JP6544034B2 - Delivery box management server, delivery box management system, and delivery box management method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a delivery box management server that manages the use status of a delivery box, a delivery box management system, and a delivery box management method.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a home delivery box has been used to receive a package such as a home delivery service. The delivery box is installed at an entrance of a package recipient or the like, and has one or more boxes capable of storing the package. The package delivery company deposits the package in one of the boxes of the delivery box and notifies the recipient that the package has been deposited in the box. The recipient who has received the notification opens the box after a predetermined authentication process such as input of a password, and takes out the package (see, for example, Patent Document 1). By using the delivery box in this manner, the recipient can receive the package at his / her convenience.

Patent No. 4881588

  By the way, whether or not the package can be deposited in the delivery box depends on whether there is an available box, that is, a box in which the package is not stored among the plurality of boxes of the delivery box. And a delivery trader can not know the existence of the box which can be used in the delivery box concerned, until it conveys the package to the installation place of the delivery box. As a result, when there is no box available and the receiver is also absent, the delivery company is forced to bring back the package and deliver it again at a later date, resulting in a reduction in the delivery efficiency of the package.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a delivery box management server, a delivery box management system, and a delivery box management method capable of enhancing delivery efficiency of packages.

  A delivery box management server for solving the above problems is a server connected via a network to a delivery terminal operated by a delivery person delivering the package to the delivery box via a network, wherein the reservation status of the box included in the delivery box is A storage unit for storing management data to be managed for each of the plurality of delivery boxes, and a specification of the delivery box specified based on the management data in response to the specification of the delivery box from the delivery terminal Receiving a request for reservation of the box from the delivery terminal, the generation unit generating reservation information indicating the reservation status of the box, the communication unit transmitting the reservation information to the delivery terminal, and The management data is scheduled to be updated such that the request is included as a new reservation in the reservation status of the box targeted by the request It includes a setting unit, the.

  A delivery box management system for solving the above problems includes a delivery terminal operated by a delivery person delivering a package to a delivery delivery box, and a delivery delivery box management server connected to the delivery person terminal via a network. A box management system, wherein the delivery box management server stores a management data for managing, for each of the plurality of delivery boxes, the reservation status of the box of the delivery box with respect to the plurality of delivery boxes, and the delivery person A generation unit configured to generate reservation information indicating the reservation status of the box included in the designated delivery box based on the management data in response to the designation of the delivery box from the terminal; A communication unit to be transmitted to a terminal, and a request for reservation of the box from the delivery terminal, the target of the request Becomes the so said the request to the reservation status of the box is included as a new book, and a reservation setting section for updating the management data.

  The delivery box management method for solving the above problems uses the delivery terminal operated by the delivery person delivering the package to the delivery delivery box, and the delivery delivery box management server connected to the delivery terminal via the network. A delivery box management method to be performed, wherein the delivery terminal specifies the delivery box with respect to the delivery box management server, and the delivery box management server has a plurality of reservation statuses of the box included in the delivery box. The reservation information indicating the reservation status of the box included in the delivery box designated by the delivery terminal is generated based on management data managed for each delivery box with respect to the delivery box, and the delivery terminal is Transmitting, and the delivery terminal requests the delivery box management server to reserve the box Tep, the delivery box management server, upon receiving the request for reservation, updating the management data so that the request is included as a new reservation in the reservation status of the box to which the request is made; ,including.

  According to the above configuration or method, the delivery person can reserve the box of the delivery box. Therefore, it is suppressed that the deliverer takes the package which has been carried to the delivery box and does not deliver it again because there is no box that can accommodate the package. Therefore, the delivery efficiency of the package can be enhanced. In addition, since the delivery person who can accurately grasp the size of the package and the delivery time makes a reservation, unnecessary long reservation of the box can be suppressed. Therefore, the utilization efficiency of the home delivery box can be enhanced.

  In the delivery box management server, the reservation status includes a reservation period which is a period during which the box is reserved, and the reservation setting unit sets a period after the reception of the request as the new reservation. Preferably, the new reservation period is set in a period in which the reservation period is not set.

  Usually, the delivery of the package takes place later than at the time of request for reservation of the box. Therefore, according to the above configuration, the box can be prevented from being reserved unnecessarily long, and the utilization efficiency of the home delivery box can be enhanced.

  In the delivery box management server, the reservation setting unit receives the request for reservation of the box from the plurality of delivery terminals and updates the management data for each request, thereby displaying the reservation status indicated by the reservation information. Preferably include the new reservation according to each request from each shipper terminal.

  According to the above configuration, the delivery person using a certain delivery terminal can reserve a box based on the delivery schedule of the delivery person using another delivery person terminal by confirming the reservation status.

  In the delivery box management server, the storage unit stores user information including a contact address of a user who is a recipient of the package, and the delivery box management server receives a request from the delivery terminal. Preferably, the apparatus further comprises a notification unit for notifying the user's contact point of the selection of alternative means for delivery of the package.

According to the above configuration, by reflecting the user's intention in the delivery, the frequency of redelivery etc. is reduced, the delivery efficiency of the package is enhanced, and the convenience of the user is also enhanced.
In the delivery box management server, the alternative means includes at least one of change of the delivery box to which the package is delivered, postponement of delivery time of the package, and direct delivery of the package to the user. Is preferred.

According to the above configuration, the user is shown appropriate means as an alternative means.
In the delivery box management server, the reservation setting unit receives requests for reservation of the box from the plurality of delivery terminal operated by the delivery persons different from each other, updates the management data, and manages the delivery delivery box It is preferable that the server further includes an aggregation unit that aggregates the degree of use of the delivery box for each of the deliverers using the management data.

  According to the above configuration, it is possible to analyze the billing of the delivery person and the usage condition of the delivery box by using the counting result.

  According to the present invention, the delivery efficiency of packages can be enhanced.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an entire configuration of an embodiment of a delivery box management system. It is a sequence diagram which shows the procedure of registration of the user information in the delivery box management system of one Embodiment. It is a sequence diagram which shows the procedure of utilization of the delivery box information in the delivery box management system of one Embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the screen of the user terminal on which the delivery box information in the delivery box management system of one Embodiment was displayed. It is a sequence diagram which shows the procedure until the package in the delivery box management system of one Embodiment is shipped. It is a sequence diagram which shows the procedure of confirmation of the box use information in the delivery box management system of one Embodiment, and reservation of a delivery box. It is a figure which shows an example of the screen of the delivery terminal displayed with the box use information in the delivery box management system of one Embodiment. It is a sequence diagram which shows the procedure of a process when there is no box which can be utilized in the delivery box management system of one Embodiment. It is a sequence diagram which shows the procedure of deposit of the package to the delivery box in the delivery box management system of one Embodiment. It is a sequence diagram which shows the procedure of taking out of the package from the delivery box in the delivery box management system of one embodiment.

  With reference to FIGS. 1 to 10, an embodiment of a delivery box management server, a delivery box management system, and a delivery box management method will be described. In the present embodiment, as an example, the case where the package to be delivered is a product purchased by the package recipient via the EC site (electronic commerce site) will be described.

[Overall Configuration of Delivery Box Management System]
The entire configuration of the delivery box management system will be described with reference to FIG.
As shown in FIG. 1, the home delivery box management system includes a home delivery box management server 10, a plurality of home delivery boxes 20, one or more user terminals 30, and a delivery terminal 40. Although the number of deliverer terminals 40 may be one or more, the case where the delivery box management system includes a plurality of deliverer terminals 40 will be described below.

  The delivery box management server 10 and the delivery box 20 are connected to a network, and mutually transmit and receive data through the network. In addition, the delivery box management server 10 and the user terminal 30 are connected to a network, and mutually transmit and receive data through the network. Further, the delivery box management server 10 and the delivery terminal 40 are connected to a network, and mutually transmit and receive data through the network.

