Product handover system

Abstract

To ensure that efficiency in dealing with orders is improved.SOLUTION: A product handover system with which a reserved product is handed over to a customer through storing the reserved product which has been reserved to be collected in a storage compartment of a locker for product handover includes display means which displays reservation information regarding the reserved product and storage compartment information regarding the storage compartment of the locker.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a product delivery system. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art A product delivery system is known in which products cooked in response to orders made by customers using their smartphones are delivered to the customers via a delivery box (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 6243076 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In a product delivery system such as that described above, it is required to improve the efficiency of handling orders.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has an object to improve the efficiency of handling orders. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] One aspect of the present invention for solving the above-mentioned problems is a product delivery system in which reserved products that have been reserved for pick-up are delivered to a customer by storing the reserved products in a storage opening of a product delivery locker, and the product delivery system is equipped with a display means for displaying reservation information regarding the reserved products and storage opening information regarding the storage opening of the locker. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the overall configuration of a product delivery system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] 4A to 4C are diagrams showing examples of a product selection screen, an option ordering screen, and a product confirmation screen displayed on a customer terminal device in this embodiment. [Diagram 3] 13A to 13C are diagrams showing examples of an online payment screen and an order confirmation screen displayed on a customer terminal device in this embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the state of a customer service area in a store in this embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the appearance of a product locker in this embodiment. [Figure 6] 13A to 13C are diagrams showing examples of a waiting screen and a guidance screen displayed on the product locker in this embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of an online order handling screen displayed on the store clerk order management device in the present embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of an online order handling screen displayed on the store clerk order management device in the present embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of an online order handling screen displayed on the store clerk order management device in the present embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a store order management server in the present embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a product locker in the present embodiment. [Figure 12] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a store clerk order management device according to the present embodiment. [Figure 13] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a customer terminal device in the present embodiment. [Figure 14] 11 is a flowchart showing an example of a process performed by the store order management server, the store clerk order management device, and the product locker in this embodiment in relation to receiving an online order. [Figure 15] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of online order information in the present embodiment. [Figure 16] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of online order receipt information in the present embodiment. [Figure 17] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of product storage management information in the present embodiment. [Figure 18] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of an online order handling screen in a second modified example of the present embodiment. [Figure 19] FIG. 23 is a diagram showing an example of a product characteristic table in the eighth modified example. [Figure 20] FIG. 23 is a diagram showing an example of a cooking characteristic definition table in the eighth modified example. [Figure 21] FIG. 23 is a diagram showing an example of a temperature characteristic definition table in the eighth modified example. [Figure 22] FIG. 23 is a diagram showing an example of a storage opening size management table in a tenth modified example. [Figure 23] FIG. 23 is a diagram illustrating an example of the overall configuration of a product delivery system in a twelfth modified example. [Figure 24] FIG. 23 is a diagram showing an example of an online order handling screen in the 12th modified example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0008] <Embodiment> [Example of product delivery system configuration] Fig. 1 shows an example of the overall configuration of a product delivery system according to this embodiment. The product delivery system in the figure includes a store order management server 10, a POS terminal device 20, a product locker 30, and a store clerk order management device 40 in a store ST. The product delivery system also includes a customer terminal device 50 used by a customer CS. The product delivery system also includes an order management server 60.

[0009] The type of business of the store ST in this embodiment is not particularly limited, but in the following description, an example will be given in which the store ST is, for example, a cafeteria, and sells food and drink as merchandise.

[0010] The customer terminal device 50 is a terminal device used by the customer CS to order food and beverage products provided at the store ST. The customer terminal device 50 may be a portable terminal device such as a smartphone or a tablet terminal. An order application is installed in the customer terminal device 50. The customer terminal device 50 on which the order application runs communicates with the order management server 60 via a network.

[0011] A customer CS can place an order and settle (pay) for the ordered items even if the customer CS is in a location remote from the store ST by operating the customer terminal device 50 that he or she owns. An order placed by operating the customer terminal device 50 is performed as an operation on an order application running on the customer terminal device 50.

[0012] The order management server 60 is communicatively connected to the customer terminal device 50. The order management server 60 accepts product orders from the customer CS in response to communication with the customer terminal device 50 on which the customer CS operates the order. The order management server 60 transmits online order information indicating the content of the accepted order to the store order management server 10 of the store ST. In response to the store order management server 10 receiving the online order information transmitted in this manner, the product order placed by the customer CS by operating the customer terminal device 50 is transmitted to the store ST.

[0013] The store order management server 10 is a server that manages orders received from customers CS at the store ST. The store order management server 10 manages orders placed by customers CS operating customer terminal devices 50 based on product transaction reservation information received from the order management server 60.

[0014] The store order management server 10 may also be capable of managing orders received from customers CS by store clerks operating the POS terminal devices 20 in the store ST.

[0015] In the following explanation, an order made by a customer CS operating a customer terminal device 50 may be referred to as an online order, and an order received by a store clerk at the store ST from a customer CS operating a POS terminal device 20 may be referred to as an offline order.

[0016] The store order management server 10 may be capable of managing transaction records for online orders by storing transaction records for online orders. Furthermore, the store order management server 10 may be capable of managing transaction records for all orders received at the store ST by storing transaction records for offline orders in addition to transaction records for online orders. Alternatively, such transaction records may be managed by a transaction management device other than the store order management server 10.

[0017] The POS terminal device 20 executes a product registration process according to a product registration operation in response to an order received from a customer CS at the store ST, and a settlement (payment) process for the product registered by the product registration process.

[0018] The product locker 30 is a piece of equipment (device) used to deliver ordered products to the customer CS. The product locker 30 is connected to the store order management server 10 so as to be able to communicate with each other.

[0019] The clerk order management device 40 is a terminal device used by a clerk to manage online orders when providing products in response to online orders. The clerk order management device 40 of this embodiment is a portable terminal device such as a tablet terminal. The clerk order management device 40 may be a stationary terminal device.

[0020] The store clerk order management device 40 displays the online orders received by the store ST based on the online order information transmitted from the store order management server 10. The store clerk checks the online orders displayed on the store clerk order management device 40 and prepares products according to each online order. The store clerk stores the prepared products in an empty storage opening among the multiple storage openings in the product locker 30. In the product delivery system of this embodiment, the products stored in the storage openings of the product locker 30 are managed in association with the storage opening in which the product is stored.

[0021] A customer CS who visits a store displays a receipt certification code on the customer terminal device 50 that he or she carries. The receipt certification code indicates the order number (order identification number) corresponding to the online order that the customer placed. The receipt certification code is, for example, a two-dimensional code, but may also be a one-dimensional code (barcode). The customer CS operates the code reader of the product locker 30 to read the receipt verification code displayed on the customer terminal device. The product locker 30 unlocks the door on the customer side of the storage opening in which the product corresponding to the order number indicated by the receipt verification code read by the code reader is stored. When unlocking, the door automatically rotates to a completely open state by a mechanism provided on the hinge part of the door. Therefore, the customer CS can take out the product stored in the storage opening without touching the door of the storage opening. In this way, the product delivery system of this embodiment can deliver the product ordered by online ordering to the customer CS. By configuring the door to be automatically opened in this way, the customer can take out the product without touching the door, so there is no psychological anxiety of "I don't want to touch a door that has been touched by an unspecified number of people." After the door is opened, it may be controlled to close automatically by a drive mechanism or the like, or it may be closed by a customer or a store clerk as described below.

[0022] [Online ordering procedure] An example of a procedure for an online order made by a customer using the customer terminal device 50 will be described with reference to Figs. When placing an online order, a customer launches an ordering application on customer terminal device 50. The customer operates customer terminal device 50 with the ordering application launched to display a product selection screen on the display unit of customer terminal device 50. The product selection screen is a screen for selecting the product to be ordered (reserved product). In the following explanation, an example will be given in which the display unit of customer terminal device 50 is a touch panel display unit that allows operation with an operating object such as a finger on the display surface.

[0023] Fig. 2(A) shows an example of a product selection screen displayed on the customer terminal device 50. The product selection screen in the figure has a category selection area AR1 and a product list area AR2. The category selection area AR1 is an area where an operation to select a product category is performed. The product list area AR2 is an area where a list of products (menus) included in the category selected by an operation in the category selection area AR1 is presented. A customer operates the category selection area AR1 to select a category. A list of products included in the category selected in the category selection area AR1 is presented in the product list area AR2. The customer performs an operation (product selection operation) to select a list item of the product they wish to order from the products presented in the product list area AR2. In response to the product selection operation, the display on the touch panel display unit of the customer terminal device 50 transitions from the product selection screen to an option ordering screen.

[0024] FIG. 2(B) shows an example of an option ordering screen. The selected item is presented in a selected item confirmation area AR11 of the option ordering screen. The option ordering screen also has an option area AR12. The option area AR12 is an area where the setting of an option order corresponding to the selected item is performed. An option order is a supplementary order related to the selected item. In the option area AR12 of the same figure, since the selected item is a hamburger set, it is possible to set whether pickles, ketchup, and onions are required as an option order, and to select the size of a drink and fries to be included in the set. The product price area AR13 on the option ordering screen displays the price of the selected product that reflects the option ordering settings.

[0025] When the customer sets the option order, the customer operates the cart button BT11 located at the bottom right of the option order screen. In response to the operation of the cart button BT11, the selected product is added to the cart (provisionally registered) with the contents of the set option order reflected, and the display on the touch panel display unit of the customer terminal device 50 returns to the product selection screen (FIG. 2(A)). A cart information area AR3 is located at the bottom left of the product selection screen. The cart information area AR3 shows the number of products currently added to the cart and the total price of the products added to the cart. After this, the customer can select the next product by performing the same operations as above, order options as necessary, and add the products to the cart.

[0026] When the customer places all the products he / she wishes to order in the cart, he / she operates the order confirmation button BT1 located at the bottom right of the product selection screen (FIG. 2(A)) while the product selection screen is displayed. In response to the operation of the order confirmation button BT1, the display on the touch panel display unit of the customer terminal device 50 transitions from the product selection screen to the product confirmation screen.

[0027] 2(C) shows an example of the product confirmation screen, which includes a cart product confirmation area AR21, a payment method selection area AR22, an eat-in / take-out selection area AR23, a store visit time setting area AR24, a store confirmation area AR25, a price confirmation area AR26, and an order button BT22.

[0028] The cart item confirmation area AR21 is an area where the items added to the cart are displayed. A delete button BT21 is arranged in the cart product confirmation area AR21. When a customer wishes to cancel a product that has been added to the cart, the customer operates the delete button BT21.

[0029] The payment method selection area AR22 is an area where the customer can select the payment method for the items in the cart: online payment using the customer terminal device 50, or in-store payment at the POS terminal device 20 when the customer visits the store ST. In the example shown in the figure, the payment method is selected by operating either the button corresponding to online payment or the button corresponding to in-store payment, but the manner of operation for selecting the payment method is not particularly limited, for example, selection from a pull-down menu, etc. This point is also the same for the eat-in / take-out selection area AR23.

[0030] The eat-in / take-out selection area AR23 is an area where an operation is performed to select whether to eat in or take out the items in the cart after receiving them at the store ST. In addition, if the consumption tax rate differs depending on whether eat-in or take-out is selected, the amount of consumption tax and the total amount including the consumption tax shown in the amount confirmation area AR26 may change depending on whether eat-in or take-out is selected by operating the eat-in / take-out selection area AR23.

[0031] The store arrival time setting area AR24 is an area where an operation for setting a store arrival time is performed.

[0032] The store confirmation area AR25 is an area in which the store ST from which the order is to be placed is displayed. In the store confirmation area AR25, for example, the name of the store registered by the customer through a pre-registering operation is displayed. Note that the store confirmation area AR25 may be configured to allow an operation to specify the store from which the order is to be placed.

[0033] The price confirmation area AR26 is an area that displays price information related to the products in the cart. For example, the price confirmation area AR26 displays the subtotal amount, consumption tax amount, rounding adjustment amount, and total amount of the products in the cart.

[0034] A customer can check whether the products he or she selected are correct by looking at the products displayed in the cart product confirmation area AR21 on the product confirmation screen. The customer then selects either online payment or payment at the store as the payment method by operating the payment method selection area AR22. The customer also selects either eat-in or take-out by operating the eat-in / take-out selection area AR23. The customer also specifies the time of arrival by operating the arrival time setting area AR24. The customer can also check the store to order from and the price of the products by looking at the store confirmation area AR25 and the price confirmation area AR26. Then, the customer operates the order button BT22 to order the item in the cart.

[0035] When the order button BT22 is operated, if online payment has been selected as the payment method by operating the payment method selection area AR22, an online payment screen is displayed on the touch panel display unit of the customer terminal device 50. Fig. 3(A) shows an example of the online payment screen. The online payment screen in this figure is used to perform an operation to execute a payment using a pre-registered credit card. In the case of the online payment screen in this figure, a payment button BT25 is arranged. When the payment button BT25 is operated, online payment is performed using a credit card.

[0036] In response to the completion of online payment by operating the payment button BT25 on the online payment screen, the touch panel display unit of the customer terminal device 50 transitions to display an order confirmation screen. Also, when store payment is selected as the payment method by operating the payment method selection area AR22 and then the order button BT22 is operated on the product confirmation screen, the display transitions to the order confirmation screen.

[0037] 3B shows an example of the order confirmation screen. The order confirmation screen in the figure has an order details confirmation area AR41. In the order details confirmation area AR41, an order number that uniquely identifies the current order, the name of the ordered product, the store to which the order was placed, the time of arrival, etc. are displayed.

[0038] Additionally, on the order confirmation screen, an additional order button BT41 and a cancel order button BT42 are arranged. When an order is confirmed but there is an additional product that the customer wishes to order, the customer operates the additional order button BT41. In response to the operation of the additional order button BT41, the display on the touch panel display unit of the customer terminal device 50 returns to, for example, a product selection screen, and the customer can select the additional product. Alternatively, if the customer has confirmed an order but has changed his mind and wishes to cancel the order, the customer can cancel the confirmed order by operating the order cancellation button BT42.

[0039] The order confirmation screen also includes a pickup guidance area AR42. In the pickup guidance area AR42, a message is displayed instructing the customer to have the code reader of the product locker 30 at the ordering store ST read the pickup certification code, and the pickup certification code is also displayed.

[0040] In this way, a customer who places an online order will arrive at the store ST around the time he or she has designated.

