JP2019016190A - Article collection system, receipt box, and article receiving method - Google Patents

Abstract

To promote the diffusion of home delivery boxes, suppress the increase in delivery volume due to re-delivery or the like, and facilitate logistics, by sharing the costs of installing home delivery boxes among delivery companies of delivery parcels, mail-order dealers, recipients, home delivery box installation/managers, and other parties concerned, according to the benefits they each enjoy.SOLUTION: Provided are a point management server 4 that issues value information having exchange value as a point to each home delivery box 10 and manages home delivery box ID of the home delivery box 10 and the point issued to the home delivery box 10 in association with each other, and a console 102 that inquires the database of the presence or absence of registration of a delivery company or a sender relating to the delivery of an article and the presence or absence of points relating to the receipt box and controls the locking or unlocking of the receipt box according to the inquiry result.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an article receiving apparatus, for example, an article receiving system, an receiving box, and an article receiving method for receiving articles such as parcels and mail using a receiving box.

  In recent years, with the rapid spread of mail order (EC), logistics and delivery volumes that greatly exceed the delivery capacity of delivery companies have occurred, and the delivery business has become paralyzed. One of the reasons for the increase in the distribution and delivery volume is the heavy burden of re-delivery due to the absence of recipients, and there is an urgent need to improve it.

  On the other hand, an article collection device called a mailbox or a so-called delivery box may be installed in an apartment house such as a condominium. In particular, the delivery box is an article storage (acquisition) apparatus having a plurality of lockable article collection boxes for receiving a delivery package addressed to a specific resident or collecting a delivery package sent by a specific resident. is there. In this article collection box, one article collection box is exclusively assigned to each resident and can be used for receiving mail. In this type of delivery box, unlocking (or locking) necessary for taking in and out delivery packages to and from a plurality of goods receipt boxes, and authentication means such as an ID card (IC card, etc.) are provided on a console using a touch panel or the like. There has also been proposed one that is controlled through an authentication operation that is presented to a card reader (for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2017-64456 A

  By the way, as one solution for increasing the delivery amount due to the above-mentioned redelivery, there is the installation of a delivery box as described above. However, since the cost for installation and the maintenance / management costs are high when installing the home delivery box, it becomes a problem who will bear this cost, which also hinders the spread of home delivery boxes.

  For example, when a delivery box or a mail order company installs a delivery box, the convenience may not be guaranteed due to interest issues such as whether to allow other delivery companies or mail order companies to use it. If the property owner or resident individual installs it, it is difficult to set up a delivery box because the interests are complicated and entangled because the economic benefits of installing it for a high installation cost are small. Currently.

  In view of the above problems, the object of the present invention is to pay for the cost of installing a goods collection box such as a delivery box, a delivery package delivery company, a mail order dealer, a recipient, a delivery box installation / manager, and other related parties. Goods collection system, collection box, and goods that can be shared according to the benefits that each enjoys, promote the spread of delivery boxes, suppress the increase in delivery volume due to redelivery, etc., and facilitate the distribution It is to provide a receipt method.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention manages the receipt of articles using a collection box by a management server through a communication network.
A delivery management database that records a delivery company identifier that identifies a delivery company that delivers the article and a receipt box identifier that identifies the receipt box;
A shipping source management database that records a shipping source identifier that identifies a shipping source of an article and the receipt box identifier;
A point issuing unit that issues value information having exchange value to each receiving box as a point, and manages the receiving box identifier of the receiving box and the point issued to the receiving box in association with each other;
The delivery management database or the shipping source management database is inquired about the presence or absence of registration of the delivery company or the shipping source related to the delivery of the article, and the presence or absence of points relating to the receipt box, and the receipt according to the inquiry result. And a control unit for controlling locking and unlocking of the box.

  In the above invention, according to the frequency with which the delivery company or the shipping source stores the article in the collection box, the delivery company or the shipping source related to the stored article transfers the delivery of the article. It is preferable to further provide a point management unit for transferring the points.

  In the above invention, the control unit is predetermined when the delivery management database or the shipping source management database has no registration of the shipping company or the shipping source for the delivery of the article, or there is no point regarding the receipt box. It is preferable to provide a support function for requesting the operation as an unregistered contractor operation and controlling the locking or unlocking of the collection box based on the operation according to the request.

  In the said invention, it is preferable that the said unregistered trader operation | movement requested | required by the said support function is operation which deposits a banknote, a coin, or electronic money.

  In the above invention, it is preferable that the unregistered contractor operation requested by the support function is input of a password that is temporarily given.

  According to these present inventions, the cost of installing a collection box such as a delivery box is divided between a delivery package delivery company, a mail order company, a recipient, and a delivery box installation / manager and other related parties, respectively. Can be shared according to the profits enjoyed by the user, and the burden of the installation cost of the delivery box can be made substantially zero.

  For example, by installing a delivery box, the delivery company and the mail order company can obtain an economic profit, and the profit can be returned to the installation cost bearer via the points. As a result, it is possible to promote the spread of home delivery boxes, suppress an increase in the delivery amount due to re-delivery and the like, and facilitate the physical distribution.

  In addition, according to the present invention, a unique ID is assigned to each delivery box, the owner information is inquired in the database at the time of delivery service, and linked with a web service such as an EC site with which the owner is contracted. By delivering the product to the delivery box, data relating to logistics such as other delivery operations and mail order sales can be recorded.

