JP7398176B2 - Product supply system - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a system that enables efficient and user-friendly delivery of products and information.

The invention described in Patent Document 1 discloses a total network system that allows stores under different management to share products and information.

However, this document does not take into account the consumption schedule, budget information, and receipt schedule information of the desired product, and there is no supplier selection information, so it is not possible to enable efficient and user-friendly delivery. .

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2002-7535

The problem sought to be solved is to enable efficient and user-friendly delivery.

At least one consumer information including a desired purchase product, the quantity of the desired purchase product, a consumption schedule of the desired purchase product, budget information, and receipt schedule information, and supplier selection information selected based on the consumer information. a receiving means for receiving the consumer information and the supplier selection information; a supplied product, the quantity of the supplied product, the size of the supplied product, the price of the supplied product, and the expiration date of the supplied product; information storage means for storing the information received by the receiving means and the supplier information; and information stored in the information storage means for delivery from the supplier to the consumer. a creation means for determining contents and creating delivery information, a stocker, stocker occupancy information of the stocker, stocker space information of the stocker, temperature-based area information of the stocker, the delivery information, the stocker occupancy information, A determining means for determining whether or not delivery to the stocker is possible based on the stocker space information and the temperature-based area information, a plurality of stocker delivery warehouses provided in the stocker, and dividing the plurality of stocker delivery warehouses by temperature. The most important feature is that it includes areas classified by temperature.

The product supply system of the present invention has the advantage of enabling efficient and user-friendly delivery.

It is a diagram showing the configuration and flow of consumer information, supplier information, delivery information, stockers, and stocker communication means. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the relationship among desired purchase products, quantities of desired purchase products, consumption schedule information, and consumer information. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the relationship among desired products, quantities of desired products, stockers, stocker occupancy information, and stocker space information. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the relationship between a stocker and a temperature control mechanism. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the relationship between a stocker and a temperature control mechanism. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the relationship between a stocker delivery warehouse, an image processing system, and dirt. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a conventional screen display. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a screen display based on supplier placement information. It is a figure showing an example of cooking using a cooking heater. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing menus selected by a consumer for a predetermined period. It is a figure which shows another Example. It is a figure which shows another Example. It is a figure which shows another Example. It is a figure which shows another Example.

FIG. 1 is a diagram of an embodiment of the product supply system of the present invention, which is a system including a management system 1, a consumer system 2, a supplier system 3, a stocker 5, and a delivery vehicle 6. In some cases, the supplier system 3 includes a supplier homepage 4 . Further, communication lines 11 and 12 are connected between the management system 1 and the consumer system 2, communication lines 13 and 14 are connected between the management system 1 and the supplier system 3, and the communication lines 13 and 14 are connected between the management system 1 and the stocker 5. A communication line 15 and a communication line 16 are provided between them. Then, the delivery vehicle 6 delivers the products 21 to 26 (see also FIG. 3), and the consumer receives them 17.

A receiving means and an information storage means are provided in the management system 1. Consumer information and supplier selection information are created in the consumer side system 2 and sent through the communication line 11. Supplier information is mainly created in the supplier system 3 and sent via the communication line 13, but may also be created in the management system 1. Delivery information is sent to the consumer system 2, supplier system 3, and stocker 5 via communication lines 12, 14, and 16.

The consumption schedule of the product desired to purchase indicates when the product is scheduled to be consumed, as shown in the consumption schedule of FIG. This naturally includes information such as "consumption undetermined." Budget information indicates how much the consumer would like to spend on purchasing. This naturally includes the information that the budget is undetermined. The receiving schedule information includes information on the receiving location (home, stocker, or other designated location) and the receiving date and time. Supplier selection information is information for determining a supplier from which a consumer desires to purchase. This naturally includes information that ``any supplier is fine.'' The size of the supplied product is necessary information in relation to stocker occupancy information and stocker space information. The expiry date of the supplied product is information that is necessary in relation to the consumption schedule. This includes products with "no expiry date" like the product 26 in FIG. 3. The delivery information is information determined from the receiving schedule information, the delivery system on the supplier side, and the operating status of the stocker, and is sent to the customer side system 2, the supplier side system 3, and the stocker 5.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the relationship among the consumption schedule 201, consumption menu 202, consumer information 203, 204, and examples 205 to 208 of products and quantities. These are mainly used in the customer side system 2, and necessary information is sent to the management system 1 via the communication line 11 as appropriate. As shown in Figure 2, the management system 1 determines when the consumer plans to consume, what the breakdown (menu) is, and the composition of the consumer, such as adult, child, gender, constitution, and medical history. The product and quantity can be determined by receiving information from the consumer. The term "decision" here refers to a concept that includes addition, change, and deletion. In the example of FIG. 2, the management system 1 determines the quantity of consumer information 203 by determining that two adults and two children are enough for three adults. Furthermore, the management system 1 derives the product information from the breakdown (menu).

