Luggage transport assistance system, display input device, luggage transport assistance method, and computer program

Abstract

To make it possible to deliver an item to the house or the like of the purchaser of the item with a simpler mechanism.SOLUTION: A replacement agency system 3 receives a contact specified by a consumer 81 and the identifier of a package, and requests a terminal device for the contact to specify the final address of the package. Also, the system receives the specification of the address from the terminal device for the contact. After the package is delivered to a relay point and the identifier of the package is input, the system performs supporting processing of supporting transfer of the package to the address received from the terminal device for the contact for the identifier.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a technique for assisting the transportation of luggage. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, online shopping has become widespread, allowing consumers to purchase a wide variety of products. Furthermore, consumers can access online shops in other countries or regions via the Internet and purchase products while in one country or region. In this cross-border shopping system, the problem of product transportation must be overcome.

[0003] Therefore, a technology such as that described in Patent Document 1 has been proposed. This technology is a method for supporting the provision of e-commerce overseas, and includes the steps of determining the country of the delivery address of an overseas user who has accessed a first e-commerce site, and redirecting the web browser of the user terminal of the overseas user from the first e-commerce site to a website that handles first product information of the first e-commerce site and is provided by a support server different from the server that provides the first e-commerce site, the redirection being performed when the overseas user clicks or taps on a part of a banner placed at the top of the webpage of the first e-commerce site. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 6132379 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, according to the technology described in Patent Document 1, a mechanism for determining the country where the delivery address is located and a website provided by a support server must be prepared for each first EC site.

[0006] In view of the above problems, the present invention aims to make it possible to deliver products to the home or the like of a purchaser using a system that is simpler than conventional systems. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] A luggage transport assistance system according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises: A luggage transport support system that supports a requester in transporting luggage by a transport company, With the contact person designated by the requester , the above Transporting the cargo to the designated relay point When transporting to the relay point, a certificate issued by the first transport company is required. Given to the luggage First Identifier and 、 and a first receiving means for receiving the contact information so as to specify the final destination of the package. Destination Acquisition: Acquires the destination by making a request to Means and a second receiving means for receiving a second identifier issued by a second carrier that transports the package from the relay point to the destination and given to the package when transporting the package to the destination; an identifier matching means for matching the first identifier of the package with the second identifier; an arrival information acquisition means for acquiring arrival information regarding the arrival of the package at the destination from a tracking system of the second carrier based on the second identifier of the package; an arrival information registration means for matching the arrival information of the package with the first identifier of the package; and a response means for responding with the arrival information corresponding to the first identifier when the first identifier is indicated by an inquiry source. It has. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, it is possible to deliver products to the purchaser's home or the like using a system that is simpler than conventional systems. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the overall configuration of a product transportation support system. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a flow from when a consumer purchases a product until when the consumer receives the product. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of a consumer terminal device. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of a dealer terminal device. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a hardware configuration of an agent system. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of an agent system. [Figure 7]FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of member data. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of package data. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of luggage. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a slip. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a request page. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of the body of an email. [Figure 13] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of the body of an email. [Figure 14] 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the overall processing flow of a transportation intermediation support program. [Figure 15] 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the flow of a transfer assistance process. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the overall configuration of a product transport support system 5. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the flow from when a consumer 81 purchases a product until receiving it. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of a consumer terminal device 1. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of a seller terminal device 2. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of an agent system 3. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of an agent system 3.

[0011] The product delivery support system 5 shown in Fig. 1 provides a product delivery support service. The product delivery support service is a service that supports the delivery of products purchased by a consumer 81 from a seller 82 from the seller 82 to the consumer's 81's home or other location via an agent 83. The product delivery support system 5 is composed of a consumer terminal device 1, a seller terminal device 2, an agent system 3, a communication line 4, etc.

[0012] The consumer terminal device 1, the dealer terminal device 2, and the agent system 3 can communicate with each other via a communication line 4. The communication line 4 may be the Internet, a public line, Wi-Fi, or the like.

[0013] Seller 82 is a business that sells products to consumers 81 in Japan, and may be a business that sells products in a physically existing store or a business that sells products in an online shop. Hereinafter, each consumer 81 will be referred to separately as "consumer 81A," "consumer 81B," "consumer 81C," etc., and each seller 82 will be referred to separately as "seller 82A," "seller 82B," "seller 82C," etc.

[0014] Agent 83 provides a service of accepting merchandise purchased by consumer 81 from seller 82 and delivering it to consumer 81. In other words, it acts as an intermediary for the delivery of merchandise. As part of its business, agent 83 also handles procedures related to the export of goods from Japan to overseas. Therefore, even if the destination of merchandise purchased by consumer 81 from seller 82 is overseas, the export procedures can be completed smoothly. The merchandise that is the subject of intermediation is collected at a relay point of agent 83, and then transported from the relay point to the destination of each merchandise.

[0015] For example, as shown in Figure 2(A), consumer 81A purchases a product at a store of retailer 82A while staying in Japan and requests that retailer 82A deliver the product to his / her home overseas using the product delivery support service (#101). The product is delivered by a carrier from retailer 82A to a relay point of agent 83 (#102), and then by the carrier from the relay point to consumer 81A's home (#103).

[0016] Alternatively, as shown in Figure 2(B), consumer 81B purchases a product from the online shop of seller 82B while at home overseas and requests seller 82B to deliver the product to his / her home using a product delivery support service (#121). The product is delivered by a carrier from seller 82A's shipping base (e.g., a warehouse or store) to a relay base of agent 83 (#122), and then delivered by the carrier from the relay base to consumer 81A's home (#123).

