Planning system

Abstract

To provide a planning system that can acquire a large number ideas related to a plan, and make a better plan on the basis of such a large number of ideas.SOLUTION: A planning system comprises a central processing unit 16 that can connect to a terminal 14 operable by a user 13 via a network 15. The terminal 14 executes an application for a planning simulation. A simulation result of a plan simulation changes through a change in design made by the user 13 under determined design conditions, and the application transmits the design made by the user 13 and the simulation result from the design to the central processing unit 16. The central processing unit 16 sets setting conditions in the plan simulation used in the application. The central processing unit 16 receives input of the design made by the user 13 and the simulation result from the design, and stores them.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a planning system. [Background technology]

[0002] When designing factories, stores, houses, towns, transportation systems, etc., or when creating routes for robot vacuum cleaners and autonomous flying vehicles, it is conceivable to perform a planning simulation on a computer. Then, based on the results of the planning simulation, improvements are made to the plan, such as the design and route creation. For example, in Patent Document 1, a planning simulation is performed on a computer, and design changes are made to improve the design based on the results of the planning simulation. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Special Publication No. 2020-514929 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] As mentioned above, even if planning simulations can be performed on a computer, there is a limit to the number of planning ideas that can be proposed. Since planning must be based on such a limited number of ideas, it becomes difficult to create a better plan. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The means for solving the above problems and their effects will be described below. A planning system that solves the above problems includes a central processing unit that can be connected via a network to a terminal that can be operated by a user. The terminal allows the user to operate a planning simulation. An application obtains simulation results from the planning simulation through the user's creation of a plan under specified planning conditions, and transmits the user's plan and the simulation results from that plan to the central processing unit. The central processing unit sets the planning conditions for the planning simulation used in the application.

[0006] According to the above configuration, multiple users can each run an application for a plan simulation through their terminals. This application allows users to create plans under specified planning conditions, and obtains simulation results from the plan simulation. Furthermore, the application transmits the user plans and the simulation results of those plans to a central processing unit. As a result, the central processing unit collects plans created by multiple users and the simulation results of those plans. Therefore, based on the collected multiple plans and the simulation results, multiple ideas regarding plans can be obtained, and better plans can be made based on those multiple ideas.

[0007] In the planning system, the central processing unit converts planning conditions presented by a client requesting the creation of a plan into planning conditions to be used in the application.

[0008] According to the above configuration, the application can be a game application in which plan simulations are performed through the creation of plans under planning conditions, and participants compete for the results of the resulting simulations. In this case, a user runs the game application using a terminal and creates plans on the application to achieve good simulation results. Because plans can be created as a game in this way, it is easy to increase the number of users who run the application. As a result, it is possible to collect data on a larger number of plans and the simulation results of those plans.

[0009] In the above planning system, the planning conditions include a target value. According to the above configuration, the user creates a plan using the application so that the simulation results of the plan simulation reach the target value. In this way, the user creates a plan with the simulation results reaching the target value as a guide, which makes it easier to gather better ideas for the plan.

[0010] In the above planning system, the central processing unit scores the simulation results with reference to the planning conditions presented by the client. According to the above configuration, the simulation results are scored based on the planning conditions presented by the client, making it easier to judge the merits of the numerous collected simulation results.

[0011] In the planning system, the central processing unit is configured to make the simulation results available to the client. According to the above configuration, the client can know the simulation results published by the central processing unit, and can select a plan to adopt based on the simulation results.

[0012] In the planning system, the central processing unit is configured to publish the simulation results together with the scoring results to the client. According to the above configuration, the client can know the simulation results published by the central processing unit along with the scoring results, and can select a plan to adopt based on the simulation results and scoring results.

[0013] In the planning system, the application may simulate the production of products in a factory as the plan simulation. This application uses predetermined design conditions for the factory as the planning conditions, and uses factory design changes made by a user under the design conditions as the plan creation. Product productivity changes as a result of the design changes, and transmits the productivity as a simulation result to a central processing unit. The central processing unit sets the factory design conditions used in the application. The central processing unit also inputs the factory design and product productivity based on the design transmitted from the application, and stores the input design and productivity.

