Work spot acquisition system

Abstract

To provide a system that can acquire a work spot without depending on artificial work performed by an administrator.SOLUTION: A work point acquisition system comprises: a determination unit that determines whether a delivery staff member parks a delivery vehicle at a parking point associated with a delivery point; a position acquisition unit that acquires the position of the delivery staff member after the delivery vehicle is parked at the parking point; and a work point acquisition unit that acquires a turning point of the locus of the position of the delivery staff member after the parking point as a work point in the delivery point.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a work location acquisition system.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a system for assisting delivery in a vehicle has been known. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a configuration in which a route to a destination such as a luggage delivery position is guided.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the conventional technology, the luggage delivery position displayed on the map is registered in advance. Work locations where work is performed during delivery, such as the luggage delivery position, can vary for each delivery location. However, for a plurality of delivery locations, the work of manually checking and registering the work locations is very laborious.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a system capable of acquiring a work location without relying on manual work by an administrator.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] A work location acquisition system according to an embodiment includes a determination unit that determines whether a delivery driver has parked a delivery vehicle at a parking location associated with a delivery location, a position acquisition unit that acquires the position of the delivery driver after the delivery vehicle has been parked at the parking location, and a work location acquisition unit that acquires, as a work location at the delivery location, a turning point of a locus of the position of the delivery driver after the parking location.

[0007] That is, in the work location acquisition system, the turning point of the delivery person's position trajectory is acquired as the work location. A delivery person who performs delivery using a delivery vehicle parks the delivery vehicle at a parking location, then transports the goods to a designated location at the delivery location, and returns to the delivery vehicle again to continue the delivery. Therefore, it can be presumed that the turning point of the position trajectory is the work location where operations such as the transfer of goods are performed. Thus, if the work location is acquired, it is possible to support the delivery by the delivery person by guiding the work location and the like from the next time onwards. In this configuration, since the work location can be acquired based on the automatically acquired position trajectory of the delivery person, it is possible to acquire the work location without relying on the artificial operations by the administrator.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0009] Here, the embodiments of the present invention will be described in the following order. (1) Configuration of the system: (1-1) Configuration of the administrator terminal: (1-2) Configuration of the delivery person terminal: (1-3) Configuration of the work location acquisition system: (2) Route guidance process and work location acquisition process: (3) Other embodiments, etc.:

[0010] (1) System configuration: FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a work location acquisition system 10 according to the present invention. In the present embodiment, an administrator belonging to a management company that manages a plurality of delivery vehicles (for example, delivery vehicles such as trucks) creates a delivery plan for each delivery vehicle and presents the created delivery plan to a delivery driver who drives the delivery vehicle. In the present embodiment, each delivery vehicle travels according to a planned route included in delivery plan information indicating the delivery plan. The delivery driver loads a plurality of packages onto the delivery vehicle at the departure location. Also, the delivery driver drives the delivery vehicle, goes to each delivery location in the order of arrival determined in the delivery plan information, and parks the delivery vehicle at a parking location associated with the delivery location.

[0011] Furthermore, the delivery driver unloads the packages from the delivery vehicle, transports the packages to a location determined at the delivery location, and delivers the packages to the consignee (the receiving consignee). In the present embodiment, the location where the packages are delivered to the consignee is called the work location. Note that the planned route may be a predetermined circular route or a route determined according to the packages. In the present embodiment, there may be a plurality of delivery drivers who are the drivers of the delivery vehicles and a plurality of delivery vehicles, but in the example described below, the description will mainly focus on one delivery driver and one delivery vehicle.

[0012] In this embodiment, the work location acquisition system 10 collaborates with the delivery person terminal 100 and the administrator terminal 200 via communication. The delivery person terminal 100 is a terminal used in each of a plurality of delivery vehicles. In this embodiment, the delivery person terminal 100 is portable and is carried by the delivery person even after getting off the delivery vehicle. In this embodiment, the delivery locations to be visited by each delivery vehicle and the order of visits, as well as the packages to be delivered to each delivery location, are determined in advance as a delivery plan. Also, the delivery vehicles driven by each of the plurality of delivery persons are predetermined. The administrator terminal 200 is a terminal used by an administrator who manages the delivery plan. The administrator creates a delivery plan using the administrator terminal 200, and the delivery person terminal 100 is provided with guidance for performing delivery according to the delivery plan. Note that the delivery person terminal 100 periodically transmits the current location of the delivery person to the work location acquisition system 10.

[0013] (1-1) Configuration of the administrator terminal: The administrator terminal 200 is a terminal used by an administrator who performs operation management of a plurality of delivery vehicles. The administrator terminal 200 includes a control unit 210 having a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, etc., and a communication unit 220 for communicating with other devices. Also, the administrator terminal 200 includes a user I / F unit 230. The user I / F unit 230 includes an input unit such as a touch panel or a keyboard for receiving input by the administrator, and an output unit such as a display or a speaker for providing various types of information to the administrator.

