JPH03186218A - Managing system for door-to-door delivery service - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To confirm whether a baggage is stored surely in a delivery service box or not by detecting whether the baggage exists in the delivery box or not by the image pickup of a television camera. CONSTITUTION:By transmitting simultaneously data, a voice and an image by utilizing a communication circuit l, the stock state of delivery baggage is brought to centralized control by a management center B. In such a case, television cameras 121-12n are installed in delivery boxes 51-5n, and an image processing means 19 of a transmission controller 2 detects whether baggage exists in the delivery service box or not by said television camera. Detection information of its image processing means 19 is transmitted to the management center B side. As a result, whether the baggage is stored surely in the delivery service box or not is confirmed, and also, whether a receiver takes out surely the baggage or not can be confirmed.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to a delivery management system that centrally manages the storage status of delivery packages by simultaneously transmitting data, audio, and video using communication lines. be.

[Prior Art] A block diagram of a conventional delivery management system is shown in FIG.
A conventional example will be explained based on this figure. First of all, there is a delivery box device in building A of the apartment complex! 1, and a transmission control device 2 connected to the delivery box device 1 by an R3232C signal line, and the transmission control device 2 is connected to a management center via a communication line l such as a public telephone line and an exchange 3. It is connected to the management center main device 4 provided at B.

The delivery box device 1 is equipped with a plurality of delivery boxes 5 to 51, and includes box door unlocking means 6 for controlling the unlocking of locks such as electric locks provided on the doors of the delivery boxes 51 to 57, respectively. , a printer 11 that prints out a statement of delivery, etc.;
A card reader 8 for reading data on the magnetic card when the magnetic card held by the recipient is inserted, and an R82.
Input/output control means 9 for data communication using the 32C method
, a call switch 10 that transmits a call signal through the input/output control means 9, a central control means 13 that controls the card reader 8, the printer 11, and the box door unlocking means 6, and an operation program for the central control means 13; It also includes a memory 14 that stores data and the like.

The transmission control device 2 transmits image data to the management center B side through the input/output control means 15 which transmits data in the R3232C method with the input/output control means 9 of the delivery box M1, the communication line l and the exchange 3. A communication line control means 20 for sending and receiving signals, voice signals, etc., and a microphone 2 for sending and receiving voice signals and making a call with the management center B through the communication line control means 20, the communication line e, and the exchange 3.
1 and speaker 22, a television camera 16 that takes an image of the delivery box installation location, a monitor television 17 that reproduces the image from the management center B, and a video signal from the television camera 16 that is input and reproduced on the monitor television 17. A video signal control means 18 outputs a video signal for the purpose of creating a still image image data signal from the video signal of the television camera 16 inputted through the video signal control means 18, and an image data signal from the management center B side. an image processing means 19 that demodulates the video signal and sends it to the video signal control means 18 as a video signal for reproduction on the monitor television 17, an input/output control means 15, an image processing means 19,
It is composed of a central control means 23 that controls the video signal control means 18 and the communication line control means 20 to perform signal processing, and a memory 24 that stores data and programs related to control operations of the central control means 23. Ru.

On the other hand, the management center main device 4 of the management center B has basically the same configuration as the transmission control device 2, and includes an image processing means 25, a video signal control means 26, a communication line control means 27, and an input/output control means 33. , a telephone receiver 30 connected to the central control means 28, a memory 29, and the communication line control means 27, for making a call with the transmission control device 2 side through the communication line l and the exchange 3, and for taking an image of the management center B side. a television camera 31 on the side of the delivery box, a monitor television 32 for reproducing a still image of the delivery person's face captured by the television camera 16 on the delivery box side, and an input/output control means 3.
3, and a buzzer 35 for notifying a call.

Now, in the conventional delivery management system having the above-mentioned configuration, first, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. Then, a call signal is sent to the central control means 23 through the input/output control means 15 of the transmission control device 2, and the central control means 23 that receives this call signal uses the communication line control means 20 to control the management center main device of the management center B. 4 through communication line 1 and exchange 3. In response to this call, the communication line control means 20
The buzzer 35 is sounded through.

On the other hand, in response to the call signal, the transmission control device 2 activates the television camera 16 through the video signal control means 18 under the control of the central control means 23, and the delivery boxes 51 to 5. ,
The video signal is sent to the image processing means 19 for image processing to create still image data.