[0017] The consumer terminal device 1 is a terminal device used by a consumer 81 when purchasing a product. Hereinafter, the consumer terminal devices 1 of consumers 81A, 81B, 81C, etc. may be distinguished and described as "consumer terminal device 1A," "consumer terminal device 1B," "consumer terminal device 1C," etc.

[0018] The seller terminal device 2 is a terminal device used by the seller 82 when shipping a product to a consumer 81 via an agent 83. Hereinafter, the seller terminal devices 2 of the sellers 82A, 82B, 82C, etc. may be distinguished and described as "seller terminal device 2A," "seller terminal device 2B," "seller terminal device 2C," etc.

[0019] The agent system 3 is a system used by an agent 83 to transfer products from a seller 82 to a consumer 81.

[0020] A personal computer, smartphone, tablet computer, or the like is used as the consumer terminal device 1. Similarly, a personal computer, smartphone, tablet computer, or the like is used as the seller terminal device 2. A device or system having the functionality of a web server is used as the agent system 3. For example, a so-called server machine or cloud server is used. The following describes an example in which laptop-type personal computers are used as the consumer terminal device 1 and the seller terminal device 2, and a server machine is used as the agent system 3.

[0021] As shown in FIG. 3, the consumer terminal device 1 is composed of a processor 11, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 12, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 13, an auxiliary storage device 14, a display 15, a network controller 16, a keyboard 17, and a pointing device 18.

[0022] In addition to the operating system, programs such as a web browser and a mailer (email software) are installed in the ROM 13 or the auxiliary storage device 14. As the auxiliary storage device 14, a hard disk or an SSD (Solid State Drive) is used.

[0023] The RAM 12 is the main memory of the consumer terminal device 1. Programs are loaded into the RAM 12 from the ROM 13 or the auxiliary storage device 14 as appropriate.

[0024] The processor 11 is a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), and executes a program loaded into the RAM 12 .

[0025] The display 15 displays a screen for inputting commands or information, a screen showing the results of processing by the processor 11, and the like.

[0026] The network controller 16 communicates with the dealer terminal device 2 and the agent system 3 using a protocol such as TCP / IP (Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol). As the network controller 16, a NIC (Network Interface Card) or a Wi-Fi communication device or the like is used.

[0027] The keyboard 17 and pointing device 18 are used to input commands or information.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 4, the dealer terminal device 2 comprises a processor 21, a RAM 22, a ROM 23, an auxiliary storage device 24, a display 25, a network controller 26, a keyboard 27, a pointing device 28, and the like.

[0029] The processor 21 to the pointing device 28 function basically in the same way as the processor 11 to the pointing device 18 of the consumer terminal device 1, respectively. However, the display 25 displays a screen for inputting commands or information and a screen showing the results of processing by the processor 21. The network controller 26 communicates with the consumer terminal device 1, the agent system 3, etc.

[0030] 5, the agent system 3 is configured with a computer main body 31, a display 32, a keyboard 33, a pointing device 34, etc. The computer main body 31 is configured with a processor 31a, a RAM 31b, a ROM 31c, an auxiliary storage device 31d, a network controller 31e, an input / output interface 31f, etc.

[0031] In addition to the operating system, a transportation intermediation support program 30 (see FIG. 6) is installed in the ROM 31c or the auxiliary storage device 31d. The transportation intermediation support program 30 is loaded into the RAM 31b and executed by the processor 31a. The network controller 31e communicates with the consumer terminal device 1, the dealer terminal device 2, etc.

[0032] The input / output interface 31f is an input / output board that complies with standards such as USB (Universal Serial Bus), and is connected to a display 32, a keyboard 33, and a pointing device .

[0033] The display 32 displays a screen for inputting commands or information, a screen showing the results of processing by the processor 31a, etc. The keyboard 33 and pointing device 34 are used to input commands or information. Commands or information may be input to the agent system 3 using a tablet computer or smartphone via a communication line.

[0034] According to the transport intermediation support program 30, the procedure for transporting a product from a seller 82 to a consumer 81 can be carried out more easily than before. This mechanism will be described below.

[0035] By executing the transportation intermediation support program 30, the agent system 3 realizes functions such as a request page data sending unit 301, a parcel data generation unit 302, an arrival reception processing unit 303, a deposit notification unit 304, a member registration unit 305, a user authentication unit 306, a destination addition unit 307, a shipping fee settlement unit 308, an outbound processing unit 309, a receipt confirmation unit 310, a status response unit 311, a member data storage unit 351, and a parcel data storage unit 352, as shown in FIG. 6.

[0036] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of member data 6A. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of package data 6B. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of package 90. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a slip 91. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a request page 71.

[0037] As shown in FIG. 7, member data 6A for each member of the product transport support service is stored in the member data storage unit 351 (see FIG. 6) of the agent system 3.

[0038] Member data 6A includes the following information about the member: email address, password, name, region, postal code, address, and telephone number. The "email address" is the email address the member uses to receive product delivery support services and is also used as the member's identifier.

[0039] When a consumer 81 becomes a member, member data 6A of the consumer 81 is generated and stored in member data storage unit 351. The procedure for this process will be described later.

[0040] The package data storage unit 352 stores package data 6B for each package, as shown in Fig. 8. A method for storing the package data 6B in the package data storage unit 352 and information indicated in the package data 6B will be described later.

[0041] A consumer 81 purchases a product from a seller 82 and requests the seller 82 to deliver the product using a product delivery support service.

[0042] The method for purchasing a product may be any conventional method. For example, a consumer 81 accesses an online shop of a seller 82 and purchases a product using credit card payment or electronic money payment. In this case, the consumer 81 may access the online shop from within Japan or overseas.

