WO2008032418A1 - Order input device for restaurant and order entry system using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

An order input device carried by a servant of a restaurant incorporates control means, storage means, and power supply means which are provided in a remote control used for a general home electric appliance and further comprises wireless communication means having a transmitting/receiving circuit capable of wireless communication by radio wave in compliance with the Zigbee standards. The order input device is connected to an external computer through a wireless communication network in compliance with the Zigbee standards having a relay point in the restaurant so that the order input device and the external computer can communicate with each other. With this, the consumed power of the order input device is reduced to an extent that a remote control of a television set in the home consumes power, the troublesome work of battery replacement can be reduced, and an order input device having a high communication stability can be provided.

Description

 Description Order input device in a restaurant and order entry system using the same

 The present invention relates to a portable order input device that takes customer orders at restaurants and an order entry system using the same, and particularly uses a Zigbee rating for the communication protocol of the input device. Thus, the present invention relates to an order input device in a restaurant and an order entry system using the same, which reduce power consumption of the entire system, construct a stable communication environment, and reduce facilities and maintenance costs. Background art

 In the conventional order entry system, the orderer carries the order input device, and the orderer inputs the customer's order into the order input device, and the front POS register and the printer and display panel of the kitchen. Send order information using radio. The POS Regis evening counts based on the order information sent, and the print screen and display panel in the kitchen are printed and displayed based on the order information sent.

 Furthermore, the customer's order input to the order input device is wirelessly transmitted to the front server of the front and the kitchen server of the kitchen so that cooking and payment settlement can be performed quickly (for example, 2 0 0 5

-See 1 8 2 1 3 4).

In addition, an order entry system is built using WL AN (Wireless Local Area N et wo rk), The order input device for inputting the number is provided with a calling function from the customer table, thereby reducing the burden of work at the store and the burden of capital investment (for example, ' 1.6 3 44 7).

 However, in the case of an order entry system using WL AN, the same frequency band as that of the widely used personal computer WL AN is used. Therefore, the problem of radio interference can be avoided in consideration of the stability of data communication. Absent. As a specific example of radio wave interference, the frequency used in WL AN is the same frequency as that of amateur radio, microwave oven, etc. ISM band (Ind'u stry Science M edica 1) unnecessary radio license frequency Bandwidth is used. In other words, in the order entry system using WLAN, there is a high probability of radio wave interference, and there is concern about the stability of the trust.

In addition, _WLAN uses P DA ( _Personal Digital Assistants) as an order input device, which consumes a lot of power and may require battery replacement during store hours. The In addition, extra spare batteries and chargers will be required, resulting in extra costs:

 Also, in an environment constructed by a network using PHS (Personal Handyphone System) as the communication protocol, the communication stability is good, but a special receiving device is used on the receiving side, so the cost is very high. Become bigger.

Disclosure of the invention

The present invention has been made under the circumstances as described above, and an object of the present invention is to use a Zigbee standard in the network configuration of an order input device and an order system using the order input device, thereby The power consumption of network connection devices including order input devices can be reduced to the same level as remote controls, reducing the troublesome work of battery replacement and communication. An object of the present invention is to provide an order input device in a restaurant and an order entry system using the same. .

 The present ^ relates to an order input device in a restaurant or the like and an order entry system using the order input device. With respect to the order input device, the above object of the present invention is to carry a plurality of store staffs such as restaurants. A wireless order input device for inputting customer order information, and a microcomputer provided in a remote control device used as a remote control means for home appliances such as a general television, a memory, and Batteries that supply power to each device are built in as control means, storage means, and power supply means, respectively. Compliant with the igbee standard, wireless communication means having a transmission / reception circuit capable of wireless communication, and a relay point is not provided in the store. This is achieved by being communicably connected to an external computer via a wireless communication network compliant with the Z i gbe e standard. .

 In addition, the wireless communication means can be more effectively achieved by being a Z i g b e e. End device or a Z i. G b e e router compliant with the Z i g b e e standard. In addition, the external computer can be achieved more effectively by being a ordering controller.

