Waste Inbound Management System and Waste Inbound Management Method

Abstract

To enable a smooth carry-in of waste disposal.SOLUTION: A waste disposal carry-in managing system (101) includes: a receiving device (1) which receives reservation information on a reservation for carry-in of waste disposal to a waste incineration plant by online, and which issues identification information on a carry-in person of the waste disposal associated with the received reservation information and manages such information; and a measuring device (2) that measures the waste disposal carried in by the carry-in person when the identification information owned by the carry-in person matches with the identification information managed by the receiving device (1).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a waste carry-in management system and the like for managing the carry-in of waste in a cleaning plant. [Background Art]

[0002] Generally, in a cleaning plant, procedures differ between when individuals such as residents carry waste in by themselves and when business operators carry waste in.

[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses that in the case of self-carry-in, at a reception desk, a carrier handwrites their name, address, waste type and the like on a reception form, and weighs the vehicle loaded with the waste together using a weighing machine. After the weighing is completed, the carrier discharges the waste into a designated dumping box. Then, the carrier weighs the vehicle after unloading the waste using the weighing machine, and performs settlement according to the weight of the waste, which is the difference between the two weighings. At the time of the two weighings, a card reader is caused to read a weighing IC card on which the information entered in the reception form at the reception desk is recorded.

[0004] On the other hand, in the case of carry-in by a business operator, since the business operator is registered in advance, it is not necessary to fill in the reception form as in the case of self-carry-in, and two weighings are performed in the same manner as in the case of self-carry-in based on the registration information recorded on the weighing IC card. Note that the waste disposal fee for business operators is settled at a later date, for example, on a monthly basis. [Prior Art Documents] [Patent Documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2021-15337 [Summary of the Invention] [Problem to be Solved by the Invention]

[0006] However, with self-delivery, customers are required to fill out necessary information at the reception desk, which takes time. Therefore, if there are many customers, the reception desk becomes crowded. This not only increases the workload of the reception staff but also risks causing traffic congestion on surrounding roads.

[0007] One aspect of the present invention aims to facilitate the smooth transportation of waste. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] To solve the above problems, a waste delivery management system according to one aspect of the present invention includes: a reception device that receives online reservation information for the delivery of waste to a waste treatment plant, and issues and manages identification information of the waste deliverer associated with the received reservation information to the deliverer; and a weighing device that weighs the waste delivered by the deliverer when the identification information held by the deliverer matches the identification information managed by the reception device.

[0009] To solve the above problems, a waste delivery management method according to one aspect of the present invention includes: a reception step of receiving online reservation information for the delivery of waste to a waste treatment plant, issuing and managing identification information of the waste deliverer associated with the received reservation information to the deliverer; and a weighing step of weighing the waste delivered by the deliverer when the identification information held by the deliverer matches the identification information managed in the reception step. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to one aspect of the present invention, waste can be transported smoothly. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0011] [Figure 1] This is a block diagram showing the configuration of a waste handling management system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. [Figure 2]This figure shows the reservation status screen provided by the reception device of the waste delivery management system described above, for waste delivery personnel to check the reservation status of their waste delivery. [Figure 3] This figure shows the reservation details screen provided by the reception device to allow the user to confirm the details of the reservation entered by the person making the delivery. [Figure 4] This is a front view showing the payment device of the settlement device in the waste transport management system described above. [Figure 5] This flowchart shows the procedure for waste management using the waste delivery management system described above. [Figure 6] Figure 5 shows the flowchart for the reception processing procedure. [Figure 7] Figure 5 is a flowchart showing the steps involved in the weighing process. [Figure 8] Figure 5 shows the flowchart for the payment processing procedure. [Figure 9] This is a block diagram showing the configuration of a waste handling management system according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. [Figure 10] This is a block diagram showing the configuration of a waste handling management system according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0012] [Embodiment 1] One embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below.

[0013] <Outline of the waste handling management system> This is a block diagram showing the configuration of the waste handling management system 101 according to Embodiment 1.

[0014] As shown in Figure 1, the waste delivery management system 101 comprises a reception device 1, a weighing device 2, and a payment device 3. The reception device 1, weighing device 2, and payment device 3 are all computer devices.

[0015] A waste carrier uses the terminal device 6 to apply to the reception device 1 for a reservation of waste delivery to the cleaning plant. The carrier herein is an unapproved individual or the like, different from approved contractors authorized by the operator that manages the cleaning plant. Such a carrier submits a reservation application every time they deliver waste.

[0016] The reception device 1 is a device that receives reservation information related to a reservation online via the Internet 100 when a reservation application is submitted from the terminal device 6. Furthermore, the reception device 1 issues a reservation number associated with the received reservation information to the waste carrier as identification information of the waste carrier, and manages the reservation number.

[0017] The weighing device 2 is a device having a weighing function for weighing waste carried in by the carrier. When the reservation number held by the carrier matches the reservation number managed by the reception device 1, the weighing device 2 weighs the waste carried in by the carrier.

[0018] The weighing device 2 has a function as a management device that associates and manages the weight of weighed waste with the reservation number managed by the reception device 1. The settlement device 3 reads the reservation number held by the carrier, determines a fee based on the weight of the waste managed in association with the reservation number, and accepts payment of the fee.

[0019] The weighing device 2 and the settlement device 3 are arranged near the pit for inputting waste in the cleaning plant. When an operator operates a plurality of cleaning plants, the weighing device 2 and the settlement device 3 are provided for each cleaning plant. The reception device 1 is provided, for example, in a cloud server to collectively accept reservations for waste delivery to one or more cleaning plants. The reception device 1 and the weighing device 2 are communicatively connected via the Internet 100. The weighing device 2 and the settlement device 3 are communicatively connected via a LAN (Local Area Network) in the cleaning plant.

[0020] <Reception Device> Details of the reception device 1 will be explained below.

[0021] Figure 2 shows the reservation status screen provided by the reception device 1 for waste transporters to check the reservation status of their waste transport. Figure 3 shows the reservation details screen provided by the reception device 1 for waste transporters to check the details of the reservation entered by the transporter.

