JP7503531B2 - Intermediary device, program, and information processing method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an intermediary device, a program, and an information processing method.

Conventionally, there exists technology for realizing so-called food delivery services that accept and deliver food orders over the Internet or the like. For example, the following Patent Document 1 discloses a virtual restaurant system that includes multiple cooking facilities (central kitchen facilities, so-called cloud kitchens) for each of multiple brands. In this virtual restaurant system, orders including a delivery location and a meal selected from a menu are received via a dedicated application, and a cooking facility is selected for each order based on the delivery location. Next, instructions are given for the selected cooking facility to produce the ordered meal. The completed meal is then moved to an order loading zone, loaded onto a delivery vehicle, and delivered.

JP 2020-529074 A

In recent years, the demand for food delivery services has been increasing. It is conceivable that as the demand for food delivery services increases, the demand for in-store dining services at real restaurants will decrease. As a result, food service operators have expressed a desire to utilize real restaurants for other services to compensate for the decrease in demand for in-store dining services. However, with the above-mentioned conventional technology, real restaurants are not utilized because cooking facilities are provided exclusively for each brand and food is prepared there. In addition, it is difficult for real restaurants to acquire new revenue sources by simply responding to delivery services.

Therefore, in order to solve the above problems, the present invention aims to provide an intermediary device, a program, and an information processing method that can promote the use of real restaurants for services other than in-store dining services at real restaurants.

The intermediary device according to one aspect of the present invention includes a menu acquisition unit that acquires menu information including a cooking method for the menu from a provider device used by a menu provider that provides cooking methods for food and beverage menus; a setting unit that sets a brand of the food and beverage service that provides the menu to consumers based on the menu information; a restaurant acquisition unit that acquires real restaurant information related to the real restaurant of the food and beverage supplier from a food and beverage supplier device used by the food and beverage supplier, the real restaurant information including information on the cooking environment provided by the real restaurant; a matching unit that matches the brand with the real restaurant based on the real restaurant information and the menu information; and a business output unit that causes the food and beverage supplier device to output the brand associated with the real restaurant and menu information of the menu provided by the brand.

A program according to one aspect of the present invention provides a computer with the following: a menu acquisition function that acquires menu information, including cooking methods for the menu, from a provider device used by a menu provider that provides cooking methods for food and beverage menu items; a setting function that sets a brand for the food and beverage service that provides the menu to consumers based on the menu information; a restaurant acquisition function that acquires real restaurant information related to the real restaurant of the food and beverage supplier, including information on the cooking environment provided by the real restaurant, from a food and beverage supplier device used by the food and beverage supplier; a matching function that matches the brand with the real restaurant based on the real restaurant information and the menu information; and an operator output function that causes the food and beverage supplier device to output the brand associated with the real restaurant and menu information for the menu provided by the brand.

In one aspect of the present invention, an information processing method includes a computer that obtains menu information, including cooking methods for a menu, from a provider device used by a menu provider that provides cooking methods for a food and beverage menu, sets a brand for the food and beverage service that provides the menu to consumers based on the menu information, obtains real restaurant information related to the real restaurant of the food and beverage provider from a food and beverage provider device used by the food and beverage provider, the real restaurant information including information on the cooking environment of the real restaurant, matches the brand with the real restaurant based on the real restaurant information and the menu information, and causes the food and beverage provider device to output the brand associated with the real restaurant and menu information for a menu provided by the brand.

The present invention provides an intermediary device, a program, and an information processing method that can promote the use of real restaurants for services other than in-store dining services at real restaurants.

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining an example of a system configuration of a virtual kitchen system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining an overview of a virtual kitchen system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining an overview of a virtual kitchen system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining an overview of a virtual kitchen system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining an overview of a virtual kitchen system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining an overview of a virtual kitchen system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining an overview of a virtual kitchen system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of an intermediary device according to the present embodiment. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of the operation of the intermediary device according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of an intermediary device according to the present embodiment.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention (hereinafter, referred to as "the present embodiment") will be described with reference to the attached drawings. Note that in each drawing, parts with the same reference numerals have the same or similar configurations.

In this embodiment, "part", "means", "device", and "system" do not simply mean physical means, but also include cases where the functions of the "part", "means", "device", and "system" are realized by software. Furthermore, the functions of one "part", "means", "device", or "system" may be realized by two or more physical means or devices, and the functions of two or more "parts", "means", "device", or "system" may be realized by one physical means or device.

1. System configuration
An example of a system configuration of a virtual kitchen system 1 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

The virtual kitchen system 1 is a system that connects providers of menu information, including cooking methods for food and beverage menu items (hereinafter also referred to as "menu providers"), with food and beverage operators who own real restaurants in order to promote the use of real restaurants. In the virtual kitchen system 1, brand information and menu information are provided by menu providers, and it is possible to launch a new food and beverage service brand (hereinafter also referred to as "food and beverage service brand" or simply "brand") that does not have its own store, facilities, or chefs. The launched food and beverage service brand is then matched (associated) with a real restaurant, and the matched real restaurant provides menus (food and beverages) to consumers using the provided menu information under the name of the food and beverage service brand.

"Actual restaurant" refers to a restaurant that actually exists. A real restaurant may be an existing store or a store that is planned to open in the future.

"Menu information" is information that indicates one or more food and drink menus. Menu information includes, for each menu item, the menu name, the cooking method for the menu item, the unit price of the menu item, and/or the cost rate of the menu item. The cooking method for the menu item includes, for example, the ingredients and the amount of each ingredient used to prepare the menu item, the cooking utensils to be used, the cooking process, and/or the presentation method.

"Brand information" is information about food and beverage service brands. For example, for each food and beverage service brand, brand information includes identification information (brand ID) for identifying each brand, brand name, type of menu offered (e.g., Japanese, Chinese, Western, or Italian), concept expressing the uniqueness or positioning of the brand (e.g., "authentic Chinese food for people who like spicy food" or "a specialty omelet rice restaurant that even small children will enjoy"), customer target (e.g., students or families), and/or price range (e.g., lunch: minimum XXX yen to maximum XXX yen, dinner: minimum XXX yen to maximum XXX yen). Brand information may include menu information for the main menu items for each food and beverage service brand, for example.

The brand information may include, for example, store location information. The store location information is information that indicates the target store location for each food and beverage service brand. For example, if the food and beverage service brand provides a delivery service, this target store location may be the target delivery location. Note that the store location information may not be included in the brand information, but may be obtained from the provider device 200 as separate information.

As shown in FIG. 1, the virtual kitchen system 1 includes an intermediary device 100 used by an intermediary business operator, a provider device 200 used by a menu provider, a food and beverage business device 300 used by a food and beverage business operator, and a consumer device 400 used by a consumer.

The intermediary device 100, the provider device 200, the food and beverage business device 300, and the consumer device 400 are connected to each other via a network N. The intermediary device 100 is also connected to an external system 500 via a network N. The food and beverage business device 300 is also connected to a restaurant device 410 used by a real restaurant owned by the food and beverage business via a network. Note that the food and beverage business device 300 and the restaurant device 310 may be the same information processing device, for example, in cases where the food and beverage business is also the person in charge (manager or head chef) of the real restaurant. Note that hereinafter, the provider device 200, the food and beverage business device 300, and the consumer device 400 are collectively referred to as "related party devices." The related parties are, for example, menu providers, food and beverage business operators, delivery companies, and/or ordering parties.

