JP4332368B2 - Article delivery method and delivery system - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method and system for ordering and delivery of articles and the like.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Traditionally, sales counters and gift counters of stores such as department stores and supermarkets sell and deliver goods such as midsummer and year-end gifts as follows.
[0003]
First, an orderer who requests purchase / delivery of an article enters product information to be ordered, information on a destination, and information on a sender (orderer) on a designated application form. Here, the product information and the delivery information are basic information of the delivery system, and the orderer sometimes inputs the code information.
[0004]
The seller reads the application form entered by the orderer as image data using an image scanner, performs image recognition processing, and converts the order information into character code data such as letters and numbers. Alternatively, the code can be entered when the orderer applies. The seller has given a shipping instruction to the producer and the distribution center based on the character-coded data. Here, the delivery center refers to a place where a certain amount of merchandise is stored, and may be a producer's facility or a seller's facility. In either case, since the seller does not have inventory directly, inventory management becomes easy.
[0005]
Producers and distribution centers prepare products to be delivered based on shipping instructions from sellers and request distribution from distribution companies. At this time, the producer or distribution center may prepare the tags required for delivery, or the logistics company may prepare them. In any case, a tag is attached to each product to be delivered, and the logistics company uses this tag to deliver the goods. Do it.
[0006]
The logistics company manages the delivery status based on the tag attached to the product, and notifies the stage of delivery using a copy of the stored tag in response to an inquiry from the orderer or seller.
[0007]
An example of the delivery system as described above is disclosed in Patent Document 1, and a technique related to image processing of a shipping slip is disclosed in Patent Document 2.
[0008]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-101078
[Patent Document 2]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-244769
[0009]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
According to the above prior art, a tag for delivering an article is often filled in by an orderer or created by a dealer based on an application form. The logistics company performs delivery based on the tag, and when the orderer fills in the tag, there is a tendency for the characters to be distorted due to poor entry, leading to erroneous delivery. In addition, when creating a tag at a dealer, digital coding is performed manually based on the application form, or image data input by the scanner is character-coded and digitally coded to visually check and correct input errors and recognition errors. Later, printing was done with a printer to create a tag label, which required a reduction in input costs. In addition, in the case of seasonal products such as midsummer and year-end gifts, it was necessary to process a large amount in a short time.
[0010]
By the way, the orderer sometimes wants to check the status of the delivery (ordering, collection, delivery, notification) of the ordered product. Some logistics companies already have a tracking system, but the above-mentioned conventional technology does not consider the case of ordering / delivery of goods by multiple companies, and the orderer makes an inquiry to the seller. If it was already in the delivery stage, it was necessary to contact the logistics company. In other words, from the point of view of the orderer, it was not possible to obtain centralized tracking information for the product. In addition, for the seller and the logistics company, there is a work burden of answering the inquiry from the orderer.
[0011]
In product delivery systems, coding order information is important for improving the efficiency of shipping and delivery. As in the above-mentioned prior art, an order slip is read with a scanner, image data is recognized, and characters and numbers are recognized. In the process of converting to the above code, the processing load is large and the conversion time is long. For this reason, the service time with the orderer became longer and the service was reduced. In order to solve this problem, after receiving an order, image data recognition processing was processed by a host computer or server with high processing capability. There was a problem that it took a long time to ship the product.
[0012]
In addition, as a method of not recognizing the image data, there is a method in which the orderer inputs the order information by code, but the orderer needs to perform Kana-Kan conversion directly, or an operation such as selecting a menu, There was a problem of poor operability. In addition, in order to help the orderer input work, the burden on the seller was also heavy.
[0013]
An object of the present invention is to provide a product delivery method and delivery system suitable for a product delivery system that solves the above problems and is divided into a plurality of businesses such as distributors and logistics companies, and the number of products handled increases at one time.
[0014]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the first feature of the present invention is that the image data of each entry item on the application form is recognized and converted into a character code, and the character recognition accuracy is particularly low. At least the sender's address / name and the destination address / name, which are likely to be necessary, are registered in the delivery management database as part of the delivery information as image data. The tag label affixed to the item to be delivered is the shipping source, and the tag data generated from at least the sender's address / name and destination address / name image data or character data registered in the delivery management database is printed. Output and affix to the item to be shipped. The logistics company that delivers from the shipping source to the destination reads the invoice number printed on the tag label at each stage of delivery, and registers and manages it in the delivery management database, so that the sender places an order. An object of the present invention is to make it possible to obtain and deliver the delivery information of an article by accessing the delivery management database.
[0015]
In this way, in the digitization of the application form, the correction work due to incorrect input and misrecognition is reduced, reducing the input work burden of the seller and the sender,
The logistics company does not need to digitize the tag data separately and register and manage the tracking information of the tag data. Furthermore, since the application data and tracking data are centrally managed, the sender can grasp the delivery information of the ordered article in real time. Further, the dealer and the logistics company do not need to check the tag to answer the delivery status.
[0016]
The second feature of the present invention is that the delivery management database includes sender information such as the address and name of the sender entered in the application form, destination information such as the address and name of the destination, and product name information to be sent. Including order information including registration number given to each application as a key, delivery information such as specified delivery date, collection date / time, visit date / time, etc., registered as invoice number given for each tag label, and The data structure is such that delivery information is added to each order information delivery destination. Further, the invoice number is assigned when the tag data is generated.
[0017]
Further, the third feature of the present invention is that the delivery management database having the above-described configuration is updated in accordance with a change in delivery status such as collection or delivery using the invoice number printed on the tag label as a search key. . With this configuration, it is possible to easily grasp the delivery status and confirm / change the contents of the request using the receipt number or invoice number as a search key.
