Delivery support method

Abstract

To prevent the occurrence of a situation where a package cannot be delivered to a customer because a coin locker installed in a place designated by the customer is full.SOLUTION: A delivery support method includes: causing a control device to acquire a plurality of place candidates selected by a customer (S103); causing the control device to acquire locker information including empty states of coin lockers installed in the place candidates (S111); causing the control device to select a place candidate where a coin locker being not full is installed, from the plurality of place candidates as a delivery destination of the package on the basis of the locker information (S113); and informing the customer of the delivery destination selected by the control device from a communication device (S115).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a delivery assistance method. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a control device that uses an unmanned transport vehicle to deliver packages from a delivery source to a delivery destination. When a fault occurs on the delivery route from the delivery source to the delivery destination, the control device allows the recipient of the package to select one of a number of delivery methods. The control device then determines a new delivery destination based on the result of the selection of the delivery method. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2019-119586 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In recent years, coin lockers have been installed in various locations. For example, a method of delivering a package may be considered in which a delivery person delivers the package to a coin locker installed at a location selected by the recipient from among multiple locations. In this case, if the coin locker at the location selected by the recipient is already full, the delivery person cannot store the package in the coin locker. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] A delivery support method for solving the above problem is a method for supporting a delivery person to deliver a package of a customer to a coin locker installed at a location specified by the customer who receives a package delivery service. The delivery support method includes: having a control device acquire multiple location candidates that are candidates for receiving the package selected by the customer; having the control device acquire locker information including the availability of the coin lockers installed at the location candidates; having the control device select a location candidate where an unfull coin locker is installed from among the multiple location candidates based on the locker information as a delivery destination of the package; and having a communication device notify the customer of the delivery destination selected by the control device. Effect of the Invention

[0006] The above delivery support method has the effect of reducing the occurrence of a situation in which a package cannot be delivered to a customer because the coin lockers installed at the location specified by the customer are full. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a delivery support device, a plurality of information terminals, and a plurality of coin lockers in the delivery support method of the first embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a sequence diagram showing the flow of a plurality of processes constituting the delivery assistance method of the first embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the process of determining a delivery destination in the delivery assistance method according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the process of determining a delivery destination in the delivery assistance method according to the second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0008] (First embodiment) Hereinafter, a first embodiment of a delivery assistance method will be described with reference to Figs. FIG. 1 illustrates a delivery support device 40, multiple information terminals 10, and multiple coin lockers 20.

[0009] <Information terminal> The information terminal 10 is an electronic device owned by a customer who receives a parcel delivery service. The information terminal 10 can transmit and receive various information to and from the delivery support device 40 via a communication network 100. Examples of the information terminal 10 include a smartphone, a tablet terminal, and a personal computer.

[0010] The information terminal 10 includes a user interface 11 and a processing circuit 15. The user interface 11 includes a display screen and an operation unit. An example of the processing circuit 15 is an electronic control device. When the operation unit is operated by a user, the processing circuit 15 executes processing according to the operation. Then, the processing circuit 15 transmits information indicating the execution result of the processing to the delivery support device 40 via the communication network 100. In addition, when the information terminal 10 receives information from the delivery support device 40 via the communication network 100, the processing circuit 15 displays the information received by the information terminal 10 on the display screen of the user interface 11.

[0011] <Coin lockers> The coin lockers 20 are installed in various locations 20A, such as inside train stations, around town, etc. The location 20A where the coin lockers 20 are installed is referred to as the "installation location 20A."

[0012] The coin locker 20 has a number of boxes 21 in which luggage can be stored. In other words, the coin locker 20 is an assembly of a number of boxes 21. The coin locker 20 also has a user interface 23 and a processing circuit 25.

[0013] The user interface 23 has a display screen and an operation unit. When a user of the coin locker 20 stores luggage in the box 21, the user operates the operation unit while looking at the display on the display screen. This allows the user to store luggage in the box 21 when the door of the box 21 opens. When a user removes luggage from the box 21, the user operates the operation unit while looking at the display on the display screen. This allows the user to remove luggage from the box 21 when the door of the box 21 opens.

[0014] An example of the processing circuit 25 is an electronic control device. The processing circuit 25 executes processing in response to the operation of the operation unit by the user. The processing circuit 25 can also grasp the usage status of the coin locker 20. For example, the processing circuit 25 grasps the number of boxes 21 that are being used and the number of boxes 21 that are not being used among the multiple boxes 21. In other words, the processing circuit 25 can grasp the usage rate of the coin locker 20. The "usage rate" here is the number of boxes 21 that are being used divided by the total number of boxes 21 in the coin locker 20.

