Information processing device and method

Abstract

To improve a technique for enhancing the quality of delivery.SOLUTION: A terminal device 10 or a server 30, which is an information processing device, detects that a vehicle 20 used for delivering a delivery item has stopped near a delivery location. The terminal device 10 or the server 30 determines that the delivery of the delivery item has been completed when a predetermined time passes after the vehicle 20 has stopped.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] Conventionally, there are known technologies for improving the quality of delivery. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a system that determines a schedule for a mobile object that travels around a plurality of designated points within a delivery area according to a designated schedule, and for the mobile object to pick up one or more items from the mobile object at any of the plurality of points and deliver them to each destination by vehicle. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2021-174292 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] There was room for improvement in technology to improve the quality of delivery.

[0005] In view of the above circumstances, the purpose of the present disclosure is to improve the technology for improving the quality of delivery. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] An information processing device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes: An information processing device including a control unit, The control unit Detecting that a vehicle used to deliver an item has stopped near a delivery location; When a predetermined time has elapsed since the vehicle stopped, it is determined that delivery of the piece has been completed.

[0007] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a method comprises: A method implemented by an information processing device, comprising: Detecting that a vehicle used to deliver a delivery item has stopped near a delivery location; determining that delivery of the delivery item has been completed when a predetermined time has elapsed since the vehicle stopped; Includes. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, an improved technique for improving the handling of refrigerated and frozen goods during delivery is provided. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a terminal device. [Figure 3] 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a vehicle. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a server. [Figure 5] 10 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of an information processing device according to an embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described.

[0011] (Outline of the embodiment) An overview of a system 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to Fig. 1. The system 1 includes a plurality of terminal devices 10, a plurality of vehicles 20, and a server 30. Each of the terminal devices 10, each of the vehicles 20, and the server 30 are communicably connected to a network 40 including, for example, the Internet and a mobile communication network.

[0012] The terminal device 10 is a computer or information processing device such as a PC (Personal Computer), a smartphone, or a tablet terminal. In this embodiment, the terminal device 10 is used by a user who drives the vehicle 20. The terminal device 10 may be a computer installed in the vehicle 20.

[0013] Vehicle 20 is a vehicle used for delivery, including, but not limited to, two-wheeled vehicles such as bicycles and motorcycles, standard cars, small trucks, and large trucks. Vehicle 20 is also, but is not limited to, a gasoline-powered automobile, an electric vehicle (BEV; Battery Electric Vehicle), a hybrid automobile (HEV; Hybrid Electric Vehicle), a plug-in hybrid automobile (PHEV; Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle), or a fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV; Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle), and may be any vehicle that can accommodate a human being.

[0014] The server 30 is, for example, one or more computers or information processing devices such as server devices that can communicate with each other. The server 30 can communicate with each of the terminal devices 10 and each of the vehicles 20 via a network 40.

[0015] First, an overview of this embodiment will be described, and details will be provided later. The terminal device 10 or server 30, which is an information processing device, detects that the vehicle 20 used to deliver the delivery item has stopped near the delivery location. Then, when a predetermined time has passed since the vehicle 20 stopped, the terminal device 10 or server 30 determines that delivery of the delivery item has been completed.

[0016] During delivery, for example, if a delivery person handles a delivery item carelessly because they are in a hurry, the delivery item may be damaged between arriving near the delivery location and delivering it to the recipient. However, according to this embodiment, the delivery of the delivery item is not determined to be complete until a predetermined time has passed since the vehicle 20 used to deliver the delivery item stopped, even if the delivery person completes the delivery in a short time. Therefore, the delivery person does not need to rush to deliver the delivery item and handle it carelessly. Therefore, the probability of handling the delivery item carelessly because they are in a hurry can be reduced, and as a result, the probability of the delivery item being damaged can also be reduced. Therefore, according to this embodiment, the technology for improving delivery quality is improved in that the probability of the delivery item being damaged can be reduced.

[0017] Next, each component of the system 1 will be described in detail.

[0018] (Terminal Device Configuration) As shown in FIG. 2, the terminal device 10 includes a communication unit 11, an output unit 12, an input unit 13, a storage unit 14, a control unit 15, and a positioning unit 16.

[0019] The communication unit 11 includes one or more communication interfaces connected to the network 40. The communication interfaces are compatible with mobile communication standards such as, but not limited to, 4G (4th Generation) or 5G (5th Generation). In this embodiment, the terminal device 10 communicates with the vehicle 20 and the server 30 via the communication unit 11 and the network 40.

