Apparatus, method and recording medium storing instruction for managing logistics

Abstract

The present invention provides an apparatus comprising one or more processors and one or more memories storing commands to be executed by the one or more processors. The apparatus is configured such that, when executing the commands, the one or more processors: receive first information from a camera, the first information being related to an image of a target package containing goods; receive second information from a scanner, the second information being obtained by scanning one or more identification codes of the target package; based on the first information and the second information, determine that the target package needs to be moved to a target area for delivery; control a sorting device to move the target package to the target area; and the apparatus is configured such that, when determining the target area, it determines whether the target package is packaged in a predetermined first packaging type based on the first information; based on the determination that the target package is packaged in the first packaging type, it determines whether the packaging identification code of the target package has been scanned based on the second information; and based on the determination that the packaging identification code has not been scanned, it determines the target area as a predetermined reserved area.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a technology for managing logistics. Prior Technology

[0002] With the development of communication technology, e-commerce services for online transactions are becoming increasingly popular. The range of target products for e-commerce services is expanding, including fresh food.

[0003] As mentioned above, with the diversification of target products for e-commerce services, appropriate packaging materials can be used to package various types of goods. For packaged parcels, outbound operations are implemented for delivery to customers. Summary of the Invention

[0004] [The problem the invention aims to solve] At least one embodiment of the present invention can manage packages of goods that have been packaged.

[0005] The technical subject matter of this invention is not limited to the technical subject matter mentioned above. Those skilled in the art can clearly understand other technical subject matter not mentioned based on the description in the specification. [Technical means to solve the problem]

[0006] An apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention may include: one or more processors; and one or more memory, which stores commands to be executed by the one or more processors; the apparatus is configured such that, when executing the commands, the one or more processors: receive first information from a camera, the first information being related to an image of a target package containing goods; receive second information from a scanner, the second information being obtained by scanning one or more identification codes of the target package; based on the first information and the second information, determine that the target package needs to be moved to a target area therein for delivery; control a sorting device to move the target package to the target area; and the apparatus is configured such that, when determining the target area, it determines whether the target package is packaged in a predetermined first packaging type based on the first information; based on the determination that the target package is packaged in the first packaging type, it determines whether the packaging identification code of the target package has been scanned based on the second information; and based on the determination that the packaging identification code has not been scanned, the target area is determined as a predetermined reserved area.

[0007] In one embodiment, the second information may be information obtained from scanning the exterior of the target package passing through the sorter by the scanner.

[0008] In one embodiment, the above-described device can be configured such that, when determining whether the target package is packaged in the first packaging type, the one or more processors perform the following: inputting the first information into an artificial neural network to obtain a predicted packaging type of the target package as the output of the artificial neural network, wherein the artificial neural network learns by recognizing the packaging type from the image of the package; determining whether the predicted packaging type is the same as the first packaging type; and, in response to determining that the predicted packaging type is the same as the first packaging type, determining that the target package is packaged in accordance with the first packaging type.

[0009] In one embodiment, the above-described device can be configured such that the one or more processors are configured as follows: upon determining the target area as the reserved area, third information is obtained from the operator's terminal on the reserved area side, the third information indicating whether the target package is packaged in the first packaging type; in response to obtaining the third information indicating that the target package is not packaged in the first packaging type, the first information is marked to indicate that it is not the first packaging type to generate learning information; and the artificial neural network is made to perform additional learning based on the learning information.

[0010] In one embodiment, the above-mentioned device can be configured such that the one or more processors are as follows: based on the determination that the target package is not packaged in the first packaging type, determine whether the packaging identification code of the target package is scanned based on the second information; based on the determination that the packaging identification code is scanned, mark the first information in a manner indicating the first packaging type to generate learning information; and cause the artificial neural network to perform additional learning based on the learning information.

[0011] In one embodiment, the first packaging type may be the type of packaging for which the target package needs to be recycled after delivery.

[0012] In one embodiment, the device can be configured such that, when determining the target area, one or more processors determine the target area as a pre-determined delivery area rather than the reserved area based on the determination that the target package is not packaged in the first packaging type.

[0013] In one embodiment, the device can be configured such that, when determining the target area, one or more processors obtain the second information in response to scanning the waybill identification code of the target package, and determine the target area as the delivery area corresponding to the delivery destination, wherein the waybill identification code includes information about the delivery destination of the target package.

[0014] In one embodiment, the above-mentioned device can be configured such that the one or more processors are as follows: obtaining fourth information indicating the packaging type for packaging the goods; when determining the target area, determining whether the fourth information indicates the first packaging type; and in response to determining that the fourth information indicates the first packaging type, determining the target area based on the first information and the second information.

[0015] In one embodiment, the device can be configured such that, when determining the target area, one or more processors, in response to determining that the fourth information does not indicate the first packaging type, determine the target area as a pre-determined delivery area rather than the reserved area.

[0016] One embodiment of the present invention is implemented in a device including one or more processors and one or more memories storing commands to be executed by the one or more processors. The method may include the following steps: the one or more processors receive first information from a camera, the first information being related to an image of a target package containing goods; receive second information from a scanner, the second information being obtained by scanning one or more identification codes of the target package; based on the first information and the second information, determine that the target package needs to be moved to a target area for delivery; and control a sorting device to move the target package to the target area; and the step of determining the target area includes the following steps: based on the first information, determine whether the target package is packaged in a predetermined first packaging type; based on the determination that the target package is packaged in the first packaging type, determine whether the packaging identification code of the target package has been scanned based on the second information; and based on the determination that the packaging identification code has not been scanned, determine the target area as a predetermined reserved area.

