Information processing device, information processing method, and information processing system

The information processing device addresses the challenge of setting appropriate flight areas for flight equipment by determining the flightable area based on performance, schedule, and environmental factors, ensuring efficient and safe flight operations without unnecessary interference.

JP2025050235AActive Publication Date: 2025-04-04KDDI CORP

Patent Information

Application Number
JP2023158926
Authority / Receiving Office
JP · JP
Patent Type
Applications
Current Assignee / Owner
Filing Date
2023-09-22
Publication Date
2025-04-04
Estimated Expiration
2043-09-22

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Users of flight equipment with longer flight distances often require wider flight areas, but expanding the flight area uniformly can lead to unnecessary wider applications, potentially hindering flights from other equipment that should be prioritized.

Method used

An information processing device that sets a flight route for a flight device by registering its performance or use, acquiring flight schedule data, and determining the flightable area based on the upper limit range set according to the device's performance or use, wind conditions, congestion levels, and fees.

Benefits of technology

The solution allows the flight device to properly set its flightable area, preventing unnecessary expansion that could interfere with other flights, while also considering environmental and operational factors to ensure safe and efficient flight operations.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Patent Text Reader

Abstract

To appropriately set an area where a flight device can fly.SOLUTION: An information processing device 1 sets a flight route of a flight device. The information processing device includes: a registration section 131 for registering performance or a purpose of usage of the flight device; a schedule acquisition section 132 for acquiring flight schedule data indicating a scheduled route for the flight of the flight device; a setting section 134 for setting an upper limit range of a flight possible area of the flight device based on the performance or the purpose of usage registered in the registration section 131; and an area determination section 135 for determining the flight possible area of the flight device based on the flight schedule data and the upper limit range.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4
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Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an information processing device, an information processing method, and an information processing system for managing a flying device. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, there is known a device that accepts a flight application before the flying device flies, and restricts the setting of the flight route of the flying device if the number of planned flights of the flying device in the area in which the flying device is scheduled to fly exceeds a predetermined upper limit (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 7061716 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] For users of flying devices with long flight distances, the wider the flight area, the better. However, if the flight area is expanded uniformly, there is a problem that applicants for flight may apply for a larger area than necessary, which may interfere with the flight of the flying device that is supposed to be flying.

[0005] Therefore, the present invention has been made in consideration of these points, and aims to make it possible to appropriately set the area in which a flying device can fly. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] An information processing device according to a first aspect of the present invention is an information processing device that sets a flight route for a flying device, and has a registration unit that registers the performance or use of the flying device, a schedule acquisition unit that acquires flight plan data indicating the route along which the flying device is planned to fly, a setting unit that sets an upper limit range for the flight area of ​​the flying device based on the performance or use registered in the registration unit, and an area determination unit that determines the flight area of ​​the flying device based on the flight plan data and the upper limit range.

[0007] The registration unit may register a maximum possible flight distance of the flying device as the performance, and the setting unit may set the upper limit range to a larger value as the maximum possible flight distance increases.

[0008] The registration unit may acquire a maximum flight speed and a possible flight time of the flying device, and calculate the maximum possible flight distance based on the acquired maximum flight speed and the possible flight time.

[0009] The setting unit may set the upper limit range to a larger value as the urgency of the use of the flying device increases.

[0010] The information processing device may further have an information acquisition unit that acquires area information indicating wind speed or rainfall in the area, and the setting unit may set the upper limit range to a larger value as the wind speed or rainfall indicated by the area information increases.

[0011] The information processing device may further include an information acquisition unit that acquires area information indicating a congestion level of the area, and the setting unit may set the upper limit range to be smaller as the congestion level indicated by the area information increases.

[0012] The schedule acquisition unit may further acquire information indicating a fee to be paid for flying the flying device, and the setting unit may set an upper limit range to be larger the higher the fee.

[0013] The area may include a plurality of meshes, and the setting unit may set a range of one or more allowable meshes from among the plurality of meshes, the number of which is determined based on the performance or the application, as the upper limit range.

[0014] The schedule acquisition unit may display the multiple meshes on a screen of an information terminal and acquire the flight schedule data indicating one or more selected meshes selected from the multiple meshes on the screen, and the area determination unit may determine the area constituted by the one or more selected meshes as the flyable area when the number of the one or more selected meshes indicated by the flight schedule data is less than or equal to the number of the one or more allowable meshes corresponding to the upper limit range.