[0043] Alternatively, the consumer 81 may visit a physical store such as a department store, supermarket, mass retailer, or retail store of the seller 82 and purchase the product by credit card payment, electronic money payment, or cash payment. Alternatively, the consumer 81 may contact the seller 82 by telephone, facsimile, or email to inform the seller 82 of the desired product and make the purchase by credit card payment, electronic money payment, bank transfer, or the like.

[0044] In either case, however, the consumer 81 must provide the seller 82 with his or her own email address. However, there is no need to provide the address, name, telephone number, etc. Furthermore, the seller 82 may have the consumer 81 pay not only the price of the product, but also at least one of the shipping costs from the seller 82 to the agent 83 and the shipping costs from the agent 83 to the consumer 81. These shipping costs may be settled between the two parties along with the price of the product using the method described above. Hereinafter, shipping costs are considered to include fees for packaging the product, preparing shipping slips, preparing invoices, customs procedures, etc., as appropriate.

[0045] Once the payment for the product has been settled between the consumer 81 and the seller 82, the request for delivery of the product by the agent 83 and the consumer's 81 email address have been communicated, and the shipping fee has been settled as necessary, the staff of the seller 82 will carry out the following tasks.

[0046] The staff of the retailer 82 packs the products into packaging materials such as cardboard boxes. They then fill out a slip 91 with required information and attach it to the outside of the packaging material, as shown in Figure 9. Hereinafter, the packaging material with the products packed and the slip 91 attached will be referred to as "package 90."

[0047] The slip 91 is distributed by a carrier that transports the package 90 from the seller 82 to the relay point of the agent 83, and typically has a unique code written in advance, as shown in Figure 10(A). This code is generally called a "tracking code" or "delivery code." As will be described later, a separate tracking code is also assigned to the package 90 when it is transported from the relay point of the agent 83 to the home of the consumer 81, etc.

[0048] Therefore, hereinafter, the tracking code used during transport from seller 82 to the relay point of agent 83 will be referred to as the "first tracking code," and the tracking code used during transport from the relay point of agent 83 to the home of consumer 81 will be referred to as the "second tracking code." For ease of explanation, an example will be given in which one specific transport company partners with agent 83 and is contracted to transport from seller 82 to the relay point of agent 83, and the same transport company or another transport company partners with agent 83 and is contracted to transport from agent 83 to consumer 81.

[0049] The staff of the distributor 82 fills in the information other than the first tracking code on the slip 91. Specifically, the staff fills in the name and address of the relay point of the agent 83 as the destination information, and the name and address of the distributor 82 as the requester.

[0050] The staff of the seller 82 then hands the package 90 over to the carrier, who then delivers the package 90 to the relay point of the agent 83 based on the information written on the slip 91.

[0051] For a given seller 82, the contents to be written on slip 91 when transporting package 90 to a relay point of agent 83 are always the same, with some exceptions. Specifically, the requester is always seller 82, and the destination is always the relay point of agent 83. Therefore, seller 82 may prepare a large number of slips in advance, as shown in FIG. 10(B), on which the address of seller 82 itself is pre-printed as the requester and the address of the relay point of agent 83 is pre-printed as the destination, and use such slips as slip 91.

[0052] The staff member of the dealer 82 then launches the web browser on the dealer terminal device 2 and enters a specific URL (Uniform Resource Locator) into the web browser, or specifies a bookmark for that URL. The web browser then requests the web page based on that URL from the agent system 3.

[0053] In the agent system 3, the request page data transmission unit 301 transmits to the seller terminal device 2, in response to a request from the seller terminal device 2, web page data 6C for displaying the web page corresponding to the URL.

[0054] When the seller terminal device 2 receives the web page data 6C, the web browser of the seller terminal device 2 displays a request page 71 as shown in FIG. 11 on the display 25 based on the web page data 6C.

[0055] The staff member of the seller 82 enters the tracking code (first tracking code) on the shipping slip 91 of the package 90 into the text box 711 on the request page 71, and enters the email address provided by the consumer 81 into the text box 712. Hereinafter, this email will be referred to as the "consumer email address."

[0056] If the seller 82 is to handle the payment of the shipping fee for delivery of the package 90 from the agent 83 to the consumer 81, the staff of the seller 82 also switches check box 713 on and enters the email address of the seller 82 in text box 714. For example, this is entered if the shipping fee is settled between the consumer 81 and the seller 82 along with the price of the product in the package 90, and if the shipping fee is to be borne by the seller 82. On the other hand, if the consumer 81 is to handle this procedure, the check box 713 is left unchecked and the text box 714 is left blank. Hereinafter, the email address entered in text box 714 will be referred to as the "shipping fee payer email address."

[0057] If the seller 82 wants to check the status of delivery of the package 90 from the agent 83 to the consumer 81, the staff of the seller 82 further enters the email address of the seller 82 in the text box 716. Hereinafter, the email address entered in the text box 716 will be referred to as the "confirmation email address."

[0058] Furthermore, each time the Add button 715 is pressed, a set of text boxes 711, 712, 714 and check box 713 is added to the request page 71. If there are multiple packages 90, the staff of the seller 82 adds text boxes 711, 712, 714 and check box 713, and enters the first tracking code and the email address of the purchaser (consumer 81) for each package 90, and further, if the seller 82 will handle the payment procedures, turns on the check box 713 and enters the email address of the seller 82 in the text box 714.

[0059] Then, the staff member of the seller 82 presses the send button 717. In response, the web browser of the seller terminal device 2 sends the transfer request data 6D to the agent system 3.