It is a conceptual diagram which shows the whole structure of the goods receipt system which concerns on embodiment. It is the perspective view which showed the external appearance structure of the delivery box which concerns on embodiment. It is the front view which showed the external appearance structure of the delivery box which concerns on embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the internal structure of the delivery box which concerns on embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the internal structure of the user terminal used as the delivery destination which concerns on embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the internal structure of the terminal for delivery companies which concerns on embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the internal structure of the information management server and EC site delivery server which concern on embodiment. It is a sequence diagram which shows the monitoring method which concerns on embodiment. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the whole structure of the goods receipt system which concerns on the example of a change.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment for providing a home delivery box point return service using an article collection system according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing an overall configuration of an article receiving system according to the present embodiment.

(Outline of goods collection service)
In the home delivery box point return service according to the present embodiment, the point management company D provides a service for installing a home delivery box at home for 300 yen per month for the user W as a shipping destination. User W contracts a delivery box providing service of point manager D and installs delivery box 10 at home. With this contract, the user W pays 300 yen per month to the point manager D. As shown in FIG. 2, the delivery box 10 includes a plurality of delivery boxes 10 that constitute one collective receiving device 100.

  The delivery box 10 is associated with a delivery box ID, a service ID of the point management company D, and a point account. Further, if the purchase is made via the mail-order company A as a shipping source, the delivery box 10 automatically It is a mechanism that works together. In providing the delivery box service, the point management company D associates each ID in the point management database 234 so as to cooperate with the mail order traders A and R, the delivery companies K and S, and the sponsor company J, which is the sponsor company. ing. The home delivery box is affixed with a sticker displaying a logo of the sponsor company, etc., and the home delivery box itself is also an advertising medium. In addition, an advertisement for the sponsor company J is distributed to the application (web service) for the delivery box.

  More specifically, a delivery box ID that is a unique collection box identifier is assigned to each delivery box 10 installed in the apartment B1 or the like where the user W resides. As the home delivery box ID, various identifiers can be used as long as the ID can be a unique ID such as a bar code or QR code (registered trademark) in addition to a character string. At the time of delivery of the parcel P1, the delivery company K carries the delivery service terminal 2 and uses the delivery service terminal 2 to read the delivery box ID together with the terminal operation necessary for normal delivery service. Or, input manually to check whether the delivery box can be used.

  In the user information database 235 provided in the point management server 4 arranged on the communication network 5, the login user ID of the mail order site and the delivery box ID owned by the user are registered in association with each other. Thereby, when a user purchases a product at a mail order site, it is possible to confirm that the purchaser is a user of a delivery box by checking information related to the purchaser in the user information database 235, and The product can know that it can be delivered to the address where the delivery box is located.

  In this service, a point management server 4 is arranged on the communication network 5, and the point and the delivery box ID are linked by this point management server 4. This point management server 4 issues a point, which is value information having exchange value, to each delivery box (or user W who is the owner of the delivery box), and issues it to the delivery box ID and the delivery box. And manage the associated points. In this embodiment, the funds for this point are the courier K, the mail order A, and the sponsor company J, and these persons charge a registration fee, usage fee, advertising fee, etc. as an exchange value equivalent to the issued point. It becomes a target.

  The user W who is the owner of the delivery box 10 can receive the points by receiving the goods via the delivery box 10, and the point management company D manages the exchange of the points.

(Overall configuration of goods collection system)
Here, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the article collection system according to the present embodiment is a system in which collection of articles using the collection box is managed by a management server through a communication network. In addition, it has a user terminal 1 possessed by each user, a delivery service terminal 2 carried by a delivery company, a mail order server 3 that distributes a mail order site E1, and a point management server 4. In FIG. 1, only one user terminal 1 owned by the user W is shown, but information processing terminals owned by many users can be connected to the communication network 5 and participate in this system. It can be done.

  The communication network 5 includes a wireless communication network, and various communication lines (telephone lines, ISDN lines, ADSL lines, public lines such as optical lines, private lines, wireless communication networks) are mutually connected using the communication protocol TCP / IP. It is a distributed communication network constructed by connecting, and the communication network 5 includes a LAN such as a corporate network or a home network.

  The wireless base station 51 is connected to the communication network 5 through a relay device, a gateway device, or the like, establishes a wireless communication connection with the user terminal 1 or the delivery service terminal 2, and is connected to the user terminal 1 or the delivery service terminal 2. It is a device that provides telephone calls and data communications. Note that the radio base station 51 in the present embodiment can serve as a location information acquisition unit that manages in which cell each user terminal 1 is located on the communication network 5. The relay device is a node device such as a modem, a terminal adapter, or a gateway device for connecting to the communication network 5, performs communication path selection and data (signal) mutual conversion, Relay processing with the communication network 5 is performed.

  The point management server 4 is a server device that is arranged on the communication network 5 and manages and controls the entire system such as user management, point management, and delivery box maintenance / management. The point management server 4 includes a Web server, and a server computer that transmits information such as an HTML (HyperText Markup Language) file, an image file, or a music file in a document system such as WWW (World Wide Web) or a function thereof Information such as HTML documents and images is accumulated, and contents (Web pages) are distributed in response to a request from an application such as a Web browser executed on the user terminal 1. .

