JP2002004667A - Centralized control system for delivered goods storage box - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize a new distribution system for reserving a storage room suiting a client's desire in advance and reserving a storage room installed in the second desired place even if there is no box to be reserved in a highest- priority desired place. SOLUTION: A delivered goods storage box having plural storage rooms for storing delivered goods and an individual door with an electronic lock provided in each storage room is connected to a control server SV for controlling the delivered goods storage box through a network. The control server SV is provided with control information DB formed by information for controlling the delivered goods storage box. The control information DB contains control information expressing the information for controlling the status of each storage room. The control server SV has a means for receiving the control information from the delivered goods storage box connected through the network, a means for updating the information of the control information DB according to the received control information, and a means for displaying the control information constituted by extracting the information required for box control from the control information DB.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a centralized management system for a delivery storage box for centrally and integratedly managing a delivery storage box having a plurality of storage rooms for storing delivery via a computer system and a network. About.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional delivery storage box is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 09-279918 of the applicant of the present invention, and is used by being installed at the entrance of an apartment house (a condominium or the like). It is rapidly spreading, especially in newly built apartments. As shown in FIG. 45, the delivery storage box has a plurality of storage rooms (1, 2, 3,...) For storing the delivery.
・) And an individual door with an electronic lock provided in each storage room, a control unit for controlling the electronic lock of each individual door, and a number such as a client number, a room number, a password, and information on entry / exit of a warehouse are displayed. And a display operation unit (touch panel) T1 to perform the operation.
Each storage room is provided with a sensor T3 for detecting the presence or absence of a delivery, and also has a list creation function for applying a slip or stamp for confirming that the delivery company has entered the warehouse. Therefore, the delivery company, which has been requested to deliver to the delivery requester who is a resident of the apartment house, operates the display operation unit when receiving the delivery, and stores the delivery requester and the delivery on the screen of the display operation unit. Display the storage room number. The resident of the apartment house checks the display screen, and if the delivery is being delivered, leaves the delivery from the designated storage room. Upon leaving the warehouse, the storage room is unlocked by inputting the client number and the like.

In the above-mentioned conventional delivery storage box, since the locking operation and the key opening operation are performed mainly on the relationship between the resident of the apartment house and the delivery company, an administrator who manages the box (in this case, the manufacturer (Often applicable)) orders a delivery storage box control system according to the intended use of the delivery requester and the delivery company, and ships a delivery storage box of that specification to an apartment or the like. . In addition, a telephone is attached to the delivery storage box,
Others call the administrator in case of breakdown. Such a delivery storage box is provided with various storage rooms of different sizes, in accordance with the size of the delivery, and recently, a storage room capable of controlling the temperature in order to store frozen food. Things have also appeared.

[0004]

However, the above-mentioned conventional delivery storage box has the following problems. For those who request shipments, firstly, if many delivery requesters request delivery of more shipments, there may be cases where more than available storage rooms are requested,
In some cases, the storage room for storing the delivery is insufficient, and the delivery is not delivered. Second, whether or not the delivery has been received is confirmed by the side requesting the delivery (here, the case where the resident of the apartment house requests) by visually checking the display screen of the delivery storage box. Therefore, it is necessary to go to the installation location to check whether or not the delivery has been received.

[0005] In addition, since the delivery company does not know the use status of the storage room until the delivery company arrives at the delivery storage box, for example, all storage rooms are in use. If there is no room, the delivery company cannot receive the delivery.

[0006] In recent years, the commodity distribution system has created a new shopping form due to the rapid spread of the Internet. That is what is called online shopping or electronic shopping. in this case,
As in so-called TV shopping, the delivery requester orders the desired product from the product seller, the product seller orders the delivery of the product to the delivery company, and the delivery company delivers the product to the delivery storage box. Done by But,
In this method, a business transaction is performed between the delivery requester, the merchandise seller, and the delivery company, but these people cannot grasp how the delivery storage box is used. Further, since the merchandise seller and the delivery company cannot know in advance the usage status and function (whether or not refrigeration is possible) of the delivery storage box, smooth delivery of the product is often hindered. For example, there is a problem that the delivery is too large to be stored in the warehouse, or that the delivery needs to be refrigerated but cannot be stored in a refrigerated delivery storage box.

Accordingly, the present invention proposes a centralized management system for a delivery storage box that uses a delivery storage box to centrally and integratedly manage orders and orders for delivery via a computer and a network. In addition, the present invention is applicable to a case where a delivery requester wants to receive a delivery at a place other than a condominium or the like (for example, at a station near the office or the nearest station on the way back, or when the first desired place does not satisfy the conditions). (If you want to receive the delivery at the desired location), we propose a centralized management system of the delivery storage box suitable for a new shopping distribution system that can request delivery and receive the delivery at that location. .

[0008]

The invention according to claim 1 of the present invention provides a delivery product comprising a plurality of storage rooms for storing delivery products, and individual doors with electronic locks provided in each of the storage rooms. The storage box and the management server that manages the delivery storage box are connected to a network such as the Internet via a communication control mechanism that is provided between the storage box and the management server that manages the delivery storage box. And a change status information transmission mechanism for transmitting change status information representing the change status information.
The management server includes a management information DB including management information for managing the delivery storage box for each storage room as one record unit for each storage room, and the delivery storage box connected via a network. Means for receiving the change status information transmitted from as reception status information,
Means for updating the status information in the management information DB based on the received reception status information, and means for extracting information necessary for managing the delivery storage box from the management information DB and displaying the information as extracted management information And characterized in that:

According to the present invention, the administrator can manage the status of each storage room via the network by the management server. That is, since the information in the management information DB of the management server is updated by the reception status information received from the delivery storage box, the latest information of the delivery storage box can be obtained at any time, and The status of each storage room can be managed by the management server in accordance with the above information.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, based on the premise of the first aspect, the status information in the management information DB indicates whether at least each storage room is in use or unusable or not used and usable. Is used, and the change status information and the reception status information include information necessary for updating the usage status information.

According to the present invention, the management information DB of the management server is updated by the reception use status information of the delivery storage box, and it is possible to manage whether or not each storage room is in use as the use status information. it can. Therefore, the administrator can immediately respond if there is an inquiry from the client or the delivery company about the availability of each storage room.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, based on the premise of the second aspect, the management server stores information necessary for delivering a delivery according to the order received from the delivery requester in each order. A means for prompting input of order information from a delivery requester; a means for storing the order information; and a means for storing the order information in one record. Means for registering in the order information DB as a unit, search means for searching the management information DB until a suitable storage room meeting the search condition is detected using the storage room as a search condition, Storage means for storing a record of the conforming storage room if detected, and a record of the conforming storage room to indicate that the conforming storage room has been reserved for delivery of the delivery. Means for updating the usage status information of the database from the information indicating the availability to the information indicating the reservation, and associating the record registered in the order information DB with the record of the compatible storage room detected from the management information DB. Means, means for creating reservation completion information composed of information necessary for confirming that the compatible storage room has been reserved, means for displaying the reservation completion information, and when a compatible storage room is not detected Is characterized by having means for creating reservation uncompleted information composed of information necessary for confirming reservation uncompleted, and means for displaying reservation uncompleted information.

According to the present invention, the management information DB including usage status information indicating whether or not each storage room is in use is:
You can search and reserve available storage rooms. Further, since the status of the reservation is reflected in the management information DB, it is possible to always search based on the latest information. Further, since the information stored in the order information DB and the information retrieved from the management information DB are associated with each other, if the order information is specified, the corresponding management information can be specified.
When the management information is specified, the corresponding order information can be specified, and management such as securing a storage room reserved for the order information can be performed.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, based on the premise of the third aspect, each record of the management information DB includes:
Storage room condition information indicating the conditions of each storage room is included,
The order receiving information includes storage room condition specifying information for specifying the condition of the storage room desired by the delivery requester, and a search condition adding means for adding information included in the storage room condition specifying information to the above search condition It is characterized by having.

According to the present invention, a storage room suitable for the request of the client can be reserved in advance, so that a storage room corresponding to the request of the client can be reliably secured.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, based on the premise of the fourth aspect, the storage room condition information includes installation location information indicating a location where a box is installed in each storage room. The storage room condition designation information includes one or more place designation information indicating a place where the delivery requester desires delivery, and the delivery requester desires delivery for each place designation information. The search condition adding means adds the highest priority place designation information, and if no matching storage room is detected as a result of the search means, the place designation information included in the search condition is changed to the next. A place information update unit for updating to the priority place designation information, the place information update means and the search means until a compatible storage room is detected or there is no place designation information having the next priority. And repeating.

According to the present invention, it is possible to reserve a storage room installed at a place desired by the client. Also, even if there is no storage room for the delivery storage box that can be reserved in the storage room installed at the desired place with the highest priority, the client can reserve the storage room installed at the next desired place. it can. Therefore, by installing the delivery storage box of the present invention in several places (in place of a coin locker at a station, at each station), for example, residents of a condominium can use the box at a station near their office or the nearest station on the way home. It is possible to manage an administrator when receiving a delivery.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, based on the third or fourth aspect, the order information indicates the number of storage rooms necessary for delivering a delivery according to the order information. The search unit and the storage unit are repeated until the storage room number information is included and a required number of compatible storage rooms are detected based on the storage room information.

According to the present invention, the required number of storage rooms can be reserved in advance, and the storage rooms can be reliably secured according to the number of storage rooms to be used.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, on the premise of the third to sixth aspects, the control unit of the delivery storage box includes a key release request for requesting a key release of one storage room. An input / output device for inputting / outputting information, means for transmitting the input key-opening request information to a management server via a network, means for receiving key-opening notification information from the management server, and Means for opening an electronic lock provided in the storage room based on the key release notification information, while the management server provides information indicating whether the key release request information is accurate for each key release request information. A means for receiving key-opening request information transmitted from the delivery storage box, and a means for receiving the key-opening request information transmitted from the delivery storage box; Collate It is characterized by comprising means for determining whether or not the key-opening request information is accurate, and means for transmitting key-opening notification information for prompting key opening to the delivery storage box when the key-opening request information is accurate. And

According to the present invention, the administrator can determine from the management server that the person who has requested the key release is legitimate, and transmits that information to the delivery storage box.
Only the authorized client can open the storage room.

The invention according to claim 8 is based on the premise of the centralized management system of the delivery storage box according to claims 3 to 7, wherein the management server is connected to a terminal of a delivery requester via a network. As means for prompting the input of order information from the delivery requester, while prompting the input of the order information at the terminal of the delivery requester, the reservation completion information or the reservation uncompleted information is transmitted to the terminal of the delivery requester. It is characterized by displaying.

According to the present invention, the information input to the terminal by the delivery requester can be used as order information.
Also, by displaying the reservation completion information or the reservation uncompleted information on the terminal of the delivery requester, the delivery requester can confirm that the delivery is performed based on the received reservation completion information or the reservation uncompleted information.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, on the premise of the centralized management system for the delivery storage boxes according to the third to eighth aspects, the management server is connected to one or more delivery company terminals via a network. Connected, means for prompting the input of the shipper identification information for specifying the terminal of one delivery company, and means for transmitting the reservation completion information to the terminal of the specified delivery company. I do.

According to the present invention, since the reservation completion information can be transmitted to one delivery company, the delivery company can deliver the delivery based on the received reservation completion information.

[0026]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. First, as a premise, in the present embodiment, a delivery storage box is installed in place of a coin locker installed at a railway station in order to make the usage of an example of the present invention easy to understand, so that the requester can use his / her own convenience. This is described as a new distribution system that allows you to receive your ordered delivery at a good place (station). The relationship between a person who requests a specific delivery (called a requester), a person who manages a delivery storage box (called an administrator: manages the management server SV), and a delivery company (delivery company) is as follows. (FIG. 2). It is assumed that the client A orders the administrator B to request that the desired article be delivered to the delivery storage box. It is assumed that the manager B who has received the order places an order with the delivery company C to deliver the article desired by the client A. It is assumed that the delivery company C stores the articles in the delivery storage box BOX based on the order of the manager B. It is assumed that the article that has been stored is delivered by the client A and delivered to the client A. If the requester A and the recipient are different, it will not be described here.

(First Embodiment) The outline of an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. That is, the delivery storage box BO via the network NET
7 shows a usage pattern of X and the management server SV.

As shown in FIG. 1, the delivery storage box B
The OX and a management server SV that manages the delivery storage box BOX are connected via a network NET. Also, the management server SV via the network NET
And a terminal of the requester A who requests a delivery from the delivery storage box BOX. Further, the management server SV
Is connected to one or more terminals of the delivery company C via the network NET.

The terminal of the client A and the terminal of the delivery company C are mainly personal computers provided with input / output devices such as a keyboard and a mouse and communication means for network connection with a display serving as a display device. And FAX
May be connected to the network NET. That is, the network NET in the present specification includes the Internet, telephone / fax, and the like. Note that DB in this specification is an abbreviation of Database.

The delivery storage box BOX is composed of a plurality of storage rooms. After the delivery company C enters the delivery into the storage room, the client A takes out the delivery from the storage room, so that the delivery is performed. The object is passed to the client A. Further, the management server SV is mainly used by the administrator B, and has a function of monitoring the use status of the delivery storage box BOX, reserving a storage room, and the like.

FIG. 5 is an example of the outline of use of the present invention. (St
ep1) In response to a registration request from the client A, the manager B assigns a unique client number and password to the client A, and registers it in the client information. Also, an ID card storing the client number is distributed to the client A. (Step 2) In response to the registration request of the delivery company C, the administrator B assigns a unique delivery company number and password to the delivery company C, and registers the delivery company information in the requester information. Further, the ID card storing the delivery company number is delivered to the delivery company C. (Step 3) The requester A orders the manager B a delivery item desired to be delivered. The administrator receives an order from the client A and registers the order information in the management server. (Step 4) The presence or absence of a usable storage room is confirmed based on the order information. If there is a storage room that can be used, the storage room is reserved in advance so that the delivery can be delivered according to the order of the client A, and the process proceeds to Step 5. If there is no available storage room, the requester A is notified that delivery is not possible. (Step 5) The administrator B creates a delivery list and contacts the delivery company C to deliver the delivery based on the delivery list. (Step 6) The administrator B creates a contact list and notifies the requester A that the delivery is to be delivered based on the contact list. (Step 7) The delivery company C prepares a delivery based on the reservation completion information and delivers the delivery to the storage room of the designated delivery storage box BOX.
(Step 8) The delivery company C sends information for requesting the management server SV to open the key via the network NET in order to store the delivery in the designated storage room, and the management server SV that has received the information sends the information to the storage room. The information for unlocking the door is transmitted and the door of the storage room is unlocked. (Step 9) The delivery company C locks the door of the storage room after storing the delivery in the designated storage room. As a result of the locking, information indicating that the delivery has been stored is transmitted to the management server SV via the network NET. The management server SV receives the information indicating that the storage is performed, and the information is registered as management information. (Step 10)
The requester A transmits information for requesting key release to the management server SV via the network NET in order to take out the delivery from the storage room, and the management server SV that has received the information opens the door of the storage room. Send the information and unlock the storage room door.
(Step 11) The requester A locks the door of the storage room after taking out and receiving the delivery from the storage room. By locking
Information indicating that the delivery has been delivered is transmitted to the management server SV via the network NET. The management server SV receives the information indicating that it has been dispatched, and the information is registered as management information.

The administrator B can manage the delivery storage box by displaying the management information of the delivery storage box as needed.

As shown in FIG. 4, the delivery storage box BOX includes a box management unit B12 and a control unit B11.

The box management unit B12 is composed of a plurality of storage rooms, each storage room is a partition for separating the storage space and each storage room, a door for loading and unloading goods to and from the storage room, and a control unit B11. And an electronic lock B13 for locking and unlocking by transmitting an electrical signal from the electronic lock B13.

The control unit B11 includes a main control mechanism (CPU) B
1, storage mechanism B2, communication control mechanism B3, and locking control mechanism B
4, an input / output control mechanism B5, an internal transmission mechanism B8, an operation panel, and a card reader B6. Storage mechanism B
2 stores a program having a function of transmitting change status information to the management server SV. Communication control mechanism B3
Controls transmission / reception of information between the management server SV and the delivery storage box BOX via the network NET. The lock control mechanism B4 is connected to the electronic lock B13 of each storage room via a line. That is, they are electrically connected. The lock control mechanism B4 transmits a signal for unlocking or locking based on an unlocking command from the management server SV to one electronic lock B13 for unlocking or locking. The input / output control mechanism B5 controls input / output from the operation panel and the card reader B6.

The electronic lock B13 and the lock control mechanism B4 also have a function as a change status information transmission mechanism, and indicate that each storage room has been changed from the unlocked state to the locked state (that is, the requester A or the requester A). The change status information indicating that the delivery company C is locked) is transmitted to the communication control mechanism B3. The electronic lock B13 unlocks and locks the door, detects a change in status from unlocked to locked, and transmits the change in status to the lock control mechanism B4. The lock control mechanism B4 adds a storage room identification number to the information transmitted from the electronic lock B13 and transmits the information to the communication control mechanism B3 as change status information. Communication control mechanism B3
Transmits the change status information to the management server SV via the network NET. The change status information transmission mechanism is not limited to the electronic lock B13 and the lock control mechanism B4, but may be a mechanism for managing a temperature status (whether or not a freezing unit is provided) and transmitting the temperature status to the control unit B11. Good.