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the relationship between products, quantities, stockers, stocker occupancy information, and stocker space information. In FIG. 3, in order to illustrate this relationship, explanation will be given using stocker delivery warehouses 301 to 303. In the upper part of FIG. 3, products are delivered to the stocker delivery warehouses 301 to 303, and the stocker occupancy information indicates "delivery". Then, in the middle part of FIG. 3, when the consumer receives the item, the stocker occupancy information indicates "vacant". In addition, the stocker space information indicates that "three consecutive delivery warehouses in a row are vacant" by indicating that the stocker occupancy information of the stocker delivery warehouses 301 to 303 is "vacant". Based on such information, the management system 1 determines that the product 26 that requires "three consecutive empty warehouses" can be delivered, and creates delivery information. In this embodiment, whether delivery is possible or not is determined based on space, but whether delivery is possible or not may also be determined based on load capacity information of the stocker or stocker delivery warehouse, or by taking these into consideration.

From the delivery vehicle 6, the delivery person delivers the goods to the stocker based on the delivery information. The stocker may have a function of locking the stocker delivery warehouse upon completion of delivery by the deliverer. The stocker may have a function of notifying the consumer through the management system 1 when the delivery is completed. The stocker may have a function that allows the consumer to open and close the stocker delivery warehouse using an ID and password at the time of receiving 17. In this regard, the stocker may have a function that allows it to be opened and closed for a certain period of time in case something is left behind. The stocker may have a function of issuing a slip by closing the stocker delivery warehouse. The stocker may have a function of notifying the management system 1 of the receipt by the consumer at the same time as issuing the slip. Furthermore, the management system 1 can manage the opening/closing history of the stocker 5.

In this embodiment, the delivery vehicle 6 is used, but delivery may be made by train, ship, or airplane. Further, the stocker space information may be determined by the management system 1. Furthermore, points and currency may be distributed between the management system 1 and the consumer side system 2. The consumption menu shown in FIG. 2 may include paid recipes sent from the management system 1.

The stocker shown in FIG. 3 may be provided with a temperature control mechanism. Furthermore, it is also possible to determine which product is to be delivered to which stocker delivery warehouse based on the information held by the temperature management mechanism, thereby enabling power-saving block temperature management. Further, the stocker may be provided with a cleaning function using plasma, a gas sensor for detecting odor, etc., for example. Furthermore, in order to create stocker occupancy information and stocker space information, a weight sensor, an optical sensor, a contact sensor, an imaging device, etc. may be provided. The stocker may also manage usage frequency information of the stocker delivery warehouse.

Example 2 will be explained with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. FIG. 4 shows temperature control of the stocker. At least one stocker delivery warehouse is equipped with a temperature control mechanism (not shown). FIG. 4 shows that temperature control is required for the stocker delivery warehouses 402, 413, and 415. Furthermore, the supplied product temperature management information is included in the supplier information. Then, the information is transmitted from the information storage means to the stocker unit storage means by the stocker communication means. Furthermore, the power consumption management system performs temperature management based on this information. In FIG. 5, in order to reduce the power consumption of the stocker, the stocker delivery warehouses, which require almost the same temperature control, are arranged closer to each other. By doing so, for example, when the stocker delivery warehouse 514 is placed in a refrigerated state, the cold preservation effect of the stocker delivery warehouse 513 and the stocker delivery warehouse 515 can be obtained. Furthermore, considering the same, the leftmost columns 501, 502, and 503 are at 55°C, 504, 505, and 506 are at room temperature (no temperature control required), 507, 508, and 509 are at 20°C, and 510, 511, and 512 are at refrigerated. (10 degrees Celsius) and freezing (-18 degrees Celsius) in the rightmost rows 513, 514, and 515, which also leads to lower power consumption.

