JP2003228766A - Locker system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a usage fee system allowing reduction in a fee according to usage of a user and to facilitate billing, payment, and collection of the usage fee of a locker and a physical distribution fee related to the usage for both of the user and an enterprise for promoting installation and usage of an electronic locker and a locker with a key controlled on a cyber-base via a network. <P>SOLUTION: This locker system is provided with the usage fee system calculating the usage fee of the locker 10 according to a function of a basic fee, an occupation time of the locker, an electronic mail charge used by the user for communication with a key management device 20, and the like. When an unlocking person unlocks the locker before/after a predetermined unlocking time, the charge is discounted or an additional charge is collected according to a time difference from the predetermined time. The user can make a selection among a plurality of available usage fee systems complying with usage conditions such as a size of the locker, and the usage fee can be collected with collection of a telephone charge and the like. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a lockable cabinet which is installed in a station or a convenience store and manages locks on a cyber base through a network.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional cabinet with locks that manages locks on a cyber base through an electronic locker or a network collects a usage fee for each single use, on a daily basis, or for a fixed-term contract.

[0003]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] In order to popularize and promote the use of locker cabinets that manage locks on a cyber base through electronic lockers and networks, the usage fee system can be reduced depending on how the user uses In addition, there is a demand for a means for simplifying the billing, payment, or collection of the usage fee of the locker cabinet and the distribution fee or the like generated in connection with the usage, or the collection fee for both the user and the business operator.

[0004] Therefore, as a first problem, the use price of the locker cabinet is divided into a basic charge and a charge for using the cabinet which is expressed as a function of the place where the locker cabinet is installed and the time when the user occupies the cabinet. There is a demand for a usage fee system in which a user collects a sum of a mail usage fee charged corresponding to an electronic mail communicated with a lock management device.

As a second problem, in the above-mentioned usage fee system, if the unlocking person unlocks before the scheduled unlocking time, the closet usage fee depends on the time until the predetermined unlocking scheduled time. It is required to have a system to collect a surcharge and pay a fee according to the time elapsed from the scheduled unlocking time if it is unlocked after the scheduled unlocking time.

[0006] As a third problem, in the above-mentioned usage fee system, it is required that the user can preset the unlocking scheduled time arbitrarily.

As a fourth problem, in the above usage fee system, a plurality of basic charges and closet use charges are provided corresponding to assumed use conditions such as the size of the locker cabinet to be used and the frequency of use by the user. It is required to be able to select from the prepared items.

[0008] As a fifth problem, in the above-mentioned usage fee system, it is required that the usage fee of the locker cabinet can be collected in accordance with the collection of telephone charges and the like.

As a sixth problem, there is a demand for making it possible to collect the price required for the distribution of stored items that occurs in connection with the use of a locker cabinet in accordance with the collection of telephone charges and the like.

An object of the present invention is to provide a locker system that solves the above-mentioned problems.

[0011]

According to the locker system of [Claim 1] of the present invention, a lock management communication unit is provided between the lock cabinet and the lock management device, and the lock management device locks the lock management communication unit through the lock management communication unit. It is equipped with means for locking or unlocking the lock of the attached cabinet, and user communication means is provided between the lock management device and the mobile communication terminal device, and the lock management device is transferred from the mobile communication terminal device through the user communication means. In a locker system equipped with a means for receiving a locking command for locking the unlocked cupboard or an unlocking command for unlocking, the lock management device provides a basic charge and a convenience factor depending on the location where the locked cabinet is installed. A database that records a mail usage fee charged in response to an electronic mail that the user communicates with the lock management device,
Means for recording the elapsed time that the user has occupied the cupboard in the database, means for calculating the cupboard usage fee represented as a function of the convenience coefficient and the elapsed time, the basic fee and the cupboard usage fee And a means for calculating a usage fee that is accumulated by summing with the mail usage fee.

