Storage device and storage system

Abstract

To provide a storage device and a storage system that suppress one specific user to occupy a storage box for a long period to enable storage boxes to be utilized more effectively.SOLUTION: A storage system is configured to have: a storage device 10 which is installed in the site of a building having an appropriation part that a user resides in or uses, and stores an article related to the user (an article that the user puts in the storage device 10 when using storage service) in a locked state; a management server 20, such as a server device, which manages information on the storage state etc., of the storage device 10; a user terminal 30 which is an information processing device that the user operates; and an administrator terminal 40 which is an information processing device operated by an administrator who performs management work on the storage device 10 and the management server 20.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a storage device and a storage system, and more particularly to a storage device and a storage system that temporarily store items that a user wishes to ship. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, lifestyles have changed dramatically with the trend toward nuclear families, an increase in unmarried people and people marrying later in life, an increase in people living alone due to the declining birthrate and aging population, and an increase in couples where both partners work. Furthermore, in recent years, with the rise of e-commerce, it is becoming more common for purchased goods and other deliveries to be delivered to individual households. However, as mentioned above, the proportion of couples both working is on the rise, and there are more and more cases where people are away from home, so there is a demand for environments and facilities that allow such deliveries to be received smoothly.

[0003] In response to the above-mentioned needs, in recent years storage devices equipped with multiple storage boxes, known as parcel lockers or street lockers, have been installed in common areas of apartment complexes and other collective housing, as well as in stores and public facilities, and their use is on the rise. This storage device temporarily stores deliveries addressed to residents in a lockable storage box even when the residents of the apartment building are absent, so that the residents can smoothly receive the deliveries by retrieving the deliveries addressed to them from the storage box without having to request redelivery from the delivery company.

[0004] Generally, once a delivery item has been received into a storage box of a storage device, it is not possible to receive a new delivery item until the delivery item is removed from the storage box. As a result, if the recipient is late in releasing the goods, the storage box will be occupied for a long period of time, making it impossible to deposit new deliveries, resulting in frequent delays in delivery operations. In addition, if a particular user occupies a storage box for a long period of time, other users will be unable to use it, which creates a sense of inequality.

[0005] As one prior art technique aimed at solving the problem of long-term occupancy of storage boxes in storage devices as described above, a parcel locker management system is proposed as disclosed in Patent Document 1. In the delivery locker management system disclosed in Patent Document 1, when the usage rate of the delivery locker reaches a certain ratio, a notification is sent to the user urging them to remove their parcels, thereby reducing the inconvenience to delivery companies caused by storage boxes filling up. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2020-35371 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] However, in the delivery locker management system of Patent Document 1 mentioned above, although a notification is sent to the user to encourage them to remove their delivery from the storage box, simply sending the notification is insufficient to motivate the user to remove their items promptly, resulting in the problem that users will ignore the notification and not remove their items promptly, which hinders the effective use of the storage box.

[0008] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above problems, and aims to provide a storage device and storage system that prevents a particular user from occupying a storage box for a long period of time and promotes effective use of the storage box. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] In order to achieve this objective, the present invention provides a storage device equipped with storage boxes for temporarily storing a user's items, including items delivered to the user or items stored by the user, and is characterized in that it has an information storage unit that stores, for each user, an upper limit on the number of storage boxes in which the same user's items can be stored simultaneously, and a control unit that measures the retention time that has elapsed since the items delivered to the user were stored in the storage box, and the control unit determines the upper limit on the retention time based on the retention time.

[0010] In addition, in the storage device of the present invention, the control unit reduces the upper limit of the number of items that can be stored for a user whose average residence time is equal to or longer than a predetermined value.

[0011] In addition, according to the storage device of the present invention, the control unit increases the upper limit of the number of items that can be stored for a user whose average residence time is less than a predetermined value.

[0012] Furthermore, according to the storage device of the present invention, the information storage unit stores an excessive residence time reference time indicating a predetermined residence time, and the control unit reduces the upper limit on the number of items that can be stored by a user whose residence time exceeds the excessive residence time reference time.

[0013] The present invention also provides a storage system comprising: a storage device equipped with storage boxes for temporarily storing a user's items, including items delivered to the user or items stored by the user; and a user terminal operated by the user, wherein the storage device comprises an information storage unit for storing, for each user, an upper limit on the number of storage boxes in which items of the same user can be stored simultaneously; a communication unit for sending an entry notification to the user terminal indicating that the items delivered to the user have been stored in the storage box; and a control unit for measuring the retention time that has elapsed since the items delivered to the user were stored in the storage box, and the control unit determines the upper limit on the retention time based on the retention time.

[0014] Furthermore, according to the storage system of the present invention, the communication unit transmits a storage notification including information indicating the user's current upper limit on storage quantity to the user terminal.

[0015] In addition, any combination of the above components, or mutual substitution of the components or expressions of the present invention among methods, devices, systems, computer programs, and recording media storing computer programs, are also valid aspects of the present invention. Effect of the Invention

[0016] The present invention is a storage device and storage system equipped with storage boxes for temporarily storing a user's items, including items delivered to the user or items stored by the user, and has an information storage unit that stores an upper limit of the number of storage boxes in which the same user's items can be stored simultaneously for each user, and a control unit that measures the retention time that has elapsed since the items delivered to the user were stored in the storage box, and the control unit determines the upper limit of the number of items based on the retention time, thereby making it possible to prevent a particular user from occupying a storage box for a long period of time and promote effective use of the storage boxes. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0017] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a storage system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a storage device according to a first embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 3] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a storage device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a database stored in an information storage unit of a storage equipment according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 5] 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data configuration of a user DB in the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a data configuration of a storage box DB in the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a data configuration of a delivery company DB in the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] 2 is a diagram showing an example of a data configuration of a usage history DB in the first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a data configuration of a warehousing management DB in the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a management server in the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11] 2 is a diagram showing a database stored in an information storage unit of a management server in the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 12] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a user terminal in the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 13] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an administrator terminal in the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 14] 10 is a flow chart showing the flow of an operation for determining an upper limit of storage quantity for a user by the storage equipment in the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 15] 1 is a sequence chart showing a flow of operations performed by the storage system when a delivery person of a delivery company stores an item (delivery) addressed to a user in a storage device in the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 16] 1 is a sequence chart showing a flow of operations performed by the storage system when a delivery person of a delivery company stores an item (delivery) addressed to a user in a storage device in the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 17] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a "user selection screen" in the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 18] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a "warehousing / retrieval selection screen" displayed on a storage equipment in the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 19] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of screen information showing a usage status of a storage box in the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 20] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a receipt notification displayed on a user terminal in the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 21]5 is a flowchart showing a flow of operations performed by the storage device when a user retrieves an item stored in the storage device in the first embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0018] <First embodiment> (Overview of the first embodiment) The storage system in the first embodiment of the present invention is a system having storage devices such as delivery lockers. When a delivery company delivers goods (delivery items) to a user, such as a resident of an apartment building, if the user is absent, the delivery company stores the delivery items in a storage device, and the user then takes the delivery items out of the storage device and receives them. Furthermore, a user stores an item to be delivered in a storage device, and a delivery company retrieves the item and delivers it to a destination designated by the user. Hereinafter, the above-mentioned items addressed to the user and items stored by the user will be simply referred to as "user's items".

[0019] The storage device in this embodiment includes a plurality of storage boxes. In principle, when an item is placed in a storage box, the storage box is locked and no new items can be placed in the storage box until the item is removed by a user or a delivery company. For example, in a storage device, one storage box is used for each item, regardless of whether the items belong to the same user or not, so if the storage device stores three user items for a user, three storage boxes are used.

