Locker system

Abstract

The locking mechanism is controlled with a simple configuration. [Solution] The locker box 110 has a recording medium 111 that stores box identification information, and the server device 200 has a server-side receiving processing unit 211 that receives box identification information read from the recording medium 111 and a locking request or unlocking request for the locker box 110 from a user terminal 300, and a transmitting processing unit 212 that transmits locking instruction information or unlocking instruction information for the locker box for which the locking request or unlocking request has been made to the locker control device 120, and the locker control device 120 has a locker-side receiving processing unit 1211 that receives locking instruction information or unlocking instruction information transmitted from the server device 200, and locking / unlocking processing units 1212 and 1214 that perform locking or unlocking processing for the locker box 110 for which the locking request or unlocking request has been made based on the received locking instruction information or unlocking instruction information.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a locker system.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a locker device having a control device (central control device 30) and a plurality of locker boxes (locker 10). In such a locker device, when a user operates a touch panel (operation display unit 32) installed in the control device, the locking or unlocking of the locking mechanism of the locker box is performed.

Prior Art Documents

Non-Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] When a touch panel is installed in the control device as in the locker device disclosed in Patent Document 1, the size, manufacturing cost, and management cost of the control device increase. Further, when it is necessary to operate the touch panel installed in the control device when locking or unlocking the locking mechanism of the locker box as in the locker device disclosed in Patent Document 1, a queue of users may occur during congestion.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to control a locking mechanism with a simple configuration.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] To solve the above problems, a locker system according to one embodiment of the present invention is a locker system comprising a locker control device for controlling a plurality of locker boxes and a server device, wherein each of the plurality of locker boxes has a recording medium storing box identification information for identifying the locker box, and the server device has a server-side receiving processing unit that receives from a user terminal that can communicate with the server device, box identification information of one of the plurality of locker boxes and a locking request or unlocking request for the locker box identified by the box identification information, and the locker control device has the above-described processing unit The locker control device includes a transmission processing unit that transmits locking instruction information or unlocking instruction information for the locker box for which a locking request or unlocking request has been made, and the locker control device includes a locker-side receiving processing unit that receives the locking instruction information or unlocking instruction information transmitted from the server device, and a locking / unlocking processing unit that performs locking or unlocking processing for the locker box for which a locking request or unlocking request has been made based on the locking instruction information or unlocking instruction information received by the locker-side receiving processing unit, and the box identification information is read by the user terminal using short-range wireless communication from the recording medium of the locker box identified by the box identification information.

[0007] The recording medium may further store access information, which is information for accessing the server device, and the box identification information may be transmitted when the user terminal accesses the server device based on the access information read from the recording medium by the user terminal.

[0008] The server device has a display processing unit that determines the state of the locker box identified by the box identification information received from the user terminal, and if the state of the locker box is usable, causes the server device to display a lock request input screen for accepting input of a lock request for the locker box or an unlock request input screen for accepting input of an unlock request for the locker box on the display unit of the user terminal, wherein the access information is the URL of the server device, and the display processing unit of the server device may use a web browser installed on the user terminal to display the lock request input screen or the unlock request input screen on the display unit of the user terminal.

[0009] The display processing unit of the server device may refrain from performing display processing on the display unit of the user terminal if the timing of receiving the box identification information is within a predetermined time since the timing of the previous receipt of the box identification information.

[0010] Each of the plurality of locker boxes is displaceable from an initial position to a locked position and has a lever-shaped locking operation part that is biased from the locked position to the initial position. The locking / unlocking processing unit executes a locking process for the locker box when the locking operation part is operated to the locked position, and the locking operation part may be held in the locked position when it receives the locking instruction information transmitted from the server device.

[0011] The display processing unit of the server device receives the box identification information from the user terminal, and if the status of the locker box identified by the box identification information is in a usable state, it displays a payment information input screen on the display unit of the user terminal for inputting payment information for the use of the locker box, and accepts the input of payment information. When payment information is entered on the payment information input screen, the server device may receive the payment information from the user terminal and display the lock request input screen or the unlock request input screen on the display unit of the user terminal.

[0012] The server device, upon receiving the locking request from the user terminal, further includes a code information generation unit that generates code information for unlocking the locker box, transmits the generated code information to the locker control device, and displays it on the user terminal. The locker control device includes a code information acquisition processing unit that acquires the code information by reading it, and further includes a code information acquisition processing unit that acquires the code information by reading it, and a storage processing unit that stores the code information transmitted from the server device. The locking / unlocking processing unit may perform the unlocking process for the locker box if the code information displayed on the user terminal matches the code information acquired by the code information acquisition processing unit and the code information stored in the storage processing unit.

[0013] The locking / unlocking processing unit may perform the unlocking process for the locker box if the code information obtained from the code information acquisition unit matches the code information stored in the storage processing unit, and if communication with the server device is not normal.

[0014] The server device may further include a user identification information generation unit that, upon receiving the box identification information from the user terminal, generates user identification information to identify the user terminal, stores the generated user identification information in the user terminal's storage unit, and stores the user identification information in the server device's storage unit, linking it to the box identification information.

[0015] The server device may receive a request to unlock the locker box and user identification information from the user terminal, and if the user identification information received from the user terminal matches the user identification information stored in the storage unit of the server device, it may send an unlocking instruction to the locker control device for the locker box identified by the box identification information associated with the user identification information, and if the locker control device receives the unlocking instruction sent from the server device, it may perform the unlocking process for the locker box for which the unlocking instruction was sent.

[0016] A control device according to one embodiment of the present invention is a control device for controlling a plurality of locker boxes, each of the plurality of locker boxes having a recording medium storing box identification information for identifying the locker box, the control device having a receiving processing unit that receives from a user terminal that can communicate with the server device, box identification information of one of the plurality of locker boxes and a locking request or unlocking request for the locker box identified by the box identification information, and a locking / unlocking processing unit that performs locking or unlocking processing for the locker box for which the locking request or unlocking request has been made, the box identification information is read by the user terminal from the recording medium of the locker box identified by the box identification information using short-range wireless communication.

[0017] A locker device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a plurality of locker boxes, a plurality of locking mechanisms corresponding to the plurality of locker boxes and each for locking or unlocking the corresponding locker box, a control device for controlling the locking mechanisms, and a reception processing unit for receiving locking instruction information transmitted from an external device. Each of the plurality of locker boxes has a recording medium storing box identification information for identifying the locker box. The control device includes a locking processing unit that performs a locking process on the locking mechanism corresponding to the locker box identified by the box identification information included in the locking instruction information when the locking instruction information is received. The box identification information can be read from the recording medium of the locker device identified by the box identification information using a short-range wireless communication device, and it is a locker device.