As shown in FIG. 3, the management server SV includes a main control mechanism 31 (CPU), a storage mechanism 32, a communication control mechanism 33, an input / output control mechanism 34, and an internal transmission mechanism 38.

The storage mechanism 32 of the management server SV stores a main program, a management information DB, an order information DB, and a key open request determination information DB.

The management information DB stores management information for managing the delivery storage box BOX as one record unit for each storage room (see FIG. 9 and the like). For example,
Each record contains (1) a storage room number that identifies each storage room,
(2) installation location of each storage room, (3) date, (4) use status information indicating whether each storage room is in use, reserved, or available on the date, (5) It is composed of a reservation number and the like. (4) is status information indicating the status of each storage room, and (2) and (3) are storage room condition information. Here, for the sake of explanation, storage rooms having the same storage room number but different dates are considered as separate storage rooms. Accordingly, each of the storage rooms means a storage room having a different storage room number and a different date. The information stored in the management information DB is not limited to the above information, but may include the temperature of each storage room as the status information, the size of each storage room as the storage room condition information, or use the freezer. The inclusion of the fact that the object is impossible is optional as needed.

The order information DB stores information necessary for delivering the delivery based on the order from the client A, as one record unit for each order from the client (FIG. 9 and the like). reference). For example, each record includes (1) a client number for identifying each client, (2) a desired date that the client wants to deliver, and (3) a name of a delivery item that the client wants to deliver. The number of items to be delivered, (4) the first desired location that the client wishes to deliver, the second desired location that the customer wants to deliver next to the first desired location, and (5) the required Consists of the number of storage rooms used and (6) the reservation number. (2) and (4) are storage room condition specification information for specifying storage room conditions desired by the client. Note that the information stored in each DB is not limited to the above information, and it is optional to include the size of the desired storage room or the fact that it can be frozen as storage room condition designation information, if necessary. is there.

The key-opening request determination information DB includes requester information (client information) and delivery company information (delivery company information) (see FIG. 9 and the like). The client information includes information for the client to open the storage room as one record unit for each key opening request information. For example, each record of the client information includes (1) the client number, (2) the password unique to the client, and (3) the name.
The delivery company information includes information for the delivery company C to open the storage room as one record unit for each key opening request information. For example, each record of the delivery information includes (1) a delivery company number, (2) a password unique to the delivery company C, and (3) a name. In addition, in order to manage the client, the client information such as the client address and
Including the client telephone number, the address of the terminal of the client, etc., and including the address of the delivery company, the telephone number of the delivery company, and the address of the terminal of the delivery company in the delivery company information also depend on the implementation. Is optional.

The main program is used in the main control mechanism 31, and mainly includes a key release request information registration function P1 and
A key release function P2, a management information update function P3, a management information display function, an order information registration function P4, a reservation function P5,
There is a reservation completion information display function and a reservation incomplete information display function. The key-opening request information registration function P1 is a function for registering key-opening request determination information in the key-opening request determination information DB. As a result, the requester number, the delivery company number, the password, and the like can be registered in the key release request determination information DB and managed in an integrated manner. The key-opening function P2 is a function for determining whether or not the key-opening request from the delivery company C or the requester A is valid, and opening the key of the storage room if valid. As a result, the storage room can be unlocked only by a legitimate key release requester. The management information update function P3 is a function of reflecting the usage status information, which is the status information of each storage room of the delivery storage box BOX, in the management information DB almost in real time. With this function, the management information DB can have information on the delivery storage box BOX almost in real time. The management information display function is a function for extracting and displaying necessary information from the management information DB. Thereby, the administrator B can grasp the information of the management information DB and manage the delivery storage box BOX. The order information registration function P4 is a function of registering order information created based on the contents of an order from the client A in the order information DB. With this function, order information can be managed. The reservation function P5 is a function of retrieving a storage room matching the order information from the management information DB and reserving the storage room. With this function, it is possible to reserve a storage room for delivering the delivery in advance. The reservation completion information display function is a function of extracting necessary information from the management information DB and the order information DB and displaying information for confirming reservation completion. Thus, the reservation completion can be confirmed, and the administrator B can contact the requester A and the delivery company C using the reservation completion information.
The reservation incomplete information display function is a function of extracting necessary information from the order information DB and displaying information for confirming reservation incomplete. As a result, the reservation incompleteness can be confirmed, and the administrator B can contact the requester A or the delivery company C using the reservation incompleteness information. (Detailed operation of each function will be described later.)

Next, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described for each Step in the flowchart of FIG. Main control mechanism 3
1 displays the main menu (FIG. 6) by the main menu display function of the main program, and prompts the administrator B to select a desired process. The selection is made by clicking a predetermined position on the screen. It is assumed that the client A performs an order operation on May 1, 2000, and the desired delivery date specified by the client A is 2000
It is supposed that the delivery date is May 3, 2000, and the delivery company C enters the delivery into the storage room on May 3, 2000, which is the desired delivery date. It is assumed that the goods are issued on May 3, 2000, and the client A
It is assumed that the delivery work of the delivery company C has been completed before the delivery work. In addition, in consideration of the capacity of the management information DB, convenience of management, and the like, records in the management information DB are added and deleted as needed. Here is the management information DB
Shall consist of records whose date information is within 3 days from the current day, and each time the date changes (midnight)
(1) A record whose date is “the day before” and whose usage information is “available” is deleted, and (2) the date is “3 days after that day” and the usage information is “used”. A record that is “possible” is added. The record to be deleted and added is arbitrary according to the capacity of the DB and the like. However, at least the information necessary for managing the delivery storage box BOX needs to exist in the management information DB. Records other than "usable" are not deleted in order to manage the status of the storage room (for example, the delivery is not released from the storage room and remains in use). Also, in order to avoid complication, each D
B shows only records necessary for explanation, and other records are omitted.

(Step 1: FIG. 5) The administrator B clicks the “Register Key Request Information” button on the main menu (FIG. 6). The main control mechanism 31 detects the click operation of the administrator B, activates the key open information registration function of the main program, and performs the following operation. (1) The main control mechanism 31 causes the input / output device 37 to display a key-opening information registration screen (FIG. 7), and displays a screen for prompting the user to select whether to register the requester information or the delivery company information. Display. (2) The administrator B clicks the “register client information” button. (3) The main control mechanism 31 detects the click operation of the manager B, displays the client information registration screen (FIG. 8) on the input / output device 37, and urges the manager B to register the client information. (4) The administrator B inputs predetermined items on the requester information registration screen (FIG. 8) and clicks a “complete” button. (5) The main control mechanism 31 detects the completion of the input by the click, and registers the input information as one record unit in the requester information of the key open request determination information DB.

An example of the operation (Step 1) is shown below (see the thick line in FIG. 9). FIG. 9 is a diagram schematically showing each DB and each function. The manager B, who has been requested to register by telephone or the like from the client A, gives the client A a unique client number and password based on the request, and displays the client number “01023” on the client registration screen (FIG. 8). , A password “123” and a name “A”. After the input is completed, the administrator B clicks the “Done” button, and the main control mechanism 31
Tells you that the entry is complete. Upon detecting the input completion, the main control mechanism 31 registers the input information as one record unit in the key open request determination information DB. When the registration is completed, the administrator B distributes the ID card storing the requester number “01023” to the requester A.

(Step 2: FIG. 5) The administrator B clicks the “Register Key Request Information” button on the main menu (FIG. 6). The main control mechanism 31 detects the click operation of the administrator, activates the key open information updating function of the main program, and performs the following operation. (1) The main control mechanism 31 causes the input / output device 37 to display a key-opening information registration screen (FIG. 7), and displays a screen for prompting the user to select whether to register the requester information or the delivery company information. Display. (2) The administrator B clicks the “register delivery company information” button. (3) The main control mechanism 31 detects the click operation of the manager B, causes the input / output device 37 to display a delivery agent information registration screen (FIG. 10),
The administrator B is prompted to register the delivery company information. (4) Administrator B
Inputs predetermined items on the delivery agent information registration screen (FIG. 10), and clicks a "Done" button. (5) The main control mechanism 31 detects the input completion by the click, and registers the input information as one record unit in the delivery company information of the key open request determination information DB.

An example of the above operation (Step 2) is shown below (see the thick line in FIG. 11). The manager B, who has been requested to register by the delivery company C by telephone, etc.,
Unique delivery company number "900" and password "99
9 ", and enter the delivery company number" 900 ", the password" 999 "and the name" C "on the delivery company information registration screen (FIG. 10). After the input is completed, the administrator B clicks the "complete" button to notify the completion to the main control mechanism 31. Main control mechanism 31 that detects completion of input
Registers the input information as one record unit in the key open request determination information DB. When the registration is completed, the administrator B distributes the ID card storing the requester number "900" to the delivery company C.

(Step 3: FIG. 5) The administrator B is the client A
When an order is received via the Internet, telephone, FAX, or the like, an "input order information" button is clicked from the main menu (FIG. 6). Upon detecting the click operation, the main control mechanism 31 activates the order information registration function P4 of the main program and performs the following operation. (1) The main control mechanism 31 causes the input / output device 37 to display an order information input screen, and
Prompts the client A to input order information. (2) Administrator B
Inputs the order information in a predetermined place in accordance with the items on the order information input screen (FIG. 12), and clicks a "Done" button. (3) The main control mechanism 31 detects completion of the input by clicking on the manager B, and stores the input information in the storage mechanism 32 as order information. (4) The order information is registered in the order information DB. For example, the order content of the client A is “client number“ 01023 ”, and the desired delivery date is“ May 3, 2000 ”
Date ”, the name of the item to be delivered and the number of items“ apple 1
"0" and the desired location "Tokyo Station" are as follows (see the thick line in FIG. 13). (1) The main control mechanism 31 causes the input / output device 37 to display an order information input screen (FIG. 12),
The manager B is prompted to input order information from the client A. (2)
The administrator B enters the order information into the order information input screen (FIG. 12).
Input to a predetermined place according to the item of. After completing the input,
The administrator B clicks the “Done” button. (3) When the main control mechanism 31 detects the completion of the input, the main control mechanism 31 inputs the input information requester number “01023” and the desired delivery date “May 3, 2000
Date ”, the name of the item to be delivered and the number of items“ apple 1
“0” and the desired place “Tokyo Station” are stored in the storage mechanism 32 as order information. (4) The order information is registered in the order information information DB as one record unit. (5) Activate the reservation function P5.

(Step 4: FIG. 5) The main control mechanism 31
The reservation function P5 of the main program is started, and the following operation is performed. One operation of the reservation function P5 is shown in FIG. (1) Acquire information (storage room condition designation information) serving as a search condition from order information. (2) The obtained information is added to the search condition (use status information “available”) specified in advance in the program of the reservation function P5, and the obtained information and the use status information “available” are used as search conditions. The search is performed from the management information DB until a storage room matching the search condition is detected. (3) Determine if there is a compatible storage room that meets the conditions. (4) If a storage room that satisfies the conditions is detected (hereinafter referred to as a “compliant storage room”), the record of the relevant storage room is stored and the relevant storage room is indicated to indicate that the relevant storage room has been reserved. Update the usage status information of the record from “available” to “reserved”. (5) In order to associate the record registered in the order information DB in Step 3 with the record of the compatible storage room detected from the management information DB,
The same reservation number is added to the “reservation number” item of the record registered in the order information DB and the “reservation number” item of the record of the compatible storage room in the management information DB. (6) A reservation completion display function (to be described later) to indicate that the reservation has been completed
Start (7) If a suitable storage room satisfying the conditions is not detected, a reservation incomplete display function (described later) is activated to display that reservation is impossible.

An example of the above operation (Step 4) is shown below (see the thick line in FIG. 15). FIG. 15 is a diagram schematically showing the state of each DB and each function before the activation of the reservation function P5,
FIG. 16 (thick line part) is a diagram schematically showing the state of each DB and each function after the completion of the reservation function. (1) Main control mechanism 31
Acquires the desired place information “Tokyo Station” and the desired delivery date “00/5/3”, which are storage room condition designation information, from the order information. (2) The installation location information “Tokyo Station” and the date “00/5/3” are added to the usage information “Available” as search conditions, and the installation location information is “Tokyo Station” and the date is “ 00/5/3 "and the use status information is" usable ", and the management information DB is searched. (3) As a result, the storage room number “101” (date “00/5/3”) of the management information DB is detected as a compatible storage room. (4) Since there is a compatible storage room, the storage room number “101” which is a record of the relevant storage room in the management information DB.
The record (date “00/5/3”) is stored, and the usage status information of the record is updated from “available” to “reserved”. (5) The “reservation number” item of the record registered in the order information DB in Step 3 and the management information DB
Said compatible storage room "101" (date "00/5/3")
Of the same reservation number "1" as the "reservation number"
0010 ”. (6) Activate the reservation completion information display function to notify the administrator B that the reservation has been completed.

The main control mechanism 31 detects the operation of the reservation function P5, activates the reservation completion information display function, and performs the following operation. One operation of the reservation completion information display function is described below. (1) Extract information necessary for confirming the reservation from the order information. (2) Extract information necessary for confirming the reservation from the record of the compatible storage room in the management information DB.
(3) Create reservation completion information from the information. (4) Display reservation completion information. An example of the operation will be described below (FIG. 17).
Bold line). (1) From the order information, as the information necessary for confirming the reservation, the client number “01023”, the desired delivery date “May 3, 2000”, the name of the delivery item desired to be delivered and the number of “apple 10” Individuals ”and the desired location“ Tokyo Station ”are extracted. (2) The storage room number “101” is extracted from the record of the management information DB compatible storage room as information necessary for confirming the reservation. (3) By merging the above information, the information requester number "01023", the desired delivery date "May 3, 2000", the name of the desired delivery item and the number "10 apples", and the desired location "Tokyo" Station ", storage room number" 10
1 is created. (4) The reservation completion information is displayed (FIG. 18). By displaying the reservation completion information, the administrator B can confirm the result of the reservation and notify the requester A that the delivery is to be delivered based on the reservation completion information. On the other hand, it is possible to place an order to deliver the delivery based on the reservation completion information.

If the storage room matching the order information is not found as a result of the search in Step 4, the reservation incomplete display function is activated and the following operation is performed. (1) Information necessary for confirming that the reservation is not completed is extracted from the order information. (2) Create reservation incomplete information from the information. (3) The reservation incomplete information is displayed (FIG. 19). By displaying the reservation incomplete information, the administrator B can confirm the result of the reservation and report to the requester A that delivery is impossible.

The reservation function P5 of Step 4 can be provided with a function of reserving the required number of storage rooms for delivery (Steps 3-1 and Step 4- in the second embodiment).
1). Furthermore, when the storage room of the first desired place cannot be reserved, a function of reserving the storage room of the next desired place can be added (third embodiment Step3-2, Step3).
4-2). This reservation function P5 will be described later.

(Step 7: FIG. 5) The delivery company C delivers the delivery based on the reservation completion information obtained from the manager B via the Internet, FAX, telephone, or the like. For example,
The delivery company C determines the item “apple 10” based on the reservation completion information.
Is prepared, and on the desired delivery date "00/5/3", the delivery is delivered to the storage room "101" of the delivery storage box BOX at the designated location "Tokyo Station".

(Step 8: FIG. 5) The delivery company C sends the key release request information for requesting the management server SV to open the key to the management server SV via the network NET in order to store the delivery in the designated storage room on the desired delivery date. Send. For example, the delivery company C transmits the delivery company number “900”, the password “999”, and the reservation number “10010”. The delivery company number is obtained by reading the ID card distributed to the delivery company C in advance by the ID card reader B6 attached to the delivery storage box BOX, and the password and the reservation number are input to the attached operation panel. Is obtained by The control mechanism of the delivery storage box BOX that has detected the input of the key release request information stores the key release request information in the delivery storage box B.
The information is transmitted to the management server SV via the communication control mechanism B3 of the OX and the network NET. The input of the key release request information is not limited to the integrated operation panel or the card reader B6, and an input terminal may be separately provided.

The management server SV receives the key release request information via the communication control mechanism 33. The main control mechanism 31 having acquired the key opening request information stores the key opening request information, activates the key opening function P2 of the main program, and performs the following operation. The key-opening function P2 is a function of receiving key-opening request information and opening the corresponding door of the storage room based on the received information.
FIG. 20 shows one operation of the key release function P2. (1) Acquire key release request information. (2) Key release request determination information D
It is checked with each record of the delivery company information of B to determine whether the key release request information is accurate. (3) If the key release request information and the information contained in one of the records do not match (the key release request information is not accurate), the information indicating that the key cannot be released is stored in the delivery storage box. The notification is transmitted to the display device B6 of the BOX. (4) When the key release request information matches one of the records, the management information DB is searched based on the reservation number included in the key release request information, and the record including the reservation number is retrieved. Check if the usage status information is "reserved". (5) If it is not “Reservation”, the information indicating that the key cannot be opened is stored in the delivery storage box B.
The notification is sent to the OX display device. (6) If it is “Reservation”, obtain the storage room number corresponding to the reservation number. (7) Key release command information for opening the storage room of the storage room number is transmitted to the delivery storage box BOX.