[0014] According to the above configuration, a large amount of data relating to factory designs based on the factory design conditions and the productivity of those designs can be stored in the central processing unit. The stored data can then be used to obtain a large number of ideas for factory designs, and a better factory design can be created based on those ideas.

[0015] In the planning system, the application may be a game application in which participants compete to improve productivity by simulating the manufacturing of products in a factory. The central processing unit converts and sets the factory design conditions presented by a client requesting the design of the factory into the factory design conditions used in the application. Furthermore, when the central processing unit receives the factory design and the productivity of the products based on the design transmitted from the application, it converts the input design and productivity into the design and productivity of the factory requested by the client and stores them.

[0016] According to the above configuration, a user uses a terminal to run a game application that simulates the manufacturing of products in a factory and competes to improve productivity, and then makes design changes within the application to design a highly productive factory. Because the factory can be designed as a game in this way, it is easy to increase the number of users who run the application. As a result, a greater number of factory designs and data related to the productivity of those designs can be stored.

[0017] In the above-mentioned planning system, the central processing unit ranks the factory designs in descending order of productivity based on stored data relating to the factory designs and the productivity of the designs, and discloses the factory designs and the productivity of the designs together with the ranking to the client.

[0018] According to the above configuration, the client can know the factory designs published by the central processing unit and the productivity of those designs along with their rankings, and can select the factory design to adopt based on that information.

[0019] In the planning system, the application considers a change in the machinery used in the factory to be one of the design changes, and enables the selection of machinery to be used for the design change that corresponds to machinery actually sold by the machinery manufacturer. Furthermore, the central processing unit, based on the stored factory designs and the productivity of the designs along with their rankings that are made public to the client, selects a design to be adopted from those made public by the client, and if the selected design includes a machine that the machinery manufacturer actually sells, processes an order for the machine to the machinery manufacturer.

[0020] According to the above configuration, when a user designs a factory as a game on the application, the user can add elements of the design that correspond to machines actually sold by the machinery manufacturer. This allows for a greater range of factory design changes on the application, thereby making the game more interesting. As a result, the number of users who run the application can be increased, and a greater number of factory designs and data related to the productivity of those designs can be stored. Furthermore, when a client selects a factory design when requesting a factory design, if the selected design includes machines actually sold by the machinery manufacturer, the client can place an order for the machines with that machinery manufacturer. This can also lead to increased sales for the machinery manufacturer. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0021] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of a planning system. [Figure 2] 1 is a flowchart showing a procedure in which a client requests a contractor to design a factory, and a procedure in which the contractor sets up an application based on the request. [Figure 3] 10 is a flowchart showing a procedure for setting a machine that is actually sold by a machine manufacturer as a machine to be used for design changes on an application. [Figure 4] 10 is a flowchart showing a procedure for storing the results of a simulation performed by an application, and a procedure for disclosing the results of the simulation to a client together with a ranking. [Figure 5] 1 is a flowchart showing the procedure for purchasing equipment used in the factory design adopted by the client. [Figure 6] 10 is a schematic diagram showing another example of the overall configuration of the planning system. [Figure 7] 10 is a schematic diagram showing another example of the overall configuration of the planning system. [Figure 8] 10 is a schematic diagram showing another example of the overall configuration of the planning system. [Figure 9] 1 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of a business support system. [Figure 10] 10 is a flowchart showing a procedure in which a client requests a contractor to perform a task, and a procedure in which the contractor sets up an application based on the request. [Figure 11] 10 is a flowchart showing a procedure for taking statistics of game execution results and a procedure for maintaining the quality of business operations based on monitoring the statistics. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0022] An embodiment of the planning system will be described below with reference to FIGS. A contractor 11 shown in FIG. 1 undertakes the design of factories, stores, houses, towns, etc., and the creation of routes for robot vacuum cleaners, transportation systems, autonomous aerial vehicles, etc., as requested by a client 12. The client 12 presents the contractor 11 with planning conditions for the requested plans, such as design and route creation. The contractor 11 uses a planning system to create several candidates for the requested plans based on the planning conditions presented by the client 12. The client 12 selects a plan to adopt from among the candidate plans created by the contractor 11.