The image data signal of this still image undergoes processing such as encoding and is sent to the communication line control means 20 under the control of the central control means 23.
and is sent to the management center main device 4 via the communication line e and the exchange 3. The management center main device 4 inputs image data received through the communication line control means 27 and the central control means 28 into the image processing means 25, demodulates it, converts the demodulated signal into a video signal by the video signal control means 26, and displays it on a monitor television. Play on 32. In other words, management center B
Delivery boxes 51-5 on the side. (The state of II can be monitored. At the same time, under the control of the central control means 28, a command to display a visit message is sent to the monitor screen of the personal computer 34 through the input/output control means 33, so that the visit message is displayed.

Now, in response to the sound of the buzzer 35, the operator of the management center B issues a command to the personal computer 3 to stop the buzzer.
4 to stop the buzzer 35 and pick up the handset 3o, the mute is turned off and the communication line l
, the voice line is connected through the exchange 3 and the communication line control means 2o, and the voice line is in a voice collecting and calling state, and the delivery boxes 51 to 5
It becomes possible to have a conversation with the delivery company of 1@ using the microphone 21 and the speaker 22.

Through this conversation, the operator asks the recipient's room number and the size of the package, and then selects the delivery box 5. ~5, “empty”
The user enters the displayed delivery box number and a delivery box unlock command using the keyboard of the personal computer 34. This input data is sent to the central control means 28 through the input/output control means 33, and the central control means 28 transmits the number data of the delivery box and the delivery box unlocking command to the communication line control means 27, the communication line l, the exchange 3, It is transmitted to the central control means 23 through the communication line control means 2o of the transmission control device 2. This transmission data is further sent to the central control means 13 of the delivery box device 1 through the input/output control means 15.9, and this central control means 13 identifies the delivery box to be unlocked from the transmission data and An unlocking control signal is output to the box R unlocking means 6 to unlock the electric lock of the delivery box.

Upon this unlocking, the delivery company stores the package in the unlocked delivery box, closes and locks the door.

Also, on the management center B side, the recipient's room number is input using the keyboard of the personal computer 34, and the registered contents are recorded in the memory 29 of the management center main device 4, and the registered data is transferred to the delivery box 5. 51 and recorded in the memory 14 of the delivery box device 1.

After this, the delivery box W, 1 side outputs a delivery note from the printer 11, and confirms with the delivery company whether the output delivery note is correct. By taking down the receiver 3o, the voice line between the management center main device 4ffl and the transmission control device 2 is disconnected, and the cargo delivery work is output.

Since the printer 11 prints out the delivery note for the vendor and the recipient, the delivery company places the delivery note for the recipient in the recipient's postal delivery box.

As shown in the flowchart of FIG. 10, the recipient can see that the package has arrived from the delivery note in the postal delivery box, so the recipient can swipe the magnetic card held by the recipient into the card reader 8 of the delivery box device 1. For example, the central control means 13
Then, it is determined whether the recipient is the one registered in the memory 14, and the r! of the delivery box corresponding to the recipient is determined. An R lock control signal is given to the box door unlocking means 6 to unlock the electric lock of the delivery box, so that the recipient can take out the stored baggage from the delivery box. In addition, the central control means 13 creates information that the baggage has been taken out at the same time as the lock is opened, and transmits it to the central control means 23 of the transmission control device 2 through the input/output control hand #if9.15. The control means 20 transmits the above information to the management center main device 4 and records it in the memory 29 of the management center main device 4.

[Problem to be solved by the invention] As mentioned above, in the delivery management system, the delivery box 5
．． The status of the delivery boxes 51 to 5n is centrally managed at the management center B@, and the status of the delivery boxes 51 to 5n can be confirmed by information, audio signals, and image data sent through the communication line l.

However, in the conventional system, information on storing and retrieving packages is sent to the management center B by opening and closing the doors of delivery boxes 5 to 5o.
From the side, it is not possible to confirm whether or not the package has been securely stored in delivery boxes 5 to 5n, or whether it has been taken out.
There was a problem in that the management center B11m could not tell even if the luggage could not be placed within ~5Th.

In addition, delivery pocket 5. There has been a method of detecting the presence of a package within ~5o using an infrared sensor or an ultrasonic sensor, but there was a problem that small packages, envelopes, etc. could not be detected.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the invention as claimed in claim 1 is to check whether the package has been securely stored in the delivery box, and to check whether the package has been reliably stored in the delivery box and to ensure that the recipient has not received the package. To provide a delivery management system that can confirm whether or not the item has been taken out.

