Delivery management device, delivery person terminal, and recipient terminal

Abstract

A delivery control device (101) comprises: a delivery request acquisition unit (109) for acquiring, from an addressee terminal, a delivery request including first identification information for identifying a package; a responsibility request unit (110) for transmitting a responsibility request for delivery of a package to a delivery person terminal; a first authentication unit (111) for performing biometric authentication of a delivery person on the basis of biological information acquired from a delivery person terminal of a delivery person who responds to a responsibility request; and a responsibility notification unit (113) for transmitting, when the biometric authentication of the delivery person has succeeded, second identification information for proving that the delivery person is a person in charge of delivery of a package to the delivery person terminal.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a delivery management device and a delivery person terminal. and Recipient end At the end Regarding. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, Patent Document 1 describes a delivery request system in which multiple users P1 and P2 use information processing terminals such as smartphones to request and accept delivery of items. A delivery requesting user P1 specifies an item he or she wishes to own and requests that it be delivered to a location where he or she can receive it. A delivery request accepting user P2, in accordance with the desire to have the item delivered, accepts the delivery request and indicates his or her consent to carrying out the request.

[0003] Patent Document 1 describes an example in which a delivery requesting user P1 residing in country A (e.g., Vietnam) requests delivery from a delivery requesting user P2 residing in country B (e.g., Japan). The delivery requesting user P2 performs a delivery request according to, for example, a personal travel schedule.

[0004] The delivery request system described in Patent Document 1 has an information processing server equipped with a request condition display unit that processes each piece of information that constitutes the delivery request conditions into a searchable form and displays it to a delivery acceptance user who wishes to accept delivery work. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2021-006985 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] In general home delivery services, a delivery time slot may be specified to make it easier for the recipient to receive the package. However, even if a delivery time slot is specified in the delivery request conditions described in Patent Document 1, the time slot that can be specified is often limited to a time span of about 2 to 3 hours, and the recipient must wait at the home or other address where the package is addressed during the specified time slot.

[0007] In addition, in general home delivery services, the recipient may be able to specify a receiving location where it is convenient for the recipient to receive the package. For example, a convenience store or a delivery center near the recipient's home is often specified as the receiving location. A delivery center is a base for delivery and transportation within a designated area of ​​the home delivery company.

[0008] By having the parcel left at the receiving location, the recipient can go to the receiving location and receive the parcel at a time that is convenient for them. Also, by having the parcel kept at the receiving location, the delivery company can reduce the trouble of redelivering the parcel. This can improve the convenience of receiving parcels to a certain extent.

[0009] However, even if a receiving location is specified, the recipient must go to the receiving location to collect the package. In addition, it may be difficult for the recipient to go to the receiving location to collect the package. If the recipient is unable to collect the package at the receiving location within a predetermined period of time, the package is often returned to the sender.

[0010] Here, in order to have a package delivered from the receiving location to the delivery location where the recipient is, it is possible to use the delivery request system described in Patent Document 1, with the recipient of the package as the delivery requesting user P1 and the delivery person as the delivery commissioned user P2.

[0011] In this case, since a delivery person needs to receive the package at the receiving location, it is considered that the delivery request conditions are set with information for identifying the package left at the receiving location. Then, the delivery acceptance user P2 is considered to view the delivery request conditions displayed by the request condition display unit and accept a delivery request that satisfies the delivery request conditions.

[0012] However, in the delivery request system described in Patent Document 1, anyone who has viewed the delivery request conditions, including other delivery accepted users P2, may be able to receive the parcel specified by the delivery request conditions at the receiving location, not just the accepted delivery accepted user P2. This means that there is a risk of the parcel being stolen, and the reliability of safely and reliably delivering the parcel to the delivery destination may be compromised.

[0013] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned circumstances, and one of its objectives is to improve the convenience of receiving packages. Another objective of the present invention is to improve the reliability of delivery. [Means for solving the problem]

[0014] In order to achieve the above object, a delivery management device according to a first aspect of the present invention comprises: A delivery request acquisition means for acquiring a delivery request including first identification information for identifying a package from a recipient terminal; a delivery request means for transmitting a delivery request to a delivery person terminal; a delivery person authentication means for performing biometric authentication of the delivery person responding to the delivery person request based on biometric information acquired from the delivery person terminal; and a person in charge notification means for transmitting second identification information to the delivery person terminal to prove that the delivery person is the person in charge of delivering the package if the biometric authentication of the delivery person is successful.

[0015] In order to achieve the above object, a deliveryman terminal according to a second aspect of the present invention comprises: A person in charge request acquisition means for acquiring a person in charge request for delivery of a package; A generating means for generating biometric information of the delivery person who responds to the delivery request; and a responsibility notification acquisition means for acquiring second identification information to prove that the delivery person is the person in charge of delivering the package if biometric authentication based on the biometric information of the delivery person is successful.

[0016] In order to achieve the above object, a recipient terminal according to a third aspect of the present invention comprises: a second generating means for generating biometric information of a recipient when trigger information for starting biometric authentication of the recipient when the recipient receives the package is acquired; before and a receiving processing means for transmitting the biometric information to a delivery management device for managing the delivery of the package. Effect of the Invention

[0024] According to the present invention, it is possible to improve convenience regarding receipt of packages. According to the present invention, it is possible to improve the reliability of delivery. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0025] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram for explaining an outline of the configuration of a delivery management system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a functional configuration of the delivery management device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 3] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a configuration of delivery person data according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a configuration of recipient data according to the first embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of delivery data in the first embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration of a case request unit according to the first embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration of a first authentication unit according to the first embodiment. [Figure 8]FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration of a second authentication unit according to the first embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration of a delivery person terminal according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a functional configuration of a recipient terminal in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11] 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a luggage management system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 12] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a configuration of baggage management data according to the first embodiment. [Figure 13] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a physical configuration of a delivery management device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 14] 2 is a diagram showing a physical configuration of a deliveryman terminal according to the first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. [Figure 15] 1 is a diagram showing a physical configuration of a baggage management terminal according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 16] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a flow of a delivery request process according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 17] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a flow of a handling determination process according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 18] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a flow of a handling determination process according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 19] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a flow of a baggage acceptance process according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 20] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a flow of a parcel receiving process according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 21] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a flow of a parcel receiving process according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 22] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of recipient data according to Modification 2. [Figure 23] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a functional configuration of a recipient terminal according to Modification 3. [Figure 24] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of the flow of a baggage acceptance process according to Modification 3. [Diagram 25]FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of the flow of a baggage acceptance process according to Modification 3. [Figure 26] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the functional configuration of a deliveryman terminal according to a fourth modified example. [Figure 27] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a functional configuration of a recipient terminal according to a fourth modified example. [Figure 28] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of the flow of a parcel receiving process according to the fourth modified example. [Figure 29] FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining an outline of the configuration of a delivery management system according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 30] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the functional configuration of a luggage management server according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 31] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration of a delivery company server according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 32] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a configuration of delivery company data according to the second embodiment. [Diagram 33] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a flow of a baggage acceptance process according to the second embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0026] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In all the drawings, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted as appropriate.

[0027] <<Embodiment 1>> According to the first embodiment of the present invention The delivery management system 100 The system is for managing the delivery of a package P in response to a delivery request from a recipient R of the package P.

[0028] Package P is an item delivered by a delivery company from a sender. Package P is delivered by the delivery company to a receiving location Q designated by a recipient R, and is left at the receiving location Q. The receiving location Q is, for example, a convenience store, a delivery center, etc.

[0029] 1, the delivery management system 100 includes a delivery management device 101 for managing the delivery of a package P, delivery personnel terminals 102a and 102b carried by delivery personnel Da and Db, respectively, and a recipient terminal 103 carried by a recipient R. Furthermore, the delivery management system 100 includes a package management system 104 including a package management terminal 105 installed at a receiving location Q for the package P, and a package management server 106 that manages the package management terminal 105.

[0030] The delivery management device 101, the delivery personnel terminals 102a and 102b, the recipient terminal 103, the package management terminal 105, and the package management server 106 are connected to each other via a network N so as to be able to transmit and receive information to and from each other. The network N may be configured by a wired line, a wireless line, or a line that is a combination of these.

[0031] When the receiving location Q is a convenience store, for example, a POS (Point of Sales) system is suitable as the parcel management system 104. In this case, the parcel management terminal 105 is a POS terminal. A POS terminal is a device generally used for settling the accounts of products purchased by customers, and is also used for inputting and outputting information related to various services provided at the convenience store, such as holding parcel P. The parcel management server 106 is a server that manages the POS terminals.

[0032] When the receiving location Q is a delivery center, the parcel management system 104 is preferably a system for managing the delivery of parcels P by a delivery company. In this case, the parcel management terminal 105 is a device generally used for accepting parcels for delivery at the delivery center, and is also used for inputting and outputting information related to the delivery of parcels P held at the delivery center. The parcel management server 106 is a server that manages the parcel management terminal 105, and corresponds to a delivery company server.

[0033] In the following, when there is no particular distinction between delivery personnel Da and Db, they are collectively referred to as "delivery personnel D." Furthermore, when there is no particular distinction between delivery personnel terminals 102a and 102b, they are collectively referred to as "delivery personnel terminal 102."

[0034] <Functional configuration of the delivery management device 101> When the delivery management device 101 receives a delivery request from a recipient R of a package P, it manages the delivery of the package P by a delivery person D from a receiving location Q to a delivery location designated by the recipient R.

[0035] Functionally, as shown in Figure 2, the delivery management device 101 comprises a first memory unit 107, a data control unit 108, a delivery request acquisition unit 109, a handling request unit 110, a first authentication unit 111, an identification information generation unit 112, a handling notification unit 113, a delivery notification acquisition unit 114, a second authentication unit 115, and a completion notification acquisition unit 116.

[0036] The first storage unit 107 is a storage unit in which various data such as delivery person data 117, recipient data 118, and delivery data 119 are stored.

[0037] (Delivery Person Data 117) The delivery person data 117 is data related to the delivery person D. As shown in Fig. 3, the delivery person data 117 according to the present embodiment is data in which a delivery person ID (identification), a delivery person terminal ID, first biometric information, a corresponding range, and attribute information are associated with each of the delivery persons Da and Db. Each piece of information constituting the delivery person data 117 is registered in advance.

[0038] The delivery person ID is information for identifying the delivery person D. The delivery person ID is typically determined when the delivery person D is registered in the delivery person data 117.

[0039] The delivery member terminal ID is information for identifying the delivery member terminal 102 carried by the delivery member D. In this embodiment, the delivery member terminal ID can be used as a contact point for the delivery management device 101 to send various information such as requests and notifications to the delivery member terminal 102.

[0040] The delivery person terminal ID does not have to be the contact information of the delivery person terminal 102. In this case, the delivery person data 117 may include contact information for the delivery management device 101 to send information to the delivery person terminal 102.

