JP2004192081A - Transport acceptance system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve transport efficiency by making a transport request of an article to its reception online. <P>SOLUTION: An image of a transport request form with a necessary item is taken by a camera lens provided on a cellular phone 2, and accessed to a transport company server 5 through a network 3. At this time, a center server 4 retrieves, on the basis of a telephone number included in transmission data, the address and name corresponding to the telephone number from the customer information of a customer database 4a, and transmits such information with the transmission data to the transport company server 5. When the transport company server 5 receives the transmission data, the image of image data from the transmission data is analyzed, and the transport charge is calculated from the addresses of the character codes of a transmitter and a receiver included in the transport request form. Thereafter, a receipt request form for instructing a person in charge to receive the article is printed out and issued from a printer. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a technology for transporting articles, and more particularly, to a technique that is effective when applied to the efficiency of transport acceptance of articles in home delivery or the like.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Generally, when sending luggage using a courier service, the shipper fills in the destination and source of the shipment on the prescribed slip of each shipping company, brings the luggage to a collection point, etc., and performs the fee settlement there .
[0003]
Also, for customers who repeatedly deliver packages to the same address, such as New Year's gifts or mid-year gifts, for example, by printing and using a transportation request form based on the transportation results of the previous year, 2. Description of the Related Art There are widely known methods for simplifying operations such as filling out votes.
[0004]
Furthermore, as a method of sending souvenirs, etc., the transport request form is sent to the distribution center by fax, and the image data of the faxed transport request form is transferred and printed as a transport request form for each article to improve efficiency. (See, for example, Patent Document 1).
[0005]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2001-266055 A
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the present inventor has found the following problems in the technology for accepting the delivery of goods by home delivery as described above.
[0007]
That is, there is a problem that the shipper or the like must perform cumbersome operations such as delivering the package to the collection point or filling in a transport request form, and it takes a long time to apply for a transport request for the goods.
[0008]
Also, at the collection point, every time there is a request for goods transport from the shipper, it is necessary to respond individually, which reduces the efficiency of baggage reception work and may lower the collection efficiency of the requested luggage. There is.
[0009]
In addition, the shipper may call the collection point directly and request the transportation company to pick up the cargo.However, the delivery from the collection / delivery station to the driver who picks up the cargo will be delayed, or the driver will pay the transportation fee at the pickup destination. It has to be calculated, and even in this case, the collection efficiency may be deteriorated.
[0010]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a transportation reception system that can online from a transportation request to an acceptance of an article and greatly improve transportation efficiency.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
1. The transportation receiving system of the present invention is connected to a communication line and has a portable terminal information communication device having an image processing unit for capturing an arbitrary image, and image analysis of image data received via the communication line to recognize a character code. The portable terminal information communication device captures the image of the transportation request form in which necessary items are described, and transmits the transmission data including the image data of the transportation request form captured via the communication line to the transportation server. The transport server analyzes the image of the transport request form from the transmission data transmitted from the mobile terminal information communication device, and converts the source and destination address data included in the transport request form and the character code of the name, respectively. It is characterized in that it recognizes and outputs the recognized address data and the character code of the name of the sender.
[0012]
An outline of another invention of the present application will be briefly described.
2. The transport acceptance system of the present invention is connected to a communication line, has a mobile terminal information communication device having an image processing unit that captures an arbitrary image, and a customer database including customer information of a contractor using the communication line, A communication server that manages the communication line; and a transport server that performs image analysis on image data received via the communication line and recognizes character codes. The transmission data including the image data of the transportation request form captured via the communication line is transmitted to the transportation server, and the communication server performs the processing based on the unique data of the mobile terminal information communication device included in the transmission data. Search the customer database, add the address and name to the transmission data, and send it to the transport server. The image of the transmitted transport request form is image-analyzed, the address and the destination address data included in the transport request form, the character code of the name are recognized, and the address included in the transmission data transmitted from the communication server, And outputting a name.