The network N is composed of a wireless network and a wired network. Examples of networks include a mobile phone network, a PHS (Personal Handy-phone System) network, a wireless LAN (Local Area Network), 3G (3rd Generation), LTE (Long Term Evolution), 4G (4th Generation), 5G (5th Generation), WiMax (registered trademark), infrared communication, Bluetooth (registered trademark), a wired LAN, a telephone line, a power line network, and a network conforming to IEEE 1394, etc.

[Intermediary device]
The intermediary device 100 is an information processing device capable of communicating with the provider device 200, the food and beverage supplier device 300, and the consumer device 400. The intermediary device 100 is a device used, for example, by a person who operates the virtual kitchen system 1 (hereinafter, also simply referred to as the "operator"). The intermediary device 100 executes a predetermined program to obtain menu information from the provider device 200 and link to the food and beverage supplier device 300 of a food and beverage supplier that operates a real restaurant. The intermediary device 100 may, for example, serve as a web server and provide a user with a website for using the virtual kitchen system 1 via a web app. The user may be, for example, the operator, a menu provider, a food and beverage supplier, a restaurant staff member, a consumer, etc.

The intermediary device 100 accepts user authentication requests (including each user's account ID and password), so-called login requests, from each of the provider device 200, food and beverage business device 300, and consumer device 400. If the accepted login is successful, the intermediary device 100 becomes able to use the functions of the virtual kitchen system 1 that each has been authorized to use. The accounts of each user required for this login are accounts that each user has registered in advance in the virtual kitchen system 1.

[Provider Device]
The provider device 200 is, for example, an information processing device such as a smartphone or a laptop, and is capable of receiving brand information and menu information from menu providers and communicating with the intermediary device 100. By executing a predetermined program, the provider device 200 cooperates with the intermediary device 100 to send and receive various information, display screens related to food service brands, and receive requests from client devices.

[Food and beverage businesses]
Food and beverage provider device 300 is an information processing device such as a smartphone, laptop, or server device (including a cloud server), and is capable of accepting input of real restaurant information from food and beverage providers and communicating with intermediary device 100. Food and beverage provider device 300 executes a predetermined program to transmit and receive various information in cooperation with intermediary device 100, display screens related to food service brands and real restaurants, and accept requests from food and beverage providers.

"Real restaurant information" is information about real restaurants. The real restaurant information may include, for example, the cooking environment each real restaurant has. The real restaurant information may also include, for example, the name of the restaurant, the type of menu offered (genre), contact information, address, delivery area, business hours, price range, and/or customer target for each real restaurant.

The cooking environment includes, for example, for each real restaurant, information about the personnel in charge of cooking (e.g., the number of chefs and the skills of each chef), the area of the cooking space, cooking equipment, and/or cooking utensils. In addition, this cooking equipment is equipment specified in the food business standards, such as the number of sink basins, cooking counters/work tables, cold tables, cupboards, refrigerators/freezers, ice makers, gas stoves/gas ranges, and/or air conditioning equipment.

Cooking utensils include, for example, knives/cutting boards, pots/frying pans, ladles, and/or bowls/strainers/bowls.

The real restaurant information may include, for example, order acceptance dates and times that indicate the dates and times when the real restaurant can accept orders for the brand.

The real restaurant information may include, for example, restaurant location information. Restaurant location information is information that indicates the real location of a restaurant (e.g., address or latitude and longitude, etc.).

The actual restaurant information may include, for example, overhead information. The overhead information is information that indicates the overhead of an actual restaurant. The overhead information includes, for example, the rent, labor costs, material costs (cost of ingredients and drinks), utility costs, communication costs, depreciation costs, and equipment replenishment costs of the actual restaurant. Furthermore, the material costs may be obtained not from the food and beverage business device 200 but from an external device of the external system 500, and added to the overhead information.

[Consumer Devices]
The consumer device 400 is, for example, an information processing device such as a smartphone or a laptop, and is capable of accepting order inputs from consumers to the food service brand and communicating with the intermediary device 100. The consumer device 400 executes a predetermined program to cooperate with the intermediary device 100 to send and receive various information, display screens related to the food service brand, and accept requests from consumers.

For example, an application program dedicated to the virtual kitchen system 1 (hereinafter referred to as a "virtual kitchen app") may be installed as a specified program on the provider device 200, food and beverage supplier device 300 and/or consumer device 400.

The virtual kitchen app may be, for example, a native app that provides each user with a user IF for using the virtual kitchen system 1. Each device uses the virtual kitchen app by installing it from an application store, the intermediary device 100, etc.

The specified program may be, for example, a virtual kitchen app, a web app, or a third-party app implemented using a white label provided for the virtual kitchen system 1. Also, for example, in the virtual kitchen system 1, both the virtual kitchen app and the web app may be available as user IFs.

[External System]
The external system 500 is a so-called third-party system. The external system 500 is, for example, a market research system for conducting market research, a payment infrastructure, etc. The payment infrastructure is, for example, a bank system, a credit card system, etc.

＜2. Overview＞
An example of an overview of the virtual kitchen system 1 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

<2-1. Service model>
An example of a service model provided by the virtual kitchen system 1 will be described with reference to Fig. 2. As shown in Fig. 2(a), the virtual kitchen system 1 provides an intermediary service that acts as an intermediary between menu providers and real restaurants.

In this example, the menu provider is an owner chef of a restaurant that operates a food and beverage business in a specific area, but the present invention is not limited to this. The menu provider may also be, for example, an individual who does not operate a food and beverage business (for example, a housewife, househusband, or company employee). Also, in this example, for simplicity's sake, an example is described in which one menu provider provides menu information for one food and beverage service brand, but multiple menu providers may provide menu information for one food and beverage service brand.

For example, if an owner-chef who operates a restaurant (in this example, a restaurant specializing in egg dishes) in a specific region (in this example, Kyushu) wants to spread the flavors of his restaurant to a wider area, the virtual kitchen system 1 can be used to act as an intermediary between such a restaurant and real restaurants in other regions, thereby meeting the owner-chef's needs.

(1) Specifically, the owner chef (menu provider) provides the intermediary device 100 with menu information for the mille-feuille omurice, a menu item of his restaurant that he wishes to provide to a wide area, from the provider device 200. The owner chef can also provide the intermediary device 100 with at least a portion of the brand information for launching a food and beverage service brand to provide this menu, together with the menu information. The intermediary device 100 acquires the provided brand information and menu information. In this example, the brand concepts included in the brand information are set to "Omurice with a fluffy texture," "Mille-feuille omurice specialty store," and "For women." Furthermore, the store opening area information included in the brand information is set to "Tokyo" and "Nagoya" as the target areas for store opening.

(2) Based on the acquired brand information and menu information, the intermediary device 100 sets a food service brand (in this example, "Fuwa Mille Omelette Rice") that will provide a menu to consumers. The Fuwa Mille Omelette Rice brand is set as a brand name for women that combines the fluffy texture and mille-feuille style, based on the brand concept and menu, and is set as a brand specializing in mille-feuille style omurice. In this way, the virtual kitchen system 1 can set up a food service brand and launch it.