[0020] The output unit 12 includes one or more output devices that output information. Examples of the output devices include, but are not limited to, a display that outputs information as a video or a speaker that outputs information as a sound. Alternatively, the output unit 12 may include an interface for connecting an external output device.

[0021] The input unit 13 includes one or more input devices that detect an input operation by a user. Examples of the input devices include, but are not limited to, physical keys, capacitive keys, a mouse, a touch panel, a touch screen integrated with the display of the output unit 12, or a microphone. Alternatively, the input unit 13 may include an interface for connecting an external input device.

[0022] The storage unit 14 includes one or more memories. The memories may be, for example, semiconductor memory, magnetic memory, optical memory, or the like, but are not limited to these. Each memory included in the storage unit 14 may function, for example, as a main storage device, an auxiliary storage device, or a cache memory. The storage unit 14 stores any information used in the operation of the terminal device 10. The storage unit 14 may store delivery information of deliveries to be delivered by the vehicle 20 associated with the terminal device 10. Furthermore, for example, the storage unit 14 may store system programs, application programs, embedded software, and the like. For example, the information stored in the storage unit 14 may be updatable with information obtained from the network 40 via the communication unit 11, for example.

[0023] The control unit 15 includes one or more processors, one or more programmable circuits, one or more dedicated circuits, or a combination thereof. The processor may be, for example, a general-purpose processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), or a dedicated processor specialized for a specific process, but is not limited to these. The programmable circuit may be, for example, a FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array), but is not limited to this. The dedicated circuit may be, for example, an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), but is not limited to this. The control unit 15 controls the operation of the terminal device 10. If the control unit 15 is a computer installed in the vehicle 20, it may control the operation of the vehicle 20.

[0024] The positioning unit 16 includes one or more devices that acquire position information of the terminal device 10. Specifically, the positioning unit 16 is, for example, a position sensor corresponding to a GPS (Global Positioning System) or the like, a geomagnetic sensor, a speed sensor, an acceleration sensor, or a gyro sensor, but is not limited to these and may be any sensor.

[0025] (Vehicle configuration) As shown in FIG. 3, the vehicle 20 includes a communication unit 21, a sensor unit 22, a storage unit 23, and a control unit 24.

[0026] The communication unit 21 includes one or more communication interfaces connected to the network 40. The communication interfaces are compatible with mobile communication standards such as 4G (4th Generation) and 5G (5th Generation), but are not limited to these and may be compatible with any communication standard. In this embodiment, the vehicle 20 communicates with the terminal device 10 and the server 30 via the communication unit 21 and the network 40.

[0027] The sensor unit 22 includes one or more sensors that acquire position information of the vehicle 20. Specifically, the sensor unit 22 is, for example, a position sensor corresponding to a GPS (Global Positioning System) or the like, a geomagnetic sensor, a speed sensor, an acceleration sensor, or a gyro sensor, but is not limited to these and may be any sensor.

[0028] The storage unit 23 includes one or more memories. In this embodiment, the "memory" may be, for example, a semiconductor memory, a magnetic memory, an optical memory, or the like, but is not limited to these. Each memory included in the storage unit 23 may function as, for example, a main memory device, an auxiliary memory device, or a cache memory. The storage unit 23 stores any information used in the operation of the vehicle 20. For example, the storage unit 23 may store a system program, an application program, embedded software, and the like. Furthermore, the information stored in the storage unit 23 may be updatable with information obtained from the network 40 via the communication unit 21, for example.

[0029] The control unit 24 includes one or more processors, one or more programmable circuits, one or more dedicated circuits, or a combination thereof. The processor may be, for example, a general-purpose processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), or a dedicated processor specialized for a specific process, but is not limited to these. The programmable circuit may be, for example, but is not limited to, an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array). The dedicated circuit may be, for example, but is not limited to, an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit). The control unit 24 controls the overall operation of the vehicle 20.

[0030] (Server configuration) As shown in FIG. 4, the server 30 includes a communication unit 31, a storage unit 32, and a control unit 33.

[0031] The communication unit 31 includes one or more communication interfaces connected to the network 40. The communication interfaces may be compatible with, for example, a wired LAN standard or a wireless LAN standard, but are not limited to these and may be compatible with any communication standard. In this embodiment, the server 30 communicates with the terminal device 10 and the vehicle 20 via the communication unit 31 and the network 40.

