JP6879875B2 - Stocker - Google Patents

Description

The present specification discloses stockers.

Conventionally, a stocker (rocker) equipped with a plurality of delivery boxes (boxes) capable of delivering home deliveries delivered by a delivery person and a computer (control device) that performs various processes related to delivery to each delivery room has been known. There is. For example, the computer of the stocker of Patent Document 1 performs a process of accepting a reservation of a delivery room from a terminal device operated by the delivery person, or associates the received reservation delivery number with the identification information of the delivery person and performs reservation data. The process of registering is performed, and the process of identifying the other party and unlocking the delivery room when the delivery person delivers the delivery is performed.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 11-151154

In the above-mentioned stocker, if something goes wrong with the computer, it will hinder the delivery of home deliveries, so it is required to perform the restoration process as soon as possible. One possible recovery process is to restart and reset the computer, but if the administrator is in a remote location away from the stocker, the administrator must move to the stocker and restart the computer. Because of this, it takes time and effort.

The main purpose of this disclosure is to enable prompt recovery in the event of a malfunction in a computer that performs processing related to delivery to the delivery room.

The present disclosure has taken the following steps to achieve the above-mentioned main objectives.

The stocker of the present disclosure is a stocker used in a stocker system including a stocker having a delivery storage and a management device for managing the stocker, and is communicably connected to the management device via a global network. The main computer that performs various processes including the processes related to delivery to the delivery room is communicably connected to the management device via the global network, and is connected to the main computer via the local network to be managed. The gist is to include a sub-computer that restarts the main computer based on receiving a restart instruction of the main computer from the device.

The stocker of the present disclosure is communicably connected to the management device via the global network and is connected to the main computer via the local network, and the main computer is based on receiving a restart instruction of the main computer from the management device. Equipped with a sub-computer to restart. Therefore, when some trouble occurs in the main computer, the management device can restart and reset the main computer by sending a restart instruction to the sub computer, so that the trouble in the main computer can be solved. It becomes possible. Therefore, the administrator of the stocker can quickly recover the main computer by remote control without going to the stocker.

The stocker of the present disclosure includes a power supply device capable of switching between supplying power to the main computer and stopping the power supply according to a control signal, and the sub-computer receives the restart instruction. The main computer may be restarted by outputting the control signal for stopping the power supply to the power supply device and then outputting the control signal for supplying the power to the power supply device. In this way, the sub computer can restart the main computer with a simple process.

In the stocker of the present disclosure, the sub-computer may be automatically restarted at regular timings. In this way, the stocker can periodically reset the sub computer for stable operation.

The stocker of the present disclosure includes a camera module that images the periphery of the stocker, and the sub-computer has a presence or absence of a person around the stocker based on an image captured by the camera module at the periodic timing. If it is determined that there is no person, it may be restarted. In this way, the stocker can prevent inconvenience caused by restarting the sub computer while it is being used by the user.

In the stocker of the present disclosure, the sub-computer may perform a predetermined process that is less relevant to the delivery to the delivery room. In this way, the stocker can make the sub-computer perform processing other than restarting the main computer, so that the processing load of the main computer can be distributed. Further, since the sub-computer only needs to perform a predetermined process having a low relevance to the delivery, it can be configured inexpensively without requiring a high processing capacity.

The stocker of the present disclosure includes a camera module that images the periphery of the stocker, and the sub-computer may perform a process of transmitting an image captured by the camera module to the management device as the predetermined process. Good. Here, since the image transmission process to the management device is a continuous process, if the main computer that performs various processes is responsible for the image transmission process, parallel processing is required, which is a relatively high load. Therefore, the stocker can appropriately distribute the processing load of the main computer and lead to the stable operation of the main computer by letting the sub computer take charge of the image transmission processing.

The block diagram which shows the outline of the structure of the stocker system 1. The block diagram which shows the outline of the electrical structure of the stocker 10. A flowchart showing an example of a subcomputer basic processing routine. The flowchart which shows an example of the captured image transmission processing. A flowchart showing an example of the main computer restart process. The flowchart which shows an example of the subcomputer restart process.

The embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an outline of the configuration of the stocker system 1, and FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing an outline of the electrical configuration of the stocker 10.

As shown in FIG. 1, the stocker system 1 includes a plurality of stockers 10 and a management device 50 that manages the stockers 10. The plurality of stockers 10 and the management device 50 are connected to a communication network 5 such as 3G or LTE. The communication network 5 may be another network such as the Internet.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the stocker 10 includes a plurality of box-shaped delivery storages 20 capable of delivering goods, and a control unit 30 that performs various processes related to delivery to each delivery storage 20. The stocker 10 is installed in various places such as offices, convenience stores, train stations, schools, condominiums, and shopping centers, and may be installed not only indoors but also outdoors. Further, in the stocker 10, after the goods are delivered by the delivery person (deliverer) to any delivery storage 20 as the delivery destination, the recipient takes out the goods from the delivery storage 20 and receives the goods, so that the delivery person Used for delivery of goods delivered by.

The delivery storage 20 has a door that can be opened to allow goods to be taken in and out of the storage. As shown in FIG. 2, each delivery storage 20 includes a locking device 24 for locking the door, an opening / closing sensor 26 for detecting the open / closed state of the door, and an article sensor 28 for detecting the presence / absence of an article in the storage.

As shown in FIG. 1, the control unit 30 is provided with an operation display panel 34, a reader 36, and a camera module 38 on the front surface of the unit. The operation display panel 34 has a touch panel type screen, displays operation guidance related to delivery and removal of articles, and accepts input operations related to delivery and removal of articles. The reader 36 is configured as a card reader that reads various cards in which identification information of the deliverer and recipient of the article is registered, and reads various codes and the like indicating identification information of the deliverer and recipient of the article. It may be configured as a code reader. The camera module 38 is arranged so that a predetermined range in front of the stocker 10 can be imaged, and captures an image including a subject such as a deliverer or a recipient.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the control unit 30 includes a main computer 41, a first power supply unit 42, a router 43, a second power supply unit 44, a sub computer 45, and a third power supply unit 46. ..

The main computer 41 is configured as a microcomputer centered on a CPU (not shown), and in addition to the CPU, a ROM for storing various programs, a RAM for temporarily storing data, an input / output port, and a communication port (all of the drawings are shown in the figure). Not shown) and so on. The main computer 41 performs various processes including unlocking and locking of the locking device 24 of each delivery storage 20 and processing related to delivery to each delivery storage 20. The main computer 41 outputs a display signal to the operation display panel 34, an unlocking signal to the locking device 24 of each stocker 20, a locking signal, and the like. Further, the main computer 41 includes an operation instruction received by the operation display panel 34, information read by the reader 36, a detection signal from the open / close sensor 26 of each stocker 20, and a detection signal from the article sensor 28 of each stocker 20. And so on. The main computer 41 can be reset by generating an internal reset signal and restarting the computer 41.

The first power supply unit 42 is configured to convert an AC voltage from a commercial power source (for example, AC100V) into a DC voltage V1 (for example, DC24V) for operating the main computer 41 and supply power to the main computer 41. .. The first power supply unit 42 has a built-in relay circuit 42a that switches on / off according to the input of an on / off control signal. The relay circuit 42a supplies power to the main computer 41 in the on state, and the relay circuit 42a is in the off state. Stops the power supply to the main computer 41. The main computer 41 has a voltage detection circuit (not shown) that detects the supply voltage of the power supplied from the first power supply unit 42.

The router 43 is connected to the wired LAN 47 to which the main computer 41 and the sub computer 45 are connected and the communication network 5, and performs routing between the wired LAN 47 and the communication network 5. The router 43 may be connected to the main computer 41 or the sub computer 45 via a wireless LAN.

The second power supply unit 44 is configured to convert an AC voltage from a commercial power source into a DC voltage V2 (for example, DC12V or the like) for operating the router 43 and supply power to the router 43. The second power supply unit 44 is built in the router 43.

