JP6595171B2 - Delivery box management system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a delivery box management system for managing a delivery box installed in a public place.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a configuration is known in which an article collection device such as a delivery box (also referred to as a delivery locker) is arranged in an apartment house such as a condominium, and various products and packages are received as delivery items. In this type of configuration, the delivery person stores the delivery item in a delivery box, and the recipient, such as a resident of an apartment house, uses an authentication means such as an ID card to receive a delivery box in which the delivery item is stored. Unlocks and picks up the parcel.

  In addition, it is also considered that the delivery box is used for depositing or collecting delivery items by installing the delivery box in a place other than the housing complex, for example, a public place such as a railway station or a convenience store. Such a delivery box is also called a base-type delivery box or a city locker, and is expected to be used.

  In recent years, products are often purchased via the Internet, and companies (mail order companies) that provide products via the Internet consign the purchased products to a courier and deliver the products to the purchaser. ing. In this case, the purchaser wishes to be delivered to the home, but tends to be away from home, and does not necessarily receive the home, but desires to receive the delivery via the delivery box installed in the public place described above.

  In the following Patent Document 1, the delivery of a parcel is accepted by a public delivery box, the delivery is received by a public delivery box, and the delivery of the delivery can be reduced and the human burden at the time of receipt can be reduced. The system is described.

  Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-228561 describes a system for delivering an article by monitoring an empty state of an article delivery box, making the empty state visible on a communication network, and reserving an empty box.

JP 2012-73585 A JP 2002-150426 A

  Whether the delivery company or consignee has a delivery box in which the delivery can be received or delivered when the delivery is delivered and received via a home delivery box installed in a public place. It is necessary to know the storage state such as whether the storage box is empty. However, the system described in Patent Document 1 has a drawback that it is impossible to know the storage state of the delivery box, and the empty box desired by the consignor or the consignee cannot be designated.

  Further, in the system described in Patent Document 2, it is possible to browse and specify an empty box, but it is not possible to place a restriction on the use of an empty box only by a predetermined shipper, and frequent home delivery is performed. Those using boxes have the disadvantage of dissatisfaction.

  Since the management of the home delivery box is usually performed by a dedicated management company that manages the delivery box, not the shipper or the delivery company, if the delivery box to be managed is a dedicated box for a specific delivery company, It is not preferable to have a merchant other than the specific shipper browse the empty state of the delivery box just because the delivery box is empty.

  In addition, since it is possible to improve the delivery efficiency by allowing a trader who delivers a large number of deliveries to view a large number of vacant states, it is necessary to distribute the availability information according to the use of the delivery box of the delivery company.

  The present invention has been made in view of these points, and provides a delivery box management system capable of allocating and managing a delivery box or its storage box to each of the shippers and improving the use efficiency of the delivery box. The task is to do.

The present invention
A plurality of delivery boxes installed in a public place with a plurality of storage boxes that store the delivery items delivered from the consignor to the consignee and can be unlocked and locked by electric locks;
A management server that assigns each storage box of the delivery box to a shipper and manages the delivery box;
When an inquiry about the storage status of the delivery box is received from the shipping company, the management server transmits the delivery box assigned to the inquired shipping company or the storage status of the storage box to the shipping company that has made the inquiry. It is characterized by doing.

  In the present invention, since each storage box of the delivery box can be allocated and managed to the shipper, the use efficiency of the delivery box can be improved.

It is explanatory drawing which showed the structure of the delivery box management system. It is explanatory drawing which showed the state in which a delivery box management contractor communicates with a delivery box via the internet. It is a figure which shows the database which recorded the data of the consignor. It is a figure which shows the database which recorded the storage state of the delivery box, the delivery information of the delivery, etc. It is explanatory drawing which shows the flow of the cargo delivery of a delivery. It is explanatory drawing which shows the flow of the receipt of a delivered item.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on embodiments shown in the drawings.

  FIG. 1 schematically shows an overall configuration of a delivery box management system according to the present invention, particularly a configuration related to a network architecture.