[0022] The reception device 1 includes a communication unit 11, a reservation reception unit 12, a reception slip issuing unit 13, a storage device 14, and an information management unit 15.

[0023] The communication unit 11 communicates with the weighing device 2 and the terminal device 6 via the internet 100.

[0024] The reservation reception unit 12 receives reservation requests from terminal devices 6 and issues a receipt to terminal devices 6. The reservation reception unit 12 provides the person making the reservation (the person making the reservation) with an input form in HTML (HyperText Markup Language) format on the reservation website, in which they enter the information necessary for the reservation request.

[0025] The application requires information such as the reservation holder's information, reservation details, and license plate number. The reservation holder's information includes the reservation holder's name (company name), telephone number, address (residence), and email address. The reservation details include information to determine the reservation, such as the reserved usage time, implementation time, usage date, reservation time, and type and quantity of waste. The license plate number is required as information about the vehicle used to transport the waste.

[0026] The reservation information may include information indicating whether or not it is the first reservation. Reservations for each delivery must be made separately; if multiple reservations are made, they are not linked to each other. However, the history of past reservations is managed by a reservation history database (not shown) constructed on the storage device 14 or an external device.

[0027] The person making the reservation needs to check the current reservation status in order to decide on the date and time of their reservation. For this reason, the reservation reception unit 12 provides the terminal device 6 with the reservation status screen 201 shown in Figure 2 so that it can be viewed on the terminal device 6.

[0028] The reservation status screen 201 is a screen that allows users to view reservation status in daily, weekly, and monthly increments. The daily, weekly, and monthly screens can be switched between. The reservation status screen 201 shown in Figure 2 displays weekly reservation status in hourly increments, indicating the reservation status as "No availability," "Available," "Reserved," and "Reserved." If "Available," the remaining number of available vehicles (delivery vehicles) is displayed.

[0029] The reservation status is managed in a database (not shown) located in the storage device 14 of the reception device 1, or in a database located outside the reception device 1.

[0030] If the reservation acceptance unit 12 determines that a reservation is possible based on the application details entered in the input form, it accepts the reservation once it receives final approval from the person making the reservation, and issues a reservation number associated with the reservation information as unique identification information for the person making the reservation. The reservation acceptance unit 12 also converts the reservation number into an identification code such as a QR code (registered trademark) or a barcode.

[0031] Furthermore, the person making the reservation needs to review the details of the accepted reservation in order to give final approval. For this reason, the reservation acceptance unit 12 provides the terminal device 6 with the reservation details screen 301 shown in Figure 3 so that it can be viewed on the terminal device 6.

[0032] The reservation details screen 301 is a screen that displays the reservation number, reservation holder information, reservation details, and license plate number in a table format. The reservation details screen 301 also includes the QR code (registered trademark) 302 as the identification code mentioned above. The reservation details screen 301 can be edited by operating the edit button located at the bottom, allowing users to correct errors in application details or enter missing information on the reservation details screen 301.

[0033] Furthermore, the administrator of reception device 1 can monitor the reservation acceptance status by the reservation acceptance unit 12 and make reservations on behalf of others. This administrator is permanently stationed at a location such as the operator's management office and uses a management computer to manage reception device 1.

[0034] The receipt issuing unit 13 issues receipt data (receipt data) to the terminal device 6, which includes an identification code, reservation information or part thereof, and instructions on how to bring in the waste. The reservation information or part thereof written on the receipt is used as a memorandum for the person who made the reservation.

[0035] The storage device 14 stores the reservation information, reservation number, and identification code as described above. The storage device 14 also stores various information, including the reservation holder information and license plate number, which are received by the reservation acceptance unit 12.

[0036] The information management unit 15 manages the information stored in the storage device 14 and the information in the reservation history database. For example, in response to a request from the weighing device 2, the information management unit 15 retrieves the reservation number of the person who made the reservation from the storage device 14 and provides it to the weighing device 2.

[0037] <Terminal device> Terminal device 6 is a terminal device owned by the person making the reservation, and may be a portable device such as a smartphone or tablet, or a device such as a personal computer. Terminal device 6 has a communication unit 61, a reservation input unit 62, a display device 63, an input device 64, and a storage device 65.

[0038] The communication unit 61 communicates with the reception device 1 via the internet 100.

[0039] The reservation input unit 62 assists the reservation user in entering information for making a reservation using a web browser. The reservation input unit 62 displays the input form provided by the reservation reception unit 12 of the reception device 1 on the display device 63, receives input from the reservation user via the input device 64, and fills in the application details in the input form. The reservation input unit 62 sends the completed input form to the reception device 1 via the communication unit 61.

[0040] The storage device 65 stores the reception slip data transmitted from the reception device 1. The display device 63 displays the reception slip based on the reception slip data stored in the storage device 65.

[0041] When a person with a reservation brings waste to the incineration plant, they display the receipt slip on the display device 63 and the delivery is accepted based on the identification code contained in the receipt slip. Alternatively, the person with a reservation may bring a printed receipt slip to the incineration plant and the delivery is accepted based on the identification code shown on the receipt slip.

[0042] <Measuring device> The weighing device 2 includes a communication unit 21, a reading device 22, an identification information comparison unit 23, a weighing machine 24, a display device 25, a weight management unit 26, and a storage device 27.

[0043] The communication unit 21 communicates with the reception device 1 via the internet 100. The communication unit 21 also communicates with the payment device 3 via the LAN.

[0044] The reader 22 is a device that reads the identification code on the reception slip brought by the person who has made a reservation to bring in waste, i.e., the person bringing in the waste. The reader 22 converts the image of the captured identification code back into a reservation number.

[0045] The identification information comparison unit 23 compares the reservation number read from the identification code by the reader 22 with the reservation number obtained from the reception device 1. If the two reservation numbers match, the identification information comparison unit 23 notifies the weighing machine 24 that weighing is possible and also notifies the information management unit 15 of the reception device 1 that the weighing of that reservation number has been accepted. If the two reservation numbers do not match, the identification information comparison unit 23 outputs a message to the display device 25 indicating that the reservation is not valid.

