JP7678352B2 - Information processing device, user terminal, information processing method and program - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an information processing device, a user terminal, an information processing method, and a program that can control the check-in process of a user at a service facility such as a restaurant and the process of granting reward information in response to the check-in process.

Conventionally, when a user visits a service facility such as a restaurant, an electronic stamp is given to the user via the user terminal as a special benefit instead of the traditional stamp on a paper stamp card.

For example, the following Patent Document 1 discloses a check-in privilege granting method that uses a check-in privilege granting means that has short-range wireless communication capabilities and is handheld by the user or the service provider at the service facility to grant an electronic stamp to an electronic stamp card displayed on the user's mobile terminal, thereby allowing the electronic stamp to be displayed on the electronic stamp card, thereby allowing the user to easily recognize that an electronic stamp has been granted.

JP 2016-106286 A

However, with the above technology, if a user carrying a mobile device with the above electronic stamp card comes to a store in a group that includes other users, the electronic stamp is not given to the other users, and the other users must prepare separate electronic stamp cards for their own mobile devices. This is not only inconvenient for the other users, but also poses a problem for the service facility in that it does not encourage the collection of user information, including that of the group.

In view of the above circumstances, the object of the present invention is to provide an information processing device, a user terminal, an information processing method, and a program that enable a user who visits a service facility to easily share benefits given to the user with other users who visit the facility together, and that enable the service facility to obtain visit information of a larger number of users on a group basis.

In order to achieve the above object, an information processing device according to one embodiment of the present invention has a communication means and a control means. The communication means is capable of communicating with a first user terminal and a second user terminal. When the control means receives check-in information including a facility ID that identifies the service facility and a first terminal ID that identifies the first user terminal from the first user terminal that has accepted a predetermined check-in operation to the service facility from a user, the control means stores the first terminal ID in association with predetermined privilege information. The control means also transmits check-in identification information that can be read only for a predetermined first time from the time of receiving the check-in information to the first user terminal. Furthermore, when the control means receives check-in sharing information including a second terminal ID that identifies the second user terminal and the first terminal ID from a second user terminal that has read the check-in identification information, the control means stores the second terminal ID in association with the privilege information, and also stores the first terminal ID and the second terminal ID in association with one group ID.

In this way, the information processing device not only grants a corresponding privilege when the user terminal checks in to the service facility, but also transmits check-in identification information to be read by other user terminals, allowing the privilege granted to the visiting user to be easily shared with other users who visit together, and allows the store to obtain visit information of more users for each group. Here, the first time is, for example, 3 minutes, 5 minutes, 10 minutes, etc., but is not limited to these. The check-in operation may be an operation for contacting or communicating with a check-in device installed in the facility, or an operation in which the user terminal reads a check-in code installed in the facility. In this case, the check-in device may be, for example, a capacitive electronic stamp device that has a predetermined stamp pattern that is different for each service facility and can cause the user terminal to recognize the stamp pattern by touching the touch panel of the user terminal, and the check-in identification information may be, for example, an image of an electronic stamp corresponding to the stamp pattern, but is not limited to this.

When the control means receives check-in information including the facility ID and the second terminal ID from the second user terminal, but has not received the check-in shared information from the second user terminal, the control means may store the second terminal ID in association with the privilege information.

In this way, when the user of the second user terminal also checks in by performing a check-in operation, the information processing device can grant a bonus on the condition that the check-in information has not been shared with the user of the first user terminal, thereby preventing the same user from receiving the same bonus multiple times.

Furthermore, when the control means receives the check-in shared information from the second user terminal within a second hour that is longer than the first hour after receiving the check-in information from the second user terminal, the control means may store the first terminal ID and the second terminal ID in association with the group ID without storing the second terminal ID in association with the privilege information.

As a result, when the information processing device receives check-in shared information from the second user terminal via the first user terminal after the second user terminal has checked in itself, the information processing device does not grant duplicate benefits to the second user terminal, but can associate the user of the first user terminal and the user of the second user terminal as users of the same group. Here, the second time may correspond to the average length of time that users stay at the service facility, for example, but is not limited to, 30 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours, etc.

