Information processing system

Abstract

To enhance a customer's motivation to visit a store by utilizing a storage box.SOLUTION: An information processing system comprising an information processing server and a user terminal connected to the information processing server, wherein the information processing server receives first identification information transmitted from the user terminal, the first identification information being identification information of a housing box that houses an article repeatedly used for conveyance of the article, and stores the received first identification information and second identification information in association with each other in registration processing, the second identification information being identification information regarding the user terminal.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 13

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an information processing system. [Background technology]

[0002] In the distribution process of goods, boxes are used to store multiple goods. For example, goods are transported from a manufacturer's warehouse to a distribution warehouse, or from a distribution warehouse to a retailer's warehouse, with the goods in the boxes. Cardboard boxes are widely used as such boxes. Another type of box known is a reusable box made of synthetic resin, also known as an Oricon, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, for example. Goods can be displayed in stores with the goods stored in the box. In this specification, reusable boxes such as Oricon may also be referred to as storage boxes. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-6185 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] As described above, storage boxes are used for transporting and displaying items. Reusable storage boxes have high environmental value, and there is room for further utilization of the environmental value of storage boxes.

[0005] The present invention relates to a technology that increases customer motivation to visit a store by providing a new way of utilizing storage boxes based on their environmental value, namely, by repeatedly using them to display items. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present invention provides an information processing system comprising an information processing server and a user terminal connected to the information processing server, wherein the information processing server receives first identification information transmitted from the user terminal, which is identification information of a storage box containing an item that is repeatedly used for transporting the item, and associates and stores the received first identification information with second identification information, which is identification information related to the user terminal, in a registration process. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to increase the motivation for customers to visit a store by utilizing the environmental value of the storage boxes. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing an overall view of the transportation of articles using a storage box 50. FIG. [Figure 2] 1 shows an example of the external configuration of a storage box 50. [Figure 3] 10 shows the external configuration of a modified example of the storage box 50. [Figure 4] 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a transport management device 20 used in one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a transportation history table. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a specific example of a cleaning history table. [Figure 7] FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an information terminal 10. [Figure 8] 1 is a configuration diagram of an information processing system 1 used in one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of an analysis server 30 according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a usage history table. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of an emission reduction amount table. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of an environment point table. [Figure 13]FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of a user management server 60 according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 14] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of an additional point table. [Figure 15] FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram of a user terminal 70 according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 16] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a menu screen D1. [Figure 17] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a guidance screen D2. [Figure 18] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of an inquiry result screen D3. [Figure 19] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a confirmation result screen D4. [Figure 20] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a competition result screen D5. [Figure 21] FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram showing the operation of a query process. [Figure 22] FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram showing the operation of a confirmation process. [Figure 23] FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram showing the operation of a competition process. [Figure 24] 1 is a configuration diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration 90 of an information processing device 90 used in the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In this specification and drawings, components having substantially the same functional configurations are designated by the same reference numerals, and redundant explanations will be omitted.

[0010] An embodiment of the present invention relates to an information processing system that utilizes the environmental value of storage boxes. Storage boxes in an embodiment of the present invention can be repeatedly used to transport items between multiple locations. Furthermore, they may be placed in stores with the transported items still stored therein and then displayed to customers. To manage these reusable storage boxes and understand each storage box's contribution to the environment, it is necessary to individually manage each storage box's transport status and location, as well as its cleaning and repair history. Therefore, each storage box is assigned a unique identification, or ID. The inventor of the present invention came up with the idea that offering customers an incentive to scan the IDs of storage boxes placed in stores could encourage them to visit the store, leading to the invention. Before providing a detailed description of the information processing system of the present invention, an overview of the use of storage boxes for transporting items and the configuration of the storage boxes is provided below.

[0011] <Summary> The flow of transport of items using storage boxes 50 will be explained using Figure 1. Figure 1 shows multiple bases, including a manufacturer's factory, manufacturer's warehouse, logistics warehouse, retailer's warehouse, a store, and a storage box collection site. The manufacturer's factory and manufacturer's warehouse are bases of the manufacturer that produces the items. Items are manufactured at the manufacturer's factory, and the manufactured items are stored in storage boxes 50 and transported to the manufacturer's warehouse for storage. The logistics warehouse is a base for a logistics company (retailer), and stores items together with the storage boxes 50. The retailer's warehouse and stores are bases for store operators. Items are stored together with the storage boxes 50 at the retailer's warehouse, and the items are sold, consumed, or used at the store. The storage box collection site is a base where the storage boxes 50 are collected. First, the flow of transport of storage boxes 50 between these bases will be explained.

[0012] (Transportation flow) When an item is manufactured at a manufacturer's factory, the item is placed in a storage box 50, and the vehicle 40 transports the storage box 50 to the manufacturer's warehouse. While Fig. 1 shows an example in which the vehicle 40 transports the storage box 50 between base stations, the vehicle 40 is merely one example of a mobile object that transports the storage box 50, and the storage box 50 may be transported by another mobile object. Examples of other mobile objects include a ship, a train, an airplane, and a drone.

[0013] When the storage box 50 is transported to the manufacturer's warehouse, the storage box 50 is stored at the manufacturer's warehouse. Thereafter, the storage box 50 is transported from the manufacturer's warehouse to a distribution warehouse by vehicle 40 and stored there. Furthermore, the storage box 50 is transported from the distribution warehouse to a retailer's warehouse by vehicle 40, and after being stored at the retailer's warehouse, is transported to the store.

[0014] When the items stored in the storage box 50 are sold or displayed in the store and the storage box 50 becomes empty, the store staff folds the storage box 50 and stores it in a designated location in the store.

[0015] Thereafter, a person in charge of managing the storage box 50, such as a collection company, collects the storage box 50 from a designated location in the store and transports it to a storage box collection site. At the storage box collection site, the collection company may selectively clean, repair, dispose of, or replace the storage box 50. The collection company then transports the storage box 50 from the storage box collection site to the manufacturer's factory, where the storage box 50 returns to the manufacturer's factory described earlier. By repeating the above-mentioned cycle, the same storage box 50 is reused repeatedly. The collection company may be a leasing company or its contractor that rents storage boxes 50 to product manufacturers, logistics companies, or retailers.

[0016] The above-described flow of transport of the storage box 50 is one example, and other flows of transport of the storage box 50 may also be used. For example, there may be no retail store warehouse, and the storage box 50 containing the items may be transported directly from a logistics warehouse to the retail store. In this case, the emptied storage box 50 at the store may be collected from the store by a collection company, or may be transported to a logistics warehouse and then to a manufacturer's warehouse or manufacturer's factory.

[0017] (Configuration of storage box 50) Here, with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, an example of the configuration of the container 50 according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0018] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the exterior of storage box 50. As shown in FIG. 2, storage box 50 can be transformed between an assembled state and a folded state. In the assembled state, storage box 50 has a storage space for storing items, but in the folded state, it does not have this storage space. Here, lines indicating the structure necessary for transformation are omitted in FIGS. 2 and 3. In the assembled state, storage box 50 may have a rectangular parallelepiped shape as shown in FIG. 2, or may have another shape. In addition to folding or assembled storage boxes, storage boxes that are fixedly assembled into a three-dimensional shape can also be used as the storage box of the present invention.

[0019] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a modified storage box 50. The storage box 50 shown in FIG. 3 can be modified in the same way as the storage box 50 shown in FIG. 2. Furthermore, when assembled, at least a portion of the side surface can be opened by detaching, rotating, or the like, without affecting the items stored in the storage box 50. The storage box 50 shown on the left side of FIG. 3 shows the opened state. In the opened state, the items stored in the storage box 50 can be viewed from the outside and can be taken in and out. The storage box 50 can also be used as a display in a store without removing the stored items. As a further modification of such a display storage box 50, a storage box 50 that does not have a portion of one side surface in an assembled state may be used. The outer periphery of the storage box (the entire outer periphery of multiple storage boxes 50 placed on a pallet, as described below) can be protected with a protective film or the like during transportation, and the protective film or the like can be removed at the store. This allows the storage box 50 to be used for display in a store, either alone or with multiple storage boxes 50 placed on a pallet, as described below.

[0020] There are no particular limitations on the type of goods stored in storage box 50. For example, the goods may be cosmetics, food and drink, daily necessities, entertainment items, sports equipment, office supplies, electronic devices, medical supplies, clothing, etc. From the perspective of solving the problem of the present invention of increasing customer motivation to visit the store, goods sold to general consumers are preferable, but there is no limitation thereto, and goods sold to businesses may also be goods sold in physical stores.

[0021] In an embodiment of the present invention, each storage box 50 is assigned a storage box ID that identifies it. An ID information display unit is provided so that the assigned storage box ID can be read by a reading unit 120 (described later) of the information terminal 10. For example, an IC chip 52 storing the storage box ID may be embedded in the storage box 50 as the ID information display unit. The IC chip 52 may be, for example, an RFID tag, and the storage box ID of the storage box 50 stored therein can be read via wireless communication. Furthermore, it is preferable that an optically readable code, such as a barcode or two-dimensional code, be attached to the front side of the storage box 50 as an ID information display unit, and the storage box ID of the storage box 50 can be read from this code. In FIGS. 2 and 3, a two-dimensional code 54 is shown as an example of such a code.

[0022] In the present invention, in addition to the information terminal 10, a smartphone or the like is used as the user terminal 70 described later, and the storage box ID is read from the ID information presenting unit at each terminal. For this reason, the ID information presenting unit is preferably a code optically readable by a camera provided on the smartphone, such as a barcode or two-dimensional code 54. By providing an optically readable code on the front side of the storage box 50, it becomes easier for the user terminal 70, such as a smartphone described later, to obtain the storage box ID. The reading unit 120 may have a function to optically read the storage box ID from the two-dimensional code 54. Note that the storage box 50 may have multiple ID information presenting units, such as an RFID tag and a two-dimensional code. In this case, the information terminal 10 can read the storage box ID from the RFID tag via wireless communication, and the user terminal can read the storage box ID from the two-dimensional code.

[0023] The storage box 50 is made of synthetic resin. Such a storage box 50 is more durable than a cardboard box, which is an example of a one-way box, and the same storage box 50 can be reused. Furthermore, dirt adhering to the storage box 50 can be easily removed by washing. Note that water or detergent may or may not be used for washing. In particular, air washing is a preferred cleaning method because it is easy to operate and is environmentally friendly.

[0024] (Regarding pallets) The above-mentioned storage boxes 50 may be transported and stored in pallet units. A pallet is a flat platform on which multiple storage boxes 50 can be placed. The storage boxes 50 may be stacked in a single layer or in multiple layers on a single pallet. In relation to the use of the pallet, several methods are possible for transporting the storage boxes 50 and using the storage boxes 50 in a store. Three examples are given below.

[0025] As an example of the first method, there is a method of displaying the items on a pallet while the items are still stored in the storage boxes 50. That is, by using storage boxes 50 that allow the stored items to be visible from the outside and removable, the storage boxes 50 placed on the pallet can also be used for display. In this case, multiple storage boxes 50 are brought into the store along with the pallet used for transportation and are displayed as is. According to the first method, it is possible to continuously carry out the process from the delivery of multiple storage boxes 50 to the delivery of the items at the manufacturing site, handling in logistics, and display of the items. Furthermore, since the storage box IDs of the multiple storage boxes 50 on the pallet are also continuously read, information on the storage boxes 50 can be managed comprehensively.

[0026] As a second example method, there is a method in which the storage box 50 containing the items is taken off the pallet and the items are displayed together with the storage box. That is, as with the first example method, by using a storage box 50 in which the stored items can be seen from the outside and can be taken out, the storage box 50 can also be used for display. In this case, the storage boxes 50 may be arranged in a store in a form in which multiple layers are stacked.

[0027] A third example method is to take the articles out of the storage box 50 and display them on a shelf or the like.

[0028] In addition to the above-described methods, various other methods of transporting and displaying products using storage boxes 50 are conceivable. However, because storage boxes are reusable, the use of cardboard boxes during distribution can be reduced, thereby reducing the environmental impact. Furthermore, using storage boxes that can also be used for display not only reduces the workload associated with display, but also visibly demonstrates to consumers that reusable storage boxes with a low environmental impact are being used. This also has the advantage that consumers can select products that have been distributed in a manner that places a low environmental burden on them. In the present invention, the first and second method examples are preferred because the storage boxes 50 are used for in-store display, and the second method example is even more preferred because customers can approach all of the storage boxes once the display begins.

