Information processor and information processing method

Abstract

To shorten a time until a cargo arrives at a shipping destination.SOLUTION: An information processor 1 includes: a storage part 12 for storing shipping information of a cargo including a shipping source and a shipping destination of a cargo to be shipped; a selection part 131 for selecting, by referring to the shipping information, a cargo whose shipping destination is included in an area where the cargo can be delivered by a transportation vehicle from a position of a second base capable of air transportation from a first base as a base of air transportation, as a cargo to be transported from the first base to the second base by an aircraft; and an output part 133 for outputting information indicating that the aircraft is used in transportation of the cargo selected by the selection part 131.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an information processing device and an information processing method. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, when transporting luggage via trunk lines, the luggage is collected at a shipping base near the sender, the collected luggage is delivered by a large truck to a delivery base near the destination, and the luggage is then delivered from the delivery base by a transport vehicle such as a small truck. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a device for trunk line transport of luggage, which determines shipping bases and delivery bases corresponding to each of a plurality of shipping instruction data, and distributes the shipping instruction data to terminals at the determined shipping bases and delivery bases. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-075634 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In recent years, the transportation capacity of highway transport has decreased due to a decrease in the number of drivers of transport vehicles that operate highway transport, resulting in the problem of longer times for cargo transported via highway transport to arrive at its destination.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of these points, and has as its object to shorten the time it takes for a package to arrive at its destination. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In a first aspect of the present invention, the system includes a memory unit that stores shipping information for a package to be shipped, including the sender and destination of the package; a selection unit that references the shipping information and selects a package whose destination is within an area where the package can be delivered by a transport vehicle from a first base, which is an air transport hub, to a second base, which can be air transported, as a package that will be transported by aircraft from the first base to the second base; and an output unit that outputs information indicating that an aircraft will be used to transport the package selected by the selection unit.

[0007] The memory unit stores the shipping information for each of a plurality of businesses, and the selection unit may refer to the shipping information for each of the plurality of businesses and select packages whose destination location is included in the area as packages to be transported by aircraft from the first base to the second base.

[0008] The selection unit may refer to the shipping information and select as cargo to be transported from the first base to the second base using an aircraft, cargo whose sender is included in a first area corresponding to the first base and whose destination is included in a second area to which the cargo can be delivered by a transport vehicle from the location of the second base.

[0009] The shipping information includes loading capability information used to determine whether the luggage can be loaded onto an aircraft, and the information processing device further has a determination unit that determines whether the luggage can be loaded onto an aircraft based on the loading capability information of the luggage, and the selection unit may select, from among the luggage whose shipping destination location is included in the area, luggage that the determination unit determines to be loadable onto an aircraft as luggage to be transported by aircraft from the first base to the second base.

[0010] The shipping information may include item information indicating the item of the luggage, and the information processing device may further have a determination unit that determines whether the luggage can be loaded onto an aircraft based on the item of the luggage and data that associates the item with whether it can be loaded onto an aircraft.

[0011] The shipping information includes product identification information for identifying the product contained in the luggage, and the information processing device may further have a determination unit that identifies one or more components that make up the product as luggage based on data that associates the product identification information with the components of the item indicated by the product identification information, and determines whether the luggage can be loaded onto an aircraft based on the identified one or more components.

[0012] The information processing device may further have a determination unit that, if it cannot determine whether the luggage can be loaded onto an aircraft, receives a selection from the terminal of the shipper of the luggage as to whether the luggage can be loaded onto an aircraft, and determines that the luggage can be loaded onto an aircraft in response to receiving a selection that the luggage can be loaded onto an aircraft.

[0013] The shipping information includes size information indicating the size of the package, and the selection unit may determine a priority for transporting the multiple packages by aircraft based on the size indicated by the size information of each of the multiple packages whose shipping destination locations are included in the area, and select from the multiple packages those packages to be transported by aircraft from the first base to the second base based on the determined priority.

[0014] The selection unit may determine the priority of the plurality of parcels based on the size of the parcel indicated by the size information of each of the plurality of parcels such that smaller parcels have a higher priority.

[0015] The shipping information may include size information indicating the size of the cargo, and the information processing device may further have a reservation unit that identifies the number of containers to be loaded onto the aircraft based on the size indicated by the size information of each of multiple cargoes whose shipping destination locations are included in the area and the size of the containers that will house the cargo, and reserves the identified number of containers to be loaded onto the aircraft.

