Luggage storage area display device

Abstract

To provide a luggage storage area display device which can improve the efficiency of loading and unloading luggage onto a loading platform and provide convenience to a delivery person in luggage delivery by a transport vehicle.SOLUTION: A loading platform 41 of a truck 4 is divided into luggage storage areas Ar1 to Ar5, luggage is stored in each storage area, and when the luggage is to be unloaded from the loading platform of the truck 4, the storage area where the luggage to be unloaded is stored is displayed on a display unit 23 of a terminal 2na attached to the truck 4 in order to notify the location of the luggage.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 14

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a luggage storage area display device.

Background Art

[0002] In recent years, in the delivery service, the environment of delivery operators has been becoming severe, such as an increase in the number of luggage to be delivered, difficulty in securing delivery staff, and soaring fuel costs.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Patent Document 3

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In order to improve delivery efficiency, the inventions described in Patent Documents 1 to 3 have been proposed. The invention described in Patent Document 1 aims to shorten the delivery time of luggage by enabling the loading and unloading of luggage on the truck securely and in a short time. A conveyor is provided on the truck bed, and the luggage placed on the conveyor can move within the truck bed. The invention described in Patent Document 2 is configured to indicate in advance the order in which luggage is loaded on the collection and delivery vehicle. The invention described in Patent Document 3 is configured such that a belt conveyor is provided on the truck bed of the article transport vehicle, and luggage can be moved by the belt conveyor.

[0005] However, the inventions described in Patent Documents 1 and 3 have the drawbacks that a conveyor for moving luggage needs to be provided on the loading platform, which requires the installation of a new device, resulting in high costs, and the versatility of the transport vehicle is impaired. The invention described in Patent Document 2 only determines the loading order and does not give instructions on the loading positions on the loading platform. For this reason, the efficiency of the loading and unloading operations of the luggage depends largely on the experience of the operator, and there is a problem that it is difficult to obtain a uniform work efficiency.

[0006] An object of this invention is to improve the efficiency of loading and unloading of luggage onto the loading platform and to facilitate the delivery person in luggage delivery by a transport vehicle.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] The present invention for solving the above problems has the following configuration. (1) A device attached to a luggage transport device for accommodating and transporting a plurality of luggage, a display unit, a delivery destination information storage unit that stores information on the delivery destinations of a plurality of luggage accommodated in the accommodation unit of the luggage transport device in association with the identification information of the luggage, an accommodation area storage unit that stores information on the accommodation areas of the luggage in the accommodation unit of the luggage transport device in association with the identification information of the luggage, a current position detection unit that detects the current position of the luggage transport device, a delivery luggage extraction unit that extracts luggage with a delivery destination within a range of a predetermined distance from the current position detected by the current position detection unit from the delivery destination information storage unit, an accommodation area extraction unit that extracts the accommodation area information of the luggage extracted by the delivery luggage extraction unit from the accommodation area storage unit, a display control unit that causes the display unit to display the luggage accommodation area information extracted by the accommodation area extraction unit, and a luggage accommodation area display device having the above.

[0008] (2) A map information storage unit, A route selection unit that selects a transportation movement route of the luggage carrier based on the map information stored in the map information storage unit, the current position detected by the current position display unit, and the delivery destination information of a plurality of pieces of luggage stored in the delivery destination information storage unit; The luggage storage area display device according to (1) above, further comprising a route display control unit that causes the display unit to display the movement route selected by the route selection unit.

[0009] (3) The luggage storage area display device according to (2) above, wherein the route selection unit selects a route that can pass through the delivery destinations of a plurality of pieces of luggage in the shortest time.

[0010] (4) A delivery time storage unit that stores a luggage delivery designated time in association with luggage identification information, and A current time acquisition unit that acquires the current time, and The luggage storage area display device according to (2) above, wherein the route selection unit further selects a transportation movement route based on the luggage delivery designated time and the current time.

[0011] (5) The storage unit of the luggage carrier includes a boundary display unit that divides the area for storing luggage, A plurality of storage areas divided by the boundary display unit, and area identification labels that can individually recognize the plurality of storage areas, A luggage identification label provided outside the luggage stored in the storage unit and associated with the identification information of each piece of luggage, An imaging unit that can capture one or more of the pieces of luggage stored in the storage unit on one screen, An identification label recognition unit that recognizes one or more of the area identification labels and one or more of the luggage identification labels included in the screen projected onto one screen by the imaging unit, respectively, A specifying unit that specifies the storage area and luggage from the identification labels recognized by the identification label recognition unit, The luggage storage area display device according to (1) above, further comprising a storage area determination unit that associates the storage area and luggage specified by the specifying unit and stores them in the storage area storage unit.