[0017] In one embodiment, the second information may be information obtained from scanning the exterior of the target package passing through the sorter by the scanner.

[0018] In one embodiment, the step of determining whether the target package is packaged in the first packaging type may include the following steps: inputting the first information into an artificial neural network to obtain a predicted packaging type of the target package as the output of the artificial neural network, wherein the artificial neural network learns by recognizing packaging types from images of the package; determining whether the predicted packaging type is the same as the first packaging type; and in response to determining that the predicted packaging type is the same as the first packaging type, determining that the target package is packaged in the first packaging type.

[0019] In one embodiment, the above method may further include the following steps, namely, the processors of the above one or more processors as follows: upon determining the target area as the reserved area, obtaining third information from the operator's terminal on the side of the reserved area, the third information indicating whether the target package is packaged in the first packaging type; in response to obtaining the third information indicating that the target package is not packaged in the first packaging type, marking the first information in a manner indicating that it is not the first packaging type to generate learning information; and causing the artificial neural network to perform additional learning based on the learning information.

[0020] In one embodiment, the above method may further include the following steps, namely, the processor as follows: based on the determination that the target package is not packaged in the first packaging type, determines whether the packaging identification code of the target package has been scanned based on the second information; based on the determination that the packaging identification code has been scanned, marks the first information in a manner indicating the first packaging type to generate learning information; and causes the artificial neural network to perform additional learning based on the learning information.

[0021] In one embodiment, the first packaging type may be the type of packaging for which the target package needs to be recycled after delivery.

[0022] In one embodiment, the step of determining the target area may include the following steps: determining the target area as a pre-determined delivery area rather than the reserved area based on the determination that the target package is not packaged in the first packaging type.

[0023] In one embodiment, the step of determining the target area may include the following steps: in response to scanning the waybill identification code of the target package and obtaining the second information, determining the target area as the delivery area corresponding to the delivery destination, wherein the waybill identification code includes information about the delivery destination of the target package.

[0024] In one embodiment, the step of determining the target area may include the following steps: obtaining fourth information indicating the type of packaging used to package the goods; determining whether the fourth information indicates the first type of packaging; and in response to determining that the fourth information indicates the first type of packaging, determining the target area based on the first information and the second information.

[0025] One embodiment of the present invention is a recording medium that records non-transitory computer-readable recording media containing commands that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform actions. These commands can be configured such that the one or more processors: receive first information from a camera, the first information being related to an image of a target package containing goods; receive second information from a scanner, the second information being obtained by scanning one or more identification codes of the target package; based on the first information and the second information, determine that the target package needs to be moved to a target area for delivery; control a sorting device to move the target package to the target area; and the commands are configured such that: when determining the target area, based on the first information, it is determined whether the target package is packaged in a predetermined first packaging type; based on the determination that the target package is packaged in the first packaging type, it is determined whether the packaging identification code of the target package has been scanned based on the second information; based on the determination that the packaging identification code has not been scanned, the target area is determined as a predetermined reserved area. [Effects of the Invention]

[0026] According to one embodiment of the present invention, packages of goods that have been fully packaged can be managed.

[0027] The effects of the technical concept of this invention are not limited to those mentioned above. Those skilled in the art can clearly understand other effects not mentioned based on the description in the specification. Simple Explanation of the Diagram

[0028] Figure 1 illustrates the environment in which an embodiment of the present invention can be applied. Figure 2 shows an example of an environment in which one embodiment of the present invention is implemented. Figure 3 shows an example of an apparatus for implementing one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 4 is a sequence diagram illustrating the method of one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 5 illustrates an example of a method for determining a target region according to one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 6 illustrates an example of an embodiment of the present invention of enabling an artificial neural network to perform additional learning. Figure 7 illustrates an example of an embodiment of the present invention of enabling an artificial neural network to perform additional learning. Figure 8 is a sequence diagram illustrating the method of one embodiment of the present invention. Implementation

[0029] The various embodiments described in this invention are illustrative of the technical concept of the invention and are not intended to limit them to specific implementations. The technical concept of this invention includes various modifications, equivalents, alternatives, and embodiments obtained by selectively combining all or part of the embodiments described herein. Furthermore, the scope of the patent application for the technical concept of this invention is not limited to the various embodiments presented below or their specific descriptions.

[0030] The terms used in this invention, including technical or scientific terms, shall have the meanings commonly understood by one of common knowledge in the technical field to which this invention pertains, unless otherwise defined.

[0031] The expressions used in this invention, such as "comprising," "may include," "possibly possess," "may possess," "have," and "may have," indicate the presence of object features (e.g., functions, actions, or constituent elements), and do not exclude the existence of other additional features. That is, the expressions described above should be understood as open-ended terms that have the possibility of including other embodiments.

[0032] The singular expressions used in this invention may include the meaning of the plural form unless otherwise stated in the context, and this also applies to the singular expressions described in the technical solutions.