[0029] Note that which of the first to third methods is adopted varies depending on the display policy of each store. Furthermore, even within the same store, handling is not necessarily uniform, with each item being handled differently. Therefore, the same storage box 50 may be used in different ways each time, such as in the first method example at one time and the third method example at another time, depending on the store to which it is delivered and the contents. In other words, even if a storage box 50 is used in the third method example, it may be used in the first or second method example at another time, and customers may have the opportunity to come into contact with it in the store.

[0030] (Regarding transportation management) As shown in FIG. 1, transportation management of storage boxes 50 is performed using multiple information terminals 10 (information terminals 10A to 10F) and a transport management device 20. For example, efficient logistics can be achieved by sharing storage boxes 50 between companies, optimizing transportation, and reducing waiting times for shipments. Furthermore, environmentally friendly recycling of storage boxes 50 can be achieved by optimizing the locations for collecting, cleaning, or repairing storage boxes 50, the timing of cleaning or repair, the transport route, and the individual management of storage boxes 50. Furthermore, standardization of storage boxes 50 can also enable labor-saving and labor-saving production of storage boxes 50. Below, an overview of each information terminal 10 and transport management device 20 will be described.

[0031] The information terminal 10 is a terminal used at each base such as a manufacturer's factory, a manufacturer's warehouse, a logistics warehouse, etc. Fig. 1 shows an information terminal 10A used at a manufacturer's factory, an information terminal 10B used at a manufacturer's warehouse, an information terminal 10C used at a logistics warehouse, an information terminal 10D used at a retail store warehouse, an information terminal 10E used at a store, and an information terminal 10F used at a storage box collection site.

[0032] Each information terminal 10 is communicably connected to the transportation management device 20. For example, each information terminal 10 may be connected to the transportation management device 20 via a network including a wired or wireless transmission path. The network may include public lines such as the Internet, a telephone network, or a satellite communication network, various LANs (Local Area Networks), WANs (Wide Area Networks), and other dedicated line networks.

[0033] Furthermore, each information terminal 10 reads the storage box ID from the ID information presentation unit of each storage box 50, and transmits information including the read storage box ID to the transport management device 20. For example, when transport of a storage box 50 between bases begins, i.e., at the time of departure, the information terminal 10 may read the storage box ID of the storage box 50 to be transported, and transmit transport information including the storage box ID and transport source information indicating the base from which the storage box is transported (departure base) to the transport management device 20. Furthermore, when a storage box 50 is transported to a certain base and arrives, the information terminal 10 may read the storage box ID of the storage box 50, and transmit transport information including the storage box ID and transport destination information indicating the base to which the storage box is transported (arrival base) to the transport management device 20.

[0034] The configuration and functions of each information terminal 10 may be the same or different. For example, an information terminal 10F used at a storage box collection site may have a function for determining whether each storage box 50 needs to be cleaned, repaired, or disposed of. The information terminal 10 may be a stationary terminal or a portable terminal. Although only one information terminal 10 is shown at each base in FIG. 1, multiple information terminals 10 may be present at each base.

[0035] The transport management device 20 manages the overall transport of the storage boxes 50. For example, the transport management device 20 receives transport information for the storage boxes 50 from each information terminal 10, and manages the base where each storage box 50 is currently located and the transport history of the storage box 50 based on the transport information. The transport management device 20 also manages information on the items stored in each storage box 50, and therefore can send instructions to each information terminal 10 as to which storage box 50 should be transported, when, where, and by which vehicle 40. The configuration of the transport management device 20 will be described below with reference to FIG. 4.

[0036] (Configuration of transport management device 20) 4 shows the configuration of the transport management device 20 used in one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 4, the transport management device 20 used in one embodiment of the present invention includes a communication unit 210, a storage unit 220, and a control unit 250.

[0037] The communication unit 210 is an interface with each information terminal 10, and functions as a receiving unit that receives information from each information terminal 10, and a transmitting unit that transmits information to each information terminal 10. For example, the communication unit 210 receives transport information including the storage box ID of the storage box 50 from each information terminal 10. The communication unit 210 can also transmit instructions regarding the transport of the storage box 50 to the information terminal 10 based on control from the control unit 250.

[0038] The communication unit 210 also transmits information about each storage box 50, specifically the contents of the transport history table and cleaning history table described below, to the analysis server 30 in a timely manner under the control of the control unit 250.

[0039] The memory unit 220 stores various information, tables, etc. used in the operation of the transport management device 20. The control unit 250 controls the overall operation of the transport management device 20. In particular, the control unit 250 according to one embodiment of the present invention functions as a management unit that manages and updates the various tables stored in the memory unit 220 based on transport information received by the communication unit 210, etc.

[0040] The various tables include a transport history table and a cleaning history table. The information stored in the transport history table is an example of information indicating the usage history of the storage box 50. The various tables stored in the storage unit 220 and the method of updating the various tables by the control unit 250 will be described in more detail below. Note that the cleaning history can also be managed using an information processing device separate from the transport management device 20.

[0041] (Delivery history table) An example of a transport history table is shown in Fig. 5. The transport history table is a table that stores the transport history of each storage box 50. As shown in Fig. 5, the transport history table stores a storage box ID, transport source information, transport destination information, transport distance, vehicle information, and road type in association with each transport.

[0042] The container ID in the transport history table is an example of first identification information, and is identification information for the container 50. A different code is assigned to each container 50 as identification information. The source information indicates the source (departure base) of the container 50 when it is transported between bases. The destination information indicates the destination (arrival base) of the container 50 when it is transported between bases. As can be seen from the example shown in the figure, each base can be either the source or the destination. The transport distance indicates the distance between the source and destination. The vehicle information indicates the type of vehicle 40 used to transport the container 50. The road type indicates the type of road on the route along which the container 50 was transported.

[0043] In the illustrated example, specifically, the storage box ID "001" is associated with the source information "manufacturer's warehouse," the destination information "logistics warehouse," the transport distance "300 km," the vehicle information "large vehicle," and the road type "expressway." The storage box ID "001" is also associated with the source information "logistics warehouse," the destination information "dealer A's warehouse," the transport distance "80 km," the vehicle information "small vehicle," and the road type "general road." The storage box ID "002" is also associated with the source information "manufacturer's factory," the destination information "manufacturer's warehouse," the transport distance "150 km," the vehicle information "medium vehicle," and the road type "expressway."

[0044] The control unit 250 can create and update such a transport history table in a variety of ways. For example, when transport information indicating the storage box ID and transport source information of the storage box 50 is received by the communication unit 210, the control unit 250 sets the storage box ID and transport source information included in the transport information in the transport history table. Furthermore, when transport information indicating the storage box ID and transport destination information of the storage box 50 is received by the communication unit 210, the control unit 250 extracts an entry in the transport history table associated with the storage box ID included in the transport information for which transport destination information has not been set, and sets the transport destination information included in the transport information in the entry.

[0045] It is also possible that the destination is already determined at the time the transport starts, and transport information including the container ID, source information, and destination information is received by the communication unit 210. In this case, the control unit 250 may set the container ID, source information, and destination information included in the transport information received by the communication unit 210 in the transport history table. Furthermore, when the transport management device 20 transmits instructions regarding the transport of the container 50 to each information terminal 10, the control unit 250 may set the container ID, source information, and destination information in the transport history table in accordance with the content of the instructions.

[0046] Then, the control unit 250 sets the transport distance in the transport history table based on the transport source information and the transport destination information. The control unit 250 may identify the distance between the transport source and the transport destination based on map information and set the identified distance as the transport distance. Alternatively, if the distance corresponding to the combination of the transport source and the transport destination is known information, i.e., if it is stored in the storage unit 220 of the transport management device 20, the control unit 250 may set the transport distance based on that information.

[0047] Furthermore, when the transport information received from the information terminal 10 includes information indicating the transport vehicle, the control unit 250 may set the vehicle information based on that information. Furthermore, when the transport management device 20 transmits instructions regarding the transport of the storage box 50, including the designation of the transport vehicle, to each information terminal 10, the control unit 250 may set the vehicle information according to the content of the instructions. Note that a large vehicle is, for example, a vehicle with a maximum load capacity of more than 6.5 tons. A medium-sized vehicle is, for example, a vehicle with a maximum load capacity of more than 3 tons and not more than 6.5 tons. A small vehicle is, for example, a vehicle with a maximum load capacity of 3 tons or less.

[0048] The control unit 250 also sets the road type in the transportation history table based on the transportation source information and the transportation destination information. The control unit 250 may identify the dominant road type on the route between the transportation source and the transportation destination based on map information, and set the identified type as the road type in the transportation history table. Furthermore, if the relationship between the combination of the transportation source and the transportation destination and the dominant road type is known, for example, stored in the storage unit 220 of the transportation management device 20, the control unit 250 may set the road type based on that information. Note that the control unit 250 is not limited to setting the dominant road type for the route, and may also set the distance of each actual road type, such as 100 km for expressways and 50 km for general roads.

[0049] The transport information transmitted by each information terminal 10 may include a timestamp, and the control unit 250 may also manage the transport start time and transport end time in the transport history table based on the timestamp. Alternatively, the control unit 250 may manage the transport start time (departure time) and transport end time (arrival time) in the transport history table based on the reception time of each piece of transport information. In this specification, the term "time" refers to information that also includes the date.

[0050] (Cleaning history table) A specific example of the cleaning history table is shown in Fig. 6. In the cleaning history table, cleaning history information in which a storage box ID and a cleaning date are associated with each other is stored, as shown in Fig. 6. The cleaning date is the date on which the storage box 50 having the storage box ID in question was cleaned. When a cleaning execution notification indicating that the storage box 50 has been cleaned and including the storage box ID of the cleaned storage box 50 is transmitted from the information terminal 10F at the storage box recovery site, the control unit 250 of the transport management device 20 can store the cleaning history information in the cleaning history table based on the cleaning execution notification.

[0051] (Configuration of information terminal 10) Above, we have explained the configuration of the transport management device 20 and specific examples of various tables. Next, we will explain a representative configuration of the information terminal 10 with reference to FIG.

[0052] 7, information terminal 10 includes communication unit 110, reading unit 120, operation unit 130, imaging unit 134, output unit 140, and control unit 150. Note that reading unit 120, operation unit 130, imaging unit 134, output unit 140, etc. may be realized as functions of an external device of information terminal 10. Also, imaging unit 134 may not be provided, and output unit 140 may have various configurations as described below.

[0053] The communication unit 110 is an interface with the transport management device 20, and functions as a receiving unit that receives various information from the transport management device 20, and as a transmitting unit that transmits various information to the transport management device 20. For example, when the storage box 50 is transported to another base, the communication unit 110 transmits transport information including the storage box ID read from the storage box 50 by the reading unit 120 to the transport management device 20 under the control of the control unit 150. The communication unit 110 may also receive instructions regarding the transport of the storage box 50 from the transport management device 20.

[0054] The reading unit 120 reads the storage box ID of the storage box 50 from the ID information presenting unit of the storage box 50. The reading unit 120 used corresponds to the form of the ID information presenting unit. That is, if the storage box ID of the storage box 50 is stored in the IC chip 52 as described with reference to FIG. 2, the reading unit 120 has the function of reading the storage box ID from the IC chip. As described above, in the present invention, since a smartphone or the like is used as the user terminal 70 described below, the ID information presenting unit is preferably image information that can be optically read by a camera provided on the smartphone, such as a barcode or two-dimensional code 54, and the reading unit 120 preferably has the function of reading the storage box ID from the two-dimensional code 54. In addition, if the ID information presentation unit is an RFID tag, it is possible to acquire the storage box IDs of multiple storage boxes 50 all at once, but from the standpoint of ensuring information management on a storage box 50 basis, even when acquiring the storage box IDs all at once, it is preferable to manage various information such as transport information for each storage box 50, and when transmitting transport information to the transport management device 20, it is preferable to transmit it for each storage box 50, i.e., for each storage box ID.

[0055] The operation unit 130 is a part that is operated by the user of the information terminal 10 to input information or instructions into the information terminal 10. The operation unit 130 may be realized by, for example, a keyboard, a mouse, or a touch panel.

[0056] The imaging unit 134 is an example of an image acquisition unit that acquires an image of a subject by forming an optical image of the subject on an imaging surface and converting the optical image into an electrical signal. In one embodiment of the present invention, the imaging unit 134 is primarily used for capturing an image of the storage box 50. The imaging unit 134 may capture an image of the storage box 50 in an assembled state, including multiple sides of the storage box 50. The multiple sides include, for example, the top, bottom, front, and side surfaces. The image of the storage box 50 captured by the imaging unit 134 is used by the control unit 150, as described below, to determine whether to output a cleaning confirmation notice, repair confirmation notice, or disposal confirmation notice. If the ID information of the storage box 50 is image information, i.e., if the ID information presentation unit is a barcode or two-dimensional code, for example, the imaging unit 134 may also function as the reading unit 120.

