Advertisement providing system and advertisement selection method

Abstract

To make it possible to provide further service to a user when using a cargo management device that can transfer a cargo to and from a user.SOLUTION: An advertisement providing system includes a cargo management device 10. The cargo management device 10 includes a transportation unit 130, an advertisement output unit 144, and a sales processing unit 146, and manages a cargo to be delivered. The transportation unit 130 transports a cargo between a loading area where the cargo is arranged when the cargo is transferred between a user and the cargo management device 10 and a storage area for storing the cargo. The advertisement output unit 144 allows an output device to output advertisement information regarding articles stored in the loading area in a transportable state. After the advertisement information is output, when settlement processing for purchasing an article is completed, the sales processing unit 146 allows the transportation unit 130 to transport the article to the loading area.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a package management device, an advertisement selection device, an advertisement providing system, a product sales method, and an advertisement selection method. [Background technology]

[0002] The number of cases where packages are delivered to individuals is increasing. However, there are cases where the delivery company delivers the package to the destination, but the recipient is not at home. One way to reduce this situation is to use delivery lockers.

[0003] Patent Document 1 describes the following service that uses a delivery locker. The device used for this service first extracts a user's favorite products based on the collected shopping-related information of the user. Next, the device performs a process to deliver the favorite products in advance to the unmanned delivery locker closest to the user's address. Then, when delivery of the favorite products is complete, the device forwards a push notification to the user's device for payment and receipt of the favorite products delivered to the unmanned delivery locker. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2017-527875 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The technology described in Patent Document 1 relates to a delivery box for delivering packages to users. Therefore, the technology described in Patent Document 1 does not allow users to store packages. In response to this, the present inventor considered installing a package management device at multiple locations that can deliver packages to users and store packages from users. The present inventor then considered providing additional services to users with this package management device.

[0006] One example of the object of the present invention is to provide a luggage management device that can exchange luggage with a user and provide further services to the user, an advertisement selection device that can be used in conjunction with this luggage management device, an advertisement provision system that uses this luggage management device, a luggage management method, an advertisement selection method, and a program. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a package management device for managing packages to be delivered, comprising: a transport means for transporting luggage between a loading area where the luggage is placed when the luggage is exchanged between a user and the luggage management device and a storage area where the luggage is stored; an advertisement output means for outputting, to an output device, advertisement information relating to the products stored in the placement area in a transportable state; a sales processing means for causing the transport means to transport the commodity to the placement area when a payment process for purchasing the commodity is completed after the advertising information is output; A luggage management device is provided.

[0008] According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an advertisement selection device that communicates with the above-described luggage management device and selects the product, The luggage management device is managed by a store, a candidate display means for displaying, on a clerk terminal operated by a clerk at the store, candidate products that are candidates for the commodity in a selectable manner; an advertisement selection means for enabling the advertisement output means to output the advertisement information of the selected candidate product when at least one of the candidate products is selected; An advertisement selection device is provided, comprising:

[0009] According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an advertisement providing system including the above-described luggage management device and advertisement selection device.

[0010] According to one aspect of the present invention, a computer that controls a luggage management device equipped with a transport means that transports luggage between a placement area where luggage is placed when the luggage is exchanged with a user and a storage area where the luggage is stored, outputting, on an output device, advertising information relating to the products stored in the placement area in a transportable state; There is provided a merchandise sales method in which, after the advertising information is output, when a payment process for purchasing the merchandise is completed, the conveying means is caused to convey the merchandise to the placement area.

[0011] According to one aspect of the present invention, a computer that communicates with the above-mentioned luggage management device includes: displaying, in a selectable manner, candidate products that are candidates for the product on a store clerk terminal operated by a store clerk who manages the package management device; The advertisement selection method allows the advertisement output means to output the advertisement information of the selected candidate product when at least one of the candidate products is selected.

[0012] According to one aspect of the present invention, a computer that controls a luggage management device that includes a transport means that transports luggage between a placement area where the luggage is placed when the luggage is exchanged with a user and a storage area where the luggage is stored, an advertisement output function for outputting, to an output device, advertisement information relating to the products stored in the placement area in a transportable state; a sales processing function for causing the conveying means to convey the commodity to the placement area when a payment process for purchasing the commodity is completed after the advertising information is output; A program to help them develop this skill will be provided.