Effect of the Invention

[0018] According to the present invention, it becomes possible to control the locking mechanism with a simple configuration.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0019] [Figure 1] It is a block diagram showing a locker system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] It is a diagram showing an example of the locker device 100. [Figure 3] It is a block diagram showing an example of the control unit 210 of the server device 200. [Figure 4] It is a block diagram showing an example of the user terminal 300. [Figure 5] It is a block diagram showing an example of the control unit 310 of the user terminal 300. [Figure 6] It is a block diagram showing an example of the control unit 121 of the locker control device 120. [Figure 7] It is a diagram showing an example of the processing operation executed in the locker system according to the present embodiment when the user approaches the user terminal 300 to the locker box 110. [Figure 8]It is a diagram showing an example of a processing operation executed in the control unit 210 of the server device 200 when a Cookie is transmitted from the user terminal 300 to the server device 200 after the processing of step S706 in FIG. 7. [Figure 9] It is a diagram showing an example of a processing operation executed in the locker system according to the present embodiment when settlement information is transmitted from the user terminal 300 to the server device 200 after the processing of step S804 in FIG. 8. [Figure 10] It is a diagram showing an example of a processing operation executed in the control unit 210 of the server device 200 when excess settlement information is transmitted from the user terminal 300 to the server device 200 after the processing of step S812 in FIG. 8. [Figure 11] It is a diagram showing an example of a processing operation executed in the locker system according to the present embodiment when a locking request for the locker box 110 is transmitted from the user terminal 300 to the server device 200 after the processing of step S807 in FIG. 8 or after the processing of step S904 in FIG. 9. [Figure 12] It is a diagram showing an example of a processing operation executed in the locker system according to the present embodiment when an unlocking request for the locker box 110 is transmitted from the user terminal 300 to the server device 200 after the processing of step S811 in FIG. 8 or after the processing of step S1004 in FIG. 10. [Figure 13] It is a diagram showing an example of a processing operation executed in the control unit 121 of the locker control device 120 when code information is read by the code reading unit 124 of the locker control device 120.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0020] <Locker System> Figure 1 is a block diagram showing a locker system according to one embodiment of the present invention. The locker system according to this embodiment includes a locker device 100 and a server device 200. The locker device 100 and the server device 200 are able to communicate with each other. In the example shown in Figure 1, the locker device 100 and the server device 200 are separate devices, but the locker device 100 and the server device 200 may be a single device. In other words, the locker device 100 may have the functions of the server device 200.

[0021] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the locker device 100 has a plurality of locker boxes 110. In the example shown in Figure 2, the locker device 100 has nine locker boxes 110, but the number of locker boxes 110 is not limited to nine. Each of the plurality of locker boxes 110 has a storage section for storing luggage, a door that can be opened and closed on the opening of the storage section, and a locking mechanism for restricting the opening and closing of the door. The locking mechanism is an electronic lock type locking mechanism using an electronic lock, but it may also be a combination of a key type locking mechanism using a portable key, or a manual lever type locking mechanism using a lever that is rotatably attached to the door.

[0022] In a key-operated locking mechanism, for example, the position of the keyhole into which the key is inserted switches between a locked position, where the locking mechanism is engaged, and an unlocked position, where the locking mechanism is disengaged, through rotation. In a key-operated locking mechanism, after locking, the rotation of the keyhole is restricted until the unlocking process is completed and the mechanism becomes unlockable.

[0023] In a lever-type locking mechanism, for example, the lever's position can be switched between a locked position (where the locking mechanism is engaged) and an unlocked position (where the locking mechanism is disengaged) by sliding or rotating it. In a lever-type locking mechanism, when the locker box is not in use, the lever can freely move between the locked and unlocked positions, and the locking mechanism does not lock even when it is moved to the locked position. Once payment for the use of the locker box is completed and the lever moves from the unlocked position to the locked position, the lever is restricted to the locked position and the locking mechanism is locked. When the locking mechanism is unlocked, the restriction on the lever is released, and the lever can once again freely move between the locked and unlocked positions.

[0024] In this embodiment, each of the multiple locker boxes 110 has a recording medium 111 that stores box identification information for identifying the locker box. The recording medium 111 is capable of transmitting and receiving information with a nearby device (for example, a device within a predetermined distance) using near-field wireless communication, and transmits the information stored in the recording medium 111 to a nearby device (for example, a device within a predetermined distance) using near-field wireless communication. The communication standard for near-field wireless communication used by the recording medium 111 is, for example, NFC (Near Field Communication), and the recording medium 111 is, for example, an NFC tag. If the recording medium 111 is an NFC tag, the box identification information includes, for example, an NFC tag ID for identifying the NFC tag.

[0025] The recording medium 111 is provided near the locker box 110. For example, it can be attached to the door of the locker box 110, the handle attached to the door, or the frame of the door of the locker box 110, in any position where it is clear that the recording medium 111 corresponds to the locker box 110. The recording medium 111 can be attached to the front or back surface, or it can be embedded. The locker system of this embodiment uses the box identification information stored in the recording medium 111 to perform locking and unlocking operations for the locker box 110.

[0026] As shown in Figure 1, the locker device 100 further includes a locker control device 120. The locker control device 120 is a device that controls the locking and unlocking of the locker box 110, and includes a control unit 121 and a communication unit 122. The control unit 121 performs information processing such as a computer. The communication unit 122 transmits and receives information with other devices.

[0027] As shown in Figure 1, the server device 200 includes a control unit 210, a communication unit 220, and a storage unit 230. The control unit 210 performs information processing. The control unit 210 is, for example, a computer. The communication unit 220 sends and receives information with other devices. The storage unit 230 stores information. The storage unit 230 is, for example, a hard disk drive or a solid-state drive. The server device 200 may consist of a single device, or it may consist of two or more devices that can cooperate with each other. The server device 100 may have separate servers for each function. For example, it may consist of a locker management server for managing multiple locker devices 100, a web management server for managing a website for communicating with user terminals, and a payment management server for managing payment processing by user terminals. Although the server device 200 is shown as being able to communicate with a single locker device 100, it may also be configured to be able to communicate with multiple locker devices 100 via a locker management server that can communicate with multiple locker devices 100. This eliminates the need for the server device 200 to connect to multiple locker devices 100 individually, thus simplifying the system. Furthermore, the server device 200 can be either a physical server or a virtual server.