[0015] The coin locker 20 has a function of communicating with the delivery support device 40. That is, the coin locker 20 has a communication device 27. The communication device 27 outputs information received from the delivery support device 40 via the communication network 100 to the processing circuit 25. In addition, the communication device 27 transmits information output from the processing circuit 25 to the delivery support device 40 via the communication network 100.

[0016] <Delivery support device> The delivery support device 40 is equipped with a communication device 41 and a control device 45. The communication device 41 is an interface of the delivery support device 40 for transmitting and receiving information to and from external communication devices via the communication network 100. The communication device 41 outputs information received via the communication network 100 to the control device 45. The communication device 41 transmits the information output by the control device 45 to the information terminal 10 or the coin locker 20 via the communication network 100.

[0017] An example of the control device 45 is an electronic control device. In this case, the control device 45 has a CPU 46, a first memory 47, and a second memory 48. The first memory 47 stores a control program executed by the CPU 46. The second memory 48 stores the calculation results of the CPU 46, information received by the communication device 41, and the like.

[0018] When the CPU 46 executes the control program in the first memory 47, the control device 45 selects one of the multiple coin lockers 20 in which to store the package. The control device 45 sets the installation location 20A where the selected coin locker 20 is installed as the delivery destination of the package. The control device 45 then notifies the customer of the set delivery destination and the information required to retrieve the package from the coin locker 20 installed at the delivery destination. The specific content of this series of processes will be described later. The information required to retrieve the package from the coin locker 20 includes, for example, the number and password of the box 21 in which the package is stored.

[0019] <Delivery support method> The delivery support method will be described with reference to Fig. 2. This delivery support method is a method for supporting a delivery person in delivering a package to a coin locker 20 installed at an installation location 20A designated by a customer.

[0020] In step S101, the communication device 41 of the delivery support device 40 transmits to the customer's information terminal 10 a message indicating that there is a delivery item for the customer. When the information terminal 10 receives the information, the processing circuit 15 of the information terminal 10 executes a process of step S201. In step S201, the processing circuit 15 executes a process for allowing the customer to select a location candidate from among a plurality of installation locations 20A. The location candidate is the installation location 20A where the customer wishes to receive the package.

[0021] For example, in step S201, the processing circuitry 15 displays a screen for allowing the customer to select location candidates on the display screen of the user interface 11. The customer selects multiple location candidates by operating the operation unit of the user interface 11 while looking at the display screen. The processing circuitry 15 then acquires the multiple location candidates selected by the customer operating the operation unit.

[0022] In this embodiment, when the customer is allowed to select location candidates as described above, the customer is allowed to set a priority order for each of the selected location candidates. Therefore, in step S203, the processing circuit 15 of the information terminal 10 sets priorities of the multiple location candidates based on the result of the operation of the operation unit of the user interface 11 by the customer.

[0023] Then, in step S205, the information terminal 10 transmits information related to the location candidates and the priority order to the delivery support device 40. When the communication device 41 of the delivery support device 40 receives information on the location candidates and the priority order from the information terminal 10, the control device 45 of the delivery support device 40 executes the process of step S103. In step S103, the control device 45 acquires the multiple location candidates selected by the customer. The control device 45 also acquires the priority order of the multiple location candidates set by the customer. Then, the control device 45 stores the priority order of the multiple location candidates and the multiple location candidates in the second memory 48 in association with each other.

[0024] In the next step S105, the communication device 41 of the delivery support device 40 transmits information about the size of the package to be delivered to the customer to the coin locker 20 installed in the location candidate. If multiple locations are set as location candidates, the communication device 41 transmits the information to multiple coin lockers 20.

[0025] In addition, in step S107, the communication device 41 transmits a command to the multiple coin lockers 20 to check the vacancy status of the coin lockers 20. When the communication device 27 of the coin locker 20 receives the information transmitted from the delivery support device 40 in steps S105 and S107, the coin locker 20 executes the process of step S301. In step S301, the communication device 27 transmits locker information as a response to the information received from the delivery support device 40. The locker information includes the availability of the coin locker 20. One example of the availability is the utilization rate of the coin locker 20. The locker information also includes information regarding whether or not a box 21 having a capacity to store a package to be delivered to a customer is available.

[0026] When the communication device 41 of the delivery support device 40 receives locker information from multiple coin lockers 20, the control device 45 executes the process of step S111. In step S111, the control device 45 acquires the locker information received by the communication device 41. For example, the control device 45 stores the locker information in the second memory .

[0027] In step S113, the control device 45 executes a determination process for determining one of the plurality of location candidates as the delivery destination of the package. The details of the delivery destination determination process will be described later.