[0041] [An example of a customer service area in a store] FIG. 4 shows an example of the customer service area in an ordering store ST. In the customer service area shown in the figure, a POS terminal device 20 and a product locker 30 are installed on the same counter CT. In the customer service area shown in the figure, the location corresponding to the position of the counter CT where the POS terminal device 20 is installed is the face-to-face customer service area FL1. In the face-to-face customer service area FL1, a store clerk receives orders directly from customers, operates the POS terminal device 20 to register the ordered products, settles the payment for the registered products, and delivers the ordered products to the customers.

[0042] The location of the product locker 30 in the counter CT is the product pick-up area FL2. The product pick-up area FL2 is a location where a customer who has placed an online order can pick up the product by removing it from the storage opening of the product locker 30 themselves.

[0043] If the customer has already paid online when placing an online order, the customer may proceed to the product locker 30 without making payment using the POS terminal device 20 in the face-to-face customer service area FL1.

[0044] On the other hand, if the customer selected in-store payment as the payment method when placing an online order, the store clerk makes the payment in the face-to-face customer service area FL1. In this case, the customer displays a pick-up certification code indicating the order number on the customer terminal device 50 on which an ordering application runs, for example, and presents it to the store clerk. The store clerk performs an operation to have the pick-up certification code read by a code reader connected to the POS terminal device 20. The POS terminal device 20 obtains order information corresponding to the order number indicated by the read pick-up certification code from the store order management server 10. The store order management server 10 obtains order information corresponding to the online order placed by the customer on the customer terminal device 50 from the order management server 60.

[0045] The POS terminal 20 uses the acquired order information to execute a payment process in response to the operation of the store clerk. After completing the payment in the face-to-face customer service area FL1 in this manner, the customer moves to the front of the product locker 30 in the product pick-up area FL2.

[0046] [Examples of product locker appearances and customer usage] Figures 5(A) and 5(B) show examples of the exterior of the product locker 30. Figure 5(A) is a perspective view of the product locker 30 seen from the rear side. Figure 5(B) is a perspective view of the product locker 30 seen from the front side. The rear side of the product locker 30 faces the store clerk who stores the ordered products in the product locker 30. The front side of the product locker 30 faces the customer who receives the ordered products.

[0047] As shown in Figures 5(A) and 5(B), the product locker 30 in the figure has six storage openings 361 (361-1 to 361-6). In the case of the figure, the storage openings 361 are arranged so that there are three storage openings 361 in each of the upper and lower rows. Storage openings 361-1 to 361-6 are assigned storage opening numbers 1 to 6, respectively. In accordance with this assignment of storage opening numbers, when product locker 30 is viewed from the rear, as shown in Fig. 5(A), upper storage openings 361 are assigned numbers "1" to "3" from right to left, and lower storage openings 361 are assigned numbers "4" to "6" from right to left.

[0048] The number of storage openings 361 in the product locker 30 and the arrangement of the storage openings 361 are not particularly limited.

[0049] As shown in FIG. 5(A), the back side of the storage opening 361 is open and no door or the like is provided. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5(B), doors 362 (362-1 to 362-6) are provided on the front side of each of the storage openings 361 (361-1 to 361-6). The doors 362 are provided with, for example, handles 364 (364-1 to 364-6 (handle 364-1 is not shown because door 362-1 is in an open state)). For example, when the door 362 is in an open state, a customer, a store clerk, or the like can push the handle 364 with his or her hand to close the door 362 from the front side. In this embodiment, the door 362 operates to be in an open state in response to being unlocked, so that the handle 364 does not need to have a part to be held by hand to open the door 362. Also, each door 362 is provided with a lock. Therefore, the door 362 cannot be opened in a locked state, but can be opened in an unlocked state. As described above, the door 362 may be operated to open in response to being unlocked. When the door 362 is closed, it is recessed by a predetermined distance from the plane corresponding to the front panel of the product locker 30. Therefore, even if the handle portion 364 is provided to protrude from the door 362, it can be made so that it does not protrude forward from the plane corresponding to the front panel, or protrudes only slightly.

[0050] 5(B), indicators 363 (363-1 to 363-6) are provided for each storage opening 361 (361-1 to 361-6) on the front side of the product locker 30. The indicators 363 notify the status of the door 362 of the corresponding storage opening 361, for example, by lighting up in a predetermined pattern. The indicator may also be installed on the back side. Also, an interior light may be provided on the top surface or the like of each storage opening 361, and this interior light may be used as an indicator. The interior light is for illuminating the inside of the storage opening 361. Depending on whether the interior light is on or not, it is possible to visually confirm whether an item is stored in the storage opening 361 or whether it is empty. The lighting state of the interior light in such a storage opening 361 can be visually confirmed from both the front side (customer side) and the back side (clerk side). By looking at the lighting state of the interior light, a customer can quickly and accurately know which storage opening 361 contains his / her product. By looking at the lighting state of the interior light, a clerk can quickly and accurately know where to store the product he / she needs to store. In addition, the indicator and the interior light may be used together, or the indicator may be omitted and all notifications that can be provided by the indicator may be realized by turning on the interior light.

[0051] As shown in FIG. 5(B), a touch panel display unit 305 is provided on the front panel on the right side of the product locker 30. The touch panel display unit 305 displays information regarding product pick-up instructions for customers, and also accepts operations by customers in response to product pick-up. A code reader 306 is provided on the lower side of the front panel on the right side of the product locker 30. The code reader 306 reads the pickup verification code displayed on the customer terminal device 50. The information indicated by the pickup verification code displayed on the customer terminal device 50 includes an order number that identifies the online order placed by the customer.

[0052] In the example of the figure, the code reader 306 is disposed at a position that is behind the plane corresponding to the front panel of the product locker 30. In other words, in the example of the figure, the lower right part of the front of the housing of the product locker 30 is formed to be behind the plane of the front panel, and the code reader 306 is disposed in the part thus formed. This makes it possible, for example, to prevent the code reader 306 from protruding from the front panel of the product locker 30.

[0053] In this way, when the door 362 of the product locker 30 is closed, there are no large protruding parts on the entire front side, including the aforementioned handle 364. This makes it possible to prevent clothes, belongings, etc. from getting caught on protruding parts from the front side of the product locker 30, for example, when a customer passes in front of the product locker 30.

[0054] When the product ordered online is ready, the store clerk stores the prepared product from the rear side of the storage opening 361. In the same figure, the product FD ordered online by the customer is shown stored in the storage opening 361-1 in a state where it is placed in, for example, a paper bag.

[0055] When a customer approaches the product locker 30, the product locker 30 is in a standby state waiting for the customer to unlock the door. In the standby state, a standby screen is displayed on the touch panel display unit 305 of the product locker 30.

[0056] 6(A) shows an example of a standby screen displayed on the touch panel display unit 305 of the product locker 30. The standby screen in the figure displays a message and an image instructing the customer to perform a touch operation on the touch panel display unit 305 before starting to pick up the product. The customer who is to pick up the product then performs a touch operation on the touch panel display unit 305.

[0057] In response to a touch operation on touch panel display unit 305, the display on touch panel display unit 305 transitions to a guidance screen, for example, as shown in Fig. 6(B) . On the guidance screen in the figure, a message and an image are displayed to guide the customer to perform an operation to have code reader 306 read the pick-up certification code. Then, the customer operates his / her own customer terminal device 50 to display the pickup certification code indicating the order number corresponding to this online order on the customer terminal device 50. For example, the order application running on the customer terminal device 50 may obtain the pickup certification code from the order management server 60, and display the obtained pickup certification code. Alternatively, the customer terminal device 50 may open the order completion notification email sent to the customer terminal device 50 in response to the completion of the online order, and display the pickup certification code in response to an operation on the link of the pickup certification code described in the email.

[0058] The customer performs an operation to have the code reader 306 of the product locker 30 read the pick-up certification code displayed on the customer terminal device 50 as described above. The product locker 30 notifies the store order management server 10 of the order number indicated by the read pick-up certification code. The store order management server 10 controls the product locker 30 so that the storage opening 361 in which the product corresponding to the notified order number is stored is unlocked. The product locker 30 unlocks the storage opening 361 according to the control of the store order management server 10. In addition, the product locker 30 lights up the indicator 363 corresponding to the unlocked storage opening 361 in a predetermined pattern to notify the customer that the product to be picked up is stored in the corresponding storage opening 361. The customer opens the door 362 corresponding to the lit indicator 363 and takes out the product stored in the storage opening 361. In this way, the customer can pick up the product ordered online at the product locker 30.

[0059] In addition, the guide screen in the figure has a password input button BT51 arranged thereon. There is a possibility that a customer who comes to collect an item ordered online may forget to bring the customer terminal device 50, or the customer terminal device 50 may have a malfunction, making it impossible to display the collection certification code. In such a case, the customer can input a password that has been registered in advance in the order application to unlock the door without having the code reader 306 read the collection certification code. In this case, the customer is made to operate the password input button BT51. When the password input button BT51 is operated, an unlocking operation screen for unlocking the storage opening 361 in which the item is stored by inputting a password is displayed on the touch panel display unit 305. The customer can unlock the door 362 of the storage opening 361 in which the item ordered online is stored, and collect the item from the storage opening 361 by performing operations according to the guidance on the displayed unlocking operation screen.

[0060] In this way, with online ordering, a customer places an order from a location other than the store ST using the customer terminal device 50, and can collect the ordered product by removing the product from the product locker 30 at the store ST. Furthermore, if the customer has made an online payment when placing an online order, when the customer visits the store ST, he or she can go directly to the product locker 30 and pick up the product without meeting a store clerk for payment, etc. In other words, by using online ordering, the customer can carry out a series of actions from ordering to picking up the product without meeting a store clerk. Also, in order to hand over the product, the store clerk only needs to store the product in the storage opening 361 of the product locker 30, and does not need to meet the customer face-to-face. This allows the store clerk to carry out work more efficiently since it is no longer necessary to interrupt their work to serve a customer who has placed an online order and come to the store to pick up the product. In addition, since there is no need for face-to-face interaction between the store clerk and the customer, the delivery of the product can be completed in a short time. In addition, since there is no conversation or exchange of currency between the store clerk and the customer, good hygiene can be maintained. Also, for example, the following operation may be used for the delivery of products ordered online without using product lockers 30. In other words, in a situation where customers who order face-to-face with a store clerk (regular customers) are lining up at a store, when a customer who has placed an online order (online ordering customer) arrives at the store, the customer may be asked to wait at the end of the same line as the regular customers, giving priority to regular customers. However, in such an operation, the online ordering customer may be dissatisfied because it takes extra time to receive the product even though he or she arrives at the store at the scheduled time. Therefore, it is possible to give priority to online customers and, when an online customer arrives at the store, to stop serving regular customers and hand over the product to the online customer. However, in this case, the regular customers who are waiting in line may feel that they have been overtaken by the later customer and may become dissatisfied. In contrast, with the product delivery system of this embodiment, customers who order online do not need to be further assisted by the store clerk who normally assists customers when they collect their products, which prevents any of the above dissatisfaction from occurring. In this way, using the product locker 30 to receive and deliver products ordered online has advantages for both the store and the customer.

[0061] [Example of using the store clerk order management device] In the store ST, a store clerk prepares products in response to online orders and stores the prepared products in storage openings 361 of product lockers 30 for delivery to customers (online order response work). When performing online order response work, the store clerk uses a store clerk order management device 40. Below, with reference to Figs. 7 to 9, an example of how a store clerk uses the store clerk order management device 40 will be described. In the following description, a case will be taken as an example in which the store clerk order management device 40 is a tablet terminal. The store clerk order management device 40 as a tablet terminal is equipped with a touch panel display unit.

[0062] The staff order management device 40 displays an online order handling screen on the touch panel display unit. The online order handling screen is an operation screen used by customers when handling online orders. 7 shows an example of an online order handling screen. An order handling operation area AR20 is arranged on the online order handling screen in the figure. The order response operation area AR20 has an all list tab Tb1, a not stored tab Tb2, a stored tab Tb3, a stored elsewhere tab Tb4, and an excess tab Tb5 arranged in it. In the figure, the all list tab Tb1 is selected, and the order response operation area AR20 shows a state in which list items of online orders corresponding to all statuses are displayed on the order list screen. The order list screen shows a list of online orders for which the store ST is the ordering destination. One list item on the order list screen corresponds to one online order.

[0063] One list item on the order list screen includes fields for order number, status, time of visit, storage period, and number of orders. The order number field displays the order number indicating the corresponding online order. In the figure, the order number is in a three-digit format, but the format of the order number is not particularly limited. For example, the number of digits in the order number may be other than three. Furthermore, the order number may be, for example, a combination of numbers and letters. In the item name field, the name of the product ordered through the corresponding online order is displayed. In the status field, the current situation (status) of the corresponding online order is displayed. In the status field, the status is displayed in text. The status of an online ordered item may be, for example, "uncooked," "not stored," "in storage," "stored elsewhere," "stored / elsewhere," "excess," "discard," "in receipt," or "received."

[0064] The "uncooked" status indicates that cooking has not yet started for the corresponding online order item, and that the item has not been stored in the storage port 361. For example, in the list item at the stage where display starts in response to receipt of an online order, the status indicates "uncooked." The "uncooked" status also functions as an instruction to cook the corresponding item. In other words, the "uncooked" status may be displayed in response to the fact that the store clerk order management device 40 has a cooking instruction function, in order to instruct the store clerk to cook the item in response to receipt of the online order.

[0065] The "not stored" status indicates that the preparation (cooking) of the corresponding online order item has been completed, but the item has not yet been stored in the storage port 361. If the "not cooked" status is not used because the store staff order management device 40 does not have a cooking instruction function, the "not stored" status may include the "not cooked" status. In this case, the status may indicate "not stored" in the list item at the stage when the display begins in response to receiving the online order.

[0066] The "storing" status indicates that preparation (cooking) of the corresponding online ordered item has been completed, and a storage slot 361 for storing the prepared item has been assigned.

[0067] The "stored elsewhere" status refers to a state in which the corresponding online ordered product is stored in a location other than the storage opening 361 of the product locker 30. The "stored elsewhere" status may also include a state in which a product has been removed from the storage opening 361 due to an overage, or a state in which a product is stored in a location other than the storage opening 361 because it does not fit in the storage opening 361 due to its size or other reasons.