[0041] The first biometric information is biometric information of delivery person D. In this embodiment, a case will be described in which the first biometric information is facial information of delivery person D. The facial information of delivery person D, which is the first biometric information in this embodiment, may be a facial image of delivery person D, or may be feature amounts obtained by processing the facial image of delivery person D or other information. In addition, the facial information of delivery person D may be information that is an arbitrary combination of the facial image of delivery person D, feature amounts obtained by processing the facial image, and other information. Here, a facial image is an image that includes a face.

[0042] The first biometric information is not limited to facial information of the delivery person D, but may be, for example, fingerprint information, vein information, voice information, or the like of the delivery person D.

[0043] The coverage area is information indicating an area within which the delivery person D can deliver the package P. The coverage area may be set based on the delivery person D's specifications.

[0044] The attribute information is information indicating the attributes of delivery person D, such as the gender and age group of delivery person D.

[0045] (Configuration of recipient data 118) The recipient data 118 is data related to the recipient R. The recipient data 118 according to this embodiment is data in which a recipient ID, a name, an address, a recipient terminal ID, and second biometric information are associated with each other, as shown in an example of the configuration in Fig. 4. Each piece of information constituting the recipient data 118 is registered in advance.

[0046] The recipient ID is information for identifying the recipient R. The recipient ID is typically determined when the recipient R is registered in the recipient data 118.

[0047] The name is information indicating the name of the recipient R. The address is information indicating the address of the recipient R.

[0048] The recipient terminal ID is information for identifying the recipient terminal 103 possessed by the recipient R. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the recipient terminal ID can be used as a contact point for the delivery management device 101 to send various types of information, such as requests and notifications, to the recipient terminal 103.

[0049] The recipient terminal ID does not have to be the contact information of the recipient terminal 103. In this case, the recipient data 118 may include contact information for the delivery management device 101 to send information to the recipient terminal 103.

[0050] The second biometric information is biometric information of the recipient R. In this embodiment, a case will be described as an example in which the second biometric information is facial information of the recipient R. The facial information of the recipient R, which is the second biometric information according to this embodiment, may be a facial image of the recipient R, or may be feature amounts obtained by processing the facial image of the recipient R or other information. In addition, the facial information of the recipient R may be information that is an arbitrary combination of the facial image of the recipient R, feature amounts obtained by processing the facial image, and other information.

[0051] The second biometric information may be an image of the face of the recipient R. In addition, the second biometric information is not limited to the face information of the recipient R, and may be, for example, fingerprint information, vein information, voice information, etc. of the recipient R.

[0052] (Delivery Data 119 Configuration) The delivery data 119 is data related to the delivery of the package P from the receiving location Q to the delivery destination specified by the recipient R. The delivery data 119 according to this embodiment is data in which a delivery ID, a recipient ID, first identification information, delivery conditions, a delivery person ID, second identification information, and status information are associated with each other, as shown in an example of the configuration in Fig. 5.

[0053] The delivery ID is information for identifying the delivery of the package P from the receiving location Q to the delivery destination.

[0054] The recipient ID is information for identifying the recipient P of the package P. The recipient ID of the delivery data 119 and the recipient ID of the recipient data 118 are common information for the same recipient P.

[0055] The first identification information is information for identifying the package P. The first identification information is information that is assigned to the package P at the time when the package P is delivered to the receiving location Q, and is, for example, assigned to the package P by a delivery company that delivered the package P to the receiving location Q.

[0056] The delivery conditions are information indicating conditions regarding the delivery of the package P. As shown in Fig. 5, the delivery conditions include receipt location information, delivery destination information, desired time information, package information, and delivery person conditions.

[0057] The receiving location information is information that indicates the receiving location Q where the package P is being held. For example, the address of the receiving location Q, the name of the operator of the receiving location Q (convenience store or collection and delivery center), and the branch name are set as the receiving location.

[0058] The delivery destination information is information that indicates the delivery destination of the package P. The delivery destination information includes, for example, the address of the delivery destination designated by the recipient R.

[0059] The desired time information is information indicating the desired time of the recipient R to receive the package P. The desired time may be specified by a date and time, or may be specified by a date and a time zone. Also, if the recipient R wishes to receive the package P as soon as possible, the desired time is not specified, and the desired time information does not need to be set in the delivery data 119.

[0060] The package information is information about the package P. As shown in Fig. 5, the package information includes dimensions, weight, and handling conditions. It is preferable that the package information is set to the extent that the recipient R can know when making a delivery request, but it does not have to be set in the delivery data 119.

[0061] The dimensions are information indicating the dimensions of the package P, and include, for example, the approximate lengths of the length, width, and height of the package P. The weight is information indicating the weight of the package P, and include, for example, the approximate weight of the package P. The handling conditions are information indicating precautions to be taken when handling the package P, such as fragile goods, precision machinery, and no upside-down handling (prohibiting delivery in an upside-down or tilted state).

[0062] The delivery person conditions are information indicating conditions specified by the recipient R regarding the delivery person D, and include attributes of the delivery person D, such as the gender and age group of the delivery person D. If the recipient R does not specify the delivery person conditions, the delivery person conditions do not need to be set in the delivery data 119.

[0063] The delivery person ID is information for identifying the delivery person D who is in charge of delivering the package P. The delivery person ID of the delivery data 119 and the delivery person ID of the delivery person data 117 are common information for the same delivery person D.

[0064] The second identification information is information for verifying that the delivery person D is the person in charge of delivering the package P, and is, for example, a code that combines symbols such as letters, symbols, and numbers.

[0065] The status information is information that indicates the delivery status of the package P. For example, the status information may be set to "person in charge not yet determined," "package being received," "delivery in progress," "delivery completed," and the like.

[0066] "Person in charge not yet determined" is an example of information indicating that the delivery person D in charge of delivering the package P has not yet been determined.

[0067] "Package being collected" is an example of information indicating that delivery person D is on his way to the collection location Q to collect package P (i.e., delivery person D in charge of delivering package P has not yet accepted package P).

[0068] "In delivery" is an example of in-delivery information indicating that delivery person D is in the process of delivering package P (i.e., delivery person D in charge of delivering package P has received package P at the receiving location Q and is heading to the delivery destination).

[0069] "Delivery completed" is an example of information indicating that delivery of package P has been completed.

[0070] Referring again to FIG. The data control unit 108 controls the first storage unit 107. In particular, the data control unit 108 registers new data in the first storage unit 107. In addition, the data control unit 108 changes or deletes existing data stored in the first storage unit 107.

[0071] The delivery request acquisition unit 109 acquires a delivery request from the recipient terminal 103.

[0072] The delivery request is information by which the recipient R requests delivery of the package P, and includes first identification information for identifying the package P. The delivery request also includes at least one of the recipient ID of the recipient R and the recipient terminal ID of the recipient terminal 103, receipt location information indicating the receipt location Q, and delivery destination information. Furthermore, the delivery request includes desired time information, package information, and delivery person conditions, if designated or input by the recipient R.

[0073] The delivery person request unit 110 transmits a delivery person request for the delivery of the package P to each of the delivery person terminals 102. The delivery person request is information for requesting the delivery person D to be in charge of the delivery of the package P for which a delivery request has been received.

[0074] In detail, the person in charge request unit 110 transmits a person in charge request to the delivery person terminal 102 of the delivery person D whose delivery destination is included in the delivery area. Furthermore, when the delivery request includes delivery person conditions, the person in charge request unit 110 transmits a person in charge request to the delivery person D who meets the conditions included in the delivery person conditions. As shown in FIG. 6, the person in charge request unit 110 includes an extraction unit 110a and a person in charge request transmission unit 110b.

[0075] When a delivery request is acquired, the extraction unit 110a extracts a delivery person ID associated with a coverage area of ​​the delivery person data 117 that includes a delivery destination included in the delivery request. Furthermore, when the delivery request includes a delivery person condition, the extraction unit 110a extracts a delivery person ID associated with an attribute of the delivery person data 117 that matches the attribute included in the delivery person condition.

[0076] As a result, the extraction unit 110a can extract the delivery person ID of delivery person D who includes the delivery destination in the corresponding range and who meets the delivery person conditions if the delivery person conditions are specified.

[0077] The delivery request sending unit 110b sends a delivery request to the delivery member terminal 102 of the delivery member terminal ID associated in the delivery member data 117 with the delivery member ID extracted by the extraction unit 110a.

[0078] Referring again to FIG. The first authentication unit 111 performs the first authentication based on the first biometric information acquired from the delivery person terminal 102 of the delivery person D who responds to the delivery request. The first authentication is a process for biometric authentication of the delivery person D. The first authentication unit 111 corresponds to a delivery person authentication unit.

[0079] In detail, the first authentication unit 111 performs the first authentication based on whether or not the first biometric information corresponding to the first biometric information acquired from the delivery person terminal 102 is registered in the delivery person data 117. As shown in Fig. 7, the first authentication unit 111 includes a first acquisition unit 111a and a first authentication processing unit 111b.

[0080] The first acquisition unit 111a acquires the delivery person ID of the delivery person D or the delivery person terminal ID of the delivery person terminal 102 and the first biometric information from the delivery person terminal 102 of the delivery person D who responds to the delivery request.

[0081] The first authentication processing unit 111b refers to the first storage unit 107 and acquires the delivery person data 117 corresponding to the delivery person ID or the delivery person terminal ID acquired by the first acquisition unit 111a. The first authentication processing unit 111b performs authentication of the delivery person D (first authentication) by comparing the first biometric information acquired by the first acquisition unit 111a with the first biometric information included in the delivery person data 117.

[0082] For example, if the first biometric information acquired by the first acquisition unit 111a is a facial image of the delivery person D and the first biometric information included in the delivery person data 1117 is a feature, the first authentication processing unit 111b first extracts the feature by processing the facial image, which is the first biometric information acquired by the first acquisition unit 111. Next, the first authentication processing unit 111b compares the extracted feature with the feature of the first biometric information included in the delivery person data 117.

[0083] If the comparison shows that the difference between these features is within a predetermined allowable range, the first authentication processing unit 111b determines that the first authentication is successful. If the difference between these features exceeds the predetermined allowable range, the first authentication processing unit 111b determines that the first authentication is unsuccessful.

[0084] The first authentication by the first authentication processing unit 111b is not limited to the above example, and various methods may be adopted. The first authentication may be performed based on, for example, a comparison between images, a comparison between features, or a comparison between other information, or may be performed by comparing information obtained by arbitrarily combining these.

[0085] Referring again to FIG. If the first authentication is successful, the identification information generating unit 112 generates second identification information for proving that the delivery person D is the person in charge of delivering the package P.

[0086] Furthermore, the identification information generation unit 112 sets the generated second identification information in the delivery data 119 via the data control unit 108. At this time, the data control unit 108 sets the second identification information in association with the delivery person ID of the delivery person D who has succeeded in the first authentication.

[0087] The person in charge notifying unit 113 transmits the second identification information generated by the identification information generating unit 112 to the delivery person terminal 102 of the delivery person D who is in charge of delivering the package P. In addition, the person in charge notifying unit 113 transmits the second identification information generated by the identification information generating unit 112 to the package management server 106 together with the first identification information included in the delivery request.

