JP2005173812A - Locker system, locker, and method of using locker - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the throughput of a locker and to prevent a hand baggage put in a locker box from deteriorating in quality to thereby prevent an economical burden on a user from increasing by improving the rate of turnover of the locker boxes by sending electronic mail urging the user to receive the hand baggage to the user a prescribed period after the hand baggage is put in the locker box. <P>SOLUTION: A locker system consists of the locker equipped with: the locker boxes, electronic locks, sensors detecting hand baggage being present in the locker boxes, and a locker control part which locks and unlocks the electronic locks; of a terminal that users of the locker operate; and of a server which sends electronic mail to the terminal, wherein the server sends the electronic mail urging the user to receive the hand baggage in the locker box to the terminal when the occupation time of the locker box exceeds a prescribed time. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a locker system, a locker, and a method of using the locker.

  Conventionally, a storage box known as a coin locker has been installed at the entrance of transportation facilities such as railway stations and bus terminals and at the entrance of apartment buildings so that luggage such as baggage can be temporarily stored. It can be stored. In recent years, a card such as a magnetic card is used as an authentication medium in order to eliminate the complexity of handling a coin, that is, a coin, which is a usage fee of the deposit box, and to increase the security of the deposit box. A locker system including a locker box provided with an electronic lock has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  In such a locker system, a user uses a card such as a magnetic card or a personal identification number to authenticate the user or lock or unlock an electronic lock. As a result, the user can deliver the package for 24 hours a day without intervening others. For example, a case will be described in which the user purchases goods using EC (Electronic Commerce) and receives goods using the locker system. In this case, first, the delivery company uses the magnetic card dedicated to the company, receives authentication of the control unit attached to the locker and the server that controls the locker system, and the user who is the delivery destination of the product Is specified. Then, since the vacant locker box is unlocked by receiving the authentication, the delivery company stores the goods in the locker box.

Subsequently, when the product is stored in the locker box, an e-mail notifying that the product has been delivered to the locker is sent to the user designated from the server. . When the user recognizes that the product has been delivered by the e-mail, the user goes to the locker, performs authentication using a magnetic card or a personal identification number, and opens a locker box containing the product. Unlock and take out the product. This completes the delivery of the product.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-93480

  However, in the conventional locker system, when the product is stored in the locker box, an email notifying that the product has been delivered to the locker is only sent to the user, After that, since the e-mail is not sent to the user, the user may not take out the product, and the product may stay in the locker box for a long time. For example, if the user receives the electronic mail during a busy time such as during work hours, the user may forget to receive the product after the work is completed. In such a case, the product stays in the locker box for a long time until the user remembers the product.

  As described above, when the product stays in the locker box for a long period of time, the rotation rate of the locker box is lowered, and the throughput of the locker system is lowered. In addition, when the product has a storage deadline such as food, the quality of the product is degraded. Furthermore, when the locker usage fee is charged according to the locker box's exclusive time, the locker usage fee increases and the economic burden on the user increases.

  The present invention solves the problems in the conventional locker system, and when a predetermined period elapses from the time when the package is stored in the locker box, sends an e-mail to the user to receive the package. The locker system, the locker, and the locker usage method for improving the throughput of the locker box to improve the throughput of the locker, preventing the deterioration of the package quality, and increasing the economic burden on the user The purpose is to provide.

  For this purpose, in the locker system of the present invention, a locker box having a door that can be opened and closed, an electronic lock that locks the door, a sensor that detects the presence of luggage in the locker box, A locker having a locker control unit for receiving and outputting the output signal and locking and unlocking the electronic lock, a terminal operated by a user of the locker, and the locker are communicably connected to each other and send an e-mail to the terminal A locker system having a server to transmit, wherein the locker control unit measures a dedicated time of the locker box based on an output signal of the sensor, and the server has a dedicated time of the locker box being a predetermined time or more. Then, an e-mail that prompts the user to receive the package in the locker box is transmitted to the terminal.

  In another locker system of the present invention, the server further includes a database for storing the exclusive time of the locker box, and settles a locker usage fee every predetermined period.

  In still another locker system according to the present invention, the locker usage fee is calculated according to the exclusive time of the locker box.

  In still another locker system according to the present invention, the luggage is stored in the locker box by a trader.

  In still another locker system according to the present invention, the luggage is stored in the locker box by a user.