[0012] (6) A storage area determination unit that determines the storage area of each piece of luggage in the storage unit of the luggage carrier based on the delivery destination information of a plurality of pieces of luggage stored in the delivery destination information storage unit; The luggage storage area display device according to (1) above, further comprising a storage area display control unit that displays the storage area determined by the storage area determination unit on the display unit.

[0013] (7) A loading order determination unit that determines the loading order of each piece of luggage into the storage unit of the luggage carrier based on the delivery destination information of a plurality of pieces of luggage stored in the delivery destination information storage unit; The luggage storage area display device according to (1) above, further comprising a loading order display control unit that displays the loading order determined by the loading order determination unit on the display unit.

[0014] (8) The luggage storage area display device according to (1) above, further comprising a storage area information input unit that inputs the storage area information of the luggage in the storage unit of the luggage carrier into the storage area storage unit.

Advantages of the Invention

[0015] According to the invention described in claim 1, since the storage area of the luggage close to the current position is displayed on the display unit from the current position and the delivery destination information of the luggage, the operator can easily know where on the loading platform the luggage to be delivered is located, and the delivery efficiency is improved. According to the invention described in claim 2, since the transportation movement route of the luggage is selected from the delivery destination information of the luggage and the current position and displayed, the delivery operator can transport along the displayed route, and the delivery efficiency is improved.

[0016] According to the invention described in claim 3, since the route that can deliver in the shortest time is displayed, the delivery efficiency is further improved. According to the invention described in claim 4, for the luggage with a specified delivery time, the transportation movement route is preferentially selected based on the current time, so the delivery efficiency is further improved. According to the invention described in claim 5, since the luggage identification label and the area identification label of the accommodation area in which the luggage is stored can be respectively identified from the image acquired by the imaging unit, the accommodation area storage unit can easily store the stored accommodation area and the luggage in association with each other.

[0017] According to the invention described in claim 6, since the accommodation area within the accommodation unit is determined based on the delivery destination information of the luggage, the luggage can be placed at a position where efficient unloading is possible. According to the invention described in claim 7, since the loading order into the accommodation unit is determined based on the delivery destination information of the luggage, by loading the luggage with a later delivery order first, the luggage with an earlier delivery order can be loaded in front of the accommodation unit, and the delivery efficiency can be improved. According to the invention described in claim 8, since there is an accommodation area information input unit for inputting the luggage accommodation area information into the accommodation area storage unit, even if the position of the luggage changes during delivery, the accommodation area information can be appropriately corrected.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0018]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Figure 11

Figure 12

Figure 13

Figure 14

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0019] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the package storage area display system and the package storage area display device of the present invention will be described in detail based on the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing the configuration of the package storage area display system. The package storage area display system 100 is configured by being connected via a network Ne to terminals 21a, 22a to 2na installed in a truck, which is a package transportation device, terminals 21b, 22b to 2nb possessed by a recipient, terminals 21c, 22c to 2nc possessed by a sender, terminals 21d, 22d to 2nd possessed by a deliverer, and a server 2.

[0020] The network Ne includes various wireless communication lines and Internet service provider base stations that connect them. Note that the network Ne only needs to be connectable at any time and does not need to be constantly connected. The terminals 21b, 22b to 2nb possessed by the recipient are configured by multifunctional portable terminals such as general-purpose personal computers (PCs), notebook PCs, PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants), mobile phones, smartphones, and other tablet-type terminals, etc., and have functions such as being able to receive delivery notifications like email software, and further, through a browser, can specify the date and time of redelivery, set or cancel leave-behind delivery.

[0021] The delivery person's mobile terminals 21d, 22d to 2nd all have the same configuration, and multiple delivery persons each hold a mobile terminal 2nd. Also, the mobile terminal possessed by the delivery person may be, for example, a smartphone (a mobile terminal equipped with an operating system for mobile devices). Further, one installed with application software for the delivery person may also be used. In the case of such a terminal, it is necessary to have at least a camera function as a reading unit. The terminals 21c, 22c to 2nc possessed by the sender are composed of, for example, multifunctional mobile terminals such as general-purpose personal computers (PCs), notebook PCs, PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants), mobile phones, smartphones, and other tablet-type terminals, and can input delivery destination information (location information of the delivery destination: address, etc.), package attribute information, etc. via a browser.

