Information processing device, information processing program, and information processing method

Abstract

To provide an information processing apparatus, an information processing program, and an information processing method which can reduce burden of a customer in money and time in an article delivery order system in which a plurality of delivery services can be used.SOLUTION: An information processing apparatus according to the present invention has a request unit for acquiring delivery destination information of an ordered article from a communication terminal apparatus of a customer, for calculating, as a first delivery cost of a first delivery service, a scheduled delivery time and the like from the delivery destination information and the shop location information based on the set information, for delivery from the shop to the delivery destination for providing the delivery destination information and the shop location information to an external information processing apparatus providing the second delivery service operated by another business operator and acquiring, as a second delivery cost of a second delivery service, a scheduled delivery time and the like for delivery from the shop to the delivery destination from the external information processing apparatus, and for sending a request for delivery of the article to an information processing apparatus operating a delivery service corresponding to the smaller delivery cost among the first delivery cost and the second delivery cost.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, an information processing program, and an information processing method.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, eating and drinking in stores was the main activity, but due to the spread of the novel coronavirus infection, the opportunity to refrain from eating out and have meals at home or the like has increased. Due to such changes in the social situation, food delivery services that allow customers to order and request delivery of food from smartphone application software (so-called "apps") or the Internet have attracted attention.

[0003] An explanation of the food delivery service will be given. When a restaurant joins any food delivery service, the menu of that restaurant becomes searchable on the app of the food delivery service to which it has joined. When the user selects the menu of the searched restaurant and completes the payment, the order information is transmitted to the store. On the store side, products (dishes) are prepared based on the order information, and after the preparation is completed, the products are handed over to the delivery staff provided by the food delivery service. The delivery staff who receives the product delivers the product to the delivery destination.

[0004] However, generally, when joining a food delivery service, it is necessary to bear certain costs such as joining fees and commissions. Therefore, depending on the business situation, there are also restaurants that do not join such food delivery services and accept food delivery orders on their own store websites and perform deliveries by their own store staff.

[0005] Therefore, some companies that provide food delivery services provide delivery staff only when necessary and perform product deliveries for restaurants that accept food delivery orders on their own store websites at only the cost of the delivery fee without concluding a franchise contract for the food delivery service (hereinafter referred to as "non-franchise delivery service").

[0006] This means that such restaurants can rent delivery drivers only when needed, pay only the delivery fee, and have their orders delivered without having to sign a franchise agreement with the food delivery service. They can continue to take orders through their own website or other channels as before, and only outsource the delivery portion to the food delivery service.

[0007] Furthermore, the following can be cited as technologies related to delivery management. Patent Document 1 discloses a delivery management system that can calculate an estimated delivery time for a product before the user places an order for the product. This delivery management system comprises a resource management unit that manages delivery resource information including information on multiple delivery resources; a receiving unit that receives information identifying the supply base for the product and information on the delivery destination area, which is the area including the delivery destination, from a sales system that receives a request for an estimated delivery time for a product to a delivery destination from the user's terminal; and an estimate calculation unit that calculates an estimated delivery time before the sales system receives an order for a product from the user terminal, based on the information identifying the supply base and the delivery destination area received by the receiving unit from the sales system, as well as the delivery resource information managed by the resource management unit.

[0008] Furthermore, Patent Document 2 discloses a product delivery contracting system that can appropriately calculate delivery charges when a delivery person delivers goods from a business to a customer. The product delivery contracting system comprises a management server, a business terminal for businesses supplying goods, a customer terminal for customers to place product orders and delivery requests with the management server, and a delivery person terminal for delivery persons to deliver the goods. The management server includes a notification means for simultaneously notifying the business terminal and multiple delivery person terminals of information about product delivery work received from the customer terminal, and a calculation means for calculating delivery charges for each delivery person based on the response information from the delivery person terminals indicating their desire to undertake the work. The delivery person terminal includes a response means for sending information about the completion location of the work specified by the delivery person in the response information. The calculation means calculates the delivery charge by determining the required travel time between each location registered by the delivery person in the system: the start location of the delivery work, the location where the goods are supplied, the delivery location of the goods, and the completion location of the work. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0009] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2023-050290 [Patent Document 2] Patent No. 6977107 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0010] As mentioned above, restaurants using non-affiliated delivery services can outsource deliveries that they previously handled themselves, without having to pay membership fees. This eliminates the need to allocate staff to deliveries, allowing them to concentrate their resources on running their own business. On the other hand, depending on the time of day and delivery area, it may be more efficient or convenient for the restaurant's own staff to handle deliveries.

[0011] Given this background, it might be possible to use both the delivery services provided by the store itself and the aforementioned non-affiliated delivery services. However, simply using both services together could confuse customers who place delivery orders via the internet or telephone and have their items delivered to a specified location. In other words, since customers cannot immediately tell which delivery service to use, it is more user-friendly to suggest the service that offers the greatest benefit to the customer.

[0012] Therefore, the present invention provides a technology for providing delivery services that further reduce the financial or time burden on customers in a delivery ordering system for goods that can utilize multiple delivery services. [Means for solving the problem]

[0013] An information processing device according to one aspect of the present invention, when receiving an order for a product, including the delivery of the product, from a communication terminal device used by a customer, includes: a first acquisition unit that acquires delivery destination information regarding the delivery destination; a calculation unit that, based on pre-set setting information, calculates the estimated delivery time or delivery date or delivery fee from the store to the delivery destination as the first delivery cost of the first delivery service, which indicates the product delivery service provided by the store; and a second acquisition unit that provides the delivery destination information and the store's location information to an external information processing device that provides a second delivery service, which indicates a product delivery service provided by another business operator different from the store, and acquires the estimated delivery time or delivery date or delivery fee from the store to the delivery destination as the second delivery cost of the second delivery service from the external information processing device. A providing unit that, among the first delivery cost and the second delivery cost, takes the delivery time or scheduled delivery time included in the delivery cost information of the delivery service corresponding to the delivery cost with the smallest value as the shortest scheduled delivery time or earliest scheduled delivery time, adds a predetermined value to the scheduled delivery time or scheduled delivery time and provides it to the communication terminal device as the longest scheduled delivery time or latest scheduled delivery time, and responds to the response from the communication terminal device, value smallest The delivery operation device, which is an information processing device for operating a delivery service that corresponds to the delivery cost, is characterized by comprising a request unit for requesting the delivery of the said product.

[0014] An information processing device according to one aspect of the present invention, when receiving an order for a product, including the delivery of the product, from a communication terminal device used by a customer, includes a first acquisition unit that acquires delivery destination information regarding the delivery destination, and a second acquisition unit that provides the delivery destination information and store location information to a plurality of external information processing devices that provide a delivery service indicating the delivery service for the product, and acquires the estimated delivery time or estimated delivery date or delivery fee from the store to the delivery destination as the delivery cost for each of the delivery services from each of the plurality of external information processing devices, A providing unit that, among the delivery costs of each of the aforementioned delivery services, takes the delivery time or estimated delivery time included in the delivery cost information of the delivery service corresponding to the delivery cost with the smallest value as the shortest delivery time or earliest delivery time, adds a predetermined value to the delivery time or estimated delivery time and provides it to the communication terminal device as the longest delivery time or latest delivery time, and responds to the response from the communication terminal device, value smallest The external information processing device, which operates a delivery service corresponding to the delivery cost, is characterized by comprising a request unit for requesting the delivery of the said product.

[0015] A program relating to one aspect of the present invention includes, when an information processing device receives an order for a product, including the delivery of the product, from a communication terminal device used by a customer, a first acquisition process for acquiring delivery destination information; a calculation process for calculating, based on pre-set configuration information, the estimated delivery time or delivery date or delivery fee from the store to the delivery destination, using the delivery destination information and the store's location information, as the first delivery cost of the first delivery service, which indicates the product delivery service provided by the store; and a second acquisition process for providing the delivery destination information and the store's location information to an external information processing device that provides a second delivery service, which indicates a product delivery service provided by another business operator different from the store, and acquiring from the external information processing device the estimated delivery time or delivery date or delivery fee from the store to the delivery destination, as the second delivery cost of the second delivery service. A provision process that provides to the communication terminal device the delivery time or scheduled delivery time included in the delivery cost information of the delivery service corresponding to the delivery cost with the smallest value among the first delivery cost and the second delivery cost, and adds a predetermined value to the delivery time or scheduled delivery time to obtain the longest delivery time or latest delivery time, and in response to a response from the communication terminal device, value smallest The delivery operation device, which is an information processing device that operates a delivery service corresponding to the delivery cost, is characterized by causing it to execute a request process for requesting the delivery of the aforementioned goods.

[0016] A program relating to one aspect of the present invention includes, when an information processing device receives an order for a product, including the delivery of the product, from a communication terminal device used by a customer, a first acquisition process for acquiring delivery destination information, and a second acquisition process for providing the delivery destination information and store location information to a plurality of external information processing devices that provide delivery services indicating the delivery service for the product, and acquiring the estimated delivery time or delivery date or delivery fee from each of the plurality of external information processing devices as the delivery cost for each of the delivery services. The delivery cost of each of the aforementioned delivery services is used to determine the shortest delivery time or earliest delivery time, which is included in the delivery cost information of the delivery service corresponding to the delivery cost with the smallest value among the delivery costs of each of the aforementioned delivery services. A predetermined value is added to the delivery time or earliest delivery time to determine the longest delivery time or latest delivery time, and this is provided to the communication terminal device. In response to a response from the communication terminal device, the value smallest The system is characterized by causing an external information processing device, which operates a delivery service corresponding to the delivery cost, to execute a request process for requesting the delivery of the aforementioned goods. In a method relating to one aspect of the present invention, when an information processing device receives an order for a product, including the delivery of the product, from a communication terminal device used by a customer, the device performs a first acquisition process to acquire delivery destination information relating to the delivery destination; a calculation process to calculate the estimated delivery time or delivery date or delivery fee from the store to the delivery destination based on the delivery destination information and the store's location information, as the first delivery cost of the first delivery service indicating the product delivery service performed by the store, based on pre-set setting information; and providing the delivery destination information and the store's location information to an external information processing device that provides a second delivery service indicating the product delivery service performed by another business operator different from the store, so that the external information processing device can access the delivery destination from the store to the delivery destination The system is characterized by performing the following steps: a second acquisition process to acquire the estimated delivery time or delivery date or delivery fee as the second delivery cost of the second delivery service; a provision process to provide the communication terminal device with the shortest estimated delivery time or earliest estimated delivery date, which is included in the delivery cost information of the delivery service corresponding to the delivery cost with the smallest value among the first delivery cost and the second delivery cost; and a request process to request the delivery of the goods from a delivery operation layer device, which is an information processing device that operates the delivery service corresponding to the delivery cost with the smallest value, in response to a response from the communication terminal device. In a method relating to one aspect of the present invention, when an information processing device receives an order for a product, including the delivery of the product, from a communication terminal device used by a customer, it performs a first acquisition process to acquire delivery destination information relating to the delivery destination; a second acquisition process to provide the delivery destination information and store location information to a plurality of external information processing devices that provide delivery services indicating the delivery service for the product, and to acquire the estimated delivery time or estimated delivery date or delivery fee from each of the plurality of external information processing devices as the delivery cost for each of the delivery services; a provision process to provide the communication terminal device with the shortest or earliest estimated delivery time, which is included in the delivery cost information of the delivery service corresponding to the delivery cost with the smallest value among the delivery costs for each of the delivery services, by adding a predetermined value to the estimated delivery time or estimated delivery date; and a request process to request the delivery of the product from an external information processing device that operates the delivery service corresponding to the delivery cost with the smallest value, in response to a response from the communication terminal device. [Effects of the Invention]

[0017] According to the information processing technology related to one aspect of the present invention, in a delivery order system for products that can utilize multiple delivery services, it is possible to provide a delivery service that further reduces the financial or time burden on customers.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0018] [Figure 1] It is a diagram showing an information processing apparatus in one aspect of the present invention. [Figure 2] It is a diagram showing an example of the overall configuration of the delivery order system in this embodiment. [Figure 3] It is a functional block diagram of the management server in this embodiment. [Figure 4] It is a diagram showing an example of the data structure of the database managed by the management server 13 in this embodiment. [Figure 5] It is a diagram showing an example of the delivery setting screen in this embodiment. [Figure 6] It is a diagram showing an example of the order reception screen in this embodiment. [Figure 7] It is a diagram showing an example of the cart confirmation screen in this embodiment. [Figure 8] It is a diagram showing an example of the delivery destination setting screen in this embodiment. [Figure 9] It is a diagram showing an example of the delivery service selection screen in this embodiment. [Figure 10] It is a diagram showing an example of the order confirmation screen in this embodiment. [Figure 11] It is a sequence diagram at the time of delivery order in this embodiment (Example 1). [Figure 12] It is a flowchart showing an example of the delivery order processing by the management server in this embodiment (Example 1). [Figure 13] It is a flowchart regarding an example of the detailed processing of the sorting process (S29) in this embodiment (Example 1). [Figure 14]This is a sequence diagram of the delivery order process in this embodiment (Example 2). [Figure 15] This flowchart shows an example of delivery order processing by the management server in this embodiment (Example 2). [Figure 16] This is a sequence diagram of the delivery order process in this embodiment (Example 3). [Figure 17] This flowchart shows an example of delivery order processing by the management server in this embodiment (Example 3). [Figure 18] This is a sequence diagram of the delivery order process in this embodiment (Example 4). [Figure 19] This is an example of a block diagram showing the configuration of the hardware environment of a computer that runs the program in this embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0019] Figure 1 shows an information processing device representing one aspect of the present invention. The information processing device 1 includes a first acquisition unit 2, a calculation unit 3, a second acquisition unit 4, and a provision unit 5. An example of the information processing device 1 is the management server 13, which will be described later.

