JP2005280881A - Registered article auto-management locker system and mail delivery system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a mail delivery system capable of delivering the mail efficiently even to a district where coming-in and going-out of a mail delivery vehicle or its parking is not possible, by adopting the hub system to delivery of the mail. <P>SOLUTION: Locker devices 1 furnished with boxes 6a and 6b solely devoted to the mail to allow the mail deliverer to use solely are installed studding in a plurality of areas (B, C, D district), and each locker device 1 is connected with an enterprise center server 2, whereby the mail is carried from a post office (enterprise center) 9 to the locker devices 1 by the branch delivery system using mail vehicles 10 and stored temporarily in the boxes 6a and 6b, from which the mail is taken out by particular deliverers and delivered on the hub system to the respective addressees in the surrounding are (separate houses 16 and dwellers of collective housing 17). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention provides an operator center server that manages information (hereinafter referred to as “approved customer information”) of customers who have approved transfer of at least registered mail / parcels (hereinafter referred to as “registered goods”) in advance. The present invention relates to a registered article automatic management locker system in which a locker device installed at a predetermined place is connected by a communication system and a hub type mail delivery system using the locker device.

  With the background of the increase in double-income households and the rationalization of postal services, etc., a locker device is installed at the entrance of collective housing and tenant buildings, etc., and if the resident is absent, the delivery will be accepted by the locker device and the resident A home delivery system has been proposed that allows customers to receive home deliverables when they return home, and has already been put into practical use.

  In addition, as a locker device used for delivery of home deliverables, it can be used for various purposes such as purchase orders and receipt of goods, payment for payment, etc. in addition to delivery of home deliveries in cooperation with an external server via the Internet. What has it is also proposed by the present applicant (see Patent Document 1).

  Incidentally, there is a demand for receiving registered goods such as registered mail and parcels via a locker device in addition to general delivery items, and a locker device therefor has been proposed (for example, see Patent Documents 2 and 3).

  The locker device according to the above proposal stores the type of registered mail that is not desired to be received for each resident in advance, and the registered resident receives the type of registered mail that is read from the barcode information attached to the registered mail. It is determined whether or not it is approved, and when the resident approves the receipt, the registered mail locker door is opened so that the registered mail can be stored.

Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-330976 JP 2000-79052 A Japanese Patent No. 3328143

However, the conventional locker device has the following problems.
(1) Since a system that issues barcodes for classifying registered goods at present is not built on the postal administration side, use the barcode information in the postal business to determine whether or not it is possible to transfer to the locker device The concept to make it still lacks feasibility.
(2) There is no means for updating the approved customer information stored in the locker device, and the operation is not realistic. In the locker system described in Patent Document 3, the postman brings an electronic evidence medium in which his / her identification information and delivery information are recorded, and the approved customer information is stored in the evidence medium. However, according to this method, information is recorded on the evidence medium before delivery, and a case where the approved customer information is different from the latest may occur due to a time lag.
(3) When a postal delivery person stores a registered article in a locker device, there is no means for notifying the person who is absent.
(4) When the postman tries to store a registered item in the locker device, if the registered item is brought back to the office because all the boxes of the locker device are full, the person who is absent is notified of the progress. There is no means, and there is no means for confirming with the absent person an instruction on how to process the registered goods that have been taken home.
(5) If the resident is absent for a long period of time, there is no means for confirming that, so the registered article may be stored in the locker device for a long period of time. There is no means to inform.
(6) Since the locker device is not equipped with a postal box, it is not possible to adopt a hub system in the postal delivery system, and it is particularly difficult to deliver postal items in areas where it is impossible to enter or leave a postal car. Was accompanied. Here, the hub method means that mail is transported from the business center to each locker device by branch delivery using a postal car, and is temporarily stored in a postal box. This is a method of taking out from a dedicated box and individually delivering to each delivery destination in the surrounding area.
(7) In the postal box, the status information (information such as door open / closed state, opening / closing time, open / closed person, mail residence time, etc.) is not managed, ensuring the safety of the postal box, Its efficient operation could not be achieved.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and the intended process is that a registered article can be reliably and efficiently delivered via a locker device when a resident is absent, and An object of the present invention is to provide a registered article automatic management locker system capable of informing the person who is absent.