[0016] The selection unit may calculate a deadline for shipping the luggage based on the departure time of the aircraft transporting the luggage, the location of the first base station, and the location of the sender, and select the luggage at the calculated deadline.

[0017] The selection unit may identify the number of multiple transport vehicles that can transport the cargo transported by the aircraft from the second base and the transport capacity of the multiple transport vehicles, and identify the area based on the identified number and transport capacity of the transport vehicles.

[0018] An information processing method according to a second aspect of the present invention includes the steps of: executing a computer to refer to shipping information of a package to be shipped, which includes the sender and destination of the package; and selecting a package whose destination is within an area where the package can be delivered by a transport vehicle from a first base, which is an air transport hub, to a second base, which can transport the package by air, as a package to be transported from the first base to the second base by aircraft; and outputting information indicating that an aircraft will be used to transport the selected package. [Effects of the Invention]

[0019] According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the time it takes for a package to arrive at its destination. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0020] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overview of an information processing device. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration of an information processing device. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of shipping information. [Figure 4] 10 is information showing an example of ability range information. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of selecting a package at a deadline corresponding to the location of the sender. [Figure 6] 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing flow in an information processing device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0021] [Overview of information processing device 1] 1 is a diagram showing an overview of an information processing device 1. The information processing device 1 is a server that selects a package to be transported by aircraft from among multiple packages to be transported. The information processing device 1 is configured, for example, with one or more servers, and is communicably connected to a terminal 2 used by a business operator as a shipper via a communication network such as the Internet.

[0022] The information processing device 1, for example, works in conjunction with an order management system (OMS) and a warehouse management system (WMS) to select cargo to be transported by aircraft. The order management system and the travel management system may be linked together, and may be capable of executing a series of processes from receiving an order for a product to shipping the cargo corresponding to the product. Furthermore, the information processing device 1 may function as a part of these systems.

[0023] In this embodiment, the explanation will be given assuming that the terminal 2 is installed at the sender of the package. Also, although only one terminal 2 is shown in Fig. 1, in this embodiment, the multiple packages to be transported include packages handled by multiple businesses, and multiple terminals 2 exist corresponding to each of the multiple businesses.

[0024] When the information processing device 1 selects luggage to be transported by aircraft, a first base and a second base that can be transported by air from the first base are provided as bases for air transport, which is a type of trunk transport. For example, the first base is an airport in the Kanto region (e.g., Haneda Airport), and the second base is an airport in the Kansai region (e.g., Okayama Airport). When transporting luggage from the first base to the second base, the time required to transport the luggage by aircraft is assumed to be shorter than the time required to transport the luggage using a transport vehicle such as a truck.

[0025] The information processing device 1 stores shipment information for packages that include the sender and destination of the package to be shipped. The information processing device 1 references the shipping information and selects packages whose sender is included in a first area corresponding to a first base and whose destination is included in an area where the package can be delivered by a transport vehicle from the location of a second base as packages to be transported by aircraft from the first base to the second base. The information processing device 1 outputs air transport target information to the terminal 2, which is information indicating that an aircraft will be used to transport the selected package.

[0026] In this way, the shipper using terminal 2 can identify the luggage to be transported by air and perform tasks necessary for air transport, such as arranging for air transport of the luggage. The selected luggage is then transported to a first base by a transport vehicle such as a truck. The luggage transported to the first base is then transported from the first base to a second base by aircraft. The luggage transported to the second base is then transported from the second base to the destination by a transport vehicle such as a truck. In this way, the luggage can be transported from the first base to the second base by aircraft, thereby reducing the time it takes for the luggage to arrive at the destination, compared to transporting the luggage without using an aircraft along the entire route from the sender to the destination.

[0027] [Functional configuration of information processing device 1] Next, a detailed description will be given of the configuration of the information processing device 1. Fig. 2 is a diagram showing the functional configuration of the information processing device 1. The information processing device 1 has a communication unit 11, a storage unit 12, and a control unit 13.

[0028] The communication unit 11 is a communication interface for transmitting and receiving data to and from the terminal 2 via a network such as the Internet. The storage unit 12 is a storage medium that stores various types of data, and includes a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), a hard disk, etc. The storage unit 12 stores a program executed by the control unit 13. The storage unit 12 stores a program that causes the control unit 13 to function as a selection unit 131, a determination unit 132, and an output unit 133.