Furthermore, the user terminal 30 transmits and receives data to and from the EC site server 50 connected to the network through the network.
The network used for the communication of each device described above may be a general-purpose communication line such as the Internet, or may be a dedicated communication line for communication of each device. Moreover, the network used for communication of each device may be one common network or may include a plurality of independent networks.

  The user terminal 30 is embodied, for example, in a computer terminal such as a personal computer, a smartphone, or a tablet terminal. The user terminal 30 is used by a user who can be a package recipient.

  The delivery terminal 40 is embodied, for example, in a computer terminal such as a personal computer, a smartphone, or a tablet terminal. The delivery terminal 40 is used by a delivery company or the like who delivers a package upon request. The delivery box management system is provided with a plurality of deliverer terminals 40 operated by different deliverers.

  The delivery box 20 is a device having a function as a locker, and is a device having one or more lockable boxes 21. The box 21 defines therein a space capable of containing an article. The box 21 is provided with a sensor such as a weight sensor or an infrared sensor that detects the presence or absence of an object inside the box 21.

  In addition, the delivery box 20 is connected to the delivery box management server 10 and the delivery box 20 through the network, and a communication unit 22 that transmits and receives data between these devices, and a display unit that displays various information. And an operation unit 24 for receiving an operation of a user or a delivery person. Further, the delivery box 20 includes a non-volatile memory, a storage unit 25 for storing various programs and data, and a volatile memory such as a CPU and a RAM, and based on the programs and data stored in the storage unit 25. , And a control unit 26 that controls each part of the various types of arithmetic processing and the delivery box 20.

  The display unit 23 is embodied in, for example, a display fitted in the housing of the home delivery box 20, and displays characters and the like based on the data received from the control unit 26. The operation unit 24 is embodied, for example, as a touch panel superimposed on the display unit 23, converts an operation on the operation unit 24 into a signal, and inputs the signal to the control unit 26. The control unit 26 controls, for example, locking and unlocking of the box 21 and, when a package is taken in and out of the box 21, performs a process of notifying the delivery box management server 10 to that effect.

  The installation place of the delivery box 20 is not particularly limited, and the delivery box 20 may be installed at the entrance of a residence such as an apartment or may be installed at a station, a commercial facility, or the like. The plurality of home delivery boxes 20 are installed at different places.

The home delivery box management server 10 includes a communication unit 11, a storage unit 12, and a control unit 13.
The communication unit 11 executes connection processing between the home delivery box management server 10, the home delivery box 20, the user terminal 30, and the delivery terminal 40 through the network. Further, the communication unit 11 transmits and receives data between the home delivery box management server 10 and each of the devices. Further, the communication unit 11 has a function of receiving designation of the delivery box 20 from the delivery terminal 40 at the start of the predetermined processing by the control unit 13, and the delivery terminal 40 requests the reservation of the box 21. Have a function to receive.

  The storage unit 12 is configured of a non-volatile memory such as a hard disk drive, and stores programs and data necessary for the processing of the control unit 13. As an example of such data, the storage unit 12 stores a user information database 12a, a delivery box information database 12b, and use status management data 12c.

User information, which is information on users, is registered in the user information database 12a for each user. The user information includes, for example, the name and contact information of the user.
In the home delivery box information database 12 b, home delivery box information which is information on the home delivery box 20 is registered for each home delivery box 20. The home delivery box information includes a box ID that functions as identification information of the home delivery box 20, the number and size of each box 21 of the home delivery box 20, the installation area of the home delivery box 20, the detailed installation location and the like. The installation area of the delivery box 20 indicates, for example, a range divided into areas in a municipality or each station.

  The use status management data 12c is data relating to the use status of the home delivery box 20. As the data for each home delivery box 20, availability information indicating whether each box 21 of the home delivery box 20 is empty or not, each box 21 Including reservation status of The reservation status includes, as a reservation, a reservation period which is a period in which each box 21 is reserved, a reservation person, and the like. The usage status management data 12 c is an example of management data that manages the reservation status of the box 21 for each box 21.

In addition to the above data, the storage unit 12 also stores, for example, information related to the delivery person.
The control unit 13 includes volatile memory such as a CPU and a RAM, and controls communication in the communication unit 11, reads and writes information in the storage unit 12 based on programs and data stored in the storage unit 12. Control of each part of the delivery box management server 10 such as arithmetic processing is performed.

  As part of the configuration for realizing the delivery box management method in the delivery box management system, the control unit 13 includes the user information management unit 13a, the delivery box information management unit 13b, the delivery status management unit 13c, and the counting unit 13d. Is equipped.

The user information management unit 13 a registers the user information received from the user terminal 30 in the user information database 12 a of the storage unit 12.
In response to the request from the user terminal 30 and the delivery terminal 40, the delivery box information management unit 13b extracts the delivery box information registered in the delivery box information database 12b and generates data based on the delivery box information. Do.

The delivery status management unit 13c performs necessary processing in the process of delivering one package.
For example, the delivery status management unit 13c functions as a generation unit, receives the specification of the delivery box 20 from the delivery terminal 40, and based on the use status management data 12c, all the boxes 21 included in the specified delivery box 20. Box use information indicating the use status of each box 21 is generated. The box use information includes, for example, availability information of the box 21, a reservation status of the box 21, and the like. That is, the box use information is an example of reservation information indicating the reservation status of the box 21 regarding all the boxes 21 included in the delivery box 20.

  Further, for example, the delivery status management unit 13c functions as a reservation setting unit, receives the request for reservation of the box 21 from the delivery terminal 40, updates the usage management data 12c, and sends the request to the corresponding box 21. Set up a new reservation according to your needs. Setting of reservation includes setting of reservation period and reservation person. Thereby, a new reservation which is a new reservation is included in the reservation status of the box 21 which is the target of the request.

  Further, for example, when the delivery status management unit 13c receives a notification from the delivery box 20 that a package has been put in the box 21 or that a package has been taken out from the box 21, the presence or absence of the package in the box 21 Accordingly, the use status management data 12c is updated, and the status indicated by the available information in the corresponding box 21 is set to either in use or an available room. Every time the status is changed, the date and time when the status is changed is recorded in the usage management data 12c.

  Further, for example, the delivery status management unit 13c refers to the user information database 12a based on the recipient information that is information on the package recipient received from the delivery terminal 40 or the delivery box 20, and receives the package recipient. Identify the user who is Then, the delivery status management unit 13c performs processing using the user information of the identified user. For example, the delivery status management unit 13c functions as a notification unit, and uses the user information to make various notifications to the user.

  The aggregation unit 13d performs aggregation on the past usage status of the delivery box 20 using the usage status management data 12c. Such aggregation includes, for example, the aggregation of the degree of use of the delivery box 20 for each delivery person, the aggregation of the degree of utilization for each delivery box 20, and the like. The aggregation unit 13 d generates aggregation data indicating the result of aggregation, and the aggregation data is used, for example, to charge the delivery person according to the usage time of the home delivery box 20, analyze the usage status of the home delivery box 20, etc. .

  The configuration having functions as the user information management unit 13a, the delivery box information management unit 13b, the delivery status management unit 13c, and the counting unit 13d in the control unit 13 is a memory including a plurality of CPUs, RAMs, etc. Etc., and may be embodied by software that provides a plurality of functions to one common hardware. Such software is stored in the storage unit 12.

  The EC site server 50 is a server that provides an EC site, and performs processing necessary for selling a product handled at the EC site, for example, management of information on a product, acceptance of an order for a product, or shipping of a product. Perform the necessary processing etc. The EC site provided by the EC site server 50 may be a site composed of one on-line shop, or may be an online mall type site composed of a plurality of online shops.