[0018]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the outline of the delivery system of the present invention. The delivery system in FIG. 1 accepts a seller 1 who makes a purchase / delivery request for an article by a delivery requester (sender) and the ordering / delivery information from the seller 1, and instructs the producer or delivery company to give a shipment instruction / collection. A delivery management center 2 that gives an instruction, and a producer 5 and an inventory center 6 that ship an article designated as a destination designated by the sender according to an instruction from the delivery management center 2.
[0019]
The logistics company is a company that collects goods from the producer 5 and the inventory center 6 and delivers them to the destination in accordance with an instruction from the delivery management center 2. In order to improve the efficiency of logistics, this logistics company collects the goods collected from the producer 5 and the inventory center 6 at a delivery center in the collection area, sorts them by each delivery center, and collects the goods. Deliver to the destination delivery center. The delivery center of the delivery destination may deliver to the delivery destination designated for each article.
[0020]
Here, for example, the seller 1 purchases and delivers goods such as a mid-year gift and a year-end gift at a service counter or gift counter of a store such as a department store or a supermarket, a product reception desk of a producer, or each household. In order to request, it is a contractor who undertakes the ordering and delivery of goods by the application form described by the customer.
[0021]
In addition, the delivery management center 2 exchanges information with the seller 1, the producer 5, the inventory center 6, and the logistics company via the network, and manages the delivery of articles. Details will be described later.
[0022]
The producer 5 is a shipper of goods, and is an intermediary such as a manufacturer or a commodity wholesaler. This includes direct producers that produce products such as agricultural products and marine products.
[0023]
The inventory center 6 is a place where goods are collected by major sellers. Products delivered from producers such as multiple manufacturers are collected without being delivered to each store of the seller, packed according to a delivery instruction, and shipped. To do. It may be set up when large retailers such as department stores and supermarkets handle gift items such as Chinese yuan and year-end gifts.
[0024]
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a system configuration of the delivery system of the present invention.
The seller 1 and the delivery management center 2 are connected via the network 3, and the order information is transmitted from the seller 1 to the delivery management center 2, and the delivery management center 2 registers and manages it in the delivery management database as shipping / delivery information. Is done. Further, the delivery management center 2 is connected via a network 4 to a producer (producer tag printer 5), an inventory center (stock center tag printer 6), a logistics company collection store 7, a delivery center (delivery center terminal 8), Connected to a logistics company's parcel delivery shop9. Further, the delivery service terminal 20 of a delivery person who delivers goods is connected to the delivery management center 2 via the network 4, or the delivery service terminal 20 manages delivery from the delivery service terminal 19 via the network 4. Connect to the center 2.
[0025]
The network configuration in FIG. 2 is divided into a network 3 on the seller side and a network 4 on the delivery side, and the delivery management center 2 relays the network 3 and the network 4. However, the network configuration is limited to such a network. Instead, any configuration that allows network connection from the distributor and the delivery company to the delivery management center may be used.
[0026]
The seller 1 in FIG. 2 reads a scanner 12 that reads the image information of the application form filled in by the orderer (sender), and order information (acquisition number, product code / product that identifies the product) that will be described in detail later from the read image information. Name, product delivery address / name, product sender's address / name, etc.), and the image data is recognized as a character code and sent to the delivery management center 2. Consists of Further, the seller 1 includes a printer 10 that outputs an orderer (sender) copy of the application contents.
[0027]
The scanner 2 only needs to be able to read the image information on the application form, and uses a flatbed scanner, a stand-type image scanner, or the like. Further, it may be a mobile phone with a digital camera. Alternatively, the orderer (sender) may send the application form as FAX data to the store terminal 11.
[0028]
2 includes a communication processing unit 15 connected to the network 3 and the network 4, a data processing unit 14 for processing order information and delivery information received from the communication processing unit 15, and the order information and delivery. It comprises a delivery management database (13) for storing information.
[0029]
Here, the image data read by the dealer terminal 11 is changed from the image data read by the scanner 12 to a method for recognizing the character code of the order information, and the read image data is transmitted to the delivery management center 2, and the data processing unit 14 recognizes the character. Processing may be performed, and the recognition result may be returned to the store terminal 11.
[0030]
Next, the entire sequence of the delivery image information system of the present invention having the system configuration shown in FIG. 2 will be described with reference to FIGS. Here, FIG. 3 illustrates a case where a shipping instruction and tag data are transmitted from the delivery management center 2 to the producer / inventory center, and FIG. 4 collects goods from the producer / inventory center from the delivery management center 2. A case where a pickup instruction and tag data are transmitted to the delivery company's collection / delivery store will be described.
[0031]
In FIG. 3, departments involved in delivery information and physical distribution of goods are arranged between consignees who receive goods from a requester (sender) of goods delivery in the horizontal direction, and the vertical direction indicates the passage of time. First, a client who is a purchase / delivery requester of an article enters order information such as a product name and a delivery destination on an application form shown in FIG. The seller who received the application form reads the application form with a scanner and uses it as order information. The order information is uniquely assigned to each order, and is managed for each order number. The seller converts the order information into image information for each item such as requester information, product name information, and destination information, or character code information obtained by character recognition of the image information. After confirming the input contents of the requester, the order information is sent to the delivery management center as order information by combining the requester information, product name information, destination information and order date and time for each receipt number.
[0032]
The delivery management center to which the order information for each receipt number is sent registers the order information for each receipt number in the delivery management database. At this time, in addition to the received order information, delivery information such as a delivery designated date and time and a collection date and time is also generated as delivery data and registered in the delivery management database. In addition, order information or shipping address / name image information of the delivery data, sender address / name image information, and tag data which is print data of a tag label attached to an article to be delivered from character code data such as a product name. Generate. At this time, an invoice number is assigned to each tag data to be generated, added to the tag data, and the delivery data is also registered in the delivery management database.
[0033]
The delivery management center registers delivery data in the delivery management database, generates tag data, and then sends a shipping instruction and tag data to the producer or inventory center via the network. In addition, a collection instruction is sent via a network to a distributor who collects goods shipped from the producer or the inventory center. At this time, the distribution data is sent to the logistics company for collection / delivery management of the article instructed to collect.