(3) The intermediary device 100 associates the Fuwamiru Omurice brand with real restaurants that can prepare Fuwamiru Omurice brand menu items and are located in the target area for opening a store (Tokyo and Nagoya in this example). In this example, these real restaurants are real restaurant A located in Sumida Ward, Tokyo, and real restaurant B located in Naka Ward, Nagoya. In making this association, the intermediary device 100, for example, determines whether there is a cooking environment in which the cooking method for the Fuwamiru Omurice brand menu items can be performed, identifies real restaurants that are determined to have a cooking environment as a result of the determination, and associates them with the Fuwamiru Omurice brand.

According to the above configuration, the virtual kitchen system 1 can match a food service brand based on a menu provided by a menu provider with a real restaurant. This matching allows the menu provider to expand the food service brand for providing the menu he or she has thought up in a wide area without having to prepare dedicated personnel or cooking equipment. In addition, this matching allows food service operators to utilize real restaurants to provide new menus for delivery or takeout that are different from the menus that have been provided so far for in-store dining. This can therefore promote the use of real restaurants for services other than in-store dining services of real restaurants.

(4) As shown in FIG. 2(b), the consumer transmits, from the consumer device 400 to the intermediary device 100, order information for placing an order for the Mille-feuille Omelet Rice, a menu item of the Fuwa Mille Omelet Rice brand, which has been output to the virtual kitchen app. (5) The intermediary device 100 acquires this order information and accepts the order.

"Order information" refers to information that indicates an order to a food and beverage service brand, and includes the delivery location and the ordered menu item. Order information may also include, for example, the price of the order (the price of each menu item and the total price of the ordered menu items) and the date and time the order was received. If the menu item is provided to the consumer by delivery, the order information may also include information to identify the delivery company that delivers the order (for example, the name of the delivery company), the delivery time, and the time the delivery company will pick up the menu item.

(6) The intermediary device 100 assigns the order for the Fuwamiru Omelette Rice brand received in (5) above to one of the multiple real restaurants based on the order acceptance date and time of the real restaurant and the order information. For example, if the order date and time is 8:00 PM, the intermediary device 100 assigns the order to real restaurant A whose order acceptance date and time include 8:00 PM and whose delivery area includes the delivery location of the order. (7) The intermediary device 100 causes the restaurant device 310 of the assigned real restaurant A to output the order information.

(8) In reality, restaurant A prepares the ordered menu items and has a delivery company or the like deliver them to the delivery location specified in the order information.

According to the above configuration, the virtual kitchen system 1 can link with real restaurants that correspond to orders for a set food and beverage service brand, and have the ordered menu cooked and served to consumers. This makes it possible to agilely start providing food and beverage services under this brand to consumers without having to prepare dedicated stores or personnel to serve the menus of the launched food and beverage service brand. This makes it possible to build an ecosystem that generates revenue from the provision of food and beverage services while keeping down the initial costs of developing a food and beverage service brand.

<2-3. Overall development process>
An example of the functions realized by the entire virtual kitchen system 1 in the development process of a food and beverage service brand will be described with reference to Figure 3. As shown in Figure 3, the functions realized by the entire virtual kitchen system 1 are classified into three sections: "A) brand development function,""B) brand proposal function," and "C) purchase management function." In the virtual kitchen system 1, each section cooperates with the others to provide intermediary services. Each section also cooperates with an external system 500.

Each of the three sections has one or more subsections as follows. In the virtual kitchen system 1, the subsections also cooperate with each other. Each section and subsection will be described below with the assigned number shown in <>.
A) Brand development function: It has five subsections: A1) Brand information registration function, A2) Menu development function, A3) Brand development function, A4) Sales forecast function, and A5) DB function.
B) Brand proposal function: Proposes food and beverage service brands that are likely to match each real restaurant. This section has four subsections: "B1) Candidate brand proposal function", "B2) Profit prediction function", "B3) Marketing utilization function", and "B4) DB function".
C) Purchase management function: predicts demand for materials and places orders to purchase materials based on sales forecast information. This section has four subsections: "C1) Volume prediction function", "C2) Ordering function", "C3) Purchase time notification function", and "C4) DB function".

<2-3-1. A) Brand development function>
An example of the brand development function section A will be described with reference to Fig. 4. In this example, the example of Fig. 2 will be used for explanation.

<A1) Brand information registration function>
(1) As shown in Fig. 4, the provider device 200 provides brand information to the intermediary device 100 via a virtual kitchen app or the like in order to launch a food and drink service brand. (2) The brand acquisition unit 111c of the intermediary device 100 acquires the brand information from the provider device 200. (3) The brand acquisition unit 111c registers the acquired brand information in the brand memory unit 141.

<A2) Menu development function>
(4) The provider device 200 provides menu information to the intermediary device 100 via a virtual kitchen app or the like in order to register a menu of the food service brand to be launched. (5) The menu acquisition unit 111a of the intermediary device 100 acquires the menu information from the provider device 200. (6) The menu acquisition unit 111a registers the acquired menu information in the brand storage unit 141.

<A3) Brand development function>
(7a) The candidate generating unit 116a of the intermediary device 100 references the brand storage unit and generates candidates for food and beverage service brands based on the brand information and menu information. For example, the candidate generating unit 116a generates the Fuwa Mill Omurice brand, which provides a menu of mille-feuille-style omurice, as a candidate, and may also generate the Fuwatoro Oyakodon brand as a candidate when menu information for a menu of oyakodon with a fluffy texture and a thick texture is additionally provided. (8a) The candidate output unit 114d of the intermediary device 100 causes the provider device 200 to output the generated brand candidates (the Fuwa Mill Omurice brand and the Fuwatoro Oyakodon brand).

<A4) Sales forecast function>
(7b-1) The information acquisition unit 111d acquires sales performance information for each region from an external device included in the external system 500. (7b-2) The performance identification unit 112b refers to the brand storage unit 141 that stores the candidate store area information, and identifies sales performance information to be associated with the candidate food service brand based on the candidate store area information. For example, if the candidate food service is a fluffy omurice brand, the performance identification unit 112b identifies sales performance information showing the sales performance of omurice specialty stores in Tokyo and Nagoya last year. (7b-3) The sales forecast unit 117a predicts the sales of the candidate food service brand based on the identified sales performance information. The sales forecast unit 117 registers the prediction result in the prediction storage unit 142 as sales forecast information. (8b) The candidate output unit 114d of the intermediary device 100 causes the provider device 200 to output sales forecasts of the candidate brands together with the candidate food service brands based on the prediction results. For example, if the candidate for the food and beverage service is the Fuwamiru Omelette Rice brand, the candidate output unit 114d causes the provider device 200 to output the Fuwamiru Omelette Rice brand and a one-year sales forecast for the Fuwamiru Omelette Rice brand side by side.

"Sales performance information" is information regarding the sales performance of restaurants in each region.

"Store location candidate area information" is information that indicates the candidate areas for store openings for potential food and beverage service brands.

(9) The menu provider selects which brand to adopt from among the candidate brands output by the provider device 200. For example, the provider selects Fuwamil Omelette Rice as the new brand to be launched from among the candidate brands Fuwamil Omelette Rice and Fuwatoro Oyakodon output by the provider device 200. The menu provider can also update the brand information of the candidate brands output by the provider device 200, for example. (10) The first selection receiving unit 115b of the intermediary device 100 receives updates to the brand information and the selection of the candidate brand to adopt from the provider device 200.

(11) The setting unit 113 of the intermediary device 100 sets the food service brand further based on the selected candidates. For example, the setting unit 113 sets the selected fluffy omelette rice as the food service brand. In addition, when an update of the food service brand is accepted from the menu provider, the setting unit 113 sets the food service brand with the updated brand information.