[0013] According to one aspect of the present invention, a computer that communicates with the above-mentioned luggage management device includes: a candidate display function that displays, in a selectable manner, candidate products that are candidates for the product on a store clerk terminal operated by a store clerk who manages the package management device; an advertisement selection function that enables the advertisement output means to output the advertisement information of the selected candidate product when at least one of the candidate products is selected; A program to help them develop this skill will be provided. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] According to one aspect of the present invention, when a luggage management device that can exchange luggage with a user is used, additional services can be provided to the user. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of a main part of an advertisement providing system according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a detailed example of a luggage management device. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the functional configuration of a control unit of the luggage management device. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of a luggage management device. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a functional configuration of an advertisement selection device. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the hardware configuration of a control unit of the luggage management device. [Figure 7] 4 is a flowchart showing a first example of processing performed by the luggage management device. [Figure 8] 10 is a flowchart showing a second example of processing performed by the luggage management device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In all the drawings, like components are designated by like reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted as appropriate.

[0017] 1 is a diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of a main part of an advertisement providing system according to an embodiment. The advertisement providing system includes a package management device 10.

[0018] The package management device 10 includes a transport unit 130, an advertisement output unit 144, and a sales processing unit 146, and manages packages to be delivered. The transport unit 130 transports packages between a placement area where the packages are placed when the packages are exchanged between a user and the package management device 10, and a storage area where the packages are kept. The advertisement output unit 144 outputs, to an output device, advertising information about products stored in a state ready to be transported to the placement area. After the advertising information is output, the sales processing unit 146 causes the transport unit 130 to transport the products to the placement area when the payment process for purchasing the products is completed.

[0019] With the above configuration, the luggage management device 10 can provide users with a service of selling products in addition to the exchange of luggage.

[0020] The advertisement providing system also includes an advertisement selection device 20. The advertisement selection device 20 includes a candidate display unit 220 and an advertisement selection unit 230. The candidate display unit 220 displays selectable candidate products that are candidates for products sold by the luggage management device 10 on a store clerk terminal operated by a store clerk who manages the luggage management device 10. When at least one candidate product is selected, the advertisement selection unit 230 enables the advertisement output unit 144 to output advertising information for the selected candidate product.

[0021] With the above configuration, the advertisement selection device 20 can allow the store clerk to easily select the advertisement information that the baggage management device 10 will output to the output device.

[0022] Hereinafter, detailed examples of the package management device 10 and the advertisement selection device 20 will be described.

[0023] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a detailed example of the package management device 10. The package management device 10 receives a package 30 from a delivery company. The package management device 10 stores the package 30 until the intended recipient comes to collect the package 30. The person sending the package 30, i.e., the sender, can also deposit the package 30 in the package management device 10. In this case, the package management device 10 stores the package 30 until the delivery company collects it.

[0024] The package management device 10 is installed in at least one location, for example, inside a store selling products, near the entrance of the store, or in the store's parking lot. The package management device 10 is installed in multiple locations. For example, a package management device 10 is installed in each of multiple convenience stores. The delivery company leaves the package 30 at the package management device 10 closest to the destination or at a package management device 10 designated by the destination. The sender also leaves the package 30 at the package management device 10 closest to their home, for example.

[0025] The package management device 10 also sells the product 40 to the recipient or sender, that is, the user of the package management device 10. At this time, the package management device 10 outputs an advertisement for the product 40 to make the user aware of it.

[0026] In the example shown in this figure, the luggage management device 10 has a placement area 110, a storage area 120, a conveyance unit 130, a control unit 140, and a first storage unit 150.

[0027] The placement area 110 is an area where the luggage 30 is placed when the luggage is exchanged between a user and the luggage management device. For example, a luggage 30 that a sender is about to send is placed in the placement area 110 by the sender. Also, a luggage 30 to be handed over to a recipient is transported from the storage area 120 and placed in the placement area 110. Sensors for detecting the luggage 30 are provided around the placement area 110. An example of this sensor is an imaging sensor, but other sensors may also be used.

[0028] The storage area 120 is an area for storing the luggage 30. The storage area 120 stores both the luggage 30 received from the recipient and the luggage 30 to be delivered to the destination. The storage area 120 may be located outside the luggage management device 10.

[0029] In the example shown in this figure, the storage area 120 has multiple sub-areas 122. Depending on the attributes of the luggage 30, the storage environment, for example, temperature, may be specified. The multiple sub-areas 122 maintain environments corresponding to the attributes of the luggage 30. The attributes of the luggage 30 are, for example, at least one of information indicating that the luggage 30 is upside down, perishable (must be refrigerated), must be frozen, precision machinery, or fragile, and information indicating that placing other luggage on top of the luggage is prohibited. The first sub-area 122 is an area at room temperature where stacking of luggage 30 is prohibited, the second sub-area 122 is an area maintained at a temperature suitable for storing refrigerated luggage 30, and the third sub-area 122 is an area maintained at a temperature suitable for storing frozen luggage 30.

