Information processing apparatus, information processing method and program

Abstract

To provide a technology for improving convenience in the use and management of a service for temporarily storing articles.SOLUTION: In a step S1, a server 1 acquires a state notification indicating the state of a temperature of each locker box R of a locker facility 3. In a step S2, the server 1 notifies a delivery person H other than a user U of a delivery destination notification that, among one or more locker boxes R, the use of a locker box R9 in which the acquired state information is abnormal is prohibited and the use of a locker box R3 in which the acquired state information is normal is permitted as a deposit destination of an article M requested by the user U. In a step S3, when the server 1 receives a notice from the delivery person H that the deposit of the article M is completed in the locker box R3, the server 1 transmits a deposit notice to that effect to a user terminal 4 of the user U.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and a program.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, technologies related to a shopping proxy system that purchases and delivers foodstuffs, daily necessities, etc. according to a user's request have been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In addition, as a method for receiving packages, for users who do not wish to have them delivered, technologies related to an unattended reception system in which goods can be received unattended in a reception system installed at a base such as in front of a station or a convenience store have been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, in recent years, there has been a desire to improve the convenience in the use and management of services for temporarily storing articles. However, even if the conventional technologies including Patent Documents 1 and 2 are simply applied, it cannot be said that the above desire has been sufficiently met.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and an object thereof is to provide a technology for improving the convenience in the use and management of services for temporarily storing articles.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] To achieve the above object, an information processing apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention includes: For a storage facility having one or more closed spaces whose states of a predetermined physical quantity are controlled, closed space state acquisition means for acquiring the state of the predetermined physical quantity for each of the one or more closed spaces; As a storage destination of an article requested by a user, for a first closed space in which the acquired state of the predetermined physical quantity is abnormal among the one or more closed spaces, a delivery person notification means for transmitting a notification to the effect that it is prohibited, and for a second closed space in which the acquired state of the predetermined physical quantity is normal, a notification to the effect that it is permitted to a delivery person other than the user; When receiving from the delivery person a notification to the effect that the storage of the article in the second closed space has been completed, user notification means for transmitting a notification to that effect to the user; and is provided with.

[0007] Each of an information processing method and a program according to one aspect of the present invention is a method and a program corresponding to an information processing system according to one aspect of the present invention.

Advantages of the Invention

[0008] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a technology for improving convenience in the use and management of a service for temporarily storing articles.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0009]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0010] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0011] First, with reference to FIG. 1, an overview of a service (hereinafter referred to as "this service") that can be realized by an information processing system (see FIG. 3 described later) to which a server according to an embodiment of the information processing apparatus of the present invention is applied will be described. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overview of this service that can be realized by an information processing system to which a server according to an embodiment of the information processing apparatus of the present invention is applied.

[0012] This service is a service that enables the receipt of an article M delivered from an order destination based on a user's order at a locker facility 3, and enables temperature switching such as refrigeration, freezing, and normal temperature for each locker box R (locker boxes R3 and R9 are exemplified in FIG. 1) according to the nature of the article M.

[0013] That is, in this service, a delivery person H can deliver an article M, which is a predetermined product desired by the user U or an article to be used for a predetermined service, to a predetermined locker box R of the locker facility 3 by arranging for storage at an order destination based on a request by the user U. In addition, in this service, after the delivery to a predetermined locker box R is completed, an electronic key can be transmitted to the user U so that the user U can receive the delivered article M. Note that the order destination is not particularly limited, and may be a physical store or an EC site that sells a predetermined product, or a service provider that delivers some article to the user U (for example, a cleaner that picks up the user U's clothes, washes them, and then delivers them).

[0014] In this service, a locker management system (the locker management system shown in FIG. 2 described later) manages the states of locker boxes R (only locker boxes R3 and R9 are illustrated in the example of FIG. 1) in the locker facility 3, and provides information indicating the states of the locker boxes R (hereinafter referred to as "status information") to the server 1. Accordingly, based on the type of the article M of the user U and the state of the locker box R, if the temperature state of the locker box R is normal temperature, the temperature can be switched to refrigeration or freezing. Also, if the temperature state of the locker box R is refrigeration, the temperature can be switched to freezing or normal temperature. Further, if the temperature state of the locker box R is freezing, the temperature can be switched to refrigeration or normal temperature. As described above, in this service, since the temperature state of the locker box R can be switched, the convenience in the use and management of the service for temporarily storing the article M can be significantly improved as compared with the prior art.