[0068] The “storage / elsewhere” status indicates that some of the products prepared in response to the corresponding online order have been allocated to storage port 361, and the remaining products are being stored elsewhere other than storage port 361.

[0069] The "overdue" status indicates that a certain amount of time has passed since the store visit for the corresponding online order. For example, the status of "in storage" or "stored elsewhere" is changed in response to an operation of the store clerk on the online order handling screen. On the other hand, the status of "excess" is changed from another status in response to, for example, the passage of a certain amount of time from the arrival time set in the corresponding online order. The status of "excess" may be changed in response to an operation of the store clerk.

[0070] The status of "discarded" indicates that the corresponding online ordered product has been discarded. For example, the status may be changed to "discarded" by a store clerk in response to removing the corresponding product stored in storage port 361 for disposal. Alternatively, the status of the corresponding product stored in storage port 361 may not be changed to "discarded" unless the product is removed from storage port 361 and stored in another location, and the status is changed to "stored elsewhere". In this case, even if an operation to set the status to "discarded" is performed without going through the status of "stored elsewhere", the operation may not be accepted, and an error may be notified to the store clerk, for example.

[0071] The "receiving" status indicates that the door 362 of the storage opening 361 in which the corresponding online ordered item was stored is unlocked in response to the customer having had the item locker 30 read the pickup verification code.

[0072] The "Received" status indicates that the corresponding online ordered item has been removed from the storage opening 361 with the door 362 unlocked.

[0073] In the status field of the order list screen, any of the above statuses may be displayed depending on the state of the corresponding online order item. In the order list screen of this embodiment, the list item of the item with the "Received" status is erased. Therefore, the "Received" status does not need to be displayed in the status field of the order list screen. However, if a "Received" tab is provided in the order response operation area AR20, an order list screen may be displayed that presents the list items of online orders with the "Received" status in response to operating the "Received" tab.

[0074] In addition, the time when the customer who placed the corresponding online order will come to the store to pick up the order (arrival time) is displayed in the item field of the arrival time on the order list screen. The arrival time is specified by the customer when placing the online order.

[0075] The storage limit field on the order list screen shows the storage limit for the product ordered through the corresponding online order. Specifically, the storage limit field shows the expiration time. The expiration time is the time when a preset predetermined time has elapsed from the time of arrival at the store. In the figure, an example is shown in which the expiration time is set to 30 minutes. When an excess time has elapsed for a certain commodity that remains stored in the storage opening 361 without being picked up by a customer, a store clerk takes out the commodity in question from the storage opening 361 and, for example, stores it in another place until the customer comes to pick it up, or discards it depending on the commodity.

[0076] The number of items ordered in the order list indicates the number of items ordered in the corresponding online order (order number).

[0077] In addition, the order list screen may also have an item field for eat-in / take-out classification, for example. The item field for eat-in / take-out classification displays whether eat-in or take-out has been specified for the corresponding online order. By checking whether eat-in or take-out has been specified by the eat-in / take-out classification, the store clerk can determine whether to prepare the product for eat-in or take-out. For example, the store clerk prepares products designated for eat-in by placing them on a tray, and prepares products designated for take-out by putting them in a bag.

[0078] On the order list screen, the list items corresponding to each online order are arranged from top to bottom in order of earliest arrival time. In order to handle online orders, store staff are required to have the products ready as soon as possible when the customer comes to pick up the products. In addition, in the case of food and beverages that need to be kept warm or cold when the customer picks them up, they may be required to start preparation a certain amount of time backwards from the customer's arrival time, since the food and beverages will become cold or warm if they are prepared far in advance of the customer's arrival time. In other words, the store clerk will check the arrival time and decide when to start preparing each product for each online order. In this respect, the arrival time information is important for the store clerk to smoothly handle online orders.

[0079] Therefore, in this embodiment, the order list screen arranges the online order list items in the order arrival time order, which makes it easier for store staff to determine, for example, in what order and from when they should prepare the products, and enables them to handle online orders smoothly.

[0080] The online order screen in the figure also includes a locker status area AR30. The locker status area AR30 indicates the storage status of products in the product lockers 30. The locker status area AR30 in the same figure has six storage opening status areas AR31 (AR31-1 to AR31-6) arranged in response to the six storage openings 361 (361-1 to 361-6) provided in the product locker 30 as illustrated in FIG. The storage slot status areas AR31-1 to AR31-6 correspond to the storage slots 361-1 to 361-6, respectively. In the locker status area AR30, the storage slot status areas AR31-1 to AR31-6 are arranged in correspondence with the arrangement of the storage slots 361-1 to 361-6 as seen from the store clerk's side (FIG. 5(A)). That is, in the locker status area AR30, the storage slot status areas AR31-1 to AR31-3 are arranged in order from right to left on the upper row, and the storage slot status areas AR31-4 to AR31-6 are arranged in order from right to left on the lower row. Also, the storage slot status areas AR31-1 to AR31-6 each display the number of the storage slot from "1" to "6." By arranging the storage opening status areas AR31-1 to AR31-6 in this manner, the store clerk can accurately grasp the correspondence between the storage opening status areas AR31-1 to AR31-6 and the storage openings 361-1 to 361-6.

[0081] In the locker status area AR30 in the figure, the storage slot status areas AR31-1, 31-2, and AR31-3 indicate a stored state where products are stored. The storage slot status areas AR31-4 and AR31-6 indicate an unstored (empty) state where no products are stored. Furthermore, the storage slot status area AR31-5 indicates an overdue state where an overdue time has passed since a product was stored. In other words, the locker status area AR30 in the same figure indicates that storage openings 361-1, 361-2, and 361-3, which have storage opening numbers 1, 2, and 3, are storing products, storage openings 361-4 and 361-6, which have storage opening numbers 4 and 6, are not storing products, and storage opening 361-5, which has storage opening number 5, has been in a state where excessive time has passed since a product was stored therein.

[0082] The storage port status area AR31 is displayed with a background color according to the corresponding state (status). In addition, the storage port status area AR31 indicating the storage in progress status displays the order number corresponding to the stored product and collection-related time information. In the same figure, the arrival time ("arrival time") and the overtime ("storage period") are displayed as the collection-related time information. The arrival time in the storage port status area AR31 indicates the arrival time specified by the customer when ordering the stored product online. The overtime is the time when a predetermined time has elapsed from the arrival time. When a certain product remains stored in the storage port 361 without being picked up by a customer and the overtime has elapsed, the store clerk removes the product from the storage port 361 and stores it in another place until the customer comes to pick it up, or discards it depending on the product.

[0083] In addition, when the overtime has passed, the corresponding storage opening status area AR31 may be configured to notify the store clerk in a predetermined manner. Also, when the overtime has passed, an indicator or the like provided on the back side of the corresponding storage opening 361 in the product locker 30 may be lit in a predetermined manner to notify the store clerk that the overtime has passed.

[0084] In addition, in the storage port status area AR31 showing the vacant state, an example is shown in which no particular information is displayed.

[0085] With products stored in storage opening 361 as described above, for example, a store clerk performs an operation to select a list item with order number 252 in order handling operation area AR20. Such an operation to select a list item may be a touch operation on the list item. In response to this operation, for example, a selection frame FL is placed on the list item with order number 252 to indicate that it is being selected. In this case, the locker status area AR30 includes a storage slot status area AR31-2 indicating that the item selected in the list is an item with order number 252. Therefore, the storage slot status area AR31-2 is also highlighted in a predetermined manner to indicate that it is being selected along with the corresponding list item. The figure shows an example in which the frame corresponding to the outline of the storage slot status area AR31-2 is highlighted in a thicker color.

[0086] When the list item of the online order with order number 252 and the storage port status area AR31-2 are selected as described above, of the Storage Registration button BT31, the Storage Cancel Registration button BT32, the Move Registration button BT33, and the Other Storage Registration button BT34, a display is displayed indicating that the Storage Registration button BT31 is inoperable, while the Storage Cancel Registration button BT32, the Move Registration button BT33, and the Other Storage Registration button BT34 are operable. Of the registration operation buttons, those that are inoperable are indicated as inoperable by, for example, being grayed out.

[0087] The storage registration button BT31 is a button that is operated in a product storage registration operation that is performed when registering that an online ordered product has been stored in the storage port 361.

[0088] The storage registration cancel button BT32 is a button that is operated when canceling the registration of the storage of a commodity in the storage opening 361.

[0089] The movement registration button BT33 is a button that is operated when performing movement registration for the commodity stored in the storage opening 361.

[0090] The register storage elsewhere button BT34 is a button that is operated when registering that the product is to be stored elsewhere (register storage elsewhere).

[0091] Here, with products stored in storage opening 361 as shown in locker status area AR30 in Fig. 7, the clerk prepared products for the online order with order number 255, which corresponds to the list item in the third row from the top on the order list screen in order response operation area AR20 in the same figure. In other words, the clerk in this case prepared products for the online order with order number 255, which is the online order with the nearest arrival time among the online orders with a status of not yet stored shown on the order list screen. When the store clerk places the currently prepared online order item with order number 255 in the product locker 30, the clerk selects the list item with order number 255 in the third row from the top in the order response operation area AR20. In response to this operation, as shown by the transition of the online order response screen from FIG. 7 to FIG. 8, a selection frame FL is placed on the list item with order number 255. Also, at this time, because the item corresponding to the online order with order number 255 has not been stored in any of the storage slots 361, none of the storage slot status areas AR31 in the locker status area AR30 corresponds to the online order with order number 255. For this reason, none of the storage slot status areas AR31 in the locker status area AR30 are highlighted.

[0092] At this time, the clerk can see by looking at the storage port status area AR31 in the locker status area AR30 that two storage ports 361 with storage port numbers 4 and 6 are available. Therefore, the clerk decides on one of the two storage ports 361 with storage port numbers 4 and 6 to store the product with order number 251. In this case, the clerk decides to store the product with order number 251 in storage port 361-4 with storage port number 4.

[0093] The store clerk performs the task of storing the product with order number 251 in storage slot 361-4, which has storage slot number 4 that he or she determined.

[0094] When the store clerk stores the product in storage opening 361-4, he or she performs the product storage registration operation on the online order handling screen as follows. At this time, the status of the online order with order number 255 corresponding to the list item selected in the order handling operation area AR20 is "not stored." Therefore, of the registration operation buttons, the Storage Registration button BT31 is in an operable state, while the Storage Cancel Registration button BT32, Transfer Registration button BT33, and Other Location Registration button BT34 are in an inoperable state. Therefore, the store clerk operates the Storage Registration button BT31.

[0095] In response to the operation of the storage registration button BT31, the store clerk order management device 40 displays a storage slot registration operation screen on the touch panel display unit. The storage slot registration operation screen is a screen where an operation is performed to register the storage slot 361 that is the storage destination of the product with the order number corresponding to the list item selected in the order response operation area AR20. Although not shown in the figure, the storage slot registration operation screen has storage slot selection buttons arranged for each of the storage slots 361-1 to 361-6, for example. In this case, the store clerk performs an operation to select the storage port selection button corresponding to storage port 361-4. In response to the operation of the storage port selection button, for example, the operated storage port selection button is highlighted and a message is displayed to the store clerk to confirm that storage port 361-4 corresponding to the selected storage port selection button is the correct storage destination for the product. After confirming that storage port 361-4 is correct, the store clerk performs a confirmation operation. The confirmation operation may be an operation on a confirmation button arranged on a storage port registration operation screen. Furthermore, in response to the operation of the confirmation button, a registration confirmation dialogue may be displayed to the store clerk, informing the store clerk that the registration of storage slot 361-4 has been confirmed in response to order number 255. For example, a close button is provided in the registration confirmation dialogue, and the registration confirmation dialogue is cleared in response to the store clerk operating the close button.

[0096] FIG. 9 shows an example of the online order response screen that is displayed after the registration confirmation dialogue is cleared. The online order screen in the figure reflects the result of the product storage registration operation that has been performed to store the product corresponding to the online order with order number 252 in storage slot 361-4. That is, in the locker status area AR30 in the figure, the storage slot status area AR31-4 corresponding to storage slot 361-4 has changed to a state indicating that the product corresponding to the online order with order number 252 is being stored.

[0097] In addition, the product storage registration operation may be performed by first selecting the storage port status area AR31 corresponding to the storage port 361 where the product will be stored, and then selecting the list item corresponding to the corresponding online order from the order list screen in the order response operation area AR20, and operating the storage registration button BT31.

[0098] The store clerk may store the product in the storage opening 361 after performing the product storage registration operation.

[0099] Then, when a customer who has placed an online order unlocks the storage opening 361 in which the ordered product is stored, opens the door 362, and removes the product by performing the operations described in Fig. 6, the product locker 30 sends a notification that delivery of the product has been completed (delivery completion notification) to the store order management server 10. The store order management server 10 sends the received delivery completion notification to the store clerk order management device 40.

[0100] When the delivery completion notice is received, the online order handling screen of the store staff order management device 40 changes its display as follows. In the locker status area AR30 on the online order handling screen, the storage slot status area AR31-4 corresponding to the storage slot 361-4 indicated in the received delivery completion notice changes from a stored status to a not stored status. Also, on the order list screen, the list item corresponding to the online order with order number 251, which had been displayed as grayed out, is erased.

[0101] In this way, the store clerk operates the online order handling screen and the online order handling screen is displayed in response to the operation, so that the store clerk can grasp the current storage status of products in storage opening 361 while working to handle the online order.

[0102] In addition, for example, if the wrong product is stored in storage opening 361, or if an excessive amount of time has passed since the product was stored in storage opening 361 and it becomes possible to discard the product, the product storage registration is cancelled and the product stored in storage opening 361 is removed. In such a case, the store clerk performs a storage registration cancellation operation. That is, the store clerk performs an operation to select the target storage slot status area AR31, and then operates the storage registration cancellation button BT32. In response to the operation of the storage registration cancellation button BT32, the selected storage slot status area AR31 changes to an unstored state, and the status in the list item of the corresponding product changes from stored to unstored or from excess to discarded.

[0103] Also, for example, there may be a case where a product is placed in a storage opening 361 and a product storage registration operation is performed, but the product is desired to be moved to another storage opening 361 for some reason. For example, after putting a product in the storage opening 361 and performing the product storage registration operation, you notice that the inside of the storage opening 361 where you put the product is dirty. In such a case, you may want to move the product to another storage opening 361.