A user terminal according to another embodiment of the present invention has a communication means capable of communicating with a server, a display means, and a control means. When the control means receives a predetermined check-in operation to a service facility from a user, the control means transmits check-in information including a facility ID that identifies the service facility and a terminal ID that identifies the user terminal to the server. Furthermore, the control means receives from the server check-in identification information that is readable for a predetermined time from the reception of the check-in information by the server, and displays the check-in identification information on the display means. Based on the check-in information received from the user terminal and the check-in shared information received from the other user terminal that read the check-in identification information, the server stores the terminal IDs of the user terminal and the other user terminals in association with predetermined privilege information and one group ID.

As a result, when a user checks in to a service facility, the user terminal can not only grant the user an appropriate benefit, but also receive check-in identification information, which the user can then have another user terminal read, allowing the benefit granted to the visiting user to be easily shared with other users who visit together, and allowing the store to obtain visit information for a larger number of users by group.

An information processing method according to another aspect of the present invention includes:
when check-in information including a facility ID for identifying the service facility and a first terminal ID for identifying the first user terminal is received from a first user terminal that has accepted a predetermined check-in operation to the service facility from a user, the first terminal ID is stored in association with predetermined benefit information;
Transmitting check-in identification information to the first user terminal, the check-in identification information being readable for a first predetermined time period from the time of receipt of the check-in information;
When check-in shared information including a second terminal ID identifying the second user terminal and the first terminal ID is received from the second user terminal that reads the check-in identification information, the second terminal ID is stored in association with the bonus information, and the first terminal ID and the second terminal ID are stored in association with one group ID.

A program according to another aspect of the present invention includes:
when check-in information including a facility ID for identifying the service facility and a first terminal ID for identifying the first user terminal is received from a first user terminal that has accepted a predetermined check-in operation to the service facility from a user, storing the first terminal ID in association with predetermined benefit information;
transmitting to the first user terminal check-in identification information that is readable for a first predetermined time period from the time of receiving the check-in information;
When check-in shared information including a second terminal ID identifying the second user terminal and the first terminal ID is received from the second user terminal that reads the check-in identification information, the step of storing the second terminal ID in association with the bonus information and storing the first terminal ID and the second terminal ID in association with one group ID is executed.

As described above, according to the present invention, benefits given to a user who visits a service facility can be easily shared with other users who visit the facility together, and the service facility can obtain visit information for a larger number of users for each group. However, this effect does not limit the present invention.

1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a check-in privilege awarding system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a diagram showing a hardware configuration of a restaurant information providing server according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a hardware configuration of a user terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of a database included in a restaurant information providing server according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a flow of a check-in privilege granting process performed by a restaurant information providing server according to an embodiment of the present invention. 11 is a flowchart showing a flow of a check-in privilege granting process performed by a restaurant information providing server according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The following describes an embodiment of the present invention with reference to the drawings.

[System Configuration]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a check-in privilege award system according to this embodiment.

As shown in the figure, the system includes a restaurant information server 100 on the Internet 50, multiple user terminals 200, and a check-in device 300.

The restaurant information server 100 is a web server that operates a portal site that lists information about restaurants. The restaurant information server 100 is connected to multiple user terminals 200 via the Internet 50.

The restaurant information providing server 100 provides a restaurant information search system for users of the user terminals 200 on the portal site. Specifically, the restaurant information providing server 100 searches for restaurant information that matches search criteria based on a search request from the user terminal 200, generates a web page listing the search results, and transmits it to the user terminal 200. The restaurant information providing server 100 also manages information relating to each user's restaurant visit (check-in) history and benefits granted to the user in response to the visit.

The user terminal 200 (200A, 200B, 200C...) is a terminal used by a user, such as a smartphone, a mobile phone, a tablet PC (Personal Computer), a notebook PC, a desktop PC, etc. The user terminal 200 accesses the restaurant information providing server 100, receives the above-mentioned web page, and displays it on a screen using a browser or the like.

The user terminal 200 determines search conditions for restaurants based on user operation, and transmits a restaurant search request based on the search conditions to the restaurant information providing server 100. In this embodiment, the user of the user terminal 200 can transmit a search request by selecting pre-set search conditions such as the restaurant's location area (nearest station), genre, price range, etc. Then, based on the user's operation, the user terminal 200 can transmit a reservation request for any of the restaurants displayed as the search results to the restaurant information providing server 100.

The check-in device 300 is installed in each restaurant (e.g., at the cash register of each restaurant) and is a device that accepts check-in operations performed by users who visit the restaurant using the user terminal 200.