[0057] The output unit 140 outputs information or a notification based on control from the control unit 150. For example, the output unit 140 may have a display function and output the information or notification as a display. Alternatively, the output unit 140 may have a sound output function and output the information or notification as a sound.

[0058] In one embodiment of the present invention, the output unit 140 may output a cleaning confirmation notice, which is a notice prompting confirmation of whether or not cleaning of the storage box 50 is necessary, based on control from the control unit 150. The user of the information terminal 10 may visually check the state of the storage box 50 based on the cleaning confirmation notice and make a final decision on whether or not cleaning is necessary. Alternatively, when the cleaning confirmation notice is output, the storage box 50 may be sent to the cleaning process without confirmation by the user.

[0059] Furthermore, the output unit 140 may output a repair confirmation notice, which is a notice prompting confirmation of whether or not repairs are required for the storage box 50, based on control from the control unit 150. The user of the information terminal 10 may visually check the condition of the storage box 50 based on the repair confirmation notice and make a final decision on whether or not repairs are required. Alternatively, when a repair confirmation notice is output, the storage box 50 may be sent to the repair process without confirmation by the user.

[0060] Furthermore, the output unit 140 may output a disposal confirmation notice, which is a notice prompting confirmation of whether or not disposal of the storage box 50 is necessary, based on control from the control unit 150. The user of the information terminal 10 may visually check the state of the storage box 50 based on the disposal confirmation notice and make a final decision on whether or not disposal is necessary. Alternatively, when the disposal confirmation notice is output, the storage box 50 may be sent to the disposal process without confirmation by the user.

[0061] The control unit 150 controls the overall operation of the information terminal 10. For example, the control unit 150 instructs the communication unit 110 to transmit transport information including the storage box ID of the storage box 50 read by the reading unit 120. The transport information sent from the information terminal 10 to the transport management device 20 preferably includes, in addition to the storage box ID, information that allows the transport management device 20 to recognize the location where the information terminal is located, information that distinguishes between departure and arrival, and more preferably information on the departure or arrival time. Furthermore, the control unit 150 of the information terminal 10 used at the storage box collection site can function as a determination unit that determines whether the storage box 50 needs to be cleaned, repaired, or discarded, based on an image of the storage box 50 acquired by the imaging unit 134 or information received from the transport management device 20.

[0062] <Configuration of information processing system> The above has provided an overview of the transport of items using the storage box 50 and the configuration of the storage box 50. Next, the configuration of an information processing system according to one embodiment of the present invention, which is applied to the use of the storage box 50 described above, will be described.

[0063] FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of an information processing system 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 8, the information processing system 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention includes the above-described transport management device 20, an information processing server 2 including an analysis server 30 and a user management server 60, and one or more, preferably multiple, user terminals 70. Note that the term "user" refers to a customer of a store where a container 50 containing items is displayed and used for product sales. Note that the information processing system 1 may also include a container management system including the transport management device 20 and each information terminal 10, or the container 50, or both. Furthermore, the information terminals 10 and transport management devices 20 at each site described above may not be specially designed for the present invention, but may be existing container management devices 20 designed for tracing containers 50. In other words, the information processing system 1 according to the present invention may not include the transport management device 20. In addition, in this embodiment, the case where the analysis server 30 and the user management server 60 are separate servers will be described, but the functions of the analysis server 30 and the user management server 60 may be realized on the same server, or the functions of the analysis server 30 and the user management server 60 may be shared among multiple servers.

[0064] An information processing system 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention enables a user to experience a game using a storage box 50. For example, the information processing system 1 may associate and manage users who are customers visiting a store with storage boxes 50 used to display products in the store, and may provide a game function using points for the storage boxes 50 associated with the users. For example, the game function is a function that pits a storage box 50 associated with a user against another storage box 50.

[0065] That is, according to the present invention, a new game system can be provided in which a game is played using the transportation history of a storage box by combining an analysis server 30 that analyzes the transportation history of a storage box, a storage box 50 having an ID information presentation unit, preferably a transportation management device 20 prepared for managing the transportation history of the storage box 50, and more preferably a user management server 60. Furthermore, if points are not managed for each user, for example by issuing coupons each time a game is won or lost, and the ID of a user is associated with a registered storage box by storing the storage box ID registered on the user terminal 70, the user management server 60 becomes unnecessary. Meanwhile, considering that points related to a storage box 50 are awarded to each customer, a new type of customer point management system can be provided by combining a user management server 60, a storage box 50 having an ID information presentation unit, preferably a transportation management device 20 prepared for managing the transportation history of the storage box 50, and more preferably an analysis server 30 that analyzes the transportation history of the storage box.

[0066] To this end, the analysis server 30 is an information processing device that calculates environmental points for each storage box 50 and stores the environmental points for each storage box 50. The environmental points are an index that indicates how much the use of a storage box 50 instead of a cardboard box contributes to the environment.

[0067] As described above, the user management server 60 is an information processing device that constitutes a part of the information processing server 2 in the present invention, and has a storage unit 620 that stores second identification information, which is identification information related to the user terminal 70, in association with the storage box ID of the storage box 50. The second identification information may be the ID of the user terminal 70, or may be the user ID of the user who uses the user terminal 70. In the following, the description will be continued assuming that the second identification information is the user ID.

[0068] The user terminal 70 is a communication terminal used by a user. The user terminal may be owned by the user, or may be owned by another party, such as a communications company, a leasing company, or the operator of the transport management device 20, the analysis server 30, or the user management server 60, and may be loaned to the user. An application program (hereinafter referred to as an application) for the game function in one embodiment of the present invention may be installed in the user terminal 70. Based on the application, the user terminal 70 communicates with the user management server 60 and generates various display screens. The user terminal 70 also has a function for reading the storage box ID of the storage box 50.

[0069] The configurations and operations of the analysis server 30, the user management server 60, and the user terminal 70 will be explained in detail below.

[0070] <Configuration of analysis server 30> As shown in FIG. 9, the analysis server 30 according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a communication unit 310, a storage unit 320, and a control unit 350.

[0071] (Communication unit 310) The communication unit 310 communicates various information with other devices. For example, the communication unit 310 receives information stored in a transport history table from the transport management device 20. The information stored in the transport history table may be transmitted from the transport management device 20 in response to a request from the communication unit 310, may be transmitted from the transport management device 20 every time the contents of the transport history table are updated, or may be transmitted from the transport management device 20 periodically.

[0072] Furthermore, the communication unit 310 receives various requests from the user management server 60 and transmits information corresponding to the requests to the user management server 60. For example, the communication unit 310 receives an inquiry request including a storage box ID from the user management server 60 and transmits to the user management server 60 the environmental points associated with the storage box ID in the environmental point table stored in the storage unit 320, which will be described later.

[0073] (Storage unit 320) The storage unit 320 stores various information and parameters including programs used in the operation of the analysis server 30. For example, the storage unit 320 may store CO2 emission coefficients for calculating the amount of CO2 emitted during the manufacturing of the storage box 50, the amount of CO2 emitted during cleaning, and the amount of CO2 emitted during transportation, which are used by the emission reduction calculation unit 360 described below. The storage unit 320 may also store CO2 emission coefficients for calculating the amount of CO2 emitted during the manufacturing of the cardboard box and the amount of CO2 emitted during transportation, as information for calculating the amount of CO2 emitted when a one-way cardboard box is used to transport items.

[0074] The storage unit 320 also stores a usage history table that stores usage history in association with the storage box ID of each storage box 50, an emission reduction amount table that stores emission reduction amounts calculated by the emission reduction amount calculation unit 360 in association with the storage box ID of each storage box 50, and an environmental point table that stores environmental points calculated by the environmental point calculation unit 370 in association with the storage box ID of each storage box 50. The emission reduction amount is an amount calculated for each storage box 50, and is the amount of CO2 emission reduction resulting from the use of each storage box 50 compared to when a cardboard box is used. The environmental point is an index that indicates how much the use of a storage box 50 instead of a cardboard box contributes to the environment. Specific examples of the usage history table, emission reduction amount table, and environmental point table will be described below with reference to FIGS. 10 to 12.

[0075] A specific example of the usage history table is shown in Figure 10. The usage history table shows the usage history of each storage box 50. As shown in Figure 10, the usage history table associates the storage box ID, total travel distance, number of times used, number of days used, number of prefectures traveled, number of times cleaned, and current location. The usage history table is updated using information about each storage box 50 that is sent from the transport management device 20 to the analysis server 30 as appropriate.

[0076] The total travel distance is the cumulative value of the transport distance from the start of use of each storage box 50. The control unit 350 can calculate the total travel distance for each storage box 50 by adding up the transport distance for each storage box 50 in the transport history table stored in the transport management device 20.

[0077] The number of uses is the number of times each storage box 50 has been used repeatedly. For example, each transport from base to base may be counted as one use, or the cycle in which the storage box 50 is transported from the storage box collection site and then returned to the storage box collection site may be counted as one use. The control unit 350 identifies the number of uses for each storage box 50 based on the transport source information, transport destination information, and the like in the transport history table stored in the transport management device 20.

[0078] The number of days of use is the number of days that each storage box 50 has been used. For example, the number of days of use may be the number of days that have passed since the storage box 50 was first used, or may be the number of days that is obtained by subtracting the number of days that the storage box 50 has stayed at the storage box collection site from the number of days that have passed since the storage box 50 was first used. The control unit 350 calculates the number of days of use for each storage box 50 based on the above-mentioned transport start time and transport end time, which are not shown in the transport history table stored in the transport management device 20.

[0079] The number of prefectures traveled is the number of prefectures that each storage box 50 has stayed in or passed through. The control unit 350 calculates the number of prefectures traveled based on the transport origin information and transport destination information in the transport history table stored in the transport management device 20. Note that the number of prefectures traveled is an example of the number of geographical ranges that the storage box 50 has reached (including passed through) out of multiple geographical ranges, and instead of the number of prefectures traveled, the number of cities, towns, and villages that the storage box 50 has stayed in or passed through for each storage box 50 may be used.

[0080] The number of cleanings is the number of times each storage box 50 has been cleaned. The control unit 350 obtains the number of cleanings for each storage box 50 based on the cleaning history table stored in the transport management device 20.

[0081] The current location is the position where each storage box 50 currently exists. The control unit 350 identifies as the current location the location of the base indicated by the delivery destination information of the latest entry among the entries related to the target storage box 50 in the delivery history table stored in the delivery management device 20. Furthermore, if the control unit 350 obtains location information of the vehicle transporting the storage box 50 while the storage box 50 is being transported, the control unit 350 may identify as the current location the location indicated by the location information of the vehicle.

[0082] In the illustrated example, specifically, storage box ID "001" is associated with a total travel distance of "1400 km," a number of uses of "3 times," a number of days of use of "65 days," a number of prefectures visited of "8," a number of cleanings of "2 times," and a current location of "Tokyo...." Also, in the illustrated example, storage box ID "002" is associated with a total travel distance of "5000 km," a number of uses of "10 times," a number of days of use of "420 days," a number of prefectures visited of "33," a number of cleanings of "5 times," and a current location of "Hokkaido...."

[0083] Fig. 11 shows a specific example of an emission reduction amount table. As shown in Fig. 11, in the emission reduction amount table, a storage box ID is associated with an emission reduction amount. In the example shown, specifically, an emission reduction amount of "10 kg-CO2" is associated with storage box ID "001". Similarly, an emission reduction amount is associated with each of storage box ID "002" and storage box ID "003".

[0084] Fig. 12 shows a specific example of an environmental point table. As shown in Fig. 12, in the environmental point table, environmental points are associated with storage box IDs. In the example shown, specifically, environmental point "100" is associated with storage box ID "001". Similarly, environmental points are also associated with storage box ID "002" and storage box ID "003".

[0085] (control unit 350) The control unit 350 controls the overall operation of the analysis server 30. For example, the control unit 350 controls communication by the communication unit 310 and storage of information in the storage unit 320. The control unit 350 also functions as an emission reduction amount calculation unit 360 and an environmental point calculation unit 370, as shown in FIG.

