JP4902372B2 - Customer call equipment - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a customer calling device for calling a customer waiting in a waiting space such as a financial institution, a government office, or a hospital.

In waiting areas such as financial institutions, government offices, hospitals, etc., issue number tags to customers waiting for their turn, and when the turn comes, inform them that the turn has come with a number display or voice guidance. There is a customer call device for automatically performing such order reception. In such a customer call device, a procedure for a customer to wait for a turn, and a service related to a customer call when the turn has come are proposed (for example, see Patent Documents 1 and 2). ).
JP-A-8-314378 JP 2003-337891 A

  By the way, even if the customer is called to the window, the called customer may not appear easily. If you happen to be far away from the window, if you are physically disabled and cannot come to the window immediately, you can go out of the waiting area and try to do another job during the waiting time. There are various cases, such as when you do not notice that the call is called, and as a contact person, you should be wondering whether you should wait for the calling customer to appear at the window or call the next customer of this customer By the way, if this judgment is mistaken, there is a problem that the useless time to look at the situation is lengthened and the business efficiency is lowered or the customer is called twice.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a customer call device that can perform an efficient call by performing customer location management.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 sequentially displays reception number tickets provided with RFID tags having unique identification data, and displays the order data in a predetermined choreography order for each reception number ticket. An acceptance ticket issuing means for issuing a ticket, an uncalled data storage means for storing the order data and the identification data for each receipt number ticket issued by the acceptance ticket issuing means in association with each other, and an unissued data storage means for issuing the ticket at the acceptance ticket issuing means already said the presence confirmation means for confirming the location of the waiting engagement space of the RFID tag of acceptance number ticket as detected by the location confirming RFID reader, an operation unit for customers calling operation to call the customer is entered, the customer Calling means for making a call, and when a customer call operation is input to the operation means, uncalled order data stored in the uncalled data storage means The order data selected based on a predetermined order of calling and selected from the order data related to the identification data of the RFID tag whose location has been confirmed by the location confirming means is called by the calling means. have a control means for causing said presence confirmation means, said location confirmation RFID reader, the waiting is disposed to each of the plurality of areas divided by the space, each arrangement area and RFID reader for checking the location , And a voice guidance unit in the vicinity of each location confirmation RFID reader of the location confirmation unit, and the control unit inputs a customer call operation to the operation unit. And the order data selected based on a predetermined calling order from the uncalled ordering data stored in the uncalling data storage means The RFID tag having the identification data related to the order data, the order data related to the identification data of the RFID tag whose location is confirmed by the location confirmation means being selected and being called by the calling means The voice guidance is performed only by the voice guidance means disposed in the vicinity of the location confirmation RFID reader that detects the location .

  The invention according to claim 2 is the invention according to claim 1, wherein the RFID tag is not writable and unique identification data is stored in advance, and the uncalled data storage means is issued by the reception ticket issuing means. The order data for each receipt number ticket and the identification data read from the RFID tag by the ticket issuing RFID reader are associated with each other and stored as uninvoked data.

  The invention according to claim 3 is the invention according to claim 1, wherein the RFID tag is writable, and the acceptance ticket issuing means writes the identification data specific to the RFID tag with an RFID writer to issue the ticket. It is said.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any one of the first to third aspects, the uncalled data storage means stores the order data and the identification data for each receipt number ticket at the time of ticketing. In addition to storing as uncalled data in association with information, the control means excludes uncalled data of a date other than the current day from unordered data in the uncalled data storage means. .

The invention according to claim 5 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , wherein the location confirmation means arranges the location confirmation RFID reader in each of a plurality of chairs provided in the waiting space. It is characterized by having an arrangement correspondence storage means for storing each location confirmation RFID reader and the chair on which each is located in association with each other.

The invention according to claim 6 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 5 , wherein the location confirmation means is the location confirmation RFID reader other than a waiting chair provided in the waiting space. Each of the plurality of installation objects is provided with an arrangement correspondence storage means for storing each location confirmation RFID reader and the installation object in which each is located in association with each other.

The invention according to claim 7 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 6 , wherein when the customer call operation is input to the operation means, the control means is stored in the uncall data storage means. Selecting the order data related to the identification data of the RFID tag whose location has been confirmed by the location confirming means from among the unordered order data, which is selected based on a predetermined calling order The calling means causes the calling to be performed, and the location of the location confirmation RFID reader that has detected the RFID tag having identification data related to the order data is calculated from the storage information of the arrangement correspondence storage means and displayed on the display means. It is characterized by letting.

The invention according to claim 8 is the invention according to claim 7 , characterized in that the display means is arranged in the waiting space.

