Information processing method and information processing system

Abstract

The information processing method is a method executed by a computer, and includes the following processing: obtaining the movement history of a mobile body (S112), determining at least two locations where the mobile body moves regularly based on the movement history (S113), obtaining the location of the delivery source and the location of the delivery destination of the delivery item (S116), generating a delivery route for the delivery item based on the location of the delivery source, the location of the delivery destination and the above two locations, and outputting the delivery route (S119).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an information processing method and an information processing system for generating a delivery route for a delivery object. Background Art

[0002] In recent years, the volume of cargo handled in the logistics industry has increased due to the growth of e-commerce (EC). Consequently, there is a need to improve the efficiency of delivery operations to cope with this increase in cargo volume. For example, a logistics method for improving delivery efficiency has been disclosed (e.g., Patent Document 1) that combines variable routes with fixed routes used by delivery vehicles to generate delivery routes for delivery vehicles.

[0003] Prior art literature

[0004] Patent Literature

[0005] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-300625 Summary of the Invention

[0006] Problems to be solved by the invention

[0007] However, the logistics method disclosed in Patent Document 1 is based on the premise of utilizing a delivery vehicle prepared in advance for the purpose of delivering delivered items.

[0008] Therefore, the present disclosure provides an information processing method and the like that can utilize vehicles other than delivery vehicles for delivery.

[0009] Means for solving problems

[0010] The information processing method involved in the present disclosure is a method executed by a computer, and includes the following processing: obtaining the movement history of a mobile body, determining at least two locations where the mobile body moves regularly based on the movement history, obtaining the location of a delivery source and the location of a delivery destination of a delivery item, generating a delivery route for the delivery item based on the location of the delivery source, the location of the delivery destination, and the two locations, and outputting the delivery route.

[0011] In addition, these included or specific methods can be implemented by systems, methods, integrated circuits, computer programs or computer-readable recording media such as CD-ROMs, or by any combination of systems, methods, integrated circuits, computer programs and recording media.

[0012] Effects of the Invention

[0013] According to the information processing method and the like according to one aspect of the present disclosure, vehicles other than delivery vehicles can be used for delivery. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] Figure 1 This is a diagram for explaining how the delivery business is made more efficient by the information processing method according to the embodiment.

[0015] Figure 2 This is a sequence diagram showing an example of the flow of processing in the information processing system, mobile object, delivery vehicle, and delivery information management system according to the embodiment.

[0016] Figure 3 This is a block diagram showing an example of an information processing system according to an embodiment.

[0017] Figure 4 This is a flowchart showing an example of the information processing method according to the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018] An information processing method according to one embodiment of the present disclosure is a method executed by a computer, comprising the following processing: obtaining a movement history of a mobile body, determining at least two locations to which the mobile body regularly moves based on the movement history, obtaining a location of a delivery source and a location of a delivery destination of a delivery item, generating a delivery route for the delivery item based on the location of the delivery source, the location of the delivery destination, and the two locations, and outputting the delivery route.

[0019] For example, a mobile body that moves for commuting, going to school, going to the hospital, or shopping moves regularly between two locations, such as home and work destination, home and school, home and hospital, or home and store. In the present disclosure, at least two locations where the mobile body moves regularly are determined based on the movement history of such a mobile body. When these two locations exist between the delivery source and the delivery destination of the delivery object, a delivery route is generated that delivers the delivery object from the delivery source to the delivery destination via the two locations. As a result, vehicles used for purposes other than delivery (hereinafter also referred to as other-purpose vehicles) can be used for delivery. Furthermore, since the suitability of other-purpose vehicles as delivery vehicles is automatically determined, there is no need for users to pre-register other-purpose vehicles as delivery vehicles. In addition, there is a desire to suppress equipment investment and make delivery operations more efficient in the logistics industry from an operational perspective. Specifically, there is a desire to suppress the number of delivery vehicles maintained and to maintain or enhance the transportation capacity. In this regard, the information processing method described above allows a mobile object that regularly moves between the two locations to act as a proxy for delivering goods. This allows delivery companies to reduce the number of delivery vehicles they maintain and enhance their delivery capacity through the mobile object. Furthermore, this reduces the use of delivery vehicles, thereby reducing the work time of delivery company drivers. As described above, it is possible to reduce equipment investment and improve the efficiency of delivery operations.

[0020] Furthermore, the movable body may be a movable body that moves for a purpose other than delivery of the delivered object.

[0021] According to this, instead of a delivery vehicle, a mobile body that moves for a purpose other than delivery of the delivery object can be used to transport the delivery object, thereby reducing the number of delivery vehicles to be maintained.

[0022] Furthermore, one of the two locations may be a location within a predetermined distance from the location of the delivery source, and the other may be a location within a predetermined distance from the location of the delivery destination.

[0023] This can lengthen the distance that a mobile body regularly moving between two locations in a delivery route can travel by proxy. In other words, it can shorten the distance that a delivery company's delivery vehicle travels in a delivery route, thereby improving the efficiency of the delivery company's delivery operations.

[0024] Alternatively, one of the two locations may be within a range where the delivery base serving as the delivery source can provide delivery services, and the other location may be within a range where a delivery base different from the delivery base can provide delivery services.

[0025] With this arrangement, by moving the delivery vehicles from each delivery base to each of the two locations, it is possible to deliver the delivered items to the mobile body that moves regularly between the two locations, or to collect the delivered items that were transported between the two locations by the mobile body.

[0026] In addition, the two locations may also be locations where the moving body stays for (a) longer than other locations on the moving route determined based on the moving history, or (b) for more than a specified time, and the moving route is a moving route in which the moving body moves regularly and includes the two locations.

[0027] Accordingly, the two locations are locations where the mobile body, which moves regularly between the two locations, stays for a long time. During the period when the mobile body stays at the two locations, it is easy to place the delivered items on the mobile body, and it is also easy to recover the delivered items that are transported between the two locations by the mobile body from the mobile body.