[0020] In this embodiment, a storage device is used by multiple users, and an upper limit to the number of storage boxes that can simultaneously store items belonging to the same user (hereinafter referred to as the "upper limit number") is set in the storage device. The storage system in this embodiment determines the upper limit of the number of items that can be stored for a user based on the time that has elapsed since the items addressed to the user were stored in the storage device (hereinafter referred to as "retention time"). Specifically, the storage system provides an incentive to users who spend a short amount of time in storage by increasing the upper limit of the number of items that can be stored. Conversely, the storage system penalizes users who stay for long periods of time by reducing the upper limit of the number of items that can be stored. In this way, the storage system of this embodiment encourages users to shorten their stay time, thereby preventing some users from monopolizing the storage devices and allowing many users to use them fairly. The residence time increases until the user's item is removed, at which point the measurement of the residence time stops and is finalized.

[0021] (Configuration of the first embodiment) [1] Overall configuration of the storage system FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of a storage system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the storage system is installed on the premises of a building that has a private area where a user lives or uses, and is composed of storage equipment 10 that stores items related to the user (items that the user stores in the storage equipment 10 when using the storage service) in a locked state, a management server 20 such as a server device that manages information such as the storage status of the storage equipment 10, a user terminal 30 which is an information processing device operated by the user, and an administrator terminal 40 which is an information processing device operated by an administrator who performs management tasks for the storage equipment 10 and the management server 20. The storage system also includes a network 100 such as the Internet or a LAN that connects the storage equipment 10, the management server 20, the user terminals 30, and the manager terminal 40 so that they can communicate with each other.

[0022] The building in which the storage equipment 10 is installed may be, for example, an apartment building, a building, a commercial facility, or a public facility. The exclusive use area is, for example, each dwelling unit in an apartment building, each work space in an office building, each tenant in a commercial facility, or each space in a public facility. A user may be, for example, a resident of an apartment building, a worker in an office building, a salesperson in a commercial facility, or a user of a public facility.

[0023] A delivery company is a business entity that performs delivery operations and includes employees who actually perform the delivery operations. Delivery companies are not limited to delivery companies in the narrow sense, but may also include mail-order companies, online supermarkets, dry cleaning stores, auction site operators, auction listing agents, delivery personnel from various stores and companies, and other service providers that operate storage services, as long as they deliver items for users.

[0024] The items to be stored in the storage equipment 10 are stored by a user in the storage equipment 10, picked up by a delivery company, and delivered to a delivery destination desired by the user. For example, if the delivery company is a delivery company, the item is a parcel or postal item sent by the user. If the delivery company is a dry cleaning shop, the items include clothes etc. that the user requests to be dry cleaned. In the case where the delivery company is an operating company of an auction site, the item is an item that a user puts up for auction on the auction site. Additionally, mail-order companies, online supermarkets, dry cleaning stores, and auction site operators sometimes outsource the delivery of goods to delivery companies.

[0025] The configurations of the storage equipment 10, management server 20, user terminal 30 and administrator terminal 40 will be described in detail below.

[0026] [2] Configuration of storage device 10 (1) Overview of storage device 10 The storage device 10 is a storage device in which articles addressed to a user are temporarily stored until the user retrieves the articles, and includes a plurality of lockable storage boxes. It may also be possible for the user to use the facility to temporarily store items that have been stored until the delivery company picks them up. In this embodiment, the storage equipment 10 has a function of transmitting information relating to the entry or exit of an article to the management server 20 via the network 100 when the information is entered.

[0027] The storage device 10 may be installed in, but is not limited to, apartment buildings and other collective housing, offices, stores and commercial facilities such as convenience stores and supermarkets, and public facilities and institutions such as stations and hospitals. For example, if the storage device 10 is installed in an apartment building, the user is a resident of the apartment building, and the delivery company may be a courier service delivering the items, a dry cleaning service (if the items are items to be cleaned such as clothing), or other store business, etc.

[0028] The storage device 10 can deposit and store various items, including deliveries such as parcels. For example, the storage equipment 10 may be used to temporarily store an item (delivery) that a user wishes to receive for a period from when the delivery company delivers the item to when the user retrieves the item. The storage equipment 10 also temporarily stores the items that the user has requested to be delivered until the delivery company collects the items for delivery and removes them.

[0029] The user can also use the storage device 10 for the "cleaning" storage service. A user deposits uncleaned items such as his / her own clothes in the storage device 10, and a cleaning company collects the deposited clothes and cleans them. Thereafter, the cleaned items may be stored in the storage device 10 again, and the user may remove the cleaned items from the storage device 10.

[0030] (2) Overall Configuration of Storage Device 10 FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the storage device 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of the storage equipment 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The configuration of the storage equipment 10 will be described below with reference to these figures. As shown in the figure, the storage device 10 is configured to have a control unit 11 which is composed of a CPU etc. and controls the entire storage device 10, an information storage unit 12 which stores various information, a communication unit 13 which communicates with the management server 20 via the network 100, a display unit 14 which displays various information, an operation unit 15 which has various keys for inputting information, and a storage unit 16 which has multiple storage boxes for storing items. Each of the units 11 to 16 is connected to an internal bus, and various information and the like are input and output via this bus, and under the control of the control unit 11, various processes are executed.

[0031] The storage box of the storage equipment 10 can be shared by multiple users. For example, if storage equipment 10 is installed in an apartment building, the storage boxes of storage equipment 10 can be shared by multiple residents living in the same apartment building. In other words, the storage boxes of storage equipment 10 can store deliveries that multiple residents living in the same apartment building wish to have delivered or deliveries that are addressed to the residents.

[0032] When an item has already been stored in a storage box of the storage device 10 and the door is closed and locked, only the recipient (user or delivery company) can unlock the storage box; no one else can unlock it. The storage box of the storage device 10 is allowed to store other items only after all stored items have been removed and the storage box is emptied. In other words, since a new item cannot be stored in a storage box that currently contains an item, the number of available storage boxes is limited unless items are removed from the storage boxes.

[0033] (3) Configuration of control unit 11 The control unit 11 is a processing unit that controls the entire storage device 10, and is composed of, for example, an electronic circuit such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or an integrated circuit such as an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array). The control unit 11 executes reading of information from the information storage unit 12 and writing of information to the information storage unit 12 . The control unit 11 controls the operation of the storage boxes, such as locking / unlocking and opening / closing the doors, controls the operation of the screen display by the display unit 14, performs authentication processing when the storage device 10 is used, and manages information regarding users and delivery companies and the usage status of each storage box. The control unit 11 also has a timing function, and records the time when the item was stored and the time when it was removed in the usage history DB 124 described below, and also times the "dwell time" that has elapsed since the item was stored in the storage unit 16 (storage box) and registers it in the storage box DB 122 described below.

[0034] (4) Configuration of information storage unit 12 The information storage unit 12 is a device for storing information, such as a hard disk, a memory, or a semiconductor element. The information storage unit 12 has an area for storing the programs executed by the control unit 11, a working area (such as a RAM) that is temporarily used when the control unit 11 executes processing, and the like. The control unit 11 reads out the programs stored in the information storage unit 12, develops them in the work area, and executes various processes. The information storage unit 12 stores each database, which will be described later.

[0035] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a database stored in the information storage unit 12 of the storage equipment 10 in the first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the information storage unit 12 stores a user DB 121 that manages user information related to users, a storage box DB 122 that manages the usage status of the multiple storage boxes that make up the storage unit 16, a delivery company DB 123 that manages information about delivery companies, a usage history DB 124 that manages the usage history of each storage box, and an inventory management DB 125 that manages the maximum inventory quantity for each user, etc. The data configuration of each of the databases 121 to 125 will be described in detail below.