The sub-computer 45 is configured as a microcomputer centered on a CPU (not shown), and in addition to the CPU, a ROM for storing various programs, a RAM for temporarily storing data, an input / output port, and a communication port (all of which are shown in the drawings). Not shown) and so on. The sub-computer 45 controls the camera module 38 and the relay circuit 42a of the first power supply unit 42. The sub-computer 45 outputs an image pickup signal to the camera module 38 and an on / off control signal to the relay circuit 42a. Further, the sub-computer 45 inputs the captured image captured by the camera module 38, and transmits the input captured image to the management device 50 via the router 43 via the communication network 5. In this way, the sub-computer 45 does not directly affect the delivery to each delivery storage 20, and performs processing that is less relevant to the delivery. The sub-computer 45 can be reset by generating an internal reset signal and restarting.

The third power supply unit 46 is configured to convert an AC voltage from a commercial power source into a DC voltage V3 (for example, DC5V or the like) for operating the subcomputer 45 and supply power to the subcomputer 45.

The management device 50 communicates with the main computer 41 and the sub-computer 45 of each stocker 10 via the router 43 via the communication network 5. The management device 50 receives the usage status of the delivery room 20 transmitted from the main computer 41, and receives the captured image of the camera module 38 transmitted from the sub computer 45. Further, the management device 50 transmits various instructions and information to the main computer 41 and the sub computer 45. A storage unit (not shown) of the management device 50 stores various information such as an identification number and an arrangement location of each stocker 10, an operating status of each stocker 10, and a usage status of each delivery storage 20. Further, the management device 50 includes a display unit 52 configured as a liquid crystal display for displaying various screens, and an input unit 54 composed of a mouse, a keyboard, or the like for the administrator to input various instructions. By displaying various screens on the display unit 52, the administrator can grasp the usage status of the delivery storage 20 and the surrounding status of the stocker 10. In addition, the administrator can give various instructions to the main computer 41 and the sub-computer 45 by performing an input operation via the input unit 54.

In the stocker system 1 configured in this way, the management device 50 determines the stocker 10 and the delivery storage 20 of the delivery destination based on the recipient's desire to receive and the usage status of the stocker 10, and causes the delivery person and the main computer 41 of the stocker 10 to use the stocker system 1. Send. The management device 50 also transmits the delivery person's authentication information and the like to the main computer 41 of the stocker 10. The delivery person delivers the article to the stocker 10 of the delivery destination, and performs an input operation on the operation display panel 34, a reading operation on the reader 36, and the like. When the delivery person is authenticated, the main computer 41 of the stocker 10 unlocks the lock device 24 of the corresponding delivery room 20. As a result, the delivery person can open the door of the unlocked delivery room 20 and deliver the goods. When the article is delivered, the main computer 41 locks the locking device 24 of the delivery storage 20. Further, the management device 50 transmits information for identifying the stocker 10 of the delivery destination to the recipient. The management device 50 also transmits the recipient's authentication information and the like to the main computer 41 of the stocker 10. Then, the recipient goes to the stocker 10 of the recipient and performs an input operation on the operation display panel 34, a reading operation on the reader 36, and the like. When the recipient is authenticated, the main computer 41 of the stocker 10 controls the unlocking of the lock device 24 of the corresponding delivery room 20. As a result, the recipient can open the door of the unlocked delivery room 20 and take out the article. In this way, the main computer 41 of the stocker 10 performs various processes related to delivery to the delivery storage 20 while communicating with the management device 50.

The operation of the stocker 10 configured in this way will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of a subcomputer basic processing routine executed by the subcomputer 45. This routine is executed after the power of the sub computer 45 is turned on and a predetermined initialization process is executed. In the sub-computer basic processing routine, the captured image transmission process (S10), the main computer restart process (S20), and the sub-computer restart process (S30) are repeatedly executed.

