Management device, mobile shop robot, program, and method for searching for mobile shop moving route

Abstract

To provide a management device, and the like for searching for a moving route that improves sales capacity.SOLUTION: A management device includes: real cost map calculation means configured to calculate an expected profit amount according to products and services to be sold at a mobile shop for each route section; and moving route search means configured to search for a moving route based on the expected profit amount for each route section. The moving route search means may search for a moving route with the highest total expected profit amount in a designated sale time, and search for a moving route without designating a destination. The management device further includes: expected sales amount calculation means configured to calculate an expected sales amount for each route section; and an expected cost calculation unit configured to calculate an expected cost amount for each route section. The real cost map calculation unit calculates the expected profit amount by subtracting the expected cost amount from the expected sales amount. The real cost map calculation unit calculates electricity charge as the expected cost amount based on history data of electricity consumption in the mobile shop, and calculates electricity charge that varies depending on the time of day.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0001] According to the present invention, it relates to a technique for searching for a moving path of a moving object. In particular, it relates to a moving store that provides goods and services to users.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, there is a technique for a system that generates an operation plan for a moving store (see, for example, Patent Document 1). According to this technique, a user transmits a visit request for a moving store that the user wishes to visit to a server, and the moving store is controlled to move to a predetermined position. There is also a technique for obtaining purchase information of goods and services from a first moving store and transmitting the purchase information of the user to a second moving store (see, for example, Patent Document 2). Furthermore, there is also a technique for parking a moving vehicle loaded with goods of a predetermined store at a predetermined sales location for a predetermined time after the business hours of the predetermined store to sell the goods (see, for example, Patent Document 3).

[0003] In addition, as another prior art, there is also a technique for a moving store management device that reduces the burden on a user when purchasing goods (see, for example, Patent Document 4). According to this technique, for a management device that manages a moving store that autonomously travels on a passage within a predetermined area to sell goods, an attendance information acquisition unit that acquires attendance information indicating the attendance position of an attending user who is present in an office, a circuit route determination unit that determines a circuit route through which the moving store passes based on the attendance position indicated by the attendance information, and a route notification unit that notifies the moving store of the determined circuit route.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Patent Document 3

Patent Document 4

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] According to the above-mentioned Patent Documents 1 to 3, a vehicle is assumed as the mobile store. On the other hand, according to Patent Document 4, a mobile robot is assumed as the mobile store. When a mobile robot is utilized as the mobile store, it is expected to enhance the convenience of access to the mobile store as an advantage for the user side. In this case, although the loading capacity is limited compared to a vehicle, it can move in a narrow space. In addition, the mobile store can enter not only outdoor roads but also passages inside facilities (for example, in front of the security gate of an office).

[0006] In contrast, the inventors of the present application considered whether it would be possible to improve the selling power of the mobile store as an advantage for the seller side of the goods and services. That is, they considered whether it would be possible to search for a moving route so as to improve the selling power of the mobile store.

[0007] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a management device, a mobile store robot, a program, and a method capable of searching for a moving route for improving the selling power.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0008] According to the present invention, there is provided a management device for searching for a moving route of a mobile store, real cost map calculation means for calculating an expected profit amount corresponding to the goods and services sold at the mobile store for each route section, Based on the expected profit amount for each route section Transfer Moving route search means for searching for a moving route characterized by comprising. Moreover, according to another embodiment of the management device of the present invention, It is also preferable that the moving route search means searches for a moving route with the highest total expected profit amount at the specified selling time. Furthermore, according to another embodiment of the management device of the present invention, It is also preferable that the moving route search means searches for a moving route without specifying a destination. Moreover, according to another embodiment of the management device of the present invention,

[0009] According to another embodiment of the management device of the present invention, for each route section, a projected sales amount calculating means for calculating a projected sales amount, for each route section, a projected cost amount calculating means for calculating a projected cost amount and further having The real cost map calculation unit subtracts the projected cost amount from the projected sales amount to calculate a projected profit amount. This is also preferable. It is also preferable that the expected cost amount calculation means calculates the electricity charge as the expected cost amount based on the historical data of the power consumption at the moving store. Furthermore, according to another embodiment of the management device of the present invention, It is also preferable that the expected cost amount calculation means calculates different electricity charges depending on the time zone. Transfer Transfer te

[0010] According to another embodiment of the management device of the present invention, for each movement section, for each attribute of the user, an attribute-based user number estimating means for estimating the number of users, a purchase history database for storing the history information of purchases made by the user at the mobile store and having The projected sales amount calculating means calculates the projected sales amount from the current number of users by attribute based on the past number of users by attribute and the purchase history for each route section. This is also preferable.

[0011] According to another embodiment of the management device of the present invention, The attribute-based user number estimating means estimates the number of users by attribute from the location information and subscriber attributes of mobile terminals possessed by an unspecified number of people. This is also preferable.

[0012] According to another embodiment of the management device of the present invention, When the upper limit sales amount calculated from the salable product services exceeds the expected sales amount, the movement route search means re-searches for the movement route with the lowest expected cost amount among the movement routes that reach the upper limit sales amount or more. This is also preferable.