[0020] The first acquisition unit 2 acquires delivery address information when it receives an order for goods, including delivery, from a customer's communication terminal device. An example of the first acquisition unit 2 is the reception unit 23, which will be described later. An example of a communication terminal device is the user terminal 18, which will be described later. The delivery address information is information indicating the location of the delivery address, and is not limited to an address, but may also be location information expressed in latitude and longitude, or map information.

[0021] The calculation unit 3 calculates the estimated delivery time or delivery date or delivery fee from the store to the delivery destination, based on the delivery destination information and the store's location information, as the first delivery cost of the first delivery service, which represents the product delivery service provided by the store. An example of the calculation unit 3 is the delivery processing unit 24, which will be described later. An example of the first delivery service is the delivery service of Company A (our own company), which will be described later. The store's location information is, for example, the store's address, but is not limited to this; it may also be location information expressed by latitude and longitude, or map information.

[0022] The second acquisition unit 4 provides delivery destination information and store location information to an external information processing device that provides a second delivery service indicating a delivery service for goods provided by a business operator other than the store, and acquires the estimated delivery time or delivery fee or delivery fee from the store to the delivery destination as the second delivery cost of the second delivery service from the external information processing device. An example of the second acquisition unit 4 is the delivery processing unit 24, which will be described later. An example of the external information processing device is the delivery service server 16, which will be described later. An example of the second delivery service is the delivery service of Company B, which will be described later.

[0023] The provisioning unit 5 provides the communication terminal device with delivery cost list information, including at least one of the first delivery cost and the second delivery cost, in a predetermined order based on pre-configured setting information. An example of the setting information is the setting information management DB 33, which will be described later. An example of the delivery cost list information is the list displayed in the delivery cost list display field 93.

[0024] By configuring the system in this way, it becomes possible to provide delivery services that further reduce the financial or time burden on customers in a delivery ordering system for products that can utilize multiple delivery services. In other words, in a delivery ordering system for products that can utilize both the store's own delivery service and other delivery services, it becomes possible to provide customers with a delivery service that makes it easier for them to distinguish which delivery service will further reduce their financial or time burden.

[0025] The information processing device 1 further includes a request unit 6. When the request unit 6 receives delivery identification information from the communication terminal device, which identifies one of the delivery costs selected by the customer from among the delivery costs included in the delivery cost list information, it requests the delivery of the goods from the delivery operation device, which is an information processing device that operates the delivery service corresponding to the delivery identification information among the first delivery service and the second delivery service. An example of the request unit 6 is the delivery processing unit 24, which will be described later. An example of the delivery operation device is the store terminal 14 or the delivery service server 16, which will be described later.

[0026] By configuring it in this way, the system can request product delivery from an information processing device that operates a delivery service corresponding to the delivery cost selected by the customer, based on the delivery costs provided to the customer in a predetermined order.

[0027] The service provider 5 provides the communication terminal device with delivery cost list information in the order of first delivery service, second delivery service, delivery fee, or scheduled delivery time. The delivery fee order and the scheduled delivery time may also be in ascending order.

[0028] By structuring the service in this way, it becomes possible to offer delivery costs that are advantageous to the customer in a manner that makes it easier for them to choose.

[0029] If the value of the first delivery cost is greater than a predetermined value or the delivery destination is outside a predetermined area, the service unit 5 provides the communication terminal device with a list of delivery costs excluding the first delivery cost in a predetermined order. If the value of the first delivery cost is the scheduled delivery time or scheduled delivery date, the predetermined value is, for example, the value obtained by dividing the delivery time from a predetermined store or the distance from a predetermined store by a predetermined speed. A predetermined area is, for example, an area represented by a certain range of administrative divisions, such as Shinjuku Ward or Shibuya Ward.

[0030] By configuring it in this way, for example, with regard to delivery services, if the scheduled delivery time or delivery fee exceeds a certain value, and the burden on the store becomes too great, the store can suspend its own delivery service and use only other delivery services.

[0031] The service provider uses the estimated delivery time or estimated delivery date included in the delivery cost list information as the shortest estimated delivery time or earliest estimated delivery time, and adds a predetermined value to the estimated delivery time or estimated delivery date to provide the communication terminal device with the longest estimated delivery time or latest estimated delivery time.

[0032] By configuring the system in this way, it is possible to inform customers of a predetermined delivery time or estimated delivery date with a certain time window, thus enabling the system to respond to delivery delays caused by in-store conditions (order status, customer traffic, etc.) or delivery conditions (traffic congestion, etc.).

[0033] In another embodiment, the request unit 6 may request the delivery of goods from a delivery operation device, which is an information processing device that operates a delivery service corresponding to the delivery cost corresponding to the smaller of the first and second delivery costs. An example of a delivery operation device is the store terminal 14 or the delivery service server 16, which will be described later.

[0034] By configuring the system in this way, it becomes possible to provide delivery services that further reduce the financial or time burden on customers in a delivery ordering system for products that can utilize multiple delivery services. In other words, it becomes possible to provide delivery services that further reduce the financial or time burden on customers in a delivery ordering system for products that can utilize both the store's own delivery service and other delivery services.

[0035] Furthermore, another embodiment is the following information processing device 1. This information processing device 1 includes a first acquisition unit 2, a second acquisition unit 4, and a provision unit 5. An example of the information processing device 1 is the management server 13, which will be described later.

[0036] The first acquisition unit 2 acquires delivery address information when it receives an order for goods, including delivery, from a communication terminal device used by a customer. An example of a communication terminal device is the user terminal 18, which will be described later. The delivery address information is information indicating the location of the delivery destination, and is not limited to an address, but may also be location information expressed in latitude and longitude, or map information.

[0037] The second acquisition unit 4 provides delivery destination information and store location information to multiple external information processing devices that provide delivery services for goods, and acquires the estimated delivery time or estimated delivery date or delivery fee from each of the multiple external information processing devices as the delivery cost for each delivery service. Examples of each delivery service include the delivery services of Company B, Company C, etc., which will be described later. The store location information is, for example, the store's address, but is not limited to this; it may also be location information expressed by latitude and longitude, or map information.

[0038] The provisioning unit 5 provides the communication terminal device with the delivery cost for each delivery service in a predetermined order, based on pre-configured settings information. An example of the settings information is the settings information management DB 33, which will be described later.

[0039] By configuring the system in this way, it becomes possible to provide delivery services that further reduce the financial or time burden on customers in a delivery ordering system for products that can utilize multiple delivery services. In other words, in a delivery ordering system for products that can utilize multiple delivery services, it becomes possible to provide customers with delivery services that make it easier for them to identify the service that will further reduce their financial or time burden.

[0040] Furthermore, another embodiment is the following information processing device 1. This information processing device 1 includes a first acquisition unit 2, a second acquisition unit 4, and a request unit 6. An example of the information processing device 1 is the management server 13, which will be described later.

[0041] The first acquisition unit 2 acquires delivery address information when it receives an order for goods, including delivery, from a communication terminal device used by a customer. An example of a communication terminal device is the user terminal 18, which will be described later. The delivery address information is information indicating the location of the delivery destination, and is not limited to an address, but may also be location information expressed in latitude and longitude, or map information.

[0042] The second acquisition unit 4 provides delivery destination information and store location information to multiple external information processing devices that provide delivery services indicating product delivery services, and acquires the estimated delivery time or estimated delivery date or delivery fee from each of the multiple external information processing devices as the delivery cost for each delivery service. An example of the second acquisition unit 4 is the delivery processing unit 24, which will be described later. An example of an external information processing device is the delivery service server 16, which will be described later. The store location information is, for example, the store's address, but is not limited to this; it may also be location information expressed by latitude and longitude, or map information.

[0043] The request unit 6 requests the delivery of the goods from an external information processing device that operates the delivery service corresponding to the delivery cost with the smaller value among the multiple delivery costs obtained. An example of the request unit 6 is the delivery processing unit 24, which will be described later.

[0044] By configuring the system in this way, it becomes possible to provide delivery services that further reduce the financial or time burden on customers in a delivery ordering system for products that can utilize multiple delivery services.

[0045] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0046] Figure 2 shows an example of the overall configuration of the delivery order system in this embodiment. The delivery order system 11 includes a web server 12, a management server 13, a store terminal 14, a delivery driver terminal 15, a delivery service server 16, a delivery driver terminal 17, a user terminal 18, and a communication network 19. The web server 12, management server 13, store terminal 14, delivery driver terminal 15, delivery service server 16, delivery driver terminal 17, and user terminal 18 are interconnected by the communication network 19.

[0047] The web server 12, management server 13, store terminal 14, delivery driver terminal 15, delivery service server 16, delivery driver terminal 17, and user terminal 18 are all so-called electronic computers equipped with a central processing unit (CPU), memory and storage devices, communication interfaces, etc. (none of which are shown in the illustration). Each device executes a predetermined computer program using the CPU, memory and storage media, etc.

[0048] Web server 12 is a server device that manages the website (delivery order acceptance site) for receiving delivery orders to the restaurant A operated by Company A (hereinafter sometimes referred to as "our company"). Although only one web server 12 is shown in Figure 2 for convenience, in reality, multiple web servers may be connected.

[0049] The management server 13 is a server device that processes requests related to delivery orders received from user terminals 18 via the web server 12. For example, the management server 13 manages the menu of products to be displayed on the delivery order acceptance site, calculates the delivery costs of Company A (estimated delivery time or estimated delivery time or delivery fee), obtains the delivery costs of other companies (estimated delivery time or estimated delivery time or delivery fee) from other companies' delivery service servers 16, executes order processing, and sends delivery requests to servers (including store terminals 14) corresponding to the delivery service to be used (including Company A's delivery service).

[0050] The store terminal 14 is a terminal that displays store management screens, settings screens, etc., for employees of the store where the store terminal 14 is installed to check the status of delivery orders, etc. The store terminal 14 also manages deliveries related to Company A's delivery orders. The store terminal 14 includes, for example, a personal computer (PC), a smartphone, and a tablet computer.

[0051] In Figure 2, for convenience, only one store terminal 14 is shown within a single store. However, a single store may have multiple store terminals 14, and multiple stores may each have one or more store terminals 14.

[0052] The delivery person terminal 15 is an information and communication terminal with communication capabilities used by delivery persons of Company A, and includes, for example, personal computers (PCs), smartphones, and tablet computers. Although only one delivery person terminal 15 is shown in Figure 2 for convenience, there may be multiple terminals.

[0053] The delivery service server 16 is a server that executes processing related to delivery services in order to realize food and beverage delivery services provided by another company (for example, Company B). In Figure 2, for convenience only, the server that realizes the delivery service provided by Company B is shown, but there may also be servers that realize delivery services provided by other companies (for example, Company C, Company D, etc.).