  The user terminal 1 used by each user is, for example, a smartphone having an arithmetic processing function by a CPU and a wireless communication function, and communicates wirelessly with a relay point such as a general base station, and communication services such as telephone calls and data communication Can be received while moving. Examples of this communication method include an FDMA method, a TDMA method, a CDMA method, a W-CDMA, a PHS (Personal Handyphone System) method, and the like. In addition, as a wireless interface different from the above-described communication method, a function corresponding to a communication method based on transmission / reception of IP packets conforming to a wireless LAN standard or the like is also provided. Furthermore, the user terminal 1 is equipped with functions such as a digital camera function, an application software execution function, and a GPS function, and also functions as a personal digital assistant (PDA).

(Internal structure of each device)
Next, the internal structure of each device constituting the system described above will be described. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of a console provided in the delivery box according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the user terminal 1 used by a user as a delivery destination. . The “module” used in the description refers to a functional unit that is configured by hardware such as an apparatus or a device, software having the function, or a combination thereof, and achieves a predetermined operation. .

(1) Delivery Box FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 show an external configuration of the collect / collection receiving apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 4 shows an internal configuration of the delivery box. The collective collection device 100 is a collection of collection boxes arranged near the entrance of a building as a delivery box (delivery locker) used for delivery of so-called delivery items, or a mailbox. In this embodiment, the collective collection device 100 is an example of a collective housing such as a condominium, and is composed of a plurality of delivery boxes 10, 10. Each delivery box 10 is provided with a door 101b that is opened and closed on the front surface thereof. When the door 101b is closed, the internal storage space 101c is closed and the delivery box 10 is also installed as a mailbox. Is provided with a mailing port 101a for penetrating through the front and back of the door 101b for mailing. The door 101b is provided with an electronic lock 101d that is controlled to be locked / unlocked by remote control or input of a number key.

  Locking / unlocking of the door 101b for storing and taking out mails or deliveries in the delivery boxes 10, 10... Is controlled by the control unit 103 in accordance with the operation of the resident (or delivery company) at the console 102. Is done.

  In FIG. 2, one of the delivery boxes 10 is shown with the door 101b open. In other boxes, the door is closed. The door 101b is pivotally supported by a hinge, and can be locked and unlocked by an electronic lock 101d.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the console 102 includes information such as an output unit 102 a composed of an LCD panel or a touch panel, a speaker, an operation unit 102 b composed of function keys and numeric keys, and an ID card as authentication means. Is provided with a card reader 102c for reading the coins and a coin insertion part 102d for inserting coins.

  Here, the ID card that can be read by the card reader 102c is possessed by a resident of an apartment house or a delivery person of a courier, respectively, an identifier associated with a specific resident of the apartment house, a delivery person, It is composed of a non-contact IC card in which an identifier of a company specifying a delivery company is recorded as ID information. Further, in order to prevent use of an IC card other than the tenant or the courier, the IC card stores specific key information indicating that it is a regular card that can be used in the apartment house, or ID information such as a room number can be encrypted and recorded using key information that can be used only in the apartment house.

  The ID card constitutes an authentication means for various systems arranged in the article receiving device and the apartment house as described above. As the authentication means, in addition to the IC card described above, a mobile phone or smartphone A device having an RFID (Radio Frequency IDentification) interface equivalent to a non-contact IC card, such as a tablet terminal (or notebook PC), can also be used.

  The control unit 103 of the collective collection device 100 is disposed, for example, inside the casing in which the console 102 is provided. Specifically, the control unit 103 includes a locking control unit 103a, an operation information acquisition unit 103b, and an output information generation unit 103c. The locking control unit 103a is a module that controls an electronic lock driving device 102h that drives an electronic lock provided in each door. According to the presentation of an IC card on the console 102, key operation, and other remote operations, Open / close control of the electronic lock that locks / unlocks the delivery boxes 10, 10,... Of the collective collection device 100 is performed. In particular, the control unit 103 has a function of collaborating with the point management unit 227 to query each database in the storage unit 23 which is a delivery management database and a shipping source management database. By collaborating, the delivery company or delivery source related to delivery of the article is inquired about the presence or absence of points related to the delivery box, and the lock control unit 103a locks each delivery box individually according to the inquiry result. Alternatively, unlocking is controlled.

  In addition, the control unit 103 cooperates with the point management unit 227, and each database on the point management server 4 has no registration of the delivery company or the shipping source related to the delivery of the article, or there is no point related to the receipt box. In this case, a support function for requesting a predetermined operation as an unregistered contractor operation and controlling locking or unlocking of the corresponding delivery box through the lock control unit 103a based on the operation in accordance with the request is provided. In an unregistered trader operation required by this support function, an operation of acquiring banknotes, coins, or electronic money through a coin insertion unit 102d or a card reader 10c, or a one-time password temporarily given through the operation unit 102b. The process etc. to accept are mentioned.

  The console 102 communicates with a control unit 103 configured by an arithmetic processing device such as a CPU as a main control unit, a memory 102g storing a program of the control unit 103 and other data, and the electronic lock 101d and the console 102. Data transmission unit 102f and wireless interface 102e.