[0015] The flight plan data may be line data indicating a route along which the flying device is planned to fly, and the area determination unit may determine that an area consisting of one or more meshes including the route indicated by the line data is the flyable area when the number of meshes including the route indicated by the line data is less than or equal to the one or more allowable meshes.

[0016] The area determination unit may determine the number of meshes included in the flight area by adding the number of meshes based on the performance to the number of one or more meshes that include the route indicated by the line data.

[0017] The area may include a plurality of subareas, and the setting unit may set the upper limit range for each of the plurality of subareas, and the area determination unit may present to a user of the flying device an alternative route that passes through a second subarea different from the first subarea when the area corresponding to the flight schedule data exceeds the upper limit range corresponding to a first subarea.

[0018] The information processing device may further have a memory unit that stores identification information of multiple flying devices that can be used by a user of the flying device in association with the user, and the area determination unit may present to the user of the flying device a flying device different from the flying device whose performance or use has been registered by the registration unit if the area corresponding to the flight schedule data exceeds the upper limit range.

[0019] An information processing method according to a second aspect of the present invention is an information processing method executed by a computer that sets a flight route for a flying device, and includes the steps of registering performance or use of the flying device, obtaining flight plan data indicating the route along which the flying device is planned to fly, setting an upper limit range for the flight area of ​​the flying device based on the registered performance or use, and determining the flight area of ​​the flying device based on the flight plan data and the upper limit range.

[0020] An information processing system according to a third aspect of the present invention comprises an information processing device that sets a flight route of a flying device, and an information terminal capable of communicating with the information processing device, wherein the information processing device has a registration unit that registers the performance or use of the flying device, a schedule acquisition unit that acquires flight plan data indicating the route along which the flying device is planned to fly, a setting unit that sets an upper limit range of the flight area of ​​the flying device based on the performance or use registered in the registration unit, and an area determination unit that determines the flight area of ​​the flying device based on the flight plan data and the upper limit range, and the information terminal has a communication unit that transmits the performance or use of the flying device to the information processing device and receives notification of the flight area. Effect of the Invention

[0021] According to the present invention, it is possible to appropriately set an area in which a flying device can fly. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0022] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an outline of the operation of an information processing system. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the concept of a mesh. [Diagram 3] A figure showing an example of a flyable area determined by an information processing device. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a configuration of an information processing device. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of flight schedule data. [Figure 6] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of flight device data. [Figure 7] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of upper limit range data. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of an information terminal. [Figure 9] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a mesh selection screen. [Figure 10] FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining line data. [Figure 11] FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining the presentation of an alternative route. [Figure 12] 4 is a flowchart showing a process flow in an information processing device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0023] [Outline of Information Processing System S] 1 to 3 are diagrams for explaining an overview of an information processing system S according to this embodiment. Fig. 1 is a diagram showing an overview of the operation of the information processing system S. The information processing system S includes an information processing device 1 and an information terminal 2. The information processing system S may also include other devices such as a server and a terminal.

[0024] The information processing device 1 is a computer such as a server that sets an area in which the flying device can fly. The information processing device 1 sets a flight route for the flying device in an area where the communication quality with the base station of the mobile phone network meets a predetermined communication quality. The predetermined communication quality is a communication quality that allows the flying device to transmit and receive data with an external device while flying. Since the wireless communication channels provided by the base station are limited, if many flying devices fly in the same area, the flying device may not be able to communicate well with the base station. Therefore, the information processing device 1 determines the upper limit range of the area in which each flying device is allowed to fly based on at least one of the performance and use of the flying device (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as "performance or use"). The upper limit range is the upper limit of the size of the range that can be set as the flying area of ​​the flying device.

[0025] The information processing device 1 is connected to a plurality of information terminals 2 and the like via a communication network such as the Internet. The information terminal 2 is an information terminal used by a user of the flying device who is an applicant for flight of the flying device. The information terminal 2 may be a portable terminal such as a smartphone or a tablet personal computer, or may be a stationary terminal such as a desktop personal computer.

[0026] An overview of the processing executed by the information processing device 1 will be described with reference to FIG. 1. The information processing device 1 determines the flight area of ​​the flight device based on the upper limit range of the flight area of ​​the flight device set based on the performance or use of the flight device and flight plan data indicating the route the flight device is scheduled to fly. The flight device is not particularly limited, but is, for example, a drone. The performance of the flight device can be rephrased as aircraft specifications. The performance of the flight device is, for example, the maximum flight speed or maximum flight distance.