An example of the above operation (key opening function) is shown below (see the thick line in FIG. 21). (1) The delivery company number “900”, the password “999”, and the reservation number “10010” transmitted by the delivery company C are acquired as key release request information. (2) In order to determine whether the delivery company number “900” and the password “999” are appropriate, it is checked against each record of delivery company information in the key open request determination information DB. (4) Since the delivery company number “900” and the password “999”, which are the key release request information, match the information included in one record of the delivery company information, the delivery number is based on the reservation number “10010” of the key release request information. The management information DB is searched and the reservation number “10
The usage status information of the record including “010” is “reserved”
Check if it is. (6) The usage information is "reserved"
Therefore, the storage room number “101” of the record including the reservation number “10010” of the management information DB is acquired.
(7) Storage room number “101” in the delivery storage box
Is transmitted to open the key.

The delivery storage box BOX is the management server S
Upon receiving the key-opening command information from V, the main control mechanism B1 detects the key-opening command information and transmits a key-opening command to the lock control mechanism B4. The electronic lock B13 is opened. For example, the lock control mechanism B4 operates the electronic lock B1 of the storage room number “101” of the key release command.
3 to transmit an electric signal for instructing key opening.

(Step 9: FIG. 5) After the delivery company C stores the delivery in the storage room unlocked by the key release command information,
The door is locked by the electronic lock B13 in the storage room. Upon locking, the electronic lock B13 detects a change in the state of the storage room and transmits it to the lock control mechanism B4. The lock control mechanism B4 is an electronic lock B1.
3 is added to the storage room identification number and transmitted to the communication control mechanism B3 as change status information. The communication control mechanism B3 transmits the change status information to the management server SV via the network NET. For example, the storage room number “101” and the usage status information “locked” are transmitted to the management server SV via the network NET as the change status information.

When the management server SV receives the change status information as the reception status information, the main control mechanism 31 stores the reception status information, activates the management information update function P3 of the main program, and performs the following operation. The management information update function P3 is a function of updating the status information of the management information DB based on the reception status information received from the delivery storage box BOX. FIG. 22 shows the operation of the management information update function P3. (1) Acquire reception status information. (2) The storage room (locked storage room) included in the management information is searched from the management information DB. (3) If the corresponding storage room is not retrieved from the management information DB, a message indicating that updating is not possible is displayed on the input / output device 37. (4) When the corresponding storage room is detected from the management information DB, the status information of the record of the detected storage room is updated based on the reception status information.

The following is an example of the above operation. 23 is a diagram showing a state of each DB and the like before activation of the management information updating function P3, and FIG.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a state of each DB and the like after the start of the system. As shown in FIG. 23, the state in which the delivery company C stores the delivery in the storage room “101” and locks the delivery is that the reception status information is the storage room number “101” and the usage status information is “locked”. On the other hand, the management information DB is the storage room number “101” and the usage status information “reservation”. (1) Acquire reception status information (storage room number “101”, usage status information “in use”).
(2) Search the storage room number “101” in the management information DB based on the storage room number “101” of the reception status information.
(4) Since the corresponding storage room is detected from the management information DB, the usage status information, which is the status information of the record of the detected storage room, is updated. Specifically, if the use status information of the detected record of the storage room is “reserved”, it is updated to “in use”, and if it is “in use”, it is updated to “usable”. Here, since the detected use state information of the storage room is “reserved”, it is updated to “in use”. (Figure 2
3, see FIG. 24). In the management information update function P3, the use status information of the management information DB is not limited to the above information, and may include "Unlocking" indicating that the electronic lock B13 is unlocked. In this case, the change status information transmission mechanism transmits information indicating the “locked” status in addition to the information indicating the “locked” status, and uses the management status DB usage status information based on this information. Is updated. The "opening key" information can be managed in the use status information of the management information DB, and the administrator A can grasp that the electronic lock B13 has been forgotten to be locked or the like. The updated status information is not limited to the usage status information, and may include information for managing the temperature status. For example, when a function to transmit the temperature status to the change status information transmission mechanism of the delivery storage box BOX is included and the temperature status information registered in the management information DB is updated, the registration in the management information DB is performed in (4). The received temperature status information is updated based on the temperature status information included in the reception status information.

(Step 10: FIG. 5) In order to take out the delivery from the storage room, the requester A sends the delivery storage box B.
The OX transmits key opening request information as information for requesting key opening to the management server SV via the network NET. For example, the requester number “01023”, the password “123”, and the reservation number “10010” are transmitted as key release request information from the delivery storage box BOX to the management server SV. The requester number is obtained by reading the ID card distributed to the requester A in advance by the ID card reader B6 attached to the delivery storage box BOX, and the password and the reservation number are input to the attached operation panel. Is obtained by The control mechanism of the delivery storage box BOX that has detected the input of the key release request information transmits the key release request information to the management server SV via the communication control mechanism B3 of the delivery storage box BOX and the network NET. The input of the key release request information is not limited to the integrated operation panel or the card reader B6, and an input terminal may be separately provided.

The management server SV receives the key release request information via the communication control mechanism 33. The main control mechanism 31 that has acquired the key opening request information stores the key opening request information, activates the key opening function P2 of the main program, and performs the following operation. The key-opening function P2 is a function of receiving key-opening request information transmitted from the requester A and opening the corresponding storage room door based on the received information. FIG. 25 shows the operation of the key release function P2. The key release function P2 is almost the same as the key release function P2 of Step 8. An example is shown below (see a thick line in FIG. 26).
(1) The requester number “01023”, the password “123”, and the reservation number “10010” transmitted by the requester A are acquired as key release request information. (2) In order to determine whether the requester number “01023” and the password “123” in the key release request information are appropriate, each key is checked against each record of the delivery company information in the key release request determination information DB, and the key release is performed. It is determined whether the request information is correct. (4) Requester number “0” in the key release request information
1023 ”and the password“ 123 ”match the information contained in one record of the requester information in the key-opening request determination information DB, so that the management information DB is stored based on the reservation number“ 01023 ”of the key-opening request information. A search is performed to confirm whether the usage status information of the record including the reservation number “10010” in the management information DB is “in use”. (6) Since the use status information is “in use”, the reservation number “1” in the management information DB
Storage room number “101” of the record containing “0010”
To get. (7) Key-opening command information for unlocking the storage room number “101” is transmitted to the delivery storage box.

Upon receiving the key release command information from the management server SV, the delivery storage box BOX receives the key release command information from the main control mechanism B1.
Detects the key-opening command and transmits the key-opening command to the lock control mechanism B4. An electric signal for instructing the electronic lock B13 of the storage room number "101" to open the key is transmitted.

(Step 11: FIG. 5) The requester A takes out the delivery from the storage room unlocked by the key release command information, and then locks the door with the electronic lock B13 in the storage room. Upon locking, the electronic lock B13 detects a change in the state of the storage room and transmits it to the lock control mechanism B4. The lock control mechanism B4 is an electronic lock B
A storage room identification number is added to the information transmitted from 13 and transmitted to the communication control mechanism B3 as change status information. The communication control mechanism B3 transmits the change status information to the management server SV via the network NET. For example, the storage room number “101” and the use status information “locked” are transmitted to the management server SV via the network NET as the management information. For example, the storage room number “101” is used as the change status information.
The usage status information “locked” is transmitted to the management server SV via the network NET.

When the management server SV receives the change status information as the reception status information, the main control mechanism 31 stores the change status information, activates the management information update function P3 of the main program, and performs the following operation. . The operation of the management information update function P3 is the same as in Step 9 (see FIG. 22). An example is shown below. 27 is a diagram showing the state of each DB and the like before activation of the management information update function P3,
In FIG. 28, each bold line indicates each DB after the activation of the management information update function P3.
FIG. As shown in FIG. 27, the state in which the requester A leaves the delivery from the storage room “101” and locks it is that the reception status information is the storage room number “101” and the usage status information “locked”. The management information DB has the storage room number “101” and the use status information “in use”. (1)
Reception status information (storage room number “101”, usage status information “locked”) is acquired. (2) Search the storage room number “101” in the management information DB based on the storage room number “101” of the reception status information. (4) Since the corresponding storage room is detected from the management information DB, the usage status information, which is the status information of the record of the detected storage room, is updated. Specifically, since the usage status information of the detected record of the storage room is “in use”, it is updated from “in use” to “usable”.

The manager B extracts information necessary for managing the delivery storage box from the management information DB as necessary. The administrator B clicks a “display management information” button on the main menu (FIG. 6). Main control mechanism 31 is administrator B
Detects the click operation of, activates the management information display function of the main program, and performs the following operation. (1) Extract and acquire information necessary for managing the delivery storage box from the management information DB. (2) The acquired information is displayed on the input / output device 37 as extraction management information. The information may be extracted by extracting information set in advance in the management information display function program, or by adding a function to specify information to be extracted in the management information display function program, Only the information specified by the administrator A may be extracted.

(Second Embodiment) As a second embodiment, a storage room number function considering the number of storage rooms can be added to the reservation function P5 of Step 4. The reservation function with the number of storage rooms is a function that counts up the number of compatible storage rooms in the main program every time a suitable storage room is secured in order to secure the number of compatible storage rooms required for storage,
Until the number of compatible storage rooms matches the number of used storage rooms in the order information DB, the function of repeatedly searching for the compatible storage room and storing the records of the compatible storage rooms is repeated. Specifically, Ste
The following Steps 3-1 and S in place of p3 and Step4
step 4-1.

(Step 3-1) When the administrator B receives an order from the client A via the Internet, telephone, or facsimile, the administrator B clicks an order information input button from the main menu (FIG. 6). Upon detecting the click operation, the main control mechanism 31 activates the order information updating function of the main program. The operation of the order information updating function is the same as in Step 3. An example of the operation will be described below. The order content of the client A is “client number“ 01023 ”, and the desired delivery date is“ 2000 ”.
"May 3", the name of the delivery item desired to be delivered and the number thereof "10 apples", the desired location "Tokyo Station", and the number of storage rooms used are "2" are as follows (FIG. 29 bold line section) reference). (1) The main control mechanism 31 causes the input / output device 37 to display an order information input screen (FIG. 30), and causes the manager B to request the client A
Prompts you to enter order information. (2) The administrator B inputs the order information to a predetermined place according to the items on the order information input screen (FIG. 30). After the input is completed, the administrator B “completes”
Click the button. (3) When the main control mechanism 31 detects the completion of the input, the input requester number “01023”, the desired delivery date “May 3, 2000”, the name of the delivery item desired to be delivered and the number “10 apples” , The desired place “Tokyo Station”, and the number of used storage rooms “2” are stored in the storage mechanism 32 as order information. (4) The order information is registered in the order information DB as one record unit.

(Step 4-1) The main control mechanism 31 activates the reservation function P5 with the number of storage rooms of the main program,
The following operation is performed. Here, the reservation function P5 with the number of storage rooms in the main program is such that the management information DB is compared with the order information, a storage room suitable for the order information is searched from the management information DB, and the required number of storage rooms to be used is determined. It is a function to reserve only. One operation example of the reservation function P5 is shown in FIG. (1) A point (search point) at which a search of the management information DB is started is set to an initial value (first record). (2) Obtain information serving as search conditions (storage room condition designation information) from the order information. (3) Search conditions specified in advance in the program of the reservation function P5 (usage information "usable")
Then, the management information DB is searched using the obtained information and the usage status “available” as search conditions until a suitable storage room satisfying the conditions is detected. Search starts from the search point. (4) Determine if there is a compatible storage room that meets the conditions. (5) When a conforming storage room that satisfies the condition is detected, a record of the detected conforming storage room is stored, and the number of conforming storage rooms indicating the number of stored conforming storage rooms is counted up. Further, in the next search, a search point is stored in order to start searching the management information DB from a record next to the record of the compatible storage room. (6) Determine whether the number of compatible storage rooms has been satisfied (whether the number of compatible storage rooms and the number of used storage rooms are the same). If the number of compatible storage rooms is not sufficient (the number of compatible storage rooms and the number of used storage rooms are not the same),
Start from (3) again. (7) When the number of storage rooms is satisfied, the stored use status information of the record of the storage room is updated to “reserved” to indicate that the relevant storage room has been reserved. (8) In order to relate the record registered in the order information DB in Step 3-1 with the record of the compatible storage room detected from the management information DB, the “reservation number” item of the record registered in the order information DB Then, the same reservation number is added to the “reservation number” item of the record of the compatible storage room in the management information DB. (9) Activate the reservation completion display function to display that the reservation has been completed. (10) If there is no suitable storage room that satisfies the conditions, the reservation incomplete display function is activated to display that reservation is not possible.

The following is an example of the above operation. FIG. 32 shows a state before the start of the reservation function P5, and FIG. 33 shows a state after the completion of the reservation function. (1) The point (search point) at which the search of the management information DB is started is set in the record of the storage room number “101” (date “00/5/1”) of the management information DB as an initial value. (2) The main control mechanism 31 determines that the desired place information “Tokyo Station” and the desired delivery date are “00/5 /
3 ”. (3) The management information D is provided on condition that the installation location information is “Tokyo Station”, the date is “00/5/3”, and the status information is “usable”.
Search for B. Search starts from the search point. (4) Determine if there is a compatible storage room that meets the conditions. As a result, the storage room number “101” in the management information DB is used as a compatible storage room.
(Date “00/5/3”) is detected. (5) Management information DB storage room number “101” (date “00/5/3”)
Is stored as a record in the compatible storage room. The number of compatible storage rooms is counted up and updated from “0” to “1”. Further, in the next search, the search point of the management information DB is set to the storage room number “102” (date “0”) in order to start searching from the record next to the record of the compatible storage room.
0/5/1 ”). (6) In order to determine whether the conforming storage room has been satisfied, the number of conforming storage rooms “1” is compared with the number of used storage rooms “2”, and it is determined whether or not they match. Since the number of compatible storage rooms does not match the number of storage rooms used, start from (4) again. (4) The management information DB is searched under the same condition from the record of the storage room number “102” (date “00/5/1”) which is the search point.
(4) Determine if there is a compatible storage room that meets the conditions. As a result, the storage room number “102” (date “00/5/3”) of the management information DB is detected as a storage room suitable for the order. (5) The record of the storage room number “102” in the management information DB is stored as a record of the compatible storage room. The number of compatible storage rooms is counted up and updated from “1” to “2”. Further, in the next search, the search point of the management information DB is stored in the record of the storage room number “103” (date “00/5/1”) to start the search from the storage room next to the compatible storage room. (6) In order to determine whether or not the conforming storage room has been satisfied, the number of conforming storage rooms “2” is compared with the number of used storage rooms “2”, and it is determined whether or not they match. (7) Since the number of compatible storage rooms matches the number of used storage rooms, the storage room number “101” (date “00/5 /
3 ”) and storage room number“ 102 ”(date“ 00/5 /
3)), use of the record of the storage room number “101” (date “00/5/3”) and the storage room number “102” (date “00/5/3”) of the management information DB Update the status information from "available" to "reserved". (8)
The “reservation number” item of the record registered in the order information DB in Step 3-1 and the record of the compatible storage room “101” (date “00/5/3”) and “102” (date) in the management information DB The same reservation number “10010” as the “reservation number” item of the record of “00/5/3”)
Is added. (6) In order to notify the administrator B that the reservation has been completed, the reservation completion display function is activated.

(Third Embodiment) As a third embodiment, a place function considering a plurality of desired places can be added to the reservation function P5 of Step 4. A place function reservation function that considers a plurality of desired places is a function in which, when a management information DB is searched based on the highest priority place information of the order information DB and no usable storage room is found, the next priority is given. This is a function to search using place information with a high rank.
Specifically, the following Step 3-2 and Step 4-2 are used instead of Step 3 and Step 4.

(Step 3-2) When the administrator B receives an order from the client A via the Internet, telephone, or facsimile, the administrator B clicks an order information input button from the main menu (FIG. 6). Upon detecting the click operation, the main control mechanism 31 activates the order information update function of the main program. The operation of the order information updating function is the same as in Step 3. For example, if the order content of the client A is the client number “01”
023 ", the desired delivery date" May 3, 2000 ", the name of the delivery item to be delivered and the number" 10 apples ", the first desired location" Tokyo Station "and the second desired location" Shinjuku Station " Is as follows (see FIG. 34). (1) The main control mechanism 31 inputs an order information input screen to the input / output device 37 (FIG. 35).
Is displayed, and the administrator B is prompted to input the order information from the client A. (2) The administrator B inputs the order information in a predetermined place according to the items on the order information input screen (FIG. 35). After the input is completed, the administrator B clicks a “Done” button. (3) When the main control mechanism 31 detects the completion of the input, the information requester number “01023” and the desired delivery date “20”
"May 3, 2000", the names of the items to be delivered and their number "10 apples", the first desired place "Tokyo Station" and the second desired place "Shinjuku Station" are stored in the storage mechanism 32 as order information. Remember. (4) The order information is registered in the order information information DB as one record unit. (5) Activate the reservation function P5.