[0034]
The producer or inventory center that has received the shipping instruction / tag data from the delivery management center issues an article having a product name designated based on the shipping instruction, and performs a packing operation. Further, tag data is printed by the producer tag printer 5 or the inventory center tag printer 6 to create a tag label for delivery. Affix the created tag to the packaged item and wait for collection.
[0035]
In response to the collection instruction from the delivery management center, the logistics company goes to the producer or the inventory center to collect the goods according to the collection date information included in the collection instruction. After the collected delivery items are sorted, the delivery data such as the collection date is updated, and the delivery data is reported to the delivery management center. The delivery management center updates the delivery management database based on this report.
[0036]
The logistics company will then deliver the goods according to the delivery information such as the delivery date specified in the delivery data, and report the delivery date and receipt information to the delivery management center as a delivery completion report when delivery is completed. . The delivery management center updates the delivery management database based on this report.
[0037]
FIG. 4 explains the information between the departments involved in delivery and the movement of goods as in FIG. Registering the delivery data in the delivery management database of the delivery management center and generating the tag data from the order information entered on the requester's application form are the same as in FIG. In FIG. 4, the delivery management center registers delivery data in the delivery management database, generates tag data, and then sends a shipping instruction to the producer or the inventory center. Further, tag data and a collection instruction are sent to the distributor who collects the goods shipped from the producer or the inventory center, and further delivery data is sent as in FIG.
[0038]
Upon receiving the tag data from the delivery management center, the logistics company prints and creates a tag based on the tag data, and collects the goods of the producer or the inventory center at the date and time designated by the pickup instruction. At this time, the printed tag data is affixed to the article, and shipping work is performed. The processing content after collection is the same as in FIG.
[0039]
As explained above, at the delivery management center, for each receipt number, at least receiving address / name and sender address / order information including image information of the name and delivery name and delivery item name are constructed, and a delivery management database is constructed. By generating tag data for delivery including the image information and creating the tag by printing the tag data at the producer, inventory center, or logistics company that collects the cargo, the delivery data can be managed from the order information. At the same time, tag labels can be easily created.
[0040]
Next, functions and processes of the seller, the delivery management center, the producer or inventory center, the collector of the logistics company, the delivery center, and the delivery company of the logistics company will be described in more detail.
[0041]
First, the functions and processes of the seller will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. FIG. 5 shows that the purchase / delivery requester of goods is a service counter or gift counter at a store such as a department store or a supermarket, or a product reception desk of a producer, It is a figure which shows an example of the application form filled in in order to designate goods and a delivery destination to a seller in order to request purchase and delivery. The application form (500) includes a field (506) for requester information such as the address, name, postal code, and telephone number of the requester (sender), and for each destination, the address, name, It has entry fields for delivery address information (502) such as zip code and telephone number, product name and product name code (503), quantity (504) and delivery date (505) of the goods to be sent. The application form is given a receipt number (501) for each requested item so that the application process can be managed with a unique receipt number.
[0042]
In the entry field of the application form (500), it is preferable to use a preprint sheet preprinted with area information so that a predetermined area (address, telephone number, etc.) is entered in a predetermined area. At this time, items that are filled in with alphanumeric characters such as postal code, telephone number, product name code, quantity, etc. may be printed to specify the entry position in order to improve the recognition rate after scanner input. . It is desirable that the area where the address and name are entered should be separated into single characters to improve the recognition rate.
[0043]
In the delivery date and time entry field (505), specify whether or not to specify delivery date and time, details of the delivery date and time to be specified, whether or not to notify the delivery date and time of delivery, whether or not to report when delivery is completed, etc. You may be able to do it. When the delivery date and time is designated as a time zone, erroneous recognition can be reduced by placing a mark. Similarly, misrecognition can be reduced by using mark input for the necessity entry. Details of the delivery date notification to the delivery destination and the delivery completion report will be described later.
[0044]
In addition, it is desirable to print a cutout mark in the entry area on the application form in order to perform character recognition as a form format after scanning the entire image data.
[0045]
The receipt number (501) may be printed or handwritten on the application form such as letters, numbers, and barcodes, or may be identification data in an IC tag embedded in the application form.
[0046]
In addition, the address and name of the delivery address, the address and name of the sender are registered in the computer as data in advance, characters and symbols that identify them are preprinted on the application form, read here, and read from the computer. A method may be used in which the address and name of the delivery address and the data of the sender's address and name are extracted and used for the invoice data.
[0047]
The details of the application form input process at the seller will be described with reference to FIG. The application form entered by the client (sender) is input as image data by the scanner. At this time, the form format of the application form is recognized by detecting the area where the requester information is entered by the cutout mark of the form and the area where the destination information is entered. First, image data such as sender information of address / name / phone number, destination information, and product name is cut out and stored in the delivery management database.
[0048]
Next, the address and name of the requester (sender) previously input as image data are character-recognized, and the recognition result is stored in the delivery management database. Next, character recognition of the product name / quantity of the article to be delivered is performed, and the recognition result is stored in the delivery management database. Furthermore, the address / name of the delivery address is recognized as characters, and the recognition result is stored in the delivery management database. When there are a plurality of delivery destinations, the above recognition process is repeated for each delivery destination, and the recognition result is stored in the delivery management database. Registration in the delivery management database is performed for each receipt number recognized in the same manner. In the above, the address / name character recognition was performed. However, the character recognition may be an acceptance number, a postal code, a telephone number, a product name code, an alphanumeric character such as a quantity, etc. The information entered with these alphanumeric characters is more suitable for character recognition. In this case, it is possible to process the image data as it is without performing the character recognition of the address / name.