Regarding the order entry system, an object of the present invention is to input an order information of a customer and transmit the order information by radio, and a printer that outputs a slip based on the order information. And an inventory system in a restaurant equipped with a POS registry that performs accounting processing based on the order information or the slip, and is arranged in a three-dimensional space in the store, and uses radio waves conforming to the Zigbee standard. Multiple access nodes as relay points that make up a wireless communication network And the order input device via the wireless communication network

An ordering controller having communication control means for performing relay control of data transmission with a POS register, and the order input device and the ordering controller are connected via the wireless communication network, and The ordering controller and the POS register are connected by wire, and the order input device conforms to the data processing means of the remote control device used as the remote control means of home appliances and the Zigbee standard. The ordering controller is configured to include a wireless communication unit compliant with the Zigbee standard and a customer's input from the order input device transmitted via the wireless communication network. Send the order information to the POS register and display or output the customer order information. That by being constituted by a means for transmitting the order output device, it is more effectively achieved.

 Further, the access node is a Zigbee route that conforms to the Zigbee standard, and the wireless coordinator means is a Zigbee coordinator that conforms to the Zigbee standard. The effect of the invention

According to the order input device and the order entry system using the same in the restaurant of the present invention, by using the Zigbee standard for the network configuration of AN (Wireless Persona 1 Area N et wo rk), Compared to a network using WLAN or PHS, configuration costs and power consumption can be reduced, and stable wireless communication can be achieved with Zigbee's number of channels and avoidance function. Specifically, in a conventional order entry system, a PDA is used as an order input device. However, according to the order input device of the present invention, the hardware of the remote control device is used. Compared to an order input device that uses, the price of the device can be reduced to about 1 Z 5. Furthermore, since the order input device of the present invention consumes less power than a PDA, it does not require a battery, and can be used for a long time without battery replacement. In addition, when a remote control device using infrared light is applied as an order input device, there is a problem of directivity. However, the order input device of the present invention has no directivity problem and is directed to anywhere in the store. However, communication via the access node is possible. In addition, the access nodes that make up the wireless communication network are small (about the size of a palm) and can be installed in a desired location within the store's 3D space. However, stable wireless communication can be performed. In addition, a network can be easily constructed regardless of the size of the store. Furthermore, not only the price of the order input device but also the network price is lower than the conventional one, so that the cost of the entire order entry system can be reduced. .

 For this reason, it is possible to systematize even small-scale stores that used to perform overnight processing and accounting processing by hand. Furthermore, in stores that have not been mechanized, clerk cheating has occurred, but by introducing the inventory system of the present invention, all information such as slips can be recorded as electronic data. Therefore, it is possible to prevent fraud by cashiers and fraud in accounting. Brief description of the drawings

FIG. 1 is an external view of an order input device of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of an order input device according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the order input device according to the present invention. '

Figs. 4 (A) to (D) are diagrams showing an example of the input panel input screen of the order input device. .

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of an order entry system according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a set-up box server according to the present invention. 'Fig. 7 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the POST register according to the present invention. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the ordered system according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 shows the order according to the present invention: : Is a block diagram showing another configuration example of the entry system. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

 First, the Z ig bee standard used in the present invention will be described.

ZigBee (IEEE 8.2.1.5.4) is a standard for short-range wireless networks in the range of several meters to several tens of meters that is narrower than WLAN. Such a short-range wireless network is called WP AN (Wire 1 ess Person 1 Area N et wo rk). Other similar technologies such as IEEE 802.15 WP AN standards include Bluetooth and UWB (Ultra Wide B and). There are differences in data transfer rate, power consumption, etc. for each standard. The maximum data transfer rate of ZigBee is 2550 Kbps, B1uetooth is lMbps, and UWB is 4800. M ps. Communication module communication The power consumption at the time is about 60 mW for ZigBee, about 120 mW for B1uetooth, and about 100 mW for UWB.

In this way, Z i g t> e e can reduce power consumption instead of lowering the maximum data transfer rate compared to similar technologies. In addition, the number of channels is 1.6 in the 2.4 GHz band, 10 channels in the 9 15 MHz band, and 1 channel in the .8 6.8 MHz band (B 1 uetooth is 8 channels, U (WB is 3 channels). The ZigBee standard is intended for stable data communication, power saving, and low cost in environments that do not require overnight transfer speed, such as remote control of sensor networks and home appliances.

 The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. .

Figure 1 shows the appearance of the order entry device 1 of the present invention, the order relates store eateries like (for example less Tran) is a summer _t use in portable. At the center of the upper surface of the order input device 1, an evening panel 2 is provided, and the customer's order information input operation to be described later is performed using the evening panel 2.