[0033] The terms "first," "second," "first," "second," etc., used in this invention are, unless otherwise stated in the context, used to distinguish one target from other targets when referring to a plurality of similar objects, and are not used to define the order or importance of the objects.

[0034] The expressions “A, B and C”, “A, B or C”, “at least one of A, B and C” or “at least one of A, B or C” used in this invention may refer to each of the listed items or all combinations of the listed items. For example, “at least one of A or B” may refer to (1) at least one A, (2) at least one B, or (3) at least one A and at least one B.

[0035] The term "based on" used in this invention is used to describe one or more factors that affect the determination, judgment, or action described in the statement or article including the term. The term does not exclude other factors that affect the determination, judgment, or action.

[0036] The expression that a certain constituent element (e.g., the first constituent element) is "connected" or "linked" to another constituent element (e.g., the second constituent element) in this invention may mean that the aforementioned constituent element is directly connected to or linked to the aforementioned other constituent element, or is connected to or linked to the aforementioned other constituent element through a new other constituent element (e.g., the third constituent element).

[0037] Depending on the context, the expression "configured to" as used in this invention can mean "configured in a certain way," "possessing the capability of a certain method," "modified in a certain way," "made in a certain way," or "capable of performing a certain method." This expression is not limited to the meaning of "specially designed in hardware." For example, a processor configured to perform a specific action can refer to a general-purpose processor that can perform that specific action by executing software, or a special-purpose computer that is programmed to perform that specific action.

[0038] Hereinafter, various embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings and descriptions, identical or substantially equivalent constituent elements are given the same reference numerals. Furthermore, in the following descriptions of various embodiments, repeated descriptions of identical or corresponding constituent elements may be omitted, but this does not mean that such constituent elements are not included in the embodiments.

[0039] Figure 1 illustrates an environment 100 in which an embodiment of the present invention, 110, can be applied. This environment 100 may include the device 110, a camera 121, a scanner 122, and / or a sorter 123. Figure 1 illustrates only one embodiment for achieving the purpose of the present invention, and some constituent elements may be added as needed. For example, an operator terminal, a delivery terminal, and / or a worker terminal may be added to the environment 100. The operator terminal is used by the operator who manages the device 110; the delivery terminal is used by the delivery person who delivers packages out of the warehouse under the management of the device 110; and the worker terminal is used by the worker who manages packages held out of the warehouse under the management of the device 110. In this specification, a package may refer to a unit in which goods have been packaged to enable delivery. A package may contain one or more goods destined for a delivery destination.

[0040] Device 110 can be a server device for managing logistics, such as packaging goods, sorting packages containing goods, and initiating package delivery. This device 110 can be a device that performs actions to manage the logistics processing.

[0041] However, device 110 can be a general-purpose server device and is not limited to the examples described above. This device 110 can perform actions such as controlling the sorter 123 to transport packages to a target area (delivery area or holding area) by executing the methods of the present invention. The various embodiments of the present invention described below may relate, for example, to the outbound shipment of goods (or packages containing goods).

[0042] Device 110 may be implemented by more than one computing device. For example, all functions of device 110 may be implemented in a single computing device. As another example, a first function of device 110 may be implemented in a first computing device, and a second function may be implemented in a second computing device. As a specific example, if device 110 is a server device for managing logistics, then the first function for managing logistics may be implemented in the first computing device, and the second function, distinct from the first function, may be implemented in the second computing device. Even though such a first computing device and a second computing device are physically separate but actually exist, as an abstract concept integrating them together, the first computing device and the second computing device may be referred to as device 110.

[0043] The aforementioned computing device may be, for example, a desktop computer, a laptop computer, an application server, a proxy server, or a cloud server, but is not limited to these; any type of computing device with computing capabilities can be considered a computing device.

[0044] Camera 121 can photograph the package being shipped out. For example, camera 121 can photograph the exterior of the package to obtain an image of the packaging material. Camera 121 can photograph the image of the package to obtain first information and transmit the first information to device 110.

[0045] Scanner 122 can identify various identification codes (e.g., packaging identification codes, waybill identification codes, etc.) attached to the exterior of the outgoing package. Scanner 122 can scan more than one identification code on the exterior of the package to obtain second information and transmit the second information to device 110. For example, when an identification code is scanned, the second information can indicate the information corresponding to that identification code. As another example, when no identification code is scanned, the second information can indicate that no identification code was scanned.

[0046] Sorter 123 can be a device for sorting packaged parcels according to their delivery destination. Sorter 123 can be configured to transport packaged parcels to a target area (delivery area or holding area) under the control of device 110. Delivery area can be an area for passing parcels to a delivery person who is carrying out the delivery. Holding area can be an area for handling parcels that are temporarily held for outbound shipment.

[0047] Device 110, camera 121, scanner 122 and / or sorter 123 can communicate via a network. The network can be any type of wired or wireless network, such as a Local Area Network (LAN), a Wide Area Network (WAN), a Mobile Radio Communication Network (MRCN), or WiBro (Wireless Broadband).

[0048] Figure 2 illustrates an example of an environment 100 in which one embodiment of the present invention is implemented. Packages 210 that have completed packaging operations can be moved by conveyor belt 220.

