Information processing apparatus

Abstract

To perform unmanned sales of an article to a user himself / herself having ordered the article.SOLUTION: A management server 30 includes: an order accepting unit 31 which accepts an order of an article from a user; an output instruction unit 33 which instructs an article accommodation device 20 having a door to be locked and opened in response to a request from a user terminal 10 of a user who has ordered the article to output unlock information for unlocking the door; and an unlock / lock instruction unit 35 which instructs the article accommodation device 20 to unlock the door when having obtained, from the user terminal 10 of the user who has ordered the article, unlock information output from the article accommodation device 20.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a technology for realizing unmanned sales of products.

Background Art

[0002] As a technology for realizing unmanned sales of products, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses a mechanism for calculating the distance between a mobile terminal and an unmanned vending machine from the position information of the mobile terminal and the position information of the unmanned vending machine, and unlocking the unmanned vending machine if the distance is within a predetermined range.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the mechanism described in Patent Document 1, after the unmanned vending machine is unlocked, the user looks at the products in the unmanned vending machine and selects the products he / she desires. On the other hand, a sales form is also conceivable in which the user first orders the products sold by the unmanned vending machine remotely, and then goes to the location of the unmanned vending machine to pick up the products after the order.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above-described background, and an object thereof is to perform unmanned sales of products to the user who has ordered the products.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] To solve the above problems, the present invention includes an order receiving unit that receives an order for a product from a user, and outputs unlocking information for unlocking the door of a product storage device having a door that can be unlocked and locked in response to a request from the user terminal of the user who ordered the product. An output instruction unit for instructing to output, and when the unlocking information output from the product storage device is acquired from the user terminal of the user who ordered the product, an unlocking instruction unit for instructing the product storage device to unlock the door, user identification information for identifying each user, and device identification information for identifying each product storage device, and a user information storage unit for storing them in association with each other. The output instruction unit instructs the merchandise storage device corresponding to the device identification information to output the unlocking information, in association with the user identification information of the user who placed the order for the merchandise. The unlocking instruction unit instructs the merchandise storage device to unlock the door when the device identification information of the merchandise storage device that has output the unlocking information and the user identification information of the user terminal that has acquired the unlocking information are stored in the user information storage unit in association with each other. An information processing apparatus characterized by the above is provided.

Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, unattended sales of a product can be performed for the user himself / herself who ordered the product.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0009] [Configuration] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the unmanned vending system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the unmanned vending system 1 includes a plurality of user terminals 10 used by a plurality of users respectively, a product storage device 20 that stores a group of products to be sold to users, a management server device 30 that performs processing related to unmanned vending of products as an information processing device according to the present invention, and a network 2 including a wireless communication network and a wired communication network that communicably connect these.

[0010] The user terminal 10 is a computer that can be carried by a user, such as a smartphone, a mobile phone, a wearable terminal, or a tablet, and can be connected to the network 2 via wireless.

[0011] The product storage device 20 has a product storage room for storing a group of products. A door that can be unlocked and locked is provided in this product storage room. The products stored in the product storage device 20 can be of any kind, for example, food and drinks, daily necessities, sundries, etc. In this embodiment, food and drinks are taken as an example of products for explanation. In this case, it is desirable that the product storage device 20 has a function of keeping the products cold or warm in the product storage room. The product storage device 20 may be connected to the network 2 via wireless or via wired.

[0012] The management server device 30 is a computer that performs processes for realizing unattended sales of products. The management server device 30 may be realized by a single computer or by an aggregate of multiple computers. In the present embodiment, the management server device 30 is managed by a communications carrier that provides a communication service to the user terminal 10 via the network 2, but the administrator of the management server device 30 is not necessarily limited to such a communications carrier.

[0013] In this unattended sales system 1, the user remotely places an order for a product using the communication function of the user terminal 10 from a location away from the product storage device 20. After placing the order, the user moves to the location where the product storage device 20 is located, and after it is confirmed that the user is the person who placed the order for the product, the user can take out the product from the product storage device 20.

[0014] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the hardware configuration of the user terminal 10. Physically, the user terminal 10 is configured as a computer including a processor 1001, a memory 1002, a storage 1003, a communication device 1004, an input device 1005, an output device 1006, and a bus connecting these. Each of these devices operates with electric power supplied from a power source (not shown). In the following description, the term "device" can be read as a circuit, a device, a unit, etc. The hardware configuration of the user terminal 10 may be configured to include one or more of the devices shown in FIG. 2, or may be configured without including some of the devices. Also, a plurality of devices with different enclosures may be communicatively connected to configure the user terminal 10.