[0054] The delivery driver terminal 17 is an information and communication terminal with communication capabilities used by B Company's delivery drivers, and includes, for example, personal computers (PCs), smartphones, and tablet computers. Although only one delivery driver terminal 17 is shown in Figure 2 for convenience, there may be multiple terminals. Furthermore, if there are servers providing delivery services from other companies (e.g., C Company, D Company, etc.), there may be corresponding delivery driver terminals for those companies.

[0055] The user terminal 18 is, for example, an information and communication terminal with communication functions owned or possessed by each user, and includes, for example, a personal computer (PC), a smartphone, and a tablet computer. Although only one user terminal 18 is shown in Figure 2 for convenience, there may be multiple user terminals 18.

[0056] The user terminal 18 has an arbitrary OS (Operating System) installed, and also application software installed. This application software may include, for example, a web browser, a delivery ordering app, or a restaurant reservation app. In Figure 2, as an example, the user terminal 18 has a web browser installed.

[0057] Furthermore, the web server 12, management server 13, store terminal 14, and delivery service server 16 may each be a server system composed of one or more physical information processing devices, or a virtual server system composed of one or more virtual server devices.

[0058] Figure 3 is a functional block diagram of the management server in this embodiment. The management server 13 includes a control unit 21 and a storage unit 31. The control unit 21 functions as a setting unit 22, a reception unit 23, a delivery processing unit 24, and an order processing unit 25 by reading and executing the program according to this embodiment from the storage unit 31.

[0059] When a store employee logs in via a web browser installed on the store terminal 14, the settings unit 22 displays a settings screen on the store terminal 14 for configuring the delivery order system, and registers the information entered on the settings screen with the management server 13.

[0060] The reception unit 23 receives various requests and input information related to delivery orders sent from the user terminal 18 via the web server 12.

[0061] The delivery processing unit 24 registers the configuration information sent from the user terminal 18 in the configuration information management DB 33. It also registers the delivery destination information sent from the user terminal 18 in the customer management DB 32. The delivery processing unit 24 refers to the delivery request destination management DB 37 to obtain information about servers that operate available delivery services. The delivery processing unit 24 calculates the delivery cost of Company A (delivery fee, estimated delivery time (or estimated delivery time)) and obtains the delivery cost of other companies (delivery fee, estimated delivery time (or estimated delivery time)) from other companies' delivery service servers 16 based on the referencing results of the delivery request destination management DB 37. The delivery processing unit 24 may also send a delivery cost list, which is a list of the obtained delivery cost information for each company, to the user terminal 18 via the web server 12. Furthermore, the delivery processing unit 24 makes a delivery request to the server (including the store terminal 14) corresponding to the delivery service to be used (including Company A's delivery service) and registers the delivery request information in the delivery management DB 36.

[0062] The order processing unit 25 receives order information from the user terminal 18, registers it in the delivery order management DB 35, and processes the order, as well as processing payment according to the information registered in advance.

[0063] The storage unit 31 stores, for example, a customer management DB 32, a configuration information management DB 33, a menu management DB 34, a delivery order management DB 35, a delivery management DB 36, and a delivery request destination management DB 37. Here, DB is an abbreviation for database. Note that the menu management DB 34 may also be stored in the storage unit of the web server 12.

[0064] The Customer Management DB43 is a database that stores information about customers. The Configuration Information Management DB33 is a database that stores configuration information related to the delivery order system. The Menu Management DB34 is a database that stores information about the menu of products that can be delivered. The Delivery Order Management DB35 is a database that manages order information related to delivery orders. The Delivery Management DB36 is a database that stores the determined delivery service and the details of the delivery by that delivery service. The Delivery Request Destination Management DB37 is a database that stores information about the access destinations of delivery service servers that can be used in the delivery order system 11.

[0065] Figure 4 shows an example of the data structure of the database managed by the management server 13 in this embodiment. The management server 13 manages, for example, the customer management DB 32, the configuration information management DB 33, the menu management DB 34, the delivery order management DB 35, the delivery management DB 36, and the delivery request destination management DB 37. Note that the menu management DB 34 may be stored in the storage unit of the web server 12.

[0066] The customer management DB43 includes data fields such as "Store ID," "Customer ID," "Name," "Delivery Address," and "Contact Information." The "Store ID" field stores identification information (Store ID) that identifies the store. The "Customer ID" field stores identification information that identifies the customer. The "Name" field stores the customer's name. The "Delivery Address" field stores the address designated as the delivery destination. The "Contact Information" field stores the customer's telephone number.

[0067] The configuration information management DB33 includes data items such as "Store ID," "Store Name," "Store Address," "Stop Self-Delivery," "Delivery Fee Type," "Amount (Flat Rate)," "Amount (Usage-Based)," "Sort Type," "Area Restriction Flag," "Area Restriction Type," "Area Restriction Details," and "Allowable Delay Time." The "Store ID" field stores identification information (Store ID) that identifies the store. The "Store Name" field stores the name of the store. The "Store Address" field stores the address of the store (or location information or map information identified by latitude and longitude). The "Stop Self-Delivery" field stores the self-delivery stop flag (0: use self-delivery service, 1: stop self-delivery service). The "Delivery Fee Type" field stores the delivery fee type, such as flat rate indicating a flat rate and usage-based indicating a usage-based service. The "Amount (Flat Rate)" field stores the amount that applies when the delivery fee type is flat rate. The "Amount (Pay-per-use)" field stores the unit amount (e.g., delivery fee per kilometer) applied when the delivery fee type is pay-per-use. The "Sort Type" field stores the sort order applied when sorting delivery cost information in a list (company priority, delivery fee order (ascending), delivery time order (or delivery time order) (ascending)). The "Area Restriction Flag" field stores "1" if the delivery area to which the company's delivery service applies is restricted, and "0" if there is no restriction. The "Area Restriction Type" field stores the type of restriction on the delivery area ("1" if restricted by delivery distance, "2" if restricted by delivery time, "3" if restricted by delivery area). The "Area Allowance Details" field stores the allowance details corresponding to the area restriction type. For example, if the area restriction type is 1, the "Area Restriction Details" field stores the allowable delivery distance; if the area restriction type is 2, it stores the allowable delivery time; and if the area restriction type is 3, it stores the allowable delivery area (e.g., Shinjuku Ward, Toshima Ward, etc.). The "Allowable Delay Time" field stores the time to be added to the estimated delivery time (or estimated delivery time) in order to determine the maximum estimated delivery time (estimated delivery time).

[0068] The menu management DB34 includes data items such as "Store ID," "Product ID," "Category," "Product Name," "Price," and "Image Data." The "Store ID" field stores identification information (Store ID) that identifies the store. The "Product ID" field stores identification information that identifies the product (food and beverages, etc.) to be delivered. The "Category" field stores the category of the product. The "Product Name" field stores the name of the product. The "Price" field stores the unit price of the product. The "Image Data" field stores the photo data of the product or information on the location of the photo data.

[0069] The delivery order management DB35 includes data items such as "Store ID," "Delivery Order ID," "Order Date and Time," "Order Details," "Amount," and "Payment Method." The "Store ID" field stores identification information (Store ID) that identifies the store. The "Delivery Order ID" field stores identification information (Delivery Order ID) that identifies the order information in the delivery order system. The "Order Date and Time" field stores the date and time when the order was confirmed (Order Date and Time). The "Order Details" field stores the product ID of the ordered product. The "Amount" field stores the amount corresponding to the "Order Details." The "Payment Method" field stores the payment method, such as whether it is prepayment or cash on delivery.

[0070] The delivery management DB36 includes data items such as "Store ID," "Delivery ID," "Delivery Order ID," "Requesting Party," "Request Date and Time," "Recipient Name," "Recipient Address," "Delivery Type," "Delivery Fee," and "Estimated Delivery Time." The "Store ID" field stores identification information (Store ID) that identifies the store. The "Delivery ID" field stores identification information (Delivery ID) that identifies the delivery of goods ordered by the delivery order. The "Delivery Order ID" field stores the delivery order ID related to the said delivery ID. The "Requesting Party" field stores the name of the delivery service to which the delivery was requested (if the company's own delivery service is selected, it will be "Company"). The "Request Date and Time" field stores the date and time the delivery request was made (Request Date and Time). The "Recipient Name" field stores the name of the customer to whom the delivery is being made. The "Recipient Address" field stores the address specified as the delivery destination. The "Delivery Fee Type" field stores the delivery fee type applied when the requesting party is "Company" (Fixed rate indicating a flat rate, or Pay-per-use indicating a pay-per-use rate). The "Delivery Fee" field stores the delivery fee for the delivery. The "Estimated Delivery Time (or Estimated Delivery Time)" field stores the estimated delivery time (or estimated delivery time) for the delivery.

[0071] The delivery request management DB37 includes data items such as "Store ID," "Requester," and "URL." The "Store ID" item stores identification information (Store ID) that identifies the store. The "Requester" item stores the name of the delivery service available in the delivery order system 11 (for the company's own delivery service, it stores "Company"). The "URL (Uniform Resource Locator)" item stores the location information of the server providing the delivery service to the requester on the communication network 19, which is used to access that server.

[0072] Figure 5 shows an example of the delivery setting screen in this embodiment. When a store employee logs in to the management server 13 using a web browser installed on the store terminal 14, the setting unit 22 displays the delivery setting screen 41 on the display screen of the store terminal 14 based on the delivery setting screen data stored in the storage unit 31.

[0073] The delivery settings screen 41 includes fields for setting the store name 42, setting the store address 43, setting the company's own delivery service to be suspended 44, setting the delivery fee 45, setting the sort order 46, setting the company's own delivery area to be restricted 47, setting the allowable delay time 48, a registration button 49, a cancel button 50, etc.

[0074] In the store name setting field 42, the name of your company (your store) will be entered. In the store address setting field 43, the address of your company (your store) will be entered. In the company delivery stop setting field 44, check (ON) if you want to stop using your company's (your store's) delivery service.

[0075] In the delivery fee setting field 45, you can select whether to apply a fixed-rate system ("Fixed Rate") or a usage-based system ("Usage-Based") for the delivery fees of your company's (your store's) delivery service. If fixed rate is selected, you can enter the amount to be applied under the fixed rate system. If usage-based is selected, you can enter the unit price (yen / km) per delivery distance to be applied under the usage-based system.

[0076] The sort order setting field 46 allows the user to select whether to apply "Prioritize our own company," "Delivery fee order (ascending)," or "Delivery time order (ascending)" as the sort order for the delivery cost list displayed on the user terminal 18. If "Prioritize our own company" is selected, the delivery cost list will be sorted in the order of our own company's delivery service followed by other companies' delivery services, and other companies' delivery services will be sorted by either delivery fee order (ascending) or delivery time order (ascending). If "Delivery fee order (ascending)" is selected, the delivery cost list will be sorted by delivery fee order (ascending). If "Delivery time order (ascending)" is selected, the delivery cost list will be sorted by delivery time order (ascending).

[0077] In section 47, which specifies the company's delivery area restriction setting, a check mark (ON) is entered if the company wishes to restrict the delivery area of ​​its own delivery service. Delivery area restrictions can be selected from "distance from store," "estimated delivery time from store," and "area."

[0078] If "Distance from store" is selected, you can enter the acceptable delivery distance as "Acceptable distance from store". For example, if "Distance from store" = 2km, the delivery area of ​​your company's delivery service will be limited to within the delivery limit distance (2km) from the store.

[0079] If "Delivery time from store" is selected, you can enter the delivery time as "Delivery distance from store". For example, if "Estimated delivery time from store" = 30 minutes, the delivery area of ​​your company's delivery service will be limited to areas within the delivery time limit (30 minutes) from the store.

[0080] If "Area" is selected, you can choose the name of the administrative district in the area where you will allow deliveries for your delivery service (for example, "Shinjuku Ward," "Toshima Ward," "Shibuya Ward," etc.).

[0081] In the allowable delay time setting field 48, the time to be added to the estimated delivery time in order to determine the maximum estimated delivery time is set as the allowable delay time. If the estimated delivery time calculated by the management server 13 or the estimated delivery time sent from the delivery service server 16 is the minimum estimated delivery time, the estimated delivery time can be made flexible by setting the allowable delay time as a buffer time.