[0014] In this embodiment, the control unit 210 can communicate with the work location acquisition system 10 via the communication unit 220. The control unit 210 can execute a program (not shown) recorded on the recording medium 240. The program includes a program for generating delivery plan information indicating the delivery plan for each delivery vehicle.

[0015] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of delivery plan information in the present embodiment. The delivery plan information is information indicating a delivery plan for each of a plurality of delivery vehicles. In the present embodiment, an administrator generates a delivery plan using the administrator terminal 200. FIG. 2 shows the delivery plan information for the delivery vehicle with vehicle ID T001. The vehicle ID is identification information of the delivery vehicle. The vehicle ID is associated with the shipment ID (for example, "1001") of the delivery plan. A shipment refers to a series of plans in which one delivery vehicle departs from the departure point, makes deliveries at each delivery point, and then returns to the departure point. It is also possible for one delivery vehicle to make deliveries for two or more shipments on the same day.

[0016] In the present embodiment, the departure point S and the final destination G are the same, and these points are the bases for loading goods onto the vehicle. In the example shown in FIG. 2, the delivery person who makes the delivery with shipment ID 1001 using the delivery vehicle with vehicle ID T001 moves the vehicle in the order of the departure point S, the delivery points G1, G2, G3, G4, and then the final destination G. That is, the order of arrival at the delivery points is G1, G2, G3, G4 in ascending order.

[0017] For each delivery point, identification information of the delivery point (in the present embodiment, the location name) is associated. Also, for each delivery point, identification information of the goods to be unloaded (such as D1) is associated. Further, for each delivery point, the arrival time, which is the scheduled time to arrive at each delivery point, and the departure time, which is the scheduled time to depart from each delivery point, are associated.

[0018] In addition, the delivery plan information includes information indicating the parking location. The parking location is information indicating the position where the delivery vehicle is parked, and in the present embodiment, it is indicated by coordinates. The information indicating the parking location is defined in advance for each delivery point and is associated with each delivery point.

[0019] Furthermore, the delivery plan information includes a planned driving route. In the present embodiment, the planned driving route is a route obtained by searching, at the administrator terminal 200, for a route with a parking location associated with each delivery location based on map information (not shown) as the destination. In FIG. 2, an example in which the planned driving route is a permutation of nodes is shown (the nodes are Nx (x is a numerical value indicating the node)). Of course, the definition of the planned driving route may be various definitions, and may be a permutation of links or the like. The arrival time may be determined based on the planned driving route.

[0020] Furthermore, the delivery plan information includes information indicating the working location. The working location is information indicating the location where the delivery person delivers the goods to the consignor, and in the present embodiment, it is indicated by coordinates. The working location is the location where the delivery person who has gotten off the delivery vehicle parked at the parking location unloads the goods from the delivery vehicle and moves with the goods. The consignor receives the goods at this location. The information indicating the working location is associated with each delivery location. The working location can be various locations depending on the circumstances of each delivery location, but it is very cumbersome to manually confirm and register the working location with the consignor or the like for each of the plurality of delivery locations. For this reason, in the present embodiment, it is configured to automatically identify the working location based on the trajectory of the delivery person's position. Details of the identification of the working location will be described later.

[0021] Furthermore, the delivery plan information includes a planned transportation route. In the present embodiment, the planned transportation route is the route when the delivery person walks from the parking location of the delivery vehicle to the working location. In FIG. 2, an example in which the planned transportation route is a permutation of coordinates is shown (the coordinates are Cx (x is a numerical value indicating the permutation of coordinates)). Of course, the definition of the planned transportation route may be various definitions, and may be a permutation of nodes or links set on a map where walking is possible. In the present embodiment, it is configured to automatically identify the planned transportation route based on the trajectory of the delivery person's position. Details of the identification of the planned transportation route will be described later.

[0022] In this embodiment, the administrator designates the delivery locations, the order of arrival at each delivery location, and the goods to be handled at each delivery location on the administrator terminal 200. When these designations are made, the administrator terminal 200 searches for a planned driving route based on map information (not shown) and acquires the arrival time. Further, the administrator terminal 200 refers to the map information (not shown) and acquires the coordinates of the parking lot associated with the delivery location, and sets it as the parking location. The administrator terminal 200 sets this information as delivery plan information. The work location and the planned transportation route are added to the delivery plan information after the operation of the delivery plan starts. In this embodiment, the delivery plan information is generated by the administrator terminal 200 for each delivery vehicle, and the generated delivery plan information is transmitted to the work location acquisition system 10. Such generation of the delivery plan information is an example. For example, at least part of the information in FIG. 2 may be generated by the administrator terminal 200 and the remaining information may be generated by the work location acquisition system 10. Further, the generation of the delivery plan information may be, for example, the delivery order is specified by solving the delivery plan problem by various algorithms, and the planned driving route when going to the delivery location according to the delivery order is specified to generate the delivery plan information.