  In FIG. 1, reference numerals B1, B2, B3, and B4 denote delivery boxes, and the delivery boxes B1, B2, B3, and B4 store the delivery items and unlock or close the electric lock according to the input or reading of the authentication number. There are a number of storage boxes that can be locked in and out. The delivery boxes B1, B2, B3, and B4 are installed in public places such as railway stations and convenience stores, and are also called base delivery boxes or city lockers.

  In FIG. 1, only four delivery boxes are shown, but a plurality of delivery boxes are arranged, and the respective installation locations may be remote from each other. Hereinafter, when referring to a plurality of delivery boxes, they are described using “...

  Delivery boxes B1, B2,. . . . . Is connected to the management server 2 of the delivery box manager 1 via the Internet N, and the storage state of the delivery box is monitored as will be described later. Hereinafter, the connection via the Internet is illustrated by a dashed line perpendicular to an arrow indicating a signal flow.

  Delivery boxes B1, B2,. . . . . Is a parcel delivery signal for each storage box that includes a package sensor signal indicating whether or not the delivery item is stored in the storage box of the delivery box and an unlocking lock signal indicating the unlocking and locking of the electric lock provided in the storage box. It transmits to the management company 1.

  The delivery box management company 1 manages the deposit (incoming) and the withdrawal (outgoing) of the delivered goods to each storage box based on the luggage sensor and the unlocking lock signal from the storage box of the delivery box.

  Reference numerals S1, S2, and S3 indicate a shipping company that delivers the delivered goods. For example, a company that sells products via the Internet (mail order dealer), a store that delivers the products to the purchaser, a department store, or many products. Such as trading companies. In FIG. 1, only three shippers are shown, but when there are more shippers and a plurality of shippers are indicated, “... .

  Shippers S1, S2,. . . . . Is connected to the delivery box manager 1 via the Internet, browses the storage state of the delivery box provided by the delivery box manager 1, designates an empty box, and delivers the delivery.

  The management server 2 of the delivery box management company 1 has a shipping company S1, S2,. . . . . When an empty box is designated, as described later, the usage rate of the storage box or the delivery box in which the storage box is located is recorded in association with the designated shipper, and what delivery box or storage box is assigned by which shipper. Record information about how many times it was used.

  Reference numerals D1 and D2 indicate delivery companies, transportation companies, and the like, and are companies that receive delivery items in the delivery box designated by the shipping company. In FIG. 1, a plurality of (two) delivery companies are shown. There may be one or one supplier.

  Reference numerals R1, R2, and R3 indicate consignees who receive the delivered goods via the delivery box, such as purchasers who have purchased goods via the Internet or at a store. Although only three such consignees are illustrated in FIG. 1, there are a plurality of three or more consignees. When referring to multiple consignees, use "..." after the code.

  Consignees R1, R2,. . . . . When the delivered product is delivered to the delivery box, the delivery box manager 1 or the delivery boxes B1, B2,. . . . . Then, the receipt is notified by e-mail or the like, for example, so that the delivery item is delivered to the delivery box and picked up.

  2 shows an example of the configuration of a delivery box. The delivery box 10 shown in FIG. 2 includes delivery boxes B1, B2,. . . . . It corresponds to one of these.

  The home delivery box 10 includes a plurality of storage boxes 10a, 10b,... Having storage doors for storing delivered home deliverables or taking out stored home deliveries. . . . . Consists of Storage boxes 10a, 10b,. . . . The unlocking / locking of the storage door is controlled by an electric lock (not shown). When the electric lock is unlocked or locked, an unlock signal or a lock signal is transmitted to the management server 2 of the delivery box manager 1 respectively.

  Further, each storage box 10a, 10b,. . . . . Is provided with a luggage sensor (not shown) composed of a transmissive or reflective optical sensor for transmitting the luggage sensor signal. Storage boxes 10a, 10b,. . . . . It is desirable to prepare a plurality of sizes (S, M, L...) According to the size of the delivered item to be stored.

  The home delivery box 10 has a console 11, which includes a display 11a composed of an LCD panel, a keyboard 11b composed of function keys and numeric keys for inputting an authentication number, and an ID card 12 serving as an authentication means. A reader 11c for reading information or a barcode, various operation buttons, and the like are provided.