Fig. 2 shows an example of the internal configuration of the order entry device 1. The order input device 1 is a control means consisting of a microcomputer that executes the overall control (CPU 1 0 1. ), R ○ M 1 0 2 with built-in operation program, storage means (RAM 1 0 3 in this example) that function as working memory and storage memory, power supply means 1 1 1 for supplying power, Z igbee Wireless communication means using end devices or Zigbee routes 10 04, latch panel type operation means 10 09, category setting section 1 1 0 for category setting, power supply means 1 1 1 for supplying power , Menu setting menu-Setting part 1 2 0 Also, evening panel type operation means 1 0 9 The display unit 10 8 displays the menu etc. on the evening panel 2. The display control unit 10 06 controls the display of the evening panel 2. The evening input unit 1.0 inputs the evening panel 2. 7 and the input control unit 1 0 5 are configured. A menu table corresponding to each category is stored in RAM I 03. ''

 The order input device according to the present invention has a hardware configuration similar to a so-called television remote control device used in general homes. By the way, the communication means used in the television remote control device is mainly an infrared communication IrDA (InfraDaTaAsosoc..iatioon) standard. This overnight communication with I r DA, transfer speed, transfer distance is about 4 Mbps at a distance of 1 m at the receiver, and it is used in stores considering that it is obstructed by shielding. This is insufficient for use in order input devices. Therefore, the order input device of the present invention is configured to enable mutual communication by using a wireless communication method compliant with the Zigbee standard, and to reduce power consumption to the level of a television remote control device.

For example, the configuration of the order input device is as follows. For example, a microcomputer provided in a remote control device used as a remote control means for home appliances such as a general television, a memory, and power supply to each device Each of the batteries to be stored is built in as control means (CPU 1 0 1 in this example), storage means (RAM 1 0 3 in this example), and power supply means 1 1 1, and a menu showing order information. And a wireless communication means 10 0 4 having a transmission / reception circuit capable of wireless communication compliant with the Zigbee standard, and in the store. It is connected to an external computer (in this example, an ordering controller 3 to be described later) via a wireless communication network that conforms to the Zigbee standard and has a relay point. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the order input device according to the present invention.

 First, the orderer carrying the order input device 1 turns on the power of the order input device 1 (step S 2 0 1). The control means (CPU 10 1) of the order input device 1 displays a menu screen as shown in (A) of FIG. 4 described later on the display unit 10 8 via the display control unit 10 6 ( Step S 2 0 2). The order clerk inputs customer information (new order, table No, and number of customers) into the order input device before asking for orders from customers. The order input device 1 displays on the touch panel 2 to select whether the order is new or added, and the orderer inputs whether the order from the customer is new or added (step S 2 0 3). If the customer's order is new at step S 2 0 3, the order clerk enters the customer table No into the order input device according to the display on the order panel 2 of the order input device 1 (step S 2 0 5) and the number of customers is entered (step S 2 0 6). Step S 2 0 6 Input. When the operation is completed, the order input device displays the input data (customer information) on the touch panel 2. Then, τ; asks for confirmation of the data entered on the display of the control panel 2 (Step S 2 0 7), and if the data is normal (Step S 2 0 8), the order entry (Step S 2 0 9). In addition, in the case of addition in step S 2 0 3, the orderer inputs the order (step S 2 0 9). In step S 2 0 8, the orderer checks the data. If the data is abnormal, input from step S 2 0 3 again.

 FIGS. 4 (A) to (D) are specific examples of an input operation method for inputting order information (customer information and order) using the event panel 2 of the order input device 1 of the present invention. , (B), (C) and (D) will be described in this order.

The order person carrying the order input device of the present invention is shown in FIG. Enter the order information according to the contents displayed in the section. First, whether it is a new order or an additional order is input at the main input section of the touch panel 2 on the screen of FIG. 4 (A). When input is made, the display of the main input section changes to the number input format screen in Fig. 4 (B). Next, in the number input format screen of Fig. 4 (B), the number of persons and the table number are input using the number input section of the main input section of the evening panel 2. When the input is made, the display on the main input section changes to the category display screen in Fig. 4 (C) (category display is classified in advance because of the large amount of menu). Next, in the category display screen shown in Fig. 4 (C), the user selects a category according to the customer's order, and a detailed menu is displayed on the touch panel 2. Based on the customer's order Enter the menu (not shown). Next, when the menu input is completed, the main input screen changes to the confirmation screen Fig. 4 (D), and the order is confirmed. After the confirmation in Fig. 4 (D), when the transmission button in the option page section is pressed, the order information (customer information and user information) is transmitted to the ordering member 3 described later.

