Method for managing delivery box

Abstract

To provide a method for managing a delivery box capable of properly replacing the delivery box.SOLUTION: A delivery box 20 includes a plurality of storage parts that can store packages, and a key part that can lock and unlock the storage parts. A method for managing the delivery box 20 installed at a predetermined reception base PL includes the following (a) and (b): (a) causing a control device 40 to determine whether or not a replacement condition that the number RN of packages stored in the delivery box 20 installed at the reception base PL is a predetermined number N1 or less is established; and (b) when the replacement condition is established, causing the control device 40 to instruct a terminal 12 of an operator to replace the delivery box 20 installed at the reception base PL with a new delivery box 20.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for managing a delivery box. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a self-propelled delivery box that can move between a delivery base that delivers packages and a receiving base that receives packages. The delivery box has an authentication unit that enables the door of a storage unit that can store packages to be opened. A customer goes to the receiving base, opens the door of the delivery box, and receives the package addressed to him or her. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2022-90551 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] If the above-mentioned receiving points are set up, it is conceivable that there could be a service in which the delivery box installed at the receiving point would be replaced with another delivery box at an appropriate time, but no consideration has yet been given to an appropriate method of managing the delivery box in this case. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] Means for solving the above problems will be described below. A method for managing delivery boxes that solves the above-mentioned problems is a method for managing delivery boxes installed at a specified receiving base, the delivery boxes having a plurality of storage sections capable of storing packages and a key section capable of locking and unlocking the storage sections, and includes having a control device determine whether an exchange condition is met in which the number of packages stored in the delivery box installed at the receiving base has fallen below a specified number, and if the exchange condition is met, having the control device instruct a worker's terminal to replace the delivery box installed at the receiving base with a new delivery box. Effect of the Invention

[0006] According to the present invention, the replacement of the delivery box can be carried out appropriately. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a delivery management system in the first embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic side view showing a delivery box. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a schematic side view showing the configuration of the storage section. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the delivery management system. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing the process related to the method for managing the delivery box. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the process related to the delivery box management method in the second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0008] (First embodiment) Hereinafter, a method for managing a delivery box in the first embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0009] <Basic configuration of delivery management system> First, the configuration of the delivery management system will be described with reference to FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 1, the delivery management system 10 includes a delivery box 20 and a delivery management server 11. The delivery management server 11 is communicably connected to a user terminal 13 via a network NW such as the Internet. The delivery management server 11 stores the email address of the user registered from the user terminal 13 in memory 43 (see FIG. 4). When there is a package addressed to the user, the delivery management server 11 transmits an email including information indicating that there is a package to the corresponding user terminal 13. The user terminal 13 is a communication device owned by an individual. Examples of the user terminal 13 include a smartphone, a tablet terminal, and a personal computer.

[0010] In the delivery box management method of this embodiment, a delivery box 20 containing a package addressed to the user is installed at a receiving base PL near the home of a user U who is the recipient of the package. When the user terminal 13 of the user U receives an email including information that a package is available, the user U goes to pick up the package addressed to him / her from the delivery box 20 installed at the receiving base PL near the user's home.

[0011] A user U who receives this delivery box receiving service registers contact information such as an address, name, and email address in advance. The delivery management server 11 is installed, for example, in a delivery center, and when a package is delivered to the user, it notifies the user of the package's presence at the relevant user's contact information. The method of contacting the customer is not limited to email, but may be any method capable of notifying an individual user of information, such as telephone, LINE (registered trademark), or SMS (Short Message Service).

[0012] The delivery center is located in the delivery base DB. Trucks and other transport vehicles are dispatched to the delivery base DB to move the delivery boxes 20 to the regional receiving bases PL. This delivery base DB is also the base where packages are collected. Among the collected packages, those of users U who are registered with the delivery box receiving service are stored in delivery boxes 20 for each receiving base PL. For example, an employee of a delivery company or an employee of a delivery box transport business contractor moves the delivery box 20 from the delivery base DB to the receiving base PL by a transport vehicle. The user U goes to pick up the package addressed to him / her from the delivery box 20 installed at a specified receiving base PL near his / her home within the receiving period. The information indicating that a package is available includes information on the receiving period.