Furthermore, if a stocker delivery warehouse other than the stocker delivery warehouses 402, 413, and 415 in FIG. 4 indicates "delivery" in the stocker occupancy information, the state shown in FIG. 5 cannot be achieved using normal delivery information. In such a case, the state shown in FIG. 5 can be achieved by changing the delivery information from the product supply system. The replacement from FIG. 4 to FIG. 5 may be automatically performed by a robot, or may be performed by a delivery person. In particular, if there is a customer who cannot receive the product for a long period of time, power consumption can be further reduced by replacing the product.

Here, if there is a consumer who cannot receive the product for a long period of time, the product supply system can also notify that the product has been delivered and how much time has passed since the delivery was completed.

Example 3 will be explained with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 shows the image processing system 601 in the stocker delivery warehouse 603 and its dirt 602. Various products are scheduled to be delivered to the stocker delivery warehouse. In other words, depending on the product handled, the inside of the stocker delivery warehouse may become dirty. In such cases, when the next product is delivered, the dirt may adhere to the next product. This is not desirable for consumers. In order to avoid such a situation, an image processing system 601 is provided in the stocker delivery warehouse 603 to manage the dirt inside the warehouse and treat it as abnormal if it exceeds a predetermined threshold. If an abnormality is determined by the abnormality information management system, delivery to the stocker delivery warehouse will not be carried out until the abnormality is resolved. In addition, the product delivery system determines whether automatic cleaning by a robot or by a person such as a delivery person is required and gives instructions. A plasma device may be used for cleaning.

Similarly, it is also possible to provide a lock with an abnormality detection device on the stocker delivery warehouse 603 and manage abnormality information such as whether the lock has been illegally released. It is also possible to provide a gas sensor that detects odor and perform management such that when a predetermined threshold value is exceeded, it is determined that there is an abnormality. Furthermore, the image processing system 601 can also manage abnormalities such as damage to the stocker delivery warehouse. Abnormalities such as power outages can also be managed by the power management system. These steps may be performed for each stocker delivery warehouse, for each block, or for the entire stocker. It is possible to provide not only one function but also a plurality of functions. Abnormality information is sent to the stocker manager, consumer, or supplier.

Similarly, the image processing system 601 and weight sensor can also be used to manage products for delivery and receipt. This can also manage abnormal information such as forgetting to pick up some items when receiving multiple items. When delivery and receipt are completed, the lock may be performed after a certain period of time has passed.

Example 4 will be explained with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8. FIG. 7 shows a screen displayed on the supplier homepage 4. Normally, a screen is displayed using a table or tree structure as shown in FIG. At first glance, such a method may seem orderly and easy to view, but as the number of products handled increases, the structure becomes complex and difficult for consumers to grasp. By the way, many consumers often go to stores, supermarkets, etc. (suppliers) near their homes. In such cases, as the user frequents the store or supermarket, he or she learns about the product layout of the store or supermarket, which increases convenience and causes him or her to frequent the store even more. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 8, supplier location information is obtained from information from the supplier, and the display of the store of the supplier selected by the consumer is reproduced on the screen. With such a system, it is possible to display on the screen an array of products that each consumer prefers. As a result, the convenience of the product supply system can be improved. In addition, if stores, supermarkets, etc. (suppliers) located near the consumer's home do not participate in the product supply system, information such as "fresh fish," "meat," and "vegetables" on the screen may be sent to the consumer. can also be freely rearranged to achieve a desired arrangement.