[0060] The transfer request data 6D shows one or more sets of the input first tracking code, consumer email address, and shipping fee payer email address. Note that in a set of transfer request data 6D where text box 714 is blank, the email address input in text box 712 (i.e., the same email address as the consumer email address) is shown as the shipping fee payer email address. On the other hand, in a set of transfer request data 6D where no text box is blank, the email address input in text box 714 is shown as the shipping fee payer email address. Furthermore, if an email address is input in text box 716, this email address is shown as a confirmation email address.

[0061] In the agent system 3, when the package data generation unit 302 receives the forwarding request data 6D, it generates package data 6B for the package 90 related to the forwarding request data 6D and stores it in the package data storage unit 352 (see FIG. 7). Note that if the forwarding request data 6D indicates the first tracking code and consumer email address for each of multiple packages 90, package data 6B is generated and stored for each package 90.

[0062] The package data 6B for package 90 indicates the following information. The "package code" is a newly issued unique code for identifying package 90. The "first tracking code," "consumer email address," and "shipping fee payer email address" are the first tracking code, consumer email address, and shipping fee payer email address for that package 90 indicated in the forwarding request data 6D.

[0063] The "confirmation email address" is the confirmation email address indicated in the forwarding request data 6D. However, if the forwarding request data 6D does not indicate a confirmation email address, "none" is indicated as the confirmation email address in the package data 6B.

[0064] At the time when parcel data 6B is generated, the "Arrival Date and Time," "Transfer Fee," "Second Tracking Code," "Delivery Date and Time," "Arrival Date and Time," "Name," "Area Name," "Postal Code," "Address," "Telephone Number," and "Size" are all null, and the "Fee Payment Flag" and "Ready Flag" are all "0."

[0065] Thereafter, when the package 90 arrives at the relay point of the agent 83, the staff of the agent 83 operates the keyboard 33 or the pointing device 34 to display the package acceptance screen on the display 32, and inputs the tracking code (first tracking code) written on the slip 91 of the package 90 and the size (length x width x height) of the package 90 into the agent system 3. Note that the information may be input by operating the touch panel of a tablet computer or smartphone, or the screen may be displayed on the display of the tablet computer or smartphone.

[0066] When the first tracking code and size are entered on the baggage reception screen, the arrival reception processing unit 303 and the deposit notification unit 304 perform the following processing.

[0067] The arrival reception processing unit 303 searches the package data storage unit 352 (see FIG. 8) for package data 6B that indicates the input first tracking code, updates the "entry date and time" of the package data 6B to the current time, and writes the input size into the package data 6B.

[0068] Fig. 12 is a diagram showing an example of an e-mail body 72. Fig. 13 is a diagram showing an example of an e-mail body 73.

[0069] When the parcel data 6B is updated by the arrival reception processing unit 303, the deposit notification unit 304 (see Figure 6) generates the deposit notification email data 6E and sends the deposit notification email data 6E as an email to the consumer email address indicated in the parcel data 6B.

[0070] The deposit notification email data 6E shows an email body 72. As shown in Fig. 12, the email body 72 includes a message informing the recipient that the agent 83 has deposited the package 90 and a message informing the recipient of the procedure for receiving the package 90, as well as a tracking code (first tracking code) for the package 90, a first URL, a second URL, and the like.

[0071] When the mailer of the consumer terminal device 1 receives the deposit notification email data 6E, it displays the email body 72 on the display 15 based on the deposit notification email data 6E. If the consumer 81 is not yet a member of the product transport support service, the consumer 81 selects the first URL, and if the consumer is already a member, the consumer 81 selects the second URL.

[0072] When the first URL is selected, the web browser of the consumer terminal device 1 requests a web page based on the first URL from the agent system 3. Then, in the agent system 3, the member registration unit 305 performs the member registration process as follows.

[0073] In response to a request from the consumer terminal device 1, the member registration unit 305 transmits to the consumer terminal device 1 web page data 6F for displaying a web page corresponding to the first URL.

[0074] When the consumer terminal device 1 receives the web page data 6F, the web browser of the consumer terminal device 1 displays the registration page as a web page on the display 15 based on the web page data 6F.

[0075] The consumer 81 enters his / her name, email address, telephone number, the name of the area, postal code, and address of his / her home, as well as a character string to be used as a password on the registration page.

[0076] The web browser of the consumer terminal device 1 then sends registration request data 6G indicating the entered email address, character string (password), name, area name, postal code, address, and telephone number to the agent system 3.

[0077] When member registration unit 305 receives registration request data 6G, it generates new member data 6A and stores it in member data storage unit 351 (see FIG. 7). This completes member registration. Member data 6A includes the email address, password, name, area name, postal code, address, and telephone number indicated in the received registration request data 6G. This email address is used as a primary key in member data 6A.

[0078] It is also possible to configure the registration page so that the member data 6A can be registered by inputting at least an email address and a password, and the remaining information can be added to the member data 6A later.

[0079] On the other hand, when the second URL is selected, the web browser of the consumer terminal device 1 requests a web page based on the second URL from the agent system 3. Then, in the agent system 3, the user authentication unit 306 performs user authentication processing as follows.

[0080] In response to a request from the consumer terminal device 1, the user authentication unit 306 transmits to the consumer terminal device 1 web page data 6H for displaying a web page corresponding to the second URL.

[0081] When the web page data 6H is received by the consumer terminal device 1, the web browser of the consumer terminal device 1 displays a user authentication page based on the web page data 6H as a web page on the display 25. The consumer 81 enters his or her email address and password into the user authentication page.

