JPH07165310A - Physical distribution information system and warehousing assisting method - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve accuracy of the delivery and receipt of a product by a physical distribution information system and warehousing assisting method and efficiency of pre-arrangement at a receiver by providing a means of taking in, storing, displaying and transmitting product attribute data and image data concerning delivery respectively at both a deliverer and a receiver. CONSTITUTION:A deliverer is provided with input devices 10, 11, a processor 12, and an output device 13 for image, character and numerical data to input the style of packing, the attribute of a product in a package, the name of the product and so forth into the input devices 10, 11. The processor 12 consists of a CPU and so forth, and controls such operations as the retrieval of information and the transmission and receipt of information to be communicated. The output device 13 displays the contents of an operation accepted, information inputted, information on a return request from a receiver and so forth. A transmission line 14 is used for data communication with the receiver. The receiver is provided with input devices 15, 16, a processor 17, an output device 18 and so forth for image, character and numerical data. It inputs image data for a return request, image data for product display and storage conditions at the deliverer and order information, and takes in an output instruction for package and product information and so forth.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention effectively utilizes the image data of the package, the products in the package, etc. to improve the accuracy and efficiency of product transfer, and to improve the efficiency of preparatory work at the shipping destination. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information processing system associated with the shipment of goods, and particularly to a physical distribution information system and a storage assisting method suitable when a new product is frequently shipped.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In the conventional physical distribution information system, when purchasing and purchasing products, EOS (Electric Ordering System) is used.
When an item is ordered by using the product code as a key and the product is delivered from the shipping source to the shipping destination, inspection is performed. In this EOS, for example, "E
Recommendations of OS, pages 74 to 76, edited by Distribution System Development Center, published by Chuo Keizaisha (January 20, 1988) ”, with the product name, product code, etc. Based on the slip, at the shipping destination (the side that ordered the product),
The delivery of the ordered product is confirmed by the slip and the actual product, and the receipt is stamped with the acceptance stamp each time. In addition, if the product is broken or the product not ordered is delivered, a return slip is created and sent to the shipping source. In addition, if there is a correction of a missing item, etc., the slip number, detailed line data, and the corrected total cost amount will be entered and sent to the sender. This E
By using the OS, the purchase ordering work can be facilitated, and the inspection work and the purchase totaling work can be rationalized. In addition, the delivery status can be grasped and the management system such as out-of-stock prevention can be improved. In such a logistics information system, the storage location of the delivered product is determined in advance by the person in charge of the shipping destination according to the content of the ordered product, but it may be changed depending on the package packing at the time of delivery, It is a heavy burden with inspection work.

[0003]

In the above-mentioned prior art, the delivery slip has only character and number information, and it is easy to make an error in checking the agreement with the delivered goods and it takes time.
In particular, since there are many temporary workers who are inspected to save labor costs, the above-mentioned problems are likely to occur when a new product is frequently shipped. Also in the return processing, in the method of writing and returning the return processing slip at the shipping destination, it takes time until the next shipment, which leads to loss of sales opportunities at the shipping destination. On the other hand, the sender cannot know the status of the returned goods only after the actual goods are returned, and therefore wastes time and money, for example, when the contract clause does not correspond to the returned goods.
Furthermore, no consideration is given to the fact that the delivery information is sent to the shipping destination in advance and the preparatory work for the shipping destination is efficiently performed. This is not useful for preparatory setup work that requires image information such as product shape because the conventional delivery information is only character and number information.In particular, new products with different packaging are often used. It is difficult to handle when shipped. The object of the present invention is to improve such problems, to effectively utilize the package packing form and the image data of the products in the package, to improve the accuracy and efficiency of product transfer, and the efficiency of preparatory work of the shipping destination. It is to provide a physical distribution information system and an warehousing support method suitable for improvement.

[0004]

In order to achieve the above object, the physical distribution information system of the present invention includes a means for fetching the input attribute data of a product and image data relating to the product and the delivery of the product (see FIG. 1). 10, 11, 15, 1
6) and means for accumulating the data (19 to 2 in FIG. 1)
7) and means for displaying the data (13, 1 in FIG. 1)
8) and a data transmission means (14 in FIG. 1). In addition, at the product shipping source, the input photograph of the recipient of the product, the package appearance, the image data of the product in the package, and the related attribute data are imported, and the data is transmitted to the shipping destination and shipped. In the destination, the data is accumulated, the data is displayed at the time of inspection, the input status of the product to be returned is captured as image data, and the reason for return data including the data is transmitted to the sender. There is. Further, the storage assisting method of the present invention is such that before delivery from the shipping source to the shipping destination, the shipping source sends to the shipping destination the image data indicating the packing package, the products in the packing, and the storage status of the products to be shipped. It is characterized in that the transmission destination and the shipping destination decide the receiving location of the delivery in advance based on the data.