[0028] Furthermore, the two points may be points at both ends of a movement route determined based on the movement history, where the moving object moves regularly and includes the two points.

[0029] According to this, the two points are points at both ends of the movement route where the mobile body moves regularly, and thus the distance over which the mobile body that moves regularly at the two points in the delivery route can perform proxy transportation can be lengthened.

[0030] In addition, the time period when the moving body starts or ends moving between the two locations can be determined based on the movement history, and the delivery time of the delivery item to the delivery destination can be obtained. In the generation of the delivery route, the delivery route can also be generated based on the time period and the delivery time.

[0031] This allows the creation of a delivery route in which items are placed on a mobile body until it begins moving, retrieved from the mobile body after it completes moving and until the delivery time, and delivered to the destination at the delivery time. Furthermore, items can be loaded onto a mobile body during the period when it stops at two locations, effectively acting as a temporary warehouse for the items during that period. This reduces the time that items are stored in the delivery company's warehouse, thereby reducing the warehouse space required by the delivery company.

[0032] Furthermore, a reliability corresponding to the regularity of the movement of the mobile body at the two locations may be calculated based on the movement history, and in determining the two locations, the two locations may be determined based on the reliability.

[0033] This allows the identification of two locations of the mobile body with high reliability corresponding to the regularity of its movement. Specifically, the two locations identified based on reliability facilitate the mobile body's more reliable regular movement during the delivery of the item. This prevents the mobile body from failing to move regularly between the two locations, potentially hindering the delivery of the item.

[0034] Furthermore, the manager of the mobile body may be inquired about the planned movement of the mobile body when delivering the delivered object, and the delivery route may be generated based on the response to the inquiry.

[0035] With this arrangement, if a response indicates that the mobile body is scheduled to move regularly during the delivery of an item, it is easier for the mobile body to more reliably move between two locations during the delivery of the item. On the other hand, if a response indicates that the mobile body is not scheduled to move regularly during the delivery of an item, the mobile body can be prevented from being used for delivery. This prevents the mobile body from not moving regularly between two locations during the delivery of an item, thereby preventing the delivery of the item from being hindered.

[0036] Furthermore, after the delivery of the delivery item based on the delivery route is completed, a profit may be awarded to the manager of the mobile object.

[0037] This provides a profit to the manager of the mobile body that performs proxy transportation of delivered items between two locations, thereby encouraging the mobile body to actively perform proxy transportation of delivered items in the future, thereby further promoting efficiency of delivery operations.

[0038] Furthermore, the manager of the mobile object may be notified of the delivery and receipt of the delivered items at the two locations.

[0039] This allows the manager of the mobile object to recognize whether a delivered object is scheduled to be placed on the mobile object or has already been placed on the mobile object, and whether a delivered object is scheduled to be collected from the mobile object or has already been collected from the mobile object.

[0040] Furthermore, the movable body may be requested to unlock the racks of the movable body at the two locations.

[0041] With this configuration, when placing delivered items on or collecting delivered items from the shelves of the mobile body, the mobile body can be made to unlock the shelves of the mobile body, thereby reducing the work of managers of the mobile body and delivery companies.

[0042] An information processing system according to one embodiment of the present disclosure comprises: a movement history acquisition unit for acquiring a movement history of a mobile body; a determination unit for determining, based on the movement history, at least two locations to which the mobile body regularly moves; a delivery information acquisition unit for acquiring a location of a delivery source and a location of a delivery destination of a delivery item; a generation unit for generating a delivery route of the delivery item based on the location of the delivery source, the location of the delivery destination, and the two locations; and an output unit for outputting the delivery route.

[0043] This makes it possible to provide an information processing system that can utilize vehicles other than delivery vehicles for delivery.

[0044] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0045] In addition, the embodiments described below are all inclusive or specific examples of the embodiments. The values, shapes, materials, structural elements, configuration positions of structural elements, connection methods, steps, and the order of steps shown in the following embodiments are examples and do not limit the subject matter of the present disclosure.

[0046] (Implementation Method)

[0047] use Figures 1 to 4 , the implementation method is explained.

[0048] Figure 1This figure is used to illustrate that vehicles other than delivery vehicles can be used for delivery by the information processing method involved in the embodiment. The content of the specific information processing method will be described later. First, Figure 1 A case will be described in which a vehicle other than a delivery vehicle can be used for delivery by the information processing method of the present disclosure.

[0049] Mobile objects 10a and 10b are mobile objects that regularly move between at least two locations, such as private cars or taxis, for purposes other than delivering goods. Such mobile objects regularly travel between at least two locations, for example, commuting, attending school, going to the hospital, or shopping. For example, mobile object 10a has the following regularity: on weekdays, it travels between two locations: home P1 (specifically, the home of the manager of mobile object 10a) and company P2 (specifically, the work destination of the manager of mobile object 10a), along route R1. On weekends, it travels between two locations: home P1 and store P3, along route R2. Furthermore, for example, mobile object 10b has the following regularity: every day, it travels between two locations: home P4 (specifically, the home of the manager of mobile object 10b) and store P3, along route R3.

[0050] Hereinafter, an example will be described in which a delivery item at a delivery source (for example, base B1) is delivered to a delivery destination (for example, home T1) using the information processing method of the present disclosure.

[0051] First, delivery vehicle 20a transports items from base B1 to company P2, one of two locations where mobile vehicle 10a regularly moves. Mobile vehicle 10a stops at company P2 for commuting, and while mobile vehicle 10a is at company P2 (e.g., at noon), items are loaded from delivery vehicle 20a onto mobile vehicle 10a.

[0052] Next, the manager of the mobile body 10a finishes work at the company P2 and uses the mobile body 10a to return to the home P1. The mobile body 10a carrying the delivered object moves from the company P2 to the home P1.