[0082] Then, the web browser of the consumer terminal device 1 transmits to the agent system 3 authentication request data 6J indicating the input email address and password.

[0083] When the user authentication unit 306 receives the authentication request data 6J, it searches the member data storage unit 351 (see FIG. 7) for member data 6A indicating the email address indicated in the authentication request data 6J. If the password indicated in the member data 6A matches the password indicated in the authentication request data 6J, it determines that the consumer 81 is a legitimate user; if they do not match, it determines that the consumer is not a legitimate user. If the search fails, it also determines that the consumer is not a legitimate user. If it is determined that the consumer 81 is a legitimate user, he or she logs in to the website of the product delivery support service.

[0084] After member registration is completed by member registration unit 305, consumer 81 selects the second URL to access the user authentication page. Alternatively, after member registration, user authentication unit 306 may automatically access the user authentication page by sending web page data 6H to consumer terminal device 1. Then, consumer 81 logs in to the website of the product delivery support service by performing the above-mentioned operations.

[0085] When a consumer 81 logs in to the website of the product delivery support service, the email address of the logged-in consumer 81 is provided from the user authentication unit 306 to the destination adding unit 307 .

[0086] The destination adding unit 307 then searches the package data storage unit 352 (see FIG. 8) for package data 6B that indicates the given email address as the consumer's email address, and searches the member data storage unit 351 (see FIG. 7) for member data 6A that indicates the given email address. Then, the destination adding unit 307 writes the name, area name, postal code, address, and telephone number indicated in the member data 6A into the package data 6B. That is, the name, area name, postal code, address, and telephone number of the logged-in member data 6A are written. It is also possible to allow the consumer 81 to input the name, area name, postal code, address, and telephone number after logging in. Then, the input information may be written into both the member data 6A and the package data 6B.

[0087] The destination adding unit 307 may present the name, area name, postal code, address, and telephone number to the consumer 81 via the web browser of the consumer terminal device 1. Then, if the consumer 81 approves, it may write them into the package data 6B. Also, if the consumer 81 modifies the name, area name, postal code, address, and telephone number, the modified name, area name, postal code, address, and telephone number may be written in place of the name, area name, postal code, address, and telephone number shown in the member data 6A.

[0088] When the destination adding unit 307 writes the name and other information into the package data 6B, the shipping fee settlement unit 308 performs the following process to settle the shipping fee for transporting the package 90 from the agent 83 to the consumer 81.

[0089] The shipping fee settlement unit 308 calculates the shipping fee for transporting the package 90 based on the size and area name indicated in the package data 6B using a predetermined formula, and writes this as a transfer fee in the package data 6B.

[0090] The shipping fee settlement unit 308 generates shipping fee billing email data 6K and sends it to the shipping fee payer email address shown in the package data 6B. As described above, the procedure for paying this shipping fee is carried out by either the consumer 81 or the seller 82, and the shipping fee payer email address is the email address of either the consumer 81 or the seller 82.

[0091] The shipping fee billing email data 6K includes an email body 73. As shown in FIG. 13, the email body 73 includes a message requesting payment of the shipping fee for transporting the package 90 from the agent 83 to the consumer 81, the shipping fee (forwarding fee), and the URL of a website for payment. The URL ends with the package code indicated in the package data 6B. The payment website may be a well-known website such as a credit card payment website or an electronic money payment website.

[0092] When the mailer of the consumer terminal device 1 receives the shipping fee billing email data 6K, it displays an email body 73 on the display 15 based on the shipping fee billing email data 6K. When the consumer 81 selects a URL in the email body 73, the web browser of the consumer terminal device 1 accesses a payment website based on that URL. Then, when the consumer 81 completes the payment procedure for the shipping fee, payment completion data 6L indicating the package code included in the URL is sent from the web browser of the consumer terminal device 1 or the payment website to the agent system 3.

[0093] Similarly, when the mailer of the seller terminal device 2 receives the shipping fee billing email data 6K, it displays an email body 73 on the display 25 based on the shipping fee billing email data 6K. When a staff member of the seller 82 selects a URL in the email body 73, the web browser of the seller terminal device 2 accesses a payment website based on the URL. Then, when the staff member of the seller 82 completes the payment procedure for the shipping fee, payment completion data 6L is sent to the agent system 3 from the web browser of the seller terminal device 2 or the payment website.

[0094] When the shipping fee settlement unit 308 receives the payment completion data 6L, it searches the package data storage unit 352 (see Figure 8) for package data 6B indicating the package code indicated in the received payment completion data 6L, and updates the fee payment flag of that package data 6B to "1".

[0095] When the fee payment flag of the package data 6B is updated to "1", the shipping processing unit 309 performs the process for transferring the package 90 corresponding to the package data 6B as follows.

[0096] The shipping processing unit 309 displays a message on the display 32 or tablet computer indicating that the shipping fee has been paid, along with the parcel code, name, area name, postal code, address, telephone number, etc., indicated in the parcel data 6B.

[0097] The staff of the agent 83 checks the displayed contents and prepares to transport the package 90 with that package code to the address. Specifically, they locate the package 90 in the warehouse based on the package code. They write the displayed name, address, etc. as the recipient on a new shipping slip with a unique second tracking code printed on it, and write the name and address, etc. of the agent 83 as the sender, and attach it to the package 90. If the destination is overseas, they may also check the contents (products) of the package 90 as necessary, create an invoice, and perform other export procedures. These procedures may be performed immediately after the package 90 arrives at the relay point.