[0013] According to another embodiment of the management device of the present invention, it further has communication resource allocation amount calculation means for calculating the communication resource allocation amount corresponding to the position of the mobile store, and the expected cost amount calculation means is configured such that the expected cost amount increases as the communication resource allocation amount increases. This is also preferable.

[0014] According to another embodiment of the management device of the present invention, the expected cost amount calculation means is configured such that the expected cost amount increases as the number of mobile terminals located within the route section increases. This is also preferable.

[0015] According to another embodiment of the management device of the present invention, the communication resource allocation amount calculation means controls network slicing of the radio access network so that the communication resource allocation amount is reduced while the mobile store is moving and increased while the mobile store is parked. This is also preferable.

[0016] According to another embodiment of the management device of the present invention, the management device is communicable with a communication resource management device of a radio access network that allocates communication resources between the mobile store and the radio base station, and the communication resource allocation amount calculation means records the MCS (Modulation and Coding Scheme) in the mobile store communicating with the radio base station for each route section, and calculates the communication resource allocation amount from the past MCS values in the route section where the mobile store is located. This is also preferable.

[0017] According to another embodiment of the management device of the present invention, the movement route search means calculates the population density for each route section from the total number of users for each movement section estimated by the user number estimation means by attribute, and searches for a movement route using route sections other than those where the population density is below a predetermined threshold. This is also preferable.

[0018] According to another embodiment of the management device of the present invention, it is also preferable that the mobile store is a self-propelled mobile store robot. This is also preferable.

[0019] According to the present invention, there is provided a self-propelled mobile store robot that searches for a movement route, a real cost map calculation means for calculating an expected profit amount corresponding to the goods and services sold by the mobile store robot itself for each route section, based on the expected profit amount for each route section

Figure 1

[0020] According to the present invention, there is provided a program for causing a computer to function so as to search for a movement route of a mobile store, a real cost map calculation means for calculating an expected profit amount corresponding to the goods and services sold at the mobile store for each route section, based on the expected profit amount for each route section

Figure 2

[0021] According to the present invention, there is provided a movement route search method for a device that searches for a movement route of a mobile store, the device performs a first step of calculating an expected profit amount corresponding to the goods and services sold at the mobile store for each route section, based on the expected profit amount for each route section

Figure 3

[0022] According to the management device, mobile store robot, program, and method of the present invention, it is possible to search for a movement route for improving sales power. [Brief Description of the Drawings]

[0023]

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

[0024] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0025] FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram in the present invention. According to the system of FIG. 1, the mobile store 1, the mobile terminal 2, the management device 3, and the communication resource management device 4 communicate with each other via a network.

[0026] [Mobile Store 1] The mobile store 1 is movable to sell commodity services to users. The mobile store 1 will be described as a self-propelled mobile store robot (smart mobility), but of course, it may be a vehicle store that is manually moved. The route assumed by the present invention may be a road on which general vehicles travel, or may be, for example, a passage within a facility. It is a route that an unspecified number of third parties come and go, and it is sufficient if the mobile store 1 can pass through and park.

[0027] [Mobile terminal 2] The mobile terminal 2 is possessed by an unspecified number of third parties located around the route. For example, it is a smartphone that a person carries when going out, and it may have nothing to do with the services of the mobile store 1. As the mobile terminal 2, for example, it is preferably targeted at all subscribers who have a contract with a specific communication carrier and have given consent to the acquisition of location information.

[0028] [Management device 3] The management device 3 can search for a mobile route with a high expected sales amount so as to improve the sales of the products and services of the mobile store. If it is a mobile store robot, it can autonomously travel according to the mobile route and automatically sell the products and services. In addition, the management device 3 can, via the network, instruct the mobile route to the mobile store 1 and also collect the number of stays of the mobile terminal 2 in each route section. Note that the mobile route search technology by the management device 3 can also be incorporated into the mobile store robot itself having path planning. As a result, the mobile store robot alone can travel completely autonomously.

[0029] [Communication resource management device 4] The communication resource management device 4 allocates communication resources of the radio access network between the mobile store 1 and the base station. According to the present invention, in response to an instruction from the management device 3, it controls the allocation of communication resources to the base station that communicates with the mobile store 1. The radio area of this communication resource is not limited to the outdoors, may be indoors, or may be available for both.

[0030] Figure 2 is a functional configuration diagram of the mobile store robot in the present invention.

[0031] According to FIG. 2, the mobile store 1 includes a product mounting unit 101, a wireless communication unit 102, a wireless quality acquisition unit 103, a current position acquisition unit 104, a state acquisition unit 105, an imaging unit 106, a route information storage unit 107, a sound collection unit 108, a dialogue processing unit 109, an operation planning unit 110, an operation control unit 111, a purchase processing unit 112, and a purchase display unit 113. These functional components are realized by executing a program that enables a computer mounted on the mobile store. Also, the flow of processing of these functional components can be understood as a control method for the mobile store.

[0032] [Product Mounting Unit 101] The product mounting unit 101 is a container for mounting products. Of course, it may be a shelf or a box, or a door may be provided at the opening of the box. Also, it may be something that keeps the loaded products warm or cold. These products may be provided to the user manually, or may be provided by a control device such as an arm robot. Of course, the product mounting unit 101 may be a container for providing services.