[0005]

In the present invention, the shipping source is provided with the image data input device, and by presenting the photograph of the recipient of the product, the packing appearance, and the image data of the product in the packing to the shipping destination, By accumulating and displaying the data at the time of inspection, it is possible to accurately and efficiently confirm the agreement between them and the actual item. In addition, in the return process, the image data input device of the shipping destination captures the return status as image data,
Realistic and prompt transmission to the sender. As a result, it is possible to improve the accuracy and efficiency of product transfer. In addition, as information on the products to be delivered, not only the quantity of the products but also the information such as the packing appearance and the image data showing the shape of the products in the packing that can determine the storage location should be transmitted from the shipping source to the shipping destination in advance. This will improve the efficiency of preparatory work at the destination. Furthermore, since the product can be delivered at the shipping source in consideration of the storage condition of the shipping destination, the efficiency of preparatory work of the shipping destination in a broad sense can be achieved.

[0006]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a visual physical distribution information system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The shipping source of this embodiment includes an image data input device 10, a character / numerical data input device 11, a processing device 12, an output device 13 and the like. The image data input device 10 is preferably a device including a TV camera, a scanner, and the like and capable of handling color information. With such a configuration, image data such as the package appearance (for example, cardboard), the goods in the package, the face of the recipient, and the like are input. In addition, generally, a plurality of types of products are stored in one package. The character / numerical data input device 11 is composed of a keyboard, a pointing device, a bar code reader, and the like, and displays attributes (size of product, attached article name, quantity, etc.) or product name (code) related to the package and the product in the package. Used for input. The processing device 12 includes a CPU and the like,
It controls processing such as information retrieval and delivery of transmitted information. The output device 13 displays the processing acceptance contents, the check result of the input information, the returned goods information transmitted from the shipping source, and the like. The transmission line 14 is used for data communication with a shipping destination.

The shipping destination of this embodiment is provided with an image data input device 15, a character / numerical data input device 16, a processing device 17, an output device 18, and the like. The image data input device 15 is composed of a TV camera, a scanner, etc., and includes image data of returned goods, product display shelves such as a store or warehouse of a shipping destination,
Input the image data of the storage situation such as the storage area. The character / numerical data input device 16 is composed of a keyboard, a pointing device, and the like, and inputs ordering information, fetches packing, output instructions of product information, and the like. The processing device 17 is composed of a CPU and the like, and controls processing such as information retrieval and delivery of transmission information. The output device 18 displays various information.

Next, various tables will be described. The shipping destination order information table 19 stores the order information input at the shipping destination. As shown in FIG. 2, a “shipping source code”, a “shipping destination code”, a “delivery delivery date”, and a “commodity delivery date”. "Code" and "quantity" are stored. The order information table 20 of the shipping source is for receiving the order information transmitted from the shipping destination at the ordering source, and as shown in FIG. 3, "shipping destination code", "delivery date", "product code". , And “quantity” are stored. As shown in FIG. 4, the product information table 21 of the shipping source includes “product code”, product attributes (“product name”, “price”, “weight”,
"Dimension") and "product image data" are stored. In the recipient information table 22 of the sender, as shown in FIG.
It stores "name of recipient", "shipping address", and "face photograph image data". Delivery schedule information table 23 of the sender
Stores the scheduled delivery information created by the shipping source. As shown in FIG. 6, "shipping source code", "shipping destination code", "delivery delivery date", "product code", and "quantity". ,
The “inspection result”, “product image data”, “packing package image data”, “receiver name”, and “receiver face photograph image data” are stored. Scheduled delivery information table 24
Is for receiving the delivery schedule information transmitted from the delivery source at the delivery destination, and its configuration is similar to that of the delivery schedule information table 23 of the delivery source. The shipping destination return information table 25 stores the return information created at the shipping destination, and as shown in FIG. “Code” and “returned image data” are stored. The transmission information transfer tables 26 and 27 of the shipping source and the shipping destination are tables for transferring the transmission information between the shipping destination and the shipping source.