[0013] Incidentally, the delivery box 20 is replaced periodically or irregularly. The reason for replacing the delivery box 20 may be to deliver a new parcel 15 to the receiving base PL, to pick up the parcel 15 of the user U who did not come to pick up the parcel 15 within the receiving period at the delivery center, or for maintenance of the delivery box 20. For example, when there are a large number of parcels 15 to be delivered on the same day or the next day, it may be a reason to have a plurality of workers at the delivery center (delivery base DB) store the parcels 15 in the delivery box 20 in advance and then deliver the delivery box 20 to the receiving base PL. The replacement of the delivery box 20 is performed by moving the new delivery box 20 from the delivery base DB to the receiving base PL and moving the old delivery box 20 from the receiving base PL to the delivery base DB. In the example shown in FIG. 1, for example, the worker RW delivers and replaces the delivery box 20.

[0014] <Configuration of Shipping Box 20> Next, the configuration of the delivery box 20 will be described with reference to FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 2, the delivery box 20 may be, for example, a traveling type. The traveling delivery box 20 has a main body 21 and wheels 22. The delivery box 20 has a plurality of storage sections 23 capable of storing luggage in the main body 21. An example of the storage section 23 is a locker. The plurality of storage sections 23 are available in a plurality of sizes with different storage volumes according to the size of luggage that can be stored. The plurality of storage sections 23 include, for example, a first storage section 231 having a volume capable of storing large luggage, a second storage section 232 having a volume capable of storing medium-sized luggage, and a third storage section 233 having a volume capable of storing small luggage. There may be storage sections with volumes capable of storing luggage of other sizes. In addition, the plurality of storage sections 23 may not only have different volumes but also different shapes. The plurality of storage sections 23 may include a storage section capable of storing elongated luggage.

[0015] Furthermore, when the delivery box 20 is a traveling type as shown in FIG. 2, it may be a self-propelled type or a towed type. In the towed type, the delivery box 20 is towed by a transport vehicle. On the other hand, in the self-propelled type, the delivery box 20 may have a driver's seat. The delivery box 20 may be a stand-alone type that does not have wheels 22. A stand-alone delivery box 20 is moved, for example, by an operator placing it on the bed of a transport vehicle.

[0016] <Configuration of storage section 23> Next, the configuration of the storage section 23 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in Fig. 3, the storage unit 23 includes a storage chamber 24 capable of storing the package 15, and a door unit 25 capable of opening and closing the storage chamber 24. The door unit 25 has a knob 26 that can be gripped by the user U. The delivery box 20 also includes a key unit 27 capable of locking and unlocking the storage unit 23. The key unit 27 is of a type in which a password or PIN number is entered by key operation, for example. The password or PIN number may be one that the customer user U has set when registering for the service, or may be one that has been set individually for each package as one piece of information included in the package information sent from the delivery management server 11.

[0017] 3, the door section 25 is provided with an input operation section 28 that is operated when the user U inputs a password or a PIN number, and a display section 29 that displays the input password or PIN number, etc. The display section 29 may display various messages such as operation methods in addition to the input contents. The input operation section 28 may be configured to have a plurality of mechanical operation buttons, or may be touch panel type operation buttons that are displayed as images on a touch panel and can be input by the user U through a touch operation.

[0018] 3 includes a sensor 30 capable of detecting the presence or absence of luggage 15 in the storage room 24. The sensor 30 is used to determine whether or not luggage 15 has been removed from the storage unit 23. The sensor 30 detects the presence or absence of luggage 15 in the storage unit 23 in a non-contact manner. The detection result of the sensor 30 is transmitted to the delivery management server 11 in the delivery base DB (delivery center) by wireless communication.

[0019] <Electrical configuration of the delivery management system 10> Next, the electrical configuration of the delivery management system 10 will be described with reference to Fig. 4. As shown in Fig. 4, the delivery box 20 is equipped with a control unit 32. One example of the control unit 32 is an electronic control device. The control unit 32 is electrically connected to the key unit 27, the input operation unit 28, the display unit 29, the sensor 30, and the communication unit 31. The control unit 32 displays on the display unit 29 the key information input by the user U by operating the input operation unit 28. When the control unit 32 receives the key information, it performs an authentication process. When the key information is authenticated, the control unit 32 unlocks the electric key unit 27.

[0020] The sensor 30 determines whether or not the package 15 has been removed from the storage section 23. The detection result of the sensor 30 is transmitted to the delivery management server 11 via the communication section 31 and the network NW. The delivery management server 11 can grasp the receiving status of the package 15 in the delivery box 20 based on the detection result information of the sensor 30.