[0028] Figure 3 is a block diagram showing the control unit 210 of the server device 200. The control unit 210 includes a receiving processing unit 211, a transmitting processing unit 212, and a storage processing unit 213.

[0029] The receiving processing unit 211 uses communication via the communication unit 220 to receive, from the user terminal 300 used by the user, the box identification information of one of the multiple locker boxes and a locking request for the locker box identified by that box identification information.

[0030] As shown in Figure 4, the user terminal 300 includes a control unit 310, a short-range wireless communication unit 320, an input unit 330, a communication unit 340, and a storage unit 350. The control unit 310 performs information processing. The control unit 310 is, for example, a computer. The short-range wireless communication unit 320 transmits and receives information with devices in the vicinity (for example, devices within a predetermined distance) using short-range wireless communication. If the recording medium 111 of the locker box 110 is an NFC tag, the communication standard for short-range wireless communication used by the short-range wireless communication unit 320 is NFC. The input unit 330 receives information input. The input unit 330 is, for example, a button, a keyboard, a touch panel, a microphone, etc. The communication unit 340 transmits and receives information with other devices. The storage unit 350 stores information. The storage unit 350 is, for example, a hard disk drive or a solid-state drive, etc.

[0031] As shown in Figure 5, the control unit 310 includes a reading processing unit 311, an input information acquisition processing unit 312, and a transmission processing unit 313. Box identification information is read by the reading processing unit 311 from the recording medium 111 of the locker box 110 identified by the box identification information using short-range wireless communication by the short-range wireless communication unit 320. Locking requests are input by the user from the input unit 330 and acquired by the input information acquisition processing unit 312. The box identification information and locking requests are transmitted to the server device 200 by the transmission processing unit 313 using communication by the communication unit 340.

[0032] The transmission processing unit 212 of the control unit 210 of the server device 200 transmits locking instruction information to the locker control device 120, which includes box identification information and a locking instruction for the locker box identified by the box identification information.

[0033] As shown in Figure 6, the control unit 121 of the locker control device 120 includes a receiving processing unit 1211, a locking processing unit 1212, and a transmitting processing unit 1213.

[0034] The receiving processing unit 1211 receives locking instruction information transmitted from the server device 200 using communication via the communication unit 122.

[0035] When the locking unit 1212 receives a locking instruction, it performs a locking operation on the locker box 110 identified by the box identification information contained in the locking instruction. At this time, as a locking operation on the locker box 110, the locking unit 1212 locks the locking mechanism of the locker box 110. If the locking mechanism of the locker box 110 has a lever-type locking mechanism, the locking unit 1212 changes the locking mechanism of the locker box 110 to a lockable state and locks the locking mechanism by operating the lever.

[0036] Thus, in this embodiment, the information necessary for locking (box identification information, locking request) is transmitted from the user terminal 300 to the server device 200. Therefore, the locker device 100 does not need to have a device to receive input of the information necessary for locking from the user. As a result, in this embodiment, the configuration of the locker control device 120 of the locker device 100 can be simplified, and the size of the control device, manufacturing cost, and management cost of the locker control device 120 can be reduced. In addition, in this embodiment, the user only needs to operate each locker box 110 individually, and there is no queue of users when locking or unlocking the locker boxes 110.

[0037] The transmission processing unit 1213 of the control unit 121 of the locker control device 120 transmits lock completion information to the server device 200 using communication via the communication unit 122 after performing the locking process for the locker box 110. This information includes the box identification information of the locker box 110 and information indicating that the locking of the locker box 110 is complete. The reception processing unit 211 of the control unit 210 of the server device 200 receives the lock completion information transmitted from the locker control device 120 using communication via the communication unit 220. Upon receiving the lock completion information, the storage processing unit 213 of the control unit 210 of the server device 200 stores information indicating that the locker box 110 is in use, based on the box identification information included in the lock completion information, in the storage unit 230.

[0038] Therefore, in this embodiment, the server device 200 can ascertain the usage status of the locker box 110.

[0039] The control unit 210 of the server device 200 further includes a user identification information generation unit 214. The user identification information generation unit 214 generates user identification information for identifying the use of a locker box identified by box identification information, stores the generated user identification information in the storage unit 230 of the server device 200, links it to the locker box, transmits it to the user terminal 300 using communication by the communication unit 220, and stores it in the storage unit 350 of the user terminal 300.

[0040] Therefore, in this embodiment, usage identification information for identifying the use of the locker box 110 is stored in both the server device 200 and the user terminal 300. As a result, in this embodiment, as will be detailed below, the user can use the user terminal 300 to unlock the locker box 110 and to use the locker box 110 continuously.

[0041] <Processing upon unlocking> If the locking mechanism of the locker box 110 is a key-operated locking mechanism, the user can unlock the locker box 110 using a key. On the other hand, if the locking mechanism of the locker box 110 is an electronic lock-operated locking mechanism or a manual lever-operated locking mechanism, the locker device 100 needs to perform the unlocking process for the locker box 110.

[0042] The receiving processing unit 211 of the control unit 210 of the server device 200 receives box identification information, an unlocking request for the locker box identified by the box identification information, and user identification information associated with the box identification information from the user terminal 300. At this time, the box identification information is read from the recording medium 111 of the locker box 110 identified by the box identification information by the reading processing unit 311 of the control unit 310 of the user terminal 300 using short-range wireless communication by the short-range wireless communication unit 320 of the user terminal 300. The locking request is input by the user from the input unit 330 of the user terminal 300 and acquired by the input information acquisition processing unit 312 of the user terminal 300. The user identification information is stored in the storage unit 350 of the user terminal 300. The box identification information, unlocking request, and user identification information are transmitted to the server device 200 by the transmission processing unit 313 of the control unit 310 of the user terminal 300 using communication by the communication unit 340 of the user terminal 300.

[0043] If the transmission processing unit 212 of the control unit 210 of the server device 200 finds that the user identification information received from the user terminal 300 matches the user identification information stored in the storage unit 230 of the server device 200, which is linked to the box identification information received from the user terminal 300, and has received an unlock request for the locker box identified by the box identification information, it uses the communication unit 220 to transmit unlock instruction information to the locker control device 120, which includes the box identification information and an unlock instruction for the locker box identified by the box identification information.