[0022] The terminals 21a, 22a to 2na installed on the truck are installed on the loading platform which is the storage part of the truck, and are composed of, for example, multifunctional mobile terminals such as general-purpose personal computers (PCs), notebook PCs, PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants), mobile phones, smartphones, and other tablet-type terminals. An example of the internal configuration of terminals 2nb, 2nc, and 2nd will be described. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the main part configuration of terminals 2nb, 2nc, and 2nd as communication terminals. Terminals 2nb, 2nc, and 2nd are composed of a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 11 as a control unit, an input unit 12, a display unit 13, a transmission unit, a communication unit 14 as a reception unit, a RAM 15, a storage unit 16, a reading unit 17, etc., and each unit is connected by a bus 18. The CPU 11 expands a program specified from various application programs such as a system program stored in the storage unit 16 into a work area (not shown) in the RAM, executes various processes according to the program in response to the data input from the input unit 12, and stores the processing result in the work memory in the RAM 15.

[0023] Also, display information for displaying the processing result is generated and output to the display unit 13. The CPU 11 expands the barcode reading program from the storage unit 16 into the work memory, and extracts the identification information carried in the barcode information from the barcode information read via the reading unit 17 by this barcode reading program, and stores the identification information in the storage unit 16. In the case of a terminal as the sender terminal 2nc or the recipient terminal 2nb, when the delivery completion information is received via the communication unit 14, the delivery completion information is displayed on the display unit 13. The input unit 12 includes a keyboard having kana / alphabet / numeric input keys, cursor keys, various function keys, etc., and a mouse which is a pointing device.

[0024] The display unit 13 is composed of a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube), an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), etc., and performs screen display of various display data according to the instruction of the display signal input from the CPU 11. The input unit 12 and the display unit 13 may be configured by a touch panel display in which a touch panel is overlaid on the display. The communication unit 14 is connected to an external network by wireless communication or wired communication, and finally communicates with the server 2. The RAM (Random Access Memory) 15 forms a work area for temporarily storing various programs executed by the CPU 11, data processed by these various programs, etc.

[0025] The storage unit 16 has a storage medium in which programs, data, etc. are stored, and this storage medium is composed of, for example, a semiconductor memory. This storage medium stores a system program, various processing programs corresponding to the system, data processed by the various processing programs, data input by the input unit 12, data read by the reading unit 17, etc. The reading unit 17 is composed of one or both of a reading device that optically reads barcodes and a method that reads information by short-range wireless communication using electromagnetic fields, radio waves, etc. Alternatively, the reading unit 17 may have imaging means such as a camera that reads a signature, a character sign, etc. as an image, auditory information acquisition means such as a microphone that acquires sound and voice, and voice recognition means composed of voice conversion means that converts the auditory information acquired by the microphone into character information.

[0026] An example of the internal configuration of terminals 21a, 22a to 2na installed on the track will be described. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the main configuration of the terminal 2na. The terminal 2na is composed of a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 21 as a control unit, an input unit 22, a display unit 23, a communication unit 24 as a transmission unit and a reception unit, a RAM 25, a storage unit 26, a reading unit 29, a position detection unit 28a that detects the current position of the track, a time detection unit 28b that detects the current time, etc., and each unit is connected by a bus 27. The CPU 21 expands a specified program from various application programs such as a system program stored in the storage unit 26 into a work area (not shown) in the RAM, and according to the data input from the input unit 22, executes various processes according to the program, and stores the processing result in the work memory in the RAM 25.

[0027] In addition, display information for displaying the processing result is generated and output to the display unit 23. The CPU 21 expands an identification information reading program from the storage unit 26 into the work memory, and extracts the identification information carried by the identification information from the identification information read via the reading unit 29 by this identification information reading program, and stores the identification information in the storage unit 26. The input unit 22 is configured to include a keyboard equipped with kana / alphabet / numeric input keys, cursor keys, and various function keys, and a mouse which is a pointing device.

[0028] The display unit 23 is composed of a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube), an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), etc., and performs screen display of various display data according to the instructions of the display signal input from the CPU 11. The input unit 22 and the display unit 23 may be composed of a touch panel display in which a touch panel is overlaid on the display. The communication unit 24 is connected to an external network by wireless communication or wired communication, and finally communicates with the server 2. The RAM (Random Access Memory) 25 forms a work area for temporarily storing various programs executed by the CPU 21, data processed by these various programs, and the like.