The locker system according to claim 2 of the present invention is the locker system according to claim 1, wherein the lock management device records in the database the scheduled unlocking time registered in advance by the unlocker. If the unlocking person unlocks before the scheduled unlocking time, a means for discounting the usage fee according to the time up to the scheduled unlocking time registered in advance, and unlocking if unlocked after the scheduled unlocking time It has means for adding a surcharge to the usage fee according to the time elapsed from the scheduled time.

A locker system according to [Claim 3] of the present invention is the locker system according to Claim 2, wherein the scheduled unlocking time registered in advance is arbitrarily set by the user and is a mobile communication terminal device. The time information input to is transmitted from the mobile communication terminal device to the lock management device.

The locker system according to [Claim 4] of the present invention is the locker system according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the lock management device includes the basic charge and the cabinet use charge. As the size of the locker cabinet to use,
It has a means for displaying a menu so that it can be selected from a plurality of prepared ones corresponding to expected usage conditions such as usage frequency.

A locker system according to [Claim 5] of the present invention is the locker system according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the lock management device provides communication for providing mobile communication service. The telecommunications carrier terminal has means for transmitting the usage fee collection request to the business entity terminal, and the telecommunications carrier terminal has means for charging the user the sum of the communication fee and the usage fee.

The locker system according to [claim 6] of the present invention is the locker system according to claim 5, wherein the lock management device requests the telecommunications carrier terminal to collect the amount of money required for the physical distribution of the stored goods. Has means for transmitting.

[0017]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a system for explaining the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the structure of a lockable cabinet.

Referring to FIG. 2, the locker system according to the present invention is a locker cabinet 10, a lock management device 20, a mobile communication terminal device 30, and a lock for communicating between the locker cabinet 10 and the lock management device 20. It is composed of a management communication means, a user communication means for performing communication between the lock management device 20 and the mobile communication terminal device 30 or the fixed telephone 60, and a communication means for communicating with a financial institution or a settlement agent 70. .

The lockable cabinet 10 comprises a hangar 101, an electromagnetic lock 102 for locking the hangar door 104, and a control unit 50. The lockable cupboard 10 is usually provided with a plurality of combinations of a hangar 101 and an electromagnetic lock 102. The hangar 101 is a locker box for storing items. The electromagnetic lock 102 is controlled by the control unit 50 to electrically lock / unlock the door 104 of the hangar.

The control unit 50 has an information processing function and a communication control function, and is based on a lock management communication means for communicating with the lock management device 20 and a command received from the lock management device 20 through the lock management communication means. It has a function of sending a signal of locking or unlocking to the electromagnetic lock 102, and a function of measuring the elapsed time from locking to unlocking of each housing 101 and notifying the lock management device 20.

The lock management device 20 has an information processing function and a communication control function, and lock management communication means for communicating with the control unit 50 of the closed cabinet 10 and the mobile communication terminal device 30.
A command for locking or unlocking is received from the user communication means for performing communication with the mobile communication base station 40 via the user communication means or the mobile communication terminal device 30 through the user communication means, and the lock management is performed based on the command. The function of sending a command to lock or unlock the electromagnetic lock 102 to the control unit 50 of the lockable cabinet 10 through the communication means, the user information of the lockable cabinet 10 and the locking / unlocking of the lockable cabinet 10. A database function for storing information and updating and searching the information, a usage fee system specified in the database, and a cabinet 10 with a lock.
A function to calculate the usage fee of the locker cabinet 10 based on the elapsed time from the locking of each hangar 101 to the unlocking, which is notified from, and to request the financial institution or the settlement agent 70 to collect the usage fee. It has a communication function to send the data of.

The mobile communication terminal device 30 includes a communication device such as a mobile phone and a PHS, and a device that uses a communication medium such as a mobile phone and a PHS and is capable of non-voice communication such as electronic mail. used. As the fixed telephone 60, a line and a device that enable non-voice communication such as electronic mail are used.

The lock management communication means may be wired / wireless communication or a private line / public line. The non-voice communication of the user communication means is configured to be able to send and receive digital data such as characters, symbols, images, and voice.

Next, the operation will be described.

