KR20210048448A - Unmanned Delivery System - Google Patents

Abstract

According to one embodiment of the present invention, provided is a server for an unmanned delivery service which receives a request for storage of a delivery item from an application of a delivery person, transmits an authentication number to the application of the delivery person in response to the storage request, sets a password for an unmanned delivery box in which the delivery item is stored when the authentication succeeds, and transmits a message notifying arrival of the delivery item to a terminal of a recipient. In addition, the server receives a contact address of the recipient entered into the unmanned delivery box, and transmits the authentication number to the contact address of the recipient.

Description

Unmanned Delivery System

The present invention relates to an unmanned delivery system, and the following embodiments relate to a method of operating a server and a terminal for a user to use the unmanned delivery system.

Existing unmanned delivery systems are largely composed of an electronic door lock method and a kiosk (computer) method.

In the case of the electronic key door lock method, not only the courier driver but also anyone can put things, so as time passes, the courier box is used for personal luggage storage. In addition, it is impossible to verify the identity of the courier sender and the courier recipient, and many errors occur when sending password text.

In the case of the kiosk method, it is not used for storing personal luggage, but there is a problem in that a separate ID card is required or a cumbersome registration procedure is required when storing parcels for identification. For example, even when changing a delivery driver, there is a hassle of having to check and sign up for a new delivery driver.

In addition, in the case of the above two methods, there may be a case where the courier sender and the recipient are not identified, and this may cause a problem of receiving the goods after delivery. In order to improve this problem, a kiosk network method or an app method managed through a server was devised. However, in both methods, there is a hassle in that both the courier driver and the customer must register an ID or install and use an app. Due to this, convenience items are difficult to improve, it is difficult to use, and it is difficult to distribute unmanned courier boxes.

In addition, in the case of the conventional app method, there is also a technical problem that a courier driver or a customer can randomly open an unattended courier box outside the field.

Embodiments to be described below improve the problems of the conventional method. For example, it is possible to confirm the identity of a courier and a customer and make accurate delivery, and in the case of a customer, it is possible to conveniently receive a package without installing an app.

A method of operating a server for an unattended delivery system according to one side includes the steps of receiving a storage request for a delivery item from an application of a sender; Transmitting a first authentication number to the application in response to the storage request; Receiving information about a recipient of the parcel delivery item; Setting a password for an unattended delivery box in which the delivery goods are stored; And transmitting a message notifying the arrival of the parcel delivery item to the addressee's terminal based on the addressee information.

The message indicating the arrival of the parcel item may include the password.

The method of operating the server includes the steps of: receiving an authentication request including an authentication number input to the unattended delivery box by the sender; And performing authentication of the sender based on the first authentication number and the authentication number included in the authentication request.

The recipient information may be transmitted by the unmanned courier box based on a result of determining whether or not the item has been stored by a sensor in the unmanned courier box after the unmanned courier box is unlocked through the authentication number. have.

The recipient information may be provided based on information input by the sender through the application.

The storage request may include a request to search for an unmanned delivery box available to the sender from the application.

The step of setting the password may include randomly generating a one-time temporary password for the unattended delivery box; And transmitting the generated temporary password to the unattended delivery box.

The method of operating the server includes the steps of: receiving a contact information of a recipient entered in the unmanned delivery box; Checking whether a parcel delivery item is stored in response to the contact information; And transmitting a second authentication number to the contact number according to the confirmation result.

The second authentication number may include the password.

The method of operating the server includes the steps of storing the storage details of the delivery goods and the receipt details of the delivery goods in connection with the sender's account; Receiving a request for inquiring the delivery history of the account from the application; And in response to a request for inquiry of the parcel delivery history, providing information stored in association with the account to the application.

An operation method of an unmanned courier box for an unmanned courier system according to one side includes the steps of receiving an authentication number from a sender; Transmitting an authentication request to a server based on the input authentication number; Unlocking the unattended delivery box based on the authentication result; Determining whether or not the delivery goods are stored using a sensor in the unmanned delivery box; Locking the unattended delivery box; And transmitting the determination result to the server.