[0015] Each function in the user terminal 10 is realized by causing the processor 1001 to load a predetermined software (program) onto hardware such as the processor 1001 and the memory 1002, so that the processor 1001 performs calculations, controls communication by the communication device 1004, and controls at least one of reading and writing data in the memory 1002 and the storage 1003.

[0016] Processor 1001 controls the entire computer by operating, for example, an operating system. Processor 1001 may be constituted by a central processing unit (CPU: Central Processing Unit) including an interface with peripheral devices, a control device, an arithmetic device, registers, and the like. Further, for example, a baseband signal processing unit, a call processing unit, or the like may be realized by Processor 1001.

[0017] Processor 1001 reads a program (program code), a software module, data, etc. from at least one of Storage 1003 and Communication Device 1004 into Memory 1002, and executes various processes according to these. As the program, a program for causing a computer to execute at least a part of the operations described later is used. The functional blocks of User Terminal 10 may be stored in Memory 1002 and realized by a control program operating in Processor 1001. Various processes may be executed by one Processor 1001, or may be executed simultaneously or sequentially by two or more Processors 1001. Processor 1001 may be mounted by one or more chips. Note that the program may be transmitted to User Terminal 10 via Network 2.

[0018] Memory 1002 is a computer-readable recording medium and may be constituted by at least one of, for example, ROM (Read Only Memory), EPROM (Erasable Programmable ROM), EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable ROM), RAM (Random Access Memory), and the like. Memory 1002 may be referred to as a register, a cache, a main memory (main storage device), or the like. Memory 1002 can store a program (program code), a software module, etc. executable for implementing the method according to the present embodiment.

[0019] Storage 1003 is a computer-readable recording medium and may be composed of, for example, at least one of an optical disc such as a CD-ROM (Compact Disc ROM), a hard disk drive, a flexible disk, a magneto-optical disk (e.g., a compact disc, a digital versatile disc, a Blu-ray (registered trademark) disc), a smart card, a flash memory (e.g., a card, a stick, a key drive), a floppy (registered trademark) disk, a magnetic strip, etc. Storage 1003 may also be referred to as an auxiliary storage device.

[0020] Communication device 1004 is hardware (a transmission and reception device) for performing communication between computers via network 2 and is also referred to as, for example, a network device, a network controller, a network card, a communication module, etc. When realizing wireless communication, communication device 1004 is hardware (a transmission and reception device) for performing communication between computers via network 2 according to a communication standard such as LTE (Long Time Evolution). Communication device 1004 may be configured to include, for example, a high-frequency switch, a duplexer, a filter, a frequency synthesizer, etc. in order to realize at least one of frequency division duplexing (FDD: Frequency Division Duplex) and time division duplexing (TDD: Time Division Duplex). Further, a transmission and reception antenna, an amplifier section, a transmission and reception section, a transmission path interface, etc. may be realized by this communication device 1004. The transmission and reception section may be physically or logically separated into a transmission section and a reception section for implementation.

[0021] The input device 1005 is an input device that receives external input (for example, keys, microphones, switches, buttons, various sensors, GPS units, various input interfaces, etc.), and in this embodiment, it includes at least an imaging device. The output device 1006 is an output device that performs output to the outside (for example, displays, speakers, LED lamps, various output interfaces, etc.). Note that the input device 1005 and the output device 1006 may have an integrated configuration (for example, a touch panel).

[0022] Each device such as the processor 1001 and the memory 1002 is connected by a bus for communicating information. The bus may be configured using a single bus or may be configured using different buses for each device.

[0023] The user terminal 10 may be configured to include hardware such as a microprocessor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a programmable logic device (PLD), and a field programmable gate array (FPGA), and some or all of the functional blocks may be realized by the hardware. For example, the processor 1001 may be implemented using at least one of these hardware components.

[0024] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the hardware configuration of the merchandise storage device 20. Physically, the merchandise storage device 20 is configured as a computer built-in device including a processor 2001, a memory 2002, a storage 2003, a communication device 2004, an input device 2005, an output device 2006, an electronic lock device 2007, a temperature control device 2008, and a bus connecting these components. Each of these devices operates on power supplied from a power source (not shown). The hardware configuration of the merchandise storage device 20 may be configured to include one or more of the devices shown in FIG. 3, or may be configured without including some of the devices. The processor 2001, the memory 2002, the storage 2003, the communication device 2004, and the bus connecting these components are the same as the processor 1001, the memory 1002, the storage 1003, the communication device 1004, and the bus connecting these components described for the user terminal 10 in terms of hardware, and thus the description thereof is omitted. However, in the present embodiment, the input device 2005 includes at least an imaging device, and the output device 1006 includes at least a display device.