3. The transport acceptance system of the present invention has a portable terminal information communication device having an image processing unit connected to a communication line and having an image processing unit for capturing an arbitrary image, and a customer database including customer information of a contractor. A transport server that analyzes the received image data and recognizes the character code is provided.The portable terminal information communication device captures the image of the transport request form on which the necessary items are described, and captures the transport request via the communication line. Transmitting the transmission data including the image data of the form to the transportation server, the transportation server analyzes the image of the transportation request form transmitted from the mobile terminal information communication device, and the source and destination included in the transportation request form Recognize the address data and the character code of the name, and based on the unique data of the mobile terminal information communication device included in the transmission data, the customer database Luo customer's address, and to find the name, and outputs retrieved the customer's address, and the name.
[0013]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[0014]
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a transport receiving system according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a mobile phone provided in the transport receiving system of FIG. 1, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a transportation company server provided in the reception system, FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a transportation request form used in the transportation reception system of FIG. 1, and FIG. 5 is a transmission transmitted from the mobile phone of FIG. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of data, FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a format showing an example of customer information in a customer database provided in the transport receiving system of FIG. 1, and FIG. 7 is a center server provided in the transport receiving system of FIG. FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating processing steps of a pickup request by the transportation receiving system of FIG. 1, and FIG. 9 is a flowchart of the transportation company server H of FIG. 3. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a transportation fee calculation database stored in D, FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a pickup request slip issued from the transportation company server in FIG. 3, and FIG. 11 is a transportation company in FIG. It is a flowchart which shows a process from reception of the transmission data to which customer information was added by the server to issuance of a pick-up request instruction slip for goods.
[0015]
In the present embodiment, the transportation receiving system 1 is a system for making online the application for the transportation request of the package by the shipper, and improving the efficiency from the transportation request to the issuance of the transportation slip.
[0016]
As shown in FIG. 1, the transport acceptance system 1 includes a mobile phone (mobile terminal information communication device) 2, a line network (communication line) 3, a center server (communication server) 4, and a transport company server (transport server) 5. It is configured. The mobile phone 2 is, for example, portable and equipped with a camera, and has a communication function such as an e-mail function in addition to a telephone function. In addition to the mobile phone 2, for example, a mobile terminal information communication device (PDA: Personal Digital Assistants) having a communication function and a camera function may be used.
[0017]
The network 3 is a communication line including a mobile phone communication network. The center server 4 is a server owned by a communication company having the network 3. A customer database 4a is connected to the center server 4.
[0018]
The customer database 4a stores customer information of a user who has contracted with a communication company. The customer information is, for example, the telephone number, address, and name of the contracted user.
[0019]
The transport company server 5 is a server owned by the transport company. The mobile phone 2, the center server 4, and the transport company server 5 are connected via the network 3.
[0020]
The configuration of the mobile phone 2 will be described with reference to FIG.
[0021]
As shown, the mobile phone 2 has an antenna 7 at the top of the mobile phone. A display section 8 is provided below the antenna 7, and a receiver section 9 is provided below the display section 8.
[0022]
A camera lens 10 is provided below the receiver unit 9, and a keyboard unit 11 for inputting numeric keys is provided below the camera lens 10. A microphone unit 12 is provided below the keyboard unit 11.
[0023]
The antenna 7 transmits and receives a communication signal during communication. The display unit 8 displays various information such as input information from the keyboard unit 11 and the like, reception information, images captured from the camera lens 10, and the like.
[0024]
The receiver unit 9 outputs the voice of the other party during a call. The camera lens 10 captures an image of an arbitrary subject. The keyboard unit 11 inputs telephone numbers, characters, and the like. The microphone unit 12 captures a voice during a call or the like.
[0025]
In addition, the mobile phone 2 can attach the image captured from the camera lens 10, the voice input from the microphone unit 12, and the like to an e-mail and transmit it by operating the keyboard unit 11.
[0026]
FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the transport company server 5.
[0027]
As shown in the figure, the transport company server 5 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 13, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 14, a communication unit 15, a HDD (Hard Disc Drive) 16, and the like.
[0028]
The CPU 13 reads out programs, data, and the like stored in the RAM 14, performs predetermined processing, and controls all operations in the transport company server 5. The RAM 14 stores the above-described programs, data generated by the CPU 13 performing the processing, and the like.