[Process procedure of delivery box management system]
With reference to FIGS. 2-10, the procedure of the delivery of the package performed using a delivery box management system is demonstrated. The processing by the delivery box management system and the processing that occurs in the process of delivery of the package include registration of user information, use of delivery box information by the user, shipment of package, confirmation of box usage information by delivery and delivery box The reservation of 20, the deposit of the package to the delivery box 20 by the delivery person, the removal of the package from the delivery box 20 by the user, the aggregation of the use condition of the delivery box 20 and the like are included. Below, the procedure of these processes is demonstrated in order.

<Registration of user information>
A procedure of registering user information in the delivery box management server 10 will be described with reference to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the user terminal 30 operated by the user is connected to the delivery box management server 10, and the user is provided by the delivery box management server 10 for registration of user information, for example. User information is input to the user terminal 30 according to the instruction on the web page (step S10).

  The content of the user information is not particularly limited as long as the information on the user includes information used to identify the user and information used to contact the user. The user information includes, for example, the name of the user, the telephone number of the user, and the mail address of the user. For example, the user information may include an address used when delivering the package directly to the user, such as a home address of the user, a credit card number for electronic payment such as cash on delivery, and the like.

  The user terminal 30 transmits the input user information to the home delivery box management server 10 (step S11). The user information management unit 13a of the delivery box management server 10 stores the user information received by the communication unit 11 from the user terminal 30 in the storage unit 12 (step S12). Thus, the user information database 12a is constructed, and user information for each user is accumulated in the storage unit 12.

  When the user information registration process is completed, the user information management unit 13a assigns authentication information including a user ID and a password that functions as identification information of the user corresponding to the user information to the user, and performs this authentication The information is transmitted to the user terminal 30 via the communication unit 11. The authentication information is stored, for example, in the storage unit 12 in association with the user information in the user information database 12a.

  The user can use a function provided by the home delivery box management server 10, such as browsing home delivery box information, after receiving authentication from the home delivery box management server 10 by input of authentication information.

<Use of delivery box information>
The procedure of using the home delivery box information by the user will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. As described above, the use of the delivery box information is performed after the authentication from the delivery box management server 10 by the input of the authentication information through the user terminal 30.

  As shown in FIG. 3, based on the user inputting to the user terminal 30 a condition indicating the home delivery box 20 for which the user wants to confirm information, such as the installation area of the home delivery box 20, the entered condition is used It is transmitted from the user terminal 30 to the delivery box management server 10, and the delivery box management server 10 is requested to send the delivery box information (step S20).

  The home delivery box information management unit 13b of the home delivery box management server 10 delivers the home delivery of the home delivery box 20 that matches the above condition received by the communication unit 11 from the user terminal 30, from among the information registered in the home delivery box information database 12b. Box information is extracted (step S21). Then, the delivery box information management unit 13b transmits display data including the extracted delivery box information to the user terminal 30 via the communication unit 11 (step S22).

  The user terminal 30 displays a screen based on the display data received from the home delivery box management server 10 on the display unit (step S23), whereby the user can confirm the home delivery box information.

  FIG. 4 shows an example of the display screen displayed on the user terminal 30 by the above-mentioned procedure. The delivery box information It included in the display screen Da of FIG. 4 is extracted from the delivery box information database 12b when the condition for setting the installation area of the delivery box 20 to "Akihabara Station" is set as the above condition. 14 is an example of the delivery box information transmitted to the user terminal 30.

  In the example shown in FIG. 4, a list of the delivery boxes 20 installed at Akihabara Station is displayed, and for each delivery box 20, as delivery box information It, the box ID of the delivery box 20, details of the installation location, and delivery The number and size of the boxes 21 included in the box 20 are displayed.

By confirming the delivery box information displayed on the user terminal 30, the user can know, for example, the delivery box 20 located in a location easy to use.
The home delivery box information registered in the home delivery box information database 12b is not particularly limited as long as it is information related to the home delivery box 20, and the home delivery box information includes the box ID of the home delivery box 20 as described above, the number of boxes 21, In addition to the size, the installation area and the installation place of the delivery box 20, for example, the available time of the delivery box 20 may be included. The home delivery box information transmitted from the home delivery box management server 10 to the user terminal 30 may be part of the information registered in the home delivery box information database 12 b as the home delivery box information of each home delivery box 20.

<Shipment shipment>
With reference to FIG. 5, the procedure for delivering the package to be delivered, ie, the procedure for delivering the package to the delivery person will be described. In the present embodiment, as described above, the product purchased by the user through the EC site is the package to be delivered.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the user terminal 30 is connected to the EC site server 50, and the user operates the user terminal 30 to purchase products or the like purchased at the EC site provided by the EC site server 50. Select the quantity and order the product. Furthermore, according to the instruction of the EC site, the user uses the receiver information as the information on the product recipient and the delivery destination information as the information showing the delivery destination of the product as the information necessary for shipping the product. It inputs into the terminal 30 (step S30).

  At this time, the user designates, as a delivery destination, the home delivery box 20 that he / she wants to use when receiving the product. This home delivery box 20 is the home delivery box 20 registered in the home delivery box information database 12b, and as described above, the user confirms the registered home delivery box 20 through browsing of the home delivery box information. Can.

The payee information includes, for example, the name and phone number of the payee. That is, the name of the recipient is the name of the user, and the telephone number of the recipient is the telephone number of the user.
The delivery destination information includes information that can specify the home delivery box 20, such as the installation area of the home delivery box 20 and the box ID. The shipping address information may further include an address used when delivering the goods directly to the recipient, such as the recipient's home address. The recipient's home address is, that is, the home address of the user.

The recipient information and the delivery destination information may be registered in advance in the EC site server 50 as membership information of the EC site.
The information input to the user terminal 30 is transmitted to the EC site server 50, and upon receiving such information, the EC site server 50 performs an order acceptance process for a product (step S31). The order receiving process of the product includes, for example, a process of notifying the person in charge of the EC site that the product has been ordered, and a process of notifying the user that the acceptance of the order has been completed.

  The person in charge at the EC site receives the notification, arranges and packs the products, and requests the delivery of the package which is the packed product to the delivery person. At this time, the delivery person is notified of the recipient information and the delivery destination information together with the package.

Note that such a request for packing a product or delivery of a package may be processed by a system linked to the EC site server 50.
<Confirmation of box usage information and reservation of delivery box>
With reference to FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, the procedure in which the box use information is confirmed by the carrier and the procedure in which the box 21 of the delivery box 20 is reserved will be described. FIG. 6 shows a processing procedure when it is confirmed that there is an available box 21 as a result of confirmation of the box use information, and the reservation of the box 21 is made.

  In addition, the delivery person who uses the delivery box management system is registered in advance in the delivery box management server 10, and from the delivery box management server 10, a delivery person ID or the like that functions as delivery person identification information for the delivery person. The authentication information including the password is notified. At the time of registration, for example, information on the delivery person such as the name of the delivery person and the contact address is stored in the storage unit 12.

  The delivery person can use the function provided by the delivery box management server 10, such as confirmation of box use information, after being authenticated from the delivery box management server 10 by the input of authentication information through the delivery terminal 40.

  As shown in FIG. 6, based on the delivery person inputting information specifying the delivery box 20 for which the user wants to confirm the box usage information into the delivery terminal 40, the input information is delivered from the delivery terminal 40 to the delivery box management It is sent to the server 10, and the delivery box management server 10 is requested to send the box use information (step S40). Specifically, the delivery person confirms delivery destination information of the package for which delivery has been requested, and inputs the installation area and box ID of the delivery box 20 designated as the delivery destination into the delivery terminal 40.

  When receiving the request for the box use information, the delivery situation management unit 13c of the delivery box management server 10 generates box use information of the designated delivery box 20 based on the use situation management data 12c (step S41). Then, the delivery status management unit 13c transmits display data including the generated box use information to the delivery terminal 40 via the communication unit 11 (step S42).