[0098] If the agent system 3 has a printer and this printer is installed at the relay point of the agent 83, the shipping processing unit 309 may control the printer to display the parcel code on the display 32 or the like and to print the name and address of the recipient and the company name and address of the agent 83 on the slip.The printer may also be controlled to have the carrier issue a second tracking code and to print this second tracking code as well.The printer may also be controlled to print an invoice.

[0099] Once preparations are complete, the staff of the agent 83 hands the package 90 over to the carrier for delivery to the final destination. Then, the staff displays the shipping screen on the display 32 or tablet computer and inputs the package code and second tracking code of the package 90. Note that the package 90 may be handed over after the package code and other information have been entered.

[0100] The shipping processor 309 then performs the following process: It writes the current date and time as the shipping date and time into the package data 6B that indicates the input package code. It also writes the input second tracking code into that package data 6B. It then generates shipping notification email data 6M and sends it as an email to the consumer's email address indicated in that package data 6B.

[0101] The shipment notification email data 6M contains the email body, which includes a message stating that the package 90 has been shipped, as well as the name, address, and second tracking code shown in the package data 6B.

[0102] When the mailer of the consumer terminal device 1 receives the shipping notification mail data 6M, it displays the body of the e-mail on the display 15.

[0103] By the way, shipping companies publish information about the status of package delivery on their websites via the Internet.

[0104] The receipt confirmation unit 310 of the agent system 3 confirms whether the package 90 that departed from the relay point of the agent 83 has been received at the home or the like of the consumer 81 as follows.

[0105] The receipt confirmation unit 310 periodically (for example, every 10 minutes) searches the package data storage unit 352 for package data 6B that indicates the date and time of departure but not the date and time of arrival. The second tracking code indicated in the package data 6B is sent to the carrier's website to inquire about the current status.

[0106] Then, when the receipt confirmation unit 310 receives a response indicating the date and time when the delivery has been completed from the website of the delivery company, it writes that date and time into the package data 6B as the arrival date and time.

[0107] The staff of the seller 82 can check the status of the package 90 as follows: They send an email indicating the first tracking code of the package 90 they want to check the status of and the email address of the seller 82 to a predetermined email address of the agent 83 using the mailer of the seller terminal device 2.

[0108] The status reply unit 311 then searches the package data storage unit 352 for package data 6B that indicates the first tracking code indicated in the email and that indicates the email address indicated in the email as a confirmation email address.Then, the status reply unit 311 sends (replies to) an email that indicates the package code, second tracking code, entry date and time, departure date and time, and arrival date and time indicated in the package data 6B to the confirmation email address.

[0109] The mailer of the seller terminal device 2 displays the e-mail received from the agent system 3 on the display 25. The staff of the seller 82 then reads the e-mail and checks the status of the package 90.

[0110] Fig. 14 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the overall processing flow by the transportation intermediation support program 30. Fig. 15 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the flow of transfer support processing.

[0111] Next, the overall processing flow in the agent system 3 will be described with reference to a flowchart.

[0112] According to the transportation intermediation support program 30, processing is performed in the agent system 3 according to the procedure shown in FIG.

[0113] When the agent system 3 receives a request for the request page 71 from the seller terminal device 2 (Yes in #131 of FIG. 14), the agent system 3 transmits the web page data 6C to the seller terminal device 2 (#132).

[0114] Alternatively, when forwarding request data 6D is received from the seller terminal device 2 (Yes in #133), processing is performed to accept package 90 from seller 82 and assist in forwarding it to the home or other location of consumer 81 (#134). This processing is performed according to the procedure shown in Figure 15. Here, the flow of this processing will be explained using as an example a case where consumer 81B purchases a product from the online shop of seller 82B and has package 90 containing the product delivered to the home of consumer 81B, as shown in Figure 2(B).

[0115] When the agent system 3 receives the forwarding request data 6D for this package 90 from the seller terminal device 2B, it generates package data 6B and stores it in the package data storage unit 352 (see FIG. 8) (#151 in FIG. 15). This package data 6B indicates the first tracking code, the consumer's email address, the shipping fee payer's email address, etc., indicated in the forwarding request data 6D.

[0116] Furthermore, if a confirmation email address is indicated in this transfer request data 6D, this confirmation email address is also indicated in this package data 6B.

[0117] When this package 90 arrives at the relay point of the agent 83 from the distributor 82B and the first tracking code and size of this package 90 are entered into the agent system 3 by a staff member of the agent 83 (#152), the agent system 3 writes the current date and time as the time of receipt into the package data 6B, and also writes the size (#153).Furthermore, the agent system 3 sends the deposit notification email data 6E to the consumer email address shown in this package data 6B, i.e., the email address of the consumer 81B (#154).

[0118] The deposit notification mail data 6E is received by the consumer terminal device 1 of the consumer 81B, that is, the consumer terminal device 1B.

[0119] When the agent system 3 receives a request from the consumer terminal device 1B for the web page corresponding to the first URL, i.e., the registration page (web page for member registration) (Yes in #155), it sends web page data 6F to the consumer terminal device 1B (#156). Then, when it receives registration request data 6G from the consumer terminal device 1B (#157), it generates new member data 6A and stores it in the member data storage unit 351 (see FIG. 7) (#158). This completes the member registration of the consumer 81B.

[0120] When the consumer terminal device 1B requests the web page corresponding to the second URL, i.e., the user authentication page, or when the consumer 81B completes membership registration, the agent system 3 transmits web page data 6H to the consumer terminal device 1B (#159). When the agent system 3 receives authentication request data 6J from the consumer terminal device 1B (#160), it performs authentication processing (#161). That is, it determines whether the consumer 81B is a legitimate user. If it determines that the consumer 81B is a legitimate user (Yes in #162), it logs the consumer 81B into the product delivery support service website (#163).