[0029]
The communication unit 15 performs data communication with the mobile phone 2 via the communication network 3, for example. The HDD 16 is a storage device that stores various data, and stores, for example, a transportation fee calculation database (a fee database) in a transportation company. The transportation fee calculation database is a transportation fee database in the transportation company.
[0030]
A printer 17 is connected to the transport company server 5. The printer 17 prints a form such as an article pickup request slip based on an instruction from the transport company server 5.
[0031]
Next, the operation of the transportation receiving system 1 according to the present embodiment will be described.
[0032]
First, the flow of a collection request by a shipper will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
[0033]
First, the shipper fills in the necessary items on the transport request slip 101 of the requesting transport company. As shown in FIG. 4, the transport request slip 101 has columns for a destination 102, a source 103, and a product name 104.
[0034]
In the destination 102, the zip code, telephone number, address, and name of the consignee are entered, and in the sender 103, the zip code, telephone number, address, and name of the shipper are entered. In the item name 104, the item name of the package to be transported is entered.
[0035]
The shipper photographs the transportation request slip 101 on which necessary information is entered by the camera lens 10 of the mobile phone 2 (step S101). The mobile phone 2 determines whether or not the captured image is the transport request slip 101 (step S102).
[0036]
The mobile phone 2 stores a program for automatically transmitting a telephone number for accessing the transport company server 5 when the image data of the transport request slip 101 is captured.
[0037]
This program may be arbitrarily downloaded from the Internet or the like via the network 3, for example, or may be stored in advance when the mobile phone 2 is purchased.
[0038]
Therefore, when the image photographed in the processing of step S102 is the transportation request slip 101, the mobile phone 2 automatically transmits a telephone number for accessing the transportation company server 5 set in advance (step S103). The transmission data is transmitted (step S104). If the photographed image is not the transport request slip 101, the process ends.
[0039]
Here, the determination as to whether or not the transport request slip 101 in the process of step S102 is performed by, for example, processing a photographed image and printing a specific figure or character such as a title or barcode printed on the transport request slip. Recognize and judge.
[0040]
FIG. 5 shows a format of transmission data transmitted from the mobile phone 2. Transmission data transmitted from the mobile phone 2 includes a header 201, a telephone number (unique data) 202, and image data 203.
[0041]
The header 201 is control information of transmission data including a contracted communication company, model information of the mobile phone 2, and the like, and the telephone number 202 is a telephone number of the transmitted mobile phone 2. The image data 203 is data of an image obtained by capturing the transport request slip 101 with the camera lens 10 of the mobile phone 2.
[0042]
The transmission data transmitted from the mobile phone 2 is transmitted to the transport company server 5 via the center server 4. When the center server 4 receives the transmission data, the center server 4 searches the customer information in the customer database 4a for the address and the name corresponding to the telephone number 202 based on the telephone number 202 of the transmission data, and retrieves them. The information is added to the transmission data and transmitted to the transport company server 5.
[0043]
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a format showing an example of customer information in the customer database 4a. As described above, in the customer information, the telephone number 301 and the address 302 and the name 303 of the contracted user corresponding to the telephone number 301 are stored for every user.
[0044]
FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of the format of the transmission data after the center server 4 has added the management information. In this case, the transmission data includes a header 401, a telephone number 402, image data 403, an address 404, and a name 405.
[0045]
The header 401, the telephone number 402, and the image data 403 are the same as the transmission data in FIG. 5, and the address 404 and the name 405 are information added by the center server 4.
[0046]
Next, the processing from the reception of the transmission data to which the center server 4 has added the customer information by the transport company server 5 to the issuance of the article pick-up request instruction slip by the transport company server 5 will be described using the flowchart of FIG.
[0047]
When the transportation company server 5 receives the transmission data (step S201), the transportation company server 5 extracts the image data 203 from the received transmission data and performs an image analysis process on the image data 203 (step S202).
[0048]
Then, the transportation company server 5 converts the character codes of the sender 102 and the destination 103 included in the transportation request slip 101 subjected to the image analysis (step S203), and calculates the transportation fee from the address of the converted character code (step S203). Step S204).