  The control unit 103 has a network interface (for example, an IEEE 802.3 network interface or a predetermined WAN interface) 204 and can communicate with a remote server via a network (intranet or the Internet).

(2) User terminal 1
Next, the internal configuration of the user terminal 1 will be described. As shown in FIG. 5, the user terminal 1 includes a wireless interface 11, a storage device 15, an application execution unit 14, an output interface 13, and an input interface 12.

  The wireless interface 11 has a function of executing wireless communication using a mobile communication protocol for making a call and wireless communication using a data communication protocol such as a wireless LAN. The wireless interface 11 is a transmission / reception device compliant with IEEE 802.11b for performing wireless LAN connection, and can be realized by a wireless LAN adapter or the like in a mobile computer or PDA.

  The input interface 12 is a device for inputting user operations such as operation buttons and a touch panel. The output interface 13 is a device that outputs video and sound, such as a display and a speaker. In particular, the output interface 13 includes a display unit 13a such as a liquid crystal display. The storage device 15 is a storage device that stores an OS (Operating System), programs for various applications, other data, and the like.

  The application execution unit 14 is a module that executes an application such as a general OS or browser software, and is usually realized by a CPU or the like. When accessing the Web page with this browser software, a login form is displayed on the display unit 13a, and the user is prompted to input authentication information. Then, the point management server 4 is confirmed via the communication network 5 based on the inputted authentication information whether the accessor has the right and whether the accessor is the person himself / herself. Thus, only the authenticated user can operate the delivery box 10.

(3) Delivery service terminal 2
Next, the internal structure of the delivery service terminal 2 used by the delivery person of the delivery company K will be described in detail. FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration of the smartphone according to the embodiment.

  The delivery service terminal 2 includes a wireless interface 11, an input interface 12, an output interface 13, an imaging unit 18, a storage device 15, a CPU 16, and a position information acquisition unit 17 as modules related to delivery service.

  The wireless interface 11 is a module that performs communication and data transmission / reception with other communication devices. As a communication method, for example, a public line such as a telephone line, an ISDN line, an ADSL line, an optical line, a dedicated line, WCDMA (registration) Trademark) and third-generation (3G) communication systems such as CDMA2000, fourth-generation (4G) communication systems such as LTE, and communication systems after fifth-generation (5G), WiFi (registered trademark), A wireless communication network such as Bluetooth (registered trademark) is included. In the present embodiment, the wireless interface 11 transmits and receives packet data via the communication network 5 and acquires various data such as real estate information from the point management server 4 and the like.

  The input interface 12 is a module that receives an operation signal from an operation device such as a touch panel or a button, and the received operation signal is transmitted to the CPU 16 so that the OS and each application can be operated. Note that this user operation includes a user operation such as shaking the terminal body such as an acceleration sensor or a gyro sensor, or changing the posture of the terminal body such as vertically or horizontally. The output interface 13 is a module that transmits a video signal and an audio signal in order to output video and audio from an output device such as a display and a speaker. In this embodiment, a physical operation switch such as a touch panel or a button is connected to the input interface 12 and the output interface 13, and the display data of the operation screen is displayed on the display and a touch corresponding thereto is performed. A GUI for obtaining a user operation signal by performing an operation or a button operation is provided.

  The photographing unit 18 is attached to the user terminal 1, and is a barcode or QR code in which the box ID (QR code (registered trademark) 101e in FIG. 3) displayed on the delivery box or the package ID attached to the package P1 is encoded. An image pickup apparatus for photographing a code (registered trademark), which is composed of a fixed image pickup device such as a lens or a CCD, and an incident light representing an object image is formed on a light receiving surface of the CCD, and a camera signal processing circuit and A Image data is transmitted to the CPU 16 via a / D converter or the like. The image data includes moving images and still images, and the moving image data is transferred to the CPU 16 in a streaming format in which a large number of continuous images are converted into frames.

  The storage device 15 includes a ROM, a RAM, and the like. The RAM is used as a working memory for the CPU 16 and temporarily stores a calculation result by the CPU 16. A program for the CPU 16 is recorded in the ROM, and program execution instructions are sequentially output in response to a request from the CPU 16. The storage device 15 stores data downloaded from a home delivery management server or the like, and can use information even in an offline state.

  The position information acquisition unit 17 is a module that acquires position information and azimuth information indicating the position of the own device at the time of shooting and the direction in which it is facing, and records it as the current position information of the delivery company K. For example, like GPS Detecting the position of the aircraft by signals from satellites, detecting the position by radio wave intensity from the radio base station 51 of the mobile phone, and the direction and orientation of magnetism by using a magnetic sensor, gyro sensor, acceleration sensor, etc. The direction in which the device is facing is detected based on whether the main body is set up or laid down horizontally.

  The CPU 16 is an arithmetic processing unit, and is a module that executes a general OS, browser software, and other applications in addition to programs. The CPU 16 includes an application execution unit 161. The application executing unit 161 virtually constructs each functional module necessary for the home delivery business on the CPU 16 by executing the home delivery business program. This home delivery service program is a program that causes the delivery service terminal 2 to implement a home delivery service process and a function for downloading data necessary for it, and accepts user operations necessary to operate the home delivery service system, The control result of the delivery box is output through the output interface 13.