[0046] The weighing machine 24 is a device for measuring the weight of waste. The weighing machine 24 measures the weight of the waste itself. Alternatively, the weighing machine 24 may first measure the weight of each vehicle loaded with waste, then measure the weight of only the vehicle after the waste has been disposed of, and measure the difference as the weight of the waste.

[0047] The display device 25 displays the message based on the data of the message from the identification information comparison unit 23. The display device 25 also displays the weight of the weighed waste based on the weight value output from the weighing machine 24.

[0048] The weight management unit 26 manages the weight of the waste measured by the weighing machine 24 in association with the reservation number of the person bringing in the waste. The weight management unit 26 obtains the reservation number, which is managed by the information management unit 15 of the receiving device 1 as the reservation number for which weighing has been accepted, from the receiving device 1 and associates it with the weight of the waste. The weight management unit 26 stores the weight associated with the reservation number in the storage device 27. As a result, a weight management database is constructed in the storage device 27.

[0049] <Payment device> The payment device 3 includes a communication unit 31, a reader 32, a charge determination unit 33, and a payment device 34.

[0050] The communication unit 31 communicates with the weighing device 2 via the LAN.

[0051] The reader 32 is a device that reads the identification code on the receipt brought in by the person bringing in the goods. The reader 32 then converts the image of the captured identification code back into a reservation number.

[0052] The fee determination unit 33 determines the fee based on the measured weight of the waste. Specifically, the fee determination unit 33 obtains the weight of the waste, which is managed in association with the reservation number by the weight management unit 26 of the weighing device 2, based on the reservation number read by the reading device 22, and determines the fee based on that weight.

[0053] Figure 4 is a front view showing the payment device 34 of the settlement device 3. The payment device 34 is a device that accepts payment of the charges determined by the charge determination unit 33. As shown in Figure 4, the payment device 34 includes a display 341, a settlement terminal 342, a card reader 343, a slip dispensing slot 344, and an automated cash dispenser 345.

[0054] The display 341, payment terminal 342, card reader 343, and slip dispenser 344 are located on the front panel 340 of the payment device 34. The ATM 345 is located below the payment device 34, protruding forward from the front panel 340.

[0055] The display 242 is located at the top of the front panel 340. The display 242 has a message display unit 341a and a weight display unit 341b. The message display unit 341a displays a message to the reserved waste carrier, who has brought in waste by reservation, prompting them to use the payment terminal 342 or the ATM 345, as shown in Figure 4. In addition, the message display unit 341a displays a message to the authorized waste carrier, who does not require a reservation and whose waste delivery has been authorized in advance, as will be described later in Embodiment 2, prompting them to use the registration card they possess.

[0056] The payment terminal 342 is located in the center of the front panel 340. The payment terminal 342 has a contactless reader, a contact reader, and a magnetic reader. The contactless reader is located on the front of the payment terminal 342 and reads card information without contact. The contactless reader also has a display function. The contact reader is located at the bottom of the payment terminal 342 and has a slot for inserting a card, reading card information by contact. The magnetic reader is located on the side of the payment terminal 342 and reads information from the magnetic stripe of the card.

[0057] The card reader 343 is located on the front panel 340, to the side of the payment terminal 342. The card reader 343 is a device that reads information from registered cards owned by authorized porters.

[0058] The slip dispensing opening 344 is located on the front panel 340, on the side opposite to the card reader 343 of the payment terminal 342. The slip dispensing opening 344 is an opening for retrieving slips issued for completed payments. The slip dispensing opening 344 is covered by a transparent plastic door.

[0059] The automated cash dispenser 345 is a device that handles cash payments. The automated cash dispenser 345 has a banknote insertion section 345a, a coin insertion section 345b, and a change dispensing section 345c. The banknote insertion section 345a has a vertically elongated slot, and when a banknote is inserted into the slot, it takes the banknote inside. The coin insertion section 345b opens upward and takes in coins inserted from above. The change dispensing section 345c is provided so as to protrude from the front of the automated cash dispenser 345 and opens upward. The automated cash dispenser 345 dispenses change into the change dispensing section 345c.

[0060] <Waste Inbound Management> The waste delivery management system 101 configured as described above (waste delivery management method) will be explained below.

[0061] Figure 5 is a flowchart showing the waste delivery management process using the waste delivery management system 101. Figure 6 is a flowchart showing the reception processing procedure in the flowchart shown in Figure 5. Figure 7 is a flowchart showing the weighing processing procedure in the flowchart shown in Figure 5. Figure 8 is a flowchart showing the payment processing procedure in the flowchart shown in Figure 5.

[0062] (Overview of the overall process) As shown in Figure 5, first, the reception device 1 performs a reception process to accept reservations from those who wish to bring in waste (Step S1, reception process). Once the reception device 1 has completed the reservation reception process, the weighing device 2 performs a weighing process to weigh the waste brought in by the person who has made a reservation (Step S2, weighing process). Once the weighing of the waste is complete, the payment device 3 determines the fee for waste delivery based on the weight of the waste and performs a payment process to accept payment of the fee (Step S3).

[0063] (Reception processing) As shown in Figure 6, during the reception process, the reservation reception unit 12 of the reception device 1 verifies the contents of the application information entered in the input form (step S11). The input form is displayed on the reservation website. The person making the reservation fills in the application information required for the reservation in the input form. The reservation reception unit 12 notifies the person making the reservation that the contents are incorrect if the information entered is incorrect, and notifies the person making the reservation that the required application information has been not entered if necessary application information has not been entered.

[0064] The reservation reception unit 12 provides the reservation user with a reservation status screen 201 that displays the current reservation status, allowing the user to view it for entering reservation information into the input form. By referring to the reservation status screen 201, the reservation user can select a date and time slot with available availability.

[0065] The reservation acceptance unit 12, upon confirming that the application details have been correctly entered into the input form, determines whether or not the reservation can be accepted (step S12). In order to obtain the final approval of the person making the reservation, the reservation acceptance unit 12 provides the person making the reservation details screen 301, which contains the details of the reservation, to view, and also displays a reservation confirmation button (not shown) on the terminal device 6 along with the reservation details screen 301.