[0049]
At this time, the characters of the source 102 and the destination 103 to be detected may be all characters, or may be only characters such as a prefecture name (address data) and a postal code (address data) necessary for calculating the transportation fee. There may be.
[0050]
FIG. 9 is an example of a transportation fee calculation database stored in the HDD 16 of the transportation company server 5. In the figure, the vertical axis has the name of the prefecture of the delivery destination 501, and the horizontal axis has the name of the prefecture of the delivery source 502, and the corresponding destination from the delivery source (prefecture name) to the destination (prefecture name). A transportation fee 503 is set.
[0051]
When a zip code is used, an address database consisting of addresses corresponding to the zip code is stored in the HDD 16, and a transport fee calculation database is searched based on the address retrieved from the address database to calculate the transport fee. .
[0052]
The transport company server 5 searches the transport fee calculation database stored in the HDD 16 from the characters of the source 102 and the destination 103, and calculates the transport fee of the goods.
[0053]
In addition, when data on the size of the article is required for calculating the transportation fee, for example, the transportation company server 4 compares the size of the article with the transport request slip 101 affixed to the article and compares the size of the article. It may be estimated and calculated, or the shipper may write the size of the article in advance in the transport request slip 101.
[0054]
When the transportation fee of the goods is calculated, the transportation company server 4 transmits a command for printing a collection request slip 601 for instructing the collection person in charge of collection of the goods to the printer 17, and the printer 17 requests the collection. The slip 601 is printed and issued (step S205).
[0055]
FIG. 10 shows an example of a pickup request slip 601 printed and issued from the printer 17. The receipt request slip 601 has a configuration in which the address 602 of the shipper, the name 603, the calculated transportation fee 604, and the like are printed.
[0056]
The address 602 and the name 603 printed on the receipt request slip 601 use the address 404 and the name 405 of the received transmission data (FIG. 7). The address 602 and the name 603 may use, for example, those detected from the character codes of the transportation request slip 101 subjected to image analysis without using the address 404 and the name 405 of the transmission data.
[0057]
Also, in the delivery of goods, the actual shipper and the sender described in the transport request form may be different, so the address of the contractor of the mobile phone 2 must be described in advance in the pickup request slip 601 or A decision may be made between the user and the transportation company to specify what is detected from the character code of the request form 101.
[0058]
Then, based on the pick-up request slip 601 printed and issued from the printer 17, the person in charge of collection collects the articles.
[0059]
Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the transportation request for goods is completed only by photographing the transportation request slip 101 in which necessary items are filled out by the camera lens 10 of the mobile phone 2, so that the labor of the shipper is greatly reduced. Meanwhile, the processing up to the article pickup can be speeded up.
[0060]
Further, in the present embodiment, when passing through the center server 4, the center server 4 adds the address 404 and the name 405 to the transmission data, but the address 404 and the name 405 are added to the transmission data. You may make it transmit as transmission data without adding.
[0061]
In this case, the transport company server 4 stores the customer information database in the HDD 16 and searches the customer information in the HDD 16 for the address and name corresponding to the telephone number 202 of the received transmission data (FIG. 5).
[0062]
Further, the customer information may be stored in another database without being stored in the HDD 16, and the address and the name corresponding to the telephone number 202 may be retrieved and acquired via the Internet, for example.
[0063]
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it goes without saying that various changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.
[0064]
【The invention's effect】
(1) According to the present invention, it is possible to improve the efficiency from the transportation request to the reception of an article, so that the time until the pickup of the article can be greatly reduced.