  In this embodiment, the application execution unit 161 executes the delivery service program, thereby causing the delivery service terminal 2 that is a general-purpose smartphone to function as an operation / output unit of the receipt management system. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, the application execution unit 161 has a code analysis unit 162, an unlocking management unit 163, and an information acquisition unit 164 on the CPU 16 by executing a delivery service program. The display information generation unit 165 is virtually constructed.

  The information acquisition unit 164 is a module that acquires various types of information related to home delivery services. In this embodiment, the information acquisition unit 164 includes various addresses such as addresses and IDs of delivery destinations related to the delivery business, delivery information accumulated in the database, and user operations. Get the data. Information acquired by the information acquisition unit 164 includes information input by the user using the input means, shooting data such as still images and moving images acquired by shooting, and the Internet and databases. Various types of information are included.

  The code analysis unit 162 is a module that performs image analysis based on the image captured by the imaging unit 18, analyzes a barcode or QR code (registered trademark), and extracts information described in the code.

  The unlocking management unit 163 is a module that identifies a delivery box to be controlled based on the analysis result by the code analysis unit 162 and executes communication control for unlocking the door 101b of the delivery box 10 in question. is there.

  The display information generation unit 165 is a module that generates necessary graphics based on the analysis result of the code analysis unit 162 and the result of unlocking control and outputs the generated graphic from the output interface 13 such as a display.

(4) Point management server 4
Next, the internal configuration of the point management server 4 will be described. The point management server 4 can be composed of a plurality of server groups such as a Web server and a database server in addition to a single server device. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 22 and a storage unit 23.

  The storage unit 23 is a database group for accumulating various types of information related to the present system. Here, the delivery box database 231, the mail order company database 232, the delivery company database 233, the user information database 235, and the point management database 234 are stored. And.

  The delivery box database 231 stores delivery box information related to delivery boxes installed in various locations, and this delivery box information includes the ID, address, installation position, box type, and the like of each delivery box. In the mail order trader database 232, mail order traders who can use the home delivery box service are registered, and in the home delivery trader database 233, home delivery companies that can use the home delivery box service are registered.

  The delivery box database 231 will be described in detail. In the delivery box database 231, each delivery box 10 or a unique ID of each unit box included in the delivery box is recorded and stored. The delivery box database 231 stores each delivery box. 10, a delivery box ID as a unique identifier, an owner ID which is an identifier for identifying each delivery box owner, and a delivery company ID which is an identifier unique to a trader capable of delivering a package to this delivery box A mail order merchant ID, which is an identifier for identifying a mail order site that can use this home delivery box as a delivery destination, is associated. In addition to each delivery box ID, in addition to related information such as the installation location and number where each delivery box is installed, the sponsor ID of the company related to the service associated with the delivery box, the points associated with each delivery box The point trader ID that identifies the business operator related to, and other IDs that can be linked to the delivery box are linked.

  In associating the delivery company with the delivery box, it is possible to grasp which delivery company used the delivery box by registering the delivery company ID in the delivery box database 231 and recording the use history. Further, by using the unregistered supplier use function, even a delivery company whose delivery company ID is not registered in the delivery box DB can be used.

  In addition, in associating a mail order company with a delivery box, registering the mail order company ID in the point management server 4 and recording the use history to grasp which mail order company used the delivery box. Can do. Further, by using the unregistered trader use function, a mail order trader whose mail order trader ID is not registered in the point management server 4 can be used.

  Then, for the association between the points and the delivery box ID, the point issuing unit issues points, which are value information having exchange value, to each delivery box, and stores the receipt box identifier of the receipt box and the receipt box. In this embodiment, the resources for this point are a courier, a mail order company, and a sponsor, and these persons have an exchange value equivalent to the issued point. It is subject to billing such as registration fee, usage fee, and advertising fee.

  The owner of the delivery box can receive the points by receiving the goods via the delivery box, and the exchange of the points is managed by the point trader.

  The user information database 235 is a database that accumulates information about the user W and the user terminal 1 serving as each delivery destination. In this embodiment, the user ID database 235 includes a user ID (such as the IP address of the user terminal 1) that identifies the user terminal 1. Information related to the user (address, terminal e-mail address, telephone number, affiliation, etc.) is recorded in association with each other.

  The point management database 234 is a value information database that accumulates value information assigned to a user or a group to which each supplier belongs in association with an individual, company, or group. In this embodiment, the value information points to Handled.

  The communication interface 21 is a communication interface that transmits and receives data to and from the user terminal 1 and each server device through the communication network 5. In this embodiment, the communication interface 21 receives an inquiry about information about a delivery box, a mail order company, a delivery company, etc. from the delivery service terminal 2 via the communication network 5, and information on each searched delivery box information, etc. The information stored in various databases is distributed.

  The control unit 22 is an arithmetic module configured by a processor such as a CPU, hardware such as a memory and other electronic circuits, software such as a program having a function thereof, or a combination thereof, and the program is appropriately executed. Various functional modules are virtually constructed by reading and executing, and various processes for operation control of each unit and user operations are performed by the constructed functional modules. In the present embodiment, the control unit 22 includes an authentication unit 221, a data search unit 222, a search request acquisition unit 223, a search result transmission unit 224, an information collection unit 225, a data update unit 226, Point management unit 227.