The captured image transmission process of S10 is executed based on the flowchart shown in FIG. In this captured image transmission process, the sub-computer 45 first determines whether or not it is the transmission timing of the captured image (S100). The transmission timing can be, for example, a predetermined time interval such as every few seconds or several tens of seconds. When the sub computer 45 determines in S100 that it is not the transmission timing of the captured image, the sub computer 45 ends the captured image transmission process as it is. On the other hand, when the sub-computer 45 determines in S100 that it is the transmission timing of the captured image, the sub-computer 45 acquires the captured image captured by the camera module 38 (S110), and obtains the acquired captured image via the communication network 5 via the router 43. The image is transmitted to the management device 50 (S120), and the captured image transmission process is completed. As a result, the sub-computer 45 can transmit the captured image of the camera module 38 to the management device 50 at predetermined time intervals, and the management device 50 can display the received captured image on the display unit 52. Since the stocker 10 can transmit the captured image to the management device 50 regardless of the processing load of the main computer 41, the stocker 10 continuously adjusts the captured image by adjusting the predetermined time for determining the transmission timing to a short time of several seconds or less. It is also possible to send the image. As a result, the management device 50 can also display the captured image in real time on the display unit 52. Further, the administrator can monitor the stocker 10 and grasp the situation such as the presence / absence of a user and the presence / absence of a suspicious person by checking the captured image displayed on the display unit 52 by the management device 50.

The main computer restart process of S20 is executed based on the flowchart shown in FIG. In this main computer restart process, the sub computer 45 first determines whether or not the restart instruction of the main computer 41 transmitted from the management device 50 has been received (S200). Here, the management device 50 detects that the operation of the main computer 41 becomes unstable or goes down due to the communication with the main computer 41. Further, the administrator can give an instruction to restart the main computer 41 by operating the input unit 54 with a button on the browser (not shown) displayed on the display unit 52 by the management device 50. This restart instruction is transmitted from the management device 50 to the sub computer 45 via the communication network 5 via the router 43. As described above, the management device 50 displays the captured images transmitted from the sub-computer 45 at predetermined time intervals on the display unit 52, and the manager can grasp the status of the stocker 10. Therefore, the administrator can give an instruction to restart the main computer 41 at an appropriate timing that does not hinder the restart from the grasped situation of the stocker 10. For example, it is possible that the restart instruction is not given while the user opens the door of the delivery storage 20 to deliver or take out the goods. This prevents the inconvenience caused by restarting the main computer 41 during the use of the user, for example, the operation display panel 34 is hidden and the user is confused or unable to continue the work. Can be done.

When the sub-computer 45 determines in S200 that the restart instruction of the main computer 41 has not been received, the sub-computer 45 ends the main computer restart process as it is. On the other hand, when the sub-computer 45 determines that the restart instruction of the main computer 41 has been received in S200, the sub-computer 45 outputs an off control signal to the relay circuit 42a of the first power supply unit 42 (S210), and the predetermined time has elapsed. Wait for the determination (S220). When the off control signal is output to the relay circuit 42a, the relay circuit 42a is turned off and the power supply from the first power supply unit 42 to the main computer 41 is stopped. The main computer 41 generates an internal reset signal when it detects that the supply voltage detected by the voltage detection circuit has dropped below a predetermined threshold voltage (voltage drop) when the power supply is stopped. Shut down to perform a reset. The predetermined time of S220 can be appropriately set to a time required for shutting down the main computer 41 in which the power supply is stopped, plus a slight margin time. Then, when the sub computer 45 determines in S220 that the predetermined time has elapsed, the sub computer 45 outputs an on control signal to the relay circuit 42a of the first power supply unit 42 (S230), and ends the main computer restart process. When the power supply is restarted, the main computer 41 will be restarted. When the main computer 41 is reset by restarting, the problem is usually resolved and normal operation is possible. Therefore, the administrator can solve the problem of the main computer 41 by remote control without going to the stocker 10.