[0030] The storage area 120 further stores products 40. The products 40 are stored in sub-areas 122 that correspond to the attributes of the products 40. For example, products 40 that need to be refrigerated are stored in sub-areas 122 that have a refrigeration function, and products 40 that need to be frozen are stored in sub-areas 122 that have a freezing function. Products 40 that cannot be stacked are stored in sub-areas 122 in which stacking is prohibited.

[0031] Note that a part of the sub-area 122 may be an area where only the luggage 30 is stored, and another part of the sub-area 122 may be an area where only the products 40 are stored.

[0032] The transport unit 130 transports the luggage 30 placed in the placement area 110 to the storage area 120. This process is performed, for example, when the sender deposits the luggage 30 in the luggage management device 10, but may also be performed when the delivery company deposits the luggage 30 in the luggage management device 10.

[0033] The transport unit 130 also transports the package 30 stored in the storage area 120 to the placement area 110. This process is performed, for example, when the recipient comes to pick up the package 30, but may also be performed when a delivery company collects the package 30 that has been deposited in the package management device 10.

[0034] Furthermore, the transport unit 130 transports the product 40 purchased by the user from the storage area 120 to the placement area 110 .

[0035] The control unit 140 controls other parts of the luggage management device 10, such as the conveying unit 130. The control unit 140 also manages the luggage 30 and products 40 stored in the storage area 120. Specifically, the control unit 140 stores in the first memory unit 150 luggage identification information of the luggage 30 and information indicating the position of the luggage 30 within the storage area 120 in association with each other, and also stores in the first memory unit 150 product identification information of the product 40 stored in the storage area 120 and information indicating the position of the product 40 within the storage area 120 in association with each other.

[0036] The control unit 140 also performs sales processing for the product 40. This sales processing includes payment processing and processing for causing the transport unit 130 to transport the product 40 from the storage area 120 to the placement area 110.

[0037] A detailed example of the functional configuration of the control unit 140 will be described with reference to other figures.

[0038] The first memory unit 150 stores package identification information of packages 30 stored in the storage area 120, linked to location information of the packages 30 within the storage area 120 and information indicating whether the packages 30 have been entrusted by the sender or the delivery company. Furthermore, the first memory unit 150 stores product identification information of products 40 stored in the storage area 120, linked to location information of the products 40 within the storage area 120.

[0039] The first storage unit 150 also stores information indicating the availability of the storage area 120, such as information indicating the number of pieces of luggage 30 and items 40 that have been accepted. Hereinafter, this information will be referred to as availability information. The availability information may indicate the availability of each sub-area 122. For example, if each sub-area 122 is divided into multiple sections that can accept one piece of luggage 30 or one item 40, the first storage unit 150 stores, as availability information, a flag for each of these multiple sections that indicates whether the section is available or not.

[0040] When the luggage 30 and the product 40 are taken in or out, the control unit 140 updates the vacancy information stored in the first storage unit 150.

[0041] The first storage unit 150 may further store delivery information linked to the package identification information. The delivery information includes, for example, the name, address, and telephone number of the sender, the name, address, and telephone number of the delivery recipient, and attributes of the package 30. For example, when the package 30 to be handed over to the recipient is stored in the storage area 120, the control unit 140 obtains delivery information for the package 30 from the server of the delivery company.

[0042] The luggage management device 10 also has an output device 160. The output device 160 has, for example, at least one of a display and a speaker, and outputs advertising information to the user of the luggage management device 10. The output device 160 outputs, for example, advertising information for the products 40 stored in the storage area 120. However, the first storage unit 150 may also output advertising information for other products or services.

[0043] The advertisement information output by the output device 160 is stored in the first storage unit 150. When multiple types of products 40 are stored in the storage area 120, the first storage unit 150 may store advertisement information for each of these multiple types of products 40. The advertisement output process by the output device 160 is controlled by the control unit 140.

[0044] The first storage unit 150 may also store advertising information and attributes of customers targeted by the product 40 in the advertising information. The customer attributes may be, for example, age group and gender. In this case, the control unit 140 may acquire the attributes of the user of the luggage management device 10, select advertising information for the product 40 linked to attributes that match the acquired attributes, and output the selected advertising information to the output device 160.

[0045] The user's attributes are identified, for example, by taking an image of the user and processing the image. However, if an external device stores the user's attributes in association with the user's identification information, the control unit 140 may acquire the user's identification information from the user and acquire the attributes corresponding to the identification information from the external device. An example of the external device is a server managed by a delivery company.