(Step 4-2) The main control mechanism 31 activates the reservation function P5 of the main program and performs the following operation. Here, the reservation function P5 of the main program is
This is a function of collating the management information DB with the order information, searching for a storage room matching the order information from the management information DB, and reserving the storage rooms to be used in the order of the delivery destination having the highest priority.
FIG. 36 shows an operation example of the reservation function P5. (1) Acquire the first desired place and other information (storage room condition designation information) from the order information. (2) The acquired information is added to the search condition (usage information "usable") specified in advance in the program of the reservation function P5, and the acquired information and the use information "usable" are used as the search conditions. ,
The search is performed until a suitable storage room matching the search condition is detected from the management information DB. (3) Determine if there is a compatible storage room that meets the conditions. (4) If a conforming storage room that meets the conditions is not detected, check if there is a next desired delivery place. (5) If there is no next desired delivery place, the reservation incomplete display function is activated to display that reservation is impossible. (6) If there is a next desired delivery place, obtain the next desired place from the order information,
Update the desired location of the search condition from the previous desired location to the next desired location. Start from (2) again. (7) If a conforming storage room that satisfies the conditions is detected, the record of the conforming storage room is stored, and the usage status information of the record of the relevant storage room is set to " Update from Available to Reserved. (8) Order information D in Step 3-2
B and a record of the compatible storage room detected from the management information DB in order to associate the record registered in the management information DB with the “reservation number” item of the record of the compatible storage room in the management information DB and the order information. The same reservation number is added to the "reservation number" item of the record registered in the order information DB. (9) Activate the reservation completion display function to display that the reservation has been completed.

An example of the above operation will be described below. FIG. 37 is a diagram schematically illustrating the state of each DB and the like before the activation of the reservation function P5, and FIG. 38 is a diagram schematically illustrating the state of each DB and the like after the completion of the reservation function. (1) The first desired delivery place “Tokyo Station” and the desired delivery date “00/5/3” are acquired from the order information. (2) The main control mechanism 31 determines that the installation location information is “Tokyo Station”, the date is “00/5/3”, and the usage information is “usable”. The management information DB is searched until a suitable storage room satisfying the condition is detected. (3) As a result of the search, no storage room meeting the conditions is detected. (4) Determine whether there is a second desired delivery place. (6) Since there is a second desired place, obtain the second desired place "Shinjuku Station" from the order information and set the search condition to "Tokyo Station"
To "Shinjuku Station". Start from (2) again. (2) The main control mechanism 31 has a condition that the installation location information is “Shinjuku Station”, the date is “00/5/3”, and the usage information is “usable”. Management information DB
Search for. (3) As a result of the search, the storage room number “103” (date “0”
0/5/3 ") is detected. (7) Based on the search result, the storage room number “103” (date “00/5/3”)
Is stored as a record in the compatible storage room, and the usage status information is updated from “available” to “reserved”.
(8) The “reservation number” item of the record registered in the order information DB in Step 3-2 and the storage room number “103” detected as the compatible storage room in the management information DB
The same reservation number “10010” is registered in the “reservation number” item of the record (date “00/5/3”). (9)
In order to display that the reservation has been completed, a reservation completion display function is activated.

(Fourth Embodiment) As a fourth embodiment, the reservation function P5 of Step 4 is further provided with Step 4
-1 storage room function and Step 4-2 location function can be added. Specifically, Step3 and Step3
The following Step 3-3 and Step 4-3 instead of p4
Becomes

(Step 3-3) When the administrator B receives an order from the client A via the Internet, telephone, or facsimile, the administrator B clicks an order information input button from the main menu (FIG. 6). Upon detecting the click operation, the main control mechanism 31 activates the order information update function of the main program. The operation of the order information updating function is the same as in Step 3. An example of the operation will be described below. For example, the order contents of the requester A include the requester number “01023”, the desired delivery date “May 3, 2000”, the name of the delivery item desired to be delivered and the number “10 apples”, the first desired place “ Tokyo Station",
If the second desired location is “Shinjuku Station” and the number of used storage rooms is “2”, the result is as follows (see the thick line in FIG. 39). (1) The main control mechanism 31 displays an order information input screen (FIG. 40) on the input / output device 37, and urges the manager B to input the order information from the client A. (2) The administrator B inputs the order information into a predetermined place according to the items on the order information input screen (FIG. 40). After the input is completed, the administrator B clicks a “Done” button. (3) The main control mechanism 31 which has detected the completion of the input requests the client number “01023” and the desired delivery date “May 3, 2000
Date ”, the name of the item to be delivered and the number of items“ apple 1
"0", the first desired location "Tokyo Station", the second desired location "Shinjuku Station", and the number of used storage rooms "2" as the order information storage mechanism 3
Stored in 2. (4) The order information is registered in the order information information DB as one record unit. (5) Reservation function P
5 is started.

(Step 4-3) The main control mechanism 31 activates the reservation function P5 of the main program and performs the following operation. Here, the reservation function P5 of the main program is
A function of collating the management information DB with the order information, searching for a storage room matching the order information from the management information DB, and reserving the storage rooms to be used in the order of the desired storage locations in the order of the desired delivery location with the highest priority. It is. FIG. 41 shows an operation example of the reservation function P5. (1) A point (search point) at which a search of the management information DB is started is set to an initial value (first record). (2) Acquire the first desired place and other information (storage room condition designation information) from the order information. (3) Using the acquired information and the use status information “available” as search conditions, search is performed until a suitable storage room satisfying the conditions is detected from the management information DB. (4) Determine if there is a compatible storage room that meets the conditions. (5) If a compatible storage room that meets the conditions is detected,
The record of the detected compatible storage room is stored, and the number of compatible storage rooms representing the number of stored compatible storage rooms is counted up. Further, in the next search, a search point is stored in order to start a search from a record next to the record of the matching storage room. (6) Determine whether the number of compatible storage rooms has been satisfied. If the number of compatible storage rooms is not sufficient, start again from (3). (7) When the number of conforming storage rooms is satisfied, the record of the relevant conforming storage room is stored, and the usage status information of the record of the conforming storage room stored to indicate that the relevant "To update. (8) Step3-3
Record registered in the order information DB and the management information D
B, a “reservation number” item of a record registered in the order information DB and a “reservation number” item of a record of the conformity storage room in the management information DB for associating with the record of the conformity storage room detected from B. And the same reservation number. (9) Activate the reservation completion display function to display that the reservation has been completed. (10) If no conforming storage room that satisfies the conditions is detected, check if there is a next desired delivery place in the order information. (11) If there is no next desired delivery place, a reservation incomplete display function is activated to display that reservation is impossible. (12) If there is a next desired delivery place, the next desired place is acquired from the order information and the desired place in the search condition is updated from the previous desired place to the next desired place. (13) Number of compatible storage rooms is 0
, And erase the stored memory in the compatible storage room. Further, return the search point to the initial value, and start again from (3).

An example of the operation will be described below. FIG. 42 is a diagram schematically illustrating the state of each DB before the activation of the reservation function P5, and FIG. 43 is a diagram schematically illustrating the state of each DB after the completion of the reservation function. (1) The management information D is set with a point (search point) at which the search of the management information DB is started as an initial value.
Set to the first record of B. (2) The first desired delivery location “Tokyo Station” and the desired date “00/5/3” are acquired from the order information. (3) The installation location information is "Tokyo Station", and
The management information DB is searched on condition that the date is “00/5/3” and the use status information is “usable”. (4) As a result of the search, a conforming storage room "1"
01 "(date" 00/5/3 ") is detected. (5) Since there is a compatible storage room, the storage room number “101” (date “0”
0/5/3 ”) is stored as a record of the conformity storage room, the number of conformity storage rooms is set to“ 1 ”, and in the next search, the conformity storage room“ 101 ”(date“ 00/5 ”)
/ 3 ”), a search point is set to a search point from the record next to the record next to the record of the storage room number“ 10 ”in the management information DB.
2 "(date" 00/5/1 ").
(6) Compare the number of compatible storage rooms “1” with the number of used storage rooms “2” and determine that the number of compatible storage rooms is not sufficient. Start from (3) again. (3) The management information DB is searched from the stored search point (the record of the storage room number “102” and the date “00/5/1”) under the same condition. (4) No compatible storage room that meets the conditions is detected. (10) Check if there is a second delivery destination. (12) Acquire the second delivery location and change the search condition from “Tokyo Station” to “Shinjuku Station”. (13) The number of compatible storage rooms “1” is set to “0”, and the stored record of the stored compatible storage room “101” (date “00/5/3”) is deleted. Further, the search point is returned to the initial value, and the process starts from (3) again. (3) Management information D provided that the installation location information is “Shinjuku Station”, the date is “00/5/3”, and the status information is “usable”.
Search for B. (4) As a result of the search, a suitable storage room “101” satisfying the conditions is detected. (5) The record of the storage room “103” (date “00/5/3”) is stored as a record of the compatible storage room, the number of compatible storage rooms is set to “1”, and
In the next search, the matching storage room "103" (date "0
0/5/3 ”) next record (in the storage room“ 1
04, a search point is stored to start a search from the date “00/5/1” record). (6) Compare the number of compatible storage rooms "1" with the number of used storage rooms "2" and judge that the number of storage rooms is not sufficient. Start from (3) again. (3)
The stored search points (storage room “104” date “0”
0/5/1) in the management information DB under the same conditions. (4) As a result of the search, the storage room “104” that satisfies the condition is detected. (5) The storage room “104” is stored as a conforming storage room, the number of conforming storage rooms is set to “2”, and the next record (recording room “105”) following the record of the conforming storage room “104” is searched in the next search. "Date" 00 /
The search point is stored in order to start the search from the “5/1” record). (6) Compare the number of compatible storage rooms “2” with the number of used storage rooms “2” to judge that the number of storage rooms has been satisfied. (7) The stored compatible storage room “103” (date “00”
/ 5/3 ") and" 104 "(date" 00/5/3 ")
Of the storage room number “1” in the management information DB based on the record
03 ”(date“ 00/5/3 ”) and storage room number“ 10
4 (date “00/5/3”) is updated from “usable” to “reserved”. (8) Ste
In order to associate the record registered in the order information DB with the record of the compatible storage room detected from the management information DB in p3-3, a “reservation number” item of the record registered in the order information DB, The detected management information DB
The same number “10010” as the “reservation number” item of the record of the storage room number “104” (date “00/5/3”) and storage room number “105” (date “00/5/3”)
Register (9) To indicate that the reservation has been completed,
Activate the reservation completion display function.

Next, an application example of the embodiment of the present invention will be described. In this application example, first, the order information input screen (FIGS. 12, 30, and 40) is displayed on the terminal of the client A. Therefore, the requester A can input the order information on the order information input screen. Further, the reservation completion information (FIG. 18) and the reservation non-completion information (FIG. 19) are displayed on the terminal of the client A. Thereby, the requester A can directly confirm the reservation completion information or the reservation non-completion information without going through the manager B.

Further, in order to transmit the reservation completion information to the terminal of the delivery company C, a reservation completion information transmission function is provided. The reservation completion information transmission function is a function of transmitting the reservation completion information to the terminal of the delivery company C in order to request the delivery company C to deliver the delivery based on the reservation completion information. The operation of the reservation information transmission function will be described below. (1) The management server SV displays a delivery company specifying screen (FIG. 44) on the terminal of the requester A in order to prompt the requester A to input information for specifying the delivery company C. (2) The management server SV, which has received the information input to the delivery company specifying screen, determines the specified delivery company from the delivery company information stored in the storage mechanism 32 in advance based on the input information. The address of the terminal of C is acquired, and the reservation completion information is transmitted to the terminal of the specified delivery company C. This allows the requester A to directly specify the delivery company C and make a delivery request without the intervention of the manager B, and the management server SV facilitates the delivery business of the delivery company C via the network NET. And it can be managed safely.

It is also possible to add the following Steps 0 and 12 to the example of the outline of use of the present invention in FIG. 2 according to the embodiment (FIG. 5). By Step0, the delivery company C
Can notify the client A in advance of the items of the deliverables that can be delivered, and it is possible to prevent the situation that the delivery company C cannot prepare the deliverables. By Step 30, it is possible to make a claim and make a payment between the manager B, the client A and the delivery company C. However, Step0, St
ep12 is a Ste that is added in the use process of the present invention.
p and does not affect the present invention at all.

(Step 0: FIG. 5) The delivery company C notifies the manager B of items of deliverable deliverables. The manager B registers the item name in the item information DB based on the notification of the delivery company C. The item information DB is updated by the notice of the delivery company C. From the information registered in the item information DB, only necessary information (for example, item name and price) is extracted and distributed to the requester as an item list. The requester A can order a delivery item within the range of the item list. (Step 12:
(FIG. 5) The administrator B requests the client A for the price. Further, the manager B pays the price according to the request of the delivery company C.

As described above, in each embodiment, the case where the delivery storage box BOX is installed at the station has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to the installation location.

[0085]

According to the centralized management system of the delivery storage box of the present invention, the delivery storage box can be managed in an integrated and centralized manner. In other words, according to the present invention, a storage room that meets the request of the requester is reserved in advance, or even if there is no reservable box in the storage room installed at the desired place with the highest priority, the next request is made. It is possible to reserve storage rooms to be set up in places where the storage is to be performed, to secure the number of storage rooms to be used, and to manage refrigerated storage for some items to be delivered. In addition, by managing the information of the client and the delivery company, management such as opening the key only when the client is legitimate can be surely performed, and a smooth and safe distribution system of the delivery will be realized in the future. It is possible to do.

[0086]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a network according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a relationship among a requester, a delivery storage box, a management server, and a delivery company according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of a management server according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of a delivery storage box of the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a relationship among a requester, a delivery storage box, a management server, and a delivery company according to the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a main menu according to the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a key release information registration screen of the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a requester information registration screen of the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a system example of a management server according to the embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a delivery company information registration screen of the embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a system example of a management server according to the embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a registration screen of order information of the embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a system example of a management server according to the embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart of a reservation function of the embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a system example of a management server according to the embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating a system example of a management server according to the embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating a system example of a management server according to the embodiment.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a display screen of reservation completion information according to the embodiment.

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing a display screen of reservation incomplete information of the embodiment.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart of a key opening function of the embodiment.

FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating a system example of a management server according to the embodiment.

FIG. 22 is a flowchart of a management information update function of the embodiment.

FIG. 23 is a diagram illustrating a system example of a management server according to the embodiment.

FIG. 24 is a diagram illustrating a system example of a management server according to the embodiment.

FIG. 25 is a flowchart of a key opening function of the embodiment.

FIG. 26 is a diagram illustrating a system example of a management server according to the embodiment.

FIG. 27 is a diagram illustrating a system example of a management server according to the embodiment.

FIG. 28 is a diagram illustrating a system example of a management server according to the embodiment.

FIG. 29 is a diagram illustrating a system example of a management server according to the embodiment.

FIG. 30 is a diagram showing an order information input screen of the embodiment.

FIG. 31 is a flowchart of a storage room reservation function of the embodiment.

FIG. 32 is a diagram illustrating a system example of a management server according to the embodiment.

FIG. 33 is a diagram illustrating a system example of a management server according to the embodiment.

FIG. 34 is a diagram illustrating a system example of a management server according to the embodiment.

FIG. 35 is a diagram showing an order information input screen of the embodiment.

FIG. 36 is a flowchart of a storage room reservation function of the embodiment.

FIG. 37 is a diagram illustrating a system example of a management server according to the embodiment.

FIG. 38 is a diagram illustrating a system example of a management server according to the embodiment.

FIG. 39 is a diagram illustrating a system example of a management server according to the embodiment.

FIG. 40 is a diagram showing an order information input screen of the embodiment.

FIG. 41 is a flowchart of a place reservation function of the embodiment.

FIG. 42 is a diagram illustrating a system example of a management server according to the embodiment.

FIG. 43 is a diagram illustrating a system example of a management server according to the embodiment.

FIG. 44 is a diagram showing a delivery company specifying screen of the embodiment.

FIG. 45 is a front view of a conventional delivery storage box.

[Explanation of symbols]

 31 main control mechanism 32 storage mechanism 33 communication control mechanism 34 input / output control mechanism 37 input / output control mechanism 38 internal transmission mechanism B1 main control mechanism B2 storage mechanism B3 communication control mechanism B4 locking control mechanism B5 input / output control mechanism B6 card reader B8 internal Transmission mechanism B11 Control unit B12 Box management unit B13 Electronic lock P1 Key release request information registration function P2 Key release function P3 Management information update function P4 Order information registration function P5 Reservation function A Requester B Administrator C Delivery company BOX Delivery storage box SV management server NET network

────────────────────────────────────────────────── ───

[Procedure amendment]

[Submission Date] July 30, 2001 (2001.7.3)
0)

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] Full text

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[Document Name] Statement

[Title of the Invention] Centralized management system for delivery storage boxes

[Claims]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a centralized management system for a delivery storage box for centrally and integratedly managing a delivery storage box having a plurality of storage rooms for storing delivery via a computer system and a network. About.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional delivery storage box is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 09-279918 of the applicant of the present invention, and is used by being installed at the entrance of an apartment house (a condominium or the like). It is rapidly spreading, especially in newly built apartments. As shown in FIG. 45, the delivery storage box has a plurality of storage rooms (1, 2, 3,...) For storing the delivery.
・) And an individual door with an electronic lock provided in each storage room, a control unit for controlling the electronic lock of each individual door, and a number such as a client number, a room number, a password, and information on entry / exit of a warehouse are displayed. And a display operation unit (touch panel) T1 to perform the operation.
Each storage room is provided with a sensor T3 for detecting the presence or absence of a delivery, and also has a list creation function for applying a slip or stamp for confirming that the delivery company has entered the warehouse. Therefore, the delivery company, which has been requested to deliver to the delivery requester who is a resident of the apartment house, operates the display operation unit when receiving the delivery, and stores the delivery requester and the delivery on the screen of the display operation unit. Display the storage room number. The resident of the apartment house checks the display screen, and if the delivery is being delivered, leaves the delivery from the designated storage room. Upon leaving the warehouse, the storage room is unlocked by inputting the client number and the like.

