Delivery management system and method using smart communicator

Disclosed is a delivery management system and method using a smart communicator. The delivery management system includes a selling server for selling articles online; a delivery server for managing delivery of articles sold by the selling server; a mailbox which reads information from an information storage attached to an arrived article at a destination under the control of the delivery server; and a home network server which stores ordered article information, determines whether the arrived article is correctly delivered on the basis of a comparison between the ordered article information and the arrived article information read from the information storage, transmits the result of the comparison to a smart communicator, controls follow-up management of the delivery according to a remote control of the smart communicator. Accordingly, it is possible to check the arrival of an article and control follow-up management on the articles delivered correctly or incorrectly using the smart communicator.

PRIORITY

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to an application entitled “DELIVERY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD USING SMART COMMUNICATOR” filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Jan. 2, 2006 and assigned Serial No. 2006-0000273, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a delivery management system and method and, in particular to, a delivery management system and method which is capable of remotely controlling follow-up management on the articles delivered correctly or incorrectly using a smart communicator.

2. Background of the Related Art

As communication, home automation, and online ordering technologies have been rapidly developed the quality-of-life has also improved, especially in terms of a residential environment. Such a convenient residence can be achieved with integral management of the household electronics such as electric appliances, lighting systems, cooling and heating systems, security systems, gas delivery systems, electric delivery systems, door locks and entry systems, etc.

Home automation is a specialized field that deals with the specific automation requirements of private homes and the application of automation techniques for comfort and security of inhabitants of a residential structure. For example, home automation can be implemented using remote control devices and/or systems such as a remote control means for controlling household appliances located inside and/or outside of the home (e.g., refrigerators, lights, pool filters, etc.), a video door phone system for communicating with a visitor on a video screen, a security mechanism for detecting and alerting of the presence of one or more intruders, an alarm system for detecting and alerting of gas leaks and fire, and meter reading means for remotely reading utility meters.

In the meantime, with the advent of online shopping goods can be are ordered at online shopping malls through Internet and delivered to a desired location through offline distribution chains.

FIG. 1is a schematic block diagram illustrating a conventional online shopping and delivery system. The consumer10accesses a shopping mall site of a seller40through Internet20and sends a purchase order to the seller40after selecting goods to buy. If the purchase order is made by the consumer10, the seller40request for payment on the goods to the consumer10. The consumer10pays for the goods through a payment system provided by a payment server30. After the payment is successfully completed, the seller40requests a delivery server50of an affiliated distribution company to transport the goods and reports the information on the delivery of the goods.

Through this procedure, the consumer10completes the order of the product and identifies the goods with the delivery information. Typically, the seller40or the delivery server50provides a service for tracking the goods to the consumer10.

In the conventional delivery system, however, it is difficult to determine the location of the goods in real-time and an arrival date and time since the shipment information typically provides only loading and/or unloading locations and/or dates. Accordingly, the consumer typically must guess the arrival date and stay at the destination location in order to receive the goods when delivered.

Moreover, conventional delivery systems has a drawback in that the consumer should be located at the destination location even when the goods are delayed or re-transported due to a misdelivery.

In the meantime, the conventional postal system has drawbacks in that the recipient should check a mailbox frequently especially when mail is to be expected to determine whether any mail has arrived. Furthermore, the mailbox is usually not secure in that the mailbox can be typically accessed by anybody, resulting in the deposit of unwanted advertisements (e.g., flyers, etc.). Moreover, with the advent of identity theft, it is necessary to secure delivered mail.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been made in an effort to solve the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a delivery system and method capable of tracking in real-time ordered goods and remotely controlling the delivery of the goods according to the tracking results using a smart communicator.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a delivery system and method capable of preventing unauthorized materials from being placed in a mailbox by controlling an access door of the mailbox.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the above and other objects can be accomplished by a delivery management system. The deliver management system includes a selling server for selling articles online; a delivery server for managing deliveries of articles sold by the selling server; a mailbox for reading information from an information storage means attached to the article (e.g., that has arrived at a destination) under the control of the delivery server; and a home network server for storing ordered article information, determining whether the arrived article is correctly delivered on the basis of comparison between the ordered article information and the arrived article information read from the information storage means, transmitting results of the comparison to a smart communicator, and controlling follow-up management of the delivery according to a remote control of the smart communicator.