Example 5 will be explained with reference to FIG. FIG. 9 shows an example of cooking using a cooking heater. The product supply system provides the consumer with cooking heater heating information for 5 minutes on high heat, 3 minutes on medium heat, and 20 minutes on low heat that suits the menu from the consumption menu information included in the consumer information. This information may be sent to the storage means of the cooking heater through the communication means. The cooking heater adjusts the heating based on this information, allowing the consumer to cook without making fine adjustments to the heating. Also, depending on the product and the product management period, information will be distributed by adjusting the information of 5 minutes on high heat, 3 minutes on medium heat, and 20 minutes on low heat to 4 minutes on high heat, 2 minutes on medium heat, and 20 minutes on low heat. It's okay. This is because the origin of the product and how much time has passed since the product was harvested are closely related to appropriate cooking information.

Note that it can be applied not only to cooking heaters but also to various cooking appliances such as microwave ovens and electronic ovens.

In the first embodiment, when creating the delivery information to the stocker, the consumer/recipient information included in the consumer information may be referred to. Especially for elderly people, customers with back pain, or young people, the height of the stocker delivery warehouse from the installation surface is an important factor. When delivering products to these consumers, the height information of the stocker delivery warehouse should be managed and the products should be delivered to a position lower than the height at which delivery is possible.

Example 7 will be explained with reference to FIG. FIG. 10 shows menus selected by the consumer for a predetermined period. By selecting these, the desired purchase product, the quantity of the desired purchase product, and the consumption schedule of the desired purchase product are determined. Therefore, the product supply system can store these information in the information storage means, determine the content of delivery from the supplier to the consumer, and create delivery information.

The desired product to purchase is determined by the menu for a predetermined period, but depending on the consumer, a substitute may be required. For example, a consumer with an egg allergy must obtain nutrients such as protein from other sources, and may have food restrictions due to illness. There are also some foods that children cannot eat or drink. Furthermore, if you request high-quality ingredients or ingredients that are difficult to obtain, it may not be possible to deliver them depending on the budget and supply situation. Based on such information, the desired purchase item is replaced with alternative information. This may be notified to the consumer in advance. When a desired purchase item is replaced, the volume occupied by the desired purchase item changes, so delivery information must be determined from stocker occupancy information and stocker space information. Also, it must be determined whether delivery is possible based on the current stocker status. To explain with reference to FIG. 10, the product supply system determines delivery information for the first and second days depending on the stocker status, and determines delivery information for the third and fourth days when the stocker is empty. It is also possible to wait before shipping.

In FIG. 10, among the menus for a predetermined period, the consumer may select the same consumption menu (curry and rice), such as dinner on the first day, dinner on the third day, and dinner on the fourth day. In such a case, the product supply system remembers that the same consumption menu was selected. For example, depending on the settings of the consumer, the consumer is notified that the same consumption menu has been selected by linking with information on the next purchase desired product, the quantity of the desired purchase product, and the consumption schedule of the desired purchase product. You may. Furthermore, the consumer may be notified that the same consumption menu is selected during the menu preparation for a predetermined period. These functions also make it possible to control the selection of consumption menus and avoid repetition over a predetermined period of time.

The contents described in the previous paragraph are not only used to select the same consumption menu, but also to create consumer inventory information by keeping a history of the desired product, the quantity of the desired product, and the consumption schedule of the desired product. It's also useful. For example, after ordering a menu for a predetermined period of time, if a consumer places an additional order before the period ends, the order can be adjusted based on consumer inventory information. According to such a function, the consumer side does not need to place an extra order when placing an additional order, and can place an additional order while comparing it with the previous order. Furthermore, the consumption menu may be selected based on consumer inventory information or order details.

The menu for a predetermined period can be evaluated by the consumer, and the evaluation may be displayed on the supplier homepage 4. Further, trends may be grasped by displaying the selection status of other consumers, etc., so as to be helpful when selecting a menu for a predetermined period. Further, in cases where the menu for a predetermined period is extended over a long period of time, it may be more profitable for the consumer to purchase individual products in bulk, and this may be recommended.

The consumption menu can also be created by the consumer. Such consumption menus are managed by the product supply system based on submissions from consumers, and when the consumption menu is often selected by other consumers, the contribution is returned to the consumer who created it. . For example, it is possible to give points. These points are circulated in the product supply system as an alternative to money. Additionally, consumption menus can be categorized and searched according to situation. The created returns to consumers can be made not only by points, but also by displaying yearly, monthly, or weekly rankings. Furthermore, the consumption menus shown in FIGS. 2 and 10 may include paid recipes sent from the management system 1. These points can be used not only within the product supply system, but also as priority admission rights to various events held by the product supply system, such as tasting events with famous chefs.