[0036] The user DB 121 is a database for managing information related to users. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a data configuration of the user DB 121 in the first embodiment of the present invention. In the example shown in the figure, the user DB 121 manages a "user name," "user authentication information" for the user to unlock the storage box of the storage equipment 10, and "user personal information," in association with a "user ID" which is the individual user's identification information. The "user's personal information" includes, for example, the user's address, the apartment number of the apartment building where the user lives, the email address of the user terminal 30 (user's contact information), and the like.

[0037] In this embodiment, in addition to or instead of the above-mentioned "user ID", private area information such as the room number of the room in which the user lives in an apartment building, the room number and tenant number of the office in which the user works in a building (e.g., Room 202) may be used as user identification information in each database.

[0038] The storage box DB 122 is a database for managing the characteristics (attributes) and current usage status of each storage box of the storage equipment 10. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a data configuration of the storage box DB 122 in the first embodiment of the present invention. In the example shown in the figure, storage box DB122 manages, in association with a "box number" that identifies each storage box, the "attributes of each storage box," the "usage status of each storage box," and, for a storage box in which an item is stored (a storage box in use), the "user ID of the user to whom the item is addressed or the user ID of the user who has stored the item," a "dwell time" that indicates the time that has elapsed since the user's item was stored by the delivery company, and a "dwell excess reference time" that indicates whether the dwell time of an item currently in storage has exceeded the dwell excess reference time.

[0039] The "attributes of the storage box" is information indicating, for example, the size of the storage box, the position of each storage box in the storage equipment 10, and whether or not the storage box has a freezing or refrigeration function.

[0040] The "usage status of storage box" manages whether each storage box is in an "unused" or "in use" status. "Unused" indicates a state in which no items are stored in the storage box and new items are permitted to be stored. "In use" indicates a state in which an item has already been stored in the storage box and storage of any other item is prohibited.

[0041] In this embodiment, as an example, the storage section 16 is made up of seven storage boxes, and box numbers 1 to 7 are assigned to the respective storage boxes. These box numbers 1 to 7 correspond to the storage boxes 161 to 167 shown in FIG.

[0042] In the example of FIG. 6, a user with a user ID "0001" is using three of the seven storage boxes (box numbers 1, 4, and 6).

[0043] "Dwell time" indicates the time that has elapsed since the delivery company placed the user's item in the storage box. When the user removes the user's item from the storage box, the control unit 11 stops measuring the retention time.

[0044] The "reference time for excess residence time" indicates the reference time for reducing the upper limit of the number of items to be stored when the residence time of each user is exceeded. When the current residence time of the user's item in the storage box exceeds the residence excess reference time, the control unit 11 writes “Exceeded” in the “Stay Excess Reference Time” field in the storage box DB122.

[0045] The delivery company DB 123 is a database for managing information related to delivery companies. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a data configuration of the delivery company DB 123 in the first embodiment of the present invention. In the example shown in the figure, the delivery company DB 123 manages, in association with a "delivery company ID" that identifies each delivery person, the "name / name of the delivery company," "delivery company authentication information" for the delivery company to unlock the storage box of the storage equipment 10, the "delivery company ID" of the delivery company such as the delivery company to which the delivery person belongs, the "name of the delivery company" to which the delivery person belongs, and "information regarding other delivery companies (delivery people)."

[0046] If the delivery person of the delivery company has his / her own authentication information managed in the delivery company DB 123, he / she can unlock the storage box and can receive (deposit) or take out (collect) the delivery item.

[0047] FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a data configuration of the usage history DB 124 in the first embodiment of the present invention. In the example of FIG. 8, the usage history DB 124 is a database for managing usage history information (entry, delivery, etc.) of each storage box of the storage equipment 10. The usage history DB124 manages, in association with the "task number" assigned to each task of entering or leaving a storage box, the "box number" where the item was entered or taken out, the "time of the entering or leaving task", the "type of entering or leaving task", the "task number for the entering task" corresponding to the task being a leaving task, "item attribute information" such as whether the item needs to be refrigerated or frozen, a "recipient ID" which is the user ID of the user who entered the item into the storage box or the delivery company ID of the delivery person who entered the item, and a "sender ID / scheduled sender" which is the user ID of the user who has removed or is scheduled to remove the item from the storage box, or the delivery company ID of the delivery person who will remove or schedule the item to be removed (collect) from the storage box.

[0048] The usage history DB124 records the history of when items for which users were received and when they were taken out (or whether they have not yet been taken out), so the control unit 11 can detect (extract) the final residence time of each user's items that have already been taken out by referring to the usage history DB124.

[0049] The storage management DB 125 is a database for managing information such as the upper limit of storage quantity for each user and the usage status of the storage box. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a data configuration of the inventory management DB 125 in the first embodiment of the present invention. The inventory management DB125 manages, in association with a "user ID" that identifies each user, a "maximum inventory number" that indicates the upper limit on the number of storage boxes that each user can use simultaneously, a "current maximum inventory number" that indicates the upper limit inventory number that increases or decreases depending on each user's residence time, each user's "average residence time," each user's "current number of items," a "dwell time exceeding standard time" that indicates the standard time for reducing the upper limit inventory number when each user's residence time is exceeded, and a "number of times exceeding the residence time exceeding standard time" that indicates the number of storage boxes whose residence time exceeds the residence time exceeding standard time.

[0050] Of the items in the inventory management DB 125, the control unit 11 appropriately updates the "current upper limit of inventory," "average residence time," "current inventory," and "number of times exceeding the standard residence time" according to the inventory status of each user.

[0051] The "upper limit of incoming goods quantity" in the incoming goods management DB 125 includes and manages the "basic upper limit of incoming goods quantity" before any increase or decrease due to the residence time. The control unit 11 increases or decreases the "basic upper limit of entry quantity" according to the staying time of each user. In the example of FIG. 9, the "basic upper limit of inventory quantity" for "user ID" is "0001", "0002", and "0003" is "3", "3", and "2", respectively. As in this example, in the inventory management DB 125, the "basic upper limit of inventory quantity" may be set to a different value for each user.

[0052] The "upper limit of incoming goods" in the incoming goods management DB 125 includes and manages the "basic upper limit of incoming goods" as well as the "upper limit of incoming goods" according to the residence time. In the example of FIG. 9, when the average staying time of each user's goods is relatively short, i.e., "less than one day," an incentive is given that is greater than the "basic upper limit of goods to be stored." On the other hand, if the average time that each user's items stays is relatively long, such as "two days or more," a penalty that is less than the "basic upper limit of items in stock" is imposed. If the average residence time of each user's items is "more than one day but less than two days," the "basic upper limit of inventory quantity" is set to be maintained as is.

[0053] In the example of Figure 9, the "average residence time" for the user with user ID "0001" is "1.2 days," which corresponds to "more than 1 day, less than 2 days," and the "maximum number of items in stock" is "3." However, since the "number of times the residence time has exceeded the standard time limit" is "2," the maximum number of items in stock is reduced by "2," and the "current maximum number of items in stock" becomes "1."