Preferably, the information storage means includes a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag and the ordered article information includes ordered articles list schedule and a delivery schedule each corresponding to ordered article.

Preferably, the home network server transmits misdelivery information to the delivery server when an arrived article is mis-delivered; the delivery server requests information for re-delivery of the ordered article and information for withdrawal of the mis-delivered article to the smart communicator; and the smart communicator transmits the information for re-delivery of the ordered article and information for withdrawal of the mis-delivered article, which is optionally input by user of the smart communicator, to the home network server and the delivery server.

Preferably, the mailbox includes an RFID reader which reads information from the RFID tag attached to the article (to be thrown into the mailbox or located within the mailbox) and a local communication module which transmits the information read from the RFID tag to the home network server. Alternatively, an RFID reader can be remotely located with respect to the mailbox.

Preferably, the home network server includes a local communication unit which receives information read from an RFID tag from the mailbox through a local communication link; a remote communication unit which communicates with the smart communicator and receives one or more remote control commands from the smart communicator; a storage unit which stores ordered article information relating to an ordered article; an article information analysis unit which determines whether an arrived article is correctly delivered by comparing the ordered article information and the information read from the RFID tag; and a control unit which transmits misdelivery information to the smart communicator when the arrived article is determined to be mis-delivered and receives information for re-delivery of the ordered article and withdrawal of the mis-delivered article from the smart communicator.

Preferably, the smart communicator includes a local communication module which receives the misdelivery information from the home network server and transmits the information for re-delivery of the ordered article and withdrawal of the mis-delivered article to the home network server; a storage means stores the ordered article information and the information for re-delivery of the ordered article and withdrawal of the mis-delivered article; a user input such as a keypad, touch screen, voice activated input, etc., which enables a user to input data relating to the information for re-delivery of the ordered article and withdrawal of the mis-delivered article; and a controller which transmits the information for re-delivery of the ordered article and withdrawal of the mis-delivered article to the home network server and the delivery server.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the above and other objects can be accomplished by a delivery management method using a smart communicator, the method including ordering an article from a selling server online; storing ordered article information received from the smart communicator; reading an article identifier attached to, or otherwise associated with, the article; transmitting information of the article identifier to the smart communicator; determining whether an arrived article is correctly delivered on the basis of the article identifier; transmitting information on whether the article is correctly delivered to the smart communicator; and managing re-delivery of the ordered article and/or withdrawal of a mis-delivered article based on the determination.

Preferably, the step of managing the re-delivery of the ordered article and/or withdrawal of the mis-delivered article includes transmitting misdelivery information to a delivery server when it is determined that the arrived article is a misdelivered article; receiving information for re-delivery of the ordered article and withdrawal of the mis-delivered article in response to a request from the delivery server; and managing the re-delivery of the ordered article and withdrawal of the mis-delivered article according to one or more predetermined routines corresponding to at least one of the ordered article and the mis-delivered article.

Preferably, the article identifier includes a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag and the ordered article information includes an ordered article list and delivery schedules corresponding to the ordered article. Furthermore, the ordered article list and the delivery schedule can include data corresponding to a plurality of ordered articles.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the above and other objects can be accomplished by a delivery management system that includes a selling server which sells articles online; a delivery server which manages deliveries of articles sold by the selling server; a mailbox having an mail drop, which reads information from an information storage attached to, or otherwise associated with, an approaching article under the control of the delivery server and controls the mail drop to be opened or closed according to an approval or denial of the article; and a home network server which stores ordered article information, determines whether the arrived article is correctly delivered on the basis of comparison between the ordered article information and the arrived article information read from the information storage, transmits the comparison result to a smart communicator, and controls follow-up management of the delivery according to a remote control of the smart communicator.