[0104] Furthermore, for example, the order management server 60 may be able to acquire information about a customer who has placed an online order (orderer information) based on information about a user profile registered by the customer in response to the ordering application. The orderer information may include, for example, the customer's name, gender, etc. The order management server 60 may transmit online order information including, for example, orderer information to the store order management server 10, so that the store order management server 10 can also acquire the orderer information. The store order management server 10 can use the acquired orderer information to display the orderer information for each received online order on the online order handling screen displayed on the store staff order management device 40. In such a case, if the same customer places multiple online orders, it will be possible to see on the online order response screen which online orders with which order numbers were placed by the same customer. For example, two online orders, order numbers 111 and 112, were placed by the same customer. The store clerk prepared the products corresponding to order numbers 111 and 112, and stored the products corresponding to order numbers 111 and 112 in storage slots 361-1 and 361-6, numbered 1 and 6, which were vacant at the time, respectively. After that, storage opening 361-2 with storage opening number 2 or storage opening 361-4 with storage opening number 4 becomes vacant. Storage openings 361-2 and 361-4 with storage opening number 2 or 4 are disposed adjacent to storage opening 361-1 with storage opening number 1. In this case, if the product stored in storage opening 361-6 with storage opening number 6 is stored in either storage opening 361-2 or 361-4 with storage opening number 2 or 4, the customer will not have to go through the trouble of retrieving products corresponding to two online orders from separate storage openings 361, which is preferable. Even if the store order management server 10 cannot obtain the information of the customer who made the online order, it is highly likely that multiple online orders with consecutive order numbers are handled by the same customer. From this perspective, it is preferable that multiple online ordered products with consecutive order numbers are stored in storage openings 361 that are as close to each other as possible. That is, when it is known or presumed that multiple online orders from the same customer have been received, it is preferable to move items from one storage compartment 361 so that the storage compartments 361 containing the items corresponding to the multiple online orders are closer together.

[0105] When it is desired to move an item as described above, the store clerk removes the item from the storage opening 361 in which it was stored, moves it to another storage opening 361, and then performs a product movement registration operation. As the product movement registration operation, the store clerk performs an operation to specify the storage opening status area AR31 corresponding to the storage opening 361 from which the item is to be moved and the storage opening status area AR31 corresponding to the storage opening 361 to which the item is to be moved. Then, the store clerk operates the movement registration button BT33. In response to the operation of the transfer registration button BT33, the storage port status area AR31 corresponding to the source storage port 361 changes from being stored to not being stored, and the storage port status area AR31 corresponding to the destination storage port 361 changes from not being stored to being stored. At this time, the storage port status area AR31 that has become in the storing state shows the same order number, arrival time, overtime, etc. as those shown in the source storage port status area AR31.

[0106] Also, for example, when preparation of an item corresponding to an online order is completed and the customer is about to arrive at the store, the item cannot be stored in storage port 361 because all storage ports 361 are already filled. However, based on the arrival time of the item, for example, the store clerk determines that the customer is unlikely to come to the store to pick up the item for a while, and therefore there is no need to put the item in storage port 361 right away. In such a case, the store clerk stores the prepared item in another designated location without storing it in storage port 361, and then performs the operation to register the item as stored elsewhere. In this case, as the remote storage registration operation, the store clerk selects, for example, from the list items in the order response operation area AR20, a list item corresponding to the product to be stored at another location, and then operates the remote storage registration button BT34. As a result of the product transfer registration operation being performed in this manner, the status of the list item corresponding to the product currently targeted for off-site storage changes from not stored to indicating off-site storage.

[0107] In addition, depending on the quantity, size, etc. of the products ordered through online order 1, there may be cases where the ordered products cannot be stored in storage slot 361. In such cases, even if there is an empty storage slot 361, the store clerk may be allowed to perform the operation to register the products as stored elsewhere. The decision as to whether the items can be stored in the storage opening 361 may be made by the store clerk at his / her own discretion, or may be made by, for example, the store order management server 10 based on the quantity, size, etc. of the items ordered online.

[0108] In addition, there may be cases where a commodity stored in the storage opening 361 is to be stored elsewhere in order to be exchanged for another commodity. In such a case, the store clerk may be allowed to carry out the elsewhere storage registration operation. In this case, the store clerk removes the product to be stored elsewhere from the storage opening 361, stores it elsewhere, and performs the following operation to register storage elsewhere. The store clerk selects the storage opening status area AR31 corresponding to the storage opening 361 from which the product to be stored elsewhere was removed, and then operates the storage elsewhere registration button BT34. In response to the operation of the register elsewhere for storage button BT34, the storage port status area AR31 corresponding to the storage port 361 from which the product to be stored elsewhere was removed changes from being stored to not being stored. Also, the status of the list item corresponding to the product to be stored elsewhere changes from not being stored to indicating stored elsewhere. In this case, as the remote storage registration operation, the store clerk selects, for example, from the list items in the order response operation area AR20, a list item corresponding to the product to be stored at another location, and then operates the remote storage registration button BT34.

[0109] For online orders that support off-site storage status, information regarding the off-site location where the corresponding item is stored may be made available for input. Specifically, for example, in an operation for registering storage at another location, options may be displayed, and an operation may be made to allow an operation of selecting a storage location from the options of storage locations at another location presented, such as "next to the locker," "on the counter," "second shelf of the refrigerator," "third shelf of warming items," "next to the cash register," etc. The store order management server 10 manages the selected storage location in association with the online order of the product targeted for storage at another location. The store clerk order management device 40 may display the storage location on the online order response screen in association with the online order with the status of storage at another location, for example, in association with a list item.

[0110] In addition, in response to a customer's visit to the store in response to an online order that has been put into a status of "stored elsewhere," the store clerk order management device 40 may notify the customer of the visit and the storage location, as described below. For example, a customer comes to the store to fulfill an online order with a status of "stored elsewhere" and has the pick-up verification code read by the code reader 306 at the product locker 30. In response to reading the pickup verification code by the code reader 306, the store clerk order management device 40 notifies the store clerk that a customer corresponding to the online order with the status of "stored elsewhere" has come to the store to pick up the product. The store clerk order management device 40 may also notify the store clerk of the storage location entered in the "stored elsewhere" registration operation together with the notification that the customer has come to the store to pick up the product. Such notification may be made not only by the store clerk order management device 40 but also by, for example, a mobile terminal carried by the store clerk.

[0111] In the order response operation area AR20, in addition to the all list tab Tb1, there are also a not stored tab Tb2, a stored tab Tb3, a stored elsewhere tab Tb4, and an excess tab Tb5. When the not stored tab Tb2, the stored tab Tb3, the stored elsewhere tab Tb4, or the excess tab Tb5 is selected, the display of the order response operation area AR20 is as follows: When the Not Stored tab Tb2 is selected, a list of list items corresponding to online orders for products with a status of Not Stored is displayed in the order response operation area AR20. When the In Storage tab Tb3 is selected, a list of list items corresponding to online orders for products whose status is In Storage is displayed in the order response operation area AR20. When the offsite storage tab Tb4 is selected, a list of list items corresponding to online orders for products whose status is offsite storage is displayed in the order response operation area AR20. When the Excess tab Tb5 is selected, a list of list items corresponding to online orders for products with an Excess status is displayed in the order response operation area AR20.

[0112] An example of the configuration of a product delivery system for implementing the management of online orders accompanied by the specifications of the online order response screen as described above will be described below.

[0113] [Example of store order management server configuration] 10 shows an example of the configuration of the store order management server 10. The store order management server 10 in the figure includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 101, a storage unit 102, a RAM 103, an external network compatible communication unit 104, and a store network compatible communication unit 105.

[0114] The CPU 101 is a central processing unit, and controls the operation of the store order management server 10 by reading and executing programs stored in the storage unit 102 . The storage unit 102 is an auxiliary storage device for the CPU 101, and stores various types of information used by the CPU 101, including programs. The RAM 103 is a main storage device for the CPU 101 . The external network compatible communication unit 104 is a part that communicates with devices outside the store, such as the order management server 60, via a network. The store network compatible communication unit 105 is a part that communicates with devices in the store ST, such as the store clerk order management device 40, the product lockers 30, the POS terminal device 20, etc., via an in-store network.

[0115] [Product locker configuration example] Fig. 11 shows an example of the configuration of product locker 30. Product locker 30 in the figure includes a CPU 301, a memory unit 302, a RAM 303, a communication unit 304, a touch panel display unit 305, a code reader 306, door lock units 307 (307-1 to 307-6), door opening / closing sensors 308 (308-1 to 308-6), and indicators 363 (363-1 to 363-6).

[0116] The CPU 301 is a central processing unit that controls the operation of the product locker 30 by reading and executing programs stored in the memory unit 302 . The storage unit 302 is an auxiliary storage device for the CPU 301, and stores various types of information used by the CPU 301, including programs. The RAM 303 is a main storage device for the CPU 301 . The communication unit 304 is a component that communicates with the store order management server 10 via the in-store network. The communication unit 304 may be capable of communicating with the POS terminal device 20, the store clerk order management device 40, etc., via the in-store network without going through the store order management server 10.

[0117] An image is displayed on the touch panel display unit 305. The touch panel display unit 305 allows an operation to be performed by touching the display surface on which the image is displayed with an operating object such as a finger.

[0118] The code reader 306 reads codes such as two-dimensional codes or bar codes.

[0119] The door lock unit 307 is a lock provided for each door 362. The door lock unit 307 is locked and unlocked, for example, under the control of the CPU 301. Regarding locking, the door lock unit 307 may be configured to be locked by its own structure when the door 362 is closed, for example.

[0120] The door open / close sensor 308 is provided corresponding to each door 362, and detects whether the corresponding door 362 is in an open state or a closed state.

[0121] The indicators 363 are provided on the front side of the product locker 30 corresponding to each storage opening 361. The indicator 363 may be configured, for example, by an LED (Light Emitting Diode) that can be lit in a predetermined single color or in multiple colors. As described above, the indicators 363 are lit to notify the customer that the product to be picked up is stored in the corresponding storage openings 361, but the indicators 363 may be used for other notifications as well. For example, when the door 362 has been left open for a certain period of time or more, the indicators 363 may be configured to notify the customer that the door 362 has been left open by a predetermined lighting pattern. The indicator 363 may also notify whether the door 362 is unlocked or locked by using a predetermined lighting pattern. The indicator 363 may also notify, for example, by using a predetermined lighting pattern to distinguish between a state in which the unlocked door 362 is closed and a state in which the door is open.

[0122] In addition to the indicators 363 provided on the front side of the product locker 30, indicators for notifying store staff may be provided on the rear side of the product locker 30 corresponding to each storage opening 361.

[0123] [Example of the configuration of the store clerk order management device] 12 shows an example of the configuration of the store clerk order management device 40. The store clerk order management device 40 in the figure includes a CPU 401, a storage unit 402, a RAM 403, a communication unit 404, and a touch panel display unit 405. The CPU 401 is a central processing unit, and controls the operation of the store clerk order management device 40 by reading and executing programs stored in the storage unit 402 . The storage unit 402 is an auxiliary storage device for the CPU 401, and stores various types of information used by the CPU 401, including programs. The RAM 403 is a main storage device for the CPU 401 . The communication unit 404 is a component that communicates with the store order management server 10 via the in-store network. Note that the communication unit 404 may be capable of communicating with the POS terminal device 20, the product locker 30, etc., via the in-store network without going through the store order management server 10.

[0124] The touch panel display unit 405 displays an image. The touch panel display unit 405 allows an operation to be performed by touching the display surface on which the image is displayed with an operating object such as a finger. In addition, the store clerk order management device 40 may be provided with an operation unit other than the touch panel display unit 405.

[0125] [Example of customer terminal device configuration] 13 shows an example of the configuration of the customer terminal device 50. The customer terminal device 50 in the figure includes a CPU 501, a storage unit 502, a RAM 503, a display unit 504, an operation unit 505, an imaging unit 506, and a network-compatible communication unit 507. The CPU 501 is a central processing unit, and controls the operation of the customer terminal device 50 by reading and executing programs stored in the storage unit 502 . The storage unit 502 is an auxiliary storage device for the CPU 501, and stores various types of information used by the CPU 501, including programs. The RAM 503 is a main storage device for the CPU 501 . The display unit 504 displays an image according to the display control of the CPU 501. The display unit 504 may be configured as a touch panel that allows operations to be performed on the screen. The operation unit 505 collectively indicates various operators provided on the customer terminal device 50 and various input devices connected to the customer terminal device 50 . The imaging unit 506 captures images under the control of the CPU 401. Furthermore, the imaging unit 506 of this embodiment can also function as a part that reads two-dimensional codes in a code reader that processes the two-dimensional codes. The network-compatible communication unit 507 is a unit that wirelessly communicates via a network. The network-compatible communication unit 507 enables the customer terminal device 50 to communicate with the order management server 60.

[0126] [Example of processing procedure] An example of a process performed by the store order management server 10, the store clerk order management device 40, and the product locker 30 in this embodiment in relation to receiving an online order will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG.

[0127] First, an example of a process executed by the store order management server 10 will be described. Step S101: When the order management server 60 accepts an online order from the customer terminal device 50, it transmits online order information indicating the contents of the accepted order to the store order management server 10 of the order destination store ST. The store order management server 10 determines whether the online order information transmitted from the order management server 60 has been received. Step S102: The store order management server 10 stores the online order information received in step S101 in the storage unit 102.

[0128] 15 shows an example of online order information corresponding to online order 1. The online order information in this figure includes areas for order identification information, customer identification information, ordered product information, store visit time, and payment information.

[0129] The area for order identification information stores order identification information that indicates the corresponding online order. The order identification information is identification information that is assigned to the online order so that it is unique for each online order accepted for each store ST in response to the acceptance of the online order by the order management server 60. The order identification information is used as an order number on the online order handling screen displayed on the store clerk order management device 40.

[0130] The customer identification information area stores customer identification information for identifying a customer who has placed a corresponding online order. The customer identification information may be user identification information assigned at the time of user registration of the ordering application installed in the customer terminal device 50. Alternatively, application identification information that uniquely identifies the ordering application installed in the customer terminal device 50 may be used as the customer identification information.

[0131] The ordered product information area stores ordered product information indicating the products ordered through the corresponding online order. The field for the arrival time stores the arrival time specified in the corresponding online order.