[0029] The storage unit 12 also stores shipping information for each of a plurality of businesses. The shipping information is information including the sender and destination of a package to be shipped. The shipping information is information used in an integrated system including, for example, an order management system and a warehouse management system. The shipping information is information attached to packages shipped by each of a plurality of EC (Electronic Commerce) businesses that are shippers using the integrated system, and is referenced by a plurality of businesses that operate warehouses that store the packages of the EC businesses. Because the shipping information is information used by a plurality of businesses, when the information processing device 1 selects packages to be shipped by air based on the shipping information, the packages to be shipped by air are selected from packages of a plurality of businesses that use the integrated system, allowing for a larger selection of packages to be shipped by air compared to selecting packages to be shipped by air from packages of a single business.

[0030] Fig. 3 is a diagram showing an example of shipping information. The shipping information shown in Fig. 3 includes at least a shipping number for identifying the package to be shipped, a business ID for identifying the business, information indicating the sender and destination of the package, loading availability information, item information indicating the type of package, product name, and size information indicating the size of the package.

[0031] The information indicating the sender includes information indicating the location of the sender (for example, a postal code and a sender address). The information indicating the sender also includes the name or company name of the shipper and the shipper's contact information, although not shown in the figure. The information indicating the destination includes information indicating the location of the destination (for example, a postal code and a sender address). The destination also includes the name or company name of the destination and the sender's contact information, although not shown in the figure. The information indicating the sender may be information indicating the location of a warehouse where the shipper's business owner stores their packages. A warehouse manager ID for identifying the manager of the warehouse used by the business owner and a warehouse ID for identifying the warehouse may be used as the information indicating the location of the warehouse.

[0032] The loading availability information is information used to determine whether or not a baggage can be loaded onto an aircraft. The loading availability information stores either 0 or 1. When the value of the loading availability information is 0, it indicates that the baggage cannot be loaded onto an aircraft, and when the value of the loading availability information is 1, it indicates that the baggage can be loaded onto an aircraft. When one baggage contains multiple items, the loading availability information indicates whether or not that one baggage can be loaded onto an aircraft. Furthermore, when no data is stored in the loading availability information (when it is "-" as shown in Figure 3), it indicates that it is unknown whether or not the baggage can be loaded onto an aircraft.

[0033] The item information stores the item corresponding to the package. When one package contains multiple items, the item information stores the item name of each of the multiple items. The product name is, for example, identification information for identifying the product contained in the package, and is the product name or product ID. The shipping information may also include information indicating the delivery company requested by the shipper to transport the package.

[0034] The control unit 13 is, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The control unit 13 executes a program stored in the storage unit 12, thereby functioning as a selection unit 131, a determination unit 132, and an output unit 133.

[0035] The selection unit 131 refers to the shipping information of each of the multiple businesses stored in the memory unit 12, and selects parcels whose destination is within an area where parcels can be delivered by transport vehicle from a first base, which is the base for air transport, to a second base that can be air transported, as parcels to be transported by aircraft from the first base to the second base.

[0036] The memory unit 12 stores first area information indicating addresses corresponding to a first area and second area information indicating addresses corresponding to a second area. The first area information is, for example, a list of postal codes corresponding to multiple addresses included in the first area, and the second area information is, for example, a list of postal codes corresponding to multiple addresses included in the second area. The selection unit 131 refers to the shipping information, the first area information, and the second area information to identify packages whose sender is included in the first area corresponding to the first base and whose destination is included in the second area to which the package can be delivered by a transport vehicle from the location of the second base.

[0037] Here, depending on the operating status of the delivery company, the distance that can be delivered from the second base in the same amount of time may vary. For example, during the delivery company's busy season, the delivery volume may be concentrated, and the distance that can be delivered from the second base in the same amount of time may be shorter than during the off-season. In response to this, the selection unit 131 may identify the number of multiple transport vehicles that can transport the packages transported by aircraft from the second base and the transport capacities of the multiple transport vehicles, and identify the second area based on the identified number and transport capacities of the transport vehicles.

[0038] In this case, the selection unit 131 determines the second area based on the number of transport vehicles by transport capacity that can transport packages from the second base by referencing the capacity-based range information stored in the memory unit 12. The capacity-based range information indicates the relationship between the number of transport vehicles by transport capacity when transporting packages from the second base on each of multiple past days and the delivery area performance in which package delivery was completed within a specified time on each day. FIG. 4 shows an example of the capacity-based range information. It can be seen that the capacity-based range information shown in FIG. 4 associates the number of transport vehicles for each of three levels of transport capacity with the second area. To ensure that the package selected by the selection unit 131 is delivered reliably, the capacity-based range information may indicate the narrowest delivery area among multiple delivery areas on multiple different days that correspond to the same number of vehicles by transport capacity. The capacity-based range information may include a range of the number of transport vehicles for each transport capacity instead of the number of transport vehicles for each transport capacity.