[0023] The planning system includes a central processing unit 16 that can be connected via a network 15 to terminals 14 that can be operated by multiple users 13. The terminals 14 may be personal computers such as desktop, notebook, or tablet computers, as well as smartphones and portable game consoles. The central processing unit 16 may be a server computer installed at the contractor 11.

[0024] The central processing unit 16 is connected to a system server 18 installed in the client 12 via a network 19. The system server 18 receives planning conditions for a plan to be requested from the contractor 11 from the business system of the client 12. The system server 18 transmits the received planning conditions to the central processing unit 16 of the contractor 11.

[0025] The terminal 14 is capable of executing an application for a plan simulation, and the application can be operated by the user 13. The application is designed to obtain simulation results from a plan simulation through the creation of a plan by the user 13 under specified plan conditions. The application transmits the plan by the user 13 and the simulation results based on that plan to the central processing unit 16.

[0026] The application may be installed on the terminal 14 and executed, or may be a web application or the like that is executed by the central processing unit 16 via the network 15. In this embodiment, the application is, for example, one that simulates the manufacturing of products in a factory. In this case, the application uses the design conditions set for the factory as the planning conditions, and design changes to the factory made by the user 13 under the design conditions as the planning, and the productivity of the product changes as a result of the design changes, and transmits the productivity as a simulation result to the central processing unit 16.

[0027] The central processing unit 16 sets the planning conditions for the planning simulation used in the application, more specifically, the design conditions for the factory. Such design conditions include, for example, the factory's site area, construction budget, required equipment, construction period, and target productivity. The central processing unit 16 also inputs the design by the user 13 sent from the application and the simulation results based on that design, more specifically, the factory design and the productivity of products based on that design. The central processing unit 16 stores the input factory design and the productivity of products based on that design.

[0028] The application is a game application in which participants compete to improve productivity by simulating the manufacturing of products in a factory. The application considers changes to the machines used in the factory as one of the design changes. Furthermore, the application allows users to select machines to be used for such design changes that correspond to machines actually sold by the machine manufacturer 17 shown in Figure 1.

[0029] The central processing unit 16 is equipped with a data conversion function 20. The data conversion function 20 converts the design conditions presented by the client 12 requesting the design of a factory into factory design conditions to be used in the application. The central processing unit 16 also has a game server 21 installed in a game company 22 or the like. The game server 21 is connected to the terminal 14 of the user 13 via a network 15. The design conditions converted by the data conversion function 20 are sent to this game server 21 via the network 15. The game server 21 sets the received design conditions as the factory design conditions to be used in the application.

[0030] The central processing unit 16 is equipped with an upload function 23. The upload function 23 receives data relating to the machines actually sold by the machine manufacturer 17 from the machine manufacturer 17 via a network or the like. The data conversion function 20 of the central processing unit 16 converts the data received by the upload function 23 into machine data to be used for the design change on the application. The data converted in this manner is sent to the game server 21 via the network 15. The game server 21 sets the received data as elements for the design change of the factory on the application.

[0031] The game server 21 receives the design by the user 13 and the productivity of the product based on that design, which are sent from the application. Furthermore, the data conversion function 20 of the central processing unit 16 receives the design and the productivity from the game server 21 via the network 15. When the data conversion function 20 of the central processing unit 16 inputs the factory design and the productivity of the product based on that design sent from the application, it converts the input design and productivity into the design and productivity of the factory requested by the client 12 and stores them.

[0032] The central processing unit 16 ranks the factory designs in descending order of productivity based on the stored factory designs and the productivity data for those designs. Specifically, the central processing unit 16 refers to the target values ​​included in the design conditions presented by the client 12 and calculates a score for the productivity relative to the target values, i.e., scores the productivity. Then, the central processing unit 16 ranks the factory designs in descending order of productivity according to the productivity scores.

[0033] The central processing unit 16 is equipped with a ranking selection function 24. This ranking selection function 24 discloses the factory designs and the productivity resulting from those designs together with the ranking, i.e., the scoring results, to the client 12. It is conceivable that only the top-ranked factory designs and the productivity resulting from those designs, as well as the ranking, will be disclosed to the client 12 by the ranking selection function 24. It is also possible to disclose all of the designs regardless of the ranking.