[0033] [Wireless Communication Unit 102] The wireless communication unit 102 is a wireless communication module for communicating with a base station or an access point. This communicates with the management device 3 via a RAN (Radio Access Network) or the Internet. Specifically, the wireless communication unit 102 communicates wirelessly with a base station corresponding to a wireless communication method such as 4G (Fourth Generation Mobile Communication System), 5G (Fifth Generation Mobile Communication System), which are currently in practical use, or 6G (Sixth Generation Mobile Communication System), for which future practical use is expected.

[0034] [Wireless Quality Acquisition Unit 103] The wireless quality acquisition unit 103 acquires the wireless quality in the wireless communication unit 102.

[0035] [Current Position Acquisition Unit 104] If it is outdoors, the current position acquisition unit 104 measures the position using, for example, GPS (Global Positioning System). If it is indoors, it may measure the absolute position using, for example, IMES (Indoor MEssaging System).

[0036] [Status acquisition unit 105] The status acquisition unit 105 acquires status data such as the remaining battery level, temperature, and moving speed from various sensors mounted on the mobile store 1.

[0037] [Imaging unit 106] The imaging unit 106 is, for example, a camera that acquires an imaging image of the periphery of the mobile store 1. It may, for example, capture the area in front of the moving direction of the mobile store 1. Further, the imaging unit 106 may be provided with a moving mechanism for moving the camera. By controlling the moving mechanism, it is possible to image not only the area in front of the moving direction but also the left, right, up, and down directions.

[0038] [Route information storage unit 107] The route information storage unit 107 stores the information on the moving route received from the management device 3.

[0039] [Sound collection unit 108] The sound collection unit 108 is a microphone that collects the sounds around the mobile store 1.

[0040] [Dialogue processing unit 109] The dialogue processing unit 109 interacts with the user by voice or text, can give the user a sense of familiarity, and enhance their willingness to purchase. The dialogue processing unit 109 speaks the dialogue generated by the dialogue processing unit 109 as voice in response to the voice of the user collected by the sound collection unit 108.

[0041] [Motion planning unit 110] The motion planning unit 110 plans the next action in the mobile store 1. When moving along the moving route stored in the route information storage unit 107, the motion planning unit 110 uses the following information to plan actions according to the surrounding environment. · The current position acquired by the current position acquisition unit 104 · The state of the moving store 1 acquired by the state acquisition unit 105 · The captured image acquired by the imaging unit 106 When there is an obstacle ahead, for example, the motion planning unit 110 plans the motion to move along a path that avoids the obstacle at an appropriate moving speed. In addition, when the motion planning unit 110 detects the following information for the user to purchase a product, it temporarily stops the moving store 1. · Based on the captured image acquired by the imaging unit 106, the user is raising a hand or approaching · Based on the sound collected by the sound collection unit 108, a specific speech of the user is detected Then, the motion planning unit 110 controls to open the door of the product mounting unit 101 so that the user can take out the product.

[0042] [Motion control unit 111] The motion control unit 111 executes the motion determined by the motion planning unit 110. The motion control unit 111 moves the moving store 1 forward, backward, turns right or left, or stops it. In addition, the motion control unit 111 controls a moving mechanism that moves the camera to change the direction of the camera or opens and closes the door of the shelf of the product mounting unit 101.

[0043] [Purchase processing unit 112] The purchase processing unit 112 quickly executes user authentication and product identification for the purchase processing of product services. By quickly completing the purchase processing, an increase in sales per unit time can be expected, and the user satisfaction can be improved. For user personal authentication, for example, information such as face authentication or fingerprint authentication (e.g., when picking up a product from a product shelf) is transmitted to the management device 3 to perform purchaser authentication. Also, it may be configured to read user identification information from an IC card of the user or a QR code displayed on a smartphone or the like using an IC card reader or a QR code reader mounted on the mobile store 1. Further, the purchase processing unit 112 may, for example, transmit information on image analysis of a product picked up by the user to the management device 3 to recognize the product. Furthermore, it may be configured to recognize a product by reading an RFID tag or a barcode attached to the product using an RFID reader or a barcode reader mounted on the mobile store 1.

[0044] [Purchase display unit 113] When the purchase display unit 113 receives notification of completion of settlement from the management device 3, it displays this fact to the user. For example, the purchase display unit 113 may display the following information on a display. · Information indicating the purchasing user (e.g., registered name or membership number) · Information indicating the product (e.g., product name, product price, product discount rate) · Information indicating completion of settlement (e.g., voice or sound effect)

[0045] Figure 3 is a functional configuration diagram of the management device in the present invention.

[0046] The management device 3 is, for example, a server existing on the cloud, searches for the movement routes of one or more mobile stores 1, and manages various types of information. The management device 3 includes an operation monitoring unit 301, a location / communication quality / power consumption storage unit 302, a personal information database 303, a purchaser authentication unit 304, a product information database 305, a product recognition unit 306, a settlement unit 307, a purchase history database 308, a dialogue generation unit 309, a location information storage unit 310, an estimated number of users by attribute unit 311, an estimated sales amount calculation unit 312, a total communication resource usage estimation unit 313, a communication resource allocation amount calculation unit 314, an estimated cost amount calculation unit 315, a real cost map calculation unit 316, a map information storage unit 317, a movement route search unit 318, and a movement route distribution unit 319. These functional components are realized by executing a program that causes a computer installed in the management device to function. Also, the processing flow of these functional components can be understood as a movement route search method in a mobile store.