[0032] The storage unit 32 includes one or more memories. Each memory included in the storage unit 32 may function as, for example, a main storage device, an auxiliary storage device, or a cache memory. The storage unit 32 stores any information used in the operation of the server 30. For example, the storage unit 32 may store system programs, application programs, embedded software, map information, etc. In this embodiment, the storage unit 32 may store delivery information for each of the deliveries delivered by multiple vehicles 20 that communicate with the server 30.

[0033] "Delivery information" may include any delivery information, including, but not limited to, the name of the delivery item, the delivery person, the delivery location of the delivery item, the desired delivery time of the delivery item, the status of the delivery, and the time of completion of the delivery.

[0034] "Delivery status" is any information that indicates the status of delivery of the delivery item, including "preparing for delivery," "delivery in progress," "delivery completed," and the like.

[0035] The control unit 33 includes one or more processors, one or more programmable circuits, one or more dedicated circuits, or a combination thereof. The control unit 33 controls the overall operation of the server 30.

[0036] (Operation flow of the terminal device 10 or the server 30) The operation of the terminal device 10 or the server 30 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

[0037] S100: The control unit 15 of the terminal device 10 or the control unit 33 of the server 30 detects that the vehicle 20 used to deliver the delivery item has stopped near the delivery location.

[0038] Specifically, the control unit 15 or the control unit 33 periodically receives the location information of the vehicle 20 acquired by the sensor unit 22 of the vehicle 20 via the communication unit 11 or the communication unit 31 and the network 40. When the control unit 15 or the control unit 33 detects that the location information of the vehicle 20 has not changed from the previously received location information, the control unit 15 or the control unit 33 acquires the location information of the delivery location of the vehicle 20 from the delivery information stored in the memory unit 14 or the memory unit 32. Then, when the location information of the vehicle 20 and the location information of the delivery location of the vehicle 20 match or are within a certain distance, the control unit 15 or the control unit 33 determines that the vehicle 20 has stopped near the delivery location.

[0039] The control unit 15 or the control unit 33 may acquire the position information of the vehicle 20 in real time.

[0040] The "certain distance" is a distance within which the delivery destination can be considered to have been reached, such as 10M, 20M, 50M, etc. The certain distance may be changeable.

[0041] Furthermore, if the location information of the vehicle 20 and the information of the delivery location of the vehicle 20 are within a certain distance, the control unit 15 or the control unit 33 may further confirm the location of the vehicle 20 from the location information of the vehicle 20 and determine whether the vehicle 20 has stopped near the delivery location. For example, if the location of the vehicle 20 is a parking lot, the control unit 15 or the control unit 33 may determine that the vehicle 20 has stopped near the delivery location. For example, if a traffic light is present at the location of the vehicle 20, the control unit 15 or the control unit 33 may determine that the vehicle 20 has not stopped near the delivery location.

[0042] Alternatively, the control unit 15 or the control unit 33 may determine that the vehicle 20 has stopped near the delivery location by receiving information indicating that the delivery person has arrived at the delivery location input using the input unit 13 of the terminal device 10. The information indicating that the delivery person has arrived at the delivery location may include, for example, information sent by pressing a button related to arrival at the delivery location displayed on the screen of the terminal device 10, but is not limited to this, and any method of inputting information may be used. Furthermore, after receiving the information indicating arrival at the delivery location, the control unit 15 or the control unit 33 may further confirm whether the location information of the vehicle 20 and the information of the delivery location of the vehicle 20 match or are within a certain distance, and based on the result, determine that the vehicle 20 has stopped near the delivery location.

[0043] If the delivery information includes the time of arrival at the delivery location, when the control unit 15 or the control unit 33 determines that the vehicle 20 has stopped near the delivery location, the control unit 15 or the control unit 33 may store the current time as the time of arrival at the delivery location in the memory unit 14 or the memory unit 32. Furthermore, if the delivery status includes a status indicating that the vehicle 20 has arrived at the delivery location, when the control unit 15 or the control unit 33 determines that the vehicle 20 has stopped near the delivery location, the control unit 15 or the control unit 33 may update the delivery status to a status indicating that the vehicle 20 has arrived at the delivery location. S101: The control unit 15 or the control unit 33 determines whether a predetermined time has elapsed since the vehicle 20 came to a stop.