[0015] More specifically, for example, assume that the delivery destination of the user U is an EC site and the article M requires refrigeration (cool delivery is required during delivery). In this case, the user U settles the payment for the purchase of the article M on the EC site and requests delivery to the locker facility 3. Upon receiving such a delivery request, the storage arrangement of the article M is made for a delivery management system (not shown in the figure), and matching of the delivery person H is performed. Here, although not shown in FIG. 1, assume that the temperature state of the locker box R9 capable of switching refrigeration is normal. In this case, the delivery person H determined by the matching delivers the article M purchased by the user U on the EC site to the locker box R9 capable of switching refrigeration among the locker facilities 3 designated in advance by the user U by cool delivery. That is, as described later, in a state where the electronic key for unlocking the locker box R9 is pre-transmitted to the terminal of the delivery person H (the delivery person terminal 5 shown in FIG. 2 described later), the delivery person H delivers the article M to the locker facility 3 by cool delivery. Then, the deliveryman H unlocks the locker box R3 switched to refrigeration using the electronic key, deposits the article M into the locker box R9, and then locks it. In this way, if the locker box R9 remains in a normal state, the article M purchased by the user U on the EC site is stored in the locker box R9 of the locker facility 3 while being refrigerated, and waits for the user U to pick it up.

[0016] Here, as shown in FIG. 1, it is assumed that a temperature abnormality occurs in the locker box R9 before and after the deposit of the article M, and the locker box R3 is in a state where it cannot be used (abnormal state) in the refrigerated state. For example, even if the user U's terminal 4 (hereinafter referred to as the "user terminal 4") is notified that the locker box R9 is in an abnormal state, if the user U is not near the locker facility 3, the user U cannot take any action, and it is troublesome and burdensome for the user U to contact the EC site, the deliveryman H, or the administrator of the locker facility 3 to request handling. Also, in the first place, for the user U, being notified of such an abnormal state only increases anxiety. Therefore, in this service, the fact that the locker box R9 is in an abnormal state is not notified to the user U, but is notified to the terminal of the deliveryman H (the deliveryman terminal 5 described later).

[0017] More specifically, in step S1, the server 1 obtains, from the locker facility 3 (specifically, the locker management system 2 described later), a notification (hereinafter referred to as a "status notification") of the temperature status (the status information of the locker box R described above) for each of the one or more locker boxes R whose temperature status is controlled (in the example of FIG. 1, at least the locker boxes R3 and R9).

[0018] In step S2, the server 1 notifies a delivery person H other than the user U of a notice (hereinafter referred to as "delivery destination notice") to prohibit, as the storage destination of the article M requested by the user U, the locker box R9 among one or more locker boxes R for which the acquired status information is abnormal, and to permit the locker box R3 for which the acquired status information is normal. That is, the delivery destination notice is notified only to the delivery person H and not to the user U.

[0019] In step S3, when the server 1 receives from the delivery person H a notice indicating that the storage of the article M in the locker box R3 (where the status information is normal, that is, refrigeration is possible) has been completed, the server 1 transmits a notice to that effect (hereinafter referred to as "storage notice") to the user terminal 4 of the user U.

[0020] In this way, it becomes possible to improve the convenience in the use and management of this service for temporarily storing articles.

[0021] Next, with reference to FIG. 2, a description will be given of the configuration of an information processing system for realizing the provision of the above-described service, that is, an information processing system to which a server according to an embodiment of the information processing apparatus of the present invention is applied. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of an information processing system to which a server according to an embodiment of the information processing apparatus of the present invention is applied.

[0022] The information processing system shown in FIG. 2 is configured to include a server 1, a locker management system 2, a locker facility 3, a user terminal 4, and a delivery person terminal 5.

[0023] The server 1, the locker management system 2, the user terminal 4, and the delivery person terminal 5 are interconnected via a network such as the Internet. The locker facility 3 is connected to the locker management apparatus system 2 by a local network or the like. Note that the locker facility 3 may be directly connected to a network such as the Internet.

[0024] Server 1 is an information processing device managed by the provider of this service (Figure 1). Server 1 executes various processes for realizing this service while appropriately communicating with the locker management system 2, the user terminal 4, and the delivery person terminal 5.

[0025] The locker management system 2 includes a management server (not shown) that manages the locker facility 3. Each locker facility 3 includes a main body having a plurality of locker boxes R, a temperature control unit that controls, for example, the temperature state of each of the plurality of locker boxes R, and a locking / unlocking control unit that controls the locking and unlocking of the entrances and exits of each of the plurality of locker boxes R. The plurality of locker boxes R are an example of a closed space for storing articles and the like. In addition, a locker UI device 4 is disposed at a position where the user U can view and operate the screen in the locker facility 3.