[0047] [Operation Monitoring Unit 301] The operation monitoring unit 301 monitors the operation of one or more mobile stores 1. The operation monitoring unit 301 manages the location information, status information, and video (including images) received in real time, associated with the ID (identifier) of each mobile store 1. These pieces of information may be received and updated, for example, at one-second intervals. The operation monitoring unit 301 particularly analyzes the location information, status information, and video, and when detecting a failure in the mobile store 1, issues an alarm to the system monitor.

[0048] [Location / Communication Quality / Power Consumption Storage Unit 302] The location / communication quality / power consumption storage unit 302 associates and stores location information, wireless communication quality information, MCS (Modulation and Coding Scheme) information described later, and power consumption information between locations, for each ID of the mobile store 1.

[0049] [Personal Information Database 303] The personal information database 303 stores not only personal information necessary for personal authentication but also attribute information. Examples of attribute information include gender, age, and family composition. It is also preferable to store information about preferences for product services and the strength of the intention to purchase at the mobile store 1.

[0050] [Purchaser Authentication Unit 304] The purchaser authentication unit 304 performs personal authentication of the purchaser. As the personal authentication, for example, the face image of the purchaser captured by the imaging unit 106 may be compared with the face feature information stored in the personal information database 303.

[0051] [Product Information Database 305] The product information database 305 accumulates information on product services that may be provided by the mobile store 1. For example, it accumulates information such as product genre, product name, and product price. It is also preferable to include appearance data showing the appearance of the product.

[0052] [Product Recognition Unit 306] The product recognition unit 306 identifies the product service selected (e.g., picked up) by the user. For example, it may identify the product by comparing the product image captured by the imaging unit 106 with the appearance data of the product stored in the product information database 305.

[0053] [Settlement Unit 307] The settlement unit 307 acquires information indicating the purchasing user identified by the purchaser authentication unit 304 and information indicating the product identified by the product recognition unit 306, and executes settlement processing. After the settlement processing is completed, the settlement unit 307 notifies the mobile store 1 to that effect.

[0054] [Purchase History Database 308] The purchase history database 308 stores the history information of purchases made by the user at the mobile store 1. The purchase history database 308 stores the purchase log of the user as history information after the settlement processing in the settlement unit 307 is completed.

[0055] [Dialog Generation Unit 309] The dialogue generation unit 309 generates a dialogue with the user of the mobile store 1 in order to enhance the user's purchasing desire. For example, the dialogue generation unit 309 generates a dialogue introducing recommended products or a dialogue of gratitude for the user's attention to the mobile store 1.

[0056] [Location information storage unit 310] The location information storage unit 310 stores the history of the location information of the mobile terminal 2. For example, the location information of the GPS installed in the mobile terminal 2 is stored in association with the time.

[0057] [User number estimation unit 311 by attribute] The user number estimation unit 311 by attribute estimates the number of users for each moving section according to the user attributes. Specifically, the user number estimation unit 311 by attribute estimates the number of users by attribute from the location information of the mobile terminal 2 held by an unspecified number of people and the subscriber attributes.

[0058] The user number estimation unit 311 by attribute performs map matching with the map information stored in the map information storage unit 317 from the history of the location information stored in the location information storage unit 310, and counts the number of users on roads and in indoor facilities. Map matching is a process of correcting the location information that may include errors obtained by GPS so that it is on the road using map information, and is used in car navigation and the like. In addition, it is preferable to determine that the mobile terminal 2 staying in a building along the road is indoors based on the moving average amount per unit time or the like. It is also preferable that the moving method of the mobile terminal 2 outdoors can be determined as walking or by vehicle from the magnitude of the moving average amount. The user number estimation unit 311 by attribute estimates the number of users, for example, by gender, age group, family composition, and classification of data usage fees per month.

[0059] Here, assume a mobile store equipped with a POS (Point of Sales) as the mobile store. Compared with a vehicle traveling on a general road, the mobile store robot can move in a narrow space and can enter not only outdoors such as a pedestrian road but also the inside of an office or facility (in front of a security gate). Thus, the convenience of access to Mobile Store 1 by users can be expected. In the route section where the mobile store robot travels, there are offices, schools, condominiums, commercial buildings, hotels, hospitals, etc. adjacent to it. Due to the differences in the attributes of the locations, the attributes of users such as age and gender also differ. That is, even if the number of users is the same, it is assumed that the purchase rates of goods and services are significantly different. The user number estimation unit 311 for each attribute estimates the number of users for each user attribute for each mobile section where Mobile Store 1 can sell.