  Another object of the present invention is that when a plurality of boxes of the locker device are full, or when a postman brings back a registered article because the resident is absent for a long time, An object of the present invention is to provide a registered article automatic management locker system capable of notifying the person who is absent and obtaining the processing method of the registered article taken back from the person as will information.

  In addition, another object of the present invention is to efficiently deliver mail to areas where delivery vehicles cannot enter and exit or park by adopting a hub system for mail delivery. The purpose is to provide a postal delivery system that can do this.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the invention described in claim 1 includes a provider center server that manages at least information of customers who have approved transfer of registered articles in advance (hereinafter referred to as “approved customer information”) and a predetermined number. Connected to the locker device installed at
The locker device includes at least an automatic record update unit for approved customer information captured by communication from the provider center server, a display unit for various information, and an input unit or registered article for the postman to input approved customer information. And at least one of reading means for reading the approved customer information from the attached information medium,
The postal delivery person collates the approval customer information input to the locker device by the input means or the approval customer information read by the reading means and the approval customer information already updated by the automatic record update means, Only when they match, the box door of the locker device is opened so that the registered goods can be stored in the box.

  The invention described in claim 2 is the object of the invention according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of boxes of the locker device are all full, or the locker device is set to be absent for a long time and the customer information is the object of the approved customer information If the registered item is excluded from the mail, the result information indicating that the registered article is brought back without being stored in the locker device is mailed to the customer as the delivery destination.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, automatic record update of approved customer information by the automatic record update means is performed at predetermined time intervals, and a list of latest approved customer information is displayed on the display means. It can be displayed on the screen.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any one of the first to third aspects, a postal-only box that can be used only by a postman is provided in a part of the locker device.

  The invention according to claim 5 is the invention according to claim 4, in which the dedicated box status information such as the open / closed state of the door, the opening / closing time, the opening / closing person, and the staying time of the mail is managed in the dedicated mail box. The box status information can be communicated between the postal box, the management center server, and the business center server.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the locker devices provided with postal boxes that can be used only by the postman are scattered in a plurality of areas, and each locker device and the business center server are connected by a communication system. ,
Posts are delivered from the service center to each locker device by branch delivery using a postal car, and are temporarily stored in postal boxes. It is characterized by being delivered individually to each delivery destination.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the approval customer information that is taken into the locker device from the business center server that collectively manages the latest approved customer information and recorded and updated by the automatic record update means, and the approval that is input to the input means In order to collate with the customer information or the approved customer information read by the reading means, the registered article can be reliably and efficiently delivered via the locker device when the resident is absent.

  For example, when a postman delivers a plurality of registered goods, if the resident is absent at the entrance intercom, and if the resident is absent and can be transferred, A plurality of registered articles can be stored in the locker device in succession.

  According to the invention described in claim 2, when the postman brings the registered article back to the station because the plurality of boxes of the locker device are all full or the resident is absent for a long time, This can be notified by sending an e-mail to the person who is absent.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, the postman can surely and efficiently perform the collation operation of the approved customer information based on the latest list of approved customer information displayed on the display means.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, since the postal box provided in the locker device can be used only by the postman, the postal matter stored in the postal box has high safety.

  According to the invention described in claim 5, in the postal box, special box state information such as the open / closed state of the door, the open / close time, the open / closed person, the residence time of the mail is managed, and the information is stored in the management center server. Therefore, the hub system described in claim 6 can be adopted in the postal delivery system. In particular, because the postal residence time is managed in the postal box, it is possible to check whether the postal box is empty or not, and to accurately grasp the postponement of postal items. Can be done without delay.

  According to the invention described in claim 6, by adopting a hub system for delivery of mail, it is possible to efficiently deliver mail to an area where a mail car cannot enter and exit or park.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1) Registered goods automatic management locker system:
FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing the flow of approved customer information and dedicated box state information in the system according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a front view of the locker device.