  In the locker of the present invention, a locker box having a door that can be opened and closed, an electronic lock that locks the door, a sensor that detects the presence of luggage in the locker box, and an output signal of the sensor A locker control unit that receives and locks and unlocks the electronic lock, and is connected to a server in a communicable manner, wherein the locker control unit is connected to the locker box according to an output signal of the sensor. The exclusive time is measured, and when the exclusive time reaches a predetermined time or more, an e-mail for prompting receipt of the package in the locker box is transmitted from the server to a terminal operated by the locker user.

  In another locker of the present invention, the luggage is stored in the locker box by a trader.

  In still another locker of the present invention, the luggage is stored in the locker box by a user.

  In the locker usage method of the present invention, when the sensor detects that there is a load in the locker box attached to the door so that the door can be opened and closed, and the electronic lock locks the door, the locker control unit controls the locker box. When the exclusive time measurement starts and the exclusive time of the locker box reaches a predetermined time or more, the server connected to the locker so as to be able to communicate with the locker box sends an e-mail prompting receipt of the package in the locker box to the user of the locker Sent to the terminal operated by.

  In another method of using the locker according to the present invention, the luggage is stored in the locker box by a trader.

  In still another locker usage method of the present invention, the luggage is stored in the locker box by a user.

  According to the present invention, when a predetermined period elapses from the time when the package is stored in the locker box, an e-mail that prompts the user to receive the package is transmitted to the user. Thereby, while improving the rotation rate of a locker box and improving the throughput of a locker, the quality deterioration of the said load can be prevented and it can prevent that a user's economical burden becomes large.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a rocker in the first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of a rocker system in the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the first configuration of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the locker box in embodiment.

  In the figure, 11 is a locker as a custody box for temporarily storing luggage. For example, an auto-lock is provided at the entrance, and is provided near the entrance of an apartment house where a person other than the resident cannot enter. This is a device for depositing parcels such as delivered courier and postal items. The locker 11 may be disposed in any place, for example, in a transportation facility such as a railway station or a bus terminal for temporarily storing luggage such as baggage. It may be arranged near the entrance of public facilities to temporarily store luggage for public facilities such as museums, museums, and libraries, or visitors to amusement facilities such as amusement parks and theme parks. It may be arranged near the entrance of a public facility to temporarily store the luggage.

  In the present embodiment, for convenience of explanation, a case will be described in which the locker 11 is disposed near the entrance of an apartment house where a person other than a resident cannot enter. In this case, the locker 11 can be used for delivery of various kinds of luggage such as mail and cleaning items. Here, the user of the locker 11 makes a purchase through EC, and the locker 11 11 is assumed to receive a package as a product purchased using 11.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the locker 11 has a plurality of independent locker boxes 12 for storing luggage. On the front surface of each locker box 12, as shown in FIG. A locker door 14 as a door locked by the lock 15 is attached so as to be openable and closable. The locker box 12 includes an object detection sensor 16 as a sensor for detecting the presence of luggage inside. Here, the object detection sensor 16 is, for example, a proximity switch that detects the proximity of the load. However, the object detection sensor 16 is a weight sensor that detects the weight of the load. It may be an optical sensor or the like that detects that the load is present, and may be any type of sensor as long as it detects the presence of luggage in the locker box 12. In FIG. 1, 14 locker boxes 12 are shown, but the number of locker boxes 12 may be any number.

  Furthermore, the rocker 11 has a rocker control unit 13 that controls the operation of the rocker 11. The locker control unit 13 is a kind of computer including a calculation unit such as a CPU and an MPU, a storage unit such as a magnetic disk and a semiconductor memory, an input / output interface, a communication interface, and the like. The locker control unit 13 reads the information stored in the storage unit of the locker use card, writes the information, etc., the card handling unit 13a, the operation means operated by the user, the locker use fee, etc. It has the operation display part 13b which consists of a touch panel which functions as a display means to display. The locker control unit 13 receives output signals from the card handling unit 13 a and the operation display unit 13 b and controls the operation of the electronic lock 15 of each locker box 12. Further, the locker control unit 13 receives an output signal of the object detection sensor 16 to recognize in which locker box 12 the luggage is stored, and measures the time during which the luggage is stored.

  In the present embodiment, the user who uses the locker 11 is a member who has signed a contract with a service provider that provides a package delivery service in the locker 11 in advance and is registered to use the service. Suppose that The user of the locker 11 is usually an individual, but may be a company, an organization, or the like. The service provider may be any person such as an individual, a corporation, a for-profit company, or a public interest group as long as it provides a package delivery service using the locker 11.

