JP2002259519A - Service system for providing information on vacant locker - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To attain a system for providing information on a locker in a vacant status and also enabling to make a reservation for the locker. SOLUTION: In the system, when a customer requests searching of information on a vacant locker to an information providing site 60 via a searching terminal 40, the information is collected from a database 20 registered occupied status of lockers 10-1-10-n via a locker management equipment 30, and information on installation places corresponding to the lockers is read out from a database 50 of information on installation place to return and display the information to/on the terminal 40. When the customer chooses the desired locker for reservation, the equipment 30 updates contents of the database 20 and also sets the locker in a status of reservation.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an empty locker information providing service system which provides information on lockers in an empty state and makes reservations possible.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in public places such as around a station,
Lockers that can be used by anyone who pays the usage fee, so-called coin lockers, are installed.

A person who intends to use a locker of this type, that is, to store luggage and the like in the locker, usually goes to the place where the locker is installed while holding the luggage and the like, and finds an empty locker (hereinafter referred to as an empty locker). ) Was visually inspected, and if found, the luggage and the like were put in it, the money corresponding to the usage fee was inserted, and then locked and the key was removed.

[0004]

However, in the case of a station or the like which is used for the first time, there is a problem that the location of the locker itself is not known, and even if the location of the locker is known, whether there is an empty locker or not. The problem is that the user has to go to the place where there is no empty locker while carrying luggage etc. was there.

[0005] Furthermore, there is a problem in that conventional lockers of this kind often require specific money, especially coins, to pay the fee for use.

An object of the present invention is to realize a free locker information providing service system capable of notifying a user of an installation location of a locker having a free locker.

Another object of the present invention is to realize a free locker information providing service system which can make a reservation for a free locker and does not force the user to go to a place where there is no free locker.

Another object of the present invention is to realize a free locker information providing service system that does not require a specific currency for payment of a usage fee (including a reservation fee if required).

[0009]

According to the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, at least one locker installed in a public place, a locker management device for managing the use status of the locker, and a user operating Search terminals, information providing sites that provide users with information about lockers, and networks that connect them.
The locker management device includes means for grasping the usage status and notifying the locker management device of the usage status.The locker management device acquires a usage status database for registering the usage status of the locker, obtains information on the usage status from the locker, and uses the usage status database. And a means for extracting a free locker from the usage database when receiving a request for information on a free locker from the information providing site, and transmitting the information about the locker to the information providing site. Wherein the search terminal includes means for searching the information providing site for information on the vacant locker, and means for receiving and displaying the search result, and the information providing site registers information on the installation location of the locker. Receives a search for information on vacant lockers from the installation location information database and search terminals. Means for requesting information about the vacant locker from the locker management device, and receiving information about the vacant locker from the locker management device, Means for reading out information and transmitting the information to the search terminal as a search result together with the information on the received free locker.

[0010] According to the above configuration, the user only requests the search terminal to search for a free locker, and information about the free locker is collected from the usage database through the information providing site and the locker management device. Since the installation location information is read from the information database and displayed on the search terminal, the user can immediately know the location where the empty locker is located.

[0011] In addition to the above, a means for transmitting an empty locker arbitrarily selected by the user from the search results displayed on the search terminal to the information providing site as a reservation desired locker, Means for displaying when a reservation number for a reservation desired locker is received, means for transferring the information to the locker management device when information about the reservation desired locker is received from the search terminal on the information providing site, and a locker management device Means for transferring a reservation number for a desired locker to a search terminal when receiving the information on the desired locker from an information providing site; and a means for assigning the reservation number to the locker management device. Means for registering the reservation number in the use situation database and transferring it to the information providing site; Means for instructing the reservation status to the locker, and when the locker management device instructs the reservation status, the locker is provided with a means for refusing use until a correct reservation number is input. The user can make a reservation only by selecting an empty locker displayed on the search terminal, and there is no danger of having to go to a place where there is no empty locker while carrying luggage and the like.

In addition to the above, when a search terminal transmits a reservation desired locker to an information providing site, a means for settling a part or all of a reservation fee or a locker usage fee is provided, so that a user can specify a user. It is possible to use the locker even when the user does not have the money.

[0013] When a reservation status is instructed from the locker management device described above, the locker having means for refusing use until a correct reservation number is input can detect whether the locker is locked or unlocked. Yes, a lock operation with a key is possible only when a predetermined amount of money is inserted, and a lock device with a money handling machine that rejects acceptance of money under certain conditions, and accepts an operation input of a reservation number The operation input unit and a processing unit for setting the lock control device under the predetermined condition until the correct reservation number is input from the operation input unit when the reservation state is instructed.