[0049]
The image data such as address and name processed as described above, recognized receipt number data and product code data are displayed on the display device or printed by a printer, and the requester (sender) fills in the application contents. Make sure you can check. After the requester (sender) confirms that there is no difference between the application contents and the image data and character recognition results, the registration process of the delivery management database is terminated. If the confirmation cannot be made, perform the scanner input of the application form again and correct the character recognition result. Finally, the image information input by the scanner and the contents of the application form that has been recognized are printed out and used as a copy of the request from the client (sender). Here, it is desirable that the display format and the print format are adapted to the format of the application form, and the character-recognized portion is displayed as character data instead of image data or printed.
[0050]
As an example of data entry for other application forms, we use an address dictionary that records the correspondence between postal codes and telephone numbers and prefecture names and municipalities based on the postal codes and telephone numbers entered on the application form. The address data derived from the postal code or telephone number recognized from the image data is compared with the address data obtained by character recognition of the image data. If they match, the recognition process is completed successfully. If they do not match, character recognition is not performed and processing is performed as image data. At this time, only a part of the address may be replaced with the recognition result. For example, a building name or an apartment name is effective in this case. If there is a discrepancy, it may be possible to use a method that prompts the orderer (sender) to calibrate, assuming that the recognition process has been fraudulent or the orderer's description is fraudulent. Nor.
[0051]
As another character recognition method, when the accuracy of character recognition is equal to or higher than a preset threshold value (when the character can be reliably recognized), it is processed as a character code, and there are a plurality of recognized character candidates, If this is not possible, there is a method of processing the image data as it is.
[0052]
When the requester (sender) and the address and name of the destination are registered in the delivery management database as image data, and the image data of the address and name is printed out and used as a tag, the above character recognition process is performed. There is no need to do it.
[0053]
As described above, in addition to the method of registering order information in the delivery management database from time to time and filling in the order management information at the end, the image data, receipt number data, product code data, and the current time are ordered. May be transmitted together to the delivery management center via the network. The image data, at least the order number data, the data composed of the product code data, and the order date and time are collectively referred to as order information, and are uniquely identified by the order number of the application form of each store.
[0054]
The functions and processing of the delivery management center will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the processing flow of the delivery management center. When order information is received from a seller, a producer list table is first searched using a product code included in the order information as a key to produce a shipping instruction, a collection instruction, and an invoice (tag label) data. Obtains the mail address, the collector address and the invoice (tag label) data output destination address. A configuration example of the producer list table is shown in FIG. Here, the producer list table is a table in which at least a producer address and a collector address and an invoice (tag label) data output destination address are recorded in advance as a set for each product code. The producer address, the collector address, and the invoice (tag label) data output destination address may be a mail address for transferring data, or an IP address or URL for sending data by FTP. Here, the producer refers to the producer 5 or the inventory center 6.
[0055]
Next, tag data to be attached to each article to be delivered is created. In order to uniquely identify the article, an invoice number is assigned according to a predetermined rule and recorded in the delivery management database. Next, the delivery information of the articles to be delivered is extracted from the delivery management database. This delivery information is at least the delivery address and name of the product based on the image data, and the address and name of the sender. For each invoice number, this delivery information and product name information are transmitted to the producer address, the collector address and the output address of the invoice (tag label). These pieces of information are shipping instruction information for producers and inventory centers, are collection information for collectors of logistics companies, and are print data for output destination addresses of invoices (tag labels). When a plurality of product codes are specified in the order information, the above process is repeated for the specified product codes.
[0056]
The collection date is registered for each product in the producer list table of FIG. 8 in the collection information, and when retrieving the producer list table, the collector address and the collection date are read, and this collection date is recorded in the collection information. You may make it transmit to a collector.
[0057]
Here, the delivery management center can also determine the delivery center and the courier as follows. The postal code or telephone number is associated with the store name code of the courier in advance, and the store name code of the optimal delivery center for delivery from the collector to the courier is determined. Obtain the courier's store name code from the postal code and telephone number character code information of the delivery address information included in the order data, and then obtain the delivery center's store name code from the courier's store name code and the courier's store name code Like that. This result is registered in the delivery management database as delivery information for each invoice number.
[0058]
FIG. 9 shows the data structure of the delivery management database. One record of the database is composed of a receipt number as a key, and is composed of a plurality of fields of application form image information, order date and time, sender information, number of destinations, and destination information. Fields 1 to 3 store the receipt number transmitted from the seller, application form image data, and the order date and time when the order information was transmitted to the delivery management center. Fields 4 to 8 store the sender information. ing. Field 9 stores image data of the communication column of the application form. The field 10 stores the number of destinations specified in the application form. Following the destination 1 information stored in the fields 11 to 26, the destination information corresponding to the number of destinations is stored.
[0059]
The sender information further has fields for storing the postal code, address, name, and telephone number, and the image information of characters filled in on the application form is stored. The sender information field stores the character recognition results of these image information. Is stored.
[0060]
One of the destination information allocated for the number of destinations has fields for storing the postal code, address, name, and telephone number of the destination, and image information of characters filled in on the application form is stored and sent. In the previous information field, the character recognition result is stored in the image information. The delivery date / time field stores the time zone specification of the delivery date / time specified on the application form, and the product code field stores the product type of the article requested for delivery.
[0061]
Further, in the delivery destination information, an invoice number that uniquely identifies the article to be delivered, which is numbered when creating the tag data for each delivery destination, is stored. In addition, the order date and time indicating the shipping instruction date and time to the producer and the inventory center, and the collection date and time as the collection instruction information to the collector of the logistics company are stored. In addition, the delivery destination information has fields for storing delivery information such as arrival date and time, departure date and time, visit date and time, notification code, revisit date and time, receipt stamp image information, etc. These destination information is information stored for each article to be delivered that is uniquely specified by an invoice number. Here, only one arrival date / time / departure date / time of the delivery center is disclosed, but when passing through a plurality of delivery centers, fields of arrival date / time / departure date / time for the delivery center passing through are provided. .