The invention according to claim 9 is the invention according to claim 8 , wherein the display means is provided in the vicinity of each location confirmation RFID reader for each location confirmation RFID reader of the location confirmation means. It is a feature.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the reception ticket issuing means provided in the waiting space displays the order data in a predetermined choreography order and issues the reception number ticket to the customer. The call data storage means associates the order data displayed on the reception number ticket by the reception ticket issuing means with the unique identification data of the RFID tag of the same reception number ticket and stores it as uncalled data. When the receipt number ticket is received from the reception ticket issuing means, the customer holds the receipt number ticket until the call is made. Therefore, the location confirmation means is the RFID tag of the reception number ticket that has been issued by the reception ticket issuing means. By confirming the location in the waiting space by the detection by the location confirmation RFID reader, it is possible to confirm the location in the waiting space of the customer who possesses the receipt number ticket. Therefore, when a customer call operation is input to the operation means, the control means is the order data selected based on a predetermined call order from the uncalled order data stored in the uncall data storage means. By selecting the order data related to the identification data of the RFID tag whose location has been confirmed by the location confirmation means and causing the calling means to make a call, only the customers in the waiting space are called, and the customers leave the waiting space. No longer call customers. Therefore, by performing location management as to whether or not the customer is in the waiting space, it is possible to make an efficient call because the customer who has been out of the waiting space is not wasted and waited.
Further, the location confirmation means includes a detection status of the RFID tag by the location confirmation RFID reader arranged in each of a plurality of divided areas of the waiting space, each location confirmation RFID reader stored in the arrangement correspondence storage means, and each It is possible to specify the area of the customer who has the receipt number ticket from the association of the arrangement area. Therefore, when an employee directly calls a customer who is not aware of the calling of the calling means, the area where the customer is located can be specified, so that the customer can be called accurately.
In addition, since the control means causes the voice guidance means corresponding to the location-reading RFID reader that has detected the RFID tag having identification data related to the order data called by the calling means to perform voice guidance, the control means is aware of the calling of the calling means. First, it is possible to notify the calling target customer in the vicinity of the location confirmation RFID reader that the calling is performed by performing voice guidance using the voice guidance means. Therefore, it is not necessary to make a call at all the voice guidance means in the waiting space, the number of unnecessary call guidance for customers other than the call target can be reduced, and in order to wait for the call, the voice guidance means is close It is possible to reduce the psychological burden on customers that they must stay.

  According to the invention of claim 2, since the RFID tag is not writable and unique identification data is stored in advance, the uncalled data storage means reads the identification data from the RFID tag with the RFID reader for ticketing. An RFID reader / writer capable of writing is unnecessary, and the entire apparatus can be configured at low cost.

  According to the invention of claim 3, since the RFID tag is writable and the reception ticket issuing means writes the identification data unique to the RFID tag with the RFID writer to issue the ticket, the order data and the identification data are the same data. And there is no need to store these associations. Therefore, the processing speed can be increased.

  According to the invention of claim 4, the uncalled data storage means stores the order data and identification data for each receipt number ticket as uncalled data in association with the date information at the time of ticketing, and the control means In order to exclude uncalled data other than the current date from the uncalled data in the uncalled data storage means, the receipt number ticket other than the current day may be excluded when it exists in the waiting space. it can.

According to the invention of claim 5 , the location confirmation means is stored in the RFID tag detection status by the location confirmation RFID reader arranged in each of the plurality of chairs provided in the waiting space, and the arrangement correspondence storage means. Based on the association between each location confirmation RFID reader and the chair on which each is located, it becomes possible to identify the chair on which the customer holding the receipt number ticket is seated. Therefore, when the clerk calls the customer who is not aware of the calling of the calling means, the chair on which the customer is seated can be specified, so that the customer can be called accurately.

According to the invention according to claim 6 , the location confirmation means is a RFID tag detection status by the location confirmation RFID reader disposed in each of a plurality of installations other than the waiting chair provided in the waiting space; It is possible to specify an installation in the vicinity of the customer who has the receipt number ticket from each location confirmation RFID reader stored in the arrangement correspondence storage means and the association of the installation in which each is installed. Therefore, when a staff member directly calls a customer who is not aware of the calling of the calling means, an installation close to the customer can be specified, so that the customer can be called accurately.

According to the invention of claim 7 , the position of the location confirmation RFID reader that has detected the RFID tag having the identification data related to the order data called by the calling means is calculated from the storage information of the arrangement correspondence storage means. Therefore, the staff member can recognize the position of the RFID reader for confirming the location where the corresponding RFID tag is detected by looking at the display means. Therefore, the customer can be called more accurately.

According to the eighth aspect of the invention, since the display means is arranged in the waiting space, even if a staff member in the waiting space detects the corresponding RFID tag by looking at the display means, the location confirmation RFID The position of the reader can be recognized. Therefore, the clerk in the waiting space can call the customer accurately.

According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, since the display means is provided for each location confirmation RFID reader of the location confirmation means, even an attendant in the waiting space can view the corresponding RFID by viewing this display means. It is possible to recognize the position of the RFID reader for confirming the location where the tag is detected. Therefore, the clerk in the waiting space can call the customer accurately.

  A customer call device according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

  The customer calling device 10 according to the first embodiment is provided in a store 11 of a financial institution and guides a customer who waits in a waiting space 12 of the store 11 to a customer service counter 13 having a counter staff.

  The customer calling device 10 includes a reception ticketing machine (reception ticket issuing means) 21 that is provided near the entrance 14 of the waiting space 12 and issues a reception number ticket 20 each time. The reception number ticket 20 issued by the reception ticket issuing machine 21 includes an RFID tag 22 capable of wireless communication as shown in FIG. 2, and the reception ticket issuing machine 21 has an RFID tag 22 when the reception number ticket 20 is issued. A ticket-issuing RFID reader 23 for reading data from an IC chip (not shown) is provided. Here, unique identification data is stored in the IC chip of the RFID tag 22 at the time of manufacture of the IC chip, and this identification data is unique number data that is read-only and cannot be rewritten.

  In addition, the customer calling device 10 is provided on the customer service counter 13 and is provided in the waiting space 12 for receiving an operation unit (operation means) 26 operated by a window staff in the customer service counter 13 for calling customers. A position confirmation device (location confirmation means) 31 having a plurality of, specifically four, position confirmation RFID readers (location confirmation RFID readers) 27 to 30 for reading data of the RFID tag 22 attached to the number ticket 20; Each of the RFID readers 27 to 30 has a plurality of, specifically, four position display lamps (display means) 33 to 36 disposed in the vicinity thereof.