[0044] Specifically, after performing S100, the control unit 15 or the control unit 33 starts a timer and monitors whether a predetermined time has elapsed since the vehicle 20 stopped. If the timer determines that the predetermined time has elapsed (S101-Yes) as a result of the monitoring, the process proceeds to step S102. If the timer determines that the predetermined time has not elapsed (S101-No), the control unit 15 or the control unit 33 continues to monitor whether the predetermined time has elapsed.

[0045] The "predetermined time" is the minimum time that is considered to be required from when the vehicle 20 arrives near the delivery location until it delivers the delivery item to the recipient, or from when it delivers the delivery item to the recipient and returns to the vehicle 20. The predetermined time may be expressed in hours, minutes, and seconds, for example, 2 minutes 30 seconds, 5 minutes, 10 minutes, etc.

[0046] Furthermore, for example, the control unit 15 or the control unit 33 may change the predetermined time depending on the number or weight of the parcels in the delivery. Specifically, the control unit 15 or the control unit 33 uses a predetermined time set for each number or weight of the parcels in the delivery, depending on the number or weight of the parcels in the delivery. Since the time it takes to deliver the parcels is likely to vary depending on the number or weight of the parcels, setting a predetermined time for each number or weight of the parcels in this way can result in a more appropriate time. In this case, the delivery information may include the number or weight of the parcels.

[0047] Furthermore, for example, the control unit 15 or the control unit 33 may change the predetermined time depending on the type of building at the delivery location. Specifically, the control unit 15 or the control unit 33 uses a predetermined time set for each type of building at the delivery location depending on the number or weight of the parcels in the delivery. Since the time it takes to deliver a delivery item is likely to vary depending on the type of building at the delivery location, setting a predetermined time for each type of building at the delivery location in this way may enable a more appropriate time. In this case, the delivery information may include the type of building at the delivery location. Alternatively, the control unit 15 or the control unit 33 may search for the type of building from the delivery location.

[0048] The "building type" is any information that indicates the type of building, including but not limited to, a detached house, an apartment building, etc. The building type may also include the number of floors, such as a 10-story apartment building.

[0049] S102: If it is determined in S101 that the timer has reached the predetermined time (S101-Yes), the control unit 15 or the control unit 33 determines that delivery of the piece has been completed.

[0050] Specifically, the control unit 15 or the control unit 33 determines that delivery of the delivery item is complete by changing the delivery status to "Delivery Completed." Alternatively, for example, if the delivery person is required to input that fact when they have completed delivery using the terminal device 10, the control unit 15 or the control unit 33 may control the delivery person to input the delivery completion using the terminal device 10. For example, the control unit 15 or the control unit 33 may control the delivery person to press a grayed-out delivery completion button on the screen of the terminal device 10, but this is not a limitation and any method may be employed. In this case, the control unit 15 or the control unit 33 may determine that delivery of the delivery item is complete by receiving the delivery completion input by the delivery person.

[0051] If the delivery information includes a delivery completion time, when the control unit 15 or the control unit 33 determines that delivery of the delivery item has been completed, the control unit 15 or the control unit 33 may store the current time as the delivery completion time in the memory unit 14 or the memory unit 32. Furthermore, when the control unit 15 or the control unit 33 determines that delivery of the delivery item has been completed, the control unit 15 or the control unit 33 may update the delivery status to "delivery completed."

[0052] If the delivery information includes the time of arrival at the delivery location and the time of delivery completion, the control unit 15 or the control unit 33 may determine the predetermined time using past delivery information in which an accident occurred with a delivery item. Specifically, the control unit 15 or the control unit 33 may calculate the difference between the time of arrival at the delivery location and the time of delivery completion for a delivery in which an accident occurred with a delivery item, and determine the predetermined time based on this difference.

[0053] As described above, the terminal device 10 or the server 30, which is an information processing device, detects that the vehicle 20 used to deliver a delivery item has stopped near the delivery location. Then, when a predetermined time has passed since the vehicle 20 stopped, the terminal device 10 or the server 30 determines that delivery of the delivery item has been completed.