[0046] An example of a user's attribute is at least one of the above-mentioned age group and gender, but instead of or in addition to these, the user's purchase history may also be used. In this case, the control unit 140 determines the user's preferences based on the user's purchase history and selects advertising information for the product 40 that matches these preferences.

[0047] The output device 160 may further include a communication device. This communication device may use, for example, short-range wireless communication to transmit advertising information to a mobile terminal carried by a user of the luggage management device 10. This communication device may also acquire user identification information from the mobile terminal in order to identify the user's attributes.

[0048] Next, the advertisement selection device 20 will be described. The advertisement selection device 20 communicates with the luggage management device 10 and selects advertisement information to be output by the luggage management device 10. The advertisement selection device 20 also stores the selected advertisement information in the first storage unit 150 of the luggage management device 10. The advertisement selection device 20 is operated, for example, by a store clerk in the store where the luggage management device 10 is installed. The advertisement selection device 20 may also serve as a POS terminal in the store. In this case, the advertisement selection device 20 has at least one of a product registration function and a payment function. The advertisement selection device 20 may also be a stationary device or a portable device.

[0049] 3 is a diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the control unit 140 of the luggage management device 10. The control unit 140 has a luggage processing unit 142, an advertisement output unit 144, and a sales processing unit 146.

[0050] The package processing unit 142 performs processing related to the delivery of packages 30. For example, the package processing unit 142 performs processing required when accepting a newly delivered package 30 from the sender, i.e., shipping processing. An example of this shipping processing is obtaining delivery information and printing a delivery slip. The package processing unit 142 also performs processing required when handing over a package 30 stored in the transport unit 130 to a recipient. The processing performed by the package processing unit 142 includes controlling the transport unit 130 and updating the first memory unit 150. For example, the package processing unit 142 obtains package identification information from the recipient and causes the transport unit 130 to transport the package 30 corresponding to this package identification information from the storage area 120 to the placement area 110.

[0051] The advertisement output unit 144 causes the output device 160 to output advertisement information. An example of this advertisement is, as described above, an advertisement for the product 40 stored in the storage area 120. Specifically, the advertisement output unit 144 reads the advertisement information from the first storage unit 150 and transmits it to the output device 160. The output device 160 outputs the advertisement information acquired from the advertisement output unit 144. Furthermore, when the first storage unit 150 stores a plurality of pieces of advertisement information, the advertisement output unit 144 selects the advertisement information to be transmitted to the output device 160.

[0052] The sales processing unit 146 performs sales processing for the product 40. The sales processing is performed, for example, after advertising information has been displayed. For example, if the output device 160 is a touch panel display, the sales processing unit 146 displays a screen for purchasing the product 40 on this touch panel display. The user inputs information indicating that they wish to purchase the product 40 via this screen. Then, when the payment processing for purchasing the product 40 is completed, the sales processing unit 146 causes the transport unit 130 to transport the product 40 from the storage area 120 to the placement area 110. In this embodiment, the sales processing unit 146 also performs payment processing for the product 40.

[0053] At least a part of the functions of the sales processing unit 146, for example, the settlement process for the product 40, may be realized by hardware separate from the control unit 140.

[0054] 4 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the luggage management device 10. The luggage management device 10 has an opening, i.e., a placement area 110, on the front side for placing luggage 30. A sensor for detecting luggage 30 is disposed on the inner surface of the opening that serves as the placement area 110.

[0055] The baggage management device 10 also has various interfaces for customers on its front surface. These interfaces include a touch panel display as the output device 160, a code reader 306, a receipt slip output unit 310, a payment unit 312, and an intercom 314.

[0056] If necessary, the customer inputs at least part of the delivery information into the package management device 10 via a touch panel display serving as the output device 160.

[0057] The code reader 306 reads a code from a medium that displays code information, such as paper or a mobile terminal display. This code is linked to delivery information that the customer has previously entered into the delivery company's server, for example. When the code reader 306 reads the code, the control unit 140 uses the code to obtain the delivery information from the delivery company's server.

[0058] The receipt slip output unit 310 outputs a receipt slip, which is a copy of the shipping invoice.

[0059] The settlement unit 312 performs settlement processing for the delivery fee. The settlement unit 312 also has at least a part of the functions of the sales processing unit 146, and performs settlement processing for the product 40.

[0060] The interphone 314 is provided to receive inquiries from customers regarding the luggage management device 10 and is connected to a call center.

[0061] The luggage management device 10 further includes a human sensor 308 and an indicator light 316 .