  Here, the locker control unit 13 measures the time from when the baggage is stored in the locker box 12 until it is taken out, and the locker usage fee is determined according to the time, that is, the exclusive time of the locker box 12. Is to be charged. In this case, the locker usage fee may increase in proportion to the exclusive time. Further, for a predetermined time (for example, 2 to 3 hours) from the time when the luggage is stored in the locker box 12, only a predetermined basic fee is charged, and then an additional time fee that increases in proportion to the exclusive time is charged. You may be made to do. It should be noted that the rate of increase of the extra time fee may be lowered as the exclusive time becomes longer, or the rate of increase may be increased as the exclusive time becomes longer in order to prevent long-time exclusive use.

  Then, the user uses the locker use card or the personal identification number possessed by the user to authenticate the person or lock and unlock the electronic lock 15. The locker use card is a card issued when registered as a member, and includes storage means such as a magnetic stripe and an IC, and member identification information such as a membership number is stored in the storage means. When the user inserts a locker use card possessed by the user into the card slot of the card handling unit 13a, the card handling unit 13a reads the information stored in the storage means of the locker use card, and the locker control unit 13 is designated. The electronic lock 15 of the locker box 12 is locked or unlocked. The locker box 12 is specified by operating the operation display unit 13b. In addition, when higher security is required, a password may be entered at the same time. The password is also input by operating the operation display unit 13b.

  In addition, it is assumed that a trader who delivers a package, such as a courier service company, is registered with a service provider that provides a package delivery service using the locker 11 in advance. The merchant authenticates the person or locks or unlocks the electronic lock 15 by using a merchant card or personal identification number possessed by the merchant. The merchant card is a card that is issued upon registration, like the locker use card, and includes storage means such as a magnetic stripe and an IC, and the merchant identification information such as a registration number is stored in the storage means. . When the merchant card possessed by the merchant is inserted into the card slot of the card handling unit 13a, the card handling unit 13a reads information stored in the memory means of the merchant card, and the locker control unit 13 designates the locker box. Twelve electronic locks 15 are locked or unlocked. The trader is usually a company, but may be an individual, a group, or the like.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the locker 11 is a part of the locker system 10 and is communicably connected to a remote server 21 as a server via a network 22. The remote server 21 is a server for managing a locker usage fee of the locker box 12 in the locker 11, and includes a calculation means such as a CPU and an MPU, a storage means such as a magnetic disk and a semiconductor memory, a keyboard, a mouse and the like. It is a kind of computer provided with an input means, CRT, display means, such as a liquid crystal display, and a communication interface. The remote server 21 may be a single computer, may be referred to as a distributed server in which a plurality of computers are organically combined, or is configured integrally with other computers. It may be a part of a plurality of systems constructed in a large computer. The remote server 21 is managed by the service provider. The remote server 21 includes a database 21a composed of storage means such as a magnetic disk and a semiconductor memory. The database 21a stores the exclusive time of each locker box 12 measured by the locker control unit 13 in association with the user.

  The network 22 may be any communication network such as a wireless or wired dedicated communication network or public communication network, the Internet, an intranet, a LAN (Local Area Network), a WAN (Wide Area Network), a satellite communication network, and the like. It may be, or a combination of these may be used as appropriate. The network 22 is preferably a dedicated communication network, but may be a VPN (Virtual Private Network) using a public communication network.

  Further, the remote server 21 may be connected to a settlement system (not shown) for settlement of the locker usage fee via a network (not shown). The settlement system may be an account system of a financial institution such as a bank, a credit union, a post office, a credit company system that provides a credit settlement service, or an EC using the Internet. It may be an electronic payment system that provides an online payment service to be used.

  In FIG. 2, only one locker 11 is shown, but a plurality of lockers 11 may be provided. That is, the remote server 21 can manage the locker usage fee of the locker box 12 in the plurality of lockers 11. In FIG. 2, only one locker box 12 of the locker 11 is shown, but actually there are a plurality (14 in the example shown in FIG. 1).