[0039] The selection unit 131 receives transport capability information indicating the vehicles that can transport from the second base and the maximum load capacity of the vehicles from a terminal (not shown) of a transport company that performs transport from the second base, and identifies the number of multiple transport vehicles that can transport from the second base and the transport capacities of the multiple transport vehicles based on the transport capability information. The selection unit 131 refers to capacity-based range information stored in the memory unit 12 and identifies a second area associated with the identified number of vehicles and transport capacity. The memory unit 12 may store capacity-based range information for each day of the week or time period, and the selection unit 131 may identify the second area by referring to the capacity-based range information corresponding to the date and time at which the second area is identified.

[0040] Similarly to identifying the second area, the selection unit 131 may identify the number of multiple transport vehicles capable of transporting the cargo transported by the aircraft to the first base and the transport capacity of the multiple transport vehicles, and identify the first area based on the identified number of transport vehicles and the transport capacity. In this case, the selection unit 131 identifies the first area by referring to capacity-based range information that indicates the relationship between the number of multiple transport vehicles by transport capacity that can be used to transport the cargo to the first base and the area in which the cargo can be transported to the first base, which is stored in the memory unit 12. By the selection unit 131 identifying at least one of the first area and the second area at that time in this way, the information processing device 1 can select the cargo to be loaded onto the aircraft depending on the transport availability of transport vehicles at at least one of the first base and the second base.

[0041] The selection unit 131 refers to the shipping information and selects parcels whose sender is included in a first area corresponding to the first base and whose destination is included in a second area to which the parcel can be delivered by a transport vehicle from the location of the second base as parcels to be transported by aircraft from the first base to the second base.

[0042] Specifically, first, the selection unit 131 identifies an aircraft that will transport the luggage from the first base to the second base, and identifies the departure time of the aircraft. The selection unit 131 accesses a server (not shown) that manages air cargo transportation, identifies the flight of the aircraft that will transport the luggage from the first base to the second base, and identifies the departure time corresponding to the flight.

[0043] Next, the selection unit 131 identifies, at a time a predetermined time before the departure time, parcels corresponding to parcel IDs whose sender's postal code is included in the list of postal codes indicated by the first area information stored in the memory unit 12 and whose destination's postal code is included in the list of postal codes indicated by the second area information stored in the memory unit 12, as candidates for parcels to be transported by aircraft from the first base to the second base.

[0044] Here, the selection unit 131 may identify candidates for luggage to be transported by aircraft from the first base to the second base at predetermined time intervals before the departure time. In this way, the information processing device 1 can prioritize luggage corresponding to shipping information generated relatively early among the shipping information corresponding to multiple luggage, and select it as luggage to be transported by aircraft.

[0045] If the first area is wide, the transportation time to the first base varies depending on the location of the sender within the first area. Therefore, the selection unit 131 may specify a cutoff time for shipment of the package based on the location of the first base and the location of the sender, and select the package at the specified cutoff time.

[0046] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of selecting a package at a deadline corresponding to the location of the sender. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, assume that the location of the first base is B1 and the departure time of the aircraft is 5:00 p.m. The first area includes partial areas A1a, A1b, and A1c, which are areas within which the package can arrive at the location of the first base within a first time. Partial area A1b is closer to the location of the first base than partial area A1a and is within a range within which the package can arrive within a second time that is shorter than the first time. Partial area A1c is closer to the location of the first base than partial area A1b and is within a range within which the package can arrive within a third time that is shorter than the second time.

[0047] The selection unit 131 sets the deadline for senders included in the partial area A1a to a first time (for example, 11:00). The selection unit 131 also sets the deadline for senders included in the partial area A1b to a second time (for example, 13:00) that is later than the first time. The selection unit 131 also sets the deadline for senders included in the partial area A1c to a third time (for example, 15:00) that is later than the second time.