[0044] The receiving processing unit 1211 of the control unit 121 of the locker control device 120 receives unlocking instruction information transmitted from the server device 200 using communication via the communication unit 122.

[0045] The control unit 121 of the locker control device 120 further includes an unlocking processing unit 1214. When the unlocking processing unit 1214 receives an unlocking instruction, it performs the unlocking process for the locker box identified by the box identification information included in the unlocking instruction. At this time, if the locking mechanism of the locker box 110 is an electronic lock type locking mechanism, the unlocking processing unit 1214 performs the unlocking of the locking mechanism of the locker box 110 as the unlocking process for the locker box 110. If the locking mechanism of the locker box 110 is a manual lever type locking mechanism, the unlocking processing unit 1214 performs the unlocking process for the locker box 110 as the locking mechanism of the locker box 110 is set to a state where it can be unlocked.

[0046] The transmission processing unit 1213 of the control unit 121 of the locker control device 120 transmits unlocking completion information to the server device 200 using communication via the communication unit 122, after the unlocking processing unit 1214 has performed the unlocking process of the locker box 110. This information includes the box identification information of the locker box 110 and information indicating that the unlocking of the locker box 110 is complete. If the locking mechanism of the locker box 110 is a key-type locking mechanism, the transmission processing unit 1213 of the control unit 121 of the locker control device 120 also transmits unlocking completion information when the locking mechanism is unlocked with a key.

[0047] Then, the receiving processing unit 211 of the control unit 210 of the server device 200 receives unlocking completion information transmitted from the locker control device 120 using communication by the communication unit 220. When the communication unit 220 receives the unlocking completion information, the storage processing unit 213 of the control unit 210 of the server device 200 stores in the storage unit 230 information indicating that the locker box 110 is not in use, as the usage status of the locker box 110 identified by the box identification information included in the unlocking completion information.

[0048] <Display processing for user terminal 300> The recording medium 111 of the locker box 110 further contains access information, which is information for accessing the server device 200. The read control unit 311 of the control unit 310 of the user terminal 300 may read this access information, in addition to the box identification information, from the recording medium 111 of the locker box 110 using short-range wireless communication by the short-range wireless communication unit 320. Then, once the box identification information and access information have been read by the read control unit 311, the transmission processing unit 313 of the control unit 310 of the user terminal 300 may transmit the box identification information to the server device 200 based on the access information using communication by the communication unit 340. The access information will be explained later.

[0049] The user terminal 300 may further have a display unit 360, as shown in Figure 4, and the control unit 210 of the server device 200 may further have a display processing unit 215, as shown in Figure 3. The display unit 360 displays information. The display unit 360 is, for example, a display.

[0050] If the receiving processing unit 211 receives box identification information from the user terminal 300 and the locker box 110 identified by the box identification information is not in use, the display processing unit 215 uses communication via the communication unit 220 to display a lock request input screen on the display unit 360 of the user terminal 300 to accept input of a lock request for locking the locker box. At this time, the display processing unit 215 may also determine the status of the locker box identified by the box identification information and, if the locker box is in a usable state, display the lock request input screen on the display unit 360 of the user terminal 300. If the receiving processing unit 211 receives box identification information from the user terminal 300 and the locker box 110 identified by the box identification information is in use, the display processing unit 215 uses communication via the communication unit 220 to display an unlock request input screen on the display unit 360 of the user terminal 300 to accept input of an unlock request for locker box 110. In this case, the display processing unit 215 may determine the status of the locker box identified by the box identification information, and if the locker box is in a usable state, it may display the unlock request input screen on the display unit 360 of the user terminal 300. Alternatively, the lock request input screen may display an icon for accepting input of a lock request, and the unlock request input screen may display an icon for accepting input of an unlock request.

[0051] In this way, users can input locking and unlocking requests for the locker box 110 from the user terminal 300 simply by bringing the user terminal 300 close to the locker box 110.

[0052] The display processing unit 215 may, upon receiving box identification information from the user terminal 300 via the receiving processing unit 211, check whether a predetermined amount of time has elapsed since the previous time the box identification information was received. If the predetermined time has elapsed, the display processing unit 215 may perform display processing on the display unit 360 of the user terminal 300; if the predetermined time has not elapsed, the display processing unit 215 may refrain from performing display processing on the display unit 360 of the user terminal 300. In this case, the display processing unit 215 may also display a message on the display unit 360 of the user terminal 300 indicating that the box identification information is currently unavailable.

[0053] In this way, even if the same box identification information is received from multiple user terminals 300 within a predetermined time, the display processing by the display processing unit 215 will only be performed on the first user terminal 300. As a result, only the user using the first user terminal 300 will be able to input lock requests, unlock requests, etc., making it possible to prevent malicious users from sending lock requests and unlock requests to the server device 200 from user terminals 300.

[0054] Access information includes, for example, the IP address of the server device 200 and the URL of a website stored in the storage unit 230 of the server device 200. In this case, the website may also serve as a confirmation screen to verify whether to allow the sending of cookies. The display processing unit 215 of the control unit 210 of the server device 200 may, if the user terminal 300 accesses the server based on the access information, display the confirmation screen on the display unit 360 of the user terminal 300 using a web browser installed on the user terminal 300. The display processing unit 215 may also be application software installed on the user terminal 300, but using a web browser improves user convenience because it does not require prior download of application software or prior registration. In this case, the input unit 330 of the user terminal 300 may display an icon to accept input for permission to send cookies. Furthermore, the display processing unit 215 may also use a web browser when displaying the lock request input screen and the unlock request input screen. Furthermore, at this time, when the user identification information generation processing unit 214 stores the user identification information in the storage unit 350 of the user terminal 300 in association with the locker box 110, it may also write the user identification information to the cookie corresponding to the locker box 110. If permission to send the cookie is not granted, the process may be terminated.

[0055] In this way, users can install dedicated application software on their user terminal 300 and use the locker box 110 without prior user registration.

[0056] <Payment processing for the use of locker box 110> The display processing unit 215 of the control unit 210 of the server device 200 may, if the receiving processing unit 211 receives box identification information from the user terminal 300 and the locker box 110 identified by the box identification information is not in use, display a payment information input screen on the display unit 360 of the user terminal 300 to accept input of information related to the settlement of the usage fee for the locker box 110 (payment information). At this time, the display processing unit 215 may also determine the status of the locker box identified by the box identification information and, if the status of the locker box is in a usable state, display the payment information input screen on the display unit 360 of the user terminal 300.