  A user terminal 24 as a terminal operated by the user is connected to the remote server 21 via a network 23 so as to be communicable. Here, the user terminal 24 includes a display unit 25 as a display unit including a calculation unit such as a processor, a storage unit such as a semiconductor memory, a magnetic disk, and an optical disc, a liquid crystal display, an LED (Light Emitting Diode) display, and a speaker. Audio output means such as a microphone, voice input means such as a microphone, input means such as a keyboard, joystick, cross key, push button, remote controller, touch panel, and communication means such as a communication interface and an antenna. However, it may be of any kind as long as it can connect to the network 23 and receive an e-mail. The user terminal 24 is, for example, a personal computer, a mobile phone, a PHS (Personal Handy-Phon System) phone, etc., but is not limited to a stationary phone, an electronic notebook, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), a game machine, a digital TV, etc. It may be in the form.

  Further, the network 23 may be any communication line network such as a wireless or wired dedicated communication line network or a public communication line network, the Internet, an intranet, a LAN, a WAN, a satellite communication line network, etc., which are appropriately combined. It may be a thing. The network 23 may be the same as the network 22.

  In the present embodiment, the remote server 21 sends an e-mail notifying the user terminal 24 that a package such as a product has been delivered to the locker 11, and the package is stored in the locker box 12. Various e-mails such as e-mails that prompt the receipt of the package are transmitted when a predetermined period has elapsed since the time point. Therefore, the e-mail address of the user terminal 24 is registered in the remote server 21 in advance.

  Next, the operation of the locker system 10 having the above configuration will be described.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of an e-mail prompting receipt of a package in the first embodiment of the present invention.

  In the present embodiment, a user of the locker 11 makes a purchase with EC and receives a package as a product purchased using the locker 11. In this case, the time from when the package delivery company such as a courier company stores the package in the locker box 12 until the user takes out the package from the locker box 12, that is, the exclusive time. Is measured by the locker control unit 13, and a locker usage fee is charged according to the exclusive time.

  First, the merchant arrives to deliver the parcel to the entrance of an apartment house where the user resides. Further, since it is impossible for a person other than the resident to enter the apartment house, the trader operates the locker control unit 13 of the locker 11 disposed near the entrance of the apartment house, and the locker box 12 The electronic lock 15 is unlocked. In this case, the merchant inserts a merchant card he possesses into the card slot of the card handling unit 13a, and operates the operation display unit 13b to designate the user. Then, the card handling unit 13a reads the information stored in the storage means of the supplier card, and the identity of the supplier is authenticated. Note that personal authentication may be performed using a personal identification number. And if the said person | operator's identity authentication is performed, the locker control part 13 will unlock the electronic lock 15 of the vacant locker box 12 in which no package is accommodated. The designated user is stored in the storage means of the locker control unit 13 in a state associated with the locker box 12.

  Subsequently, the trader opens the locker door 14 of the locker box 12 where the electronic lock 15 is unlocked, and stores the luggage addressed to the user in the locker box 12. As a result, the object detection sensor 16 detects that the load is stored in the locker box 12 and transmits an output signal indicating that the load is present to the locker control unit 13. Subsequently, when the trader closes the locker door 14, the electronic lock 15 is automatically locked. Then, the locker control unit 13 is notified that the electronic lock 15 has been automatically locked. The locker control unit 13 is in a state where the object detection sensor 16 detects the presence of a load, that is, when the electronic lock 15 is locked in the on state. Start measuring the exclusive time.

  In addition, the locker control unit 13 transmits a notification that the measurement of the exclusive time of the locker box 12 is started to the remote server 21 via the network 22 together with member identification information for specifying the user. . Upon receiving the notification, the remote server 21 creates an e-mail addressed to the user notifying that the package has been delivered to the locker 11, and sends the e-mail to the user via the network 23. To the user terminal 24. In this case, the remote server 21 searches for an e-mail address of the user terminal 24 registered in advance based on the member identification information for specifying the user received from the locker control unit 13, The electronic mail is transmitted to the electronic mail address.

  Subsequently, the user operates the user terminal 24 to display the received electronic mail on the display unit 25. When the user recognizes that the package has been delivered to the locker 11 by reading the displayed e-mail, the user goes to the locker 11 to receive the package at a convenient time. In this case, the user inserts the locker use card possessed by the user into the card slot of the card handling unit 13a. Then, the card handling unit 13a reads the information stored in the storage means of the locker use card, and the user authentication is performed. Note that personal authentication may be performed using a personal identification number. When the user authentication is performed, the locker control unit 13 unlocks the electronic lock 15 of the locker box 12 in which the package addressed to the user is stored. Since the locker box 12 is stored in a state associated with the user, the locker control unit 13 specifies the locker box 12 by searching storage means based on the user. be able to.