[0132] The settlement information area stores the settlement information for the corresponding online order. If the payment for the online order has been completed by online settlement, the settlement information indicates that fact. If payment (settlement) at the store ST is selected for the online order, the settlement information includes information used by the POS terminal device 20 at the store ST for settlement processing, such as the price of each ordered item, the total amount of the ordered items, and the discount amount and discount rate if discounts are applicable.

[0133] Returning to the explanation given in FIG. Step S103: The store order management server 10 updates the online order receipt information in response to the reception of the current online order information. The online order receipt information is generated based on the online order information stored in step S102, where the customer has not yet picked up the product. The store order management server 10 transmits the updated online receipt information to the store clerk order management device 40.

[0134] Fig. 16 shows an example of online order receipt information. One record (one row) in the online order receipt information in the figure corresponds to one online order. The online order receipt information corresponding to one online order includes fields for order identification information, ordered product information, and store arrival time. The order identification information, ordered item information, and store arrival time in the online order receipt information are each obtained from the corresponding online order information.

[0135] Returning to the explanation given in FIG. Step S104: If it is determined in step S101 that online order information has not been received, or after the processing of step S103, the store order management server 10 determines whether or not a product storage registration notification sent from the store clerk order management device 40 has been received. The product storage registration notification is a notification sent by the store clerk order management device 40 in response to a product storage registration operation performed by a store clerk on the store clerk order management device 40. The product storage registration notification includes order identification information corresponding to the product registered as having been stored in the storage opening 361 by the product storage registration operation, and the storage opening number of the storage opening 361 in which the corresponding product is stored.

[0136] Step S105: The store order management server 10 updates the product storage management information to reflect the contents of the received product storage registration notification. The store order management server 10 transmits the updated product storage management information to the store clerk order management device 40. The product storage management information is information that indicates the current storage status of products in each storage opening 361 of the product locker 30.

[0137] Fig. 17 shows an example of product storage management information. The product storage management information in this figure has a structure in which order identification information is associated with each storage port number. Order identification information of "999" indicates that the storage port 361 indicated by the corresponding storage port number is in an vacant state. According to the product storage management information in the same figure, for example, products corresponding to order numbers (order identification information) of 242, 251, and 248 are stored in storage ports 361-2, 361-4, and 361-6, which have storage port numbers 2, 4, and 6, respectively, and no products are stored in storage ports 361-1, 361-3, and 361-6, which have storage port numbers 1, 3, and 5, respectively. In step S105, the store order management server 10 updates the product storage management information by storing the order identification information indicated in the received product storage registration notification in correspondence with the storage port number indicated in the same product storage registration notification.

[0138] The product storage management information is also updated in response to product movement registration operations and product disposal registration operations performed by the store clerk on the online order screen in response to the product movement and product disposal operations performed by the store clerk as described above.

[0139] Returning to the explanation of FIG. Step S106: If it is determined in step S104 that the product storage registration notification has not been received, or after the processing of step S105, the store order management server 10 determines whether or not a delivery completion notification sent from the product locker 30 has been received.

[0140] Step S107: In response to receiving the delivery completion notification, the store order management server 10 updates the product storage management information by storing a value corresponding to an unstored state in the order identification information field associated with the same storage port number as that indicated by the delivery completion notification. The store order management server 10 transmits the updated product storage management information to the store clerk order management device 40.

[0141] Step S108: In addition, the store order management server 10 updates the online order receipt information in response to receiving the delivery completion notification. In this case, the store order management server 10 updates the online order receipt information by deleting the online order information of the order identification information that was stored before it was changed to a value corresponding to the unstored state in step S107. The store order management server 10 sends the updated online order receipt information to the store clerk order management device 40.

[0142] Step S109: If it is determined in step S106 that a delivery completion notice has not been received, or after the processing of step S108, the store order management server 10 determines whether or not an unlocking request sent from the product locker 30 has been received. In response to the code reader 306 reading the pick-up certification code, the product locker 30 sends an unlocking request to the store order management server 10. The unlocking request includes the order identification information (order number) indicated in the pick-up certification code read by the code reader 306. If an unlocking request has not been received, the process returns to step S101.

[0143] Step S110: When an unlocking request is received, the store order management server 10 refers to the product storage management information to determine whether or not the product corresponding to the online order indicated by the order identifier included in the received unlocking request is stored in the storage port 361.

[0144] Step S111: The store order management server 10 sends an unlock response to the product locker 30 according to the determination result of step S110. If the store order management server 10 determines in step S110 that the product is stored in the storage opening 361, it sends an unlock response indicating permission to unlock. The unlock response indicating permission to unlock contains the storage opening number associated with the order identification information included in the unlock request in the product storage management information. On the other hand, if the store order management server 10 determines in step S110 that the product is not stored in the storage opening 361, it sends an unlock response indicating prohibition of unlocking.

[0145] Next, an example of the process executed by the store clerk order management device 40 will be described. For the sake of simplicity and ease of understanding, the figure illustrates an example of the process executed by the store clerk order management device 40 with respect to the display of the order list screen and the locker status area AR30 on the online order response screen. Also, the description of the process with respect to the display of the transfer product list screen and the disposal product list screen will be omitted.

[0146] Step S201: When the process in FIG. 2 starts, the store clerk order management device 40 is displaying an order list screen in the order handling operation area AR20. It is determined whether online order receipt information or product storage management information has been received from the store order management server 10.

[0147] Step S202: In response to receiving the online order receipt information or the product storage management information, the store staff order management device 40 updates the online order handling screen displayed on the touch panel display unit 405 as follows.

[0148] When online order receipt information is received, the store clerk order management device 40 updates the order list screen in the order handling operation area AR20 of the online response screen as the process of step S202. That is, the store clerk order management device 40 displays in the order handling operation area AR20 an order list screen in which list items for each online order indicated by the received online order receipt information are arranged from top to bottom in the order of store visit time. The online order receipt information is sent in step S103 or step S108. In step S103, online order receipt information with added online order information in response to a new online order is sent. Therefore, in the process of step S202 in response to the online order receipt information sent in step S103, the order list screen is updated so that a list item is added. On the other hand, in response to the completion of the pickup of the product in step S108, online order receipt information is sent from which the online order information corresponding to the product to be picked up has been deleted. Therefore, in response to the processing in step S202 in response to the online order receipt information sent in step S108, the order list screen is updated with the list items deleted.

[0149] Furthermore, in the process of step S202, when the product storage management information is received, the store clerk order management device 40 updates the display of the locker status area AR30 on the online response screen as follows. The clerk order management device 40 compares the product storage management information received this time with the product storage management information received last time to identify the change in storage status. When the clerk order management device 40 identifies that the storage status change is a change from a not stored status to a storing status (a product has been stored), it changes the storage port status area AR31 corresponding to the storage port number that has changed from a not stored status to a storing status from a not stored status to a status indicating a storing status. In addition, at this time, the clerk order management device 40 obtains the arrival time from the online order receipt information that stores the same order identification information (order number) as that associated with the storage port number that has changed to the storing status. The clerk order management device 40 calculates the time that a certain time has passed since the obtained arrival time as the overdue time. The calculation of the overdue time may be performed by the store order management server 10. The clerk order management device 40 displays the acquired arrival time and the calculated overtime time in the target storage port status area AR31. The clerk order management device 40 also updates the display on the order list screen in the order response operation area AR20 so that the list item corresponding to the order identification information that indicates that the product is stored in the storage port according to the received product storage management information is grayed out.

[0150] In addition, when the store clerk order management device 40 determines that the storage status has changed from a stored status to an unstored status (the product has been removed), it changes the storage port status area AR31 corresponding to the storage port number where the storage status has changed from a stored status to an unstored status.

[0151] Step S203: If neither the online order receipt information nor the product storage management information is received in step S201, or after the process of step S202, the store clerk order management device 40 judges whether or not the store clerk has performed a product storage registration operation. If the product storage registration operation has not been performed, the process returns to step S201.

[0152] Step S204: If it is determined in step S203 that a product storage registration operation has been performed, the store staff order management device 40 transmits a product storage registration notification to the store order management server 10. The store order management server 10 updates the product storage management information in response to the transmitted product storage registration notification in step S106, and transmits the updated product storage management information in step S107. The product storage management information transmitted in this manner is received in step S201 after the transmission of the product storage registration notification, and the locker status area AR30 is updated in step S202. As a result, the online order response screen is updated as illustrated by the transition from FIG. 8 to FIG. 9.

[0153] Next, an example of a process executed by the product locker 30 will be described. Step S301: The product locker 30 waits for the code reader 306 to read the receipt verification code.

[0154] Step S302: When the pickup verification code is read, the product locker 30 sends an unlocking request to the store order management server 10. The unlocking request includes the order identification information indicated by the pickup verification code read by the code reader 306. The unlocking request is a command requesting the unlocking of the door 362 of the storage opening 361 in which the product corresponding to the order identification information is stored.

[0155] Step S303: In response to the unlock request transmitted in step S302, the store order management server 10 transmits an unlock response in step S110. In step S303, the product locker 30 determines whether the received unlock response indicates unlocking permission or unlocking prohibition.

[0156] Step S304: If the received unlock response indicates permission to unlock, the product locker 30 executes control (unlock control) to unlock the door lock 307 of the door 362 with the storage opening number included in the received unlock response. During the unlock control in step S304, the product locker 30 also lights up in a predetermined manner the indicator 363 provided in correspondence with the storage opening 361 whose door lock 307 has been unlocked, to notify the customer of the storage opening 361 in which the product to be picked up is stored.

[0157] Step S305: If the received unlock response indicates that unlocking is prohibited, the product locker 30 displays on the touch panel display unit 305 a message informing the customer that the product to be collected by the customer has not yet been stored in the storage opening 361. After the process of step S305, the process returns to step S301.

[0158] Step S306: After executing the unlocking control in step S304, the product locker 30 waits for the product to be removed from the storage opening 361 with the door 362 unlocked. To remove the product, the customer opens the unlocked door 362, removes the product from the storage opening 361, and then closes the door 362. Thus, the product locker 30 may determine that the product has been removed in response to the door opening / closing sensor 308 corresponding to the unlocked door 362 detecting that the unlocked door 362 has been opened and then closed. The determination that an item has been removed may be made based on information other than the detection output of door open / close sensor 308. For example, a camera that photographs the interior of each storage opening 361 may be provided, and item locker 30 may determine that an item has been removed based on images captured by the camera. Alternatively, a weighing sensor may be provided on the bottom of each storage opening 361, and item locker 30 may determine that an item has been removed based on a change in weight measured by the weighing sensor.

[0159] Step S307: When it is determined in step S306 that the product has been removed, the product locker 30 transmits a delivery completion notification to the store order management server 10. In addition, if it is not determined that the product has been removed within a certain period of time after door 362 is unlocked, a notification that the product has not been removed may be given, for example, to a store clerk or a customer.

[0160] <Modification> Modifications of the present embodiment will be described below. The modifications described below may be combined with the above embodiment and other modifications as appropriate.

[0161] [First Modification] A store ST may have a plurality of product lockers 30. In this case, a plurality of locker status areas AR30 corresponding to the plurality of product lockers 30 may be arranged on the online order response screen.

[0162] In addition, in the store ST, a plurality of staff order management devices 40 may be used simultaneously. In this case, the online order response screen may be displayed synchronously on the plurality of staff order management devices 40 so that a common order receipt status and a storage status of the product in the product locker 30 are displayed. Alternatively, when multiple product lockers 30 are installed, one store clerk order management device 40 may be used corresponding to each product locker 30. In this case, the locker status area AR30 of the online order response screen displayed on the store clerk order management device 40 may be configured to indicate the status of the corresponding product locker 30. In this case, for example, the store order management server 10 may allocate the received online order to one of the multiple product lockers 30. In this case, the order list screen displayed in the order handling operation area AR20 of the online order handling screen displayed on the store clerk order management device 40 may present a list of the allocated online orders.

[0163] [Second modified example] A tag device may be provided at a predetermined location in the store ST for each storage opening 361 of the product locker 30 so that the store clerk can operate it. The tag device has a sensor that detects when it is touched and stores the storage opening number associated with the tag device. The tag device is also capable of communicating with the store clerk order management device 40 by a predetermined short-range wireless communication method. In this modified example, when the store clerk is configured to determine the storage opening 361 for storing the product as in the first embodiment, the store clerk performs an operation of designating a list item corresponding to the product to be stored on the online order reception screen (target product designation operation) after determining the storage opening 361 for storing the prepared product. The store clerk also performs an operation of touching the tag device corresponding to the determined storage opening 361 with his / her hand. When the tag device detects by a sensor that it has been touched, it sends a storage port number notification indicating the storage port number associated with it to the store clerk order management device 40. The store clerk order management device 40 sends to the store order management server 10 a product storage registration notification including the storage port number indicated in the storage port number notification received from the tag device and the order identification information of the online order corresponding to the list item specified by the store clerk through the target product specification operation. By operating the tag device in this manner, the store clerk can also carry out the product storage registration operation.

[0164] [Third Modification] 18 shows an example of an online order handling screen displayed on the store staff order management device 40 according to this modified example. The online order handling screen shows a list of online orders received by the store ST. One list item in the figure corresponds to one online order received by the store ST. Also, the list items are arranged from top to bottom in order of visit time, as in the above embodiment. The list item corresponding to the online order in 1 has fields for the order number, the product name, the time of arrival, and the storage port number. Note that the list item in the figure may also have a field for the eat-in / take-out category, as in the first embodiment.

[0165] In this modified example, a storage port number is assigned to an online order at the time of receipt, not by operation of a store clerk, but by the judgment of the store order management server 10 (which may be the store clerk order management device 40). The storage port number value assigned by the store order management server 10 in this manner is displayed in the storage port number field on the online order handling screen in the same figure.

[0166] Also, the list items of online orders on the online order handling screen in the figure are color-coded with one of two background colors, a first color and a second color. In the example in the figure, the four list items with order numbers 001, 002, 004, and 006 are color-coded with the first color, and the two list items with order numbers 003 and 005 are color-coded with the second color.

[0167] The first color indicates that the product may be prepared at the present time (preparation permitted), and the second color indicates that the product may not be prepared at the present time (preparation prohibited). The online orders for which preparation is permitted include those for which the arrival time is within a certain period. In addition, even if the arrival time is not yet within a certain period, online orders that can be stored in the storage port 361 at room temperature may also be included in those for which preparation is permitted. On the other hand, online orders for which preparation is prohibited are those for which the arrival time is not within a certain period. The store associate is then prompted to prepare the online order for the items on the list that have a first background color, thereby allowing the store associate to efficiently prepare items in response to online orders.