[0025] The electronic lock device 2007 includes, for example, a mechanism for driving a key by a solenoid, and unlocks or locks the door provided in the merchandise storage room. The temperature control device 2008 includes a compressor, a heater, a control device for controlling these components, etc., and maintains the internal space of the merchandise storage room at a predetermined temperature.

[0026] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the hardware configuration of the management server device 30. Physically, the management server device 30 is configured as a computer including a processor 3001, a memory 3002, a storage 3003, a communication device 3004, and a bus connecting these components. Each of these devices operates on power supplied from a power source (not shown). The hardware configuration of the management server device 30 may be configured to include one or more of the devices shown in FIG. 4, or may be configured without including some of the devices. Also, a plurality of devices having different housings may be communicatively connected to form the management server device 30.

[0027] Each function in the management server device 30 is realized by causing a processor 3001 to read a predetermined software (program) onto hardware such as the processor 3001 and the memory 3002, so that the processor 3001 performs calculations, controls communication by the communication device 3004, or controls at least one of reading and writing data in the memory 3002 and the storage 3003. Since the processor 3001, the memory 3002, the storage 3003, the communication device 3004, and the bus connecting them are the same as the processor 1001, the memory 1002, the storage 1003, the communication device 1004, and the bus connecting them described for the user terminal 10 in terms of hardware, the description thereof is omitted. Note that the management server device 30 may or may not include hardware equivalent to the input device 1005 or the output device 1006 of the user terminal 10.

[0028] Next, FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the management server device 30. By the cooperation of the above hardware in the management server device 30, functions such as an order reception unit 31, an unlocking request acquisition unit 32, an output instruction unit 33, an unlocking information acquisition unit 34, an unlocking / locking instruction unit 35, an image acquisition unit 36, a storage unit 37, and a settlement processing unit 38 are realized.

[0029] When a user places an order for a product, the user uses his or her own user terminal 10 to access the management server device 30 via the network 2 and performs an operation of placing an order for the product the user wants to purchase from a product menu listing the products sold in the product storage device 20. In response to this operation, the order reception unit 31 of the management server device 30 receives an order for the product from the user terminal 10 via the network 2. This order includes at least a user ID (user identification information) for identifying the user who placed the order and a product ID (product identification information) for identifying the ordered product.

[0030] The storage unit 37 is a means for storing various types of information, and has at least a product information storage unit 371 and a user information storage unit 372 shown in FIG. 5.

[0031] The product information storage unit 371 stores information regarding the products stored in each product storage device 20. Specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 6, the product information storage unit 371 stores, in association with each other, a device ID (device identification information) for identifying each product storage device 20 and product information regarding the products stored in that product storage device 20. This product information includes an in-stock product ID, which is a product ID for identifying each of the products currently stored in each product storage device 20, and an ordered product ID, which is a product ID for identifying a product that has already been ordered by any user but has not yet been removed from the product storage device 20 by that user among these products. That is, in each product storage device 20, among the group of in-stock product IDs associated with the device ID of that product storage device 20, the products corresponding to the in-stock product IDs other than the ordered product IDs associated with the device ID of that product storage device 20 are products that can be newly purchased by the user. For example, in the product storage device 20 with the device ID "S001", among the in-stock product IDs "P001, P002, P015, P020...", the products with product IDs other than "P001, P015" are products that can be newly purchased by the user.

[0032] In addition, when the same product is sold simultaneously in a plurality of each product storage device 20, the product information storage unit 371 also stores, in association with each product ID, the number of products corresponding to each product ID. Further, the product information may include, in addition to the above-mentioned in-stock product ID and ordered product ID, the attributes of the products corresponding to these product IDs (product name, price, product description, product image, reviews, etc.).

[0033] Next, the user information storage unit 372 stores information regarding the purchase of products by each user. In the present embodiment, for each user, a specific product storage device 20 used by that user is registered in advance, and each user purchases products from the product storage device 20 registered for that user. As an example, a user who is an employee working in an office registers the product storage device 20 located within that office as a product storage device that is constantly used.

[0034] Therefore, as illustrated in FIG. 7, the user information storage unit 372 stores, in association with each other, a user ID for identifying each user and a device ID for identifying each merchandise storage device 20. In the example of FIG. 7, for the user with the user ID “U001”, the merchandise storage device 20 with the device ID “S001” is registered as the merchandise storage device used by that user. In the present embodiment, only one merchandise storage device 20 used by each user is registered for each user, but a plurality of merchandise storage devices 20 used by each user may be registered for each user.