[0066] The person making the reservation checks the information displayed on the reservation details screen 301, and if there are no problems with the reservation details, they press the "Confirm Reservation" button. This causes the reservation reception unit 12 to determine that the reservation can be accepted (YES). The reservation reception unit 12 also waits until the "Confirm Reservation" button is pressed (NO). Upon acceptance of the reservation, the reservation reception unit 12 issues a reservation number and converts the reservation number into an identification code.

[0067] If the reservation acceptance unit 12 determines in step S12 that it is possible to accept the reservation, the reservation slip issuing unit 13 issues reservation slip data to the person making the reservation as a reservation slip containing an identification code (step S13). The reservation slip issuing unit 13 sends the reservation slip data to the terminal device 6 in the form of an email. When the reservation slip issuing unit 13 issues the reservation slip, the reception device 1 returns to the main routine.

[0068] The reservation is completed upon issuance of the confirmation slip. Completed reservations are managed in the reservation history database mentioned above.

[0069] (Weighing and processing) Once a reservation is made, the person bringing the waste to the incineration plant will transport it by vehicle. If an attendant is stationed to assist with weighing using weighing device 2, the attendant will guide the person bringing in the waste and explain the tasks to be performed at each stage of weighing.

[0070] If the person bringing in goods has a portable terminal device 6 on which the receipt data is stored, they should hold the portion of the receipt displaying the identification code on the terminal device 6 over the reader device 22 of the weighing device 2. Alternatively, if the person bringing in goods has a printed receipt, they should hold the portion of the receipt with the identification code written on it over the reader device 22.

[0071] As shown in Figure 7, in the weighing process, the reading device 22 takes an image of the identification code held up by the person bringing in the item, and reads the reservation number by converting the image in reverse to the reservation number (step S21). The reading device 22 provides the read reservation number to the identification information comparison unit 23.

[0072] When the identification information comparison unit 23 receives a reservation number from the reader 22, it identifies the reservation time slot from the current time and requests the information management unit 15 of the reception device 1 to provide all reservation numbers of people who have reservations during that time slot. For example, if reservation time slots are defined in one-hour increments, the identification information comparison unit 23 requests the provision of reservation numbers for the one-hour time slot that includes the current time.

[0073] The information management unit 15 of the reception device 1, upon receiving a request from the identification information comparison unit 23, retrieves the reservation numbers of all customers who have made reservations for the relevant time slot from the reservation history database and has the communication unit 11 transmit the reservation numbers to the weighing device 2.

[0074] The identification information comparison unit 23 compares the reservation number from the reading device 22 with the reservation number obtained from the information management unit 15 and determines whether the two reservation numbers match (step S22).

[0075] When the identification information comparison unit 23 determines that the reservation numbers of both parties match, it notifies the person receiving the goods that weighing is possible via a display on the display device 25 or by voice. The identification information comparison unit 23 also notifies the information management unit 15 of the matched reservation numbers. The information management unit 15 records in the reservation history database that the reservation based on the reservation number notified by the identification information comparison unit 23 has been fulfilled.

[0076] In step S22, if the identification information comparison unit 23 determines that the reservation numbers of both parties match (YES), the weighing machine 24 receives notification from the identification information comparison unit 23 that weighing is possible and weighs the waste (step S23). Once weighing is complete, the weighing machine 24 displays the measured weight of the waste on the display device 25. The weighing machine 24 notifies the weight management unit 26 of the measured weight of the waste.

[0077] The weight management unit 26 manages the weight notified by the weighing machine 24 by storing it in the weight management database in the storage device 27, associating it with the reservation number obtained from the information management unit 15 (step S24). The weight management unit 26 requests the reservation number, which has been notified to the information management unit 15 from the identification information comparison unit 23 and recorded in the reservation history database, from the information management unit 15 and obtains it. When the weight management unit 26 starts managing the weight, the weighing device 2 returns processing to the main routine.

[0078] In step S22, if the identification information comparison unit 23 determines that the reservation numbers of both parties do not match (NO), it notifies the transporter that weighing cannot be performed via the display device 25 (step S25). Once this notification is given, the waste transport management process is completed.

[0079] If the reservation numbers of both parties do not match, it is possible that the person who made the reservation visited at a time different from the date and time indicated in the reservation information. In this case, the person who made the reservation should check the date and time of the reservation written on the receipt and, if they visited at a time different from the date and time of the reservation, they will need to either reschedule the delivery or make a new reservation according to the reserved date and time. Alternatively, if an attendant is present, and there is an available reservation during the time the person who made the delivery visited, the attendant may weigh the delivery at their discretion.

[0080] (Payment processing) After weighing, the delivery person pays the fee using the payment device 3. The delivery person holds the portion of the receipt with the identification code over the reader 32 in order to obtain the weight managed by the weight management unit 26.

[0081] As shown in Figure 8, in the payment process, the reader 32 takes an image of the identification code held up by the person bringing in the goods, and reads the reservation number by converting the image back into a reservation number (step S31). The reader 32 then provides the read reservation number to the price determination unit 33.

[0082] The fare determination unit 33 obtains the weight associated with the reservation number from the weight management unit 26 based on the reservation number from the reader 32 (step S32). When obtaining the weight, the fare determination unit 33 sends a command to the weighing device 2 requesting the weight along with the reservation number from the reader 32. The weight management unit 26 of the weighing device 2 receives the command, reads the weight from the storage device 27 using the reservation number as a search key, and has the communication unit 21 transmit the weight to the payment device 3. The fare determination unit 33 obtains the desired weight when the communication unit 31 receives the weight at the payment device 3.

[0083] The fee determination unit 33 determines the fee based on the acquired weight (step S33). The fee determination unit 33 refers to a fee schedule that lists fees corresponding to weights and determines the fee corresponding to the acquired weight.

[0084] The payment device 34 accepts payment of the determined fee (step S34). Once the payment device 34 accepts payment of the fee, the settlement device 3 returns the process to the main routine.