  The authentication unit 221 is a computer that verifies the legitimacy of an accessor or software having a function thereof, and acquires an identifier such as the user's own ID and the IP address of the user terminal 1 through the communication network 5 to obtain user information This is a module for checking whether or not the accessor has the right by checking the database 235 and whether or not the accessor is the principal. When the authentication by the authentication unit 221 is successful, the data search service by the data search unit 222 can be used.

  The point management unit 227 issues value information having exchange value as a point to each receipt box, and manages a collection box identifier of the delivery box and a point issued to the receipt box in association with each other It is. For example, the point management unit 227 may receive the delivery of the article from the delivery company or the delivery source related to the stored item according to the frequency at which the delivery company or the delivery source stores the item in the delivery box. Execute management such as transferring points.

  Further, the point management unit 227 has a function of collaborating with the data search unit 222 and inquiring each database in the storage unit 23 which is a delivery management database and a shipping source management database, and the control unit 103 of the console 102. In cooperation with, inquires about the presence or absence of registration of the delivery company or shipper for delivery of the article and the existence of points related to the delivery box, and controls locking or unlocking of the delivery box according to the inquiry result .

  In addition, the point management unit 227 and the control unit 103 cooperate with each other in the database in the storage unit 23 when there is no registration of the delivery company or the shipping source related to the delivery of the article, or there is no point related to the receipt box. And a support function for requesting a predetermined operation as an unregistered contractor operation and controlling the locking or unlocking of the article collection box based on the operation according to the request. As an unregistered trader operation required by this support function, an operation of depositing banknotes, coins, or electronic money, an input of a one-time password given temporarily, and the like can be cited.

  The data search unit 222 searches the databases 231 to 234 based on the keywords included in the search request in the keywords acquired by the search request acquisition unit 223 in cooperation with the database search unit 164e on the user terminal 1 side, This module returns a search result through the search result sending unit 224. The information collection unit 225 is a module that collects the latest information from an external information server such as the mail order server 3 and other information sources on the Internet and reflects the information in various databases through the data update unit 226. A search result in the data search unit 222 is also input to the information collection unit 225, and a search history by the user is accumulated in the user information database 235.

(5) Mail order server 3
Next, the internal configuration of the mail order server 3 will be described. The mail order server 3 is an information providing server operated by an external service provider such as a mail-order sales, and sells and delivers products according to the product purchase procedure through the browser software executed on the user terminal 1. Ship the product through the merchant. This mail order server 3 as an external information server can also be constituted by a plurality of server groups such as a Web server and a database server in addition to a single server device. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 31, a control unit 32, and respective product databases 33 and 34.

  The product databases 33 and 34 are a database group that stores various types of information. Here, the product database 33 that stores each product information, and the customer database 34 that stores personal information, payment information, authentication information, and the like of each customer. And.

  The communication interface 31 is a communication interface that transmits and receives data to and from the user terminal 1 and each server device through the communication network 5. In this embodiment, the communication interface 31 receives inquiries about disaster information and map information from the user terminal 1 via the communication network 5, and also provides disaster information, map information, and other various databases in response to requests. The information stored in is distributed.

  The control unit 32 is an arithmetic module configured by a processor such as a CPU, memory, and other hardware such as an electronic circuit, software such as a program having the function, or a combination thereof, and the program is appropriately executed. Various functional modules are virtually constructed by reading and executing, and various processes for operation control of each unit and user operations are performed by the constructed functional modules.

(Operation of the goods collection system)
By operating the article receiving system having the above configuration, the article receiving method of the present invention can be implemented. FIG. 8 is a sequence diagram showing the operation of the article receiving system according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in the figure, when the user W as the delivery destination purchases a product on the EC site operated by the mail order trader A through the Internet or the like, the product is shipped from the mail order trader A after the necessary settlement procedure is completed. (S401). This product is delivered as parcel P1 by the delivery company K (S301), and arrives at a specific delivery box 10 of the delivery box 10 that is the delivery destination (S201).

  In the delivery box 10, the delivery company K operates the console 102 and inputs necessary information. As a method for inputting this information, the QR code (registered trademark) attached to the door 101b of the delivery box 10 is scanned by the delivery service terminal 2 and the QR code (registered trademark) attached to the package P1 is used. Are also acquired from the mail order trader A.

  The series of processes described here is for the user W and the mail delivery box A to be mailed when the purchase procedure is executed on the EC site when the user W shop at the mail order dealer A via the portal site of the point manager D. Since it is possible to link with the merchant A, it is not always necessary for the parcel delivery company K to capture the information of the mail order merchant A and send it to the point management database 234 at the time of the delivery service.

  Information input by the delivery company K or information acquired by the delivery service terminal 2 is acquired as package information on the console 102 side (S202). Based on the input package information, the console 102 requests the point management server 4 to query various databases (S101), and confirms whether or not the package can be received by the delivery box 10. On the point management server 4 side, each database is searched in response to the inquiry request, and the searched information is returned to the requesting console 102 as an inquiry result (S102).

  In the console 102 that has received the inquiry result, if the delivery company or the mail-order company A that shipped the package is registered in the point management database 234 (Y in S205), the home delivery specified by the console operation is used as it is. Box 10 is unlocked (S206).