[0027] The information terminal 2 receives input of a planned flight route and input of the performance or use of the flight device from a user. The information terminal 2 transmits flight plan data indicating the planned flight route and data indicating the performance or use to the information processing device 1.

[0028] When the information processing device 1 receives the flight schedule data, the information processing device 1 increases the upper limit range of the flyable area, for example, the higher the maximum flight speed of the flying device or the greater the maximum flight distance. Also, if the use of the flying device requires flying long distances, the information processing device 1 increases the upper limit range of the flyable area compared to when the use does not require flying long distances. The information processing device 1 determines the flyable area so that it includes the route indicated by the flight schedule data and the area of ​​the flyable area is equal to or smaller than the upper limit range. The flyable area is represented, for example, by a mesh overlaid on a map.

[0029] Fig. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a mesh. Fig. 2 is a diagram showing an example in which an area consisting of multiple districts is divided into 100 meshes. There are various types of meshes depending on the length of each side of each mesh, but in this embodiment, for example, a standard area mesh in which the length of each side of each mesh is about 1 km can be used. Details of the meshes are described on the website of the Statistics Bureau of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (https: / / www.stat.go.jp / data / mesh / m_tuite.html).

[0030] Fig. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a mesh indicating the flight possible area determined by the information processing device 1. In Fig. 3, the area formed by the mesh indicated by diagonal lines is the flight possible area of ​​the flying device 3. The information processing device 1 transmits data indicating the flight possible area to the information terminal 2, and the information terminal 2 displays, for example, the mesh indicating the flight possible area shown in Fig. 3.

[0031] In Fig. 1, the information terminal 2 transmits data indicating performance and use together with the flight schedule data, but the information processing device 1 may store the performance or use in association with flight device identification information for identifying the flight device. In this case, the information processing device 1 identifies the performance or use corresponding to the flight device identification information included in the flight schedule data, and determines the upper limit range based on the identified performance or use. The information processing device 1 may store the upper limit range determined in advance based on the performance or use in association with the flight device identification information.

[0032] In this way, when the information processing device 1 receives input of flight schedule data for the possible flight area, it determines the possible flight area so as not to exceed the upper limit range determined based on the performance or use of the flying device. As a result, it is possible to prevent a user from applying to use an area that is larger than necessary, which would interfere with the flight of other flying devices that should be flown.

[0033] [Configuration of information processing device 1] Next, a description will be given of the configuration of the information processing device 1. Fig. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the information processing device 1. As shown in Fig. 4, the information processing device 1 includes a communication unit 11, a storage unit 12, and a control unit 13.

[0034] The communication unit 11 is a communication interface for communicating with the information terminal 2 and the flight operation control system, etc., via a communication network such as the Internet. The communication unit 11 receives flight date and time, flight route, and performance or use of the flight device from the information terminal 2, and registers them in the registration unit 131. The communication unit 11 also transmits information for displaying a mesh selection screen, generated by the schedule acquisition unit 132, to the information terminal 2. The communication unit 11 also receives information on the mesh selected on the mesh selection screen from the information terminal 2, and passes it to the area determination unit 135. The communication unit 11 also transmits information indicating the flyable area, generated by the area determination unit 135, to the information terminal 2.

[0035] The memory unit 12 is a storage medium including a ROM (Read Only Memory) and a RAM (Random Access Memory). The memory unit 12 stores a program executed by the control unit 13. For example, the memory unit 12 stores an information processing program that causes the control unit 13 to function as a registration unit 131, a schedule acquisition unit 132, an information acquisition unit 133, a setting unit 134, and an area determination unit 135. The memory unit 12 stores flight schedule data, flight device data, and upper limit range data. The flight schedule data is data indicating the route along which the flight device is scheduled to fly. The flight device data is data including the performance or use of the flight device. The upper limit range data is data including an upper limit range according to the performance or use of the flight device.

[0036] Fig. 5 is a diagram showing an example of flight schedule data stored in the storage unit 12. As shown in Fig. 5, the flight schedule data includes, for example, flight route identification information for identifying a flight route, flight device identification information for identifying a flight device, flight date and time, flight route, etc., which are associated with each other. The flight route information may be a combination of latitude and longitude as shown in Fig. 5, or may be information showing a specific flight route by a line on a map, although this is not shown in Fig. 5.