[0085] The delivery person pays the fee using their preferred payment method at the payment device 34. For example, if paying cashless, the delivery person pays using their preferred payment medium at the payment terminal 342 of the payment device 34. If paying with cash, the delivery person pays using the automated cash payment machine 345 of the payment device 34. In either case, once payment is complete, the payment device 34 discharges a receipt indicating that payment has been made from the receipt dispensing slot 344.

[0086] Furthermore, if a cashless payment requiring withdrawal from a bank account or similar is made, the payment device 34 notifies the payment service provider of the payment amount via the communication unit 31. The payment service provider processes the payment based on the payment amount and also notifies the operator of the waste treatment plant that the payment has been made.

[0087] <Effects of the waste transport management system> As described above, the waste delivery management system 101 according to this embodiment includes a reception device 1 and a weighing device 2.

[0088] According to the above configuration, waste brought in by users who have made reservations online in advance will be weighed. This eliminates the need for waste acceptance at the incineration plant. Therefore, congestion at the incineration plant can be alleviated.

[0089] Furthermore, the waste delivery management system 101 is further equipped with a payment device 3, and the weighing device 2 has a weight management unit 26, so it functions as a management device that associates the weight of the weighed waste with the reservation number managed by the reception device 1.

[0090] According to the above configuration, billing and payment based on the measured weight of waste can be carried out smoothly, based on the reservation number as identification information.

[0091] Furthermore, the waste delivery management system 101 may include information indicating whether or not the reservation is the first time. This allows information such as instructions on how to use the waste treatment plant to deliverers who are making their first reservation.

[0092] [Embodiment 2] Embodiment 2 of the present invention will be described below. For the sake of convenience, components having the same function as those described in Embodiment 1 will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and their descriptions will not be repeated. Figure 9 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the waste handling management system 102 according to Embodiment 2.

[0093] As shown in Figure 9, the waste delivery management system 102, like the waste delivery management system 101 described above, includes a reception device 1, a weighing device 2, and a payment device 3. The waste delivery management system 102 also includes a registration device 4. The registration device 4 is composed of a computer device.

[0094] In the waste delivery management system 102, authorized waste carriers, unlike the reserved waste carriers in Embodiment 1, do not need to make reservations for delivery and can deliver waste based on a pre-assigned registration number. Examples of registration numbers include the business registration number and the vehicle registration number. The business registration number is a unique registration number assigned to authorized businesses. The vehicle registration number is a unique registration number assigned to each vehicle owned by an authorized business.

[0095] The waste delivery management system 102 is configured to allow payment processing by the payment device 3 in the waste delivery management system 101 of Embodiment 1, even for authorized deliveries that do not require reservations. In this case, the authorized deliveries are drivers of vehicles owned by authorized businesses and possess a registration card that records both the vehicle registration number and the business registration number of the registered vehicle.

[0096] <Registered Device> The registration device 4 registers the business registration number and vehicle registration number assigned to authorized waste carriers as authorized identification information. The registration device 4 includes a communication unit 41, a registration reception unit 42, an authorized information issuing unit 43, a storage device 44, and an information management unit 45.

[0097] The communication unit 41 communicates with the weighing device 2 via the internet 100.

[0098] The registration reception unit 42 accepts registration applications from terminal devices 7 owned by businesses applying for authorization. The registration reception unit 42 provides an input form in HTML format on the registration website for entering the application information necessary for registration. The terminal device 7 may be a device having the same functions as the terminal device 6 in Embodiment 1.

[0099] Application requirements include business information and vehicle information. Business information includes details about the business, such as the business name, telephone number, address, and email address. Vehicle information includes, for example, the license plate number.

[0100] The authorization information issuing unit 43 issues a business registration number and a vehicle registration number in response to a registration application received by the registration acceptance unit 42. The business registration number and the vehicle registration number for each vehicle are issued as a notification via email to the terminal device 7. The authorization information issuing unit 43 issues only a vehicle registration number in the case of a registration application for a vehicle only.

[0101] Furthermore, the authorization information issuing department 43 creates a registration card on which the business registration number and vehicle registration number are recorded using an IC chip or the like. The registration card is sent to the business that applied for authorization by mail or other means.

[0102] The storage device 44 stores various information and registration numbers. The various information includes business operator information and vehicle information, and is written to the storage device 44 by the registration acceptance unit 42. The registration numbers include business operator registration numbers and vehicle registration numbers, and are written to the storage device 44 by the authorization information issuance unit 43.

[0103] The information management unit 45 manages the information stored in the storage device 44. For example, in response to a request from the weighing device 2, the information management unit 45 retrieves the vehicle registration number (authorization identification information) of the authorized transporter from the storage device 44 and provides it to the weighing device 2.

[0104] <Measuring device> The weighing device 2 has a weighing machine 28 in place of the weighing machine 24 of the waste delivery management system 101's weighing device 2, in order to weigh the waste delivered by an authorized transporter. The weighing machine 28, although not shown in the figure, has a first weighing machine that measures the weight of the vehicle with the waste loaded, and a second weighing machine that measures the weight of the vehicle only after the waste has been disposed of, and the difference between the weight measured by the first weighing machine and the weight measured by the second weighing machine is measured as the weight of the waste. Alternatively, if the vehicle weight is registered in advance as registration information and recorded on the registration card, the weighing machine 28 may measure the weight of the vehicle with the waste loaded, and measure the difference between that weight and the registered vehicle weight as the weight of the waste.

[0105] The weighing device 2 weighs the waste brought in by the authorized transporter when the vehicle registration number recorded on the registration card held by the authorized transporter matches the vehicle registration number registered in the registration device 4. In addition, the weight management unit 26 of the weighing device 2 manages the correspondence between the weight of the waste measured by the weighing machine 28 and the vehicle registration number registered in the registration device 4.

[0106] The identification information comparison unit 23 compares the vehicle registration number read from the registration card by the reader 22 with the vehicle registration number obtained from the registration device 4. If the two vehicle registration numbers match, the identification information comparison unit 23 notifies the weighing machine 28 that weighing is possible. If the two vehicle registration numbers do not match, the identification information comparison unit 23 displays a message such as "unregistered" or "registration not updated" on the display device 25.