  Subsequently, the user opens the locker door 14 of the locker box 12 in which the electronic lock 15 is unlocked, and receives the package addressed to the user stored in the locker box 12. Thereby, the delivery of the package is completed. The object detection sensor 16 detects that the load has been taken out from the locker box 12 and transmits an output signal indicating that no load is present to the locker control unit 13. Subsequently, when the user closes the locker door 14 after receiving the package, the electronic lock 15 is automatically locked. Then, the locker control unit 13 is notified that the electronic lock 15 has been automatically locked. The locker control unit 13 is in a state where the object detection sensor 16 detects that no luggage is present, that is, when the electronic lock 15 is locked in the off state, the locker box. Stop measuring 12 exclusive hours. As a result, the locker control unit 13 measures the time from when the baggage is stored in the locker box 12 until it is taken out, that is, the exclusive time of the locker box 12.

  Subsequently, the locker control unit 13 transmits the measured exclusive time of the locker box 12 to the remote server 21 via the network 22 together with member identification information for specifying the user. When the exclusive time of the locker box 12 is received, the remote server 21 stores the exclusive time of the locker box 12 in association with the user in the database 21a.

  The remote server 21 settles a locker usage fee every predetermined period, for example, once a month. In this case, the remote server 21 calculates a locker usage fee for each user according to the exclusive time of the locker box 12 during the corresponding period. For example, if the locker usage fee is set to increase in proportion to the exclusive time and is determined to be 50 yen per hour, if the measured exclusive time is 3 hours and 36 minutes, then 3 hours Assuming that the amount exceeding 1 hour corresponds to 1 hour, 200 yen is calculated as a locker usage fee for 4 hours. When the remote server 21 is connected to a settlement system (not shown), the remote server 21 accesses the settlement system and settles the calculated locker usage fee for each user.

  By the way, after an e-mail notifying that the package has been delivered to the locker 11 is transmitted to the user terminal 24, the user may go to the locker 11 and not receive the package even if a predetermined period elapses. is there. In this case, the remote server 21 transmits an e-mail prompting the receipt of the package to the user terminal 24. That is, the locker control unit 13 determines the predetermined time from when the load is stored in the locker box 12 when the exclusive time of the locker box 12 being measured passes a predetermined time, for example, 48 hours. It is determined that two days as a period have elapsed, and a notification that the package of the locker box 12 is not received even after a predetermined period has passed, together with member identification information for identifying the user, a network 22 to the remote server 21. Upon receipt of the notification, the remote server 21 creates an e-mail addressed to the user for encouraging receipt of the package, and transmits the e-mail to the user terminal 24 of the user via the network 23. To do.

  Then, the user operates the user terminal 24 to display the received electronic mail on the display unit 25. In this case, as shown in FIG. 4, an e-mail prompting receipt of the package is displayed. When the user recognizes that the package has been stored in the locker 11 for a long time by reading the displayed e-mail, the user immediately goes to the locker 11 and receives the package.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, when a predetermined period elapses after the package is stored in the locker box 12, an e-mail that prompts the user to receive the package is transmitted to the user terminal 24 of the user. ing. Therefore, the user can recognize that the parcel addressed to himself / herself has been stored in the locker 11 for a long period of time, and can immediately go to the locker 11 to receive the parcel. Thereby, the rotation rate of the rocker box 12 can be improved and the throughput of the locker 11 can be improved. In addition, it is possible to prevent the quality of the luggage from deteriorating. Furthermore, when the locker usage fee is charged according to the exclusive time of the locker box 12, it is possible to prevent the user from being burdened with an economic burden due to the e-mail prompting the receipt of the package. .

  Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In addition, about the thing which has the same structure as 1st Embodiment, the description is abbreviate | omitted by providing the same code | symbol. The description of the same operation and the same effect as those of the first embodiment is also omitted.

  In the present embodiment, a case where a user stores luggage such as baggage in the locker 11 will be described. In this case, the locker 11 may be arranged near the entrance of an apartment house where a person other than a resident cannot enter, but in a facility of transportation such as a railway station or a bus terminal, It may be arranged to temporarily store luggage, etc., or it may be arranged near the entrance of public facilities to temporarily store luggage for visitors of public facilities such as museums, museums, libraries, etc. Alternatively, it may be arranged near the entrance of a public facility in order to temporarily store the luggage of visitors of an amusement facility such as an amusement park or theme park. The configuration of other points is the same as that of the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.