[0037] Fig. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the flight device data stored in the storage unit 12. As shown in Fig. 6, the flight device data includes, for example, user identification information for identifying a user, flight device identification information, the maximum possible flight distance of the flight device, the maximum flight speed of the flight device, the possible flight time of the flight device, the purpose of the flight device, fee information, alternative flight device identification information, and the like, which are associated with each other.

[0038] The maximum flight distance, maximum flight speed, and flight time are examples of the performance of the flight device. The uses of the flight device are, for example, "transportation / delivery," "emergency," and "observation." The fee information is information indicating the fee to be paid by the user for flying the flight device. The alternative flight device identification information is information for identifying another flight device that can be used instead of the flight device that the user wants to use. In this way, the storage unit 12 can store the identification information of multiple flight devices that can be used by the user in association with the user of the flight device.

[0039] Fig. 7 is a diagram showing an example of upper limit range data stored in the memory unit 12. The upper limit range data shown in Fig. 7 includes a maximum possible flight distance, a maximum flight speed, a possible flight time, a purpose, and an upper limit range of an area in which the flying device is permitted to fly, all of which are associated with each other. The upper limit range data may be data in which at least one or more pieces of information indicating the performance or purpose of the flying device are associated with an upper limit range.

[0040] In addition, even if the maximum flight distance is the same, different upper limit range values ​​may be set for different uses. For example, in the first row of the upper limit range table shown in Figure 7, the maximum flight distance is 20 km and 20 meshes are set as the upper limit range when the use is "transportation / delivery", but if the use is "emergency", a value larger than 20 meshes may be set as the upper limit range.

[0041] The control unit 13 is, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The control unit 13 executes an information processing program stored in the storage unit 12, thereby functioning as a registration unit 131, a schedule acquisition unit 132, an information acquisition unit 133, a setting unit 134, and an area determination unit 135.

[0042] The registration unit 131 registers the performance or use of the flight device. After receiving the performance or use of the flight device from the information terminal 2 or the traffic management system via the communication unit 11, the registration unit 131 may associate the received performance or use with the flight device identification information and register it in the flight device data. After receiving the flight date and time and flight route from the information terminal 2 via the communication unit 11, the registration unit 131 may register the received flight date and time and flight route in the flight schedule data.

[0043] The registration unit 131 may register the maximum possible flight distance of the flight device as the performance. The registration unit 131 may also acquire the maximum flight speed and possible flight time of the flight device, and calculate the maximum possible flight distance based on the acquired maximum flight speed and possible flight time.

[0044] For example, if the flight device X can fly for 30 minutes at a maximum flight speed of 40 km / h, the registration unit 131 can calculate 40 km / h × 0.5 h = 20 km as the maximum possible flight distance of the flight device X. Also, if the flight device Y can fly for 1 hour at a maximum flight speed of 100 km / h, the registration unit 131 can calculate 100 km / h × 1 h = 100 km as the maximum possible flight distance of the flight device Y.

[0045] The schedule acquisition unit 132 acquires flight schedule data. The schedule acquisition unit 132 acquires the flight schedule data from, for example, the information terminal 2. The schedule acquisition unit 132 may acquire flight schedule data corresponding to flight route identification information pre-stored in the storage unit 12 by acquiring flight route identification information from the information terminal 2. The schedule acquisition unit 132 may further acquire information indicating a fee to be paid for the flight of the flying device from an external device of a business operator that provides wireless communication lines in an area for which the information processing device 1 determines a flight possible area or other business operator.

[0046] The information acquisition unit 133 acquires area information indicating the wind speed or rainfall in the flight area of ​​the flying device from an external device that provides meteorological information via the communication unit 11. The information acquisition unit 133 may also acquire area information indicating the degree of congestion in the flight area of ​​the flying device from an external device of a business operator that manages the operation of the flying device via the communication unit 11.

[0047] The setting unit 134 sets the upper limit range of the flight area of ​​the flying device (hereinafter, simply referred to as "upper limit range") based on the performance or use registered in the registration unit 131. That is, the setting unit 134 sets the upper limit range using at least the performance or use of the flying device registered in the flying device data by the registration unit 131.