  The display 11a may be a touch panel, and various operation buttons and function keys may be touch buttons. Also, the authentication number may be input by a touch method.

  The ID card 12 is stored in each storage box 10a, 10b,. . . . . It is used as one of the authentication means for unlocking the electric lock that locks the storage door of the door, and is distributed to the delivery person who delivers the delivery. As authentication information recorded on the ID card 12, a combination of a delivery company name and a password can be used.

  In the present system, the storage boxes 10a, 10b,. . . . . A one-dimensional or two-dimensional barcode printed on a pasting document for delivery is used for authentication related to the unlocking of the electric lock provided in. When the delivery person holds the barcode over the reader 11c, the electric lock of the storage box is automatically unlocked, so that the delivery item can be stored in the storage box unlocked.

  On the other hand, the consignees R1, R2,. . . . . The home delivery box management company 1 sends an authentication number (reception number) or a one-dimensional or two-dimensional bar code in which the authentication number is recorded by e-mail or the like. By reading the barcode with the reader 11c, the storage box in which the home delivery is stored can be unlocked, and the home delivery can be taken out from the storage box.

  As shown on the right side of FIG. 2, the delivery box 10 is provided with a control unit 20 including a CPU 20a, a ROM 20b, a RAM 20c, an interface 20d, and the like.

  Based on the authentication by inputting the authentication number via the ID card 12, the barcode or the keyboard 11b, the control unit 20 stores each storage box 10a, 10b,. . . . . The unlocking / locking signal of each storage box and the signal from the luggage sensor are transmitted to the management server 2 of the delivery box manager 1 connected to the Internet N via the interface 20d. .

  Note that the delivery box may be divided into units of three vertical columns in FIG. 2, for example, and managed for each unit. In the present invention, the units separated in this way also fall within the category of the delivery box, and the delivery box includes the entire delivery box or each unit.

  The management server 2 of the delivery box management company 1 has a storage device 3 that stores a database 4 of the shipping company as shown in FIG. 3 and a database 5 that records the storage state of the delivery box as shown in FIG. I have.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the database 4 includes the shippers S1, S2,. . . . . For each, an ID number for identifying the shipper, its e-mail address, the IP address of the shipper's management server, a telephone, a fax number, and the like are recorded.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the database 5 includes delivery boxes B1, B2,. . . . . For each installation location L1, L2, L3,. . . . . Each storage box number of the delivery box is recorded. In addition, an item of storage state (status) is provided. When it is determined that the delivery item is stored (entered) in the storage box based on the luggage sensor signal and the unlocking lock signal from the storage box, When it is determined that the “entry” information indicates that the storage box is empty, the “empty” information is recorded.

  In this embodiment, the delivery box or the storage box is assigned to each of the delivery companies in units of delivery boxes or in the storage boxes of the delivery boxes. Accordingly, the database 5 records the shipper assigned to each delivery box or each storage box.

  In the example shown in FIG. 4, the delivery boxes B1 and B3 are assigned to the delivery companies S1 and S3 in units of delivery boxes, the delivery boxes B2 are assigned in units of storage boxes, and the storage boxes b21 and b24 are delivery companies. In S2, the storage box b22 is assigned to the shipper S1, and the storage box b23 is assigned to the shipper S3.

  In addition, when the delivery company sends the delivery, the delivery item ID for identifying the delivery item, the delivery agent who requests delivery of the delivery item to the delivery box, the consignee of the delivery item, and the e-mail address of the consignee Is sent to the management server 2 of the delivery box manager 1 as the shipping information, and the management server 2 records each piece of information in each item of the database 5.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the utilization rate indicating which storage box is used by which consignor how many times is used is recorded in the database 5 at predetermined time intervals, for example, on a daily or monthly basis. When the usage rate is calculated for each delivery box, the average value obtained by dividing the usage rates of all the storage boxes of the delivery box by the storage box is used as the usage rate of the delivery box.