  The registered article automatic management locker system according to the present embodiment is a system when a postal delivery person delivers a registered article such as registered mail or a parcel. As shown in FIG. 1, a locker device (WEB locker) 1 and A business center server 2 possessed by a business center (in this embodiment, a post office having jurisdiction over a predetermined area) and a management center server 3 possessed by the management center are connected via the Internet (IP network). When a member (resident) is absent, a registered article is delivered to the locker device 1.

  Here, the management center server 3 stores and manages the operation history of the locker device 1 and delivery company information. Further, the management center remotely monitors the operating state of the locker device 1, the occurrence of an abnormality, and the like.

  The locker device 1 is installed at an entrance of an apartment house, a tenant building, a convenience store, etc. As shown in FIG. 2, three types of boxes 4a, 4b, 4c having different sizes and an operation unit 5 are provided. Large and small postal boxes 6a and 6b that can be used only by the postman, automatic record updating means (not shown) for automatically recording and updating the approved customer information fetched by communication from the business center server 2, and each box 4a to 4c And a controller (not shown), communication means, etc. for controlling the unlocking / locking of the postal boxes 6a, 6b.

  By the way, the postal boxes 6a and 6b are used in a postal delivery system using a hub system, which will be described later, and have dedicated box state information such as the door open / closed state, opening / closing time, open / closed person, mail residence time, etc. In addition to management, the dedicated box status information can be communicated between the provider center server 2 and the management center server 3.

  Here, the approved customer information is information of a customer who has approved the transfer of the registered goods to the locker device 1 in advance, and the customer's prior approval is that the customer manages a predetermined document individually or condominium management. This is done by unions submitting them to the post office. In addition, an address, a name, a telephone number, a mobile phone number, etc. are described in the document submitted to the post office, and the approved customer information described in the accepted document is registered in the business center server 2.

  By the way, the business center server 2 stores and manages the approved customer information and member information including information on members who are absent for a long time. These approved customer information and member information are locked from the business center server 3 by communication. The automatic record update means of the locker device 1 transmits the information to the apparatus 1 and automatically updates the approved customer information and the member information at predetermined time intervals. The locker device also stores and manages information on members who are absent for a long time.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the operation unit 5 includes a touch panel type liquid crystal display unit (hereinafter referred to as “LCD”) 7 that guides an operation procedure with sound and images from a speaker by touching the screen. And an activation sensor (not shown) for automatically starting the LCD 7 upon detecting that the user has approached the locker device 1, a card reader (not shown) for reading a dedicated card, and a registered article. A bar code reader (not shown) for reading a bar code (not shown) and a receipt issuing port (or a postman for issuing a receipt) as a proof when a registered article is stored in the boxes 4a to 4c. A slip insertion slot) 8 and the like for insertion are provided. As described above, the automatic record update means of the locker device 1 performs automatic record update of the approved customer information and member information at a predetermined time interval, but the LCD 7 may display a list of the latest approved customer information. it can.

  Next, a specific example of the operation of the registered article automatic management locker system having the above configuration will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for delivering a registered article.

  When a mail delivery person delivers a plurality of registered articles, for example, to a condominium, the mail delivery person confirms whether or not a resident (member) is absent through an entrance interphone (not shown), and then a resident. Is absent and can be transferred, a plurality of registered articles are stored in the locker device 1 in succession. If the resident of the delivery destination is at home, the postman delivers the registered goods as they are to the resident.

  That is, when the resident of the delivery destination is absent, the postman starts a delivery operation on the LCD 7 of the locker device 1 and selects a delivery button (step S1 in FIG. 3). Then, the locker device 1 determines whether all of the plurality of boxes 4a to 4c are full (Step S2).

  If all of the plurality of boxes 4a to 4c of the locker device 1 are not full and there are empty boxes, the postman selects the addressee member name on the LCD 7 of the locker device 1 and identifies the person ( Step S3). Then, the automatic customer record update means of the locker device 1 captures and updates the approved customer information registered in the operator center server 2, and the locker device 1 determines whether or not the person has applied for absence transfer. Determination is made (step S5). If the person has not applied for absence transfer, the registered article cannot be stored in the locker device 1 and the process is terminated.