[0062] The human presence sensor 308 detects that a person has approached the luggage management apparatus 10. When the human presence sensor 308 detects a person, each part of the luggage management apparatus 10 wakes up from a sleep state.

[0063] The indicator light 316 changes its display color depending on the availability of the storage area 120 of the luggage management device 10. For example, if the luggage management device 10 is able to take on new luggage 30 and has sufficient spare capacity, the indicator light 316 displays green. On the other hand, if the luggage management device 10 is able to take on new luggage 30 but has only a small amount of spare capacity, the indicator light 316 displays yellow. Furthermore, if the luggage management device 10 is unable to take on new luggage 30, the indicator light 316 displays red.

[0064] 5 is a diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the advertisement selection device 20. The advertisement selection device 20 has a candidate display unit 220 and an advertisement selection unit 230, and can use information stored in the second storage unit 210.

[0065] The second storage unit 210 stores, for example, advertising information for each of a plurality of products, linked to the attributes of customers targeted by the products. The customer attributes include, for example, age group and gender. The second storage unit 210 also stores a plurality of pieces of advertising information, linked to the advertising identification information of the advertising information. In the example shown in the figure, the second storage unit 210 is part of the advertisement selection device 20, but it may also be located outside the advertisement selection device 20.

[0066] The second storage unit 210 does not need to store the advertisement information itself. In this case, the advertisement selection device 20 and the luggage management device 10 can further use an external server that stores the advertisement information in association with the advertisement information.

[0067] The candidate display unit 220 displays selectable candidate products that are candidates for the product 40 on a terminal operated by a store clerk in the store that manages the baggage management device 10. This terminal may be the advertisement selection device 20. Information required to identify the candidate products is stored in advance in the second storage unit 210.

[0068] There are various methods for determining candidate products. For example, candidate products may be newly released products, or products that the store or its management company is trying to promote. Candidate products may also be determined using the sales history of products in the store. Candidate products may also be determined using the sales history of the same products in multiple baggage management devices 10 installed in different locations. For example, candidate products may be selected from the top-selling products in multiple baggage management devices 10.

[0069] The candidate commodity determination process may be performed by the candidate display unit 220, or may be performed by a device different from the advertisement selection device 20. The candidate commodity determination process is performed periodically, for example, once a week.

[0070] An example of a store clerk terminal is a POS terminal. This POS terminal may be a fixed terminal or a portable terminal such as a tablet terminal or a smartphone. The store clerk operates this terminal to select a product to be the product 40 from among the candidate products.

[0071] When at least one candidate product is selected by a store clerk, the advertisement selection unit 230 enables the output device 160 of the luggage management device 10 to output advertising information for the selected candidate product. As an example, the advertisement selection unit 230 reads advertising information for the selected candidate product, i.e., product 40, from the second storage unit 210 and stores it in the first storage unit 150 of the luggage management device 10. When multiple candidate products are selected, the advertisement selection unit 230 stores multiple pieces of advertising information in the first storage unit 150. The advertisement selection unit 230 may also store in the first storage unit 150 the attributes of customers targeted by the product 40 in the advertising information.

[0072] Note that instead of storing advertisement information in first storage unit 150, advertisement selection unit 230 may store advertisement identification information in first storage unit 150. In this case, first storage unit 150 acquires advertisement information corresponding to this advertisement identification information from second storage unit 210 or the external server described above at the timing of outputting an advertisement.

[0073] 6 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the control unit 140 of the luggage management apparatus 10. The control unit 140 has a bus 1010, a processor 1020, a memory 1030, a storage device 1040, an input / output interface 1050, and a network interface 1060.

[0074] The bus 1010 is a data transmission path for transmitting and receiving data among the processor 1020, memory 1030, storage device 1040, input / output interface 1050, and network interface 1060. However, the method of connecting the processor 1020 and the like to each other is not limited to bus connection.

[0075] The processor 1020 is implemented by a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), or the like.

[0076] The memory 1030 is a main storage device realized by a RAM (Random Access Memory) or the like.

[0077] The storage device 1040 is an auxiliary storage device realized by removable media such as a hard disk drive (HDD), a solid state drive (SSD), or a memory card, or a read-only memory (ROM). The storage device 1040 stores program modules that realize each function of the control unit 140 (for example, a package processing unit 142, an advertisement output unit 144, and a sales processing unit 146). The processor 1020 loads each of these program modules into the memory 1030 and executes them, thereby realizing each function corresponding to the program module. The storage device 1040 also functions as a first storage unit 150.

[0078] The input / output interface 1050 is an interface for connecting the control unit 140 to various input / output devices. For example, the control unit 140 communicates with the output device 160 via the input / output interface 1050.