[0088] When the package P is handed over to the delivery person D at the receiving location Q, the delivery notice acquisition unit 114 acquires a package delivery notice indicating this from the package management terminal 105.

[0089] The second authentication unit 115 performs the second authentication based on the second biometric information acquired from the recipient terminal 103 of the recipient R. The second authentication is a process for biometric authentication of the recipient R. The second authentication is performed so that the delivery person D can confirm that the recipient R is the correct recipient of the package P when handing over the package P to the recipient R. The second authentication unit 115 corresponds to a recipient authentication unit.

[0090] In detail, the second authentication unit 115 performs the second authentication based on whether or not second biometric information corresponding to the second biometric information acquired from the recipient terminal 103 is registered in the recipient data 118. As shown in Fig. 8, the second authentication unit 115 includes a second acquisition unit 115a and a second authentication processing unit 115b.

[0091] When the second acquisition unit 115a acquires a request to receive the package P from the delivery person terminal 102 of the delivery person D, the second acquisition unit 115a transmits the request to receive the package P to the delivery person terminal 102. This causes the recipient terminal 103 of the recipient R to execute a process for generating second biometric information, which is biometric information of the recipient R.

[0092] The receipt request is information by which the delivery person D requests the recipient R to perform the second authentication, and is an example of trigger information that serves as a trigger to start the second authentication when the package P is handed over to the recipient R.

[0093] Then, the second acquisition unit 115a acquires the second biometric information generated by the recipient terminal 103 of the recipient R in response to the receipt request from the recipient terminal 103 together with the recipient ID of the recipient R or the recipient terminal ID of the recipient terminal 103.

[0094] In addition, the delivery person terminal 102 and the recipient terminal 103 may be configured to be able to directly send and receive trigger information. In this case, the second acquisition unit 115a does not need to transfer the receipt request from the delivery person terminal 102 to the recipient terminal 103.

[0095] The second authentication processing unit 115b refers to the first storage unit 107 and acquires the recipient data 118 corresponding to the recipient ID or the recipient terminal ID acquired by the second acquisition unit 115a. The second authentication processing unit 115b performs authentication of the recipient R (second authentication) by comparing the second biometric information acquired by the second acquisition unit 115a with the second biometric information included in the recipient data 118.

[0096] For example, when the second biometric information acquired by the second acquisition unit 115a is a facial image of the recipient R and the second biometric information included in the recipient data 118 is a feature, the second authentication processing unit 115b first extracts the feature by processing the facial image, which is the second biometric information acquired by the second acquisition unit 115a. Next, the second authentication processing unit 115b compares the extracted feature with the feature of the second biometric information included in the recipient data 118.

[0097] If the comparison result shows that the difference between these features is within a predetermined allowable range, the second authentication processing unit 115b determines that the second authentication is successful. If the difference between these features exceeds the predetermined allowable range, the second authentication processing unit 115b determines that the second authentication is unsuccessful.

[0098] The second authentication by the second authentication processing unit 115b is not limited to the above example, and various methods may be adopted. The second authentication may be performed based on, for example, a comparison between images, a comparison between features, or a comparison between other information, or may be performed by comparing information obtained by arbitrarily combining these.

[0099] Referring again to FIG. When the package P is handed over to the recipient R and the delivery of the package P is completed, the completion notification acquisition unit 116 acquires a delivery completion notification indicating this from the deliveryman terminal 102.

[0100] <Functional configuration of the deliveryman terminal 102> Functionally, as shown in FIG. 9, the delivery person terminal 102 includes a first input receiving unit 120, a first display unit 121, a handling request acquisition unit 122, a first generation unit 123, a handling notification acquisition unit 124, an acceptance processing unit 125, and a delivery processing unit 126.

[0101] The first input receiving unit 120 receives input from the delivery person D. The first display unit 121 displays various information.

[0102] The delivery request acquisition unit 122 acquires a delivery request for the package P from the delivery management device 101.

[0103] The first generation unit 123 generates first biometric information of a delivery person D who responds to a delivery request, i.e., in response to an input of a delivery person D who wishes to be in charge of delivering a package P. In detail, the first generation unit 123 captures a facial image of the delivery person D in response to the input of the delivery person D, and generates facial information as the first biometric information based on the facial image.

[0104] The responsibility notification acquisition unit 124 acquires the second identification information from the delivery management device 101. As described above, the second identification information is transmitted from the delivery management device 101 when the first authentication based on the first biometric information is successful.

[0105] The acceptance processing unit 125 performs processing for the delivery person D to accept the package P at the receiving location Q. In detail, for example, the acceptance processing unit 125 causes the first display unit 121 to display the second identification information acquired by the person in charge notification acquisition unit 124 in response to an input by the delivery person D at the receiving location Q of the package P.

[0106] As a result, the first display unit 121 displays the second identification information at the receiving location Q of the package P. At this time, the second identification information may be displayed as a combination of codes such as letters, symbols, and numbers, or may be displayed as an image such as a one-dimensional code or a two-dimensional code including the combination of codes.

[0107] The delivery processing unit 126 performs processing for the delivery person D to deliver the package P to the recipient R. In detail, for example, the delivery processing unit 126 transmits a receipt request to the delivery management device 101 in response to an input by the delivery person D when the delivery person D delivers the package P to the recipient R. Then, the delivery processing unit 126 acquires the result of the second authentication performed in response to the receipt request.

[0108] <Functional Configuration of Recipient Terminal 103> As shown in FIG. 10, the recipient terminal 103 functionally comprises a second input receiving unit 127, a second display unit 128, a delivery request unit 129, a second generation unit 130, and a receipt processing unit 131.

[0109] The second input receiving unit 127 receives input of the recipient R. The second display unit 128 displays various types of information.

[0110] The delivery request unit 129 generates a delivery request for the package P in response to the input of the recipient R, and transmits the request to the delivery management device 101.

[0111] When the second generation unit 130 acquires a request to receive the package P from the delivery management device 101, it generates second biometric information of the recipient R. In detail, the second generation unit 130 captures a facial image of the recipient R in response to an input from the recipient R after acquiring the request to receive the package P, and generates facial information as the second biometric information based on the facial image. The request to receive the package P may be acquired from the delivery person terminal 102.

[0112] The receiving processing unit 131 performs processing for the recipient R to receive the package P from the delivery person D. In detail, for example, the receiving processing unit 131 transmits the biometric information generated by the second generating unit 130 to the delivery management device 101.

[0113] <Functional Configuration of the Baggage Management System 104> 11, the delivery management system 100 includes a package management terminal 105 to which a hand scanner 132 is connected, and a package management server 106 that manages the package management terminal 105. The hand scanner 132 is a device that reads codes represented by images, characters, etc., and is an example of a scanner.

[0114] The scanner is not limited to the hand scanner 132, and may be any type of scanner. The scanner may be provided integrally with the baggage management terminal 105.

[0115] (Functional configuration of baggage management terminal 105) As shown in FIG. 11, the baggage management terminal 105 functionally comprises a second identification information acquisition unit 133, a terminal communication unit 134, a delivery authentication unit 135, and a terminal display unit 136.

[0116] Second identification information acquisition unit 133 acquires second identification information from delivery person terminal 102. In this embodiment, when the second identification information displayed on first display unit 121 is read by hand scanner 132, second identification information acquisition unit 133 acquires, from hand scanner 132, the second identification information read by hand scanner 132.

[0117] The terminal communication unit 134 transmits and receives various information to and from the package management server 106 by communicating with the package management server 106 .

[0118] The delivery authentication unit 135 performs processing to deliver the package P to the delivery person D at the receiving location Q.

[0119] In detail, for example, the delivery authentication unit 135 performs delivery authentication, which is a process for confirming that the delivery person D who has come to receive the package P is the person in charge of the package P. For this purpose, when the second identification information is acquired by the second identification information acquisition unit 133, the delivery authentication unit 135 transmits the second identification information to the package management server 106 via the terminal communication unit 134, and inquires whether the second identification information is registered in the package management data 140 (described in detail later).

[0120] The baggage management data 140 may be transmitted in advance from the baggage management server 106 to the baggage management terminal 105 and may be held in the baggage management terminal 105, for example, in the delivery authentication unit 135. In this case, when the second identification information is acquired by the second identification information acquisition unit 133, the delivery authentication unit 135 may perform delivery authentication based on whether or not the second identification information is registered in the baggage management data 140 that the delivery authentication unit 135 holds in advance.

[0121] If the delivery authentication unit 135 receives a response indicating that the second identification information is registered in the package management data 140, it determines that the delivery authentication has been successful. If the delivery authentication unit 135 receives a response indicating that the second identification information is not registered in the package management data 140, it determines that the delivery authentication has been unsuccessful. If the delivery authentication is successful, the package P is delivered to the delivery person D at the receiving location R.

[0122] The terminal display unit 136 displays various types of information.

[0123] (Functional configuration of the baggage management server 106) Functionally, the package management server 106 includes a second storage unit 137, a server communication unit 138, and a first communication unit 139, as shown in FIG.

[0124] The second storage unit 137 is a storage unit in which various data such as baggage management data 140 is stored.

[0125] (Configuration of baggage management data 140) The baggage management data 140 is data for managing the baggage P in the baggage management system 104. The baggage management data 140 according to the present embodiment is data in which first identification information, a deposit date and time, second identification information, and a delivery date and time are associated with each other, as shown in an example of the configuration in Fig. 12.

[0126] The first identification information and the deposit date and time are information that is set when the package P is delivered to the receiving location Q by the delivery company. The first identification information of the package management data 140 and the first identification information of the delivery data 119 are common information for the same package P. The deposit date and time are information that indicates the date and time when the package P was delivered to the receiving location Q.

[0127] The second identification information is set when it is generated in connection with the delivery of the package P identified by the first identification information associated therewith. The second identification information of the package management data 140 and the second identification information of the delivery data 119 are common information generated in connection with the delivery of the package P.

[0128] The delivery date and time is information indicating the date and time when the package P identified by the associated first identification information was delivered to the delivery person D.

[0129] Referring again to FIG. The server communication unit 138 transmits and receives various information to and from the baggage management terminal 105 by communicating with the baggage management terminal 105 .

[0130] In detail, for example, the server communication unit 138 receives an inquiry from the baggage management terminal 105 as to whether the second identification information is registered in the baggage management data 140 or not.

[0131] In response to this inquiry, the server communication unit 138 transmits a response including whether or not the second identification information is registered in the package management data 140 to the package management terminal 105 by referring to the package management data 140. In addition, when the package P is handed over to the delivery person D, the server communication unit 138 sets the date and time of this time as the delivery date and time in the package management data 140.

[0132] The inquiry from the baggage management terminal 105 may be an inquiry as to whether the first identification information and the second identification information are associated with each other and registered in the baggage management data 140. In this case, the server communication unit 138 may transmit to the baggage management terminal 105 a response including an indication as to whether the first identification information and the second identification information are associated with each other and registered in the baggage management data 140.

[0133] The first communication unit 139 transmits and receives information to and from the delivery management device 101 by communicating with the delivery management device 101.