Preferably, the home network server includes a communication device, such as, a door phone, camera, etc., that establishes a communication link with the smart communicator via the home network server such that a deliveryman and a smart communicator communicate through the communication link for identifying the article.

Preferably, the article identifier includes a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag and the ordered article information includes an ordered article list and a delivery schedule corresponding to the ordered article. Furthermore, the ordered article list and the delivery schedule can include data corresponding to a plurality of ordered articles.

Preferably, the home network server transmits a denial information to the smart communicator when arrived article authentication is denied; the smart communicator selectively performs an establishment of a communication link to the communication device (e.g., the door phone) such that user can communicate with the delivery man, and transmits an open/close command input by the user to the home network server; and the home network server controls such that the mail drop of the mailbox is opened or closed according to an open/close command.

Preferably, the mailbox includes a RFID reader which reads information from the RFID tag attached to, or otherwise associated with (e.g., contained within, etc.), the arrived article; a local communication module which transmits the information read from the RFID tag to the home network server; and an mail drop controller which controls access to the mail drop according to the open/close command received from the smart communicator.

In accordance with still another aspect of the present invention, the above and other objects can be accomplished by a delivery management method using a smart communicator for ordering an article from a selling server online; storing, by a storage means, ordered article information received from the smart communicator; transmitting information of an article identifier attached to, or otherwise associated with, an approaching article to the smart communicator; determining whether the arrived article is approved on the basis of article identifier; transmitting information on whether the article is approved to the smart communicator; and controlling a mail drop to be opened or closed according to a remote control of the smart communicator on the basis of the information on whether the article is approved.

Preferably, the step of controlling the mail drop includes transmitting denial information to a delivery server when the article is denied; performing communication between a smart communicator user and a deliveryman through a communication device (e.g., a door phone a picture phone, etc.) according to the denial information; receiving information on whether to open or close the mail drop from the smart communicator; and controlling the mail drop to be opened or closed according to a control command from the smart communicator.

Preferably, the article identifier includes a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag and the ordered article information include ordered articles list and delivery schedules of the ordered article.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in detail. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawing(s) to refer to the same or like parts. Detailed descriptions of well-known functions and structures incorporated herein will be omitted when it many obscure the subject matter of the present invention.

FIG. 2is a block diagram illustrating an article tracking system according to the present invention.

As shown inFIG. 2, the article tracking system according the present invention includes a home network server100for internetworking and controlling home network appliances and a smart communicator400connected to the home network server100through a public communication network90so as to control the home network appliances by transmitting control commands to the home network server100. The home network server100can receive, from the smart communicator400or other communication devices, information on one or more articles ordered (or reserved to be transported) from, for example, an online shopping mall site provided by a selling server300in a form of one or more short messages (SMS messages) or electronic mail (e.g., e-mail). Upon receiving the one or more SMS messages or e-mail containing information on the articles ordered, the home network server100stores information relating to the ordered articles (not shown) in a database.

Also, the home network server communicates with (e.g., is electrically coupled to) a mailbox200having an access restricting device (e.g., a door-not shown) for selectively restricting access to an internal space (not shown) for storing received articles. Also, the mailbox200is provided with a local communication module220and a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader240. The local communication module220communicates with the home network server100through a wired or a wireless link. The RFID reader240reads information from the RFID tag corresponding to (e.g., attached to) the article to be thrown into the mail box200). The local communication module220transmits the information read by the RFID reader240to the home network server100.

The home network server100notifies the user, by transmitting an arrival message to the smart communicator400, of the arrival of the article when the article is thrown into the mail box200. The home network server100compares the article information received from mail box200and the previously stored article information and determines whether the article is correctly delivered on the basis of the comparison. The home network server100transmits the determination result to the smart communicator400. In case of misdelivery, the home network server100transmits the misdelivery information to a delivery server500.

The delivery server500schedules deliveries of articles registered by the selling server300and transmits a withdrawal schedule request message to the smart communicator400.