  Next, operation | movement of the locker system 10 in this Embodiment is demonstrated.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of an e-mail prompting receipt of a package according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

  In the present embodiment, after the user of the locker 11 stores his / her baggage in the locker 11, the baggage is picked up, that is, received. In this case, the time from when the user stores the luggage in the locker box 12 until the user takes out the luggage from the locker box 12, that is, the exclusive time is measured by the locker control unit 13, and the exclusive Locker usage fee will be charged depending on the time.

  First, the user operates the locker control unit 13 of the locker 11 to unlock the electronic lock 15 of the locker box 12. In this case, the user selects that the locker use card possessed by the user is inserted into the card slot of the card handling unit 13a and operates the operation display unit 13b to store the package. Then, the card handling unit 13a reads the information stored in the storage means of the locker use card, and the user authentication is performed. Note that personal authentication may be performed using a personal identification number. When the user authentication is performed, the locker control unit 13 unlocks the electronic lock 15 of the empty locker box 12 in which no luggage is stored. The user is stored in the storage unit of the locker control unit 13 in a state associated with the locker box 12.

  Subsequently, the user opens the locker door 14 of the locker box 12 where the electronic lock 15 is unlocked, and stores his / her luggage in the locker box 12. As a result, the object detection sensor 16 detects that the load is stored in the locker box 12 and transmits an output signal indicating that the load is present to the locker control unit 13. Subsequently, when the user closes the locker door 14, the electronic lock 15 is automatically locked. Then, the locker control unit 13 is notified that the electronic lock 15 has been automatically locked. The locker control unit 13 is in a state where the object detection sensor 16 detects the presence of a load, that is, when the electronic lock 15 is locked in the on state. Start measuring the exclusive time.

  After a while, the user goes to the locker 11 and receives the package. In this case, the user inserts the locker use card possessed by the user into the card slot of the card handling unit 13a. Then, the card handling unit 13a reads the information stored in the storage means of the locker use card, and the user authentication is performed. Note that personal authentication may be performed using a personal identification number. When the user authentication is performed, the locker control unit 13 unlocks the electronic lock 15 of the locker box 12 in which the user's luggage is stored. Since the locker box 12 is stored in a state associated with the user, the locker control unit 13 specifies the locker box 12 by searching storage means based on the user. be able to.

  Subsequently, the user opens the locker door 14 of the locker box 12 where the electronic lock 15 is unlocked, and receives the user's luggage stored in the locker box 12. Thereby, the delivery of the package is completed. The object detection sensor 16 detects that the load has been taken out from the locker box 12 and transmits an output signal indicating that no load is present to the locker control unit 13. Subsequently, when the user closes the locker door 14 after receiving the package, the electronic lock 15 is automatically locked. Then, the locker control unit 13 is notified that the electronic lock 15 has been automatically locked. The locker control unit 13 is in a state where the object detection sensor 16 detects that no luggage is present, that is, when the electronic lock 15 is locked in the off state, the locker box. Stop measuring 12 exclusive hours. As a result, the locker control unit 13 measures the time from when the baggage is stored in the locker box 12 until it is taken out, that is, the exclusive time of the locker box 12.

  Subsequently, the locker control unit 13 transmits the measured exclusive time of the locker box 12 to the remote server 21 via the network 22 together with member identification information for specifying the user. When the exclusive time of the locker box 12 is received, the remote server 21 stores the exclusive time of the locker box 12 in association with the user in the database 21a.

  The remote server 21 settles a locker usage fee every predetermined period, for example, once a month. In this case, the remote server 21 calculates a locker usage fee for each user according to the exclusive time of the locker box 12 during the corresponding period. For example, if the locker usage fee is set to increase in proportion to the exclusive time and is determined to be 50 yen per hour, if the measured exclusive time is 3 hours and 36 minutes, then 3 hours Assuming that the amount exceeding 1 hour corresponds to 1 hour, 200 yen is calculated as a locker usage fee for 4 hours. When the remote server 21 is connected to a settlement system (not shown), the remote server 21 accesses the settlement system and settles the calculated locker usage fee for each user.