  Further, the customer calling device 10 is provided on the customer service counter 13 and displays a current calling number to call the customer and calls the customer number 38 (calling means), and is provided in the waiting space 12 to the customer. A plurality of voice guidance speakers (speech guidance means) 40 to 43, a window attendant display monitor (display means) 44, and a floor attendant display monitor provided in the waiting space 12 (Display means) 45 and a control device (control means) 50 including a data server for connecting and controlling the above devices.

  The reception ticket issuing machine 21 is operated by a customer who visits the store 11, and includes a reception display monitor 52 that displays to the customer, a reception speaker 53 that provides voice guidance to the customer, and a reception display. A touch panel 54 as an operation unit that is affixed to the monitor 52 and operated by the customer, and the customer follows the screen display or voice guidance provided in the reception ticket issuing machine 21 according to the service that the customer wants to receive. An operation input is performed on the touch panel 54.

  A printing device 55 is incorporated in the reception ticket issuing machine 21 and is controlled by the control device 50 so that each reception number ticket 20 has a predetermined choreography order, for example, in ascending order from 1 after power-on at the start of business. The order data is displayed by printing (in the example of FIG. 2, the order data printed is “5”).

  The ticket-issuing machine 21 has the ticket-issuing RFID reader 23 incorporated therein as described above, and the ticket-issuing RFID reader 23 is written in advance on the IC chip of the RFID tag 22 provided on the ticket-receiving receipt number ticket 20. It is for reading unique identification data (unique number data that cannot be read-only rewritten). The control device 50 associates the order data for each receipt number ticket 20 issued by the reception ticket issuing machine 21 with the identification data read from the IC chip of the RFID tag 22 by the ticket issuing RFID reader 23 and uses these as uncalled data. The data is stored in the call data storage unit (uncalled data storage means) 60.

  Here, the base of the receipt number ticket 20 issued by the reception ticket issuing machine 21 may be a roll paper cut or a prescribed size paper. Moreover, the card | curd of the prescribed | regulated magnitude | size of plastics other than paper may be sufficient. In the case of roll paper, RFID tags 22 are provided in advance at certain cutting intervals so that one RFID tag 22 is always included for each receipt number ticket 20 to be issued. Even in the case of paper of a predetermined size or a plastic card, the RFID tag 22 is provided for each sheet in advance. In addition, the RFID tag 22 may be attached when the receipt number ticket 20 is issued. That is, various changes can be made to the material and size of the reception number ticket 20 and the arrangement method of the RFID tag 22. When a plastic card is used, it can be recovered and reused after use.

  The operation unit 26 operated by the window clerk when calling the customer is operated by the clerk when the response to the previous customer is finished and the response to the next customer is started. By performing a predetermined customer calling operation for calling a customer, the control device 50 displays the number of the order data of the customer to be called on the call number display 38 and performs voice guidance using the voice guidance speakers 40 to 43. .

  Each of the position confirmation RFID readers 27 to 30 of the position confirmation device 31 reads identification data from the IC chip of the RFID tag 22 attached to the receipt number ticket 20 by communication. The readers 27 to 30 automatically perform the update detection operation at predetermined time intervals (several seconds intervals). And the control apparatus 50 memorize | stores the identification data of the receipt number ticket 20 detected by communication with each position confirmation RFID reader | leader 27-30 in the detection receipt number ticket data storage part 61. FIG. That is, from the detection results of the plurality of position confirmation RFID readers 27 to 30 of the position confirmation device 31, the control device 50 performs the automatic update detection operation, and the RFID of the received receipt number ticket 20 in the waiting space 12 is issued. While grasping the location of all customers having the tag 22, that is, the receipt number ticket 20, the RFID tag 22 of the receipt number ticket 20 outside the store 11 does not receive radio waves and cannot communicate so that it is judged that there is no location. It has become.

  Here, for convenience, the waiting space 12 in the store 11 is divided into a plurality of areas, specifically four areas A1 to A4, and one location confirmation RFID reader 27 to 30 is arranged for each area A1 to A4. Yes. Further, the position display lamps 33 to 36 and the voice guidance speakers 40 to 43 are also provided for each of the areas A1 to A4.

  Then, the control device 50 stores the position confirmation RFID readers 27 to 30, the position display lamps 33 to 36, the voice guidance speakers 40 to 43, and the respective arrangement areas A1 to A4 in the arrangement correspondence storage unit 62. Store it in association. That is, the position confirmation RFID reader 27, the position display lamp 33, the voice guidance speaker 40, and the arrangement area A1 are stored in association with each other, and the position confirmation RFID reader 28, the position display lamp 34, the voice guidance speaker 41, and the arrangement area A1 are stored. A2 is stored in association with each other, the position confirmation RFID reader 29, the position display lamp 35, the voice guidance speaker 42, and the arrangement area A3 are stored in association with each other, and the position confirmation RFID reader 30, the position display lamp 36, and the voice guidance are stored. The speaker 43 for use and the arrangement area A4 are stored in association with each other.

  Thereby, it is also detected where the customer is located in the area A1 to A4 in the store 11 depending on which of the RFID readers 27 to 30 for position confirmation has detected the RFID tag 22 of the calling customer. In order to call the customer, it is possible to know which of the position display lamps 33 to 36 and which of the voice guidance speakers 40 to 43 should be signaled. Yes.

  Next, the control content of the control apparatus 50 in the customer call device 10 of 1st Embodiment is demonstrated with the flow of operation | movement of the customer call device 10. FIG.

  When a customer who visits the store 11 enters the waiting space 12 and performs a reception process (operation of the reception ticketing machine 21) corresponding to a window for performing a desired service via the reception ticketing machine 21, the reception ticketing machine 21 and The control device 50 registers the reception while communicating, and visually understands the order data and other information (such as the reception date and time and the purpose of visiting the store) that are choreographed in ascending order from 1 for each ticket issued from the start of business. As such, the receipt number ticket 20 is printed and issued.