The smart communicator400has a remote control function for controlling the home network server100that can be located within the home (or can be optionally located at a remove location) using a predetermined communication scheme and can perform bidirectional communication with the home network server100. Also, the smart communicator400can access to the shopping mall site provided by the selling server300through the communication network90so as to order articles and receive the delivery information of the articles ordered to the selling server300from the delivery server500. The smart communicator400transmits the ordered article information including the delivery information to the home network server100through the communication network90.

The smart communicator can400transmit a withdrawal schedule response message to the home network server100in response to a withdrawal schedule request message, to the home network server100and the delivery server500, the withdrawal schedule response message can include re-delivery schedule information input by the user.

Sequentially, the home network server100registers a withdrawal schedule of the mis-delivered article received from the withdrawal schedule response message and checks the arrival and misdelivery of the ordered article. Also, the delivery server500schedules the re-delivery of the mis-delivered article on the basis of the withdrawal schedule response message.

As described above, the home network server stores the ordered article information and the delivery information of the ordered article in a database, reads the RFID attached to the article thrown into the mailbox200, determines whether the article thrown in to the mailbox is correctly delivered, transmits the determination result to the smart communicator400, and manages the re-delivery and withdrawal of a mis-delivered article under the control of the smart communicator400. Accordingly, the user can check the delivered article and manage the misdelivery and redelivery schedule mis-delivered article by remotely controlling the home network server100using the smart communicator.

FIG. 3is block diagram illustrating a home network server ofFIG. 2in more detail. As shown inFIG. 3, the home network server100includes a control unit110, a display unit120, a local communication unit130, a remote communication unit140, an article information analysis unit150, and a storage unit160.

The control unit110controls the overall operation of the home network server100and one or more optional home network appliances electrically connected to (or otherwise communications with) the home network server100.

The control unit110determines whether the article thrown in to the mailbox is correctly delivered by comparing the information read from the RFID tag corresponding to (e.g., attached to) the article and the previously stored delivery information. If it is determined that the article is mis-delivered, the controller unit110controls so as to manage the misdelivery and re-delivery schedule.

The display unit120displays the operation status of the home network server100and information received from the home network appliances connected to the home network server100. In this embodiment, the display unit120may also display information read from the RFID tag attached to the article.

The local communication unit130can communicate with the one or more home network appliances and the smart communicator400through wired or wireless communication links. For example, the local communication unit130can communicate with the local communication module220of the mailbox through the wired or wireless link and can communicate with the smart communicator400in the home.

The remote communication unit140has a remote communication function so as to communicate with the smart communicator400through the communication network90. The remote communication unit140can access the selling server300through the smart communicator400or via other communication devices and can receive the ordered article information containing the delivery information from the smart communicator400or the other communication devices, the delivery information being provided by the delivery server which manages the information on the ordered article and the ordered article delivery. Also, the remote communication unit140transmits the article arrival information and the misdelivery information obtained from the mailbox200to the smart communicator400and receives remote control commands from the smart communicator400.

The article information analysis unit150determines whether the article thrown in the mailbox, is correctly delivered on the basis of the ordered article information received from the smart communicator400and/or other communication devices and the information read from the RFID tag attached to the article.

The storage unit160stores the programs for operating the home network and the settings of the home network configured by the user for interoperating the home network appliances. The storage unit160can also store the ordered article information containing the delivery schedule, which is transmitted from the smart communicator400and/or other communication devices.

FIG. 4is a block diagram illustrating the smart communicator ofFIG. 2in more detail. As shown inFIG. 4, the smart communicator includes a control unit410, a display unit420, a local communication unit430, a remote communication unit440, a keypad (or other input device)450, an audio processing unit460, and a storage unit470.

The control unit410controls the overall operations of the smart communicator400, accesses to the selling server300and the delivery server500through the communication90, and remotely controls the home network server100.

The display unit420displays the operational status of the smart communicator400, delivery and ordered article information, article arrival and misdelivery information received from the home network server100, schedules, information input from the keyboard, etc.

The local communication unit430provides a wireless local area communication function for controlling the operation of the home network server100in the home.