The input authentication number may be generated by the server in response to the sender's storage request, and transmitted from the server to the sender's application.

The method of operating the unmanned delivery box may further include receiving information about the recipient of the delivery item from the sender. The determination result may include the recipient information.

The method of operating the unmanned courier box includes the steps of receiving a contact information from a recipient; Transmitting the contact information to the server; Receiving a second authentication number generated by the server based on the contact information from the recipient; Transmitting an authentication request to the server based on the second authentication number; Receiving a password from the recipient based on an authentication result based on the second authentication number; And unlocking the unattended delivery box based on the password.

The method of operating the unmanned courier box includes the steps of receiving a contact information from a recipient; Transmitting the contact information to the server; Receiving a password transmitted to the recipient's terminal by the server based on the contact information from the recipient; And unlocking the unattended delivery box based on the password.

The step of unlocking the unmanned courier boxes may include displaying available unmanned courier boxes; Selecting one of the unmanned delivery boxes based on the sender's input; And unlocking the selected unmanned courier box.

The operation method of the unmanned delivery box may further include transmitting the storage details of the delivery goods and the receipt details of the delivery goods to the server.

The server for an unmanned delivery system according to one side receives a storage request for delivery goods from the sender's application, transmits a first authentication number to the application in response to the storage request, and receives recipient information of the delivery goods. And a communication unit for transmitting a message notifying the arrival of the parcel delivery item to the recipient's terminal based on the recipient information; And at least one processor controlling the communication unit and setting a password for an unmanned delivery box in which the delivery product is stored.

An unmanned courier box for an unmanned courier system according to one side includes a user interface for receiving an authentication number from a sender; A communication unit for transmitting an authentication request to the server based on the input authentication number; At least one processor controlling the communication unit and unlocking an unattended delivery box based on the authentication result; And a sensor that determines whether or not the delivery goods are stored in the unmanned delivery box. The processor may lock the unattended delivery box according to whether the delivery item is stored, and the communication unit may transmit the determination result to the server.

1 is a diagram illustrating an unmanned parcel delivery system according to an embodiment.
Figure 2 is a flow chart illustrating the organic operation of the components in the unmanned delivery system for storing a delivery service according to an embodiment.
3 is a flowchart illustrating the organic operation of components in an unattended delivery system for receiving a delivery service according to an embodiment.
4 is a flow chart illustrating the organic operation of components in an unmanned delivery system for storing and receiving a delivery service according to another embodiment.
5 is a view for explaining an unattended delivery box according to an embodiment.

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The same reference numerals shown in each drawing indicate the same members. Various changes may be made to the embodiments described below. The embodiments described below are not intended to be limited to the embodiments, and should be understood to include all changes, equivalents, and substitutes thereto.

The terms used in the examples are used only to describe specific embodiments, and are not intended to limit the embodiments. Singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. In the present specification, terms such as "comprise" or "have" are intended to designate the presence of features, numbers, steps, actions, components, parts, or combinations thereof described in the specification, but one or more other features. It is to be understood that the presence or addition of elements, numbers, steps, actions, components, parts, or combinations thereof, does not preclude in advance the possibility of the presence or addition.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein, including technical or scientific terms, have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the embodiment belongs. Terms as defined in a commonly used dictionary should be interpreted as having a meaning consistent with the meaning in the context of the related technology, and should not be interpreted as an ideal or excessively formal meaning unless explicitly defined in the present application. Does not.

In addition, in the description with reference to the accompanying drawings, the same reference numerals are assigned to the same components regardless of the reference numerals, and redundant descriptions thereof will be omitted. In describing the embodiments, when it is determined that a detailed description of related known technologies may unnecessarily obscure the subject matter of the embodiments, the detailed description thereof will be omitted.