[0086] (Emission reduction calculation unit 360) The emission reduction calculation unit 360 calculates the emission reduction amount for each storage box 50. To this end, the emission reduction calculation unit 360 may calculate the total cumulative CO2 emissions since manufacture for each storage box 50, calculate the total cumulative CO2 emissions for each storage box 50 if a cardboard box were used instead in each transport, and calculate the result of subtracting the latter from the former as the emission reduction amount. Below, a method for calculating the total CO2 emissions for the storage box 50 in this embodiment and a method for calculating the total CO2 emissions if a cardboard box were used will be described.

[0087] -Calculation method for total CO2 emissions for 50 storage boxes The emission reduction calculation unit 360 calculates, for each storage box 50, the total cumulative CO2 emissions of the storage box 50 by adding up the CO2 emissions during the manufacturing of the storage box 50, the CO2 emissions during the cleaning of the storage box 50, and the CO2 emissions during transportation of the storage box 50 between multiple bases. The CO2 emissions of each storage box 50 calculated by the emission reduction calculation unit 360 are stored in the memory unit 320. For example, the emission reduction calculation unit 360 calculates the CO2 emissions during transportation of the storage box 50 for each transportation, and stores the calculated CO2 emissions during transportation of the storage box 50 in the memory unit 320.

[0088] The amount of CO2 emissions during the transportation of a storage box 50 is calculated by calculating the amount of CO2 emissions for each transportation of the storage box 50 included in the transportation history table and cumulatively adding up the calculated CO2 emissions for each transportation. The amount of CO2 emissions for one transportation of a storage box 50 is calculated by apportioning the CO2 emitted by the vehicle 40 in one transportation to each loaded cargo (each item and each storage box 50 that contains the items), and then adding up the amounts for each storage box 50 (the storage box 50 and all the items stored in the storage box 50).

[0089] The amount of CO2 emitted by the vehicle 40 in one transport is calculated, for example, by multiplying the load (t) of the vehicle 40 used for the transport by the transport distance (km) and the CO2 emission coefficient (kg-CO2 / t·km). The load is the total mass of the goods loaded on the vehicle 40 and the cargo including the storage box 50. The CO2 emission coefficient is a coefficient determined from the type of vehicle 40, the load, the fuel efficiency of the vehicle 40, and the like, and an actual value or a value from a database is used. The fuel efficiency of the vehicle 40 is a parameter that is influenced by, for example, the loading rate of the vehicle 40, the road type of the transport route, or the road conditions of the transport route, and the like.

[0090] That is, the amount of CO2 emitted by the vehicle 40 in a single transport is calculated from the load capacity of the vehicle 40, the transport distance, and the CO2 emission coefficient (for example, by multiplying the load capacity of the vehicle 40, the transport distance, and the CO2 emission coefficient). Furthermore, the calculated CO2 emissions are apportioned to each transported storage box 50 (for example, by calculating the total mass of each storage box 50 including the items contained therein, and apportioning the mass to each storage box according to that mass), thereby calculating the CO2 emissions for that storage box 50 in that transport. This calculation is performed for each transport, and the results of the calculations are accumulated to calculate the CO2 emissions based on the transport history table for that storage box 50. Note that in order to perform this calculation, it is necessary to record each entity in the transport history table, i.e., information used to calculate the weight of the items contained in the storage box 50 for each transport, such as product ID and quantity.

[0091] The emission reduction calculation unit 360 calculates the CO2 emissions for each transport of each storage box 50 stored in the transport history table using the above method, and can calculate the CO2 emissions during transport of each storage box 50 by adding up the CO2 emissions for all past transports of each storage box 50. The transport history of each storage box 50 can be obtained, for example, from the transport history table stored in the memory unit 220 of the transport management device 20 using the storage box ID of the storage box 50 as a key.

[0092] Note that, in this embodiment, it is assumed that the storage box 50 is transported only by vehicle 40, but the present invention is not limited to the above example. For example, even if the storage box 50 is transported by a moving body other than vehicle 40, such as a ship or train, it is possible to calculate the CO2 emissions in a similar manner by changing the CO2 emission coefficient used in the calculation to the CO2 emission coefficient of the corresponding moving body, i.e., the ship or train, and using this. Furthermore, for example, if transportation by vehicle 40 and train are combined, calculations can be performed for each moving body and the results can be added together.

[0093] The amount of CO2 emissions during the manufacturing of the storage box 50 is calculated by adding up the amounts of CO2 emissions during the processes of material procurement, molding, and assembly of the storage box 50, for example.

[0094] The CO2 emissions in the material procurement process for the storage box 50 are calculated by multiplying the mass of the material (kg) by the CO2 emission coefficient (kg-CO2 / kg). The CO2 emission coefficient (kg-CO2 / kg) is determined based on the material properties of the storage box 50 and the method of compounding the materials, and an actual value or a value from a database is used.

[0095] The CO2 emissions during the molding process of the storage box 50 are calculated by multiplying the mass of the material (kg) by the CO2 emission coefficient (kg-CO2 / kg). The CO2 emission coefficient (kg-CO2 / kg) is determined from the material quality, molding shape, and molding method of the storage box 50, and is an actual value or a value from a database.

[0096] The CO2 emissions during the assembly process of the storage box 50 are calculated by multiplying the resources (units) consumed during assembly by the CO2 emission coefficient (kg-CO2 / unit). The CO2 emission coefficient (kg-CO2 / unit) is determined based on the types of resources, such as electricity, water, nitrogen, or steam, consumed during assembly of the storage box 50 and the source of the resources, and is either an actual value or a value from a database.

[0097] It is preferable that the emission reduction calculation unit 360 calculates the amount of CO2 emissions during the manufacture of the storage box 50 in advance using the above method, stores the calculated amount of CO2 emissions during the manufacture of the storage box 50 in the memory unit 320, and uses this repeatedly for each storage box 50.

[0098] The amount of CO2 emissions during cleaning of the storage box 50 is calculated by cumulatively adding up the CO2 emissions from one cleaning of the storage box 50 for the number of times that the storage box 50 has been cleaned, which is included in the cleaning history (i.e., by multiplying the CO2 emissions from one cleaning by the number of times that the storage box 50 has been cleaned, which is included in the cleaning history). The amount of CO2 emissions from one cleaning of the storage box 50 is calculated, for example, by adding up the CO2 emissions from procuring and heating the water used in one cleaning and the CO2 emissions from the equipment used in one cleaning (for example, the CO2 emissions from powering the equipment).

[0099] The CO2 emissions from water procurement are calculated by multiplying the mass (kg) of water procured by the CO2 emission coefficient (kg-CO2 / kg). The CO2 emission coefficient (kg-CO2 / kg) is determined based on the quality and source of the procured water, and actual values ​​or values ​​from a database are used.

[0100] The amount of CO2 emitted by heating water is calculated by multiplying the mass (kg) of the water being heated by the temperature (°C) and the CO2 emission coefficient (kg-CO2 / kg·°C). The CO2 emission coefficient (kg-CO2 / kg·°C) is determined from the type and amount of resources, such as electricity or fuel, consumed during the heating process, and is an actual value or a value from a database. It is preferable to use an average value for the heating temperature, taking seasonal fluctuations into account.

[0101] The CO2 emissions of equipment used in cleaning are calculated by multiplying the electricity (kWh) consumed by the cleaning equipment during cleaning by the CO2 emission coefficient (kg-CO2 / kWh). The CO2 emission coefficient (kg-CO2 / kWh) is determined based on the source of the consumed electricity, and actual values ​​or values ​​from a database are used.

[0102] The emission reduction calculation unit 360 calculates in advance the amount of CO2 emissions resulting from one cleaning of a storage box 50 using the above method, and can calculate the cumulative amount of CO2 emissions during cleaning of the storage box 50 by cumulatively adding up the CO2 emissions resulting from one cleaning for the number of times each storage box 50 has been cleaned, which are included in the cleaning history, or by multiplying the CO2 emissions resulting from one cleaning by the number of times each storage box 50 has been cleaned. The number of times each storage box 50 has been cleaned can be obtained, for example, from the usage history table stored in the memory unit 220 of the transport management device 20, using the storage box ID of the storage box 50 as a key.

[0103] Based on the above, the emission reduction calculation unit 360 can calculate the following information.

[0104] For example, the emission reduction calculation unit 360 can calculate the total accumulated CO2 emission amount from the manufacture to disposal of one storage box 50.

[0105] Furthermore, the emission reduction calculation unit 360 can calculate the total amount of CO2 emissions over a predetermined period. The amount of CO2 emissions during transportation and the amount of CO2 emissions during cleaning can be calculated from the transportation history or cleaning history over a predetermined period. The amount of CO2 emissions during manufacturing can be calculated, for example, by apportioning the amount of CO2 emitted during the manufacturing of the storage box 50 by an amount equivalent to a predetermined period based on the average useful life of the storage box 50.

[0106] The predetermined period for which the emission reduction calculation unit 360 calculates the total CO2 emission amount may be set by, for example, input from the user. The emission reduction calculation unit 360 may calculate the total CO2 emission amount up to the present, using the period after the user registered the desired storage box 50 as the predetermined period, or may calculate the total CO2 emission amount since the time of manufacture. This relates to the gameplay of the game realized by the competition processing unit 690, which will be described later, and is therefore preferably selected appropriately by the game provider.

[0107] -Calculation method for total CO2 emissions assuming cardboard boxes are used The CO2 emissions when a cardboard box is used instead of the storage box 50 can be found by calculating the emissions when the cardboard box is manufactured and the emissions when the cardboard box is used for transportation. That is, the emission reduction calculation unit 360 can calculate the total CO2 emissions when a cardboard box is used by adding up the CO2 emissions when the cardboard box is manufactured and the CO2 emissions when the cardboard box is used for transportation.

[0108] The CO2 emissions during the transport of cardboard boxes are calculated by calculating the CO2 emissions for each transport from the manufacturer's factory to the store out of all the transports of the storage boxes 50 that are replaced by cardboard boxes, and then cumulatively adding up the calculated CO2 emissions for each transport. The CO2 emissions for one transport of cardboard boxes are calculated by apportioning the CO2 emitted by the vehicle 40 during one transport to each loaded cargo (each item and each cardboard box containing the items), and then adding up the total for each cardboard box (the cardboard box and all the items contained in it). Note that in order to perform this calculation, it is necessary to record each entity in the transport history table, i.e., information used to calculate the weight of the items contained in the storage box 50 for each transport, such as the product ID and quantity.

[0109] The amount of CO2 emitted by the vehicle 40 in one transport is calculated, for example, by multiplying the load (t) of the vehicle 40 used for the transport by the transport distance (km) and the CO2 emission coefficient (kg-CO2 / t·km). The load is the total mass of the goods loaded on the vehicle 40, including the items and the cargo, including the cardboard boxes. The CO2 emission coefficient is a coefficient determined from the type of vehicle 40, the load, the fuel efficiency of the vehicle 40, and the like, and an actual value or a value from a database is used. The fuel efficiency of the vehicle 40 is a parameter that is influenced by, for example, the loading rate of the vehicle 40, the road type of the transport route, or the road conditions of the transport route, and the like.

[0110] The emission reduction calculation unit 360 calculates the CO2 emissions for each transport from the manufacturer's factory to the store out of all transports of the storage boxes 50 that will be replaced with cardboard boxes using the above method, and by adding up the calculated CO2 emissions, it is possible to calculate the CO2 emissions during the transport of the cardboard boxes.

[0111] The amount of CO2 emissions during the manufacture of a cardboard box is calculated by adding up the CO2 emissions from each process, for example, procuring materials for the cardboard box and assembling it.

[0112] The CO2 emissions from the material procurement process for cardboard boxes are calculated by multiplying the mass of the material (kg) by the CO2 emission coefficient (kg-CO2 / kg). The CO2 emission coefficient (kg-CO2 / kg) is determined based on the procurement method for the material, and actual values ​​or values ​​from a database are used.

[0113] The CO2 emissions from the cardboard box assembly process are calculated by multiplying the resources (units) consumed during assembly by the CO2 emission coefficient (kg-CO2 / unit). The CO2 emission coefficient (kg-CO2 / unit) is determined based on the types of resources consumed during the assembly of the cardboard box, such as electricity, water, nitrogen, or steam, and the source of those resources, and is either an actual value or a value from a database.

[0114] The emission reduction calculation unit 360 may calculate the amount of CO2 emissions during the manufacture of the cardboard box using the above method. Alternatively, it is also possible to obtain the amount of CO2 emissions during the manufacture of the cardboard box from the supplier of the cardboard box and input the information into the emission reduction calculation unit 360.