The remote communication unit440supports wired and/or wireless Internet communication through the communication network90such that the smart communicator can communicate with the home network server100which can be remotely located. Accordingly, the remote communication unit440can transmit commands for controlling the home network server100and receive the operation status information generated by the home network server100. Also, the remote communication unit440transmits the ordered article information and the mis-delivered article withdrawal information to the home network server100and receives the misdelivery information from the home network server100.

The keypad450is provided with a plurality of keys so as to input commands for controlling the operation of the smart communicator100and the home network server100outside of the home and ordering and paying for the article, and to input the re-delivery and withdrawal schedule information. Additionally, the keypad can include input devices such as a touch-screen input, a credit card reader, an RFID reader for reading RFID tags to obtain user information, a mouse/trackball, an optical input (e.g., a camera and/or a bar-code scanner), etc. all of which are not shown for the sake of clarity.

The audio processing unit460supports voice communication of the smart communicator400. In this regard, the audio processing unit460can convert an analog audio signal input from the microphone into digital signal under the control of the control unit410and can convert a digital audio signal input from the controller410into analog signal so as to be output through the speaker.

The storage unit470stores the programs required for operating the smart communicator400and the settings associated with the operation of the home network server100. Also, the storage unit470stores the delivery information and ordered article information.

FIG. 5is a flow diagram illustrating a method for remotely checking the delivered article using the smart communicator according to the present invention. Referring toFIG. 5, the smart communicator400accesses to the selling server300to order an article and pay for the ordered article at step S110, and receives the delivery schedule information on the ordered article from the delivery server500at step S120.

The smart communicator400transmits the ordered article information including the delivery schedule information to the home network server100at step S130. The home network server100stores the ordered article information received from the smart communicator400. In the meantime, the delivery server500executes the delivery of the ordered article to the mailbox200.

The mailbox200detects an incoming article and reads the information from the RFID tag attached to (or otherwise associated with) the incoming article at step S160. The mailbox200transmits the information read from the RFID tag corresponding with the incoming article to the home network server100at step S170. The mailbox200can detect the incoming article using any suitable means. For example, the RFID reader can detect the RFID tag associated with the article. However, to save energy, the detection devices such as a motion sensing device, an optical sensor, a pressure-sensitive switch, a polling device, etc., can be used to activate the RFID reader. However, the RFID reader can also be operated continuously if desired.

Upon receiving the RFID information corresponding to the article thrown in the mail box200, the home network server100transmits the article arrival information to the smart communicator400at step S180. Here, the home network server100checks that the ordered article is normally delivered on the basis of the ordered article information provided by the smart communicator at step S190and determines whether the article is mis-delivered at step S210. In case of the correct delivery, the home network server100transmits the correct delivery information to the smart communicator400at step S220.

On the other hand, if it is determined that the article arrived is mis-delivered, the home network server100transmits the misdelivery information to the smart communicator400and the delivery server500at step S230. Upon receiving the misdelivery information, the delivery server500transmits a withdrawal schedule request message to the smart communicator400at step S240. If the withdrawal schedule request message is received, the smart communicator400waits for the user to input a withdrawal schedule at step S250.

Preferably, the withdrawal schedule is input by the user in response to the withdrawal schedule request (message) when the article is mis-delivered, however, the smart communicator400can be configured to access the delivery server500so as to check the misdelivery of the article and receive the information of the re-delivery and withdrawal of the article. The withdrawal schedule information can also correspond with a predetermined routine.

Once the withdrawal schedule information is input, the smart communicator400transmits the withdrawal schedule information to the home network server100and the delivery server500at steps S260and S265. Upon receiving the withdrawal schedule information, the home network server100registers the withdrawal schedule at step S270and the delivery server500controls so as to attempt delivery of the ordered article and to withdraw the mis-delivered article on the basis of the withdrawal schedule information at step S280.