[0082] When the registration button 49 is pressed, the information entered on the delivery settings screen 41 is sent to the management server 13 and registered in the settings information management DB 33. When the cancel button 50 is pressed, the information entered on the delivery settings screen 41 is discarded and the user returns to the previous screen.

[0083] Figure 6 shows an example of an order acceptance screen in this embodiment. When a customer (user) wants to place a delivery order, they access Company A's delivery order acceptance site via a web browser installed on the user terminal 18. Then, the order acceptance screen 61 is displayed on the screen of the user terminal 18.

[0084] The order confirmation screen 61 includes a store name display field 62, a category selection button 63, a product image display field 65 (65a, 65b, ...), an add product button 66 (66a, 66b, ...), a delete product button 67 (67a, 67b, ...), a total amount display field 68, and a "Check Cart" button 69.

[0085] The store name display field 62 shows the name of the store from which you are placing your delivery order. When you select (press) the category selection button 63, images of one or more products corresponding to the selected category will be displayed in the product image display field 65 (65a, 65b, ...).

[0086] The product image display area 65 (65a, 65b, ...) displays images of products belonging to the category selected by the category selection button 64. Pressing the add product button 66 (66a, 66b, ...) adds the product displayed in the product image display area 65 (65a, 65b, ...) to the cart. Here, the cart refers to the electronic space where products added by the user using the add product button 66 (66a, 66b, ...) are temporarily stored until payment is completed. Tapping the delete product button 67 (67a, 67b, ...) removes the product displayed in the product image display area 65 (65a, 65b, ...) that has been added to the cart.

[0087] The total amount display field 68 shows the total amount of the items added to the cart. Tapping the "Check Cart" button 69 will take you to the screen shown in Figure 7, where you can check the items added to your cart.

[0088] Figure 7 shows an example of the cart confirmation screen in this embodiment. The cart confirmation screen 71 includes a store name display field 72, a list of items in the cart 73, a "back" button 75, and a "next" button 76.

[0089] The store name display field 72 shows the name of the store from which you are placing your delivery order. The cart item list 73 displays the details of the items added to the cart and their subtotals. Pressing the "Back" button 75 returns you to the previous screen. Pressing the "Next" button 76 takes you to a screen for setting the delivery address, although in some implementations described later, it may take you to the order confirmation screen.

[0090] Figure 8 shows an example of the delivery destination setting screen in this embodiment. The delivery destination setting screen 81 includes a customer name setting field 82, a delivery address setting field 83, a telephone number setting field 84, a "back" button 85, and a "next" button 86.

[0091] The customer name setting field 82 is where the name of the customer placing the delivery order or the recipient of the delivery is entered. The delivery address setting field 83 is where the delivery address is entered. The phone number setting field 84 is where the phone number of the customer placing the delivery order or the recipient of the delivery is entered. Pressing the "Back" button 85 returns you to the previous screen. Pressing the "Next" button 86 takes you to a screen where you can select the delivery service to use.

[0092] Figure 9 shows an example of a delivery service selection screen in this embodiment. The delivery service selection screen 91 includes a store name display field 92, a delivery cost list display field 93, a "back" button 95, and a "next" button 96.

[0093] The store name display field 92 displays the name of the store from which the customer is placing a delivery order. The delivery cost list display field 93 displays a list of delivery cost information (delivery cost information 94a, delivery cost information 94b) for the available delivery services. In the delivery cost list display field 93, the customer can select one of the delivery costs, for example, using the option buttons.

[0094] Delivery cost information (94a, 94b, ...) includes, for example, the delivery service name, estimated delivery time (minimum estimated delivery time ~ maximum estimated delivery time), and delivery fee. The minimum estimated delivery time is the estimated delivery time calculated by the management server 13 or the estimated delivery time sent from the delivery service server 16. The maximum estimated delivery time is the estimated delivery time plus an allowable delay time.

[0095] Pressing the "Back" button 95 returns you to the previous screen. Pressing the "Next" button 96 takes you to the screen for placing an order, but in some embodiments described later, it may take you to the order acceptance screen 61.

[0096] Figure 10 shows an example of an order confirmation screen in this embodiment. The order confirmation screen 101 includes a store name display field 102, an ordered product list display field 103, a payment details list display field 104, a "back" button 105, and a "place order" button 106.

[0097] The store name display field 102 shows the name of the store from which the delivery order is being placed. The ordered items list display field 103 shows a list of items in the cart, their quantities, and their total price.

[0098] The payment details list display area 104 displays the payment details list. The payment details list displays, for example, the number of items in the cart, the subtotal of the price of each item (product subtotal), the delivery fee, the sum of the product subtotal and delivery fee, the consumption tax, and the total amount. Pressing the "Back" button 105 returns to the previous screen. Pressing the "Place Order" button 106 confirms the order and sends the order information to the management server 13. The management server 13 processes the order based on that order information and also processes the payment as settlement information.

[0099] The order confirmation screen 101 may also display the delivery cost of the selected delivery service.

[0100] First, let's describe Example 1 of this embodiment. In Example 1, we will describe a method in which we provide the customer with a list of available delivery services, including our own store's delivery service, sorted by the lowest delivery cost, and then deliver the goods using the delivery service selected by the customer.

[0101] Figure 11 is a sequence diagram of a delivery order in this embodiment (Example 1). The user uses a web browser installed on the user terminal 18 to access the web server 12 managed by the store from which they wish to place a delivery order and makes a request to display the web page related to the delivery order (S1).

[0102] When the web server 12 receives a request to display a website screen, it displays the website screen on the display unit of the user terminal 18. When the user operates the user terminal 18 and presses a designated button on the website screen, the user terminal 18 sends a request to display the order acceptance screen to the web server 12.

[0103] When the web server 12 receives a request to display the order acceptance screen, it retrieves the product menu information from the menu management DB 34 and displays the order acceptance screen 61 on the display unit of the user terminal 18. The user operates the user terminal 18 to select the products to be ordered for delivery from the order acceptance screen 61. The selected products are temporarily stored in an order storage area called the shopping cart within the web browser.

[0104] When the user operates the user terminal 18 and presses the "Check Cart" button 69 on the order acceptance screen 61, the user terminal 18 sends a request to display the cart confirmation screen (including order information) to the web server 12.

[0105] When the web server 12 receives a request to display the shopping cart confirmation screen, it sends the order information to the management server 13. When the management server 13 receives the order information, it sends a response to the web server 12 confirming receipt (S1-1).

[0106] When the web server 12 receives a response indicating that the item has been received, it displays the cart confirmation screen 71 on the display unit of the user terminal 18. When the user operates the user terminal 18 and presses the "Next" button 76 on the cart confirmation screen 71, the user terminal 18 sends a request to the web server 12 to display the delivery destination setting screen (S3). When the web server 12 receives the request to display the delivery destination setting screen, it displays the delivery destination setting screen 81 on the display unit of the user terminal 18 (S4).

[0107] The user also operates the user terminal 18 to enter delivery information (customer name, delivery address, telephone number) on the delivery destination setting screen 81 and presses the "Next" button 86. The user terminal 18 sends a request to display the delivery service selection screen (including delivery information) to the web server 12 (S5).

[0108] When the web server 12 receives a request to display the delivery service selection screen (including delivery destination information), it first sends the delivery destination information to the management server 13 (S6). When the management server 13 receives the delivery destination information, it registers it in the customer management DB 32. Once the management server 13 has finished registering the delivery destination information in the customer management DB 32, it notifies the web server 12 that the registration of the delivery destination information is complete (S7). Then, the web server 12 requests the management server 13 to retrieve the delivery cost list (S8).

[0109] When the management server 13 receives a request to retrieve a delivery cost list, it retrieves information about the delivery destination from the delivery destination management DB. Based on the configuration information management DB 33, the management server 13 calculates its own delivery costs and sends a delivery cost retrieval request (including delivery destination information and store information) to the external delivery service server 16 (S9). Here, the delivery destination information is the information registered in the customer management DB 32 in S6, and includes at least the delivery destination address. The store information includes the address information of the company (Company A).

[0110] The delivery service server 16 receives a request to obtain delivery costs (including delivery destination information and store information). The delivery service server 16 then calculates the delivery cost (estimated delivery time, delivery fee) from the delivery destination information and store information based on the fee rules and delivery time calculation rules for the delivery service, and sends the calculated delivery cost (estimated delivery time, delivery fee) to the management server 13 (S10).

[0111] When the management server 13 receives delivery costs from the delivery service server 16, it generates a delivery cost list by combining it with its own delivery costs. The delivery cost list is a list of information (delivery service name, estimated delivery time, delivery fee) regarding the delivery costs of one or more delivery services. At this time, the management server 13 sets each estimated delivery time as the minimum estimated delivery time, adds an allowable delay time to each minimum estimated delivery time to calculate the maximum delivery time, and generates the estimated delivery time (minimum estimated delivery time, maximum estimated delivery time).

[0112] The management server 13, via the web server 12, displays the delivery service selection screen 91 on the display unit of the user terminal 18, with the generated delivery cost list set in the delivery cost list display field 93 (S11, S12).

[0113] The user operates the user terminal 18 to select (confirm) the delivery cost information for the desired delivery service from the delivery cost list displayed in the delivery cost list display field 93 on the delivery service selection screen 91, and then presses the "Next" button 96. A request to display the order confirmation screen (including order information and the confirmed delivery cost information) is then sent to the web server 12 (S13).

[0114] When the web server 12 receives a request to display an order confirmation screen (including order information and determined delivery cost information), it requests the management server 13 to retrieve a list of payment details (including order information and determined delivery cost information) (S14).

[0115] The management server 13 receives a request to retrieve a payment details list (including order information and determined delivery cost information). The management server 13 then aggregates the payment information based on the order information and delivery cost information and generates a payment details list. The management server 13 sends the payment details list information to the web server 12 (S15).

[0116] When the web server 12 receives the payment details list information, it displays the order confirmation screen 101 on the display unit of the user terminal 18 based on the payment details list information (S16). The user operates the user terminal 18 and presses the "Place Order" button 106 on the order confirmation screen 101. Then, an order confirmation request is sent to the management server 13 via the web server 12 (S17, S18).

[0117] The management server 13 receives the order confirmation request. The management server 13 then processes the order and settlement based on the payment details list information. The management server 13 also sends a delivery request to the designated delivery service provider (store terminal 14 or delivery service server 16) based on the determined delivery cost information (S19).

[0118] When the requesting party (store terminal 14 or delivery service server 16) receives a delivery request, it sends the delivery request to the delivery terminals of one or more delivery personnel belonging to the requesting party and inquires whether they accept the delivery request. When the requesting party receives a response from a delivery person indicating that they accept the delivery request, the requesting party responds to the management server 13 that it has accepted the delivery request (delivery request received) (S20-1).

[0119] In the case of a delivery request to the store terminal 14, the store staff may visually confirm the delivery request details displayed on the store terminal 14 and then make the delivery, without using the delivery terminal 15.

[0120] When the management server 13 receives receipt of the delivery request from the requesting party, it notifies the user terminal 18 of the completion of the order via the web server 12 (S20-2, S20-3).

[0121] Figure 12 is a flowchart showing an example of delivery order processing by the management server in this embodiment (Example 1). The management server 13 receives delivery destination information (customer name, delivery address, telephone number) from the user terminal 18 via the web server 12 and registers it in the customer management DB 32 (S21).

[0122] The management server 13 receives a request from the web server 12 to retrieve the delivery cost list (S22). The management server 13 retrieves delivery destination information from the customer management DB 32 (S23). The management server 13 retrieves configuration information related to Company A's delivery service from the configuration information management DB 33 (S24).

[0123] The management server 13 determines whether the "self-delivery stop flag" included in the configuration information is OFF or OFF (S25). If the "self-delivery stop flag" is ON (NO in S25), the process proceeds to S27.

[0124] If the "In-house delivery suspension flag" is OFF (YES in S25), the management server 13 calculates the delivery cost (scheduled delivery time, delivery fee) for Company A's delivery service based on the acquired configuration information (S26).