[0079] Network interface 1060 is an interface for connecting control unit 140 to a network. This network is, for example, a LAN (Local Area Network) or a WAN (Wide Area Network). The network interface 1060 may be connected to the network wirelessly or by wire. Control unit 140 communicates with advertisement selection device 20 via network interface 1060.

[0080] An example of the hardware configuration of the advertisement selection device 20 is also similar to the example of the hardware configuration of the control unit 140 shown in Fig. 6. In this case, the storage device 1040 stores program modules that realize each function of the advertisement selection device 20 (e.g., the candidate display unit 220 and the advertisement selection unit 230). Furthermore, the storage device 1040 also functions as the second storage unit 210.

[0081] 7 is a flowchart showing a first example of processing performed by the luggage management device 10. This diagram shows processing performed by the luggage management device 10 when the user of the luggage management device 10, i.e., the recipient, picks up the luggage 30.

[0082] First, the package processing unit 142 of the package management device 10 acquires package identification information from the recipient (step S10), and then causes the transport unit 130 to transport the package 30 indicated by the package identification information to the placement area 110 (step S20).

[0083] While step S20 is being performed, the advertisement output unit 144 causes the output device 160 to output advertisement information (step S30). At this time, the advertisement output unit 144 may acquire attributes of the recipient and select advertisement information using these attributes. The recipient recognizes this advertisement information. If the recipient wishes to purchase the product 40 corresponding to the advertisement information, the recipient operates, for example, a touch panel display as the output device 160 to input information indicating a desire to purchase the product 40, i.e., purchase request information. When this purchase request information is input (step S40: Yes), the sales processing unit 146 executes a payment process for the product 40 (step S50). Upon completion of this payment process, the sales processing unit 146 causes the transport unit 130 to transport the product 40 to the placement area 110 (step S60). This transport process is preferably performed after the recipient moves the package 30 from the placement area 110. The movement of the package 30 is detected, for example, using sensors installed around the placement area 110. The recipient then receives the product 40 transported to the placement area 110.

[0084] 8 is a flowchart showing a second example of processing performed by the luggage management device 10. This diagram shows processing performed by the luggage management device 10 when a user of the luggage management device 10, i.e., a recipient, sends a new luggage 30.

[0085] First, the luggage processing unit 142 of the luggage management device 10 detects that luggage 30 has been placed in the placement area 110 using the detection results of the sensors installed in the placement area 110 (step S12). Then, the luggage processing unit 142 executes a shipping process for the luggage 30. An example of this shipping process is, as described above, obtaining delivery information and printing a delivery slip (step S22).

[0086] The subsequent processing (steps S30 to S60) is as explained using Fig. 7. The transport processing of the product 40 is carried out after the package 30 is transported to the storage area 120.

[0087] As described above, according to this embodiment, the luggage management device 10 includes a transport unit 130, an advertisement output unit 144, and a sales processing unit 146. The transport unit 130 transports luggage 30 between the placement area 110 and the storage area 120, and transports products 40 from the storage area 120 to the placement area 110. The advertisement output unit 144 makes the user of the luggage management device 10 aware of advertisements for products 40 that the luggage management device 10 can sell. The sales processing unit 146 then controls the transport unit 130 to transport the products 40 for which the user has completed payment processing to the placement area 110. Therefore, services other than the exchange of luggage 30 can be provided to the user.

[0088] The advertisement selection device 20 also includes a candidate display unit 220 and an advertisement selection unit 230. The candidate display unit 220 displays selectable candidate products that are candidates for the product 40 that the baggage management device 10 will sell on a store clerk terminal operated by a store clerk who manages the baggage management device 10. When at least one candidate product is selected, the advertisement selection unit 230 enables the advertisement output unit 144 to output advertisement information for the selected candidate product. This allows the store clerk to easily select a product 40 to be sold by the baggage management device 10 and to have the advertisement output unit 144 output advertisement information for that product 40.

[0089] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the drawings, these are merely examples of the present invention, and various other configurations can also be adopted.

[0090] In addition, in the flowcharts used in the above description, multiple steps (processes) are described in order, but the order of execution of the steps performed in each embodiment is not limited to the order described. In each embodiment, the order of the steps shown in the drawings can be changed to the extent that the content is not affected. Furthermore, the above-mentioned embodiments can be combined to the extent that the content is not contradictory.