[0054] As described above, the inventory management DB 125 manages the "standard retention time." The "excessive retention time standard" indicates a predetermined time, and when the control unit 11 determines that the retention time of an item of an individual user exceeds this "excessive retention time standard", it reduces the upper limit of the number of items that can be stored for that user. In addition, the inventory management DB 125 manages the "number of times exceeding the retention excess reference time." For example, if the "overstay reference time" is set to "3 days," the control unit 11 reduces the "current upper limit of inventory" of a user of an item whose staying time exceeds "3 days" by a predetermined number according to the "number of times the overstay reference time has been exceeded." In this example, the control unit 11 decreases the upper limit of the number of items to be stored by "1" for each item that exceeds the retention excess reference time.

[0055] When the control unit 11 determines that a user has requested the storage of an item, it refers to the storage management DB 125 and accepts the storage request from the user only if the "current storage quantity" is less than the "current upper limit storage quantity."

[0056] (5) Configuration of storage section 16 The storage section 16 is made up of a plurality of storage boxes. The storage boxes are containers for temporarily storing items related to a user, and each is configured to be lockable and unlockable. For example, even if the user is not at home, the delivery person can store the item addressed to the user in the storage box and lock it, so that the storage unit 16 can safely store the item until the user takes it out. In addition, the user can store the items requested for collection in a storage box until the delivery person collects them.

[0057] Each storage box is normally locked, and a storage box that does not contain an item is unlocked when the user or delivery company is successfully authenticated, and is not unlocked when the authentication fails. On the other hand, the user can unlock a storage box in which an item addressed to the user is stored by inputting unlocking information, but cannot unlock a storage box in which an item addressed to another person is stored. The delivery company can unlock the storage box in which the item that the delivery company has been requested to deliver is stored by inputting the authentication information. The structure for locking and unlocking the storage box is not particularly limited as long as the door is fixed to the storage room so as to be openable and closable to block the entrance and exit.

[0058] (6) Configuration of communication unit 13 The communication unit 13 is an interface that controls communication with the management server 20 via the network 100, and includes a LAN adapter and the like. The communication unit 13 includes a wireless transceiver and may be connected to a LAN, the Internet, or the like via wireless communication, or may be connected via a wired connection such as a cable.

[0059] (7) Configuration of display unit 14 and operation unit 15 The display unit 14 is a display device such as a liquid crystal panel, an organic EL (Electro Luminescence) panel, or a lamp using a light-emitting element such as an LED. The control unit 11 reads out an image from the information storage unit 12, and executes image output processing to generate screen information. The control unit 11 outputs the generated image information to the display unit 14. The display unit 14 displays the input image information on a screen such as a display. The control unit 11 can also output a control signal to the display unit 14 to light up a lamp that the display unit 14 has.

[0060] In the example shown in FIG. 2, the display unit 14 is provided inside the storage device 10 body, but it may be an external display device connected so as to be communicable via wire or wirelessly. For example, the display unit 14 is a tablet terminal or a display device that is provided outside the storage device 10 body and displays image information input from the control unit 11 via the wired or wireless connection.

[0061] The operation unit 15 includes an information input device composed of various keys, for example, and the information input device provides a pointing device in cooperation with the display unit 14. The operation unit 15 accepts various operations by the resident or the like, and outputs a signal indicating the operation content to the control unit 11 or the like. When the control unit 11 receives a signal indicating the operation content, the control unit 11 outputs a control signal to the display unit 14 to cause the display unit 14 to execute a screen display corresponding to the operation content, according to the content of the signal. When the display unit 14 receives the control signal, it performs a screen display in accordance with the control signal. The display unit 14 and the operation unit 15 may be integrated together to form a touch panel.

[0062] The operation unit 15 also includes an information reading device that reads information from an information recording medium by performing short-distance wireless communication such as infrared communication. When the user or delivery person brings an information recording medium (authentication medium) on which authentication information for unlocking the storage box is recorded, over the operation unit 15 (information reading device), for example, and brings it within a specified distance, the operation unit 15 reads the authentication information from the information recording medium. The technique for reading the authentication information by the operation unit 15 is not particularly limited, but may be, for example, a short-distance wireless communication method such as Felica (registered trademark), MIFARE (registered trademark), NFC (Near Field Communication), Bluetooth (registered trademark), etc. In addition, when code information is printed or provided on the surface of the information recording medium, the operation unit 15 optically reads the code information. The information recording medium is, for example, a contactless IC card in which authentication information for identifying a user or a delivery company is written, or a portable terminal having a similar function.

[0063] [3] Configuration of management server 20 The management server 20 is a server device that manages user information, delivery company information, the usage status of the storage equipment 10, and the like. The management server 20 is managed, for example, by the administrator who manages the storage system.

[0064] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a configuration of the management server 20 in the first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the management server 20 is configured to have a control unit 21 that is composed of a CPU or the like and controls the entire management server 20, an information storage unit 22 that stores user information, etc., and a communication unit 23 that transmits and receives information wirelessly or wired to and from the storage device 10, the user terminal 30, or the administrator terminal 40 via the network 100. Each of the units 21 to 23 is connected to an internal bus, and various information and the like are input and output via this bus, and under the control of the control unit 21, various processes are executed.

[0065] The control unit 21 is a processing unit that controls the entire management server 20, and is configured, for example, with an electronic circuit such as a CPU or an integrated circuit such as an FPGA. The control unit 21 executes reading of information from the information storage unit 22 and writing of information to the information storage unit 22 .

[0066] The information storage unit 22 is a device for storing information, such as a hard disk, a memory, or a semiconductor element. The information storage unit 22 has an area for storing the programs executed by the control unit 21, a working area (such as a RAM) that is temporarily used when the control unit 21 executes processing, and the like. The control unit 21 reads out the programs stored in the information storage unit 22, develops them in the work area, and executes various processes.

[0067] The communication unit 23 is an interface that controls communication with the storage equipment 10, the user terminal 30, and the manager terminal 40 via the network 100, and includes a LAN adapter and the like. The communication unit 23 includes a wireless transceiver and may be connected to a LAN, the Internet, or the like via wireless communication, or may be connected via a wired connection such as a cable.

[0068] FIG. 11 shows each database stored in the information storage unit 22 of the management server 20. As shown in the figure, the information storage unit 22 stores a user DB221 that manages user information related to users, a storage box DB222 that manages the usage status of the multiple storage boxes that make up the storage unit 16, a delivery company DB223 that manages information about delivery companies, a usage history DB224 that manages the usage history of each storage box, and an inventory management DB225 that manages the maximum inventory quantity for each user, etc.

[0069] In this embodiment, unless otherwise specified below, the management server 20 integrates and collectively manages data from each of the databases with the same name, i.e., user DB221, storage box DB222, delivery company DB223, usage history DB224, and inventory management DB225, of one or more storage devices 10 in each of the databases, i.e., user DB221, storage box DB122, delivery company DB223, usage history DB124, and inventory management DB225.

[0070] Moreover, one of the storage equipment 10 and the management server 20 may be configured to manage a part of the information managed in the database of the other. The management server 20 may communicate with the storage equipment 10 at predetermined time intervals to synchronize each database stored in the management server 20 with each database of the same name in the storage equipment 10.

[0071] [4] Configuration of user terminal 30 The user terminal 30 is a smartphone, a mobile phone, a tablet terminal, a PC, or any other terminal used by a user.

[0072] Using the user terminal 30, the user receives notifications from the management server 20 regarding the entry of a delivery item (goods) addressed to the user into the storage device 10, or the removal by a delivery company of a delivery item that the user has requested to be collected from the storage device 10. In addition, the user can use the user terminal 30 to communicate with the management server 20, receive and display information on deliveries addressed to the user and deliveries for which the user has requested collection, and check the contents.