[0021] A vendor terminal 12, which is an example of a worker's terminal, is also connected to the network NW in a communicable state. The vendor terminal 12 is a mobile terminal such as a smartphone carried by a worker who delivers and replaces the delivery box 20. The delivery management server 11 instructs the worker to move and replace the delivery box 20 via the vendor terminal 12.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 4, the delivery management server 11 includes a control device 40. The control device 40 includes a computer 41. The computer 41 includes a CPU 42 (central processing unit) and a memory 43. A program for delivery management (not shown) is stored in the memory 43. The computer 41 executes the program for delivery management to perform delivery instruction control required for moving the delivery box 20 to the receiving base PL and the delivery base DB, and to manage the packages 15 in the delivery box 20. The delivery management server 11 includes a communication unit 44. The delivery management server 11 communicates with the delivery box 20, the contractor terminal 12, and the user terminal 13 via the communication unit 44 over the network NW.

[0023] The control device 40 is not limited to a device that performs software processing for all of the processes it executes. For example, the control device 40 may be equipped with a dedicated hardware circuit (e.g., an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC)) that performs hardware processing for at least a part of the processes it executes. That is, the control device 40 may be configured as a circuit including one or more processors that operate according to a computer program (software), one or more dedicated hardware circuits that execute at least a part of the various processes, or a combination thereof. The processor includes a CPU and memory such as a RAM and a ROM, and the memory stores program code or instructions that are configured to cause the CPU to execute the processes. The memory, i.e., the computer-readable medium, includes any available medium that can be accessed by a general-purpose or dedicated computer.

[0024] Next, a method for managing the delivery box 20 installed at a predetermined receiving base PL by the control device 40 will be described. The method for managing the delivery box 20 performed by the control device 40 includes the following (a) and (b).

[0025] (a) Having the control device 40 determine whether or not an exchange condition has been met in which the number RN of packages 15 contained in the delivery box 20 installed at the receiving point PL is equal to or less than a predetermined number N1.

[0026] (b) When the replacement conditions are met, the control device 40 instructs the worker's terminal (the contractor terminal 12) to replace the delivery box 20 installed at the receiving site PL with a new delivery box 20.

[0027] Here, the new delivery box 20 has empty storage sections 23 equal to or greater than the predetermined number N1. The value of the predetermined number N1 is determined on the assumption that the packages 15 remaining in the old delivery box 20 can be repacked into the new delivery box 20. As shown in FIG. 2, the delivery box 20 of this embodiment has multiple types of storage sections 23 (for example, three types) with different storage volumes. In order to transfer the packages 15 remaining in the old delivery box 20 to the new delivery box 20, it is necessary to secure storage sections 23 in the new delivery box 20 with a volume that allows the packages 15 still stored to be transferred according to the size of the packages 15 still stored. Therefore, in the example of the delivery box 20 shown in FIG. 2, the control device 40 determines whether the remaining number RN is equal to or less than the predetermined number N1 for each size of the packages 15 still stored in the old delivery box 20. For example, it is assumed that the new delivery box 20 has N11 large first storage sections 231, N12 medium second storage sections 232, and N13 small third storage sections 233 as empty storage sections 23. The control device 40 determines the remaining number, which is the number of packages 15 remaining in the old delivery box 20, as the exchange condition as follows: The control device 40 determines, as the exchange condition, whether the remaining number RN1 in the first storage section 231 is equal to or less than a predetermined number N11, and the remaining number RN2 in the second storage section 232 is equal to or less than a predetermined number N12, and the remaining number RN3 in the third storage section 233 is equal to or less than a predetermined number N13.

[0028] The delivery box 20 is configured to be unlocked by authenticating the key information of the key unit 27. Therefore, the method for managing the delivery box may further include the following (c). (c) The control device 40 temporarily grants the key information of the old delivery box 20 to the worker who replaces the old delivery box 20 with a new delivery box 20.

[0029] <Operation of the First Embodiment> Next, the operation of the method for managing the delivery box 20 in the first embodiment will be described with reference to Figs.

[0030] In the first embodiment, when replacing the delivery box 20, the packages 15 remaining in the old delivery box 20 are repacked into the new delivery box 20. For this reason, the control device 40 performs a determination process to determine whether there are enough empty storage spaces to repack all of the remaining packages 15.

[0031] 5 shows the flow of processing between the delivery management server 11 (control device 40), the delivery box 20, the company terminal 12, and the user terminal 13 in a method for managing the delivery box 20. In FIG. 5, the user terminal 13 of a user U who received a package 15 within the receiving period is represented as "user terminal 13A," and the user terminal 13 of a user U who did not receive a package 15 within the receiving period is represented as "user terminal 13B."

