JP7795080B2 - Information processing system, information processing method and program - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an information processing system, information processing method, and program capable of processing order information sent from a user terminal at a restaurant.

Technology for recognizing the congestion level inside a store using sensors such as cameras has been known for some time. For example, Patent Document 1 below describes a method in which markers are placed on the floor inside a store in advance, the floor inside the store is photographed with a CCD camera, the number of markers recognized in the image portion of the floor in the photographed image is counted, and the number of markers counted is used to calculate the degree of congestion inside the store.

Patent No. 5354697

However, with the above-mentioned conventional technology, it is necessary to recognize landmarks throughout all areas of a store, which increases the processing load and time required to calculate the congestion level. Furthermore, if landmarks are not evenly distributed throughout all areas of a store, it is not possible to accurately calculate the congestion level by simply counting the number of landmarks.

In light of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide an information processing system, information processing device, information processing method, and program that can easily and accurately generate congestion information for restaurants or food courts.

To achieve the above object, an information processing system according to one embodiment of the present invention has a control unit. The control unit receives a first detection result from a sensor installed in a restaurant or food court, the first detection result indicating whether a customer or a specific item is present near at least one first seat installed in a first area of the restaurant or food court. If the first detection result indicates that the customer or the item is present near the first seat, the control unit generates congestion level information indicating that the restaurant or food court is crowded and outputs the information to a display device.

This allows the information processing system to easily and accurately generate congestion information for a restaurant or food court based on whether a seat in a specific location is occupied by a customer. The items are items that customers place at their seats, such as bags or clothing. The first detection results are obtained, for example, from a sensor or camera near the seat. The display device is, for example, a user terminal such as a smartphone or PC, or a digital signage terminal. The information processing system can be made up of one or more information processing devices.

The first area may be the area farthest from the food and beverage pick-up counter within the restaurant or food court, or the least popular area.

This allows overall congestion information to be generated without checking the congestion status of areas close to the food and drink pick-up counter or highly popular areas. This is because seats in restaurants and food courts typically fill first in areas close to the food and drink pick-up counter or highly popular areas, and if seats in areas far from the food and drink pick-up counter or less popular areas are filled, it is highly likely that seats in other areas are also already filled (the entire restaurant is crowded). Examples of less popular areas include, but are not limited to, areas with poor views or counter seating. A food and drink pick-up counter typically refers to a location in a food court, fast food restaurant, etc. where customers receive their ordered food and drink from a waiter, but also includes locations where customers receive food and drink self-service without a waiter, such as a drink bar or tables where dishes are displayed for customers to serve themselves in a buffet-style restaurant.

The control unit may receive a second detection result indicating whether the customer or the item is present near at least one second seat located in a second area that is closer to the first seat than the first area or has a higher popularity level than the first area, in addition to the first seat. The control unit may then output congestion level information indicating that the area is crowded if the first detection result indicates that the customer or the item is present near the first seat and the second detection result indicates that the customer or the item is present near the second seat.

By checking not only the first area but also the second area, the information processing system can eliminate cases where a customer happens to be seated in the first area even though other areas are not crowded, thereby further improving the accuracy of the congestion level information.

In addition to the first detection result, the control unit may receive a second detection result indicating whether the customer or the item is present near at least one second seat located in each of a plurality of second areas that are different from the first area in terms of the distance or popularity. The control unit may then generate and output congestion level information indicating the congestion level of the restaurant or food court in multiple stages based on the first detection result and the second detection result.

By checking not only the first area but also multiple second areas, the information processing system can improve the accuracy of congestion information and report the congestion level in more detail (for example, three levels: very crowded, slightly crowded, empty, etc.).

The control unit may generate the congestion level information when the customer or the item remains near the first seat for a predetermined period of time or longer.

This allows the information processing system to generate congestion information by excluding non-customer personnel, such as staff, who are simply passing by the seats, thereby improving the accuracy of the information. The specified time period may be, for example, 1 minute, 3 minutes, 5 minutes, etc., but is not limited to these.

An information processing system according to another aspect of the present invention includes a control unit. The control unit receives detection results from sensors installed in a restaurant or food court, indicating whether a customer or a specific item is present in each of a first area including at least one first seat in the restaurant or food court and being the furthest from the food and beverage pick-up counter or being the least popular, and a second area including at least one second seat and being closer to the first area or being more popular than the first area. Furthermore, if the detection results indicate that the customer or the specific item is present in the first area and that the customer or the specific item is present in the second area, the control unit generates congestion level information indicating that the restaurant or food court is crowded and outputs it to a display device.