[0029] The storage unit 26 has a storage medium in which map information, programs, data, etc. are stored, and this storage medium is composed of, for example, a semiconductor memory. This storage medium stores a system program, various processing programs corresponding to the system, data processed by the various processing programs, data input by the input unit 22, data read by the reading unit 29, etc.

[0030] FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 are lists showing a part of the information stored in the storage unit 26. The storage unit 26 has a first storage area, a second storage area, and a third storage area. In the first storage area, information regarding the goods to be delivered acquired from the server 2 is stored. In the second storage area, the storage area of the storage unit which is the loading platform and information regarding the goods placed in the storage area are stored. In the third storage area, map information and information regarding the route searched so as to pass through the delivery destinations of all the loaded goods are stored.

[0031] The reading unit 29 is a reading device that optically reads identification labels such as barcodes, and is configured to be able to recognize a plurality of identification labels projected on one screen. The reading unit 29 is composed of imaging means such as a camera that reads signs, character labels, etc. as images. In addition, it may also have auditory information acquisition means such as a microphone that acquires sounds and voices, and voice recognition means composed of voice conversion means that converts the auditory information acquired by the microphone into character information.

[0032] The position detection unit 28a acquires the position information where the terminal 2na is located. The position detection unit 28a can use, for example, a system that receives signals from several satellites in the sky among about 30 GPS satellites by a GPS receiver so that the receiver can know its current position. The time detection unit 28b measures time, detects the current time, and compares it with the package whose delivery time is specified. Based on the specified delivery time and the current time, the CPU 21 determines the delivery order.

[0033] The CPU 21 reads the identification label displayed on the side of the package from the image read by the reading unit 29 as visual information, specifies the package ID from the read visual information, and specifies the attribute information, delivery destination information, etc. of each package. Also, the boundary display portion provided on the floor in the storage portion is read from the image, and the area where the package is placed in the storage portion is specified from the boundary display portion. The label reading software is possessed by the CPU 21 and the CPU 11, and as shown in FIG. 6, it selects the identification label from the images captured by the reading units 17 and 29. Recognizing as an identification label is, for example, represented by displaying a recognition confirmation display Gn. When a load N1 including a plurality of packages is captured as one image and displayed on the screen G of the terminal SM, a plurality of existing identification labels are recognized simultaneously. (In the example shown in the figure, it represents that

[51]

[63]

[31] have been recognized.) These numbers are captured as identification labels.

[0034] The CPU 21 searches for a delivery route based on the delivery destination information of a plurality of packages received from the server 2 and the map information stored in the storage unit 26. This delivery route may be searched by the CPU 31 of the server 2 and received by the CPU 21. Based on this delivery route, the delivery order of each package is determined. Therefore, based on this delivery order, the CPU 21 determines the loading order for loading the packages onto the loading platform. That is, the packages with a later delivery order are loaded first, and the packages with an earlier order are loaded later.

[0035] Furthermore, the CPU 21 also determines the position to be placed on the loading platform, that is, the storage area. FIG. 7 is a plan view schematically showing the structure inside the storage unit 41 of the truck 4. The storage unit 41, which is the loading platform, is configured in a box shape, and a loading entrance 411 is provided at the rear end face of the truck 4, with double doors 412a and 412b provided. Inside the loading platform, the storage areas are sequentially divided from the loading entrance 411 toward the back (front of the vehicle). Each storage area is provided with a boundary line, which is a boundary display section that divides the floor surface in the front-rear direction, and each boundary line has a different configuration.

[0036] Specifically, the boundary line Lr1 located at the farthest back is a single solid line, the boundary line Lr2 located second from the back is a double line, the boundary line Lr3 located third from the back is a triple line, and the boundary line Lr4 located fourth from the back (the closest to the front) is a dotted double line. By making the boundary lines have different configurations, when the boundary lines are recognized by image analysis, it can be recognized that they are different boundary lines. By these boundary lines Lr1 to Lr4 representing lines of different patterns, they function as area identification labels that can individually identify each storage area. Each of the boundary lines Lr1 to Lr4 is applied not only to the floor surface of the cargo compartment but also to the left and right side walls and the ceiling.