1 is a diagram illustrating an unmanned parcel delivery system according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 1, an unmanned delivery system 100 according to an embodiment includes an unmanned delivery box 110, a server 120, and an application 130. The unmanned delivery box 110 may be installed in an apartment complex or a subway station and used for common use. The unmanned delivery box 110 and the server 120 are connected through a wired communication network or a wireless communication network, and the server 120 monitors the status information of the unmanned delivery box 110 and monitors the operation of the unmanned delivery box 110. You can control it.

The application 130 is installed in a terminal (eg, a smartphone, etc.) of the delivery service sender 140. The application 130 may be connected to the server 120 through a wireless communication network. The server 120 manages the account of the delivery service sender 140, processes the request of the delivery delivery sender 140 through the application 130, and may return the processing result to the application 130. Here, the courier sender 140 may be a courier driver or a courier delivery person.

According to an embodiment, the delivery recipient 150 may be provided with an unattended delivery service even if the application 130 is not separately installed on the terminal. A more detailed description related thereto will be described later.

According to an embodiment, the unmanned delivery box 110 may include a PCB board composed of a communication module (eg, LTE-m), an optical sensor, a chipset, and a control unit. For example, the PCB board may have structural features for combining with an LTE-m module. In addition, the unmanned delivery box 110 may have a structural feature suitable for providing an unmanned delivery service to be described later.

The unmanned delivery system according to an embodiment may be operated in the order shown in Table 1 below.

S110: After signing up as a member of the server 120 using the application 130, the courier sender 140 selects the unattended courier box 110.
S120: The information entered in the application 130 is registered and confirmed in the server 120.
S130: The on-site authentication number processed by the server 120 is sent to the application 130, and transmitted to the courier sender 140.
S140: The courier sender 140 enters the on-site authentication number into the unmanned courier box 110, and stores the courier (goods) in the unmanned courier box 110.
S150: The status information of the unmanned delivery box 110 is transmitted to the server 120 (whether the item is being stored, whether it is operating normally, etc.)
S160: Based on the information confirmed by the server 120, a random password is sent to the contact information of the courier recipient 150.
S170: After the on-site authentication for the courier recipient 150 is performed, the courier recipient 150 receives the courier (goods) by entering a random password into the unmanned courier box 110 in the unmanned courier box 110.

More specifically, a scenario for storing a parcel delivery item according to an embodiment may proceed as shown in Table 2.

In order to store goods using the unmanned delivery box 110, the application 130 must be used.
After the delivery service sender 140 installs the application 130 on his terminal, the mobile phone user authentication (CID) is performed through membership registration to the server 120.
After signing up as a member, the courier sender 140 searches for the unique number or area of the unmanned courier box 110 to which the product is to be placed.
The server 120 checks the storage status of the delivery box in real time, and before the delivery of the delivery service, the server 120 sends a usage authentication number to the mobile phone of the delivery delivery sender 140.
The delivery service sender 140 inputs the transmitted authentication number on a touch pad or keypad in the unmanned delivery box 110. Through this authentication process, the identity of the courier sender 140 is confirmed, and it is checked whether the courier sender 140 is in the field.
After authentication, it is possible to proceed to the next step, and available delivery boxes are displayed on the screen of the unmanned delivery box 110.
The courier sender 140 selects a box suitable for the size of the courier item among available courier boxes, and then inputs information (eg, name, phone number, etc.) of the recipient (customer).
After input, the door of the corresponding box opens.
When the delivery service sender 140 puts an item, a sensor mounted in the box checks the presence or absence of the item and transmits the result to the server 120.
If an item in the courier box is detected through the sensor, a random password (eg, 4-digit number, not limited) to the contact information (eg, mobile phone number) of the recipient 150 entered by the courier sender 140. Does not) is transmitted.
If the item in the courier box is not detected, no message including password is sent to the entered recipient's contact information.
On the screen of the application 130, "Did you place the article properly?" A confirmation window such as, etc. is displayed, and the unmanned delivery service is initialized, and the delivery storage function becomes available again.

In addition, a scenario for receiving the stored parcel delivery goods according to an embodiment may proceed as shown in Table 3.