[0023] (1-2) Configuration of the delivery staff terminal: The delivery staff terminal 100 is a terminal used by each delivery staff, and in this embodiment, it is a terminal carried by the delivery staff. The delivery staff terminal 100 includes a control unit 110 including a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, etc., a recording medium 120, a communication unit 130, a GNSS receiving unit 140, and a user I / F unit 150. The user I / F unit 150 is an interface unit for the delivery staff to input instructions and provide various information to the delivery staff, and includes a display unit composed of a touch panel display (not shown), an input unit such as a switch, and an audio output unit such as a speaker.

[0024] The GNSS receiver unit 140 is a device that receives signals of the Global Navigation Satellite System, receives radio waves from navigation satellites, and outputs signals for calculating the current position of the delivery vehicle via an interface (not shown). The control unit 110 acquires this signal to obtain the current position of the delivery vehicle. Note that the configuration for obtaining the current position of the delivery vehicle is not limited to the GNSS receiver unit 41, and various other configurations can also be adopted.

[0025] The communication unit 130 is a device for communicating with other devices. In the present embodiment, the control unit 110 can communicate with the work location acquisition system 10 via the communication unit 130. The control unit 110 can execute a program (not shown). In the present embodiment, information indicating the delivery plan transmitted from the work location acquisition system 10 is displayed on the display of the user I / F unit 150. Details of the content of the displayed screen will be described later.

[0026] The recording medium 120 can record various types of information. In this embodiment, the delivery plan information 120a is recorded. The delivery plan information 120a is a part of the delivery plan information generated by the above-described administrator terminal 200. That is, the delivery plan information generated by the administrator terminal 200 is transmitted to and saved in the work location acquisition system 10. The work location acquisition system 10 extracts information for each delivery vehicle from the saved delivery plan information and transmits it to each delivery vehicle. The delivery plan information 120a saved in the recording medium 120 is a delivery plan for the delivery vehicle equipped with the delivery staff terminal 100 including the recording medium 120. That is, the delivery plan information 120a only needs to indicate the delivery plan for each delivery vehicle, and the delivery plans for other delivery vehicles do not have to be included. In this embodiment, as will be described later, navigation regarding the delivery plan is performed based on the map transmitted from the work location acquisition system 10. For this reason, in order to perform navigation, it is not necessary for the delivery plan information 120a to be saved in the delivery staff terminal 100. However, if the delivery plan information 120a is saved in the delivery staff terminal 100, the delivery staff can confirm the delivery plan information 120a for an arbitrary delivery location at a desired timing.

[0027] The control unit 110 can realize various functions by executing a program (not shown) recorded on the recording medium 120. In this embodiment, the control unit 110 acquires the current position of the delivery vehicle and provides route guidance by a program (not shown). The control unit 110 periodically acquires the current position of the delivery vehicle based on the output of the GNSS reception unit 140, and transmits the acquired current position information to the work location acquisition system 10 via the communication unit 130. Then, the control unit 20 acquires a map with the route superimposed from the work location acquisition system 10, and provides route guidance by displaying the acquired map on the display unit of the user I / F unit 150.

[0028] (1-3) Configuration of the work location acquisition system: The work location acquisition system 10 includes a control unit 20 equipped with a CPU, RAM, ROM, etc., a recording medium 30, and a communication unit 40. The communication unit 40 includes a circuit for exchanging information with the delivery person terminal 100 and the administrator terminal 200. The control unit 20 can communicate with the delivery person terminal 100 and the administrator terminal 200 via the communication unit 40.

[0029] The delivery plan information 30a, the map information 30b, and the movement history information 30c are recorded on the recording medium 30. The delivery plan information 30a is the delivery plan information generated by the above-mentioned administrator terminal 200, and is transmitted from the administrator terminal 200 to the work location acquisition system 10 and then recorded on the recording medium 30.

[0030] The map information 30b is information used for drawing a map including the current position of the delivery vehicle, and includes node data indicating the positions of nodes set on the road on which the delivery vehicle travels, shape interpolation point data indicating the positions of shape interpolation points for specifying the shape of the road between nodes, link data indicating the connection between nodes, and feature data indicating the positions and attributes of features existing on the road and its surroundings. These features include facilities that can be delivery points and parking locations associated with the delivery points. In the present embodiment, the map information 30b also includes information for drawing the facilities indicated by each facility data and road sections indicated by the link data, for example, polygon information indicating facilities, etc. In the present embodiment, the parking location is the parking lot of the facility indicated by the facility data, but the parking location may be a location on the road (such as a location where roadside parking is possible).

[0031] The movement history information 30c is a time-series history of the current position of the delivery person, and is a history of coordinates at regular intervals. The delivery person terminal 100 or the identification information of the delivery person is associated with the movement history information 30c.