[0121] When consumer 81B logs in, the agent system 3 writes the name, area name, postal code, address, and telephone number shown in consumer 81B's member data 6A into this package data 6B (#164). This sets the destination of this package 90 in the package data 6B. Note that the agent system 3 may also write in new names, area names, postal code, addresses, and telephone numbers specified by consumer 81B.

[0122] Furthermore, the agent system 3 determines the shipping fee to this destination based on the destination and the size of this package 90, and writes this as the forwarding fee in the package data 6B (#165).Then, the agent system 3 generates shipping fee billing email data 6K and sends it to the shipping fee payer email address shown in the package data 6B (#166). The shipping fee payer email address is the email address of either the consumer 81B or the seller 82B.

[0123] When the agent system 3 receives notification that the consumer 81B or seller 82B has paid the shipping fee (#167), it updates the shipping fee payment flag in the package data 6B to "1" (#168). Then, it notifies the staff of the agent 83 that the shipping fee has been paid by displaying a message on the display 32 or tablet computer along with the package code, name, area name, postal code, address, telephone number, etc., shown in the package data 6B (#169).

[0124] The staff of the agent 83 checks the displayed contents, prepares to transport the package 90 to the home or the like of the consumer 81B, and hands the package 90 over to the carrier. Then, the staff enters the package code and second tracking code of the package 90.

[0125] When the agent system 3 receives these inputs (#170), it sends the shipping notification email data 6M to the email address (consumer email address) of the consumer 81B (#171), and writes the current date and time as the shipping date and time into the package data 6B, and also writes the second tracking code that was input (#172).

[0126] This completes the process of accepting package 90 from seller 82B and transferring it to consumer 81B's home or other location.

[0127] Returning to Figure 14, the agent system 3 periodically searches for package data 6B that indicates the date and time of departure but not the date and time of arrival. If such package data 6B is found (Yes in #135), the agent system 3 inquires about the current status by sending the second tracking code indicated in the package data 6B to the carrier's website. When it receives a response from the carrier's website indicating the date and time when the delivery was completed, it writes that date and time into the package data 6B as the date and time of arrival (#136).

[0128] Alternatively, when the agent system 3 receives an inquiry about the status of the package 90 from the seller terminal device 2 (Yes in #137), it responds to the seller terminal device 2 with the second tracking code, the date and time of entry, the date and time of departure, and the date and time of arrival indicated in the package data 6B for that package 90 (#138).

[0129] The agent system 3 executes the processes of steps #132, #134, #136, and #138 as appropriate while continuing to provide the product transport support service (Yes in #139).

[0130] According to this embodiment, there is no need for each seller 82 to prepare its own system for determining the country where the delivery address is located and its own website provided by the support server. Therefore, the product purchased by the consumer 81 from the seller 82 can be delivered using a system that is simpler than conventional systems.

[0131] Furthermore, even if the consumer 81 and the seller 82 have difficulty communicating due to different native languages, the consumer 81 can communicate with the seller 82's staff for delivery of the product simply by providing their email address. There is no need to provide the recipient's name, address, or telephone number. For the seller 82's staff, the burden of delivery is reduced compared to conventional methods, as they only need to pack the product and deliver it to the agent 83 as parcel 90, and provide the consumer 81's email address along with the first tracking code for parcel 90 to the agent 83. Since shopping becomes easier for the consumer 81, the seller 82's sales increase.

[0132] In this embodiment, the consumer 81 uses the product delivery support service to purchase a product for himself or herself and have the product delivered to him or her as package 90. However, the service can also be used to have the product delivered to another person, such as a friend or family member. For example, when the consumer 81 purchases a product from the seller 82, the consumer 81 simply provides the seller 82 with the other person's email address. This allows the other person to later specify the consumer's home address or the like as the destination. Alternatively, the consumer 81 provides his or her own email address, but when the agent system 3 inquires about the destination of the package 90, the consumer 81 can specify the other person's home address or the like.

[0133] The consumer 81 can also use the product delivery support service to have another person deliver items other than those purchased from the retailer 82. In this case, the consumer 81 can prepare the package 90 by packing the items in packaging material and preparing and attaching a shipping label 91, instead of having the retailer 82's staff deliver them. The consumer 81 then has a shipping company deliver the package 90 to the relay point in the agent system 3, and can also provide the agent 83 with the first tracking code along with the consumer's or another person's email address via the request page 71.

[0134] For example, an auction seller may send a successful bid on an item to a relay point of the agent 83 and register the email address of the successful bidder as the consumer's email address. Alternatively, an accommodation facility operator may send a lost item left behind by a guest to a relay point of the agent 83 and register the guest's email address as the consumer's email address. The product transport support system 5 can be used in any of the so-called BtoB, BtoC, CtoC, and CtoB types of transactions.

[0135] In this embodiment, the staff of the seller 82 inputs the first tracking code, consumer email address, and shipping fee payer email address for each of the multiple packages 90 into the request page 71 (see FIG. 11 ), but a CSV file containing this information may also be created using spreadsheet software or a text editor and imported into the seller terminal device 2. In this case, the seller terminal device 2 transmits this CSV file to the agent system 3. Upon receiving this CSV file, the agent system 3 generates package data 6B for each of the packages 90 based on this CSV file.

[0136] In this embodiment, the case where the email texts 72 and 73 (see FIGS. 12 and 13) are written in Japanese has been described as an example, but they may be written in other languages such as English, German, or Chinese, or may be written in multiple languages.

[0137] In this embodiment, a general-purpose web browser and mailer are used in the consumer terminal device 1 and the dealer terminal device 2, but dedicated applications may also be used.