[0134] In detail, for example, the first communication unit 139 acquires from the delivery management device 101 the second identification information generated in relation to the delivery of the package P, together with the first identification information for identifying the package P. As a result, the first communication unit 139 sets the second identification information in the package management data 140 in association with the first identification information of the package management data 140 corresponding to the acquired first identification information.

[0135] Also, for example, when a package delivery notification that the package P has been handed over to the delivery person Da is acquired by the terminal communication unit 134, the first communication unit 139 transmits a package delivery notification including the second identification information to the delivery management device 101. That is, when the second identification information acquisition unit 133 acquires the second identification information and the package P is handed over to the delivery person Da, the first communication unit 139 transmits the second identification information to the delivery management device 101. This allows the delivery management device 101 to manage that the package P has been handed over to the delivery person D.

[0136] The functions of the baggage management terminal 105 and the functions of the baggage management server 106 described in this embodiment may be provided in the baggage management system 104. That is, some or all of the functions of the baggage management terminal 105 according to this embodiment may be provided in the baggage management server 106, and some or all of the functions of the baggage management server 106 according to this embodiment may be provided in the baggage management terminal 105.

[0137] <Physical configuration of the delivery management system 100> The delivery management system 100 is physically composed of a delivery management device 101, a delivery person terminal 102, a recipient terminal 103, a package management terminal 105, and a package management server 106, which are connected via a network N.

[0138] The delivery management device 101 is physically, for example, a general-purpose computer.

[0139] In detail, for example, the delivery management device 101 physically includes a bus 1010, a processor 1020, a memory 1030, a storage device 1040, a user interface 1050, and a network interface 1060, as shown in FIG.

[0140] The bus 1010 is a data transmission path for transmitting and receiving data among the processor 1020, memory 1030, storage device 1040, user interface 1050, and network interface 1060. However, the method of connecting the processor 1020 and other components to each other is not limited to bus connection.

[0141] The processor 1020 is implemented by a central processing unit (CPU) or a graphics processing unit (GPU).

[0142] The memory 1030 is a main storage device realized by a RAM (Random Access Memory) or the like.

[0143] The storage device 1040 is an auxiliary storage device realized by a hard disk drive (HDD), a solid state drive (SSD), a memory card, a read only memory (ROM), or the like. The storage device 1040 stores program modules for realizing each functional unit of the delivery management device 101. The processor 1020 loads each of these program modules into the memory 1030 and executes them to realize each functional unit corresponding to the program module.

[0144] The user interface 1050 includes a touch panel, a keyboard, a mouse, and the like as interfaces for the user to input information, and a liquid crystal panel and the like as an interface for presenting information to the user.

[0145] The network interface 1060 is an interface for connecting the delivery management device 101 to the network N.

[0146] The package management server 106 may have a similar physical configuration to the delivery management device 101.

[0147] The deliveryman terminal 102 is physically, for example, a tablet PC (Personal Computer) or a smartphone.

[0148] In detail, for example, the deliveryman terminal 102 physically includes a bus 2010, a processor 2020, a memory 2030, a storage device 2040, a user interface 2050, a network interface 2060, and a camera 2070, as shown in FIG.

[0149] The bus 2010 is a data transmission path for the processor 2020, the memory 2030, the storage device 2040, the user interface 2050, the network interface 2060, the camera 2070, and the microphone 2080 to transmit and receive data to and from each other. 2The method of connecting the 020 and the like to each other is not limited to bus connection.

[0150] The processor 2020 is implemented by a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), or the like.

[0151] The memory 2030 is a main storage device realized by a RAM (Random Access Memory) or the like.

[0152] The storage device 2040 is an auxiliary storage device realized by a hard disk drive (HDD), a solid state drive (SSD), a memory card, a read only memory (ROM), or the like. The storage device 2040 stores program modules for realizing each functional unit of the deliveryman terminal 102. The processor 2020 reads each of these program modules into the memory 2030 and executes them to realize each functional unit corresponding to the program module.

[0153] The user interface 2050 includes a touch panel, a keyboard, a mouse, and the like as interfaces for the user to input information, and a liquid crystal panel and the like as an interface for presenting information to the user.

[0154] The network interface 2060 is an interface for connecting the deliveryman terminal 102 to the network N.

[0155] The camera 2070 captures an image and generates image information indicative of the image.

[0156] The recipient terminal 103 may have a similar physical configuration to the delivery person terminal 102 .

[0157] The baggage management terminal 105 is physically, for example, a POS terminal, a general-purpose computer to which a scanner 3070 is connected, or the like.

[0158] In detail, for example, the baggage management terminal 105 physically comprises a bus 3010, a processor 3020, a memory 3030, a storage device 3040, a user interface 3050, a network interface 3060, and a scanner 3070, as shown in FIG.

[0159] The bus 3010 is a data transmission path for transmitting and receiving data among the processor 3020, memory 3030, storage device 3040, user interface 3050, and network interface 3060. However, the method of connecting the processor 3020 and other components to each other is not limited to bus connection.

[0160] The processor 3020 is implemented by a central processing unit (CPU) or a graphics processing unit (GPU).

[0161] The memory 3030 is a main storage device realized by a RAM (Random Access Memory) or the like.

[0162] The storage device 3040 is an auxiliary storage device realized by a hard disk drive (HDD), a solid state drive (SSD), a memory card, a read only memory (ROM), or the like. The storage device 3040 stores program modules for realizing each functional unit of the baggage management terminal 105. The processor 3020 reads each of these program modules into the memory 3030 and executes them, thereby realizing each functional unit corresponding to the program module.

[0163] The user interface 3050 includes a touch panel, a keyboard, a mouse, and the like as interfaces for the user to input information, and a liquid crystal panel and the like as an interface for presenting information to the user.

[0164] The network interface 3060 is an interface for connecting the baggage management terminal 105 to the network N.

[0165] The scanner 3070 is a device that reads characters or images and outputs the read information.

[0166] <<Operation of the delivery management system 100>> From here, the operation of the delivery management system 100 will be described with reference to the drawings. The delivery management system 100 executes a delivery management process for managing the delivery of a package P in response to a delivery request from a recipient R of the package P. The delivery management process includes a delivery request process shown in Fig. 16, a person in charge determination process shown in Figs. 17 and 18, a package acceptance process shown in Fig. 19, and a package receipt process shown in Figs. 20 and 21.

[0167] Here, Fig. 16 is a diagram showing an example of the flow of a delivery request process according to this embodiment. Figs. 17 and 18 are diagrams showing an example of the flow of a person in charge determination process according to this embodiment. Fig. 19 is a diagram showing an example of the flow of a parcel acceptance process according to this embodiment. Figs. 20 and 21 are diagrams showing an example of the flow of a parcel receipt process according to this embodiment.

[0168] The delivery management process begins when each device that makes up the delivery management system 100 (delivery management device 101, delivery person terminals 102a, 102b, recipient terminal 103, parcel management terminal 105, parcel management server 106) runs a specific program installed in each device.

[0169] It is assumed that the delivery person data 117 and the recipient data 118 are preset. It is also assumed that the package P is delivered to the receiving location Q by the delivery company and is left there, and the first identification information and the receiving date and time of the package management data 140 are set.

[0170] (Delivery request processing) The delivery request process is a process for a recipient R to request delivery of a package P.

[0171] As shown in FIG. 16, a delivery request is transmitted and received (step S101).

[0172] In detail, the delivery request unit 129 generates a delivery request for the package P in response to input of the recipient R to the second input receiving unit 127, and transmits the delivery request to the delivery management device 101. The delivery request acquisition unit 109 acquires the delivery request from the recipient terminal 103 via the network N.

[0173] When a delivery request is acquired by the delivery request acquisition unit 109, the data control unit 108 generates delivery data 119 based on the information included in the delivery request and registers it in the first storage unit 107 (step S102).

[0174] At this time, the delivery ID is generated, for example, according to a predetermined rule, and set in the delivery data 119. The recipient ID, first identification information, receiving location, and delivery destination are included in the delivery request, and are set in the delivery data 119 according to the delivery request. If the desired delivery time, package information, and delivery person conditions are included in the delivery request, they are set in the delivery data 119 according to the delivery request.

[0175] In addition, since the delivery person D in charge of delivering the package P has not yet been decided, the delivery person ID and the second identification information are not set (i.e., they are blank or have a null value, for example). The status information is set to "person in charge not yet decided."

[0176] This completes the delivery request process.

[0177] (Decision-making process) Next, a delivery person determination process is executed. The delivery person determination process is a process for determining a delivery person D who will be in charge of delivering the package P for which a delivery request has been received. When the delivery person determination process starts, each of the delivery person terminals 102 is in a standby state so that it can receive a delivery person request from the delivery management device 101.

[0178] As shown in FIG. 17, the extraction unit 110a extracts a delivery person D who is a candidate for the person in charge of delivery related to the delivery request, based on the delivery request and the delivery person data 117 acquired in step S101 (step S103).

[0179] In detail, for example, the extraction unit 110a acquires the delivery destination included in the delivery request acquired in step S101, and extracts a delivery person ID associated with a coverage area including the delivery destination by referring to the delivery person data 117. Furthermore, when the delivery request includes a delivery person condition, the extraction unit 110a extracts a delivery person ID associated with an attribute of the delivery person data 117 that matches the attribute included in the delivery person condition.

[0180] A delivery request is transmitted and received between the delivery management device 101 and each of the deliveryman terminals 102 of the deliveryman D extracted by the extraction unit 110a (steps S104a and 104b).

[0181] In detail, for example, the in-charge request sending unit 110b sends a in-charge request to the deliveryman terminal 102a, and the in-charge request acquiring unit 122 of the deliveryman terminal 102a acquires the in-charge request (step S104a). Also, the in-charge request sending unit 110b sends a in-charge request to the deliveryman terminal 102b, and the in-charge request acquiring unit 122 of the deliveryman terminal 102b acquires the in-charge request (step S104b).

[0182] The delivery request may include the delivery conditions included in the delivery request acquired in step S101 and a delivery ID corresponding to the delivery request.

[0183] The first display unit 121 of each delivery member terminal 102 displays the delivery request acquired in steps S104a and 104b (steps S105a and 105b).

[0184] The first input receiving unit 120 of each delivery member terminal 102 judges whether or not the person in charge input has been received (steps S106a and S106b). The person in charge input is an input made by the person in charge D to view the contents of the delivery request and respond to the delivery request.

[0185] If the person in charge input has not been accepted (step S106a; No, step S106b; No), each of the deliveryman terminals 102a and 102b returns to waiting for a person in charge request.

[0186] In the following, an example will be described in which the deliveryman terminal 102a accepts a person in charge input from deliveryman Da, and the deliveryman terminal 102b does not accept a person in charge input from deliveryman Db. Therefore, in Fig. 17, when the deliveryman terminal 102b accepts a person in charge input (step S106b; Yes), the subsequent processing is omitted. When the deliveryman terminal 102b accepts a person in charge input (step S106b; Yes), the deliveryman terminal 102b also performs the same processing as the deliveryman terminal 102a described below.