The consumption menu is just a completed product, and in many cases it is the consumer who prepares it. Further, it is also useful for consumers to provide an appropriate cooking method depending on the desired product, the quantity of the desired product, and the consumption schedule of the desired product. Therefore, the product supply system can provide cooking methods as cooking guide information. This cooking guide information can also be linked with the cooking utensil of Example 5. In addition, cooking guide information may be provided in the form of video or audio, and it would be convenient to be able to perform operations such as stopping and playing with voice according to the progress of cooking.

The delivery person must deliver to the stocker using the stocker delivery warehouse as a unit. If this is done using baskets or the like in each stocker/delivery warehouse when the supplier sorts the products to be delivered, later delivery becomes easier. Further, a function may be provided to prevent incorrect insertion using a bar code attached to the product, an RFID attached to the basket, or the like. In this way, suppliers and delivery personnel can easily sort and deliver products using tablets. It is also possible to set bags in the basket.

A problem with conventional products and technologies is that the stocker delivery warehouse, which forms the basic structure of the stocker, may not have a refrigeration function, and the packaging of refrigerated and frozen products at the time of delivery requires the use of refrigerated equipment. There is. Additionally, if both refrigerated and room-temperature products need to be delivered to one user, one user may occupy two warehouses. The delivery side then has to divide the refrigerated and room-temperature products for one user into two storage rooms and deliver them. Furthermore, users must receive products from two warehouses, one for refrigerated products and one for room-temperature products.

As a specific configuration of the invention of this embodiment, a locker type product receiving device 1100 having a refrigerator compartment and a room temperature room within one door is disclosed in FIG. The door 1108 is installed to be shared by the refrigerator room 1102 and the room temperature room 1106. Furthermore, the plate 1104 that partitions the refrigerator compartment 1102 and the room temperature room 1106 may be movable. As an effect of the invention of this embodiment, there is no need for cold storage equipment for refrigerated or frozen products. Additionally, the delivery side (shipper) can deliver refrigerated and room-temperature products to one storage room. The recipient (user) can then receive refrigerated or room-temperature items by simply opening one storage room.

The stocker delivery warehouse, which forms the basic structure of the stocker, has a plurality of storage rooms serving as storage spaces arranged in a grid pattern, and has doors equal in number to the number of storage rooms. The delivery side identifies the delivery location by reading the barcode of the product and opening the door of the delivery warehouse, but the larger the number of warehouses, the more they are forced to move vertically and horizontally for each delivery. . In addition, the flow on the receiving side is ID authentication, door opening, and product receipt, but the customer is forced to move from the ID authentication position to the warehouse where the door has been opened. In the case of a public stocker that does not have a refrigeration function, it is necessary to use cold storage equipment when packaging refrigerated and frozen items at the time of delivery.

As a specific configuration of the invention of this embodiment, a device 1212 in which a robot such as a paper pack beverage vending machine moves vertically and horizontally, picks up a designated product, and carries it to a delivery/receipt port 1204 is disclosed in FIG. The main body 1212 of the apparatus has a refrigeration function, and the inside of the main body is divided into a refrigeration area 1208 and a normal temperature area 1210. A robot 1202 and a robot 1206 are provided in each temperature zone area, and products placed at a delivery/receiving port 1204 are sequentially stored in an empty stocker delivery warehouse 1200 within the device. When the delivery side (delivery person) reads the barcode on each package, the device recognizes the user and links it to the stored location information. Alternatively, the device automatically recognizes the barcode or RFID. When the receiving side (user) authenticates their ID, the device obtains the location information of the user's product in each temperature zone area, and the robot picks the product. The robot that has picked the product carries it to the delivery/receipt port 1204. As an effect of the invention of this embodiment, it is possible to work at fixed positions on both the delivery side and the receiving side. Additionally, products can be stored in different temperature zones, such as refrigerated items in the refrigerated area and room-temperature items in the room-temperature area.