[0053] The delivery vehicle 20b moves from the base B2 to the other of the two locations where the mobile body 10a regularly moves, namely, the home P1. While the mobile body 10a is staying at the home P1 (for example, at night), the delivery vehicle 20b collects the delivery items carried by the mobile body 10a and delivers the collected delivery items to the home T1.

[0054] In this way, rather than having a delivery company's delivery vehicles deliver the entire route from a delivery source (e.g., base B1) to a delivery destination (e.g., home T1), a mobile object that regularly moves within that route can be used as a proxy for delivery during a portion of the route. This allows vehicles other than delivery vehicles to be utilized for delivery. Furthermore, this allows the delivery company to reduce the number of delivery vehicles it maintains and enhance its delivery capacity through the mobile object. Furthermore, since the mobile object regularly moves within the route regardless of the delivery of the item, even if the item is delivered, it does not become a significant burden.

[0055] Next, use Figure 2 This document outlines the processing flow within an information processing system, a mobile object, a delivery vehicle, and a delivery information management system, wherein the information processing system generates a delivery route using a mobile object that moves regularly between two locations, and the delivery information management system manages delivery information such as the delivery source, delivery destination, and delivery time of the delivery items.

[0056] Figure 2 This is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of the processing flow within the information processing system 100, mobile object 10, delivery vehicle 20, and delivery information management system 30 according to an embodiment. Furthermore, the mobile object 10 can be replaced by the administrator of the mobile object 10 (specifically, a PC (personal computer) or portable terminal owned by the administrator), and the delivery vehicle 20 can be replaced by the administrator of the delivery vehicle 20 (specifically, a PC or portable terminal owned by the administrator). Furthermore, the administrator of the mobile object 10 can be the driver of the mobile object 10. If the mobile object 10 is an autonomous vehicle, the administrator can be a passenger in the mobile object 10, or a person who manages the mobile object 10 without riding in the mobile object 10. Similarly, the administrator of the delivery vehicle 20 can be the driver of the delivery vehicle 20. If the delivery vehicle 20 is an autonomous vehicle, the administrator can be a passenger in the delivery vehicle 20, or a person who manages the delivery vehicle 20 without riding in the delivery vehicle 20. In the following description, the administrator of the delivery vehicle 20 is described as the driver of the delivery vehicle 20.

[0057] First, the processing in steps S101 to S104 , which is performed before generating a delivery route, will be described.

[0058] First, the administrator of the mobile object 10 applies to the information processing system 100 for registration of the mobile object 10 for proxy delivery of delivered goods (step S101). As will be described later, the use of the mobile object 10 for proxy delivery of delivered goods provides benefits to the administrator of the mobile object 10. Therefore, for example, the administrator of the mobile object 10 may apply to register the mobile object 10 with the prospect of receiving benefits. For example, registration applications may be submitted for various mobile objects 10. Furthermore, at the time of registration or after registration, the mobile object 10 or the administrator may transmit to the information processing system 100 a route of regular movement of the mobile object 10 identified by the administrator of the mobile object 10.

[0059] Next, the mobile object 10 registered with the information processing system 100 transmits its movement history to the information processing system 100 (step S102). For example, the mobile object 10a moves from home P1 to work P2 along movement route R1 on a weekday morning, and then moves from work P2 to home P1 along movement route R1 on a weekday evening. The movement history at this time is transmitted to the information processing system 100.

[0060] Next, the information processing system 100 determines the regular movement route of the mobile object 10 based on the movement history transmitted from the mobile object 10 (step S103). For example, the information processing system 100 determines the regular movement route R1 of the mobile object 10a based on the movement history transmitted from the mobile object 10a. Details of the movement route determination will be described later.

[0061] Furthermore, the information processing system 100 calculates the reliability corresponding to the regularity of the movement of the mobile object 10 in the movement route in which the mobile object 10 moves regularly, based on the movement history transmitted from the mobile object 10 (step S104). For example, the information processing system 100 calculates the reliability corresponding to the regularity of the movement of the mobile object 10a in the movement route R1 in which the mobile object 10a moves regularly, based on the movement history transmitted from the mobile object 10a.

[0062] Furthermore, the information processing system 100 can determine other movement routes (e.g., movement route R2) for the moving object 10a and can also calculate the reliability of other movement routes. Furthermore, while the description focuses on the moving object 10a, the information processing system 100 can also determine movement routes for other moving objects 10 (e.g., moving object 10b) and calculate the reliability of those movement routes.

[0063] Thus, the processing in steps S101 to S104 is performed before the delivery route is generated. In addition, the transmission of the movement history, determination of the movement route, and calculation of the reliability may be performed after the process of generating the delivery route, and the movement route and reliability may be updated.

[0064] Next, the delivery information management system 30 transmits the delivery information to the information processing system 100 (step S105). The delivery information includes, for example, the source and destination locations of the delivery item. For example, if there is a delivery item to be delivered from base B1 to home T1, the delivery information management system 30 transmits the location of base B1 as the source location of the delivery item and the location of home T1 as the destination location of the delivery item to the information processing system 100.

[0065] Next, the information processing system 100 selects a route that matches the received delivery information from the multiple routes determined (e.g., various routes including routes R1 and R2 for mobile object 10a and route R3 for mobile object 10b) (step S106). For example, when delivering an item from a delivery source to a delivery destination, the information processing system 100 selects a route that minimizes the distance covered by the delivery vehicle 20, or maximizes the distance covered by the mobile object 10 as a proxy. For example, the information processing system 100 selects route R1 from routes R1, R2, and R3. Furthermore, as detailed below, the route selection may also take into account the time period during which the mobile object 10 travels along the route and the time it takes for the item to be delivered to the delivery destination.

[0066] Next, the information processing system 100 inquires about the planned movement of the mobile object 10 during the delivery of the item from the manager of the mobile object 10 traveling along the selected route (step S107). If the information processing system 100 receives a response indicating that the planned movement of the mobile object 10 during the delivery of the item does not involve traveling along the selected route, it removes the route in question and selects another route from the determined multiple routes. For example, if the information processing system 100 receives a response indicating that the planned movement of the mobile object 10a during the delivery of the item does not involve traveling along the selected route R1, it selects a route from the routes excluding route R1.