[0187] If the delivery person input is accepted (step S106a; Yes), the first generation unit 123 of the delivery person terminal 102a takes a facial image of delivery person D in accordance with the input of delivery person Da, and generates facial information as the first biometric information based on the facial image (step S107).

[0188] The first biological information is transmitted and received (step S108).

[0189] In detail, for example, the first generation unit 123 transmits the first biometric information generated in step S107 to the delivery management device 101 together with the delivery ID and the delivery person ID of delivery person Da included in the delivery request. The first acquisition unit 111a acquires the first biometric information and the delivery ID from the delivery person terminal 102a. Here, in addition to the delivery person ID of delivery person Da, or instead of the delivery person ID of delivery person Da, the delivery person terminal ID of the delivery person terminal 102a may be transmitted and received.

[0190] The first authentication processing unit 111b performs first authentication of the delivery person Da based on the first biometric information of the delivery person Da acquired in step S108 and the first biometric information of the delivery person Da included in the delivery person data 117 (step S109).

[0191] If the first authentication fails, i.e., if the first authentication is not successful (step S109; No), a notification of first authentication failure indicating that the first authentication of delivery person Da has failed is transmitted and received (step S110).

[0192] In detail, for example, when the first authentication fails, the first authentication processing unit 111b transmits a notification of the first authentication failure to the deliveryman terminal 102a. The deliveryman notification acquisition unit 124 of the deliveryman terminal 102a acquires the notification of the first authentication failure from the delivery management device 101.

[0193] The first display unit 121 of the delivery person terminal 102a displays a message indicating that the biometric authentication of the delivery person Da has failed (step S111), and the delivery person determination process ends.

[0194] If the first authentication is successful (step S109; Yes), as shown in FIG. 18, the identification information generation unit 112 generates second identification information to prove that the delivery person Da is the person in charge of delivering the package P (step S112).

[0195] The data control unit 108 changes the delivery data 119 based on the second identification information generated in step S112 (step S113).

[0196] In detail, for example, the data control unit 108 associates the second identification information generated in step S112 with the delivery ID related to the second identification information and sets it in the delivery data 119. In addition, the data control unit 108 changes the status information related to the delivery ID to "package being received."

[0197] A notification of the person in charge including the second identification information generated in step S112 is transmitted and received (step S114).

[0198] In detail, the person in charge notification unit 113 transmits a notification of the person in charge including the second identification information generated in step S112 to the delivery member terminal 102a. The person in charge notification acquisition unit 124 of the delivery member terminal 102a acquires the notification of the person in charge from the delivery management device 101. As a result, the delivery member terminal 102a stores the information included in the person in charge request for which the person in charge input was accepted in step S106a in association with the second identification information.

[0199] The person in charge notification acquisition unit 124 of the delivery person terminal 102a displays the second identification information acquired in step S114 on the first display unit 121 (step S115). This allows the delivery person Da to know that he or she has been selected as the person in charge of delivering the package P.

[0200] A notification of the person in charge including the first identification information and the second identification information is transmitted and received (step S116).

[0201] The person in charge notification unit 113 transmits a notification of the person in charge, which includes the second identification information generated in step S112 and the first identification information for identifying the package P, to the package management server 106. The first communication unit 139 acquires the notification of the person in charge.

[0202] The first communication unit 139 changes the baggage management data 140 based on the first identification information and the second identification information acquired in step S116 (step S117). In detail, for example, the first communication unit 139 identifies first identification information corresponding to the first identification information acquired in step S116 in the baggage management data 140, and sets the second identification information in association with the identified first identification information.

[0203] This ends the handling determination process.

[0204] (Baggage acceptance processing) The package acceptance process is a process in which the delivery person Da accepts the package P at the receiving location Q. At the start of the package acceptance process, the package management terminal 105 waits to acquire the second identification information.

[0205] When delivery person Da sees the display in step S115 and knows that he is now the person in charge, he heads to the receiving location Q to receive the package P. Then, a package receiving process is carried out so that delivery person Da can receive the package P at the receiving location Q.

[0206] 19, the acceptance processing unit 125 of the delivery person terminal 102a displays the second identification information acquired in step S114 on the first display unit 121 in response to the input by the delivery person Da (step S121). Note that if the display of the second identification information in step S115 continues, the process of step S121 does not need to be performed.

[0207] When a user, such as an employee of the receiving location Q, uses the hand scanner 132 to read the second identification information displayed on the first display unit 121, the second identification information acquisition unit 133 acquires the second identification information from the hand scanner 132 (step S122).

[0208] The method by which the second identification information acquisition unit 133 acquires the second identification information is not limited to a method using a scanner such as the hand scanner 132. For example, the second identification information acquisition unit 133 may acquire the second identification information by a user's input to an input unit (not shown). Also, for example, the second identification information acquisition unit 133 may acquire the second identification information by short-range wireless communication such as RFID (Radio Frequency Identifier). In this case, the baggage management terminal 105 may be provided with a reader that reads information from an RF tag used in RFID, instead of the hand scanner 132.

[0209] The delivery authentication unit 135 inquires of the package management server 106 via the terminal communication unit 134 whether or not the second identification information acquired in step S122 is registered in the package management data 140. Based on the response to this inquiry, the delivery authentication unit 135 determines whether or not the delivery authentication has been successful (step S123).

[0210] If the second identification information acquired in step S117 is registered in the baggage management data 140, the delivery authentication unit 135 receives a response indicating that it is registered in the baggage management data 140. On the other hand, if the second identification information is not registered in the baggage management data 140, the delivery authentication unit 135 receives a response indicating that it is not registered in the baggage management data 140.

[0211] If it is determined that the delivery authentication has failed, that is, if it is determined that the delivery authentication has not been successful (step S123; No), the baggage management terminal 105 returns to waiting for acquisition of second identification information.

[0212] When it is determined that the delivery authentication has been successful (step S123; Yes), the delivery authentication unit 135 causes the terminal display unit 136 to display the fact that the delivery authentication has been successful (step S124).

[0213] This allows the user to confirm that the delivery person Da who is about to receive the package P at the receiving location Q is the person in charge of delivering the package P. After this confirmation, the user hands over the package P to the delivery person Da.

[0214] In addition, the baggage management terminal 105 holds the baggage management data 140, and the delivery authentication unit 135 refers to the baggage management data 140 of the baggage management terminal 105, The second identification information It may be determined whether or not the item is registered in the baggage management data 140.

[0215] In response to the user's input, such as checking the display on the terminal display unit 136 and handing over the package P to the delivery person Da, a notification of package handover is transmitted and received between the package management terminal 105 and the package management server 106 (step S125).

[0216] In detail, for example, the terminal communication unit 134 transmits a notification of baggage delivery including the second identification information to the baggage management server 106. The server communication unit 138 acquires the notification of baggage delivery from the baggage management terminal 105.

[0217] The server communication unit 138 changes the package management data 140 (step S126). In detail, for example, the server communication unit 138 sets the current time as the delivery date and time in association with the second identification information included in the package delivery notification.

[0218] A notification of package delivery is transmitted and received between the package management server 106 and the delivery management device 101 (step S127).

[0219] In detail, for example, the first communication unit 139 transmits a package delivery notification including the second identification information to the delivery management device 101. The delivery notification acquisition unit 114 acquires the package delivery notification from the package management server 106.

[0220] The data control unit 108 changes the delivery data 119 (step S128). In detail, the data control unit 108 changes the status information associated with the second identification information included in the package delivery notification to "in delivery."

[0221] This completes the baggage acceptance process.

[0222] (Baggage receipt processing) The package receiving process is a process for the recipient R to receive the package P from the delivery person Da at the delivery destination. At the start of the package receiving process, the recipient terminal 103 waits to receive a package receiving request.

[0223] 20, a receipt request is transmitted and received (steps S131 and S132). The receipt request may include at least one of a delivery ID, first identification information, and second identification information related to the delivery of the package P.

[0224] In detail, for example, the delivery processing unit 126 of the delivery member terminal 102a transmits a receipt request addressed to the recipient terminal 103 to the delivery management device 101 in response to an input from the delivery member Da. The second acquisition unit 115a acquires the receipt request from the delivery member terminal 102a (step S131).

[0225] Next, the second acquisition unit 115a transmits the receipt request to the recipient terminal 103. The second generation unit 130 acquires the receipt request from the delivery management device 101 (Step S132).

[0226] The second generation unit 130 captures a facial image of the recipient R in response to the input of the recipient R, and generates facial information as second biometric information based on the facial image (Step S133).

[0227] The second biological information is transmitted and received (step S134).

[0228] In detail, for example, the second generation unit 130 transmits the second biometric information generated in step S134 to the delivery management device 101 together with at least one of the delivery ID, the first identification information, and the second identification information included in the receipt request. The second acquisition unit 115a acquires the second biometric information and at least one of the delivery ID, the first identification information, and the second identification information from the recipient terminal 103.

[0229] The second authentication processing unit 115b performs second authentication of the recipient R based on the second biometric information of the recipient R acquired in step S134 and the second biometric information of the recipient R included in the recipient data 118 (step S135).

[0230] Here, the second biometric information of recipient R included in recipient data 118 can be obtained based on the recipient ID associated in delivery data 119 with at least one of the delivery ID, first identification information, and second identification information included in the receipt request.

[0231] If the second authentication fails, i.e., if the second authentication is not successful (step S135; No), a notification of second authentication failure indicating that the second authentication of recipient R has failed is sent and received between the recipient terminal 103 and the delivery management device 101 (step S136).

[0232] In detail, for example, if the second authentication fails, the second authentication processing unit 115b transmits a notification of the second authentication failure to the recipient terminal 103. The receipt processing unit 131 acquires the notification of the second authentication failure from the delivery management device 101.

[0233] The reception processing unit 131 causes the second display unit 128 to display a message indicating that the second authentication has failed (step S137).

[0234] By referring to the display on the second display unit 128, the recipient R knows that the second authentication has failed and can perform the second authentication again. For example, if the second authentication fails due to poor photographing conditions of the face image, there is a possibility that the authentication will be successful when the second authentication is performed again. This reduces the possibility that the recipient R of the package P, who is originally the correct recipient, is unable to receive the package P. Therefore, it is possible to improve the convenience of receiving the package P while improving the reliability of delivery.

[0235] Furthermore, a second authentication failure notification, which indicates that the second authentication of the recipient R has failed, is transmitted and received between the deliveryman terminal 102a and the delivery management device 101 (step S138).

[0236] In detail, for example, when the second authentication fails, the second authentication processing unit 115b transmits a notification of the second authentication failure to the delivery person terminal 102a. The delivery processing unit 126 acquires the notification of the second authentication failure from the delivery management device 101.

[0237] The delivery processing unit 126 displays on the first display unit 121 that the second authentication has failed (step S139). This allows the delivery person Da to know that the second authentication has failed. There is a possibility that the recipient R who has failed the second authentication is not the correct recipient of the package P. In this case, the delivery person Da can suspend the delivery of the package P to the recipient R. Since the possibility of mistakenly delivering the package P to someone other than the correct recipient R is reduced, it is possible to improve the reliability of delivery.

