Information processing device, information processing method, recording medium, and seat reservation system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11526815-B2
Application number	US-201615763191-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 15, 2016
Priority date	Sep 30, 2015
Publication date	Dec 13, 2022
Grant date	Dec 13, 2022

Abstract

[Problem] To provide a technology enabling accurate recognition of an occupancy status of each seat, while reducing entire system cost.[Solution] A server device 20 (information processing device) includes: a vacant seat information creation unit 210 configured to create vacant seat information indicating a vacant seat in a seat space, by processing an image received from an imaging means for capturing an image of the seat space; a seat selection unit 220 for performing a process of selecting a seat to be used by a customer, by the use of the vacant seat information and in collaboration with a POS (Point of Sale) device (shop terminal 30) for handling payment for an item; and a seat information output unit 230 for outputting information indicating the selected seat.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An information processing device comprising:
a memory storing one or more instructions; and
a processor configured to execute the one or more instructions to implement:
a vacant seat information creation unit, which creates vacant seat information indicating a vacant seat in a seat space, by processing an image received from an imaging unit which captures an image of the seat space, wherein the vacant seat information creation unit further determines, by processing the image, occupancy start time information indicating a time at which a seat is occupied by a user;
a seat selection unit, which performs a process of selecting a seat to be used by a customer, by the use of the vacant seat information and the occupancy start time, and in collaboration with a Point of Sale (POS) device for handling payment for an item; and
a seat information output unit, which performs a process of outputting information about a seat number and a map indicating a position of the selected seat to a mobile terminal of the customer,
wherein the seat selection unit identifies an area of low customer density from the vacant seat information created by processing the image received from the imaging unit and selects a seat in the identified area,
wherein the vacant seat information creation unit creates the vacant seat information by detecting an object at a region corresponding to the seat, and
wherein the object is a tray.

2. The information processing device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the seat selection unit,
when the vacant seat information indicates a full occupancy state, performs a waiting reservation process on a seat for which a predicted vacancy start time estimated using occupancy start time information on each seat is the earliest, and
wherein the seat information output unit
outputs information indicating the seat having been reserved by the waiting reservation process.

3. The information processing device according to claim 2 ,
further comprising a storage unit which stores information representing an occupancy status for each seat and also information representing a waiting reservation for each seat.

4. The information processing device according to claim 2 ,
wherein the vacant seat information creation unit
estimates the predicted vacancy start time by the use of an average occupancy time associated with each day of a week or each time slot.

5. The information processing device according to claim 2 ,
wherein the vacant seat information creation unit
analyzes a customer class of a customer currently using each seat, from an image received from the imaging unit, and estimates the predicted vacancy start time by the use of an average occupancy time associated with each customer class.

6. The information processing device according to claim 2 ,
wherein the vacant seat information creation unit
estimates the predicted vacancy start time by further use of a number of waiting reservations associated with each seat.

7. The information processing device according to claim 2 ,
further comprising a coupon information output unit which outputs coupon information when the waiting reservation process is performed.

8. The information processing device according to claim 1 , wherein the vacant seat information creation unit creates the vacant seat information by detecting an object corresponding to a user at a region corresponding to the seat.

9. The information processing device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the seat selection unit, when the vacant seat information indicates a full occupancy state, performs a waiting reservation process based on the occupancy start time information.

10. A data processing method comprising:
creating, by a processor, vacant seat information indicating a vacant seat in a seat space, by processing an image received from an imaging unit which captures an image of the seat space, wherein the vacant seat information creation unit further determines, by processing the image, occupancy start time information indicating a time at which a seat is occupied by a user;
performing, by the processor, a process of selecting a seat to be used by a customer, by the use of the vacant seat information and the occupancy start time, and in collaboration with a Point of Sale (POS) device for handling payment for an item; and
outputting, by the processor, information about a seat number and a map indicating a position of the selected seat to a mobile terminal of the customer,
wherein the performing the process of selecting the seat comprises identifying, by the processor, an area of low customer density from the vacant seat information created by processing the image received from the imaging unit and selects a seat in the identified area,
wherein the creating the vacant seat information comprises creating the vacant seat information by detecting an object at a region corresponding to the seat, and
wherein the object is a tray.

11. The data processing method according to claim 10 , wherein,
when the vacant seat information indicates a full occupancy state, performing a waiting reservation process on a seat for which a predicted vacancy start time estimated using occupancy start time information on each seat is the earliest; and
outputting information indicating the seat having been reserved by the waiting reservation process.

12. The data processing method according to claim 11 , wherein,
storing information representing an occupancy status for each seat and also information representing a waiting reservation for each seat.

13. The data processing method according to claim 11 , wherein,
estimating the predicted vacancy start time by the use of an average occupancy time associated with each day of a week or each time slot.

14. The data processing method according to claim 11 , wherein,
analyzing a customer class of a customer currently using each seat, from an image received from the imaging unit, and estimating the predicted vacancy start time by the use of an average occupancy time associated with each customer class.

15. The data processing method according to claim 11 , wherein,
estimating the predicted vacancy start time by further use of a number of waiting reservations associated with each seat.

16. The data processing method according to claim 11 , wherein,
outputting coupon information when the waiting reservation process is performed.

17. A non-transitory recording medium storing a program for causing a computer to function as:
a vacant seat information creation unit which creates vacant seat information indicating a vacant seat in a seat space, by processing an image received from an imaging unit which captures an image of the seat space, wherein the vacant seat information creation unit further determines, by processing the image, occupancy start time information indicating a time at which a seat is occupied by a user;
a seat selection unit which performs a process of selecting a seat to be used by a customer, by the use of the vacant seat information and the occupancy start time, and in collaboration with a Point of Sale (POS) device for handling payment for an item; and
a seat information output unit which outputs information about a seat number and a map indicating a position of the selected seat to a mobile terminal of the customer,
wherein the seat selection unit identifies an area of low customer density from the vacant seat information created by processing the image received from the imaging unit and selects a seat in the identified area,
wherein the vacant seat information creation unit c

Assignees

• Nec Corp

Inventors

• Ishii Shunsuke

Classifications

• G06V20/52

  Surveillance or monitoring of activities, e.g. for recognising suspicious objects (recognising microscopic objects G06V20/69) · CPC title

• G06Q10/02 Primary

  Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events · CPC title

• G07F17/40

  for devices for accepting orders, advertisements, or the like · CPC title

• G06Q10/04

  Forecasting or optimisation specially adapted for administrative or management purposes, e.g. linear programming or "cutting stock problem" (market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities G06Q30/0202) · CPC title

• G06Q20/20

  Point-of-sale [POS] network systems · CPC title