Delivery monitoring device, delivery management method, recording medium

{
  "publication_number": "US11403471B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Delivery monitoring device, delivery management method, recording medium",
  "abstract": "A delivery monitoring device includes: a reading unit that reads a tag signal transmitted by a tag signal transmission device, the tag signal transmission device being attached to a package located in a vicinity of the delivery monitoring device; an acquisition unit that acquires position information indicating a position of the delivery monitoring device; and a transmission unit that transmits management information including the tag signal and the position information, to a delivery management server.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A delivery monitoring device comprising: a memory configured to store instructions; and a processor configured to execute the instructions to: acquire a tag signal transmitted by a tag signal transmission device, the tag signal transmission device being attached to a package located in a vicinity of the delivery monitoring device; acquire position information indicating a position of the delivery monitoring device; receive a signal that indicates opening of a door of a carrier when an amount of light is a prescribed threshold value or higher, the carrier containing the delivery monitoring device; and cause a transmitter to transmit management information including the tag signal and the position information, to a delivery management server, in response to the signal that indicates the opening of the door of the carrier being received, wherein acquiring the tag signal comprises acquiring a plurality of tag signals from a plurality of tag transmission devices, each of the plurality of tag signal transmission devices performing transmission with an interval from reception of a reading signal to transmission of the tag signal being changed.",
    "2. The delivery monitoring device according to claim 1, further comprising: an antenna that receives the tag signal; and a changing mechanism that, by changing an orientation of the antenna, changes a direction in which the antenna reads a signal.",
    "3. The delivery monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to execute the instructions to acquire a tag signal transmitted by a tag signal transmission device attached to a structure containing the package, and causing the transmitter to transmit the management information comprises causing the transmitter to transmit, as the management information, information including the tag signal transmitted by the tag signal transmission device attached to the package, the tag signal transmitted by the tag signal transmission device attached to the structure, and the position information, to the delivery management server.",
    "4. A delivery management method comprising: acquiring, by a delivery monitoring device, a tag signal transmitted by a tag signal transmission device, the tag signal transmission device being attached to a package located in a vicinity of the delivery monitoring device; acquiring, by the delivery monitoring device, position information indicating a position of the delivery monitoring device; receiving a signal that indicates opening of a door of a carrier when an amount of light is a prescribed threshold value or higher, the carrier containing the delivery monitoring device; and transmitting, by the delivery monitoring device, management information including the tag signal and the position information, to a delivery management server, in response to the signal that indicates the opening of the door of the carrier being received, wherein acquiring the tag signal comprises acquiring a plurality of tag signals from a plurality of tag transmission devices, each of the plurality of tag signal transmission devices performing transmission with an interval from reception of a reading signal to transmission of the tag signal being changed.",
    "5. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium storing a program that causes a computer in a delivery monitoring device to execute: acquiring a tag signal transmitted by a tag signal transmission device, the tag signal transmission device being attached to a package located in a vicinity of the delivery monitoring device; acquiring position information indicating a position of the delivery monitoring device; and receiving a signal that indicates opening of a door of a carrier when an amount of light is a prescribed threshold value or higher, the carrier containing the delivery monitoring device; and transmitting management information including the tag signal and the position information, to a delivery management server, in response to the signal that indicates the opening of the door of the carrier being received, wherein acquiring the tag signal comprises acquiring a plurality of tag signals from a plurality of tag transmission devices, each of the plurality of tag signal transmission devices performing transmission with an interval from reception of a reading signal to transmission of the tag signal being changed.",
    "6. The delivery monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein the delivery monitoring device has a portable form and is loaded on the carrier together with the package.",
    "7. The delivery monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein a tag signal transmission device is attached to a pallet, and the processor is configured to execute the instructions to acquire a tag signal transmitted by the tag signal transmission device attached to the pallet.",
    "8. The delivery monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to execute the instructions to: detect the light; and detect that the door has been opened when the amount of the light is the prescribed threshold value or higher.",
    "9. The delivery monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein the carrier is a truck, and receiving the signal that indicates the opening of the door comprises receiving the signal that indicates the opening of the door from an opening/closing signal transmission device provided on the door of the truck."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The present invention relates to a delivery monitoring device, a delivery management method, and a recording medium.\n\nPackages that are delivered via multiple collection sites are inspected at each collection site and registered in a database or the like. In this way, it is possible to manage which collection sites the packages have reached. Related art is disclosed in Patent Document 1. Patent Document 1 discloses a technology in which a wireless communication device provided on a delivery vehicle or in a warehouse receives information from wireless tags appended to packages and transmits the information to a server on the internet.\n\nJapanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. 2001-328713\n\nIn order to track packages, a method in which a wireless communication device as described in Patent Document 1 is mounted on each delivery vehicle might be contemplated. However, there can be expected to be situations in which a wireless communication device cannot be mounted on a delivery vehicle. For example, when the delivery company outsources deliveries to a transportation company, it is difficult to pre-install equipment for tracking mailed articles in delivery vehicles, such as trucks, that are owned by the transportation company. A way to easily monitor packages even in such situations is sought.\n\nThus, an object of the present invention is to provide a delivery monitoring device, a delivery management method, and a recording medium that can solve the above-mentioned problem.",
  "cpc": [
    "G06K 7/10099",
    "B65G 1/137",
    "B65G 61/00",
    "G06K 19/0723",
    "G06K 2007/10504",
    "G06K 7/10009",
    "G06Q 10/08",
    "G06Q 50/28",
    "H04W 4/029",
    "H04W 4/80"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "G06K 19/07",
    "G06K 7/10",
    "G06Q 10/08",
    "H04W 4/029"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "NEC Corp"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Jun Uchimura",
    "Hiroshi Takahashi",
    "Masato Watanabe"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2019-03-15",
  "publication_date": "2022-08-02",
  "grant_date": "2022-08-02",
  "priority_date": "2018-03-29",
  "application_number": "US-201917041660-A",
  "family_id": "68058829",
  "cited_by_count": 0,
  "citations": [
    "JP2001328713A",
    "US20050258955A1",
    "JP2008189391A",
    "US20090195361A1",
    "JP2013166597A",
    "JP2015124052A",
    "JP2016155674A",
    "JP2016170849A",
    "JP2017039601A",
    "JP2018018195A"
  ]
}