  If the person has applied for absence transfer, it is determined whether or not the locker device 1 has been set for long-term absence (step S5). If long-term absence has not been set, it is attached to the registered article. The read barcode is read by a barcode reader (not shown) (Step S6), and the approved customer information displayed on the barcode is compared with the approved customer information taken into the locker device 1 from the business center server 2 (Step S6). S7). As a result of the verification of the approved customer information, the CPU of the locker device 1 unlocks any of the boxes 4a to 4c and opens the door when the two match, so that the postman can move the registered goods to Store (store) in any of boxes 4a to 4c (step S8).

  In this embodiment, the method of reading the approved customer information by the barcode is used, but the IC tag attached to the registered article is read or inserted into the slip insertion slot (receipt issuing slot) of the locker device 1. A method of inputting approved customer information by a slip or by inputting a slip number on the LCD 7 may be used.

  As described above, when the registered article is stored in the predetermined box (4a to 4c) of the locker device 1, delivery information (member information such as a member number, information such as a locker ID and a box number) is sent to the business center. It is transmitted to the server 2 and the management center server 3 and accumulated as an operation history, and a delivery mail is transmitted from the management center server 3 to the members. Then, the member who received the delivery mail performs a predetermined operation in the locker device 1, unlocks the designated box (4a to 4c), and receives the registered article therefrom.

  When the member receives the registered article from the locker device 1, the received information is transmitted to the management center server 3 via the business center server 2 and accumulated as an operation history, and from the management center server 3 to the post office. Received mail is sent.

  The operation history stored in the management center server 3 is sent to a settlement support center (not shown) as monthly delivery total data, and a bill created based on the total is sent to the post office as a usage fee claim. Shipped.

  By the way, if it is determined in step S5 in the flowchart of FIG. 3 that the long-term absence is set in the locker device 1, it is determined whether or not a long-term absence setting mail is transmitted to the person (step S9). When doing so, the barcode attached to the registered article is read by the barcode reader of the locker device 1 (step S10), and an e-mail having the following contents is transmitted to the person.

"
(Email content)
Since the customer is out of office for a long time,
The forwarding service cannot be delivered.
Enter the URL and give the following instructions.
"
The person who has received the e-mail with the above contents can return the processing method as will information for the contents of the following URL. As a means for replying, a method of inputting in the URL of a mail or a post office is adopted, and according to this, transmission of will information is surely and easily performed.

"
(URL contents)
Please indicate the contents.
1. Tomorrow delivery Weekend delivery
3. Work transfer 4. ...
5). ...
Confirmation
"
On the other hand, if the plurality of boxes 4a to 4c of the locker device 1 are all full in the determination in step S2 of the flowchart of FIG. 3, it is determined whether or not a full mail is transmitted to the person (step (S11) When transmitting, the postman selects the recipient member name on the LCD 7 of the locker device 1 to identify the person, and reads the barcode attached to the registered article with a barcode reader (S11). Step S12). Then, the automatic customer record update means of the locker device 1 captures and updates the approved customer information registered in the operator center server 2, and the locker device 1 determines whether or not the person has applied for absence transfer. Judgment is made (step S13). If the person has not applied for absence transfer, the process ends and a comment “Please enter your absence report” is output.

  On the other hand, when the person has applied for absence transfer, an e-mail having the following contents is transmitted to the person.

"
(Email content)
I transferred it to the locker, but the locker was full.
Enter the URL and give the following instructions.
"
The person who has received the e-mail with the above contents can return the processing method as will information for the contents of the following URL. As a means for replying, a method of inputting in the URL of a mail or a post office is adopted, and according to this, transmission of will information is surely and easily performed.

"(URL content)
Please indicate the contents.
1. Tomorrow delivery 2. Weekend delivery Work transfer 4. ...
5). …Confirmation
"
The above is a specific example of the operation of the registered article automatic management locker system when the locker device 1 is installed in a condominium or the like. In this system, the operator center server 2 that collectively manages the latest updated approved customer information. Since the approved customer information that is taken into the locker device 1 and automatically recorded and updated is checked against the approved customer information read by the barcode reader, the registered item is stored in the locker device 1 when the resident is absent. Can be delivered reliably and efficiently.