[0054] During delivery, for example, if a delivery person handles a delivery item carelessly because they are in a hurry, the delivery item may be damaged between arriving near the delivery location and delivering it to the recipient. However, according to this embodiment, the delivery of the delivery item is not determined to be complete until a predetermined time has passed since the vehicle 20 used to deliver the delivery item stopped, even if the delivery person completes the delivery in a short time. Therefore, the delivery person does not need to rush to deliver the delivery item and handle it carelessly. Therefore, the probability of handling the delivery item carelessly because they are in a hurry can be reduced, and as a result, the probability of the delivery item being damaged can also be reduced. Therefore, according to this embodiment, the technology for improving delivery quality is improved in that the probability of the delivery item being damaged can be reduced.

[0055] Although the present disclosure has been described based on the drawings and examples, it should be noted that those skilled in the art may make various modifications and alterations based on the present disclosure. Therefore, it should be noted that these modifications and alterations are included in the scope of the present disclosure. For example, the functions included in each component or step can be rearranged so as not to be logically inconsistent, and multiple components or steps can be combined or divided into one.

[0056] For example, in the above-described embodiments, an embodiment is also possible in which the configurations and operations of the terminal device 10 and / or the server 30 are distributed among multiple computers that can communicate with each other. Also, for example, an embodiment is also possible in which some or all of the components of the server 30 are provided in the terminal device 10, and conversely, an embodiment is also possible in which some or all of the components of the terminal device 10 are provided in the server 30. For example, the terminal device 10 may include some or all of the components of the server 30, or the server 30 may include some or all of the components of the terminal device 10. Also, for example, the terminal device 10 or the server 30 according to the above-described embodiments may be used to provide MaaS (Mobility as a Service), a service that utilizes mobility.

[0057] Also, for example, in the above-described embodiment, the control unit 15 of the terminal device 10 may output check items related to the delivery of the delivery item on the screen of the terminal device 10, and may determine that delivery of the delivery item has been completed based on the results of input of the check items by the delivery person for the delivery item.

[0058] Specifically, in S102, the control unit 15 displays check items related to the delivery of the delivery item on the screen of the terminal device 10. Then, the control unit 15 receives the results of the check items entered by the delivery person, and determines that the delivery of the delivery item has been completed.

[0059] The "check items" are items for checking any details that need attention during delivery, such as whether the package box was crushed. Any method can be used to check the check items, including checking a check box on the screen. The control unit 15 may also provide a text input format for the check items, allowing the user to enter details about the status of the delivery upon completion of delivery.

[0060] The control unit 15 may perform control so that after the delivery person has entered all the check items on the screen of the terminal device 10, the delivery person can input the completion of delivery using the terminal device 10. For example, the control unit 15 may perform control so that after the delivery person has entered all the check items on the screen of the terminal device 10, the delivery person can press a grayed-out delivery completion button on the screen of the terminal device 10.

[0061] Also possible is an embodiment in which, for example, a general-purpose computer functions as the terminal device 10 or the server 30 according to the above-described embodiments. Specifically, a program describing the processing content for realizing each function of the terminal device 10 or each function of the server 30 according to the above-described embodiments is stored in the memory of the general-purpose computer, and the program is read and executed by a processor. Therefore, the present disclosure can also be realized as a program executable by a processor, or a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing the program. [Explanation of symbols]

[0062] 1 System 10 Terminal Equipment 11 Communications Department 12 Output section 13 Input section 14 Storage section 15 Control Unit 16 Positioning unit 20 vehicles 21 Communications Department 22 Sensor section 23 Memory section 24 Control Unit 30 servers 31 Communications Department 32 Storage section 33 Control Unit 40 Network

Claims

1. An information processing device including a control unit, The control unit Detecting that a vehicle used to deliver an item has stopped near a delivery location; The information processing device determines that delivery of the delivery item has been completed when a predetermined time has elapsed since the vehicle stopped.

2. 2. The information processing device according to claim 1, The control unit changes the predetermined time period depending on the number of packages in the delivery.

3. 2. The information processing device according to claim 1, The control unit changes the predetermined time depending on the type of building in the delivery location.

4. 2. The information processing device according to claim 1, the control unit outputs check items related to the delivery of the delivery item on a screen of the information processing device; An information processing device that determines that delivery of the delivery item has been completed based on the input results of the check items by the delivery person of the delivery item.

5. A method implemented by an information processing device, comprising: Detecting that a vehicle used to deliver a delivery item has stopped near a delivery location; determining that delivery of the delivery item has been completed when a predetermined time has elapsed since the vehicle stopped; A method comprising:

6. A method for providing MaaS (Mobility as a Service) using the information processing device according to claim 1.

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