  At this time, the control device 50, in parallel, for the same receipt number ticket 20, the unique identification data read from the RFID tag 22 by the ticket issuing RFID reader 23 provided in the reception ticket issuing machine 21, and the above-mentioned Are correlated with the registration information input by the customer and stored in the uncalled data storage unit 60 as uncalled data that has not been called yet. The reception registration information may include various information such as the reception date, reception time, purpose of visiting, customer name, etc., but at the minimum, the reception date data is automatically stored.

  The customer who has completed the reception process waits for his / her turn data to be displayed on the call number display unit 38 with the issued reception number ticket 20.

  Here, as described above, the position confirmation RFID readers 27 to 30 of the position confirmation device 31 are arranged in each of the areas A1 to A4 of the waiting space 12, and the control device 50 performs the position confirmation RFID readers 27 to 27. 30 pieces of read information are managed. That is, each of the position confirmation RFID readers 27 to 30 periodically performs a reading operation in response to a command from the control device 50 that is automatically transmitted at a predetermined time interval (several seconds interval). The location of the RFID tag 22 of the existing receipt number ticket 20, that is, the location of the customer waiting for the turn is checked.

  That is, when the position confirmation RFID readers 27 to 30 emit radio waves for reading in response to a command from the control device 50 that is automatically transmitted at a predetermined time interval (several seconds), the arrival of the radio waves When the RFID tag 22 of the receipt number ticket 20 exists in the range, the RFID tag 22 reacts to radio waves from the corresponding one of the RFID readers 27 to 30 for position confirmation, and the identification data recorded on the IC chip Is returned to this counterpart.

  Then, the control device 50 detects which identification data is returned to each position confirmation RFID reader 27 to 30 in association with the position confirmation RFID readers 27 to 30 and the returned identification data. The receipt number ticket data storage unit 61 is updated and recorded as the latest detection data. That is, the position confirmation RFID reader 27 and the RFID tag 22 detected thereby are associated and stored, the position confirmation RFID reader 28 and the detected RFID tag 22 are associated and stored, and the position confirmation is performed. The RFID reader 29 for use and the RFID tag 22 detected thereby are stored in association with each other, and the RFID reader 30 for position confirmation and the RFID tag 22 detected thereby are stored in association with each other. The controller 50 automatically performs such an operation at a predetermined time interval (several seconds interval).

  Here, the control device 50 refers to the date information corresponding to the identification data returned from each of the position confirmation RFID readers 27 to 30 from the uncalled data storage unit 60 and stores the date other than the current date. Exclude call data. However, this exclusion process is not necessary if different identification data is used every day and the data is reset at the end of business.

  When the counter clerk finishes processing the previous customer and inputs a customer call operation to the operation unit 26 to call the next customer, the control device 50 reads the call still stored in the uncall data storage unit 60. A predetermined calling order, for example, order data of the smallest number (early order) and identification data related thereto are read out from the unordered order data that have not been performed. Then, it is determined whether or not the identification data is in the identification data of the latest detection data of the RFID tag 22 whose location in the waiting space 12 has been confirmed by the position confirmation RFID readers 27 to 30 as described above.

  And when the identification data relevant to the order data of the smallest number does not exist in the latest detection data in the detection receipt number ticket data storage unit 61, the control device 50 receives the receipt number having the order data of the smallest number. It is determined that the customer to be called next with the ticket 20 is not in the store 11, and the customer is skipped, and the identification data related to the order data of the next smaller number is detected receipt number ticket data storage unit 61. It is determined whether it is in the identification data of the latest detection data in the list.

  In this manner, the unordered related order data and identification data are read out in ascending order from the smallest of the order data, and are sequentially identified from the latest detection data in the detection receipt number ticket data storage unit 61 of the identification data. Check for data matches. If there is a match, the control device 50 determines that the order data and the identification data are the data to be called next after the location is confirmed in the waiting space 12. In order to call the customer having the reception number ticket 20 having the number, the order data of the customer to be called is displayed on the call number display 38 as a number (location confirmation step). That is, when a customer call operation is input to the operation unit 26, the control device 50 selects an order selected based on a predetermined call order from unordered order data stored in the uncall data storage unit 60. Order data related to the identification data of the RFID tag 22 whose location has been confirmed by the RFID readers 27 to 30 for position confirmation is selected and called by the call number display 38.

  Along with the display of the above-described order data on the calling number display 38, the control device 50 issues a command to start the reading operation to each of the position confirmation RFID readers 27 to 30 in order to obtain the latest location information. . Each of the position confirmation RFID readers 27 to 30 that has received a command to start the reading operation from the control device 50 is respectively RFID-like, as in the automatic check of the RFID tag 22 of the reception number ticket 20 existing in the waiting space 12 described above. A radio wave for reading the identification data of the tag 22 is emitted, and a return radio wave from the RFID tag 22 existing within the radio wave reach is received. The returned radio wave identification data is transmitted to the control device 50.