That is, the home network server stores the delivery information of the ordered article in the form of database, reads the RFID tag attached to the article thrown into the mailbox200, determines whether the article is correctly delivered, and transmits the determination result to the smart communicator400, and manage the delivery of the article by registering the re-delivery and the withdraw schedule under the remote control of the smart communicator400, such that it is possible to remotely monitor the delivery of the article and scheduling the withdrawal of the mis-delivered article when a mis-delivery is detected using the smart communicator400.

FIG. 6is a block diagram illustrating an article delivery checking system using a smart communicator according to another aspect of the present invention.

As shown inFIG. 6, the home network server100can control the internetworking of home network appliances700and performs operations corresponding to the control commands transmitted from the smart communicator400. The home network server100can access the selling server300and delivery server500and receive the information on the ordered article and/or a reserved delivery article in the form of a (e.g., SMS) short message or e-mail through the smart communicator400and/or the other communication devices, using, for example, these devices. The home network server100can store the received information in a database as necessary. Also, the home network server100can access the mail box200and read the information corresponding an article from its corresponding RFID tag and control so as to open and/or close (or lock or unlock) the door of the mail box, as necessary. The home network server100supports the bidirectional communication between a door phone, etc., such that communication between a delivery person and other persons or devices is possible.

The mailbox200has the door and a space (e.g., a cavity) for storing the delivered article. The mailbox can include a local communication module220, an RFID reader240, a mail drop, and/or a mail drop controller280.

The local communication module220supports a wired and/or wireless communication with the home network server100. The RFID reader240can read information form the RFID tag attached the article before and/or after the article is thrown into the mail box100. The local communication module220transmits the information read by the RFID reader240to the home network server100. The mail drop260has a locking/unlocking structure to be closed (for preventing an object from being deposited in the mailbox) and opened (for allowing the deposit of the article into the mail box). The mail drop controller280controls such that the mail drop260is opened and/or closed according to an authentication result based on the information obtained from the RFID tag under the control of the home network server100.

The home network server100stores the information on the order and delivery of the article purchased from the selling server300, the information being received from the smart communicator400.

Upon receiving the information read by the RF reader240, the home network server100transmits the article arrival information to the smart communicator400. The home network server100compares the information read form the RFID tag (of the arrived article) and the previously stored article information and determines whether to approve or deny the authentication corresponding to the arrived article. The home network server100transmits the delivery approval/denial information on the authentication of the article to the smart communicator400. Also, the home network server100controls the mail drop260to be opened or closed according to the remote control command transmitted from the smart communicator400, which enables the user to input the control command on the basis of the delivery approval/denial information.

The smart communicator400has a remote control function for controlling the home network server in a predetermined communication scheme such that it can communicate with the home network server100through the communication network90. Also, the smart communicator can access the selling server300, order the article online, and receive the delivery information of the ordered article through the communication network90. The smart communicator400transmits the ordered article information including the delivery information to the home network server100through the communication network90.

The smart communicator400can control the home network server100to open and close the mail drop260of the mailbox200according to the delivery approval/denial information received from the home network server100.

The door phone700is installed outside the home such that it communicate with the smart communicator400via the home network server100, resulting in communication between the deliveryman and the smart communicator user. The door phone700can be provided with communication devices such as a camera720, a microphone740, and/or a speaker760. Additionally, the door phone700can include input devices such as a keyboard, etc.

The camera720is installed (e.g., in front of the door phone) so as to take pictures of a person facing the door and transmit the pictures to the home network server100. The microphone740receives audio inputs (such as a deliveryman's voice) and transmits the audio input to the home network server100. The speaker760outputs the audio signal received from the home network server100.

If a request for communicating with the deliveryman is received from the smart communicator, the home network server100can control the door phone700to support the communication between the deliveryman and the smart communicator and/or its user.

As described above, the home network server100stores the information on the articles reserved to be delivered, reads the information from the RFID tag associated with the article, determines whether the arrived article is identical to or corresponds with any articles reserved to be delivered, transmits the comparison result to the smart communicator400, and controls (e.g., closes or opens) the mail drop of the mailbox according to the remote command received from the smart communicator400, such that it is possible to check the arrived article, determine to approve or deny the delivery of the article, and control the open/close of the mail drop260of the mailbox200on the basis of the determination result, even at a remote location.