This allows the information processing system to easily and accurately generate congestion information for a restaurant or food court based on the presence or absence of customers in two specific areas. The first and second areas may be, for example, areas with a radius of several meters where a sensor can detect customers or items, or areas with a field of view of several meters that can be captured by a camera in a specific position, but are not limited to these.

An information processing method according to another aspect of the present invention includes:
receiving, from a sensor installed in the restaurant or food court, a first detection result indicating whether a customer or a specific item is present near at least one first seat installed in a first area of the restaurant or food court;
If the first detection result indicates that the customer or the item is present near the first seat, congestion level information indicating that the restaurant or food court is crowded is generated and output to a display device.

An information processing method according to another aspect of the present invention includes:
receiving, from a sensor installed in a restaurant or food court, detection results indicating whether or not a customer or a specific item is present in a first area of the restaurant or food court, the first area including at least one first seat and being the farthest from a food and beverage receiving counter or being the least popular area, and a second area including at least one second seat and being closer to the first area or being more popular than the first area;
If the detection result indicates that the customer or the specific item is present in the first area and that the customer or the specific item is present in the second area, congestion level information indicating that the restaurant or food court is crowded is generated and output to a display device.

A program according to another aspect of the present invention is a program for executing the following on an information processing device:
receiving a first detection result from a sensor installed in a restaurant or food court, the first detection result indicating whether a customer or a specific item is present near at least one first seat installed in a first area of the restaurant or food court;
If the first detection result indicates that the customer or the item is present near the first seat, the system executes a step of generating congestion level information indicating that the restaurant or food court is crowded and outputting the information to a display device.

A program according to another aspect of the present invention is a program for executing the following on an information processing device:
receiving detection results from sensors installed in a restaurant or food court indicating whether or not a customer or a specific item is present in a first area of the restaurant or food court, the first area including at least one first seat and being the furthest from a food and beverage receiving counter or being the least popular area, and a second area including at least one second seat and being closer to the first area or being more popular than the first area;
If the detection result indicates that the customer or the specific item is present in the first area and that the customer or the specific item is present in the second area, the system executes a step of generating congestion level information indicating that the restaurant or food court is crowded and outputting the information to a display device.

As described above, the present invention makes it possible to easily and accurately generate congestion information for restaurants or food courts. However, this effect does not limit the scope of the present invention.

1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a restaurant congestion status notification 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. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of a database included in a restaurant information providing server according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a flow of a congestion degree information display process performed by the restaurant information providing server according to one embodiment of the present invention. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a congestion degree information display screen displayed on a user terminal or a digital signage terminal according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[System configuration]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a restaurant information providing system according to this embodiment.

As shown in the figure, this system includes a restaurant information server 100 on the Internet 50, multiple user terminals 200, a restaurant terminal 300, and a digital signage terminal 400.

The restaurant information providing server 100 is a web server that operates a portal site (restaurant information providing site) that lists information about restaurants (including food courts). The restaurant information providing server 100 is connected to multiple user terminals 200, restaurant terminals 300 of restaurants, and digital signage terminals 400 via the Internet 50.

The restaurant information providing server 100 provides a restaurant information providing system for users of user terminals 200 on the portal site. Specifically, the restaurant information providing server 100 searches for restaurant information that matches the 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 handles the reservation process for any restaurant from the user terminal 200 of the user who viewed the restaurant information.

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

The user terminal 200 determines restaurant search conditions based on user operation and transmits a restaurant search request based on those 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 user operation, the user terminal 200 can transmit a reservation request for one of the restaurants displayed as the search results to the restaurant information providing server 100.

On the other hand, the restaurant information providing server 100 provides a restaurant information management screen (webpage) for restaurants (affiliated restaurants) listed on the portal site. Through this management screen, users of the restaurant terminal 300 can edit and update the restaurant information (content) on the webpage provided to general users as the search results, and upload the webpage to the portal site.

The restaurant terminal 300 is a terminal installed in each restaurant or food court, and may be a tablet PC, notebook PC, desktop PC, or the like. Based on the administrator's operation, the restaurant terminal 300 can execute processes related to its own restaurant information, such as editing and updating the restaurant information, by communicating with the restaurant information providing server 100. While the diagram shows only one food court and one restaurant terminal 300, there may be multiple food courts or restaurants, and each food court or restaurant may have its own restaurant terminal 300.