  In the control device 50, the RFID tag 22 having the identification data of the customer who is currently calling out of the identification data sent from each of the position confirmation RFID readers 27 to 30 is selected from among the position confirmation RFID readers 27 to 30. To the position associated with the RFID reader among the areas A1 to A4, that is, the position of the RFID reader that sent the identification data from the storage information in the arrangement correspondence storage unit 62. It is determined that there is a customer in the middle, and a command is issued to display the area in which the customer is present on the window attendant display monitor 44 and the floor attendant display monitor 45. At the same time, the control device 50 turns on only the position display lamps 33 to 36 that are arranged in the vicinity of the RFID reader that sent the identification data, and among the voice guidance speakers 40 to 43, the identification data is also the same. A command is issued so that voice guidance is performed only with the one arranged in the vicinity of the RFID reader that has sent the message. That is, for example, when the RFID tag 22 having the identification data of the customer currently being called is detected by the position confirmation RFID reader 27, the area A 1 corresponding to the position confirmation RFID reader 27 is stored from the stored contents of the arrangement correspondence storage unit 62. It is determined that there is a customer who is currently calling, and the area A1 is displayed on the window attendant display monitor 44 and the floor attendant display monitor 45, and the position display lamp in the area A1 in the vicinity of the position confirmation RFID reader 27 is displayed. Only 33 is turned on, and voice guidance is performed only by the voice guidance speaker 40 in the area A1 in the vicinity of the RFID reader 27 for position confirmation.

  In this way, the calling number display unit 38 displays the number of the calling order data, and the voice guidance of the calling order data is performed only by the voice guidance speaker provided in the area where the calling customer is present. This will make the customer recognize that the turn has come.

  The window clerk waits for the calling customer to appear based on the information displayed on the window clerk display monitor 44. At this time, the window clerk is in charge of the customer who is calling by the lighting state of the display clerk display monitor 44 and the position display lamps 33 to 36, and the floor clerk is also in accordance with the lighting state of the floor clerk display monitor 45 and the position display lamps 33 to 36. Since the location area of the customer can be ascertained, it is possible to verbally call the customer in the direction of the area where the customer who called the counter is present, or the floor staff can pick up the relevant area and provide direct guidance.

  When the process is completed for the customer who has been called in this manner, and a customer call operation for calling the customer is input to the operation unit 26 in order to call the next customer, the control device 50 first determines that the process has been completed. Judging and deleting the associated data such as the order data and the identification data of the completed customers from the uncalled data in the uncalled data storage unit 60, and thereafter, similarly to the above, the uncalled data storage unit 60 In the ascending order of the order data from the related data having the smallest uncalled order data in FIG. 6, the coincidence with the identification data in the latest detected data in the detection receipt number ticket data storage unit 61 is confirmed.

  In the location confirmation step described above, the identification data in the latest detection data in the detection receipt number ticket data storage unit 61 with respect to each identification data in ascending order of the order data from the related data having the smallest unordered order data. When the match is confirmed, what does not match (that is, the order data of the receipt number ticket 20 whose location has not been confirmed in the waiting space 12) remains in the uncall data storage unit 60 as uncalled data. In other words, since the order data is small, priority is given to the next location confirmation step. Therefore, the location of the RFID tag 22 having the identification data related to the order data is confirmed in the waiting space 12, and the identification of the RFID tag 22 is included in the latest detection data in the detection receipt number ticket data storage unit 61. If data is stored, it will be called preferentially.

  According to the customer calling device 10 of the first embodiment described above, the reception ticket issuing machine 21 provided in the waiting space 12 displays the order data in a predetermined choreography order and directs the reception number ticket 20 to the customer. At this time, the uncalled data storage unit 60 stores the unique identification data of the RFID tag 22 of the same receipt number ticket 20 as the order data displayed on the receipt number ticket 20 by the receipt ticket issuing machine 21. It is stored as uncalled data in association. When the receipt number ticket 20 is received from the reception ticketing machine 21, the customer holds the reception number ticket 20 until the call is made. Therefore, the position confirmation device 31 accepts the reception ticket issued by the reception ticketing machine 21. By confirming the location of the number tag 20 in the waiting space 12 of the RFID tag 22 by the detection by the RFID readers 27 to 30 for position confirmation, it is possible to confirm the location of the customer holding the receipt number ticket 20 in the waiting space 12. it can.

  Therefore, when a customer call operation is input to the operation unit 26, the control device 50 selects the order selected based on a predetermined call order from the uncalled order data stored in the uncalled data storage unit 60. By selecting the order data related to the identification data of the RFID tag 22 whose location has been confirmed by the location confirmation RFID readers 27 to 30 of the location confirmation device 31 and calling the call number display 38 Only the customers in the waiting space 12 are called, and the customers who are out of the waiting space 12 are not called.

  Therefore, by performing location management as to whether or not the customer is in the waiting space 12, it is not necessary to call and wait for a customer who has gone out of the waiting space 12, so that efficient calling can be performed.

  The RFID tag 22 has read-only and non-rewritable unique identification data stored in advance when the IC chip is manufactured, and the uncalled data storage unit 60 uses the RFID reader 23 for ticketing from the RFID tag 22. Since the identification data is read, an RFID reader / writer that can read and write is unnecessary, and the entire apparatus can be configured at low cost.

  Further, the uncalled data storage unit 60 stores the order data and the identification data for each reception number ticket 20 as uncalled data in association with the date information at the time of ticketing, and the control device 50 stores the year other than the current day. Since the uncalled data of the month and day is excluded from the uncalled order data in the uncalled data storage unit 60, this can be excluded when the receipt number ticket 20 other than the current day exists in the waiting space 12.

  In addition, since the position confirmation device 31 includes a plurality of position confirmation RFID readers 27 to 30, the RFID tag 22 can be detected in a wider range. The position of the RFID tag 22, that is, the position of the customer holding the reception number ticket 20 is specified from the time difference required for communication with the RFID tag 22 in the plurality of position confirmation RFID readers 27 to 30, or the customer moves. Since the situation is known, when a staff member directly calls a customer who is not aware of the call on the call number display 38, the position and the customer can be specified and called accurately. Further, when the RFID tags 22 to be called by the plurality of position confirmation RFID readers among the position confirmation RFID readers 27 to 30 can be detected simultaneously, the detection areas of the plurality of position confirmation RFID readers overlap. You can see that there is a customer who called you at the location.