  On the other hand, as a result of the inquiry to the point management server 4, if the delivery company or the mail order company A that sent the package is not registered in the point management database 234 (N in S205), the console 102 Then, an unregistered merchant operation (S303) is requested (S303), and when the delivery company responds to the request, the delivery box 10 specified by the console operation is unlocked (S206).

  Here, the unregistered trader operation means that the delivery box can be temporarily used when the delivery company or the mail order company is not registered in the point management database 234 and the product cannot be put into the delivery box. Operation. More specifically, as a general rule, a delivery box cannot be used for a courier or mail order company that is not registered as a registered trader in the point management database 234, or for a product by a post office delivery person. For this reason, in the delivery box 10, unregistered trader operations can be performed as a support function for a trader not registered in the point management database 234 to use the delivery box. For example, the lock is released by putting a specified amount of money such as 100 yen into the home delivery box 10 with bills, coins, or electronic money.

  In addition, for example, a temporary unlock request from an unregistered company may be accepted through a dedicated smartphone application, and a temporary password may be issued in response to the temporary unlock request. By inputting the one-time password displayed on the dedicated application, the same authority as that of the registered trader may be temporarily granted. When paying out this one-time password, you will be asked to enter an e-mail address, payment information, member temporary registration, and other procedures, and be able to guide you to regular member registration at a later date through this information. Good.

  Also, if the courier is a registered trader but the mail order trader is an unregistered trader, for example, the courier pays 200P or accepts even 100P depending on the service model. The specifications can be set. For example, the delivery box may be divided into a “delivery box that can be used by anyone” and a “delivery box that can be used only by registered dealers”.

  By this unlocking, the delivery company K can open the door 101b of the delivery box 10, store the luggage P1 in the box, close the door 101b (S207), and perform the storage completion operation on the console 102. As a result, the closed door 101b is locked (S208).

  Next, the console 102 transmits a storage report to the point management server 4 in response to the storage completion operation and the locking process being executed (S209). That is, the delivery company K has the authority to put the package P1 in the delivery box 10, opens the door 101b, stores the package P1 in the delivery box 10, and reports the fact to the point management server 4.

  Upon receiving this storage report, the point management server 4 (S103) determines that the delivery of the package P1 has been successfully completed, and sends a delivery completion report to the point management server 4 of the delivery company and the point management server 4 of the mail order company A. Send. Also, the point management server 4 receives the package delivery completion report and updates the point information on the assumption that the delivery box service has been successfully performed (S105).

  For example, 100P is returned to the user W from the delivery company K, and 200P is also returned to the user W from the mail order dealer. That is, the user W obtains 300P with one product purchase. At this time, points from the sponsor company J, which is the sponsor company, may be returned to the user W in the form of a mileage service provided by the sponsor company J, for example.

  In other words, in order for this service model to be established, the mail order trader A registers as a mail order trader that has a partnership with the delivery box 10, and, for example, 100P is reduced per time, and the delivery company K is registered as the delivery company of the delivery box 10. In addition, for example, a contract of 100P reduction is required per time, and the delivery service terminal 2 of the delivery person of the courier is provided with a function to access the point management database 234, and the contract status for each box at the time of delivery service Is matched.

  After that, the point consumed as a result or the transfer of the point is notified to the point management server 4 of the delivery company and the point management server 4 of the mail order company A (S106). By receiving the delivery completion report (S304) and receiving the point consumption notification, the delivery company K or the mail order company A executes various processes according to the delivery completion (S305).

(Example of change)
The above description of the embodiment is an example of the present invention. For this reason, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made according to the design and the like as long as they do not depart from the technical idea of the present invention. For example, in the above-described embodiment, a plurality of delivery boxes 10 are stacked to be used in a collective housing such as the apartment B1, and the collective collection device 100 is used. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, shown in FIG. Thus, you may make it install the delivery box 10 by the side of the entrance B11 of each dwelling unit independently. At this time, the delivery box 10 can be fixed via, for example, a fixing jig B12 attached to the side of the entrance B11. Each delivery box 10 may be provided with a communication / control interface corresponding to the console 102. For example, a dial-type lock 104a is provided, and opening / closing management and point management are performed via a QR code (registered trademark) 104b. Then, an ID for identifying the delivery box 10 may be acquired and performed through the delivery service terminal 2.

(Action / Effect)
According to the present embodiment described above, since the parcel can be stored in the delivery box 10, the parcel delivery can be safely completed even when the user W is absent and the parcel cannot be handed over. can do. As a result, the delivery company K and the mail order company A do not need to perform re-delivery due to the absence of the user W, and can suppress unnecessary costs caused by re-delivery, thereby reducing the cost required for re-delivery. , You can get economic benefits from it. As a result, according to the present embodiment, the cost for installing the delivery box is different between the delivery package delivery company, mail order dealer, recipient, and the delivery box installation / administrator and other related parties. It can be shared according to the profits received, promotes the spread of home delivery boxes, suppresses the increase in the amount of delivery due to re-delivery, etc., and facilitates physical distribution.