[0067] Next, upon receiving a response indicating that the planned movement of mobile object 10 during the delivery of the item is scheduled to travel along the selected route, the information processing system 100 generates a delivery route using that route (step S108). For example, upon receiving a response indicating that the planned movement of mobile object 10a during the delivery of the item is scheduled to travel along selected route R1, the information processing system 100 generates a delivery route using route R1. Specifically, the information processing system 100 generates a delivery route for delivering the item from base B1 to home T1 via company P2 and home P1.

[0068] Next, the information processing system 100 outputs (specifically, transmits) the generated delivery route to the drivers of the delivery vehicles 20 (step S109). For example, the information processing system 100 transmits the generated delivery route to the drivers of the delivery vehicles 20a and 20b.

[0069] The driver of delivery vehicle 20a confirms the received delivery route and transports the item from base B1 to company P2, placing it on mobile vehicle 10a at company P2. After completing their work at company P2, the manager of mobile vehicle 10a returns to home P1 on mobile vehicle 10a. Since the item is on mobile vehicle 10a, it is also being transported to home P1. The driver of delivery vehicle 20b confirms the received delivery route and moves from base B2 to home P1. They retrieve the item from mobile vehicle 10a at home P1 and deliver it to home T1.

[0070] After the delivery of the items along the delivery route is completed, the information processing system 100 awards a profit to the manager of the mobile object 10 (step S110). For example, the manager of the mobile object 10a normally travels between home P1 and company P2 and, in doing so, assists in the delivery of the items, and is therefore awarded a profit.

[0071] In addition, Figure 2 In the description of , the movement route of the moving object 10 that moves regularly may be replaced with two locations where the moving object 10 moves regularly.

[0072] Furthermore, the above example is for express delivery, but it can also be applied to pickup. For example, the above process can be executed with the delivery source being home instead of the base and the delivery destination being the base instead of the home.

[0073] As described above, the information processing method of the present disclosure can reduce equipment investment and improve the efficiency of delivery operations. The following describes details of the information processing method and information processing system 100 for achieving reduced equipment investment and improved efficiency of delivery operations.

[0074] Figure 3 This is a block diagram showing an example of the information processing system 100 according to the embodiment.

[0075] Information processing system 100 is a device that generates a delivery route using, in addition to a delivery vehicle, a mobile object that regularly moves between two locations. For example, information processing system 100 is a server. Information processing system 100 includes a registration unit 101, a movement history acquisition unit 102, a determination unit 103, a calculation unit 104, a delivery information acquisition unit 105, a query unit 106, a generation unit 107, an output unit 108, a granting unit 109, a notification unit 110, and a request unit 111. Information processing system 100 is a computer that includes a processor, memory, and a communication interface. Memory includes ROM (Read Only Memory) and RAM (Random Access Memory), and can store programs executed by the processor. The registration unit 101, the movement history acquisition unit 102, the determination unit 103, the calculation unit 104, the delivery information acquisition unit 105, the query unit 106, the generation unit 107, the output unit 108, the assignment unit 109, the notification unit 110, and the request unit 111 are implemented by a processor, etc., that executes programs stored in a memory. Furthermore, the components that make up the information processing system 100 may be distributed across multiple servers.

[0076] The functions of the registration unit 101, the movement history acquisition unit 102, the determination unit 103, the calculation unit 104, the delivery information acquisition unit 105, the query unit 106, the generation unit 107, the output unit 108, the granting unit 109, the notification unit 110, and the request unit 111 implemented by a processor or the like executing a program are described using Figure 4 Provide explanation.

[0077] Figure 4 This is a flowchart showing an example of an information processing method according to an embodiment. For example, the information processing method according to an embodiment is a method executed by a computer (specifically, a processor) provided in the information processing system 100. That is, Figure 4 The flowchart further shows the operations of the registration unit 101 , the movement history acquisition unit 102 , the determination unit 103 , the calculation unit 104 , the delivery information acquisition unit 105 , the inquiry unit 106 , the generation unit 107 , the output unit 108 , the assignment unit 109 , the notification unit 110 , and the request unit 111 .

[0078] First, the processing in steps S111 to S115 , which is performed before generating a delivery route, will be described.

[0079] First, the registration unit 101 registers the mobile object 10 requested by the administrator of the mobile object 10 (step S111). Alternatively, if the administrator of the mobile object 10 sends at least two locations where the mobile object 10 regularly moves, as identified by the administrator, the registration unit 101 may register the at least two locations. Furthermore, the time periods at which the mobile object 10 starts or ends its movement at the two locations may also be registered. The at least two locations may be two locations, multiple locations, or a movement route connecting two or more locations.

[0080] Next, the movement history acquisition unit 102 acquires the movement history of the registered mobile object 10 (step S112). The movement history acquisition unit 102 may acquire the movement history by sequentially acquiring the current position of the registered mobile object 10, or may acquire the movement history of the mobile object 10 by calculating the movement history based on changes in the mobile object 10's current position. The movement history acquisition unit 102 continuously acquires the movement history of the mobile object 10.

[0081] Next, the determination unit 103 determines at least two locations where the mobile body 10 moves regularly based on the movement history (step S113). The determination unit 103 can identify the regularity of the movement of the mobile body 10 from the movement history of the mobile body 10 continuously obtained by the movement history acquisition unit 102, and can determine at least two locations where the mobile body 10 moves regularly. For example, the determination unit 103 determines at least two locations by repeating a driving pattern (pattern) such as starting from a certain location and arriving at a certain location a predetermined number of times. For example, the determination unit 103 determines that the two locations where the mobile body 10a moves regularly are home P1 and company P2 for the mobile body 10a. In addition, the determination unit 103 can also use two locations registered in advance by the administrator of the mobile body 10 in addition to the movement history to determine the two locations where the mobile body 10 moves regularly. By also using the two registered locations, the two locations can be determined with high accuracy.

