal by the ordering controller, searches for the received content, and, among the plurality of order terminals, only the order terminal in a standby state. An ordering device including means for transmitting to an ordering device.
[0015]
(4) An ordering apparatus configured to input any one of the messages (1) to (3) at the order terminal.
[0016]
(5) An ordering device configured to select any one of the messages (1) to (3) from data stored in the order terminal in advance.
[0017]
(6) An ordering device configured to select one of the messages (1) to (3) from data stored in the POS main device in advance.
[0018]
(7) An ordering device configured to select any one of the messages (1) to (3) from data stored in advance in the ordering controller.
[0019]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that this embodiment is an example in which the present invention is applied to an ordering apparatus having an ordering controller provided separately from the POS main apparatus. As shown in FIG. 1, the overall configuration of this embodiment is provided with an ordering controller 1, which is connected to a POS main unit (not shown), and manages POS data such as not only order information but also cumulative information on cooking orders. And a cooking instruction device (not shown) for giving a cooking start instruction to the kitchen.
[0020]
An ordering controller 1 in an ordering apparatus used in a restaurant or the like has storage means for storing response waiting time data 2, message data 3, and setting file data 4. The ordering controller 1 is provided with a timer cycle module 5 having time information corresponding to the value of the response waiting time data 2, and transmits and receives to and from the order terminals 8-1, 8-2,. There is provided an interface 6 for performing through the interface 7.
[0021]
Each of a plurality (n) of order terminals 8-1, 8-2, 8-n capable of transmitting / receiving data to / from the ordering controller 1 via the transmission / reception unit 7 includes a numeric keypad, a transmission button, and a reception button. A large number of operation command keys such as buttons and interrupt buttons are provided in the form of a mechanical switch or a touch panel, and include a display unit for displaying a message described later.
[0022]
Therefore, for example, a customer attendant carries the order terminal 8-n and inputs order information at a certain table, that is, first inputs a table number using a numeric keypad, then inputs an order food name and quantity, and performs a series of input operations. When the transmission button is pressed after the completion of the process, the order information is transmitted to the transmission / reception unit 7 of the ordering controller 1.
[0023]
Also, the order information is taken into the POS main unit connected to the ordering controller 1, and this data is processed by the POS main unit and output to the kitchen printer to give a cooking instruction. Directives can be given.
[0024]
If there is a new order from another table while inputting the order information of a certain table using the order terminal 8-n, the currently input order is put on hold, and the customer number corresponding to the new order, For example, a table number is input and transmitted to the ordering controller 1.
[0025]
The ordering controller 1 having received the table number searches the table number and the message set in the information table, and stores the data in the order terminals currently waiting, that is, the order terminals 8-1, 8-2,.・ Send to the hand in 8- (n-1).
[0026]
Here, what can be specified is that the current state of each of the n order terminals 8-1 to 8 -n is set by the terminal number and the input state each time transmission is made to the ordering controller 1. Because the file data 4 is stored in the latest state as updated data every moment, it can be easily found.
[0027]
Also, a data file that is built in at least one of the order terminals 8-1, 8-2, 8-n, the ordering controller 1, and the POS main unit and that manages settings such as table number data and message data is stored. The storage means is configured as the setting file data 4, and the information transmitted from any of the order terminals 8-1, 8-2, and 8-n is received by the transmitting / receiving unit 7 of the ordering controller 1, and the received content is searched and transmitted. Then, at the same time, the timer is started by the timer cycle module 5, and when a response is received from a specific one of the order terminals 8-1, 8-2, 8-n within the standby time set for the timer. Then, a message corresponding to the received content is extracted from the message data 3 and the transmission / reception unit 7 And the order terminals 8-1, 8-2, 8 -n are controlled so that the corresponding messages can be transmitted to the order terminals 8-1, 8-2, 8 -n. When no response is received from any one of -2 and 8-n, a control means capable of controlling the order information to be stored in the data file is configured.
The contents of such setting file data 4 are stored as message number data 4a1, response waiting time data 4a2, message content data 4a3, and default data 4a as conceptually indicated by reference numeral 4a shown in FIG. The message number data 4a1 is formed by a 3-digit serial number, the response waiting time data 4a2 is formed by the time in seconds (S), and the message content data 4a3 is "order please". "Please check out.", "**, please contact me as soon as possible", etc. The ** part corresponds to a personal name that is separately input separately, and the default data 4a is fixed information. It is formed with a table number.
[0029]
Then, at the same time as the transmission from one of the terminals at hand, ie, any one of the order terminals 8-1, 8-2, 8-n, is started, the response waiting time data 2 is set, and the timer cycle module 5 is activated to respond. The timing of the standby starts.
[0030]
At this time, the characters displayed on each of the order terminals 8-1, 8-2, 8-n are a store name, a time, a table number, a message number, a message, a handy number, as indicated by reference numeral 3a in FIG. (The unique number of the order terminal) and the letters of the person in charge are displayed, and the user is asked, "I'm calling you. Please take action."
[0031]
At the same time as this display, the corresponding send button 3b and the delete send button 3c are displayed together, and even if the time according to the response waiting time data 2 elapses after such display, the response from the terminal (operation of the corresponding send button 3b) If there is no parentheses, a delete message is sent to all order terminals that sent help data.
[0032]
On the other hand, the customer clerk who can correspond to the contents of this display sends a response message from its own order terminal 8-1, 8-2, 8-n, and then transmits information on the new order in the same manner as a normal order input. Enter
[0033]
The ordering controller 1 having received the response message transmits a message to the effect that the response has been completed to the order terminal in the same manner as in the case of timeout when waiting for a response.
[0034]
Also, when calling a customer service clerk at a remote location, for example, a warehouse, etc., enter the number of the order terminal to be called using the order terminal carried by the user and directly input a message for calling. Alternatively, a message can be transmitted to a corresponding attendant by selecting a message number from an existing message group.
[0035]
Based on this transmission, the order terminal display of a specific (designated customer attendant) among the order terminals 8-1, 8-2, 8-n is, for example, as shown by reference numeral 3d in FIG. , The store name, time, table number, message number, message, handy number (unique number of the order terminal), and the characters of the person in charge are displayed, and the customer is asked to ask "Please contact me as soon as possible." It is performed for members.
[0036]
The reception staff receiving this message displays the message content on the terminal device, and if a response is required after seeing the display, directly enter a prepared response message or By selecting a message number from an existing message group, a message can be transmitted to the attendant.
[0037]
Therefore, the information transmitted from the order terminals 8-1, 8-2, 8-n is received by the transmission / reception unit 7 of the ordering controller 1, the received contents are searched, and the orders in the plurality of order terminals in the standby state are retrieved. The above-described control means includes means for transmitting to only the terminal.
[0038]
A message transmitted from any of the order terminals 8-1, 8-2, 8-n may be configured to be directly input at the order terminal, or may be input to the order terminals 8-1, 8-2, 8-8. -N, selected from data pre-stored in the POS main unit, or selected from data pre-stored in the ordering controller 1. Needless to say, the configuration may be made as follows.
[0039]
【The invention's effect】
As apparent from the above description, in the ordering apparatus according to the present invention, when one customer attendant is inputting order information at the time of congestion, an order is simultaneously entered from a visitor who is not an input target. In this case, the new order can be dealt with immediately and, in some cases, the customer can enter the order with the help of the customer, so that the person who placed the new order can hardly be made to wait.
[0040]
In addition, if there is no customer service nearby when entering order information, general shop visitors will be transmitting and receiving between multiple order terminals without using in-store broadcasting. It does not make noise or make you feel uncomfortable.
[0041]
Therefore, it is possible to provide an ordering apparatus capable of efficiently performing a series of operations from order taking to a cooking instruction, shortening a wait time of a visitor, and improving work efficiency of a customer clerk. .
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block circuit diagram showing a schematic circuit configuration of an ordering device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram conceptually showing data storage contents of setting file data shown in FIG.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing screen display contents on an order terminal shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the contents of characters displayed on an order terminal shown in FIG. 1;
[Explanation of symbols]
Reference Signs List 1 Ordering controller 2 Response waiting time data 3 Message data 4 Setting file data 5 Timer cycle module 6 Interface 7 Transmitter / receiver 7
8-1 to 8-n order terminal