[0049] In one embodiment, camera 121, scanner 122, and / or sorter 123 may be disposed on conveyor belt 220. For example, camera 121, scanner 122, and / or sorter 123 may be configured along the path of package 210 moving on conveyor belt 220. As an example, scanner 122 may be configured within sorter 123. However, camera 121, scanner 122, and sorter 123 may also be configured separately from each other, and are not limited thereto.

[0050] Camera 121 can photograph package 210 to generate first information related to the image of package 210. Scanner 122 can scan one or more identification codes attached to package 210 to generate second information.

[0051] The sorter 123 can receive information from the device 110 indicating the target area to which each package 210 will move, and sort the packages 210 accordingly. The target area can be any one of more delivery areas 230a, 230b, 230c or holding areas 230d. For example, the sorter 123 can physically classify the movement path of each package entering the sorter 123 and move it to any one of more channels 220a, 220b, 220c, 220d on the conveyor belt. The sorter 123 can be controlled by the device 110.

[0052] Conveyor belt 220 can be connected to a channel corresponding to one or more delivery areas 230a, 230b, 230c or holding area 230d. The first package 210a on channel 1 220a can be moved to the first delivery area 230a. The second package 210b on channel 220b can be moved to the second delivery area 230b. The third package 210c on channel 3 220c can be moved to the third delivery area 230c. The fourth package 210d on channel 4 220d can be moved to the holding area 230d. Sorter 123 can perform sorting operations on each package, causing the package to move to the channel corresponding to the target area.

[0053] Reserved area 230d is the area where the fourth package 210d is temporarily held for outbound transport. The fourth package 210d, which is transported to reserved area 230d, may need to be directly transported by the staff 240 on the reserved area side to the delivery area corresponding to the second package 210d.

[0054] The type of packaging used for parcels may need to be managed. For example, a certain type of packaging (hereinafter, "Type 1 Packaging") may be one where the packaging materials need to be recycled after the parcel is delivered. For this Type 1 Packaging, a corresponding packaging identification code can be attached to the outside of the packaging material, and the parcel can be marked as shipped by scanning the packaging identification code. However, if the packaging identification code is not scanned, the parcel can be moved to the holding area 230d, and the staff 240 on the holding area side may need to perform additional operations such as directly scanning the packaging identification code. As the number of parcels moved to the holding area 230d increases, there may be a problem of increased workload for the staff 240 and increased time required for parcel shipment.

[0055] One embodiment of the present invention can identify the packaging type of a package to reduce the number of packages moved to a holding area and reduce the workload required for the outbound process.

[0056] Figure 3 illustrates an example of an apparatus 100 implementing one embodiment of the present invention. The apparatus may include one or more processors 310 and one or more memory units 320. The apparatus may further include communication circuitry 330. In one embodiment, some components of the apparatus may be removed, or other components (e.g., a display or input device) may be added to the apparatus. Furthermore, some components may be additionally or alternatively integrated, or implemented as a single or multiple entities. In this invention, "one or more processors 310" may refer to processor 310. Unless explicitly stated otherwise in the context, the term "processor" may refer to a collection of one or more processors. Similarly, in this invention, "one or more memory units 320" may refer to memory units 320. Unless explicitly stated otherwise in the context, the term "memory unit" may refer to a collection of one or more memory units.

[0057] The processor 310 can control the various components of the device, or perform calculations or information processing related to communication. Specifically, the processor 310 can drive software (or computer programs) received from other components to control at least one component of the device connected to the processor 310. As an example, the processor 310 can load commands (e.g., instructions, codes, or code segments) or information into the memory 320, process the commands or information stored in the memory 320, and store the result information obtained from the processing into the memory 320. Furthermore, the processor 310 can be operatively connected to the components of the device to perform various calculations, processing, generation, or manipulation actions related to the present invention.

[0058] Memory 320 can store various types of information. The information stored in memory 320 is information obtained, processed, or used by at least one component of the device, and may include software. The software may include one or more commands that, when loaded into memory 320, cause processor 310 to perform actions according to various embodiments of the present invention. That is, processor 310 can perform actions according to various embodiments of the present invention by executing one or more of the aforementioned commands. Memory 320 may include, for example, volatile or non-volatile memory. In one embodiment, the program is software stored in memory 320, and may include an operating system, application program, or middleware for controlling device resources, wherein the middleware provides various functions to the application program to enable the application program to utilize device resources.

[0059] The communication circuit 330 can establish wired or wireless communication channels with other devices to send and receive various information. In one embodiment, the communication circuit 330, for wired communication with other devices, may include at least one port for connecting to other devices via a wired cable. In this case, the communication circuit 330 can communicate with other wired devices via at least one port. In one embodiment, the communication circuit 330 can be configured to include a cellular communication module and connect to a cellular network (e.g., 3G, LTE, 5G, Wibro, or WiMAX). In one embodiment, the communication circuit 330 may include a short-range communication module to use short-range communication (e.g., Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), UWB) to send and receive information with other devices. In one embodiment, the communication circuit 330 may include a contactless communication module for contactless communication. Contactless communication may include, for example, at least one short-range contactless communication technology such as NFC (Near Field Communication), RFID (Radio Frequency Identification), or MST (Magnetic Secure Transmission). In addition to the various examples described above, the device can also be implemented in various known ways to communicate with other devices, and the scope of this invention is not limited to the examples described above.