[0082] For example, one of the two locations may be within a predetermined distance from the delivery source, and the other may be within a predetermined distance from the delivery destination. For example, if one of the two locations determined by the determination unit 103 is company P2, company P2 may also be within a predetermined distance from the delivery source (e.g., base B1). If the other of the two locations determined by the determination unit 103 is home P1, home P1 may also be within a predetermined distance from home T1. This allows for a longer distance for the mobile body 10 that regularly moves between the two locations on the delivery route to be transported by proxy. In other words, it allows for a shorter distance for the delivery vehicle 20 of the delivery company on the delivery route, thereby improving the efficiency of the delivery company's delivery operations.

[0083] Furthermore, for example, one of the two locations may be within the delivery service range of the delivery base serving as the delivery source, while the other may be within the delivery service range of a different delivery base. If one of the two locations determined by determination unit 103 is company P2, company P2 may also be within the delivery service range of base B1. If the other of the two locations determined by determination unit 103 is home P1, home P1 may also be within the delivery service range of base B2, which is different from base B1. Thus, by moving delivery vehicles 20 from each delivery base to each of the two locations, it is possible to deliver deliveries to mobile body 10 that regularly moves between the two locations, or to retrieve deliveries that were transported between the two locations by mobile body 10.

[0084] Furthermore, as described above, the at least two locations may be two locations, multiple locations of two or more, or a movement route connecting two or more locations. In other words, the determination unit 103 may also determine a movement route along which the moving object 10 regularly moves. For example, the determination unit 103 determines a movement route R1 along which the moving object 10a regularly moves.

[0085] For example, the two locations may be locations where the mobile object 10 spends (a) more time than at other locations on a route determined based on its movement history, or (b) more time than a predetermined time. The route is a route along which the mobile object 10 regularly moves and includes the two locations. If the two locations determined by the determination unit 103 are home P1 and company P2, home P1 and company P2 are locations where the mobile object 10a spends more time than at other locations on the route R1 that includes home P1 and company P2. Since home P1 is the home of the manager of the mobile object 10a, and company P2 is the manager's workplace, the mobile object 10a's stay time is inevitably longer than at the other locations. The predetermined time is not particularly limited, but may be, for example, several hours. This makes it easier to place deliveries on the mobile object 10 while the mobile object 10 is at the two locations, and it is also easier to retrieve deliveries from the mobile object 10 that were transported between the two locations by the mobile object 10.

[0086] Alternatively, for example, the two locations may be the ends of a route determined based on the movement history, where the mobile object 10 regularly moves and includes the two locations. If the two locations determined by the determination unit 103 are home P1 and company P2, home P1 and company P2 are the ends of the route R1. This allows for a longer distance for proxy delivery by the mobile object 10, which regularly moves between the two locations along the delivery route.

[0087] Next, the determination unit 103 determines the time periods at which the mobile object 10 starts or ends its movement at the two locations based on the movement history (step S114). For example, the movement history includes time information, which allows the determination of when and where the mobile object 10 moved, and when and where it stopped, based on the movement history. Thus, the determination unit 103 can determine when the mobile object 10 started moving from the two locations, and when it arrived at the two locations (that is, when it ended its movement). For example, the determination unit 103 determines the time periods at which the mobile object 10 starts or ends its movement at the two locations by repeating a predetermined number of times a driving pattern in which the mobile object 10 departs from and arrives at a certain location at a specific time period on a specific day of the week. For example, the determination unit 103 determines the time period at which the mobile object 10a starts moving at home P1, the time period at which the mobile object 10a ends moving at company P2, the time period at which the mobile object 10a starts moving at company P2, and the time period at which the mobile object 10a ends moving at home P1. For example, the determination unit 103 determines that the time period when the movement of the mobile object 10a in the home P1 starts is 7:00 a.m. on a weekday, the time period when the movement of the mobile object 10a in the company P2 ends is 8:00 a.m. on a weekday, the time period when the movement of the mobile object 10a in the company P2 starts is 5:00 p.m. on a weekday, and the time period when the movement of the mobile object 10a in the home P1 ends is 6:00 p.m. on a weekday.

[0088] Furthermore, machine learning may be used for the determination performed by the determination unit 103 .

[0089] Next, the calculation unit 104 calculates the reliability corresponding to the regularity of the movement of the mobile body 10 at the two locations based on the movement history (step S115). For example, the mobile body 10 may not necessarily move at the two locations during a specific time period. For example, the mobile body 10a has a regularity of movement such as starting from home P1 at 7:00 a.m. on weekdays and arriving at work P2 at 8:00 a.m. on weekdays, but it is assumed that there are times in the month when the movement deviates from this regularity. In this case, the movement history also includes the history of movement that deviates from this regularity. Based on such a movement history, the calculation unit 104 calculates, for example, the probability of moving according to the regularity at home P1 and work P2 as the reliability corresponding to the regularity of the movement of the mobile body 10a at home P1 and work P2. For example, if there are 20 working days in a certain month, and the mobile object 10a does not move from home P1 at 7:00 AM to work P2 at 8:00 AM on two of the 20 working days (in other words, it moves regularly on the 18th), the calculation unit 104 calculates the reliability of the regularity of the movement of the mobile object 10a at the two locations as 90% (18th / 20th). Furthermore, the determination unit 103 may further determine the two locations based on the calculated reliability. For example, the determination unit 103 may exclude two locations with a reliability below a predetermined value from the determined two locations. This allows the determination of two locations for the mobile object 10a with high reliability corresponding to the regularity of movement. In other words, the two locations determined based on the reliability are the two locations where the mobile object 10a can more reliably move regularly during the delivery of the delivered item, thereby preventing the mobile object 10 from failing to move regularly at the two locations, thereby hindering the delivery of the delivered item.