Claims (7)

A built-in or separate ordering controller in the POS main unit, a plurality of order terminals for transmitting input order information such as an input dish name to the ordering controller, and a cooking instruction based on the order information received by the ordering controller. In an ordering device consisting of a cooking command device that outputs information,
Storage means which is built in at least one of the order terminal, the ordering controller, and the POS main device and stores a data file for managing settings such as table number data and message data;
When the information transmitted from one of the plurality of order terminals is received by the ordering controller, and the received content is searched and transmitted to other order terminals except the order terminal that transmitted the information among the plurality of order terminals. Simultaneously start a timer, and when there is a response from one of the other order terminals except the order terminal that transmitted the information among the plurality of order terminals within the standby time set in the timer, the reception is performed. ordering apparatus characterized by comprising control means for controlling so as to transmit a corresponding message to the order terminal to the response of the corresponding message from the ordering controller drawn from the data file contents. The said control means is comprised including the individual transmission means which can transmit a message from any one of the said order terminals to another order terminal, The structure of Claim 1 characterized by the above-mentioned. Ordering device. The control means receives the information transmitted from the order terminal by the ordering controller, searches the received content, and transmits only the order terminal in a standby state among the plurality of order terminals. The ordering apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ordering apparatus is configured to include the ordering apparatus. 4. The ordering apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the message is configured to be input at the order terminal. 4. The ordering apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the message is selected from data stored in the order terminal in advance. 4. The ordering device according to claim 1, wherein the message is selected from data stored in the POS main device in advance. 4. The ordering apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the message is selected from data stored in advance in the ordering controller.

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