<A5) DB function>
The brand storage unit 131 stores menu information, brand information, sales record information, and sales forecast information registered by each unit.

<2-3-2. B) Brand proposal function>
An example of the brand proposal function section B will be described with reference to Fig. 5. In this example, the example of Fig. 2 will be used for explanation.

<A1) Brand information registration function>
(1) As shown in Fig. 5, the brand identification unit 112c of the intermediary device 100 refers to the storage unit 140 (brand storage unit 141) to identify, for a real restaurant, a food service brand to be associated with the real restaurant, based on the real restaurant information and menu information. For example, for real restaurant A, the brand identification unit 112c identifies the Fuwamil Omelette Rice brand as an association candidate, based on the real restaurant information and menu information.

(2a) The business output unit 114a of the intermediary device 100 causes the food and beverage business device 300 to output matching candidates for the identified brand.

<B2) Profit forecast function>
(2b-1) The profit prediction unit 117b refers to the storage unit 140 (prediction storage unit 142) that stores the sales prediction information, and predicts the profit of the brand association candidate based on the sales prediction information and the overhead information included in the actual restaurant information. For example, the profit prediction unit 117b may predict the monthly profit of the brand association candidate by subtracting the total of the monthly overhead from the monthly forecast sales predicted by the sales prediction unit 117a. The profit prediction unit 117b registers the prediction result in the storage unit 130 as profit prediction information. (2b-2) The business output unit 114a causes the food and beverage business device 300 to output the profit prediction of the brand association candidate together with the identified brand association candidate based on the prediction result.

(3) The food and beverage business operator selects a food and beverage service brand to be associated with a real restaurant from among the food and beverage service brand association candidates output to the food and beverage business operator device 300. If the Fuwamiru Omelet Rice brand has been output as a food and beverage service brand association candidate, the food and beverage business operator selects the Fuwamiru Omelet Rice brand as the brand to be associated with real restaurant A. (4) The second selection receiving unit 115c of the intermediary device 100 receives this selection from the food and beverage business operator device 300. (5) The association unit 112 associates the food and beverage service brand with the real restaurant based on the result of the selection received by the second selection unit 115c. The association unit 112, for example, associates the Fuwamiru Omelet Rice brand with real restaurant A based on the result of the selection received by the second selection unit 115c.

<B3) Marketing utilization function>
(6) The food and beverage provider inquires of intermediary device 100 about marketing-related information (hereinafter, "marketing information") to be utilized in marketing from food and beverage provider device 200. (7) Reception unit 115 of intermediary device 100 receives this inquiry from food and beverage provider device 200. (8) Business output unit 114a references memory unit 130, which stores the inquired marketing information, and causes food and beverage provider device 200 to output the inquired marketing information.

The marketing information may include, for example, for each actual restaurant, statistical information for the region in which the restaurant is located, order records for each menu item, attribute information for consumers who have made past orders, and/or trends in popular menu items. This statistical information for the region in which the restaurant is located may include, for example, the total number of restaurants for each type (genre) of menu items offered in each region, statistical values for the unit price of orders by consumers in each region (e.g., average, median, mode, etc.), and/or sales record information for each region.

<B4) DB function>
The storage unit 130 stores marketing information acquired from an external device of the external system 500. The storage unit 130 also stores profit prediction information registered by the profit prediction unit 117b.

<2-3-3. C) Purchase management function>
An example of the purchase management function section C) will be described with reference to Fig. 6. In this example, the example of Fig. 2 will be used for explanation.

<C1) Purchase management function>
(1) As shown in Fig. 6, the demand forecasting unit 117c of the intermediary device 100 refers to the storage unit 130 (the forecast storage unit 132) and forecasts the demand for ingredients for cooking the menu items of each of the multiple brands based on the menu information and the sales forecast information. Note that the ingredients include, for example, raw materials for cooking the menu items and cooked ingredients (food).

<C2) Ordering function>
(2) Based on the results of the prediction in (1) above, the data generation unit 116b of the intermediary device 100 identifies the ingredients to be ordered per order and the purchase amount and purchase price of each ingredient. Based on the identified purchase amount and purchase price of each ingredient, the data generation unit 116b generates one or more order data for ordering ingredients for each of the multiple food and beverage service brands. The data generation unit 116b registers the generated order data in the storage unit 130.

(3) The order processing unit 118 integrates the order data generated in (2) above for each supplier and performs order processing to order ingredients. Suppliers include, for example, wholesalers that sell raw materials to restaurants and manufacturing plants that produce and provide cooked foods. Note that, prior to order processing, the order processing unit 118 may cause the food service provider device 200 to output order data for a food service brand associated with the actual restaurant, and request consent from the food service provider as to whether order processing may be performed based on this order data. The order processing unit 118 may perform order processing only after consent from the food service provider is received from the food service provider device 200.

<C3) Purchase time notification function>
(4) The order processing unit 118 of the intermediary device 100 may determine the timing (hereinafter also referred to as "purchase timing") when the food and beverage supplier device 300 needs to purchase each ingredient, for example, based on order record information indicating past order records and order record information indicating past order records. When the determined timing arrives, the order processing unit 118 causes the data generating unit 116b to generate candidate order data. Then, the order processing unit 118 may output the generated candidate order data to the food and beverage supplier device 200 to notify it that it is time to purchase, and may request consent from the food and beverage supplier as to whether or not to perform the order processing based on the candidate order data. (5) The food and beverage supplier responds to this request from the food and beverage supplier device 300 (in this example, it is assumed that the order processing is consented). (6) The reception unit 115 receives this response. (7) When the order processing unit 118 receives the response of consent, it adopts the candidate order data and performs the order processing to order the ingredients. The order processing unit 118 registers the results of the order processing in the storage unit 130 as order result information.

<C4) DB function>
The storage unit 130 stores the order data and order record information registered from each unit.

According to the above configuration, by launching a new food and beverage service brand and placing new orders for ingredients for the menus offered by this food and beverage service brand, it is possible to provide the manufacturing plant to which the order is placed with an opportunity to increase orders.

<2-4. Overall picture of the management process>
With reference to FIG. 7, an example of functions realized by the entire virtual kitchen system 1 in the operation process of a food and beverage service brand will be described. As shown in FIG. 7, the functions realized by the entire virtual kitchen system 1 are categorized into two sections: "D) order processing function" and "E) payment processing function." In the virtual kitchen system 1, each section cooperates with each other to provide food and beverage services. Each section also cooperates with an external system 500. In this example, the example of FIG. 2 will be used for explanation.

The above two sections in the management process have one or more subsections as follows:
D) Order processing function: Automatically transmits order information received from consumers to the relevant food and beverage service provider (real-world restaurant). This function has three subsections: "D1) Order receiving function", "D2) Order processing function", and "D3) DB function".
E) Settlement Processing Function: Calculates and processes settlement amounts between parties involved in the virtual kitchen system 1. This section has four subsections: "E1) Settlement Amount Calculation Function", "E2) Settlement Report Creation Function", "E3) Settlement Processing Function", and "E4) DB Function".

<2-4-1. D) Order processing function>
D) An example of an order processing functionality section is described.