[0060] The processor 310, memory 320, and communication circuit 330 can be connected to each other via buses, GPIO (General Purpose Input / Output), SPI (Serial Peripheral Interface), or MIPI (Mobile Industry Processor Interface) to send and receive information or signals.

[0061] In one embodiment, the device may further include a display. The display may show various screens under the control of the processor 310. To display screens with various interfaces, for example, a web browser or dedicated application may be installed on the device. Furthermore, the display is configured to interact with the user and can receive input from the user. Such a display can be implemented in the form of a touch sensor panel (TSP) that can recognize the contact or proximity of various external objects (e.g., fingers or pens).

[0062] In one embodiment, the device may further include an input device (e.g., a mouse or keyboard). The input device can receive information from outside the device that will be used in the components of the device.

[0063] The methods of various embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail. It should be noted that the actions are represented in a specific order in the following figures, but it is not necessary to perform the actions in the specific order or sequence shown, or to perform all the actions shown in order to obtain the desired result.

[0064] Furthermore, the actions of the method described with reference to the following diagram can be performed by a computing device. In other words, the actions of the method can be implemented by one or more instructions executed by the processor 310 of the computing device. All actions included in this method can be performed by a physical computing device, but it is also possible that the first action of the method is performed by a first computing device and the second action of the method is performed by a second computing device.

[0065] Hereinafter, it will be assumed that the actions of the above method are performed by device 110 in order to continue the explanation. Also, for ease of explanation, the subject of the actions included in the method may be omitted, but unless otherwise stated in the context, it should be interpreted as the actions being performed by device 110.

[0066] Figure 4 is a sequence diagram illustrating a method according to one embodiment of the present invention. The method may include a series of actions performed by the device 110 in association with the camera 121, the scanner 122 and / or the sorter 123.

[0067] In step S410, the processor 310 may receive first information from the camera 121, which is related to the image of the target package containing the goods. For example, the first information may include an image file obtained by photographing the exterior of the target package.

[0068] In step S420, the processor 310 may receive second information from the scanner 122, which is obtained by scanning one or more identification codes of the target package. In one embodiment, the one or more identification codes may include a packaging identification code for identifying the first packaging type.

[0069] In one example, as the packaging identification code attached to the target package is exposed to scanner 122, second information indicating that the packaging identification code has been scanned can be obtained. At this time, the second information may further include information on the packaging type corresponding to the packaging identification code.

[0070] In another example, if the packaging identification code attached to the target package is not exposed to the scanner 122, a second piece of information indicating that the packaging identification code was not scanned can be obtained. For example, during the scanning of the target package, if the side with the packaging identification code is in contact with the bottom, the packaging identification code may not be exposed to the scanner 122. As another example, if the target package itself does not have a packaging identification code attached, the scanner 122 will not scan the packaging identification code, thus obtaining the second piece of information indicating that the packaging identification code was not scanned.

[0071] In another embodiment, one or more identification codes may include waybill identification codes, which include information related to the delivery of the target package. The waybill identification code may include information such as the destination of the target package and the recipient's information.

[0072] In step S430, the processor 310 can determine, based on the first information and the second information, that the target package needs to be moved to the target area for delivery.

[0073] In step S440, the processor 310 can control the sorter 123 to transport the target package to the target area. The processor 310 can be configured to transmit information indicating the target area to the sorter 123, and the sorter 123 responds by transporting the target package to the target area.

[0074] Figure 5 illustrates an example of a method for determining a target region according to one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 5 can be understood as a specific method for determining the target region in step S430 of Figure 4.

[0075] In step S510, the processor 310 can determine, based on the first information, whether the target package is packaged in a predetermined first packaging type. The processor 310 can pre-determine the packaging type requiring special management, i.e., the first packaging type. In one embodiment, the processor 310 can determine the packaging type with an attached packaging identification code as the first packaging type. As an example, the first packaging type is the packaging type that needs to be recycled after delivery, which may be a cooler box used to package fresh food. However, the first packaging type can refer to any packaging type with an attached packaging identification code, and is not limited to this.

[0076] In one embodiment, processor 310 may utilize an artificial neural network to determine whether a target package is packaged as a first packaging type. The artificial neural network may be a supervised learning classification model. The artificial neural network is generated by learning images of one or more packages, and may be generated by identifying the packaging type from the images of the packages. The artificial neural network model described above can be stored in memory 320 in a learned state.

[0077] In the learning of an artificial neural network model, labels indicating categories can be paired with input images to serve as learning data. Furthermore, evaluation data can be provided separately from the learning data; this evaluation data is used to assess the learner of the artificial neural network model. As a specific example, "Image A" of a cooler (packaging type 1) and "cooler" as a label can be used as a pair of first learning data; "Image B" of a cardboard box and "cardboard" as a label can be used as a pair of second learning data; and "Image C" of a plastic box and "plastic box" as a label can be used as a pair of third learning data. During the learning process, the artificial neural network model derives regularities from the multiple learning data sets described above, thereby enabling it to classify new images by their corresponding labels when they are input. Various known techniques can be referenced in this invention to realize the artificial neural network model described above.

[0078] The processor 310 can input the first information into the artificial neural network to obtain the predicted packaging type of the target package as the output of the artificial neural network. The predicted packaging type can indicate any of one or more categories marked in the artificial neural network. The processor 310 can determine whether the predicted packaging type is the same as the first packaging type.