[0168] The store clerk checks the storage port number in the corresponding list item on the online order response screen to determine which storage port 361 the prepared product should be stored in. The store clerk stores the product in the storage port 361 with the confirmed storage port number. The store clerk also performs an operation (product storage confirmation operation) to select, for example by a touch operation, a list item corresponding to the product just stored from among the list items on the online order response screen. The list item selected by the product storage confirmation operation indicates that the corresponding product is now stored in storage port 361, for example by changing to a predetermined mode (for example, a background color of a third color).

[0169] Furthermore, when a customer picks up an item stored in storage opening 361, the online order response screen is updated so that the list item corresponding to the removed item is deleted.

[0170] [Fourth Variation] There are cases where a large number of items are ordered in one online order, and all the ordered items cannot be stored in the same storage opening 361. In such cases, the store clerk stores some of the ordered items in the storage opening 361, and the remaining items (surplus items) are placed in a designated location. Then, when the customer has the code reader 306 of the product locker 30 read the pickup verification code to pick up the corresponding product, a notification may be sent to the store clerk that a customer who has placed an online order and has surplus products has come to pick up the products. Such notification may be sent, for example, by a display or sound on the store clerk order management device 40, or by lighting a lamp or the like installed near the product locker 30 or in the location where the surplus products are placed.

[0171] Also, for example, there may be cases where a product is prepared, but all of the storage openings 361 are filled with the product. In such a case, the store clerk may place the prepared product in a predetermined location other than the product locker 30, and then perform a product storage registration operation to register the product as one that cannot be stored in the storage openings 361 (unstorable product). On the online order response screen, for example, the order list screen may be configured to indicate in a predetermined manner that the product is an unstorable product for the corresponding list item. In addition, when a customer has the code reader 306 of the product locker 30 read the pickup verification code to pick up an unstorable product, a notification may be sent to the store staff that the customer has come to pick up the product.

[0172] [Fifth Modification] In the above embodiment, the overrun time is set as a time that is a predetermined time after the store arrival time. In this modified example, the time used to set the overrun time may be changed, for example, for each store. Furthermore, the time used to set the overrun time may be changed in the same store depending on the product, the time period to which the current time corresponds, etc. The time used to set the overtime may be changed depending on the customer who placed the online order. For example, for each customer who placed an online order, the clerk order management device 40 (which may be the store order management server 10, etc.) stores the difference in time between the time of the customer's previous visit to the store and the time the product was removed from the storage opening 361 as a history. Then, based on the difference in time up to that point, the clerk order management device 40 (which may be the store order management server 10, etc.) sets the time used to set the overtime for each customer who placed an online order.

[0173] Also, for example, when a customer operates the customer terminal device 50 to place an online order, the arrival time may be set as undecided. In the case of an online order in which the arrival time is set as undecided in this way, the arrival time may be set on the online order response screen to a predetermined time after the time the online order was placed, for example, and the overtime time may be set using a time longer than that used for setting a normal overtime time.

[0174] [Sixth Modification] Also, for example, the operation may be such that the customer picks up the product at the store ST within a predetermined time from the time when the online order is completed. In this case, for example, the time after the predetermined time from the time when the online order is completed may be set as the overtime time, and the time before the overtime time may be set as the arrival time. In addition, in the above-described operation, a particular arrival time may not be set, and the store clerk may prepare the products in the order in which the online orders are received.

[0175] [Seventh Variation] In the above embodiment, the store order management server 10 and the store clerk order management device 40 cooperate with each other to realize the management of online orders using the online order handling screen in the store clerk order management device 40. However, for example, the store clerk order management device 40 may have the functions of the store order management server 10 and realize the management of online orders using an online order response screen. In this case, the store clerk order management device 40 may be omitted in the store ST. In addition, for example, the functions of the store clerk order management device 40 may be provided to an external device, such as an order management server 60 or a server external to another store ST, and the external device and the store clerk order management device 40 may work together to realize management of online orders using an online order response screen.

[0176] [Eighth Modification] In the product delivery system, characteristics may be defined for each product to be delivered by the product locker 30. Then, for example, the store order management server 10 may make a decision regarding the preparation (cooking) and storage of the product ordered online according to the characteristics defined for the product, and the decision result may be reflected in a display or the like on the store clerk order management device 40.

[0177] The product characteristics may be defined by the following product characteristic table, cooking characteristic definition table, and temperature characteristic definition table. This product preparation management information may be stored in the store order management server 10, for example. An example of a product characteristics table is shown in Fig. 19. One record (one row) in the product characteristics table in the figure is product characteristics information corresponding to one product. One product characteristics information includes fields for the product name (which may be a product code), cooking characteristics, temperature characteristics, re-cooking instructions, and size. The product name field stores the product name of the corresponding product. Note that the product name may be replaced with a product code or the like. In other words, the field corresponding to the product name may store any information that can identify the product. The cooking characteristic field stores cooking characteristics to which the corresponding product applies. Cooking characteristics are properties of a product that are determined according to the cooking method. The temperature characteristic field stores the temperature characteristic to which the corresponding product corresponds. The temperature characteristic is the temperature required for the product. The re-cooking instruction field stores a flag indicating whether the corresponding product can be re-cooked. Re-cooking refers to cooking the corresponding product again to return it to the required temperature when the temperature is no longer the required temperature due to the temperature characteristics of the product having been left in the storage port 361 for a while without being consumed. The size field indicates the size of the corresponding product.

[0178] An example of a cooking characteristic definition table is shown in Fig. 20. The cooking characteristic definition table is information indicating cooking times corresponding to each of pre-classified cooking characteristics. In the example shown in the figure, for example, the cooking characteristic of "hot drink" is associated with a cooking time required of "15 seconds." In other words, if the cooking characteristic of a product is "hot drink," the time required for preparation (cooking) is specified as 15 seconds.

[0179] FIG. 21 shows an example of a temperature characteristic definition table. The temperature characteristic definition table is information showing the serving time corresponding to each pre-classified temperature characteristic. The serving time is the time during which the product can be served to a customer while maintaining the quality of the product from the viewpoint of temperature, hygiene, etc., for example, after cooking (preparation) is completed. Specifically, in the same figure, the serving time for a product with a temperature characteristic of "hot" is set to 300 seconds. This indicates that a product with a temperature characteristic of "hot" can be served to a customer up to 300 seconds after cooking is completed, as the product maintains the temperature required for the product, but if 300 seconds have passed, the product should not be served to a customer as the product does not maintain the temperature required for the product.

[0180] In this embodiment, the difference between the available time and the excess time is as follows. The serving time is a time limit set from the viewpoint of maintaining the quality of the product over time as described above. Such serving time can be used, for example, to determine whether or not a re-cooking instruction is required, as described below, or to set the timing for storing the product in the storage opening 361. The overtime is fixed regardless of the product, and is the time limit for which the product can be kept stored in the storage opening 361 after the arrival time. In other words, the overtime is the time for which one online order can occupy the storage opening 361 after the arrival time.

[0181] For example, according to the product characteristic table, cooking characteristic definition table, and temperature characteristic definition table, the time during which "cookies" can be served is 2400 seconds (40 minutes). In this case, the time during which "cookies" can be served is 10 minutes longer than the overtime. Therefore, in response to an online order for "cookies", the "cookies" as a product may be placed in the storage opening 361 from 10 minutes before the customer's arrival time. In the staff order management device 40, a display may be displayed to notify the staff that, for online orders of "cookies", they may be placed in the storage opening 361 from 10 minutes before the customer's arrival time.

[0182] When there is no particular need to distinguish between the product characteristic table, cooking characteristic definition table, temperature characteristic definition table, and storage opening size table shown in the above-mentioned Figs. 19 to 21, they are also referred to as "product preparation management information."

[0183] Based on the product preparation management information, the store order management server 10 can determine the timing to start preparation (cooking) for each product ordered online and the timing to store the product in the storage port 361. As a specific example, when a "cooked sandwich" is ordered online, the store order management server 10 can recognize that the cooking time required for the "cooked sandwich" is 180 seconds by referring to the product characteristics table and the cooking characteristics definition table. Based on the recognized cooking time, the store order management server 10 may notify the store clerk on the online order response screen of the appropriate timing to start cooking the “cooked sandwich” ordered in a specified manner (cooking start timing).

[0184] In addition, when the online order response screen is configured to inform the store staff of the cooking start timing for each item ordered online, the list items in the order response operation area AR20 may be arranged from top to bottom in order of the earliest cooking start timing.

[0185] Furthermore, the store order management server 10 can also recognize that the available time for the "cooked sandwich" ordered online is 300 seconds (5 minutes) by further referring to the temperature characteristic definition table. Therefore, in the product delivery system of this modified example, it is possible to respond to a customer who comes to pick up a product that has been ordered online, based on the available time, as follows.

[0186] In response to reading the pickup verification code, the product locker 30 sends an unlocking request to the store order management server 10. The store order management server 10 refers to the product characteristics table for the product to be picked up that corresponds to the order identification information included in the received unlocking request, and determines whether the "re-cooking instruction" for the product to be picked up is set to "yes." If "Re-cooking instruction" is set to "Yes", the store order management server 10 further refers to the temperature characteristic definition table to obtain the available time of the product to be picked up. The store order management server 10 determines whether the obtained available time has passed since the product to be picked up was stored and registered. If the available time has passed, the store order management server 10 includes, in the unlock response sending the unlock permission, expiration information indicating that the available time has passed.

[0187] When the product locker 30 receives an unlock response that does not include overdue information, it may unlock the door 362 of the corresponding storage opening 361 and allow the customer to remove the product. On the other hand, when an unlocking response including overdue information is received, the product locker 30 does not unlock the door 362 of the storage opening 361 in which the product to be picked up is stored, and displays a re-cooking confirmation screen on the touch panel display unit 305. The re-cooking confirmation screen is a screen that prompts the customer to confirm whether or not to request re-cooking.

[0188] The re-cooking confirmation screen displays a message informing the customer that re-cooking is possible, such as "It has been some time since the food was put away. If you can wait XX minutes, we will re-cook it." The re-cooking confirmation screen also allows the customer to specify whether or not re-cooking is necessary. For example, the re-cooking confirmation screen may have a re-cooking instruction button displayed in response to a dialogue such as "Request re-cooking," and a "No re-cooking required" button displayed in response to a dialogue such as "Take it home as is."

[0189] If the customer decides that it is ok to take the product home as is, they operate the "no re-cooking required" button. When the "no re-cooking required" button is operated, product locker 30 unlocks and opens door 362 of storage opening 361 in which the product to be picked up is stored, allowing the customer to pick up the product. At this time, touch panel display unit 305 may display a message instructing the customer to pick up the product, such as "Please pick up the product from the storage opening whose door is open."

[0190] On the other hand, when a customer operates the re-cooking instruction button, the product locker 30 sends a re-cooking instruction to the store order management server 10. The store order management server 10, which has received the re-cooking instruction, sends a re-cooking instruction for the target product to the staff order management device 40. In response to receiving the re-cooking instruction, the store clerk order management device 40 displays an instruction to re-cook the product to be picked up. For example, the display to instruct to re-cook the product to be picked up may be displayed in a predetermined manner in the storage slot status area AR31 on the online order response screen, which indicates that the product to be picked up is stored. Furthermore, the display to instruct to re-cook may include content instructing the store clerk to prioritize re-cooking the product to be picked up over other products.

[0191] The waiter takes out the product to be picked up from the storage opening 361 and reheats it, for example, in response to the re-cooking instruction given by the waiter order management device 40. The waiter returns the product to be picked up after re-cooking has been completed to the original storage opening 361, or hands it directly to the customer. The waiter also performs a confirmation operation on the waiter order management device 40 to confirm that the re-cooking of the product to be picked up has been completed. When the product is returned to the original storage opening 361, the customer may again have the code reader 306 read the pick-up verification code to unlock the door 362. Alternatively, the store clerk may perform a predetermined operation on the online order reception screen (which may also serve as a confirmation operation that the re-cooking has been completed) to unlock the door 362 of the storage opening 361 in which the product to be picked up is stored. After a customer operates the re-cooking instruction button, the product locker 30 may be configured not to accept the reading of the pick-up certification code until a confirmation operation is performed that the re-cooking is complete. In this case, while a customer is waiting for the re-cooking to be completed, even if another customer has the pick-up certification code read, the door will not open and the customer will not be able to take out the product, so there will be no confusion when customers are picking up products from the product locker 30. In addition, when the re-cooked product to be picked up is handed directly to the customer, the store clerk may perform a specified operation on the online order handling screen to register that the pick-up of the product to be picked up has been completed.

[0192] [Ninth Variation] There are cases where a customer who has taken out an item from the storage opening 361 leaves the door 362 open without closing it. In such a case, if a store clerk could close the door 362 from the rear side of the product locker 30, the store clerk would not have to go all the way to the front of the product locker 30 to close the door 362. Therefore, the product locker 30 may be provided with a structure that allows the door 362 to be closed by pulling, for example, a rope, chain, wire, lever, or the like from the rear side of the storage opening 361. In particular, a store clerk can grab a handle (lever) attached directly to the back surface of door 362 to open and close the door directly, preventing the door from being left open and interfering with customers.

[0193] Also, a door may be provided on the rear side of storage opening 361. By providing a door on the rear side of storage opening 361, the heat retention performance of products stored in storage opening 361 can be improved, for example.

[0194] Also, instead of door 362, for example, a liftable bar may be provided at storage opening 361. The bar is locked when lowered to a predetermined height. When the bar is locked, the products stored in storage opening 361 are restricted by the bar and cannot be removed. When the bar is unlocked, the bar is raised and the restriction is lifted, allowing the products to be removed from storage opening 361. Also, mechanisms such as doors or bars that restrict product removal may not be provided. In this case, if indicators or interior lights provided at each storage opening 361 inform customers that removal is possible, customers can easily identify the storage opening 361 in which their product is stored by the illumination of the indicators or interior lights. In this case, product locker 30 can have a simple structure.