  Further, the position confirmation device 31 stores the detection status of the RFID tag 22 by the position confirmation RFID readers 27 to 30 arranged in each of the plurality of areas A1 to A4 divided in the waiting space 12 and the arrangement correspondence storage unit 62. From the stored RFID readers 27 to 30 for position confirmation and the association of the respective arrangement areas A1 to A4, it becomes possible to identify the area of the customer holding the receipt number ticket 20. Therefore, when an attendant directly calls a customer who does not notice the call on the call number display 38, the area where the customer is located can be specified, so that the customer can be called accurately. In other words, it can be confirmed whether the customer is in an area near or far away from the calling window, and if the calling customer does not appear in the customer service counter 13 at the window, it is difficult to reach because it is in the far area. It is possible to determine whether or not the call has been made despite the fact that he / she is in the office, and the attendant will not unnecessarily go to pick up.

  Furthermore, the position of the RFID reader for position confirmation in which the control device 50 detected the RFID tag 22 having the identification data related to the order data called by the call number display unit 38 among the RFID readers 27 to 30 for position confirmation is arranged. Since the information stored in the correspondence storage unit 62 is calculated and displayed on the clerk display monitors 44 and 45 and the position display lamps 33 to 36, the clerk looks at the display monitors 44 and 45 and the position display lamps 33 to 36 to cope with the problem. The position of the RFID reader for position confirmation that detected the RFID tag 22 to be detected can be recognized. Therefore, the customer can be called more accurately.

  In addition, since the floor clerk display monitor 45 is disposed in the waiting space 12, even if the floor clerk is in the waiting space 12, the floor clerk display monitor 45 can be viewed, so that the position confirmation RFID reader 27 can be viewed. ˜30, the position of the RFID reader that detected the corresponding RFID tag 22 can be recognized. Therefore, the clerk in the waiting space 12 can call the customer accurately.

  Further, since the position display lamps 33 to 36 are provided in the vicinity of each of the position confirmation RFID readers 27 to 30 of the position confirmation device 31, even if the staff member is in the waiting space 12, the position display lamps 33. By observing the lighting state of .about.36, the position of the RFID reader that detected the corresponding RFID tag 22 among the RFID readers 27 to 30 for position confirmation can be recognized. Therefore, the clerk in the waiting space 12 can call the customer accurately.

  Further, in the same area as the position confirmation RFID reader, the control device 50 detects the RFID tag 22 having the identification data related to the order data called by the call number display unit 38 among the position confirmation RFID readers 27 to 30. Since voice guidance is performed by any one of the speakers 40 to 43 for voice guidance, the call number display unit 38 is not noticed and the same for the customer to be called that is in the same area as the position confirmation RFID reader. It is possible to notify that it is called by performing voice guidance with a voice guidance speaker in the area. Accordingly, it is not necessary to call all the voice guidance speakers 40 to 43 in the waiting space 12, and the number of unnecessary call guidance for customers other than the call target can be reduced, and a predetermined speaker is used to wait for the call. It is possible to reduce the customer's psychological burden of having to be near the customer.

  In addition, the control device 50 periodically checks the location of the RFID tag 22 of the reception number ticket 20 existing in the waiting space 12 using the RFID readers 27 to 30 for position confirmation of the position confirmation device 31. , Can respond quickly when calling customers.

  Next, the customer call device 10 according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference mainly to FIG. 3 focusing on the differences from the first embodiment.

  In the customer calling device 10 of the second embodiment, the reception ticket issuing machine 21 that issues the reception number ticket 20 is provided with the RFID writer 70, and the data related to the reception processing is stored in the IC of the RFID tag 22 of the reception number ticket 20 to be issued. Information is managed by writing directly on the chip.

  That is, the reception ticket issuing machine 21 is operated by the customer who visits the store 11 as in the first embodiment, and is accepted by the touch panel 54 according to the service desired to be received according to the guidance of the screen display and voice. However, the IC chip of the RFID tag 22 provided on the reception number ticket 20 can be written as well as read, and therefore, not a read-only RFID reader but a write. An RFID writer 70 is provided.

  Then, the reception ticket issuing machine 21 is controlled by the control device 50, and for each reception number ticket 20, the printing device 55 prints the order data in a predetermined choreography order, for example, ascending order from 1 after the power is turned on, Tickets are issued by writing unique identification data in the IC chip of the RFID tag 22 by the RFID writer 70 in a predetermined choreography order, for example, in ascending order from 1 after the power is turned on. At this time, the reception registration information including the reception date data and the purpose of visiting the store is also written in the IC chip of the RFID tag 22 by the RFID writer 70.

  At that time, the control device 50 associates the order data for each reception number ticket 20 issued by the reception ticket issuing machine 21 with the identification data written to the IC chip of the RFID tag 22 by the RFID writer 70. Thus, the uncalled data storage unit 60 stores the uncalled data that has not been called yet. Here, the order data and the identification data are set to the same number, and the order / identification common number data is stored in the uncalled data storage unit 60 as uncalled data.

  Next, the control content of the control apparatus 50 in the customer call apparatus 10 of 2nd Embodiment is demonstrated with the flow of operation | movement of the customer call apparatus 10. FIG.

  In the second embodiment, when a customer who visits the store 11 performs reception processing (operation of the reception ticket issuing machine 21) corresponding to a window for performing a desired service, the reception ticket issuing machine 21 communicates with the control device 50. The registration of the reception is performed, and the printing device 55 prints the reception number voucher 20 so that the order / identification common number data as reception numbers and other information (reception date and time, purpose of visiting) can be visually understood. At the same time, the RFID writer 70 uses the IC tag of the RFID tag 22 attached to the receipt number ticket 20 to receive the order / identification common number data, which is the receipt number, and other information (acceptance date and time, visit purpose type, etc.). Write on the chip and issue a ticket.