<D1 Order Reception Function>
(1) The menu output unit 114b of the intermediary device 100 causes the consumer device 400 to output the food service brand and menu information of the menu that the food service brand can provide via the delivery service website (hereinafter also referred to as the "delivery site") of the delivery company. For example, the menu output unit 114b causes the consumer device 400 to output the Fuwa Mill Omelette Rice brand and the menu name and unit price of the menu that the Fuwa Mill Omelette Rice brand can provide (Mille-feuille style omelette rice). (2) The consumer inputs order information for the food service brand, which is order information including a delivery location and the ordered menu, from the consumer device 400 to the delivery site to place an order. (3) The order receiving unit 115a of the intermediary device 100 receives this order information from the consumer device 400 via the delivery site. The order receiving unit 115a aggregates order information received from multiple different delivery companies and receives orders.

(4) The allocation unit 112a of the intermediary device 100 allocates the order information for the food service brand to one real restaurant associated with this food service brand based on the order acceptance date and time of the real restaurant information and the order information received in (3) above. (5) The store output unit 114c causes the restaurant device 310 (which in this example also serves as a food service provider device) of the allocated real restaurant to output the order information.

(6) A staff member at the real restaurant to which the order information was output in (5) above prepares the ordered menu item. (7) The staff member hands the prepared menu item over to the delivery company. (8) The delivery company delivers the prepared menu item to the delivery location specified by the consumer who placed the order. The order receiving unit 115a registers order history information indicating the order information of the order for which delivery has been completed in the memory unit 130.

According to the above configuration, by launching a food and beverage service brand, new delivery orders for this brand will increase, providing delivery businesses with an opportunity to increase delivery orders.

<2-4-2. E) Settlement processing function>
E) An example of a settlement processing function section will be described.

<E1) Settlement amount calculation function>
(10) The settlement processing unit 119 of the intermediary device 100 aggregates order transactions received and processed via the delivery site on a daily or weekly basis, and calculates settlement amounts with delivery companies and food and beverage businesses. The settlement processing unit 119 calculates sales results for each menu item based on order record information for the ordered menu items. The settlement processing unit 119 calculates royalty amounts to be paid to menu providers based on the calculated sales results. The settlement processing unit 119 also calculates settlement amounts with suppliers (such as manufacturing plants) based on order records for menu material suppliers.

<E2) Settlement report generation function>
(11) The settlement processing unit 119 of the intermediary device 100 generates a settlement report for each of the parties involved, which report includes details of transactions and settlements between the parties involved. (12) The settlement processing unit 119 provides the generated settlement report to the devices used by the parties involved.

<E3) Settlement Processing Function>
(13) The settlement processing unit 119 of the intermediary device 100 instructs the settlement infrastructure, which is the external system 500, to make a payment settlement to each of the parties based on the settlement amount calculated in (10) above. The settlement infrastructure responds with the result of this payment settlement to the settlement processing unit 119. The settlement processing unit 119 registers the results of the series of settlement processes from the calculation of the settlement amount to the payment settlement instruction in the storage unit 130 as settlement result information.

<3. Functional configuration>
The functional configuration of the intermediary device 100 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 8. As shown in Fig. 8, the intermediary device 100 includes a control unit 110, a storage unit 130, and a communication unit 140.

The control unit 110 includes an acquisition unit 111, a correspondence unit 112, a setting unit 113, an output unit 114, a reception unit 115, a generation unit 116, a prediction unit 117, an order processing unit 118, and a settlement processing unit 119.

[Acquisition section]
The acquisition unit 111 acquires various information from the provider device 200, the food and drink supplier device 300, and the consumer device 400. The acquisition unit 111 includes a menu acquisition unit 111a, a restaurant acquisition unit 111b, a brand acquisition unit 111c, and an information acquisition unit 111d.

[Menu acquisition section]
The menu acquisition unit 111a acquires menu information from the provider device 200 used by the menu provider.

[Restaurant Acquisition Department]
The restaurant acquisition unit 111b acquires real restaurant information relating to the real restaurant of a restaurant operator from the restaurant operator device 300 used by the restaurant operator.

[Brand Acquisition Department]
The brand acquisition unit 111c acquires from the provider device 200 brand information indicating at least one of the types of menu items offered by the food and drink service brand and the concept of the food and drink service brand.

[Information Acquisition Section]
The information acquisition unit 111d acquires sales performance information on the sales performance of restaurants in each region from an external device included in the external system 500 or the like.

[Matching section]
The association unit 112 associates food and drink service brands with real restaurants based on real restaurant information and menu information.

The matching unit 112, for example, identifies a real restaurant that has cooking utensils included in the menu information (cooking method) of one or more menus from among the menus provided by the food and beverage service brand, and that has a cooking environment in which the cooking process can be performed. The matching unit 112 matches the identified real restaurant with this food and beverage service brand.

According to the above configuration, the matching unit 112 can match a food service brand based on a menu provided by a menu provider with a real restaurant. This matching allows the menu provider to provide their own menu in a wide area without having to prepare dedicated personnel or cooking equipment. This matching also allows food service operators to utilize real restaurants to provide new menus for delivery or takeout that are different from the menus that have been provided so far for in-store dining. Therefore, the matching unit 112 can promote the use of real restaurants in delivery and takeout services other than in-store dining services of real restaurants.

The association unit 112 may, for example, associate multiple real-world restaurants with one food and beverage service brand.

The matching unit 112 may include, for example, an allocation unit 112a, a performance identification unit 112b, and a brand identification unit 112c.

The matching unit 112 may match the food service brand with the real restaurant, for example, based further on the restaurant location information and the candidate area information. The matching unit 112 determines, for example, whether or not at least a part of the area in which the food service brand is to open is included within a 1 km radius from the location of the real restaurant. If the matching unit 112 determines that at least a part of the area in which the food service brand is to open is included, the matching unit 112 matches the real restaurant with the food service brand. With this configuration, the matching unit 112 can match the food service brand with a real restaurant that exists in an area in which the menu provider or the like wishes to open a restaurant (delivery target). For example, as in the example of FIG. 2, if the menu provider runs a real restaurant himself, he or she can develop the food service brand by avoiding areas that would compete with the real restaurant that he or she runs.

The matching unit 112 may match the food service brand with the actual restaurant based on the result of the selection received by the second selection receiving unit 115c, for example. With this configuration, the matching unit 112 can realize a match between the actual restaurant and the food service brand in accordance with the intentions of the food service operator.

[Allocation section]
The allocation unit 112a allocates the order information for the food service brand to one of the multiple real restaurants associated with the food service brand based on the order acceptance date and time and the order information. With this configuration, the real restaurant can accept orders for the food service brand only during the time period in which it is available to accept orders. This makes it possible to allocate orders according to the convenience of the real restaurant.

[Performance Identification Department]
The performance identification unit 112b refers to the brand memory unit 131, which stores candidate store area information indicating candidate areas for store openings for candidate food service brands, and identifies sales performance information to be associated with the candidate food service brand based on the candidate store area information.

[Brand Identification Department]
The brand identification unit 112c identifies a food service brand to be a candidate for association with the real restaurant based on the real restaurant information and menu information for the real restaurant. The brand identification unit 112c combines a real restaurant and a food service brand in which, for example, the cooking environment and restaurant location information of the real restaurant match with the cooking method of the menu provided by the food service brand and the target area information for opening the restaurant. The brand identification unit 112c may identify the food service brand combined with the real restaurant in this way as a candidate for association.