[0060] FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing sales information according to the route section in the present invention. According to FIG. 4, the user number estimation unit 311 for each attribute estimates the number of users for each user attribute for each route section as follows, for example. Route section 51: Road Route section 52: Office area Route section 53: School area

[0061] [Estimated sales amount calculation unit 312] The estimated sales amount calculation unit 312 calculates the estimated sales amount for each route section. The estimated sales amount calculation unit 312 calculates the estimated sales amount from the current number of users for each attribute based on the past number of users for each attribute and the purchase history (past unit price and purchase rate) for each route section. (Number of users for each attribute) × (Purchase rate × Unit price) = Estimated sales amount This is not limited thereto, and a machine learning engine with a teacher may also be used. The machine learning engine is trained, for example, for each route section, using the past number of users for each attribute as an explanatory variable and the past sales amount as an objective variable. Then, by inputting the current number of users for each attribute, the estimated sales amount can be predicted.

[0062] The expected sales amount calculation unit 312 analyzes the number of users for each route section (location attribute) in the user number estimation unit 311 by attribute and the attribute information of the purchase history stored in the purchase history database 308 in that route section. Thereby, the relationship between the number of users, the loaded products, and the sales amount is inferred for each user attribute, and the expected sales amount is calculated. In addition, the expected sales amount calculation unit 312 may classify the estimation results of the relationship between the number of users by attribute and the sales amount by day of the week and time zone, and calculate the expected sales amount according to the day of the week and time zone when the mobile store 1 operates. Furthermore, the expected sales amount calculation unit 312 may utilize the purchase waiting time in the calculation of the expected sales amount. This is because it is assumed that the willingness to use will decrease if the purchase waiting time becomes too long. The calculation of the purchase waiting time may, for example, measure the time from when the target user gets in line at the mobile store 1 until the purchase process is completed.

[0063] According to FIG. 4 described above, for a certain time zone, the expected sales amount is calculated for each route section (road 51, office area 52, school area 53). For example, when a popular snack via SMS is loaded on the mobile store 1, the purchase rate of 10-year-old females (number of purchasers ÷ number of users × 100) is significantly higher compared to other attribute users. In this case, the expected sales for the 900 users of 10-year-old females estimated in the school area 53 is 27,000 yen, and it is assumed to account for a large portion of the sales amount. Thus, by dividing into route sections, more accurate calculation of the expected sales amount can be expected for each user attribute.

[0064] [Total communication resource usage estimation unit 313] The total communication resource usage estimation unit 313 estimates the total communication resource usage for each base station.

[0065] [Communication resource allocation amount calculation unit 314] The communication resource allocation amount calculation unit 314 calculates the communication resource allocation amount according to the position of the mobile store 1.

[0066] For example, when the mobile store 1 is in motion, position information and status information for operation monitoring are transmitted from the mobile store 1 to the management device 3, but only a relatively small amount of communication resources are required. On the other hand, when the mobile store 1 is in the process of a purchase, high-resolution images for purchaser authentication and product recognition are transmitted from the mobile store 1 to the management device 3, so a relatively large amount of communication resources are required. Also, when the wireless communication quality of the mobile store 1 is poor, a large amount of communication resources are required to ensure the transmission quality. This is because the worse the wireless communication quality, the lower the frequency utilization efficiency (the number of information bits that can be transmitted per 1 Hz).

[0067] The communication resource allocation amount calculation unit 314 may record the MCS (Modulation and Coding Scheme) in the mobile store communicating with the radio base station for each route section. Also, the communication resource allocation amount may be calculated from the past MCS values in the route section where the mobile store is located. The frequency utilization efficiency is represented by the MCS defined by the combination of the modulation method and the coding rate. The position·communication quality·power consumption amount storage unit 302 also stores the MCS in association with the wireless communication quality. Thereby, it becomes possible to calculate the required communication resource allocation amount according to the behavior and wireless communication quality of the mobile store 1.

[0068] Also, depending on the total communication resource usage amount per base station estimated by the total communication resource usage amount estimation unit 313, the communication resources that can be allocated at the base station may be insufficient, and not all of the desired communication resources can be allocated, which may cause the transmission quality to deteriorate. The deterioration of the transmission quality leads to an increase in the time required for each user's purchase process, and also leads to an increase in the purchase waiting time.

[0069] For example, the maximum throughput value can be expected as follows. Frequency utilization efficiency of MCS28 = 5.5547 System bandwidth: 100 MHz UPlink rate: 40% Wireless resource ratio available for data transmission: 97% Overhead: 14% Maximum throughput value = 5.5547 × 100M × 0.4 × 0.97 × (1 - 0.14) = Approximately 185 Mbps Under this condition, if 180 Mbps is expected for uplink communication other than Mobile Store 1, the allocated communication resource ratio for Mobile Store 1 will be 5 Mbps. In that case, for example, if the allocated communication resource ratio required for operation monitoring is 1 Mbps and the allocated communication resource ratio required for purchase processing is 30 Mbps, the communication resources required for purchase processing cannot be allocated, leading to an increase in the time required for purchase processing.

[0070] In contrast, the communication resource ratio calculation unit 314 controls network slicing of the radio access network so that the allocated communication resource ratio is reduced when Mobile Store 1 is moving and increased when Mobile Store 1 is parked. Network slicing is to virtually divide the network. Here, the slice during the movement of Mobile Store 1 and the slice during parking are set to be different.