(2) Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to improve the efficiency of issuing a pickup request slip when a request for transporting an article is received.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a transportation receiving system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a mobile phone provided in the transportation receiving system of FIG.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a transport company server provided in the transport receiving system of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a transportation request form used in the transportation receiving system of FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of transmission data transmitted from the mobile phone of FIG. 2;
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a format showing an example of customer information in a customer database provided in the transportation receiving system of FIG. 1;
FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of transmission data transmitted from a center server provided in the transportation receiving system of FIG. 1;
FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating processing steps of a collection request by the transportation receiving system of FIG. 1;
FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a transportation fee calculation database stored in the HDD of the transportation company server of FIG. 3;
FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a pickup request slip issued from the transportation company server of FIG. 3;
11 is a flowchart showing a process from reception of transmission data to which customer information is added by the transportation company server of FIG. 1 to issuance of an article pick-up request instruction slip.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Transport acceptance system 2 Mobile phone (mobile information communication equipment)
3 Network (communication line)
4 Center server (communication server)
4a Customer database 5 Transport company server (transport server)
7 antenna 8 display unit 9 receiver unit 10 camera lens 11 keyboard unit 12 microphone unit 13 CPU
14 RAM
15 Communication means 16 HDD
17 Printer 101 Transport request slip 102 Destination 103 Source 104 Product name 201 Header 202 Phone number (unique data)
203 Image data 301 Phone number 302 Address 303 Name 401 Header 402 Phone number 403 Image data 404 Address 405 Name 501 Delivery destination 502 Delivery source 503 Shipping charge 601 Collection request slip 602 Address 603 Name 604 Shipping fee

Claims (8)

A mobile terminal information communication device having an image processing unit connected to the communication line and capturing an arbitrary image,
A transport server that analyzes the image data received via the communication line and recognizes a character code,
The mobile terminal information communication device captures an image of a transportation request form in which necessary items are described, and transmits transmission data including image data of the captured transportation request form to the transportation server via the communication line,
The transport server image-analyzes the image of the transport request form from the transmission data transmitted from the mobile terminal information communication device, and the source and destination address data included in the transport request form and the character code of the name, respectively. A transportation receiving system that recognizes and outputs the recognized address data and the character code of the name of the sender. A mobile terminal information communication device having an image processing unit connected to the communication line and capturing an arbitrary image,
A communication server having a customer database comprising customer information of contractors using the communication line, and managing the communication line;
A transport server that analyzes the image data received via the communication line and recognizes a character code,
The mobile terminal information communication device captures an image of a transportation request form in which necessary items are described, and transmits transmission data including image data of the captured transportation request form to the transportation server via the communication line,
The communication server searches the customer database based on the unique data of the mobile terminal information communication device included in the transmission data, adds an address and a name to the transmission data, and transmits the transmission data to the transport server,
The transport server image-analyzes the image of the transport request form transmitted from the mobile terminal information communication device, and recognizes the source code included in the transport request form, the address data of the destination, and the character code of the name, respectively. A transport acceptance system, which outputs an address and a name included in the transmission data transmitted from the communication server. A mobile terminal information communication device having an image processing unit connected to the communication line and capturing an arbitrary image,
A transport server that has a customer database consisting of customer information of the contractor, performs image analysis of image data received via the communication line, and recognizes a character code;
The mobile terminal information communication device captures an image of a transportation request form in which necessary items are described, and transmits transmission data including image data of the captured transportation request form to the transportation server via the communication line,
The transport server image-analyzes the image of the transport request form transmitted from the mobile terminal information communication device, and recognizes the source code included in the transport request form, the address data of the destination, and the character code of the name, respectively. Searching for the address and name of the customer from the customer database based on the unique data of the mobile terminal information communication device included in the transmission data, and outputting the searched address and name of the customer. Transport acceptance system. The transport acceptance system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a printer for printing the address and name output by the transport server on a receipt request slip. The transport acceptance system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the transport server has a fee database for calculating a transport fee for the article, and the recognized source and destination address data based on the recognized address data. A transportation database for calculating a transportation fee for the article by calculating a transportation fee of the article, and printing the calculated transportation fee on a receipt request slip together with the address and name output by the transportation server; system. The transport acceptance system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the portable terminal information communication device determines whether the captured image is the transport request slip, and determines that the captured image is the transport request slip. The transportation receiving system automatically transmits the transmission data to the transportation server when the determination is made. The transport acceptance system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the unique data of the portable terminal information communication device is a telephone number. The transport acceptance system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the address data used when the transport server calculates the transport fee is a postal code.

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