As shown in the figure, a camera C is installed in the food court or restaurant that can capture images of at least a specific area (area X in the figure) within the food court/restaurant, and a human presence sensor M that detects human movement is installed, for example, on the underside of the top of each seat (table T) in at least a specific area (area X in the figure) within the food court/restaurant.

The camera C and human presence sensor M are sensors for detecting whether a customer or an item (such as a bag, clothing, or other item that a customer places on their seat) is present at a seat (first seat) (table T) located in a specific area of the store or in its vicinity (for example, within 1 meter).

The detection results (first detection results) of these sensors are transmitted to restaurant terminal 300 via a wireless relay terminal W installed inside the restaurant, and then transmitted from restaurant terminal 300 to restaurant information providing server 100. Detection results may also be transmitted from camera C and human presence sensor M to restaurant information providing server 100 without going through restaurant terminal 300. Detection results may also be transmitted to restaurant information providing server 100 via a terminal other than restaurant terminal 300 (for example, a terminal carried by a restaurant employee) or server (for example, a server managing camera C and human presence sensor M).

Not all food courts/restaurants are equipped with both the camera C and the motion sensor M; some may only have one of them.

When the detection results of the above sensors indicate that a customer U or an item is present in a specific area (area X in the figure) within the food court/restaurant, the restaurant information providing server 100 can generate congestion level information indicating that the food court/restaurant is crowded, and output this to a user terminal 200 or digital signage terminal 400 as a display device.

Here, the specific area X is typically the area farthest from the food and beverage pick-up counter 10 in the restaurant or food court, or the least popular area (for example, an area with a poor view or an area with counter seats). Furthermore, the congestion level information may also be generated by using the detection results (second detection results) of a sensor at a seat (second seat) (table T) located in area Y, which is closer to the food and beverage pick-up counter 10 than area X, or which is more popular. Here, the food and beverage pick-up counter typically refers to a location where customers receive their ordered food and beverages from a waiter, but also includes locations where there is no waiter and customers receive food and beverages on a self-service basis, such as a drink bar or tables where dishes are displayed for customers to serve themselves in a buffet-style restaurant.

The digital signage terminal 400 is a display terminal installed, for example, at stations, roads, or facilities (such as entrances or elevator halls) near restaurants/food courts, and receives and displays congestion information about nearby restaurants and food courts from the restaurant information server 100.

Details of the process for generating and displaying this congestion level information will be provided later.

[Hardware configuration of restaurant information server]
2 is a diagram showing the 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 one another.

The CPU 11 accesses the RAM 13 and other memory as needed, and performs various calculation processes while providing overall control over each block of the restaurant information providing server 100. The ROM 12 is a non-volatile memory that permanently stores firmware such as the OS, programs, and various parameters executed by the CPU 11. The RAM 13 is used as a working area for the CPU 11, and temporarily stores the OS, various applications currently 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), or a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube).

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

As will be described later, in this embodiment in particular, the storage unit 18 includes programs such as applications required for the congestion level information generation process described below, as well as a restaurant information database, a user information database, and a congestion level information database.

The communication unit 19 is, for example, a NIC (Network Interface Card) for Ethernet or various modules for wireless communication such as wireless LAN, and is responsible for communication processing between the user terminal 200, restaurant terminal 300, and digital signage terminal 400.

Although not shown, the basic hardware configuration of the user terminal 200 and restaurant terminal 300 is also substantially the same as the hardware configuration of the restaurant information providing server 100 described above.

[Database configuration of restaurant information server]
FIG. 3 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 31, a user information database 32, and a congestion level information database 33 in the memory unit 18.

For each restaurant, the restaurant information database 31 stores the restaurant's name, location (address or latitude and longitude), area information, access information (nearest station information, walking distance from the nearest station), telephone number, an ID identifying the restaurant (store ID), information about the restaurant's business type and service category, information introducing the restaurant (information indicating the restaurant's characteristics such as store promotional material, information about events held by the restaurant, etc.), image data related to the restaurant (introducing the restaurant), menu information related to the menu offered by the restaurant, average budget information, business hours, website URL, and other information. This information is entered from each restaurant's restaurant terminal 300 via a management screen provided by the restaurant information providing server 100. The restaurant information database 31 also stores reservation ledger information for each restaurant.

The menu information corresponds to the menus posted on the websites of each restaurant on the portal site, and stores the names of multiple menu items that each restaurant can offer for each restaurant. The menu information may be stored by menu category, such as appetizer/main course, lunch/dinner/course, etc. The menu information may also include text information indicating the menu name, price, description, etc., as well as image information such as photographs of the menu, which are stored in association with the menu.