After confirming the password received as the contact information, the courier recipient 150 goes to the unmanned courier box 110 to find the goods.
The delivery recipient 150 presses a product search button displayed on a touch pad or keypad of the unmanned delivery box 110.
The delivery recipient 150 then enters the mobile phone number on the screen.
When the confirmation button is pressed, the input mobile phone number is transmitted to the server 120, and the server 120 checks whether there is a parcel delivery history to the mobile phone number.
If there is no history of entrusting the parcel to the mobile phone number, the next step is not performed, and if there is a history, the authentication number is sent from the server 120 to the mobile phone number. Thereby, the identity of the courier recipient 150 is confirmed, and whether the courier recipient 150 is in the field is confirmed.
When the delivery recipient 150 enters the sent authentication number on the touch pad or keypad of the unmanned delivery box 110, the process proceeds to the next step.
The delivery recipient 150 inputs the password received as a contact information into the unmanned delivery box 110, and the corresponding data is transmitted to the server 120.
When the password is verified on the server, the corresponding courier box is opened. Accordingly, the delivery service recipient 150 can receive the goods directly at the site without the inconvenience of installing the application 130 or signing up as a member.

According to an embodiment, the application 130 provides a parcel delivery (product) entrusting function, a parcel delivery inquiry function, and a parcel delivery search function. The entrusting function is a function of storing the courier (goods) in the unmanned courier box 110, and the inquiry function is a function of inquiring the courier (goods) entrusted by the user and the courier (goods) delivered to the user. Since the data stored in the server 120 is automatically updated, past details can also be viewed.

If the delivery is not received even after a certain period of time after the goods are delivered to the unmanned delivery box 110, the delivery box is automatically classified in the server 120, and the transmitted password is changed, making it impossible to receive on-site. In the case of a courier service after a certain period of time, a procedure for re-verifying the identity of the recipient may be performed through a courier search function provided by the application 130. When the recipient's identity is re-confirmed, a new password is generated and transmitted to the contact information of the courier recipient 150, and the courier recipient 150 can find the item on-site.

2 is a flowchart illustrating an organic operation of components in an unmanned parcel delivery system for storing parcel delivery according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 2, a membership registration procedure may be performed through an application of a sender. The server can manage the information of the unmanned delivery box.

The sender's application can make an archive request to the server. Various methods of requesting storage to the server through the sender's application can be implemented. For example, the sender's application may provide an interface for requesting storage to the sender by searching for an unattended delivery box near the current location using a search function. Alternatively, the sender's application may provide an interface for receiving identification information of an unmanned delivery box from the sender. Alternatively, the sender's application may receive identification information of the unmanned delivery box from the unmanned delivery box. For example, the sender's application may receive identification information of an unmanned delivery box through NFC communication or QR code scanning. When the sender's application acquires the information of the unmanned delivery box, it may make a storage request to the server based on the obtained information.

The server may generate a first authentication number in response to the storage request. The server may transmit the first authentication number to the sender's application.

The unmanned delivery box may include a user interface. For example, an unmanned delivery box can interact with a user by having a touch-sensitive display or the like. The unmanned delivery box may receive a first authentication number from a sender through a user interface. The unmanned delivery box may make a request for authentication to the server using the first authentication number.

The server may perform authentication by comparing the first authentication number generated in response to the storage request with the first authentication number included in the authentication request. The server may notify the authentication result to an unattended delivery box.

If authentication is successful, the unattended delivery box may indicate the available box(s). Referring to Figure 5, the unattended delivery box 500 according to an embodiment includes one or more boxes. The unmanned delivery box 500 may include a control panel 510 that controls one or more boxes and communicates with a server. One or more boxes included in the unmanned delivery box 500 may have the same size or different sizes.

Referring back to FIG. 2, the unattended delivery box may receive an input for selecting one of the boxes by the sender. The unmanned delivery box may transmit information on the selected box to the server to record the usage history.

The unmanned courier box may receive recipient information input by the sender. The unattended delivery box unlocks the selected box, and the sender can store the item in the selected box.