[0032] First, at the delivery center (delivery base DB), packages are sorted into those for delivery boxes and those for home delivery. Packages 15 for delivery boxes are sorted for each receiving base PL. Packages 15 addressed to users are stored in the delivery boxes 20 for each receiving base PL.

[0033] As shown in Fig. 5, the control device 40 transmits a package reception request and, if necessary, key information to the user terminal 13 (step S11). The package reception request includes package information about the package addressed to the user. The package information includes the receiving location PL, the receiving period, the delivery box number, the storage unit number, the package identification number, package sender information, destination information, etc. If the key information is a password or PIN number registered in advance by the user U, there is no need to transmit the key information. For example, if key information is set for each package, the key information is transmitted to the user.

[0034] The control device 40 sends a delivery instruction to the contractor terminal 12 (step S12). When the worker RW (see FIG. 1) receives the delivery instruction via the contractor terminal 12, he delivers the delivery box 20 to the receiving base PL (step S13). That is, the worker RW moves the delivery box 20 from the delivery base DB to the receiving base PL. The worker RW, for example, loads the delivery box 20 onto a transport vehicle and transports it to the receiving base PL. The delivery of the delivery box 20 may be performed by towing the mobile delivery box 20 with a transport vehicle, or the worker RW may drive the mobile delivery box 20 from the driver's seat provided on the mobile delivery box 20.

[0035] In this way, the delivery box 20 is installed at the receiving base PL by the start time of the receiving period. The user U goes to the delivery box 20 installed at the nearest receiving base PL at a convenient time during the receiving period to receive the parcel 15 addressed to him / her (step S14). The user U, for example, operates the input operation unit 28 in the storage unit 23 with the specified storage unit number to input key information (password or PIN number). The control unit 32 of the delivery box 20 performs a delivery process required for the destination user U to correctly receive the parcel 15 (step S15). In detail, the control unit 32 performs an authentication process of the input key information. When the key information is authenticated, the control unit 32 unlocks the key unit 27 of the storage unit 23 with the authenticated storage unit number. The user U opens the door unit 25 and takes out the parcel 15 from the storage room 24. After that, the user U closes the door unit 25. When the door unit 25 is closed, the control unit 32 locks the key unit 27. When the luggage 15 is removed from the storage room 24, the sensor 30 switches from a detection state to a non-detection state. In this way, it is determined that the destination user U has received the luggage 15 based on the detection of the opening and closing of the door 25 and the detection of the presence or absence of luggage by the sensor 30. The control unit 32 sends a luggage receipt notification to the delivery management server 11 (step S16).

[0036] The control device 40 of the delivery management server 11, each time it receives a parcel receipt notification, judges whether the exchange condition is met, that is, the remaining number RN of parcels 15 stored in the delivery box 20 becomes equal to or less than a predetermined number N1 (step S17). Thus, the control device 40 judges whether the exchange condition is met, each time it receives a parcel receipt notification indicating that the user U has received a parcel 15 addressed to him / her from the storage section 23 of the delivery box 20. Then, when the exchange condition (RN≦N1) is met, the control device 40 sends a delivery box exchange instruction to the company terminal 12 together with the key information (step S18).

[0037] The worker RW who receives the delivery box exchange instruction at the company terminal 12 exchanges the delivery box 20 (step S19). First, the worker RW moves the new delivery box 20 from the delivery base DB to the receiving base PL. Next, the worker RW repacks the remaining packages 15 stored in the old delivery box 20 into the new delivery box 20. At this time, the worker RW unlocks the lock unit 27 of the storage unit 23 by operating the input operation unit 28 to input key information. The predetermined number N1 that determines the exchange condition is set to a value equal to or less than the number of empty storage units 23 in the new delivery box 20. Therefore, all the packages 15 remaining in the old delivery box 20 can be repacked into the storage units 23 of the new delivery box 20. After the worker RW finishes repacking the packages 15, the worker RW moves the old delivery box 20 from the receiving base PL to the delivery base DB. In this way, the worker RW exchanges the old delivery box 20 for the new delivery box 20. The worker RW transmits repacking information including the destination of the repacked package 15, the delivery box number of the repacking destination, and the storage unit number from the company terminal 12 to the delivery management server 11.