[0091] Some or all of the above-described embodiments can be described as, but are not limited to, the following supplementary notes. 1. A package management device for managing packages to be delivered, a transport means for transporting luggage between a loading area where the luggage is placed when the luggage is exchanged between a user and the luggage management device and a storage area where the luggage is stored; an advertisement output means for outputting, to an output device, advertisement information relating to the products stored in the placement area in a transportable state; a sales processing means for causing the transport means to transport the commodity to the placement area when a payment process for purchasing the commodity is completed after the advertising information is output; A luggage management device comprising: 2. In the luggage management device described in 1 above, A luggage management device comprising a luggage processing means for acquiring luggage identification information from the user and causing the transport means to transport luggage corresponding to the luggage identification information from the storage area to the placement area. 3. In the luggage management device described in 1 or 2 above, The goods are stored in the storage area. 4. In the luggage management device described in 3 above, the storage area has a plurality of sub-areas; A luggage management device, wherein the sub-area where the products are stored maintains an environment corresponding to the attributes of the products. 5. In the luggage management device according to any one of the above items 1 to 4, A plurality of types of the said products are stored, The advertisement output means selects a specific product from the plurality of types of products using attribute information of the user, and outputs the advertisement information for the specific product. 6. In the luggage management device described in 5 above, The attribute information includes at least one of age group, gender, and purchase history. 7. An advertisement selection device that communicates with the luggage management device described in any one of 1 to 6 above and selects the product, The luggage management device is managed by a store, a candidate display means for displaying, on a clerk terminal operated by a clerk at the store, candidate products that are candidates for the commodity in a selectable manner; an advertisement selection means for enabling the advertisement output means to output the advertisement information of the selected candidate product when at least one of the candidate products is selected; An advertisement selection device comprising: 8. In the advertisement selection device according to 7 above, the advertisement output means acquires the advertisement information to be output using a storage means that stores at least one of advertisement identification information that identifies the advertisement information to be output and the advertisement information; The advertisement selection device, wherein the advertisement selection means stores the advertisement identification information of the advertisement information of the selected candidate product or the advertisement information in the storage means. 9. In the advertisement selection device according to 7 or 8 above, The candidate products are determined using sales records of the products at a plurality of the package management devices installed at different locations. 10. The luggage management device according to any one of 1 to 6 above, The advertisement selection device according to any one of items 7 to 9 above; An advertisement providing system comprising: 11. A computer that controls a luggage management device equipped with a transport means that transports luggage between a loading area where the luggage is placed when the luggage is exchanged with a user and a storage area where the luggage is stored, outputting, on an output device, advertising information relating to the products stored in the placement area in a transportable state; the product sales method further comprising: causing the transport means to transport the product to the placement area when a payment process for purchasing the product is completed after the advertising information is output. 12. In the product sales method described in 11 above, The computer acquires baggage identification information from the user and causes the transport means to transport the baggage corresponding to the baggage identification information from the storage area to the placement area. 13. In the product sales method described in 11 or 12 above, The merchandise is stored in the storage area. 14. In the product sales method described in 13 above, the storage area has a plurality of sub-areas; In the sub-area where the merchandise is stored, an environment corresponding to the attributes of the merchandise is maintained. 15. In the product sales method described in any one of 11 to 14 above, A plurality of types of the said products are stored, The computer selects a specific product from the plurality of types of products using the user's attribute information, and outputs the advertising information for the specific product. 16. In the product sales method described in 15 above, The product sales method, wherein the attribute information includes at least one of age group, gender, and purchase history. 17. A computer that communicates with the luggage management device described in any one of 1 to 6 above, displaying, in a selectable manner, candidate products that are candidates for the product on a store clerk terminal operated by a store clerk who manages the package management device; The advertisement selection method allows the advertisement output means to output the advertisement information of the selected candidate product when at least one of the candidate products is selected. 18. In the advertisement selection method described in 17 above, The computer acquiring the advertising information to be output using a storage means for storing at least one of advertisement identification information for identifying the advertising information to be output and the advertising information; the advertisement identification information of the advertisement information of the selected candidate product or the advertisement information is stored in the storage means. 19. In the advertisement selection method described in 17 or 18 above, The advertisement selection method, wherein the candidate products are determined using sales records of the products at a plurality of the luggage management devices installed in different locations. 20. A computer that controls a luggage management device equipped with a transport means that transports luggage between a loading area where the luggage is placed when the luggage is exchanged with a user and a storage area where the luggage is stored, an advertisement output function for outputting, to an output device, advertisement information relating to the products stored in the placement area in a transportable state; a sales processing function for causing the conveying means to convey the commodity to the placement area when a payment process for purchasing the commodity is completed after the advertising information is output; A program that allows you to have 21. The program according to claim 20, A program comprising a luggage processing means for acquiring luggage identification information from the user and causing the transport means to transport luggage corresponding to the luggage identification information from the storage area to the placement area. 22. In the program according to 21 or 22 above, The product is stored in the storage area. 23. In the program according to 22 above, the storage area has a plurality of sub-areas; The program maintains an environment in the sub-area where the products are stored that corresponds to the attributes of the products. 24. In the program according to any one of the above items 20 to 23, A plurality of types of the said products are stored, The advertisement output function is a program that selects a specific product from the multiple types of products using attribute information of the user, and outputs the advertisement information for the specific product. 25. In the program according to 24 above, The program, wherein the attribute information includes at least one of age group, gender, and purchase history. 26. A computer that communicates with the luggage management device described in any one of 1 to 6 above, a candidate display function that displays, in a selectable manner, candidate products that are candidates for the product on a store clerk terminal operated by a store clerk who manages the package management device; an advertisement selection function that enables the advertisement output means to output the advertisement information of the selected candidate product when at least one of the candidate products is selected; A program that allows you to have 27. In the program according to 26 above, The advertisement output function acquires the advertisement information to be output using a storage means that stores at least one of advertisement identification information that identifies the advertisement information to be output and the advertisement information, The advertisement selection function is a program that causes the storage means to store the advertisement identification information of the advertisement information of the selected candidate product or the advertisement information. 28. In the program according to 26 or 27 above, The program determines the candidate products using sales records of the products at multiple luggage management devices installed in different locations. [Explanation of symbols]