The check-in device 300 is a portable electronic stamp device that can be picked up by the user and used to stamp the display of the user terminal 200. The electronic stamp device has a predetermined stamp pattern (multiple convex portions) on its bottom surface that is different for each restaurant, and when the stamp pattern comes into contact with the display (touch panel) of the user terminal 200, the stamp pattern is recognized by the user terminal 200, and an electronic stamp image S corresponding to the stamp pattern is displayed on the display of the user terminal 200 as a check-in identification image. The electronic stamp image identifies the user's check-in.

The benefit is, for example, an electronic coupon that functions as a discount coupon or a voucher for delivery of a specific product, or individual check-in count identification information that functions as the electronic coupon when a certain number of such coupons are collected. The benefit may be granted immediately after a user checks in once, or may be granted on the condition that the user checks in a certain number of times (two or more). In the former case, the electronic stamp image also functions as an image that identifies the benefit granted to the user.

In this embodiment, the restaurant information server 100 communicates with the user terminal 200 of a user who visits a restaurant, and grants the user a benefit in response to the user's check-in to the restaurant, and can further allow the benefit to be shared with other users who visit the restaurant with the user.

[Hardware configuration of restaurant information server]
Fig. 2 is a diagram showing a hardware configuration of the restaurant information providing server 100. As shown in the figure, the restaurant information providing server 100 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 11, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 12, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 13, an input/output interface 15, and a bus 14 connecting these components to each other.

The CPU 11 accesses the RAM 13 etc. as necessary and performs various calculation processes while controlling all the blocks of the restaurant information providing server 100. The ROM 12 is a non-volatile memory in which firmware such as the OS, programs and various parameters to be executed by the CPU 11 are permanently stored. The RAM 13 is used as a working area for the CPU 11 and temporarily stores the OS, various applications being executed, and various data being processed.

The input/output interface 15 is connected to a display unit 16, an operation reception unit 17, a memory unit 18, a communication unit 19, etc.

The display unit 16 is a display device that uses, for example, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), an OELD (Organic ElectroLuminescence Display), a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube), etc.

The operation reception unit 17 is, for example, a pointing device such as a mouse, a keyboard, a touch panel, or other input device. If the operation reception unit 17 is a touch panel, the touch panel may be integrated with the display unit 16.

The storage unit 18 is, for example, a non-volatile memory such as a hard disk drive (HDD), a flash memory (SSD; solid state drive), or other solid-state memory. The storage unit 18 stores the OS, various applications, and various data.

In particular, in this embodiment, the storage unit 18 stores restaurant information for each restaurant, user information for the user of each user terminal 200, reservation information from the user terminal 200, etc., and also stores applications and other programs that allow the restaurant information providing server 100 to execute the check-in reward granting process using this data. As will be described later, the storage unit 18 has databases containing such data, including a restaurant information database, a user information database, a reward information database, and an electronic stamp information database.

The communication unit 19 is, for example, a NIC (Network Interface Card) for Ethernet or various modules for wireless communication such as a wireless LAN, and is responsible for communication processing with the user terminal 200.

[Hardware configuration of user terminal]
3 is a diagram showing a hardware configuration of the user terminal 200. As shown in the figure, the basic hardware configuration of the user terminal 200 is similar to the hardware configuration of the restaurant information providing server 100.

That is, the user terminal 200 has a CPU 21, a ROM 22, a RAM 23, an input/output interface 25, a bus 24 connecting these to each other, a display unit 26 connected to the bus 24, an operation reception unit 27, a memory unit 28, and a communication unit 29. The display unit 26 is configured integrally with a touch panel device that supports multi-touch by the electronic stamp device. Various types of touch panel devices can be used, such as a capacitive type and a resistive film type.

Under the control of the CPU 21, the communication unit 29 communicates with the restaurant information server 100, and the display unit 26 (touch panel) detects contact with the check-in device 300 and displays the electronic stamp image S.

In addition, an application (hereinafter, the check-in application) that operates in cooperation with the check-in privilege granting process by the restaurant information providing server 100 is installed on the user terminal 200, and the memory unit 28 stores the programs and data necessary for executing the check-in application.

[Database configuration of restaurant information server]
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the configuration of a database included in the restaurant information providing server 100. As shown in FIG.

As shown in the figure, the restaurant information providing server 100 has a restaurant information database 41, a user information database 42, a bonus information database 43, and an electronic stamp information database 44 in the memory unit 18.