[0035] Furthermore, as illustrated in FIG. 7, the user information storage unit 372 stores, in association with the user ID of each user, an ordered merchandise ID that is the merchandise ID of the merchandise ordered by that user (the merchandise ID of the merchandise that has already been ordered by the user but has not yet been taken out from the merchandise storage device 20 by that user), a purchase history including the merchandise ID and the purchase date and time, etc. of the merchandise purchased by that user in the past (the merchandise that has been ordered by the user and has already been taken out from the merchandise storage device 20), and image data representing an image captured when merchandise is taken out from the merchandise storage device 20 described later. In the example of FIG. 7, the user with the user ID “U001” has purchased merchandise with the merchandise IDs “P102, P003” in the past in the merchandise storage device 20 with the device ID “S001”, and has already ordered merchandise with the merchandise IDs “P002, P015” at the present time but has not yet taken it out from the merchandise storage device 20.

[0036] The user who has placed an order for a product moves to the location where the product storage device 20 is located, and performs an operation to unlock the door of the product storage device 20, such as starting a dedicated application program for realizing this unmanned vending on the user terminal 10. In FIG. 5, in response to a request from the user terminal 10, the output instruction unit 33 instructs the product storage device 20 to output unlocking information for unlocking its door. As described above, since the product storage device 20 used by each user is registered in advance for each user, the output instruction unit 33 instructs the product storage device 20 with the device ID stored in the user information storage unit 372 in association with the user ID of the user who has placed an order for the product to output the unlocking information.

[0037] Here, the unlocking information is, for example, encoded image information such as a QR code (registered trademark) or a barcode that can be displayed on the output device 2006 (display device) of the product storage device 20. This unlocking information is encoded with the device ID of the product storage device 20 that displays the unlocking information, and functions as a so-called one-time password that is a key for unlocking the door of the product storage device 20. The unlocking information displayed on the output device 2006 (display device) of the product storage device 20 is read by the input device 1005 (imaging device) of the user terminal 10 and transmitted to the management server device 30 via the network 2 together with the user ID of the user of the user terminal 10. Thereby, the unlocking information acquisition unit 34 of the management server device 30 acquires the unlocking information displayed on the product storage device 20 via the user terminal 10 of the user who has placed an order for the product.

[0038] When the unlocking information displayed in the merchandise storage device 20 is acquired from the user terminal 10, the unlocking / locking instruction unit 35 instructs the merchandise storage device 20 to unlock the door. More specifically, the unlocking / locking instruction unit 35 decrypts the acquired unlocking information and identifies the device ID of the merchandise storage device 20 that displayed the unlocking information. Then, when the device ID is stored in the user information storage unit 372 in association with the user ID transmitted from the user terminal 10 together with the unlocking information, the combination of the device ID and the user ID will match the pre-registered combination, so the unlocking / locking instruction unit 35 instructs the merchandise storage device 20 to unlock the door. On the other hand, when the device ID identified by decrypting the acquired unlocking information is not stored in the user information storage unit 372 in association with the user ID transmitted from the user terminal 10 together with the unlocking information, the combination of the device ID and the user ID will not match the pre-registered combination, so the unlocking / locking instruction unit 35 does not instruct the merchandise storage device 20 to unlock the door.

[0039] In this embodiment, further, an expiration period from the time of generation or display of the unlocking information is set. When the unlocking information acquired from the user terminal 10 is within the expiration period, the unlocking / locking instruction unit 35 instructs the merchandise storage device 20 to unlock the door, but when the unlocking information acquired from the user terminal 10 is not within the expiration period, the unlocking / locking instruction unit 35 does not instruct the merchandise storage device 20 to unlock the door.

[0040] When the door of the merchandise storage device 20 is unlocked, the user opens the door, takes out the merchandise that the user has ordered from the merchandise storage device 20, and closes the door. In response to this, the unlocking / locking instruction unit 35 instructs the merchandise storage device 20 to lock the door, and the door of the merchandise storage device 20 is locked.

[0041] When the user takes out a product from the product storage device 20 as described above, the space including the product storage room of the product storage device 20 is imaged in the form of a video or the like by the input device 2005 (imaging device) over a certain period including before and after that. The image acquisition unit 36 of the management server device 30 acquires this image data from the product storage device 20 via the network 2, and the storage unit 37 stores it (Fig. 7). This image data is used, for example, to confirm whether the product ordered by the user has been correctly taken out.

[0042] The settlement processing unit 38 performs processing related to the settlement of the price of the product purchased by the user. Specifically, the settlement processing unit 38 notifies a financial institution such as a bank or a credit card company of the settlement amount and the like in order to collect the money corresponding to the settlement amount from the user by using the bank account or credit card corresponding to the user ID of the user who purchased the product.

[0043] [Operation] Next, the operation of the unmanned vending system 1 will be described. In the following description, when the management server device 30 is described as the main body of the processing, specifically, by loading a predetermined software (program) onto hardware such as the processor 3001 and the memory 3002, the processor 3001 performs calculations, and controls the communication by the communication device 3004 and the reading and / or writing of data in the memory 3002 and the storage 3003, which means that the processing is executed. The same applies to the user terminal 10 and the product storage device 20.