[0026] The user terminal 4 is an information processing device operated by the user U and is composed of a smartphone, a tablet, a personal computer, or the like. The delivery person terminal 5 is an information processing device operated by the delivery person H and is composed of a smartphone, a tablet, a personal computer, or the like.

[0027] Figure 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the server in the information processing system shown in Figure 2.

[0028] Server 1 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 11, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 12, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 13, a bus 14, an input / output interface 15, an input unit 16, an output unit 17, a storage unit 18, a communication unit 19, and a drive 20.

[0029] The CPU 11 executes various processes according to the program recorded in the ROM 12 or the program loaded from the storage unit 18 to the RAM 13. In the RAM 13, data and the like necessary for the CPU 11 to execute various processes are also appropriately stored.

[0030] The CPU 11, ROM 12, and RAM 13 are interconnected via a bus 14. An input / output interface 15 is also connected to this bus 14. An input unit 16, an output unit 17, a storage unit 18, a communication unit 19, and a drive 20 are connected to the input / output interface 15.

[0031] The input unit 16 is composed of, for example, a keyboard or the like, and inputs various information. The output unit 17 is composed of a display such as a liquid crystal display or a speaker or the like, and outputs various information as images or sounds. The storage unit 18 is composed of a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) or the like, and stores various data. The communication unit 19 communicates with other devices (for example, the locker management system 2, user terminal 4, and delivery person terminal 5 in FIG. 3) via a network N including the Internet.

[0032] A removable medium 40 made of a magnetic disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, or semiconductor memory or the like is appropriately mounted on the drive 20. The program read from the removable medium 40 by the drive 20 is installed in the storage unit 18 as necessary. Also, the removable medium 40 can store various data stored in the storage unit 18 in the same manner as the storage unit 18.

[0033] Although not shown, the locker management system 2 (management server), user terminal 4, and delivery person terminal 5 in FIG. 2 can also have a configuration basically the same as the hardware configuration shown in FIG. 3. Therefore, the description of the hardware configurations of the locker management system 2 (management server), user terminal 4, and delivery person terminal 5 in FIG. 2 is omitted.

[0034] By the cooperation of various hardware and various software that make up the information processing system of FIG. 2 including the server 1 of FIG. 3, various processes for providing the present service of FIG. 1 can be executed.

[0035] FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the server of FIG. 3 in the information processing system of FIG. 2.

[0036] As shown in FIG. 4, in the CPU 11 of the server 1, a locker state acquisition unit 51, a delivery person notification unit 52, a user notification unit 53, and an electronic key control unit (not shown in FIG. 4) function. In addition, in an area of the storage unit 18 of the server 1, a user DB 71, a locker DB 72, a delivery DB 73, and an electronic key DB (not shown) are provided.

[0037] The locker state acquisition unit 51 acquires the state of a predetermined physical quantity (for example, the state notification of FIG. 1) for each of the one or more locker boxes R of the locker facility 3 having one or more locker boxes R whose state of a predetermined physical quantity is controlled, and stores it in the locker DB 72. Here, the predetermined physical quantity is not particularly limited. For example, in the example of FIG. 1, the temperature inside the locker box R is adopted.

[0038] The delivery person notification unit 52 prohibits the first locker box R (for example, in the example of FIG. 1, the locker box R9 that has reached a preset predetermined temperature or higher) among the one or more locker boxes R of the locker facility 3, whose acquired state of the predetermined physical quantity is abnormal, as the storage destination of the article M requested by the user U, and permits the second locker box R (for example, in the example of FIG. 1, the locker box R3 that is below the predetermined temperature) whose acquired state of the predetermined physical quantity is normal, and notifies (for example, the delivery destination notification of FIG. 1) to the delivery person terminal 5 of the delivery person H other than the user U. Note that the content of the delivery destination notification is stored in the delivery DB 73. Further, when a notification indicating that the storage of the article in the second locker box R has been completed is transmitted from the delivery person terminal 5, it is received by the delivery person notification unit 52 and stored in the delivery DB 73.

[0039] When the delivery staff notification unit 52 receives from the delivery staff H a notification that the storage of the article M in the second locker box R has been completed (when the said notification is stored in the delivery DB 73), it transmits a notification to that effect (for example, the storage notification in FIG. 1) to the user terminal 4 of the user U. Note that information regarding the user U such as the transmission history of the said notification to the user U is stored in the user DB 71.