When an input indicating completion of storage is received by the sender or a predetermined time elapses, the unmanned delivery box may lock the selected box. The unmanned delivery box can detect whether or not the item is stored inside the selected box. Sensors may be installed inside each box included in the unmanned delivery box. For example, an unmanned delivery box may be implemented in various ways, such as detecting the presence of an item in the ship using an optical sensor, or detecting the presence of an item in the ship using a weight sensor.

If the item is not detected, the unmanned delivery box may request to transmit a confirmation message to the sender's application through the server. The confirmation message may include a notice indicating that there was a request for storage of the item, but the item in the ship was not detected. Thereafter, the storage scenario may be resumed through the storage request through the sender's application.

When an item is detected, the unmanned delivery box may transmit a message notifying the details of the item being stored to the server. The server can store the storage history of the item. The message may contain recipient information. After generating a one-time temporary password according to the storage scenario, the server may set a password to unlock the corresponding box by delivering the generated password to an unattended delivery box. In addition, the server may transmit the password to the contact information (eg, mobile phone number, etc.) included in the recipient's information. At this time, the recipient does not need to install a separate application, and can receive the password as a contact through SMS or IMS.

In some cases, the recipient's information may be transmitted from the sender's application to the server. For example, the sender's application may obtain the recipient's information by scanning the waybill of the item. The sender's application may image-recognize text written on the waybill, or recognize a unique code (eg, a QR code) included in the waybill. Alternatively, the sender's application may receive direct input of the waybill information from the sender.

3 is a flowchart illustrating an organic operation of components in an unmanned delivery system for receiving a delivery service according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 3, the server may transmit a message to the recipient's phone, along with a password, to guide the unmanned courier box in which the goods are stored. For example, the message may include information indicating the location of the unmanned delivery box while notifying that the delivery has been delivered.

The unmanned delivery box may provide a user interface so that the recipient can receive the delivery service. The unmanned courier box can first receive a mobile phone number to authenticate the recipient. The unmanned courier box can request a retrieval of receipt details while transmitting the entered mobile phone number to the server.

The server can check whether there is any item delivered (stored) to the corresponding mobile phone number. If the parcel delivery history is not searched, the server may transmit a confirmation message indicating information such as to confirm whether the unmanned delivery box has been properly found, since there is no parcel stored with the recipient's mobile phone number.

When the parcel delivery history is retrieved, the server may transmit the second authentication number to the recipient's mobile phone number. The unmanned delivery box may receive a second authentication number from the recipient. The unmanned delivery box may transmit an authentication request to the server based on the input second authentication number.

The server may perform authentication by comparing the second authentication number generated for authentication of the recipient with the second authentication number included in the authentication request. The server may transmit the authentication result to an unattended delivery box.

If authentication is successful, the server may transmit information on the box in which the goods are stored in response to the recipient's mobile phone number to the unattended delivery box. The unmanned delivery box may provide a user interface for entering a password. When the password is inputted by the recipient, the unmanned courier box can unlock the corresponding box by checking the input password.

After the recipient receives the goods, when an input corresponding to the completion of receipt is received or a predetermined time elapses, the unmanned courier box may lock the corresponding box. The unmanned courier box transmits the receipt result to the server, and the server can store the receipt details.

4 is a flowchart illustrating an organic operation of components in an unmanned parcel delivery system for storing and receiving parcel delivery according to another embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 4, after goods are stored according to the scenario of FIG. 2 and a password is generated by the server, a password of a box in which the goods in the unmanned delivery box are stored may be set.

In this case, instead of transmitting the password to the addressee's contact information, the server may transmit only a message notifying the arrival of the parcel to the addressee's contact information. The unmanned courier box may receive a mobile phone number from a recipient and transmit a request to a server for retrieval of the receipt history.

When the delivery history is retrieved, the server may transmit the password to the recipient's contact information instead of transmitting the second authentication number. In this case, the password may be used simultaneously for unlocking the box in which the goods are stored and for performing on-site authentication of the recipient.