[0090] Furthermore, the calculation unit 104 may calculate the reliability corresponding to the regularity of the movement of the mobile object 10 not only for the two points but also for the movement route (that is, a set of a plurality of points).

[0091] Thus, the processing in steps S111 to S115 is performed before generating the delivery route. Alternatively, after generating the delivery route, the mobile object 10 may be registered, its movement history acquired, the two locations determined, the start or end time of movement at the two locations determined, and the reliability calculated. The two locations, the start or end time of movement at the two locations, and the reliability may also be updated.

[0092] Next, the delivery information acquisition unit 105 acquires delivery information (step S116). Specifically, the delivery information acquisition unit 105 acquires the location of the delivery source and the location of the delivery destination as delivery information. Alternatively, the delivery information acquisition unit 105 may acquire the delivery time of the delivery item to the delivery destination as delivery information. For example, the delivery information acquisition unit 105 acquires the location of base B1 as the delivery source and the location of home T1 as the delivery destination, and acquires the delivery time of the delivery item to the delivery destination between 7:00 PM and 9:00 PM.

[0093] The determination unit 103 identifies two locations that regularly move for various types of mobile objects 10. The generation unit 107 then determines whether there are two locations suitable for the delivery information among the various locations identified (step S117). For example, if company P2 is near base B1, home P1 is near home T1, and is also near base B2, and mobile object 10a is at home P1 at the time of delivery, the generation unit 107 determines that there are two locations suitable for the delivery information. If there are multiple combinations of two locations suitable for the delivery information, the generation unit 107 selects the two locations with the highest reliability calculated by the calculation unit 104 as the two locations suitable for the delivery information. Alternatively, the generation unit 107 may determine whether there are two locations suitable for the delivery information from among the two locations with a certain degree of reliability calculated by the calculation unit 104.

[0094] If the inquiry unit 106 determines that there are two locations that match the delivery information ("Yes" in step S117), it inquires the manager of the mobile object 10, which regularly moves between the two locations, about the movement schedule of the mobile object 10 during the delivery of the item. The inquiry unit 106 then determines whether the response from the manager of the mobile object 10 to the inquiry is that the item is scheduled according to the rules (step S118). For example, the manager of the mobile object 10 may have a different schedule for the delivery of the item than the normal schedule, and there may be cases where the mobile object 10 does not move between the two locations during the delivery. Therefore, the inquiry about the movement schedule is performed. Alternatively, if there is no response to the inquiry, the process may return to step S117. Alternatively, the generation unit 107 may generate a delivery route assuming that the movement schedule of the mobile object 10 is scheduled according to the rules. In the latter case, if the mobile object 10 is not scheduled according to the rules, the delivery operator may either return the item, as in the case of a delivery where the recipient is not present, or the generation unit 107 may plan an alternative delivery route.

[0095] If the response of the manager of the slave mobile body 10 to the inquiry does not comply with the predetermined rules (No in step S118 ), it is determined that the two suitable spots are excluded this time, and the processing from step S117 onwards is performed again.

[0096] If the manager of the slave mobile object 10 responds to the query with "predetermined according to the rules" ("Yes" in step S118), the mobile object 10 is moving according to the rules, and the generation unit 107 generates a delivery route using the mobile object 10. The output unit 108 outputs the generated delivery route (step S119). For example, the generation unit 107 generates a delivery route in which the delivery item is transported from base B1 to company P2 between 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM on weekdays, loaded onto mobile object 10a, the delivery item is collected from mobile object 10a at home P1 after 6:00 PM on weekdays, and the delivery item is delivered to home T1 between 7:00 PM and 9:00 PM. The output unit 108 outputs the generated delivery route to the delivery vehicles 20a and 20b.

[0097] In this way, the generation unit 107 generates a delivery route for the delivered item based on the locations of the delivery source and destination, as well as two locations where the mobile object 10 regularly moves. In this case, the generation unit 107 may also generate the delivery route based on the time periods when the mobile object 10 starts or ends its movement at the two locations, as well as the delivery time of the delivered item to the delivery destination. This allows the delivery item to be placed on the mobile object 10 until it starts moving, and then retrieved from the mobile object 10 after it ends and before the delivery time. This allows the delivery route to be generated in such a way that the delivered item can be delivered to the delivery destination at the delivery time. Furthermore, since the mobile object 10 can be loaded with delivered items during the time it stops at the two locations, it can be said that the mobile object 10 temporarily serves as a warehouse for the delivered items during this time. This reduces the time that delivered items are stored in the delivery company's warehouse, thereby reducing the warehouse space of the delivery company.

[0098] Furthermore, the generation unit 107 may also generate a delivery route based on responses to inquiries regarding the planned movement schedule of the mobile object 10 during the delivery of the item. This allows the mobile object 10 to more reliably move between two locations when the item is delivered, if the response indicates that the planned movement schedule of the mobile object 10 during the delivery of the item is regular. On the other hand, if the response indicates that the planned movement schedule of the mobile object 10 during the delivery of the item is irregular, the mobile object 10 can be prevented from being used for delivery. This can prevent the mobile object 10 from not moving regularly between two locations during the delivery of the item, thereby preventing the item from being delivered.

[0099] After the delivery of the delivered item based on the output delivery route is completed, the granting unit 109 grants benefits to the manager of the mobile object 10 (step S120). Benefits may be, for example, money, vouchers, or points that can be used to purchase goods or services. By granting benefits to the manager of the mobile object 10 that performed proxy delivery between two locations, it is possible to encourage the mobile object 10 to actively perform proxy delivery of delivered items in the future, further improving the efficiency of the delivery business.

[0100] On the other hand, if it is determined that there are no two locations that match the delivery information (No in step S117), the generation unit 107 generates a delivery route that does not use the mobile object 10, and the output unit 108 outputs the generated delivery route (step S121). For example, the generation unit 107 generates a delivery route that directly delivers the item from base B1 to home T1, and the output unit 108 outputs the generated delivery route to the delivery vehicle 20a.