[0048] Then, the selection unit 131 references shipping information whose sender is included in any of the partial areas A1a, A1b, and A1c at a first time or a predetermined time (e.g., 10 minutes) before the first time, and selects candidate packages whose transport will be carried by aircraft from the first base to the second base. Furthermore, the selection unit 131 references shipping information whose sender is included in any of the partial areas A1b and A1c at a second time or a predetermined time before the second time, and selects candidate packages whose transport will be carried by aircraft from the first base to the second base. Furthermore, the selection unit 131 references shipping information whose sender is included in the partial area A1c at a third time or a predetermined time before the third time, and selects candidate packages whose transport will be carried by aircraft from the first base to the second base. In this way, the closer the sender is to the first base, the more likely it is that an aircraft will be used to transport the package, even if it is a later time.

[0049] The selection unit 131 may select, as the parcel to be transported by aircraft from the first base to the second base, parcels whose sender is included in the first area corresponding to the first base and whose destination is included in the second area to which the parcel can be delivered by a transport vehicle from the location of the second base, parcels whose delivery company, requested by the shipper to transport the parcel, is a predetermined delivery company that has a partnership with an airline company for transporting parcels. By doing so, it is possible to limit the parcels to parcels delivered by a predetermined delivery company and shorten the time it takes for the parcel to arrive at the destination.

[0050] The selection unit 131 may also select parcels to be transported by aircraft from the first base to the second base from among parcels for which the shipper has specified an early arrival, which is a specification for the parcel to be delivered earlier. In this case, it is assumed that an early arrival specification flag indicating whether or not the parcel has been specified for early arrival is associated with the shipping ID in the shipping information. The selection unit 131 references the shipping information and selects parcels to be transported by aircraft from the first base to the second base from among parcels corresponding to shipping IDs associated with an early arrival specification flag indicating that the parcel has been specified for early arrival. In this way, the information processing device 1 can apply air transport only to the transportation of parcels for which an early arrival specification has been specified.

[0051] The identified cargo candidates may include both cargo that can be transported by air and cargo that cannot be transported by air. Therefore, the determination unit 132 refers to the shipping information stored in the storage unit 12 and determines whether the identified cargo can be loaded onto an aircraft.

[0052] For example, the determination unit 132 determines whether the identified baggage can be loaded onto an aircraft based on the loading availability information associated with the shipping number corresponding to the identified baggage, which is included in the shipping information. Specifically, the determination unit 132 determines that a baggage whose loading availability information value corresponding to the selected baggage is "1" can be loaded onto an aircraft. Furthermore, the determination unit 132 determines that a baggage whose loading availability information value corresponding to the selected baggage is "0" cannot be loaded onto an aircraft.

[0053] If the value of the loading capability information is not "0" or "1," the determination unit 132 cannot determine whether the cargo can be loaded onto an aircraft based on the loading capability information. Alternatively, the determination unit 132 may determine whether the cargo can be loaded onto an aircraft based on item information indicating the item of the cargo included in the shipping information. In this case, the storage unit 12 stores item-specific loading capability data that associates items with whether the item can be loaded onto an aircraft.

[0054] The determination unit 132 determines whether the baggage can be loaded onto an aircraft based on the item of the baggage and the item-specific loading data stored in the memory unit 12. For example, the determination unit 132 references the item-specific loading data stored in the memory unit 12 and determines whether the item indicated by the item information associated with the shipping number corresponding to the identified baggage is an item that can be loaded onto an aircraft. When multiple pieces of item information are associated with the shipping number corresponding to the identified baggage, the determination unit 132 determines that the baggage can be loaded onto an aircraft if it determines that all of the multiple pieces of item information are capable of being loaded onto an aircraft. On the other hand, when the determination unit 132 determines that at least one of the multiple pieces of item information is not capable of being loaded onto an aircraft, it determines that the baggage cannot be loaded onto an aircraft.

[0055] The determination unit 132 may also determine whether a package can be loaded onto an aircraft based on the product name for identifying the product contained in the package, which is included in the shipping information. In this case, the storage unit 12 stores a product component DB that associates product names with the components of the products indicated by the product names.

[0056] The determination unit 132 refers to the product component DB stored in the storage unit 12 and determines whether the product component DB contains the product name associated with the shipping number. If the determination unit 132 determines that the product name is contained in the product component DB, it identifies one or more components that constitute the product as a package and that are associated with the product name in the product component DB.

[0057] If multiple product names are associated with the shipping number corresponding to the identified package, and if the determination unit 132 determines that all of the multiple products included in the package are included in the product component DB, it identifies the components associated with each of the multiple products in the product component DB. Then, the determination unit 132 determines whether the package can be loaded onto an aircraft based on the identified one or more components.