[0195] [Tenth Modification] The number and arrangement pattern of the storage openings 361 in the product locker 30 may be changed as appropriate. Even in stores with small floor space or counters, or stores where reservations are not made very frequently, product lockers 30 with a reduced number of storage openings 361 can be installed. For example, if the product locker 30 illustrated in Figure 5 is used as a base, then by arranging the storage openings 361 in two rows, one above the other, and increasing or decreasing the number of horizontal columns to make the number of storage openings 361 an even number, product lockers 30 can be manufactured using the same structure of the left-hand housing in which the touch panel display unit 305 and code reader 306 in the same figure are located. In the above embodiment, the product lockers 30 are installed so as to be placed on a counter CT as shown in Fig. 4. In contrast, if the storage openings 361 are arranged in a pattern that is long in the vertical direction, such as 4 rows and 2 columns, the product lockers 30 can be installed on the floor and made to stand on their own. In this case, the product lockers 30 can be installed even in stores that do not have counters. Also, product locker 30 may be installed with its back side against a wall. In this case, when a store clerk stores products in storage opening 361, he or she opens door 362 from the front side. Also, in this case, the opening of storage opening 361 on the back side of product locker 30 may be blocked.

[0196] The size of the space in storage opening 361 of product locker 30 may be changed as appropriate depending on, for example, the type of product expected to be stored. For example, in cases where flat products such as pizza or sushi in sushi tubs are provided to customers using product locker 30, storage opening 361 may have a width and depth sufficient to accommodate the product, and the height may be set low enough to leave some room when the container is placed inside.

[0197] Furthermore, the sizes of the multiple storage openings 361 provided in the product locker 30 may be different rather than being uniform.

[0198] If the multiple storage openings 361 provided in the product locker 30 are of different sizes, the allocation of which products will be stored in which storage opening 361 may be determined in advance according to the size and shape of the products that can be ordered online. For this reason, the product delivery system of this embodiment has a storage opening size management table that specifies the products that can be stored in each storage opening 361. The storage opening size management table may be stored in the store order management server 10, for example.

[0199] Fig. 22 shows an example of a storage opening size management table. The storage opening size management table has a structure in which the storage opening size and the number of items that can be stored correspond to each storage opening number of the storage opening 361. While the example in Fig. 5 shows an example in which the sizes of the storage openings 361 are the same, the storage opening size management table in the same figure corresponds to an example in which storage openings 361 of different sizes are provided. The storage opening size area stores information on the size of the storage opening 361 of the corresponding storage opening number. The storage capacity area is further divided into areas for each product. The storage capacity area for one product stores a value indicating the maximum number of the corresponding product that can be stored in each storage opening 361 according to the size of the storage opening.

[0200] Based on such a storage opening size management table, the store order management server 10 can determine the storage opening 361 corresponding to the size of the product ordered online from among the multiple storage openings 361. For example, when a product storage registration operation is being performed, the store clerk order management device 40 may display the storage opening 361 that is in an empty state among the determined storage openings 361. This allows the store clerk to accurately select the storage opening 361 corresponding to the ordered product and perform the product storage registration operation, even if the multiple storage openings 361 in the product locker 30 are different sizes.

[0201] In addition, since the storage capacity is specified in the storage opening size management table, the store order management server 10 can also determine whether or not all of the items ordered in one online order can be stored in one storage opening 361. When it is determined that all the items cannot be stored in one storage port 361, the store order management server 10 may be configured to determine as storage destinations storage ports 361 that can store all the items. The result of determining the storage port 361 as the storage destination may be displayed on an online order response screen displayed on the store clerk order management device 40, for example, when registering the storage of the items.

[0202] However, it is undesirable for many storage openings 361 to be occupied by storing products corresponding to one online order. Therefore, the number of storage openings 361 that can store products corresponding to one online order may be limited in advance. In this case, if the store order management server 10 determines that the number of storage slots 361 required to store all of the items ordered in one online order exceeds a predetermined limit, the store order management server 10 may perform the following control. That is, the store order management server 10 causes the clerk order management device 40 to notify the user that the storage destination storage port 361 cannot store all of the items when registering the storage of the items. In this case, the clerk order management device 40 may notify the user of both the number of items that can be stored in the storage destination storage port 361 and the number that cannot be stored. In this case, the clerk may store as many items as can be stored in the storage destination storage port 361, for example, and store the remaining items in another specified storage location.

[0203] [Eleventh Modification] In addition, in cases where the order management server 60 is capable of obtaining orderer information about a customer who has placed an online order, if the orderer information includes information on the orderer's gender, it may be possible to prohibit items from being stored in storage openings 361 on a level above a specified level in the product locker 30, for example. For example, when a product storage registration is performed in response to an online order from a female customer, the storage port status area AR31 corresponding to an empty storage port 361 on a level higher than a specified level in the locker status area AR30 in the store clerk order management device 40 may be marked as "storage prohibited" and may not be selected as a storage destination.

[0204] [Twelfth Modification] For example, the order application in the above embodiment was developed for the product delivery system of this embodiment. However, some stores may use their own order application instead of the regular order application developed for the product delivery system of this embodiment when introducing a product delivery system having product lockers 30 as in this embodiment.

[0205] For example, a certain store had already introduced an online ordering system before introducing the product delivery system of this embodiment. However, products were handed over by the store clerk to the customer. Therefore, the product delivery system of this embodiment is introduced to enable product delivery via product lockers 30, but the ordering application used by customers may continue to use the same existing application as before. In this way, the existing ordering application corresponds to one of the unique ordering applications.

[0206] Recently, the following delivery services have become popular: A delivery service company enters into a contract with a restaurant to provide delivery services. A customer installs an ordering application provided by the delivery service company on their terminal. The customer uses the ordering application to select products (menu) provided by the contracted restaurant and place an order. The delivery service company's server receives the order placed using the ordering application and sends the received order to the restaurant's terminal. The server also sends a delivery request for the ordered product to the delivery person's terminal. At this time, the server issues an order number and notifies the restaurant and the delivery person's terminal of the issued order number. Depending on the delivery request sent by the server, the restaurant that will receive the product to be delivered and the address of the user (customer) to whom the product is to be delivered are also notified. The delivery person who receives the delivery request on his / her own terminal goes to the restaurant and picks up the ordered item. At this time, the item that the delivery person picks up from the restaurant is identified by the order number. The delivery person delivers the item that he / she received from the restaurant to the user who is the delivery destination. When a store that has introduced a product delivery system that delivers products using product lockers 30 as in this embodiment has a contract with a delivery service company as described above, the ordering application used by the delivery service is used for orders from customers who use the delivery service. The use of such an ordering application compatible with the delivery service also corresponds to the use of a unique ordering application instead of a regular ordering application. When using an ordering application compatible with a delivery service in this manner, an order from the ordering application may be received by the delivery service's server, and online order information may be transmitted from the delivery service's server to the order management server 60 of this embodiment.

[0207] When a unique ordering application such as the one described above is used, it is difficult for the order management server 60 of this embodiment to obtain information related to the order that would be obtained when a legitimate ordering application is used. As an example, the rules for assigning order numbers (reservation numbers) differ between a unique ordering application and a legitimate ordering application. For this reason, it is difficult for a unique ordering application to cooperate with the order management server 60 regarding order numbers. In this case, when an order is placed using a unique ordering application, it is difficult to issue a receipt proof code corresponding to the order number as in the case of using a legitimate ordering application. Therefore, in a product delivery system in which products are delivered using product lockers 30, if a unique ordering application is supported, order management may be performed.

[0208] Fig. 23 shows an example of the overall configuration of an order delivery system according to this modified example. The store ST in the figure does not support the use of a regular ordering application, but supports orders using a unique ordering application. The figure also shows an example in which the store uses an existing ordering application and an ordering application compatible with a delivery service as its unique ordering application.

[0209] In the figure, the customer terminal device 50A is a terminal in which an existing ordering application corresponding to the store ST is installed. A customer CS who owns the customer terminal device 50A operates the customer terminal device 50A on which the existing ordering application runs to place an order. In response to the order operation, the customer terminal device 50A transmits order data to the order management server 60A. The order management server 60A is a server that manages online orders compatible with existing ordering applications. When the order management server 60A receives order data from an existing ordering application, it transmits online order information based on the received order data to the store order management server 10A. At this time, the order management server 60A issues an order number and includes the issued order number in the online order information.

[0210] The customer terminal device 50B is a terminal in which a delivery service-compatible ordering application is installed. A customer CS who owns the customer terminal device 50B operates the customer terminal device 50B on which the delivery service-compatible ordering application runs to place an order. In response to the order operation being performed, the customer terminal device 50B transmits order data to the DS (delivery service)-compatible order management server 60B. The DS-compatible order management server 60B is a server that manages orders received from a delivery service-compatible order application. When the DS-compatible order management server 60B receives order data from an order application compatible with the delivery service, it transmits online order information based on the received order data to the order management server 60A. At this time, the DS-compatible order management server 60B issues an order number and includes the issued order number in the online order information. The DS-compatible order management server 60B also transmits the corresponding delivery request to the delivery member terminal 80 carried by the delivery member CL. The delivery member terminal 80 displays the delivery request information, such as the order number, information about the order destination store, and the ordered product, contained in the received delivery request. The delivery member CL goes to the order destination store indicated by the displayed delivery request information.

[0211] Here, the order numbers issued by the DS-compatible order management server 60B and the order numbers issued by the order management server 60A in response to orders from existing order applications have different numbering rules, and they do not cooperate with each other. For example, the order numbers issued by the DS-compatible order management server 60B are generated using the numbers 0 to 9 and the letters a to z. The order numbers issued by the order management server 60A in response to existing order applications are generated using the numbers 0 to 9.

[0212] The order management server 60A transmits the online order information received from the DS-compliant order management server 60B to the store order management server 10. Note that the online order information may be transmitted from the DS-compliant order management server 60B to the store order management server 10 without passing through the order management server 60A.

[0213] The store order management server 10A is a device that performs order management at the store ST in response to orders from an existing ordering application and an ordering application compatible with a delivery service. In response to receiving the online order information, the store order management server 10A issues an order processing slip indicating the order processing indicated by the received online order information, for example, from a kitchen printer (not shown) or a POS terminal device 20. The order processing slip indicates an order number. In addition, the store order management server 10, although not shown in the figure, may be connected to a specified terminal device provided in the store ST, so that the terminal device can display information such as the order number and the ordered product according to the contents of the above-mentioned order processing slip.

[0214] In this case, when the store clerk completes preparation of the product in accordance with the order processing slip, the store clerk stores the prepared product in one of the vacant storage openings 361 in the product locker 30. Then, the store clerk performs a product storage registration operation on the online order response screen displayed on the store clerk order management device 40, which corresponds to an order placed through a unique ordering application.

[0215] Fig. 24 shows an example of an online order handling screen for handling orders made through a unique ordering application. In the online order handling screen in the same figure, an order number input area AR120 is arranged in place of the order handling operation area AR20. The order number input area AR120 is a screen where an operation (order number input operation) is performed to input the order number of the online order corresponding to the product to be stored in the storage slot 361 during the product storage registration operation. In the order number input area AR120, an order number display area AR121, an input key area AR122, and a confirm button BT120 are arranged. The order number display area AR121 is an area in which the order number input by operating the input key area AR122 is displayed. The input key area AR122 is an area where numeric keys, letter keys, a backspace key, a clear key, etc. for inputting an order number by entering a number are arranged. The Confirm button BT120 is a button used to confirm the order number displayed in the order number display area AR121.

[0216] The store clerk operates the keys arranged in the input key area AR122 on the online order handling screen in the figure to input the order number shown on the order processing slip. In the input key area AR122 in the figure, the keys are arranged so that numbers and alphabets can be input. This allows the store clerk to input both the order number corresponding to an order placed using an existing ordering application and the order number corresponding to an order placed using an ordering application compatible with the delivery service. The store clerk checks that the order number displayed in the order number display area AR121 is correct, and then operates the Confirm button BT120. The input order number is confirmed in response to the operation of the Confirm button BT120. The figure shows a state in which order number 126 has been input. When the Confirm button BT120 is operated in this state, 126 is confirmed as the order number. When the Confirm button BT120 is operated, it switches to displaying the text "Cancel Confirmation", for example, and functions as a Cancel Confirmation button. When the Cancel Confirmation button is operated, the confirmation of the order number is cancelled. In response to the cancellation of the confirmation of the order number, the numbers of the order number that were previously displayed in the order number display area AR121 are erased.

[0217] When the confirmation button BT120 is operated to confirm the order number, the clerk operates the storage slot status area AR31 corresponding to the storage slot 361 that stored the product with order number 126 among the storage slot status areas AR31 that indicate an empty state in the locker status area AR30. Here, the clerk stored the product in storage slot 361-4 out of storage slots 361-2, 361-4, and 361-6 that were empty. Therefore, the clerk operates the storage slot status area AR31-4 corresponding to storage slot 361-4. The operated storage slot status area AR31-4 is displayed in a state indicating that it is being selected, for example by highlighting the outer frame. When any of the storage slot status areas AR31 is in a selected state as described above, the storage registration button BT31 is in an active state where it can be operated. The store clerk operates the storage registration button BT31. In response to the operation of the storage registration button BT31, the storage registration of the fact that the product with product number 126 is stored in the storage slot 361-4 is completed. In response to the completion of the storage registration in this manner, the storage slot status area AR31-4 corresponding to the storage slot 361-4 changes from "empty" to "storing in progress" status, and order number 126 is displayed.

[0218] In addition, the product storage registration operation may be performed by first selecting the storage port status area AR31 corresponding to the storage port 361 in which the product will be stored, and then entering the order number by operating the order number input area AR120, and operating the storage registration button BT31.

[0219] Furthermore, before the input of the order number is finalized, an operation can be performed to select a storage port status area AR31 that indicates the "storing" status from among the storage port status areas AR31. When an operation to select a storage port status area AR31 that indicates the "storing" status is performed, the selected storage port status area AR31 is highlighted to indicate that it is selected, and the storage registration cancellation button BT32 and the transfer registration button BT33 become active and operable. The store clerk can release or move the product stored in the storage port 361 that corresponds to the selected storage port status area AR31, and then operate the storage registration cancellation button BT32 or transfer registration button BT33 to perform a storage release registration operation or a transfer registration operation.

[0220] Furthermore, a product locker management server 70 is provided in the store of this modified example. The product locker management server 70 manages the storage status of products in the product lockers 30. The product locker management server 70 stores product storage management information similar to that shown in FIG. 17, for example. In response to the product storage registration operation being performed on the online order response screen displayed on the store clerk order management device 40 as described above, the product locker management server 70 updates the product storage management information so that storage slot 361-4 and product number 126 are associated with each other.