[0071] [Expected cost amount calculation unit 315] The expected cost amount calculation unit 315 calculates the expected cost amount for each route section. The expected cost amount calculation unit 315 calculates the cost expected when Mobile Store 1 passes through and sells goods and services for each route section (including locations where Mobile Store 1 can sell).

[0072] The estimated cost calculation unit 315 calculates the electricity bill as a cost, for example, based on the historical data of power consumption stored in the location, communication quality, and power consumption storage unit 302. Further, the power consumption may be calculated according to the gradient between each location stored in the location, communication quality, and power consumption storage unit 302. At this time, since the power consumption is different for the upward and downward gradients, the power consumption may be calculated for each moving direction between each location. Furthermore, since the electricity bill may vary depending on the time zone, the estimated cost amount may be calculated according to the time zone.

[0073] Further, the estimated cost calculation unit 315 may be configured such that the estimated cost amount increases as the allocated amount of communication resources increases. This is because the network control cost expected to secure the communication resources calculated by the communication resource allocation amount calculation unit 314 is regarded as the estimated cost amount. Here, the network control cost may be the required conditions and data size when securing bandwidth in network slicing. For example, when the communication resource allocation amount calculation unit 314 can allocate communication resources that satisfy the required conditions (e.g., throughput) without any special processing, the estimated cost calculation unit 315 assumes that the network control cost is zero. On the other hand, when special processing such as beamforming control of the base station or network path control is required to improve the MCS, the network control cost required for such processing may be assumed and utilized.

[0074] Furthermore, the estimated cost calculation unit 315 may be configured such that the estimated cost amount increases as the number of mobile terminals located within the route section increases.

[0075] [Real cost map calculation unit 316] The real cost map calculation unit 316 calculates the estimated profit amount corresponding to the goods and services sold at the moving store for each route section. This is an essential functional unit of the present invention. Specifically, the real cost map calculation unit 316 may calculate the expected profit amount by subtracting the expected cost amount calculated by the expected cost amount calculation unit 315 from the expected sales amount calculated by the expected sales amount calculation unit 312 for each route section. Expected profit amount = Expected sales amount - Expected cost amount

[0076] Here, simply speaking, it is assumed that the expected sales amount of the mobile store 1 increases as it passes through a route section with more people. However, people indoors, in cars, or on trains have little expectation of using the mobile store 1. Therefore, it is preferable to extract only the people walking as users with a potential for purchase by the user number estimation unit 311 by attribute. Also, the more people there are who conduct a large amount of data communication, the higher the network control cost becomes. For this reason, a road where there are many people with a high willingness to use the mobile store 1 and few other people can be regarded as a profitable road.

[0077] [Map information storage unit 317] The map information storage unit 317 stores the map information of the routes where the mobile store 1 may travel as map data. The map data is given, for example, as link data that divides a plurality of parts with branch points as nodes and defines the parts between each node as links (route sections). This link data is composed of data such as a link ID (identifier) unique to the link, the link length, the position information of the start and end points (nodes) of the link, angle (direction) data, the passage width, and the passage type.

[0078] [Moving route search unit 318] The moving route search unit 318 searches for a moving route that maximizes the total expected profit amount based on the expected profit amount for each route section calculated by the real cost map calculation unit 316. This is also an essential functional unit of the present invention.

[0079] There are the following two patterns for the search of the moving route. · Search for a moving route that determines a destination Search for a travel route without specifying a destination In the search for a travel route with a specified destination, for example, when parking at a designated park for a certain period of time and selling at Mobile Shop 1, the destination is determined. It is assumed that sales are made at Mobile Shop 1 even during the journey to reach that destination, so that the travel route with the most expected profit can be searched for. In the search for a travel route without specifying a destination, for example, it is possible to search for the travel route with the most expected profit within a specified selling time (e.g., 3 hours).

[0080] In addition, the travel route search unit 318 can also apply a graph-based algorithm such as Dijkstra's algorithm to the travel route that is the shortest distance connecting the starting point and the ending point. This is an algorithm based on best-first search to solve the single-source shortest path problem from the weights of the edges (expected profit amounts) in graph theory.

[0081] FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the control of the travel route in the present invention.

[0082] FIG. 5(a) shows the search for a travel route with a specified destination. According to FIG. 5(a), a travel route with the most expected profit is searched for from the departure point A to the destination F. As the sales information for each route section, the expected profit amount calculated by the real cost map calculation unit 316 is calculated. Here, as the travel route with the most expected profit, the travel route of A->B->C->F is being searched. In addition, considering the travel time and purchase processing time for each travel section, it is also preferable to exclude routes that cannot reach the destination by the specified time.

[0083] FIG. 5(b) shows the search for a travel route without specifying a destination. According to FIG. 5(b), for the sake of simplicity, it is assumed that for all travel sections, a total of 20 minutes of time is expected for the travel time and the purchase processing time. For example, when searching for the travel route with the most expected profit in 1 hour, the travel route of A->B->C->A is being searched. Further, when searching for a movement route, the same road may be passed several times. In this case, since a decrease in profit is assumed depending on the number of times the same road is passed, it is also preferable to search for a movement route after reflecting the decrease in profit due to the number of passes.

[0084] In addition, the movement route search unit 318 may change the movement route by comparing the expected profit amount for each movement section with the real-time actual profit amount.