In the above-mentioned conventional delivery storage box, since the locking operation and the key opening operation are performed mainly on the relationship between the resident of the apartment house and the delivery company, an administrator who manages the box (in this case, the manufacturer (Often applicable)) orders a delivery storage box control system according to the intended use of the delivery requester and the delivery company, and ships a delivery storage box of that specification to an apartment or the like. . In addition, a telephone is attached to the delivery storage box,
Others call the administrator in case of breakdown. Such a delivery storage box is provided with various storage rooms of different sizes, in accordance with the size of the delivery, and recently, a storage room capable of controlling the temperature in order to store frozen food. Things have also appeared.

[0004]

However, the above-mentioned conventional delivery storage box has the following problems. For those who request shipments, firstly, if many delivery requesters request delivery of more shipments, there may be cases where more than available storage rooms are requested,
In some cases, the storage room for storing the delivery is insufficient, and the delivery is not delivered. Second, whether or not the delivery has been received is confirmed by the side requesting the delivery (here, the case where the resident of the apartment house requests) by visually checking the display screen of the delivery storage box. Therefore, it is necessary to go to the installation location to check whether or not the delivery has been received.

[0005] In addition, since the delivery company does not know the use status of the storage room until the delivery company arrives at the delivery storage box, for example, all storage rooms are in use. If there is no room, the delivery company cannot receive the delivery.

[0006] In recent years, the commodity distribution system has created a new shopping form due to the rapid spread of the Internet. That is what is called online shopping or electronic shopping. in this case,
As in so-called TV shopping, the delivery requester orders the desired product from the product seller, the product seller orders the delivery of the product to the delivery company, and the delivery company delivers the product to the delivery storage box. Done by But,
In this method, a business transaction is performed between the delivery requester, the merchandise seller, and the delivery company, but these people cannot grasp how the delivery storage box is used. Further, since the merchandise seller and the delivery company cannot know in advance the usage status and function (whether or not refrigeration is possible) of the delivery storage box, smooth delivery of the product is often hindered. For example, there is a problem that the delivery is too large to be stored in the warehouse, or that the delivery needs to be refrigerated but cannot be stored in a refrigerated delivery storage box.

Accordingly, the present invention proposes a centralized management system for a delivery storage box that uses a delivery storage box to centrally and integratedly manage orders and orders for delivery via a computer and a network. In addition, the present invention is applicable to a case where a delivery requester wants to receive a delivery at a place other than a condominium or the like (for example, at a station near the office or the nearest station on the way back, or when the first desired place does not satisfy the conditions). (If you want to receive the delivery at the desired location), we propose a centralized management system of the delivery storage box suitable for a new shopping distribution system that can request delivery and receive the delivery at that location. .

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention , there is provided a centralized management system for a delivery storage box, comprising a plurality of storage rooms for storing delivery items, and an individual lock provided with an electronic lock provided in each of the storage rooms. A delivery storage box having a door and a management server for managing a plurality of delivery storage boxes;
The delivery requester's terminal is connected to a network such as the Internet via a communication control mechanism that the delivery requester's terminal has, and the delivery storage box transmits change status information indicating that the status of use of each storage room has changed. A status information transmission mechanism, wherein the change status information transmission mechanism is connected to the communication control mechanism, and the management server manages a delivery storage box for each storage room as one record unit for each storage room. Management information that includes at least the location of the delivery storage box, the name of the delivery, and usage status information indicating whether each storage room is in use or unusable or not usable. A management information DB consisting of
Means for receiving the change status information transmitted from the delivery storage box connected via the network as reception status information, means for updating status information of the management information DB based on the received reception status information, Management information DB
Means for extracting the information necessary for managing the delivery storage box from the server and displaying the information as extracted management information, and further, the management server delivers the delivery according to the order received from the delivery requester. Means for prompting input of order information from a delivery requester, and a means for storing the order information provided with an order information DB including order information for managing information necessary for the order as one record unit for each order Means for registering the order information in the order information DB as one record unit, and searching the management information DB until a suitable storage room matching the search condition is detected using the availability of the storage room as a search condition. Searching means, a storage means for storing a record of a conforming storage room when a conforming storage room is detected, and the conforming storage room is reserved for delivery of a delivery. Means for updating the usage status information of the record of the conforming storage room from the information indicating the availability to the information indicating the reservation to indicate Means for associating the record with the relevant storage room, means for creating reservation completion information composed of information necessary to confirm that the relevant storage room has been reserved, and displaying the reservation completion information Means for creating reservation incomplete information composed of information necessary for confirming reservation incomplete when a compatible storage room is not detected; and means for creating reservation complete information composed of information. Means for displaying the reservation completion information, and means for creating reservation uncompleted information composed of information necessary for confirming reservation uncompleted when a compatible storage room is not detected. And having a means for displaying the reservation incomplete information.

According to the present invention, the administrator can manage the status of each storage room via the network by the management server. That is, since the information in the management information DB of the management server is updated by the reception status information received from the delivery storage box, the latest information of the delivery storage box can be obtained at any time, and the delivery request that changes every moment is obtained. The status of each storage room can be managed by the management server according to the information of the user. Further, the management information DB of the management server is updated with the reception use status information of the delivery storage box, and the item (delivery) is used by each storage room at the installation location of the delivery storage box and the date of use. Whether or not there is can be managed as usage status information. Therefore, the administrator can immediately respond if there is an inquiry from the delivery requester or the delivery company about the availability of each storage room. Then, an available storage room can be searched and reserved from the management information DB including usage status information indicating whether or not each storage room is in use.
Further, since the status of the reservation is reflected in the management information DB, it is possible to always search based on the latest information. Also,
Since the information stored in the order information DB and the information retrieved from the management information DB are associated with each other, if the order information is specified, the corresponding management information can be specified.
When the management information is specified, the corresponding order information can be specified, and management such as securing a storage room reserved for the order information can be performed.

[0010] In the centralized management system of the delivery storage box according to the second aspect, based on the premise of the first aspect, the storage room condition information indicates a place where the box is installed for each storage room. The storage room condition designation information includes one or more place designation information indicating a place where the delivery requester desires delivery, and the place designation information is provided for each place designation information. Priorities for which the delivery requester desires delivery are provided, and the search condition adding means adds the highest priority place designation information, and if no matching storage room is detected as a result of the search means, the search condition is added. And location information updating means for updating the included location designation information to the next-priority location designation information. And repeating the said retrieval means and Tokoro information updating means.

According to the present invention, it is possible to reserve a storage room installed at a place desired by a delivery requester. In addition, even if there is no storage room for a deliverable storage box that can be reserved in the storage room installed in the desired place with the highest priority, the delivery requester should reserve the storage room installed in the next desired place. Can be. Therefore, by installing the delivery storage box of the present invention in several places (in place of a coin locker at a station, at each station), for example, residents of a condominium can use the box at a station near their office or the nearest station on the way home. It is possible to manage an administrator when receiving a delivery.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the centralized management system for a delivery storage box is based on the premise of the first or second aspect, wherein the management server is connected to one or more delivery company terminals via a network. Connected, means for prompting the input of the delivery person identification information for specifying the terminal of one delivery company, and means for transmitting the reservation completion information to the terminal of the specified delivery company, I do.

According to the present invention, since the reservation completion information can be transmitted to one delivery company, the delivery company can deliver the delivery based on the received reservation completion information.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a centralized management system for a delivery storage box based on the first or second aspect of the present invention. By locking the door, information indicating that the delivery has been stored is transmitted to the management server via the network, and the information is registered in the management information DB.

According to the present invention, the delivery requester can check the registration of the information indicating that the delivery has been received at his / her own terminal and then go to receive it.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. First, as a premise, in the present embodiment, in order to make it easy to understand the usage of an example of the present invention, a delivery storage box is installed instead of a coin locker installed at a railway station, and the delivery requester can use his / her own convenience. This is a new distribution system that allows you to receive your ordered delivery at a good location (station). The relationship between a person who requests a specific delivery (called a delivery requester), a person who manages a delivery storage box (called an administrator: manages the management server SV), and a delivery company (delivery company) is as follows.
The following relationship will be described (FIG. 2). It is assumed that the delivery requester A orders the administrator B that he wants the desired article to be delivered to the delivery storage box. Manager B who received the order
Is to place an order with the delivery company C to deliver the article desired by the delivery requester A. It is assumed that the delivery company C stores the articles in the delivery storage box BOX based on the order of the manager B. It is assumed that the received articles are delivered by the delivery requester A and delivered to the delivery requester A.
If the delivery requester A is different from the recipient, it will not be described here.

(First Embodiment) An outline of an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. That is, the delivery storage box BO via the network NET
7 shows a usage pattern of X and the management server SV.

As shown in FIG. 1, the delivery storage box B
The OX and a management server SV that manages the delivery storage box BOX are connected via a network NET. Also, the management server SV via the network NET
And a terminal of a delivery requester A who requests a delivery from the delivery storage box BOX. Further, the management server SV is connected to one or more terminals of the delivery company C via the network NET.

The terminal of the delivery requester A and the terminal of the delivery company C are mainly personal computers provided with input / output devices such as a keyboard and a mouse and communication means connected to a display as a display device via a network. It may be connected to the network NET by telephone or facsimile. That is, in the network NET in this specification,
Internet, telephone, FAX, etc. are also included. Note that DB in this specification is an abbreviation of Database.

The delivery storage box BOX is composed of a plurality of storage rooms. After the delivery company C enters the delivery into the storage room, the delivery requester A takes out the delivery from the storage room. The delivery is passed to delivery requester A. Also,
The management server SV is mainly used by the administrator B, and has a function of monitoring the use status of the delivery storage box BOX, making a reservation for a storage room, and the like.

FIG. 5 is an example of the outline of use of the present invention. (St
ep1) In response to a registration request from the delivery requester A, the administrator B assigns a unique requester number and password to the delivery requester A, and registers it in the information of the delivery requester. Further, the ID card storing the requester number is distributed to the delivery requester A.
(Step 2) In response to the registration request of the delivery company C, the administrator B assigns a unique delivery company number and password to the delivery company C, and registers the delivery company information in the delivery requester information. Delivery company C
The ID card in which the delivery company number is stored is distributed.
(Step 3) The delivery requester A orders the manager B a delivery item desired to be delivered. The administrator receives the order from the delivery requester A and registers the order information in the management server. (Ste
p4) Check whether there is an available storage room based on the order information. If there is an available storage room, the delivery requester A
The storage room is reserved in advance so that the delivery can be delivered in accordance with the order, and the process proceeds to Step 5. If there is no available storage room, the delivery requester A is notified that delivery is not possible.
(Step 5) The administrator B creates a delivery list and contacts the delivery company C to deliver the delivery based on the delivery list. (Step 6) The administrator B creates a contact list and notifies the delivery requester A that the delivery is to be delivered based on the contact list. (Step 7) The delivery company C prepares a delivery based on the reservation completion information and delivers the delivery to the storage room of the designated delivery storage box BOX. (St
ep8) The delivery company C manages the management server S via the network NET to store the delivery in the designated storage room.
The management server SV that has transmitted the information requesting the V to open the key and received the information transmits the information for opening the door of the storage room, and opens the door of the storage room. (Step 9) The delivery company C locks the door of the storage room after storing the delivery in the designated storage room. As a result of the locking, information indicating that the delivery has been stored is transmitted to the management server SV via the network NET. The management server SV receives the information indicating that the storage is performed, and the information is registered as management information. (Step 10) The delivery requester A sends information for requesting a key release to the management server SV via the network NET in order to take out the delivery from the storage room. Is transmitted and the door of the storage room is unlocked.
(Step 11) The delivery client A locks the door of the storage room after taking out and receiving the delivery from the storage room. Information that the delivery has been delivered by locking is sent to Network NET
Is transmitted to the management server SV via the. Management server SV
Receives information indicating that the vehicle has been dispatched, and the information is registered as management information.

The administrator B can manage the delivery storage box BOX by displaying the management information of the delivery storage box BOX as necessary.

As shown in FIG. 4, the delivery storage box BOX includes a box management unit B12 and a control unit B11.

The box management unit B12 is composed of a plurality of storage rooms, each storage room is a partition for separating the storage space from each storage room, a door for loading and unloading goods to and from the storage room, and a control unit B11. And an electronic lock B13 for locking and unlocking by transmitting an electrical signal from the electronic lock B13.

The control unit B11 has a main control mechanism (CPU) B
1, storage mechanism B2, communication control mechanism B3, and locking control mechanism B
4, an input / output control mechanism B5, an internal transmission mechanism B8, an operation panel, and a card reader B6. Storage mechanism B
2 stores a program having a function of transmitting change status information to the management server SV. Communication control mechanism B3
Controls transmission / reception of information between the management server SV and the delivery storage box BOX via the network NET. The lock control mechanism B4 is connected to the electronic lock B13 of each storage room via a line. That is, they are electrically connected. The lock control mechanism B4 transmits a signal for unlocking or locking based on an unlocking command from the management server SV to one electronic lock B13 for unlocking or locking. The input / output control mechanism B5 controls input / output from the operation panel and the card reader B6.

The electronic lock B13 and the lock control mechanism B4 also have a function as a change status information transmission mechanism, and indicate that each storage room has been changed from the unlocked state to the locked state (that is, the delivery requester A). Or, the change status information indicating that the delivery company C has locked the lock is transmitted to the communication control mechanism B3. The electronic lock B13 unlocks and locks the door, detects a change in status from unlocked to locked, and transmits the change in status to the lock control mechanism B4. The lock control mechanism B4 adds a storage room identification number to the information transmitted from the electronic lock B13 and transmits the information to the communication control mechanism B3 as change status information. The communication control mechanism B3 transmits the change status information to the management server SV via the network NET. The change status information transmission mechanism includes the electronic lock B13 and the lock control mechanism B4.
However, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be a mechanism for managing the temperature condition (whether or not a refrigeration unit is provided) and transmitting it to the control unit B11.

As shown in FIG. 3, the management server SV includes a main control mechanism 31 (CPU), a storage mechanism 32, a communication control mechanism 33, an input / output control mechanism 34, and an internal transmission mechanism 38.

The storage mechanism 32 of the management server SV stores a main program, a management information DB, an order information DB, and a key release request determination information DB.

The management information DB stores management information for managing the delivery storage box BOX as one record unit for each storage room (see FIG. 9 and the like). For example,
Each record contains (1) a storage room number that identifies each storage room,
(2) installation location of each storage room, (3) date, (4) use status information indicating whether each storage room is in use, reserved, or available on the date, (5) It is composed of a reservation number and the like. (4) is status information indicating the status of each storage room, and (2) and (3) are storage room condition information. Here, for the sake of explanation, storage rooms having the same storage room number but different dates are considered as separate storage rooms. Accordingly, each of the storage rooms means a storage room having a different storage room number and a different date. The information stored in the management information DB is not limited to the above information, but may include the temperature of each storage room as the status information, the size of each storage room as the storage room condition information, or use the freezer. The inclusion of the fact that the object is impossible is optional as needed.

The order information DB stores information necessary for delivering a delivery based on an order from the delivery requester A as one record unit for each order received from the delivery requester (FIG. 9 etc.). For example, each record is (1)
A requester number for identifying each delivery requester, (2) a desired date that the delivery requester wants to deliver, (3) a delivery name and a delivery quantity that the delivery requester wants to deliver, 4) The first desired place where the delivery requester wishes delivery, the second desired place where delivery is desired next to the first desired place, and (5) the number of storage rooms required to store the delivery. , (6) consists of a reservation number. (2) and (4) are storage room condition specification information for specifying storage room conditions desired by the delivery requester. Note that the information stored in each DB is not limited to the above information, and it is optional to include the size of the desired storage room or the fact that it can be frozen as storage room condition designation information, if necessary. is there.

The key release request determination information DB includes information on a delivery requester (client information) and information on a delivery company (delivery company information).
(See FIG. 9 and the like). The information of the delivery requester includes information for the delivery requester to open the storage room as one record unit for each key opening request information. For example, each record of the delivery requester information contains (1)
Requester number, (2) delivery requester's unique password and (3)
The name is included. The delivery company information includes information for the delivery company C to open the storage room as one record unit for each key opening request information. For example, each record of the delivery information includes (1) a delivery company number, (2) a password unique to the delivery company C, and (3) a name. In addition, in order to manage the delivery requester, as the additional information, the address of the requester, the telephone number of the requester, the address of the terminal of the requester, and the like are included. Including the delivery company telephone number and the address of the delivery company terminal is optional depending on the implementation.