[0073] FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a configuration of the user terminal 30 in the first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the user terminal 30 is composed of a control unit 31 composed of a CPU etc. and controls the operation of the entire user terminal 30, an information storage unit 32 that stores input information and information received via the network 100, a communication unit 33 that sends and receives information via the network 100, a display unit 34 composed of a display etc. and displays information on a screen, and an operation unit 35 composed of keys, a mouse etc. and used to input information, etc. Moreover, the display unit 34 and the operation unit 35 may be integrally configured to configure a touch panel. Each of the units 31 to 35 is connected to an internal bus, and various information and the like are input and output via this bus, and under the control of the control unit 31, various processes are executed.

[0074] The control unit 31 is a processing unit that controls the entire user terminal 30, and is configured, for example, with an electronic circuit such as a CPU or an integrated circuit such as an FPGA. The control unit 31 executes reading of information from the information storage unit 32 and writing of information to the information storage unit 32 .

[0075] The information storage unit 32 is a device for storing information, such as a hard disk, a memory, or a semiconductor element. The information storage unit 32 has an area for storing the programs executed by the control unit 31, a working area (such as a RAM) that is temporarily used when the control unit 31 executes processing, and the like. The control unit 31 reads out the programs stored in the information storage unit 32, develops them in the work area, and executes various processes.

[0076] The communication unit 33 is an interface that controls communication with the management server 20 via the network 100, and includes a LAN adapter and the like. The communication unit 33 includes a wireless transceiver and may be connected to a LAN, the Internet, or the like via wireless communication, or may be connected via a wired connection such as a cable.

[0077] The display unit 34 is a display device such as a display or a lamp. The control unit 31 reads out an image from the information storage unit 32, and executes image output processing to generate screen information. The control unit 31 also executes image output processing on image information received by the communication unit 33 from the management server 20 or the service provider server 70 to generate screen information. The control unit 31 outputs the generated image information to the display unit . The display unit 34 displays the input image information on a screen such as a display. The control unit 31 can also output a control signal to the display unit 34 to light up a lamp such as an LED that the display unit 34 has.

[0078] The operation unit 35 includes an information input device consisting of various keys, for example, and the information input device provides a pointing device in cooperation with the display unit 34. The operation unit 35 accepts various operations by the order-receiving side, etc., and outputs a signal indicating the operation content to the control unit 31, etc. When the control unit 31 receives the signal indicating the operation content, it outputs a control signal to the display unit 34 instructing the display unit 34 to perform a screen display according to the operation content, in accordance with the content of the signal. When the display unit 34 receives the control signal, it performs a screen display in accordance with the control signal.

[0079] The user terminal 30 can receive and display screen information, for example, a Web page, from the management server 20 or the service provider server 70 functioning as a Web server. The user terminal 30 has a function in which the control unit 31 generates and transmits an HTTP request in response to a request from the user, and a function in which the control unit 31 interprets an HTTP response (an example of a response) and presents it to the user. For example, the information storage unit 32 stores a Web browser as an example. The control unit 31 interprets the HTTP response, generates image data and audio data, and presents the HTTP response to the user by displaying the data on the display unit 34 or outputting audio from a speaker that the user terminal 30 has.

[0080] [5] Configuration of administrator terminal 40 The administrator terminal 40 is a smartphone, a mobile phone, a tablet terminal, a PC, or any other terminal used by the administrator.

[0081] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a configuration of the manager terminal 40 in the first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the administrator terminal 40 is configured to include a control unit 41, an information storage unit 42, a communication unit 43, a display unit 44, and an operation unit 45. The above-mentioned units 41 to 45 are basically similar in configuration to the units 31 to 35 of the user terminal 30 having the same names, and therefore detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0082] The administrator terminal 40 can receive and display screen information, for example, a Web page, from the management server 20 functioning as a Web server. The manager can use the manager terminal 40 to communicate with the management server 20, receive and display information such as the usage status of the storage equipment 10 and the inventory status of each user, and check the contents.

[0083] Furthermore, when the manager uses the manager terminal 40 to transmit a request to acquire information from the inventory management DB 225 to the management server 20, the information is received and the display unit 44 displays the information. The manager can check the displayed information of the inventory management DB 225 and use the operation unit 45 to change part of the information (the upper limit of inventory quantity and the retention excess reference time). For example, if a user has paid the membership fee to the administrator, or if the user's previous residence time has been short and the user has not occupied a storage box, the administrator can use the operation unit 45 to input a higher upper limit on the number of entries or a longer reference time for residence time than the current value, and the communication unit 43 can send the input value to the management server 20, thereby updating the information in the inventory management DB 225 to the sent content. The management server 20 then transmits the updated information to the storage equipment 10, and synchronizes the information in the inventory management DB 225 with that in the inventory management DB 125.

[0084] (Operation of the first embodiment) (1) Determination of maximum inventory quantity FIG. 14 is a flow chart showing the flow of the operation of determining the upper limit of storage quantity for a user by the storage equipment 10 in the first embodiment of the present invention. The operation of the control unit 11 of the storage equipment 10 when automatically determining the upper limit of the storage quantity for a user based on the staying time of the user will be described below with reference to this figure.

[0085] The control unit 11 of the storage equipment 10 does not particularly limit the timing for determining the upper limit of the storage quantity for the user. For example, the control unit 11 may determine the upper limit of the number of items that can be stored for a specified user at a specified time, such as each day, or may determine the upper limit of the number of items that can be stored for the user to whom the item is addressed when a delivery company begins operating the operation unit 15 to store the item in the storage device 10.

[0086] First, the control unit 11 refers to the usage history DB 124 and extracts all the staying times of the relevant user (step S101).

[0087] In step S101, the control unit 11 may extract a predetermined number of recent (for example, five) residence times. In addition, the control unit 11 may extract only the residence time for which the item has been completely removed (confirmed residence time), or may extract the residence time including the residence time for items that have not yet been removed (current residence time).

[0088] In step S101, the "most recent" residence time may refer to the "most recent" time of leaving the warehouse or the "most recent" time of entering the warehouse for the user.

[0089] Next, the control unit 11 calculates the average value of the stay times of the extracted same user (step S102). The control unit 11 writes the calculated average value of the user's staying time into the "average value of staying time" of the corresponding user in the inventory management DB 125.

[0090] Next, the control unit 11 refers to the inventory management DB 125 and determines the upper limit of the inventory quantity based on the calculated average value of the staying time of the same user (step S103). For example, in the example of Figure 9, if the average residence time of a user with user ID "0001" is "less than one day," the control unit 11 increases the "basic upper limit of inventory quantity" by "1" and determines the "current upper limit of inventory quantity" to be "4."

[0091] Next, the control unit 11 refers to the usage history DB 124 and determines whether or not any of the items currently stored by the user (items not yet taken out) has exceeded the retention excess reference time (step S104).

[0092] In step S104, if the control unit 11 determines that there are no items for the user that have exceeded the retention excess standard time (step S104 / No), it does not reduce the upper limit of inventory quantity determined in step S103, and finally determines the upper limit of inventory quantity (step S106). This completes the operation.

[0093] On the other hand, if the control unit 11 determines that there is an item for the user that has exceeded the overdwell standard time (step S104 / Yes), it subtracts a predetermined number from the upper limit of inventory quantity determined in step S103 (step S105), and finally determines the reduced upper limit of inventory quantity (step S106). For example, to explain this in detail using the example of Figure 9, if an item belonging to a user with user ID "0001" is still in stock and the waiting time of the user's items exceeds the waiting time limit (3 days), the control unit 11 will reduce the current upper limit of the number of items in stock by "1." In the example of Figure 9, there are two items of the user with user ID "0001" that have exceeded the overdwell reference time. In the case where there are multiple items that have exceeded the overdwell reference time like this, the control unit 11 may further reduce the current upper limit on the number of items that can be stored based on the number of items (for example, reduce by "1" if there is one item, reduce by "2" if there are two items). This completes the operation.