[0079] For example, in response to determining that the predicted packaging type is the same as the first packaging type, the processor 310 can determine that the target package is packaged according to the first packaging type. In this case, step S520 can be performed.

[0080] As another example, in response to determining that the predicted packaging type is different from the first packaging type, the processor 310 can determine that the target package is not packaged according to the first packaging type. In this case, step S530 can be performed. Thus, in various embodiments of the present invention, if the target package is not determined to be packaged as the first packaging type based on the first information, it may not be transported to the holding area. Therefore, since packages packaged with a second packaging type different from the first packaging type may not be transported to the holding area, the number of packages transported to the holding area can be reduced.

[0081] In step S520, the processor 310 determines whether the packaging identification code of the target package has been scanned based on the second information, since the target package is determined to be packaged with the first packaging type. If the packaging identification code has been scanned, step S530 can be executed. If the packaging identification code has not been scanned, step S540 can be executed.

[0082] In step S530, the target area can be determined as a pre-defined delivery area rather than a reserved area. In one embodiment, the processor 310 can receive second information from the scanner 122, which is obtained by scanning a waybill identification code that includes information related to the delivery of the target package. The waybill identification code may include information about the delivery destination of the target package, and the processor 310 can determine the target area as the delivery area corresponding to the delivery destination.

[0083] In step S540, the processor 310 can determine the target area as a pre-determined reserved area based on the determination that no packaging identification code has been scanned. That is, the package whose target area is determined to be a reserved area can be the following package: determined to be the first packaging type in step S510, but whose packaging identification code has not been obtained in step S520.

[0084] Figure 6 illustrates an example of additional learning performed by an artificial neural network according to one embodiment of the present invention. As an example, in step S510 of Figure 5, as the first information is input into the artificial neural network to obtain a predicted packaging type indication of the first packaging type, the processor 310 determines that the target package is packaged in the first packaging type. However, the target package is actually packaged in the second packaging type without an attached packaging identification code. In this case, the target package packaged in the second packaging type may be moved to a reserved area. To reduce the occurrence of this situation, the artificial neural network can be subjected to additional learning.

[0085] In step S610, the processor 310 may obtain third information from the operator's terminal on the reserved area side. The third information may indicate whether the target package is packaged with the first packaging type. For example, as the target area is determined to be a reserved area, the processor 310 may transmit a request to the operator's terminal to confirm the packaging material of the target package. The operator confirms the actual packaging type of the target package and inputs user input into the operator's terminal. The operator's terminal generates the third information based on the user input and transmits it to the device.

[0086] In step S620, in response to obtaining third information indicating that the target package is not packaged with the first packaging type, the processor 310 may indicate that the image of the first information is marked in a manner that is not the first packaging type to generate learning information. For example, the third information may further include information indicating that the target package is actually packaged with the second packaging type. The processor 310 may mark the first information with the second packaging type to generate learning information.

[0087] In step S630, based on the learning information, the processor 310 enables the artificial neural network to perform additional learning. The processor 310 can store the artificial neural network that has undergone additional learning in memory 320.

[0088] Figure 7 illustrates an example of an embodiment of the present invention where an artificial neural network undergoes additional learning. As an example, the following situation may occur: in step S510 of Figure 5, as the predicted packaging type obtained by inputting the first information into the artificial neural network does not indicate the first packaging type, the processor 310 determines that the target package is not packaged in the first packaging type, but in reality, the target package is packaged in the first packaging type. Figure 7 can be understood as a method for further improving the performance of the artificial neural network in response to this situation.

[0089] In step S710, based on the determination that the target package is not packaged in the first packaging type, the processor 310 can determine whether the packaging identification code of the target package has been scanned based on the second information. In one embodiment, even if the processor 310 determines that the target package is not packaged in the first packaging type, the scanner 122 can still scan more than one identification code of the target package to generate the second information and transmit it to the device.

[0090] In step S720, based on the confirmed scanned packaging identification code, the processor 310 can generate learning information by marking the first information in a manner that indicates the first packaging type.

[0091] In step S730, based on the learned information, the processor 310 enables the artificial neural network to perform additional learning. The processor 310 can store the artificial neural network that has undergone additional learning in memory 320.

[0092] Figure 8 is a sequence diagram illustrating a method according to one embodiment of the present invention. In step S810, the processor 310 may obtain fourth information indicating the packaging type for packaging goods. For example, the fourth information may also indicate packaging goods with a first packaging type or a second packaging type.

[0093] The fourth piece of information can be transmitted to the terminal of the packaging worker. The packaging worker can refer to the fourth piece of information displayed on their terminal to package the goods and complete the parcel. For example, when the fourth piece of information indicates a second packaging type, the packaging worker is more likely to package the goods using the second packaging type. However, when the fourth piece of information indicates a first packaging type, there is a possibility that the packaging worker may not package the goods using the first packaging type. This may occur, for example, when the fourth piece of information indicates a first packaging type, it is necessary to closely monitor whether the target parcel is actually packaged using the first packaging type. On the other hand, when the fourth piece of information indicates a second packaging type instead of a first packaging type, the target parcel may not need to be moved to the holding area, thereby reducing the workload of the workers in the holding area.