[0238] If the second authentication is successful (step S135; Yes), as shown in FIG. 21, a notification of successful second authentication, indicating that the second authentication of recipient R was successful, is sent and received between the delivery person terminal 102a and the delivery management device 101 (step S141).

[0239] In detail, for example, when the second authentication is successful, the second authentication processing unit 115b transmits a notification of the success of the second authentication to the delivery person terminal 102a. The delivery processing unit 126 acquires the notification of the success of the second authentication from the delivery management device 101.

[0240] The delivery processing unit 126 causes the first display unit 121 to display that the second authentication was successful (step S142). This allows the delivery person Da to know that the second authentication was successful. The recipient R who has succeeded in the second authentication is highly likely to be the correct recipient of the package P. Therefore, the delivery person Da can deliver the package P to the correct recipient R, which makes it possible to improve the reliability of delivery.

[0241] In addition, since recipient R can prove that he or she is the correct recipient of package P in a relatively simple manner, convenience regarding receipt of package P can be improved.

[0242] A delivery completion notification is transmitted and received (step S143). The delivery completion notification is information indicating that the delivery of the package P has been completed, and includes, for example, at least one of the first identification information, the delivery ID, and the second identification information of the package P.

[0243] In detail, for example, the handover processing unit 126 of the deliveryman terminal 102a transmits a delivery completion notification to the delivery management device 101 in response to an input from the deliveryman Da who has completed delivery of the package P. The completion notification acquisition unit 116 acquires the delivery completion notification from the deliveryman terminal 102a.

[0244] When the data control unit 108 receives the notification of delivery completion in step S145, it changes the delivery data 119 (step S144).

[0245] In detail, for example, the data control unit 108 sets the status information associated in the delivery data 119 with at least one of the first identification information, delivery ID, and second identification information included in the delivery completion notification to "delivery completed."

[0246] This completes the package receiving process.

[0247] So far, the first embodiment of the present invention has been described. According to this embodiment, a delivery person can be selected in response to a delivery request to deliver the package P. Therefore, the package P can be delivered according to the convenience of the recipient R. Therefore, it is possible to improve the convenience of receiving the package P.

[0248] In addition, since the first authentication is performed, the person who delivers the package P can be reliably limited to the delivery person D who is registered in advance. Furthermore, the second identification information for proving that the delivery person D is the person in charge of delivering the package P is also generated. To This makes it easier and more reliable to confirm that delivery person D is the correct delivery person, thereby improving the reliability of delivery.

[0249] According to this embodiment, the delivery request is sent to the delivery person terminal 102 of the delivery person D whose delivery destination is included in the delivery area. This allows a delivery person D who is relatively close to the delivery destination or who is relatively familiar with the geography of the area around the delivery destination to be assigned to deliver the package P, thereby increasing the possibility that the package P can be delivered quickly and reliably. This makes it possible to improve the convenience of receiving the package P and to improve the reliability of delivery.

[0250] According to this embodiment, when the second identification information is acquired from the package management system 104 for managing the package P left at the receiving location R, the status information of the delivery data 118 is changed to "in delivery" information. This makes it possible to grasp the delivery status of the package P in real time. Therefore, it is possible to improve the convenience of receiving the package P and to improve the reliability of delivery.

[0251] According to this embodiment, when trigger information for initiating the second authentication when handing over the package P to the recipient R is obtained from the delivery person terminal 102, a process for generating second biometric information, which is biometric information of the recipient R, is executed by the recipient terminal 103.

[0252] This allows biometric authentication based on the second biometric information (second authentication) to be performed, making it possible to easily and reliably confirm that the recipient R is the correct recipient of the package P. This makes it possible to improve the convenience of receiving the package P, and also to improve the reliability of delivery.

[0253] According to this embodiment, if biometric authentication (first authentication) based on the biometric information of delivery person D responding to the delivery request is successful, second identification information is obtained to prove that delivery person D is the person in charge of delivering package P.

[0254] Since the first authentication is performed, the person who delivers the package P can be reliably limited to the delivery person D who is registered in advance. Furthermore, the second identification information for proving that the delivery person D is the person in charge of delivering the package P can be obtained. To This makes it easier and more reliable to confirm that delivery person D is the correct delivery person, thereby improving the reliability of delivery.

[0255] According to this embodiment, the second identification information is displayed at the receiving location Q of the package P. This allows the package P to be handed over to the delivery person D after it has been reliably confirmed at the receiving location Q that the delivery person D is the person in charge of delivering the package P. This makes it possible to improve the reliability of delivery.

[0256] According to this embodiment, the result of the recipient's biometric authentication (second authentication) performed in response to the trigger information is acquired. This makes it possible to easily and reliably confirm that the recipient R is the correct recipient of the package P. This makes it possible to improve the convenience of receiving the package P and to improve the reliability of delivery.

[0257] According to this embodiment, when the second identification information is acquired at the receiving location R of the package P, the second identification information is transmitted to the delivery management device 101. This allows the delivery status of the package P to be known in real time. This makes it possible to improve the convenience of receiving the package P and to improve the reliability of delivery.

[0258] The present invention is not limited to the first embodiment, and various modifications may be made to the first embodiment. Examples of such modifications are described below.

[0259] <Variation 1: Configuration of the delivery management system> The recipient terminal, delivery person terminal, parcel management system, and the number of parcel management terminals provided in the delivery management system 100 may be changed as appropriate.

[0260] For example, the number of recipient terminals 103 is not limited to one, and the delivery management system may be provided with multiple recipient terminals owned by multiple recipients. The number of delivery personnel terminals 102a, 102b is not limited to two, and the delivery management system may be provided with one or three or more delivery personnel terminals owned by one or three or more recipients.

[0261] In addition, for example, the number of package management systems is not limited to one, and package management systems of different businesses may be provided in the delivery management system. Furthermore, for example, multiple package management terminals constituting the package management system may be provided at the receiving location Q.

[0262] Furthermore, recipient R may be able to specify multiple receiving locations, in which case one or more package management terminals 105 may be provided for each receiving location.

[0263] <Variation 2: Example of a representative payee> In the first embodiment, an example has been described in which only the recipient R can receive the package P. However, for example, when the delivery destination is the recipient R's home, the recipient R's family member or a roommate may receive the package on behalf of the recipient R. In the second modification, an example will be described in which, in addition to the recipient R, a proxy recipient permitted by the recipient R to receive the package P on his or her behalf receives the package P.

[0264] In this modification, recipient data 218, an example of the configuration of which is shown in FIG. 22, is stored in the first storage unit 107, instead of the recipient data 118 according to the first embodiment.

[0265] The recipient data 218 is data that is further associated with a representative recipient ID in addition to the information included in the recipient data 118 according to the first embodiment. The representative recipient ID is information for identifying the representative recipient. Note that while an example in which there is one representative recipient ID is shown in FIG. 22, multiple representative recipient IDs may be associated.

[0266] The representative recipient also possesses a recipient terminal configured similarly to recipient R. In the recipient data 218, the representative recipient ID is set as the recipient ID, and information in which the recipient ID is associated with the representative recipient's name, address, recipient terminal ID, and second biometric information is set in advance. The representative recipient ID may also be associated.

[0267] The delivery processing unit 126 of the delivery person terminal 102a transmits a receipt request to the recipient terminal 103 of the recipient R and the recipient terminal of the proxy recipient. Then, the recipient R or the recipient terminal 103 of the proxy recipient, who can receive the package P at the delivery destination, generates the second biometric information and transmits it to the delivery management device 101. As a result, a second authentication based on the second biometric information is performed, so that of the recipient R or the proxy recipient, the one who holds the recipient terminal 103 that transmitted the second biometric information can receive the package P. This makes it possible to further improve the convenience of receiving the package P.

[0268] <Modification 3: Example in which the recipient terminal 103 performs the second authentication> In the first embodiment, an example has been described in which the second authentication is performed by the delivery management device 101. However, the second authentication may be performed by the recipient terminal 103.

[0269] The delivery management system according to this modification includes a recipient terminal 303 instead of the recipient terminal 103 according to embodiment 1. Functionally, the recipient terminal 303 includes a second authentication unit 315 in addition to the functional configuration of the recipient terminal 103 according to embodiment 1, as shown in Fig. 23 .

[0270] Except for this point, the delivery management system according to this modification may be configured similarly to the delivery management system 100 according to embodiment 1. In addition, the delivery management device 101 may not include the second authentication unit 115, and may include an information transfer unit that transfers the receipt request from the delivery person terminal 102 to the recipient device 303.

[0271] The second authentication unit 315 performs the second authentication based on the second biometric information generated by the second generation unit .

[0272] In detail, the second authentication unit 115 performs the second authentication based on whether or not the second biometric information corresponding to the second biometric information generated by the second generation unit 130 is registered in the recipient data 118. The second biometric information of the recipient R registered in the recipient data 118 may be acquired by the second authentication unit 115 from the delivery management device 101 via the network N.

[0273] As shown in FIG. 23, second authentication unit 315 includes second acquisition unit 315a and second authentication processing unit 315b.

[0274] The second acquiring unit 315a acquires the second biometric information generated by the second generating unit 130. The second biometric information may be the same as that in the first embodiment.

[0275] The second authentication processing unit 315b acquires the recipient data 118 corresponding to the recipient terminal ID of the recipient terminal 303 provided in the second authentication processing unit 315b from the delivery management device 101 via the network N. The second authentication processing unit 315b performs authentication of the recipient R (second authentication) by comparing the second biometric information acquired by the second acquisition unit 315a with the second biometric information included in the recipient data 118.

[0276] The second authentication processing unit 315b may previously store the recipient data 118 corresponding to the recipient terminal ID of the recipient terminal 303 in which the second authentication processing unit 315b is provided, or the second biometric information included in the recipient data 118. In this case, the second authentication processing unit 315b , own A second authentication may be performed based on the recipient's own data 118 .

[0277] For example, when the second biometric information acquired by the second acquisition unit 315a is a facial image of the recipient R and the second biometric information included in the recipient data 118 is a feature, the second authentication processing unit 315b first extracts the feature by processing the facial image, which is the second biometric information acquired by the second acquisition unit 315a. Next, the second authentication processing unit 315b compares the extracted feature with the feature of the second biometric information included in the recipient data 118.

[0278] If the comparison result shows that the difference between these features is within a predetermined allowable range, the second authentication processing unit 315b determines that the second authentication is successful. If the difference between these features exceeds the predetermined allowable range, the second authentication processing unit 315b determines that the second authentication is unsuccessful.

[0279] Note that, similarly to the second authentication by second authentication processing unit 115b according to the first embodiment, various methods may be adopted for the second authentication by second authentication processing unit 115b.

[0280] In the parcel receiving process according to this modification, as shown in FIG. 24, steps S131 to S133 are performed in the same manner as in the first embodiment.