[0048] The setting unit 134 sets, for example, the range of one or more allowable meshes determined based on performance or use among a plurality of meshes corresponding to the area to be set as the flight range as the upper limit range. For example, the setting unit 134 sets the upper limit range to 20 meshes for the flight device X described above since the maximum flight distance is 20 km, and sets the upper limit range to 100 meshes for the flight device Y described above since the maximum flight distance is 100 km. The setting unit 134 sets the upper limit range for each flight device by, for example, referring to the upper limit range table shown in FIG. 7. That is, the setting unit 134 can set the upper limit range corresponding to the flight device X with a maximum flight distance of 20 km to 20 meshes and the upper limit range corresponding to the flight device Y with a maximum flight distance of 100 km to 100 meshes by referring to the upper limit range table shown in FIG. 7.

[0049] For example, the setting unit 134 sets the upper limit range to a larger value as the maximum flight distance increases. If the maximum flight distance is large, there is a possibility that the drone will fly over a wide area. Therefore, by the setting unit 134 setting the upper limit range in this manner, it is possible to prevent the flight area from becoming too narrow for the maximum flight distance.

[0050] Furthermore, the setting unit 134 may set the upper limit range to be larger the higher the urgency or necessity of the use of the flying device. An example of a use with high urgency or necessity is the above-mentioned "emergency" use. In a use with high urgency or necessity, the flying device is required to fly to the destination even if an unplanned event occurs. By the setting unit 134 setting the upper limit range in this manner, the probability that a flying device flying for a use with high urgency or necessity can fly to the destination increases.

[0051] The setting unit 134 may set the upper limit range based on the fee. Specifically, the setting unit 134 may set a larger upper limit range as the fee increases. This allows a user who wishes to have a larger flight area set to the desired flight area by paying a larger fee.

[0052] The setting unit 134 may set the upper limit range based on area information indicating the state of the area. The setting unit 134 may set the upper limit range to be larger as the wind speed or rainfall indicated by the area information increases. If the wind speed or rainfall is high, it becomes difficult for the flying device to fly in a straight line. By the setting unit 134 setting the upper limit range based on the wind speed or rainfall in this way, it becomes possible to set an appropriate flyable area according to the weather at the time the flying device flies.

[0053] The setting unit 134 may set the upper limit range smaller as the congestion level indicated by the area information increases. If the congestion level is high, the flying device is more likely to collide with other flying devices or the communication quality may decrease. The setting unit 134 sets the upper limit range based on the congestion level, thereby improving the safety of the flying device.

[0054] The area determination unit 135 determines the flight possible area of ​​the flying device based on the flight schedule data acquired by the schedule acquisition unit 132 and the upper limit range set by the setting unit 134. Specifically, the area determination unit 135 determines the flight possible area so that it includes the flight route indicated by the flight schedule data and is equal to or smaller than the area (e.g., the number of meshes) indicated by the upper limit range. As described above, the flight possible area is represented by multiple meshes. The area determination unit 135 transmits the determined flight possible area to the information terminal 2 via the communication unit 11.

[0055] [Configuration of Information Terminal 2] Next, a description will be given of the configuration of the information terminal 2. Fig. 8 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the information terminal 2. As shown in Fig. 8, the information terminal 2 includes a communication unit 21, a display unit 22, a storage unit 23, and a control unit 24.

[0056] The communication unit 21 is a communication interface for communicating with the information processing device 1 via a communication network such as the Internet. The communication unit 21 transmits the flight date and time, the flight route, and the performance and use of the flying device to the information processing device 1. The communication unit 21 also receives information for displaying a mesh selection screen from the information processing device 1. The communication unit 21 also transmits information on the mesh selected on the mesh selection screen to the information processing device 1. The communication unit 21 also receives notification of the flyable area from the information processing device 1.

[0057] The display unit 22 is configured, for example, with a liquid crystal display or an organic EL (Electro-Luminescence) display. The display unit 22 displays various information according to the control of the display processing unit 241. The display unit 22 displays, for example, a screen for the user to input flight schedule data and the performance or use of the flight device. The display unit 22 has a touch panel and may receive data input by the user.

[0058] The storage unit 23 is a storage medium including a ROM, a RAM, etc. The storage unit 23 stores a program executed by the control unit 24. For example, the storage unit 23 stores a program that causes the control unit 24 to function as a display processing unit 241 and an input receiving unit 242.

[0059] The control unit 24 is, for example, a CPU. The control unit 24 executes a program stored in the storage unit 23 to function as a display processing unit 241 and an input receiving unit 242.