  The delivery terminal 40 displays a screen based on the display data received from the home delivery box management server 10 on the display unit (step S43), whereby the delivery can confirm the box use information.

  The delivery person confirms the size of the package to be delivered and the scheduled delivery date of the package, and the delivery box 20 designated as a delivery destination is scheduled to deliver a box 21 of a size that can accommodate the package to be delivered. It is confirmed using box use information whether or not the day is free, that is, whether a reservation is set in the box 21 in a predetermined period from the scheduled delivery date. The scheduled delivery date is, for example, the closest date to which the package to be delivered can be delivered to the delivery destination delivery box 20.

  For example, in the display screen of the box use information displayed on the delivery terminal 40 or in the screen switched by selecting a predetermined area on this display screen, there is an area for receiving input of information for reservation of the box 21. It is divided. When it is confirmed that there is an available box 21, the delivery person uses the above area to indicate information such as a number indicating the box 21 for which reservation is desired, and a desired start time of the reservation. Enter 40 Based on the input of such information, the input information is transmitted from the delivery terminal 40 to the delivery box management server 10, and the delivery box management server 10 is requested to reserve the box 21 (step S44). The desired start time of the reservation is, for example, a scheduled delivery date.

  When the delivery status management unit 13c of the delivery box management server 10 receives the request for reservation of the box 21, the delivery status management unit 13c updates the use status management data 12c and sets a new reservation according to the request for the designated box 21. (Step S45). That is, when the delivery status management unit 13c receives a request for a reservation in box 21, the delivery status management unit 13c is used so that the requested reservation period and the reserved person are included as a new reservation in the designated reservation situation in box 21. The status management data 12c is updated. The reservation period is a predetermined period such as, for example, three days from the desired start time of the reservation included in the information received from the delivery terminal 40. The predetermined period is, for example, preset by the delivery box management server 10 as a period in which one package can be stored in the delivery box 20 from the viewpoint of enhancing the utilization efficiency of the delivery box 20. A reservation person is a delivery person who has requested a reservation, and is specified based on the delivery person ID input to the delivery person terminal 40 at the time of authentication.

  Then, the delivery status management unit 13 c receives the request for reservation of the box 21 from the plurality of deliverer terminals 40 and updates the use status management data 12 c for each of these requests, thereby delivering each of the delivery statuses of the respective boxes 21. The new reservation according to each request from the user terminal 40 is included.

FIG. 7 shows an example of the display screen displayed on the delivery terminal 40 according to the above-mentioned procedure.
In the display screen Db of FIG. 7, box use information on the delivery box 20 having a box ID of “Ak-01” is displayed. Specifically, as the box use information, for the four boxes 21 of the delivery box 20, the number of the box 21, the size of the box 21, and the box 21 at the time of receiving the request for the box use information. Vacancy information Ia is displayed. The availability information Ia has a status of either "in use" indicating that a package is stored inside the box 21 or "vacant" indicating that no package is stored inside the box 21. Show.

  Further, as box use information, the reservation status Ib of each box 21 is displayed for the period from the present to the present. Specifically, as the reservation status Ib, the reservation period set in each box 21 and the reservation person thereof are displayed for each day included in the period from the present to the present. The reservation status Ib includes reservations made by a plurality of reservation parties, that is, reservations made by a plurality of delivery persons accepted from a plurality of delivery person terminals 40.

  Here, as an example, with reference to the box use information illustrated in FIG. 7, the carrier A reserves the box 21 of the box 21 of the delivery box 20 in order to deliver the medium-sized package whose delivery date is the 13th. Will be described. In addition, it is assumed that it is 10 days now.

  First, based on the size of the displayed box 21, the shipper A checks the box 21 capable of containing the package. For example, it is assumed that the package has a size that can be accommodated in the box 21 of each of the numbers "001", "002", and "003" and can not be accommodated in the box 21 of the number "004". It is judged.

  Next, the delivery person A searches the box 21 in which the reservation is not set, from the 13th, which is the scheduled delivery date, to the period set as the reservation period from among the boxes 21 capable of containing the package. Here, the length of the reservation period is 3 days. For example, in the box 21 of the number "001", a reservation is set on the 13th. In addition, although a reservation is not set on the 13th, the reservation period is set from the 14th on the box 21 of the number “003”, but the reservation period from the 13th to the 3rd can not be secured. On the other hand, since the reservation is not set between the 13th and the 3rd, the box 21 of the number "002" can be reserved.

  Note that although the status of the current space information Ia in the box 21 of the number “002” is “in use”, the reservation period set in the period including the current is up to 11 days, so by 13th The package is taken out, and the status of the vacant information Ia of the box 21 is scheduled to be "vacant".

  The shipper A who has confirmed that the box 21 of the number "002" is available as the delivery destination of the package operates the shipper terminal 40, and from the 13th of the box 21 of the number "002". Request a reservation from the home delivery box management server 10. Then, the setting of the reservation is performed in the delivery box management server 10, and the reservation is also reflected in the box use information as the use status management data 12c is updated.

  As described above, using the box use information, it is confirmed whether or not the reservation has already been set in the box 21 capable of containing the package, and the reservation of the box 21 is made according to the result. In this embodiment, after the delivery request is received by the delivery person, the box use information is confirmed, and the reservation of the box 21 is made while adjusting the delivery schedule of the delivery. Therefore, the new reservation is set in a period after the current reservation where the reservation has not been set, regardless of the current availability information of the box 21.

  If the package is not collected by the receiver during the reservation period, the package is collected from the delivery box 20 by the delivery party. The reservation period set after one reservation period for the same box 21 takes into consideration the time required for the collection of the package by the carrier, from the previous reservation period, the period required for the collection of the package by the carrier For example, it is preferable to set a period of, for example, one day.

  Moreover, in the above-mentioned example, although the presence or absence of the reservation about each box 21 was confirmed on the basis of the scheduled delivery date which the delivery person decided beforehand, the delivery person is the reservation situation Ib of each box 21 in box use information. Accordingly, the delivery schedule may be made to deliver the package at a time when it is possible to make a reservation.

  For example, in the example of FIG. 7, although reservation is set for each box 21 on the 13th, if there is a box 21 available from 14th, it is assumed that the closest day on which the package can be delivered is 13th. Also, the deliverer may reserve the box 21 from the 14th and deliver the package on the 14th.

Moreover, in the above-mentioned example, although the length of the reservation period was preset by the delivery box management server 10, it may be determined by the delivery person at the time of the request | requirement of a reservation.
Moreover, although the unit of setting of a reservation period was made into a day unit in the above-mentioned example, the setting of a reservation period may be possible per time unit.

  In addition, if the reservation period set for each box 21 can be confirmed for the period from the present to the next, the box usage information does not include the availability information of the current box 21 and the reservation person of each reservation period. It is also good.

<Processing procedure when there is no available box>
In the above description, as a result of confirmation of the box use information, it is confirmed that there is an available box 21 and the case where reservation of the box 21 of the delivery box 20 is performed is described. On the other hand, below, with reference to FIG. 8, the process in case there is no usable box 21 as a result of confirmation of box usage information is demonstrated. If there is no box 21 available, that is, if there is no box 21 available from the scheduled delivery date, the recipient is notified that the package can not be delivered to the designated delivery box 20. A choice of alternatives is required.

  For example, in the display screen of the box use information displayed on the delivery terminal 40 or the screen switched by selecting a predetermined area on this display screen, it is received that the package can not be delivered to the designated delivery box 20 An area for receiving input of information for contacting a person is divided.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the delivery person uses the above area to input information that can identify the recipient to the delivery terminal 40. Based on the input of such information, the input information is transmitted from the delivery terminal 40 to the delivery box management server 10, and a delivery non-delivery notification is requested from the delivery box management server 10 (step S50). All or part of the recipient information is used as the information that can identify the recipient, and for example, the name and phone number of the recipient are input to the delivery terminal 40.