[0062]
In the above embodiment, for example, address information is registered in the delivery management database for both image data and the character code of the character recognition result. However, information that can be recognized by the character code is not registered in the image data. Only character code data may be registered.
[0063]
In addition to the above-described method, all or a part of the delivery address and name, the sender's address and name may be replaced with image data, and character or numeric data may be obtained by character recognition. For example, an embodiment in which the name of the prefecture or city in the address is converted to character data by character recognition, and the town name or building name is left as image data.
[0064]
FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a tag label printed out by a producer, an inventory center, or a collector of a logistics company described below. The tag data for printing the tag label is read for each invoice number from the delivery management database described with reference to FIG. 9, and transmitted to the producer, the inventory center, or the collector of the logistics company. The tag label (130) is composed of a portion (133) on which delivery information is printed and a stub portion (134) on which the receipt stamp is pressed, and has a perforation (132) so that it can be cut out during delivery. .
[0065]
The slip label information is printed with slip number information (invoice number), and the printed contents such as the name and address of the delivery address correspond to each field of the delivery management database. Here, it is assumed that the address and name of the delivery destination and the client are image data read from the application form, and the data stored in the delivery management database is printed. However, the present invention is not limited to this. If the character recognition accuracy is high, the character code may be used. Also, the municipality of the character code retrieved from the zip code, the hinge / address and the building recognized. A combination of image information such as name and apartment name may be printed.
[0066]
The receipt stamp area is a confirmation stamp received from the consignee at the time of delivery, and the receipt stamp portion is read as image data by a scanner, and is sent to the delivery management center as one of delivery completion information when delivery is completed. be registered.
Alternatively, the image data in the communication field 508 of the application form in FIG. 5 may be stored in the field 9 of the delivery management database in FIG. 9, and the image data may be printed in the communication field 135 in FIG. As the contents printed in this area, a gift mark, a sender's trademark, and the like are appropriate. The communication field 508 in FIG. 5 is provided in one place on the application form, but may be provided for each destination.
[0067]
Further, the delivery date is printed on the delivery label. As a result, the appearance can be confirmed without accessing the delivery management database as in the conventional case, so that the delivery efficiency is not lowered.
[0068]
The slip number information (invoice number) is provided with character information such as letters and numbers and barcode printing, so that it is easy to automate when sorting and to recognize the invoice number of each distribution base. Alternatively, an IC tag may be embedded in the invoice and the invoice number may be written. Alternatively, a unique identifier stored in the IC tag may be used as an invoice number. In that case, it is assumed that the invoice number and the identifier of the IC tag are associated in the delivery management database.
[0069]
In addition, a slip number (invoice number) that has been preprinted or handwritten in advance on the invoice may be used, but in this case also, the delivery management database associates it with the invoice number.
[0070]
FIG. 11 shows the processing flow of the producer or the inventory center.
The producer receives the shipping instruction information and the tag data information from the delivery management center, prepares the product with the product name designated by the shipping instruction information, and prints the tag label described in FIG. 10 based on the tag data information. Then, it is affixed to the ordered product or the box containing the product, and delivered to the collector of the logistics company. The logistics company delivers the goods to the destination printed on this invoice.
[0071]
Further, in addition to the case where the invoice data is sent to the producer of each product, the product may be collected in advance in the inventory center and delivered from the inventory center according to the order. Even in that case, the invoice data is sent to the inventory center, printed at the inventory center, and the invoice data is affixed to the product or a box containing the product.
[0072]
FIG. 12 and FIG. 13 show the processing flow of the collector of the logistics company. FIG. 12 shows a case where only a collection instruction is transmitted from the delivery management center to the collector of the logistics company, and FIG. 13 shows a case where the collection instruction and tag data are transmitted from the delivery management center to the collector of the logistics company. Yes. FIG. 13 is the same process as FIG. 12 except that the tag label is printed in the first half of the flow.
[0073]
First, in FIG. 12, the collector of the logistics company receives a pickup instruction from the delivery management center. In accordance with the collection location and the collection date and time included in the collection instruction, the goods and the inventory center are collected.
[0074]
At the collection destination, the invoice number (slip number) of the tag label attached to the article is electronically read to recognize the invoice number. The delivery management database is searched using the recognized invoice number as a key, and the date and time information as of the collection date is added to the collection date and time field of the destination information to which the invoice number is assigned, and the delivery management database is updated.
[0075]
The invoice number can be recognized by reading as image data and recognizing characters, by a bar code method, or by inputting the invoice number from a keyboard. In addition, the delivery management database may be updated via the collection store terminal after returning to the distribution company's collection store.
[0076]
FIG. 14 shows the processing flow of the distribution center of the logistics company.
The distribution center is provided for the purpose of improving the efficiency of distribution by the logistics company. When delivering to geographically distant locations, the method of direct delivery to the destination by the collector is not efficient in terms of logistics, so the collected items are once aggregated at the delivery center and the courier who delivers to the destination is aggregated. The goods are delivered to the delivery center of the delivery destination to be distributed and distributed from this delivery center to the courier, and the courier delivers the delivery to the delivery destination. In order to perform tracking of an article described later, the delivery status at the delivery center is also registered in the delivery management database.
[0077]
In the case of articles collected at the delivery center, when the goods are collected at the delivery center, the invoice number of the label label affixed to the article is electronically read to recognize the invoice number. The delivery management database is searched using the recognized invoice number as a key, the date information collected at the delivery center is added to the arrival date field of the destination information to which the invoice number is assigned, and the delivery management database is updated. Similarly, when shipping from the delivery center, the invoice number is recognized, and the date and time information shipped from the delivery center is added to the departure date and time field of the destination information to which the invoice number is assigned in the delivery management database. Update the management database.