[0107] <Payment device> The payment device 3 reads the vehicle registration number from the registration card held by the authorized transporter, determines the fee based on the weight of the waste managed by the weight management unit 26 in association with the said vehicle registration number, and accepts payment of the said fee.

[0108] The fee determination unit 33 obtains the weight of the waste, which is managed in association with the vehicle registration number by the weight management unit 26 of the weighing device 2, based on the vehicle registration number read by the reading device 22, and determines the fee based on that weight.

[0109] <Reception device> The information management unit 15 of the reception device 1 accumulates and manages the weight of the waste and the vehicle registration number obtained from the weight management unit 26 of the weighing device 2, and the amount of the fee paid obtained from the payment device 3, in the storage device 14 for a predetermined period as usage record information indicating the usage record by authorized transporters. The information management unit 15 may also manage usage record information of transporters who transport waste by reservation in Embodiment 1, in addition to the usage record information of authorized transporters. Furthermore, the information management unit 15 functions as an issuing device that issues usage record to authorized transporters.

[0110] <Waste Inbound Management> The management of waste delivery using the waste delivery management system 102 configured as described above will be explained.

[0111] The authorized transporter holds their registration card over the reader 22 of the weighing device 2. The reader 22 reads the vehicle registration number from the registration card and provides it to the identification information comparison unit 23.

[0112] The identification information comparison unit 23 compares the vehicle registration number from the reading device 22 with the vehicle registration number obtained from the information management unit 45 of the registration device 4. If it determines that the two vehicle registration numbers match, it notifies the transporter that weighing is possible via a display on the display device 25 or by voice.

[0113] The weighing machine 28 weighs the waste after receiving notification from the identification information comparison unit 23 that weighing is possible. Once weighing is complete, the weighing machine 28 notifies the weight management unit 26 of the measured weight of the waste.

[0114] The weight management unit 26 manages the weight notified by the weighing machine 28 by associating it with the vehicle registration number obtained from the information management unit 45 and storing it in the weight management database of the weighing device 2. The weight management unit 26 provides the newly associated weight and vehicle registration number to the information management unit 15 of the receiving device 1.

[0115] After weighing, the authorized delivery person makes the payment using the payment device 3. The authorized delivery person holds their registration card over the reader 32 to obtain the weight managed by the weight management unit 26.

[0116] The reader 32 reads the vehicle registration number from the registration card and provides it to the fare determination unit 33. Based on the vehicle registration number from the reader 32, the fare determination unit 33 obtains the weight associated with the vehicle registration number from the weight management unit 26 and determines the fare based on that weight.

[0117] The payment device 34 accepts payment of the determined fee. Authorized delivery persons pay the fee at the payment device 34 using the prescribed payment method with their registered card. Specifically, the authorized delivery person reads the vehicle registration number using the card reader 343 of the payment device 34 to make the payment.

[0118] Once payment is complete, payment device 34 notifies the payment provider of the payment amount via communication unit 31. The payment provider processes the payment based on the payment amount and notifies the waste treatment plant operator that payment has been made. Payment device 3 provides the payment amount, along with the vehicle registration number, to the information management unit 15 of reception device 1.

[0119] The information management unit 15 of the reception device 1 stores and manages the weight of the waste and the vehicle registration number provided by the weight management unit 26 of the weighing device 2, and the payment amount provided by the payment device 3, as usage history information in the storage device 14. Based on the usage history information accumulated in the storage device 14 for a certain period of time, the information management unit 15 issues a usage statement and provides it to the authorized business operator to which the authorized transporter belongs.

[0120] Specifically, the operator provides authorized service providers with a website where they can view usage records. Authorized service providers can view usage records on this website using usage dates as search keys and request the issuance of usage statements for a desired period. The Information Management Department 15 then issues the usage statements to the authorized service providers upon receiving such requests.

[0121] <Effects of the waste transport management system> As described above, the waste delivery management system 102 according to this embodiment includes a registration device 4. The weighing device 2 weighs the waste delivered by authorized deliveries based on the vehicle registration number and manages the weight of the weighed waste in association with the vehicle registration number. The payment device 3 determines the fee based on the weight managed in association with the vehicle registration number and accepts payment of the fee.

[0122] Previously, payments for waste deliveries by authorized deliveries that did not require reservations were processed monthly. However, with the above configuration, payments for waste deliveries by authorized deliveries can also be processed by payment device 3 based on the vehicle registration number. This eliminates the need to issue monthly invoices for waste deliveries by authorized deliveries.

[0123] Furthermore, as described above, the waste delivery management system 102, through the information management unit 15 of the reception device 1, accumulates the weight of the waste, the vehicle registration number, and the amount of the fee paid as usage records by authorized deliveries for a predetermined period. The information management unit 15 issues a usage statement to the authorized deliveries as a record of these usage records. Alternatively, the information management unit 15 may manage the usage records collectively as usage records for authorized businesses rather than on an authorized delivery

[0124] By issuing usage records as described above, the receipt issuance process that was previously carried out for authorized businesses can be eliminated.

[0125] In this embodiment, the information management unit 15 manages the usage records of authorized porters and issues these usage records to the authorized porters; however, the management and issuance of usage records may be performed by other devices.

[0126] [Embodiment 3] Embodiment 3 of the present invention will be described below. For the sake of convenience of explanation, components having the same function as those described in Embodiment 1 will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and their descriptions will not be repeated. Figure 10 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the waste handling management system 103 according to Embodiment 3.

[0127] As shown in Figure 10, the waste delivery management system 103, like the waste delivery management system 101 described above, includes a reception device 1, a weighing device 2, and a payment device 3. The waste delivery management system 103 includes weighing devices 2 and payment devices 3 installed in the waste treatment plants of multiple areas operated by the operator, for example, Area A, Area B, and Area C. The waste delivery management system 103 also includes a tallying device 5. The tallying device 5 is composed of a computer device.

[0128] <Reception device> The reservation information, among the various types of information managed in the storage device 14 of the reception device 1, includes, as described above, the name or title of the person bringing in the goods and the address of the person bringing in the goods. Here, the person bringing in the goods is the person making the reservation in Embodiment 1. If the person making the reservation is an individual, the name is the name of that individual, and the address is the address of that individual. If the person making the reservation is a business, the title is the name of that individual, and the address is the address of the business premises where the business is located.