  By the way, after the user stores the package in the locker 11, the package may not be received even if a predetermined period elapses. In this case, the remote server 21 transmits an e-mail prompting the receipt of the package to the user terminal 24. That is, the locker control unit 13 determines whether the exclusive time of the locker box 12 being measured has exceeded a predetermined time, for example, 168 hours. It is determined that 7 days as a period has elapsed, and a notification that the locker box 12 is not received even after a predetermined period has passed, together with member identification information for identifying the user, a network 22 to the remote server 21. Upon receipt of the notification, the remote server 21 creates an e-mail addressed to the user for encouraging receipt of the package, and transmits the e-mail to the user terminal 24 of the user via the network 23. To do.

  Then, the user operates the user terminal 24 to display the received electronic mail on the display unit 25. In this case, as shown in FIG. 5, an e-mail prompting receipt of the package is displayed. When the user recognizes that the package has been stored in the locker 11 for a long time by reading the displayed e-mail, the user immediately goes to the locker 11 and receives the package.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, when a predetermined period elapses after the package is stored in the locker box 12, an e-mail that prompts the user to receive the package is transmitted to the user terminal 24 of the user. ing. Therefore, the user can recognize that the baggage stored by himself / herself has been stored in the locker 11 for a long time, and can immediately go to the locker 11 to receive the package. Thereby, the rotation rate of the rocker box 12 can be improved and the throughput of the locker 11 can be improved. In addition, it is possible to prevent the quality of the luggage from deteriorating. Furthermore, when the locker usage fee is charged according to the exclusive time of the locker box 12, it is possible to prevent the user from being burdened with an economic burden due to the e-mail prompting the receipt of the package. .

  Further, it is possible to perform fine fee setting in units of one hour or minute instead of a rough fee setting in a day like a coin locker that pays a locker usage fee by coins.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, It can change variously based on the meaning of this invention, and does not exclude them from the scope of the present invention.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the locker in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the locker system in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the rocker box in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of the electronic mail which prompts reception of the package in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of the email which encourages reception of the package in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Locker system 11 Locker 12 Locker box 13 Locker control part 14 Locker door 15 Electronic lock 16 Object detection sensor 21 Remote server 21a Database 24 User terminal

Claims (11)

(A) a locker box having a door that can be opened and closed; an electronic lock that locks the door; a sensor that detects the presence of luggage in the locker box; and an output signal of the sensor that receives the electronic signal. A locker comprising a locker control unit for locking and unlocking the lock;
(B) a terminal operated by a user of the locker;
(C) a locker system having a server that is communicably connected to the locker and that transmits an e-mail to the terminal;
(D) The rocker control unit measures the exclusive time of the rocker box according to the output signal of the sensor,
(E) The locker system, wherein when the exclusive time of the locker box reaches a predetermined time or more, the server transmits an e-mail for prompting receipt of the package in the locker box to the terminal. The locker system according to claim 1, wherein the server includes a database that stores an exclusive time of the locker box, and settles a locker usage fee every predetermined period. The locker system according to claim 2, wherein the locker usage fee is calculated according to an exclusive time of the locker box. The locker system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the luggage is stored in the locker box by a trader. The locker system according to claim 1, wherein the luggage is stored in the locker box by a user. (A) a locker box having a door that can be opened and closed; an electronic lock that locks the door; a sensor that detects the presence of luggage in the locker box; and an output signal of the sensor; A locker controller that locks and unlocks the electronic lock, and is a locker that is communicably connected to the server,
(B) The locker control unit measures the exclusive time of the locker box based on the output signal of the sensor, and when the exclusive time is equal to or longer than a predetermined time, sends an e-mail prompting receipt of the package in the locker box to the server To the terminal operated by a user of the locker. The locker according to claim 6, wherein the luggage is stored in the locker box by a trader. The locker according to claim 6, wherein the luggage is stored in the locker box by a user. (A) When the sensor detects that there is a load in the locker box attached to the door so that the door can be opened and closed, and the electronic lock locks the door, the locker control unit starts measuring the exclusive time of the locker box. And
(B) When the exclusive time of the locker box reaches a predetermined time or more, a server connected so as to be able to communicate with the locker sends an e-mail prompting receipt of the package in the locker box to a terminal operated by the locker user. A method of using a locker characterized by transmitting. The method of using a locker according to claim 9, wherein the luggage is stored in the locker box by a trader. The locker usage method according to claim 9, wherein the luggage is stored in the locker box by a user.

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