[0078]
The invoice number can be read by reading the invoice number as image data using an image scanner and reading the identifier by image recognition processing, or by reading the invoice number using a numeric or character input device such as a mobile PC. Alternatively, the invoice number may be read from the IC tag embedded in the invoice using an IC tag reader.
[0079]
In the inventory center, the delivery management database may be updated while performing the sorting work by the automatic sorter using the invoice number and the invoice data of the tag label.
[0080]
FIG. 15 shows the processing flow of the logistics company's courier.
The courier delivers the articles distributed from the delivery center to the delivery destination according to the delivery information. In an area that can be directly delivered from the producer, the collector and the courier are the same and are delivered directly from the producer to the consignee.
[0081]
When an article to be delivered is delivered to the courier, the invoice number (slip number) attached to the article is electronically read to recognize the invoice number, and the delivery management database is searched using the recognized invoice number as a key. To do. When the product is delivered to the delivery address corresponding to the delivery address and name, the visit date and time in the delivery date and notification code fields of the delivery information to which the invoice number is assigned in the delivery management database are displayed. Update the delivery management database by adding the delivered code. If there is no delivery destination corresponding to the delivery address and name, the delivery management database is updated by adding the no address code as the visit date and time of the delivery destination information and the notification code. When the delivery address corresponding to the delivery address and name is absent, the absence code is added as the visit date and time of the delivery destination information and the notification code, and the delivery management database is updated. If the delivery is completed at the re-visit of the delivery destination, the delivery management database is updated by adding the re-visit date and time of the destination information and the addressless code as the notification code.
[0082]
Also, when delivery is completed on the first visit or revisit, the receipt label of the consignee is pressed on the stub of the label, and the receipt is obtained as image data, and the invoice in the delivery management database The delivery information database is updated by registering it in the field of the receipt stamp image of the destination information given the number.
[0083]
The method of reading the invoice number (slip number) is to read the invoice number as image data using a barcode reader, image scanner, mobile phone digital camera function, etc., and to read the identifier by image recognition processing. It may be a method of reading using a numeric or character input device such as a mobile phone or a mobile PC, or a method of reading an invoice number from an IC tag embedded in an invoice using an IC tag reader.
[0084]
Next, another embodiment having a different configuration of the delivery management database will be described with reference to FIGS. In this example, the seller has an order management database, and the logistics company has a delivery management database, which realizes the same function as in the previous embodiment.
[0085]
FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an outline of the system configuration. As in FIG. 2, an overview of the entire delivery system involved in ordering / delivery of articles ordered and delivered by a seller (sender) as a seller is shown. It is tightening. The difference from FIG. 2 is that the delivery management database 13 of the delivery management center is an order management database 22 and a delivery management database 26. The order management database 22 receives order information from a dealer terminal and generates order information and manages shipping instructions and delivery instructions to producers and inventory centers. The delivery management database 26 receives a delivery request from the sales order management database of the store, and performs tag data generation / collection instruction / delivery instruction / delivery management. The order management database and the delivery management database are connected by a network connection device, and exchange order information and delivery information.
[0086]
In FIG. 16, the producer and the inventory center are connected to the seller's network 3 in order to issue the goods based on the ordering information from the seller. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Similarly to the embodiment, the product may be shipped based on the shipping instruction from the delivery management database.
[0087]
FIGS. 17A and 17B are diagrams showing the configurations of an order management database and a delivery management database, respectively.
In the order management database shown in FIG. 17A, image information obtained by reading the contents of the application form shown in FIG. 5 filled by the requester (sender) and code information obtained by character recognition of the image information are registered. The ordering information is stored together with the receipt number uniquely assigned to each application form, and the subsequent management is performed by the receipt number. The same contents as in FIG. 9 are registered in each field. It has an area for registering an invoice number of a product for each destination, and stores an invoice number that is replied at the time of delivery commission from the delivery management database.
[0088]
In the delivery management database of FIG. 17B, delivery information requested by the seller is registered. These delivery information is composed of sender information consisting of image information and character code information, destination information consisting of image information and character code information, merchandise information, and delivery information of the merchandise, and an invoice number for each requested delivery item. Is granted. Further, in order to associate the order management database with the delivery management database, the receipt number of the product to be delivered is registered. This receipt number is included in the order information from the order management database.
[0089]
FIG. 18 shows an overall sequence diagram in another embodiment. As in FIG. 3, the information between the departments involved in order reception / delivery and the movement of goods are explained.
First, a requester (sender) who is a purchase / delivery requester of an article enters order information such as a product name and a delivery destination on an application form shown in FIG. The seller who received the application form reads the application form with a scanner and uses it as order information. This order information is given a unique order number for each order, and each order number includes image information for each item such as client information, product name information, destination information, or character code information obtained by character recognition of the image information. Converted and registered in the order management database. After confirming the input contents of the requester (sender), the seller issues a shipping instruction to the producer or the inventory center based on the order information. At this time, if there is an answer to the shipping date from the producer or the inventory center, the order management database is updated.
[0090]
Next, the seller sends the order information to the delivery management center as order information by combining the requester information, the product name information, the destination information and the order date and time for each received number based on the order management database.
[0091]
The delivery management center to which the order information for each receipt number is sent registers the order information for each receipt number in the delivery management database. At this time, in addition to the received order information, delivery information such as a delivery designated date and time, a collection date and time, and the like are generated as delivery data and registered in the database. In addition, the order information or the delivery address / name image information of the delivery data, the sender address / name image information, and the character code data such as the product name generate the tag data that is the print data of the tag attached to the delivered item. To do. At this time, an invoice number is assigned to each tag data to be generated, added to the tag data, and also registered in the delivery data database. The invoice number assigned in accordance with the order information is returned as delivery consignment information to the order management database.
[0092]
The delivery management center sends the tag data to the producer or the inventory center via the network after registering the delivery data database and generating the tag data, and collects the goods shipped from the producer or the inventory center. Sending a collection instruction to the logistics company via the network. At this time, the distribution data is sent to the logistics company for collection / delivery management of the article instructed to collect.