[0032] The control unit 20 can execute programs stored in the recording medium 30 and the ROM. In this embodiment, as this program, a route guidance program (navigation program) (not shown) and a work location acquisition program 21 can be executed. The route guidance program has a function of guiding a planned driving route to a delivery point for the delivery staff. That is, when the route guidance program is executed, the control unit 20 periodically acquires the current position of the delivery staff from the delivery staff terminal 100. Further, the control unit 20 draws a map including the current position of the delivery staff based on the map information 30b. Furthermore, based on the delivery plan information 30a and the map information 30b, the control unit 20 identifies a planned driving route from the current position of the delivery staff to the next destination, which is the delivery point, and a parking location, and superimposes them on the map. Furthermore, the control unit 20 transmits image data showing the superimposed map to the delivery staff terminal 100, and causes the map to be displayed on the display unit of the user I / F unit 150.

[0033] FIG. 3A shows an example of a map that the control unit 20 causes to be displayed on the display unit of the user I / F unit 150 by the function of the route guidance program. In FIG. 3A, G1 indicates a parking location when delivering to the store a shown in FIG. 2, and the symbol C indicates the current position of the delivery vehicle that the delivery staff is driving. The roads are shown as thin straight lines, and the thick straight lines superimposed on the roads are the planned driving routes. In this way, the delivery staff can grasp the planned driving route to the parking location corresponding to the next destination, which is the delivery point, and the current position of the delivery staff from the displayed map.

[0034] The navigation program according to this embodiment has a function of guiding a planned transportation route and a work location where the delivery staff delivers the luggage to the consignor on foot after the delivery vehicle parks at the parking location. Specifically, the control unit 20 monitors whether the current position of the delivery staff coincides with the parking location, and if they coincide, determines that the delivery staff has parked the delivery vehicle at the parking location.

[0035] When it is determined that the delivery person has parked the delivery vehicle at the parking location, the control unit 20 refers to the delivery plan information 30a and acquires the parking location, the work location, and the planned transportation route. Further, the control unit 20 refers to the map information 30b, draws a map including the parking location and the work location, and generates a map with the planned transportation route superimposed thereon. Then, the control unit 20 transmits the image data showing the superimposed map to the delivery person terminal 100 and causes the map to be displayed on the display unit of the user I / F unit 150.

[0036] FIG. 3B shows an example of a map that the control unit 20 causes to be displayed on the display unit of the user I / F unit 150 by the function of the route guidance program. In FIG. 3B, up, down, left, and right correspond to north, south, west, and east. G1 in FIG. 3B indicates the parking location when delivering to the store a shown in FIG. 2, and the symbol C indicates the delivery vehicle parked by the delivery person at the parking location. Roads and a plurality of stores (store a, store ab, store ac) are shown around the parking location. Also, the dashed line extending from the delivery vehicle at the parking location to the work location Po of store a indicates the planned transportation route.

[0037] In this example, there are roads on the north side and the south side of each store. The road Rn on the north side is wider than the road Rs on the south side, and the customers of each store enter the store through the front entrance facing the road Rn on the north side. At the store a which is the delivery location, the delivery person is requested to distinguish from general customers, and the delivery person uses the back entrance facing the road Rs on the south side to deliver the goods to the person in charge of store a. For this reason, as shown by the dashed line, the planned transportation route is a route that goes out from the parking location to the road Rn on the north side, then goes west, goes south in front of store ac, and further goes west on the road Rs on the south side to reach the work location Po existing in front of the back entrance of store a.

[0038] According to the above guidance, the delivery staff can confirm the working location Po on the map. Also, the delivery staff can confirm the planned transportation route to the working location Po on the map. Therefore, the delivery staff can move to the predetermined working location Po without hesitation and perform the delivery without violating the requirements determined by the delivery location. Also, it is possible to reduce the possibility that the delivery staff accidentally transports the goods to a location different from the working location Po, and increase the possibility of proceeding with the work efficiently.

[0039] As described above, if the working location is associated with the delivery location, the delivery staff can easily transport the goods from the parking location to the working location. However, before formulating the delivery plan, it is very cumbersome for the administrator to identify the working location for all delivery locations and register it in the delivery plan information 30a. For example, while the working location may be the back entrance of the store as shown in Store a in FIG. 3B above, there may be a delivery destination store within the site of the parking location of the delivery vehicle, and there may be a delivery location where work should be performed at a specific working location through the site. Therefore, for multiple delivery locations, the work of the administrator manually checking and registering the working location is very time-consuming.

[0040] Therefore, in the present embodiment, it is configured so that the working location can be obtained without relying on the artificial work by the administrator. The working location acquisition program 21 is a program for automatically identifying the working location. When the working location acquisition program 21 is executed, the control unit 20 functions as a determination unit 21a, a position acquisition unit 21b, a working location acquisition unit 21c, and a route acquisition unit 21d.

[0041] In the following, the processes described as being performed by the determination unit 21a, the position acquisition unit 21b, the work location acquisition unit 21c, and the route acquisition unit 21d are processes realized by the control unit 20. Also, the work location acquisition program 21 is executed in a situation where one or more work locations of each delivery location are unknown in the delivery plan information 30a. That is, in the present embodiment, even if one or more work locations are unknown, the delivery plan information 30a is created, navigation according to the delivery plan is performed, and delivery according to the navigation is performed. The work location acquisition program 21 is executed during such delivery.