Furthermore, a different embodiment is disclosed in FIG. In this system, deliveries and receipts are made from a single delivery/receipt port 1302, such as a rotating tower parking lot, and the stocker/delivery warehouse is arranged in the shape of a Ferris wheel. The main body of the apparatus has a refrigeration function, and the inside of the main body is divided into a refrigeration area 1306 and a normal temperature area 1308. Each temperature zone area has a rotating device 1304 and a rotary stocker delivery warehouse 1300, and the storage is sequentially stored in an empty stocker delivery warehouse within the device. Note that the direction of rotation may be up, down, left and right, or front and back and left and right. When the delivery side (shipper) reads the barcode on each package, the device recognizes the user and then links it to the storage space where the package will be stored. Alternatively, the device automatically recognizes the barcode or RFID. When the receiving side (user) authenticates the ID, the device searches for a stocker delivery warehouse in each temperature zone area where the user's product is placed, and transports the product to the delivery/receiving port 1302.

The problem with conventional products and technology is that when a user opens the door of the stocker delivery warehouse, which forms the basic structure of the stocker, authentication is performed using an ID card or fingerprint (palm), but the door opening key cannot be shared in either case. . For example, if the wife is unable to receive the payment due to some circumstances, the husband may receive the payment on her behalf, and so there is a request for sharing. If authentication is performed by inputting a user ID and password, the key to open the door can be shared by sharing that information, but this will increase the number of actions required to open the door.

As a specific configuration of the invention of this embodiment, the following management system is disclosed in FIG. Management system 1402 receives order information (designation of receiving location) from user 1400 via network 1406. In response, the management system 1402 provides the user 1400 with the order confirmation information or delivery completion information as well as the door opening key (for example, QR code (registered trademark) 1410) used by the user 1400 to open the public stocker. is issued via the network 1406. If the user 1400 is unable to receive the product for some reason, the door opening key is shared with the user 1404 via the network 1408. This allows the user 1404 to receive the product. An advantage of the invention of this embodiment is that it is possible to electronically share a door opening key without increasing the number of door opening operations. Furthermore, since the door opening key can be changed and updated each time the door is used, security can be strengthened.

1 Management system 2 Consumer side system 3 Supplier side system 4 Supplier homepage 5 Stocker 6 Delivery vehicle 11 Communication line 12 Communication line 13 Communication line 14 Communication line 15 Communication line 16 Communication line 17 Receiving flow 18 Delivery flow 21 Product 22 Products 23 Products 24 Products 25 Products 26 Products 201 Consumption Schedule 202 Consumption Menu 203 Consumer Information 204 Consumer Information 205 Examples of Products and Quantities 206 Examples of Products and Quantities 207 Examples of Products and Quantities 208 Examples of Products and Quantities 301 Stocker Delivery warehouse 302 Stocker delivery warehouse 303 Stocker delivery warehouse 401-415 Stocker delivery warehouse 501-515 Stocker delivery warehouse 601 Image processing system 602 Dirt 603 Stocker delivery warehouse

Claims (1)

From at least one consumer information including a desired purchase product, the quantity of the desired purchase product, and receipt schedule information, and at least one supplier information including a supplied product and the quantity of the supplied product, the supplier A product supply system that determines delivery contents from to a consumer and creates delivery information,
stocker and
a plurality of storage rooms that are storage spaces for the stocker and are controlled at a first temperature;
a plurality of storage rooms that are storage spaces for the stocker and are controlled at a second temperature;
One warehouse is managed at the first temperature, and products are stored and picked by robots for a plurality of warehouses managed at the first temperature, and one warehouse is managed at the second temperature. one delivery/receipt port common to one warehouse where products are stored and picked by robots for multiple warehouses controlled at the second temperature;
information storage means for storing occupancy information of a plurality of warehouses managed at the first temperature and a plurality of warehouses managed at the second temperature and the delivery information;
Judgment means for determining whether delivery to the stocker is possible based on the delivery information and the occupancy information ;
A management system that manages the opening and closing history of doors ,
a communication line provided between the stocker and the management system for transmitting and receiving information on the occupancy information and the opening/closing history of the door;
A product supply system with