  Further, in the database 5, when an empty box is desired to be reserved, a reservation item is provided so that the user can make a reservation, and a remarks column is provided as a spare item so that additional shipping information can be recorded. Yes.

  In the system configured as described above, the flow of delivery and receipt of the delivered goods will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 5 shows a flow in which the delivery company S1 sends (delivers) the delivery item to the delivery box. The management server SV of the delivery company S1 accesses the management server 2 of the delivery box management company 1 and inquires about the storage state of the delivery box (T1).

  The management server 2 identifies the shipper S1 with reference to the database 4 from the ID number of the shipper transmitted from the shipper S1 or the IP address of the inquiry signal. Subsequently, the management server 2 reads the storage state (status) of the storage box assigned to the inquired shipper S1 with reference to the database 5, and reads the stored state to the inquirer. Browse (T2).

  In the example shown in FIG. 4, since all the storage boxes of the delivery box B1 and the storage box b22 of the delivery box B2 are allocated to the shipping company S1, the shipping company S1 stores the allocated storage boxes. You can view the status. In this case, it is possible to browse only the storage box whose storage state is “empty”.

  The consignor S1 is an empty box that is most suitable for receiving the consignee, for example, an empty box near the consignee's address, or a storage box desired by the consignee. If it is an empty box, specify the empty box.

  Now, it is assumed that the storage box designated by the consignor S1 is the storage box b11 of the delivery box B1 in FIG. At this time, the delivery company S1 designates a delivery item ID for identifying the delivery item, a delivery agent who requests delivery to the empty box of the delivery item, a consignee of the delivery item, an e-mail address of the consignee, etc. Along with the delivery box ID (B1) and the empty box number (b11), the delivery information is transmitted to the management server 2 of the delivery box manager 1 (T3).

  The management server 2 of the delivery box management company 1 creates a new delivery item from the shipping information transmitted from the shipping company S1 (T4), the ID number P1 of the delivery item stored in the storage box b11, the delivery company D1, Information such as the consignee R 3 and the e-mail address of the consignee is recorded in the database 5. At this time, the storage state of the specified storage box b11 is still “empty”.

  The delivery company D1 periodically visits the delivery company S1 and collects the delivery items. Therefore, the delivery company D1 collects the delivery items from the delivery company S1 and places the delivery box B1 with the designated storage box b11. Transport to.

  When the delivery company D1 reaches the delivery box B1, the delivery company D1 presses the delivery button of the delivery item on the console of the delivery box B1 (T5). By this operation, the console screen changes to a screen for inputting the ID number of the delivery item (T6), so that the delivery company D1 inputs the ID number P1 of the delivery item or reads the barcode printed on the delivery item. (T7).

  Since the ID number P1 of the delivered or read delivery item is transmitted from the delivery box B1 to the management server 2 of the delivery box manager 1 (T8), the management server 2 identifies the delivery item ID recorded in the database 5. The number P1 is collated, and the correctness determination is transmitted to the delivery box B1 (T9).

  The delivery box B1 determines whether the transmitted data is correct (T10). If the delivery box B1 is correct, the storage box b11 is automatically unlocked, and the delivery company D1 enters the delivery box into the storage box b11 (T11). When the delivery box B1 determines that the delivery item has been correctly received by the parcel sensor (T12), the delivery box D1 closes the storage box b11 because a warning for closing the storage box is issued (T13).

  When the delivery to the delivery box B1 is completed, the delivery completion information (reception number and receipt date / time) of the delivery is sent to the management server 2 of the delivery box manager 1 (T14).

  When receiving the delivery completion information of the delivery, the management server 2 changes the necessary item in the database 5, that is, the storage state of the storage box b11 to “Receiving”, and updates the utilization rate (T15). Subsequently, the management server 2 notifies the shipping company S1 that delivery of the delivery has been completed by e-mail, and that the delivery has been delivered to the storage box b11 of the delivery box B1, as well as the receipt number and receipt. The date and time are notified to the consignee R3 by e-mail (T16).

  FIG. 6 shows a flow in which the consignee receives the delivered delivery goods.