[0014]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of an empty locker information providing service system according to the present invention, in which 10-1, 10-2,... Is a usage status database, 30 is a locker management device, 40 is a search terminal, 50 is an installation location information database, 60 is an information providing site, and 70 is a network.

The lockers 10-1 to 10-n are installed in specific public places and used by unspecified users. Each of the lockers 10-1 to 10-n determines whether it is in a locked state or an unlocked state as shown in FIG. A lock device 11 with a coin processor that can be detected and can be locked with a key only when a predetermined amount of coins are inserted and rejects the currency under certain conditions; , "In use", "reserved"
A display unit 12 for displaying the usage status of the locker management device 30, an operation input unit 13 for receiving an operation input of a reservation number described later, a communication unit 14 for communicating with the locker management device 30,
1. Open / close status and notification, setting of reservation status,
A processing unit 15 for executing a use process in the reserved state.

The lock device 11 is a lock device with a coin processing machine in a well-known coin locker in which a key can be locked only when a predetermined amount of coins is inserted, and is known in a security system such as a building. It is sufficient to attach a detection sensor for detecting the open / closed state of the lock and to connect a signal line for applying a dummy illegal coin detection signal from the processing unit 15 to a mechanism which operates when an illegal coin is detected and returns it.

The usage status database 20 stores information on the usage status of lockers, in this case, as shown in FIG. 3, locker IDs as identifiers for identifying the lockers 10-1 to 10-n, "free", "use". The usage status such as "medium" and "reserving" and the scheduled opening time are registered.

The locker management device 30 is managed and operated by a locker operator, and together with the usage status database 20, as shown in FIG.
n, and lockers 10-1 to 10-n using the use status database 20 for communication with the lockers 10-1 to 10-n.
Management unit 32 that manages the usage status of the server, a communication unit 33 that communicates with the information providing site 60 via the network 70, and extraction of a free locker, assignment of a reservation number, A processing unit 34 for executing setting of a reserved state to the locker and the like.

In this case, a set of lockers 10-1 to 10-n installed in a specific place, a use status database 20 for managing them, and a locker management device 30 (hereinafter referred to as a locker device) is a set. Only shown,
In many cases, there are multiple similar rocker devices.

The search terminal 40 is used by the user.
As shown in FIG. 5, an operation input unit 41 for receiving an operation input at the time of searching for a free locker or selecting a reservation desired locker.
And a display unit 42 for displaying information about an empty locker, a reservation number, and the like, and a payment processing unit for performing a payment of a part or all of a locker usage fee (which may include a reservation fee) through a card company, a financial institution, or the like. 43 and a communication unit 44 for communicating with the information providing site 60 via the network 70
And a processing unit 45 for performing exchange of information search, reservation processing, and the like with the information providing site 60.

As the search terminal 40, an existing information search terminal having a payment processing function can be used as it is.
Here, only one unit is shown, but there may be a plurality of units.

The installation location information database 50 stores information on the installation location of the locker, in this case, as shown in FIG. 6, the installation location I which is an identifier for identifying the installation location.
Register D and the actual installation location.

The information providing site 60 is operated by a service provider, and has the above-mentioned installation location information database 50.
In addition, as shown in FIG. 7, communication for performing communication between the locker management device 30 and the search terminal 40 via the network 70, and the installation location management unit 61 that manages the installation location of the locker using the installation location information database 50. Part 62
And a processing unit 63 for exchanging information with the locker management device 30, exchanging reservation requests and the like, and exchanging information with the search terminal 40, exchanging information such as reservation processing.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the operation at the time of searching for a free locker, FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the operation at the time of reservation of a free locker, and FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the operation at the time of using a reserved locker. Will be described. In addition, here, each locker 10-1-
10-n and the locker management device 30 are always connected, and the locker management device 30 and the information providing site are connected via the communication unit 33 of the locker management device 30, the network 70, and the communication unit 62 of the information providing site 60. The connection between the search terminal 40 and the information providing site 60 has already been completed via the communication unit 44 of the search terminal 40, the network 70, and the communication unit 62 of the information providing site 60. It is assumed that

First, when the user operates the operation input unit 41 of the search terminal 40 to search for information on an empty locker to the information providing site 60 (s1), the search terminal 4
The 0 processing unit 45 transmits a search request for free locker information to the information providing site 60 (s2).

When the search request is received at the information providing site 60 (s3), the processing unit 63 transmits a request for information on the empty lockers to the locker management device 30 (s4). When there are a plurality of locker devices as described above, the request is broadcast to all the locker management devices.