B1 ... Mansion B11 ... Entrance B12 ... Fixing jig D ... Point manager E1 ... Mail order site J ... Sponsor company K ... Delivery company P1 ... Luggage W ... User 1 ... User terminal 2 ... Delivery service terminal 3 ... Mail order server 4 ... Point management server 5 ... Communication network 10 ... Delivery box 11 ... Wireless interface 12 ... Input interface 13 ... Output interface 13a ... Display unit 14 ... Application execution unit 15 ... Storage device 16 ... CPU
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 17 ... Position information acquisition part 18 ... Imaging | photography part 21 ... Communication interface 22 ... Control part 23 ... Memory | storage part 31 ... Communication interface 32 ... Control part 33 ... Product database 34 ... Customer database 51 ... Wireless base station 100 ... Collecting and receiving apparatus 101a ... Entry port 101b ... Door 101c ... Storage space 101d ... Electronic lock 101e ... QR code (registered trademark)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 102 ... Console 102a ... Output part 102b ... Operation part 102c ... Card reader 102d ... Coin insertion part 102e ... Wireless interface 102g ... Memory 103 ... Control part 103a ... Locking control part 103b ... Operation information acquisition part 103c ... Output information generation part 104a ... Lock 104b ... QR code (registered trademark)
161 ... Application execution unit 162 ... Code analysis unit 163 ... Unlock management unit 164 ... Information acquisition unit 164e ... Database search unit 165 ... Display information generation unit 221 ... Authentication unit 222 ... Data search unit 223 ... Search request acquisition unit 224 ... Search Result sending unit 225 ... information collecting unit 226 ... data updating unit 231 ... home delivery box database 232 ... mail order company database 233 ... home delivery company database 234 ... point management database 235 ... user information database

Claims (13)

An article receiving system for managing receipt of an article using a receipt box for receiving an article by a management server through a communication network,
A delivery management database that records a delivery company identifier that identifies a delivery company that delivers the article and a receipt box identifier that identifies the receipt box;
A shipping source management database that records a shipping source identifier that identifies a shipping source of an article and the receipt box identifier;
A point issuing unit that issues value information having exchange value to each receiving box as a point, and manages the receiving box identifier of the receiving box and the point issued to the receiving box in association with each other;
The delivery management database or the shipping source management database is inquired about the presence or absence of registration of the delivery company or the shipping source related to the delivery of the article, and the presence or absence of points relating to the receipt box, and the receipt according to the inquiry result. An article collection system comprising: a control unit that controls locking or unlocking of the box. According to the frequency at which the delivery company or the shipping source stores the article in the collection box, the point is sent from the delivery company or the shipping source related to the stored article to the shipping destination that received the delivery of the article. The article collection system according to claim 1, further comprising a point management unit to be transferred.   The control unit performs a predetermined operation when the delivery management database or the shipping source management database has no registration of the delivery company or the shipping source related to the delivery of the article or there is no point regarding the receipt box. 2. The article receiving system according to claim 1, further comprising a support function that requests as an unregistered trader operation and controls locking or unlocking of the receiving box based on an operation according to the request.   4. The article collection system according to claim 3, wherein the unregistered contractor operation requested by the support function is an operation of depositing banknotes, coins, or electronic money.   4. The goods collection system according to claim 3, wherein the unregistered contractor operation requested by the support function is input of a password temporarily given. A receipt box used in the article receipt system according to claim 1,
The delivery management database or the shipping source management database is queried for the presence or absence of registration of the delivery company or the shipping source related to the delivery of the article, and the presence or absence of points relating to the receipt box. A receiving box comprising a control unit for controlling locking or unlocking of the receiving box.   The control unit performs a predetermined operation when the delivery management database or the shipping source management database has no registration of the delivery company or the shipping source related to the delivery of the article or there is no point regarding the receipt box. 6. The receiving box according to claim 5, further comprising a support function that requests as an unregistered contractor operation and controls locking or unlocking of the receiving box based on an operation according to the request. The unregistered contractor operation required by the support function is an operation of depositing banknotes and coins,
The receiving box according to claim 7, wherein an input unit that receives the bill or coin is connected to the control unit. The unregistered contractor operation required by the support function is an operation of inputting electronic money,
8. The receipt box according to claim 7, wherein an input unit to which the electronic money is input is connected to the control unit. The unregistered contractor operation requested by the support function is an input of a password temporarily given,
The receipt box according to claim 7, wherein an input operation unit for inputting a temporary password is connected to the control unit. An article receiving method for managing receipt of an article using the article receiving system according to claim 1,
When storing the goods in the receipt box, the delivery management database or the shipping source management database includes the delivery company or the shipping source related to the delivery of the goods, and the presence or absence of points related to the receiving box. Query
If the result of the inquiry is that the delivery management database or the shipping source management database has registered the delivery company and the shipping source related to the delivery of the article, and there is a point related to the receiving box, the receiving box Storage based on this permission, and controlling the locking or unlocking of the receiving box based on this permission,
When the result of the inquiry indicates that the delivery management database or the shipping source management database has no registration of the delivery company or the shipping source for delivery of the article, or there is no point regarding the receipt box, a predetermined operation is performed. As an unregistered trader operation, and controlling the locking or unlocking of the receipt box based on the operation according to the request.   12. The article receiving method according to claim 11, wherein the unregistered trader operation is an operation of depositing banknotes, coins or electronic money.   12. The article collection method according to claim 11, wherein the unregistered trader operation is input of a password temporarily given.