[0028] In the next step S115, the communication device 41 transmits information about the delivery destination to the information terminal 10. That is, the communication device 41 notifies the customer of the delivery destination selected by the control device 45. The information about the delivery destination includes the installation location 20A set as the delivery destination and information necessary to retrieve the package from the coin locker 20 installed in the installation location 20A.

[0029] Furthermore, in step S117, the control device 45 calculates an incentive to be given to the customer. For example, the control device 45 calculates the incentive so that the lower the priority of the location candidate selected as the delivery destination, the higher the incentive. One example of the incentive is points that can be used for various services such as shopping. Then, in step S119, the communication device 41 transmits information regarding the incentive calculated by the control device 45 to the information terminal 10.

[0030] When the information terminal 10 receives the information transmitted from the delivery support device 40 in steps S115 and S119, the processing circuit 15 of the information terminal 10 executes the process of step S207. In step S207, the processing circuit 15 executes a notification process for notifying the customer of the delivery destination and the incentive. For example, in the notification process, the processing circuit 15 causes the display screen of the user interface 11 to display the delivery destination and the incentive.

[0031] <Delivery destination determination process> The process of determining the delivery destination in step S113 will be described with reference to FIG. In step S11, the control device 45 of the delivery support device 40 searches for a coin locker 20 that is not full among the multiple coin lockers 20 that have transmitted the locker information. A coin locker 20 that is not full is a coin locker 20 whose utilization rate is not 100%. On the other hand, a coin locker 20 whose utilization rate is 100% is also called a "full coin locker 20."

[0032] In the next step S13, the control device 45 selects one coin locker 20 from among the coin lockers 20 that are not full, based on the priority order set by the customer. For example, if there are multiple coin lockers 20 that are not full, the control device 45 selects the coin locker 20 with the highest priority order from among the multiple coin lockers 20 that are not full. Also, for example, if there is only one coin locker 20 that is not full, the control device 45 selects that coin locker 20.

[0033] In the next step S15, the control device 45 selects the installation location 20A of the coin locker 20 selected in step S13 as the delivery destination. After that, the control device 45 ends the determination process.

[0034] <Actions and Effects of the Present Embodiment> (1-1) When a customer is notified by the delivery support device 40 that a delivery is available, the customer selects multiple location candidates by operating his / her information terminal 10. When information about the multiple location candidates is transmitted from the information terminal 10 to the delivery support device 40, the control device 45 of the delivery support device 40 acquires the multiple location candidates selected by the customer.

[0035] In addition, the control device 45 of the delivery support device 40 checks the availability of multiple coin lockers 20. The communication device 27 of the coin locker 20 transmits locker information including the availability of the lockers to the delivery support device 40. This allows the control device 45 of the delivery support device 40 to know which of the multiple coin lockers 20 are not full.

[0036] The control device 45 selects a location candidate where an unfull coin locker 20 is installed as the delivery destination from among the multiple location candidates selected by the customer. Then, the communication device 41 transmits information about the delivery destination determined by the control device 45 to the customer's information terminal 10.

[0037] The parcel delivery person heads to the installation location 20A determined as the delivery destination. The delivery person then stores the parcel in the box 21 of the coin locker 20 at the installation location 20A. As a result, when the customer goes to the installation location 20A determined as the delivery destination, the customer retrieves his / her parcel from the box 21 of the coin locker 20. In other words, the customer can receive the parcel at the delivery destination.

[0038] Therefore, according to the delivery support method, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of a situation in which a package cannot be delivered to a customer because the coin locker 20 installed at the installation location 20A designated by the customer is full.

[0039] (1-2) When a customer selects a location candidate from among multiple installation locations 20A, the customer can set a priority for each location candidate. Information regarding the priority is transmitted from the information terminal 10 to the delivery support device 40. Therefore, the control device 45 of the delivery support device 40 can obtain the priorities of the multiple location candidates and the multiple location candidates in a state in which they are associated with each other. Then, when there are two or more location candidates in which an unfull coin locker 20 is installed among the multiple location candidates, the control device 45 selects the location candidate with the highest priority among them as the delivery destination. Therefore, according to the delivery support method, a location candidate with a relatively high priority can be set as the delivery destination.

[0040] (1-3) According to the delivery assistance method, the delivery destination is set in consideration of the usage status of multiple coin lockers 20. Therefore, a location candidate with a relatively low priority may be set as the delivery destination. When a location candidate with a relatively low priority is set as the delivery destination, customer satisfaction with the service provided by the delivery assistance method is likely to be lower than when a location candidate with a relatively high priority is set as the delivery destination.