[0042] The determination unit 21a is a function for determining whether or not the delivery person has parked the delivery vehicle at the parking location associated with the delivery location. That is, the control unit 20 refers to the delivery plan information 30a by the function of the determination unit 21a, specifies the delivery location that the delivery person is currently heading to from the current position of the delivery person, and determines whether or not the parking location associated with the delivery location matches the current position of the delivery person. When the parking location matches the current position of the delivery person, the control unit 20 determines that the delivery person has parked the delivery vehicle at the parking location associated with the delivery location.

[0043] The position acquisition unit 21b is a function for acquiring the position of the delivery person after the delivery vehicle has been parked at the parking location. That is, the control unit 20 starts recording the current position of the delivery person triggered by the delivery vehicle being parked at the parking location. The current position is acquired as a history of coordinates at regular intervals, that is, as a trajectory of the position of the delivery person, and is recorded on the recording medium 30 as movement history information 30c.

[0044] The work location acquisition unit 21c has a function of acquiring, as the work location at the delivery location, the turning point of the trajectory of the position of the delivery person after the parking location. In a mode where, as in the present embodiment, the parking location and the work location are different and the delivery and receipt of goods are performed at the work location, the trajectory after the parking location is likely to be composed of a movement trajectory when moving from the parking location to the work location and a movement trajectory when returning from the work location to the parking location. Therefore, the turning point of the trajectory, that is, the end point on the side opposite to the parking location in the trajectory is likely to be the work location. Thus, if the turning point of the trajectory is acquired, it can be regarded as the work location.

[0045] Specifically, the control unit 20 refers to the history of the position of the delivery person, and in the trajectory of the position, identifies, as the turning point, the point that becomes the end point of the trajectory by continuously moving in one direction and then continuously moving in the reverse direction. Then, the control unit 20 acquires the identified turning point as the work location. The information indicating the acquired work location is recorded in the delivery plan information 30a. According to the above configuration, the work location can be acquired without relying on artificial work by the administrator. Note that the information indicating the work location may be recorded in the map information 30b.

[0046] FIG. 4 shows the history of the position of the delivery person at the same delivery location as in FIG. 3B. In the example shown in FIG. 4, the delivery person starts transporting the goods from position P1, leaves the parking location, and moves to positions P2, P3, P4, P5, etc., and delivers and receives the goods at the back entrance of store a. After that, the delivery person moves to positions P5, P4, P3, P2, etc., and returns to the delivery vehicle C. Therefore, the control unit 20 regards position P5, which is the turning point, as the work location.

[0047] In addition, when there are multiple turning points in the trajectory of the delivery person's position, the control unit 20 may specify one of the multiple turning points as the working point, or present multiple turning points as the working points, and then determine the working point based on the statistics of the subsequent trajectory. Various methods can be adopted as the method for specifying one of the multiple turning points as the working point. For example, a point adjacent to a facility such as a store as a delivery location, a point with the longest stay period, the last turning point that appears (because there is a high possibility of returning to the delivery vehicle without hesitation after delivery), etc. can be configured to be specified as the working point.

[0048] Also, the working point may be specified based on the movement trajectory during multiple deliveries. As a configuration in which the working point is specified based on the movement trajectory during multiple deliveries, for example, a configuration in which a point that is commonly a turning point in multiple deliveries is used as the working point can be cited. In this configuration, the control unit 20 specifies the trajectories of the positions of the delivery person, which are the movement history information 30c associated with the same delivery location and collected at different dates and times.

[0049] The control unit 20 specifies the turning points based on each trajectory, and regards multiple turning points existing within a certain range as the same turning point. Then, when the number of times the same turning point is specified reaches or exceeds the threshold, the control unit 20 regards the turning point as the working point. According to this configuration, the possibility of accurately specifying the working point can be increased. In the present embodiment, hereinafter, a configuration in which the working point is specified based on the movement trajectory during multiple deliveries will be described.

[0050] Furthermore, a process for preventing misjudgment may be added. For example, the control unit 20 may be configured to acquire a turning point where the distance from the parking point is equal to or less than a threshold value as the working point. For example, the history of the delivery person's position may not be accurately specified due to noise or the like, and the delivery person may move to the next delivery point without being able to specify the turning point, and then the turning point may be specified. In this case, the turning point may be the working point of the next delivery point, but not the working point of the previous delivery point.

[0051] Therefore, the control unit 20 may be configured not to acquire a turning point where the distance from the parking point is greater than the threshold value as the working point. According to this configuration, the possibility of accurately specifying the working point can be increased. Note that the threshold value is a value smaller than the distance to the next delivery point of a certain delivery point, and can be defined, for example, by a value obtained by adding a predetermined margin to the general distance from the delivery point to the working point.