For each restaurant, the restaurant information database 41 stores information such as the restaurant's name and location information, an ID (facility ID) that identifies the restaurant, the restaurant's business type/service category information, content introducing the restaurant, i.e., information indicating the characteristics of the service facility such as promotional text for the service facility, event information held by the restaurant, area information in which the restaurant is located, the restaurant's address (location information), telephone number, image data related to the restaurant (introducing the restaurant), menu information related to the menu offered by the restaurant, business hours, website URL, etc.

The menu information corresponds to the menus posted on the websites of each restaurant on the portal site, and stores the names of multiple menus that each restaurant can provide for each restaurant. The menu information may be stored for each menu category, such as appetizer/main course, lunch/dinner/course, etc. Furthermore, if the image data corresponds to a menu, the image data is stored in association with the menu information.

The area information is, for example, in prefecture units, but information may also be stored in narrower units such as cities, wards, towns, and villages. The category information may include main categories such as Japanese, Chinese, Italian, French, and yakiniku, as well as more detailed subcategories such as yakitori and tempura in Japanese cuisine, and pasta and pizza in Italian cuisine.

The user information database 42 stores information about users who own user terminals 200 and are users (members) of the restaurant information service provided by the restaurant information providing server 100 via the portal site. Specifically, the user information database 42 stores information such as user ID, password, name, email address, telephone number, address, age (group), gender, and date of birth for each user.

The reward information database 43 stores, for each restaurant, information about rewards (e.g., coupons) that are given to users who visit and check in at each restaurant. Specifically, the reward information database 43 stores information about future rewards to be given to users, such as which rewards will be given to which restaurants and how many times the same user checks in, and stores information about rewards already given to users in association with user IDs. Each reward is also given a reward ID that identifies the reward, and at least the reward ID is associated with the user ID. The reward ID may include a timestamp indicating the date and time when the reward was given to the user (the date and time when the user checked in using the check-in device 300, or the date and time when the check-in information was shared with other users).

The electronic stamp information database 44 stores information about stamp patterns for electronic stamp devices set for each restaurant and the corresponding electronic stamp images S in association with the store ID.

These databases are mutually referenced and used as necessary in the check-in reward granting process by the restaurant information server 100, which will be described later.

[Operation of Restaurant Information Providing Server]
Next, an operation of the restaurant information providing server 100 configured as above will be described. The operation is executed by the hardware of the restaurant information providing server 100, such as the CPU 11 and the communication unit 19, in cooperation with the software stored in the storage unit 18. In the following description, for convenience, the CPU 11 is the subject of the operation.

Figure 5 is a flowchart showing the flow of the restaurant information server 100's check-in bonus granting process at a restaurant.

As shown in the figure, the CPU 11 of the restaurant information providing server 100 first determines whether or not check-in information has been received from a user terminal 200 (first user terminal) that has checked in to a restaurant (step 51).

The check-in information includes a store ID that identifies the restaurant and a first terminal ID that identifies the first user terminal that has checked in. In this embodiment, checking in is performed when a user who has visited the restaurant starts the check-in application on the user terminal 200, picks up the check-in device 300 (electronic stamp device) installed in the restaurant, and touches (stamps) the bottom surface of the device to the display unit 26 (electronic stamp imprinting area displayed by the check-in application).

When the electronic stamp device comes into contact, the check-in application of the user terminal 200 recognizes the stamp pattern of the electronic stamp device, recognizes the store ID from the stamp pattern, and transmits this to the restaurant information providing server 100 as check-in information together with the first terminal ID of the user terminal 200. However, instead of the check-in application recognizing the store ID from the stamp pattern, the check-in application may transmit the stamp pattern information directly to the restaurant information providing server 100, and the restaurant information providing server 100 may recognize the corresponding store ID from the stamp pattern.

If it is determined that check-in information has been received from the user terminal 200 (first user terminal) (Yes), the CPU 11 identifies the store ID and the first terminal ID from the check-in information (step 52).

Then, the CPU 11 associates the first terminal ID with the bonus information corresponding to the check-in and stores it in the bonus information database 43 (step 53). The bonus information may be an electronic coupon, or may be individual check-in count identification information that becomes an electronic coupon when a predetermined number of pieces of the bonus information are collected. A bonus ID including timestamp information as described above is assigned to the bonus information.

Next, the CPU 11 transmits to the user terminal (first user terminal) a check-in identification image (electronic stamp image S) that is readable for a time T1 from the time of receiving the check-in information (step 54). The time T1 is, for example, 5 minutes, 10 minutes, etc., but is not limited to these.