[0115] -Calculating emission reductions The emission reduction calculation unit 360 calculates the difference between the total cumulative CO2 emissions when a cardboard box is used instead of the storage box 50 and the total cumulative CO2 emissions from the storage box 50 as the CO2 emission reduction due to the storage box 50. The difference between the total cumulative CO2 emissions when a cardboard box is used instead of the storage box 50 and the total cumulative CO2 emissions from the storage box 50, i.e., the CO2 emission reduction, occurs mainly because cardboard boxes are one-way, whereas the storage box 50 can be used repeatedly.

[0116] For example, the emission reduction calculation unit 360 can calculate the CO2 emission reduction amount due to the storage box 50 by taking the difference between all the total CO2 emissions accumulated from the manufacture or start of use of the storage box 50 to the present and the total cumulative CO2 emissions if the storage box 50 is replaced with a cardboard box. That is, the emission reduction calculation unit 360 subtracts "(the total cumulative CO2 emissions if the storage box 50 is replaced with a cardboard box) - (the total CO2 emissions of the storage box 50)" for each storage box 50, and can calculate the CO2 emission reduction amount from the result of this subtraction.

[0117] The control unit 350 stores the emission reduction amount for each storage box 50 calculated as described above in the emission reduction amount table stored in the storage unit 320.

[0118] (Environmental point calculation unit 370) The environmental point calculation unit 370 calculates, for each storage box 50, environmental points that are an index showing how much the use of the storage box 50 instead of a cardboard box contributes to the environment.

[0119] The environmental point calculation unit 370 may calculate environmental points based on the usage history of the storage box 50. For example, the environmental point calculation unit 370 may calculate a value corresponding to the emission reduction amount calculated by the emission reduction amount calculation unit 360 as the environmental points. Specifically, the environmental point calculation unit 370 may calculate the environmental points by substituting the emission reduction amount calculated by the emission reduction amount calculation unit 360 into a relational expression set in advance between the environmental points and the emission reduction amount.

[0120] Alternatively, the environmental point calculation unit 370 may calculate the environmental points of each storage box 50 based on the usage history of each storage box 50, without calculating the emission reduction amount. In other words, the value calculated by the emission reduction calculation unit 360 may not be used, which is preferable because the emission reduction calculation unit 360 is unnecessary in implementing the present invention. For example, it can be considered that the longer the total travel distance of the storage box 50, the more environmentally beneficial the use of the storage box 50 is. It can also be considered that the more prefectures the storage box 50 has visited, the more the storage box 50 has traveled, and therefore the more environmentally beneficial the use of the storage box 50 is. It can also be considered that the more days the storage box 50 has been used or the more times it has been used, the more environmentally beneficial the use of the storage box 50 is. For this reason, the environmental point calculation unit 370 may calculate the environmental points based on at least one of the total travel distance, the number of prefectures, the number of days used, or the number of times used, in the usage history table stored in the memory unit 320. Specifically, for example, the environmental point calculation unit 370 may calculate the environmental points by calculating the following formula: In the following formulas, A1 to A4 are coefficients having values ​​of 0 or more. Environmental points = A1·total distance traveled + A2·number of prefectures +A3·Number of days used+A4·Number of times used

[0121] Furthermore, the environmental point calculation unit 370 may also calculate the environmental points using the number of times the storage box 50 has been washed. Specifically, the environmental point calculation unit 370 may calculate the environmental points by calculating the following formulas. In the following formulas, A1 to A5 are coefficients having values ​​equal to or greater than 0. Environmental points = A1·total distance traveled + A2·number of prefectures +A3·Number of days used+A4·Number of times used-A5·Number of times washed

[0122] The environmental point calculation unit 370 may also calculate environmental points based on a combination of two or more of the total travel distance, the number of prefectures, the number of days of use, the number of uses, and the number of washes. For example, the environmental point calculation unit 370 may calculate environmental points based on a combination of the total travel distance and the number of washes, or a combination of the number of uses and the number of washes.

[0123] When the environmental point calculation unit 370 calculates the environmental points of the storage box 50, it updates the environmental points associated with the storage box ID of the storage box 50 in the environmental point table of the memory unit 320 to the calculated environmental points.

[0124] <Configuration of user management server 60> The configuration of the analysis server 30 according to one embodiment of the present invention has been described above. Next, the configuration of the user management server 60 according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

[0125] 13 shows the configuration of a user management server 60 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 13, the user management server 60 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a communication unit 610, a storage unit 620, and a control unit 650.

[0126] (Communication unit 610) The communication unit 610 communicates various information with other devices. For example, the communication unit 610 receives a query request including a storage box ID from the user terminal 70, and transmits a query result indicating information about the storage box 50 having the storage box ID to the user terminal 70.

[0127] In addition, the communication unit 610 receives a confirmation request (current status inquiry) including a user ID from the user terminal 70, and transmits a confirmation result to the user terminal 70 indicating information about the storage box 50 having a storage box ID associated with the user ID in the memory unit 620 described below.

[0128] Furthermore, the communication unit 610 receives a point response request including a container ID and a user ID from the transport management device 20, and transmits the environmental points and additional points to the user terminal 70. The additional points are points that are granted and updated for each user depending on the result of a determination process, which will be described later, performed in the user terminal 70, and at least the updated result value is stored in the additional points table in association with the user ID.

[0129] Furthermore, the communication unit 610 transmits a query request including the storage box ID to the analysis server 30, and receives information about the storage box 50 having the storage box ID from the analysis server 30.

[0130] (Storage unit 620) The storage unit 620 stores various information and parameters used in the operation of the user management server 60. For example, the storage unit 620 stores an additional point table that associates and stores user IDs, container IDs, and additional points. In the additional point table, the container ID and user ID included in a registration request (described later) transmitted from the user terminal 70 are associated with each other.

[0131] FIG. 14 shows a specific example of an additional point table. As shown in FIG. 14, in the additional point table, user IDs, storage box IDs, and additional points are stored in association with each other. In the example shown in FIG. 14, the same storage box ID "001" is associated with user ID "001" and user ID "003." In this way, the same storage box ID may be associated with multiple user IDs. In other words, multiple users may be able to register the same storage box 50. Registration will be described later. Note that the additional point table only associates user IDs with additional points, and a separate user registration storage box management table may be provided for associating user IDs with storage box IDs.

[0132] 14, there is also an entry for a storage box ID "001" and additional points "400" that are not associated with any user ID. In this way, for each storage box 50, entries for storage box IDs and additional points that are not associated with any user ID are also managed.

[0133] The method of using and updating the additional points will be described in detail later.

[0134] (Control unit 650) The control unit 650 controls the overall operation of the user management server 60. For example, as shown in FIG. 13 , the control unit 650 has a function as a query processing unit 660, a function as a registration processing unit 670, a function as a confirmation processing unit 680, and a function as a competition processing unit 690.

[0135] The inquiry processing unit 660 performs inquiry processing in response to an inquiry request from the user terminal 70. The inquiry processing is a process of responding to an introduction request from the user terminal 70 by sending information about the storage box 50 to the user terminal 70. The inquiry request is a request to the user management server 60 constituting the information processing server 2 to inquire about information about a desired storage box 50. A user of the user terminal 70 visits a store where a storage box 50 is used to display products, and operates the user terminal 70 to launch the inquiry request processing in order to obtain information about the desired storage box 50 in the store. For example, the operation during the inquiry request processing may include capturing an image of the two-dimensional code 54 formed on the storage box 50. As a result, the storage box ID of the desired storage box 50 is read, and an inquiry request including the storage box ID is sent from the user terminal 70 to the user management server 60.

[0136] As part of the inquiry process, the inquiry processing unit 660 controls the communication unit 610 to send an inquiry request including the storage box ID to the analysis server 30. For example, the communication unit 610 controls the communication unit 610 to send information based on the usage history of the storage box 50 having the storage box ID sent from the analysis server 30 to the user terminal 70. The information about the storage box 50 sent to the user terminal 70 and displayed on the screen thereof may include, for example, information based on the usage history, such as the total distance traveled, the number of cleanings, and the amount of CO2 emissions reduced, as well as all or part of the environmental points.

[0137] The registration processing unit 670 performs registration processing in response to a registration request from the user terminal 70. The registration processing is processing for registering a container 50 in the memory unit 620 of the user management server 60 as the container 50 of the user of the user terminal 70. The registration request is to register the desired container 50 as the container 50 of the user of the user terminal 70, i.e., to request the user management server 60 to perform the registration processing, and may be transmitted following receipt of the results of the inquiry processing. For example, the user of the user terminal 70 checks the information about the container 50 that is the inquiry result, for example, on a display screen that is output to the user of the user terminal and presented to the user, and performs an operation to execute the registration request processing if the user wants to register the container 50 as their own container 50. The operation to execute the registration request processing may be an operation on a screen displayed on the user terminal 70. As a result, a registration request including the container ID of the target container 50 and the user ID of the user of the user terminal 70 is transmitted from the user terminal 70 to the user management server 60.

[0138] When a registration request is received from the user terminal 70, the registration processing unit 670 associates the user ID with the container ID included in the registration request and stores them in the additional point table as part of the registration process. At the time the user ID is stored in the registration process, the additional points may be "0", a predetermined value, or a random value. Alternatively, the additional points may be additional points associated with the container ID included in the registration request that are not associated with any user ID in the additional point table. Additional points that are not associated with any user ID will be explained later.

[0139] The confirmation processing unit 680 performs confirmation processing in response to a confirmation request from the user terminal 70. The confirmation request is a request to confirm information about the inbox 50 registered as the inbox 50 of the user of the user terminal 70. For example, if the user of the user terminal 70 wants to confirm information about the inbox 50 registered as his / her own inbox 50, the operation for executing the confirmation request processing may be an operation on a screen displayed on the user terminal 70. As a result, a confirmation request including the user ID of the user of the user terminal 70 is sent from the user terminal 70 to the user management server 60. Note that, by its nature, a confirmation request can be made even if the user does not visit the store. However, it is preferable that the user management server 60 acquires location information of the user terminal 70 so that the confirmation request can be made only when the user terminal 70 is present in or near the store. This leads to an increase in the number of opportunities for users to visit the store.

[0140] As a confirmation process, the confirmation processing unit 680 reads out the storage box ID associated with the user ID included in the confirmation request in the additional point table, and controls the communication unit 610 to send an inquiry request including the storage box ID to the analysis server 30. Furthermore, the confirmation processing unit 680 controls the communication unit 610 to send, as a confirmation result, to the user terminal 70 the information on the storage box 50 sent from the analysis server 30 and the additional points associated with the user ID included in the confirmation request in the additional point table.

[0141] The competition processing unit 690 performs processing for a competition between a storage box 50 associated with a certain user and another storage box 50. For example, when a point response request requesting a response of points to be used in the competition is transmitted from the user terminal 70, the competition processing unit 690 controls the communication unit 610 to transmit the environmental points and additional points to be used in the competition to the user terminal 70.

[0142] More specifically, the point response request includes the user ID of the user of the user terminal 70 and the storage box ID read by the user terminal 70 from the storage box 50 in the store (the storage box 50 of the competition opponent). The competition processing unit 690 reads the storage box ID associated with the user ID included in the point response request in the additional point table, and controls the communication unit 610 to send an environmental point request to the analysis server 30 including the storage box ID (the storage box ID of the user's storage box 50) and the storage box ID included in the point response request (the storage box ID of the competition opponent's storage box 50). Note that instead of an environmental point request, an inquiry request may be sent to the analysis server 30, similar to the inquiry process described above, and only the environmental points may be extracted from the returned information.

[0143] The competition processing unit 690 also reads out, from the additional point table, the additional points associated with the user ID included in the point response request (user's additional points) and the additional points associated with the container ID included in the point response request (opponent's additional points).The competition processing unit 690 then controls the communication unit 610 to transmit to the user terminal 70 the read additional points of the user and the additional points of the opponent, as well as the environmental points of the user's container 50 and the environmental points of the opponent sent from the analysis server 30 in response to the inquiry request.

[0144] In the additional point table, there may be one user ID associated with the storage box ID included in the point response request, multiple user IDs associated with the storage box ID included in the point response request, or no user IDs associated with the storage box ID included in the point response request.

[0145] When there is one user ID associated with the storage box ID included in the point response request, the competition processing unit 690 may control the communication unit 610 to send the additional points of the storage box ID of the entry included in the point response request that is associated with the user ID to the user terminal 70, as described above.