The sub-computer restart process of S30 is executed based on the flowchart shown in FIG. In this sub-computer restart process, the sub-computer 45 first determines whether or not it is the restart timing of the sub-computer 45 (S300). Here, the restart timing of the sub-computer 45 is a periodic timing that arrives once a day in a time zone in which the stocker 10 is infrequently used (for example, a time zone in the middle of the night). If the sub-computer 45 determines in S300 that it is not the restart timing, the sub-computer 45 ends the sub-computer restart process as it is. On the other hand, when the sub-computer 45 determines that it is the restart timing in S300, it acquires an image captured by the camera module 38 (S310), analyzes the acquired image, and is a person such as a user or a suspicious person. The detection process of (moving body) is performed (S320), and it is determined whether or not a person is detected (S330). The processing of S310 and S320 is performed, for example, by comparing two or more captured images having continuous imaging times and determining the presence or absence of a person based on a region in which the pixel value changes in each captured image. When the sub-computer 45 determines that a person has been detected in S330, the sub-computer 45 returns to S310 and repeats the process until no person is detected from the captured image. Further, when the sub-computer 45 determines that the person is not detected in S330, the sub-computer 45 restarts the sub-computer 45 by generating an internal reset signal (S340), and ends the sub-computer restart process. As a result, the sub-computer 45 is restarted and reset periodically every day, so that the stocker 10 prevents the sub-computer 45 from becoming unstable or going down. be able to. Further, since the sub-computer 45 restarts after determining that there is no person from the captured image, it is possible to prevent the sub-computer 45 from restarting when there is a person in the vicinity of the stocker 10. Therefore, the stocker 10 can appropriately prevent the camera module 38 from restarting when there is a person in the vicinity, interrupting the transmission of the captured image, and making it impossible for the management device 50 to grasp the situation. ..

Here, the correspondence between the components of the present embodiment and the components of the present disclosure will be clarified. The stocker 10 of the present embodiment corresponds to the stocker of the present disclosure, the management device 50 corresponds to the management device, the stocker system 1 corresponds to the stocker system, the communication network 5 corresponds to the global network, and the main computer 41 is the main computer. It corresponds to a computer, the wired LAN 47 corresponds to a local network, and the sub computer 45 corresponds to a sub computer. Further, the camera module 38 corresponds to the camera module.

The stocker 10 of the present embodiment described above includes a sub computer 45 that restarts the main computer 41 based on receiving a restart instruction of the main computer 41 from the management device 50. Therefore, if a problem occurs in the main computer 41, the administrator can restart and reset the main computer 41 without going to the stocker 10. Therefore, since the administrator can solve the problem of the main computer 41 by remote control, the main computer 41 can be quickly restored.

Further, the stocker 10 includes a first power supply unit 42 capable of switching between supplying power to the main computer 41 and stopping the power supply according to an on / off control signal. The sub-computer 45 outputs the off control signal to the first power supply unit 42 based on the reception of the restart instruction, and then outputs the on control signal to the first power supply unit 42 to restart the main computer 41. Start it. Therefore, the sub-computer 45 can quickly restore the main computer 41 with a simple process.

Further, since the stocker 10 automatically restarts the sub computer 45 at a periodic timing, the sub computer 45 can be periodically reset to achieve stable operation. Since the restart of the sub-computer 45 is performed when it is determined that there is no person based on the captured image captured by the camera module 38, the restart of the sub-computer 45 affects the use of the user of the stocker 10. It can be prevented from exerting. In particular, since the sub-computer 45 is responsible for transmitting the captured image of the camera module 38 to the management device 50, it is possible to prevent a situation in which the captured image is not transmitted even though there is a person in the vicinity of the stocker 10. Can be done.

Further, the stocker 10 performs a transmission process in which the sub-computer 45 transmits the captured image of the camera module 38 to the management device 50. The transmission process of the captured image needs to be continuously performed, and if it is performed in parallel with other processes, the load is relatively high. Therefore, the sub computer 45 performs the transmission process to cause the main computer 41 to transmit. The load can be distributed appropriately. Further, the sub-computer 45 only needs to be able to perform processing less relevant to delivery such as transmission of captured images, and since it is less necessary to perform a plurality of processing at the same time, it has an inexpensive configuration without requiring high processing capacity. can do.