[0060] The display processing unit 241 displays various types of information on the display unit 22. For example, the display processing unit 241 receives information for displaying a mesh selection screen from the schedule acquisition unit 132 of the information processing device 1 via the communication unit 21, and then displays a screen for inputting flight schedule data on the display unit 22. In addition, the display processing unit 241 receives information for displaying the determined flight possible area from the area determination unit 135 of the information processing device 1 via the communication unit 21, and then displays the determined flight possible area on the display unit 22.

[0061] The input reception unit 242 receives input of the flight date and time, flight route, and the performance and use of the flying device from the user, and transmits the input information to the registration unit 131 of the information processing device 1 via the communication unit 21. In addition, the input reception unit 242 may receive a selection of a mesh corresponding to an area in which the user desires to fly, as described below, and transmit information on the selected mesh to the area determination unit 135 of the information processing device 1 via the communication unit 21.

[0062] [How to set the flyable area] The user can set a flyable area by inputting a flight route in the information terminal 2. The information terminal 2 may allow the user to select a mesh corresponding to an area that the user desires as a flyable area, as follows.

[0063] FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a mesh selection screen displayed on the information terminal 2. As shown in FIG. 9, the schedule acquisition unit 132 displays a plurality of meshes on the screen of the information terminal 2, and acquires flight schedule data indicating one or more selected meshes selected from the plurality of meshes on the screen. Next, the area determination unit 135 determines an area constituted by one or more selected meshes as a flyable area when the number of one or more selected meshes indicated by the flight schedule data acquired by the schedule acquisition unit 132 is equal to or less than the number of one or more allowable meshes corresponding to the upper limit range. When the number of one or more selected meshes indicated by the flight schedule data acquired by the schedule acquisition unit 132 is greater than the number of one or more allowable meshes corresponding to the upper limit range, the area determination unit 135 displays a warning such as "The number of meshes that can be set has been exceeded" on the information terminal 2.

[0064] The flight plan data may be line data indicating a route along which the flying device is scheduled to fly. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of line data indicating a route along which the flying device is scheduled to fly. When the number of meshes (12 in FIG. 10) including the route indicated by the line data is equal to or less than the number of allowable meshes (one or more), the area determination unit 135 determines an area consisting of one or more meshes including the route indicated by the line data (an area consisting of 12 meshes hatched with diagonal lines in FIG. 10) as the flyable area. When the number of meshes including the route indicated by the line data is greater than the number of allowable meshes (one or more), the area determination unit 135 causes the information terminal 2 to display a warning such as "The number of meshes that can be set has been exceeded."

[0065] The flyable area may be determined to be broad depending on the performance of the flying device. That is, the area determination unit 135 determines the number of meshes included in the flyable area by adding a number of meshes based on the performance (e.g., maximum flight speed) as a buffer to the number of one or more meshes that include the route indicated by the line data. In this way, the area determination unit 135 determines the flyable area by adding meshes for the buffer, thereby preventing a flying device with a high maximum flight speed from going beyond the area when flying at the edge of the area.

[0066] However, there may be cases where the flight device cannot fly the route desired by the user because it exceeds the upper limit range, but the flight device can fly on an alternative route. In this case, the area determination unit 135 may present the alternative route to the user as follows.

[0067] First, the setting unit 134 sets the upper limit range for each of the sub-areas included in the area by the above-mentioned method. Next, when the area corresponding to the flight schedule data exceeds the upper limit range corresponding to the first sub-area, the area determination unit 135 presents the user of the flight device with an alternative route that passes through a second sub-area different from the first sub-area.

[0068] FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining the presentation of an alternative route. FIG. 11 shows a first sub-area, a second sub-area, and a third sub-area. A no-fly area is included near the boundary between the first sub-area and the second sub-area. Here, it is assumed that the user selects 14 meshes with dotted hatching in the first sub-area. If the number of meshes selected by the user exceeds the upper limit range of 12 corresponding to the first sub-area, the area determination unit 135 presents the user of the flying device with an alternative route (12 meshes with diagonal hatching) that passes through the second sub-area different from the first sub-area. By operating in this manner, the area determination unit 135 can set a flyable area within the upper limit range while following the user's wishes as much as possible.