[0034] The factory designs, the productivity of the designs, and the rankings may be disclosed to the client 12 via a network. This method is not limiting and other methods of disclosure are also possible. The client 12 selects a design to adopt from the factory designs disclosed by the central processing unit 16. If the design selected by the client 12 includes a machine that is actually sold by the machine manufacturer 17, the central processing unit 16 processes an order for the machine from the machine manufacturer 17.

[0035] Next, the operation of the planning system of this embodiment will be described. The flowchart in FIG. 2 shows the procedure by which the client 12 requests the contractor 11 to design a factory, and the procedure by which the contractor 11 sets up an application based on the request.

[0036] In step 101 (S101) of this flowchart, the client 12 selects, from the business system, design conditions for the factory design to be requested from the contractor 11. The design conditions selected in this manner are passed from the business system of the client 12 to the system server 18. In S102, the system server 18 of the client 12 receives the selected design conditions from the business system and then transmits the design conditions to the central processing unit 16 of the contractor 11. At this time, the planning conditions may be transmitted as data as is, or may be converted into intermediate data in a convenient format and then transmitted.

[0037] In S103, the data conversion function 20 of the central processing unit 16 converts the data related to the design conditions transmitted from the system server 18 into factory design conditions to be used in the application. In S104, the central processing unit 16 transmits the design conditions converted by the data conversion function 20 to the game server 21. In S105, the game server 21 sets the received design conditions as the factory design conditions to be used in the application.

[0038] The flowchart in FIG. 3 shows the procedure for setting a machine that is actually sold by the machine manufacturer 17 as a machine to be used for the design change on the application. In S201 of this flowchart, the machine manufacturer 17 transmits data relating to machines that the manufacturer actually sells to the central processing unit 16 via a network or the like. In S202, the data conversion function 20 of the central processing unit 16 converts the data transmitted from the machine manufacturer 17 into machine data to be used for design changes on the application. Furthermore, in S202, the central processing unit 16 transmits the converted data to the game server 21. In S203, the game server 21 sets the received data as elements for design changes to the factory on the application.

[0039] The user 13 runs the application as a game using the terminal 14. That is, the user 13 makes design changes on the application to design a highly productive factory. In other words, the user 13 simulates the production of a product in a factory through the design changes on the application, and competes to see who can improve productivity when manufacturing the product.

[0040] The flowchart in FIG. 4 shows a procedure for storing the design and productivity, which are the results of the simulation by the application, and a procedure for disclosing the design and productivity to the client 12 together with their rankings.

[0041] In S301 of this flowchart, the application transmits the factory design by the user 13 and the productivity resulting from that design as simulation results to the game server 21. In S302, the game server 21 transmits the data relating to the design and productivity received from the application to the data conversion function 20 of the central processing unit 16 via the network 15.

[0042] In S303, the data conversion function 20 of the central processing unit 16 converts the received data regarding the design and productivity into the design and productivity of the factory for which the client 12 has requested the design, and stores the converted data. Furthermore, in S303, the ranking selection function 24 of the central processing unit 16 ranks the stored designs and productivity, and makes the factory designs and the productivity resulting from the designs, along with their rankings, public to the client 12. Such disclosure can be performed, for example, by displaying them in a ranking format, a list format, or a format categorized by simulation results.

[0043] In S304, the client 12 selects a design to adopt from the above-mentioned published designs of the factory. In S304, the client 12 notifies the central processing unit 16 of the adopted design. In S305, the client 12 passes data of the adopted design to the system server 18. The system server 18 converts the data of the design into a format used in the business system and then reflects it in the business system.

[0044] The user 13 who creates a design that is adopted by the client 12 may be given some kind of incentive by the client 12. Also, when the contractor 11 receives a request from the client 12 to design a factory, the contractor 11 may plan a competition for the factory design that corresponds to the request, and the user 13 may execute the application by participating in the competition.