[0057] The control unit 210 of the server device 200 may further include a payment processing unit 216. When the receiving processing unit 211 receives payment information from the user terminal 300, the payment processing unit 216 performs payment processing for the usage fee of the locker box identified by the box identification number based on the payment information. The payment processing unit 216 may perform payment processing using, for example, communication with an external payment processing server SS via the communication unit 220. The display processing unit 215 of the control unit 210 of the server device 200 may display a lock request input screen on the display unit 360 of the user terminal 300 once the payment processing is complete. If the lock mechanism of the locker box 110 is a manual lever type lock mechanism, the display processing unit 215 of the control unit 210 of the server device 200 may display a screen prompting lever operation on the display unit 360 of the user terminal 300. If the receiving processing unit 211 does not receive payment information from the user terminal 300 within a predetermined time, it may terminate the processing.

[0058] This makes it possible to pay the usage fee for locker box 110 when you start using it.

[0059] If there is a set period during which the locker box 110 can be used, the usage identification information generation unit 214 may store the usage identification information in the storage unit 230, linked to the said period, in addition to the box identification information of the locker box 110.

[0060] Furthermore, if the user identification information received from the user terminal 300 matches the user identification information stored in the storage unit 230 of the server device 200, which is linked to the box identification information received from the user terminal 300, and an unlocking request for the locker box identified by the box identification information is received, the system may check whether the available time linked to the user identification information has been exceeded.

[0061] If the available time has not been exceeded, the transmission processing unit 212 of the control unit 210 of the server device 200 may use communication by the communication unit 220 to transmit unlocking instruction information to the locker control device 120, which includes the box identification information and an unlocking instruction for the locker box identified by the box identification information.

[0062] If the available time has been exceeded, the display processing unit 215 of the control unit 210 of the server device 200 may display an excess payment information input screen on the display unit 360 of the user terminal 300 to accept input of information regarding the settlement of the excess charges (excess payment information). Then, when the receiving processing unit 211 receives the excess payment information from the user terminal 300, the settlement processing unit 216 performs settlement processing for the excess charges based on the excess payment information. Then, once the settlement processing for the excess charges is completed, the display processing unit 215 of the control unit 210 of the server device 200 may display a lock request input screen on the display unit 360 of the user terminal 300. If the settlement processing for the excess charges is not completed (i.e., settlement could not be made with the excess payment information), the display processing unit 215 may display the excess payment information input screen on the display unit 360 of the user terminal 300 again.

[0063] This makes it possible to pay for the usage fee exceeding the available time when unlocking the locker box 110.

[0064] If there is a set period of time during which the locker box 110 can be used, it may be possible to allow continuous use of the locker box within that period (i.e., locking and unlocking can be done any number of times within that period). In this case, if the storage unit 350 of the user terminal 300 stores usage identification information linked to the box identification information of the locker box 110, the transmission processing unit 313 of the control unit 310 of the user terminal 300 may transmit the usage identification information to the server device 200 using communication via the communication unit 340 of the user terminal 300, and the receiving processing unit 211 of the control unit 210 of the server device 200 may receive the usage identification information transmitted from the user terminal 300 using communication via the communication unit 220.

[0065] If the user identification information received from the user terminal 300 matches the user identification information stored in the storage unit 230 of the server device 200, which is linked to the box identification information received from the user terminal 300, and a locking request for the locker box identified by the box identification information is received, the display processing unit 215 of the control unit 210 of the server device 200 may use communication via the communication unit 220 to display a locking request input screen on the display unit 360 of the user terminal 300.

[0066] <Unlocking using code information> The control unit 210 of the server device 200 may further include a code information generation unit 217. The code information generation unit 217 generates code information for unlocking the locker box 110, and transmits the generated code information to the locker control device 120 and the user terminal 300 using communication via the communication unit 220, so that it is displayed on the display unit 360 of the user terminal 300. The code information may also be stored in the storage unit 350 of the user terminal 300 in response to a request from the user of the user terminal 300. Here, to ensure that the code information is reliably stored in the storage unit 350 of the user terminal 300, the system may proceed to the next step only after the user has requested storage from the user terminal 300. For example, the code information generation unit 217 generates code information after the settlement processing unit 216 has completed the settlement of the usage fee for the locker box 110, transmits it to the locker control device 120, and stores it in the storage unit 350 of the user terminal 300. The receiving processing unit 1211 of the control unit 121 of the locker control device 120 receives code information transmitted from the server device 200 using communication by the communication unit 122. The code information is, for example, a two-dimensional code such as a QR code (registered trademark) or a one-dimensional code such as a barcode.

[0067] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the locker control device 120 further includes a storage unit 123 and a code reading unit 124. The control unit 121 of the locker control device 120 may further include a storage processing unit 1215 and a code information acquisition processing unit 1216, as shown in Figure 6. The storage unit 123 stores information. The storage unit 123 is, for example, a hard disk drive or a solid-state drive. The code reading unit 124 reads code information. The code reading unit 124 is, for example, a camera and is installed in the locker device 100 as shown in Figure 2. The storage processing unit 1215 stores the received code information in the storage unit 123, and the code information acquisition processing unit 1216 acquires the code information read by the code reading unit 124.

[0068] If the unlocking processing unit 1214 of the control unit 121 of the locker control device 120 determines that the code information read is the same as the code information stored in the storage unit 123, it may perform the unlocking process for the locker box corresponding to the code information. In particular, if the unlocking processing unit 1214 of the control unit 121 of the locker control device 120 determines that the code information read is the same as the code information stored in the storage unit 123 and the communication with the server device 200 is not normal, it may acquire the code information read by the code reading unit 124.

[0069] By doing so, even when the locker control device 120 cannot communicate with the server device 200 due to a communication failure or the like, it becomes possible to unlock the locker box 110.