Next, the visual physical distribution information processing of this embodiment will be described. At the destination, the contents of the order information table 19 are created and transmitted to the sender via the character / numerical data input device 16, and the contents of the order information table 20 are created at the sender based on the information. Since the processing is the same as the processing of the conventional EOS, the description is omitted. Figure 8
9 is a flowchart showing an information processing method at a shipping source in one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an information processing method at a shipping destination in one embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, first, a case will be described in which a worker at the shipping source requests creation of delivery information using the character / numerical data input device 11. As shown in FIG. 8, the system of the shipping source checks whether the worker's request is a delivery information creation request or a return response processing request (step 100). It should be noted that the processing request of the shipping destination serves as a trigger for the processing request corresponding to the returned goods, and thus the processing flow of the shipping destination will be described. Next, in the case of the delivery information creation request, the order information table 20 shown in FIG. 3 is referred to with the delivery destination code and delivery delivery date entered by the operator as keys, and the corresponding order information is searched for to obtain the necessary information. (Delivery code, delivery date, product code, quantity)
It is stored in the corresponding column of the delivery schedule information table 23 shown in (step 110). Next, referring to the product information table 21 shown in FIG. 4, the product image data is searched using the corresponding product code as a key, and the delivery schedule information table 23 shown in FIG.
(Step 120). Next, the package packing is stored in the scheduled delivery information table 23 by the image data input device 10 (step 130). Next, using the delivery address code as a key, the recipient information table 22 shown in FIG.
And stores the name and face photograph image data of the corresponding recipient in the corresponding column of the delivery schedule information table 23 (step 14).
0). Finally, the shipping code is the delivery schedule information table 2
It is stored in the corresponding column of No. 3, and the content is transmitted to the shipping destination (step 150).

On the other hand, at the delivery destination, as shown in FIG. 9, the contents of the delivery schedule information table 24 transmitted from the delivery source are referred to by using the delivery source code entered by the inspector as a key, and the corresponding recipient The name and face photograph image data of the above are taken out and displayed on the output device 18 (step 200). Thereby, the inspector compares the recipient and the facial photograph image data and inputs whether the recipient is valid or not, and the system checks whether or not the recipient has been input (step 210). As a result, if it is not valid, a message to that effect is output (step 220). Alternatively, the message may be output as voice. In addition, step 2
Although the delivery destination code is entered at 00, pattern matching is performed between the recipient's face photograph image data transmitted to the destination and the recipient's face photograph image data captured by the image data input device 15 at the destination. By adopting the method of performing, it is possible to further promote automation. If the recipient is valid (step 210), the relevant packing form and packing of the delivery schedule in the delivery schedule information table 24 transmitted to the delivery destination, with the input sender code and delivery delivery date as keys. The product information (product code, quantity, image data) is displayed (step 230). As a result, the inspector compares the actual product with the package image data of the package to be delivered and the information (product code, quantity, image data) of the product in the package to determine whether the delivered product matches. If they match, "check OK" is input from the character / numerical data input device 16, and the system monitors the input (step 240). If the inspection is OK, the inspection OK is stored in the inspection result column of the delivery schedule information table 24 for the corresponding product (step 250). Further, it is checked whether or not the processing of all the commodities corresponding to the corresponding sender code and the delivery date of the delivery schedule information table 24 is completed (step 260). If the processing is completed, the processing is ended, and if not completed, the step is completed. Return to 240. If the item is “return” in step 240, the return information table 25 includes the sender code, the destination code, the delivery date, and the product code of the product to be returned.
(Step 270). Further, by using the image data input device 15, the image data of the returned merchandise is fetched,
It is stored in the returned goods information table 25 (step 280).
Then, the contents of the return information table 25 are transmitted to the sender (step 280). In addition, the return information table 2
In addition to the contents of 5, the reason for return may be added. Alternatively, the reason for the return may be input by voice.

Here, a case will be described in which the return handling processing request is caught in step 100 of FIG. In this case, as shown in FIG. 8, the return information transmitted from the shipping destination is taken out and displayed (step 160). The output of the reason for the return may be voice. On the other hand, the worker at the shipping source inputs the fact that it corresponds to the returned goods, so the input is caught and the returned goods instruction is output to the output device 13 (step 170). After that, the transmission of information to the shipping destination is basically processed in the same way as the normal shipping of goods.
It should be noted that the return instruction may not be paper-based but may be directly linked to the delivery processing. According to the present embodiment, the face of the recipient of the product, the packaging of the package to be delivered, and the image data of the product in the packaging are presented to the sender, so that they match with the actual product,
Can be implemented efficiently. Furthermore, in the return processing, the status of the return can be transmitted to the sender in a realistic and prompt manner as an image.
As a result, it is possible to improve the accuracy and efficiency of product transfer.