[0094] As described above, in this embodiment, the storage equipment 10 determines the upper limit of the storage quantity based on the average residence time of the user's items, and if the residence time of the user's items exceeds a reference time (excessive residence reference time), the upper limit of the storage quantity is further reduced, and the final upper limit of the storage quantity is automatically determined. Therefore, it is possible to effectively encourage users to quickly remove and receive their items stored in the storage device 10, thereby preventing a particular user from occupying the storage boxes of the storage device 10, and as a result, it is possible to effectively utilize the storage boxes of the storage device 10. In this embodiment, the control unit 11 reduces the upper limit of the number of items that can be stored for the corresponding user when the retention excess standard time is exceeded, but conversely, it may also decide to increase the upper limit of the number of items that can be stored when the retention excess standard time is not exceeded.

[0095] (2) Storage of goods 15 and 16 are sequence charts showing the flow of operations performed by the storage system when a delivery person of a delivery company stores an item (delivery) addressed to a user in the storage equipment 10 in the first embodiment of the present invention. The operation of the storage system when a delivery company stores an item addressed to a user in the storage equipment 10 will be described below with reference to this figure.

[0096] First, a delivery person visits the location where the storage equipment 10 is installed (for example, a common area of ​​the apartment building where the user lives) with the item addressed to the user.

[0097] The display unit 14 of the storage equipment 10 displays a "user selection screen." The user selection screen is screen information for selecting one's own profile (user or delivery company) when using the storage equipment 10.

[0098] FIG. 17 is a diagram showing an example of the "user selection screen" in the first embodiment of the present invention. In the example of FIG. 17, the user selection screen displays icons for "User" and "Delivery Company." A user of the storage equipment 10 (a user or a delivery company) operates the operation unit 15 of the storage equipment 10 to select either the "user" or "delivery company" icon according to his / her own profile. In this example, since a delivery person will place the item addressed to the user in the storage box, the "delivery company" icon is selected.

[0099] When the delivery person selects the "Delivery Company" icon on the user selection screen, the display unit 14, under the control of the control unit 11, displays an "Authentication Input Screen" that prompts the delivery person to input authentication information (step S201). For example, the delivery person's authentication information may be a combination of a delivery person ID and a password.

[0100] The authentication input screen displays a message such as "Please hold your IC card over the reader" to prompt the delivery person to input authentication information. For example, the method of inputting the authentication information of the delivery person may be such that an IC card on which the delivery person ID and password are recorded is read by a reader provided on the operation unit 15 of the storage device 10 via short-range wireless communication. In addition, if the authentication input screen has input fields for a delivery person ID and a password, the delivery person may use various keys provided on the operation unit 15 to input the delivery person ID and password in the input fields.

[0101] The delivery person inputs the delivery person's authentication information into the storage equipment 10 according to the display contents of this "authentication input screen" (step S202).

[0102] The control unit 11 refers to the delivery company DB 123 and authenticates the delivery person based on the delivery person ID and password included in the input delivery person authentication information (step S203). For example, the control unit 11 determines that the authentication was successful if the delivery person ID and password are registered in correspondence with each other in the delivery company DB 123, and determines that the authentication was unsuccessful if the delivery person ID and password are not registered in correspondence with each other.

[0103] If the control unit 11 determines that the authentication has failed (step S203 / No), it does not permit the delivery person to use the storage equipment 10 and ends the operation.

[0104] On the other hand, if the control unit 11 determines that the authentication is successful (Yes in step S203), the display unit 14 displays the "entry / exit selection screen" under the control of the control unit 11 (step S204). The inbound / outbound selection screen is screen information for a delivery person to select inbound or outbound of an item.

[0105] FIG. 18 is a diagram showing an example of the "entry / return selection screen" displayed on the storage equipment 10 in the first embodiment of the present invention. In the illustrated example, the "Entry / Exit Selection Screen" displays "Entry" and "Exit" buttons and an input field for "Room Number." The delivery person operates the operation unit 15 of the storage equipment 10 to select either "enter" or "exit" on the entry / exit selection screen, and inputs the "room number" that identifies the associated user (step S205). In this example, the delivery person presses the "Store" button to store the user's item (delivery addressed to the user) in the storage equipment 10. At this time, the delivery person also inputs the "room number" of the user to whom the item is to be stored in the input field. It should be noted that the above "room number" is information for identifying the user, and an input field for other information for identifying the user, such as a "user ID," may be displayed and input in place of the "room number."

[0106] When the control unit 11 determines that the delivery person has selected "Storage" on the storage / return selection screen to store the user's items, it refers to the usage status of each storage box in the storage box DB 122 and determines whether there are any unused storage boxes at present (step S206).

[0107] If the control unit 11 determines that there is currently no available storage box (step S206 / No), the delivery person cannot store the item in the storage box, and so the operation ends.

[0108] On the other hand, when the control unit 11 determines that there is a storage box currently available (step S206 / Yes), it refers to the inventory management DB 125, identifies the user based on the "room number" entered above, compares the "current upper limit of inventory quantity" of the identified user with the "current inventory quantity", and determines whether the "current upper limit of inventory quantity" is greater than the "current inventory quantity" (step S207).

[0109] In step S207, if the control unit 11 determines that the "current upper limit of storage quantity" for the identified user is equal to or less than the "current storage quantity" (step S207 / No), the user has reached the upper limit of storage boxes that are permitted to be stored and is not permitted to store any new items in the storage boxes, so the control unit 11 displays "Storage of items is not permitted" on the display unit 14 and terminates the operation.

[0110] On the other hand, in step S207, if the control unit 11 determines that the "current upper limit of storage quantity" of the identified user is greater than the "current storage quantity" (step S207 / Yes), it refers to the storage box DB122 to extract information on the storage box usage status, generates screen information indicating the storage box usage status, and displays the generated screen information indicating the storage box usage status on the display unit 14 (step S208).

[0111] FIG. 19 is a diagram showing an example of screen information showing the usage status of a storage box in the first embodiment of the present invention. In the example shown in the figure, among the storage boxes in the storage device 10, storage boxes that are currently available for storage and storage boxes that are currently being stored but cannot be stored are shown in different colors, so that the delivery person can see which storage box the item can be stored in.

[0112] The delivery person checks the contents of the screen information showing the usage status of the storage boxes displayed on the display unit 14, and operates the operation unit 15 to select any one of the storage boxes available for storage (step S209).

[0113] The control unit 11 unlocks the storage box selected by the delivery person (step S210). When the delivery person places the user's item in the unlocked storage box and closes the door, the control unit 11 locks the storage box in which the item has been placed (step S211).

[0114] Next, the control unit 11 updates the corresponding items in the storage box DB 122 and the usage history DB 124 (step S212).

[0115] In step S212, the control unit 11 updates the “Usage Status” field of the storage box in which the user's item has been stored in the storage box DB 122 from “Unused” to “In Use,” and registers the user ID of the user of the stored item in the “User ID” field. Furthermore, the control unit 11 uses a timing function to measure the staying time, and registers or updates the measured staying time in the "staying time" field of the storage box DB 122 at predetermined intervals. If the registered or updated residence time exceeds a predetermined residence excess reference time, the control unit 11 registers "exceeded" in the "residence excess reference time" field of the storage box DB122.