[0058] For example, the storage unit 12 stores component-specific onboard availability data that associates components with whether products containing those components can be carried on an aircraft. The determination unit 132 determines whether the luggage can be carried on an aircraft by referring to the component-specific onboard availability data and determining whether all of the identified components can be carried on an aircraft. The determination unit 132 determines that the luggage can be carried on an aircraft if all of the identified components can be carried on an aircraft, and determines that the luggage cannot be carried on an aircraft if the identified components include a component that cannot be carried on an aircraft.

[0059] When the determination unit 132 cannot determine whether the luggage can be carried on an aircraft for reasons such as being unable to identify the ingredients corresponding to the products contained in the luggage, the determination unit 132 may accept a selection as to whether the luggage can be carried on an aircraft from the terminal 2 of the shipper of the luggage. Then, the determination unit 132 may determine that the luggage can be carried on an aircraft in response to accepting a selection that the luggage can be carried on an aircraft from the terminal of the shipper. In this way, the information processing device 1 can determine whether the luggage can be carried on an aircraft even when it cannot determine whether the luggage can be carried on an aircraft based on the item-specific carry-on data or the component-specific carry-on data.

[0060] The selection unit 131 selects, from among the parcels whose sender location corresponds to the first area and whose destination location is included in the second area, parcels that the determination unit 132 has determined to be able to be loaded onto an aircraft as parcels to be transported by aircraft from the first base to the second base.

[0061] In addition, if the selection unit 131 selects a large number of packages for transportation by aircraft from the first base to the second base, the load capacity of the aircraft may be exceeded, and a problem may occur in which all of the selected packages cannot be transported by aircraft. In response to this, the selection unit 131 may select packages so that the load capacity of the aircraft is not exceeded.

[0062] For example, the selection unit 131 refers to the shipping information stored in the memory unit 12 and identifies size information for each of multiple packages whose sender location corresponds to the first area and whose destination location is included in the second area and which the determination unit 132 has determined can be transported by aircraft.The selection unit 131 then determines the priority of the multiple packages when transporting the multiple packages by aircraft based on the sizes indicated by the identified size information.For example, the selection unit 131 determines the priority of the multiple packages based on the size indicated by the size information for each of the multiple packages so that smaller packages have a higher priority.

[0063] The selection unit 131 may then select, based on the determined priority, from among the multiple packages that the determination unit 132 has determined can be transported by aircraft, packages to be transported by aircraft from the first base to the second base. For example, the selection unit 131 selects packages in descending order of priority and allocates them to be loaded onto the aircraft, and subtracts the load capacity from the load capacity of the aircraft to the size information corresponding to the selected packages. The selection unit 131 then repeats the process of selecting packages in descending order of priority and allocating them to be loaded onto the aircraft, and selects the multiple packages selected immediately before the aircraft's load capacity becomes insufficient as packages to be transported by aircraft from the first base to the second base. In this way, the information processing device 1 can prevent the selection of packages that exceed the load capacity of the aircraft.

[0064] Furthermore, the control unit 13 of the information processing device 1 may have a reservation unit that reserves the loading of containers that house luggage to be loaded onto an aircraft. In this case, the reservation unit identifies the size of each of the multiple luggage items selected by the selection unit 131, based on the size information of each of the multiple luggage items whose destination locations are included in the second area. Then, the reservation unit identifies the number of containers to be loaded onto the aircraft based on the identified sizes and the sizes of the containers that house the luggage, and reserves the loading of the identified number of containers onto the aircraft. In this way, the information processing device 1 can simplify the procedures for air transport.

[0065] The output unit 133 outputs information indicating that an aircraft will be used to transport the luggage selected by the selection unit 131. For example, the output unit 133 outputs air transport target information including the shipment ID of the luggage selected by the selection unit 131 and indicating that an aircraft will be used to transport the luggage to the terminal 2 of the shipper indicated by the business operator ID associated with the shipment ID.

[0066] In this case, the output unit 133 identifies the delivery company requested by the consignor to deliver the package. The output unit 133 notifies the identified delivery company of information indicating that an aircraft will be used to transport the package selected by the selection unit 131, the flight number of the aircraft, the address of the sender corresponding to the package, the item, and the size, and also accepts the collection time of the package. The output unit 133 then outputs the air transport target information, including the accepted collection time of the package, to the consignor's terminal 2. This allows the business operator acting as the consignor to recognize that the package corresponding to the shipping ID is a package to be transported by air, and to carry out preparations for air transport.