[0040] Although not shown in the drawings, in the CPU 11 of the server 1, an electronic key control unit (not shown) functions. When the electronic key control unit recognizes that an article such as the luggage M is stored and locked in a predetermined locker box R of a predetermined locker facility 3, it provides the electronic key to the terminal of the person who is scheduled to unlock the said predetermined locker box R using the said electronic key (in this example, the user terminal 4 of the user U or the delivery staff terminal 5 of the delivery staff H). Although not shown in the drawings, the electronic key control unit has an electronic key generation unit, an electronic key management unit, and an electronic key provision unit.

[0041] The electronic key generation unit generates an electronic key (for example, a URL key) for unlocking a predetermined locker box R of a predetermined locker facility 3 in a locked state. The electronic key management unit associates the generated electronic key with other information and stores it in an electronic key DB (not shown). Specifically, the electronic key management unit stores and manages the URL key generated by the electronic key generation unit in the electronic key DB in association with an ID (hereinafter referred to as the "unlock scheduled person ID") that can identify the terminal of the person who is scheduled to unlock the said predetermined locker box R using the said URL key (in this example, the user terminal 4 of the user U or the delivery staff terminal 5 of the delivery staff H). That is, information regarding the electronic key, such as a URL key, is stored in the electronic key DB. Specifically, in the electronic key DB, information such as the locker facility ID, the locker number (box number), and the unlock scheduled person ID is associated and stored for each URL key. When a predetermined condition is satisfied, the electronic key providing unit provides the URL key to the terminals of those who plan to unlock the predetermined locker box R using the URL key (in this example, the user terminal 4 of the user U and the delivery person terminal 5 of the delivery person H) via the network.

[0042] As described above, one embodiment of the present invention has been explained. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and modifications, improvements, etc. within the scope that can achieve the object of the present invention are considered to be included in the present invention.

[0043] For example, in the above-described embodiment, the "closed space" is the locker box R provided in the locker facility 3, but it is not particularly limited thereto, and any "closed space" in a storage facility having a plurality of closed spaces where articles can be stored or taken out is sufficient. Also, the person who delivers and stores the article M to the "closed space" for the user U who takes out the article M from the "closed space" is the delivery person H in the above-described embodiment, but it is not particularly limited thereto, and any person other than the user U is sufficient.

[0044] Also, the state management of the "closed space" in the above-described embodiment is temperature management, that is, when the temperature in the "closed space" becomes equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature set in advance, it is regarded as an abnormal state, and when it is lower than the predetermined temperature, it is regarded as a normal state. However, it is not particularly limited thereto, and any management of the normal state and abnormal state of an arbitrary physical quantity is sufficient.

[0045] Also, the system configuration shown in FIG. 2 and the hardware configuration of the server 1 shown in FIG. 3 are merely examples for achieving the object of the present invention and are not particularly limited.

[0046] Also, the functional block diagram shown in FIG. 4 is merely an example and is not particularly limited. That is, it is sufficient that the information processing system in FIG. 2 is provided with a function capable of executing the various processes described above as a whole, and the functional blocks and databases used to realize this function are not particularly limited to the example in FIG. 5.

[0047] Also, the locations of the functional blocks and the database are not limited to those shown in FIG. 4 and may be arbitrary. For example, at least a part of the functional blocks and the database arranged on the server 1 side may be configured to be provided on the locker facility 3 side, the user terminal 4 side, the delivery person terminal 5 side, or another information processing apparatus (not shown).

[0048] Also, the above-described series of processes can be executed by hardware or by software. Also, one functional block may be configured by hardware alone, by software alone, or by a combination thereof.

[0049] When the series of processes are executed by software, the program constituting the software is installed in a computer or the like from a network or a recording medium. The computer may be a computer incorporated in dedicated hardware. Also, the computer may be a computer capable of executing various functions by installing various programs, for example, a general-purpose smartphone or personal computer other than a server.

[0050] A recording medium containing such a program is not only constituted by a removable medium (not shown) distributed separately from the apparatus main body in order to provide the program to the user, but also constituted by a recording medium or the like provided to the user in a state pre-installed in the apparatus main body.

[0051] Note that in this specification, the steps of describing the program recorded on the recording medium include not only the processes performed in time series in accordance with the order, but also the processes executed in parallel or individually even if they are not necessarily processed in time series.