[0146] When multiple user IDs are associated with a container ID included in the point response request, the competition processing unit 690 may control the communication unit 610 to transmit a statistical value of the additional points associated with each of the multiple user IDs to the user terminal 70 as the additional points corresponding to the container ID included in the point response request. Examples of statistical values ​​include an average value, a maximum value, a minimum value, or a value randomly selected from the additional points associated with each of the multiple user IDs. In other words, the value of the additional points associated with a user ID randomly selected from the multiple user IDs. Alternatively, when the point response request includes designation information regarding an opponent, the competition processing unit 690 may determine the additional points corresponding to the container ID included in the point response request in accordance with the designation information. For example, when the designation information specifies the strongest opponent, the competition processing unit 690 may determine the highest additional points among the additional points associated with each of the multiple user IDs as the additional points corresponding to the container ID included in the point response request.

[0147] When no user ID is associated with a container ID included in the point response request, the competition processing unit 690 may control the communication unit 610 to transmit to the user terminal 70 the additional points of a container ID included in the point response request that is not associated with a user ID. This entry that is not associated with a user ID is a so-called dummy entry for competition processing. By treating this dummy entry as an independent user ID in each process, a container ID that is not associated with any user ID will always have an associated user. As a result, even a container ID that is not associated with any user ID can be subjected to the same processing, which is preferable. In other words, it is preferable that each container ID has a dummy entry in the additional point table from the beginning.

[0148] Furthermore, the competition processing unit 690 updates the additional points in the additional point table based on the determination result of the competition conducted using the above points in the user terminal 70. For example, if the determination result is that the housing box 50 of the user of the user terminal 70 has won, the competition processing unit 690 increases the additional points associated with the user ID of the user of the user terminal 70 in the additional point table by the challenger's victory points. On the other hand, if the determination result is that the housing box 50 of the user of the user terminal 70 has lost, the competition processing unit 690 increases the additional points associated with the user ID of the user of the user terminal 70 in the additional point table by the challenger's participation points. The challenger's participation points are smaller than the challenger's victory points.

[0149] Furthermore, when the competition processing unit 690 determines that the user's storage box 50 of the user terminal 70 has won, it increases the additional points associated with the opponent in the additional point table by the amount of challengee participation points. On the other hand, when the competition processing unit 690 determines that the user's storage box 50 of the user terminal 70 has lost, it increases the additional points associated with the opponent in the additional point table by the amount of challengee victory points. The challengee participation points are smaller than the challengee victory points. Furthermore, the challengee victory points may be smaller than the challenger victory points, and the challengee participation points may be smaller than the challenger participation points. The amount by which each point is increased may be adjusted as appropriate in relation to the method of calculating the environment points, from the perspective of balancing them with the environment points.

[0150] In this embodiment, the judgment process is executed by the user terminal 70, but it may also be performed by the competition processing unit 690 of the user management server 60, with the results being transmitted to the user terminal 70. That is, the user terminal 70 may be configured to transmit the read container ID and user ID together with a competition / judgment process request to the user management server 60, and the user management server 60 may perform the same competition process as above and the judgment process described below, and return the results, i.e., the result of winning or losing and the updated results of the added points associated with the user ID, to the user terminal 70.

[0151] <Configuration of User Terminal 70> The configuration of the user management server 60 according to one embodiment of the present invention has been described above. Next, the configuration of the user terminal 70 according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 15. The user terminal 70 accepts user operations, for example when the user wishes to register a desired storage box 50, and transmits a request to the user management server 60 or the like as appropriate, and also processes information received from the user management server 60 or the like and presents it to the user.

[0152] As shown in FIG. 15, a user terminal 70 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a communication unit 710, a storage unit 720, an imaging unit 730, an operation display unit 740, and a control unit 750.

[0153] (Communication unit 710) The communication unit 710 communicates various information with other devices. For example, the communication unit 710 transmits the above-mentioned confirmation request, inquiry request, registration request, point response request, etc. in combination with the user ID and the storage box ID that the user terminal 70 reads from the storage box 50 in the store, and receives information transmitted from the user management server 60 in response to these.

[0154] (Storage unit 720) The storage unit 720 stores various information and parameters used in the operation of the user terminal 70. For example, the storage unit 720 stores an application for an embodiment of the present invention.

[0155] (Image capture unit 730) The imaging unit 730 is a component that captures an image of a subject. In particular, in one embodiment of the present invention, the imaging unit 730 captures an image of the two-dimensional code 54 that represents the storage box ID formed on the storage box 50 as the subject, and acquires the image of the two-dimensional code 54 to read the storage box ID (first identification information).

[0156] (Operation display section 740) The operation display unit 740 includes a display unit that displays various screens and an operation unit that is operated by the user. The user can perform operations on the operation display unit 740 for query request processing, registration request processing, and confirmation request processing. The display unit is realized by, for example, a liquid crystal display device or an organic LED display device. The operation unit is realized by, for example, a touch panel. The display unit and the operation unit may be configured separately.

[0157] (control unit 750) The control unit 750 controls the overall operation of the user terminal 70. For example, the control unit 750 controls communication by the communication unit 710 using an application stored in the storage unit 720. Furthermore, the control unit 750 realizes functions as a display control unit 760, a determination processing unit 770, and a container ID acquisition unit 780 (first identification information acquisition unit) using the application stored in the storage unit 720.

[0158] (Storage box ID acquisition unit 780) The storage box ID acquisition unit 780 extracts the two-dimensional code 54 of the storage box 50 attached to the storage box from the image captured by the imaging unit 730, and converts the two-dimensional code into a storage box ID. The conversion from the two-dimensional code to a storage box ID may be performed by the user management server 60. If the conversion to a storage box ID is performed by the user management server 60, the storage box ID acquisition unit 780 only extracts the two-dimensional code, and the communication unit 710 transmits image data of the extracted two-dimensional code to the user management server 60. This case is also included in the expression "sending a storage box ID" in this specification.

[0159] (Display control unit 760) The display control unit 760 generates various display screens and displays the generated display screens on the operation display unit 740. Examples of display screens generated by the display control unit 760 include a menu screen, a guidance screen, an inquiry result screen, a confirmation result screen, and a competition result screen. Specific examples of each display screen will be described below along with the operation of the control unit 750.

[0160] - Menu screen 16 is an explanatory diagram showing a specific example of the menu screen D1. As shown in FIG. 16, the menu screen D1 includes an inquiry button E11, a confirmation button E12, and a challenge button E13.

[0161] The inquiry button E11 is a button selected to start an inquiry request process for inquiring about information on a storage box 50 in a store. The confirmation button E12 is a button selected to start a confirmation request process for confirming information on a storage box 50 registered as the storage box 50 of the user of the user terminal 70. The competition button E13 is a button selected to start a competition between the storage box 50 of the user of the user terminal 70 and a storage box 50 in a store, i.e., to start a point response request process.

[0162] -Guidance screen When the inquiry button E11 or the competition button E13 is selected on the menu screen D1, the display control unit 760 generates a guidance screen shown in FIG.

[0163] Fig. 17 is an explanatory diagram showing a specific example of the guidance screen D2. As shown in Fig. 17, the guidance screen D2 includes a message prompting the user to read the two-dimensional code 54 of the storage box 50, and a display field E21 for an image captured in real time by the imaging unit 730. In accordance with the guidance screen D2, the user of the user terminal 70 captures an image of the two-dimensional code 54 of the storage box 50 in the store with the imaging unit 730, thereby acquiring the storage box ID of the storage box 50 in the store.

[0164] -Inquiry result screen When the inquiry button E11 is selected on the menu screen D1 shown in Fig. 16 and the container ID of the container 50 is acquired on the guidance screen D2 of Fig. 17, the communication unit transmits the container ID of the container 50 acquired by the container ID acquisition unit 780 to the user management server 60. Then, when information based on the container history is sent based on the function of the inquiry processing unit 660 of the user management server 60 described above, the communication unit 710 receives it. Using the sent information based on the container history, the display control unit 760 generates the inquiry result screen shown in Fig. 18 and causes the operation display unit 740, which functions as a display unit, to display the inquiry result screen. This allows the user to check the inquiry results presented on the user terminal 70.

[0165] 18 shows a specific example of the inquiry result screen D3. As shown in FIG. 18, the inquiry result screen D3 includes a display E31 of information about the storage box 50, a "Yes" button E32, and a "No" button E33. In the example shown in FIG. 18, the display E31 of information about the storage box 50 includes the display of the storage box ID of the storage box 50, the total distance traveled, the number of cleanings, the amount of CO2 emissions reduced, and environmental points. Note that the inquiry result screen D3 also includes a map display, and the route traveled by the storage box 50 and the current location of the storage box 50, i.e., the location of the store where the storage box ID was obtained, may be superimposed on the map display.

[0166] The user of the user terminal 70 views the display E31 to understand the information about the storage box 50, and selects the "Yes" button E32 if he or she wishes the storage box 50 to be registered as his or her own storage box 50, or selects the "No" button E33 if he or she does not wish the storage box 50 to be registered as his or her own storage box. If the "Yes" button E32 is selected, the registration process proceeds. If the "No" button E33 is selected, the display control unit 760 generates the menu screen D1 again and causes the operation display unit 740 to display the menu screen D1.

[0167] -Confirmation result screen When the Confirm button E12 is selected on the menu screen D1, the display control unit 760 generates the confirmation result screen shown in FIG. 19 based on the function of the confirmation processing unit 680 of the user management server 60 described above, and displays the confirmation result screen on the operation display unit 740. More specifically, when the Confirm button E12 is selected, the communication unit 710 transmits the user ID of the user terminal to the user management server 60. Then, based on the function of the confirmation processing unit 680, the user management server 60 transmits information linked to the user ID, i.e., information based on the history of the containers registered by the user, which is received by the communication unit 710. Using the transmitted information based on the history of the containers, the display control unit 760 generates the confirmation result screen D4 shown in FIG. 19 and displays the confirmation result screen on the operation display unit 740, which functions as a display unit. This allows the user to check the current status of the containers 50 registered by the user, which are displayed on the user terminal 70.

[0168] FIG. 19 shows a specific example of the confirmation result screen D4. As shown in FIG. 19, the confirmation result screen D4 includes a display E41 of information about the storage box 50 registered as the user's storage box 50 of the user terminal 70 and the display control unit 760, a display E42 of added points, and an OK button E43. In the example shown in FIG. 19, the display E41 includes displays of the storage box ID, total travel distance, number of cleanings, CO2 emission reduction amount, and environmental points. When the user of the user terminal 70 presses the OK button E43 on the confirmation result screen D4, the display control unit 760 generates the menu screen D1 again and displays the menu screen D1 on the operation display unit 740. This allows the user to confirm the results of the determination process presented on the user terminal 70.

[0169] - Match result screen When the competition button E13 is selected on the menu screen D1 shown in FIG. 16 and then the storage box ID of the storage box 50 is acquired on the guidance screen D2 of FIG. 17, the display control unit 760 generates the competition result screen shown in FIG. 20 based on the processing results of the competition processing unit 690 of the user management server 60 described above and the processing results of the judgment processing unit 770 described later, and displays the competition result screen on the operation display unit 740.

[0170] 20 is an explanatory diagram showing a specific example of the competition result screen D5. As shown in Fig. 20, the competition result screen D5 includes a result display E51, an acquired additional point display E52, an acquired additional point display E53, and an OK button E54.

[0171] The result display E51 shows the result of the win / loss judgment between the storage box 50 of the user of the user terminal 70 and the storage box 50 at the store. In the example shown in Fig. 20, the storage box 50 of the user of the user terminal 70 won, so "WIN" is displayed as the result display E51.

[0172] The acquired additional points display E52 shows the additional points acquired by the user of the user terminal 70 according to the result of the win / loss judgment. The acquired additional points display E53 shows the total points of the acquired additional points and the additional points before the competition. When the user of the user terminal 70 presses the OK button E54 on the competition result screen D5, the display control unit 760 generates the menu screen D1 again and causes the operation display unit 740 to display the menu screen D1.

[0173] In the above example, the guidance screen D2 is displayed after the inquiry button E11 or the competition button E13 is selected on the menu screen D1. However, the menu screen D1 may be displayed after the guidance screen D2. If any of the storage boxes 50 has already been registered as the user's storage box 50 of the user terminal 70, the processing may automatically proceed to the competition without displaying the menu screen D1 after the guidance screen D2. Furthermore, the user terminal 70 may be designed so that after the inquiry result screen D3 for a certain storage box 50 is displayed by the inquiry processing, the competition with that storage box 50 is not possible.