The user of the user terminal 200 (first user terminal) that received the electronic stamp image S can share check-in information with other users by having the electronic stamp image S read by a reader (camera) or the like of the user terminal 200 (second user terminal) of another user who visited the store together with the user terminal 200 (first user terminal) while the electronic stamp image S is displayed on the display unit 26.

Specifically, when another user terminal 200 (second user terminal) reads the electronic stamp image S, the second user terminal transmits check-in shared information to the restaurant information providing server 100. The check-in shared information includes a second terminal ID that identifies the second user terminal and the above-mentioned first terminal ID.

Next, the CPU 11 determines whether the check-in shared information has been received from the second user terminal (step 55).

If it is determined that check-in shared information has been received from the second user terminal (Yes), the CPU 11 determines from the check-in shared information a second terminal ID that identifies the second user terminal and a first terminal ID that identifies the first user terminal that is the source of the sharing (step 56).

Next, the CPU 11 associates the second terminal ID with the bonus information (bonus ID) and stores it in the bonus information database 43 (step 57).

Then, the CPU 11 stores the first terminal ID and the second terminal ID in the user information database 42 or the bonus information database 43 in association with the same group ID as user terminals belonging to the same group (step 58).

This allows the restaurant information providing server 100 to manage the user of the first user terminal and the user of the second user terminal as users belonging to the same group, i.e., as a group of users who often act together and have similar tastes. Therefore, the restaurant information providing server 100 can encourage groups to visit restaurants by, for example, simultaneously transmitting restaurant information specialized for a particular type (genre, service time, etc.) and coupons to the user terminals 200 of users belonging to the same group.

In addition, in this embodiment, it is possible that not only the user of the first user terminal, but also the user of the second user terminal who comes to the store together with the first user terminal, performs the check-in operation by themselves using the check-in device 300.

Figure 6 is a flowchart showing the flow of the check-in bonus granting process by the restaurant information providing server 100 when check-in information is received from the user of the second user terminal.

As shown in the figure, the CPU 11 of the restaurant information providing server 100 first determines whether check-in information has been received from the second user terminal 200 (step 61). The check-in information includes a store ID that identifies the restaurant and a second terminal ID that identifies the second user terminal that has checked in.

When it is determined that check-in information has been received from the second user terminal 200 (Yes), the CPU 11 determines whether or not bonus information has been associated with the second terminal ID between the time of reception and the time T2 (step 62). That is, the CPU 11 determines whether or not the bonus information granted to the user of the first user terminal 200 has already been granted to the user of the second user terminal 200 by receiving check-in shared information from the second user terminal 200 between the time T2 and the time T2 via the check-in identification image based on the check-in of the first user terminal 200.

Here, time T2 is a time longer than the above-mentioned time T1 and may correspond to the average stay time of the user at the restaurant, for example, but not limited to, 30 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours, etc. Furthermore, the CPU 11 determines whether or not the bonus information was associated before time T2 based on, for example, a timestamp included in the bonus ID of the associated bonus information.

The reason why the time T2 is set as the judgment condition here is to prevent the user of the second user terminal from performing multiple overlapping check-in operations or performing a check-in sharing operation in addition to a check-in operation during a single visit, which would result in the user of the second user terminal being given multiple overlapping benefits for a single visit. In other words, if benefit information is associated with the second terminal ID from the time the check-in information is received until before time T2 (Yes in step 62), the user of the second user terminal is deemed to have performed multiple check-in operations or both a check-in operation and a check-in sharing operation during a single stay at the restaurant, and the CPU 11 does not perform any further processing to grant benefits to the user of the second user terminal, and ends the process.

On the other hand, if it is determined that the second terminal ID has not been associated with bonus information by the time T2 (No in step 62), the check-in operation by the user of the second user terminal is assumed to be the first check-in operation since arriving at the store, and the CPU 11 associates the second terminal ID with bonus information and stores it in the bonus information database 43 (step 63).

Next, the CPU 11 determines whether or not check-in shared information has been received from the second user terminal 200 within time T2 from the time of receiving the check-in information (step 64).

If it is determined that the check-in shared information has been received from the second user terminal 200 within time T2 (Yes), the CPU 11 identifies the ID of the user terminal that is the sharer (the first terminal ID in this example) from the check-in shared information, similar to step 56 in FIG. 5 above, and stores the first terminal ID and the second terminal ID in the user information database 42 or the bonus information database 43 in association with the same group ID (step 65).