[0044] [Order of Product] First, with reference to FIG. 8, the operations until a user places an order for a product will be described. When a user places an order for a product, first, the user accesses the management server device 30 via the network 2 using their user terminal 10. At this time, an order request including the user ID pre-stored in the user terminal 10 is notified to the management server device 30. When the order reception unit 31 acquires this order request (step S11), it refers to the inventory product IDs (excluding the already ordered product IDs, see FIG. 6) corresponding to the product storage device 20 of the device ID stored in association with the notified user ID (see FIG. 7), generates a product menu listing the attributes (product name, price, etc.) of the product group corresponding to these inventory product IDs (step S12), and transmits it to the user terminal 10 via the network 2 (step S13). In this way, a product menu including product information regarding products excluding those ordered by other users among the product information stored in association with the device ID of the product storage device 20 is transmitted from the management server device 30 to the user terminal 10.

[0045] When the user performs an operation of selecting a desired item from the product menu displayed on the user terminal 10, a product order including the product ID and user ID of that product is transmitted to the management server device 30 via the network 2. When the order reception unit 31 acquires this product order (step S14; YES), it performs storage processing of the order details, such as storing the product ID of the ordered product as the already ordered product ID in association with the user ID in the user information storage unit 372 (step S15). If the user does not place an order (step S14; NO) and a timeout occurs (step S16; YES), the processing in FIG. 8 ends. Note that the processing related to payment by the payment processing unit 38 may be executed when the order operation illustrated in FIG. 8 is completed, or may be executed when the product retrieval operation described in FIG. 9 is completed.

[0046] [Retrieval of Product] Next, with reference to FIG. 9, the operation when the user takes out the ordered product from the product storage device 20 will be described. When the user who ordered the product moves to the location where the product storage device 20 is located and performs an operation to unlock the door of the product storage device 20 on the user terminal 10, the user terminal 10 transmits an unlock request including the user ID of the user via the network 2 to the management server device 30. When the output instruction unit 33 of the management server device 30 acquires the unlock request (step S21), it instructs the product storage device 20 corresponding to the device ID (see FIG. 7) stored in the user information storage unit 372 in association with the user ID included in the unlock request to output the unlock information (step S22). In response to this instruction, the product storage device 20 displays the unlock information on the output device 2006 (display device). At this time, the unlock information may be generated by the output instruction unit 33 according to a predetermined algorithm and transmitted to the product storage device 20 via the network 2, or may be generated by the product storage device 20 itself according to a predetermined algorithm.

[0047] The user operates the user terminal 10 to read the unlock information displayed on the product storage device 20. The unlock information read by the input device 1005 (imaging device) of the user terminal 10 is transmitted to the management server device 30 via the network 2 together with the user ID of the user of the user terminal 10.

[0048] When the unlock information acquisition unit 34 of the management server device 30 acquires this unlock information (step S23; YES), the unlock / lock instruction unit 35 decrypts the acquired unlock information, identifies the device ID of the product storage device 20 on which the unlock information was displayed, and determines whether the device ID matches the device ID stored in the user information storage unit 372 in association with the user ID transmitted together with the unlock information from the user terminal 10 (step S24). If the unlock information displayed on the product storage device 20 is not acquired by the unlock information acquisition unit 34 (step S23; NO) and a timeout occurs (step S28; YES), the process shown in FIG. 9 ends.

[0049] As a result of the determination in step S24, when the combination of the device ID of the merchandise storage device 20 that has displayed the unlocking information and the user ID transmitted together with the unlocking information from the user terminal 10 matches the combination stored in the user information storage unit 372 (step S24; YES), the unlocking / locking instruction unit 35 instructs the merchandise storage device 20 to unlock the door via the network 2 (step S25). At this time, the unlocking / locking instruction unit 35 will instruct the merchandise storage device 20 to unlock the door only when the unlocking information acquired from the user terminal 10 is within the valid period.

[0050] When the door of the merchandise storage device 20 is unlocked in response to the above instruction, the user opens the door, takes out the merchandise they ordered from the merchandise storage device 20, and then closes the door. When predetermined locking conditions such as the door being closed by the user or timing out after the door is unlocked are satisfied (step S26; YES), the unlocking / locking instruction unit 35 instructs the merchandise storage device 20 to lock the door via the network 2 (step S27). At this time, for example, over the period from when the door is unlocked to when it is locked, the space including the merchandise storage room of the merchandise storage device 20 is imaged by the input device 2005 (imaging device). This image data is acquired by the image acquisition unit 36 from the merchandise storage device 20 via the network 2 and stored in the storage unit 37.