[0070] <NFC Tag Authentication> When the recording medium 111 of the locker control device 120 is an NFC tag and the box identification information includes the NFC tag ID, the control unit 210 of the server device 200 may further include an NFC tag authentication processing unit 218. When the reception processing unit 211 receives the box identification information from the user terminal 300, the NFC tag authentication processing unit 218 authenticates the NFC tag ID included in the box identification information using communication by the communication unit 220 with an external NFC tag authentication server NS. At this time, after the authentication of the NFC tag ID is completed, the display processing unit 215 of the control unit 210 of the server device 200 may display a transmission confirmation screen for confirming whether to permit the transmission of the Cookie on the display unit 360 of the user terminal 300. By doing so, it becomes possible to prevent unauthorized locking and unlocking of the locker box 110. In addition, by using an NFC tag as the recording medium 111, a power source for operating the recording medium 111 is no longer required, and it becomes possible to reduce the manufacturing cost and management cost of the locker device 100. Also, since there is no risk of being replicated like a QR code, it becomes possible to prevent unauthorized locking and unlocking.

[0071] <Processing Operations in the Locker System> Figure 7 shows an example of the processing operations performed in the locker system according to this embodiment when a user brings a user terminal 300 close to the locker box 110.

[0072] The read processing unit 311 of the control unit 310 of the user terminal 300 reads the box identification information and access information of the locker box 110 from the recording medium 111 of the locker box 110 using short-range wireless communication by the short-range wireless communication unit 320 (step S701). The transmit processing unit 313 of the control unit 310 of the user terminal 300 transmits the box identification information to the server device 200 based on the access information using communication by the communication unit 340 (step S702).

[0073] The receiving processing unit 211 of the control unit 210 of the server device 200 receives box identification information transmitted from the user terminal 300 using communication via the communication unit 220 (step S703). The NFC tag authentication processing unit 218 authenticates the NFC tag ID contained in the box identification information using communication via the communication unit 220 with an external NFC tag authentication server NS (step S704). If the authentication of the NFC tag ID is completed (step S705, YES), the display processing unit 215 of the control unit 210 of the server device 200 displays a transmission confirmation screen on the display unit 360 of the user terminal 300 using communication via the communication unit 220 to confirm whether to allow the transmission of the cookie (step S706). If the authentication of the NFC tag ID is not completed (i.e., the authentication of the NFC tag ID failed) (step S705, NO), the process is terminated.

[0074] Figure 8 shows an example of a processing operation performed in the control unit 210 of the server device 200 after the processing in step S706 of Figure 7.

[0075] The receiving processing unit 211 reads a cookie from the user terminal 300 using communication by the communication unit 220 (step S801).

[0076] If the locker box 110 identified by the box identification information is not in use and the cookie does not contain usage identification information (step S802, NO; step S803, NO), the display processing unit 215 uses communication by the communication unit 220 to display a payment information input screen on the display unit 360 of the user terminal 300 to accept the input of payment information for using the locker box 110 (step S804).

[0077] If the locker box 110 identified by the box identification information is not in use, and the cookie contains usage identification information, and the usage identification information contained in the cookie does not match the usage identification information stored in the storage unit 230 linked to the box identification information (step S802, NO; step S803, YES; step S805, NO), the control unit 210 of the server device 200 terminates processing. If the locker box 110 identified by the box identification information is not in use, the cookie contains usage identification information, the usage identification information contained in the cookie matches the usage identification information stored in the storage unit 230 linked to the box identification information, and the locker box 110 is within its available time (step S802, NO; step S803, YES; step S805, YES; step S806, YES), the display processing unit 215 uses communication by the communication unit 220 to display the lock request input screen on the display unit 360 of the user terminal 300 (step S807). If the locker box 110 identified by the box identification information is not in use, the cookie contains usage identification information, the usage identification information contained in the cookie matches the usage identification information stored in the storage unit 230 of the server device 200 linked to the box identification information, and it is not within the available time for the locker box 110 (step S802, NO; step S805, YES; step S806, YES; step S807, NO), the display processing unit 215 uses communication by the communication unit 220 to display a payment information input screen on the display unit 360 of the user terminal 300 to accept input of payment information for using the locker box 110 (step S804).

[0078] If the locker box 110 identified by the box identification information is in use and the cookie does not contain usage identification information (step S802, NO; step S808, YES), the control unit 210 of the server device 200 terminates processing. If the locker box 110 identified by the box identification information is in use and the cookie contains usage identification information, and the usage identification information contained in the cookie does not match the usage identification information stored in the storage unit 230 of the server device 200 that is associated with the box identification information (step S802, YES; step S808, YES; step S809, NO), the control unit 210 of the server device 200 terminates processing.

[0079] If the locker box 110 identified by the box identification information is in use, the cookie contains usage identification information, the usage identification information contained in the cookie matches the usage identification information stored in the storage unit 230 linked to the box identification information, and it is within the available time for the locker box 110 (step S802, YES; step S808, YES; step S809, YES; step S810), the display processing unit 215 uses communication by the communication unit 220 to display an unlock request input screen on the display unit 360 of the user terminal 300 to accept input of an unlock request for the locker box 110 (step S811). If the locker box 110 identified by the box identification information is in use, the cookie contains usage identification information, the usage identification information contained in the cookie matches the usage identification information stored in the storage unit 230 linked to the box identification information, and it is not within the available time for the locker box 110 (step S802, YES; step S808, YES; step S809, YES; step S810), the display processing unit 215 uses communication by the communication unit 220 to display an excess payment information input screen on the display unit 360 of the user terminal 300 to accept input of information regarding payment for the excess amount (excess payment information) (step S812).

[0080] Figure 9 shows an example of the processing operations performed in the locker system according to this embodiment when payment information is transmitted from the user terminal 300 to the server device 200 after the processing in step S804 of Figure 8.

[0081] The receiving processing unit 211 of the control unit 210 of the server device 200 receives payment information transmitted from the user terminal 300 using communication by the communication unit 220 (step S901). The payment processing unit 216 of the control unit 210 of the server device 200 performs payment processing related to the use of the locker box identified by the box identification information based on the payment information (step S902).

[0082] If the payment process is completed (step S903, YES), the display processing unit 215 uses communication via the communication unit 220 to display the lock request input screen on the display unit 360 of the user terminal 300, the usage identification information generation unit 214 of the control unit 210 of the server device 200 generates usage identification information to identify the use of the locker box identified by the box identification information, stores the generated usage identification information in the storage unit 230 of the server device 200, associates it with the locker box, stores it in the storage unit 350 of the user terminal 300 using communication via the communication unit 220, the code information generation unit 217 of the control unit 210 of the server device 200 generates code information for unlocking the locker box 110, transmits the generated code information to the locker control device 120 and the user terminal 300 using communication via the communication unit 220, and stores it in the storage unit 350 of the user terminal 300 (step S904).