The main program is used in the main control mechanism 31, and mainly includes a key release request information registration function P1 and
A key release function P2, a management information update function P3, a management information display function, an order information registration function P4, a reservation function P5,
There is a reservation completion information display function and a reservation incomplete information display function. The key-opening request information registration function P1 is a function for registering key-opening request determination information in the key-opening request determination information DB. As a result, the requester number, the delivery company number, the password, and the like can be registered in the key release request determination information DB and managed in an integrated manner. The key release function P2 includes the delivery company C and the delivery requester A.
This is a function for determining whether or not a key release request from is valid and, if so, unlocking the storage room. This allows
The storage room can be unlocked only by a legitimate key release requester. The management information update function P3 is the delivery storage box B
This function is to reflect the usage information, which is the status information of each storage room of the OX, in the management information DB almost in real time.
With this function, the management information DB can have information on the delivery storage box BOX almost in real time.
The management information display function is a function for extracting and displaying necessary information from the management information DB. Thereby, the manager B grasps the information of the management information DB and sends the delivery storage box BO.
X can be managed. The order information registration function P4 is a function of registering order information created based on the order content from the delivery requester A in the order information DB. With this function, order information can be managed. The reservation function P5 is a function of retrieving a storage room matching the order information from the management information DB and reserving the storage room. With this function, it is possible to reserve a storage room for delivering the delivery in advance. The reservation completion information display function is a function of extracting necessary information from the management information DB and the order information DB and displaying information for confirming reservation completion. Thereby, the reservation completion can be confirmed, and the administrator B can contact the delivery requester A or the delivery company C using the reservation completion information. The reservation incomplete information display function is a function of extracting necessary information from the order information DB and displaying information for confirming reservation incomplete. Thus, the reservation incompleteness can be confirmed, and the administrator B can contact the delivery requester A or the delivery company C using the reservation incompleteness information. (Detailed operation of each function will be described later.)

Next, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described for each Step in the flowchart of FIG. Main control mechanism 3
1 displays the main menu (FIG. 6) by the main menu display function of the main program, and prompts the administrator B to select a desired process. The selection is made by clicking a predetermined position on the screen. It is assumed that the delivery requester A performs an order operation on May 1, 2000, the desired delivery date specified by the delivery requester A is May 3, 2000, and the delivery company C has the desired delivery date. A delivery item is to be stored in a storage room on May 3, 2000, and the delivered product is to be delivered by delivery requester A on May 3, 2000, which is the desired delivery date, and a delivery request is made. It is assumed that the delivery work of the delivery company C has been completed before the delivery work of the person A. In addition, in consideration of the capacity of the management information DB, convenience of management, and the like, records in the management information DB are added and deleted as needed. Here, it is assumed that the management information DB is composed of records whose date information is within three days from the current day. Each time the date changes (midnight), (1) the date is “this day” and The record whose status information is “usable” is deleted, and (2) a record whose date is “three days after that day” and whose usage status information is “usable” is added. The record to be deleted and added is optional depending on the capacity of the DB, but at least the delivery storage box B
Since the information necessary to manage the OX needs to exist in the management information DB, the records whose usage status information is other than “usable” are stored in the storage room (the storage room is not used because the delivery is not delivered and used). Etc.) are not deleted for management purposes. Further, in order to avoid complication, each DB described in the figure describes only records necessary for explanation, and other records are omitted.

(Step 1: FIG. 5) The administrator B clicks the “Register Key Request Information” button on the main menu (FIG. 6). The main control mechanism 31 detects the click operation of the administrator B, activates the key open information registration function of the main program, and performs the following operation. (1) The main control mechanism 31 displays a key open information registration screen (FIG. 7) on the input / output device 37, and prompts the user to select whether to register the information of the delivery requester or the information of the delivery company. Is displayed. (2) The administrator B clicks the “register client information” button. (3) The main control mechanism 31 detects the click operation of the manager B, causes the input / output device 37 to display a requester information registration screen (FIG. 8),
The administrator B is urged to register the information of the requester. (4) Administrator B
Input predetermined items on the requester information registration screen (FIG. 8), and click a "Finish" button. (5) Main control mechanism 3
1 detects the input completion by the click, and registers the input information as one record unit in the requester information of the key open request determination information DB.

An example of the operation (Step 1) will be described below (see the thick line in FIG. 9). FIG. 9 is a diagram schematically showing each DB and each function. The administrator B who has been requested to register by the delivery requester A by telephone or the like assigns a unique requester number and password to the delivery requester A based on the request, and displays the requester number on the requester registration screen (FIG. 8). "01023", a password "123", and a name "A" are input. After the input is completed, the administrator B clicks the “complete” button and notifies the main control mechanism 31 that the input is completed. The main control mechanism 31 that has detected the input completion uses the input information as one record unit,
Register it in the key release request determination information DB. When the registration is completed, the administrator B sends the delivery requester A a requester number “01”.
023 ”is distributed.

(Step 2: FIG. 5) The administrator B clicks the “Register Key Request Information” button on the main menu (FIG. 6). The main control mechanism 31 detects the click operation of the administrator, activates the key open information updating function of the main program, and performs the following operation. (1) The main control mechanism 31 causes the input / output device 37 to display a key-opening information registration screen (FIG. 7), and displays a screen for prompting the user to select whether to register the requester information or the delivery company information. Display. (2) The administrator B clicks the “register delivery company information” button. (3) The main control mechanism 31 detects the click operation of the manager B, causes the input / output device 37 to display a delivery agent information registration screen (FIG. 10),
The administrator B is prompted to register the delivery company information. (4) Administrator B
Inputs predetermined items on the delivery agent information registration screen (FIG. 10), and clicks a "Done" button. (5) The main control mechanism 31 detects the input completion by the click, and registers the input information as one record unit in the delivery company information of the key open request determination information DB.

An example of the above operation (Step 2) is shown below (see the thick line in FIG. 11). The manager B, who has been requested to register by the delivery company C by telephone, etc.,
Unique delivery company number "900" and password "99
9 ", and enter the delivery company number" 900 ", the password" 999 "and the name" C "on the delivery company information registration screen (FIG. 10). After the input is completed, the administrator B clicks the "complete" button to notify the completion to the main control mechanism 31. Main control mechanism 31 that detects completion of input
Registers the input information as one record unit in the key open request determination information DB. When the registration is completed, the administrator B distributes the ID card storing the requester number "900" to the delivery company C.

(Step 3: FIG. 5) When the administrator B receives an order from the delivery requester A via the Internet, telephone, or facsimile, the administrator B inputs “order information input” from the main menu (FIG. 6).
Click the button. Upon detecting the click operation, the main control mechanism 31 performs an order information registration function P4 of the main program.
To perform the following operation. (1) Main control mechanism 31
Displays the order information input screen on the input / output device 37, and prompts the manager B to input the order information from the client A. (2) The administrator B inputs the order information in a predetermined place according to the items on the order information input screen (FIG. 12), and clicks a “complete” button. (3) The main control mechanism 31 detects completion of the input by clicking on the manager B, and stores the input information in the storage mechanism 32 as order information. (4) The order information is registered in the order information DB. For example, the contents of the order of the delivery requester A include the requester number “01023” and the desired delivery date “200”.
"May 3, 0", the name of the delivery item desired to be delivered and the number thereof "10 apples", and the desired location "Tokyo Station" are as follows (see the thick section in FIG. 13). (1) The main control mechanism 31 inputs an order information input screen to the input / output device 37 (FIG. 12).
Is displayed, and the administrator B is prompted to input order information from the delivery requester A. (2) The administrator B inputs the order information in a predetermined place according to the items on the order information input screen (FIG. 12). After the input is completed, the administrator B clicks a “Done” button. (3) When the main control mechanism 31 detects the completion of the input, the information requester number “01023”, the desired delivery date “May 3, 2000”, the name of the delivery item desired to be delivered and the number “apple 10 And the desired location “Tokyo Station” are stored in the storage mechanism 32 as order information. (4) The order information is registered in the order information information DB as one record unit. (5) Activate the reservation function P5.

(Step 4: FIG. 5) The main control mechanism 31
The reservation function P5 of the main program is started, and the following operation is performed. One operation of the reservation function P5 is shown in FIG. (1) Acquire information (storage room condition designation information) serving as a search condition from order information. (2) The obtained information is added to the search condition (use status information “available”) specified in advance in the program of the reservation function P5, and the obtained information and the use status information “available” are used as search conditions. The search is performed from the management information DB until a storage room matching the search condition is detected. (3) Determine if there is a compatible storage room that meets the conditions. (4) If a storage room that satisfies the conditions is detected (hereinafter referred to as a “compliant storage room”), the record of the relevant storage room is stored and the relevant storage room is indicated to indicate that the relevant storage room has been reserved. Update the usage status information of the record from “available” to “reserved”. (5) In order to associate the record registered in the order information DB in Step 3 with the record of the compatible storage room detected from the management information DB,
The same reservation number is added to the “reservation number” item of the record registered in the order information DB and the “reservation number” item of the record of the compatible storage room in the management information DB. (6) A reservation completion display function (to be described later) to indicate that the reservation has been completed
Start (7) If a suitable storage room satisfying the conditions is not detected, a reservation incomplete display function (described later) is activated to display that reservation is impossible.

An example of the operation (Step 4) is shown below (see the thick line in FIG. 15). FIG. 15 is a diagram schematically showing the state of each DB and each function before the activation of the reservation function P5,
FIG. 16 (thick line part) is a diagram schematically showing the state of each DB and each function after the completion of the reservation function. (1) Main control mechanism 31
Acquires the desired place information “Tokyo Station” and the desired delivery date “00/5/3”, which are storage room condition designation information, from the order information. (2) The installation location information “Tokyo Station” and the date “00/5/3” are added to the usage information “Available” as search conditions, and the installation location information is “Tokyo Station” and the date is “ 00/5/3 "and the use status information is" usable ", and the management information DB is searched. (3) As a result, the storage room number “101” (date “00/5/3”) of the management information DB is detected as a compatible storage room. (4) Since there is a compatible storage room, the storage room number “101” which is a record of the relevant storage room in the management information DB.
The record (date “00/5/3”) is stored, and the usage status information of the record is updated from “available” to “reserved”. (5) The “reservation number” item of the record registered in the order information DB in Step 3 and the management information DB
Said compatible storage room "101" (date "00/5/3")
Of the same reservation number "1" as the "reservation number"
0010 ”. (6) Activate the reservation completion information display function to notify the administrator B that the reservation has been completed.

The main control mechanism 31 detects the operation of the reservation function P5, activates the reservation completion information display function, and performs the following operation. One operation of the reservation completion information display function is described below. (1) Extract information necessary for confirming the reservation from the order information. (2) Extract information necessary for confirming the reservation from the record of the compatible storage room in the management information DB.
(3) Create reservation completion information from the information. (4) Display reservation completion information. An example of the operation will be described below (FIG. 17).
Bold line). (1) From the order information, as the information necessary for confirming the reservation, the client number “01023”, the desired delivery date “May 3, 2000”, the name of the delivery item desired to be delivered and the number of “apple 10” Individuals ”and the desired location“ Tokyo Station ”are extracted. (2) The storage room number “101” is extracted from the record of the management information DB compatible storage room as information necessary for confirming the reservation. (3) By merging the above information, the information requester number "01023", the desired delivery date "May 3, 2000", the name of the desired delivery item and the number "10 apples", and the desired location "Tokyo" Station ", storage room number" 10
1 is created. (4) The reservation completion information is displayed (FIG. 18). By displaying the reservation completion information, the administrator B can confirm the result of the reservation and notify the delivery requester A that the delivery is to be delivered based on the reservation completion information. Can be ordered to deliver the delivery based on the reservation completion information.

If no storage room matching the order information is found as a result of the search in Step 4, the reservation incomplete display function is activated and the following operation is performed. (1) Information necessary for confirming that the reservation is not completed is extracted from the order information. (2) Create reservation incomplete information from the information. (3) The reservation incomplete information is displayed (FIG. 19). By displaying the reservation incomplete information, the administrator B can confirm the result of the reservation and report to the requester A that delivery is impossible.

The reservation function P5 of Step 4 can be provided with a function of reserving a required number of storage rooms for delivery (Steps 3-1 and Step 4- in the second embodiment).
1). Furthermore, when the storage room of the first desired place cannot be reserved, a function of reserving the storage room of the next desired place can be added (third embodiment Step3-2, Step3).
4-2). This reservation function P5 will be described later.

(Step 7: FIG. 5) The delivery company C delivers the delivery based on the reservation completion information obtained from the manager B via the Internet, FAX, telephone, or the like. For example,
The delivery company C determines the item “apple 10” based on the reservation completion information.
Is prepared, and on the desired delivery date "00/5/3", the delivery is delivered to the storage room "101" of the delivery storage box BOX at the designated location "Tokyo Station".

(Step 8: FIG. 5) The delivery company C sends the key release request information for requesting the management server SV to open the key via the network NET in order to store the delivery in the designated storage room on the desired delivery date. Send. For example, the delivery company C transmits the delivery company number “900”, the password “999”, and the reservation number “10010”. The delivery company number is obtained by reading the ID card distributed to the delivery company C in advance by the ID card reader B6 attached to the delivery storage box BOX, and the password and the reservation number are input to the attached operation panel. Is obtained by The control mechanism of the delivery storage box BOX that has detected the input of the key release request information stores the key release request information in the delivery storage box B.
The information is transmitted to the management server SV via the communication control mechanism B3 of the OX and the network NET. The input of the key release request information is not limited to the integrated operation panel or the card reader B6, and an input terminal may be separately provided.

The management server SV receives the key release request information via the communication control mechanism 33. The main control mechanism 31 having acquired the key opening request information stores the key opening request information, activates the key opening function P2 of the main program, and performs the following operation. The key-opening function P2 is a function of receiving key-opening request information and opening the corresponding door of the storage room based on the received information.
FIG. 20 shows one operation of the key release function P2. (1) Acquire key release request information. (2) Key release request determination information D
It is checked with each record of the delivery company information of B to determine whether the key release request information is accurate. (3) If the key release request information and the information contained in one of the records do not match (the key release request information is not accurate), the information indicating that the key cannot be released is stored in the delivery storage box. The notification is transmitted to the display device B6 of the BOX. (4) When the key release request information matches one of the records, the management information DB is searched based on the reservation number included in the key release request information, and the record including the reservation number is retrieved. Check if the usage status information is "reserved". (5) If it is not “Reservation”, the information indicating that the key cannot be opened is stored in the delivery storage box B.
The notification is sent to the OX display device. (6) If it is “Reservation”, obtain the storage room number corresponding to the reservation number. (7) Key release command information for opening the storage room of the storage room number is transmitted to the delivery storage box BOX.

An example of the above operation (key opening function) is shown below (see the thick line in FIG. 21). (1) The delivery company number “900”, the password “999”, and the reservation number “10010” transmitted by the delivery company C are acquired as key release request information. (2) In order to determine whether the delivery company number “900” and the password “999” are appropriate, it is checked against each record of delivery company information in the key open request determination information DB. (4) Since the delivery company number “900” and the password “999”, which are the key release request information, match the information included in one record of the delivery company information, the delivery number is based on the reservation number “10010” of the key release request information. The management information DB is searched and the reservation number “10
The usage status information of the record including “010” is “reserved”
Check if it is. (6) The usage information is "reserved"
Therefore, the storage room number “101” of the record including the reservation number “10010” of the management information DB is acquired.
(7) Storage room number “101” in the delivery storage box
Is transmitted to open the key.

The delivery storage box BOX is the management server S
Upon receiving the key-opening command information from V, the main control mechanism B1 detects the key-opening command information and transmits a key-opening command to the lock control mechanism B4. The electronic lock B13 is opened. For example, the lock control mechanism B4 operates the electronic lock B1 of the storage room number “101” of the key release command.
3 to transmit an electric signal for instructing key opening.

(Step 9: FIG. 5) After the delivery company C stores the delivery in the storage room unlocked by the key release command information,
The door is locked by the electronic lock B13 in the storage room. Upon locking, the electronic lock B13 detects a change in the state of the storage room and transmits it to the lock control mechanism B4. The lock control mechanism B4 is an electronic lock B1.
3 is added to the storage room identification number and transmitted to the communication control mechanism B3 as change status information. The communication control mechanism B3 transmits the change status information to the management server SV via the network NET. For example, the storage room number “101” and the usage status information “locked” are transmitted to the management server SV via the network NET as the change status information.

When the management server SV receives the change status information as reception status information, the main control mechanism 31 stores the reception status information, activates the management information update function P3 of the main program, and performs the following operation. The management information update function P3 is a function of updating the status information of the management information DB based on the reception status information received from the delivery storage box BOX. FIG. 22 shows the operation of the management information update function P3. (1) Acquire reception status information. (2) The storage room (locked storage room) included in the management information is searched from the management information DB. (3) If the corresponding storage room is not retrieved from the management information DB, a message indicating that updating is not possible is displayed on the input / output device 37. (4) When the corresponding storage room is detected from the management information DB, the status information of the record of the detected storage room is updated based on the reception status information.

The following is an example of the above operation. 23 is a diagram showing a state of each DB and the like before activation of the management information updating function P3, and FIG.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a state of each DB and the like after the start of the system. As shown in FIG. 23, the state in which the delivery company C stores the delivery in the storage room “101” and locks the delivery is that the reception status information is the storage room number “101” and the usage status information is “locked”. On the other hand, the management information DB is the storage room number “101” and the usage status information “reservation”. (1) Acquire reception status information (storage room number “101”, usage status information “in use”).
(2) Search the storage room number “101” in the management information DB based on the storage room number “101” of the reception status information.
(4) Since the corresponding storage room is detected from the management information DB, the usage status information, which is the status information of the record of the detected storage room, is updated. Specifically, if the use status information of the detected record of the storage room is “reserved”, it is updated to “in use”, and if it is “in use”, it is updated to “usable”. Here, since the detected use state information of the storage room is “reserved”, it is updated to “in use”. (Figure 2
3, see FIG. 24). In the management information update function P3, the use status information of the management information DB is not limited to the above information, and may include "Unlocking" indicating that the electronic lock B13 has been unlocked. In this case, the change status information transmission mechanism transmits information indicating the “locked” status in addition to the information indicating the “locked” status, and uses the management status DB usage status information based on this information. Is updated. The "opening key" information can be managed in the use status information of the management information DB, and the administrator A can grasp that the electronic lock B13 has been forgotten to be locked or the like. The updated status information is not limited to the usage status information, and may include information for managing the temperature status. For example, when a function to transmit the temperature status to the change status information transmission mechanism of the delivery storage box BOX is included and the temperature status information registered in the management information DB is updated, the registration in the management information DB is performed in (4). The received temperature status information is updated based on the temperature status information included in the reception status information.