[0101] Furthermore, the administrator of mobile object 10 may consider it suspicious that a delivery item was loaded onto mobile object 10 without any notification. Therefore, for example, notification unit 110 notifies the administrator of mobile object 10 of the delivery and receipt of deliveries at two locations. Furthermore, notification unit 110 may notify the administrator of mobile object 10 of the scheduled loading of deliveries onto mobile object 10 before the deliveries are loaded onto mobile object 10, or after the deliveries are loaded onto mobile object 10. Furthermore, notification unit 110 may notify the administrator of mobile object 10 of the scheduled loading of deliveries onto mobile object 10 before the deliveries are loaded onto mobile object 10, or after the deliveries are loaded onto mobile object 10. Furthermore, notification unit 110 may notify the administrator of mobile object 10 of the scheduled retrieval of deliveries onto mobile object 10 before the deliveries are retrieved from mobile object 10, or after the deliveries are retrieved from mobile object 10. This allows the manager of the mobile object to recognize whether a delivered object is scheduled to be placed on the mobile object 10 or has already been placed on the mobile object 10 , and whether a delivered object is scheduled to be collected from the mobile object 10 or has already been collected from the mobile object 10 .

[0102] Furthermore, when placing delivered items on the shelves of the mobile body 10 or when retrieving delivered items from the shelves of the mobile body 10, the shelves need to be unlocked. Therefore, the request unit 111 requests the mobile body 10 to unlock the shelves of the mobile body 10 at two locations. For example, the request unit 111 receives an instruction from the driver of the delivery vehicle 20 to unlock the shelves of the mobile body 10, and the request unit 111 requests the mobile body 10 to unlock the shelves of the mobile body 10 based on the instruction. Thus, the mobile body 10 can unlock the shelves of the mobile body 10 when placing delivered items on the shelves of the mobile body 10 or when retrieving delivered items from the shelves of the mobile body, thereby reducing the effort of the manager of the mobile body 10 and the delivery company. Furthermore, the shelves may be the trunk, passenger seat, or rear seat of the mobile body 10, or the doors of the mobile body 10 may be unlocked.

[0103] As described above, when it is determined that two locations where the mobile body 10 moves regularly exist between the delivery source and the delivery destination of the delivery object, a delivery route is generated that delivers the delivery object from the delivery source to the delivery destination via the two locations. In this way, the mobile body 10 (i.e., a vehicle used for purposes other than delivery) can be used for delivery. Furthermore, whether the mobile body 10 is suitable as a delivery vehicle is automatically determined, so the user does not need to pre-register the mobile body 10 as a delivery vehicle. In addition, by having the mobile body 10 act as an agent to transport the delivery object between the two locations where the mobile body 10 moves regularly, the delivery company can reduce the number of delivery vehicles 20 maintained and enhance the delivery capacity through the mobile body 10. In addition, since the use of the delivery vehicle 20 can be reduced, the working hours of the delivery company's drivers can also be reduced. As described above, equipment investment can be reduced and the delivery business can be made more efficient.

[0104] (Other embodiments)

[0105] The information processing method and information processing system 100 involved in one or more aspects of the present disclosure have been described above based on implementations, but the present disclosure is not limited to these implementations. As long as they do not depart from the spirit of the present disclosure, various modifications conceived by those skilled in the art may be applied to the various implementations, or various configurations constructed by combining structural elements from different implementations may also be included within the scope of one or more aspects of the present disclosure.

[0106] For example, in the above embodiment, one of the two locations where the mobile body 10 regularly moves is within a predetermined distance from the delivery source, and the other is within a predetermined distance from the delivery destination. However, this is not limiting. As long as other conditions, such as delivery time, are met, one of the two locations may be outside the predetermined distance from the delivery source, and the other may be outside the predetermined distance from the delivery destination.

[0107] Furthermore, for example, in the above embodiment, Figure 1 In the example, the delivery vehicle 20b of the base B2 collects the delivery items from the mobile body 10a at the home P1 and delivers them to the home T1. However, the example is not limited to the delivery vehicle 20b of the base B2 near the home P1. The delivery vehicle 20 of another base that is occasionally moving near the home P1 may collect the delivery items from the mobile body 10a at the home P1 and deliver them to the home T1.

[0108] Furthermore, for example, in the above embodiment, one of the two locations where the mobile body 10 regularly moves is described as a location within the range where the delivery base serving as the delivery source can provide delivery services, and the other location is a location within the range where a delivery base different from the delivery base can provide delivery services, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, one of the two locations may be a location not within the range where the delivery base serving as the delivery source can provide delivery services, and the other location may be a location not within the range where a delivery base different from the delivery base can provide delivery services. For example, in Figure 1 In the example described above, the delivery vehicle 20b of the base B2 collects the delivery items from the mobile body 10a at the home P1 and delivers them to the home T1. However, the delivery vehicle 20b may not be used, and the manager of the mobile body 10a may deliver the delivery items to the home T1, or the recipient of the delivery items may go to the home P1 of the manager of the mobile body 10a to obtain the delivery items.

[0109] Furthermore, for example, in the above embodiment, the determination unit 103 determines the time period at which the moving object 10 starts or ends its movement at two locations based on the movement history. However, this determination may not be necessary. Accordingly, the delivery information acquisition unit 105 may not acquire the delivery time of the delivered item to the delivery destination, and the generation unit 107 may not generate the delivery route based on the aforementioned time period and delivery time.

[0110] Furthermore, for example, in the above embodiment, the information processing system 100 is described as including the calculation unit 104, but it does not need to be included. In other words, the reliability corresponding to the regularity of the movement of the mobile body 10 at two locations does not need to be calculated.

[0111] Furthermore, for example, while the above embodiment describes the information processing system 100 as including the query unit 106, this need not be included. Specifically, the mobile unit manager need not be queried regarding the planned movement of the mobile unit 10 during the delivery of the delivered item. Accordingly, the generation unit 107 need not generate a delivery route based on a response to the query.