[0051] On the other hand, in step S24, when the combination of the device ID of the merchandise storage device 20 that has displayed the unlocking information and the user ID transmitted together with the unlocking information from the user terminal 10 does not match the combination stored in the user information storage unit 372 (step S24; NO), the unlocking / locking instruction unit 35 performs predetermined abnormality processing such as notifying the user terminal 10 to that effect (step S29), and ends the processing shown in FIG. 9.

[0052] According to the embodiment described above, it is possible to realize a sales form in which the user orders in advance the merchandise sold by the merchandise storage device 20 remotely and then goes to pick up the merchandise after the order. As a result, it becomes possible for the user to order lunch, for example, in the morning and go to pick it up at lunchtime.

[0053] Furthermore, according to the above embodiment, by determining whether the combination of the device ID of the merchandise storage device 20 that has displayed the unlocking information and the user ID transmitted together with the unlocking information from the user terminal 10 matches the pre-stored combination, it is possible to confirm that the user who placed the order is the actual user.

[0054] [Modification Example] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments. The above-described embodiments may be modified as follows. Also, two or more of the following modification examples may be combined and implemented. [Modification Example 1] There may be cases where the same user places multiple orders in a short period. For example, when the order reception unit 31 receives multiple orders from the same user within a period during which the door of the merchandise storage device 20 has never been unlocked for that user since the first order, instead of generating and displaying individual unlocking information for each order, one unlocking information for multiple orders may be generated and displayed. That is, the output instruction unit 33 of the management server device 30 instructs the merchandise storage device 20 to output one unlocking information for multiple orders. In this way, even in a case where the same user places multiple orders within a period during which the door of the merchandise storage device 20 has never been unlocked for that user since the first order, the user can unlock the door and simultaneously take out the merchandise group related to the multiple orders by simply performing an operation to have the one unlocking information displayed on the merchandise storage device 20 read.

[0055] [Modification Example 2] In the above-described embodiment, the image acquisition unit 36 has acquired image data obtained by imaging a space (product storage chamber) including products stored in the product storage device 20. Here, the management server device 30 may include a first collation unit that collates a product recognized as having been taken out by the user based on the acquired image data with the product ordered by the user. This collation can be realized by collating the image data of each product prepared in advance with the image data obtained by imaging the space including the products stored in the product storage device 20 using an image recognition technique such as so-called pattern matching. As a result of this collation, when the product recognized as having been taken out by the user matches the product ordered by the user, the settlement processing unit 38 performs processing related to settlement. On the other hand, when the product recognized as having been taken out by the user does not match the product ordered by the user, the settlement processing unit 38 performs processing related to the settlement of the difference in the price between the recognized product and the ordered product. For example, the settlement processing unit 38 may calculate the difference in the price between the recognized product and the ordered product, and when the difference is notified to the user terminal 10 and the consent of the user is obtained, perform a settlement process including the difference. That is, the settlement processing unit 38 notifies a financial institution such as a bank or a credit card company of the difference amount in order to collect the corresponding amount of money from the user using the bank account or credit card corresponding to the user ID of the user who purchased the product. As a result, even when the user makes a mistake in taking the product, it is possible to correctly settle the price of the product.

[0056] [Modification Example 3] In the merchandise storage device 20, the input device 2005 (imaging device) may be provided at a position where it can image the merchandise in the merchandise storage chamber and the user who takes out the merchandise. Then, the image acquisition unit 36 of the management server device 30 may acquire the image data captured in this way. And the management server device 30 may include a second collation unit that, based on the image data acquired by the image acquisition unit 36, recognizes the user and the merchandise taken out by the user, and collates the merchandise that can be purchased according to the recognized attributes of the user with the merchandise recognized as having been taken out by the user. As a result of this collation, when the merchandise that can be purchased according to the user's attributes matches the merchandise taken out by the user, the settlement processing unit 38 performs processing related to settlement. The case where these two merchandise match is, for example, when a merchandise such as liquor is taken out for a user with the user attribute of being an adult. On the other hand, when the merchandise that can be purchased according to the user's attributes does not match the merchandise taken out by the user, the management server device 30 includes an abnormality processing unit that performs predetermined abnormality processing (such as issuing an alarm or making a report). The case where these two do not match is, for example, when a merchandise such as liquor is taken out for a user with the user attribute of being a minor. By doing so, it becomes possible to suppress the taking out of merchandise that does not conform to the user's attributes.