[0116] In step S212, the control unit 11 registers the corresponding box number in the "Box Number" field of the storage box in which the user's items are stored in the usage history DB 124, registers the current time measured in the "Entry / Exit Time" field, and registers the type of entry or exit (here, entry) in the "Entry / Exit" field. In addition, the control unit 11 registers the delivery company ID of the delivery person who authenticated and stored the user's goods in the ``Recipient ID'' field in the usage history DB 124, and registers the user ID of the user of the stored goods in the ``Sender ID / Planned Sender ID'' field.

[0117] Next, the control unit 11 refers to the user DB 121 and extracts the contact information of the user associated with the "room number" input in step S205. Then, the control unit 11 generates a receipt notification, which is information indicating that the item addressed to the user has been stored in the storage equipment 10 (step S213).

[0118] For example, the inventory notification may include items such as "a message informing the user that their items have been stored in the storage device 10," "a message encouraging the user to remove their items as soon as possible," "time of arrival," "location of the stored storage device 10," "box number of the stored storage box," "user's name," and "user's room number."

[0119] Next, the communication unit 13 of the storage equipment 10 transmits the generated entry notice to the management server 20 (step S214).

[0120] When the management server 20 receives the arrival notification from the storage equipment 10, it refers to the user DB 221, identifies the user based on the “room number” included in the arrival notification, extracts the contact information (email address, etc.) of the identified user, and transmits the arrival notification to the user terminal 30 indicated in the contact information of the user (step S215). In step S215, the timing at which the management server 20 transmits the inventory notification to the user terminal 30 is not particularly limited. For example, the management server 20 may transmit each incoming notification received from the storage equipment 10 to the corresponding user terminal 30, or may temporarily store the incoming notifications received from the storage equipment 10 in the information storage unit 22 and then transmit the one or more accumulated incoming notifications collectively to the corresponding user terminal 30 after a predetermined time has elapsed.

[0121] When the communication unit 33 of the user terminal 30 receives the inventory notification from the management server 20, the display unit 34 displays the inventory notification (step S216).

[0122] FIG. 20 is a diagram showing an example of a stock notification displayed on the user terminal 30 in the first embodiment of the present invention. The example storage notification in the figure includes a "message notifying the user that their item has been stored in the storage device 10," "the location of the stored storage device 10," "the box number of the stored storage box," and "the time of storage." In addition, the inventory notification in the example shown in the figure includes a "message informing users that in addition to the items of the user who has been notified of the current inventory, there are items of other users in inventory," "the user's current maximum inventory quantity," and "the number of items currently in inventory for the user." As shown in the example in the figure, if the "number of the user's items currently in stock" is equal to or greater than the "user's current maximum number of items in stock," new items cannot be stored for the user unless the user's currently in stock items are removed, so the stock notification may include a "message encouraging the user to remove their items as soon as possible."

[0123] The user checks the contents of the displayed storage notice, moves to the location of the storage equipment 10 where the user's item was stored, and removes the user's item.

[0124] The contents of the storage notice are not limited to the above example, so long as the purpose of the storage notice is to notify the user that an item has been stored in the storage equipment 10.

[0125] As described above, when a delivery person attempts to store a user's items in the storage equipment 10, the storage equipment 10 judges whether or not to permit the delivery person to store new items of the user based on the user's current upper limit of the number of items that can be stored. If the upper limit is exceeded, the storage equipment 10 prohibits the delivery person from storing new items, and if the number is equal to or less than the upper limit, the storage equipment 10 permits the delivery of new items. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a particular user from monopolizing the storage boxes of the storage equipment 10, and to eliminate a sense of inequality among users. In particular, the storage equipment 10 determines a lower upper limit on the number of items to be stored for users whose residence time is equal to or longer than the specified time compared to users whose residence time is shorter than the specified time, which increases the chance that items of users whose residence time is equal to or longer than the specified time will not be stored. This makes it possible to effectively encourage the user to remove his / her own items from the storage device 10 in a short period of time.

[0126] (3) Item removal from storage FIG. 21 is a flow chart showing the flow of operations performed by the storage equipment 10 when a user unloads his / her own item (delivery addressed to the user) stored in the storage equipment 10 in the first embodiment of the present invention. Below, with reference to this figure, as an example, we will explain the operation of the storage system when a user removes his / her own item (delivery item addressed to the user) that has been stored in storage equipment 10 by a delivery company from the storage box and takes it out.

[0127] As described above, after checking the contents of the storage notice using the user terminal 30, the user moves to the installation location of the storage equipment 10 indicated in the storage notice in order to retrieve his / her item.

[0128] The display unit 14 of the storage equipment 10 displays a "user selection screen" (FIG. 17). When the user selects the "User" icon on the user selection screen, the display unit 14, under the control of the control unit 11, displays an "authentication input screen" that prompts the user to input authentication information (step S301).

[0129] In the following example, the user's authentication information will be explained as a combination of a room number and a password, but it may be a user ID instead of a room number, or both a room number and a user ID, or any other information that can identify the user. For example, the method of inputting the user's authentication information may be such that an IC card on which the room number and password are recorded is read by a reader provided on the operation unit 15 of the storage equipment 10 via short-distance wireless communication. The user may also use various keys provided on the operation unit 15 to input the room number and password.

[0130] The user inputs the user's authentication information into the storage equipment 10 in accordance with the displayed contents of the "authentication input screen" (step S302).

[0131] The control unit 11 refers to the user DB 123 and authenticates the user based on the room number and password included in the input user authentication information (step S303). For example, the control unit 11 determines that the authentication was successful if the room number and password are registered in correspondence with each other in the user DB 123, and determines that the authentication was unsuccessful if the room number and password are not registered in correspondence with each other.

[0132] If the control unit 11 determines that the authentication has failed (step S303 / No), it does not permit the user to use the storage equipment 10 (retrieval work) and ends the operation.

[0133] On the other hand, if the control unit 11 determines that the authentication is successful (Yes in step S303), the display unit 14 displays the "entry / exit selection screen" under the control of the control unit 11 (step S304). The entry / exit selection screen can be used by the user to select entry or exit of an item. The selection screen for entering and leaving the warehouse may be similar to the example shown in FIG.

[0134] The user operates the operation unit 15 of the storage equipment 10 to select and input either "enter" or "take out" on the entry / exit selection screen (step S305). In this example, the user presses the "Remove" button to remove the user's goods (delivery addressed to the user) from the storage equipment 10.

[0135] Next, the control unit 11 refers to the storage box DB 122 and unlocks the storage box in which the item of the successfully authenticated user is stored (step S306). The user removes his / her items from the unlocked storage box. The storage box may be automatically locked when the user closes the door of the storage box after removing the item.

[0136] Next, the control unit 11 updates the corresponding items in the storage box DB 122 and the usage history DB 124 (step S307).

[0137] In step S307, the control unit 11 updates the "usage status" field of the storage box in which the user's item has been stored in the storage box DB 122 from "in use" to "unused," and deletes the user ID from the "user ID" field. Furthermore, the control unit 11 deletes the staying time registered in the “staying time” field of the storage box DB 122. If "excessive" is registered in the "staying time" field of the storage box DB 122, the control unit 11 deletes the registration of this "excessive".

[0138] In step S307, the control unit 11 registers the corresponding box number in the "Box Number" field of the storage box from which the user's items were removed in the usage history DB 124, registers the current time measured in the "Entry / Exit Time" field, and registers the type of entry or exit (here, exit) in the "Entry / Exit" field. The control unit 11 registers the user ID of the user of the shipped item in the “Sender ID / Scheduled Seller ID” field in the usage history DB 124. In addition, the control unit 11 registers the delivery company ID of the delivery person who received the user's items in the ``Receiver ID'' field, and registers the work number of the receiving work corresponding to this unloading work in the ``Receiving work number'' field. This completes the operation.