[0069] In addition, although the flying device whose performance or use is registered by the user cannot fly in the area corresponding to the flight schedule data, an alternative device with different performance or use may be able to fly. Therefore, when the area corresponding to the flight schedule data exceeds the upper limit range, the area determination unit 135 may present to the user of the flying device a flying device different from the flying device whose performance or use is registered by the registration unit 131. For example, for a user of U001 in the flying device data shown in FIG. 6, when the area corresponding to the flight schedule data exceeds the upper limit range, the area determination unit 135 presents DA001, which is different from the flying device of D001, to the user as an alternative device. By the area determination unit 135 presenting an alternative device to the user, it becomes possible to achieve the purpose using an alternative device even if the flying device that the user planned to use cannot fly on the route corresponding to the flight schedule data.

[0070] [Processing flow in information processing device 1] An explanation will be given of the flow of processing in the information processing device 1. Fig. 12 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing in the information processing device 1. The flowchart shown in Fig. 12 starts at the point when the user starts up application software for applying for a flight on the information terminal 2.

[0071] First, the registration unit 131 receives and acquires the performance or use of the flying device owned by the user from the information terminal 2 via the communication unit 11 (S1). Next, the schedule acquisition unit 132 acquires flight schedule data applied for by the user from the information terminal 2 via the communication unit 11 (S2). Next, the information acquisition unit 133 acquires area information indicating the wind speed or rainfall of the area or the congestion level of the area via the communication unit 11 (S3).

[0072] Next, the setting unit 134 sets the number of meshes for the upper limit range of the flight area of ​​the flying device based on the performance or use of the flying device registered by the registration unit 131 in S1 and the area information acquired by the information acquisition unit 133 in S3 (S4).

[0073] Next, the area determination unit 135 determines whether the number of meshes indicated by the flight schedule data acquired by the schedule acquisition unit 132 in S2 is equal to or less than the upper limit range of meshes set by the setting unit 134 in S4 (S5).

[0074] If the number of meshes indicated by the flight plan data is equal to or less than the upper limit range of the number of meshes (S5: Yes), the area determination unit 135 determines a flyable area including the planned route of the flight device indicated by the flight plan data (S6) and notifies the information terminal 2 of the determined flyable area (S7). On the other hand, if the number of meshes indicated by the flight plan data is not equal to or less than the upper limit range of the number of meshes (S5: No), the area determination unit 135 determines whether or not there is an alternative route (S8).

[0075] If there is an alternative route (S8: Yes), the area determination unit 135 determines a flyable area that includes the alternative route and is equal to or smaller than the upper limit range of mesh counts (S6), and notifies the information terminal 2 of the determined flyable area (S7). On the other hand, if there is no alternative route (S8: No), the area determination unit 135 determines whether the user owns a replacement drone (S9).

[0076] If the user has a replacement aircraft (S9: Yes), the control unit 13 returns the process to S1 and executes the processes from S1 to S8 for the replacement aircraft. If the user does not have a replacement aircraft (S9: No), the area determination unit 135 does not determine a flight area and notifies the information terminal 2 that flight is not possible (S10).

[0077] [Effects of information processing device 1] As described above, the information processing device 1 according to the present embodiment can appropriately set the area in which the flying device can fly based on the flight schedule data and the upper limit range set based on the performance or use of the flying device. As a result, it is possible to prevent a user from applying to use an area that is wider than necessary, which would cause an obstruction to the flight of another flying device that should be flown.

[0078] Furthermore, in the information processing device 1 according to this embodiment, the upper limit range can be set not only based on the performance or use of the flying device, but also based on the wind speed or rainfall in the flyable area or the congestion level of the flyable area, and the upper limit range can also be set based on the fee paid for flying the flying device. As a result, the information processing device 1 can set an appropriate flyable area according to the sky conditions at the time of application and the user's budget.

[0079] In the information processing device 1 according to the present embodiment, if the flying device whose performance or use has been registered by the user cannot set a flyable area along the route desired by the user, an alternative route or alternative aircraft can be presented to the user. As a result, the user can avoid a situation in which the flying device itself is not permitted to fly.

[0080] Furthermore, this invention will make it possible to contribute to Goal 9 of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which is to "build resilient infrastructure, promote industry, innovation and infrastructure."