[Settings section]
The setting unit 113 sets the brand of the food and drink service that provides the menu to the consumer based on the menu information acquired by the menu acquisition unit 111a. Specifically, the setting unit 113 issues a new brand ID for identifying the brand of each food and drink service, specifies the brand name, the type of menu to be provided, and the menu to be provided for each brand ID, and generates brand information based on the results of this specification. The setting unit 113 registers the generated brand information in the brand storage unit 131 to newly set the food and drink service brand.

The setting unit 113 may set a food and beverage service brand, for example, further based on the brand information acquired by the brand acquisition unit 111c. Specifically, if only the main menu items offered by this brand are set in the acquired brand information, the setting unit 113 may automatically set the brand name and the types of menu items offered based on the menu information, and combine the acquired information with the information set in this way to set it as brand information for one food and beverage service brand. With this configuration, the setting unit 113 can realize the launch of a food and beverage service brand in line with the intentions of the menu provider.

The setting unit 113 may set a food and beverage service brand based, for example, on the selected brand candidates accepted by the first selection accepting unit 115b. With this configuration, the new food and beverage service brand to be launched can be determined by having the menu provider select the best one from multiple food and beverage service brand candidates. This makes it possible to realize the launch of a food and beverage service brand that takes into account the menu provider's wishes, while not being overly biased towards the menu provider's ideas.

[Output section]
The output unit 114 outputs various information to the provider device 200, the food and beverage business device 300, and the consumer device 400. The output unit 114 may generate output information for causing the consumer device 400 to output (display on a screen) menu information of a food and beverage service brand via a virtual kitchen app, for example, and transmit this output information to the consumer device 400. The output unit 114 includes a business output unit 114a, a menu output unit 114b, a store output unit 114c, and a candidate output unit 114d.

[Business output section]
The business output unit 114a causes the food and beverage business device 300 to output a food and beverage service brand associated with a real restaurant and menu information for a menu provided by this food and beverage service brand.

The business output unit 114a may, for example, cause the food and beverage business device 300 to output matching candidates for the food and beverage service brand identified by the brand identification unit 112c.

The business output unit 114a may, for example, cause the food and beverage business device 300 to output a profit forecast for the candidate association along with the candidate association for the food and beverage service brand identified by the brand identification unit 112c based on the results of the prediction by the profit prediction unit 117b. With this configuration, the food and beverage business can check the profit forecast for each candidate association for the food and beverage service brand and adopt a candidate association that matches with the actual restaurant. This allows the food and beverage business to select a candidate association that is more likely to be profitable, thereby contributing to securing new revenue sources for the food and beverage business.

[Menu output section]
The menu output unit 114b causes the consumer device 400 used by the consumer to output information about the food service brand and the menu items that can be provided by this food service brand.

[Store Output Section]
The store output unit 114c causes the restaurant device 310 of the actual restaurant associated with the restaurant service brand for which the order information has been accepted by the order accepting unit 115a to output the order information.

According to the above configuration, the store output unit 114c can link orders for the set food service brand to the associated real-world restaurant. This makes it possible to agilely start providing food services under this brand to consumers without having to prepare dedicated stores or personnel to provide the menus of the launched food service brand.

The store output unit 114c, for example, causes the restaurant device 310 of the real restaurant assigned by the assignment unit 112a to output the order information.

[Candidate output section]
The candidate output unit 114d causes the provider device 200 to output the food and drink service brand candidates generated by the candidate generation unit 116a.

The candidate output unit 114d may, for example, cause the provider device 200 to output sales forecasts for candidate food service brands along with the candidate food service brands based on the results of the prediction by the sales prediction unit. With this configuration, the menu provider can select candidates to adopt based on the sales forecasts for the candidate food service brands. Also, for example, if royalties based on the sales amount of each menu item are paid to the menu provider as compensation for providing the menu information, low sales will result in low royalties. In such a case, the menu provider can select a candidate with relatively good predicted sales, which can contribute to securing new revenue sources for the menu provider and expanding the menu of the restaurant in a wide area.

[Reception department]
The reception unit 115 receives various information, selections, and the like from the provider device 200, the food and drink supplier device 300, and the consumer device 400. The reception unit 115 includes an order reception unit 115a, a first selection reception unit 115b, and a second selection reception unit 115c.

[Order Reception Department]
The order receiving unit 115a receives order information from the consumer device 400 for a food and beverage service brand, the order information including a delivery location and an ordered menu item.

[First selection reception unit]
The first selection receiving unit 115b receives, from the provider device 200, a selection of a food and drink service brand to be adopted from among the candidate brands.

[Second Selection Receiving Unit]
The second selection receiving unit 115c receives from the food and beverage business device 300 a selection of an item to be adopted from among the food and beverage service brand association candidates output by the business output unit 114a.

[Generation section]
The generation unit 116 generates various information to be processed in the virtual kitchen system 1. The generation unit 116 includes a candidate generation unit 116a and a data generation unit 116b.

[Candidate Generation Unit]
The candidate generating unit 116a generates candidates for food and beverage service brands based on the menu information. The candidate generating unit 116a may analyze the menu information using, for example, natural language processing. The candidate generating unit 116a may perform, for example, morphological analysis to extract each word (morpheme) included in the menu information. The candidate generating unit 116a may further extract words that are characteristic of the menu information (for example, have a certain correlation with sales of the menu) from each extracted word, for example, using a learning model trained from learning data using a machine learning technique. The candidate generating unit 116a may generate a brand name by combining these characteristic words. In addition, the candidate generating unit 116a identifies, from among the menus indicated by the provided menu information, menu types that exist in a number equal to or greater than a threshold value as menu types (genres) offered by the food and beverage service brand. The candidate generating unit 116a may generate candidates for food and beverage service brands by combining the brand name thus generated with one or more identified menu types.

The learning model may be, for example, a model learned by a deep learning technique, or may be a model using other algorithms such as a support vector machine (SVM) or a decision tree. The learning model may be, for example, a recurrent neural network (RNN) as a model using a deep learning technique.

The learning data for training the learning model may be, for example, a data set in which menu information is used as input data and words used in menu searches among the words contained in this menu information are used as correct answer data.

The candidate generation unit 116a may generate multiple food service brand candidates, for example, further based on brand information. The candidate generation unit 116a may generate both food service brand candidates based on the designation of brand information and food service brand candidates generated by the candidate generation unit 116a itself based on menu information as described above.

[Data Generation Section]
Based on the results of the prediction, the data generation unit 116b generates one or more ordering data for ordering ingredients for cooking the menu items offered by each of the multiple food and beverage service brands.

[Prediction section]
The prediction unit 117 makes various predictions regarding the future operation of the food and drink service brand. The prediction unit 117 includes a sales prediction unit 117a, a profit prediction unit 117b, and a demand prediction unit 117c.

[Sales Forecasting Department]
The sales forecasting unit 117a forecasts sales of the candidate food service brands based on the sales performance information identified by the performance identification unit 112b. For each candidate food service brand, the sales forecasting unit 117a forecasts sales for a future period from the present time, for example, several days, one week, one quarter, six months, or one year.

The sales forecasting unit 117a may, for example, calculate the past monthly sales of restaurants in the same genre and area as the food and beverage service brand, and forecast monthly sales based on this calculated sales.

[Profit Forecasting Department]
The profit prediction unit 117b refers to the prediction storage unit 132 that stores sales prediction information of the food service brands, and predicts the profit of the association candidate of the restaurant service brand based on the sales prediction information and the overhead information of the associated actual restaurant. For example, the profit prediction unit 117b may predict the annual profit for each association candidate of the restaurant service brand by subtracting the total of the annual overhead from the annual sales predicted by the sales prediction unit 117a.