The area information includes information about multiple areas with different units of size. Large areas include prefectures and municipalities, small areas include areas within a few hundred meters of a station (e.g., the "Ginza area"), and areas of intermediate size include, but are not limited to, areas within 1 km of a station or areas surrounding multiple stations (e.g., the "Ginza-Shinbashi-Yurakucho area"). This means that the same restaurant can be linked to multiple areas depending on its size.

In addition, information (such as a terminal ID) about the digital signage terminal 400 installed in that area is associated with that area (for example, the smallest area among multiple areas), and the digital signage terminal 400 and each restaurant are associated via that area. However, separate from the area information, the terminal ID of the digital signage terminal 400 may also be directly associated with the restaurant's store ID.

The above 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 32 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 32 stores information for each user, such as user ID, password, name, email address (information to which other messages will be sent), telephone number, address, age (group), gender, and birthday.

The congestion level information database 33 stores the detection result data for each restaurant/food court received from the camera C and human presence sensor M via the restaurant terminal 300 (or directly), and the congestion level information for each restaurant/food court generated by the restaurant information providing server 100 based on the detection result data.

These databases are mutually referenced as necessary during the congestion level information generation process by the restaurant information providing server 100, which will be described later.

[System Operation]
Next, we will explain the operation of the restaurant information providing server 100 configured as above. This operation is executed by cooperation between hardware such as the CPU 1 of the restaurant information providing server 100 and software stored in the storage unit 18. For convenience, in the following explanation, the CPU 11 is the subject of operation.

Figure 4 is a flowchart showing the process of generating and displaying congestion level information by the restaurant information providing server 100.

As shown in the figure, the CPU 11 of the restaurant information providing server 100 receives the detection results of the sensor in the first area X (step 41).

The CPU 11 then determines whether the detection result indicates that a customer or item is present near the seat in the first area X (step 42).

If it is determined that the detection results indicate the presence of a customer or item (Yes in step 42), the CPU 11 receives the detection results of the sensor in the second area Y (step 43).

The CPU 11 then determines whether the detection results indicate that there are customers or items near the seats in the second area Y (step 44).

If it is determined that the detection results indicate the presence of a customer or item (Yes in step 44), the CPU 11 generates congestion level information (high congestion level) indicating that the restaurant or food court is crowded (step 45).

Here, the CPU 11 may use the presence of a customer or item near a seat in the first area X (and the second area Y) for a predetermined period of time or more as a condition for generating congestion level information (or may use a detection time of a predetermined period of time or more as a condition for determining whether a customer or item is present). Examples of predetermined periods of time include, but are not limited to, one minute, three minutes, five minutes, etc. This allows the CPU 11 to generate congestion level information while excluding people other than customers, such as store staff who are simply passing by the seat, thereby improving the accuracy of the information.

The CPU 11 then transmits the generated congestion level information to the user terminal 200 or the digital signage terminal 400.

If the CPU 11 determines that the detection results indicate that there are no customers or items present (No in step 44), it terminates the process without generating congestion level information. Alternatively, if the CPU 11 determines No in step 44, it may generate congestion level information indicating that the restaurant or food court is not crowded (low congestion level) or that the degree of diversity is not high (medium congestion level), and send this to the user terminal 200 or digital signage terminal 400.

In this way, the restaurant information providing server 100 can generate overall congestion information simply by checking the presence or absence of customers or items in the first area X and the second area Y, without checking the congestion status of areas that are close to the food and drink pick-up counter 10 or areas that are highly popular. This is because seats in restaurants and food courts usually fill first in areas that are close to the food and drink pick-up counter 10 or areas that are highly popular. However, if seats in areas that are far from the food and drink pick-up counter 10 or areas that are less popular are filled, it is highly likely that seats in other areas are also already filled (the entire food court/store is crowded).

Furthermore, the restaurant information server 100 sets the condition for generating congestion information as not only seats in the first area X, but also seats in the second area Y, which is closer to the food and drink pick-up counter 10 than area X or is more popular than area X. This eliminates cases where a customer happens to be seated in area X even though other areas are not crowded, thereby further improving the accuracy of the congestion information.

The restaurant information providing server 100 repeats the above process when a request for displaying congestion level information for a specific restaurant/food court is received from the user terminal 200, or when a regular timing arrives for displaying (updating) congestion level information on the digital signage terminal 400.