  For example, when a postman delivers a plurality of registered goods, if the resident is absent at the entrance intercom, and if the resident is absent and can be transferred, A plurality of registered articles can be stored in the locker device 1 continuously based on the displayed list of approved customer information.

  Further, the postman can surely and efficiently perform the collation operation of the approved customer information based on the latest list of approved customer information displayed on the LCD 7. In this case, since the approved customer information is updated by communication with the business center server 2, it is possible to accurately perform the collation operation of the approved customer information based on the correct approved customer information at all times.

  Furthermore, if the postman brings the registered item back to the station because the plurality of boxes 4a to 4c of the locker device 1 are all full or the resident is absent for a long period of time, this is absent. Can be notified by sending an e-mail to the person, and a method for processing a registered article taken back can be obtained from the person as will information.

  In addition, using the directional microphone provided in each box 4a-4c of the locker device 1, the locker device 1 and the postman perform a predetermined procedure in an interactive manner to unlock the predetermined box, and the LED blinks. It is also possible to adopt a system that informs the delivery person of the unlocked box. In this case, it is desirable to blink the LED of the empty box close to the delivery person.

2) Postal delivery system:
Next, a hub type mail delivery system will be described with reference to FIGS.

  4 and 5 are conceptual views of a hub-type mail delivery system, and FIG. 6 is a front view showing a temporary storage state of mail items in a postal box of a locker device.

  As described above, the locker device 1 is provided with the postal boxes 6a and 6b that can be used only by the postman in addition to the general boxes 4a to 4c, and these postal boxes 6a and 6b. The mail is delivered using the hub method described below.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 4, locker devices 1 are installed in the B region, the C region, and the D region, which are the jurisdiction of the post office 9 provided in the A region. As described above, the center server 2 and the management center server 3 are connected by a communication system such as the Internet (IP network).

  This hub-based mail delivery system is effective for delivery of mail items to areas where it is difficult to get in and out of the mail car 10, and in this system, as shown in FIG. The postal goods are delivered to a predetermined place in each of the B, C, and D areas (places where the mail car 10 can go in and out and can be parked) by branch line delivery from the post office 9 by the post car 10, as shown in FIG. The mail delivery person 11 delivers the packed mail to the locker device 1 using the cart 12. Then, the mail delivery person 11 opens the doors of the postal boxes 6a and 6b of the locker device 1, and stores the small bag 13 containing the mail items in the upper small postal box 6a to temporarily store it. The large bag 14 is stored in the large post-dedicated box 6b at the lower stage together with the cart 12 while being placed on the cart 12, and temporarily stored.

  By the way, as described above, in the postal dedicated boxes 6a and 6b of the locker device 1, the dedicated box state information such as the open / closed state of the door, the open / close time, the open / closed person, and the stay time of the mail is managed. The dedicated box status information is displayed on the LCD 7 of the operation unit 5, and the dedicated box status information is transmitted and received between the business center server 2 and the management center server 3.

  Thus, in the locker device 1, when the mail delivery person 11 inputs, for example, his or her identification number in accordance with the display on the LCD 7 of the operation unit 5 of the locker device 1, the information (switcher information) and the operator center server 2 is collated and if both match, it is determined that the mail delivery person 11 who is an opening / closing person is a registered authorized person, and the CPU incorporated in the locker device 1 The postal boxes 6a and 6b are unlocked to allow temporary storage of postal items.

  As described above, mail items are stored and temporarily stored in the postal boxes 6a and 6b of the locker devices 1 scattered in the B, C, and D areas, but the postal boxes 6a and 6b of the locker devices 1 are temporarily stored. The mail temporarily stored in 6b is taken out by the individual delivery person 15 in charge of each of the areas B, C, and D, and each delivery destination in the surrounding area, for example, a detached house 16 as shown in FIGS. Delivered individually to residents of the apartment house 17 such as an apartment.