[0083] The receiving processing unit 1211 of the control unit 121 of the locker control device 120 receives code information transmitted from the server device 200 using communication by the communication unit 122 (step S905). The storage processing unit 1215 of the control unit 121 of the locker control device 120 stores the received code information in the storage unit 123 (step S906).

[0084] If the payment processing is not completed (i.e., payment could not be made based on the payment information) (step S903, NO), the process is terminated.

[0085] Figure 10 shows an example of processing operations performed in the control unit 210 of the server device 200 when excess payment information is transmitted from the user terminal 300 to the server device 200 after the processing in step S812 of Figure 8.

[0086] The receiving processing unit 211 receives the excess payment information transmitted from the user terminal 300 using communication via the communication unit 220 (step S1001). The payment processing unit 216 performs payment processing for the use of the excess amount based on the excess payment information (step S1002). If the payment processing is completed (step S1003, YES), the display processing unit 215 displays the unlock request input screen on the display unit 360 of the user terminal 300 using communication via the communication unit 220 (step S1004). If the payment processing is not completed (i.e., payment could not be made with the excess payment information) (step S1003, NO), the display processing unit 215 displays a message on the display unit 360 of the user terminal 300 indicating that payment for the excess amount could not be made using communication via the communication unit 220 (step S1005).

[0087] Figure 11 shows an example of the processing operations performed in the locker system according to this embodiment when a request to lock the locker box 110 is sent from the user terminal 300 to the server device 200 after the processing in step S807 in Figure 8 or after the processing in step S904 in Figure 9.

[0088] The receiving processing unit 211 of the control unit 210 of the server device 200 receives a locking request for the locker box 110 transmitted from the user terminal 300 using communication by the communication unit 220 (step S1101). The transmitting processing unit 212 of the control unit 210 of the server device 200 transmits locking instruction information to the locker control device 120, which includes the box identification information of the locker box 110 and an instruction to lock the locker box 110 (step S1102).

[0089] The receiving processing unit 1211 of the control unit 121 of the locker control device 120 receives locking instruction information transmitted from the server device 200 using communication by the communication unit 122 (step S1103). The locking processing unit 1212 of the control unit 121 of the locker control device 120 performs the locking process for the locker box 110 identified by the box identification information contained in the locking instruction information (step S1104).

[0090] After the locking process for the locker box 110 is completed, the transmission processing unit 1213 of the control unit 121 of the locker control device 120 transmits locking completion information to the server device 200 using communication via the communication unit 122, which includes the box identification information of the locker box 110 and information indicating that the locking of the locker box 110 has been completed (step S1105).

[0091] The receiving processing unit 211 of the control unit 210 of the server device 200 receives the locking completion information transmitted from the locker control device 120 using communication via the communication unit 220 (step S1106). The storage processing unit 213 of the control unit 210 of the server device 200 stores information indicating that the locker box is in use, as the usage status of the locker box identified by the box identification information included in the locking completion information, in the storage unit 230 (step S1107).

[0092] Figure 12 shows an example of the processing operations performed in the locker system according to this embodiment when a request to unlock the locker box 110 is sent from the user terminal 300 to the server device 200 after the processing of step S811 in Figure 8 or after the processing of step S1004 in Figure 10.

[0093] The receiving processing unit 211 of the control unit 210 of the server device 200 receives an unlocking request for the locker box 110 sent from the user terminal 300 using communication via the communication unit 220 (step S1201). The transmitting processing unit 212 of the control unit 210 of the server device 200 transmits unlocking instruction information, including the box identification information of the locker box 100 and an unlocking instruction for the locker box 110, to the locker control device 120 using communication via the communication unit 220 (step S1202).

[0094] The receiving processing unit 1211 of the control unit 121 of the locker control device 120 receives unlocking instruction information transmitted from the server device 200 using communication via the communication unit 220 (step S1203). The unlocking processing unit 1214 of the control unit 121 of the locker control device 120 performs the unlocking process for the locker box identified by the box identification information included in the unlocking instruction information (step S1204). After performing the unlocking process for the locker box 110, the transmitting processing unit 1213 of the control unit 121 of the locker control device 120 transmits unlocking completion information to the server device 200 using communication via the communication unit 122, which includes the box identification information for the locker box 110 and information indicating that the unlocking of the locker box 110 has been completed (step S1205).

[0095] The receiving processing unit 211 of the control unit 210 of the server device 200 receives unlocking completion information transmitted from the locker control device 120 using communication via the communication unit 220 (step S1206). The storage processing unit 213 of the control unit 210 of the server device 200 stores information indicating that the locker box is not in use, as the usage status of the locker box identified by the box identification information included in the unlocking completion information, in the storage unit 230 (step S1207).

[0096] Figure 13 shows an example of a processing operation performed in the control unit 121 of the locker control device 120 when code information is read by the code reading unit 124 of the locker control device 120.

[0097] The code information acquisition processing unit 1216 acquires the code information read by the code reading unit 124 (step S1301). If the read code information matches the code information stored in the storage unit 230 (step S1302, YES), the unlocking processing unit 1214 performs the unlocking process for the locker box corresponding to the code information (step S1303). If the read code information does not match the code information stored in the storage unit 230 (step S1302, NO), the control unit 121 of the locker control device 120 terminates the process.

[0098] <Application to other locking devices> The functions of the locker control device 120 of the locker device 100 according to this embodiment can be applied not only to the control of the locking mechanism of the locker box 110, but also to the control of other locking mechanisms (for example, the control of the locking device of a car-sharing vehicle or the control of the locking device of a vacation rental room). When controlling the locking device of a car-sharing vehicle, the locker control device 120 in the above embodiment is a control device for controlling the locking device of a car-sharing vehicle, the locker box 110 in the above embodiment is the locking device of a car-sharing vehicle, and the box identification information in the above embodiment is identification information for identifying the car-sharing vehicle (the locking device of the vehicle). When controlling the locking device of a vacation rental room, the locker control device 120 in the above embodiment is a control device for controlling the locking device of a vacation rental room, the locker box 110 in the above embodiment is the locking device of a vacation rental room, and the box identification information in the above embodiment is identification information for identifying the vacation rental room (the locking device of the room). In other words, in this case, the locker system of the above embodiment is a locking device control system, the locker control device 120 of the above embodiment is a control device that controls a plurality of locking devices, and the box identification information in the above embodiment is locking device identification information for identifying the locking device.