In the locker management device 30, when the information request is received (s5), the processing unit 34 extracts a free locker from the usage status database 20 by using the usage status management unit 32 (s6). information,
Here, the locker ID is transmitted to the information providing site 60 together with the installation location ID (s7). When there are a plurality of empty lockers, all of those locker IDs are transmitted, and when there are no empty lockers, the fact is transmitted.
At this time, the size of each locker, the usage fee, and the like may be registered in the usage status database 20, and these may be sent together.

At the information providing site 60, information on the empty lockers, that is, the locker ID and the installation location I
Upon receiving D (s8), the processing unit 63 acquires the installation location information corresponding to the installation location ID from the installation location information database 50 using the installation location information management unit 62 (s9).
These are collectively transmitted to the search terminal 40 as search results (s10).

When the search terminal 40 receives the search result (s11), the processing unit 45 displays it on the display unit 42 (s12).

Next, the user looks at the information on the empty lockers displayed on the display section 42 and performs an operation of selecting a desired locker on the operation input section 41 of the search terminal 40 (s21). The processing unit 45 of the terminal 40 transmits the reservation request to the information providing site 60 together with the locker ID and the installation location ID of the selected locker (s2).
2).

At this time, an operation of paying a part or all of the reservation fee or the locker usage fee to the settlement processing unit 43 may be performed, and this information may be sent to the information providing site 60 together. As a specific settlement method, cash may be input, or the settlement may be performed through a card company, a financial institution, or the like using a card or the like.

When the request for reservation is received at the information providing site 60 (s23), the processing section 63 transfers the request for reservation to the locker management device 30 corresponding to the installation location ID together with the locker ID (s24). As described above, when performing an operation of paying a part or all of the reservation fee or the locker usage fee, confirm this information and transfer it, and the empty locker will remain in the reservation status described later It is possible to reduce the risk of being left alone, or to reduce the loss when left alone. Also,
Apart from this, a certain limit may be set for the time for setting the reservation in progress state so as to reduce the loss when left unattended.

In the locker management device 30, when the reservation request is received (s25), the processing unit 34 assigns a reservation number to the corresponding locker, and uses the usage status management unit 32 to store the corresponding locker in the usage status database 20. In the column, register that the reservation is being made and the reservation number (s2).
6). Further, the processing unit 34 sets the reservation number to the locker ID.
Then, the reservation information is transmitted to the information providing site 60 together with the installation location ID as reservation information (s27), and an instruction to set a reservation-in-progress state is transmitted to the corresponding locker, for example, 10-1, together with the reservation number (s28).

When the reservation information is received at the information providing site 60 (s29), the processing section 63 adds the installation location information and transfers the information to the search terminal 40 (s30).
The search terminal 40 receives the reservation information (s3
1), the processing unit 45 displays this on the display unit 42 (s
32). The user memorizes or makes a note of the displayed reservation number and installation location, and goes to the installation location of the locker.

On the other hand, when the locker 10-1 receives the setting instruction of the reserved state (s33), the processing unit 1
Reference numeral 5 stores a reservation number and sets a reservation-in-progress state. For example, a dummy illegal coin detection signal is sent to the lock control device 11 so that even if a user other than the reserved user inserts a coin, the coin is returned and cannot be used ( s34), and the display unit 1
2 indicates that the reservation is being made (s35).

Next, the user who made the reservation receives the locker 10-1.
(S41), the processing unit 15 of the locker 10-1 checks and confirms the stored reservation number with the stored reservation number (S42). ), The reserved state is released, for example, the dummy illegal coin detection signal described above is cut off (s43). If the input reservation number is different from the stored reservation number, it goes without saying that the reserved state is not canceled.

Further, the user places the luggage or the like in the locker 10-1 and performs a locking operation on the lock device 11 (if the full amount of the usage fee has not been paid at the time of the above-mentioned reservation, the lock device 11 After inputting the usage fee to the coin processor (s44), the processing unit 15 of the locker 10-1 transmits information indicating that it is being used to the locker management device 30 (s45).

When the locker management device 30 receives the in-use information (s 46), the processing unit 34 uses the usage status management unit 32 to indicate that the locker is being used in the corresponding locker column of the usage status database 20. Register (s4
7).

Thereafter, when the user performs an unlocking operation on the lock control device 11 to take out the luggage or the like from the locker 10-1 (s48), the processing unit 15 of the locker 10-1 confirms that the processing unit 15 is empty. The indicated information is transmitted to the locker management device 30 (s49).

When the locker management device 30 receives the vacancy information (s50), the processing unit 34 registers the vacancy in the corresponding locker column of the usage status database 20 using the usage status management unit 32. (S51).