 Next, the order entry system according to the present invention will be described.

 FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of an order system in a restaurant using the order input device of FIG. 1, and is an example using the Zigbee standard as a wireless communication network.

The restaurant order person carries the order input device 1 to the customer's seat, enters the order of the food from the customer, and inputs the customer's order information. Also, a wireless network relay point (access node, in this example, Zigbee route) 5 that relays the wireless network between the order input device 1 and the ordering controller 3 is about the size of a palm. It is placed in the store's 3D space, such as the walls and ceiling of the store. In addition, order output devices (kitchen display 7, kitchen pudding) 8) and POS Regis evening 6 will be installed at the cash register. The POS register 6 is connected to the ordering controller 3 and the network device 4. The input data (customer order information) sent wirelessly from the order input device 1 is received by the ordering controller 3 through the wireless network relay point (Zigbee route) 5 9 Ordering Controller 3 sends the received data to the order output device in the kitchen and POS 'register 6 in the register. The data sent to the kitchen order output device was printed out at Kitchen Print 8 and the cooks etc. were printed out. Cooking is performed based on the contents of the order. Alternatively, cooking is performed based on the order contents displayed on the display part of the kitchen display 7 and displayed by the cook. Also, at the cash register, when the customer finishes the meal and performs payment, the POS register 6 displays the payment data on the screen based on the received data, and prints the data on the print of the P.OS register 6 Then, the account is processed and the receipts are given to the customer.

 Also, the order input device 1 with built-in Zigb e.e end device, Zigbee standard wireless network relay point Zigbee standard 5, and the ordering controller 3 with built-in Zigbee coordinator WPA constitutes a mesh-type, single-type, or star-type network (Figure 5 shows an example of a mesh type). In addition, since the orderer moves with the order input device 1. Install Z igbee router 5 as a relay point.

 Next, the configuration of the ordering controller 3 used as the ordering controller will be described.

Fig. 6 shows an example of the internal configuration of the ordering controller 3. The one-daring controller 3 includes a CPU 40 1 that performs overall control, a ROM 40 2 that contains an operation program, and a RAM 40 3 that functions as a working memory and a storage memory. As a function related to order processing, a database management function 40 8 for collecting and managing order information and a web server function 400 for making it possible to refer to the order information and the database within the network are provided. In addition, the ordering controller 3 is a wireless communication control unit (ZigBee coordinator) that performs transmission / reception with the wireless network relay point (Zigbee) 5 via the antenna 4 07. 4) 6 is provided. On the other hand, the data transmission / reception unit 4 0 9 is used for communication with the POS register 6 and kitchen order output devices. In addition, an input control unit 4 1 0 for controlling the key input unit 4 1 2 and a display control unit 4 1.1 for controlling the display unit 4 1 3 are provided.

 In addition, the ordering controller 3 collects and manages the order information transmitted from the order input device 1 using the database management function 4 0 8 and uses the browser software etc. using the web server function 4 0 5 from the outside. It is possible to refer to the data collected and managed. The POS register 6 and the kitchen order output device (kitchen display 7, kitchen printer 8) can transmit and receive the data of the ordering controller 3 and the total management data via the network device 4 via Ethernet. The aggregated and managed data can be referenced using browser software. For details, the ordering controller 3 stores and stores the order information received from the order input device 1 in a database, and is a POS terminal that collects sales and bills for each customer based on the order information. It has the function of.

 Next, the configuration of the POST Regis evening will be described.

Fig. 7 shows an example of the internal configuration of the POS register. Data communication between the CPU .5 0 1, the ROM 50 2 with built-in operation program, the RAM 5 0 3 that functions as work memory and storage memory, and the ordering controller 3 Data transmission / reception unit 5 0 4 is provided. A display control unit 5 2 1 for controlling display of the display unit 5 2 0, an input unit 5 3 0 composed of keys and the like for use in the adjustment and setting, and an input unit 5 3 0 of The input control unit 5 3 1 to be controlled, the settlement processing unit 5 1 1 that performs arithmetic processing based on the order information received from the ordering controller 3, and the data communication between the sensor and the power company It is composed of an overnight transmission / reception unit 5 0 5.

 In such a configuration, an example of its operation will be described with reference to the flowchart in Fig. 8.