(Step 10: FIG. 5) The delivery requester A
In order to take out the delivery from the storage room, the management server S from the delivery storage box BOX via the network NET.
V transmits key-opening request information as information for requesting key-opening. For example, the requester number “0102” is sent from the delivery storage box BOX to the management server SV as key release request information.
3 ”, password“ 123 ”and reservation number“ 10010 ”
And send. The requester number is obtained by reading the ID card distributed to the delivery requester A in advance by the ID card reader B6 attached to the delivery storage box BOX,
Further, the password and the reservation number can be obtained by inputting into the attached operation panel. The control mechanism of the delivery storage box BOX that has detected the input of the key release request information transmits the key release request information to the communication control mechanism B of the delivery storage box BOX.
3 to the management server SV via the network NET. The input of the key release request information is not limited to the integrated operation panel or the card reader B6, and an input terminal may be separately provided.

The management server SV receives the key release request information via the communication control mechanism 33. The main control mechanism 31 that has acquired the key opening request information stores the key opening request information, activates the key opening function P2 of the main program, and performs the following operation. The key-opening function P2 is a function of receiving key-opening request information transmitted from the delivery requester A and opening the corresponding storage room door based on the received information. FIG. 2 shows the operation of the key release function P2.
It is shown in FIG. The key release function P2 is the key release function P2 of Step 8.
It is almost the same as An example is shown below (see a thick line in FIG. 26). (1) Requester number “010” sent by delivery requester A
23 ", password" 123 "and reservation number" 1001 "
"0" is obtained as key release request information. (2) To determine whether the requester number “01023” and the password “123” of the key release request information are appropriate, a key release request determination information DB
Then, it is determined whether or not the key release request information is correct by comparing with each record of the delivery company information. (4) Since the requester number “01023” and the password “123” of the key release request information match the information included in one record of the requester information in the key release request determination information DB, the reservation of the key release request information Number "0
1023 ”, the management information DB is searched, and the management information D
It is checked whether the use status information of the record including the reservation number “10010” of B is “in use”. (6) Since the use status information is “in use”, the storage room number “101” of the record including the reservation number “10010” in the management information DB is acquired. (7) Delivery box BOX
To the storage room number “101”.

Upon receiving the key release command information from the management server SV, the delivery storage box BOX receives the key release command information from the main control mechanism B1.
Detects the key-opening command and transmits the key-opening command to the lock control mechanism B4. An electric signal for instructing the electronic lock B13 of the storage room number "101" to open the key is transmitted.

(Step 11: FIG. 5) The delivery requester A
After the delivery is unloaded from the storage room unlocked by the key release command information, the door is locked by the electronic lock B13 in the storage room. Upon locking, the electronic lock B13 detects a change in the state of the storage room and transmits it to the lock control mechanism B4. The lock control mechanism B4 adds a storage room identification number to the information transmitted from the electronic lock B13,
It is transmitted to the communication control mechanism B3 as change status information. The communication control mechanism B3 transmits the change status information to the management server SV via the network NET. For example, the storage room number “101” and the use status information “locked” as the management information
Is transmitted to the management server SV via the network NET. For example, as the change status information, the storage room number “10”
1) Usage status information “locked” is transmitted to the management server SV via the network NET.

When the management server SV receives the change status information as the reception status information, the main control mechanism 31 stores the change status information, activates the management information update function P3 of the main program, and performs the following operation. . The operation of the management information update function P3 is the same as in Step 9 (see FIG. 22). An example is shown below. 27 is a diagram showing the state of each DB and the like before activation of the management information update function P3,
In FIG. 28, each bold line indicates each DB after the activation of the management information update function P3.
FIG. As shown in FIG. 27, the state in which the delivery requester A has delivered a delivery from the storage room “101” and locked it is that the reception status information is the storage room number “101” and the usage status information “locked”. , The management information DB is the storage room number “101” and the usage status information “in use”.
(1) Acquire reception status information (storage room number “101”, use status information “locked”). (2) Search the storage room number “101” in the management information DB based on the storage room number “101” of the reception status information. (4) Since the corresponding storage room is detected from the management information DB, the usage status information, which is the status information of the record of the detected storage room, is updated. Specifically, since the usage status information of the detected record of the storage room is “in use”, it is updated from “in use” to “usable”.

The administrator B extracts information necessary for managing the delivery storage box from the management information DB as necessary. The administrator B clicks a “display management information” button on the main menu (FIG. 6). Main control mechanism 31 is administrator B
Detects the click operation of, activates the management information display function of the main program, and performs the following operation. (1) Extract and acquire information necessary for managing the delivery storage box from the management information DB. (2) The acquired information is displayed on the input / output device 37 as extraction management information. The information may be extracted by extracting information set in advance in the management information display function program, or by adding a function to specify information to be extracted in the management information display function program, Only the information specified by the administrator A may be extracted.

(Second Embodiment) As a second embodiment, a storage room number function considering the number of storage rooms can be added to the reservation function P5 of Step 4. The reservation function with the number of storage rooms is a function that counts up the number of compatible storage rooms in the main program every time a suitable storage room is secured in order to secure the number of compatible storage rooms required for storage,
Until the number of compatible storage rooms matches the number of used storage rooms in the order information DB, the function of repeatedly searching for the compatible storage room and storing the records of the compatible storage rooms is repeated. Specifically, Ste
The following Steps 3-1 and S in place of p3 and Step4
step 4-1.

(Step 3-1) When the administrator B receives an order from the delivery requester A via the Internet, telephone, or facsimile, the administrator B clicks an order information input button from the main menu (FIG. 6). Upon detecting the click operation, the main control mechanism 31 activates the order information updating function of the main program. The operation of the order information updating function is the same as in Step 3. An example of the operation will be described below. The order contents of the delivery requester A include the requester number “01023” and the desired delivery date “2”.
"May 3, 000", the name of the delivery item desired for delivery and its number "10 apples", the desired location "Tokyo Station", and the number of used storage rooms "2" are as shown below (thick line in FIG. 29). Section). (1) The main control mechanism 31 displays the order information input screen (FIG. 30) on the input / output device 37, and urges the manager B to input the order information from the delivery requester A. (2) The administrator B inputs the order information to a predetermined place according to the items on the order information input screen (FIG. 30). After the input is completed, the administrator B clicks a “Done” button. (3) The main control mechanism 31 that has detected the completion of the input requests the input requester number “0102”.
3), the desired delivery date "May 3, 2000", the name of the delivery item to be delivered and its number "10 apples", the desired location "Tokyo Station", and the number of storage rooms used "2" as order information The information is stored in the storage mechanism 32. (4) The order information is registered in the order information DB as one record unit.

(Step 4-1) The main control mechanism 31 activates the reservation function with storage room number P5 of the main program,
The following operation is performed. Here, the reservation function P5 with the number of storage rooms in the main program is such that the management information DB is compared with the order information, a storage room suitable for the order information is searched from the management information DB, and the required number of storage rooms to be used is determined. It is a function to reserve only. One operation example of the reservation function P5 is shown in FIG. (1) A point (search point) at which a search of the management information DB is started is set to an initial value (first record). (2) Obtain information serving as search conditions (storage room condition designation information) from the order information. (3) Search conditions specified in advance in the program of the reservation function P5 (usage information "usable")
Then, the management information DB is searched using the obtained information and the usage status “available” as search conditions until a suitable storage room satisfying the conditions is detected. Search starts from the search point. (4) Determine if there is a compatible storage room that meets the conditions. (5) When a conforming storage room that satisfies the condition is detected, a record of the detected conforming storage room is stored, and the number of conforming storage rooms indicating the number of stored conforming storage rooms is counted up. Further, in the next search, a search point is stored in order to start searching the management information DB from a record next to the record of the compatible storage room. (6) Determine whether the number of compatible storage rooms has been satisfied (whether the number of compatible storage rooms and the number of used storage rooms are the same). If the number of compatible storage rooms is not sufficient (the number of compatible storage rooms and the number of used storage rooms are not the same),
Start from (3) again. (7) When the number of storage rooms is satisfied, the stored use status information of the record of the storage room is updated to “reserved” to indicate that the relevant storage room has been reserved. (8) In order to relate the record registered in the order information DB in Step 3-1 with the record of the compatible storage room detected from the management information DB, the “reservation number” item of the record registered in the order information DB Then, the same reservation number is added to the “reservation number” item of the record of the compatible storage room in the management information DB. (9) Activate the reservation completion display function to display that the reservation has been completed. (10) If there is no suitable storage room that satisfies the conditions, the reservation incomplete display function is activated to display that reservation is not possible.

The following is an example of the above operation. FIG. 32 shows a state before the start of the reservation function P5, and FIG. 33 shows a state after the completion of the reservation function. (1) The point (search point) at which the search of the management information DB is started is set in the record of the storage room number “101” (date “00/5/1”) of the management information DB as an initial value. (2) The main control mechanism 31 determines that the desired place information “Tokyo Station” and the desired delivery date are “00/5 /
3 ”. (3) The management information D is provided on condition that the installation location information is “Tokyo Station”, the date is “00/5/3”, and the status information is “usable”.
Search for B. Search starts from the search point. (4) Determine if there is a compatible storage room that meets the conditions. As a result, the storage room number “101” in the management information DB is used as a compatible storage room.
(Date “00/5/3”) is detected. (5) Management information DB storage room number “101” (date “00/5/3”)
Is stored as a record in the compatible storage room. The number of compatible storage rooms is counted up and updated from “0” to “1”. Further, in the next search, the search point of the management information DB is set to the storage room number “102” (date “0”) in order to start searching from the record next to the record of the compatible storage room.
0/5/1 ”). (6) In order to determine whether the conforming storage room has been satisfied, the number of conforming storage rooms “1” is compared with the number of used storage rooms “2”, and it is determined whether or not they match. Since the number of compatible storage rooms does not match the number of storage rooms used, start from (4) again. (4) The management information DB is searched under the same condition from the record of the storage room number “102” (date “00/5/1”) which is the search point.
(4) Determine if there is a compatible storage room that meets the conditions. As a result, the storage room number “102” (date “00/5/3”) of the management information DB is detected as a storage room suitable for the order. (5) The record of the storage room number “102” in the management information DB is stored as a record of the compatible storage room. The number of compatible storage rooms is counted up and updated from “1” to “2”. Further, in the next search, the search point of the management information DB is stored in the record of the storage room number “103” (date “00/5/1”) to start the search from the storage room next to the compatible storage room. (6) In order to determine whether or not the conforming storage room has been satisfied, the number of conforming storage rooms “2” is compared with the number of used storage rooms “2”, and it is determined whether or not they match. (7) Since the number of compatible storage rooms matches the number of used storage rooms, the storage room number “101” (date “00/5 /
3 ”) and storage room number“ 102 ”(date“ 00/5 /
3)), use of the record of the storage room number “101” (date “00/5/3”) and the storage room number “102” (date “00/5/3”) of the management information DB Update the status information from "available" to "reserved". (8)
The “reservation number” item of the record registered in the order information DB in Step 3-1 and the record of the compatible storage room “101” (date “00/5/3”) and “102” (date) in the management information DB The same reservation number “10010” as the “reservation number” item of the record of “00/5/3”)
Is added. (6) In order to notify the administrator B that the reservation has been completed, the reservation completion display function is activated.

(Third Embodiment) As a third embodiment, a place function considering a plurality of desired places can be added to the reservation function P5 of Step 4. A place function reservation function that considers a plurality of desired places is a function in which, when a management information DB is searched based on the highest priority place information of the order information DB and no usable storage room is found, the next priority is given. This is a function to search using place information with a high rank.
Specifically, the following Step 3-2 and Step 4-2 are used instead of Step 3 and Step 4.

(Step 3-2) When the manager B receives an order from the delivery requester A via the Internet, telephone, or facsimile, the manager B clicks an order information input button from the main menu (FIG. 6). Upon detecting the click operation, the main control mechanism 31 activates the order information update function of the main program. The operation of the order information updating function is the same as in Step 3. For example, the order contents of the delivery requester A include a requester number “01023”, a desired delivery date “May 3, 2000”,
The name of the item to be delivered and the number
If the individual is the first desired location "Tokyo Station" and the second desired location is "Shinjuku Station", the following is obtained (see FIG. 34). (1)
The main control mechanism 31 displays an order information input screen (FIG. 35) on the input / output device 37, and urges the administrator B to input the order information from the delivery requester A. (2) The administrator B inputs the order information in a predetermined place according to the items on the order information input screen (FIG. 35). After the input is completed, the administrator B clicks a “Done” button. (3) Main control mechanism 3 that detects input completion
1 is the input information requester number “01023”, the desired delivery date “May 3, 2000”, the name of the delivery item desired to be delivered and its number “10 apples”, the first desired location “Tokyo Station” Then, the second desired place “Shinjuku Station” is stored in the storage mechanism 32 as order information. (4) The order information is registered in the order information information DB as one record unit. (5) Activate the reservation function P5.

(Step 4-2) The main control mechanism 31 activates the reservation function P5 of the main program and performs the following operation. Here, the reservation function P5 of the main program is
This is a function of collating the management information DB with the order information, searching for a storage room matching the order information from the management information DB, and reserving the storage rooms to be used in the order of the delivery destination having the highest priority.
FIG. 36 shows an operation example of the reservation function P5. (1) Acquire the first desired place and other information (storage room condition designation information) from the order information. (2) The acquired information is added to the search condition (usage information "usable") specified in advance in the program of the reservation function P5, and the acquired information and the use information "usable" are used as the search conditions. ,
The search is performed until a suitable storage room matching the search condition is detected from the management information DB. (3) Determine if there is a compatible storage room that meets the conditions. (4) If a conforming storage room that meets the conditions is not detected, check if there is a next desired delivery place. (5) If there is no next desired delivery place, the reservation incomplete display function is activated to display that reservation is impossible. (6) If there is a next desired delivery place, obtain the next desired place from the order information,
Update the desired location of the search condition from the previous desired location to the next desired location. Start from (2) again. (7) If a conforming storage room that satisfies the conditions is detected, the record of the conforming storage room is stored, and the usage status information of the record of the relevant storage room is set to " Update from Available to Reserved. (8) Order information D in Step 3-2
B and a record of the compatible storage room detected from the management information DB in order to associate the record registered in the management information DB with the “reservation number” item of the record of the compatible storage room in the management information DB and the order information. The same reservation number is added to the "reservation number" item of the record registered in the order information DB. (9) Activate the reservation completion display function to display that the reservation has been completed.

An example of the above operation will be described below. FIG. 37 is a diagram schematically illustrating the state of each DB and the like before the activation of the reservation function P5, and FIG. 38 is a diagram schematically illustrating the state of each DB and the like after the completion of the reservation function. (1) The first desired delivery place “Tokyo Station” and the desired delivery date “00/5/3” are acquired from the order information. (2) The main control mechanism 31 determines that the installation location information is “Tokyo Station”, the date is “00/5/3”, and the usage information is “usable”. The management information DB is searched until a suitable storage room satisfying the condition is detected. (3) As a result of the search, no storage room meeting the conditions is detected. (4) Determine whether there is a second desired delivery place. (6) Since there is a second desired place, obtain the second desired place "Shinjuku Station" from the order information and set the search condition to "Tokyo Station"
To "Shinjuku Station". Start from (2) again. (2) The main control mechanism 31 has a condition that the installation location information is “Shinjuku Station”, the date is “00/5/3”, and the usage information is “usable”. Management information DB
Search for. (3) As a result of the search, the storage room number “103” (date “0”
0/5/3 ") is detected. (7) Based on the search result, the storage room number “103” (date “00/5/3”)
Is stored as a record in the compatible storage room, and the usage status information is updated from “available” to “reserved”.
(8) The “reservation number” item of the record registered in the order information DB in Step 3-2 and the storage room number “103” detected as the compatible storage room in the management information DB
The same reservation number “10010” is registered in the “reservation number” item of the record (date “00/5/3”). (9)
In order to display that the reservation has been completed, a reservation completion display function is activated.