[0052] The route acquisition unit 21d is a function of acquiring the trajectory of the delivery person's position after the parking point as the route from the parking point to the working point. Specifically, the control unit 20 refers to the history of the delivery person's position and specifies the trajectory from the position where the delivery vehicle was parked at the parking point to the working point where the luggage was delivered to the consignor. Then, the control unit 20 acquires the history of the positions (coordinates) constituting the trajectory as the planned transportation route. The information indicating the acquired planned transportation route is recorded in the delivery plan information 30a. According to the above configuration, the planned transportation route can be acquired without depending on the artificial work by the administrator. Note that the information indicating the working point may be recorded in the map information 30b. Further, the planned transportation route may be a one-way route from the delivery vehicle to the luggage delivery point, or a round-trip route.

[0053] As described above, when the working point and the planned transportation route are specified, the control unit 20 can perform navigation regarding the movement of the delivery person after the parking point using these working point and planned transportation route by the navigation program.

[0054] (2) Route guidance processing and work location acquisition processing: Next, the route guidance processing and work location acquisition processing executed by the control unit 20 will be described. Before these processes are performed, the delivery plan information 30a is generated by the administrator terminal 200 and transmitted to the work location acquisition system 10 via the communication unit 220. The control unit 20 acquires the delivery plan information 30a via the communication unit 40. Then, the control unit 20 records the acquired delivery plan information 30a on the recording medium 30. At the initial stage, the work location and the planned transportation route are not included in the delivery plan information 30a.

[0055] When delivering the goods, the control unit 20 executes the work location acquisition processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. 5 for each delivery person based on the current location of each delivery person. Also, when the delivery by each delivery person is started, the control unit 20 starts the route guidance for each delivery person with the route guidance function for each delivery person as the processing target. FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the route guidance processing. Here, first, the route guidance processing shown in FIG. 6 will be described.

[0056] In the route guidance processing, first, the control unit 20 refers to the recording medium 30 and acquires the delivery plan information 30a of the delivery person to be processed (step S1). Next, the control unit 20 performs route guidance based on the planned travel route (step S2). Specifically, the control unit 20 identifies the current location of the delivery person transmitted from the delivery person terminal 100. Further, the control unit 20 refers to the delivery plan information 30a and identifies the delivery location, which is the next destination, from the current location of the delivery person. Further, the control unit 20 refers to the delivery plan information 30a and the map information 30b and draws a map including the current location of the delivery person and the planned travel route. Then, the control unit 20 transmits the drawn image data to the delivery person terminal 100 and displays the map on the display unit of the user I / F unit 150. As a result, for example, a screen as shown in FIG. 3A is displayed on the display unit of the user I / F unit 150.

[0057] Next, the control unit 20 determines whether the delivery vehicle has arrived at the parking location of the delivery point (step S3). Specifically, the control unit 20 determines whether the distance between the current position of the delivery vehicle and the parking location is within a predetermined distance. That is, the control unit 20 identifies the current position of the delivery person transmitted from the delivery person terminal 100. Further, the control unit 20 obtains the distance between the parking location of the next delivery point and the current position of the delivery vehicle based on the delivery plan information 30a and the map information 30b. When the distance is within the predetermined distance, the control unit 20 determines that the delivery vehicle has arrived at the parking location.

[0058] In step S3, when it is not determined that the delivery vehicle has arrived at the parking location of the delivery point, the control unit 20 repeatedly executes the process until it is determined in step S3 that the delivery vehicle has arrived at the parking location of the delivery point. In step S3, when it is determined that the delivery vehicle has arrived at the parking location of the delivery point, the control unit 20 causes a map around the delivery point to be displayed (step S4). That is, the control unit 20 changes the scale of the map so that the delivery point, the parking location, and the current position of the delivery vehicle are displayed as a polygon within the screen of the display unit, and causes the display unit of the user I / F unit 150 to display it. As a result, for example, among the maps such as FIG. 3B, a map excluding the work location Po and the planned transportation route is displayed on the display unit of the user I / F unit 150.

[0059] Next, the control unit 20 determines whether there is a work location and a planned transportation route (step S5). Specifically, the control unit 20 refers to the delivery plan information 30a and determines that there is a work location and a planned transportation route when a work location and a planned transportation route are associated with the next delivery point.

[0060] In step S5, when it is determined that there is a work location and a planned transportation route, the control unit 20 causes the work location and the planned transportation route to be displayed (step S6). Specifically, icons indicating the work location and the planned transportation route are superimposed on the map drawn in step S4 and displayed on the display unit of the user I / F unit 150. As a result, for example, a map like Fig. 3B is displayed on the display unit of the user I / F unit 150. On the other hand, in step S5, when it is determined that there is no work location and planned transportation route, the control unit 20 skips step S6.

[0061] When step S6 is executed, or when in step S5 it is determined that there is no work location and planned transportation route, the control unit 20 determines whether the delivery vehicle has moved from the parking location (step S7). Specifically, the control unit 20 determines that the delivery vehicle has moved from the parking location when the current position of the delivery person approaches the parking position of the delivery vehicle and further, when the current position of the delivery person moves on the road and moves away from the parking position.