However, since the second terminal ID has already been associated with the bonus information in step 63 above, the CPU 11 does not execute the process of associating the second terminal ID with the bonus information again.

By the above processing, when the second user terminal 200 checks in itself and then receives check-in shared information from the second user terminal 20 via the first user terminal 200, the restaurant information providing server 100 does not grant duplicate benefits to the second user terminal 200, but can associate the user of the first user terminal 200 and the user of the second user terminal 200 as users of the same group.

[summary]
As described above, according to this embodiment, when a user terminal 200 checks in to a restaurant, not only is an appropriate benefit given, but a check-in identification image is also sent and read by another user terminal 200, allowing the benefit given to the visiting user to be easily shared with other users who visit together, and enabling the restaurant to obtain visit information of more users by group.

In addition, sharing of check-in information can be completed simply by having another user's device read the check-in identification image, so the restaurant does not need to prepare any new equipment to share check-in information.

[Modification]
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

In the above embodiment, when the user of the first user terminal 200 or the second user terminal 200 performs a check-in operation while staying at a restaurant and the restaurant information providing server 100 receives check-in information from each user terminal 200, and then receives check-in information again from any of the user terminals 200 after the above-mentioned time T1 has elapsed, the restaurant information providing server 100 may transmit to each user terminal 200 a new check-in identification image that is valid for the time T1 from that point. Alternatively, the restaurant information providing server 100 may transmit an update signal that updates the check-in identification image so as to extend the validity period of the check-in identification image that has already been transmitted by the time T1. In this way, when the user performs a check-in operation again even after the time T1 has elapsed since the check-in, the user is given the opportunity to share the check-in information with other users. However, in this case, since each user has already been granted the privilege information, the restaurant information providing server 100 does not associate the terminal ID of each user terminal 200 with the privilege information.

In the above embodiment, an electronic stamp device that contacts the user terminal 200 is given as the check-in device, but the check-in device is not limited to an electronic stamp device. For example, the check-in device may be a device that is capable of transmitting check-in identification information to the user terminal 200 via short-range wireless communication. Furthermore, regardless of the check-in device, for example, when the user terminal 200 reads a two-dimensional code on a check-in sticker installed at each restaurant, the user terminal 200 may transmit check-in information to the restaurant information providing server 100.

In the above embodiment, a check-in identification image is used as the check-in identification information that is sent to be read by the second user terminal 200 when the restaurant information providing server 100 receives check-in information from the first user terminal 200. However, the check-in identification information is not limited to an image and may be, for example, characters or symbols.

In the above embodiment, the present invention is applied to a case where a corresponding benefit is granted when the user terminal 200 checks in to a restaurant. However, when the user of the user terminal 200 visits a restaurant, the check-in process and the process of granting the corresponding benefit are not essential. Also, in the above embodiment, the electronic stamp image S is a time-limited one that can be read only for a time T1, but such time-limited processing is not essential.

For example, the present invention may be implemented as a process for implementing mobile ordering in a restaurant. That is, when a user of user terminal 200 visits a restaurant, a mobile order may be made possible (access to a mobile order page may be permitted) by a first user terminal reading a two-dimensional barcode placed on each table. In this case, once the two-dimensional code on each table is read by any user terminal, it may not be read by other user terminals until the payment for that table is completed (while the two-dimensional barcode is linked to the terminal ID of the first user terminal). That is, when the first user terminal reads the two-dimensional barcode and restaurant information providing server 100 receives restaurant visit information including the two-dimensional barcode information and the terminal ID of the first user terminal from the first user terminal, restaurant information providing server 100 invalidates the two-dimensional barcode even if any other user terminal subsequently reads it, and denies access to the mobile order page.

In addition, a second user terminal of another user at the same table as the user of the first user terminal may read and share the two-dimensional code read by the first user terminal, linking the terminal ID of the second user terminal to the two-dimensional barcode and the terminal ID of the first user terminal, making it possible to perform mobile ordering from the second user terminal as well.