Next, a process for improving the efficiency of the preparatory work for the delivery destination will be described. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the preparatory processing for the shipping destination in the embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the package appearance of the package to be received and the information (image, attribute, number, etc.) of the products in the package are displayed on the output device 18 as an image image (step 300).
Next, the image data of a storage place such as a product display shelf or a warehouse is fetched from the image input device 15 and displayed on the output device 18 (step 301). Based on the display information, the product acceptance planner decides the planned storage location, inputs the decision information from the character / numerical data input device 18, and the system takes in the information (step 302). At this time, depending on the availability of the storage location, a temporary storage location may be instructed instead of the prescribed storage location. Finally,
Creates and outputs a receipt location schedule table for goods to be stored (some are stored in a packed state) (step 30)
3). The storage location may be automatically calculated based on the storable space. In the present embodiment, as the information about the items to be delivered, not only the quantity of products but also the information such as the packaging shape of the package, the shape of the products in the package, and the like that can determine the storage location are transmitted in advance from the shipping source to the shipping destination. The efficiency of preparatory work can be improved at the shipping destination.

Next, another method of processing for improving the efficiency of the preparatory work of the delivery destination will be shown. In the above-mentioned embodiment, it is premised that the order at the shipping destination is transmitted to the shipping source with the ordered product name and the ordered quantity based on the conventional EOS. On the other hand, in this embodiment, a method will be described in which the image data of the storage status of the shipping destination is ordered from the shipping source in addition to the conventional ordering information. The system configuration is the same as in FIG. Figure 11
FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing a preliminary setup process of a shipping destination in one embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the order quantity of each product is determined by the order quantity determination tool (existing tool) of the processing device (17 in FIG. 1) at the shipping destination (step 4).
00). Next, the product group to be ordered is grouped into sub-product groups stored in the same storage area (step 401). Furthermore, the image data of the storage status corresponding to each sub-commodity group, which is input by the person in charge of ordering through the image data input device (15 in FIG. 1), is fetched (step 40).
2). The image data is transmitted through the transmission line (14 in FIG. 1),
The order data is transmitted to the sender (step 40).
3). According to the present embodiment, since the shipping source can deliver the product in consideration of the storage condition of the shipping destination, the efficiency of preparatory work of the shipping destination can be increased in a broad sense.

[0014]

EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, the face of the recipient of the product, the packing appearance of the package, and the information (images, attributes, number, etc.) of the products in the package are presented to the shipping destination, thereby providing the delivery information. It is possible to implement accurate and efficient execution of coincidence determination between the product and the actual product, and to improve the efficiency of preparatory work at the shipping destination such as pre-determination of the receiving location and advance preparation of the receiving system of the storage area. Also, in the return process, the situation of the return is realistic with an image,
Promptly transmitted to the sender. As a result, it is possible to improve the accuracy and efficiency of product transfer. Further, by transmitting the order information with the image data of the storage situation from the delivery destination to the delivery source, it is possible to realize the delivery according to the storage situation of the delivery destination.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a visual physical distribution information system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an order information table according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an order information table according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a product information table according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a recipient information table according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a delivery schedule information table according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a merchandise return information table according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an information processing method at a shipping source in an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an information processing method at a shipping destination in an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a preliminary setup process of a shipping destination in an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a preliminary setup process of a shipping destination in one embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Image Data Input Device 11 Character / Numerical Data Input Device 12 Processing Device 13 Output Device 14 Transmission Line 15 Image Data Input Device 16 Character / Numerical Data Input Device 17 Processing Device 18 Output Device 19 Ordering Information Table 20 Order Information Table 21 Product Information Table 22 Recipient information table 23 Expected delivery information table 24 Expected delivery information table 25 Returned goods information table 26 Transmission information delivery table 27 Transmission information delivery table

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A distribution information system for supporting the ordering and delivery of merchandise, a means for fetching the attribute data of the merchandise and image data relating to the merchandise and delivery of the merchandise, and means for accumulating the data. A physical distribution information system comprising a means for displaying the data and a data transmission means. 2. In a logistics information system that supports ordering and delivery of goods, the sender of the goods sends the photograph of the recipient of the goods, the packing appearance, the image data of the goods in the packing, and The shipping destination is provided with means for fetching related attribute data and means for transmitting the data to the shipping destination.
A means for accumulating the data, a means for displaying the data at the time of inspection, a means for fetching the input status of the product to be returned as image data, and a means for transmitting the return reason data including the data to the sender. A logistics information system characterized by being equipped. 3. In the method for determining a receiving location in a logistics information system that supports ordering and delivery of goods, before the delivery from the shipping source to the shipping destination, the shipping source is the shipping package of the shipping schedule and the products in the packaging. A method of storing goods, wherein image data indicating a storage status of the product is transmitted to a shipping destination, and the shipping destination decides a storage location of the delivery in advance based on the data.