[0093]
The producer or the inventory center issues an article with a product name designated based on a shipping instruction from the seller (order management database) and performs a packing operation. Further, based on the tag data from the delivery management center (delivery management database), the tag data is printed by the producer tag printer 5 or the inventory center tag printer 6 to create a tag for delivery. Affix the created tag to the packaged item and wait for collection.
[0094]
In response to the collection instruction from the delivery management center (delivery management database), the logistics company goes to the producer or the inventory center to collect the goods according to the collection date information included in the collection instruction. After the collected delivery items are sorted, the delivery data such as the collection date is updated, and the delivery data is reported to the delivery management center. The delivery management center updates the delivery management database based on this report.
[0095]
The logistics company will then deliver the goods according to the delivery information such as the delivery date specified in the delivery data, and report the delivery date and receipt information to the delivery management center as a delivery completion report when delivery is completed. . The delivery management center updates the delivery management database based on this report.
[0096]
Next, a method for providing tracking information of an article being ordered or delivered will be described with reference to FIGS. The tracking information request is made by either the sender who ordered or delivered the article or the consignee of the article. In either case, the article to be tracked is specified by the receipt number or the invoice number. In the first embodiment, ordering / delivery is managed in the delivery management database. By searching the delivery management database using the receipt number or invoice number as a search key, the order status and delivery information are sent to the sender and consignee. Can be provided.
[0097]
As shown in FIG. 16, in the case of a system that manages order information and delivery information using the seller's order management database and the distribution company's delivery management database, tracking information is provided as follows.
FIG. 19A shows a sequence when the client obtains tracking information. The client makes an inquiry to the order management database for tracking information using the receipt number of the application form receipt at the time of ordering the goods as a key. The order management database returns tracking information to the client based on the registered order information. For example, if there is no stock, a shipping date is returned. If the product has already been shipped from the producer or the inventory center, the seller obtains the invoice number corresponding to the receipt number from the order management database and inquires of the delivery management database of the delivery management center. The delivery management center reads delivery information corresponding to the designated invoice number in the delivery management database and replies as tracking information. Here, the tracking information to be answered includes, for example, a delivery base where the article is stored and a scheduled delivery date. In this way, the requester (sender) can obtain the tracking information including the case of delivery by inquiring the order management database for the receipt number.
[0098]
FIG. 19B shows a sequence when the consignee obtains tracking information. The consignee may have received the receipt of the receipt number at the time of ordering the goods received from the requester (sender). In this case, as in FIG. 19A, the consignee makes an inquiry to the order management database for tracking information using the receipt number as a key. The seller obtains the invoice number corresponding to the receipt number from the order management database and inquires of the delivery management database of the delivery management center. The delivery management center reads delivery information corresponding to the designated invoice number in the delivery management database and replies as tracking information. The seller returns the tracking information returned from the delivery management center to the consignee who made an inquiry using the receipt number as a key. If the consignee knows the invoice number, tracking information is inquired to the delivery management database of the delivery management center using the invoice number as a key, and the delivery management information registered in the delivery management database is obtained.
[0099]
FIG. 20 and FIG. 21 are screen examples showing examples of tracking information that is answered to the client or consignee. FIG. 20 shows the result of searching the order management database and the delivery management database using the receipt number as a key, and displays the delivery status for each delivery destination. Furthermore, the contents of the application can be confirmed by displaying the entire image of the application form. Here, the notification code of the delivery status may display shipment completed, in-delivery, home delivery, etc., or more specifically, the name of the distribution company's store for delivery. FIG. 21 shows the result of searching the order management database and the delivery management database using the invoice number as a key. Although the tracking information is displayed for each receipt number and invoice number as a key for tracking information search, the present invention is not limited to this method, and the same display screen may be used.
[0100]
As shown in the application form in FIG. 5, regarding the delivery date to the delivery destination, the client can specify the delivery date and time at the time of application, the delivery date notification method to the delivery destination in advance, and delivery to the delivery destination when delivery is completed. A method for notifying completion is conceivable. Hereinafter, these embodiments will be described in detail with reference to FIG.
[0101]
Even if the requester (sender) designates the delivery date and time at the time of application, since the shipping state of the goods of the producer and the inventory center is unknown, it cannot always be delivered to the destination as the delivery date and time is designated. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 22, the delivery management center generates delivery data and tag data based on the order information from the seller, registers the delivery data in the delivery management database, and instructs the producer and inventory center to ship.・ After sending the tag data, get the shipping date response from the producer or inventory center. The delivery management center registers the shipping date response in the delivery management database, determines the collection date of the courier based on the shipping date, and sends the collection instruction / delivery data to the courier. Since the delivery date can be determined once the collection date arrives, the requested delivery date for each number is reported to the requester (sender) or seller by means such as email. At this time, a delivery date notification for each invoice number is also sent to the destination by means of e-mail or the like. The delivery date notification to the requester and delivery address is made by filling in the application form in FIG. 6 such as the e-mail address, fax number, telephone number, etc. (not shown), and recognizing these information at the time of ordering, and the delivery management database Can be notified by registering as sender information and destination information.
[0102]
If the delivery date cannot be received due to the absence of the delivery address, etc., the delivery date is notified from the delivery destination to the delivery management center on the Web homepage etc., and the delivery management corresponding to the invoice number is sent. The database is updated. The delivery management center gives a delivery instruction for the changed delivery date to the delivery company. The procedure for changing the delivery date and the update of the delivery management database are performed using the invoice number as a key.