[0125] Here, the delivery distance is calculated using a generally available map database service, etc., from the store address included in the configuration information and the delivery address included in the delivery destination information. In this case, the delivery distance may be the straight-line distance between the store and the delivery destination, or the route between the store and the delivery destination (the distance of the road from the store to the delivery destination), depending on the implementation. The estimated delivery time is calculated by dividing the calculated delivery distance by the standard travel speed. The standard travel speed is the average assumed speed of a predetermined average mode of transportation (bicycle, motorcycle, automobile, etc.), for example, it may be set at 20 km / hour for a bicycle and 40 km / hour for a motorcycle.

[0126] Furthermore, if the delivery fee type included in the settings information is "fixed rate," the delivery fee will be the "amount (fixed rate)" included in the settings information. Also, if the delivery fee type included in the settings information is "per-use," for example, the delivery fee will be calculated by multiplying the "amount (per-use)" included in the settings information by the calculated delivery distance. Note that in this example, a proportional function was used for the "amount (per-use)," but it is not limited to this, and may be calculated using a linear function, for example.

[0127] After processing S26, or if NO in S25, the management server 13 sends a delivery cost acquisition request (including delivery destination information and store information (including the store's location)) to the delivery service server 16 (S27).

[0128] When the delivery service server 16 receives a request to obtain delivery costs (including delivery destination information and store information), it calculates the delivery costs (estimated delivery time, delivery fee) for the delivery service it provides based on the delivery destination information and store information.

[0129] For example, the delivery distance is calculated using a generally available map database service, etc., from the store address included in the configuration information and the delivery address included in the delivery destination information. In this case, the delivery distance may be the straight-line distance between the store and the delivery destination, or it may be the road distance between the store and the delivery destination (the distance traveled by road from the store to the delivery destination), depending on the implementation.

[0130] Regarding store information, if Company A's address is already registered in the delivery service server 16, the delivery destination information does not need to include the store's address; however, in this case, it will include store identification information associated with the pre-registered address of Company A.

[0131] The estimated delivery time is calculated by dividing the calculated delivery distance by the standard travel speed. The standard travel speed is the average assumed speed of a predetermined average mode of transport (bicycle, motorcycle, car, etc.). For example, it may be set at 20 km / hour for bicycles and 40 km / hour for motorcycles.

[0132] Furthermore, the delivery fee may follow the fee structure of the delivery service provided by the delivery service server 16 (with company B as the operating company), or it may follow a prior agreement between company A and company B.

[0133] The delivery service server 16 calculates the delivery cost (estimated delivery time, delivery fee) and sends it to the management server 13. The management server 13 receives the delivery cost (estimated delivery time, delivery fee) sent from the delivery service server 16 (S28).

[0134] The management server 13 sorts the delivery cost information of Company A (if processing in S26 has been performed) and the delivery cost information of other companies' delivery services in a predetermined order to generate a delivery cost list (S29). Details of the sorting process are explained in Figure 13.

[0135] The management server 13 calculates the maximum delivery time by taking each scheduled delivery time as the minimum scheduled delivery time and adding the allowable delay time to each minimum scheduled delivery time, thereby generating the scheduled delivery time (minimum scheduled delivery time, maximum scheduled delivery time).

[0136] The management server 13, via the web server 12, causes the user terminal 18 to display a delivery service selection screen 91 containing a delivery cost list sorted in a predetermined order (S30).

[0137] The user operates the user terminal 18 to select (confirm) the delivery cost information for the desired delivery service from the delivery cost list displayed in the delivery cost list display field 93 on the delivery service selection screen 91, and then presses the "Next" button 96. A request to display the order confirmation screen (including order information and the confirmed delivery cost information) is then sent to the web server 12.

[0138] When the web server 12 receives a request to display an order confirmation screen (including order information and determined delivery cost information), it requests the management server 13 to retrieve a list of payment details (including order information and determined delivery cost information).

[0139] The management server 13 receives a request to retrieve a payment details list (including order information and determined delivery cost information) (S31). The management server 13 then aggregates the payment information based on the order information and delivery cost information and generates a payment details list. The management server 13 sends the payment details list information to the web server 12 (S32).

[0140] When the web server 12 receives the payment details list information, it displays the order confirmation screen 101 on the display unit of the user terminal 18 based on the payment details list information.

[0141] The user operates the user terminal 18 and presses the "Place Order" button 106 on the order confirmation screen 101. An order confirmation request (including order information and determined delivery cost information) is then sent to the management server 13 via the web server 12.

[0142] The management server 13 receives an order confirmation request (including order information and determined delivery cost information) (S33). The management server 13 then registers the order information in the delivery order management DB 35 and processes the order (S34).

[0143] Furthermore, the management server 13 sends a delivery request to the designated delivery service provider (store terminal 14 or delivery service server 16) based on the determined delivery cost information (S35). The management server 13 registers information regarding the delivery request in the delivery management DB 36. The management server 13 performs payment processing based on the order information (S36).

[0144] Figure 13 is a flowchart showing a detailed example of the sorting process (S29) in this embodiment (Example 1). In this embodiment, as an example, the management server 13 sorts the delivery cost list, which includes the delivery cost information of Company A (if the processing in S26 has been performed) and the delivery cost information of other companies' delivery services, according to the procedure described below.

[0145] The management server 13 first determines the sort type included in the configuration information (S41, S43). If the sort type is "Prioritize our own company" (YES in S41), the management server 13 sorts the delivery cost list in the order of our own company followed by other companies (S42). If the processing in S26 has not been performed, or if there is delivery cost information between different companies, the management server 13 sorts the other companies' delivery cost information by delivery fee (ascending order) or by estimated delivery time (ascending order).

[0146] If the sort type is "Delivery Fee (Ascending)" (NO in S41, YES in S43), the management server 13 sorts the delivery cost list in ascending order of delivery fee (S44). If the sort type is "Delivery Schedule (Ascending)" (NO in S43), the management server 13 sorts the delivery cost list in ascending order of delivery schedule (S45).

[0147] The management server 13 determines whether the "self-delivery stop flag" included in the configuration information is OFF or OFF (S46). If the "self-delivery stop flag" is ON (NO in S46), this flow terminates.

[0148] If the "In-house delivery suspension flag" is OFF (YES in S46), the management server 13 determines whether the "area restriction flag" included in the configuration information is ON or OFF (S47). If the "area restriction flag" is OFF (NO in S47), this flow terminates.

[0149] If the "In-house delivery suspension flag" is ON (YES in S47), the management server 13 determines the area restriction type included in the configuration information (S48, S50). If the area restriction type is "delivery distance" (YES in S48), the management server 13 determines whether the delivery distance between the store and the delivery destination exceeds the delivery allowance distance (S49). Here, the delivery distance may be the straight-line distance between the store and the delivery destination, or the route between the store and the delivery destination (the distance of the road from the store to the delivery destination), depending on the embodiment. The delivery allowance distance is included in the "area allowance details" of the configuration information.

[0150] If the delivery distance between the store and the delivery destination exceeds the allowable delivery distance (YES in S49), the management server 13 removes the company's (Company A's) delivery cost information from the delivery cost list (S53). If the delivery distance between the store and the delivery destination is less than or equal to the allowable delivery distance (NO in S49), this flow terminates.

[0151] If the area restriction type is "scheduled delivery time" (NO in S48, YES in S50), the management server 13 determines whether the scheduled delivery time exceeds the allowable delivery time (S51). The scheduled delivery time is calculated by dividing the delivery distance calculated as described above by the standard travel speed. The standard travel speed is the average assumed speed of a predetermined average mode of transport (bicycle, motorcycle, automobile, etc.), for example, it is set to 20 km / hour for bicycles and 40 km / hour for motorcycles. The allowable delivery time is included in the "area allowable details" of the setting information.

[0152] If the scheduled delivery time exceeds the acceptable delivery time (YES in S51), the management server 13 removes the company's (Company A's) delivery cost information from the delivery cost list (S53). If the scheduled delivery time is less than or equal to the acceptable delivery time (NO in S51), this flow terminates.

[0153] If the area restriction type is "Area" (NO in S50), the management server 13 determines whether the delivery destination is outside the company's delivery area (S52). The permitted delivery area is included in the "Area Permit Details" of the configuration information.

[0154] If the delivery destination is outside the acceptable delivery area (YES in S52), the management server 13 removes the company's (Company A's) delivery cost information from the delivery cost list (S53). If the delivery destination is within the acceptable delivery area (NO in S52), this flow terminates.

[0155] Next, we will describe Example 2 of this embodiment. In Example 1, the customer was allowed to select a delivery service from a list of delivery services arranged in order of lowest delivery cost. In Example 2, however, we will describe an embodiment in which the management server 13 determines the delivery service that is most advantageous to the customer in terms of delivery cost and provides it to the customer.

[0156] Figure 14 is a sequence diagram of a delivery order in this embodiment (Example 2). Figure 14 is obtained by replacing S5 with S61, S8 with S62, and S11 to S19 with S63 to S67 in the sequence diagram of Figure 11. The sequence from S61 onwards will be described below.

[0157] When the user operates the user terminal 18 and enters delivery information (customer name, delivery address, telephone number) on the delivery destination setting screen 81 and presses the "Next" button 86, the user terminal 18 requests the web server 12 to display the order confirmation screen (including order information and delivery information) (S61). When the web server 12 receives the order confirmation screen display request (including order information and delivery information), it first sends the delivery information to the management server 13 (S6). When the management server 13 receives the delivery information, it registers it in the customer management DB 32. When the management server 13 has finished registering the delivery information in the customer management DB 32, it notifies the web server 12 that the registration of the delivery information is complete (S7). Then, the web server 12 requests the management server 13 to retrieve the payment details list (including order information) (S62).

[0158] When the management server 13 receives a request to retrieve a payment details list (including order information), it retrieves information about the delivery destination from the delivery destination management DB 37. Based on the configuration information management DB 33, the management server 13 calculates its own delivery costs and sends a request to retrieve delivery costs (including delivery destination information and store information) to the external delivery service server 16 (S9). Here, the delivery destination information is the information registered in the customer management DB 32 in S6, and includes at least the delivery destination address. The store information includes the address information of the company (Company A).

[0159] The delivery service server 16 receives a request to obtain delivery costs (including delivery destination information and store information). The delivery service server 16 then calculates the delivery cost (estimated delivery time, delivery fee) from the delivery destination information and store information based on the fee rules and delivery time calculation rules for the delivery service, and sends the calculated delivery cost (estimated delivery time, delivery fee) to the management server 13 (S10).

[0160] When the management server 13 receives the delivery cost from the delivery service server 16 (S10), it selects the delivery cost with the lowest value among the received delivery cost and its own delivery cost as the optimal delivery cost. The management server 13 takes the estimated delivery time included in the optimal delivery cost as the minimum estimated delivery time, adds the allowable delay time to the minimum estimated delivery time to calculate the maximum delivery time, and generates the estimated delivery time (minimum estimated delivery time, maximum estimated delivery time). The management server 13 replaces the estimated delivery time included in the optimal delivery cost with the generated estimated delivery time (minimum estimated delivery time, maximum estimated delivery time).

[0161] The management server 13 aggregates payment information based on order information and optimal delivery cost information and generates a payment details list. The management server 13 sends the payment details list to the web server 12 (S63).

[0162] When the web server 12 receives the payment details list information, it displays an order confirmation screen 101 on the display unit of the user terminal 18, which shows the order details and payment information (including the delivery fee as the optimal delivery cost), as well as the optimal delivery cost (S64).

[0163] The user checks the order confirmation screen 101 and presses the "Place Order" button 106. The user terminal 18 then sends an order confirmation request to the management server 13 via the web server 12 (S65, S66).

[0164] The management server 13 receives an order confirmation request (including order information and optimal delivery cost information). The management server 13 then processes the order and payment based on the order information. The management server 13 also sends a delivery request to the requesting party (store terminal 14 or delivery service server 16) that operates the delivery service corresponding to the optimal delivery cost information (S67).

[0165] When the requesting party (store terminal 14 or delivery service server 16) receives a delivery request, it sends the delivery request to the delivery terminals of one or more delivery personnel belonging to the requesting party and inquires whether they accept the delivery request. When the requesting party receives a response from a delivery person indicating that they accept the delivery request, the requesting party responds to the management server 13 that it has accepted the delivery request (delivery request received) (S20-1).