[0092] 10. Luggage management device 20 Advertisement selection device 110 Loading area 120 storage area 130 Conveyor 140 Control Unit 142 Baggage Processing Department 144 Advertising Output Unit 146 Sales Department 150 1st memory section 160 output devices 210 2nd memory section 220 Candidate display area 230 Advertisement Selection Department

Claims

1. A package management device that manages packages to be delivered; an advertisement selection device that communicates with the package management device and selects a product to be advertised; Equipped with The luggage management device is Managed by the store a transport means for transporting luggage between a loading area where the luggage is placed when the luggage is exchanged between a user and the luggage management device and a storage area where the luggage is stored; an advertisement output means for outputting, to an output device, advertisement information relating to the product stored in the placement area in a transportable state; a sales processing means for causing the transport means to transport the commodity to the placement area when a payment process for purchasing the commodity is completed after the advertising information is output; Equipped with The advertisement selection device a candidate display means for displaying, on a clerk terminal operated by a clerk at the store, candidate products that are candidates for the commodity in a selectable manner; an advertisement selection means for enabling the advertisement output means to output the advertisement information of the selected candidate product when at least one of the candidate products is selected; An advertisement providing system comprising:

2. The advertisement providing system according to claim 1 , The luggage management device is equipped with a luggage processing means that acquires luggage identification information from the user and causes the transportation means to transport luggage corresponding to the luggage identification information from the storage area to the placement area, in an advertising provision system.

3. 3. The advertisement providing system according to claim 1, The product is stored in the storage area.

4. The advertisement providing system according to claim 3, the storage area has a plurality of sub-areas; An advertisement providing system, wherein the sub-area where the products are stored maintains an environment corresponding to the attributes of the products.

5. In the advertisement providing system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, A plurality of types of the said products are stored, The advertisement output means selects a specific product from the plurality of types of products using attribute information of the user, and outputs the advertisement information for the specific product.

6. The advertisement providing system according to claim 5 , The attribute information includes at least one of age group, gender, and purchase history.

7. In the advertisement providing system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, the advertisement output means acquires the advertisement information to be output using a storage means that stores at least one of advertisement identification information that identifies the advertisement information to be output and the advertisement information; The advertisement selection means stores the advertisement identification information of the advertisement information of the selected candidate product or the advertisement information in the storage means.

8. In the advertisement providing system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, An advertisement providing system in which the candidate products are determined using sales records of the products at a plurality of the luggage management devices installed in different locations.

9. a first computer that controls a luggage management device having a transport means that transports luggage between a placement area where luggage is placed when the luggage is exchanged with a user and a storage area where the luggage is stored; outputting, on an output device, advertising information relating to the products stored in the placement area in a transportable state; After the advertisement information is output, when the payment process for purchasing the product is completed, the conveying means conveys the product to the placement area, a second computer in communication with the first computer, displaying, in a selectable manner, candidate products that are candidates for the product on a store clerk terminal operated by a store clerk who manages the package management device; The advertisement selection method allows the output device to output the advertisement information of the selected candidate product when at least one of the candidate products is selected.

Images