[0099] The present invention has been described above with reference to preferred embodiments. While the present invention has been described with specific examples, various modifications and changes can be made to these examples without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as described in the claims. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0100] 100 Locker device 110 Locker Box 111 Recording media 120 Control device 121 Control Unit 1211 Receiving Processing Unit 1212 Locking section 1213 Transmission Processing Unit 1214 Unlocking Processing Unit 1215 Memory Processing Unit 1216 Code Information Acquisition Processing Unit 122 Communications Department 123 Storage section 124 Code reading unit 200 Server Devices 210 Control Unit 211 Receiving Processing Unit 212 Transmission Processing Unit 213 Memory Processing Unit 214 Usage identification information generation unit 215 Display Processing Unit 216 Payment Processing Unit 217 Code Information Generation Unit 218 NFC Tag Authentication Processing Unit 220 Communications Department 230 Storage section 300 user terminals 310 Control Unit 311 Reading Processing Unit 312 Input Information Acquisition Processing Unit 313 Transmission Processing Unit 320 Near Field Wireless Communication Department 330 Input section 340 Communications Department 350 Storage section 360 display

Claims

1. A locker system comprising a locker control device for controlling multiple locker boxes and a server device, Each of the aforementioned plurality of locker boxes has a recording medium that stores box identification information for identifying the locker box, The server device is A server-side receiving processing unit receives, from a user terminal capable of communicating with the server device, box identification information that identifies one of the plurality of locker boxes, and a locking request or unlocking request for the locker box identified by the box identification information. The locker control device includes a transmission processing unit that transmits locking instruction information or unlocking instruction information for the locker box for which a locking request or unlocking request has been made, The aforementioned rocker control device is A receiving processing unit that receives the locking instruction information or unlocking instruction information transmitted from the server device, The system includes a locking / unlocking processing unit that performs locking or unlocking processing of the locker box for which a locking request or unlocking request has been made, based on the locking instruction information or unlocking instruction information received by the receiving processing unit, A locker system in which the box identification information is read by the user terminal using short-range wireless communication from the recording medium of the locker box identified by the box identification information.

2. The recording medium further stores access information, which is information for accessing the server device. The locker system according to claim 1, wherein the box identification information is transmitted when the user terminal accesses the server device based on the access information read by the user terminal from the recording medium.

3. The server device is The system includes a display processing unit that determines the status of the locker box identified by the box identification information received from the user terminal, and if the locker box is in a usable state, displays a lock request input screen for accepting input of a lock request for the locker box or an unlock request input screen for accepting input of an unlock request for the locker box on the display unit of the user terminal. The aforementioned access information is the URL of the server device. The locker system according to claim 2, wherein the display processing unit of the server device uses a web browser installed on the user terminal to display the lock request input screen or the unlock request input screen on the display unit of the user terminal.

4. The locker system according to claim 2, wherein the display processing unit of the server device does not perform display processing on the display unit of the user terminal if the timing of receiving the box identification information is within a predetermined time since the timing of the previous receipt of the box identification information.

5. Each of the aforementioned plurality of locker boxes is displaceable from an initial position to a locked position and has a lever-shaped locking operation part that is biased from the locked position to the initial position. The locking / unlocking processing unit executes the locking process of the locker box when the locking operation unit is operated to the locking position. The locking operation unit is held in the locking operation position when it receives the locking instruction information transmitted from the server device, according to claim 1.

6. The display processing unit of the server device receives the box identification information from the user terminal, and if the status of the locker box identified by the box identification information is in a usable state, it displays a payment information input screen on the display unit of the user terminal for accepting input of payment information related to the payment of the usage fee for the locker box. The server device is The locker box according to claim 2, wherein when the payment information is received from the user terminal, the lock request input screen or the unlock request input screen is displayed on the display unit of the user terminal.

7. The server device is The system further includes a code information generation unit that, upon receiving the locking request from the user terminal, generates code information for unlocking the locker box, transmits the generated code information to the locker control device, and displays it on the user terminal. The aforementioned rocker control device is A code information acquisition processing unit that obtains the code information by reading the aforementioned code information, The system further includes a storage processing unit that stores the code information transmitted from the server device, The locking / unlocking processing unit performs an unlocking operation for the locker box if the code information displayed on the user terminal matches the code information obtained by the code information acquisition processing unit and the code information stored in the storage processing unit.

8. The locking / unlocking processing unit performs an unlocking operation of the locker box if the code information obtained from the code information acquisition unit matches the code information stored in the storage processing unit, and communication with the server device is not normal.

9. The server device is The locker system according to claim 2, further comprising a user identification information generation unit that, upon receiving the box identification information from the user terminal, generates user identification information for identifying the user terminal, stores the generated user identification information in the storage unit of the user terminal, and stores the user identification information in the storage unit of the server device, linking the user identification information to the box identification information.

10. The server device is The user terminal receives a request to unlock the locker box and the user identification information. If the user identification information received from the user terminal matches the user identification information stored in the storage unit of the server device, the locker control device is instructed to unlock the locker box identified by the box identification information associated with the user identification information. The locker system according to claim 9, wherein the locker control device, upon receiving the unlocking instruction transmitted from the server device, performs the unlocking process for the locker box for which the unlocking instruction was issued.

11. A control device for controlling multiple rocker boxes, Each of the aforementioned plurality of locker boxes has a recording medium that stores box identification information for identifying the locker box, The control device is A receiving processing unit receives, from a user terminal capable of communicating with the server device, the box identification information of one of the plurality of locker boxes, and a locking request or unlocking request for the locker box identified by the box identification information. The system includes a locking / unlocking processing unit that performs locking or unlocking processing for the locker box for which the locking request or unlocking request has been made, The box identification information is read by the user terminal using short-range wireless communication from the recording medium of the locker box identified by the box identification information, and is a control device.

12. A locker device comprising: a plurality of locker boxes; a plurality of locking mechanisms corresponding to the plurality of locker boxes, each locking and unlocking the corresponding locker box; a control device for controlling the locking mechanisms; and a receiving processing unit for receiving locking instruction information transmitted from an external device, Each of the aforementioned plurality of locker boxes has a recording medium that stores box identification information for identifying the locker box, The control device is Upon receiving the aforementioned locking instruction information, the locking processing unit has a locking process for the locking mechanism corresponding to the locker box identified by the box identification information contained in the locking instruction information. A locker device in which the box identification information can be read from the recording medium of the lock mechanism identified by the box identification information using a short-range wireless communication device.

Images