[0166] In the case of a delivery request to the store terminal 14, the store staff may visually confirm the delivery request details displayed on the store terminal 14 and then make the delivery, without using the delivery terminal 15.

[0167] When the management server 13 receives receipt of the delivery request from the requesting party, it notifies the user terminal 18 of the completion of the order via the web server 12 (S20-2, S20-3).

[0168] Figure 15 is a flowchart showing an example of delivery order processing by the management server in this embodiment (Example 2). Figure 15 is obtained by replacing S22 with S71, S29 to S31 with S72, and S35 with S75 in the flowchart of Figure 12. The following will mainly explain the replaced parts.

[0169] After processing in S21, the management server 13 receives a request from the web server 12 to retrieve a list of payment details (S71). Then, processing in S23 to S28 is performed.

[0170] After obtaining delivery costs (estimated delivery time, delivery fee) from the delivery service server 16 (S28), the management server 13 selects the delivery cost with the lowest value among the delivery cost information of Company A (if the processing in S26 has been performed) and the delivery cost information of other companies' delivery services as the optimal delivery cost (S72). Here, it is assumed that a comparison usage parameter is set in the configuration information to determine whether to use the estimated delivery time or the delivery fee in the comparison. For example, if the comparison usage parameter = "estimated delivery time" is set, the delivery cost that includes the shortest estimated delivery time among the delivery costs obtained from each delivery service server (including Company A's delivery cost) is selected as the optimal delivery cost. Also, for example, if the comparison usage parameter = "delivery fee" is set, the delivery cost that includes the lowest amount of delivery fee among the delivery costs obtained from each delivery service server (including Company A's delivery cost) is selected as the optimal delivery cost.

[0171] The management server 13 uses the delivery time included in the selected optimal delivery cost as the minimum delivery time, and calculates the maximum delivery time by adding the allowable delay time to the minimum delivery time, thereby generating the delivery time (minimum delivery time, maximum delivery time). The management server 13 replaces the delivery time included in the optimal delivery cost with the generated delivery time (minimum delivery time, maximum delivery time).

[0172] The management server 13 aggregates payment information based on order information and optimal delivery cost information and generates a payment details list. The management server 13 sends the payment details list to the web server 12 (S32).

[0173] When the web server 12 receives the payment details list information, it displays an order confirmation screen 101 on the user terminal 18's display unit, showing the order details and payment information (including delivery charges as the optimal delivery cost), as well as the optimal delivery cost. The user reviews the order confirmation screen 101 and presses the "Place Order" button 106. The user terminal 18 then sends an order confirmation request to the management server 13 via the web server 12.

[0174] The management server 13 receives an order confirmation request (including order information and optimal delivery cost information) (S33). Based on the order confirmation request, the management server 13 registers the order information in the delivery order management DB 35 and processes the order (S34).

[0175] Furthermore, the management server 13 sends a delivery request to the requesting party (store terminal 14 or delivery service server 16) that operates the delivery service corresponding to the optimal delivery cost information (S75). The management server 13 registers information related to the delivery request in the delivery management DB 36. The management server 13 processes the payment based on the order information (S36).

[0176] According to Example 2, it is possible to provide the delivery service with the lowest delivery cost for the customer without requiring the customer to go through the trouble of choosing a delivery service.

[0177] Next, we will describe Example 3. In Examples 1 and 2, payment processing was performed after the process of determining the delivery service, but in Example 3, we will describe an example where the delivery service is determined after the payment processing. In Example 3, a flat-rate system is adopted for charging the delivery fee.

[0178] Figure 16 is a sequence diagram of a delivery order in this embodiment (Example 3). Figure 16 is obtained by replacing the processing from S62 onwards in the sequence diagram of Figure 14 with S81 to S90. The sequence from S81 onwards will be described below.

[0179] When the management server 13 receives a request to retrieve a payment details list (including order information), it aggregates the payment information based on the order information and the delivery fee (fixed amount) and generates a payment details list. The management server 13 then sends the payment details list information to the web server 12 (S81).

[0180] When the web server 12 receives the payment details list information, it displays an order confirmation screen 101 containing the order details and payment information on the display unit of the user terminal 18 (S82).

[0181] The user checks the order confirmation screen 101 and presses the "Place Order" button 106. The user terminal 18 then sends an order confirmation request to the management server 13 via the web server 12 (S83, S84).

[0182] The management server 13 receives an order confirmation request (including order information and a fixed delivery fee). The management server 13 then processes the order and payment based on the order information and the fixed delivery fee. Once the order and payment processes are complete, the management server 13 sends an order completion notification to the user terminal 18 via the web (S85, S86).

[0183] The management server 13 retrieves information about the delivery destination from the delivery destination management DB 37. Based on the configuration information management DB 33, the management server 13 calculates its own delivery cost and sends a delivery cost acquisition request (including delivery destination information and store information) to the external delivery service server 16 (S87). Here, the delivery destination information is the information registered in the customer management DB 32 in S4, and includes at least the delivery destination address. The store information includes the address information of the company (Company A).

[0184] The delivery service server 16 receives a request to obtain delivery costs (including delivery destination information and store information). The delivery service server 16 then calculates the delivery cost (estimated delivery time, delivery fee) from the delivery destination information and store information based on the fee rules and delivery time calculation rules for the delivery service, and sends the calculated delivery cost (estimated delivery time, delivery fee) to the management server 13 (S88).

[0185] The management server 13 receives the delivery cost from the delivery service server 16 (S88). The management server 13 determines the optimal delivery cost to be the delivery cost that includes the lowest estimated delivery time among the estimated delivery time of the received delivery cost and its own delivery cost.

[0186] The management server 13 sends a delivery request to the requesting party (store terminal 14 or delivery service server 16) that operates the delivery service corresponding to the optimal delivery cost information (S89).

[0187] When the requesting party (store terminal 14 or delivery service server 16) receives a delivery request, it sends the delivery request to the delivery terminals of one or more delivery personnel belonging to the requesting party and inquires whether or not they will accept the delivery request. When the requesting party receives a response from a delivery person indicating that they will accept the delivery request, the requesting party responds to the management server 13 that it has accepted the delivery request (delivery request received) (S90).

[0188] The management server 13 notifies the user terminal 18 of the optimal delivery cost (delivery service name, estimated delivery time, and delivery fee) via the web server 12. In this case, the estimated delivery time may be the estimated delivery time (minimum estimated delivery time, maximum estimated delivery time) as described above.

[0189] Figure 17 is a flowchart showing an example of delivery order processing by the management server in this embodiment (Example 3). In Figure 17, after processing S71 in the flowchart of Figure 15, processing S32-S34 and S36 is performed, followed by processing S23-S28, and then processing S72, S75 and S101. The following will mainly explain the substitution part.

[0190] After processing in S21, the management server 13 receives a request from the web server 12 to retrieve the payment details list (S71). The management server 13 then aggregates the payment information based on the order information and the delivery fee (fixed amount) and generates the payment details list information. The management server 13 sends the payment details list information to the web server 12 (S32).

[0191] When the web server 12 receives the payment details list information, it displays an order confirmation screen 101 containing the order details and payment information on the display unit of the user terminal 18. The user checks the order confirmation screen 101 and presses the "Place Order" button 106. The user terminal 18 then sends an order confirmation request to the management server 13 via the web server 12.

[0192] The management server 13 receives an order confirmation request (including order information and optimal delivery cost information) (S33). Based on the order confirmation request, the management server 13 registers the order information in the delivery order management DB 35 and processes the order (S34). The management server 13 processes the payment based on the order information (S36). Subsequently, processes S23 to S28 are performed.

[0193] After obtaining the delivery cost (estimated delivery time, delivery fee) from the delivery service server 16 (S28), the management server 13 selects the delivery cost with the lowest value (estimated delivery time) from among the delivery cost information of Company A (if the processing in S26 has been performed) and the delivery cost information of other companies' delivery services as the optimal delivery cost (S72). Here, if the comparison usage parameter = "estimated delivery time" is set, the delivery cost with the shortest estimated delivery time among the delivery costs obtained from each delivery service server (including the delivery cost of Company A) is selected as the optimal delivery cost.

[0194] The management server 13 sends a delivery request to the requesting party (store terminal 14 or delivery service server 16) that operates the delivery service corresponding to the optimal delivery cost information (S75).

[0195] The management server 13 notifies the user terminal 18 of the optimal delivery cost (delivery service name, estimated delivery time, and delivery fee) via the web server 12 (S101). At this time, the estimated delivery time may be the estimated delivery time (minimum estimated delivery time, maximum estimated delivery time) as described above.

[0196] According to Example 3, since a fixed-rate system is adopted for delivery fees, the delivery fee paid by the customer does not fluctuate depending on the delivery service, allowing payment processing to be completed before deciding on a delivery service. As a result, the time customers are tied up with regarding delivery orders is reduced, improving customer convenience.

[0197] Next, we will describe Example 4. In Example 1, the user selected products and added them to their cart before selecting a delivery service. In Example 4, we will describe an example where the user first selected a delivery service before selecting products and adding them to their cart.

[0198] Figure 18 is a sequence diagram of a delivery order in this embodiment (Example 4). The user uses a web browser installed on the user terminal 18 to access the web server 12 managed by the store from which they wish to place a delivery order and makes a request to display the web page related to the delivery order (S1).

[0199] When the web server 12 receives a request to display a website screen, it displays the website screen on the display unit of the user terminal 18 (S2). When the user operates the user terminal 18 and presses a designated button on the website screen, the user terminal 18 sends a request to display the delivery destination setting screen to the web server 12. When the web server 12 receives the request to display the delivery destination setting screen, it displays the delivery destination setting screen 81 on the display unit of the user terminal 18 (S4).

[0200] The user operates the user terminal 18 to enter delivery information (customer name, delivery address, phone number) on the delivery destination setting screen 81 and presses the "Next" button 86. The user terminal 18 sends a request to display the delivery service selection screen (including the delivery information) to the web server 12 (S5).

[0201] When the web server 12 receives a request to display the delivery service selection screen (including delivery destination information), it first sends the delivery destination information to the management server 13 (S6). When the management server 13 receives the delivery destination information, it registers it in the customer management DB 32. Once the management server 13 has finished registering the delivery destination information in the customer management DB 32, it notifies the web server 12 that the registration of the delivery destination information is complete (S7). Then, the web server 12 requests the management server 13 to retrieve the delivery cost list (S8).

[0202] When the management server 13 receives a request to obtain a delivery cost list, it retrieves information about the delivery destination from the delivery destination management DB 37. Based on the configuration information management DB 33, the management server 13 calculates its own delivery cost (if the company delivery stop flag is OFF) and sends a delivery cost acquisition request (including delivery destination information and store information) to the external delivery service server 16 (S9). Here, the delivery destination information is the information registered in the customer management DB 32 in S6, and includes at least the delivery destination address. The store information includes the company's (Company A's) address information. Also, as explained in Figure 12, if the company delivery stop flag is ON, the company's own delivery cost is not calculated.

[0203] The delivery service server 16 receives a request to obtain delivery costs (including delivery destination information and store information). The delivery service server 16 then calculates the delivery cost (estimated delivery time, delivery fee) from the delivery destination information and store information based on the fee rules and delivery time calculation rules for the delivery service, and sends the calculated delivery cost (estimated delivery time, delivery fee) to the management server 13 (S10).

[0204] When the management server 13 receives the delivery cost from the delivery service server 16, it generates a delivery cost list by combining it with its own delivery cost. The delivery cost list is the same as the one described in Example 1. The delivery cost list is sorted in the same way as in Example 1.

[0205] The management server 13, via the web server 12, displays the delivery service selection screen 91 on the display unit of the user terminal 18, with the generated delivery cost list set in the delivery cost list display field 93 (S11, S12).

[0206] The user operates the user terminal 18 to select (confirm) the delivery cost information for the desired delivery service from the delivery cost list displayed in the delivery cost list display field 93 on the delivery service selection screen 91, and then presses the "Next" button 96. A request to display the order acceptance screen (including the confirmed delivery cost information) is then sent to the web server 12 (S111).

[0207] When the web server 12 receives a request to display the order acceptance screen (including the determined delivery cost information), it sends the determined delivery cost information to the management server 13 (S112). When the management server 13 receives the determined delivery cost information, it sends a response to the web server 12 indicating that it has received it (S113).