[0038] The control device 40 of the delivery management server 11 sends (resends) a package reception request and key information to the user terminal 13B, addressed to the user U who did not come to receive the package (step S20). The relevant user U is identified, for example, from the repacking information. The key information may be sent only when key information is set for each package 15. In this case, the key information may be changed before and after the package 15 is repacked. The user U who receives the package reception request at the user terminal 13B goes to the receiving base PL and receives the package 15 addressed to him / her from the delivery box 20 (step S21). The control device 40 of the delivery management server 11 confirms that the user U has received the package 15 by receiving a package reception notification from the control unit 32 of the delivery box 20. The control device 40 also determines whether the exchange conditions are met for the new delivery box 20 in the same manner.

[0039] <Advantages of the First Embodiment> According to the first embodiment described above in detail, the following effects can be obtained. (1-1) The delivery box 20 has a plurality of storage sections 23 capable of storing packages 15, and a key section 27 capable of locking and unlocking the storage sections 23. The method of managing the delivery box 20 installed at a specified receiving base PL includes the following (a) and (b). (a) Having the control device 40 determine whether or not an exchange condition is met, in which the number of packages 15 stored in the delivery box 20 installed at the receiving base PL is equal to or less than a specified number N1. (b) If the exchange condition is met, having the control device 40 instruct the worker's terminal 12 to replace the delivery box 20 installed at the receiving base PL with a new delivery box 20. Thus, the replacement of the delivery box 20 is performed appropriately.

[0040] (1-2) In the method of managing the delivery box 20, the new delivery box 20 has empty storage sections 23 equal to or greater than the predetermined number N1. Therefore, the packages 15 remaining in the old delivery box 20 can be transferred to the new delivery box 20.

[0041] (1-3) The key unit 27 is configured to be unlocked by authenticating the key information. The method of managing the delivery box 20 includes the following (c). (c) The control device 40 temporarily grants the key information of the old delivery box 20 to the exchanger who exchanges the old delivery box 20 for a new delivery box 20. Thus, the packages 15 remaining in the old delivery box 20 can be unlocked and transferred to the new delivery box 20.

[0042] Second embodiment Next, a method of managing the delivery box 20 in the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 6. In the first embodiment, the remaining packages 15 were repacked into a new delivery box 20, but in this second embodiment, the packages 15 remaining in the old delivery box 20 are not repacked, but are brought back to the delivery base DB together with the old delivery box 20. Note that the configuration of the delivery box 20 is the same as in the first embodiment, but the delivery control contents by the delivery management server 11 are different from those in the first embodiment. Also, in FIG. 6, the user terminal 13 of the user U who received the package 15 within the receiving period is represented as "user terminal 13A", and the user terminal 13 of the user U who did not receive the package 15 within the receiving period is represented as "user terminal 13C".

[0043] The method for managing the delivery box 20 in the second embodiment includes the following (d) and (e). (d) Having the worker's terminal 12 instruct the control device 40 to move the old delivery box 20 from the receiving point PL to the delivery point DB.

[0044] (e) The control device 40 notifies the recipient of the package 15 still stored in the old delivery box 20 that the package 15 is in the delivery base DB. 6, the processes in steps S31 to S37 are similar to the processes in steps S11 to S17 in FIG.

[0045] As shown in FIG. 6, in step S37, the control device 40 of the delivery management server 11 judges whether or not the exchange condition is met, that is, the remaining number RN of the parcels 15 becomes equal to or less than the predetermined number N1. When the exchange condition (RN≦N1) is met, the control device 40 sends a delivery box exchange instruction to the company terminal 12 (step S38). At this time, key information may be sent together. In the second embodiment, since the parcels 15 are not basically repackaged, the key information does not need to be sent. In addition, since the predetermined number N1 corresponds to the number of parcels 15 that the user U has not received and that are to be picked up from the receiving base PL to the delivery base DB, it is preferable to set a value as small as possible. For example, the predetermined number N1 is preferably a value of 30% or less of the total number of storage sections 23 in the delivery box 20, and more preferably a value of 20% or less of the total number.

[0046] The exchange condition in the second embodiment may include a period condition. For example, the exchange condition may not be satisfied during the receiving period during which the user U can receive the package 15 from the delivery box 20, and may be satisfied when the receiving period has elapsed or when a predetermined grace period has further elapsed since the receiving period has elapsed, if the condition RN≦N1 is satisfied. This makes it possible to avoid the package 15 being moved to the delivery base DB even if it is within the receiving period.