[0139] As described above, when a user removes his / her items from the storage equipment 10, the storage equipment 10 determines the retention time of the removed items (stops timing the retention time) and stops the reduction of the user's upper limit on the number of items that can be stored, thereby efficiently encouraging the user to remove his / her items from the storage equipment 10 as soon as possible.

[0140] In addition, if there are multiple storage boxes containing items for a user with the same user ID, the operations of steps S306 and S307 may be performed for each storage box one by one (each time a storage box belonging to a delivery person is locked, the storage boxes belonging to the other delivery people are unlocked). Also, a plurality of storage boxes in charge of delivery (shipping) may be unlocked collectively (step S306), and the contents of each database may be updated (step S307).

[0141] (Summary of the first embodiment) As described above, according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the storage equipment 10 automatically determines the number of storage boxes that each user can store simultaneously (upper limit of storage capacity) based on the residence time of each user's items. In particular, the shorter the residence time of each user, the higher the upper limit of the number of items that can be stored in the storage equipment 10 is set, which effectively encourages users to remove their own items from the storage equipment 10 early and prevents certain users from exclusively using the storage boxes of the storage equipment 10, thereby eliminating the sense of unfairness felt by other users due to such exclusive use.

[0142] The storage device 10 determines the upper limit of the number of items that can be stored based on the average residence time of each user, so that the earlier a user removes his / her items from the storage device 10, the higher the upper limit of the number of items that can be stored is maintained, effectively encouraging the user to remove items early.

[0143] Furthermore, when a user's residence time exceeds the excessive residence time standard time, the storage device 10 determines to reduce the upper limit of the number of items that can be stored, regardless of the average residence time of the user, thereby effectively preventing a user from occupying a storage box for a long period of time.

[0144] (Modification of the first embodiment) In the first embodiment of the present invention, a part of the operations performed by the storage equipment 10 can be executed by an external device of the storage equipment 10, for example, the management server 20, instead of the storage equipment 10, as described below.

[0145] The operation of determining the upper limit of storage quantity in steps S101 to S106 may be performed by the management server 20 instead of the storage equipment 10. In this case, the management server 20 transmits information on the determined upper limit of the storage quantity to the storage equipment 10, and synchronizes the information.

[0146] When the authentication information of the delivery company is entered in step S202, the storage equipment 10 may transmit the authentication information of the delivery company to the management server 20, and the control unit 21 of the management server 20 may perform authentication by referring to the user information in the user DB 221 stored in the information storage unit 22, and transmit the authentication result to the storage equipment 10.

[0147] When the user authentication information is entered in step S302, the storage equipment 10 may transmit the user authentication information to the management server 20, and the control unit 21 of the management server 20 may perform authentication by referring to the user information in the user DB 223 stored in the information storage unit 22, and transmit the authentication result to the storage equipment 10.

[0148] If it is determined in step S206 that there is a storage box available, the storage equipment 10 may transmit information identifying the user (user ID or room number) to the management server 20, and the control unit 21 of the management server 20 may refer to the inventory management DB 225 stored in the information storage unit 22 and determine whether or not the user can use a storage box in the storage equipment 10 based on the user's current upper limit inventory number and the current inventory number, and transmit the determination result to the storage equipment 10.

[0149] In steps S214 and S215, the storage equipment 10 sends the inventory notification to the user terminal 30 via the management server 20, but it may also be configured to send the inventory notification by email to a general mail server, and then send the inventory notification to the user terminal 30 via the mail server. In this case, the storage system may be configured not to have the management server 20.

[0150] In addition, in this embodiment, the storage equipment 10 notifies the user in the inventory notification of the current upper limit of inventory quantity, the current inventory quantity, and that items belonging to other users other than the item targeted by the inventory notification are currently in inventory, but the notification may be made by a notification other than the inventory notification.

[0151] The order of the operations of the storage system may be reversed.

[0152] If there is no need to change the contents of each database in the storage system, the storage system may be configured not to have an administrator terminal 40.

[0153] <Summary of the embodiment> As described above, in the storage system according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the storage equipment 10 determines the number of storage boxes that each user can store simultaneously (upper limit of storage capacity) based on the amount of time each user keeps their items. In particular, the shorter the residence time of each user, the higher the upper limit of the number of items that can be stored in the storage equipment 10 is set, which effectively encourages users to remove their own items from the storage equipment 10 early and prevents certain users from exclusively using the storage boxes of the storage equipment 10, thereby eliminating the sense of unfairness felt by other users due to such exclusive use.

[0154] The storage equipment 10, management server 20, user terminal 30, and administrator terminal 40 are realized mainly by the CPU and the programs loaded into the memory. However, it is also possible to configure these devices or servers with any other combination of hardware and software, and the high degree of freedom in design is easily understood by those skilled in the art.

[0155] Furthermore, when the above-mentioned storage device 10, management server 20, user terminal 30 or administrator terminal 40 is configured as a group of software modules, this program may be recorded on a recording medium such as an optical recording medium, a magnetic recording medium, a magneto-optical recording medium, or a semiconductor, and may be loaded from the above-mentioned recording medium, or may be loaded from an external device connected via a specified network.

[0156] The above embodiment is one example of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and the embodiment of the present invention is not limited to this, and can be implemented in various modified forms without departing from the gist of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0157] 10 Storage device 11, 21, 31, 41 Control section 12, 22, 32, 42 Information storage section 13, 23, 33, 43 Communications Department 14,34,44 Display section 15,35,45 Operation section 16 Storage area 161~167 Storage box 20 Management Server 30 User terminals 40 Administrator terminal 100 Network 121,221 User DB 122,222 Storage Box DB 123,223 Delivery company DB 124,224 Usage history DB 125,225 Warehouse management DB

Claims

1. A storage device including a storage box for temporarily storing items of a user, including items delivered to the user or items stored by the user, an information storage unit that stores an upper limit storage number indicating an upper limit of the number of the storage boxes that can simultaneously store items of the same user for each user; a control unit that measures a retention time that has elapsed since the item delivered to the user was stored in the storage box, The storage device is characterized in that the control unit determines the upper limit of the storage quantity based on the residence time.

2. 2. The storage device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit reduces the upper limit of the number of items that can be stored for a user whose average residence time is equal to or longer than a predetermined value.

3. 2. The storage device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit increases the upper limit of the number of items that can be stored for a user whose average staying time is less than a predetermined value.

4. the information storage unit stores a retention excess reference time indicating a predetermined retention time, 2. The storage device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit reduces the upper limit of the number of items that can be stored by a user whose residence time exceeds the reference residence time.

5. A storage device including a storage box for temporarily storing items of a user, including items delivered to the user or items stored by the user, and a user terminal operated by the user, The storage device includes an information storage unit that stores an upper limit storage number indicating an upper limit of the number of the storage boxes that can simultaneously store items of the same user for each user; a communication unit that transmits to the user terminal a receipt notification indicating that the item delivered to the user has been received in the storage box; a control unit that measures a retention time that has elapsed since the item delivered to the user was stored in the storage box, A storage system characterized in that the control unit determines the maximum storage quantity based on the residence time.

6. 6. The storage system according to claim 5, wherein the communication unit transmits the storage notification including information indicating the user's current upper limit on storage quantity to the user terminal.

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