First, a store employee inputs customer order information to the order input device 1. · The order information is transmitted from the node input device 1 to the wireless network relay point 5 (step S 3 0 1). The wireless network relay point 5 receives the order information transmitted from the order input device 1 and transmits it to the ordering controller (O C) 3. The “dulling controller 3” receives the order information from the wireless network relay point 5 (step S 3 0 2), and based on the identification information of the new Z additional order included in the data. The ordering controller 3 determines whether it is a new order or an additional order (step S 3 0 3) If the ordering controller 3 determines that it is a new order in step S 3 0 3, it performs a slip number assignment process (step S 3 3 0 9), create a voucher as a new order, and determine whether the received data is normal (step S 3 0 4) If the data is normal in step S 3 0 4 The data received by the database function 4 0 8 is imported (step S 3 0 5), and the data is input from the ordering controller 3 to the kitchen print output 8 and the kitchen display 7 of the kitchen order output device. Submit to (Step S 3 0 6). The ordering controller 3 checks whether or not the printing or display has been performed normally based on the signal output from the kitchen order output device (status indicating normal or abnormal) (step S 3 0 7). If there is, the ordering controller 3 enters a standby state (step S 3 0 8), and when an abnormality is detected, an error notification is sent to the order input device 1 on the kitchen pudding..8 or the kitchen display 7 ( Step S 3 1 1). In addition, the ordering controller 3 determines that there is an abnormality in step S 3 0 4 (for example, if necessary information such as the number of customers is not input to the order input device 1 by the orderer) An error notification is sent to the input device 1 (step S 3 1 0). If the ordering controller 3 determines in step S 3 0 3 that it is an additional order, it checks the data received as an additional order without performing the slip number assignment process (step S 3 0 4).

 FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing another configuration example of the present invention corresponding to FIG. 5. The same components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

 In this example, in addition to the ordering controller 3, a kitchen server (with built-in Zigbee routine) 9 having a wireless communication function compliant with the Zigbee standard is installed in the WPAN, and the kitchen display 7 and the kitchen printer 8 are installed. It is configured to connect to the kitchen server 9 via Ethernet. In this embodiment, when a store attendant inputs order information to the order input device 1 and the order information is transmitted to the ordering controller 3, the ordering controller 3 receives the received order information (de overnight). Send to Kitchen Sano 9 via WPAN. The kitchen server 9 sends the data received from the ordering controller to the kitchen printer 8 and the kitchen display 7; the kitchen printer 8 prints it out and the kitchen display 7 displays it.

Claims

The scope of the claims 1. A wireless order input device that is carried by each of a plurality of clerk of restaurants and the like and inputs customer order information,  A microcomputer, a memory, and a power supply for supplying power to each device in a remote control device used as a remote control means for a household electric appliance such as a general television, respectively, a control means, a storage means, and Built-in as a power supply means, wireless communication with a latch panel type operation means capable of displaying and selecting the menu indicating the order information, and a transmission / reception circuit capable of wireless communication using radio waves compliant with the Zigbee standard And a relay point disposed in the store, and connected to an external computer via a wireless communication network compliant with the Zigbee standard. An order input device. 2. The order input device according to claim 1, wherein the wireless communication means is a Zigbee end device or a Zigbee router compliant with the Zigbee standard. 3. The order input device according to claim 1, wherein the external computer is an ordering controller that performs relay control of data transmission between a POS terminal and the order input device. 4. An order input device that inputs customer order information and transmits the order information using radio; an order output device that includes a printout that outputs a slip based on the order information; and the order information or the slip Order entry system at a restaurant with POS Regis In the system ... A plurality of access nodes as relay points that are arranged in a three-dimensional space in the store and constitute a wireless communication network by short-range communication using radio waves compliant with the Z i g b e e standard, An ordering controller having communication control means for performing relay control of data transmission between the order input device and the P.Q S register via the wireless communication network; and The order input device and the ordering controller 'are connected via the wireless communication network, and the ordering controller and the P.OS registry are connected by wire. The order force device comprises a data processing means of a remote control device used as a remote control means for home appliances and a wireless communication means compliant with the Z i gbe standard. The ordering ring controller transmits the customer order information from the order input device transmitted through the wireless communication means compliant with the Zigbee standard and the wireless communication network to the POS register. And a means for transmitting the order information of the customer to the order output device, and an order system in a restaurant. 5. The access node is a Z igbee standard according to the Z igbee standard, and the wireless coordinator means is a Z igbee standard according to the Z igbee standard. Order entry system for restaurants described in section 4 of the scope.