  When the delivery status management unit 13c of the delivery box management server 10 receives the request for non-delivery notification, the delivery status management unit 13c refers to the user information database 12a and uses the information including the information matching the recipient information received from the delivery terminal 40 The identification information is specified (step S51). Then, the delivery status management unit 13 c transmits a delivery impossible notification as an e-mail via the communication unit 11 to the e-mail address included in the specified user information (step S 52). When the non-delivery notice is sent, the setting of reservation of box 21 is not performed.

  In the delivery impossible notification, there is no box 21 available in the delivery box 20 designated by the receiver, and a notice that delivery can not be delivered to the delivery delivery box 20 and that selection of alternative means for delivery of the delivery is requested. Is included. Alternative options include, for example, changing the delivery box 20 to which the package is to be delivered, deferring the delivery time of the package, and direct delivery of the package to the recipient.

  The change of the delivery box 20 is a delivery box 20 determined to have no box 21 available, ie, a delivery box 20 different from the delivery box 20 selected at the time of purchase of the goods at the EC site, the delivery destination of the package It is a means to reselect as. The postponement of the delivery time of the package is a means of waiting for delivery of the package until the box 21 of the delivery box 20 determined to have no available box 21 becomes available. Direct delivery is a means for delivering the package directly to the recipient and means for delivering the package to the recipient's home or the like. The selectable alternative means may include some of the above three means, and may include means other than the above three means.

  Such alternative means may be selected on the web page provided by the delivery box management server 10, for example, by the user terminal 30 accessing the address described in the mail which is the non-delivery notice.

When the alternative means is selected at the user terminal 30 (step S53), the selection result is transmitted from the user terminal 30 to the delivery box management server 10 (step S54).
When receiving the selection result from the user terminal 30, the delivery status management unit 13c of the delivery box management server 10 notifies the delivery terminal 40 of the selection result via the communication unit 11 (step S55). The notification to the delivery terminal 40 may be performed by, for example, transmission by e-mail or notification on a web page provided by the delivery box management server 10.

  The delivery person confirms the selection result of the alternative means on the delivery terminal 40, and performs processing according to the selection result. For example, when a new home delivery box 20 is designated as a change of the home delivery box 20, the procedure shown in FIG. 6 is repeated for the new home delivery box 20. When postponement of the delivery time of the package is selected, the procedure shown in FIG. 6 is repeated, and the reservation of the box 21 is made in the period which can be reserved in a period later than the initial scheduled delivery date. It is set. Also, if direct delivery is selected, the package will be delivered to the designated address. This address may be included in the recipient information transmitted when the delivery request for delivery of the package is received, or included in the user information and registered in the user information database 12a, It may be notified from the delivery box management server 10 to the delivery terminal 40.

  Also, even when the home delivery box 20 designated at the time of purchase of the product at the EC site does not have the box 21 of a size that can accommodate the package to be delivered, the delivery impossible notification is similarly sent to the receiver. Just do it. In this case, the alternative does not include a postponement of the delivery time of the package.

  Also, in the case where the package is an item not suitable for delivery to the delivery box 20, for example, even when the package includes a raw item, etc., the delivery non-delivery notice may be similarly transmitted to the receiver. In this case, the only alternative is direct delivery. Therefore, the non-delivery notice may be a notice that the package can not be delivered to the delivery box 20 designated by the receiver and a notification that the package is delivered directly, and the selection of the alternative means may not be required.

  As described above with reference to FIG. 6, the receiver may be notified that the reservation of the box 21 is completed also when the reservation of the box 21 of the delivery box 20 is performed. That is, based on the fact that the recipient information input to the delivery terminal 40 is transmitted to the delivery box management server 10 and the user information is specified based on the recipient information, the delivery box management server 10 uses the user A reservation completion notice is sent to the e-mail address contained in the information. The notification of completion of reservation includes that the reservation of the box 21 of the delivery box 20 is completed, the installation location of the reserved delivery box 20, the number of the box 21, the reservation period, and the like. Such notification allows the recipient user to know at an early stage when the package will be delivered to the delivery box 20.

<Depositing luggage in the delivery box>
With reference to FIG. 9, a procedure will be described in which packages are deposited in the box 21 of the reserved delivery box 20 by the delivery person.

The delivery person carries the target package to the reserved delivery box 20 within the period reserved using the delivery terminal 40.
As shown in FIG. 9, first, an authentication process is performed based on the delivery person operating the operation unit 24 of the delivery box 20 and inputting the authentication information into the delivery box 20 (step S60). The authentication information is embodied in an ID, a password, and the like, and is notified in advance to the delivery person registered in the delivery box management server 10.

  The authentication information is stored in the storage unit 25 of the delivery box 20, and the control unit 26 of the delivery box 20 performs authentication by collating the input authentication information with the authentication information stored in the storage unit 25. You may process. Alternatively, the authentication information is stored in the storage unit 12 of the home delivery box management server 10, and the authentication information input to the home delivery box 20 is transmitted to the home delivery box management server 10, and the control unit 13 of the home delivery box management server 10 The authentication process may be performed by collating the received authentication information with the authentication information stored in the storage unit 12. By receiving such authentication, the delivery person can use the home delivery box 20 such as deposit of luggage in the home delivery box 20.

  When the authentication is established, the recipient information is input to the delivery box 20 based on the delivery person operating the operation unit 24 of the delivery box 20 (step S61). The control unit 26 of the delivery box 20 transmits the input recipient information to the delivery box management server 10 via the communication unit 22 (step S62). The recipient information input to the delivery box 20 is preferably the recipient information acquired by the delivery person at the time of the package delivery request, that is, part of the recipient information held by the delivery person, For example, the recipient's phone number is input to the delivery box 20.

  The delivery status management unit 13c of the delivery box management server 10 refers to the user information database 12a, and identifies the user information including the information matching the recipient information received from the delivery box 20 (step S63). Then, the delivery status management unit 13c transmits at least a part of the specified user information to the delivery box 20 via the communication unit 11 (step S64). The user information transmitted to the delivery box 20 is information included in the recipient information held by the delivery person, and the recipient information received by the delivery box management server 10 from the delivery box 20 is Preferably, information not included is included. For example, the name of the user is transmitted to the delivery box 20.

  When the user information is received from the delivery box management server 10, the control unit 26 of the delivery box 20 causes the display unit 23 to display the received user information (step S65). The delivery person confirms whether the displayed user information matches the information included in the recipient information held by the delivery person. For example, the delivery person confirms whether or not the name displayed on the display unit 23 as user information matches the name of the recipient included in the recipient information held by the delivery person. If these pieces of information match, it is confirmed that the recipient described as the package destination is the user registered in the delivery box management server 10, and the package is sent to the recipient by using the delivery box 20. It is confirmed that it can be delivered.

  When confirmation of the user information is completed, the delivery person deposits the package in the reserved box 21, and when the package is put in the box 21, the control unit 26 of the delivery box 20 detects the detection result of the sensor provided in the box 21 It is detected that the package has been put into the box 21 based on (step S66). The control unit 26 locks the box 21 in which the luggage is placed. Then, the control unit 26 notifies the delivery box management server 10 of the storage of the package in the box 21 via the communication unit 22 (step S67).

  When receiving the receipt notification from the delivery box 20, the delivery status management unit 13c of the delivery box management server 10 updates the use status management data 12c to change the status of the free information of the corresponding box 21 to "in use". (Step S68).

  In addition, the delivery status management unit 13c transmits a delivery completion notification as an e-mail via the communication unit 11 to the e-mail address included in the user information specified in the previous step S63 (step S69). The notification of completion of delivery includes notification of completion of delivery of the package to the delivery box 20, notification of the installation location of the delivery box 20 and the number of the box 21 containing the package, and unlocking the box 21. Authentication information is included.