(Fourth Embodiment) As a fourth embodiment, the reservation function P5 of Step 4 is further provided with Step 4
-1 storage room function and Step 4-2 location function can be added. Specifically, Step3 and Step3
The following Step 3-3 and Step 4-3 instead of p4
Becomes

(Step 3-3) When the administrator B receives an order from the delivery requester A via the Internet, telephone, or facsimile, the administrator B clicks an order information input button from the main menu (FIG. 6). Upon detecting the click operation, the main control mechanism 31 activates the order information update function of the main program. The operation of the order information updating function is the same as in Step 3. An example of the operation will be described below. For example, the order contents of the delivery requester A include the requester number “01023”, the desired delivery date “May 3, 2000”, the name of the delivery item desired to be delivered and the number “10 apples”, the first desired place. If “Tokyo Station”, the second desired place “Shinjuku Station”, and the number of used storage rooms are “2”, the result will be as follows (see the thick line part in FIG. 39). (1)
The main control mechanism 31 displays an order information input screen (FIG. 40) on the input / output device 37, and urges the administrator B to input the order information from the delivery requester A. (2) The administrator B inputs the order information into a predetermined place according to the items on the order information input screen (FIG. 40). After the input is completed, the administrator B clicks a “Done” button. (3) Main control mechanism 3 that detects input completion
1 is the client number “01023” and the desired delivery date is “2000”
May 3rd, Orders for the name of the items to be delivered and their quantity "10 apples", the first desired location "Tokyo Station", the second desired location "Shinjuku Station", and the number of storage rooms used "2" The information is stored in the storage mechanism 32 as information. (4) The order information is registered in the order information information DB as one record unit. (5) Activate the reservation function P5.

(Step 4-3) The main control mechanism 31 activates the reservation function P5 of the main program and performs the following operation. Here, the reservation function P5 of the main program is
A function of collating the management information DB with the order information, searching for a storage room matching the order information from the management information DB, and reserving the storage rooms to be used in the order of the desired storage locations in the order of the desired delivery location with the highest priority. It is. FIG. 41 shows an operation example of the reservation function P5. (1) A point (search point) at which a search of the management information DB is started is set to an initial value (first record). (2) Acquire the first desired place and other information (storage room condition designation information) from the order information. (3) Using the acquired information and the use status information “available” as search conditions, search is performed until a suitable storage room satisfying the conditions is detected from the management information DB. (4) Determine if there is a compatible storage room that meets the conditions. (5) If a compatible storage room that meets the conditions is detected,
The record of the detected compatible storage room is stored, and the number of compatible storage rooms representing the number of stored compatible storage rooms is counted up. Further, in the next search, a search point is stored in order to start a search from a record next to the record of the matching storage room. (6) Determine whether the number of compatible storage rooms has been satisfied. If the number of compatible storage rooms is not sufficient, start again from (3). (7) When the number of conforming storage rooms is satisfied, the record of the relevant conforming storage room is stored, and the usage status information of the record of the conforming storage room stored to indicate that the relevant "To update. (8) Step3-3
Record registered in the order information DB and the management information D
B, a “reservation number” item of a record registered in the order information DB and a “reservation number” item of a record of the conformity storage room in the management information DB for associating with the record of the conformity storage room detected from B. And the same reservation number. (9) Activate the reservation completion display function to display that the reservation has been completed. (10) If no conforming storage room that satisfies the conditions is detected, check if there is a next desired delivery place in the order information. (11) If there is no next desired delivery place, a reservation incomplete display function is activated to display that reservation is impossible. (12) If there is a next desired delivery place, the next desired place is acquired from the order information and the desired place in the search condition is updated from the previous desired place to the next desired place. (13) Number of compatible storage rooms is 0
, And erase the stored memory in the compatible storage room. Further, return the search point to the initial value, and start again from (3).

An example of the above operation will be described below. FIG. 42 is a diagram schematically illustrating the state of each DB before the activation of the reservation function P5, and FIG. 43 is a diagram schematically illustrating the state of each DB after the completion of the reservation function. (1) The management information D is set with a point (search point) at which the search of the management information DB is started as an initial value.
Set to the first record of B. (2) The first desired delivery location “Tokyo Station” and the desired date “00/5/3” are acquired from the order information. (3) The installation location information is "Tokyo Station", and
The management information DB is searched on condition that the date is “00/5/3” and the use status information is “usable”. (4) As a result of the search, a conforming storage room "1"
01 "(date" 00/5/3 ") is detected. (5) Since there is a compatible storage room, the storage room number “101” (date “0”
0/5/3 ”) is stored as a record of the conformity storage room, the number of conformity storage rooms is set to“ 1 ”, and in the next search, the conformity storage room“ 101 ”(date“ 00/5 ”)
/ 3 ”), a search point is set to a search point from the record next to the record next to the record of the storage room number“ 10 ”in the management information DB.
2 "(date" 00/5/1 ").
(6) Compare the number of compatible storage rooms “1” with the number of used storage rooms “2” and determine that the number of compatible storage rooms is not sufficient. Start from (3) again. (3) The management information DB is searched from the stored search point (the record of the storage room number “102” and the date “00/5/1”) under the same condition. (4) No compatible storage room that meets the conditions is detected. (10) Check if there is a second delivery destination. (12) Acquire the second delivery location and change the search condition from “Tokyo Station” to “Shinjuku Station”. (13) The number of compatible storage rooms “1” is set to “0”, and the stored record of the stored compatible storage room “101” (date “00/5/3”) is deleted. Further, the search point is returned to the initial value, and the process starts from (3) again. (3) Management information D provided that the installation location information is “Shinjuku Station”, the date is “00/5/3”, and the status information is “usable”.
Search for B. (4) As a result of the search, a suitable storage room “101” satisfying the conditions is detected. (5) The record of the storage room “103” (date “00/5/3”) is stored as a record of the compatible storage room, the number of compatible storage rooms is set to “1”, and
In the next search, the matching storage room "103" (date "0
0/5/3 ”) next record (in the storage room“ 1
04, a search point is stored to start a search from the date “00/5/1” record). (6) Compare the number of compatible storage rooms "1" with the number of used storage rooms "2" and judge that the number of storage rooms is not sufficient. Start from (3) again. (3)
The stored search points (storage room “104” date “0”
0/5/1) in the management information DB under the same conditions. (4) As a result of the search, the storage room “104” that satisfies the condition is detected. (5) The storage room “104” is stored as a conforming storage room, the number of conforming storage rooms is set to “2”, and the next record (recording room “105”) following the record of the conforming storage room “104” is searched in the next search. "Date" 00 /
The search point is stored in order to start the search from the “5/1” record). (6) Compare the number of compatible storage rooms “2” with the number of used storage rooms “2” to judge that the number of storage rooms has been satisfied. (7) The stored compatible storage room “103” (date “00”
/ 5/3 ") and" 104 "(date" 00/5/3 ")
Of the storage room number “1” in the management information DB based on the record
03 ”(date“ 00/5/3 ”) and storage room number“ 10
4 (date “00/5/3”) is updated from “usable” to “reserved”. (8) Ste
In order to associate the record registered in the order information DB with the record of the compatible storage room detected from the management information DB in p3-3, a “reservation number” item of the record registered in the order information DB, The detected management information DB
The same number “10010” as the “reservation number” item of the record of the storage room number “104” (date “00/5/3”) and storage room number “105” (date “00/5/3”)
Register (9) To indicate that the reservation has been completed,
Activate the reservation completion display function.

Next, an application example of the embodiment of the present invention will be described. In this application example, first, the order information input screen (FIGS. 12, 30, and 40) is displayed on the terminal of the delivery requester A. Therefore, the delivery requester A can input the order information on the order information input screen. The reservation completion information (FIG. 18) and the reservation incomplete information (FIG. 19) are displayed on the terminal of the delivery requester A. Thus, the delivery requester A can directly confirm the reservation completion information or the reservation non-completion information without going through the manager B.

Further, in order to transmit the reservation completion information to the terminal of the delivery company C, a reservation completion information transmission function is provided. The reservation completion information transmission function is a function of transmitting the reservation completion information to the terminal of the delivery company C in order to request the delivery company C to deliver the delivery based on the reservation completion information. The operation of the reservation information transmission function will be described below. (1) The management server SV displays a delivery company specifying screen (FIG. 44) on the terminal of the delivery requester A in order to prompt the delivery requester A to input information for specifying the delivery company C. (2) The management server SV, which has received the information input to the delivery company specifying screen, determines the specified delivery company from the delivery company information stored in the storage mechanism 32 in advance based on the input information. The address of the terminal of C is acquired, and the reservation completion information is transmitted to the terminal of the specified delivery company C. As a result, the delivery requester A can directly specify the delivery company C and request delivery without the intervention of the manager B, and the management server SV
Through T, the delivery business of the delivery company C can be managed smoothly and safely.

It is also possible to add the following Steps 0 and 12 to the example of the outline of use of the present invention in FIG. 2 according to the embodiment (FIG. 5). By Step0, the delivery company C
Can notify the delivery requester A of the items of the deliverables that can be delivered in advance, and it is possible to prevent a situation in which the delivery company C cannot prepare the deliverables. By Step 30, it is possible to charge and pay for the price between the manager B and the delivery requester A and the delivery company C. However, Ste
p0 and Step 12 are Steps added in the use process of the present invention, and do not affect the present invention at all.

(Step 0: FIG. 5) The delivery company C notifies the manager B of items of deliverable deliverables. The manager B registers the item name in the item information DB based on the notification of the delivery company C. The item information DB is updated by the notice of the delivery company C. From the information registered in the item information DB, only necessary information (for example, item name and price) is extracted and distributed to the requester as an item list. The delivery requester A can order a delivery item within the range of the item list. (Step1
2: FIG. 5) The administrator B requests the client A for the price. Further, the manager B pays the price according to the request of the delivery company C.

In the embodiments described above, the case where the delivery storage box BOX is installed at the station has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to the installation location.

[0075]

According to the centralized management system of the delivery storage box of the present invention, the delivery storage box can be managed in an integrated and centralized manner. In other words, according to the present invention, a storage room that meets the wishes of the delivery requester is reserved in advance, or even if there is no reservable box in the storage room installed at the desired place with the highest priority, the next request is made. It is possible to manage storage rooms to be installed in places to be reserved, to secure the number of storage rooms to be used, and to keep refrigerated storage for some items to be delivered. In addition, by managing the information of the client and the delivery company, management such as opening the key only when the client is legitimate can be surely performed, and a smooth and safe distribution system of the delivery will be realized in the future. It is possible to do.

[0076]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a network according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a relationship among a delivery requester, a delivery storage box, a management server, and a delivery company according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of a management server according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of a delivery storage box of the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a relationship among a delivery requester, a delivery storage box, a management server, and a delivery company according to the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a main menu according to the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a key release information registration screen of the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a requester information registration screen of the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a system example of a management server according to the embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a delivery company information registration screen of the embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a system example of a management server according to the embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a registration screen of order information of the embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a system example of a management server according to the embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart of a reservation function of the embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a system example of a management server according to the embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating a system example of a management server according to the embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating a system example of a management server according to the embodiment.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a display screen of reservation completion information according to the embodiment.

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing a display screen of reservation incomplete information of the embodiment.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart of a key opening function of the embodiment.

FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating a system example of a management server according to the embodiment.

FIG. 22 is a flowchart of a management information update function of the embodiment.

FIG. 23 is a diagram illustrating a system example of a management server according to the embodiment.

FIG. 24 is a diagram illustrating a system example of a management server according to the embodiment.

FIG. 25 is a flowchart of a key opening function of the embodiment.

FIG. 26 is a diagram illustrating a system example of a management server according to the embodiment.

FIG. 27 is a diagram illustrating a system example of a management server according to the embodiment.

FIG. 28 is a diagram illustrating a system example of a management server according to the embodiment.

FIG. 29 is a diagram illustrating a system example of a management server according to the embodiment.

FIG. 30 is a diagram showing an order information input screen of the embodiment.

FIG. 31 is a flowchart of a storage room reservation function of the embodiment.

FIG. 32 is a diagram illustrating a system example of a management server according to the embodiment.

FIG. 33 is a diagram illustrating a system example of a management server according to the embodiment.

FIG. 34 is a diagram illustrating a system example of a management server according to the embodiment.

FIG. 35 is a diagram showing an order information input screen of the embodiment.

FIG. 36 is a flowchart of a storage room reservation function of the embodiment.

FIG. 37 is a diagram illustrating a system example of a management server according to the embodiment.

FIG. 38 is a diagram illustrating a system example of a management server according to the embodiment.

FIG. 39 is a diagram illustrating a system example of a management server according to the embodiment.

FIG. 40 is a diagram showing an order information input screen of the embodiment.

FIG. 41 is a flowchart of a place reservation function of the embodiment.

FIG. 42 is a diagram illustrating a system example of a management server according to the embodiment.

FIG. 43 is a diagram illustrating a system example of a management server according to the embodiment.

FIG. 44 is a diagram showing a delivery company specifying screen of the embodiment.

FIG. 45 is a front view of a conventional delivery storage box.

[Description of Signs] 31 Main control mechanism 32 Storage mechanism 33 Communication control mechanism 34 Input / output control mechanism 37 Input / output control mechanism 38 Internal transmission mechanism B1 Main control mechanism B2 Storage mechanism B3 Communication control mechanism B4 Locking control mechanism B5 Input / output control mechanism B6 Card reader B8 Internal transmission mechanism B11 Control unit B12 Box management unit B13 Electronic lock P1 Key release request information registration function P2 Key release function P3 Management information update function P4 Order information registration function P5 Reservation function A Delivery requester B Administrator C Delivery Trader BOX Delivery storage box SV management server NET network

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A delivery storage box provided with a plurality of storage rooms for storing delivery products, individual doors with electronic locks provided in each of the storage rooms, and a management server for managing the delivery storage boxes. Are connected to a network such as the Internet via a communication control mechanism that each has, and the delivery storage box has a change status information transmission mechanism for transmitting change status information indicating that the status of use of each storage room has been changed. The change status information transmission mechanism is connected to the communication control mechanism, and the management server includes management information for managing the delivery storage box for each storage room as one record unit for each storage room. Means for receiving, as reception status information, the change status information transmitted from the delivery storage box connected via a network; Management information DB based on communication status information
And a means for extracting information necessary for managing a delivery storage box from a management information DB and displaying the information as extracted management information. Centralized management system. 2. The status information of the management information DB includes at least usage status information indicating whether each storage room is in use or unusable or not used and usable. 2. The centralized management system for a delivery storage box according to claim 1, wherein the reception status information includes information necessary for updating the usage status information. 3. The order information DB including order information for managing information necessary for delivering a delivery according to the order content received from a delivery requester as one record unit for each order. A means for prompting input of order information from a delivery requester, a means for storing the order information, a means for registering the order information as one record unit in the order information DB, and a storage room. A search unit that searches the management information DB until a suitable storage room that matches the search condition is detected, and a storage that stores a record of the relevant storage room when a suitable storage room is detected. Means to indicate a reservation from information indicating that the use status information of the record of the compatible storage room is available to indicate that the compatible storage room has been reserved for delivery of the delivery item Means for updating the information, a means for associating a record registered in the order information DB with a record of the compatible storage room detected from the management information DB, and confirming that the compatible storage room has been reserved. Means for creating reservation completion information composed of information necessary for the operation, means for displaying the reservation completion information, and information necessary for confirming reservation incomplete when a compatible storage room is not detected. 3. The centralized management system for a delivery storage box according to claim 2, further comprising: means for creating the reservation incomplete information to be performed; and means for displaying the reservation incomplete information. 4. Each record of the management information DB includes storage room condition information indicating a condition of each storage room, and the order information specifies a condition of the storage room desired by the delivery requester. 4. The concentration of the delivery storage box according to claim 3, further comprising search condition adding means for adding storage room condition designation information to the search condition and adding information included in the storage room condition designation information to the search condition. Management system. 5. The storage room condition information includes installation location information indicating a location where a box is installed in each storage room, and the storage room condition designation information includes a delivery requester One or more place designation information indicating a desired place is included, and the place designation information is provided with a priority order that the delivery requester desires delivery for each place designation information, and the search condition adding means And location information updating means for updating the location specification information included in the search condition to the next-priority location specification information, if the highest priority place specification information is added, and no matching storage room is detected as a result of the search means, 5. The delivery storage box according to claim 4, wherein the location information updating means and the search means are repeated until a compatible storage room is detected or there is no place designation information having the next priority. Box centralized management system of. 6. The order information includes storage room number information indicating the number of storage rooms required for delivering a delivery according to the order information, and the required number of matching rooms is determined based on the storage room information. 5. The method according to claim 3, wherein the search unit and the storage unit are repeated until a storage room is detected.
Centralized management system for the delivery storage box described. 7. The control unit of the delivery storage box includes an input / output device for inputting / outputting key opening request information for requesting key opening of one storage room, and the input key opening request information. Means for transmitting to the management server via the network, means for receiving key release notification information from the management server, means for opening an electronic lock provided in the storage room based on the received key release notification information. The management server further includes a key-opening request determination information DB that manages information indicating whether or not the key-opening request information is accurate as one record unit for each key-opening request information. Means for receiving the key release request information transmitted from the box, the received key release request information and the key release request determination information DB
Means for determining whether the key-opening request information is accurate by comparing the key-opening request information, and means for transmitting key-opening notification information for prompting key-opening to the delivery storage box when the key-opening request information is accurate. 7. The centralized management system for a delivery storage box according to claim 3, further comprising: 8. The management server is connected to a terminal of a delivery requester via a network, and as means for prompting input of order information from the delivery requester, the management server includes a terminal of the delivery requester. 8. The centralized management system for a delivery storage box according to claim 3, wherein the reservation completion information or the reservation non-completion information is displayed on the terminal of the delivery requester while prompting the user to input the information. 9. The management server is connected to one or more terminals of a delivery company via a network, and means for prompting input of delivery company identification information for specifying a terminal of one delivery company. 9. The centralized management system for a delivery storage box according to claim 3, further comprising means for transmitting the reservation completion information to a terminal of the specified delivery company.