[0094] In step S820, the processor 310 may determine whether the fourth information indicates the first packaging type.

[0095] In step S830, in response to determining that the fourth information indicates the first packaging type, the processor 310 can determine the target area based on the first information and the second information. The method for determining the target area in step S830 can be the method illustrated in Figure 5.

[0096] In step S840, in response to determining that the fourth information does not indicate the first packaging type, the processor 310 can designate the target area as a delivery area. That is, when the fourth information does not indicate the first packaging type, the target package may not be moved to the reserved area, thereby reducing the workload of the personnel in the reserved area.

[0097] In the sequence diagrams of this invention, the actions of the method or algorithm are described sequentially. However, in addition to being performed sequentially, they can also be performed in any order that can be combined. The description of the sequence diagrams of this invention does not preclude changes or modifications to the method or algorithm, and does not imply that any action is necessary or preferred. In one embodiment, at least some actions may be performed in parallel, repeatedly, or heuristically. In another embodiment, at least some actions may be omitted, or other actions may be added.

[0098] Various embodiments of the present invention can be implemented in software form on a machine-readable storage medium (MRSM). The software can be any software used to implement the various embodiments of the present invention. Programmers in the art to which this invention pertains can deduce the software based on the various embodiments of the present invention. For example, the software can be a computer program that includes machine-readable commands. A computing device, as a means of operating according to commands invoked from the storage medium, can be referred to interchangeably with an electronic device. In one embodiment, the processor 310 of the computing device executes the invoked command, thereby enabling the components of the computing device to perform functions corresponding to the command. Storage medium can refer to all types of recording media that can be read by a machine and store information. Storage media may include, for example, ROM, RAM, CD-ROM, magnetic tape, floppy disk, optical information storage device, etc. In one embodiment, the storage medium can be implemented in a form distributed across a network-connected computer system, etc. In this case, the software can be distributed across the computer system, etc., for execution. In another embodiment, the storage medium may be a non-transitory storage medium. A non-transitory storage medium refers to a medium that actually exists and is not related to the semi-permanent or temporary storage of information, excluding transiently transmitted signals.

[0099] The technical concept of the present invention has been described above based on various embodiments. However, the technical concept of the present invention includes various substitutions, variations, and modifications that can be understood by those skilled in the art within which the present invention pertains. Furthermore, it should be understood that such substitutions, variations, and modifications may be included within the scope of the appended patent applications.

[0100] 100: Environment 110: Device 121: Camera 122: Scanner 123: Sorter 210: Package 210a: Package 1 210b: Package 2 210c: Package No. 3 210d: Package No. 4 220: Conveyor Belt 220a: Channel 1 220b: Second Channel 220c: Channel 3 220d: Channel 4 230a: Delivery Area 1 230b: Delivery Area 2 230c: Delivery Area 3 230d: Reserved area 240: Workers 310: Processor 320: Memory 330: Communication circuit S410: Steps S420: Steps S430: Steps S440: Steps S510: Steps S520: Steps S530: Steps S540: Steps S610: Steps S620: Steps S630: Steps S710: Steps S720: Steps S730: Steps S810: Steps S820: Steps S830: Steps S840: Steps

Claims

1. An apparatus for managing logistics, comprising: The device comprises one or more processors and one or more memory, which store commands for execution by the processors. When executing the commands, the processors perform the following: receive first information from a camera, the first information relating to an image of a target package containing goods; receive second information from a scanner, the second information obtained by scanning one or more identification codes of the target package; determine, based on the first and second information, that the target package needs to be moved to a target area for delivery; control a sorting device to move the target package to the target area; and the device is configured such that, when determining the target area, it determines whether the target package is packaged in a predetermined first packaging type based on the first information; based on the determination that the target package is packaged in the first packaging type, it determines whether the packaging identification code of the target package has been scanned based on the second information; and based on the determination that the packaging identification code has not been scanned, it designates the target area as a predetermined reserved area.

2. The logistics management device as requested in item 1, wherein the second information mentioned above is information obtained from scanning the exterior of the target package passing through the sorter by the scanner.

3. The logistics management device as described in claim 1 is configured such that, when determining whether the target package is packaged in the first packaging type, the processor or more comprises: inputting the first information into an artificial neural network to obtain a predicted packaging type of the target package as the output of the artificial neural network, wherein the artificial neural network learns by recognizing packaging types from images of the package; determining whether the predicted packaging type is the same as the first packaging type; and, in response to determining that the predicted packaging type is the same as the first packaging type, determining that the target package is packaged in accordance with the first packaging type.

4. The logistics management device as described in claim 3 is configured such that the aforementioned processors are configured as follows: Upon identifying the target area as the reserved area, third information is obtained from the operator's terminal on the reserved area side, the third information indicating whether the target package is packaged in the first packaging type; In response to obtaining the third information indicating that the target package is not packaged in the first packaging type, the first information is marked to indicate that it is not the first packaging type to generate learning information; Based on the learning information, the artificial neural network performs additional learning.

5. The logistics management device as described in claim 3 is configured such that the processors described above perform the following: Based on the determination that the target package is not packaged in the first packaging type, determine whether the packaging identification code of the target package has been scanned based on the second information; Based on the determination that the packaging identification code has been scanned, mark the first information in a manner indicating the first packaging type to generate learning information; Based on the learning information, cause the artificial neural network to perform additional learning.