  The authentication information is a password or the like necessary for unlocking the box 21. The authentication information is, for example, a one-time password, and the delivery status management unit 13 c generates authentication information each time the delivery notification is received from the delivery box 20, and generates authentication information in the corresponding box 21. As authentication information for the current unlocking, it is preferable to store the authentication information in the storage unit 12 in association with the box 21. The authentication information may be usable only for one unlocking of the box 21 or may be usable for unlocking the box 21 during the reservation period of the box 21.

<Extraction of the package from the delivery box>
With reference to FIG. 10, the procedure in which the package is taken out from the box 21 of the delivery box 20 by the user will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the user visits the installation location of the delivery box 20 based on the receipt of the delivery completion notice, operates the operation unit 24 of the delivery box 20, and sends the delivery completion notice to the delivery box 20. Enter the listed authentication information. An authentication process is performed based on the input of the authentication information (step S70).

  Specifically, the authentication information input to the delivery box 20 is transmitted to the delivery box management server 10, and the control unit 13 of the delivery box management server 10 stores the received authentication information in the storage unit 12. An authentication process is performed by collating with authentication information. When authentication is established, the delivery box management server 10 notifies the number of the box 21 associated with the authentication information to the delivery box 20, and the control unit 26 of the delivery box 20 opens the box 21 of the notified number. Lock it.

  When the user takes out the package accommodated in the unlocked box 21 and the package is taken out from the box 21, the control unit 26 of the delivery box 20 makes a determination based on the detection result of the sensor provided in the box 21. , And detects that the package has been taken out of the box 21 (step S71). Then, the control unit 26 notifies the delivery box management server 10 of the delivery of the package from the box 21 via the communication unit 22 (step S72).

  When the delivery notification is received from the delivery box 20, the delivery status management unit 13c of the delivery box management server 10 updates the use status management data 12c to change the status of the vacant information of the corresponding box 21 to "vacant". (Step S73).

  In addition, when the next reservation is set in the box 21 in which the status of the space information is changed to "vacant", the delivery status management unit 13c is the delivery person of the delivery person who has set the next reservation. The terminal 40 may be notified that the reserved box 21 is empty. The notification to the delivery terminal 40 may be performed by, for example, transmission by e-mail or notification on a web page provided by the delivery box management server 10.

  In addition, when the user does not take out the package from the box 21 within the reservation period set in the box 21, that is, when the home delivery box management server 10 does not receive the delivery notification for the box 21 from the delivery box 20. The delivery status management unit 13c of the delivery box management server 10 performs the following processing. That is, the delivery status management unit 13 c notifies the delivery terminal 40 that the package has not been taken out from the box 21, and upon receiving the notification, the delivery person recovers the package from the corresponding box 21. Further, the delivery status management unit 13c notifies the user that the package is collected by transmitting a notification that the package is collected to the destination to which the delivery completion notification has been sent.

  The notification to the delivery terminal 40 may be performed by, for example, transmission by e-mail or notification on a web page provided by the delivery box management server 10. Further, the authentication information for unlocking the box 21 may be transmitted to the delivery person included in the above notification, or the authentication may be performed according to the authentication information for use of the delivery box 20 assigned to the delivery person. When satisfied, the box 21 may be unlocked by an instruction of the home delivery box management server 10.

<Aggregation of usage status of delivery box>
The process of tabulating the usage status of the home delivery box 20 performed by the home delivery box management server 10 will be described.

  As described above, when the delivery status management unit 13c of the home delivery box management server 10 repeats the update of the usage status management data 12c, the usage status of each past home delivery box 20 is accumulated as the usage status management data 12c. Specifically, when the delivery status management unit 13c repeats setting of reservation, information indicating a reservation period and a reservation person set in the past is accumulated in each box 21 of each delivery box 20. In addition, the delivery status management unit 13c repeats the change of the status of the free space information, thereby accumulating information indicating the period in which the package was put in the past in each box 21 of each delivery box 20 and the delivery person who delivered the package. Ru. A delivery person is a reservation person of a reservation period including the period when the package was put.

  The aggregation unit 13 d of the delivery box management server 10 performs aggregation on the past use condition of the delivery box 20 using the use condition management data 12 c. For example, the counting unit 13d counts the degree of use of the home delivery box 20 for each delivery person. Specifically, the totalizing unit 13d may totalize the total period of the period in which each box 21 of each home delivery box 20 was reserved for each delivery person, or the package in each box 21 of each home delivery box 20 You may total the total period of the period in which was put. Also, such counting may be performed for each delivery box 20.

  Further, for example, the counting unit 13 d counts the degree of use of each delivery box 20. Specifically, the total period of the period in which each box 21 of the home delivery box 20 is reserved may be totaled for each home delivery box 20, or the total period of the period in which packages are put in each box 21 It may be tabulated.

  Such aggregation is performed at predetermined intervals, such as weekly or monthly. The tabulation performed by the tabulating unit 13d is not limited to the above-described example as long as the tabulation is performed using data stored in the delivery box management server 10.

  The aggregation unit 13d outputs the aggregation result as aggregation data. For example, the aggregation data indicating the aggregation result of the degree of use of the delivery box 20 for each delivery person can be used for charging the delivery person according to the usage time of the delivery box 20. Further, the tabulated result of the degree of use of the home delivery box 20 for each delivery person and the tabulated result of the degree of usage for each home delivery box 20 can be used for analysis of the use situation of the home delivery box 20.

[Effect]
The operation of this embodiment will be described. By using the delivery box management system of this embodiment, the delivery person can confirm the reservation status of the delivery box 20 which is the delivery destination of the package, and reserve the box 21. Therefore, by delivering the package to the reserved delivery box 20, it is possible to suppress delivery by the deliverer of the package carried to the delivery box 20 because there is no box 21 that can accommodate the package, and delivery again. Therefore, the delivery efficiency of the package can be enhanced. In addition, since the user can select the easy-to-use home delivery box 20 from among the plurality of home delivery boxes 20 and receive the package using the home delivery box 20, the convenience of the user is also improved. Do.

  In particular, in the present embodiment, a delivery person who receives a request for delivery of a package makes a reservation for the delivery box 20. For example, when a user places an order for a product at an EC site, an example of making a reservation for the delivery box 20 will be described as a comparison target. In such an example, the user can not accurately grasp the size of the package, which is the product after packing, and the time when the package is delivered to the delivery varies depending on the status of the product inventory. Such time can not be accurately grasped, and furthermore, the time when the package is delivered to the delivery box 20 changes depending on the delivery schedule of the delivery person, and therefore, such time can not be accurately ascertained. As a result, in the example in which the user reserves the delivery box 20 at the time of ordering a product, a long-term reservation can be made in consideration of the difference in delivery time, or re-reservation can be performed according to the difference in delivery time. I have no choice. As a result, although the package is not stored in the box 21 of the delivery box 20, the period during which the third party can not use the box 21 increases, and the utilization efficiency of the delivery box 20 deteriorates.

  Further, for example, even in the case where the person in charge of the EC site makes a reservation for the delivery box 20 at the time of shipment of the package, the person in charge of the EC site can not accurately grasp the delivery schedule of the delivery person.

  On the other hand, since the delivery person can accurately grasp the size of the package and the delivery time, in the present embodiment, the reservation period of the box 21 can be prevented from being unnecessarily long as compared with the above example. Therefore, the utilization efficiency of the delivery box 20 is enhanced. For example, the new reservation is set to a period after the reception of the request for reservation, in which a reservation has not been set. Since the delivery time is later than the reservation request time, the utilization efficiency of the delivery box 20 can be enhanced by thus making the reservation according to the delivery schedule.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the reservation statuses that can be confirmed by the delivery person include reservations from a plurality of delivery person terminals 40. Therefore, by confirming the reservation status, the delivery person can reserve box 21 in accordance with the delivery schedule of his / her self, based on the delivery schedule of another delivery person which the delivery party himself can not know.