Additionally, it is an object of the present invention to provide a delivery management system that can reliably detect parcels even if they are of the same color as the delivery box.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the invention according to claim 1 of the present invention utilizes a communication line to simultaneously transmit data, audio, and video. In a delivery management system that centrally manages the receiving status of items at a management center, a TV camera is installed inside the delivery box, and image processing means is installed to detect whether there is a package in the delivery box using the TV camera. The feature is that the detection information of the means is transmitted to the management center side.

Further, the invention according to claim 2 draws a plurality of black circle patterns on the bottom surface of the delivery box, images the bottom surface of the delivery box with a television camera to obtain a binary image, and converts this binary image into an image block with the black circle pattern. The binarized image of the bottom of the delivery box when there is no package is used as the reference image, and the binarized image obtained by capturing the image with a TV camera and the above criteria are used. It is equipped with image processing means for detecting the presence or absence of luggage by comparing the image block by image block.

[Function] According to the delivery management system of the present invention, the presence of packages in the delivery box is detected by imaging with a television camera, so it is difficult to detect small packages or envelopes using conventional sensors. Even difficult objects can be detected reliably.

In particular, a plurality of black circle patterns are drawn on the bottom of the delivery box, images are captured by a TV camera on the bottom of the delivery box, and a binary image is obtained.The binary image is divided into an image block with a black circle pattern and an image block without a black circle pattern. The binarized image of the bottom of the delivery box without any packages is used as a reference image, and the binarized image obtained by capturing the image with a TV camera and the above reference image are compared for each image block to determine the size of the package. By biasing the image processing means that detects the presence or absence, it is possible to reliably detect the presence of a package even if the package has the same color as the delivery box and is stored in the delivery box.

[Example] The present invention will be explained below with reference to Examples.

FIG. 1 shows a system configuration diagram of an embodiment of the present invention, which differs from the conventional example in that each delivery box 5-51 has a television camera 12+-12. and connect these television cameras 121 to 12° to the video signal control means 8 of the transmission control device 2, and also connect each delivery box 5. ~TV camera T on door 36 of 5R, ~12
Switches SW, -SW7 are installed to turn on and off the television cameras 12, . . . , and these switches SW, -SW, . ~12. It is possible to operate the television camera 12. ~12. The video signal is transmitted to the video signal control means 18.
The image processing means 19 converts the data into binarized image data, and performs image processing to be described later based on this image data to display the delivery boxes 51 to 5.
7 to check if there is any luggage inside.

As shown in Figure 2, a black circle pattern is drawn on the bottom of the delivery boxes 51 to 5o, and if the package has the same color as the bottom of the delivery boxes 51 to 5o, the image This is to prevent the baggage from being unable to be detected because the resulting image is almost the same as the white image of the baggage.

Next, the operation of the embodiment of the present invention will be explained based on the flowcharts of FIGS. 6 and 7.

The operation up to the point where the delivery company stores the package in the delivery boxes 5□ to 5h is the same as the conventional method, so a description of the process up to the point where the package is stored will be omitted.

However, as shown in Figure 2, when the package is stored in the delivery box 5 with the door 36 open and the door 36 is closed, the central control means 13 of the delivery box device 1 controls the closing of the door 36 and the box door unlocking. It is detected through the means 6, and upon this detection, the switch SW of the delivery box 5 is turned on and the television camera 12 is turned on.

The television camera 12 captures an image of the bottom of the delivery box for one screen. The video signal of the bottom image of the delivery box is sent to the image processing means 19 through the video signal control means 18 of the transmission control device 2. Thereafter, the central control means 13 turns off the switch SW to turn off the power to the television camera 12.

The image processing means 19 binarizes the video signal sent through the video signal control means 18, and converts this binarized image into an image block B1 having a black circle pattern as shown in FIG. The image block W1 where there is no black circle pattern is divided into blocks, and the binarized image of the bottom of the delivery box when there is no package and the captured image are registered in advance as a reference image for each block. Compare with.