[0045] The flowchart in FIG. 5 shows the procedure adopted by the client 12 for purchasing the equipment used in the above design. In S401 of this flowchart, the central processing unit 16 receives a notification regarding the adopted design from the client 12. In S402, if the design adopted by the client 12 includes a design corresponding to a machine that is actually being sold by the machine manufacturer 17, the central processing unit 16 performs an order process for the machine to the machine manufacturer 17.

[0046] In S403, the client 12 purchases equipment according to the adopted design, except for the above-mentioned machine from the machine manufacturer 17. Note that instead of performing S401 and S402, all equipment may be purchased according to the above-mentioned adopted design in S403. In this case, the client 12 places an order for the above-mentioned machine from the machine manufacturer 17.

[0047] According to the present embodiment described above in detail, the following effects can be obtained. (1) The central processing unit 16 can collect data on factory designs based on the factory design conditions and the productivity of those designs, as designs made by many users 13 and simulation results of those designs. This large amount of data is stored in the central processing unit 16. Therefore, it is possible to obtain many ideas for factory design using the large amount of data, and to design better factories based on these many ideas.

[0048] (2) The central processing unit 16 converts the design conditions submitted by the client 12 requesting the design into the design conditions used in the application, i.e., the game application. This allows the application to be used as a game application in which planning simulations are performed through design changes under the design conditions, and the resulting simulation results are used to compete for productivity. In this case, the user 13 runs the application on the terminal 14 as a game in which they simulate the production of products in a factory and compete to improve productivity, and then makes design changes within the application to design a highly productive factory. Because the factory can be designed as a game in this way, it is easy to increase the number of users 13 running the application. As a result, it is possible to collect a greater number of factory designs and data related to the productivity of those designs, and store that data in the central processing unit 16.

[0049] (3) The above design conditions include a target value for productivity. Therefore, the user 13 uses the application to make design changes so that the productivity, which is the simulation result of the planning simulation, reaches the target value. In this way, the user 13 makes design changes with the productivity, which is the simulation result, reaching the target value as a guideline, which makes it easier to gather better ideas for the design.

[0050] (4) The central processing unit 16 scores the productivity, which is the simulation result, by referring to the design conditions presented by the client 12. Furthermore, the central processing unit 16 is configured to disclose the productivity to the client 12 together with the scoring results. In other words, the central processing unit 16 ranks the factory designs in order of productivity based on the scoring results, and discloses the factory designs and the productivity resulting from those designs together with the rankings, i.e., the scoring results, to the client 12. In this case, the client 12 can know the simulation results, i.e., the productivity, together with the rankings, disclosed by the central processing unit 16. This makes it easier to judge the merits or demerits of the productivity from the productivity and the rankings. As a result, the client 12 can select a factory design to adopt based on such a judgment.

[0051] (5) The application considers changes to the machinery used in a factory as one of the design changes, and allows the user 13 to select machinery that corresponds to machinery actually sold by the machinery manufacturer 17 as the machinery to be used in the design change. As a result, when designing a factory as a game on the application, machinery that corresponds to machinery actually sold by the machinery manufacturer 17 can be added as an element of the design change by the user 13. This allows for a greater range of factory design changes on the application, thereby making the game more interesting. As a result, the number of users 13 who run the application can be increased, and a greater number of factory designs and data related to the productivity of those designs can be stored in the central processing unit 16. Furthermore, when the client 12 selects a factory design to adopt, if the selected design includes machinery actually sold by the machinery manufacturer 17, the client 12 can place an order for the machinery from the machinery manufacturer 17. This also leads to increased sales for the machinery manufacturer 17.

[0052] The above embodiment can be modified as follows, for example: The above embodiment and the following modifications can be combined and implemented within the scope of technical compatibility. The client 12 may request a plan for furniture placement from the contractor 11. In this case, the application used in the planning system may be, for example, a game application that simulates furniture placement. In this case, the user 13 creates a furniture placement plan on the application under planning conditions presented by the client 12. The application simulates the comfort of a space in which the furniture is placed. By creating a plan on the application, the user 13 competes to create the most comfortable space in which the furniture is placed.