[0047] The worker RW who has received the delivery box replacement instruction at the contractor terminal 12 replaces the delivery box 20 (step S39). That is, the worker RW replaces the old delivery box 20 with a new delivery box 20. The worker RW then moves the old delivery box 20 together with the remaining packages 15 to the delivery base DB. If the delivery box 20 contains a mixture of packages 15 within the receiving period and packages 15 whose receiving period has expired, the packages 15 within the receiving period may be repacked into a new delivery box 20, and the packages 15 whose receiving period has expired may be moved together with the old delivery box 20 to the delivery base DB.

[0048] The delivery management server 11 transmits a package receipt request to the delivery base DB via the user terminal 13C to the user U who did not come to receive the package 15 from the delivery box 20 (step S40). The user U who receives the package receipt request at the user terminal 13C goes to the delivery base DB and receives the package 15 addressed to him / her (step S40). When the receipt of the package 15 is completed, a package receipt notification is sent from the carrier terminal 12 to the delivery management server 11. By receiving the package receipt notification from the carrier terminal 12, the delivery management server 11 confirms that the user U has received the package 15.

[0049] <Effects of the second embodiment> As described above, according to the second embodiment, in addition to the effect (1-1) of the first embodiment, the following effect can be obtained.

[0050] (2-1) The method of managing the delivery box 20 includes the following (d) and (e). (d) Having the worker's terminal 12 instruct the control device 40 to move the old delivery box 20 from the receiving base PL to the delivery base DB. (e) The control device 40 notifies the recipient of the package 15 still stored in the old delivery box 20 that the package 15 is in the delivery base DB. Thus, the recipient of the package 15 stored in the old delivery box 20 can go to the delivery base DB and pick up the package 15.

[0051] (Example of change) The above-described embodiments are not limited to the above, and may be modified in the following manner. In the first embodiment, the predetermined number N1 may be changed according to the number of empty storage sections 23 in the new delivery box 20, or may be a fixed value.

[0052] The control unit 32 of the delivery box 20 may function as an example of a control device. For example, the control unit 32 receives information on a predetermined number N1 from the delivery management server 11. The control unit 32 also counts the remaining number RN of packages 15 that the user U has not yet come to receive based on the detection result of the sensor 30. The control unit 32 then determines whether or not the exchange condition RN≦N1 is met. If the exchange condition is met, the control unit 32 may send an exchange instruction for the delivery box 20 to the worker's terminal 12, or the control device 40 of the delivery management server 11, which has received information from the control unit 32 indicating that the exchange condition is met, may send an exchange instruction for the delivery box 20 to the worker's terminal 12. [Explanation of symbols]

[0053] 10...Delivery management system, 11...Delivery management server, 12...Contractor terminal as an example of a worker's terminal, 13...User terminal, 15...Luggage, 20...Delivery box, 21...Main body, 22...Wheels, 23...Storage section, 24...Storage room, 25...Door section, 26...Knob, 27...Lock section, 28...Input operation section, 29...Display section, 30...Sensor, 31...Communication section, 40...Control device, 41...Computer, 42...CPU, 43...Memory, 44...Communication section, 231...First storage section, 232...Second storage section, 233...Third storage section, NW...Network, PL...Receiving base, DB...Delivery base (delivery center), U...User (recipient), RW...Worker, RN...Number of packages (remaining number), N1...Predetermined number.

Claims

1. A method for managing a delivery box installed at a predetermined receiving point, comprising: The delivery box includes a plurality of storage sections capable of storing packages and a key section capable of locking and unlocking the storage sections, A control device is caused to determine whether or not an exchange condition is satisfied, that is, the number of packages contained in the delivery box installed at the receiving base is equal to or less than a predetermined number; When the replacement condition is satisfied, the control device is instructed to replace the delivery box installed at the receiving base with a new delivery box via a terminal of an operator. How to manage your shipping boxes, including:

2. The method for managing a delivery box according to claim 1, The new delivery box has at least the same number of empty storage sections as the predetermined number, How to manage your shipping boxes.

3. The method for managing a delivery box according to claim 2, The key unit is configured to be unlocked by authentication of key information, The control device further includes temporarily providing key information of the old delivery box to an exchanger that exchanges the old delivery box with a new delivery box. How to manage your shipping boxes.

4. The method for managing a delivery box according to claim 1, Instructing the control device via the terminal of the worker to move the old delivery box from the receiving base to the delivery base; The control device further includes notifying a recipient of the package still stored in the old delivery box that the package is at the delivery base. How to manage your shipping boxes.

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