In this case, the restaurant information providing server 100 may group the terminal IDs of the first user terminal and the second user terminal by storing them in association with the same group ID, and may grasp and manage the customers at each table. In this case, the shared information of the two-dimensional barcode may be transmitted to the restaurant information providing server 100 by the second user terminal that read the two-dimensional barcode, as in the above embodiment, or by the first user terminal that was read. In the latter case, when the two-dimensional barcode is read, the first user terminal may obtain the terminal ID from the second user terminal, for example, by short-range wireless communication, and transmit it to the restaurant information providing server 100 together with its own terminal ID and two-dimensional barcode information.

That is, in this case, the restaurant information providing server 100 may function as an information processing device as follows.
A communication means capable of communicating with a first user terminal and a second user terminal;
when receiving store visit information including the code information and a first terminal ID for identifying the first user terminal from the first user terminal that has read the code information from a medium installed in a service facility, storing the first terminal ID in association with the code information;
Transmitting visit identification information readable by other user terminals to the first user terminal;
and a control means for, when store visit shared information including a second terminal ID that identifies a second user terminal and the first terminal ID is received from a first user terminal from which the store visit identification information has been read or a second user terminal from which the store visit identification information has been read, storing the first terminal ID and the second terminal ID in correspondence with one group ID.

With this configuration, the restaurant information server 100 can prevent customers from different groups at different tables in a restaurant from reading the same code information (two-dimensional barcode). In addition, mobile ordering is possible not only for users of a first user terminal, but also for users of a second user terminal at the same table, and customer information for each table can be obtained and managed and recorded as a group.

In addition, in the system that realizes the mobile order system, the valid time during which the two-dimensional barcode can be read (e.g., 3 minutes, 5 minutes, 10 minutes, etc.) may be set. That is, when the two-dimensional barcode is first read by the user terminal 200 at each table, the restaurant information providing server 100 receives the terminal ID of the user terminal 200 and the read two-dimensional barcode information as restaurant visit information, and stores the terminal ID in association with the two-dimensional barcode information. The restaurant information providing server 100 then counts the time that has elapsed since the first reception of the restaurant visit information, and during the specified valid time, when another user terminal 200 reads the two-dimensional barcode, and receives restaurant visit information including the stored two-dimensional barcode and a terminal ID different from the terminal ID associated with it from the other user terminal 200, the server stores the terminal ID in association with the two-dimensional barcode information, and groups the different terminal IDs and stores them in association with one group ID.

After the 2D code is first read at the table, other users seated at the same table can directly read the 2D barcode placed on the table within the valid time, or can read the 2D barcode displayed on the user terminal 200 of the user who has already read the 2D barcode at the table to share it. In this case, when the restaurant information providing server 100 receives restaurant visit shared information including the terminal ID of the sharing source user terminal 200, the terminal ID of the sharing destination user terminal 200, and the shared 2D barcode information, it determines whether the sharing source terminal ID and the 2D barcode information are already linked, and if it determines that the two are linked, it stores the sharing destination terminal ID in association with the 2D barcode information, and groups the multiple sharing source and sharing destination terminal IDs and stores them in association with one group ID.

On the other hand, after a specified validity period has elapsed since the initial reception of the above-mentioned restaurant visit information, the restaurant information providing server 100 invalidates the above-mentioned two-dimensional barcode, denies access to the mobile order page even if a reading operation is performed from the user terminal 200, and transmits notification information to the user terminal 200 that read it, notifying that the validity period of the two-dimensional barcode has expired and encouraging the two-dimensional barcode to be shared from another user terminal. In this case, other users who wish to use the mobile ordering system at the table can share it by reading the two-dimensional barcode displayed on the user terminal 200 of the user who has already read the two-dimensional barcode as described above.

Furthermore, the restaurant information providing server 100 may only enable the method of directly reading the two-dimensional barcode placed on the table until the valid time has elapsed, and the method of having the user terminal 200 share the two-dimensional barcode that has already been read may only be enabled after the valid time has elapsed. In other words, when the restaurant information providing server 100 receives the restaurant visit sharing information, it determines whether or not the reception is after a predetermined valid time has elapsed since the initial reception of the restaurant visit information, and if it determines that the reception is after the valid time has elapsed, it stores the terminal ID of the sharing destination in association with the two-dimensional barcode information, and if it determines that the reception is before the valid time has elapsed, it denies access to the mobile order page and sends notification information to the sharing destination user terminal 200 requesting that the two-dimensional code placed on the table be directly read.