[0081] Although the present invention has been described above using the embodiments, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope described in the above embodiments, and various modifications and changes are possible within the scope of the gist of the present invention. For example, all or part of the device can be configured by distributing or integrating functionally or physically in any unit. In addition, new embodiments resulting from any combination of multiple embodiments are also included in the embodiments of the present invention. The effect of the new embodiment resulting from the combination combines the effect of the original embodiment. [Explanation of symbols]

[0082] 1. Information processing device 11 Communications Department 12 Storage section 13 Control section 131 Registration Department 132 Schedule Acquisition Department 133 Information Acquisition Department 134 Setting section 135 Area Determination Division 2. Information terminal 21 Communications Department 22 Display section 23 Memory section 24 Control Unit 241 Display Processing Unit 242 Input reception section 3. Drone S Information Processing System

Claims

1. An information processing device for setting a flight route of a flying device, A registration unit that registers the performance or use of the flight device; A schedule acquisition unit that acquires flight schedule data indicating a route that the flying device is scheduled to fly; A setting unit that sets an upper limit range of a flight area of ​​the flying device based on the performance or use registered in the registration unit; An area determination unit that determines a flight area of ​​the flying device based on the flight schedule data and the upper limit range; An information processing device having the above configuration.

2. The registration unit registers the maximum flight distance of the flight device as the performance, The setting unit sets the upper limit range to a larger value as the maximum flight distance increases. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

3. The registration unit acquires a maximum flight speed and a flight time of the flying device, and calculates the maximum flight distance based on the acquired maximum flight speed and the flight time. The information processing device according to claim 2 .

4. The setting unit sets the upper limit range to a larger value as the urgency of the use of the flying device increases. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

5. An information acquisition unit that acquires area information indicating a wind speed or a rainfall amount of the area, The setting unit sets the upper limit range to a larger value as the wind speed or rainfall indicated by the area information increases. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

6. An information acquisition unit that acquires area information indicating a congestion degree of the area, The setting unit sets the upper limit range to be smaller as the congestion degree indicated by the area information becomes larger. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

7. The schedule acquisition unit further acquires information indicating a fee to be paid for the flight of the flying device; The setting unit sets a larger upper limit range as the fee is higher. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

8. The area includes a plurality of meshes; The setting unit sets a range of one or more allowable meshes among the plurality of meshes, the number of which is determined based on the performance or the purpose, as the upper limit range. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

9. The schedule acquisition unit displays the plurality of meshes on a screen of an information terminal, and acquires the flight schedule data indicating one or more selected meshes selected from the plurality of meshes on the screen, The area determination unit determines an area constituted by the one or more selected meshes as the flyable area when the number of the one or more selected meshes indicated by the flight schedule data is equal to or less than the number of the one or more allowable meshes corresponding to the upper limit range. The information processing device according to claim 8.

10. The flight plan data is line data indicating a route that the flight device is scheduled to fly, When the number of meshes including the route indicated by the line data is equal to or less than the number of the one or more allowable meshes, the area determination unit determines an area constituted by one or more meshes including the route indicated by the line data as the flyable area. The information processing device according to claim 8.

11. the area determination unit determines the number of meshes included in the flight possible area by adding the number of meshes based on the performance to the number of one or more meshes including the route indicated by the line data; The information processing device according to claim 10.

12. The area includes a plurality of sub-areas, The setting unit sets the upper limit range for each of the plurality of sub-areas, When the area corresponding to the flight schedule data exceeds the upper limit range corresponding to a first sub-area, the area determination unit presents an alternative route passing through a second sub-area different from the first sub-area to a user of the flying device. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

13. A storage unit is further provided that stores identification information of a plurality of flying devices that can be used by the user in association with the user of the flying device; When the area corresponding to the flight schedule data exceeds the upper limit range, the area determination unit presents a flying device other than the flying device whose performance or use is registered by the registration unit to the user of the flying device. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

14. An information processing method executed by a computer for setting a flight route of a flying device, comprising: registering the performance or use of the flight device; obtaining flight plan data indicative of a route that the flight device is intended to fly; Setting an upper limit range of a flight area of ​​the flying device based on the registered performance or use; determining a flight area for the flying device based on the flight schedule data and the upper limit range; An information processing method comprising the steps of:

15. An information processing device that sets a flight route of a flying device, and an information terminal that can communicate with the information processing device, The information processing device includes: A registration unit that registers the performance or use of the flight device; A schedule acquisition unit that acquires flight schedule data indicating a route that the flying device is scheduled to fly; A setting unit that sets an upper limit range of a flight area of ​​the flying device based on the performance or use registered in the registration unit; An area determination unit that determines a flight area of ​​the flying device based on the flight schedule data and the upper limit range; having The information terminal has a communication unit that transmits the performance or use of the flying device to the information processing device and receives a notification of the flight possible area, Information processing system.

Citation Information

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