[0221] A customer CS who has placed an order using an existing ordering application, or a delivery person CL who has received a delivery request for an order with store ST as the order destination, enters the order number into the product locker 30 when they arrive at the store ST. An order number entry screen on which keys for entering the order number are arranged is displayed on the touch panel display unit 305 of the product locker 30 of this modified example. The customer CS or delivery person CL enters the order number by operating a key corresponding to the order number, and confirms the entered order number by operating, for example, a confirmation button. Such entry of the order number can be treated as a password used to unlock the storage opening 361 in the product locker 30 in which the corresponding product is stored.

[0222] In addition, if existing ordering applications or ordering applications compatible with delivery services are also capable of displaying a coded (collection proof code) order number, the customer CS or delivery person CL may display the collection proof code on the customer terminal device 50A or the delivery person terminal 80, and have the code reader 306 read the displayed collection proof code.

[0223] In response to the confirmation of the order number, the product locker 30 sends an unlock request including the confirmed order number to the product locker management server 70. The product locker management server 70 refers to the product storage management information and sends an unlock response indicating the storage port number associated with the order number included in the unlock request. The product locker 30 unlocks the storage port 361 corresponding to the storage port number indicated in the received unlock response, and opens the door 362. The customer CS or delivery person CL removes the product from the storage opening 361 with the door 362 now open, and closes the door 362. When the product locker 30 detects that the product has been removed from the storage opening 361, it transmits a delivery completion notification to the product locker management server 70. When the product locker management server 70 receives the delivery completion notification, it deletes the order number associated with the storage slot number included in the unlock response from the product storage management information.

[0224] In addition, the system may be configured to enable order management according to orders placed using a regular ordering application according to the above embodiment, and order management according to orders placed using a unique ordering application (at least one of an existing ordering application and an ordering application compatible with a delivery service) according to this modified example. In this case, the store clerk order management device 40 may be capable of switching the display between an online order handling screen corresponding to a regular ordering application and an online order handling screen corresponding to a unique ordering application, depending on the operation of the store clerk. In addition, in this case, the product locker 30 may be configured to display an order number input screen on the touch panel display unit 305 in response to an operation by the customer CS or delivery person CL who picks up the product in response to an order placed using a unique ordering application.

[0225] The store clerk order management device 40 may manage online orders using a regular ordering application and online orders using a unique ordering application in an integrated manner, for example, on a single online order handling screen. In this case, the online order handling screen may display online orders using a regular ordering application, online orders using an existing ordering application, and online orders using an ordering application compatible with a delivery service in a manner that allows them to be distinguished from one another, for example, by using background colors, icons, etc.

[0226] In addition, when a store handles orders made through a regular ordering application and orders made through a unique ordering application, if the format of the order number differs depending on the ordering application, store staff can identify which ordering application an online order received by the store was made through based on the difference in the format of the order number. As a specific example, let us take a case where a regular ordering application uses order numbers consisting of three digits, an existing ordering application uses order numbers consisting of five digits, and an ordering application compatible with a delivery service uses order numbers consisting of a combination of five digits and letters. In this case, if the order number is a three-digit or five-digit number, the store clerk can determine that the order was placed through a regular ordering application or an existing ordering application. In this case, the store clerk can package the corresponding product for takeout for the customer and store it in storage opening 361. Also, if the order number is a combination of a five-digit number and an alphabet, the store clerk can determine that the order was placed through an ordering application that supports delivery service. In this case, the store clerk can package the corresponding product for delivery service and store it in storage opening 361.

[0227] In addition, when a pickup verification code is used for orders made through a unique ordering application, the product locker 30 and the product locker management server 70 may be configured to manage the storage of products in the product locker 30 based on the order number indicated by the pickup verification code.

[0228] The product locker management server 70 may be omitted. In this case, the product lockers 30 may be managed by at least one of the store clerk order management device 40 and the store order management server 10.

[0229] [13th Variation] In the above embodiment, the product locker 30 and the store clerk order management device 40 are separate and individual devices. However, for example, the product locker 30 and the store clerk order management device 40 may be integrated into one device.

[0230] <Summary of the embodiment> [Technical field] The present invention relates to a product delivery system. [Background technology] 2. Description of the Related Art There is known a product delivery system in which products cooked in response to orders made by customers using their smartphones are delivered to the customers via a delivery box (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art document] [Patent documents] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 6243076 [Summary of the Invention] [Problem to be solved by the invention] In a product delivery system such as that described above, it is required to improve the efficiency of handling orders. The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has an object to improve the efficiency of handling orders.

[0231] [Means for solving the problem] (1) As described above, one aspect of this embodiment is a product delivery system in which a reserved product reserved for pickup (e.g., a product ordered online) is delivered to a customer by storing the reserved product in a storage opening (361) of a product delivery locker (e.g., product locker 30), and the product delivery system is equipped with a display means for displaying reservation information regarding the reserved product and storage opening information regarding the storage opening of the locker. An example of reservation information regarding reserved items is information presented on the order list screen displayed in the order handling operation area AR20 on the online order handling screen (FIGS. 7 to 9). Also, an example of storage slot information regarding the storage slot of a locker is information presented in the locker status area AR30 on the online order handling screen.

[0232] In the product delivery system of this embodiment, the store clerk prepares the products ordered through online ordering and stores the prepared products in the product locker 30. According to the above configuration, by looking at the reservation information display and the storage slot information display, the store clerk can check the receipt status of the online order, such as what products have been ordered through the online order, and the storage status of the products in the product locker 30 for product delivery. In other words, in this embodiment, the store clerk can check the information required to handle an online order by looking at the display, which improves the efficiency of handling orders.

[0233] (2) One aspect of this embodiment is a product delivery system as described in (1), which includes a matching means (e.g., a storage registration button BT31) for matching the reservation information with the storage port information, and the display means displays the reservation information and the storage port information on the same screen.

[0234] According to the above configuration, the store clerk can perform the product storage registration operation while understanding the receipt status of the online order and the storage status of the product in the product locker 30 by looking at the same single screen.

[0235] (3) One aspect of this embodiment is a product delivery system as described in (1) or (2), in which the display means displays the reservation information (list items on the order list screen) corresponding to each of a plurality of reserved products in an order based on the scheduled delivery time (e.g., arrival time) of the reserved products set in correspondence with the pick-up reservation.

[0236] According to the above configuration, the list items corresponding to the order units on the order list screen are displayed in order of the visit time, which makes it easier for the store staff to determine the order and pace at which they should prepare products to fulfill the currently received online orders.

[0237] (4) One aspect of this embodiment is a product delivery system described in any one of (1) to (3), wherein the display means changes the manner in which the reservation information of the reserved product associated with the storage opening is displayed in response to the storage opening being associated with the reserved product.

[0238] An example of "changing the manner in which the reservation information of the reserved product associated with the storage slot is displayed" is to gray out the list item on the order list screen (FIG. 9). According to the above configuration, it is possible to change the state of the list item on the order list screen that corresponds to an order for which preparation is complete and the product is to be stored in the storage opening 361 of the product locker 30. This makes it possible to distinguish between online orders for which preparation is complete and the product is stored in the storage opening 361 and online orders for which preparation is not complete and the product is not yet stored in the storage opening 361 on the order list screen.

[0239] (5) One aspect of this embodiment is a product delivery system described in any one of (1) to (4), wherein the display means, in response to detecting that a reserved product stored in the storage opening has been removed by a customer, changes the manner in which the reservation information of the reserved product that has been detected as having been removed from the storage opening is displayed in the display of the reservation information.

[0240] With the above configuration, it is possible to change the appearance of the list item on the order list screen for a product that has been prepared and is to be stored in the storage opening 361 of the product locker 30 so as to indicate that the product is stored in the storage opening 361 (FIG. 9). This makes it possible to distinguish between online orders in which the product has been stored in the storage opening 361 and online orders in which the product has not been stored on the order list screen.

[0241] (6) One aspect of this embodiment is a product delivery system described in any one of (1) to (5), comprising a memory means for storing product storage management information (Figure 17) that associates the storage opening with the reserved product.

[0242] 17 has a structure in which a storage port number is associated with order identification information, and the ordered product (reserved product) is associated with the online order indicated by the order identification information. Therefore, the product storage management information in which a storage port number is associated with order identification information is equivalent to a storage port being associated with a reserved product. Furthermore, according to the above configuration, it becomes possible to manage the product storage management information so as to indicate the current product storage status for each storage opening 361 in the product locker 30.

[0243] (7) One aspect of this embodiment is the product delivery system described in (6), which is equipped with an information management means that can change the product storage management information to indicate that a reserved product stored in the storage opening has been removed from the storage opening by a store clerk before being picked up by a customer.

[0244] Examples of cases in which products are removed from storage opening 361 before being collected by a customer include when a store clerk removes products stored in storage opening 361 and moves them to store them elsewhere, or when the excess product disposal process is carried out because the expiration time has passed. According to the above configuration, the current storage status of each storage opening 361 in the product locker 30 can be managed by the product storage management information, including changes in the situation due to the store clerk moving products or removing products from the storage opening 361 due to excess product disposal work.

[0245] (8) One aspect of this embodiment is a product delivery system as described in (6) or (7), comprising a code reading means for reading code information (e.g., a pick-up proof code) corresponding to a reserved product, and a notification means (e.g., step S305) for notifying that the product to be picked up is not stored in the storage port when product storage management information corresponding to the reserved product indicated by the code information read by the code reading means and a storage port is not stored (e.g., step S110).

[0246] According to the above configuration, when a customer has the product locker 30 read the pickup certification code, if the product ordered by the customer has not yet been stored in the storage opening 361, the customer is notified of this. This prevents the customer from being confused even if the customer has the pickup certification code read and the storage opening 361 cannot be opened when the product ordered has not yet been stored in the storage opening 361.

[0247] (9) One aspect of this embodiment is a product delivery system as described in any one of (6) to (8), comprising a code reading means for reading code information corresponding to reservation information, and an unlocking means (S110, S111, S304) for unlocking a storage port in which a product to be picked up is stored when product storage management information in which the reservation information indicated by the code information read by the code reading means is associated with a storage port is stored.

[0248] According to the above configuration, when a customer has the product locker 30 read the pick-up verification code, if the product ordered by the customer is still stored in the storage opening 361, the storage opening is unlocked so that the customer can remove the product.

[0249] In addition, the programs for implementing the functions of the store order management server 10, the POS terminal device 20, the product locker 30, the clerk order management device 40, the customer terminal device 50, the order management server 60, etc., in each of the above-mentioned embodiments may be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium, and the programs recorded on the recording medium may be read into a computer system and executed to perform processing as the store order management server 10, the POS terminal device 20, the product locker 30, the clerk order management device 40, the customer terminal device 50, the order management server 60, etc. Here, "reading the program recorded on the recording medium into a computer system and executing it" includes installing the program into a computer system. The "computer system" here includes hardware such as an OS and peripheral devices. In addition, the "computer system" may include multiple computer devices connected via a network including a communication line such as the Internet, a WAN, a LAN, or a dedicated line. In addition, the "computer-readable recording medium" refers to a portable medium such as a flexible disk, an optical magnetic disk, a ROM, a CD-ROM, etc., and a storage device such as a hard disk built into a computer system. In this way, the recording medium storing the program may be a non-transient recording medium such as a CD-ROM. The recording medium also includes a recording medium installed inside or outside the distribution server and accessible from the distribution server in order to distribute the program. The code of the program stored in the distribution server's recording medium may be different from the code of the program in a format executable by the terminal device. In other words, the format in which the program is stored in the distribution server does not matter as long as it can be downloaded from the distribution server and installed in a format executable by the terminal device. Note that the program may be divided into multiple parts, each of which may be downloaded at a different time and then combined in the terminal device, or each of the divided programs may be distributed by a different distribution server. Furthermore, the "computer-readable recording medium" includes a memory that holds the program for a certain period of time, such as a volatile memory (RAM) in a computer system that is a server or client when the program is transmitted via a network.The program may be for implementing some of the above-mentioned functions, or may be a so-called differential file (differential program) that can implement the above-mentioned functions in combination with a program already recorded in the computer system. [Explanation of symbols]

[0250] 10 store order management server, 20 POS terminal device, 30 product locker, 40 store clerk order management device, 50 customer terminal device, 60 order management server, 361 (361-1 to 361-6) storage opening, 362 (362-1 to 362-6) door

Claims

1. A product delivery system in which a reserved product that has been reserved for pick-up is stored in a storage opening of a product delivery locker, thereby delivering the reserved product to a customer, a display means for displaying reservation information relating to the reserved product and storage opening information relating to the storage opening of the locker, The display means displays a reservation information operation area for specifying the reservation information and a storage slot information operation area for allocating the specified reservation information corresponding to the storage slot information, side by side in the left-right direction. Product delivery system.

2. The reservation information operation area is The key area includes a touch operation to input a number to specify reservation information, and a display area to display the reservation information specified by the touch operation on the key area. The product delivery system according to claim 1.

3. The reservation information operation area is A general list area for displaying all of the reservation information in a list, and a status-specific list area for displaying a list of reservation information corresponding to a status corresponding to a predetermined situation of the product corresponding to the reservation information.

3. A product delivery system according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The storage port information operation area is Multiple storage port information is arranged side by side, Of the multiple storage port information arranged, the storage port information to which reservation information is assigned is shown to be in a state in which reservation information is assigned by displaying characters and the reservation information number in the character area, and the storage port information to which reservation information is not assigned is shown to be in a state in which reservation information is not assigned by not displaying characters and the reservation information number in the character area. The product delivery system according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. The display means An operator area including an operator for performing an operation to assign storage slot information to reservation information and an operator for canceling the state in which storage slot information is assigned to reservation information is displayed together with the reservation information operation area and the storage slot information operation area. The product delivery system according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. A computer as a display device in a product delivery system in which a reserved product that has been reserved for collection is delivered to a customer by storing the reserved product in a storage opening of a locker for product delivery, A program for causing the program to function as a display means for displaying reservation information related to the reserved product and storage opening information related to the storage opening of the locker, The display means displays a reservation information operation area for specifying the reservation information and a storage slot information operation area for allocating the specified reservation information corresponding to the storage slot information, side by side in the left-right direction. program.

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