[0052] In summary, the information processing apparatus to which the present invention is applied only needs to have the following configuration, and can take various embodiments. That is, the information processing apparatus (for example, the server 1 in FIGS. 1 and 4) to which the present invention is applied For a storage facility (for example, the locker facility 3 in FIGS. 1 and 4) having one or more closed spaces (for example, the locker box R in FIGS. 1 and 4) in which the state of a predetermined physical quantity is controlled, a closed space state acquisition means (for example, the locker state acquisition unit 51 in FIG. 1) for acquiring the state of the predetermined physical quantity (for example, the state notification in FIG. 1) for each of the one or more closed spaces, As a storage destination of an article (for example, the article M in FIG. 1) requested by a user (for example, the user U in FIG. 1), for the first closed space (for example, the locker box R9 in FIG. 1) in which the acquired state of the predetermined physical quantity is abnormal, it is prohibited, and for the second closed space (for example, the locker box R3 in FIG. 1) in which the acquired state of the predetermined physical quantity is normal, a delivery person notification means (for example, the delivery person notification unit 52 in FIG. 1) for transmitting a notification (for example, the delivery destination notification in FIG. 1) indicating permission to a delivery person (for example, the delivery person H in FIG. 1 or the delivery person terminal 5 in FIG. 4) other than the user, When receiving from the delivery person a notification indicating that the storage of the article in the second closed space has been completed, a user notification means (for example, the user notification unit 53 in FIG. 4) for transmitting a notification to that effect (for example, the storage notification in FIG. 1) to the user (for example, the user U in FIG. 1 or the user terminal 4 in FIG. 4), shall be sufficient.

[0053] Thereby, it is possible to provide a technique for improving convenience in the use and management of a service for temporarily storing articles.

[0054] Specifically, the predetermined physical quantity is the temperature inside the closed space, The delivery person notification means prohibits the storage of the article in the closed space (for example, the locker box R9 in FIG. 1) that has reached a predetermined temperature or higher as the first closed space in the abnormal state, and allows the storage of the article in the closed space (for example, the locker box R3 in FIG. 1) that is lower than the predetermined temperature as the second closed space in the normal state, and transmits the notification to that effect to the delivery person. can be made.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0055] 1... Server, 2... Locker management system, 3... Locker facility, 4... User terminal, 5... Deliveryman terminal, 11... CPU, 12... ROM, 13... RAM, 14... Bus, 15... Input / output interface, 16... Input section, 17... Output section, 18... Storage section, 19... Communication section, 20... Drive, 40... Removable media, 51... Locker status acquisition section, 52... Deliveryman communication section, 53... User communication section, 71... User DB, 72... Locker DB, 73... Delivery DB, R, R3, R9... Locker box

Claims

1. For a storage facility having one or more closed spaces whose state of a predetermined physical quantity is controlled, a closed space state acquisition means for acquiring the state of the predetermined physical quantity for each of the one or more closed spaces; As a storage destination of an article requested by a user, for the first closed space among the one or more closed spaces, where the acquired state of the predetermined physical quantity is abnormal, prohibit it, and for the second closed space where the acquired state of the predetermined physical quantity is normal, a delivery person notification means for sending a notification to the effect of permitting it to a delivery person other than the user; When receiving a notification from the delivery person that the storage of the article in the second closed space has been completed, a user notification means for sending a notification to that effect to the user; An information processing apparatus comprising:

2. The predetermined physical quantity is the temperature inside the closed space, The delivery person notification means prohibits the storage of the article in the closed space that has reached a preset predetermined temperature or higher as the first closed space in the abnormal state, and permits the storage of the article in the closed space below the predetermined temperature as the second closed space in the normal state, and sends the notification to the delivery person; The information processing apparatus according to claim 1.

3. In an information processing method executed by an information processing apparatus, For a storage facility having one or more closed spaces whose state of a predetermined physical quantity is controlled, a closed space state acquisition step of acquiring the state of the predetermined physical quantity for each of the one or more closed spaces; As a storage destination of an article requested by a user, for the first closed space among the one or more closed spaces, where the acquired state of the predetermined physical quantity is abnormal, prohibit it, and for the second closed space where the acquired state of the predetermined physical quantity is normal, a delivery person notification step of sending a notification to the effect of permitting it to a delivery person other than the user; When receiving a notification from the delivery person that the storage of the article in the second closed space has been completed, a user notification step of sending a notification to that effect to the user; An information processing method including:

4. For a storage facility having one or more closed spaces in which the state of a predetermined physical quantity is controlled, a closed space state acquisition step of acquiring the state of the predetermined physical quantity for each of the one or more closed spaces, and a delivery staff notification step of sending a notification to a delivery staff other than the user, prohibiting the first closed space in which the acquired state of the predetermined physical quantity is abnormal and permitting the second closed space in which the acquired state of the predetermined physical quantity is normal, as the storage destination of the article requested by the user; and a user notification step of, when receiving a notification from the delivery staff that the storage of the article in the second closed space has been completed, sending a notification to that effect to the user. A program for executing a control process including the above. ​

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