  In addition, it covers the delivery of various types of packages delivered by multiple carriers, for example, packages that are products purchased through various EC sites, or packages for which delivery has been requested without going through an EC site. The reservation set as is included in the reservation status. Therefore, the reservation status accurately reflects the planned use of the box 21 of the delivery box 20.

  Also, if there is no box 21 available, the user who is the recipient of the package will be notified of non-delivery and will be asked to select an alternative means of delivering the package. Thus, by reflecting the user's intention on delivery, the frequency of redelivery etc. is reduced, the delivery efficiency of the package is enhanced, and the convenience of the user is also improved.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the effects listed below can be obtained.
(1) In response to the specification of the delivery box 20 from the delivery terminal 40, information indicating the reservation status of the box 21 of the specified delivery box 20 is generated based on the usage status management data 12c, and the delivery terminal 40 Sent to Then, in response to the request for reservation of the box 21 from the delivery terminal 40, the usage management data 12c is updated, and a new reservation to be included in the reservation status of the box 21 is set.

  According to such a configuration, the delivery person can confirm the reservation status of the delivery box 20 and reserve the box 21. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the delivery and delivery of the package carried to the delivery box 20 due to the absence of the box 21 capable of containing the package and delivery again. As a result, the delivery efficiency of the package can be enhanced. In addition, since the delivery person who can accurately grasp the size of the package and the delivery time makes a reservation, it is possible to prevent the reservation period of the box 21 from being unnecessarily long. Therefore, the utilization efficiency of the delivery box 20 is enhanced.

  (2) The new reservation in the usage management data 12c is currently set to a period in which a reservation period is not set, that is, a period after the reception of the request for reservation. Since the delivery time of the package is later than the reservation request time, such a configuration can prevent the reservation period of the box 21 from being unnecessarily long, and the utilization efficiency of the delivery box 20 can be enhanced.

  (3) The reservation status included in the box use information transmitted to the shipper terminal 40 includes the reservation set in response to the requests from the plurality of shipper terminals 40. Therefore, the delivery person can reserve the box 21 based on the delivery schedule of the delivery person using the other delivery person terminal 40 by confirming the reservation situation.

  (4) If there is no box 21 available, the contact address of the recipient user is notified of the selection of alternative means of delivery of the package. According to such a configuration, by reflecting the user's intention on the delivery, the frequency of redelivery etc. is reduced, the delivery efficiency of the package is enhanced, and the convenience of the user is also enhanced.

  (5) A means suitable as an alternative means by including at least one of the change of the delivery box 20 to which the package is delivered, the postponement of the delivery time of the package, and the direct delivery of the package to the receiver Is shown to the user.

  (6) Since the degree of use of the delivery box 20 for each delivery person is added up using the use situation management data 12c, analysis of the charge for the delivery person and the use situation of the delivery delivery box 20 using the aggregation result It can be performed.

(Modification)
The above embodiment can be modified as follows.
-In response to a request from the user terminal 30, the home delivery box management server 10 may transmit box use information to the user terminal 30. That is, the user may be able to confirm the box use information using the user terminal 30. According to such a configuration, for example, when the user first designates the delivery box 20 as the delivery destination, or changes the delivery box 20 for the delivery destination, the reservation status of the box 21 is confirmed and set. It is also possible to select a delivery box 20 with few reservations as a delivery destination. Also, when selecting an alternative means, it can be used as a reference when considering which means to select. In the above configuration, the home delivery box management server 10 may update the use status management data 12c and set a new reservation in response to a request from the user terminal 30. That is, the user may be able to reserve the box 21. The user can occupy the box 21 by reserving the box 21 for a predetermined period of time by the user.

  -Although the delivery person and the user were authenticated by the input of authentication information such as a password when using the home delivery box 20 in the above embodiment, the aspect of the authentication is not limited to this. For example, an IC card storing identification information registered in the home delivery box 20 or the home delivery box management server 10 may be used, and the home delivery box 20 may have a function of reading information from the IC card. In such a configuration, the delivery person or the user causes the delivery box 20 to read the identification information of the IC card, and the delivery box 20 or the delivery box management server 10 stores the identification information and the read identification information. Authentication is performed by the verification of In the above configuration, it is not necessary for the user to be notified of the authentication information in the delivery completion notification.

  -When the notification of the authentication information is not necessary in the delivery completion notification, the notification of the completion of the delivery to the user may not be performed from the delivery box management server 10. For example, a notification may be issued from a system that manages the delivery schedule of the package by the deliverer.

  -Although the reservation period was set about the setting of all the reservation in the said embodiment, the aspect of the setting of a reservation is not restricted to this. For example, as the setting of reservation, the delivery status management unit 13c of the delivery box management server 10 determines the priority order of reservation for the target box 21 in the order of precedence of reservation, and as soon as box 21 becomes vacant, box 21 according to the priority order. May be available.

  -The reservation status may include a recipient in addition to the reservation period and the reservation person. In this case, when the reservation is requested, the receiver information is input to the delivery terminal 40 and transmitted to the delivery box management server 10. Then, the delivery box management server 10 specifies the user corresponding to the user information matching the received recipient information as the recipient, and sets the recipient together with the reservation period and the reservation person as the setting of the reservation. According to such a configuration, the delivery person can know the recipient of the package deposited in the box 21 being reserved by confirming the reservation status through the delivery terminal 40. Thus, for example, if a reservation has already been made which is the same recipient as the recipient of the package to be delivered, the shipper may additionally deposit the package in the box 21 already reserved. . In this way, it is possible to make it possible to deliver a plurality of packages with the same recipient to one box 21 by confirming the reservation status.

-EC site server 50 and the delivery box management server 10 may cooperate, and transmission / reception of data may be performed between these servers.
For example, at the time of registration of user information, information such as the name of the user stored as information of a member of the EC site in the EC site server 50 is transmitted from the EC site server 50 to the delivery box management server 10 The management server 10 may register the information acquired from the EC site server 50 in the user information database 12 a as user information.

  Also, for example, when designating the delivery box 20 as a delivery destination, whether or not the product purchased at the EC site is a product that can be accommodated in the delivery box 20 selected by the user in terms of the type and size of the product If it is determined by the EC site server 50 and it can not be accommodated, a warning may be notified from the EC site server 50 to the user terminal 30.

  Further, for example, the delivery time and size of the package are notified from the EC site server 50 to the delivery box management server 10, and the delivery person confirms the delivery time and size of the package through the delivery terminal 40 according to such information. The package delivery plan and the delivery box 20 may be reserved.

  Further, for example, the EC site server 50 may notify the user of the delivery completion notification upon receiving the notification of the completion of the reservation from the delivery box management server 10. At this time, for example, information on a product included in the package may be included in the delivery completion notification.

  -As described in the above embodiment, the reservation period set after one reservation period is the same for the same box 21 in consideration of the case where the package is not collected by the receiver during the reservation period, It is preferable to set a predetermined period such as 12 hours or 1 day after the previous reservation period. Here, if the package is collected within the previous reservation period, that is, the delivery box management server 10 receives the delivery notification of the package for the corresponding box 21 from the delivery box 20, and the usage status management data 12c. It is preferable that the restriction on the interval of the reservation period is released when the status of the vacant information in the box 21 is "vacant". That is, it is preferable that reservation of the box 21 is possible even if a predetermined period has not elapsed from a previously set reservation period. According to such a configuration, the utilization efficiency of the home delivery box 20 can be enhanced.