[Demand Forecasting Department]
When there are multiple food service brands, the demand forecasting unit 117c forecasts the demand for ingredients for cooking the menus of each of the multiple food service brands based on the menu information and sales forecast information. For example, the demand forecasting unit 117c may forecast, as the demand for ingredients, ingredients for cooking each menu and the monthly consumption volume of each ingredient based on the predicted monthly sales of each menu.

[Order Processing Unit]
The order processing unit 118 integrates the order data generated by the data generating unit 116b for each supplier, and performs an order process for ordering ingredients for menu items of multiple food service brands. The order processing unit 118 may, for example, integrate orders for cooked ingredients for a specific manufacturing plant of the supplier, and generate order data showing an order slip for the integrated order. The order processing unit 118 transmits the generated order data to a server (not shown) of the manufacturing plant. With this configuration, the order processing unit 118 can collectively order ingredients for menu items of multiple food service brands launched in the virtual kitchen system 1 for each supplier. This allows so-called bulk ordering, which can reduce costs such as ordering man-hours and ordering fees.

[Settlement Processing Section]
The settlement processing unit 119 calculates the settlement amount for the operation of the food and beverage service brand. The settlement processing unit 119 calculates the sales record for each menu item based on the order record information for the ordered menu item. The settlement processing unit 119 calculates the royalty amount to be paid to the menu provider based on the calculated sales record. The settlement processing unit 119 also calculates the settlement amount with the supplier (such as a manufacturing factory) based on the order record for the menu material.

The settlement processing unit 119 may, for example, generate a settlement report for each related party that lists the details of the transactions and settlements between each related party. The settlement processing unit 119 provides the generated settlement report to a related party device used by the related party.

The settlement processing unit 119 issues a payment settlement instruction to the payment infrastructure, which is the external system 500, for making payment settlement to each related party, for example, based on the settlement amount calculated above. The payment infrastructure responds to the settlement processing unit 119 with the result of making this payment settlement.

[Memory unit]
The memory unit 130 stores various information processed by the virtual kitchen system 1. The memory unit 130 may store the information in a mutually associated manner, for example. The memory unit 130 may store the various information by using a database management system (DBMS), or may store the various information by using a file system. When using a DBMS, a table may be provided for each piece of information, and the various pieces of information may be managed by associating the tables with each other. The memory unit 130 includes, for example, a brand memory unit 131 and a prediction memory unit 132.

The brand memory unit 131 stores brand information, menu information, and/or real restaurant information. The forecast memory unit 132 stores sales forecast information, profit forecast information, and/or demand forecast information.

[Communications Department]
The communication unit 140 transmits and receives various information to and from related party devices and an external system 500 via the network N.

<4. Operation example>
An example of the operation of the intermediary device 100 will be described with reference to Fig. 9. Note that the order of the processes shown below is an example and may be changed as appropriate.

Figure 9 (a) is a flow diagram showing an example of the processing flow of the intermediary device 100 in the development process of the virtual kitchen system 1.

As shown in FIG. 9(a), the menu acquisition unit 111a of the intermediary device 100 acquires menu information, including a cooking method for a food and drink menu, from a provider device 200 used by a menu provider who provides cooking methods for the menu (S10). In addition to acquiring this menu information, the brand acquisition unit 111c may also acquire brand information from the provider device 200. The setting unit 113 sets a brand for the food and drink service based on the acquired menu information and brand information (S11).

The restaurant acquisition unit 111b acquires real restaurant information about the real restaurant of the food service provider from the food service provider device 300 used by the food service provider (S12). The matching unit 112 matches the food service brand with the real restaurant based on the real restaurant information, menu information, and brand information (S13). The business output unit 114a causes the food service provider device 300 to output the food service brand associated with the real restaurant and menu information for the menu offered by the food service brand (S14).

Figure 9 (b) is a flow diagram showing an example of the processing flow of the intermediary device 100 in the operation process of the virtual kitchen system 1.

As shown in FIG. 9(b), the menu output unit 114b of the intermediary device 100 causes the consumer device 400 used by the consumer to output the food service brand and menu information of the menu that can be provided by the food service brand (S20). The order receiving unit 115a receives the order information for the food service brand output from the consumer device 400, which includes the delivery location and the ordered menu (S21). The allocation unit 112a allocates the order information for the food service brand to one real restaurant from among one or more real restaurants associated with the food service brand based on the order acceptance date and time and the order information (S22). The store output unit 114c causes the restaurant device 310 of the real restaurant allocated by the allocation unit 112a to output the order information (S23).

5. Hardware Configuration
10, an example of a hardware configuration for implementing the above-described intermediary device 100 using a computer 800 will be described. Note that the functions of each device may be implemented by dividing them into a plurality of devices.

As shown in FIG. 10, the computer 800 includes a processor 801, a memory 803, a storage device 805, an input I/F unit 807, a data I/F unit 809, a communication I/F unit 811, and a display device 813.

The processor 801 controls various processes in the computer 800 by executing programs stored in the memory 803. For example, each functional unit of the control unit 110 of the intermediary device 100 can be realized by the processor 801 executing a program temporarily stored in the memory 803.

The memory 803 is a storage medium such as a RAM (Random Access Memory). The memory 803 temporarily stores the program code of the program executed by the processor 801 and data required when the program is executed.

The storage device 805 is a non-volatile storage medium such as a hard disk drive (HDD) or flash memory. The storage device 805 stores an operating system and various programs for implementing the above-mentioned configurations. In addition, the storage device 805 can also store tables for registering various information such as brand information and menu information, and a DB for managing the tables. Such programs and data are loaded into the memory 803 as necessary and are referenced by the processor 801.

The input I/F unit 807 is a device for receiving input from a user. Specific examples of the input I/F unit 807 include a keyboard, a mouse, a touch panel, various sensors, and a wearable device. The input I/F unit 807 may be connected to the computer 800 via an interface such as a Universal Serial Bus (USB).

The data I/F unit 809 is a device for inputting data from outside the computer 800. A specific example of the data I/F unit 809 is a drive device for reading data stored in various storage media. The data I/F unit 809 may be provided outside the computer 800. In that case, the data I/F unit 809 is connected to the computer 800 via an interface such as a USB.

The communication I/F unit 811 is a device for performing data communication via the network N, either wired or wirelessly, with devices external to the computer 800. The communication I/F unit 811 may be provided external to the computer 800. In that case, the communication I/F unit 811 is connected to the computer 800 via an interface such as a USB.

The display device 813 is a device for displaying various types of information. Specific examples of the display device 813 include a liquid crystal display, an organic EL (Electro-Luminescence) display, and a display of a wearable device. The display device 813 may be provided outside the computer 800. In that case, the display device 813 is connected to the computer 800 via, for example, a display cable. In addition, when a touch panel is used as the input I/F unit 807, the display device 813 can be configured as an integral part of the input I/F unit 807.

The above embodiment is an example for explaining the present invention, and is not intended to limit the present invention to only this embodiment. Furthermore, the present invention can be modified in various ways without departing from the gist of the invention. Furthermore, a person skilled in the art can adopt an embodiment in which each element described above is replaced with an equivalent element, and such an embodiment is also included in the scope of the present invention.