[0208] The web server 12 receives a response confirming receipt. The web server 12 then retrieves the product menu information from the menu management DB 34 and displays the order acceptance screen 61 on the user terminal 18 (S114). The user operates the user terminal 18 to select the products to be delivered from the order acceptance screen 61. The selected products are temporarily stored in an order storage area called the shopping cart within the web browser.

[0209] When the user operates the user terminal 18 and presses the "Check Cart" button 69 on the order acceptance screen 61, the user terminal 18 sends a request to display the cart confirmation screen (including order information) to the web server 12 (S115).

[0210] When the web server 12 receives a request to display the shopping cart confirmation screen, it sends the order information to the management server 13 (S116). When the management server 13 receives the order information, it sends a response to the web server 12 indicating that it has received the information (S117).

[0211] When the web server 12 receives a response indicating that the item has been received, it displays the cart confirmation screen 71 on the display unit of the user terminal 18 (S118). When the user operates the user terminal 18 and presses the "Next" button 76 on the cart confirmation screen, the user terminal 18 sends a request to the web server 12 to display the order confirmation screen (S119).

[0212] When the web server 12 receives a request to display the order confirmation screen, it requests the management server 13 to retrieve the payment details list (S14).

[0213] The management server 13 receives a request to retrieve a list of payment details. The management server 13 then aggregates the payment information based on the order information and delivery cost information it holds and generates a list of payment details. The management server 13 sends the list of payment details to the web server 12 (S15).

[0214] When the web server 12 receives the payment details list information, it displays the order confirmation screen 101 on the display unit of the user terminal 18 based on the payment details list information (S16). The user operates the user terminal 18 and presses the "Place Order" button 106 on the order confirmation screen 101. Then, an order confirmation request is sent to the management server 13 via the web server 12 (S120, S121).

[0215] The management server 13 receives the order confirmation request. The management server 13 then processes the order and settlement based on the payment details list information. The management server 13 also sends a delivery request to the designated delivery service provider (store terminal 14 or delivery service server 16) based on the determined delivery cost information (S19).

[0216] When the requesting party (store terminal 14 or delivery service server 16) receives a delivery request, it sends the delivery request to the delivery terminals of one or more delivery personnel belonging to the requesting party and inquires whether they accept the delivery request. When the requesting party receives a response from a delivery person indicating that they accept the delivery request, the requesting party responds to the management server 13 that it has accepted the delivery request (delivery request received) (S20-1).

[0217] When the management server 13 receives receipt of the delivery request from the requesting party, it notifies the user terminal 18 of the completion of the order via the web server 12 (S20-2, S20-3).

[0218] According to Example 4, after selecting the delivery service to use, the user can select the products and place an order.

[0219] Next, we will describe Example 5. Examples 1 to 4 described a configuration in which the delivery service is selected from multiple delivery services, including the store's own delivery service, in order of lowest delivery cost or the lowest delivery service. In contrast, Example 5 describes a configuration in which the store does not use its own delivery service, but instead selects from multiple external delivery services in order of lowest delivery cost or the lowest delivery service.

[0220] Specifically, Example 5 corresponds to the example in Figures 12, 15, and 17 where the process proceeds to NO at S25. Note that the flowchart showing an example of delivery order processing by the management server in this embodiment (Example 5) is omitted because the main part of the process is almost the same as in Figure 12.

[0221] According to Example 5, in a delivery ordering system for products that can utilize multiple delivery services, it is possible to provide a delivery service that further reduces the financial or time burden on the customer.

[0222] Figure 19 is an example of a block diagram of the hardware environment configuration of a computer that executes the program in this embodiment. Computer 201 may be a web server 12 or a management server 13, or it may be a store terminal 14, delivery person terminals 15, 17, user terminal 18, or a delivery service server 16. Computer 201 is composed of a CPU 202, ROM 203, RAM 204, storage device 205, input I / F 206, output I / F 207, communication I / F 208, reader 209, and bus 210.

[0223] Here, CPU (central processing unit) refers to the central processing unit. ROM refers to read-only memory. RAM refers to random access memory. I / F refers to the interface. Bus 210 may be connected to CPU 202, ROM 203, RAM 204, storage device 205, input I / F 206, output I / F 207, communication I / F 208, and optionally a reader 209.

[0224] The CPU 202 reads the program according to this embodiment from the storage device 205 and, for example, when functioning as a management server 13, executes the program as the setting unit 22, reception unit 23, delivery processing unit 24, and order processing unit 25. ROM 203 is read-only memory. RAM 204 is temporary storage memory.

[0225] The storage device 205 is a device for storing large amounts of information. Various types of storage devices can be used as the storage device 205, such as hard disks, solid-state drives (SSDs), and flash memory cards. The storage device 205 stores programs according to the embodiment of the present invention, as well as various data stored in the storage unit 31.

[0226] Input I / F206 can be connected to input devices such as keyboards, mice, electronic cameras, webcams, microphones, scanners, sensors, tablets, touch panels, and information reading devices. Output I / F207 can be connected to output devices such as displays, touch panels, projectors, printers, and speakers.

[0227] Communication I / F 208 is an interface such as a port for connecting to a communication network and communicating with other devices. The communication network may be the Internet, a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), a dedicated line, wired, wireless, or other communication network. Reader 209 is a device for reading portable recording media.

[0228] The program that implements the processing described in the above embodiment may be stored, for example, in the storage device 205 via a communication network and communication interface 208 from the program provider. Alternatively, the program that implements the processing described in the above embodiment may be stored in a commercially available and distributed portable storage medium. In this case, the portable storage medium may be set in the reader 209, and the program may be read and executed by the CPU 202. Various types of storage media can be used as portable storage media, such as CD-ROMs, flexible disks, optical disks, magneto-optical disks, IC cards, USB memory devices, and semiconductor memory cards. The program stored in such a storage medium is read by the reader 209.

[0229] Furthermore, the program may be installed on a standalone computer, or it may be installed on a cloud computer and only its functionality may be provided to the user.

[0230] According to this embodiment, in a delivery ordering system for products that can utilize multiple delivery services, it is possible to provide delivery services that further reduce the financial or time burden on customers.

[0231] The embodiments of this specification have been described above based on the embodiments and modifications described above. The embodiments described above are for the purpose of facilitating understanding of this specification and do not limit it. This specification may be modified and improved without departing from its spirit and the scope of the claims, and equivalents thereof are included in this specification. Furthermore, any technical features that are not described as essential in this specification may be deleted as appropriate.

[0232] (Note 1) When receiving an order for the aforementioned goods, including delivery of the goods, from a customer's communication terminal device, a first acquisition unit acquires delivery address information regarding the delivery address, A calculation unit calculates the estimated delivery time or delivery date or delivery fee from the store to the delivery destination based on the delivery destination information and the store's location information, as the first delivery cost of the first delivery service indicating the delivery service of the product performed by the store. A second acquisition unit provides the delivery destination information and the location information of the store to an external information processing device that provides a second delivery service indicating a delivery service for goods provided by a business operator other than the store, and acquires the estimated delivery time or estimated delivery date or delivery fee from the store to the delivery destination as the second delivery cost of the second delivery service from the external information processing device. A providing unit that provides the communication terminal device with delivery cost list information, including at least one of the first delivery cost and the second delivery cost, in a predetermined order based on pre-configured setting information, An information processing device characterized by comprising: (Note 2) The aforementioned information processing device further, When the communication terminal device receives delivery identification information that identifies one of the delivery costs selected by the customer from among the delivery cost list information, a request unit requests the delivery of the product from the delivery operation device, which is an information processing device that operates the delivery service corresponding to the delivery identification information among the first delivery service and the second delivery service, The information processing apparatus described in Appendix 1, characterized in that it is a processing apparatus. (Note 3) The providing unit provides the communication terminal device with the delivery cost list information in the order of the first delivery service, the second delivery service, the delivery fee, or the scheduled delivery time or scheduled delivery date. The information processing apparatus described in Appendix 1, characterized in that it is a processing apparatus. (Note 4) The providing unit provides the communication terminal device with the delivery cost list information, excluding the first delivery cost, in the predetermined order if the value of the first delivery cost is greater than a predetermined value or if the delivery destination is outside a predetermined area. The information processing apparatus described in Appendix 1, characterized in that it is a processing apparatus. (Note 5) The providing unit uses the delivery time or scheduled delivery time included in the delivery cost list information as the shortest delivery time or earliest delivery time, and adds a predetermined value to the delivery time or scheduled delivery time to provide the communication terminal device with the longest delivery time or latest delivery time. An information processing device as described in any one of the appendices 1 to 4, characterized by the above. (Note 6) When receiving an order for the aforementioned goods, including delivery of the goods, from a communication terminal device used by the customer, a first acquisition unit acquires delivery address information regarding the delivery address, A calculation unit calculates the estimated delivery time or delivery date or delivery fee from the store to the delivery destination, based on pre-configured setting information and the store's location information, as the first delivery cost of the first delivery service, which indicates the delivery service of the product performed by the store. A second acquisition unit provides the delivery destination information and the location information of the store to an external information processing device that provides a second delivery service indicating a delivery service for goods provided by a business operator other than the store, and acquires the estimated delivery time or estimated delivery date or delivery fee from the store to the delivery destination as the second delivery cost of the second delivery service from the external information processing device. A delivery operation device, which is an information processing device that operates a delivery service corresponding to the smaller of the first and second delivery costs, is provided with a request unit for requesting the delivery of the product, An information processing device characterized by comprising: (Note 7) When receiving an order for the aforementioned goods, including delivery of the goods, from a communication terminal device used by the customer, a first acquisition unit acquires delivery address information regarding the delivery address, A second acquisition unit provides the delivery destination information and store location information to a plurality of external information processing devices that provide delivery services for the aforementioned products, and acquires the estimated delivery time or delivery date or delivery fee from each of the plurality of external information processing devices as the delivery cost for each of the aforementioned delivery services. A provisioning unit provides the communication terminal device with the delivery cost for each of the delivery services in a predetermined order based on pre-configured setting information. An information processing device characterized by comprising: (Note 8) When receiving an order for the aforementioned goods, including delivery of the goods, from a communication terminal device used by the customer, a first acquisition unit acquires delivery address information regarding the delivery address, A second acquisition unit provides the delivery destination information and store location information to a plurality of external information processing devices that provide delivery services for the aforementioned products, and acquires the estimated delivery time or delivery date or delivery fee from each of the plurality of external information processing devices as the delivery cost for each of the aforementioned delivery services. A request unit requests delivery of the aforementioned product to an external information processing device that operates the delivery service corresponding to the delivery cost with the smaller value among the multiple delivery costs obtained, An information processing device characterized by comprising: (Note 9) In an information processing device, When receiving an order for the aforementioned goods, including delivery of the goods, from a communication terminal device used by the customer, a first acquisition process is performed to acquire delivery address information regarding the delivery address, A calculation process that calculates the estimated delivery time or delivery date or delivery fee from the store to the delivery destination based on the delivery destination information and the store's location information, as the first delivery cost of the first delivery service indicating the delivery service of the product performed by the store. A second acquisition process involves providing the delivery destination information and the location information of the store to an external information processing device that provides a second delivery service indicating a delivery service for goods provided by a business operator different from the aforementioned store, and obtaining from the external information processing device the estimated delivery time or estimated delivery date or delivery fee from the store to the delivery destination as the second delivery cost of the second delivery service. A provision process that provides the communication terminal device with delivery cost list information, which includes at least one of the first delivery cost and the second delivery cost, in a predetermined order based on pre-configured setting information. A program that executes the command. (Note 10) In an information processing device, When receiving an order for the aforementioned goods, including delivery of the goods, from a communication terminal device used by the customer, a first acquisition process is performed to acquire delivery address information regarding the delivery address, A calculation process that calculates the estimated delivery time or delivery date or delivery fee from the store to the delivery destination, based on pre-configured setting information and the store's location information, as the first delivery cost of the first delivery service, which represents the delivery service of the product performed by the store. A second acquisition process involves providing the delivery destination information and the location information of the store to an external information processing device that provides a second delivery service indicating a delivery service for goods provided by a business operator different from the aforementioned store, and obtaining from the external information processing device the estimated delivery time or estimated delivery date or delivery fee from the store to the delivery destination as the second delivery cost of the second delivery service. A request process is performed to request delivery of the product to a delivery operation device, which is an information processing device that operates a delivery service corresponding to the delivery cost corresponding to the smaller of the first and second delivery costs, A program that executes the command. (Note 11) In an information processing device, When receiving an order for the aforementioned goods, including delivery of the goods, from a communication terminal device used by the customer, a first acquisition process is performed to acquire delivery address information regarding the delivery address, A second acquisition process involves providing the delivery destination information and store location information to a plurality of external information processing devices that provide delivery services for the aforementioned products, and obtaining the estimated delivery time or delivery date or delivery fee from each of the plurality of external information processing devices as the delivery cost for each of the aforementioned delivery services, A provision process that provides the delivery cost of each of the delivery services to the communication terminal device in a predetermined order based on pre-configured setting information, A program that executes the command. (Note 12) In an information processing device, When receiving an order for the aforementioned goods, including delivery of the goods, from a communication terminal device used by the customer, a first acquisition process is performed to acquire delivery address information regarding the delivery address, A second acquisition process involves providing the delivery destination information and store location information to a plurality of external information processing devices that provide delivery services for the aforementioned products, and obtaining the estimated delivery time or delivery date or delivery fee from each of the plurality of external information processing devices as the delivery cost for each of the aforementioned delivery services, A request process is performed to request delivery of the said product to an external information processing device that operates the delivery service corresponding to the delivery cost with the smaller value among the multiple delivery costs obtained, A program that executes the command. (Note 13) Information processing device, When receiving an order for the aforementioned goods, including delivery of the goods, from a communication terminal device used by the customer, a first acquisition process is performed to acquire delivery address information regarding the delivery address, A calculation process that calculates the estimated delivery time or delivery date or delivery fee from the store to the delivery destination based on the delivery destination information and the store's location information, as the first delivery cost of the first delivery service indicating the delivery service of the product performed by the store. A second acquisition process involves providing the delivery destination information and the location information of the store to an external information processing device that provides a second delivery service indicating a delivery service for goods provided by a business operator different from the aforementioned store, and obtaining from the external information processing device the estimated delivery time or estimated delivery date or delivery fee from the store to the delivery destination as the second delivery cost of the second delivery service. A provision process that provides the communication terminal device with delivery cost list information, which includes at least one of the first delivery cost and the second delivery cost, in a predetermined order based on pre-configured setting information. An information processing method that performs the following. (Note 14) Information processing device, When receiving an order for the aforementioned goods, including delivery of the goods, from a communication terminal device used by the customer, a first acquisition process is performed to acquire delivery address information regarding the delivery address, A calculation process that calculates the estimated delivery time or delivery date or delivery fee from the store to the delivery destination, based on pre-configured setting information and the store's location information, as the first delivery cost of the first delivery service, which represents the delivery service of the product performed by the store. A second acquisition process involves providing the delivery destination information and the location information of the store to an external information processing device that provides a second delivery service indicating a delivery service for goods provided by a business operator different from the aforementioned store, and obtaining from the external information processing device the estimated delivery time or estimated delivery date or delivery fee from the store to the delivery destination as the second delivery cost of the second delivery service. A delivery operation layer device, which is an information processing device that operates a delivery service corresponding to the delivery cost corresponding to the smaller of the first and second delivery costs, processes a request to request delivery of the product, An information processing method that performs the following. (Note 15) Information processing device, When receiving an order for the aforementioned goods, including delivery of the goods, from a communication terminal device used by the customer, a first acquisition process is performed to acquire delivery address information regarding the delivery address, A second acquisition process involves providing the delivery destination information and store location information to a plurality of external information processing devices that provide delivery services for the aforementioned products, and obtaining the estimated delivery time or delivery date or delivery fee from each of the plurality of external information processing devices as the delivery cost for each of the aforementioned delivery services, A provision process that provides the delivery cost of each of the delivery services to the communication terminal device in a predetermined order based on pre-configured setting information, An information processing method that performs the following. (Note 16) Information processing device, When receiving an order for the aforementioned goods, including delivery of the goods, from a communication terminal device used by the customer, a first acquisition process is performed to acquire delivery address information regarding the delivery address, A second acquisition process involves providing the delivery destination information and store location information to a plurality of external information processing devices that provide delivery services for the aforementioned products, and obtaining the estimated delivery time or delivery date or delivery fee from each of the plurality of external information processing devices as the delivery cost for each of the aforementioned delivery services, A request process is performed to request delivery of the said product to an external information processing device that operates the delivery service corresponding to the delivery cost with the smaller value among the multiple delivery costs obtained, An information processing method that performs the following. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0233] 1. Information Processing Device 2 First acquisition part 3. Calculation Section 4 Second acquisition part 5 Providing Department 6. Request Department 11. Delivery Order System 12 Web Servers 13 Management Server 14 Store terminals 15,17 Delivery driver terminal 16 Delivery Service Server 18 User terminals 19. Communication Networks 21 Control Unit 22 Setting section 23 Reception Department 24 Delivery Processing Unit 25 Order Processing Section 31 Storage section 32 Customer management DB 33 Setting information management DB 34 Menu Management Database 35 Delivery Order Management Database 36 Delivery Management Database 37 Delivery Request Management Database