[0053] The planning system may perform the following planning simulations (A) to (N) using an application based on a request from the client 12. (A) Planning simulation involves simulating the design of fashion, accessories, small items, etc. In this case, planning is done based on the type, quantity, and cost of materials to be used. The designs to be simulated may also be those of web pages, posters, characters, etc.

[0054] (B) Planning simulation simulates the development of cities and towns. In this case, plans are created based on commercial, industrial, and residential areas, transportation, and water, sewer, and power facilities. The results of such planning simulations can provide information on the demographics of cities and towns, demand forecasts, regional growth, and environmental impacts.

[0055] (C) Planning simulation involves simulating a transportation system. In this case, a plan is created based on traffic flow, signal control, intersection layout, etc. Such planning results in smoother traffic flow, improved safety, and reduced traffic accidents.

[0056] (D) Planning simulation involves simulating the cleaning robot's movement route. In this case, a plan is created based on the room layout and obstacles, and such planning results can be obtained, such as cleaning efficiency and safety, including collision avoidance. Based on the simulation results, it is possible to determine the shortest route and an efficient cleaning pattern.

[0057] (E) Planning simulation involves simulating the flight route of an autonomous aerial vehicle such as a drone. In this case, a plan is created based on factors such as obstacles and wind influences. The simulation results of such planning provide information on flight distance, time, energy efficiency, and safety through collision avoidance.

[0058] (F) Planning simulation involves simulating the arrangement of merchandise and displays in a store. In this case, the effectiveness of the layout is obtained as a result of the simulation created by the plan, and the effectiveness of this layout is competed.

[0059] (G) Planning simulation involves simulating the layout of restaurants, shops, etc. in a commercial facility. In this case, the results of the simulation obtained from the planning process will be the effectiveness of the layout in terms of customer flow, etc., and the effectiveness of such layouts will be competed against each other.

[0060] (H) Planning simulation involves simulating the layout of attractions, shops, restaurants, restrooms, rest areas, etc. in an amusement park. In this case, the simulation results obtained from planning include customer flow, waiting times, and convenience.

[0061] (I) Planning simulation involves simulating the cultivation of crops on farmland. In this case, a plan is created based on the type of crop, its location, soil improvement, compost, etc. The simulation results based on this plan provide the yield and harvest efficiency of the crops.

[0062] (J) As a planning simulation, an office layout is simulated. In this case, a plan is created based on the departments, seating arrangement, and communication environment within the office. The simulation results of such a plan can provide information such as ease of communication within the office and work efficiency.

[0063] (K) Planning simulation involves simulating the layout of an event venue. In this case, a plan is created based on the layout of booths, stages, and seating within the event venue. The simulation results from this planning can provide information such as visitor flow and visibility.

[0064] (L) Planning simulation involves design simulation of power facilities and power transmission networks. In this case, plans are created based on power generation facilities, power transmission facilities, and power distribution facilities. The simulation results of such plans provide information such as supply volume according to demand, costs, and environmental impact.

[0065] (M) Planning simulation involves simulating the delivery route of goods and materials. In this case, the simulation results obtained from planning include the cost and time required to transport goods and materials.

[0066] (N) Planning simulation simulates the allocation of project tasks and resources. In this case, the simulation results of planning can be obtained as information such as project progress and resource efficiency.

[0067] Although the application allows the selection of machines to be used for the factory design change that correspond to machines actually sold by the machine manufacturer 17, this is not necessarily required. If this is not required, there is no need for the central processing unit 16 to process the order for the machine from the machine manufacturer 17.

[0068] The designs collected and stored by the central processing unit 16 do not necessarily need to be ranked, in other words, scored, in terms of productivity. The application does not necessarily have to be a game application, but may be, for example, an in-house application used only within a company.

[0069] While the example given above shows the design of a factory as an example of a target for which a planning system can be used, it may also be used for the design of stores, houses, and towns, as well as for route creation for robot vacuum cleaners, transportation systems, and autonomous flying vehicles.

[0070] The game server 21 may be installed at the contractor 11. In this case, as shown in FIG. 6, the game server 21 may be incorporated into the central processing unit 16 installed at the contractor 11.