  When the delivery company D1 delivers the delivery to the consignee R3 via the delivery box B1, the deliverer D3 has delivered the delivery to the storage box b11 of the delivery box B1 at the location L1 by e-mail. Since the notification is made (T16 in FIG. 5), the consignee R3 goes to the place L1 where the delivery box B1 is installed and presses the delivery button for receiving the delivery at the console of the delivery box B1 (T20). As a result of this operation, the console screen changes to a screen for inputting the delivery number (T21), so that the consignee R3 inputs the receipt number notified by e-mail or reads the barcode indicating the receipt number. (T22).

  The delivery box B1 collates the receipt number (T14) of the delivery item with the receipt number of the delivery item input or read by the consignee R3, and determines whether it is correct (T23). If it is correct, the storage box b11 is automatically unlocked, so the consignee R3 issues the delivery item from the storage box b11 (T24). When the delivery box B1 determines that the delivery item has been delivered correctly by the parcel sensor (T25), a warning for closing the storage box is issued, so the consignee R3 closes the storage box b11 (T26).

  When the delivery of the delivery is completed, the delivery box B1 transmits the delivery completion information of the delivery to the management server 2 of the delivery box manager 1 (T27).

  When the management server 2 receives the delivery completion information for the delivery, the management server 2 updates necessary items in the database 5 (T28). As a result, the storage state of the storage box b11 is changed to “empty”, and the items of the delivery item ID number, the delivery company, the consignee and the mail address of the consignee are cleared. Subsequently, the management server 2 notifies the consignor S1 by e-mail that the delivery of the delivery by the consignee R3 is completed (T29).

  As described above, the management server 2 of the delivery box management company 1 calculates the usage rate of each storage box. Therefore, when an empty box is designated by the shipper, the usage rate of the storage box increases, and the designated number of times If there is little, utilization will remain low. If a large number of delivery boxes are assigned to a company that delivers a large number of deliveries, the delivery efficiency can be improved. Therefore, in order to improve the use efficiency of the delivery box, the delivery box or each storage box is assigned to the shipper according to the usage rate, and many delivery boxes are used for the shipper who uses the delivery box a lot. Or assign a storage box.

  Also, in this embodiment, delivery is performed without reserving an empty box, but when a shipping company designates an empty box with a high usage rate as a delivery receipt box, another shipping company has a high usage rate. In order to prevent the box from being designated, a message recommending the reservation of the storage box may be transmitted to the shipper.

  In the embodiment described above, when the delivery item is received into the delivery box, the management server of the delivery box management company notifies the receipt of the delivery to the consignee of the delivery item via e-mail. Alternatively, the delivery box may notify the consignee of the delivered product of the receipt via e-mail.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Delivery box manager 2 Management server 3 Storage device 4, 5 Database 10 Delivery box 11 Console 20 Control part

Claims (5)

Multiple deliveries installed in public places with storage boxes that can be delivered to the consignee by a delivery company that has been requested by the consignor, and can be unlocked and locked with electric locks. A delivery box,
A management server that assigns each storage box of the delivery box to a shipper and manages the delivery box;
When an inquiry about the storage state of the delivery box is received from the consignor, the management server transmits the delivery box assigned to the inquired consignor or the storage state of the storage box to the inquirer. And
The delivery server management system, wherein the management server transmits a message recommending reservation of the storage box to the delivery company when the delivery company designates a storage box with a high utilization rate as a delivery receipt box .   2. The delivery box management system according to claim 1, wherein the management server calculates a utilization rate of each storage box of the delivery box, and assigns the storage box to a shipper according to the utilization rate. The management server, when an inquiry about the storage state is made from the consignor, identifies the consignor from the IP address of the inquiry and allows the storage state of the storage box assigned to the identified consignor to be viewed. The delivery box management system according to claim 1 or 2 . When a goods receipt to delivery of delivery box, according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the management server notifies the consignee of the delivery was said input chamber via email Home delivery box management system. When a goods receipt to delivery of delivery box, any one of claims 1 to delivery box for which the goods receipt and notifies the consignee of the delivery was said input chamber via email 3 1 The delivery box management system according to item.

Images