[0037] The area on the back side of the boundary line Lr1 is the first storage area Ar1, the area between the boundary line Lr1 and the boundary line Lr2 is the second storage area Ar2, the area between the boundary line Lr2 and the boundary line Lr3 is the third storage area Ar3, the area between the boundary line Lr3 and the boundary line Lr4 is the fourth storage area Ar4, and the area in front of the boundary line Lr4 is the fifth storage area Ar5. As shown in FIG. 8, when the image reading units 17 and 29 capture the image of the luggage compartment with luggage loaded, the label reading software recognizes not only the identification labels displayed on each piece of luggage but also the area identification labels provided as boundary lines as described above. That is, it recognizes the four types of area identification labels displayed on the floor, inner wall, and ceiling, and recognizes that the luggage identification label recognized inside the area identification label recognized as a square without interruption of the line is loaded in the storage area corresponding to that area identification label.

[0038] For example, the luggage with the luggage identification labels

[51]

[63]

[31]

[29]

[94] recognized within the square formed by the boundary line Lr1 is recognized as being loaded in the first storage area Ar1. Similarly, the luggage with the luggage identification label recognized within the square formed by the double-line boundary line Lr2 is recognized as being loaded in the second storage area Ar2. Here, if the luggage identification label

[51] in the first storage area Ar1 appears in the image, since the luggage identification label

[51] has already been recognized as being in the first storage area Ar1, it will not be stored as being loaded in the second storage area Ar2.

[0039] When the CPU 21 determines the loading order of the luggage based on the delivery route, At the same time, the storage area where the luggage on the loading platform is to be placed is also determined. For example, the luggage that is the last or closest to the last delivery destination on the delivery route is determined to be stored in the first storage area Ar1, and the luggage that is the delivery destination closest to the start of the delivery route is determined to be stored in the fifth storage area Ar5 or the fourth storage area Ar4. During the delivery operation, if the delivery destination is absent and leave-a-package delivery is not possible, the package is carried back to the truck and redelivery is required. However, if the redelivery time is specified during the delivery operation, the delivery route is searched again considering the redelivery time. As a result, the order in which the packages to be redelivered are delivered is determined again, so the storage area corresponding to that delivery order is also determined again and displayed on the display unit 23.

[0040] When the truck arrives at the delivery destination address of the package, the CPU 21 acquires the current position from the position detection unit 28a and searches for delivery destination points within a predetermined distance range centered on the current location. The storage area in which the package corresponding to the searched delivery destination point is stored is displayed on the display unit 13 or 23. The display method is not particularly limited. For example, on the display screen of the display unit 13 or 23, the number serving as the identification label of the package and the name of the storage area in which it is stored (e.g., the first storage area) are displayed. On the display screen G, as shown in FIG. 9, a plan view TR of the loading platform is displayed, and the area in which the package is stored is displayed, etc.

[0041] When displaying delivery destination points within a predetermined range centered on the current location, there may be a case where a plurality of delivery destination points are searched. This is because if there are points that can be delivered on foot from the parking position of the truck, it may be more efficient than moving the truck for delivery. Therefore, the range searched centered on the current location is set within the range of the distance that can be delivered on foot. The server 2 will be described. Regarding the main configuration of the server 2, since it is substantially the same as the main configuration of the above-described mobile terminals 2nb, 2nc, and 2nd, the same reference numerals are assigned to each component (see FIG. 2), and the illustration and description of the configuration are omitted. Hereinafter, the characteristic functions of the server 2 and the database provided in the server 2 will be described in detail.

[0042] The server 2 includes a CPU 31 as a processing means, an input unit 32, a display unit 33, a communication unit 34 as a transmission / reception means, a RAM 35, a storage unit 36 as a storage means, etc., and each unit is connected by a bus 38. Based on the delivery completion notification from the deliverer terminal 2nc, the CPU 31 sends the delivery completion notification to the sender terminal 2nc and the recipient terminal 2nb. In response to a request from the truck terminal 2na, it sends the package-related data to the truck terminal 2na. Further, it may be configured to extract a group of packages to be sent to one truck terminal 2na from the delivery destination information of a plurality of stored packages, search for a route for passing through each delivery destination of the package group, and send the route to the truck terminal 2na.