Furthermore, after transmitting congestion information for a specific restaurant/food court to the user terminal 200, if the restaurant information providing server 100 detects, based on the detection results of the above sensors, that the congestion at the restaurant/food court has subsided, it may send a notification to that effect to the user terminal 200.

Figure 5 shows an example of a congestion level information display screen displayed on the user terminal 200 or digital signage terminal 400.

As shown in the figure, the user terminal 200 or digital signage terminal 400 displays current images 61 from cameras C of, for example, a nearby food court or restaurant, showing the real-time state of the interior of the restaurant, along with the restaurant name and congestion status information 62.

For food courts/restaurants for which the presence of customers or items in the first area X and the second area Y has been detected and congestion information has been generated through the above-described process, the words "Crowded" or "Highly Crowded" are displayed as congestion status information, while for food courts/restaurants for which congestion information has not been generated, the words "Seat Available" or "Low Crowded" are displayed as congestion status information. Alternatively, for food courts/restaurants for which the presence of customers or items in the first area X and the second area Y has been detected and congestion information has been generated through the above-described process, the words "Crowded" or "Highly Crowded" may simply be displayed as congestion status information, and in other cases, the congestion level may not be displayed.

An application corresponding to the system provided by the restaurant information providing server 100 is installed on each user terminal 200, and the application can display a screen such as that shown in Figure 5 above, showing congestion information for food courts or restaurants near the current location of the user terminal 200. Furthermore, when a display field for a restaurant or food court on the screen is selected by the user, the application may be able to display a map or detailed information showing the location of the restaurant or food court.

[summary]
As described above, according to this embodiment, the restaurant information providing server 100 can easily and accurately generate congestion information for a restaurant or food court based on whether seats in a specific area are occupied by customers. Furthermore, because it is necessary to check the congestion levels of only some of the seats, the information processing load required to generate the congestion level information can be significantly reduced compared to checking the congestion levels of all seats.

[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-described embodiment, the conditions for generating congestion information required the detection of customers or items at (or near) seats in the first area X as well as the detection of customers or items at (or near) seats in the second area Y. However, the detection of customers or items in the second area Y is not required, and congestion information may be generated based only on the detection of customers or items at seats in the first area X. In this case, processing can be simplified because there is no need to make a judgment between the two areas, X and Y.

In the above-described embodiment, the restaurant information providing server 100 generates and outputs congestion level information indicating whether a restaurant/food court is crowded based on the detection results of the sensor in the first area X. However, in addition to the detection results of the sensor in the first area X, the restaurant information providing server 100 may also receive detection results indicating whether customers or items are present near seats in multiple other areas that differ from the first area X in terms of distance or popularity from the food and beverage pick-up counter 10, and generate and output congestion level information indicating the congestion level of the restaurant or food court in multiple stages based on the detection results in the first area X and the multiple other areas. In this way, the restaurant information providing server 100 can check not only the first area X but also multiple other areas, thereby further improving the accuracy of the congestion level information and providing more detailed information about the congestion level. For example, congestion level information may be generated and output in three levels (e.g., high congestion level = customers/items detected in all areas X to Z, medium congestion level = detection only in areas Y and Z, low congestion level = detection only in area Z) based on the detection results for customers or items at each seat in the first area X, which is the farthest from the food and drink receiving counter 10, the second area Y, which is medium, and the third area Z, which is the smallest.

In the above-described embodiment, the restaurant information providing server 100 generated congestion level information when it detected the presence of a customer or an item at or near a seat in the first area. Alternatively, the restaurant information providing server 100 may generate congestion level information when a customer or an item is detected in two areas at different locations, without being limited to a seat or its vicinity.

In other words, the restaurant information providing server 100 receives detection results from sensors installed in a restaurant or food court indicating whether a customer or a specific item is present in each of a first area that includes at least one first seat in the restaurant or food court and is the farthest from the food and beverage pick-up counter or is least popular, and a second area that includes at least one second seat and is closer than the first area or is more popular than the first area. If the detection results indicate that the customer or the specific item is present in the first area and that the customer or the specific item is present in the second area, the restaurant information providing server 100 generates congestion level information indicating that the restaurant or food court is crowded and outputs it to a display device.

This allows the restaurant information providing server 100 to easily and accurately generate congestion information for a restaurant or food court based on the presence or absence of customers in two specific areas, even if customers frequently get up from their seats or move to nearby seats. The first and second areas are, for example, areas (spaces) with a radius of several meters where customers and items can be detected by a sensor, or areas with a field of view of several meters that can be captured by a camera in a specific position, but are not limited to these.