Claims

1. When receiving an order for the aforementioned goods, including delivery of the goods, from a communication terminal device used by the customer, a first acquisition unit acquires delivery address information regarding the delivery address, A calculation unit calculates the estimated delivery time or delivery date or delivery fee from the store to the delivery destination, based on pre-configured setting information and the store's location information, as the first delivery cost of the first delivery service indicating the delivery service of the product performed by the store. A second acquisition unit provides the delivery destination information and the location information of the store to an external information processing device that provides a second delivery service indicating a delivery service of the goods carried out by a business operator other than the store, and acquires the estimated delivery time or estimated delivery date or delivery fee from the store to the delivery destination as the second delivery cost of the second delivery service from the external information processing device. A providing unit that, of the first and second delivery costs, takes the delivery time or scheduled delivery time included in the delivery cost information of the delivery service corresponding to the delivery cost with the smallest value as the shortest scheduled delivery time or earliest scheduled delivery time, adds a predetermined value to the scheduled delivery time or scheduled delivery time, and provides this to the communication terminal device as the longest scheduled delivery time or latest scheduled delivery time, A request unit requests delivery of the product to a delivery operation device, which is an information processing device that operates a delivery service corresponding to the delivery cost with the smallest value, in response to a response from the aforementioned communication terminal device. An information processing device characterized by comprising:

2. When receiving an order for the aforementioned goods, including delivery of the goods, from a communication terminal device used by the customer, a first acquisition unit acquires delivery address information regarding the delivery address, A second acquisition unit provides the delivery destination information and store location information to a plurality of external information processing devices that provide delivery services for the aforementioned products, and acquires the estimated delivery time or estimated delivery date or delivery fee from each of the plurality of external information processing devices as the delivery cost for each of the aforementioned delivery services. A providing unit provides to the communication terminal device the shortest scheduled delivery time or earliest scheduled delivery time, which is included in the delivery cost information of the delivery service corresponding to the delivery cost with the smallest value among the delivery costs of each of the aforementioned delivery services, and adds a predetermined value to the scheduled delivery time or earliest scheduled delivery time. A request unit requests delivery of the product to an external information processing device that operates a delivery service corresponding to the delivery cost with the smallest value, in response to a response from the aforementioned communication terminal device. An information processing device characterized by comprising:

3. In an information processing device, When receiving an order for the aforementioned goods, including delivery of the goods, from a communication terminal device used by the customer, a first acquisition process is performed to acquire delivery address information regarding the delivery address, A calculation process that calculates the estimated delivery time or delivery date or delivery fee from the store to the delivery destination, based on pre-configured setting information and the store's location information, as the first delivery cost of the first delivery service, which represents the delivery service of the product performed by the store. A second acquisition process involves providing the delivery destination information and the location information of the store to an external information processing device that provides a second delivery service indicating a delivery service of the product carried out by a different business operator than the store, and obtaining from the external information processing device the estimated delivery time or estimated delivery date or delivery fee from the store to the delivery destination as the second delivery cost of the second delivery service. A provision process that provides to the communication terminal device the shortest scheduled delivery time or the earliest scheduled delivery time, which is included in the delivery cost information of the delivery service corresponding to the delivery cost with the smallest value among the first delivery cost and the second delivery cost, and a predetermined value is added to the scheduled delivery time or the earliest scheduled delivery time. In response to the communication terminal device, a request process is performed to request delivery of the product to a delivery operation device, which is an information processing device that operates a delivery service corresponding to the delivery cost with the smallest value, A program that executes the command.

4. In an information processing device, When receiving an order for the aforementioned goods, including delivery of the goods, from a communication terminal device used by the customer, a first acquisition process is performed to acquire delivery address information regarding the delivery address, A second acquisition process involves providing the delivery destination information and store location information to a plurality of external information processing devices that provide delivery services for the aforementioned products, and obtaining the estimated delivery time or delivery date or delivery fee from each of the plurality of external information processing devices as the delivery cost for each of the aforementioned delivery services, A provisioning process that provides to the communication terminal device the shortest scheduled delivery time or earliest scheduled delivery time, which is included in the delivery cost information of the delivery service corresponding to the delivery cost with the smallest value among the delivery costs of each of the aforementioned delivery services, and which is included in the delivery cost information of the delivery service corresponding to the delivery cost with the smallest value, and which is included in the delivery cost information of the delivery service corresponding to the shortest scheduled delivery time or earliest scheduled delivery time, and which is included in the delivery cost information of the delivery service corresponding to the delivery cost with the smallest value, In response to the communication terminal device, a request process is performed to request delivery of the product to an external information processing device that operates a delivery service corresponding to the delivery cost with the smallest value, A program that executes the command.

5. Information processing device, When receiving an order for the aforementioned goods, including delivery of the goods, from a communication terminal device used by the customer, a first acquisition process is performed to acquire delivery address information regarding the delivery address, A calculation process that calculates the estimated delivery time or delivery date or delivery fee from the store to the delivery destination, based on pre-configured setting information and the store's location information, as the first delivery cost of the first delivery service, which represents the delivery service of the product performed by the store. A second acquisition process involves providing the delivery destination information and the location information of the store to an external information processing device that provides a second delivery service indicating a delivery service of the product carried out by a different business operator than the store, and obtaining from the external information processing device the estimated delivery time or estimated delivery date or delivery fee from the store to the delivery destination as the second delivery cost of the second delivery service. A provision process that provides to the communication terminal device the shortest scheduled delivery time or the earliest scheduled delivery time, which is included in the delivery cost information of the delivery service corresponding to the delivery cost with the smallest value among the first delivery cost and the second delivery cost, and a predetermined value is added to the scheduled delivery time or the earliest scheduled delivery time. In response to the communication terminal device, a request process is performed to request delivery of the product to the delivery operation layer device, which is an information processing device that operates a delivery service corresponding to the delivery cost with the smallest value, An information processing method that performs the following.

6. Information processing device, When receiving an order for the aforementioned goods, including delivery of the goods, from a communication terminal device used by the customer, a first acquisition process is performed to acquire delivery address information regarding the delivery address, A second acquisition process involves providing the delivery destination information and store location information to a plurality of external information processing devices that provide delivery services for the aforementioned products, and obtaining the estimated delivery time or delivery date or delivery fee from each of the plurality of external information processing devices as the delivery cost for each of the aforementioned delivery services, A provisioning process that provides to the communication terminal device the shortest scheduled delivery time or earliest scheduled delivery time, which is included in the delivery cost information of the delivery service corresponding to the delivery cost with the smallest value among the delivery costs of each of the aforementioned delivery services, and which is included in the delivery cost information of the delivery service corresponding to the delivery cost with the smallest value, and which is included in the delivery cost information of the delivery service corresponding to the shortest scheduled delivery time or earliest scheduled delivery time, and which is included in the delivery cost information of the delivery service corresponding to the delivery cost with the smallest value, In response to the communication terminal device, a request process is performed to request delivery of the product to an external information processing device that operates a delivery service corresponding to the delivery cost with the smallest value, An information processing method that performs the following.

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