[0085] Furthermore, the movement route search unit 318 may not use a fixed value for the expected profit amount for each movement section, but may include a probabilistic element. For example, when there is a movement section with a low probability of high profit and a movement section with a high probability of moderate profit, the value of the probability may be determined by comparison with the actual value to decide which movement route to select.

[0086] Furthermore, the movement route search unit 318 may consider the influence of the weather and change the movement route according to the weather.

[0087] Furthermore, the movement route search unit 318 may wait in a specific movement section and deliberately delay passing through another movement section. This is to enable passing through the target movement section at that time zone when the profit in a movement section at a specific time zone tends to increase significantly.

[0088] Furthermore, the movement route search unit 318 may impose some constraints on the route search. The movement route search unit 318 may calculate the population density for each route section from the total number of users for each movement section estimated by the user number estimation unit 311 by attribute, and search for a movement route using route sections other than those with a population density below a predetermined threshold. For example, this is because when an infectious disease spreads, there is a concern that a dense environment may be formed due to people gathering near the mobile store 1.

[0089] When the upper limit sales amount calculated from the salable product services exceeds the expected sales amount, the movement route search unit 318 may re-search for the movement route with the lowest expected cost amount among the movement routes that reach or exceed the upper limit sales amount. In the case of a mobile store robot, since the loading capacity is greatly limited compared to a vehicle, there may be a situation where the inventory of products and the like runs out during the movement of the route. In this case, the upper limit of sales is reached, and continuing to move further will not result in profit, but only the costs such as electricity costs related to the movement will increase.

[0090] FIG. 5(c) shows a route search considering the upper limit sales amount for the movement route that determines the destination in FIG. 5(a). Here, assuming the upper limit sales amount is 20,000 yen, the movement route A->B->C->F, which is the most profitable movement route, has a total sales of 29,000 yen, exceeding the upper limit sales amount. Also, the cost in the movement route of A->B->C->F is 3,000 yen. Therefore, in this case, the movement route of A->C->F, which exceeds the upper limit sales amount of 20,000 yen by 22,000 yen and has a low cost of 2,000 yen, is re-searched.

[0091] [Movement route distribution unit 319] The movement route distribution unit 319 transmits the movement route data searched by the movement route search unit 318 to the mobile store 1. Also, the movement route distribution unit 319 may publicly disclose the movement route data to the user via an app or the like. By publicly disclosing the movement route data, the user can grasp where the mobile store 1 is going to move in the future, and it is expected to promote purchases. At this time, not only the movement route but also the products and inventory carried by the mobile store 1 may be publicly disclosed. Also, while the user is viewing the movement route data, the user may be able to make a purchase intention indication by specifying the time zone and the route section. With this intention indication, it is also preferable to adjust the movement speed of the mobile store 1 so that it can travel in that route section during the target time zone, for example.

[0092] FIG. 6 is a flowchart in the management device of the present invention.

[0093] According to FIG. 6, it shows the processing flow of the movement route search unit 318 using the real cost map calculation unit 316. (S11) First, obtain the departure location of the mobile store robot 1. Assume that the departure location is, for example, the location where goods are loaded onto the mobile store robot 1. (S12) Next, determine whether it is a search for a movement route that determines a destination regarding the reserved movement route of the mobile store robot 1. (S13) If it is a search for a movement route that determines a destination, obtain the destination of the mobile store robot 1 and proceed to S15. (S14) If it is a search for a movement route that does not determine a destination, obtain the sales time of the mobile store 1 and proceed to S15. (S15) Search for a movement route with the highest total expected profit amount. (S16) Determine whether the expected sales amount on the searched movement route exceeds the upper limit sales amount. (S17) If it is determined to be false (not exceeding the upper limit sales amount) in S16, proceed to S18. If it is determined to be true (exceeding the upper limit sales amount) in S16, re-search for a movement route with the least expected cost amount at or above the upper limit sales amount and proceed to S18. (S18) Notify the searched movement route to the mobile store robot 1. (S19) The real cost map calculation unit 316 continues to monitor whether there is a change in the cost map. The change in the cost map is, for example, a change in the expected profit amount for each movement route due to a comparison with weather changes or the real-time actual profit amount. (S20) If there is a change in the cost map, re-search for the movement route. (S21) Then, the movement route distribution unit 319 notifies the re-searched movement route to the mobile store robot 1. Repeat the processing of S19 to S21 until arriving at the destination or until the sales time ends.

[0094] As described in detail above, according to the management device, mobile store robot, program, and method of the present invention, it is possible to search for a movement route that improves the sales ability.

[0095] Furthermore, this will enable, for example, "mobile stores to explore routes that will improve sales power," which will contribute to Goal 9 of the United Nations-led Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which is to "build resilient infrastructure, promote sustainable industrialization and foster innovation."