[0129] The reception device 1 determines whether the residence of the person making the reservation is within a predetermined area and issues a reservation number only to the person making the reservation whose residence is within that area. Specifically, if the residence of the person making the reservation is included in any of Area A, Area B, or Area C, the reservation reception unit 12 of the reception device 1 issues a reservation number. If the residence of the person making the reservation is not included in any of Area A, Area B, or Area C, the reservation reception unit 12 of the reception device 1 does not issue a reservation number.

[0130] Traditionally, waste brought in by individuals from outside the designated area who were unaware of the area's boundaries was either restricted at the reception desk or accepted at the discretion of the reception staff if there were extenuating circumstances. This resulted in cumbersome interactions with individuals from outside the designated area at the reception desk. In contrast, the above configuration allows for restrictions on waste brought in from outside the designated area at the reservation stage.

[0131] The reception device 1, based on the name or company name and address provided by the delivery person at the time of application, which are included in the reservation information among the various information managed in the storage device 14 by the information management unit 15, identifies the number of times the reservation information was received by the delivery person on the same day as the application date for the reservation information. Furthermore, if the identified number of acceptances has reached a predetermined number, the reception device 1 will not accept the reservation information from the delivery person who made the application.

[0132] Specifically, the reception device 1 first defines a predetermined maximum number of times per day it will accept reservation information from the same reservation recipient as N times (where N is a natural number). The reservation reception unit 12 of the reception device 1 extracts the name or title and address of the recipient from the reservation information provided along with the reservation information provided by the recipient and provides it to the information management unit 15 of the reception device 1. The information management unit 15 searches the reservation history database described above using the given name or title and address as search keys to search the reservation history of the recipient for the same day the reservation was applied for. If the information management unit 15 finds a reservation history as a result of the search, it identifies the number of times the recipient has been accepted and notifies the reservation reception unit 12. The reservation reception unit 12 then accepts the reservation information provided at the time of application if the number of accepted reservations has reached N, and does not accept the reservation information if the number of accepted reservations has reached N.

[0133] The above configuration makes it possible to prevent a specific person from bringing in waste multiple times a day.

[0134] The reception device 1, through the information management unit 15, further manages delivery personnel who do not accept reservation information as non-receiving delivery personnel. In addition, the reception device 1 identifies the delivery personnel based on the name or company name and address provided by the delivery personnel when applying for a reservation, and if the identified delivery personnel are managed as non-receiving delivery personnel, the reception device 1 will not accept reservation information from that delivery personnel.

[0135] Specifically, the information management unit 15 of the reception device 1 manages the delivery history for each delivery person as a delivery history database in the storage device 14 or an external device. The delivery history database includes not only general information such as the delivery person's name or company name, address, type of waste delivered, and weight of the waste, as well as cautionary information regarding the delivery person, as a record of the waste delivery person's past deliveries. Cautionary information includes information about the delivery person's character, particularly information about actions that warrant refusal of a reservation, such as frequent unreasonable complaints, failure to comply with rules, or disruptive behavior.

[0136] The administrator mentioned above accesses the Information Management Unit 15, refers to the note information in the delivery history database to identify deliveries whose reservation applications will not be accepted, and registers those deliveries as non-accepted deliveries in the delivery history database. The Information Management Unit 15, upon receiving this operation, registers those deliveries as non-accepted deliveries in the delivery history database. As a result, the registration information of non-accepted deliveries is set and managed in the delivery history database.

[0137] The reservation acceptance unit 12 extracts the name or company name and address of the transporter from the transporter information provided by the transporter when the transporter applies for a reservation and provides it to the information management unit 15. The information management unit 15 searches the transporter in the transporter history database using the given name or company name and address as search keys, and once it identifies the transporter, it checks whether there is any registered information about the transporter and notifies the reservation acceptance unit 12 of the result. The reservation acceptance unit 12 then accepts the reservation information provided by the transporter if the transporter is not registered as a non-acceptable transporter, and does not accept the reservation information if the transporter is registered as a non-acceptable transporter.

[0138] According to the above configuration, it is possible to refuse reservations from suppliers who have engaged in the problematic behavior described above during past deliveries. This prevents problems caused by such suppliers from occurring in the first place.

[0139] <Reservation Information> The reservation information stored in the storage device 14 of the reception device 1 includes information on waste to be brought to the waste treatment plant. The waste to be brought in information is the type of waste as described above, but it may also include other information as long as it relates to waste.

[0140] <Counting device> The aggregation device 5 is a device that aggregates waste information for each area, namely area A, area B, and area C. Furthermore, when the reception device 1 issues a reservation number to a reserved waste carrier who resides within an area, the aggregation device 5 associates the waste information of the area where the reserved waste carrier resides with the waste information of the transported waste. The aggregation device 5 has a communication unit 51, an aggregation unit 52, an association unit 53, and a storage device 54.

[0141] The communication unit 61 communicates with the receiving device 1 via the internet 100. The communication unit 61 also communicates with the weighing device 2 via the LAN.

[0142] The aggregation unit 52 acquires and aggregates the measured weight of waste from the weighing devices 2 (weight management units 26) in each area. The weight acquired by the aggregation unit 52 is not only the weight of waste brought in by the reserved waste carriers, but also the weight of all waste brought into each area. In addition, the weighing devices 2 manage information such as the type of waste along with the weight in the weight management unit 26. The aggregation unit 52 also acquires and aggregates this information from the weighing devices 2. The aggregation unit 52 stores the aggregation results as aggregation information for each area in the storage device 54.

[0143] The association unit 53 obtains reservation information stored in the storage device 14 from the information management unit 15 for reserved deliveries to which a reservation number has been issued by the reservation acceptance unit 12 of the reception device 1. The association unit 53 associates the waste information stored in the storage device 54 for the area including the residence of the reserved deliveries included in the obtained reservation information with the waste information included in the obtained reservation information.