[0043] The storage unit 36 includes a system program, a signature verification program, various processing programs corresponding to the system, and various databases for storing information supplied from the mobile terminals 2na, 2nb, 2nc, 2nd described later. In addition, the storage unit 36 has a database for storing data. The database has a plurality of storage areas. The first storage area is a delivery information storage area as a delivery information storage means. When arranging the shipment of a package, various input information is stored in the delivery information storage area. The information to be stored is the delivery item identification information set for each package, and in association with this delivery item identification information, the position information of the delivery destination specified at the time of shipment arrangement (delivery destination address, name), information regarding the attributes of the package contents (documents, perishable items, fragile items, requiring refrigeration, etc.), information regarding the weight of the package, information regarding the size of the package, information regarding the shipping location, information regarding the sender (sender's name, address, contact information (email address)), etc. are stored. Data similar to the data lists shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 is stored, but in the storage unit 36 of the server 2, for each delivery responsible area of the truck, package information included in the delivery responsible areas of a plurality of trucks is stored.

[0044] This information is inputted at the shipping place or the collection receiving place of the package, etc., or supplied from the sender terminal 2nc to the server 2 via the communication network Nc. When the data is inputted, the delivery item identification information is determined, and at the same time, a barcode is issued as a delivery item information carrying means carrying the delivery item identification information. For packages with a relatively large size, in addition to the barcode, identification information composed of characters and symbols larger than the barcode is given. The identification information composed of such characters and symbols is identification information (viewing angle information) (such as

[51]

[63]

[31] shown in FIG. 6) of a size that can be read by a camera lens from a position several meters away. Small packages that cannot display such large identification information on the outside are put together in a large box, and the large identification information is displayed on the outside of the box.

[0045] The issued barcode or larger identification information is printed on, for example, a seal and pasted on the surface of the package. When issuing an IC tag instead of a barcode as a delivery item information carrying means, all the information stored in the first storage area may be stored in the IC tag. When issuing an IC tag, it is preferably pasted on the inner surface of the box for packing or the back side of the attached slip instead of the surface of the package. Damage to the IC tag due to contact with other packages during the conveyance operation of the package can be suppressed.

[0046] The information about the package stored in this first area is inputted via the sender terminal 2nc or accumulated in the storage unit 36 via the input unit 32 or the reading unit 37. The second storage area is a truck information storage area that stores the delivery area information for each truck. The truck information is, for example, information such as the delivery area information responsible for each truck, such as "within Shinjuku Ward", the accommodation volume of the loading platform as the accommodation unit, the displacement of the engine, and vehicle attributes such as refrigerated trucks, refrigerated trucks, ordinary trucks, and trucks for transporting precision equipment.

[0047] The processing in server 2 will be described based on the flowchart of FIG. 10. Package information to be delivered is acquired from the sender terminal 2nc and the input unit 32 (step S101). The package information is as shown in FIG. 4. The acquired package information is stored in the storage unit 36 (step S103).

[0048] Based on the delivery destination information of the acquired package information, the packages to be delivered are distributed for each truck serving as a package transport device, that is, for each delivery area assigned to each truck (step S105). When a supply request for package information is received from the truck terminal 2na, the truck terminal 2na that has made the request is supplied with package information in an amount that can be loaded for one delivery run (step S107). At this time, if the CPU 31 is searching for a delivery route and creating delivery route information, the delivery route information is also supplied simultaneously.

[0049] It is determined whether a delivery completion notification has been received from the truck terminal 2na (step S109). If received, a delivery completion notification is sent to the sender terminal 2nc of the sender of the package for which the delivery has been completed and the recipient terminal 2nb of the package by e-mail or the like (step S111). Next, the processing of the truck terminal 2na will be described based on the flowchart shown in FIG. 11. Package information of the packages to be loaded on the truck bed is acquired from the server 2 (step S201).

[0050] The acquired package information includes an identification label assigned to each package. At the delivery office, an identification number as an identification label is written on the side of each package. For example, by attaching a seal with the identification number printed on it to the side, the identification number is assigned to the package. This identification label is configured to be large enough to be recognized by image recognition from a position several meters away. In this embodiment, it is a number (such as

[51]

[63]

[31] shown in FIG. 6), but it may also be an alphabet, other characters, or symbols. In the case of small packages that are not large enough to display the identification number, a large box is provided separately, and a plurality of small packages are put together in the box, and the box is assigned an identification number.

[0051] Based on the map information, current location, current time, delivery destination information (address information of the delivery destination) for each piece of luggage, and the specified delivery time included in the obtained luggage information, search for the delivery route of the luggage (step S203). The determination of the delivery route preferentially determines the delivery route based on the current time and the specified time of the luggage for which delivery is specified. For other pieces of luggage, create routes in ascending order of proximity to the current location. Determine the order of loading the luggage onto the luggage carrier 41 (step S205). By determining the delivery route in step S203, the order of delivery is also determined. Therefore, the reverse order of the delivery order becomes the loading order.

