Delivery system

Abstract

To provide a technique for improving delivery efficiency.SOLUTION: A delivery system that provides a delivery service that allows the interior of a user's vehicle to be specified as a delivery destination of a package includes: a delivery person terminal carried by a delivery person in a delivery vehicle; and a delivery server capable of communicating with the delivery person terminal. The delivery server acquires location information of the user's vehicle, and location information of the delivery vehicle or location information of the delivery person terminal, determines whether or not the user's vehicle is located outside a predetermined range from a parking location specified as the delivery destination based on the location information of the user's vehicle, determines whether or not the delivery person is located within the predetermined range from the parking location based on the location information of the delivery vehicle or the location information of the delivery person terminal, and if it is determined that the user's vehicle is located outside the predetermined range from the parking location and that the delivery person is located within the predetermined range from the parking location, notifies the delivery person terminal that the user's vehicle is not present, and removes the user's vehicle from the delivery person's delivery route.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to delivery systems. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a delivery system. This system provides a delivery service that allows a user to specify the interior of a vehicle as the delivery destination of a package. A delivery person places and delivers the package inside the user's vehicle. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-086991 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the system described in Patent Document 1, if the user's vehicle has moved from the designated parking location, the package cannot be delivered. Since the delivery person only finds out that the user's vehicle has moved from the designated parking location after arriving at the designated parking location, there is a risk that delivery efficiency will decrease if the user's vehicle has moved. The present disclosure provides a technology for improving delivery efficiency in a delivery service that allows the interior of a user's vehicle to be specified as the delivery destination for the package. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] A system according to one embodiment of the present disclosure is a delivery system that provides a delivery service that allows the interior of a user's vehicle to be specified as the delivery destination of a package, and is equipped with a delivery person terminal used by a delivery person in the delivery vehicle, and a delivery server that can communicate with the delivery person terminal, and the delivery server acquires location information of the user's vehicle and location information of the delivery vehicle or the delivery person terminal, and determines whether the user's vehicle is located outside a predetermined range from a parking location specified as the delivery destination based on the location information of the user's vehicle, and determines whether the delivery person is located within a predetermined range from the parking location based on the location information of the delivery vehicle or the location information of the delivery person terminal, and if it is determined that the user's vehicle is located outside the predetermined range from the parking location and the delivery person is located within the predetermined range from the parking location, it notifies the delivery person terminal that the user's vehicle is not present and removes the user's vehicle from the delivery person's delivery route. [Effects of the Invention]

[0006] According to the present disclosure, delivery efficiency is improved in a delivery service in which the interior of a user's vehicle can be specified as the delivery destination of a package. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a delivery system according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the operation of a delivery system according to one embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the operation of the delivery system according to one embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the operation of the delivery system according to one embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the description of the drawings, the same elements are given the same reference numerals, and duplicated description will be omitted.

[0009] [Delivery system overview] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the configuration of a delivery system according to one embodiment. The delivery system 1 shown in FIG. 1 provides a delivery service that delivers packages using a delivery vehicle 2. This service allows the interior of a user vehicle 3 to be specified as the delivery destination of the package. The user vehicle 3 is a vehicle used by the user at the delivery destination. The interior of the user vehicle 3 refers to the trunk or passenger compartment.

[0010] The delivery system 1 includes a delivery server 10 and a deliveryperson terminal 11. The delivery server 10 is connected to a network N such as the Internet, and is configured to be able to communicate with the deliveryperson terminal 11.

[0011] The delivery server 10 includes a control unit 100, a delivery database 101, and a delivery person database 102. The control unit 100 is a device that controls the above-mentioned services, and is, for example, a computer having a CPU (Central Processing Unit), ROM (Read Only Memory), RAM (Random Access Memory), a communication circuit, etc. The delivery database 101 stores information necessary for delivery. For example, the information is associated with each package and includes the delivery address, delivery date and time, a designated drop-off location, a designated vehicle, location information (GPS information) of the designated vehicle, a delivery completion flag, etc. The delivery person database 102 stores information about delivery people. For example, the information is associated with each delivery person and includes information about the package to be delivered, the delivery route, location information (GPS information) of the delivery person terminal 11 carried by the delivery person, location information (GPS information) of the delivery vehicle, etc.

[0012] The delivery person terminal 11 is a terminal used by a delivery person in the delivery vehicle 2. The delivery person terminal 11 is, for example, a computer having a CPU, ROM, RAM, a communication circuit, a display, etc. The delivery person terminal 11 is configured to be able to display package information and delivery routes transmitted from the delivery server 10.

[0013] The user vehicle 3 that is the target of delivery to a drop-off location is a vehicle used by a user who possesses a user terminal 30. The user vehicle 3 is connected to a network N and configured to be able to communicate with a vehicle management server 4. The user vehicle 3 is configured to unlock and lock the trunk or passenger compartment under the instructions of the vehicle management server 4.