[0144] When waste from a reserved waste carrier is weighed, the aggregation unit 52 can associate the newly weighed weight with the waste information stored in the storage device 54, obtain the weight from the weighing device 2 in the corresponding area, and reflect it in the associated waste information.

[0145] [Contribution to the SDGs] According to the configurations of each embodiment described above, waste can be brought in smoothly. This allows for the efficient operation of the waste treatment plant. Therefore, it can contribute to achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 9, "Build resilient infrastructure, foster inclusive and sustainable industrialization and promote innovation (develop infrastructure, systems, etc.)."

[0146] [Examples of implementation using software] The functions of the reception device 1, weighing device 2, payment device 3, registration device 4, and aggregation device 5 (hereinafter referred to as "devices") can be realized by programs that cause computers to function as these devices. These functions can be realized by programs that cause computers to function as each control block of these devices (in particular, each part included in the reception device 1, weighing device 2, payment device 3, registration device 4, and aggregation device 5).

[0147] In this case, the device includes a computer having at least one control device (e.g., a processor) and at least one storage device (e.g., memory) as hardware for executing the program. By executing the program using this control device and storage device, the functions described in each of the embodiments are realized.

[0148] The above program may be recorded on one or more computer-readable recording media, not temporary ones. These recording media may or may not be provided by the above device. In the latter case, the program may be supplied to the above device via any wired or wireless transmission medium.

[0149] Furthermore, some or all of the functions of each of the above control blocks can also be realized by logic circuits. For example, an integrated circuit in which logic circuits functioning as each of the above control blocks are formed is also included in the scope of the present invention. In addition, it is also possible to realize the functions of each of the above control blocks by, for example, a quantum computer.

[0150] [Additional Notes] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the claims. Furthermore, embodiments obtained by appropriately combining the technical means disclosed in different embodiments are also included within the technical scope of the present invention. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0151] 1. Reception device (issuing device) 2 Measuring device (control device) 3. Payment device 4. Registration device 5. Aggregation device 26 Weight Management Department 101-102 Waste Inbound Management System

Claims

1. A reception device that receives online reservation information for the delivery of waste to a waste treatment plant, issues identification information of the waste carrier associated with the received reservation information to the carrier, and manages this information. When the identification information held by the person bringing in the waste matches the identification information managed by the receiving device, a weighing device weighs the waste brought in by the person bringing in, A management device that manages the weight of waste measured by the weighing device and the identification information managed by the receiving device in association with each other, The system includes a payment device that reads the identification information held by the person bringing in the waste, determines a fee based on the weight of the waste managed by the management device in association with the identification information, and accepts payment of the fee. The waste delivery management system is characterized in that the reception device is a server that centrally accepts reservations for the delivery of waste to one or more waste treatment plants, and is communicated with the weighing device via the Internet.

2. The system further includes a registration device for registering the authorization identification information assigned to authorized waste carriers who are permitted to bring in waste. When the aforementioned weighing device determines that the authorization identification information held by the authorized transporter matches the authorization identification information registered in the registration device, it weighs the waste transported by the authorized transporter. The management device manages the weight of the waste measured by the weighing device and the authorization identification information registered in the registration device in association with each other. The waste delivery management system according to claim 1, characterized in that the payment device reads the authorization identification information held by the authorized delivery person, determines a fee based on the weight of the waste managed by the management device in association with the authorization identification information, and accepts payment of the fee.

3. The waste delivery management system according to claim 2, further comprising an issuing device that accumulates the weight of the waste and the authorization identification information obtained from the management device and the amount of the fee paid obtained from the payment device as a record of use by the authorized transporter for a predetermined period, and issues the record of use to the authorized transporter.

4. The waste delivery management system according to claim 1, characterized in that the reservation information includes information indicating whether or not it is the first reservation.

5. A reception device that receives online reservation information regarding reservations for the delivery of waste to a waste treatment plant, and issues and manages identification information of the waste carrier associated with the received reservation information to the waste carrier, The system includes a weighing device that weighs the waste brought in by the person bringing it in when the identification information held by the person bringing it in matches the identification information managed by the receiving device, The reception device is a server that centrally accepts reservations for the delivery of waste to one or more waste treatment plants, is connected to the weighing device via the internet, manages the location of the deliverer, determines whether the location is within a predetermined area, and issues the identification information only to deliverers whose location is within that area. The waste delivery management system further includes a data aggregation device that aggregates waste information for each area. The aforementioned reservation information includes information on waste to be brought to the incineration plant, The waste transport management system is characterized in that, when the receiving device issues the identification information to a transporter who resides within the area, the transporter associates the waste information of the area where the transporter resides with the transported waste information.

6. The waste delivery management system according to claim 5, wherein the receiving device manages the name or title of the person who has received the reservation information, and based on the name or title and address provided by the person who has made the reservation at the time of application, it identifies the number of times the reservation information has been received by the person on the same day as the reservation application, and if the number of such receptions has reached a predetermined number, it does not accept the reservation information provided at the time of application.

7. The waste delivery management system according to claim 5, characterized in that the reception device manages the name or designation of the person delivering the waste, manages persons who do not accept the reservation information as non-receiving persons, identifies the person delivering the waste based on the name or designation and address provided by the person delivering the waste when applying for a reservation, and if the identified person delivering the waste is managed as a non-receiving person, the system does not accept the reservation information from that person.

8. A reception process that receives reservation information for the delivery of waste to the incineration plant online via a reception device, issues identification information of the waste carrier associated with the received reservation information to the carrier, and manages it; If the identification information held by the person bringing in the waste matches the identification information managed in the reception process, a weighing process is performed in which the waste brought in by the person bringing in is weighed using a weighing device. A management process that manages the weight of the waste measured in the weighing process in association with the identification information managed in the receiving process, The process includes reading the identification information held by the person bringing in the waste, determining the fee based on the weight of the waste managed in association with the identification information in the management process, and accepting payment of the fee. The waste delivery management method is characterized in that the reception device is a server that centrally accepts reservations for the delivery of waste to one or more waste treatment plants, and is connected to the weighing device via the Internet in a communicative manner.

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