[0067] Furthermore, if the carrier that will transport the package has not been determined at the time the shipping information is generated, the output unit 133 may calculate the transport time from the sender to the first base based on the positions of the sender and the first base.The output unit 133 may then output air transport target information, including the flight number of the aircraft scheduled to be used to transport the package, the departure time, and the calculated transport time, to the shipper's terminal 2.In this way, the shipper can identify the package that will be transported by air by checking the air transport target information, and proceed with arrangements for the transport of the package by aircraft.

[0068] Furthermore, if the shipper enables automatic shipment of packages from the sender using an automated warehouse system, the output unit 133 may output to the automated warehouse system air transport target information including the collection time of the selected package by the delivery company that delivers the package and shipping information corresponding to the selected package. This allows the automated warehouse system to proceed with processing related to the shipment of the selected package so that it arrives in time for the collection time.

[0069] Furthermore, the output unit 133 may associate, in the shipping information, the shipping ID of the package selected by the selection unit 131 to be transported by aircraft with information indicating that the package has been selected by the selection unit 131, and may allow a manager or the like at the first base to refer to the shipping information corresponding to the package selected by the selection unit 131. In this case, the output unit 133 may output a shipping slip to be attached to the package, the shipping slip including the shipping ID, from a printing device connected to the terminal 2. This allows a delivery company or a worker at the first base to use a reader to read various codes such as a two-dimensional code or a barcode shown on the shipping slip attached to the package to identify the shipping ID, and then refer to the shipping information including the shipping ID to confirm whether the package is to be transported by air.

[0070] [flowchart] Next, a description will be given of the flow of processing in the information processing device 1. Fig. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of processing in the information processing device 1. First, the selection unit 131 identifies an aircraft that will transport the luggage from the first base to the second base, and identifies the departure time of the aircraft (S1).

[0071] Next, the selection unit 131 refers to the shipping information and identifies candidates for packages to be transported by aircraft from the first base to the second base at a time a predetermined time before the departure time identified in S1 (S2).

[0072] Next, the determining unit 132 selects one candidate that has not been selected by itself from among the package candidates identified in S2 (S3). Next, the determination unit 132 determines whether the selected candidate baggage can be loaded onto the aircraft (S4). If the determination unit 132 determines that the selected candidate baggage can be loaded onto the aircraft (YES in S4), the process proceeds to S5, and if the determination unit 132 determines that the selected candidate baggage cannot be loaded onto the aircraft (NO in S4), the process proceeds to S7.

[0073] In S5, the selection unit 131 selects, as the cargo to be transported by aircraft, the cargo corresponding to the candidate determined by the determination unit 132 to be loadable on an aircraft. Subsequently, the output unit 133 outputs air transport target information indicating that the selected cargo can be loaded on an aircraft to the shipper's terminal 2 (S6).

[0074] In S7, the determination unit 132 determines whether or not it has determined that all of the candidates identified in S2 are luggage that can be carried on an aircraft. If it has determined that all of the candidates are luggage that can be carried on an aircraft (YES in S7), the determination unit 132 ends the processing according to this flowchart, and if it has not determined that all of the candidates are luggage that can be carried on an aircraft (NO in S7), the processing proceeds to S3.

[0075] [Variations] In the above-described embodiment, the memory unit 12 stores shipment information of packages including the sender and destination of the packages to be shipped, and the selection unit 131 selects packages to be transported by aircraft from the first base to the second base by referring to the shipping information stored in the memory unit 12, but this is not limited to this. A storage device different from the information processing device 1 may store shipment information of packages including the sender and destination of the packages to be shipped, and the selection unit 131 may select packages to be transported by aircraft from the first base to the second base by referring to the shipping information stored in the storage device.

[0076] [Effects of information processing device 1] As described above, the information processing device 1 according to the present embodiment selects parcels whose destination is within an area where the parcel can be delivered by a transport vehicle from the location of a second base that can be air-transported from a first base, which is a base for air transport, as parcels to be transported from the first base to the second base by aircraft, and outputs information indicating that an aircraft will be used to transport the selected parcels. In this way, the information processing device 1 can shorten the time it takes for the parcel to arrive at the destination.