[0057] [Modification Example 4] In the above embodiment, one merchandise storage device 20 used by each user is registered for each user, but a plurality of merchandise storage devices 20 used by each user may be registered for each user. In this case, the user may select a desired one from the plurality of merchandise storage devices 20 registered for himself or herself and then place an order for the merchandise. Thereby, for example, the user can purchase merchandise from a highly convenient merchandise storage device 20 such as the nearest one from his or her position among the plurality of pre-registered merchandise storage devices 20, or purchase merchandise from a merchandise storage device 20 that stores the merchandise he or she desires. Note that the prior registration of the merchandise storage device 20 for the user is not necessarily essential, and the user may select a desired merchandise storage device 20 and then place an order for the merchandise each time the user places an order for the merchandise.

[0058] [Other Modification Examples] Note that the block diagrams used in the description of the above embodiments show blocks of functional units. These functional blocks (constituent parts) are realized by any combination of at least one of hardware and software. Also, the method of realizing each functional block is not particularly limited. That is, each functional block may be realized using one physically or logically combined device, or two or more physically or logically separated devices may be directly or indirectly connected (for example, using wired, wireless, etc.), and realized using these multiple devices. The functional block may be realized by combining software with the above one device or the above multiple devices.

[0059] Functions include, but are not limited to, judgment, decision, determination, calculation, computation, processing, derivation, investigation, search, confirmation, reception, transmission, output, access, solution, selection, selection, establishment, comparison, assumption, expectation, regarded as, notification (broadcasting), notification (notifying), communication (communicating), forwarding, configuration (configuring), reconfiguration (reconfiguring), allocation (allocating, mapping), assignment (assigning), etc. For example, a functional block (constituent part) that functions as transmission is called a transmission control unit or a transmitter. In any case, as described above, the realization method is not particularly limited.

[0060] For example, the management server device 30 in an embodiment of the present disclosure may function as a computer that performs the processing of the present disclosure.

[0061] Each aspect / embodiment described in the present disclosure may be applied to at least one of systems using LTE (Long Term Evolution), LTE-A (LTE-Advanced), SUPER 3G, IMT-Advanced, 4G (4th generation mobile communication system), 5G (5th generation mobile communication system), FRA (Future Radio Access), NR (new Radio), W-CDMA (registered trademark), GSM (registered trademark), CDMA2000, UMB (Ultra Mobile Broadband), IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi (registered trademark)), IEEE 802.16 (WiMAX (registered trademark)), IEEE 802.20, UWB (Ultra-WideBand), Bluetooth (registered trademark), and other suitable systems, and next-generation systems extended based on these. Further, a plurality of systems may be combined and applied (for example, a combination of at least one of LTE and LTE-A and 5G, etc.).

[0062] The processing procedures, sequences, flowcharts, etc. of each aspect / embodiment described in the present disclosure may be reordered as long as there is no contradiction. For example, regarding the methods described in the present disclosure, the elements of various steps are presented using an exemplary order and are not limited to the specific order presented.

[0063] The input / output information, etc. may be stored in a specific location (for example, memory) or may be managed using a management table. The input / output information, etc. may be overwritten, updated, or appended. The output information, etc. may be deleted. The input information, etc. may be transmitted to other devices.

[0064] The determination may be made based on a value represented by 1 bit (0 or 1), a Boolean value (true or false), or a numerical comparison (for example, comparison with a predetermined value).

[0065] Although the present disclosure has been described in detail above, it is apparent to those skilled in the art that the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described in the present disclosure. The present disclosure can be implemented as modifications and variations without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the claims. Therefore, the description of the present disclosure is for illustrative purposes only and does not have any limiting meaning for the present disclosure.

[0066] Software should be broadly construed to mean instructions, instruction sets, code, code segments, program code, programs, subprograms, software modules, applications, software applications, software packages, routines, subroutines, objects, executable files, execution threads, procedures, functions, etc., whether called by the name of software, firmware, middleware, microcode, hardware description language, or other names. Also, software, instructions, information, etc. may be transmitted and received via a transmission medium. For example, when software is transmitted from a website, server, or other remote source using at least one of wired technologies (such as coaxial cables, optical fiber cables, twisted pairs, digital subscriber lines (DSL), etc.) and wireless technologies (such as infrared rays, microwaves, etc.), at least one of these wired technologies and wireless technologies is included within the definition of the transmission medium.

[0067] The information, signals, etc. described in the present disclosure may be represented using any of a variety of different technologies. For example, data, instructions, commands, information, signals, bits, symbols, chips, etc., which may be referred to throughout the above description, may be represented by voltage, current, electromagnetic waves, magnetic fields or magnetic particles, optical fields or photons, or any combination thereof. Note that the terms described in the present disclosure and the terms necessary for understanding the present disclosure may be replaced with terms having the same or similar meanings.

[0068] In addition, the information, parameters, etc. described in the present disclosure may be represented using absolute values, relative values from a predetermined value, or may be represented using other corresponding information.