In the above embodiment, an example was shown in which the restaurant information providing server 100 on the cloud generates congestion level information for each food court or restaurant, but a server with the same functions as the restaurant information providing server 100 may be installed for each food court or restaurant, and the congestion level information generation process may be performed.

Among 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 called a computer.

10...Food and drink receiving counter 11...CPU
18: Storage unit 19: Communication unit 31: Restaurant information database 32: User information database 33: Congestion degree information database 100: Restaurant information providing server 200: User terminal 300: Restaurant terminal 400: Digital signage terminal X: First area Y: Second area Z: Third area C: Camera M: Human presence sensor

Claims (10)

receiving, from a sensor installed in a restaurant or food court, a first detection result indicating whether a customer or a specific item is present near at least one first seat installed in a first area that is only a part of the restaurant or food court;
An information processing system comprising a control unit that, when the first detection result indicates that the customer or the item is present near the first seat, generates congestion level information indicating that the entire restaurant or food court is crowded and outputs the information to a display device. 2. The information processing system according to claim 1,
The first area is the area farthest from a food and drink pick-up counter in the restaurant or food court, or the least popular area. 3. The information processing system according to claim 2,
The control unit
receiving a second detection result indicating whether the customer or the item is present near at least one second seat located in a second area in addition to the first seat, the second area being closer to the customer or the item than the first area or being more popular than the first area;
An information processing system that outputs congestion level information indicating that the seat is crowded when the first detection result indicates that the customer or the item is present near the first seat and the second detection result indicates that the customer or the item is present near the second seat. 3. The information processing system according to claim 2,
The control unit
receiving, in addition to the first detection result, a second detection result indicating whether the customer or the item is present near at least one second seat installed in each of a plurality of second areas, the second areas being different from the first area in terms of the distance or the popularity level and different from each other;
an information processing system that generates and outputs congestion level information indicating a congestion level of the restaurant or food court in multiple stages according to the first detection result and the second detection result. 5. An information processing system according to claim 1,
The control unit generates the congestion degree information when the customer or the item has been staying near the first seat for a predetermined period of time or longer. receiving, from a sensor installed in a restaurant or food court, detection results indicating whether or not a customer or a specific item is present in a first area of the restaurant or food court, the first area including at least one first seat and being the farthest from a food and beverage receiving counter or being the least popular area, and a second area including at least one second seat and being closer than the first area or being more popular than the first area;
An information processing system comprising a control unit that, when the detection result indicates that the customer or the specific item is present in the first area and that the customer or the specific item is present in the second area, generates congestion level information indicating that the restaurant or food court is crowded and outputs it to a display device. receiving, from a sensor installed in a restaurant or food court, a first detection result indicating whether a customer or a specific item is present near at least one first seat installed in a first area that is only a part of the restaurant or food court;
When the first detection result indicates that the customer or the item is present near the first seat, congestion level information indicating that the entire restaurant or food court is crowded is generated and output to a display device. receiving, from a sensor installed in a restaurant or food court, detection results indicating whether or not a customer or a specific item is present in a first area of the restaurant or food court, the first area including at least one first seat and being the farthest from a food and beverage receiving counter or being the least popular area, and a second area including at least one second seat and being closer than the first area or being more popular than the first area;
An information processing method, wherein if the detection result indicates that the customer or the specific item is present in the first area and that the customer or the specific item is present in the second area, congestion level information indicating that the restaurant or food court is crowded is generated and output to a display device. In the information processing device,
receiving a first detection result from a sensor installed in the restaurant or food court, the first detection result indicating whether or not a customer or a specific item is present near at least one first seat installed in a first area that is only a part of the restaurant or food court;
and if the first detection result indicates that the customer or the item is present near the first seat, generating congestion level information indicating that the entire restaurant or food court is crowded and outputting the information to a display device. In the information processing device,
receiving detection results from sensors installed in a restaurant or food court indicating whether or not a customer or a specific item is present in a first area of the restaurant or food court, the first area including at least one first seat and being the furthest from a food and beverage receiving counter or being the least popular area, and a second area including at least one second seat and being closer than the first area or being more popular than the first area;
and if the detection result indicates that the customer or the specific item is present in the first area and that the customer or the specific item is present in the second area, generating congestion level information indicating that the restaurant or food court is crowded and outputting the information to a display device.