FIG. 3 exemplifies the basic procedure from locking to unlocking of the lockable cabinet 10 of the present invention. When the user stores and locks an article in the lockable cabinet 10, the user uses it. An unlocker uses the mobile communication terminal device 30 that searches for a possible storage 101 or, if there is a storage 101 that is designated to be used in advance, searches for the storage 101 and sends a lock command. The lock management device 2 sends a lock command together with necessary conditions such as a telephone number of the mobile communication terminal device 30 to be held by the unlocker through the user communication means.
To 0 (steps S1 and S2).

The lock management device 20 stores the received necessary conditions for the unlocker (step S3), and locks the corresponding storage box 101 to the control unit 50 of the lockable cabinet 10 through the lock management communication means. A command is sent (step S4).

Based on the received locking command, the control unit 50 sends a locking signal to the corresponding electromagnetic lock 102 to lock it (steps S5 and S6).

The lock management device 20 is unlocked because the item is stored and locked in the lockable cabinet 10 in the mobile communication terminal device 30 of the telephone number specified in the necessary conditions that the unlocker must have. An unlock request message is sent to encourage receipt of the item (step S7).

The unlocker transmits an unlock command from the mobile communication terminal device 30 which has received the unlock request message to the lock management device 20 through the user communication means (steps S8 and S9).

The lock management device 20 collates the received unlock command with the necessary conditions that the unlocker should have at the time of locking (step S10), and the unlocker's mobile communication terminal device 3
If the telephone number 0 or the like satisfies the condition, a command for unlocking the corresponding storage box 101 is sent to the control unit 50 of the lockable cabinet 10 through the lock management communication means (step S1).
1).

The control unit 50 sends an unlocking signal to the corresponding electromagnetic lock 102 based on the received unlocking command to unlock (steps S12 and S13).

The above procedure is not limited to that shown in FIG. 3, but it is possible to add or omit processing depending on the ease of operation of the user and the target level of system security and availability.
Or a change is made.

In the first embodiment of the present invention, in addition to the above operation, the control unit 50 of the lockable cabinet 10 is added.
Measures the elapsed time T from the locking of the electromagnetic lock 102 to the unlocking of each hangar 101, and when the hangar 101 is unlocked, the data of the elapsed time of the hangar 101 is transferred to the lock management device 20 through the lock management communication means. Send to. The lock management device 20 records the data in the database and uses it as a basis for billing the user for the lock-in cabinet 10.
Further, in the above database, the basic charge B when using the lockable cabinet 10 / one-time use, the standard charge C per unit time of the lockable cabinet 10 C / hour, and the convenience depending on the installation location of the lockable cabinet 10. Coefficient α, which is set based on the sex difference,
Coefficient β set based on the difference in size of the hangar 101,
The electronic mail usage fee M yen of the locking / unlocking command, the unlock request message, etc. transmitted / received between the user's mobile communication terminal device 30 and the lock management device 20 is recorded.
For example, the usage charge is S yen = B + α × β × C × T + M. In addition, the above-mentioned calculation formula is used in addition to the coefficient γ set according to whether the use time is daytime or nighttime, whether it is a busy season, etc.
It is also possible to introduce S etc., and to set S = B + α × β × γ × δ × C × T + M. Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

In the locker system according to the present invention, in the usage fee system described in the first embodiment of the present invention, the person who locks the lockable cabinet 10 plans to unlock the lockable cabinet 10 when making a reservation or when locking. Register the time. Lock management device 2
0 records the data of the scheduled unlocking time in the database. If the unlocking person unlocks before the scheduled unlocking time, the usage fee will be discounted and refunded according to the time until the unlocking scheduled time, and unlocked if unlocked after the scheduled unlocking time A surcharge will be added according to the time elapsed from the time.

The above-mentioned refund of the usage fee or the calculation of the percentage increase is easy to understand, for example, for individual users, and the unlocking time is based on the usage fee calculated by the time until the scheduled unlocking time. From the time until the scheduled unlocking time, or
It is possible to refund or add half of the elapsed time from the scheduled unlocking time to the unlocking time.