[0071] The client 12 itself may play the role of the contractor 11. In this case, the central processing unit 16 is installed in the client 12. When the central processing unit 16 is installed in the client 12, a system server 18 may be incorporated into the central processing unit 16 as shown in FIG. 7. Furthermore, a game server 21 may be installed in the client 12. In this case, it is conceivable that the game server 21 is incorporated into the central processing unit 16 as shown in FIG. 8.

[0072] Users 13 may belong to organizations such as contractors 11 and clients 12. The contractor 11 may undertake tasks from the client 12, such as inspecting products, selecting and evaluating agricultural products, and collecting information, and may perform such tasks using a task support system.

[0073] Figure 9 shows the above-mentioned business support system. The business support system has a central processing unit 16 that can be connected via a network 15 to a terminal 14 that can be operated by a user 13. The business support system allows the user 13 to execute the above-mentioned business as a game using an application. If a large number of users 13 execute a single business as a game, the business can be executed efficiently and effectively.

[0074] An example of such a task would be inspecting products manufactured on a factory production line. To implement such a task as a game, the player could shoot down defective products photographed by a camera or the like.

[0075] Furthermore, the above-mentioned tasks may include sorting and evaluating agricultural products harvested by farms, collecting information on local specialties and specialties of a specific region, or collecting information through corporate surveys, etc. If the task of information gathering is made into a game, it could be made into a game in which, for example, answers to questions are posted or selected.

[0076] The terminal 14 allows the user 13 to operate an application that executes the above-mentioned business as a game. The application transmits the execution results of the above-mentioned game based on the operation of the user 13 to the central processing unit 16. The central processing unit 16 has a statistics determination function 25 for taking statistics of the execution results of the above-mentioned game. The central processing unit 16 monitors the statistics of the execution results of the above-mentioned game in order to maintain the quality of the above-mentioned business.

[0077] For example, if the task is inspecting products, the statistics of the game execution results can determine that the rate of defective products is increasing, and based on this determination, it can be determined that the quality of the task is declining. Furthermore, if the task is sorting and evaluating agricultural products, the statistics of the game execution results can determine whether the sorting and evaluation of agricultural products is being carried out correctly, and based on this determination, it can be determined that the quality of the task is declining. Furthermore, if the task is collecting information, the statistics of the execution results can determine that the amount of information collected is small, and based on this determination, it can be determined that the quality of the task is declining.

[0078] When the central processing unit 16 determines that the quality of the service has deteriorated based on the statistics of the game execution results, it takes measures to maintain the quality of the service. Specifically, the central processing unit 16 notifies the client 12 that the quality of the service has deteriorated. The client 12 improves the quality of the service based on this notification.

[0079] The flowchart in FIG. 10 shows the procedure by which the client 12 requests a contractor 11 to perform a task, and the procedure by which the contractor 11 sets up an application based on the request for the task.

[0080] In S501 of this flowchart, the client 12 selects a task to be requested from the contractor 11 from the business system. Information about the selected task is passed from the business system of the client 12 to the system server 18. In S502, the system server 18 of the client 12 receives the information about the task from the business system and then transmits the information to the central processing unit 16 of the contractor 11. At this time, the information may be transmitted as data as is, or may be converted into intermediate data in a convenient format and then transmitted.

[0081] At S503, the data conversion function 20 of the central processing unit 16 converts the business into game information for making the business into a game executed by the application, based on the information about the business transmitted from the system server 18. At S504, the central processing unit 16 transmits the game information converted by the data conversion function 20 to the game server 21. At S505, the game server 21 sets the application so that the business can be executed as a game, based on the received game information.

[0082] The flowchart in FIG. 11 shows the procedure for taking statistics on the results of the game and for maintaining the quality of the business based on the monitoring of the statistics. In S601 of this flowchart, the application transmits the result of the user 13 executing the application, i.e., the game execution result, to the game server 21. In S602, the game server 21 transmits the game execution result received from the application to the central processing unit 16 via the network 15.