[0014] The user terminal 30 is connected to the network N and configured to be able to communicate with the vehicle management server 4. The user terminal 30 and the vehicle management server 4 are, for example, computers having a CPU, ROM, RAM, communication circuits, a display, etc. The user terminal 30 transmits key information to the vehicle management server 4 while in close proximity communication with the user vehicle 3. The key information of the user terminal 30 is pre-registered in the vehicle database 40 of the vehicle management server 4 in association with the user vehicle 3 and the user terminal 30. If the key information is correctly verified by the vehicle management server 4, the user vehicle 3 unlocks and locks the trunk or passenger compartment. The user terminal 30 is configured to be able to communicate with the delivery server 10 and transmits information related to delivery to the delivery server 10. The transmitted information is stored in the delivery database 101.

[0015] [Delivery system operation] A package received from a delivery requester is delivered by a local transport vehicle to a collection point located near the requester, and then delivered by a main line transport vehicle to a collection point located near the delivery destination. The delivery server 10 obtains the estimated date and time of arrival of the package and sends an email or the like to the user terminal 30 to confirm the user's intention to leave the package at the door. The user inputs information necessary for delivery, such as a request to leave the package at the user's vehicle 3, into the user terminal 30. The user terminal 30 transmits the parking location of the user's vehicle 3, the designated time, etc. to the delivery server 10. The delivery server 10 stores the received information in the delivery database 101, references the delivery person database 102, identifies the delivery person who will deliver the package, and transmits information about the package to the delivery person terminal 11. The delivery person loads the package into the delivery vehicle 2 and heads off to make the delivery, following instructions from the delivery person terminal 11.

[0016] Figure 2 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the delivery system according to one embodiment. The flowchart shown in Figure 2 is executed by the delivery system 1 after the delivery vehicle 2 departs. As shown in Figure 2, first, in step S10, the delivery server 10 acquires location information of the delivery vehicle 2 using a GPS or the like, and detects that the delivery vehicle has arrived near the designated drop-off location.

[0017] Next, in step S12, the delivery server 10 generates a time-limited password using a random number or the like and transmits it to the deliveryman terminal 11. The time-limited password is a password for which a usable time period is set. The delivery server 10 also transmits the time-limited password to the vehicle management server 4.

[0018] When the delivery person arrives at the designated parking location for the user vehicle 3, he presses the door handle switch of the user vehicle 3. This causes a radio wave to be output from the antenna outside the vehicle compartment of the door handle of the user vehicle 3. In step S14, the delivery person terminal 11 displays a confirmation button or the like on the display in response to receiving the radio wave, and waits for the delivery person to operate it. When the delivery person presses the confirmation button, the delivery person terminal 11 transmits the time password received from the delivery server 10 to the vehicle management server 4. If the time password is correctly verified by the vehicle management server 4, in step S16, the user vehicle 3 unlocks the trunk or passenger compartment under instructions from the vehicle management server 4. This allows the delivery person to place the package in the user vehicle 3.

[0019] Next, in step S18, the deliveryperson terminal 11 transmits a delivery completion report to the delivery server 10 in response to the deliveryperson's operation. The delivery server 10 sets a delivery completion flag in the delivery database 101.

[0020] Next, the delivery person establishes proximity communication between the delivery vehicle 2 and the delivery person terminal 11. In response to the establishment of proximity communication, the delivery person terminal 11 sends a completion signal to the vehicle management server 4. In step S18, the user's vehicle 3 locks the trunk or passenger compartment under the instruction of the vehicle management server 4. This prevents the delivery person terminal 11 from being left inside the user's vehicle 3. This concludes the flowchart shown in FIG. 2.

[0021] Figure 3 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the delivery system according to one embodiment. The flowchart shown in Figure 3 is executed by the delivery system 1 after the delivery vehicle 2 departs. As shown in Figure 3, first, in step S30, the delivery server 10 acquires the location information of the user vehicle 3 using GPS or the like, and detects that the vehicle is not near the designated drop-off location (parking location).

[0022] Next, in step S32, the delivery server 10 notifies the deliveryperson terminal 11 that the user vehicle 3 is not present. Next, in step S34, the delivery server 10 deletes the point where the user vehicle 3 was present from the delivery route of the deliveryperson in the deliveryperson database 102. Alternatively, the delivery server 10 marks the package in the delivery database 101 as undelivered. Next, the delivery vehicle 2 heads to the next delivery destination. In step S36, the delivery server 10 notifies the user terminal 30 that the delivery has been undelivered due to the absence of the delivery person, and prompts the delivery person to redeliver. This concludes the flowchart shown in FIG. 3. By executing the flowchart shown in FIG. 3, delivery efficiency is improved because heading to a parking location where no one is present is avoided.