  In the period after the reception of the request for reservation, the settable period of the new reservation may be limited to a predetermined period. For example, within a period of 1 day or more and 3 days or less after reception of a request for reservation, ie, only within a period from 3 days before the scheduled date for depositing the package in box 21 to the day before the start of the reservation period At times, setting of a new reservation may be possible. In this case, the delivery status management unit 13c of the delivery box management server 10, during a period after the reception of the reservation request, is within the predetermined period and a period in which the reservation period has not been set, Set a new reservation.

  Further, the delivery status management unit 13c may update the usage status management data 12c so as to cancel the set reservation in response to a request from the delivery terminal 40, and in this case also, the reservation can be canceled. Period may be limited to a predetermined period. For example, the cancellation of the reservation may be possible up to one day before the start of the reservation period.

According to these configurations, reservations for unnecessary periods are suppressed, and the utilization efficiency of the delivery box 20 is further enhanced.
-As described above, even if the settable period of the new reservation is limited to a predetermined period, the previously placed packages can be stored in the reserved box 21 even when the reservation period starts. If it can not be used without being taken out, a transfer reservation can be made possible in another empty box 21. That is, in response to the request from the delivery terminal 40, the delivery status management unit 13c of the delivery box management server 10 does not receive the delivery notification even when the reservation period starts, and the availability information status is "vacancy Set up a transfer reservation which switches the reservation set in the box 21 not to be "" to another box 21 in which the reservation period is not set. According to such a configuration, even if a situation occurs in which the recipient does not collect the package from the box 21 as scheduled, delivery of other packages can be smoothly advanced.

  The home delivery box 20 may be provided with a photographing device such as a camera for photographing loading and unloading of the box 21. Photographed data by the photographing device is transmitted from the home delivery box 20 to the home delivery box management server 10 and used for various management. For example, when the user takes out a package from the box 21 and then puts another package in the box 21, that is, immediately after the delivery of the package from the box 21 is detected, the delivery person is not authenticated. When the storage of the package is detected, the photographing data of the period when the package is taken in and out of the box 21 is transmitted to the delivery box management server 10. Then, if storage of the package different from the package to be delivered and its warehousing person are confirmed based on the analysis of the photographing data, for example, using the user information registered in the user information database 12a, for example, the package Return the package by cash on delivery to the user who has received the According to such a configuration, unscheduled use of the delivery box 20 can be suppressed.

  -If the recipient takes out the package from the box 21 but the package is not a package that the recipient is planning to receive, a notification of misdelivery of the package based on pressing of a button provided on the delivery box 20, etc. However, it may be performed from the home delivery box 20 to the home delivery box management server 10 or a 24-hour center or the like in which a person in charge corresponding to the erroneous delivery of the package is disposed. When the notification of the erroneous delivery of the package is sent to the home delivery box management server 10, the notification of the erroneous delivery of the package is further sent from the delivery box management server 10 to the deliverer terminal 40 of the deliverer who delivered the target package. It is sufficient if the delivery person takes measures such as the collection of the package.

  In the above embodiment, the delivery box 20 detects the presence or absence of an object in the box 21 by a sensor such as a weight sensor or an infrared sensor, but instead, the inside of the box 21 is detected by an imaging device such as a camera. The delivery box 20 may have a configuration capable of detecting the loading and unloading of the package 21 into and out of the box 21.

  The home delivery box 20 specified by the delivery terminal 40 when confirming the box use information may not be the home delivery box 20 specified by the user who is the package recipient. That is, the delivery destination delivery box 20 is not limited to the recipient, but may be specified by the package sender, for example.

  The package to be delivered may be any package for which the delivery request has been received, and is not limited to the items that the recipient has purchased through the EC site.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... delivery box management server, 11 ... communication part, 12 ... storage part, 12a ... user information database, 12b ... delivery box information database, 12c ... use status management data, 13 ... control part, 13a ... user information management part , 13b ... delivery box information management unit, 13c ... delivery status management unit, 13d ... aggregation unit, 20 ... delivery box, 21 ... box, 22 ... communication unit, 23 ... display unit, 24 ... operation unit, 25 ... storage unit, 26: control unit, 30: user terminal, 40: delivery terminal, 50: EC site server.

Claims (8)

A server connected via a network to a shipper terminal operated by a shipper who delivers packages to a home delivery box,
A storage unit that stores management data for managing, for each of the plurality of home delivery boxes, reservation statuses of the boxes included in the home delivery box;
A generation unit that receives specification of the delivery box from the delivery terminal and generates reservation information indicating the reservation status of the box included in the specified delivery box based on the management data;
A communication unit that transmits the reservation information to the delivery terminal;
A reservation setting unit that updates the management data so that the request is included as a new reservation in the reservation status of the box to which the request is received, in response to the request for reservation of the box from the delivery terminal; , And
The reservation setting unit, when the box is not available even at the start of the period when the box is reserved, the reservation set in the box is set to another box for which the reservation is not set. Set up a transfer reservation to switch
Delivery box management server. The reservation status includes a reservation period which is a period in which the box is reserved,
The home delivery setting method according to claim 1, wherein the reservation setting unit sets a new reservation period in a period in which the reservation period is not set in the period after the reception of the request as the new reservation. Box Management Server. The reservation setting unit receives requests for reservation of the box from a plurality of the delivery terminal and updates the management data for each of the requests so that the reservation status indicated by the reservation information from each delivery terminal The delivery box management server according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the new reservation according to each request is included. The storage unit stores user information including the contact point of the user who is the recipient of the package;
The notification device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising: a notification unit that receives a request from the delivery terminal and notifies the contact address of the user to select an alternative means of delivery of the package. Delivery box management server described. The said alternative means includes at least one of the change of the said delivery box to which the said package is delivered, the postponement of the delivery time of the said package, and the direct delivery of the said package to the said user. Delivery box management server. The reservation setting unit updates the management data in response to a request for reservation of the box from a plurality of the delivery terminal operated by the different deliverers.
The delivery box management server according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising an aggregation unit that aggregates the degree of use of the delivery box for each of the deliverers using the management data. A delivery terminal operated by a delivery person delivering the package to the delivery box;
A delivery box management server connected to the delivery terminal via a network;
A delivery box management system comprising
The delivery box management server is
A storage unit that stores management data for managing, for each of the plurality of home delivery boxes, reservation statuses of the boxes included in the home delivery box;
A generation unit that receives specification of the delivery box from the delivery terminal and generates reservation information indicating the reservation status of the box included in the specified delivery box based on the management data;
A communication unit that transmits the reservation information to the delivery terminal;
A reservation setting unit that updates the management data so that the request is included as a new reservation in the reservation status of the box to which the request is received, in response to the request for reservation of the box from the delivery terminal; , And
The reservation setting unit, when the box is not available even at the start of the period when the box is reserved, the reservation set in the box is set to another box for which the reservation is not set. Delivery box management system to set the transfer reservation to switch . A delivery terminal operated by a delivery person delivering the package to the delivery box;
A delivery box management server connected to the delivery terminal via a network;
A delivery box management method performed by using
The delivery terminal specifies the delivery box to the delivery box management server;
The delivery box having the delivery terminal specified by the delivery terminal based on management data in which the delivery delivery box management server manages, for each of the plurality of delivery delivery boxes, the reservation status of the delivery delivery box having a plurality of delivery delivery boxes. Generating reservation information indicating the reservation status of a box and transmitting it to the delivery terminal;
The delivery terminal requests the delivery box management server to reserve the box;
The delivery box management server, upon receiving the request for reservation, updating the management data so that the request is included as a new reservation in the reservation status of the box to which the request is made;
If the box is not available even when the delivery box management server starts the period for which the box is reserved, another box for which reservation is not set is set for the reservation set in the box. Setting up a transfer reservation to switch to
Delivery box management method including.

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