[0083] In S603, the statistical determination function 25 of the central processing unit 16 takes statistics of the received game execution results and monitors the statistics of the game execution results in order to maintain the quality of the business. Furthermore, in S603, if the statistical determination function 25 of the central processing unit 16 determines that the quality of the business has deteriorated based on the statistics of the game execution results, it notifies the client 12 of this. Note that if the business is factory inspection, the notification may include information about the defective products.

[0084] In S604, the system server 18 of the client 12 issues a business improvement command to the business system based on the notification from the statistical judgment function 25 of the central processing unit 16. In S605, the client 12 improves the business based on the business improvement command, thereby maintaining the quality of the business.

[0085] Next, the technical concept that can be understood from the above embodiment will be described. a central processing unit that can be connected via a network to a terminal that can be operated by a user; the terminal allows the user to operate an application that executes a predetermined task as a game; the application transmits a result of the game execution based on the user's operation to the central processing unit; The central processing unit is a business support system that monitors statistics of the game execution results in order to maintain the quality of the business.

[0086] According to the above configuration, when many users execute an application that executes a task as a game, many users execute one task. In this way, the results of the game execution are collected by a central processing unit. The central processing unit monitors statistics of the game execution results. If the quality of the task is declining, this will become apparent from the statistics of the game execution results. Therefore, based on the monitoring of the statistics of the game execution results, measures can be taken to maintain the quality of the task. [Explanation of symbols]

[0087] 11...Contractor 12...Client 13...User 14...Terminal 15…Network 16...Central processing unit 17...Machinery manufacturer 18...System Server 19…Network 20...Data conversion function 21...Game server 22...Game company 23...Upload function 24...Ranking selection function 25…Statistical judgment function

Claims

1. a central processing unit that can be connected via a network to a terminal that can be operated by a user; the terminal allows the user to operate an application for a planning simulation; The application obtains a simulation result from the plan simulation through the user's creation of a plan under defined planning conditions, and transmits the user's plan and the simulation result based on the plan to the central processing unit; The central processing unit is a planning system that sets the planning conditions in the planning simulation used in the application.

2. 2. The planning system according to claim 1, wherein the central processing unit converts planning conditions presented by a client requesting the creation of a plan into planning conditions used in the application.

3. The planning system of claim 2 , wherein the planning conditions include a target value.

4. The planning system according to claim 2 , wherein the central processing unit scores the simulation results by referring to the planning conditions presented by the client.

5. The planning system of claim 2 , wherein the central processing unit publishes the simulation results to the client.

6. The planning system of claim 4 , wherein the central processing unit publishes the simulation results together with the scoring results to the client.

7. The application simulates the manufacturing of a product in a factory as the plan simulation, with predetermined design conditions in the factory as the plan conditions, and design changes to the factory made by the user under the design conditions as the plan creation, with the productivity of the product changing through the design changes, and the productivity being transmitted to the central processing unit as the simulation result, 2. The planning system according to claim 1, wherein the central processing unit sets the design conditions of the factory used in the application, inputs the design of the factory sent from the application and the productivity of the product based on that design, and stores the input design and productivity.

8. the application is a game application in which participants compete to improve productivity by simulating the manufacturing of products in a factory, 8. The planning system according to claim 7, wherein the central processing unit converts and sets factory design conditions presented by a client requesting the design of a factory into factory design conditions used in the application, and when the factory design transmitted from the application and the productivity of the product based on that design are input, the central processing unit converts and stores the input design and productivity into the design and productivity of the factory whose design has been requested by the client.

9. 9. The planning system according to claim 8, wherein the central processing unit ranks the factory designs in descending order of productivity based on the stored data relating to the factory designs and the productivity of the designs, and discloses the factory designs and the productivity of the designs together with the rankings to a client.

10. The application considers a change in a machine used in a factory to be a design change, and allows a user to select a machine to be used for the design change that corresponds to a machine that is actually sold by a machine manufacturer, 10. The planning system according to claim 9, wherein the central processing unit, when selecting a design to be adopted from among those made public by the client based on the stored factory designs and the productivity of the designs together with their rankings, processes an order for the machine from the machine manufacturer if the selected design includes the machine that the machine manufacturer is actually selling.

Images