[0174] (Determination processing unit 770) The determination processing unit 770 executes a process for determining the outcome of a competition between the storage box 50 of the user of the user terminal 70 and a storage box 50 in a store whose storage box ID has been acquired by the user terminal 70. In the determination processing, the determination processing unit 770 uses the environmental points of the storage box 50 of the user of the user terminal 70 and the environmental points of the storage box 50 whose storage box ID has been acquired by the user terminal 70. Furthermore, the determination processing unit 770 may execute the determination processing using the additional points of the user of the user terminal 70 and the additional points corresponding to the storage box 50 whose storage box ID has been acquired by the user terminal 70. These various points are transmitted from the user management server 60 to the user terminal 70 based on the function of the competition processing unit 690 of the user management server 60 described above, by the determination processing unit 770 causing the communication unit 710 to transmit a point response request to the user management server 60. As mentioned above, the judgment processing unit 770 may be provided in the user management server 60. In that case, the container ID and user ID acquired by the container ID acquisition unit 780 of the user terminal 70 are transmitted from the user terminal 70 to the user management server 60 together with a competition and judgment request, and the user terminal 70 receives the win / loss information, which is the competition and judgment result. At this time, updated points for display may be received, or only the win / loss result may be received, and the updated result may be calculated by the display control unit 760 of the user terminal 70 and displayed.

[0175] The judgment process is a process that determines the winner by comparing the points associated with the storage box ID read at the store with the points associated with the storage box ID registered by the user, and which points to use for the judgment, including environmental points, additional points, or other points, can be selected appropriately depending on the gameplay that the designer wants to give.

[0176] The determination processing unit 770 may, for example, compare the total value of the environmental points of the containment box 50 of the user of the user terminal 70 and the additional points of the user of the user terminal 70 with the total value of the environmental points of the containment box 50 whose containment box ID has been acquired by the user terminal 70 and the additional points corresponding to the containment box 50 whose containment box ID has been acquired by the user terminal 70. In this case, if the total value of the former is larger, the determination processing unit 770 determines that the containment box 50 of the user of the user terminal 70 has won, and if the total value of the latter is larger, the determination processing unit 770 determines that the containment box 50 of the user of the user terminal 70 has lost.

[0177] Alternatively, the determination processing unit 770 may perform the determination process using a random value in addition to the various points described above. For example, the determination processing unit 770 may perform the determination process by comparing the total value of the environmental points of the containment box 50 of the user of the user terminal 70, the additional points of the user of the user terminal 70, and the first random value with the total value of the environmental points of the containment box 50 whose containment box ID has been acquired by the user terminal 70, the additional points corresponding to the containment box 50 whose containment box ID has been acquired by the user terminal 70, and the second random value.

[0178] The various points may also be reflected in some of the parameters that affect the strength of the containment box 50. For example, the determination processing unit 770 may reflect the environmental points in a defensive power parameter and the additional points in an offensive power parameter, and then execute a battle between the containment box 50 of the user of the user terminal 70 and a containment box 50 whose containment box ID has been acquired by the user terminal 70, and obtain a victory / loss determination result. In this case, for example, the victory / loss can be determined by comparing the offensive power of one party with the defensive power of the other party, and the offensive power of the other party with the defensive power of the other party, respectively, which is preferable because it further improves the gameplay. Furthermore, although the above describes an example in which containment boxes 50 compete against each other, in-game characters owned by the users of the user terminals 70 may also compete against each other. In this case, the various points may be reflected in the type or parameters of equipment of the in-game characters.

[0179] After acquiring the determination result, the determination processing unit 770 causes the communication unit 710 to transmit the determination result to the user management server 60 .

[0180] <Operation> The configurations of the analysis server 30, user management server 60, and user terminal 70 according to one embodiment of the present invention have been described above. Next, the operation of the information processing system according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figs. 21 to 23.

[0181] (Inquiry and registration processing) The operation of the inquiry process is shown in Fig. 21. First, when the user of the user terminal 70 selects the inquiry button E11 on the menu screen D1 and reads the container ID on the guidance screen D2 (S204), the communication unit 710 of the user terminal 70, under the control of the control unit 750, sends an inquiry request including the container ID to the user management server 60 (S208).

[0182] Furthermore, when the user management server 60 sends an inquiry request including the storage box ID to the analysis server 30 (S212), the control unit 350 of the analysis server 30 reads out information about the storage box 50 having the storage box ID included in the inquiry request from the storage unit 320 (S216), and the communication unit 310 sends the information about the storage box 50 to the user management server 60 (S220). Then, the communication unit 610 of the user management server 60 sends the information about the storage box 50 received from the analysis server 30 to the user terminal 70 as an inquiry result (S228).

[0183] Thereafter, the display control unit 760 of the user terminal 70 generates a query result screen D3, and the operation display unit 740 displays the query result screen D3 (S232). When the user of the user terminal 70 selects the "Yes" button E32 on the query result screen D3 as a registration request operation (S236), the communication unit 710 transmits a registration request including the storage box ID of the target storage box 50 and the user ID of the user of the user terminal 70 to the user management server 60 (S240).

[0184] The registration processing unit 670 of the user management server 60 performs registration processing based on the registration request from the user terminal 70 (S244). That is, the registration processing unit 670 of the user management server 60 associates the container ID and the user ID included in the registration request and stores them in the added point table.

[0185] (Confirmation process) 22 shows the operation of the confirmation process. First, when the user of the user terminal 70 selects the confirmation button E12 on the menu screen D1 (S304), the communication unit 710 of the user terminal 70, under the control of the control unit 750, sends a confirmation request including the user ID of the user of the user terminal 70 to the user management server 60 (S308).

[0186] The confirmation processing unit 680 of the user management server 60 reads out the storage box ID associated with the user ID included in the confirmation request in the additional point table, and causes the communication unit 610 to send an inquiry request including the storage box ID to the analysis server 30 (S312).

[0187] The control unit 350 of the analysis server 30 reads out information about the storage box 50 having the storage box ID included in the inquiry request from the memory unit 320 (S316), and the communication unit 310 transmits the information about the storage box 50 to the user management server 60 (S320).

[0188] Thereafter, the confirmation processing unit 680 of the user management server 60 reads out the additional points associated with the user ID included in the confirmation request in the additional points table (S324). Then, the communication unit 610 transmits the confirmation result including the additional points and the information on the storage box 50 transmitted from the analysis server 30 to the user terminal 70 (S328). Next, the display control unit 760 of the user terminal 70 generates a confirmation result screen D4, and the operation display unit 740 displays the confirmation result screen D4 (S332).

[0189] (Confrontation processing) 23 is an explanatory diagram showing the operation of the competition process. First, when the user of the user terminal 70 selects the competition button E13 on the menu screen D1 and reads the container ID on the guidance screen D2 (S404), the communication unit 710 of the user terminal 70, under the control of the control unit 750, transmits a point response request including the container ID and the user ID of the user of the user terminal 70 to the user management server 60 (S408).

[0190] Then, the competition processing unit 690 reads out the storage box ID associated with the user ID included in the point response request in the additional point table, and causes the communication unit 610 to send an environmental point request including the storage box ID (the storage box ID of the user's storage box 50) and the storage box ID included in the point response request (the storage box ID of the competition opponent's storage box 50) to the analysis server 30 (S412).

[0191] Next, the control unit 350 of the analysis server 30 reads the environmental points for each container ID included in the environmental point request from the environmental point table in the memory unit 320 (S416), and the communication unit 310 sends these environmental points to the user management server 60 (S420).

[0192] Furthermore, the competition processing unit 690 of the user management server 60 reads out, from the additional point table, the additional points associated with the user ID included in the point response request (the user's additional points) and the additional points associated with the container ID included in the point response request (the competition opponent's additional points) (S424).Then, the communication unit 610 transmits to the user terminal 70 the read additional points of the user and the additional points of the competition opponent, as well as the environmental points of the user's container 50 and the environmental points of the competition opponent transmitted from the analysis server 30 in response to the environmental point request (S428).

[0193] Thereafter, the determination processing unit 770 of the user terminal 70 performs a process of determining whether the game has won or lost by, for example, comparing the total value of the environmental points of the storage box 50 of the user of the user terminal 70 and the additional points of the user of the user terminal 70 with the total value of the environmental points of the storage box 50 whose storage box ID has been acquired by the user terminal 70 and the additional points corresponding to the storage box 50 whose storage box ID has been acquired by the user terminal 70 (S432). Then, the display control unit 760 generates a competition result screen D5 based on the determination result by the determination processing unit 770, and the operation display unit 740 displays the competition result screen D5 (S436).

[0194] Furthermore, the communication unit 710 transmits the judgment result by the judgment processing unit 770 to the user management server 60 (S440), and the competition processing unit 690 of the user management server 60 updates the added points in the added points table based on the received judgment result (S444).

[0195] <Action and effect> According to the embodiment of the present invention described above, a variety of operational effects can be obtained. For example, during the registration process, the registration processing unit 670 of the user management server 60 according to the embodiment of the present invention associates the storage box ID of the storage box 50 transmitted from the user terminal 70 with the user ID of the user of the user terminal 70 and stores them in the added points table. Since the storage box ID of the storage box 50 can only be obtained by reading it from the storage box 50 at the store, the above configuration can increase the motivation for customers to visit the store.

[0196] Furthermore, in the inquiry process, the inquiry processing unit 660 of the user management server 60 transmits information about the storage box 50 having the storage box ID transmitted from the user terminal 70 to the user terminal 70, and the user terminal 70 presents the information about the storage box 50 to the user as an inquiry result screen. According to this configuration, the user of the user terminal 70 can consider, based on the result of the inquiry process, whether to register the queried storage box 50, whether to compete with the queried storage box 50, and so on.

[0197] Furthermore, the information about the storage box 50 is information based on the usage history of the storage box 50. Therefore, the information about the storage box 50 differs for each storage box 50 and changes dynamically, so that a system that uses such information about the storage box 50 improves the gameplay.

[0198] Furthermore, in the confirmation process, the confirmation processing unit 680 of the user management server 60 transmits information about the storage box 50 registered as the storage box 50 of the user of the user terminal 70 to the user terminal 70, and the user terminal 70 presents the information about the storage box 50 to the user by outputting it as a confirmation result screen. Although the information about the storage box 50 can change over time, the above configuration enables the user of the user terminal 70 to check the latest information about the storage box 50 that he or she has registered at any time.

[0199] Furthermore, the information based on the usage history includes environmental points. The environmental points may be determined based on at least one of the total distance traveled by the storage box 50, the number of times it has been used, the number of days it has been used, or the number of prefectures traveled through. Alternatively, the environmental points may be points based on the amount of CO2 emissions reduced by using the storage box 50 compared to using a cardboard box. Alternatively, the environmental points may be points determined based on both. With this configuration, the information based on the usage history of the storage box 50 can indicate how much use of the storage box 50 contributes to the environment, which is expected to increase users' interest in environmental protection.

[0200] Furthermore, the environmental point calculation unit 370 of the analysis server 30 calculates the environmental points based on the number of times the storage box 50 has been washed. With this configuration, it is possible to calculate environmental points that are more in line with the actual situation.

[0201] Furthermore, the determination processing unit 770 of the user terminal 70 executes a process for determining the outcome of a competition between the storage box 50 of the user of the user terminal 70 and a storage box 50 in a store whose storage box ID has been acquired by the user terminal 70. In performing the determination process, the determination processing unit 770 uses the environmental points of the storage box 50 of the user of the user terminal 70 and the environmental points of the storage box 50 whose storage box ID has been acquired by the user terminal 70. With this configuration, a game using environmental points is realized, which is expected to increase users' interest in the environment.

[0202] Furthermore, the competition processing unit 690 of the user management server 60 stores the additional points in association with the user ID of the user, and updates the additional points associated with the user ID of the user of the user terminal 70 according to the result of the win / loss determination. Therefore, it is expected that users will actively participate in competitions in order to earn the additional points, and that this will increase the opportunities for users to visit stores for competitions.

[0203] Furthermore, in the process of determining whether a game has been won or lost, the determination processing unit 770 of the user terminal 70 executes the determination process using the additional points of the user of the user terminal 70 and the additional points corresponding to the storage box 50 whose storage box ID has been acquired by the user terminal 70. With this configuration, it is possible to further increase the motivation of the user to visit the store in order to acquire additional points.

[0204] Furthermore, when multiple user IDs are associated with a storage box ID included in the point response request, the competition processing unit 690 of the user management server 60 can control the communication unit 610 to transmit the statistical value of the additional points associated with each of the multiple user IDs to the user terminal 70 as the additional points corresponding to the storage box ID included in the point response request. In this case, the statistical value of the additional points associated with each of the multiple user IDs is used in the process of determining whether the game is a win or a loss. With this configuration, it is possible to obtain an appropriate determination result even when multiple user IDs are associated with one storage box 50.