[0281] When the second acquisition unit 315a generates the second biometric information generated in step S133, the second authentication processing unit 315b performs a second authentication of recipient R based on the second biometric information and the second biometric information of recipient R included in the recipient data 118 (step S334).

[0282] If the second authentication fails, i.e., if the second authentication is not successful (step S334; No), a notification of second authentication failure indicating that the second authentication of recipient R has failed is sent and received between the recipient terminal 103 and the delivery management device 101 (step S335).

[0283] In detail, for example, if the second authentication fails, the second authentication processing unit 315b transmits a notification of the second authentication failure to the delivery management device 101. The delivery notification acquisition unit 114 acquires the notification of the second authentication failure from the recipient terminal 103.

[0284] Furthermore, a second authentication failure notice, which indicates that the second authentication of recipient R has failed, is transmitted and received between recipient terminal 103 and deliveryman terminal 102a (step S336).

[0285] In detail, for example, if the second authentication fails, the second authentication processing unit 315b transmits a notification of the second authentication failure to the recipient terminal 103. The receipt processing unit 131 acquires the notification of the second authentication failure from the recipient terminal 103. Note that the notification of the second authentication failure may be transmitted from the recipient terminal 103 to the delivery person terminal 102a via the delivery management device 101, similar to the receipt request.

[0286] The processes of steps S137 and S139 are carried out in the same manner as in the first embodiment.

[0287] If the second authentication is successful (step S334; Yes), as shown in FIG. 25, a notification of the success of the second authentication is transmitted and received (steps S341a and S341b).

[0288] In detail, for example, if the second authentication is successful, the second authentication processing unit 315b transmits a notification of successful second authentication to the delivery management device 101. When the delivery management device 101 acquires the notification of successful second authentication from the recipient terminal 303, it transmits the notification of successful second authentication to the delivery person terminal 102a. The delivery processing unit 126 acquires the notification of successful second authentication from the delivery management device 101.

[0289] This modification also provides the same effects as the first embodiment.

[0290] <Modification 4: Another example of trigger information> In the first embodiment, the case where the receipt request is the trigger information has been described as an example, but the trigger information is not limited to this.

[0291] For example, when the recipient R receives the package P, a process (delivery person authentication) may be performed to verify that the delivery person Da who delivered the package P to the delivery destination is the correct delivery person. That is, when the recipient R receives the package P, delivery person authentication similar to the delivery authentication according to the first embodiment may be performed. Then, information indicating that the delivery person authentication has been successful may be treated as trigger information.

[0292] The delivery management system according to this modification includes a delivery person terminal 402 and a recipient terminal 403, which replace the delivery person terminal 102 and the recipient terminal 103, respectively, according to embodiment 1. Except for these points, the delivery management system according to this modification may be configured similarly to the delivery management system 100 according to embodiment 1.

[0293] 26, the delivery member terminal 402 functionally includes a delivery processing unit 426 that replaces the delivery processing unit 126 according to the first embodiment. Except for this, the delivery member terminal 402 may be configured similarly to the delivery member terminal 102 according to the first embodiment.

[0294] The delivery processing unit 426 performs processing for the delivery person D to deliver the package P to the recipient R. In detail, for example, the delivery processing unit 426 causes the first display unit 121 to display second identification information related to the delivery of the package P in accordance with an input by the delivery person D when the delivery person D delivers the package P to the recipient R. When the delivery person authentication based on the second identification information displayed on the first display unit 121 is successful, the delivery processing unit 426 acquires the result of the second authentication performed in accordance with the success of the delivery person authentication.

[0295] 27, the recipient terminal 403 functionally includes a receiving processor 431 that replaces the receiving processor 131 according to the first embodiment. Except for this, the recipient terminal 403 may be configured similarly to the recipient terminal 103 according to the first embodiment.

[0296] The receiving processing unit 431 performs processing for the recipient R to receive the package P from the delivery person D. In detail, for example, the receiving processing unit 431 acquires the second identification information by reading the second identification information displayed on the first display unit 121 in response to an input by the recipient R.

[0297] When the receiving processing unit 431 acquires the second identification information, it transmits the second identification information to the delivery management device 101 via the network N and inquires as to whether the second identification information is registered in the delivery data 119.

[0298] The delivery data 119 corresponding to the recipient ID of the recipient terminal 303 equipped with the receipt processing unit 431, or the second identification information included in the delivery data 119, may be transmitted in advance from the delivery management device 101 to the recipient terminal 303 and stored in the recipient terminal 303, for example, in the receipt processing unit 431. In this case, when the receipt processing unit 431 acquires the second identification information, it may perform delivery person authentication based on whether or not the second identification information is registered in the delivery data 119 stored in advance by the receipt processing unit 431, or whether or not the second identification information matches the second identification information stored in advance by the receipt processing unit 431.

[0299] If the receipt processing unit 431 receives a response indicating that the second identification information is registered in the delivery data 119, it determines that the delivery person authentication was successful. If the receipt processing unit 431 receives a response indicating that the second identification information is not registered in the delivery data 119, it determines that the delivery person authentication was unsuccessful.

[0300] Furthermore, when the delivery person authentication is successful, the receipt processing unit 431 transmits the biometric information generated by the second generation unit 130 to the delivery management device 101, similar to the receipt processing unit 131 according to the first embodiment.

[0301] In the parcel receiving process according to this modified example, as shown in Fig. 28, the delivery processing unit 426 displays the second identification information on the first display unit 121 in response to an input by the delivery person D. As a result, the first display unit 121 displays the second identification information (step S431).

[0302] The receipt processing unit 431 acquires the second identification information by reading the second identification information displayed on the first display unit 121 in response to the input of the recipient R (step S432).

[0303] The receipt processing unit 431 transmits the second identification information to the delivery management device 101 via the network N, and inquires as to whether the second identification information is registered in the delivery data 119 or not.

[0304] In response to this inquiry, the data control unit 108 sends a response to the recipient terminal 403 including whether or not the second identification information acquired from the recipient terminal 403 is registered in association with the recipient ID of recipient R in the delivery data 119.

[0305] If the reception processing unit 431 determines based on the response to the inquiry that the delivery person authentication has failed, that is, that the delivery person authentication has not been successful (step S433), the reception processing unit 431 returns to waiting for acquisition of the second identification information.

[0306] When the receiving processing unit 431 determines that the delivery person authentication has been successful based on the response to the inquiry (step S433), the processing from step S133 onwards is carried out as in the first embodiment. That is, in this modified example, the response indicating that the delivery person authentication has been successful serves as trigger information.

[0307] According to this modification, when the recipient R receives the package P, the recipient R can confirm that the delivery person Da who delivered the package P to the delivery destination is the correct delivery person. As a result, for example, if the delivery person is not the correct delivery person, the recipient R can take measures such as not receiving the package P since there is a possibility that the package P is incorrect. Therefore, it is possible to improve the reliability of delivery.

[0308] <<Embodiment 2>> In the first embodiment, a case where the receiving location Q is a convenience store, a distribution center, or the like has been described as an example. Here, for example, when the receiving location Q is a location other than a distribution center, it is desirable for the delivery company to be able to easily manage the status of the package P at the receiving location Q, such as who has received the package P. In this embodiment, a delivery management system that makes it easy for the delivery company to manage packages in this way will be described. In this embodiment, a case where the receiving location Q is a location other than a distribution center, such as a convenience store, will be described as an example.

[0309] As shown in FIG. 29, the delivery management system 500 according to this embodiment includes a parcel management system 504 replacing the parcel management system 104 according to the first embodiment. The delivery management system 500 further includes a courier server 541. The courier server 541 is connected to at least the parcel management server 106 via the network N so as to be able to send and receive information to and from each other. Except for these points, the delivery management system 500 may be configured similarly to the delivery management system 100 according to the first embodiment.

[0310] The number of delivery company servers 541 is not limited to one, and for example, delivery management system may include delivery company servers for different delivery companies.

[0311] 29, the baggage management system 504 includes a baggage management server 506 instead of the baggage management server 106 according to the first embodiment. Except for this, the baggage management system 504 may be configured similarly to the baggage management system 104 according to the first embodiment.

[0312] 30, the luggage management server 506 functionally includes a second communication unit 542 in addition to the configuration of the luggage management server 106 according to the first embodiment. Except for this, the luggage management server 506 may be configured similarly to the luggage management server 106 according to the first embodiment.

[0313] Second communication unit 542 transmits and receives information to and from delivery company server 541 by communicating with delivery company server 541 .

[0314] In detail, for example, when a package delivery notification that the package P has been handed over to the delivery person Da is acquired by the terminal communication unit 134, the second communication unit 542 transmits a package delivery notification including the second identification information to the delivery company server 541. That is, when the second identification information acquisition unit 133 acquires the second identification information and the package P is handed over to the delivery person Da, the second communication unit 542 transmits the second identification information to the delivery company server 541. This allows the delivery company server 541 to manage that the package P has been handed over to the delivery person D.

[0315] The delivery company server 541 is a device for managing the delivery of the package P by the delivery company that delivered the package P to the receiving location Q. The delivery company server 541 functionally includes a third storage unit 543 and a third communication unit 544, as shown in FIG.

[0316] The third storage unit 543 is a storage unit in which various data such as delivery company data 545 is stored.

[0317] (Composition of delivery company data 545) The delivery company data 545 is data for the delivery company to manage the package P left at the receiving location Q. The delivery company data 545 is data in which the first identification information and the second identification information are associated with each other, as shown in FIG.

[0318] The first identification information is information for identifying the package P at the delivery company, and is set, for example, when receiving a request to ship the package P. The second identification information is information for proving that the delivery person D is the person in charge of delivering the package P, similar to the first embodiment, and is generated by the delivery management device 101 when the delivery person D in charge of delivering the package P from the receiving location Q to the delivery destination is determined.

[0319] Third communication unit 544 transmits and receives information to and from delivery company server 541 by communicating with delivery company server 541 .

[0320] <Physical configuration of the delivery management system 500> The delivery management system 100 is physically configured to include a delivery management device 101, a delivery person terminal 102, a recipient terminal 103, and a package management terminal 105 similar to those in the first embodiment, which are connected via a network N, a package management server 506, and a delivery company server 541. The package management server 506 and the delivery company server 541 may be configured in the same manner as the delivery management device 101 according to the first embodiment (see FIG. 13).

[0321] <<Operation of the delivery management system 500>> From here, the operation of the delivery management system 500 will be described with reference to the drawings. Like the delivery management system 100 according to the first embodiment, the delivery management system 500 executes a delivery management process for managing the delivery of a package P in response to a delivery request from a recipient R of the package P. The delivery management process includes a delivery request process, a person in charge determination process, and a package receiving process similar to those in the first embodiment. In this embodiment, the package acceptance process differs from that in the first embodiment.

[0322] In the baggage acceptance process according to the present embodiment, the process of step S127 is followed by the process of step S545, as shown in Fig. 33. That is, in the baggage acceptance process according to the present embodiment, the processes of steps S121 to S128 similar to those in the first embodiment are also performed.

[0323] When the process of step S127 is performed, a notification of package acceptance is transmitted and received between package management server 506 and delivery company server 541 (step S545).