Since the following scenario is the same as that described with reference to FIG. 3, a more detailed description will be omitted.

The embodiments described above may be implemented as a hardware component, a software component, and/or a combination of a hardware component and a software component. For example, the display devices, methods, and components described in the embodiments include, for example, a processor, a controller, a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), and Arithmetic logic units (ALUs), digital signal processors, microcomputers, field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), programmable logic units (PLUs), microprocessors, Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICS), or It may be implemented using one or more general purpose computers or special purpose computers, such as any other display device capable of executing and responding to instructions.

The method according to the embodiment may be implemented in the form of program instructions that can be executed through various computer means and recorded in a computer-readable medium. The computer-readable medium may include program instructions, data files, data structures, and the like alone or in combination. The program instructions recorded on the medium may be specially designed and configured for the embodiment, or may be known and usable to those skilled in computer software. Examples of computer-readable recording media include magnetic media such as hard disks, floppy disks, and magnetic tapes, optical media such as CD-ROMs and DVDs, and magnetic media such as floptical disks. -A hardware display device specially configured to store and execute program instructions such as magneto-optical media, and ROM, RAM, flash memory, and the like. Examples of program instructions include not only machine language codes such as those produced by a compiler, but also high-level language codes that can be executed by a computer using an interpreter or the like. The above-described hardware display device may be configured to operate as one or more software modules to perform the operation of the embodiment, and vice versa.

As described above, although the embodiments have been described by the limited drawings, various modifications and variations are possible from the above description to those of ordinary skill in the art. For example, the described techniques are performed in a different order from the described method, and/or components such as the described system, structure, display device, circuit, etc. are combined or combined in a form different from the described method, or have different configurations. Appropriate results can be achieved even if substituted or substituted by elements or equivalents. Therefore, other implementations, other embodiments, and those equivalent to the claims also fall within the scope of the claims to be described later.

The present invention relates to an unmanned delivery system, and it is possible to apply it to various delivery systems.

Claims (2)

In the method of operating a server for an unmanned delivery system,
Receiving a request for storage of a delivery item including member registration information, a unique number of a delivery box, and an area from the sender's application;
Transmitting a usage authentication number to the application in response to the storage request;
Checking the identity of the sender and whether he/she is in the field from the usage authentication number inputted to the delivery box;
Displaying a courier box available to the sender's application after the identity and presence or absence of the site are checked;
Receiving recipient information including a recipient name and a recipient phone number of the packaged goods directly input from a user application;
Unlocking the delivery box;
Locking the delivery box when a storage completion instruction is received or a predetermined time elapses;
Receiving the presence or absence of a delivery item by a sensor in the delivery box;
When an item in the courier box is detected by the sensor, a one-time temporary random password is generated, and based on the recipient information, a message including the temporary random password indicating the arrival of the courier item to the recipient's terminal is transmitted. step; And
If the goods in the courier box are not detected by the sensor, without transmitting a message to the recipient's terminal, transmitting a confirmation message to the sender, and performing each of the steps listed above. In the method of operating a server for an unmanned delivery system,
Receiving the phone number of the recipient who received the password;
Inquiring whether there is a delivery history based on the received phone number;
Not proceeding to the next step when there is no history of parcel delivery sent to the addressee when inquiring with the phone number;
Transmitting an authentication number to the phone number when there is a history of parcel delivery sent to the addressee when inquiring by the phone number;
If the authentication number is input, verifying the identity of the recipient and whether he or she is at the site;
Receiving the password when the password received by the recipient is input; And
Checking the received password and opening a delivery box if they match;
Including,
Automatically classifying a corresponding courier box and changing a previously sent password when the product is not received even after a certain period of time after the product has been delivered;
Receiving a request to find a package;
Reconfirming the identity of the recipient according to the received parcel search request;
Generating a new password when the identity is reconfirmed;
Transmitting the generated password to the recipient;
The operating method of the server further comprising.

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