[0077] The present invention has been described above using embodiments, but the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope described in the above embodiments, and various modifications and changes are possible within the scope of the gist of the present invention. For example, all or part of the device can be configured by functionally or physically distributing or integrating any unit. Furthermore, new embodiments resulting from any combination of multiple embodiments are also included in the embodiments of the present invention. The effects of the new embodiments resulting from the combination also have the effects of the original embodiments. [Explanation of symbols]

[0078] 1. Information processing equipment 11 Communications Department 12 Storage section 13 Control Unit 131 Selection Section 132 Judgment section 133 Output section

Claims

1. a storage unit that stores shipping information of a package including a sender and a destination of the package; a selection unit that refers to the shipping information and selects, as luggage to be transported by aircraft from a first base, which is a base for air transport, luggage whose destination is within an area where luggage can be delivered by a transport vehicle from a second base that can be transported by air from the first base to the second base; an output unit that outputs information indicating that an aircraft will be used to transport the baggage selected by the selection unit; An information processing device having the above.

2. The storage unit stores the shipping information of each of a plurality of businesses, the selection unit refers to the shipping information of each of the plurality of businesses, and selects a package whose destination location is included in the area as a package to be transported from the first base to the second base by aircraft; The information processing device according to claim 1 .

3. The selection unit refers to the shipping information and selects, as a package to be transported from the first base to the second base by an aircraft, a package whose sender is included in a first area corresponding to the first base and whose destination is included in a second area to which the package can be delivered by a transport vehicle from the location of the second base. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

4. The shipping information includes loading availability information used to determine whether the baggage can be loaded onto an aircraft, the information processing device further includes a determination unit that determines whether the baggage can be loaded onto the aircraft based on the loading availability information of the baggage; the selection unit selects, from among the parcels whose destination locations are included in the area, parcels that the determination unit has determined to be loadable onto an aircraft, as parcels to be transported by aircraft from the first base to the second base; The information processing device according to claim 1 .

5. The shipping information includes item information indicating the item of the package, the information processing device further includes a determination unit that determines whether the baggage can be loaded onto an aircraft based on an item of the baggage and data in which the item is associated with whether the item can be loaded onto an aircraft; The information processing device according to claim 1 .

6. The shipping information includes product identification information for identifying the product included in the package, the information processing device further includes a determination unit that identifies one or more components constituting the product as luggage based on data associating the product identification information with components of the item indicated by the product identification information, and determines whether the luggage can be loaded onto an aircraft based on the identified one or more components; The information processing device according to claim 1 .

7. The information processing device further includes a determination unit that, when it cannot determine whether the baggage can be loaded onto an aircraft, receives a selection from a terminal of a shipper of the baggage as to whether the baggage can be loaded onto an aircraft, and determines that the baggage can be loaded onto an aircraft in response to receiving the selection that the baggage can be loaded onto an aircraft. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

8. The shipping information includes size information indicating the size of the package, the selection unit determines a priority order for transporting the plurality of parcels by aircraft based on the sizes indicated by size information of each of the plurality of parcels whose destination locations are included in the area, and selects, from the plurality of parcels, parcels to be transported by aircraft from the first base to the second base based on the determined priority order. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

9. the selection unit determines the priority of the plurality of packages based on the sizes of the packages indicated by the size information of each of the plurality of packages so that smaller packages have a higher priority. The information processing device according to claim 8 .

10. The shipping information includes size information indicating the size of the package, The information processing device further includes a reservation unit that specifies the number of containers to be loaded onto the aircraft based on the size indicated by the size information of each of the plurality of packages whose destination locations are included in the area and the size of the containers that accommodate the packages, and reserves the loading of the specified number of containers onto the aircraft. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

11. the selection unit calculates a deadline for shipping the luggage based on the departure time of the aircraft transporting the luggage, the location of the first base station, and the location of the sender, and selects the luggage at the calculated deadline. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

12. the selection unit identifies the number of a plurality of transport vehicles capable of transporting the cargo transported by the aircraft from the second base and the transport capacity of the plurality of transport vehicles, and identifies the area based on the identified number of transport vehicles and the transport capacity. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

13. The computer executes a step of referring to shipping information of the parcel including the sender and destination of the parcel to be shipped, and selecting, as parcels to be transported by aircraft from a first base, which is a base for air transport, parcels whose destination is included in an area where the parcel can be delivered by a transport vehicle from a second base that can be air transported from the first base to the second base; outputting information indicating that the aircraft will be used to transport the selected package; An information processing method comprising:

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