  The order / identification common number data newly issued by the reception ticket issuing machine 21 is stored in the uninvoked data storage unit 60 of the control device 50 as uninvoked data that has not yet been invoked, as in the first embodiment. The

  In addition, as in the first embodiment, the control device 50 automatically sets the position confirmation device 31 to the reception number ticket 20 issued by the reception ticket issuing machine 21 at a predetermined time interval (several seconds interval). The radio wave for reading is transmitted from each of the RFID readers 27 to 30 for position confirmation, and in response to this, the RFID tag 22 of the receipt number ticket 20 records the order / identification common number data recorded on the IC chip. Return to ~ 30 communicable ones. Then, the order / identification common number data returned from the IC chip of the receipt number ticket 20 is updated and stored in the latest detection data in the detection receipt number ticket data storage unit 61 of the control device 50.

  Here, the control device 50 excludes the uncalled data of the date other than the current date from the date information returned to the position confirmation RFID readers 27 to 30 together with the order / identification common number data. . That is, since the same order / identification common number data has been used before and may remain in the waiting space 12, data other than the current day are excluded.

  Then, when the processing of the previous customer is completed and the clerk performs an operation for calling the next customer, the control device 50 firstly stores the most uncalled data in the uncalled data storage unit 60. The order / identification common number data of the small number (the earliest acceptance order) is read, and whether the data matching the order / identification common number data is in the latest detection data in the detection acceptance number ticket data storage unit 61. To check.

  According to the customer calling device 10 of the second embodiment as described above, the IC chip of the RFID tag 22 of the reception number ticket 20 can be written, and the IC of the RFID tag 22 of the reception number ticket 20 directly using the order data as identification data. Since the data can be stored in the chip, it is not necessary to check the data by accessing a server or the like each time, and the order / identification common to the order confirmation RFID readers 27 to 30 of the position confirmation device 31 is common. It is possible to read out the number data and determine whether or not the receipt number ticket 20 is being called.

  As a result, the identification data of the receipt number ticket 20 existing in the store 11 is acquired and sent to the server, and the identification data is checked by the position confirmation device 31 without taking the complicated process of checking the receipt order data in the server. At the time of reading, the sequential data is also acquired and the subsequent processing can be performed. Further, by providing information to the IC chip, the burden such as the storage capacity and processing capability of the server is reduced, and the RFID of the reception number ticket 20 is directly used by the position confirmation RFID readers 27 to 30 of the position confirmation device 31. Information can be obtained by accessing the tag 22. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the load on the server and increase the processing speed.

In the first embodiment and the second embodiment described above, the waiting space 12 in the store 11 is divided into a plurality of areas A1 to A4 for convenience, and the position confirmation device 31 is positioned for each area A1 to A4. The case where a corresponding one of the RFID readers 27 to 30 for confirmation is arranged has been described as an example, but as a reference technique , only one RFID is located at a position where the position confirmation device 31 can cover the whole in the waiting space 12. Even if a reader is provided, it is possible to detect the presence or absence of the customer who has the reception number ticket 20 in the waiting space 12.

  That is, it is possible to know only whether the customer who has the receipt number ticket 20 to be called is in the waiting space 12 or not. In this case, if it is confirmed that the customer who has the receipt number ticket 20 to be called is in the waiting space 12, it is sufficient to wait until the customer appears at the window, and it is confirmed that the customer is not in the store 11. If so, you can call another customer without waiting. Further, it is possible to call a next customer without performing a calling operation for a customer who is not in the waiting space 12 at the time of calling. With this configuration, the configuration can be minimized and the cost can be reduced. If the waiting space 12 is wide and one RFID reader cannot cover the entire waiting space 12, a plurality of RFID readers can be installed to cover a wider range. Also in this case, it is possible to know only whether the customer who has the receipt number ticket 20 to be called is in the store 11 or not.

  In addition, the position confirmation device 31 is provided in the waiting space 12 in the store 11 instead of arranging the RFID readers 27 to 30 for position confirmation one by one for each of the areas A1 to A4 constituting the waiting space 12. A set of a position confirmation RFID reader (location confirmation RFID reader) 72 and a position display lamp (display means) 73 may be arranged in each of a plurality of waiting chairs 71 shown in FIG. In this case, the arrangement correspondence storage unit 62 of the control device 50 stores each set of the RFID reader 72 and the position display lamp 73 in association with the chair 71 on which each set is arranged.

  With this configuration, the position confirmation device 31 is stored in the RFID tag 72 detection status by the RFID reader 72 arranged in each of the plurality of chairs 71 provided in the waiting space 12 and the arrangement correspondence storage unit 62. From the association between each RFID reader 72 and the chair 71 on which each RFID reader is placed, the chair 71 on which the customer carrying the receipt number ticket 20 is seated is specified, and the position of the chair 71 is displayed on the display monitors 44 and 45. The position display lamp 73 attached to the chair 71 is turned on. Therefore, when a staff member directly calls a customer who is not aware of the call of the call number display 38, the chair 71 on which the customer is seated can be easily specified, so that the customer can be called more accurately.

  Furthermore, a set of the RFID reader 72 and the position display lamp 73 may be arranged in each of a plurality of installations provided in the waiting space 12 other than the waiting chair. In this case, the arrangement correspondence storage unit 62 of the control device 50 associates and stores each set of the RFID reader 72 and the position display lamp 73 and the installation in which each set is arranged. As an installation object, for example, when there is a foliage plant in the store 11, the pot 75 is used as shown in FIG. 5, and an RFID reader 72 and a position display lamp 73 are provided at the bottom thereof, or a tower type shown in FIG. In the case of a store 11 of a financial institution, a set of the RFID reader 72 and the position display lamp 73 is provided on a leg of a book stand as an installation. Can be provided.