  Here, the individual delivery person 15 is a mail delivery person different from the mail delivery person 11, but this individual delivery person 15 also performs the same operation as described above in the locker device 1 and is a legitimate person who has registered himself / herself. Is confirmed, the doors of the postal boxes 6a and 6b are unlocked, and the postal items temporarily stored in the postal boxes 6a and 6b can be taken out. The individual deliverer 15 can obtain the dedicated box status information by displaying on the LCD 7 of the locker device 1. In particular, since the postal residence time is managed in the postal boxes 6a and 6b, it is possible to check whether the postal boxes 6a and 6b are in an empty state and to check the postal delivery delay. Accurately grasp and deliver without delay.

  As described above, the locker devices 1 including the postal boxes 6a and 6b that can be used only by the postman are respectively installed in a plurality of B, C, and D areas. Special box status information such as the open / closed state of the door, the open / close time, the open / closed person, and the staying time of the mail is managed, and the information is transferred between the locker device 1, the business center server 2 and the management center server 3. It is possible to adopt a hub system for the postal delivery system, and according to this hub system, even in areas where B, C and D cannot be accessed and parked, Even if it exists, mail can be efficiently delivered to these areas.

  Further, since the postal boxes 6a and 6b provided in the locker device 1 can be used only by the mail delivery person, high safety is ensured for the mail items stored in the postal boxes 6a and 6b.

  INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention is useful when a registered article handled by a post office is transferred using a locker device, and by providing a post-dedicated box in the locker device, a hub-type mail delivery system can be operated.

It is a conceptual diagram which shows the flow of the approval customer information and exclusive box state information in the system which concerns on this invention. It is a front view of a locker device. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence in the case of delivering a registered article. It is a conceptual diagram of the mail delivery system by a hub system. It is a conceptual diagram of the mail delivery system by a hub system. It is a front view which shows the temporary storage condition of the mail in the mail exclusive box of a locker apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Locker apparatus 2 Business center server 3 Management center server 4a-4c Box 5 Operation part 6a, 6b Mail-only box 7 LCD
8 Receipt issuing port 9 Post office (business center)
10 Postal Car 11 Postman 12 Cart 13,14 Bag 15 Individual Carrier

Claims (6)

At least a carrier center server that manages information (hereinafter referred to as “approved customer information”) of customers who have approved at least transfer of registered articles in advance and a locker device installed at a predetermined location are connected by a communication system. ,
The locker device includes at least an automatic record update unit for approved customer information captured by communication from the provider center server, a display unit for various information, and an input unit or registered article for the postman to input approved customer information. And at least one of reading means for reading the approved customer information from the attached information medium,
The postal delivery person collates the approval customer information input to the locker device by the input means or the approval customer information read by the reading means and the approval customer information already updated by the automatic record update means, A registered article automatic management locker system configured to open a box door of the locker device and store a registered article in the box only when they match.   If all the boxes of the locker device are full, or if the locker device is set to be absent for a long time and customer information is excluded from the approved customer information, the registered item is stored in the locker device. The registered article automatic management locker system according to claim 1, wherein result information indicating that the user has taken it home without being sent is sent by e-mail to a customer as a delivery destination.   3. A registered article according to claim 1 or 2, wherein automatic record update of approved customer information by said automatic record update means is performed at predetermined time intervals, and a list of latest approved customer information can be displayed on said display means. Automatic management locker system.   The registered article automatic management locker system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a postal-only box that can be used only by a postman is provided in a part of the locker device.   The dedicated box status information such as the open / closed state of the door, the opening / closing time, the open / closed person, the residence time of the mail is managed in the dedicated mail box, and the dedicated box status information is stored in the dedicated mail box, the management center server, and the business center server. 5. The registered article automatic management locker system according to claim 4, wherein communication is possible between the two. In addition to interspersing locker devices with postal boxes that can only be used by the postman in multiple areas, each locker device and the operator center server are connected by a communication system,
Posts are delivered from branch offices to each locker device by branch delivery using a postal car and temporarily stored in a postal box. Individual mailers take out the temporarily stored postal items from the postal box and send them to the surrounding area. A postal delivery system characterized by individual delivery to each delivery destination.

Images