[0103]
When the delivery company performs delivery based on the delivery instruction, if the consignee is absent, the absence information is transmitted from the delivery company to the delivery management center, and the delivery management database is updated. The delivery management center notifies the consignee of the absence by e-mail or the like for confirming the delivery date and time based on the absence information. The consignee who has received the absence notification such as an e-mail sends a redelivery date change notification from the delivery destination to the delivery management center on the Web homepage or the like, and the delivery management database corresponding to the invoice number is updated. The delivery management center gives a re-delivery instruction for the changed delivery date to the delivery company. The procedure for changing the delivery date and the update of the delivery management database are performed using the invoice number as a key.
[0104]
When the delivery of the article is completed to the consignee, the delivery company notifies the delivery management center of the delivery completion notification, and the delivery management database of the invoice number is updated. The delivery management center reports the delivery completion to the seller or requester (sender) by e-mail or the like.
[0105]
FIG. 23 is a flowchart showing details of the delivery date notification and absence notification processing described in FIG. The delivery management database is updated in accordance with the work of the courier and the response from the consignee.
[0106]
FIG. 24 is a flowchart showing an application example of the delivery management database of the present invention. The delivery management database is used to improve the character recognition rate of image data such as addresses and names entered in the application form. In the delivery management database, image information such as addresses and names and character recognition results are recorded, but the character recognition results are calibrated offline. The off-line time can be considered, for example, at night when orders are not placed. When offline, the character recognition processing is performed with higher accuracy than when the application form is input, or the dictionary to be referred to is changed to calibrate the character recognition result.
[0107]
At the time of online processing for inputting the application form, as in FIG. 6, after detecting the input area such as the name and address, after inputting the image data of the area, the character recognition processing is performed. Thereafter, the character code of the name calibrated by the off-line processing of the delivery management database is searched by using the character code of the name recognized by scanning the application form as a key, and history information with a high degree of similarity is acquired. If the image data of the extracted history information and the image data input by the scanner are compared and if they match or have a certain degree of similarity, the character code of the history information is set as the recognized character code. Address information and name information may be combined as history information.
[0108]
Such processing can be performed to improve the accuracy of character recognition. In addition, since the contents of the application form are confirmed by comparing with the history information, it is possible to reduce the load of checking the contents of the application and to improve the efficiency of the order receiving process.
[0109]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, since the tag is generated from the image data of the entry contents of the application form, it is possible to prevent erroneous delivery due to erroneous reading of the entry contents and reduce the processing load for correcting character recognition errors. Time to completion can be shortened.
[0110]
In addition, centralized management of order information and delivery information makes it easy to manage the delivery status, so that the sender can easily check the delivery status, and distributors and logistics companies can answer the delivery status so far. It is possible to eliminate the tracking work of the tag that had been done in the past.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a functional outline diagram of a delivery system.
FIG. 2 is a system configuration diagram of a delivery system.
FIG. 3 is an overall sequence diagram when a shipping instruction is issued to a producer.
FIG. 4 is an overall sequence diagram in the case where a shipping instruction is issued to a collector.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of an application form.
FIG. 6 is a processing flowchart of a store.
FIG. 7 is a processing flow diagram of a delivery management center.
[Figure 8] Producer management table
FIG. 9 is a data structure diagram of a delivery management database.
FIG. 10 shows an example of a tag label.
FIG. 11 is a processing flow diagram of a producer / inventory center.
FIG. 12 is a collection processing flow diagram of a logistics company that has received a collection instruction.
FIG. 13 is a flow chart of a collection process of a logistics company that has received a collection instruction and tag data.
FIG. 14 is a processing flow diagram of a delivery center.
FIG. 15 is a flow chart of home delivery processing of a logistics company.
FIG. 16 is another system configuration diagram of the delivery system.
FIG. 17 is a data structure diagram of another management database.
FIG. 18 is an overall sequence diagram of another embodiment.
FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing a procedure for obtaining delivery information tracking information;
FIG. 20 is a diagram showing a display example of tracking information using a receipt number as a search key.
FIG. 21 is a diagram showing a display example of tracking information using an invoice number as a search key.
FIG. 22 is a sequence diagram of delivery date notification / absence notification.
FIG. 23: Detailed flow chart of delivery date notification / absence notification
FIG. 24 is a flowchart of character recognition processing based on a destination history.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 ... seller, 2 ... delivery management center, 13 ... delivery management database,
3 ... network, 4 ... network, 5 ... producer tag printer,
6 ... Inventory center tag printer, 7 ... Logistics supplier's collection store, 17 ... Collector terminal,
18 ... collection store terminal, 16 ... collection store tag printer, 8 ... delivery center terminal,
9 ... Home delivery store of logistics company, 20 ... Home delivery terminal, 19 ... Home delivery terminal

Claims (3)

Obtain image information of the order information including the orderer, destination and product name entered on the application form,
Based on the acquired image information, at least the first image information, which is an alphanumeric character representing the article name, telephone number, and postal code of the article , is character-recognized and converted to first character code information;
Character recognition of at least second image information including non-alphanumeric characters representing the sender's address and name, and converting it into second character code information;
Said first and second image information, to register with the first and second character code information to the delivery management database as order information,
Based on the first and second image information registered in the delivery management database, print data including image information representing at least the orderer, the address and name of the addressee is generated for each addressee, Print the tag label to be attached based on the print data,
Further, for each delivery destination based on the order information, the delivery information including at least the collection date and time when the article is collected from the shipping source and the delivery date and time when the article is delivered to the delivery destination is generated and registered in the delivery management database. A feature delivery method. The article delivery method according to claim 1 ,
The order information is registered in the delivery management database for each order number assigned to each application form, and the delivery information is stored in the delivery management database for each invoice number assigned to each tag label attached to the article. Article delivery method characterized by being registered in In the article delivery method according to claim 2 ,
The invoice number is printed on the tag label, the collection date and time of the delivery management database is updated based on the invoice number of the tag label during the collection process, and the delivery is performed based on the invoice number of the tag label during the delivery process An article delivery method comprising updating a delivery date and time in a management database.

Images