[0205] Furthermore, the competition processing unit 690 of the user management server 60 also updates the additional points of the opponent in accordance with the result of the win / loss determination. With this configuration, the opponent user can participate in the competition and earn additional points without going to the store. The user management server 60 may also notify the user terminal 70 of the opponent user of the win / loss determination result, etc.

[0206] Furthermore, the operation display unit 740 of the user terminal 70 displays a competition result screen D5 showing the result of the victory or defeat. The user of the user terminal 70 can see the result of the victory or defeat, the additional points acquired, and the like by looking at the competition result screen D5.

[0207] Furthermore, the user terminal 70 can obtain the storage box ID of the storage box 50 by reading from the storage box 50, and can transmit an inquiry request including the storage box ID to the user management server 60. With this configuration, the user terminal 70 cannot obtain the storage box ID unless the user visits the store where the storage box 50 is located, which is thought to more reliably increase the user's motivation to visit the store.

[0208] Furthermore, the information processing system 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention combines the certainty that additional points increase due to the actions of the user of the user terminal 70 (for example, a competition at a store) with the randomness that the storage box 50 grows due to movements of the storage box 50 that are uncontrollable and unpredictable by the user, making it possible to provide the user with a unique gaming experience. If the user feels that the growth of the registered storage box 50 does not meet expectations, they can re-register a different storage box 50. Furthermore, a mechanism may be applied in which the user's visit to a store or the user's purchases at a store are reflected in the additional points, or in individual points (such as store visit points or shopping points, which are used in the competition in the same way as environmental points or additional points).

[0209] Furthermore, in one embodiment of the present invention, a storage box 50 is used which is more environmentally friendly than a cardboard box, and it is expected that the user of the user terminal 70 will feel satisfied that they are participating in an environmentally friendly activity.

[0210] <Modification> An embodiment of the present invention has been described above. Below, several modified examples of the above-described embodiment will be described. Note that each of the modified examples described below may be applied alone to the above-described embodiment, or may be applied in combination with the above-described embodiment. Furthermore, each modified example may be applied in place of the configuration of the above-described embodiment, or may be applied in addition to the configuration of the above-described embodiment, depending on its content.

[0211] For example, the functions of the above-mentioned transport management device 20, the functions of the analysis server 30, and the functions of the user management server 60 may be implemented on more servers, or may be consolidated into one or two servers.

[0212] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the explanation has been given mainly on the assumption that the user ID of one user is associated with the storage box ID of one storage box 50 in the additional point table, but multiple storage box IDs may be associated with the user ID of one user. In this case, additional points will be managed for each combination of user ID and storage box ID. Furthermore, during the confirmation process and the competition process, an operation may be added in which the user selects the target storage box 50.

[0213] The user management server 60 may also have a function to delete (cancel) the association between the user ID of the user terminal 70 and the storage box ID of the storage box 50, based on a deletion request from the user terminal 70. This function is particularly effective when there is a limit to the number of storage box IDs that can be associated with one user ID.

[0214] Furthermore, the user management server 60 can increase the additional points stored in association with the user ID during the inquiry process, for example, according to the environmental points associated with the read container ID. This allows users to increase their additional points without competing, encouraging them to visit the store more often. In this case, it is preferable to set a limit on the number of inquiry processes that can be performed at the same store per day.

[0215] In addition, the additional points can be used for purposes other than competition. For example, when a user's additional points reach a predetermined value, a reward may be provided to the user. The reward may be a coupon that can be used in a store, a product voucher, or the like. In this case, even if a reward is provided to the user, the additional points may not be reduced. Alternatively, the user may be provided with these rewards by consuming the additional points. In this way, by configuring the additional points stored in the information processing server 2 so that the user can use the reward when purchasing products in a store, the user is motivated to visit the store.

[0216] In the above embodiment, environmental points are used in the competition, but even if environmental points are not used in the competition and only additional points are used in the competition, the effect of encouraging users to visit the store can be achieved. In this case, it is preferable that the increase in additional points changes depending on the number of competitions or the number of visits to the store, that is, when the number of competitions or the number of visits to the store exceeds a certain number, the increase in additional points is increased by 50%, for example, to further encourage users to visit the store.

[0217] <Hardware configuration> The above describes an embodiment of the present invention. Information processing, such as the management of the various points and the determination process, described above, is realized by a program and hardware working together in each information processing device, such as a terminal or a server. That is, the program used in this embodiment is configured to enable each of the above-described functions and processes to be realized in each part of the information processing system 1, i.e., each information processing device. Below, we will explain an example of the hardware configuration of an information processing device 90 that can be applied to the information terminal 10, the transport management device 20, the analysis server 30, the user management server 60, and the user terminal 70.

[0218] As shown in FIG. 24, the information processing device 90 includes a CPU 901 , a ROM 902 , a RAM 903 , an input device 908 , an output device 910 , an external storage device 911 , an imaging device 913 , and a communication device 915 .

[0219] The CPU 901 functions as an arithmetic processing unit and a control unit, and controls the overall operation of the hardware configuration 90 in accordance with various programs. The CPU 901 may also be a microprocessor integrated with a ROM 902 and RAM 903, which will be described below. The ROM 902 stores programs and calculation parameters used by the CPU 901. The RAM 903 temporarily stores programs used in the execution of the CPU 901 and parameters that change as appropriate during the execution. These are interconnected by a host bus, which is comprised of a CPU bus or the like. Cooperation between the CPU 901, ROM 902, and RAM 903 and the programs can realize functions such as the control unit 250 of the transport management device 20, the control unit 350 of the analysis server 30, the control unit 650 of the user management server 60, and the control unit 750 of the user terminal 70.

[0220] The input device 908 is composed of input means, such as a mouse, keyboard, touch panel, buttons, microphone, switches, and levers, that allow the user of each information processing device 90 to input information, and an input control circuit that generates an input signal based on the user's input and outputs it to the CPU 901. By operating the input device 908, the user can input various types of data and instruct processing operations.

[0221] The output device 910 includes, for example, a display device such as a liquid crystal display device or an organic LED display device. The output device 910 also includes an audio output device such as a speaker or headphones. For example, the display device displays captured images, generated images, etc. On the other hand, the audio output device converts audio data, etc. into audio and outputs it.

[0222] The external storage device 911 is a device for storing data, and corresponds to the storage unit 320 of the analysis server 30, the storage unit 620 of the user management server 60, and the storage unit 720 of the user terminal 70. The external storage device 911 includes a storage medium such as a hard disk, a drive device for recording data to the storage medium, and reading data from the storage medium. This external storage device 911 stores the programs executed by the CPU 901 and various data.

[0223] The imaging device 913 includes an imaging optical system such as a photographing lens and a zoom lens that collect light, and a signal conversion element such as a CCD image sensor or a CMOS image sensor. The imaging optical system collects light emitted from a subject and forms a subject image on the surface of a signal conversion unit, i.e., the signal conversion element, which converts the formed subject image into an electrical image signal.

[0224] The communication device 915 is, for example, a communication device for connecting to a network. The communication device 915 may be a communication device for wireless communication or a communication device for wired communication. It is preferable that the user terminal in the present invention is equipped with a communication device that can be connected to a public line wirelessly.

[0225] <Supplementary information> Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above with reference to the accompanying drawings, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to these examples. It is clear that a person skilled in the art of the present invention can conceive of various modifications within the scope of the technical idea described in the claims, and these modifications also naturally fall within the technical scope of the present invention.

[0226] For example, the steps in the processing of the information processing system 1 in this specification do not necessarily have to be processed in chronological order according to the order shown in the sequence diagram. For example, the steps in the processing of the information processing system 1 may be processed in an order different from the order described above, or may be processed in parallel, to the extent possible.

[0227] It is also possible to create a computer program that causes hardware such as the CPU, ROM, and RAM built into the transport management device 20, analysis server 30, user management server 60, and user terminal 70 to perform functions equivalent to those of the above-mentioned transport management device 20, analysis server 30, user management server 60, and user terminal 70. A non-transitory storage medium on which the computer program is stored is also provided. [Explanation of symbols]

[0228] 1. Information Processing Systems 10 Information terminals 110 Communications Department 120 Reading unit 130 Operation section 134 Imaging unit 140 Output section 150 control section 20. Transport management device 210 Communications Department 220 Storage section 250 control section 30 Analysis Server 310 Communications Department 320 Storage section 350 control section 360 Emission Reduction Calculation Department 370 Environmental Points Calculation Unit 50 Storage Box 52 IC chip 54 2D Code 60 User Management Server 610 Communications Department 620 Storage section 650 control section 660 Inquiry Processing Unit 670 Registration Processing Unit 680 Confirmation processing section 690 Confrontation Processing Unit 70 User terminals 710 Communications Department 720 Storage section 730 Imaging unit 740 Operation display section 750 control section 760 Display control unit 770 Judgment processing unit

Claims

1. An information processing system comprising an information processing server and a user terminal connected to the information processing server, The information processing server receiving first identification information transmitted from the user terminal, the first identification information being identification information of a container that contains the item and is repeatedly used for transporting the item; The information processing system stores the received first identification information and second identification information, which is identification information related to the user terminal, in association with each other during registration processing.

2. The information processing server receiving the second identification information from the user terminal; If there is first identification information stored in association with the second identification information, information about the container having the first identification information is transmitted to the user terminal; The user terminal The information processing system according to claim 1 , wherein information about the container received from the information processing server is presented.

3. The information processing server transmitting information about the received container having the first identification information to the user terminal in a query process; The user terminal The information processing system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein information about the container received from the information processing server is presented.

4. The information processing system according to claim 3 , wherein the information relating to the storage box is information based on a usage history of the storage box.

5. the information based on the usage history is environmental points, The information processing system includes: The information processing system of claim 4, further comprising a judgment processing unit that performs a judgment process using environmental points of a storage box having first identification information stored in association with the second identification information related to the user terminal, and environmental points of a storage box having first identification information acquired by the user terminal.

6. The information processing server storing additional points in association with the second identification information; The information processing system according to claim 5 , wherein the additional points stored in association with the second identification information related to the user terminal are updated according to a result of the determination process.

7. The information processing system described in claim 6, wherein the judgment processing unit performs the judgment processing using environmental points of a storage box having first identification information stored in association with the second identification information related to the user terminal, additional points stored in association with the second identification information, environmental points of a storage box having first identification information acquired by the user terminal, and additional points corresponding to the first identification information acquired by the user terminal.

8. The information processing system of claim 7, wherein when a plurality of second identification information items are stored in association with the first identification information received by the information processing server, the determination processing unit uses a statistical value of the additional points associated with each of the plurality of second identification information items as the additional points corresponding to the received first identification information.

9. The information processing server The information processing system according to claim 8 , further comprising: updating an additional point associated with the second identification information associated with the received first identification information in accordance with a result of the determination process.

10. The information processing system according to claim 9 , wherein the user terminal presents a result of the determination process.

11. The information processing system according to claim 1 , wherein the user terminal acquires the first identification information by reading from the container, and transmits the first identification information to the information processing server.

12. The information processing system according to claim 1 , further comprising the storage box.

13. A user terminal, an acquisition unit that acquires first identification information that is identification information of a container that contains the item and is repeatedly used for transporting the item; a communication unit that transmits the first identification information acquired by the acquisition unit and identification information related to the user terminal to an information processing server that stores the first identification information acquired by the acquisition unit in association with information based on the history of the storage box, and receives the information based on the history of the storage box from the information processing server; a display control unit that generates information to be presented to a user using the received information based on the history; a display unit that displays the generated information; A user terminal comprising:

14. a receiving unit that receives first identification information transmitted from a user terminal, the first identification information being identification information of a container that contains an item that is repeatedly used for transporting the item; a storage unit that stores the received first identification information and second identification information, which is identification information related to the user terminal, in association with each other in the registration process; An information processing server comprising:

15. A program that causes a communication terminal to function as a user terminal, acquiring first identification information that is identification information of a container that contains the item and is repeatedly used for transporting the item; Transmitting the first identification information and second identification information, which is identification information related to the user terminal, to an information processing server for registration in the information processing server; A program that executes.

16. A program that causes a communication terminal to function as a user terminal, acquiring first identification information that is identification information of a container that contains the item and is repeatedly used for transporting the item; Transmitting the first identification information and second identification information, which is identification information related to the user terminal, to an information processing server; receiving, from the information processing server, information about a container having the first identification information and information about a container having identification information associated with the second identification information in the information processing server; A program that executes.

17. An information processing device that functions as the information processing server used in the information processing system according to claim 1.

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