For a business operator who frequently uses the locker cabinet 10, for example, the calculation method may be set more finely as illustrated in FIG. Referring to FIG. 1, when using the locker cabinet 10, a basic charge B yen / one-time use, a standard charge C / hour per unit time, and a premium charge rate C
Assuming that e is the discount charge rate Ch, locking is performed at time To, Tb is registered as the scheduled unlocking time, and unlocking is performed at Th before the scheduled unlocking time Tb, the usage fee Ds = Basic charge B + Standard charge Db1-Refund Dh = B + (Tb-To) x C- (Tb-T
h) × C (1-Ch), and if unlocking is performed at Te after the scheduled unlocking time, usage fee De = basic charge B + standard charge Db2 + additional charge Dw = B + (Te-To ) × C + (T
e−Tb) × C (1 + Ce).

In the above, as the premium rate Ce is increased, the unlocking person can be guided to unlock before the scheduled unlocking time, and the influence on the next reservation of the lockable cupboard 10 can be reduced or the unlocking can be canceled. It is possible to prevent the lock from being left without being used for a long period of time, and an effect of increasing the rotation rate of the use of the lockable cabinet 10 can be expected.

Whether the business operator of the locker cabinet 10 is the above-mentioned basic charge B, standard charge C, premium charge rate Ce, and discount charge rate Ch is the user's record of use of the locker cabinet 10 and whether the member is a member. Alternatively, if a disparity is provided depending on the installation location of the lockable cupboard 10 and the season, it can be utilized to promote the use of the lockable cabinet 10.

The lock management device 20 records the usage fee calculated as described above in the database and transmits the usage fee to the financial institution or the settlement agent 70 in a timely manner, and is designated as the payer in the database. Request the collection of payment from the person.

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described.

The locker system according to the present invention, in the usage fee system described in the second embodiment of the present invention,
When the user of the lock-in cabinet 10 locks the lock-in cabinet 10, the mobile communication terminal device 30 or the fixed telephone 60 transfers any time information to the lock management device 20 through the user communication means as the unlocking scheduled time. When sent, the lock management device 20
Records the time information in the database and handles it as the scheduled unlocking time. As the arbitrary time information, it is possible to set a fine time such as hour, minute, etc., which is not the conventional one day.

Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described.

The locker system according to the present invention, in the usage fee system described in the first embodiment of the present invention,
Basic charge B yen / one-time use, standard charge per unit time of lockable cabinet 10 C / hour, coefficient α set based on the difference in convenience depending on the installation location of lockable cabinet 10, hangar 1
A plurality of values are set for each value such as the coefficient β set based on the size difference of 01, and a plurality of the above-mentioned calculation formulas of the usage price that sets the values are set. The user is informed beforehand of the usage fee system of the user, and the user selects one from the menu to select his / her mobile communication terminal device 30 or the fixed telephone 6
From 0 to the lock management device 20 through the user communication means. The lock management device 20 records the selection in the database,
The usage fee is calculated based on the selection until the selection is updated by the user. Further, the selection from the menu may be performed each time the user locks the closed cabinet 10. When the user is already registered in the database as a use member, the lock management device 20 uses some usage charges estimated to be most advantageous to the member based on the past use record accumulated for the member. Recommend the system to members,
The member may select from the members and register it in the lock management device 20, and the lock management device 20 may calculate the usage fee based on the selection.

Next explained is the fifth embodiment of the invention.

In the locker system according to the present invention, the operator of the locker system collects the usage fee of the lockable door cabinet 10 described in the first or second embodiment of the present invention from the mobile communication or fixing. From a user who requests a telecommunications carrier who provides a telephone service and the telecommunications carrier uses the locker cabinet 10 on behalf of the locker system provider, the use of the locker cabinet 10 together with the charges for calls and data communication. Collect the payment. The telecommunications carrier pays the collected usage fee of the locker cabinet 10 to the locker system operator.
As a specific operation, the lock management device 20 transmits a usage fee collection request to a telecommunications carrier terminal that provides a mobile communication service, and the telecommunications carrier terminal uses the lock management device 2 as a communication charge.
The sum of the usage charges sent from 0 is calculated, and the sum is sent to the user as the billed amount. INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY According to the present invention, both the business operator and the user of the lockable cabinet 10 can easily charge, pay, or collect the usage fee, and the use of the lockable cabinet 10 is promoted.