[0062] In step S7, when it is determined that the delivery vehicle has not moved from the parking location, the control unit 20 repeats the determination in step S7. That is, the guidance like in steps S4 and S6 is continued. On the other hand, in step S7, when it is determined that the delivery vehicle has moved from the parking location, the control unit 20 repeats the processing after step S2. That is, route guidance to the next delivery destination, which is the delivery location, is performed.

[0063] In the situation where the above route guidance process is being executed, the control unit 20 performs the process of Fig. 5 by the function of the work location acquisition program 21. That is, the work location acquisition process is also executed in parallel with the route guidance process.

[0064] First, the control unit 20 determines whether the delivery vehicle has parked at the parking location by the function of the determination unit 21a (step S10). Specifically, the control unit 20 acquires the current position from the delivery staff terminal 100. The control unit 20 determines whether the distance between the parking location associated with the next delivery location as the destination and the current position of the delivery vehicle is equal to or less than a threshold value based on the delivery plan information 30a and the map information 30b. When the distance is equal to or less than the threshold value, it is determined that the delivery vehicle has parked at the parking location.

[0065] In step S10, when it is not determined that the delivery vehicle has parked at the parking location, the control unit 20 repeats the determination in step S10 at regular intervals. On the other hand, in step S10, when it is determined that the delivery vehicle has parked at the parking location, the control unit 20 starts acquiring the trajectory of the current position of the delivery staff by the function of the position acquisition unit 21b (step S11). That is, the control unit 20 acquires the current position periodically transmitted from the delivery staff terminal 100 as a time-series history of positions, that is, a trajectory.

[0066] Next, the control unit 20 determines whether the delivery staff has returned to the parking location after leaving the parking location by the function of the position acquisition unit 21b (step S12). That is, the control unit 20 refers to the trajectory started to be acquired in step S11, and when the current position of the delivery staff moves away from the parking location by a predetermined distance or more and then approaches the parking location again until it becomes equal to or less than the predetermined distance, it is determined that the delivery staff has returned to the parking location after leaving the parking location.

[0067] In step S12, when it is not determined that the delivery staff has returned to the parking location after leaving the parking location, the control unit 20 repeats the processes after step S11. In step S12, when it is determined that the delivery staff has returned to the parking location after leaving the parking location, the control unit 20 acquires and records the turning point of the trajectory by the function of the work location acquisition unit 21c (step S13). That is, the control unit 20 identifies, among the trajectories, the point that becomes the end point of the trajectory by continuously moving in one direction and then continuously moving in the opposite direction, and regards it as the turning point. The identified turning point is recorded on the recording medium 30.

[0068] Next, the control unit 20 determines whether the same turning point has been specified a predetermined number of times or more by the function of the work location acquisition unit 21c (step S14). Specifically, the turning point recorded in step S13 executed in the past is compared with the turning point acquired in the current process. When a turning point within a predetermined distance or less from the turning point acquired in the current process has been recorded in the past and the number of times recorded together with the current process is a predetermined number of times or more, it is determined that the same turning point has been specified a predetermined number of times or more.

[0069] If it is not determined in step S14 that the same turning point has been specified a predetermined number of times or more, the control unit 20 skips steps S15 and S16. That is, the turning point and the planned transportation route are not registered. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S14 that the same turning point has been specified a predetermined number of times or more, the control unit 20 registers the turning point as a work location by the function of the work location acquisition unit 21c (step S15). That is, the control unit 20 regards the same turning point specified a predetermined number of times or more as a work location, and records it in the delivery plan information 30a as the work location of the delivery location corresponding to the parking location determined to have parked in step S10.

[0070] Next, the control unit 20 registers the trajectory from the parking location to the work location as the planned transportation route by the function of the route acquisition unit 21d (step S16). Specifically, from the trajectory started to be acquired in step S11, the trajectory from the parking location to the work location is extracted and recorded in the delivery plan information 30a as the planned transportation route.

[0071] When step S16 is executed, or when it is not determined in step S14 that the same turning point has been specified a predetermined number of times or more, the control unit 20 determines whether the delivery vehicle has moved from the parking location (step S17). Specifically, the control unit 20 determines that the delivery vehicle has moved from the parking location when the current position of the delivery person has moved away from the parking position by moving on the road.

[0072] In step S17, if it is determined that the delivery vehicle has not moved from the parking location, the control unit 20 repeats the determination in step S17. On the other hand, in step S17, if it is determined that the delivery vehicle has moved from the parking location, the control unit 20 repeats the processes after step S10.

[0073] (3) Other embodiments, etc.: The above embodiments are examples for implementing the present invention, and various other embodiments can also be adopted. For example, the planned travel route may be searched by the work location acquisition system 10 or the delivery staff terminal 100. Furthermore, the handling is not limited to the delivery of goods, and a configuration in which collection is performed may be used.