[0096] With respect to the various embodiments of the present invention described above, various changes, modifications, and omissions that fall within the scope of the technical spirit and aspects of the present invention may be easily made by those skilled in the art. The above description is merely illustrative and is not intended to be limiting in any way. The present invention is limited only by the claims and their equivalents. [Explanation of symbols]

[0097] 1 Mobile store 101 Product loading section 102 Wireless Communication Department 103 Wireless quality acquisition unit 104 Current position acquisition unit 105 Status acquisition unit 106 Imaging unit 107 Route information storage section 108 Sound pickup unit 109 Dialogue processing unit 110 Motion Planning Unit 111 Operation control unit 112 Purchase Processing Department 113 Purchase display section 2. Mobile devices 3 Management device 301 Operation Monitoring Department 302 Location, communication quality, and power consumption storage section 303 Personal Information Database 304 Purchaser Authentication Department 305 Product Information Database 306 Product recognition department 307 Payment Department 308 Purchase History Database 309 Dialogue Generation Unit 310 Location Information Storage Unit 311 User Count Estimation Unit by Attribute 312 Expected Sales Amount Calculation Unit 313 Total Communication Resource Usage Estimation Unit 314 Communication Resource Allocation Amount Calculation Unit 315 Expected Cost Amount Calculation Unit 316 Real Cost Map Calculation Unit 317 Map Information Storage Unit 318 Movement Route Search Unit 319 Movement Route Distribution Unit 4 Communication Resource Management Device

Claims

1. A management device for searching for the moving route of a mobile store, a real cost map calculation means for calculating an expected profit amount corresponding to the product service sold at the mobile store for each route section, a moving route search means for searching for a moving route based on the expected profit amount for each route section and characterized by having the above.

2. The moving route search means searches for a moving route with the highest total expected profit amount at the specified selling time The management device according to Claim 1, characterized by the above.

3. The moving route search means searches for a moving route without specifying a destination The management device according to Claim 2, characterized by the above.

4. For each route section, an expected sales amount calculation means for calculating an expected sales amount, an expected cost amount calculation means for calculating an expected cost amount for each route section and further having the above, The real cost map calculation unit calculates the expected profit amount by subtracting the expected cost amount from the expected sales amount The management device according to Claim 1, characterized by the above.

5. The expected cost amount calculation means calculates the electricity bill as the expected cost amount based on the historical data of the power consumption at the mobile store The management device according to Claim 4, characterized by the above.

6. The expected cost amount calculation means calculates different electricity bills depending on the time zone The management device according to Claim 5, characterized by the above.

7. For each moving section, an attribute-based user number estimation means for estimating the number of users for each user attribute, a purchase history database for storing the history information of purchases made by users at the mobile store and having the above, The expected sales amount calculation means calculates the expected sales amount from the current number of users for each attribute based on the past number of users for each attribute and the purchase history for each route section The management device according to Claim 4, characterized by the above.

8. The attribute-based user number estimation means estimates the number of users for each attribute from the location information and subscriber attributes of mobile terminals possessed by an unspecified number of people The management device according to Claim 7, characterized by the above.

9. When the upper limit sales amount calculated from the sellable product services exceeds the expected sales amount, the moving route search means re-searches for a moving route with the lowest expected cost amount among the moving routes that reach the upper limit sales amount or more The management device according to Claim 4, characterized by the above.

10. and further having a communication resource allocation amount calculation means for calculating the communication resource allocation amount according to the location of the mobile store, The expected cost amount calculation means is configured such that the expected cost amount increases as the amount of allocated communication resources increases. The management device according to claim 4, characterized in that.

11. The expected cost amount calculation means is configured such that the expected cost amount increases as the number of mobile terminals located within a route section increases. The management device according to claim 10, characterized in that.

12. The communication resource allocation amount calculation means controls network slicing of a radio access network so that the amount of allocated communication resources is reduced while the mobile store is in motion and increased while the mobile store is parked. The management device according to claim 10, characterized in that.

13. The management device is communicable with a communication resource management device of a radio access network that allocates communication resources between a mobile store and a radio base station. The communication resource allocation amount calculation means records the MCS (Modulation and Coding Scheme) in the mobile store communicating with the radio base station for each route section. calculates the amount of allocated communication resources from the past MCS values in the route section where the mobile store is located. The management device according to any one of claims 10 to 12, characterized in that.

14. The moving route search means calculates the population density for each route section from the total number of users for each moving section estimated by the user number estimation means by attribute, and searches for a moving route in route sections other than those where the population density is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value. The management device according to claim 7, characterized in that.

15. The mobile store is a mobile store robot capable of self-driving. The management device according to claim 1, characterized in that.

16. A mobile store robot capable of self-driving that searches for a moving route, a real cost map calculation means that calculates an expected profit amount corresponding to the goods and services sold by the mobile store robot itself for each route section, and a moving route search means that searches for a moving route based on the expected profit amount for each route section. The mobile store robot, characterized by comprising.

17. A program that causes a computer to function so as to search for a moving route of a mobile store, a real cost map calculation means that calculates an expected profit amount corresponding to the goods and services sold by the mobile store for each route section, and a moving route search means that searches for a moving route based on the expected profit amount for each route section. The program, characterized by causing a computer to function in this way.

18. A method for searching a moving route of a device that searches for a moving route of a mobile store, the device for each route section, a first step of calculating an expected profit amount according to the product service sold at the mobile store, a second step of searching for a moving route based on the expected profit amount for each route section and executing a moving route search method characterized by this.

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