[0138] In this embodiment, the agent 83 sends various information to the consumer 81 and the seller 82 by email, but the information may also be sent by messenger on a social networking service (SNS) or by short message on a short message service (SMS). In this case, the account name of the SNS or the mobile phone number may be used instead of the email address.

[0139] In this embodiment, the shipping fee for transportation from the relay point of the agent 83 is determined based on the size and destination of the package 90, but it may also be determined based on the weight. In this case, not only the size but also the weight of the package 90 may be input by the staff of the agent 83 and written to the package data 6B.

[0140] In this embodiment, the consumer 81 is prompted to specify the destination (final destination) of the package 90 after the package 90 arrives at the relay point of the agent 83, but the destination may be specified before the package arrives.

[0141] In this embodiment, an example has been described in which a package is sent from Japan to overseas or within Japan, but the product transport support system 5 can also be used when sending a package from overseas to Japan or overseas.

[0142] In addition, the overall or individual configurations of the product transportation support system 5, consumer terminal device 1, seller terminal device 2, and agent system 3, the processing content, processing order, data configuration, etc. can be modified as appropriate in accordance with the spirit of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0143] 3. Agent system (baggage transport support system) 302 Package data generation unit (first reception means) 304 Deposit Notification Department (Request Means) 305 Membership Registration Department (Second Reception Method) 306 User authentication unit (secondary reception means) 308 Shipping Payment Department (Billing Method) 309 Delivery processing unit (support processing means) 351 Member data storage unit (storage means) 6A Membership Data 6B Baggage Data

Claims

1. A luggage transport support system that supports a requester in transporting luggage via a transport company, a first receiving means for receiving a contact point designated by the requester and a first identifier issued by a first carrier that transports the package to a predetermined relay point and given to the package when transporting the package to the relay point; a destination acquisition means for acquiring the destination by requesting the contact point to specify the final destination of the package; a second receiving means for receiving a second identifier issued by a second carrier that transports the package from the relay point to the destination and given to the package when transporting the package to the destination; an identifier associating means for associating the first identifier and the second identifier of the package; arrival information acquisition means for acquiring arrival information regarding the arrival of the package at the destination from a tracking system of the second carrier based on the second identifier of the package; arrival information registration means for associating the arrival information of the package with the first identifier of the package; a replying means for replying, when the first identifier is indicated by an inquiry source, the arrival information corresponding to the first identifier; A luggage transport support system comprising:

2. A storage means for storing member information including the member's name and address in association with the contact information; and When the user of the contact information is the member, the destination acquisition means authenticates the user based on the contact information and then acquires the member information of the user as the destination. The luggage transport support system according to claim 1 .

3. billing means for billing for a shipping fee for transferring the package from the relay point to the destination; a notification means for notifying a staff member in charge of shipping the package from the relay point of delivery of a message indicating that the shipping fee has been settled; and the first receiving means receives the billing address for the shipping fee together with the contact information and the first identifier; The billing means bills the billing destination for the shipping fee, The notification means notifies the message when the shipping fee has been settled.

3. The luggage transport support system according to claim 1 or 2.

4. a size registration means for associating the size of the package with the first identifier of the package; and The billing means bills the shipping fee calculated based on the size of the package. The luggage transport support system according to claim 3 .

5. A display input device used together with the luggage transport assistance system according to claim 4, a first display input means for displaying a luggage reception screen and receiving input of the size and the first identifier when the luggage arrives at the relay point, in order to associate the size of the luggage with the first identifier in the luggage transportation support system; a second display input means for displaying a shipping screen and receiving an input of the second identifier when the package is shipped from the relay point, in order to associate the second identifier of the package with the first identifier in the package transportation support system; A display input device comprising:

6. a message display means for displaying the message regarding the package; and The second display input means displays the message and then displays the delivery screen. The display input device according to claim 5 .

7. A luggage transport assistance method for assisting a requester in transporting luggage by a transport company, comprising: On the computer, executes a process of receiving a contact point designated by the requester and a first identifier that is issued by a first carrier that transports the package to a predetermined relay point and that is given to the package when it is transported to the relay point; executes a process to obtain a final destination of the package by requesting the contact point to specify the final destination of the package; executes a process of accepting a second identifier that is issued by a second carrier that transports the package from the relay point to the destination and that is given to the package when it is transported to the destination; executes a process of associating the first identifier with the second identifier of the package; executing a process of obtaining arrival information regarding the arrival of the package at the destination from a tracking system of the second carrier based on the second identifier of the package; executes a process of associating the arrival information of the package with the first identifier of the package; When the first identifier is indicated by the inquiry source, a process of responding with the arrival information corresponding to the first identifier is executed. A luggage transport assistance method characterized by:

8. A computer program used in a computer that assists a requester in transporting a package by a carrier, comprising: The computer, executes a process of receiving a contact point designated by the requester and a first identifier that is issued by a first carrier that transports the package to a predetermined relay point and that is given to the package when it is transported to the relay point; executes a process to obtain a final destination of the package by requesting the contact point to specify the final destination of the package; executes a process of accepting a second identifier that is issued by a second carrier that transports the package from the relay point to the destination and that is given to the package when it is transported to the destination; executes a process of associating the first identifier with the second identifier of the package; executing a process of obtaining arrival information regarding the arrival of the package at the destination from a tracking system of the second carrier based on the second identifier of the package; executes a process of associating the arrival information of the package with the first identifier of the package; When the first identifier is indicated by the inquiry source, a process of responding with the arrival information corresponding to the first identifier is executed. A computer program characterized by:

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