Note that the locker usage fee is paid by the user to the locker operator, and the service provider receives a reward from the locker operator as an introduction fee or the like. Some or all of the fees may be paid once by the user to the service provider at the time of booking, and the service provider will collect a part of it as a reward in advance and pay the rest to the locker operator You can do it.

Depending on the installation location, after a predetermined time,
Some lockers make it impossible to pick up the luggage (for example, lockers installed in the station premises), but the information about the available time may be notified to the user by e-mail or the like at the time of reservation or thereafter.

[0043]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Users can find out where there is an empty locker simply by operating the search terminal, and they can also make reservations, so it can be used by others while moving to the place where there is an empty locker. It is also possible to prevent the user from being charged, and when making a reservation, the fee for use can be settled with a card or the like through the search terminal, and can be used even when the user does not have specific money.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an example of an embodiment of an empty locker information providing service system of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing details of a locker in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of contents stored in a usage status database in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram showing details of a locker management device in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram showing details of a search terminal in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of storage contents of an installation location information database in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram showing details of an information providing site in FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an operation at the time of searching for a free locker.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the operation when an empty locker is reserved.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an operation when using a reservation locker.

[Explanation of symbols]

10-1 to 10-n: locker, 11: lock device, 1
2: display unit, 13: operation input unit, 14: communication unit, 15:
Processing unit, 20: usage status database, 30: locker management device, 31: locker correspondence unit, 32: usage status management unit, 33: communication unit, 34: processing unit, 40: search terminal, 4
1: operation input unit, 42: display unit, 43: settlement processing unit, 4
4: communication unit, 45: processing unit, 50: installation location information database, 60: information providing site, 61: installation location management unit, 62: communication unit, 63: processing unit, 70: network.

Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat II (Reference) // E05B 65/02 E05B 65/02 B (72) Inventor Atsushi Nakano 2-3-1 Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo F-term in Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (reference) 3E048 CA05 CA17 DA03 DA10 5B075 KK07 KK13 KK33 KK37 ND03 ND20 ND23 PP03 PP13 PP30 PQ02 PQ46 UU40

Claims (4)

[Claims] At least one locker installed in a public place, a locker management device for managing the use status of the locker, a search terminal operated by a user, and information for providing information about the locker to the user The locker is provided with means for providing information on the usage status of the locker, and the locker management device is equipped with a means for registering the usage status of the locker. And means for acquiring information on the usage status from the locker and registering the information in the usage status database. When a request for information on the free locker is received from the information providing site, the free locker is extracted from the usage status database. Means for transmitting information about the locker to an information providing site, The information providing site includes means for searching the information providing site for information on empty lockers, and means for receiving and displaying search results. The information providing site provides information on the installation location of the locker. Means for requesting the locker management device for information about an empty locker when a search for information about an empty locker is received from a database and a search terminal; and receiving information about an empty locker from the locker management device. Means for reading information on the installation location corresponding to the empty locker from the installation location information database, and transmitting the information together with the received information on the empty locker to the search terminal as a search result. Free locker information service system. 2. The search terminal, in addition to the above, means for transmitting an empty locker arbitrarily selected by the user from the displayed search results to the information providing site as a reservation desired locker; Means for displaying when the reservation number for the reservation desired locker is received, the information providing site, in addition to the above, when receiving information about the reservation desired locker from the search terminal, transferring the information to the locker management device; Means for transferring the reservation number for the desired locker from the locker management device to the search terminal when the locker management device receives the information on the desired locker from the information providing site in addition to the above. Means for assigning a reservation number, and registering the reservation number in a usage database and transferring it to an information providing site Means for instructing the reservation-requesting locker to indicate a reservation-in-progress state. In addition to the above, when the locker-management device indicates the reservation-in-progress state, the locker is used until a correct reservation number is input. 2. The free locker information providing service system according to claim 1, further comprising means for rejecting the information. 3. The search terminal according to claim 1, further comprising means for transmitting a part or all of a reservation fee or a locker usage fee when transmitting a reservation desired locker to an information providing site. Item 2. An empty locker information providing service system according to item 2. 4. The locker can detect whether the locker is in a locked state or an unlocked state. The locker can perform a locking operation using a key only when a predetermined amount of money has been inserted, and can accept money under certain conditions. A lock device with a money handling machine for rejecting the operation, an operation input unit for receiving an operation input of the reservation number, and when the reservation state is instructed, the lock device is kept constant until a correct reservation number is input from the operation input unit. 3. The free locker information providing service system according to claim 2, further comprising at least processing means for setting under the following conditions.