[0023] Figure 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of a delivery system according to one embodiment. The flowchart shown in Figure 4 is executed by the delivery system 1 after the delivery vehicle 2 departs. As shown in Figure 4, first, in step S40, the delivery server 10 acquires location information of the user vehicle 3 and location information of the delivery vehicle 2 or location information of the delivery person terminal 11 using GPS or the like.

[0024] Next, in step S42, the delivery server 10 determines whether the user vehicle 3 is located outside a predetermined range from the specified parking location (delivery destination). The predetermined range is a distance that makes it difficult for the user vehicle 3 to return to the parking location by the specified delivery time.

[0025] If it is determined that the user vehicle 3 is located outside a predetermined range from the specified parking location (delivery destination) (step S42: YES), the delivery server 10 determines in step S44 whether the delivery vehicle 2 is located within a predetermined range from the specified parking location (delivery destination). The predetermined range is a distance that takes several minutes to several tens of minutes to reach the parking location.

[0026] If it is determined that the delivery vehicle 2 is located within a predetermined range from the specified parking location (delivery destination) (Step S44: YES), the delivery server 10 notifies the deliveryperson terminal 11 that the user vehicle 3 is absent, in Step S46. Next, the delivery server 10 deletes the point where the user vehicle 3 was located from the delivery route of the deliveryperson in the deliveryperson database 102, in Step S48. Alternatively, the delivery server 10 marks the package in the delivery database 101 as undelivered. Next, the delivery vehicle 2 heads to the next delivery destination. Next, the delivery server 10 notifies the user terminal 30 that the delivery has been undelivered due to the absence of the user, and prompts the user to redeliver the package, in Step S50.

[0027] The flowchart shown in FIG. 4 ends when step S50 is completed, when it is determined that the user vehicle 3 is not located outside a predetermined range from the designated parking location (delivery destination) (step S42: NO), or when it is determined that the delivery vehicle 2 is not located within a predetermined range from the designated parking location (delivery destination) (step S44: NO). Execution of the flowchart shown in FIG. 4 prevents the delivery vehicle 2 from heading to an unoccupied parking location, thereby improving delivery efficiency. Furthermore, compared to the flowchart shown in FIG. 3, the flowchart shown in FIG. 4 can also handle cases where the user vehicle 3 leaves the parking location and returns to the parking location at the specified time (the delivery vehicle 2 is not treated as unoccupied), and can improve the accuracy of the determination by determining when the delivery vehicle 2 is approaching the designated parking location.

[0028] Although exemplary embodiments have been described above, various omissions, substitutions, and modifications may be made without being limited to the above-described exemplary embodiments.

[0029] For example, in Fig. 2, the time-limited password may be a QR code (registered trademark) time-limited password. The QR code may be read by an in-vehicle camera of the user vehicle 3. The user vehicle 3 transmits the QR code to the vehicle management server 4, and if the QR code is correctly verified, the trunk or passenger compartment may be unlocked or locked under the instructions of the vehicle management server 4.

[0030] Furthermore, the delivery server 10 may notify the vehicle management server 4 of the scheduled delivery date and time when a delivery-to-drop-off request is made. The vehicle management server 4 displays the scheduled delivery date and time on the meter of the user's vehicle 3. This allows the meter to display the fact that a delivery-to-drop-off request has been made when the user leaves the user's vehicle 3. Furthermore, if the user is not at home in the user's vehicle 3, the delivery server 10 may notify the user terminal 30 immediately before the specified time that delivery cannot be made. [Explanation of symbols]

[0031] 1...Delivery system, 2...Delivery vehicle, 3...User vehicle, 4...Vehicle management server, 10...Delivery server, 11...Delivery person terminal, 30...User terminal.

Claims

[Claim 1] A delivery system that provides a delivery service that allows a user to specify the interior of a vehicle as a delivery destination for a package, a delivery staff terminal used by a delivery staff member of a delivery vehicle; a delivery server capable of communicating with the deliveryman terminal; Equipped with The delivery server Acquire location information of the user vehicle, location information of the delivery vehicle, or location information of the delivery person terminal; determining whether the user vehicle is located outside a predetermined range from a parking location designated as a delivery destination based on the location information of the user vehicle; determining whether the delivery person is located within a predetermined range from the parking location based on the location information of the delivery vehicle or the location information of the delivery person terminal; If it is determined that the user vehicle is located outside a predetermined range from the parking location and the delivery person is located within a predetermined range from the parking location, the delivery person terminal is notified of the absence of the user vehicle and the user vehicle is removed from the delivery route of the delivery person. Delivery system.

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