[0069] In the present disclosure, the description "based on" used herein does not mean "only based on" unless otherwise specified. In other words, the description "based on" means both "only based on" and "at least based on".

[0070] Any reference to elements using designations such as "first", "second", etc. used in the present disclosure does not generally limit the quantity or order of those elements. These designations can be used in the present disclosure as a convenient way to distinguish between two or more elements. Therefore, references to the first and second elements do not mean that only two elements can be employed, or that the first element must precede the second element in any form.

[0071] In the configuration of each of the above devices, the "part" may be replaced with "means", "circuit", "device", etc.

[0072] In the present disclosure, when terms such as "include", "including" and their variants are used, these terms are intended to be inclusive, similar to the term "comprising". Furthermore, the term "or" used in the present disclosure is not intended to be an exclusive disjunction.

[0073] In the present disclosure, for example, when articles are added by translation, such as a, an, and the in English, the present disclosure may include that the nouns following these articles are in the plural form.

[0074] In the present disclosure, the term "A and B are different" may mean "A and B are different from each other". Note that the term may also mean "A and B are each different from C". Terms such as "separate" and "coupled" may also be interpreted in the same way as "different".

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0075] 1: Unattended vending system, 2: Network, 10: User terminal, 20: Commodity storage device, 30: Management server device, 31: Order reception unit, 32: Unlock request acquisition unit, 33: Output instruction unit, 34: Unlock information acquisition unit, 35: Unlock / lock instruction unit, 36: Image acquisition unit, 37: Memory unit, 38: Settlement processing unit, 1001: Processor, 1002: Memory, 1003: Storage, 1004: Communication device, 1005: Input device, 1006: Output device, 2001: Processor, 2002: Memory, 2003: Storage, 2004: Communication device, 2005: Input device, 2006: Output device, 2007: Electronic lock device, 2008, Temperature control device, 3001: Processor, 3002: Memory, 3003: Storage, 3004: Communication device.

Claims

1. An order reception unit that receives an order for a product from a user; An output instruction unit that instructs, in response to a request from a user terminal of a user who has ordered a product, a product storage device having a door that can be unlocked and locked, to output unlocking information for unlocking the door; An unlocking instruction unit that, when acquiring the unlocking information output from the product storage device from the user terminal of the user who has ordered the product, instructs the product storage device to unlock the door; A user information storage unit that stores, in association with each other, user identification information for identifying each user and device identification information for identifying each product storage device; The output instruction unit instructs the product storage device corresponding to the device identification information stored in association with the user identification information of the user who has ordered the product, to output the unlocking information; The unlocking instruction unit instructs the product storage device to unlock the door when the device identification information of the product storage device that has output the unlocking information and the user identification information of the user terminal that has acquired the unlocking information are stored in the user information storage unit in association with each other; An information processing apparatus characterized by the above.

2. A product information storage unit that stores, in association with each other, device identification information for identifying each product storage device and product information regarding the product stored in the product storage device; The order reception unit transmits the product information stored in association with the device identification information to the user terminal, and receives an order for a product corresponding to the product information selected from the transmitted product information; The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, characterized by the above.

3. The order reception unit transmits, to the user terminal, the product information regarding the product excluding the product ordered by another user, among the product information stored in association with the device identification information; The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, characterized by the above.

4. When the order reception unit receives a plurality of orders from the same user within a period during which the door of the product storage device has never been unlocked for the user since the first order; The output instruction unit instructs the product storage device to output one piece of the unlocking information for the plurality of orders; The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by the above.

5. An expiration date is set for the unlocking information, When the unlocking information acquired from the user terminal is within the valid period, the unlocking instruction unit instructs the commodity storage device to unlock the door. The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that.

6. An image acquisition unit that acquires image data captured by an imaging device that captures an image of a commodity stored in the commodity storage device; A first collation unit that recognizes a commodity taken out by a user based on the acquired image data, and collates the recognized commodity with the commodity ordered by the user; The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by comprising.

7. If, as a result of the collation, the recognized commodity and the ordered commodity do not match, A settlement processing unit that performs processing related to the settlement of the difference in price between the recognized commodity and the ordered commodity is provided. The information processing apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that.

8. An image acquisition unit that acquires image data captured by an imaging device that captures an image of the commodity stored in the commodity storage device and the user who takes out the commodity from the commodity storage device; Based on the acquired image data, the user and the commodity taken out by the user are recognized, and the recognized commodity is collated with the purchasable commodity according to the attributes of the recognized user; A second collation unit; If, as a result of the collation, the recognized commodity and the purchasable commodity do not match, An abnormality processing unit that performs a predetermined abnormality process; And The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by comprising. ​

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