FIGS. 7A to 7Bare flowcharts illustrating a method for remotely checking the delivered article using the smart communicator according to the present invention.

First, the smart communicator400accesses the selling server300such that the smart communicator user can order an article and optionally pay for the ordered article at step S410. Thereafter, the smart communicator400receives ordered article information including the ordered article and delivery schedule information corresponding to the ordered article from the delivery server500at step S420.

The smart communicator400transmits the ordered article information including the ordered article and the delivery schedule to the home network server100at step S430. The home network server100stores the ordered article information received from the smart communicator400at step S440. In the meantime, the delivery server500controls such that the ordered article is transported to the mailbox200of the destination address according to the delivery schedule of the article at step S450.

The mailbox200detects the approach of the article and reads the information form the RFID tag associated with the article at step S460. The mailbox200then transmits the information read from RFID tag to the home network server100at step S470.

Upon receiving the information read from the RFID tag, the home network server100transmits article arrival information to the smart communicator400at step S480. Here, the home network server100checks that the arrived article is the ordered article by referring to the ordered article information that is received from the smart communicator400at step S490. Sequentially, the home network server100determines whether to approve or deny the delivery of the arrived article on the basis of the checking result at step S510. If the delivery of the arrived article is approved, the home network server100transmits the delivery information on the delivery-approved article to the smart communicator400at step S520.

On the other hand, if the delivery of the arrived article is denied, the home network server100transmits the information on the delivery-denied article to the smart communicator400at step S530.

Upon receiving the information on the delivery-denied article, the smart communicator400receives a key input of request for communication with the deliveryman and transmits the communication request to the door phone700through the home network server100at steps S540and S550. Once the deliveryman responses to the communication request, the home network server100establishes a communication channel between the door phone700and the smart communicator400such that the deliveryman can communicate with a user of the smart communicator at step S560.

After the communication between the deliveryman and the smart communicator user, the smart communicator receives a key input for opening or closing the mail drop260of the mailbox200at step S570. Upon receiving a key input for opening command, the smart communicator400transmits the mail drop open command to the home network server100at step S580.

Upon receiving the mail drop open command, the home network server100transmits the open command to the mailbox200at step S590. Accordingly, the mail drop controller280opens the mail drop on the basis of the open command at step S610.

In the meantime, if the mail drop close command is input at step S570, the smart communicator transmits an mail drop close maintenance command to the home network server at step S620. If the mail drop close maintenance command is received, the home network server100forwards the mail drop close maintenance command to the mailbox200at step S630. Accordingly, the mail drop controller280closes the mail drop260at step S640.

As described above, the home network server100stores the information on articles reserved to be delivered, reads information from RFID tag(s) corresponding to the articles, determines whether an arrived article is identical to any articles reserved to be delivered, transmits the result of the comparison the smart communicator400, and closes or opens the mail drop of the mailbox according to a remote command received from the smart communicator400, such that it is possible to check the arrived article, determines to approve or deny the delivery of the article, and control the open/close of the mail drop260of the mailbox200on the basis of the determination result, even remotely.

In accordance with the present invention, it is possible to check the arrival of an article and control follow-up management on the article even when the article is mis-delivered, by storing the information corresponding to the article ordered and reserved to be transported in a database, reading the information from a RFID tag associated with the arrived article, determining whether the arrived article is correctly delivered on the basis of the comparison between the stored information and the information read from the RFID tag, transmitting the comparison result to the smart communicator (which can be located at a remote location), and managing the article according to the control command received from the smart communicator.

In accordance with the present invention, it is also possible to check the arrival of an article and control follow-up management on the article even when the article is mis-delivered, by storing the information on the article reserved to be transported, reading the information of the article from an RFID tag associated with the article, determining whether the arrived article corresponds with the article reserved to be transported, transmitting the determination result to a smart communicator (which can be remotely located), and controlling the mailbox to open/close a mail drop of the mail box according to the command received from the smart communicator.