[0041] In this regard, according to the delivery assistance method, an incentive is given to a customer who uses the service. In detail, the control device 45 of the delivery assistance device 40 calculates the incentive so that the lower the priority of the location candidate selected as the delivery destination, the higher the incentive. This makes it possible to prevent the customer's satisfaction with the service from decreasing, even if a location candidate with a relatively low priority is set as the delivery destination.

[0042] Second embodiment A second embodiment of the delivery support method will be described with reference to Fig. 4. In the second embodiment, the contents of the process for determining the delivery destination are different from those in the first embodiment. In the following description, the differences from the first embodiment will be mainly described, and the same reference numerals will be used to designate the same components as in the first embodiment, and duplicated descriptions will be omitted.

[0043] The process of determining the delivery destination in step S113 will be described with reference to FIG. In step S11, the control device 45 of the delivery support device 40 searches for a coin locker 20 that is not full among the multiple coin lockers 20 that have transmitted the locker information.

[0044] In the next step S13A, the control device 45 selects the coin locker 20 with the lowest usage rate from among the coin lockers 20 that are not full. In the following step S15, the control device 45 selects the installation location 20A where the coin locker 20 selected in step S13A is set as the delivery destination. After that, the control device 45 ends the determination process.

[0045] According to this embodiment, in addition to the same actions and effects as the effects (1-1) and (1-3) of the first embodiment, the following effects can be further obtained. (2-1) When there are two or more candidate locations where coin lockers 20 that are not full are installed, the control device 45 selects the candidate location where the coin locker 20 with the lowest usage rate is installed as the delivery destination. Therefore, according to the delivery support method, it is possible to prevent uneven usage among multiple coin lockers 20.

[0046] (Example of change) The above embodiment can be modified as follows: The above embodiment and the following modifications can be combined with each other to the extent that no technical contradiction occurs.

[0047] In some embodiments, providing an incentive to a customer is not required. In the second embodiment, it is not essential to allow the customer to set priorities for a plurality of location candidates.

[0048] The control device 45 is not limited to a device having a CPU and a ROM and executing software processing. In other words, the control device 45 may have any one of the following configurations (a), (b), and (c).

[0049] (a) The control device 45 includes one or more processors that execute various processes according to a computer program. The processor includes a CPU and memory such as RAM and ROM. The memory stores program codes or instructions that are configured to cause the CPU to execute processes. The memory, i.e., computer-readable media, includes any available media that can be accessed by a general-purpose or special-purpose computer.

[0050] (b) The control device 45 includes one or more dedicated hardware circuits for executing various processes. Examples of the dedicated hardware circuits include application specific integrated circuits, i.e., ASIC and FPGA. ASIC is an abbreviation for "Application Specific Integrated Circuit" and FPGA is an abbreviation for "Field Programmable Gate Array."

[0051] (c) The control device 45 includes a processor that executes some of the various processes in accordance with a computer program, and a dedicated hardware circuit that executes the remaining processes among the various processes. [Explanation of symbols]

[0052] 10...information terminal, 20...coin locker, 20A...installation location, 27...communication device, 40...delivery support device, 41...communication device, 45...control device, 100...communication network.

Claims

1. A delivery support method for supporting a delivery person in delivering a package of a customer to a coin locker installed at a location designated by the customer, comprising: having a control device acquire a plurality of location candidates selected by the customer as locations for receiving the package; causing the control device to acquire locker information including availability of the coin lockers installed in the candidate locations; having the control device select, as a delivery destination of the parcel, a location candidate in which the coin locker that is not full is installed from among the plurality of location candidates based on the locker information; and notifying the customer of the delivery destination selected by the control device through a communication device. Delivery assistance methods.

2. The customer is able to set a priority order for each of the location candidates when selecting the location candidates, When the control device acquires the plurality of location candidates, the control device acquires the plurality of location candidates in association with priorities of the plurality of location candidates set by the customer; When the control device is caused to select the delivery destination, if there are two or more location candidates in which the coin lockers that are not full are installed among the plurality of location candidates, the control device is caused to select the location candidate with the highest priority as the delivery destination. The delivery assistance method according to claim 1 .

3. The method further includes causing the control device to calculate an incentive to be given to the customer. When the control device is caused to calculate the incentive, the control device is caused to calculate the incentive such that the incentive becomes higher as the priority of the location candidate selected as the delivery destination becomes lower. The delivery assistance method according to claim 2.

4. When the control device is caused to select the delivery destination, if there are two or more candidate locations in which the coin lockers that are not full are installed among the plurality of candidate locations, the control device is caused to select the candidate location in which the coin locker with the lowest usage rate is installed as the delivery destination. The delivery assistance method according to claim 1 .

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