Next, a sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

The locker system according to the present invention is configured to include a means for collecting the usage fee described in the fifth embodiment of the present invention and a means for collecting the fee required for the distribution of stored goods.

The price required for the above-mentioned physical distribution is, for example, the user of the lockable cabinet 10 passes the goods to the distributor through the lockable cabinet 10 and transports the goods to the lockable cabinet 10 at another place. The receiving side of the other side is a lockable cupboard 10 at another place.
This is the price paid to the distributor when receiving goods via the.

In the above case, the item sending side sends a message from the mobile communication terminal device 30 to the lock management device 20 for reserving the vacant locker cabinet 10 at the other place. Based on the received electronic message, the lock management device 20 searches for and reserves an empty cupboard 10 with a lock at a specified location, and then sends the electronic message to the mobile communication terminal device 30 to which the lock cabinet 10 is attached.
Will be sent in electronic form. The sender side of the item that has received the electronic message selects the most suitable place from the candidates and returns it from the mobile communication terminal device 30 to the lock management device 20.

The lock management device 20 has the selected cabinet 1 with lock.
The reservation of the hangar 101 of 0 is confirmed, and the condition for transporting the goods to the locker cabinet 10 at the other place is inquired to the distributor. The physical distribution company returns the date and time of the planned transportation completion and the cost to the lock management device 20. The lock management device 20 transmits the location of the storage 101 of the fixed door cabinet 10 with the lock, the scheduled date and time of completion of transportation, and the transportation cost to the mobile communication terminal device 30 on the side of sending the item. The sender side of the item confirms the received content and transmits a message of confirmation, change, or cancellation from the mobile communication terminal device 30 to the lock management device 20.

The lock management device 20 that has received the electronic message performs a confirmation, change, or cancellation process, and if confirmed, arranges transportation of the goods between the lockable cabinets 10 to the distributor. The logistics company unlocks the hangar 101 of the lockable cupboard 10 from his / her mobile communication terminal device 30, takes out the item, transports it, and stores it in the hangar 101 of the lockable cupboard 10 reserved in advance. The mobile communication terminal device 30 locks. The lock management device 20 confirms the completion of the lock, and transmits an unlock request message to the mobile communication terminal device 30 on the receiving side of the item. The receiving side of the item unlocks the storage 101 of the lockable cabinet 10 from its own mobile communication terminal device 30 to take out and receive the item.

The lock management device 20 records the transportation cost in the database, and charges the person designated as the price payer in the database. In the embodiment of the present invention, a telecommunications carrier who provides a mobile communication or landline telephone service used for using the lockout cabinet 10 has a lockout cabinet according to the price of use of the mobile communication or landline telephone. The usage fee of 10 and the transportation fee are billed, and the telecommunications carrier pays the collected usage fee of the locker cabinet 10 and the transportation fee to the operator of the locker system according to the present invention.

According to the present invention, the business operator of the lock-up cabinet 10, the distributor involved in the lock-up cabinet 10, and the lock-up cabinet 1.
It is easy for three of the 0 users to bill, pay, or collect the usage fee, and the use of the lockable cabinet 10 is promoted.

In the above, if the distribution company decides the transportation price and the number of days required for the transportation when the goods are transported between the lockable cabinets 10, the lock management device 20 sets the conditions for the transportation to the distribution company. There is no need for inquiries or for the physical distribution company to reply to the locker via the lock management device 20 about the scheduled date and time of completion of transportation, which enables further simple use.

Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the function sharing between the lock management device 20 and the control unit 50 is not limited to the sharing in the above description. Further, the installation position of the control unit 50 is not limited to the inside of the lockable cabinet 10. In addition, some of the functions of the above-described devices may be substituted by another device that can communicate with each other. Further, each of the above-mentioned devices and communication means may include a backup means or the like for improving reliability and availability. Further, the operation procedure for locking and unlocking the lockable cabinet is not limited to the above description,
The order of processing may be changed or omitted, and processing for improving security may be added.

[0057]

As described above, according to the present invention,
The cost of using a lockable closet to manage locks on a cyber base through an electronic locker or network can be reduced depending on how the user uses the lockable closet, and it is possible to promote the use and spread of the lockable closet. In addition, the charges for e-mail used to use the locker cabinet and the billing, payment, and collection of the charges required for the distribution of stored items that occur in connection with the use of the locker cabinet are It will be easy for both traders, and it will be possible to use and promote the use of locker cabinets.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a calculation example of a usage fee of a locker system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a locker system according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a basic control example of a locker system according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an external structural diagram showing a structural example of a lockable cabinet.

[Explanation of symbols]

Closet with 10 locks 20 lock management device 30 mobile communication terminal 40 Mobile Communication Base Station 50 control unit 60 landline phone 70 Financial Institutions or Settlement Agencies 101 hangar 102 electromagnetic lock 104 hangar door

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Koji Sakai             4-4 Shiba, Minato-ku, Tokyo NEC Corporation Lee             Information Technology Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Yukio Koshiishi             1088-3 Otsu-cho, Kofu City, Yamanashi Prefecture Kofu Nipponden             Ki Co., Ltd. (72) Hiroshi Sato, inventor             1088-3 Otsu-cho, Kofu City, Yamanashi Prefecture Kofu Nipponden             Ki Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 2E250 AA19 BB08 BB49 BB65 CC11                       DD01 DD06 FF25 FF36                 3E048 CA17 DA03

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A lock management communication means is provided between a lockable cabinet and a lock management device, and the lock management device comprises means for locking or unlocking a lock of the lockable cabinet through the lock management communication means. A user communication means is provided between the device and the mobile communication terminal device, and the lock management device locks the lockable cabinet which is issued from the mobile communication terminal device through the user communication means. In a locker system equipped with a means for receiving a lock command, the lock management device is charged according to the basic charge, the convenience factor depending on the location where the locker cabinet is installed, and the email that the user communicates with the lock management device. A database for recording the mail usage fee, a means for recording the elapsed time that the user has occupied the cupboard in the database, and a cupboard usage fee represented as a function of the convenience coefficient and the elapsed time. A locker system comprising: a means for calculating the usage charge; and a means for calculating a usage charge accumulated by summing the basic charge, the cabinet usage charge, and the mail usage charge. 2. The locker system according to claim 1, wherein the lock management device records the unlocking scheduled time registered in advance by the unlocking person in a database, and the unlocking person before the unlocking scheduled time. If you unlock it, the means to discount the usage fee according to the time until the scheduled unlocking time registered in advance, and if you unlock after the scheduled unlocking time, the usage will be performed according to the time elapsed from the scheduled unlocking time. A locker system having means for adding a surcharge to the price. 3. The locker system according to claim 2, wherein the scheduled unlocking time registered in advance is time information input to the mobile communication terminal device by the user arbitrarily setting the scheduled unlocking time. A locker system characterized by being transmitted from a lock management device to the lock management device. 4. The locker system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the lock management device uses a size of a lockable cabinet as the basic charge and the cabinet use charge, A locker system characterized by having a means for displaying a menu so that it can be selected from a plurality of prepared ones corresponding to expected usage conditions such as usage frequency. 5. The locker system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the lock management device requests a communication carrier terminal that provides a mobile communication service to collect the usage fee. A locker system comprising means for transmitting, and the telecommunications carrier terminal having means for charging a user an amount obtained by adding the usage fee to a communication charge. 6. The locker system according to claim 5, wherein the lock management device has means for transmitting a collection request to the telecommunications carrier terminal together with the price required for the physical distribution of the stored goods. Locker system.