In this way, by setting a valid time for reading a 2D barcode, it is possible to prevent a user who is not seated at the table where the 2D barcode is located from accidentally or intentionally reading the 2D barcode on that table and using the mobile ordering system, and it is also possible for a user who arrives at the table later to use the mobile ordering system by having another user who has already read the 2D barcode share the 2D barcode with them.

In the above embodiment, restaurants are given as an example of service facilities, but service facilities are not limited to restaurants. The present invention can be similarly applied to various service facilities, such as accommodation facilities such as hotels and inns, various sports facilities such as tennis and golf, and entertainment facilities such as karaoke and bowling.

Of the inventions described in the claims of this application, the invention described as an "information processing method" has each step performed automatically by at least one device such as a computer through software-based information processing, and is not performed by a human using a device such as a computer. In other words, the "information processing method" is an information processing method using computer software, and is not a method in which a human operates a computing tool such as a computer.

11, 21...CPU
DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERENCE NUMERALS 18, 28: storage unit 19, 29: communication unit 26: display unit 41: restaurant information database 42: user information database 43: privilege information database 44: electronic stamp information database 100: restaurant information providing server 200: user terminal 300: check-in device

Claims (8)

A communication means capable of communicating with a first user terminal and a second user terminal;
when first store visit information including the code information and a first terminal ID for identifying the first user terminal is received from the first user terminal that has read the code information from a medium installed on each table of the service facility, the first terminal ID is stored in association with the code information, thereby permitting an order for a service from the user terminal having the first terminal ID in the table corresponding to the code information;
and a control means for, when second store visit information including the code information and a second terminal ID identifying the second user terminal is received from the second user terminal that reads the code information, determining whether or not the second store visit information was received before a predetermined time has elapsed since the first store visit information was received, and if it is determined that the predetermined time has elapsed , storing the second terminal ID in correspondence with the code information in a table corresponding to the code information, thereby permitting an order for a service from the user terminal having the second terminal ID to the service facility . 2. The information processing device according to claim 1,
The information processing device, when the control means receives from the second user terminal store visit shared information including the code information , the first terminal ID read from the first user terminal , and the second terminal ID after receiving the first store visit information, the control means stores the second terminal ID in association with the code information. 3. The information processing device according to claim 2,
When the control means determines that the second visit information is received after the predetermined time has elapsed, it transmits information to the second user terminal prompting the second user terminal to share the code information from the first user terminal. 2. The information processing device according to claim 1,
When the control means receives the second store visit information from the second user terminal, the control means stores the first terminal ID and the second terminal ID in association with one group ID. 3. The information processing device according to claim 2,
When the control means receives the store visit shared information from the second user terminal, the control means stores the first terminal ID and the second terminal ID in association with one group ID. 3. The information processing device according to claim 2,
The information processing device, when the control means receives the store visit shared information from the second user terminal after receiving the first store visit information, determines whether the store visit shared information was received after the specified time has elapsed since the reception of the first store visit information, and if it determines that the specified time has elapsed, stores the second terminal ID in association with the code information. when first store visit information including a first terminal ID for identifying a first user terminal and code information read from a medium provided on each table of the service facility is received from a first user terminal which has read the code information from the medium provided on each table of the service facility, the first terminal ID is stored in correspondence with the code information, and an order for a service from the user terminal having the first terminal ID is permitted in the table corresponding to the code information;
when receiving second store visit information including the code information and a second terminal ID for identifying the second user terminal from the second user terminal that read the code information, determining whether or not the second store visit information was received before a predetermined time has elapsed since the first store visit information was received;
When it is determined that the predetermined time has not yet elapsed, the second terminal ID is stored in association with the code information, and an order for a service from the user terminal having the second terminal ID to the service facility is permitted in a table corresponding to the code information.
Information processing methods. In the information processing device,
a step of receiving first store visit information including the code information and a first terminal ID for identifying a first user terminal from a first user terminal that has read the code information from a medium installed on each table of the service facility, storing the first terminal ID in association with the code information in a table corresponding to the code information, thereby permitting an order for a service from the user terminal having the first terminal ID at the service facility;
a step of determining whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed since the reception of the first store visit information when second store visit information including the code information and a second terminal ID for identifying the second user terminal is received from the second user terminal that reads the code information;
and a step of storing the second terminal ID in correspondence with the code information in a table corresponding to the code information, when it is determined that the specified time has not yet elapsed, thereby allowing an order for a service from the service facility from a user terminal having the second terminal ID in a table corresponding to the code information .

Images