Since a binarized image is represented by a pattern with a gray level of 0.1, 0.1 within an image block. ] Count the number of pixels with different patterns, and set the threshold value δ determined for each image block.
If it is larger than the threshold value δ, the image processing means 19 determines that the image within the image block has changed. This operation is performed on the image blocks B, . It is determined that there is a package in the delivery box 5. Figures 4 and 5 show an example of baggage detection, and in this example, the image block B1 with a black circle pattern.
The number of image blocks W without a black circle pattern is 15, and the number of image blocks W without a black circle pattern is 8. The image processing means 19 sequentially performs the above-described comparison starting from image block B, for example. Here, in the image shown in FIG. 5, image block B1 in which baggage X is shown. Ba, Bl, W7 and the same image blocks By, Be, Bs, Wt of the reference image shown in FIG.
The binary pattern of the digitized image has changed significantly, and the number of different pixels exceeds the threshold value δ, so it can be determined that the block image has changed. As a result, it is possible to detect that the package X exists in the delivery box 5 as shown in FIG. The information is sent to the management center main device 4 through the computer and recorded in the memory 29 of the management center main device 4.

Similarly, when the recipient takes out the package, when the recipient closes the door 36 of the delivery box 5, the delivery box 5
The TV camera 12 inside is activated to take an image of the bottom of the delivery box 5, and the same image processing as described above is performed to check and detect the presence or absence of the package.If there is no package X, it is assumed that the package X has been picked up. The detection information is sent from the transmission control device 2 to the management center main device 4.

[Effects of the Invention] The present invention utilizes a communication line to transmit data, audio, and video simultaneously, thereby providing a delivery management system that centrally manages the storage status of parcels at a management center. A camera is installed, and the TV camera has an image processing means that detects whether there is a package in the delivery box, and the detection information of the image processing means is transmitted to the management center, so there is a package in the delivery box. In order to detect whether or not the
Even items that are difficult to detect with conventional sensors, such as small packages and envelopes, can be reliably detected, and this has the effect of avoiding situations where packages are not stored due to some kind of enclosure.

In particular, draw multiple black circle patterns on the bottom of the delivery box, image the bottom of the delivery box with a TV camera to obtain a binarized image, and divide the binarized images into image blocks with the black circle pattern and image blocks without the black circle pattern. The binarized image of the bottom of the delivery box when there is no package is used as a reference image, and the binarized image obtained by capturing the image with a TV camera and the above reference image are divided into blocks for each image block. By providing an image processing means that detects the presence or absence of a package by comparison, the presence of the package can be reliably detected even if a package of the same color as the delivery box is stored in the delivery box. .

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a system configuration diagram of the embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the configuration of the main parts of the same as above, Fig. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the bottom image of the delivery box same as above, Fig. 4, and Fig. 5171! 6 and 7 are flowcharts for explaining the same operation as above, FIG. 8 is a system configuration diagram of the conventional example, and FIGS. 9 and 10.
The figure is a flowchart for explaining the operation same as above. 1 is a delivery box device, 2 is a transmission control device, 4 is a management center main device, 51 to 5n are delivery boxes, 12. ~1
2 A is a television camera, 18 is a video signal control means, 19
is an image processing means, 23 is a central control unit, SW, ~SW0
is a switch, and B, . . . , W . . . are image blocks. Figure 4 Figure 5 Figure 7 Figure 10 Figure 10 μn 7-(ll'1, white family,, 7th cut'1 Procedural amendment written spontaneously) 1. Display of the case 1999 Patent Application No. 326390 2, Name of the invention Delivery management system 3, Person making the amendment Relationship to the case Patent applicant address 1048 Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Prefecture Name (58
3) Matsushita Electric Works Co., Ltd. Representative Toshio Miyoshi 4 Agent postal code 530 Address 1-12-17-5 Umeda, Kita-ku, Osaka City Date of amendment order Voluntary order 6 Number of claims increased by amendment None 7, Subject of amendment Description 8, Contents of amendment

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) In a delivery management system that uses communication lines to simultaneously transmit data, audio, and video to centrally manage the arrival status of parcels at a management center, a television camera is installed inside the delivery box. A delivery management system comprising an image processing means for detecting whether there is a package in a delivery box using the television camera, and transmitting information detected by the image processing means to a management center. (2) Draw multiple black circle patterns on the bottom of the delivery box, image the bottom of the delivery box with a TV camera to obtain a binarized image, and divide the binarized images into image blocks with the black circle pattern and image blocks without the black circle pattern. Image block and block 2 of the bottom of the delivery box when there is no package
The present invention is characterized by comprising an image processing means that uses the digitized image as a reference image and compares the binarized image obtained by imaging with a television camera and the reference image for each image block to detect the presence or absence of luggage. The home delivery management system according to claim 1.