[0112] Furthermore, for example, in the above embodiment, the information processing system 100 is described as including the granting unit 109, but it may not be provided. That is, after the delivery of the delivery item based on the delivery route is completed, the manager of the mobile object 10 may not be awarded a profit.

[0113] Furthermore, for example, in the above embodiment, the information processing system 100 is described as including the notification unit 110 , but this may not be necessary. In other words, the delivery and receipt of deliveries at two locations may not be notified to the manager of the mobile object 10 .

[0114] Furthermore, for example, in the above embodiment, the information processing system 100 is described as including the request unit 111, but it may not be included. In other words, the mobile object 10 may not be requested to unlock the racks of the mobile object 10 at two locations.

[0115] The present disclosure can be implemented as a program for causing a processor to execute the steps included in the information processing method. Furthermore, the present disclosure can be implemented as a non-volatile computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM having the program recorded thereon.

[0116] For example, when the present disclosure is implemented by a program (software), each step is executed by executing the program using hardware resources such as a computer's CPU, memory, and input / output circuits. In other words, each step is executed by the CPU obtaining data from the memory or input / output circuits and performing calculations, or outputting calculation results to the memory or input / output circuits.

[0117] In addition, in the above-described embodiment, each component included in the information processing system 100 may be configured as dedicated hardware or implemented by executing a software program suitable for each component. Each component may also be implemented by having a program execution unit such as a CPU or processor read and execute a software program stored on a recording medium such as a hard disk or semiconductor memory.

[0118] Part or all of the functions of the information processing system 100 involved in the above-mentioned embodiment are typically implemented as an integrated circuit, i.e., an LSI. These can be individually integrated into one chip, or integrated into one chip in a manner that includes part or all of them. In addition, integrated circuitization is not limited to LSIs, and can also be implemented by dedicated circuits or general-purpose processors. It is also possible to utilize an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) that is programmable after LSI manufacturing, or a reconfigurable processor that can reconfigure the connections or settings of circuit cells within the LSI.

[0119] Furthermore, various modifications in which changes are made to the embodiments of the present disclosure within the scope that can be conceived by those skilled in the art are also included in the present disclosure as long as they do not depart from the gist of the present disclosure.

[0120] Industrial applicability

[0121] The information processing method and the like disclosed herein are applied to, for example, a device for generating a delivery route for delivered items.

[0122] Label Description

[0123] 10, 10a, 10b Moving objects

[0124] 20, 20a, 20b Delivery vehicles

[0125] 30. Distribution Information Management System

[0126] 100 Information Processing Systems

[0127] 101 Registration Department

[0128] 102 Movement History Acquisition Unit

[0129] 103 Judgment Department

[0130] 104 Calculation Department

[0131] 105 Delivery Information Acquisition Department

[0132] 106 Inquiry Department

[0133] 107 Generation Department

[0134] 108 Output

[0135] 109 Endowment Department

[0136] 110 Notification Department

[0137] 111 Request Department

[0138] B1, B2 strongholds

[0139] P1, P4, T1 Home

[0140] P2 Company

[0141] P3 Store

[0142] R1, R2, R3 movement routes

Claims

1. An information processing method is a method executed by a computer, Get the moving history of the moving object; determining, based on the movement history, at least two locations where the moving object regularly moves; Obtain the location of the delivery source and the location of the delivery destination; generating a delivery route for the delivery item based on the location of the delivery source, the location of the delivery destination, and the two locations; Output the delivery route, The movable body is a movable body that moves for a purpose other than delivery of the delivered object.

2. The information processing method according to claim 1, One of the two locations is a location within a predetermined distance from the location of the delivery source, and the other is a location within a predetermined distance from the location of the delivery destination.

3. The information processing method according to claim 1, One of the two locations is within a range where the delivery base serving as the delivery source can provide delivery services, and the other is within a range where a delivery base different from the delivery base can provide delivery services.

4. The information processing method according to claim 1, The two locations are locations where the moving body stays for (a) longer than other locations on a movement route determined based on the movement history, or (b) for more than a specified time, and the movement route is a movement route in which the moving body moves regularly and includes the two locations.

5. The information processing method according to claim 1, The two points are points at both ends of a movement route determined based on the movement history, and the movement route is a movement route in which the moving object moves regularly and includes the two points.

6. The information processing method according to claim 1, Based on the movement history, the time period when the moving object starts or ends moving at the two locations is determined; Then, the delivery time of the delivery item to the delivery destination is obtained. In generating the delivery route, the delivery route is further generated based on the time zone and the delivery time.

7. The information processing method according to claim 1, Furthermore, based on the movement history, a reliability corresponding to the regularity of the movement of the mobile body at the two locations is calculated. In determining the two locations, the two locations are determined further based on the reliability.

8. The information processing method according to claim 1, Then, the manager of the mobile body is asked to make an inquiry about the movement plan of the mobile body when delivering the delivered object. In the generation of the delivery route, the delivery route is further generated based on a response to the query.

9. The information processing method according to claim 1, Furthermore, after the delivery of the delivery item based on the delivery route is completed, a profit is awarded to the manager of the mobile object.

10. The information processing method according to claim 1, Furthermore, the manager of the mobile object is notified of the delivery and receipt of the delivered items at the two locations.

11. The information processing method according to any one of claims 1 to 10, Furthermore, the mobile body is requested to unlock the racks of the mobile body at the two locations.

12. An information processing system comprising: A movement history acquisition unit that acquires a movement history of the mobile object; a determination unit that determines, based on the movement history, at least two locations where the moving object moves regularly; a delivery information acquisition unit that acquires the location of a delivery source and a location of a delivery destination of a delivery item; a generating unit configured to generate a delivery route for the delivery item based on a location of the delivery source, a location of the delivery destination, and the two locations; as well as an output unit for outputting the delivery route, The movable body is a movable body that moves for a purpose other than delivery of the delivered object.

Images