[0052] Based on the loading order, determine the storage area within the luggage carrier for the luggage carried into the luggage carrier 41 (step S207). Luggage with a later delivery order is placed in the innermost first storage area Ar1, and luggage with an earlier delivery order is placed in the fourth or fifth storage area Ar4, Ar5 near the loading entrance. As an exception, luggage with a large weight is determined to be stored in the front storage area, that is, the fourth to fifth storage areas. This is for the ease of loading and unloading. As the delivery progresses, it is determined that the luggage is carried out in order from the front storage area. The storage area is associated with each piece of luggage and stored in the storage unit 26.

[0053] As shown in FIG. 9, on the display unit 23, the identification label (identification number) of the luggage to be loaded and the storage area for placing the luggage are displayed (step S209). This screen displays the order of loading the luggage and the storage area for each piece of luggage. The operator arranges the luggage in the predetermined storage areas Ar1 to Ar5 of the luggage carrier according to the display. Since the display on the display unit 23 is displayed in order according to the loading order, the luggage is loaded onto the luggage carrier in order from the displayed luggage. Luggage is stored in order from the innermost first storage area Ar1, and the luggage is loaded as instructed by the display unit 23. When all the luggage assigned to one storage area has been carried, an image inside the luggage compartment is acquired by the reading unit 29. The identification label of each piece of luggage and the area identification label are read for the luggage and the storage area by the aforementioned label reading software (step S211).

[0054] Check whether the read result matches the content initially displayed on the display unit 23 (step S213). If all the luggage is properly placed in each storage area Ar1, determine whether all the luggage has been loaded (step S215). If it has not been loaded, start loading into the next storage area Ar2 (step S217), and repeat the processes of steps S211 to S215. In step S213, if there is a mismatch, it is possible that there are unloaded luggage or that the luggage to be loaded into other storage areas has been incorrectly loaded. Therefore, correct the loaded luggage and return to step S211. In step S215, if it is determined that the loading of all the luggage is complete, end the process.

[0055] Next, the processing during transportation and delivery will be described based on the flowchart shown in FIG. 12. Obtain the current position from the position detection unit 28a (step S301). Extract the delivery destinations within a predetermined distance from the current position (step S303). As shown in FIG. 13, display a map including the current position of the truck on the display unit 23, and at the same time, display the delivery destinations on the map (step S305). Furthermore, on the map, the position of the truck 4, the positions of the delivery destinations, and the delivery route Rt are displayed. The delivery destinations are displayed by symbols P1 to P5. The symbols, which are delivery destination display symbols, have shapes and colors assigned according to the attributes of the delivery destinations. For example, the color is set according to the content of the luggage to be delivered. Also, the shape is set according to the delivery conditions. For example, if the luggage is heavy (e.g., 20 kg or more), it is colored red; if the luggage is frozen or refrigerated, it is colored blue; if a signature for receipt is required, it is colored green; and if the luggage requires special handling, such as being fragile, it is colored yellow, etc. Also, for luggage with a specified delivery time, it is in the shape of a triangle; for cases where collection is also carried out simultaneously, it is in the shape of a square; for cases where placement is possible, it is in the shape of a pentagon; and for those without any special specification, it is in the shape of a circle. Also, the identification numbers (identification labels) of the luggage to be delivered to each position are superimposed and displayed on symbols P1 to P5.

[0056] By displaying in this way, it becomes easy for the delivery worker who has viewed the screen of the display unit 23 to determine the delivery priority order and the parking position of the truck. For example, when the weight of the luggage is heavy, it can be determined to move by truck to a position close to the delivery destination address. When the delivery time is determined, it can be determined to prioritize that delivery. It is possible to make judgments such as delivering the luggage that can be left at the end all together.

[0057] When parking the truck and carrying the luggage out of the cargo bed, switch the display on the display unit 23 and display a schematic diagram of the cargo bed as shown in FIG. 14 (step S307). In the illustrated schematic diagram of the cargo bed, the identification numbers (

[51]

[63]

[31]

[51]

[94] ) of the luggage to be delivered to the symbols P1 to P5 displayed in FIG. 13 are displayed, and the identification number display is in the storage area where the luggage is loaded (in the figure, storage area Ar1). The display of the identification numbers of the luggage on the cargo bed is displayed in the same display method as the symbols shown in FIG. 13. That is, it is displayed in colors and shapes representing the attributes of the luggage. By such a display, the deliverer can easily recognize where on the cargo bed the luggage to be delivered next is located.