[0074] Also, each system constituting the above-described embodiments may be configured with fewer devices that share functions. As such an example, there is an example in which at least one system shown in FIG. 1 is configured with the same device as one or more other systems. For example, the work location acquisition system 10 and the delivery staff terminal 100 may be configured as an integrated device, or the work location acquisition system 10 and the administrator terminal 200 may be configured as an integrated device, or the administrator terminal 200 and the delivery staff terminal 100 may be configured as an integrated device.

[0075] Also, the functions of a part of the work location acquisition system 10 (at least a part of the determination unit 21a, the position acquisition unit 21b, the work location acquisition unit 21c, and the route acquisition unit 21d) may be realized by the delivery staff terminal 100 or the administrator terminal 200. Furthermore, the system shown in FIG. 1 may be configured with a larger number of systems. For example, at least a part of the work location acquisition system 10, the administrator terminal 200, and the delivery staff terminal 100 may be configured with a cloud server.

[0076] Further, at least a part of each unit (determination unit 21a, position acquisition unit 21b, work location acquisition unit 21c, route acquisition unit 21d) constituting the work location acquisition system 10 may be divided and exist in a plurality of devices. Furthermore, a configuration in which a part of the above-described embodiment is omitted, or a configuration in which processing is changed or omitted can also be assumed. For example, a configuration in which the route acquisition unit 21d is omitted can be assumed.

[0077] The determination unit only needs to be able to determine whether or not the delivery person has parked the delivery vehicle at the parking location associated with the delivery destination. That is, the work location is the location that the delivery person reaches by walking after parking the delivery vehicle, and it is sufficient to be able to determine whether or not the delivery vehicle has been parked at the parking location in order to identify the starting point of the movement on foot.

[0078] The delivery destination only needs to be the destination of the package or the collection point of the package, or both. The parking location is a location where the delivery vehicle is parked, and any location such as a parking lot or a parkable road can be the parking location. In the above-described embodiment, a configuration in which the parking location has already been specified is assumed, but a configuration in which the parking location is specified based on the trajectory of the delivery vehicle or the like may also be used.

[0079] The method for determining whether or not the delivery person has parked the delivery vehicle at the parking location is not limited to the above-described method. For example, in the delivery vehicle, it may be specified that the delivery vehicle has been parked based on the fact that the shift lever is set to the P range, or the doors of the delivery vehicle or the cargo compartment have been opened.

[0080] The position acquisition unit only needs to be able to acquire the position of the delivery person after the delivery vehicle has been parked at the parking location. That is, the position acquisition unit only needs to be able to acquire the time-series history of the position of the delivery person. The method for acquiring the position of the delivery person is not limited to the method using the signal of the Global Navigation Satellite System. For example, a technique for specifying the position of the mobile terminal carried by the delivery person using a mobile phone base station or a wireless communication base station may also be used.

[0081] The work location acquisition unit only needs to be able to acquire the turning point of the trajectory of the delivery person's position after the parking location as the work location at the delivery location. The turning point may be any point where the trajectory of the delivery person's position forms an endpoint, and may be acquired by various methods.

[0082] Furthermore, the method of the present invention can also be applied as a program or a method. Also, the above-described system, program, and method may be realized as a single device, or may be realized by using components shared with each part provided in the vehicle, and include various aspects. Also, it can be appropriately changed, such as part being software and part being hardware. Furthermore, the invention is also established as a recording medium for the program that controls the system. Of course, the recording medium for the program may be a magnetic recording medium, a semiconductor memory, or any recording medium developed in the future, and can be considered in exactly the same way.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0083] 10... Work location acquisition system, 20... Control unit, 21... Work location acquisition program, 21a... Judgment unit, 21b... Position acquisition unit, 21c... Work location acquisition unit, 21d... Route acquisition unit, 30... Recording medium, 30a... Delivery plan information, 30b... Map information, 30c... Movement history information, 40... Communication unit, 41... GNSS receiver, 100... Delivery person terminal, 110... Control unit, 120... Recording medium, 120a... Delivery plan information, 130... Communication unit, 140... GNSS receiver, 150... User I / F unit, 200... Administrator terminal, 210... Control unit, 220... Communication unit, 230... User I / F unit, 240... Recording medium

Claims

1. A determination unit that determines whether a delivery person has parked a delivery vehicle at a parking location associated with a delivery destination; A position acquisition unit that acquires the position of the delivery person after the delivery vehicle has been parked at the parking location; A work location acquisition unit that acquires, as a work location at the delivery destination, a turning point of the trajectory of the position of the delivery person after the parking location; A work location acquisition system comprising the above.

2. The turning point acquired as the work location is A point where the distance from the parking location is equal to or less than a threshold value, The work location acquisition system according to Claim 1.

3. The work location is A point that has been commonly used as the turning point in multiple deliveries, The work location acquisition system according to Claim 1.

4. The work location acquisition system according to Claim 1, further comprising a route acquisition unit that acquires the trajectory of the position of the delivery person after the parking location as a route from the parking location to the work location. The work location acquisition system according to Claim 1.

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