6. The device for managing logistics as requested in item 1, wherein the first packaging type is the type of packaging for which the target package needs to be recycled after delivery.

7. The logistics management device as described in claim 1 is configured such that, when determining the target area, one or more processors determine the target area as a pre-determined delivery area rather than the reserved area based on the determination that the target package is not packaged in the first packaging type.

8. The logistics management device as described in claim 7 is configured such that, upon determining the target area, one or more processors obtain the second information in response to scanning the waybill identification code of the target package, and determine the target area as the delivery area corresponding to the delivery destination, wherein the waybill identification code includes information about the delivery destination of the target package.

9. The logistics management device as described in claim 1 is configured such that the one or more processors described above: obtains fourth information indicating the type of packaging used to package the goods; when determining the target area, determines whether the fourth information indicates the first type of packaging; in response to determining that the fourth information indicates the first type of packaging, determines the target area based on the first information and the second information.

10. The logistics management device as described in claim 9 is configured such that, upon determining the target area, one or more processors, in response to determining that the fourth information does not indicate the first packaging type, determine the target area as a pre-determined delivery area rather than the reserved area.

11. A method for managing logistics, the method being implemented in an apparatus comprising one or more processors and one or more memories storing commands to be executed by the one or more processors, the method comprising the steps of the one or more processors as follows: receiving first information from a camera, the first information being related to an image of a target package containing goods; receiving second information from a scanner, the second information being obtained by scanning one or more identification codes of the target package; determining, based on the first information and the second information, that the target package needs to be moved to a target area therein for delivery; and controlling a sorting device to move the target package to the target area; and the step of determining the target area comprising the steps of: determining, based on the first information, whether the target package is packaged in a predetermined first packaging type; determining, based on the second information, whether the packaging identification code of the target package has been scanned; and determining, based on the determination that the packaging identification code has not been scanned, that the target area is designated as a predetermined reserved area.

12. The method of managing logistics as described in claim 11, wherein the second information mentioned above is information obtained by scanning the exterior of the target package passing through the sorter by the scanner.

13. The method for managing logistics as claimed in claim 11, wherein the step of determining whether the target package is packaged in the first packaging type may include the following steps, namely, the one or more processors as follows: inputting the first information into an artificial neural network to obtain a predicted packaging type of the target package as the output of the artificial neural network, the artificial neural network being learned by recognizing packaging types from images of the package; determining whether the predicted packaging type is the same as the first packaging type; and in response to determining that the predicted packaging type is the same as the first packaging type, determining that the target package is packaged in accordance with the first packaging type.

14. The method for managing logistics as described in claim 13 further includes the following steps, wherein the aforementioned one or more processors: upon determining the target area as the reserved area, obtaining third information from the operator's terminal on the reserved area side, the third information indicating whether the target package is packaged in the first packaging type; in response to obtaining the third information indicating that the target package is not packaged in the first packaging type, marking the first information in a manner indicating that it is not the first packaging type to generate learning information; and causing the artificial neural network to perform additional learning based on the learning information.

15. The method for managing logistics as described in claim 13 further includes the following steps, wherein one or more processors as follows: based on determining that the target package is not packaged in the first packaging type, determine whether a packaging identification code of the target package has been scanned based on the second information; based on determining that the packaging identification code has been scanned, mark the first information in a manner indicating the first packaging type to generate learning information; and cause the artificial neural network to perform additional learning based on the learning information.

16. The method of managing logistics as requested in item 11, wherein the first packaging type mentioned above is the type of packaging for which the target package needs to be recycled after delivery.

17. The method for managing logistics as claimed in claim 11, wherein the step of determining the target area includes the following steps: the one or more processors determine the target area as a pre-determined delivery area rather than the reserved area based on the determination that the target package is not packaged in the first packaging type.

18. The method for managing logistics as described in claim 17, wherein the step of determining the target area includes the following steps: one or more processors obtain the second information in response to scanning the waybill identification code of the target package, and determine the target area as the delivery area corresponding to the delivery destination, wherein the waybill identification code includes information about the delivery destination of the target package.

19. The method for managing logistics as described in claim 11 further includes the following steps, wherein one or more processors as follows: obtaining fourth information indicating the type of packaging used to package the goods; the step of determining the target area includes the following steps: determining whether the fourth information indicates the first packaging type; in response to determining that the fourth information indicates the first packaging type, determining the target area based on the first information and the second information.

20. A computer-readable recording medium that records non-transitory computer-readable recording media, when executed by one or more processors, commands that cause the one or more processors to perform actions, the commands being configured such that the one or more processors: receive first information from a camera, the first information being related to an image of a target package containing goods; receive second information from a scanner, the second information being obtained by scanning one or more identification codes of the target package; based on the first information and the second information, determine that the target package needs to be moved to a target area therein for delivery; control a sorting device to move the target package to the target area; and the commands are configured such that: when determining the target area, based on the first information, it is determined whether the target package is packaged in a predetermined first packaging type; based on the determination that the target package is packaged in the first packaging type, it is determined whether the packaging identification code of the target package has been scanned based on the second information; based on the determination that the packaging identification code has not been scanned, the target area is determined as a predetermined reserved area.

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