[0058] When the delivery of the luggage is completed, the delivery worker terminal 2nd notifies the completion of the delivery (step S309). When completed, the symbol on the display unit 23 disappears (step S311). For the luggage that could not be delivered due to absence, etc. (for example, the luggage with the identification number

[94] ), place the luggage in the fifth storage area Ar5, which is the storage area for the re-delivery luggage on the cargo bed 41, and supply the fact of re-delivery from the delivery worker terminal to the server 2. The display on the display screen shown in FIG. 14 has the display position changed to the fifth storage area Ar5 (step S313). The luggage information for which the fact of re-delivery has been supplied is re-searched for a new delivery route with the delivery priority being the last (step S315). During delivery, if the time specification for re-delivery is supplied from the recipient terminal 2nb, the delivery route is searched again taking the specified time into consideration.

Explanation of symbols

[0059] 100 Package storage area display system 2 Servers 4 Trucks Storage areas Ar1~5 Boundary lines Lr1~4 Delivery destination symbols P1~5 2na Truck terminals 2nb Receiver terminals 2nc Sender terminals 2nd Delivery person terminals

Claims

1. An apparatus associated with a luggage carrier for accommodating and transporting a plurality of pieces of luggage, comprising: a display unit; a destination information storage unit that stores, in association with the identification information of each piece of luggage, the destination information of a plurality of pieces of luggage accommodated in the accommodation unit of the luggage carrier; a storage area storage unit that stores, in association with the identification information of each piece of luggage, the storage area information of the luggage within the accommodation unit of the luggage carrier; a current position detection unit that detects the current position of the luggage carrier; a delivery luggage extraction unit that extracts, from the destination information storage unit, pieces of luggage having destinations within a range of a predetermined distance from the current position detected by the current position detection unit; a storage area extraction unit that extracts, from the storage area storage unit, the storage area information of the luggage extracted by the delivery luggage extraction unit; a display control unit that causes the display unit to display the luggage storage area information extracted by the storage area extraction unit; A luggage storage area display device having the above components.

2. a map information storage unit; a route selection unit that selects a transportation movement route of the luggage carrier based on the map information stored in the map information storage unit, the current position detected by the current position detection unit, and the destination information of a plurality of pieces of luggage stored in the destination information storage unit; The luggage storage area display device according to claim 1, further comprising a route display control unit that causes the display unit to display the movement route selected by the route selection unit.

3. The luggage storage area display device according to claim 2, wherein the route selection unit selects a route that can pass through the destinations of a plurality of pieces of luggage in the shortest time.

4. a delivery time storage unit that stores a luggage delivery designated time in association with luggage identification information; a current time acquisition unit that acquires the current time; and The luggage storage area display device according to claim 2, wherein the route selection unit further selects a transportation movement route based on the luggage delivery designated time and the current time.

5. The accommodation unit of the luggage carrier has a boundary display unit that divides the area for accommodating luggage, a plurality of storage areas divided by the boundary display unit, and area identification labels that can individually recognize the plurality of storage areas; a luggage identification label provided outside the luggage accommodated in the accommodation unit and associated with the identification information of each piece of luggage; an imaging unit that can fit one or more of the pieces of luggage accommodated in the accommodation unit on one screen. An identification label recognition unit that recognizes one or more of the region identification labels and one or more of the package identification labels included in the screen projected onto one screen by the imaging unit, respectively; A specifying unit that specifies the projected storage region and the package from the identification labels recognized by the identification label recognition unit; The luggage storage area display device according to claim 1, further comprising a storage area determination unit that associates the storage area and the luggage specified by the specifying unit and stores the same in the storage area storage unit.

6. A storage area determination unit that determines the storage area of each package in the storage unit of the package transport device based on the delivery destination information of a plurality of packages stored in the delivery destination information storage unit; The luggage storage area display device according to claim 1, further comprising a storage area display control unit that displays the storage area determined by the storage area determination unit on the display unit.

7. A loading order determination unit that determines the loading order of each package into the storage unit of the package transport device based on the delivery destination information of a plurality of packages stored in the delivery destination information storage unit; The luggage storage area display device according to claim 1, further comprising a loading order display control unit that displays the loading order determined by the loading order determination unit on the display unit.

8. The luggage storage area display device according to claim 1, further comprising a storage area information input unit that inputs the storage area information of the package in the storage unit of the package transport device into the storage area storage unit.

Images