[0324] In detail, for example, the second communication unit 542 transmits a package delivery notification including the first identification information and the second identification information to the delivery company server 541. The third communication unit 544 acquires the package delivery notification from the package management server 506.

[0325] Then, third communication unit 544 changes delivery company data 545 by setting the second identification information included in the notification of package delivery to delivery company data 545. At this time, the second identification information is set in association with the first identification information of delivery company data 545 corresponding to the first identification information included in the notification of package delivery.

[0326] According to this embodiment, when the package P at the receiving location Q is handed over to the delivery person D, the second identification information is transmitted to both the delivery company server 541 and the delivery management device 102. This allows not only the delivery management device 102 but also the delivery company server 541 to grasp the status of the package P at the receiving location Q. This makes it possible for the delivery company that delivered the package P to the receiving location Q to easily manage the package.

[0327] Although the embodiment and modifications of the present invention have been described above with reference to the drawings, these are merely examples of the present invention, and various configurations other than those described above can also be adopted.

[0328] In addition, in the flowcharts used in the above description, multiple steps (processing) are described in order, but the order of execution of the steps performed in each of the embodiments is not limited to the order described. In each of the embodiments, the order of the steps shown in the figures can be changed to the extent that the content is not affected. In addition, the above-mentioned embodiments and variations can be combined to the extent that the content is not contradictory.

[0329] A part or all of the above-described embodiments can be described as, but is not limited to, the following supplementary notes.

[0330] 1. A delivery request acquisition means for acquiring a delivery request including first identification information for identifying a package from a recipient terminal; a delivery request means for transmitting a delivery request to a delivery person terminal; a delivery person authentication means for performing biometric authentication of the delivery person responding to the delivery person request based on biometric information acquired from the delivery person terminal; and a person in charge notification means for transmitting, to the delivery person terminal, second identification information for proving that the delivery person is the person in charge of delivering the package, when the biometric authentication of the delivery person is successful. Delivery management device. 2. The delivery request is information including the addresses of the place where the package is to be received and the destination where the package is to be delivered. A delivery management device as described in 1 above. 3. The delivery person has a designated delivery area within which the delivery person can deliver. The delivery request unit transmits the delivery request to the delivery person terminal of the delivery person whose delivery destination is included in the delivery range. A delivery management device as described in 2. above. 4. The system further includes a data control means for setting, when the second identification information is acquired from a parcel management system for managing the parcel deposited at the receiving location, a status information associated with the second identification information in the delivery data indicating that the parcel is being delivered. A delivery management device described in any one of 1 to 3 above. 5. The system further includes a recipient authentication means for causing the recipient terminal to execute a process for generating biometric information of the recipient when trigger information serving as a trigger for starting biometric authentication of the recipient when the package is handed over to the recipient is obtained from the delivery person terminal. A delivery management device described in any one of 1 to 4 above. 6. A person in charge request acquisition means for acquiring a person in charge request for delivery of a package; A generating means for generating biometric information of the delivery person who responds to the delivery request; and a person in charge notification acquisition means for acquiring second identification information for proving that the delivery person is a person in charge of delivering the package when the biometric authentication based on the biometric information of the delivery person is successful. Delivery person terminal. 7. The second identification information is further provided with a display means for displaying the second identification information as a one-dimensional code or a two-dimensional code. The delivery person terminal described in 6. above. 8. The system further includes a delivery processing means for transmitting trigger information for initiating biometric authentication of the recipient when the recipient receives the package, and acquiring the result of the biometric authentication of the recipient performed in response to the trigger information. The delivery person terminal described in 6. or 7. above. 9. A second generating means for generating biometric information of a recipient when trigger information for starting biometric authentication of the recipient when the recipient receives the package is acquired; and a receiving processing means for performing biometric authentication of the recipient based on the biometric information, or for transmitting the biometric information to a delivery management device for managing the delivery of the package. Recipient terminal. 10. When the receipt processing means executes biometric authentication of the recipient based on the biometric information, the receipt processing means transmits the result of the biometric authentication to the delivery person terminal or the delivery management device. The recipient terminal described in 9. above. 11. A baggage management system including a baggage management terminal installed at a baggage receiving location, A second identification information acquisition means for acquiring second identification information from the delivery person terminal to prove that the delivery person is the person in charge of delivering the package; a first communication means for communicating with a delivery management device for managing delivery of the package; When the second identification information is acquired by the second identification information acquisition means, the first communication means transmits the second identification information to the delivery management device. Baggage management system. 12. The method further includes a second communication means for communicating with a delivery company server that manages the delivery of the package at the delivery company that delivered the package to the receiving location, When the second identification information is acquired by the second identification information acquisition means, the second communication means transmits the second identification information to the delivery company server. The luggage management system described in 11 above. 13. A recipient terminal held by the recipient of the package delivered to the receiving location; a delivery management device for managing delivery of the package in response to a delivery request from the recipient; A delivery person terminal carried by a delivery person of the package, The recipient terminal, a delivery request means for transmitting a delivery request including first identification information for identifying the package; The delivery management device includes: A delivery request acquisition means for acquiring the delivery request from the recipient terminal; a person in charge request means for transmitting a person in charge of delivery of the package to the delivery person terminal; a delivery person authentication means for performing biometric authentication of the delivery person based on biometric information of the delivery person who responds to the delivery person request, the delivery person authentication means being configured to perform ... and a person in charge notification means for transmitting, to the delivery person terminal, second identification information for proving that the delivery person is a person in charge of delivering the package when the biometric authentication of the delivery person is successful, The deliveryman terminal includes: A person in charge request acquisition means for acquiring the person in charge request; A generation means for generating biometric information of the delivery person who responds to the delivery request; and a person in charge notification acquisition means for acquiring the second identification information from the delivery management device when the biometric authentication of the delivery person is successful. Delivery management system. 14. The computer: Obtaining a delivery request including first identification information for identifying a package from a recipient terminal; Transmitting a request to a delivery person terminal to deliver the package; performing biometric authentication of the delivery person based on biometric information acquired from the delivery person terminal of the delivery person who responds to the delivery request; and when the biometric authentication of the delivery person is successful, transmitting second identification information to the delivery person terminal for verifying that the delivery person is a person in charge of delivering the package. How to manage delivery. 15. The computer: Obtaining a request for delivery of a package; Generating biometric information of a delivery person who responds to the delivery request; and acquiring second identification information for proving that the delivery person is a person in charge of delivering the package when the biometric authentication based on the biometric information of the delivery person is successful. How to decide who is in charge. 16. The computer: generating biometric information of a recipient when trigger information for starting biometric authentication of the recipient is acquired when the recipient receives the package; and performing biometric authentication of the recipient based on the biometric information or transmitting the biometric information to a delivery management device for managing delivery of the package. How to collect your luggage. 17. The computer Obtaining second identification information from the delivery person terminal to prove that the delivery person is the person in charge of delivering the package; and communicating with a delivery management device for managing delivery of the package; When the second identification information is acquired by the communication, the second identification information is transmitted to the delivery management device. How to manage your luggage. 18. A program for causing a computer to execute the method according to any one of 14 to 17 above. [Explanation of symbols]

[0331] 100,500 Delivery Management System 101 Delivery Management Device 102, 102a, 102b, 402 Delivery terminal 103,303,403 Recipient terminal 104,504 Baggage Management System 105 Baggage Management Terminal 106,506 Baggage management server 107 1st memory section 108 Data Control Section 109 Delivery Request Acquisition Department 110 Request Department 110a Extraction part 110b Request transmission department 111 First Certification Section 111a 1st acquisition part 111b First authentication processing section* 112 Identification information generation unit 113 Responsible Notification Department 114 Delivery Notice Acquisition Department 115,315 Second Certification Section 115a,315a 2nd acquisition part 115b, 315b Second authentication processing unit 116 Completion notification acquisition unit 117 Delivery Person Data 118,218 Recipient Data 119 Delivery Data 120 First input reception unit 121 1st display section 122 Request Acquisition Department 123 1st generation part 124 Responsible Notification Acquisition Department 125 Underwriting Department 126,426 Delivery Processing Section 127 Second input reception unit 128 2nd display section 129 Delivery Request Department 130 Second generation part 131,431 Receiving Processing Unit 132 Hand Scanner 133 Second identification information acquisition unit 134 Terminal communication unit 135 Delivery Certification Department 136 Terminal display unit 137 2nd memory section 138 Server Communication Department 139 First Communications Department 140 Baggage Management Data 541 Delivery Company Server 542 2nd Communications Department 543 Third memory section 544 3rd Communications Department 545 Delivery Company Data

Claims

1. a delivery request acquisition means for acquiring a delivery request including first identification information for identifying a package from a recipient terminal; a delivery request means for transmitting a delivery request to a delivery person terminal; a delivery person authentication means for performing biometric authentication of the delivery person responding to the delivery person request based on biometric information acquired from the delivery person terminal; and a person in charge notifying means for transmitting, to the delivery person terminal, second identification information for proving that the delivery person is a person in charge of delivering the package, when the biometric authentication of the delivery person is successful. Delivery management device.

2. The delivery request is information including the addresses of the place where the package is to be received and the address of the delivery destination of the package. The delivery management device according to claim 1 .

3. The delivery person is assigned a range within which the delivery person can deliver. The delivery request unit transmits the delivery request to the delivery person terminal of the delivery person whose delivery destination is included in the delivery range. The delivery management device according to claim 2 .

4. The data control means further includes a data control means for setting, when the second identification information is acquired from a parcel management system for managing the parcel deposited at the receiving location, a status indicating that the parcel is being delivered as status information associated with the second identification information in the delivery data. A delivery management device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. The delivery method further includes a recipient authentication unit that, when trigger information that is a trigger for starting biometric authentication of a recipient when the package is handed over to the recipient is acquired from the delivery person terminal, causes the recipient terminal to execute a process for generating biometric information of the recipient. A delivery management device according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. A person in charge request acquisition means for acquiring a person in charge request for delivery of a package; A generating means for generating biometric information of the delivery person who responds to the delivery request; and a person in charge notification acquisition means for acquiring second identification information for proving that the delivery person is a person in charge of delivering the package when biometric authentication based on the biometric information of the delivery person is successful. Delivery person terminal.

7. The second identification information may be displayed as a one-dimensional code or a two-dimensional code. The deliveryman terminal according to claim 6.

8. The delivery processing means further includes a means for transmitting trigger information for starting biometric authentication of the recipient when the recipient receives the package, and acquiring the result of the biometric authentication of the recipient performed in response to the trigger information. The deliveryman terminal according to claim 6 or 7.

9. a second generating means for generating biometric information of a recipient when trigger information for starting biometric authentication of the recipient when the recipient receives the package is acquired; a receiving processing means for transmitting the biometric information to a delivery management device for managing the delivery of the package. Recipient terminal.

10. When the receipt processing means executes biometric authentication of the recipient based on the biometric information, the receipt processing means transmits a result of the biometric authentication to a delivery person terminal or the delivery management device. The recipient terminal of claim 9.

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