The components of the intermediary device described in the above embodiment are assumed to be implemented in cooperation with other hardware by the processor 801 executing a program stored in the memory device 805. In other words, these components are assumed to be software or firmware, and also corresponding hardware, and in both concepts, they are also described as "functions," "means," "parts," "processing circuits," "units," or "modules," and can be interpreted as such.

[Modification]
Although the present invention has been described based on the above embodiment, the following cases are also included in the present invention.

[Modification 1]
At least some of the components of the intermediary device 100 according to the above embodiment may be included in the related party device. The related party device may realize these components by, for example, executing an installed virtual kitchen app.

[Modification 2]
In the above embodiment, an example was shown in which the brand memory unit and the prediction memory unit are included in the memory unit of the intermediary device 100, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, at least a part of these memory units may be included in an external device of the external system 500 or a related party device. In addition, at least a part of the information stored in these memory units may be managed in a distributed manner by multiple devices using, for example, distributed ledger technology (blockchain technology).

1...Virtual kitchen system, 100...Intermediary device, 110...Control unit, 111...Acquisition unit, 111a...Menu acquisition unit, 111b...Restaurant acquisition unit, 112...Matching unit, 113...Setting unit, 114...Output unit, 114a...Business output unit, 115...Reception unit, 116...Generation unit, 117...Prediction unit, 118...Order processing unit, 119...Payment processing unit, 130...Storage unit, 140...Communication unit, 200...Provider device, 300...Food and beverage business device, 400...Consumer device, 500...External system, 800...Computer, 801...Processor, 803...Memory, 805...Storage device, 807...Input I/F unit, 809...Data I/F unit, 811...Communication I/F unit, 813...Display device.

Claims (12)

a menu acquisition unit that acquires menu information including a cooking method for a food or drink menu from a menu provider device used by a menu provider that provides a cooking method for the menu;
A setting unit that sets a brand of food and beverage service that provides the menu to consumers based on the menu information;
A restaurant acquisition unit that acquires real restaurant information related to a real restaurant of the restaurant from a restaurant business device used by the restaurant business, the real restaurant information including information on a cooking environment provided in the real restaurant;
a matching unit that determines whether the real restaurant has a cooking environment in which the cooking method of the menu can be performed based on the real restaurant information and the menu information, and matches the brand with the real restaurant when it is determined that the cooking environment is available;
and a business output unit that causes the food and beverage business device to output the brand associated with the real restaurant and the menu information of the menu provided by the brand.
Mediation device. The intermediary device is
a menu output unit that causes a consumer device used by the consumer to output the brand and menu information of the menu that the brand can provide;
an order receiving unit that receives order information for the brand from the consumer device, the order information including a delivery location and the ordered menu;
a store output unit that outputs the order information to a restaurant device of the real restaurant associated with the brand.
The intermediary device of claim 1 . The real restaurant information includes an order acceptance date and time indicating a date and time when the real restaurant can accept orders for the brand,
The association unit associates a plurality of real restaurants with the brand,
the intermediary device includes an allocation unit that allocates the order information for the brand to one real restaurant from among the plurality of real restaurants based on the order acceptance date and time and the order information,
The store output unit causes the restaurant device of the assigned real restaurant to output the order information.
The intermediary device of claim 2 . the intermediary device includes a brand acquisition unit that acquires, from the provider device, brand information indicating at least one of a type of menu provided by the brand and a concept of the brand;
The setting unit sets the brand further based on the brand information.
The intermediary device according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The real restaurant information includes restaurant location information indicating a location of the real restaurant,
The brand acquisition unit acquires store location information indicating a target area for opening a store of the brand from the provider device,
The association unit associates the brand with the real restaurant based on the restaurant location information and the restaurant location information.
The intermediary device according to claim 4. The intermediary device is
a candidate generator that generates candidates for the brand based on the menu information;
a candidate output unit that causes the provider device to output candidates for the brand;
a first selection receiving unit that receives a selection of a brand to be adopted from the candidate brands from the provider device,
The setting unit sets the brand further based on the selected candidate.
The intermediary device according to any one of claims 1 to 5. The intermediary device is
an information acquisition unit that acquires sales performance information regarding sales performance of restaurants in each region from an external device;
a result identification unit that identifies the sales result information to be associated with the brand candidate based on the store candidate area information by referring to a brand storage unit that stores store candidate area information indicating candidate areas for store openings for the brand candidate;
a sales forecasting unit that forecasts sales of the candidate brand based on the identified sales performance information,
the candidate output unit causes the provider device to output a sales forecast of the brand candidates together with the brand candidates based on a result of the prediction.
The intermediary device of claim 6. The intermediary device includes a brand identification unit that identifies the brand to be a candidate for association with the real restaurant based on the real restaurant information and the menu information for the real restaurant,
The business output unit causes the food and beverage business device to output the identified association candidates for the brand;
the intermediary device includes a second selection receiving unit that receives from the food and beverage business device a selection of one to be adopted from the output brand association candidates;
The association unit associates the brand with the real restaurant based on a result of the selection.
The intermediary device according to any one of claims 1 to 7. The real restaurant information includes overhead information indicating overhead of the real restaurant,
the intermediary device includes a profit prediction unit that predicts profits of the association candidates of the brands based on the sales forecast information and the overhead information by referring to a forecast storage unit that stores sales forecast information indicating sales forecasts of the brands;
The business output unit causes the food and beverage business device to output a profit forecast for the identified brand association candidates together with the brand association candidates based on the result of the prediction.
The intermediary device of claim 8. There are multiple brands,
The intermediary device is
a demand forecasting unit that forecasts demand for ingredients for cooking the menu items of each of a plurality of brands based on the menu information and the sales forecast information;
a data generating unit that generates one or more order data for ordering the materials for each of the brands based on a result of the prediction;
and an order processing unit that integrates the generated order data for each supplier and performs order processing to order the material.
The intermediary device of claim 9. On the computer,
A menu acquisition function that acquires menu information including a cooking method of a food menu from a menu provider device used by a menu provider that provides a cooking method of the menu;
A setting function for setting a brand of food and beverage service that provides the menu to consumers based on the menu information;
A restaurant acquisition function that acquires real restaurant information related to a real restaurant of the restaurant from a restaurant business device used by the restaurant business, the real restaurant information including information on a cooking environment provided in the real restaurant;
a matching function for determining whether the real restaurant has a cooking environment capable of carrying out the cooking method of the menu based on the real restaurant information and the menu information, and, if it is determined that the cooking environment is capable of carrying out the cooking method, matching the brand with the real restaurant;
and realizing a business output function that causes the food and beverage business device to output the brand associated with the real restaurant and the menu information of the menu provided by the brand.
program. The computer
obtaining menu information including a cooking method for a food or beverage menu from a menu provider device used by a menu provider who provides a cooking method for the menu;
Based on the menu information, a brand of food and beverage service that provides the menu to consumers is set;
Acquire real restaurant information related to a real restaurant of the food service provider from a food service provider device used by the food service provider, the real restaurant information including information on a cooking environment provided in the real restaurant;
Based on the real restaurant information and the menu information, determine whether the real restaurant has a cooking environment in which the cooking method for the menu can be executed;
If it is determined that the feasible cooking environment exists, the brand is associated with the actual eating and drinking ;
causing the food and beverage business device to output the brand associated with the real restaurant and the menu information of the menu provided by the brand;
Information processing methods.

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