It goes without saying that the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be implemented in various embodiments as long as it belongs to the technical scope of the present disclosure.

In the above-described embodiment, the sub-computer 45 performs the transmission processing of the captured image, but the present invention is not limited to this, and any processing that is less relevant to the delivery to the delivery storage 20 may be performed. For example, the sub-computer 45 monitors the life and death of the main computer 41, records log information when an operation abnormality occurs, and sends the log information to the management device 50, for example, to perform a process of monitoring the local environment of the stocker 10. May be good. Alternatively, the sub-computer 45 is not limited to the one that performs such processing, and may be any that performs the processing of restarting the main computer 41 when receiving the restart instruction of the main computer 41.

In the above-described embodiment, the sub-computer 45 is restarted when it is determined that there is no person in the vicinity of the stocker 10 based on the captured image of the camera module 38. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the periphery of the stocker 10 is restarted. It may be restarted regularly with or without a person.

In the above-described embodiment, the sub-computer 45 is restarted once a day (once a day) as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the sub-computer 45 may be restarted at a higher frequency such as a plurality of times a day. However, it may be restarted at a lower frequency such as once in a plurality of days. Further, the sub-computer 45 is not limited to the one that restarts automatically, and may be restarted based on the restart instruction from the management device 50.

In the above-described embodiment, when the management device 50 receives the restart instruction of the main computer 41, the sub computer 45 outputs an off control signal to the relay circuit 42a of the first power supply unit 42, and the main computer detects the voltage drop. It is assumed that 41 is restarted (reset), but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the sub-computer 45 is the main computer 45, for example, a reset signal (including a corresponding signal) can be input from the sub-computer 45 to the main computer 41, and the main computer 41 is restarted (reset) based on the input of the reset signal. Any configuration may be used as long as the computer 41 can be restarted.

The present invention can be used in the technical field of a product distribution system for delivering a product to a stocker.

1 stocker system, 5 communication network, 10 stocker, 20 delivery room, 24 lock device, 26 open / close sensor, 28 article sensor, 30 control unit, 34 operation display panel, 36 reader, 38 camera module, 41 main computer, 42nd 1 power supply unit, 42a relay circuit, 43 router, 44 second power supply unit, 45 sub computer, 46 third power supply unit, 47 wired LAN, 50 management device, 52 display unit, 54 input unit.

Claims (6)

A stocker used in a stocker system including a stocker having a delivery storage and a management device for managing the stocker.
A main computer that is communicably connected to the management device via a global network and performs various processes including processes related to delivery to the delivery yard.
The main computer is communicably connected to the management device via the global network, is connected to the main computer via the local network, and receives a restart instruction of the main computer from the management device. With the sub-computer to restart
Stocker with. The stocker according to claim 1.
A power supply device capable of switching between supplying power to the main computer and stopping the power supply according to a control signal is provided.
The sub-computer outputs a control signal for stopping the power supply to the power supply device based on the reception of the restart instruction, and then outputs a control signal for power supply to the power supply device. A stocker that restarts the main computer. The stocker according to claim 1 or 2.
The sub-computer is a stocker that automatically restarts at regular timings. The stocker according to claim 3.
It is equipped with a camera module that captures the surroundings of the stocker.
The sub-computer determines whether or not there is a person in the vicinity of the stocker based on the image captured by the camera module at the periodic timing, and restarts the stocker when it is determined that there is no person. The stocker according to any one of claims 1 to 4.
The sub-computer is a stocker that performs predetermined processing that is less relevant to delivery to the delivery room. The stocker according to claim 5.
It is equipped with a camera module that captures the surroundings of the stocker.
The sub-computer is a stocker that performs a process of transmitting an image captured by the camera module to the management device as the predetermined process.

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