  With this configuration, the position confirmation device 31 is stored in the detection status of the RFID tag 22 by the RFID reader 72 arranged in each of the plurality of installations provided in the waiting space 12 and the arrangement correspondence storage unit 62. In addition, each RFID reader 72 and the installation object in which each of the RFID readers 72 is placed are identified, the installation object in the vicinity of the customer holding the receipt number ticket 20 is specified, and the position of the installation object is displayed on the display monitors 44 and 45. The position display lamp 73 attached to the installation object is lit up. Therefore, when a staff member directly calls a customer who is not aware of the call of the call number display 38, it is easy to identify an installation that the customer is close to, so that the customer can be called more accurately.

It is a top view which shows roughly the shop in which the customer calling apparatus of 1st Embodiment of this invention was provided. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the control system of the customer call apparatus of 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the control system of the customer call apparatus of 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a side view which shows the modification with respect to the partial structure of the customer call apparatus of 1st, 2nd embodiment of this invention. It is a side view which shows the modification with respect to the partial structure of the customer call apparatus of 1st, 2nd embodiment of this invention. It is a side view which shows the modification with respect to the partial structure of the customer call apparatus of 1st, 2nd embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

10 Customer Calling Device 12 Waiting Space 20 Reception Number Ticket 21 Reception Ticketing Machine (Reception Ticketing Means)
22 RFID tag 23 RFID reader for ticket issuing 26 Operation part (operation means)
27-30, 72 Position confirmation RFID reader (location confirmation RFID reader)
31 Location confirmation device (location confirmation means)
38 Call number display (calling means)
40-43 Speaker for voice guidance (voice guidance means)
44 Display monitor for window staff (display means)
45 Floor monitor display monitor (display means)
33-36,73 Position display lamp (display means)
50 Control device (control means)
60 Uncalled data storage unit (uncalled data storage means)
62 Arrangement correspondence storage unit (arrangement correspondence storage means)
70 RFID writer 71 Chair 75 Bowl (installed object)
76 Installation A1 to A4 area

Claims (9)

A reception ticket issuing means for sequentially issuing a reception number ticket provided with an RFID tag having unique identification data by displaying the order data in a predetermined choreography order for each reception number ticket;
Uncall data storage means for storing the order data and the identification data for each receipt number ticket issued by the reception ticket issuing means in association with each other as uncalled data;
A location confirmation means for confirming the location detection by the location confirming RFID reader in waiting if space of the RFID tag of the ticketed of the acceptance number ticket by the reception ticketing means,
An operation means for inputting a customer call operation for calling a customer;
Calling means for calling customers;
When a customer call operation is input to the operation unit, the location confirmation is selected from the uncalled sequence data stored in the uncalled data storage unit based on a predetermined calling sequence. select the order data relating to the identification data of the RFID tag located has been confirmed by means have a control means for causing the call by the calling means,
The location confirmation means arranges the location confirmation RFID reader in each of a plurality of divided areas of the waiting space, and stores each location confirmation RFID reader in association with each location area. Having storage means;
A voice guidance means is provided in the vicinity of each location confirmation RFID reader of the location confirmation means,
When a customer call operation is input to the operation means, the control means uses the order data selected based on a predetermined call order from the uncalled order data stored in the uncall data storage means. The RFID tag having the identification data related to the order data, the order data related to the identification data of the RFID tag whose location is confirmed by the location confirmation means being selected and being called by the calling means A customer calling device, characterized in that voice guidance is performed only by the voice guidance means arranged in the vicinity of the location confirmation RFID reader that detects the location . The RFID tag is not writable and has unique identification data stored in advance.
The uncall data storage means associates the order data for each reception number ticket issued by the reception ticket issuing means and the identification data read from the RFID tag by the ticket issuing RFID reader and stores them as uncalled data. The customer call device according to claim 1, wherein: The RFID tag is writable,
2. The customer calling device according to claim 1, wherein the reception ticket issuing means issues the ticket by writing identification data unique to the RFID tag with an RFID writer.   The uncalled data storage means stores the order data and the identification data for each reception number ticket as uncalled data in association with date information at the time of ticketing, and the control means stores the date other than the current day. 4. The customer call device according to claim 1, wherein uncalled data for a day is excluded from uncalled order data in the uncalled data storage means. The location confirmation means arranges the location confirmation RFID reader in each of the plurality of chairs provided in the waiting space, and stores each location confirmation RFID reader in association with the chair in which the location confirmation is provided. 5. The customer call device according to claim 1, further comprising an arrangement correspondence storage unit. The location confirmation means arranges the location confirmation RFID reader in each of a plurality of installations other than the waiting chair provided in the waiting space, and each location confirmation RFID reader is arranged in each location confirmation means. was installed objects and customer calls apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it has an arrangement corresponding storage means for storing in association with. When a customer call operation is input to the operation means, the control means uses the order data selected based on a predetermined call order from the uncalled order data stored in the uncall data storage means. The RFID tag having the identification data related to the order data, the order data related to the identification data of the RFID tag whose location is confirmed by the location confirmation means being selected and being called by the calling means wherein the position of said location confirmation RFID reader detects the placement correspondence storage means customer calls apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that displayed on the display means indexing the stored information. 8. The customer calling device according to claim 7 , wherein the display means is arranged in the waiting space. 9. The customer calling device according to claim 8 , wherein the display means is provided in the vicinity of each location confirmation RFID reader for each location confirmation RFID reader of the location confirmation means.

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