Information processing system, information processing program, information processing device, and information processing method

Abstract

The present invention provides an information processing system, information processing program, information processing device, and information processing method that enable users to easily determine the vehicle type of a delivery vehicle. [Solution] The information processing system includes route acquisition means for acquiring route information relating to the travel route from the departure point to the destination or its vicinity for each of several different vehicle types, and presentation means for presenting the route information acquired for each of the several vehicle types in a comparable manner, and presenting at least one of the several vehicle types as a recommended vehicle type in a way that distinguishes it from the other vehicle types.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an information processing system, an information processing program, an information processing apparatus, and an information processing method.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, considering vehicle height, vehicle width, etc., it is determined whether a route from the current location to the destination includes a location that cannot be safely passed. When it is determined that such a location is included in the route, a route search method for searching for a route that avoids the location is known (Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] By the way, in a delivery company or the like that owns delivery vehicles of multiple vehicle types, when determining a delivery vehicle, it is necessary to determine the vehicle type in consideration of various viewpoints such as safety and delivery efficiency.

[0005] However, conventionally, a user such as a manager of a delivery company has to collect various pieces of information serving as judgment materials (such as movement routes for each vehicle type, presence or absence of traffic regulations, positions of narrow streets, etc.) by himself / herself, and determine the vehicle type of the delivery vehicle based on the collected information, which has a problem of a large burden.

[0006] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an information processing system, an information processing program, an information processing apparatus, and an information processing method that enable a user to easily determine the vehicle type of a delivery vehicle.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] The information processing system according to the present invention is A route acquisition means that acquires route information regarding the travel route from the origin to the destination or its vicinity for each of several different vehicle types, A presentation means that presents the route information acquired for each of the aforementioned multiple vehicle types in a comparable manner, and presents at least one of the aforementioned multiple vehicle types as a recommended vehicle type in a manner that can be distinguished from the other vehicle types, It is characterized by having the following features. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an information processing system, information processing program, information processing device, and information processing method that enable users to easily determine the vehicle type of a delivery vehicle. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] This figure shows a schematic configuration of the information processing system according to the first embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a functional block diagram of terminal devices (administrator terminal, driver terminal) according to the first embodiment. [Figure 3] This is a functional block diagram of the server according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4] This is an example of the configuration of a vehicle information database according to the first embodiment. [Figure 5] This is an example of the configuration of the driver information database according to the first embodiment. [Figure 6] This is an example of the configuration of a case information database according to the first embodiment. [Figure 7A] This is a sequence diagram showing an example of the processing operation of the information processing system according to the first embodiment. [Figure 7B] Figure 7A is followed by a sequence diagram showing an example of the processing operation of the information processing system according to the first embodiment. [Figure 7C] Figure 7B is followed by a sequence diagram showing an example of the processing operation of the information processing system according to the first embodiment. [Figure 7D] It is a sequence diagram showing an example of the processing operation of the information processing system according to the first embodiment, following FIG. 7C. [Figure 8] It is an example of an initial screen for creating a vehicle allocation plan. [Figure 9] It is an example of a screen for selecting an operator and a destination. [Figure 10] It is an example of a screen showing an overview of the vehicle allocation plan related to the selected operator and destination. [Figure 11] It is an example of a screen for inputting conditions for performing route search. [Figure 12] It is an example of a screen after completion of route search. [Figure 13] It is an example of a map preview screen. [Figure 14] It is an example of a comparison table for each vehicle type. [Figure 15] It is an example of additional information of the comparison table for each vehicle type. [Figure 16] It is an example of a street view screen of a road with vehicle height restrictions. [Figure 17] It is an example of a street view screen of a road with vehicle width restrictions. [Figure 18] It is a functional block diagram of the server according to the second embodiment. [Figure 19] It is an example of a screen for selecting an allocation method and a destination. [Figure 20] It is a sequence diagram showing an example of the processing operation of the information processing system according to the second embodiment. [Figure 21] It is an example of a screen showing a comparison table of automatic vehicle allocation results.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0010] Hereinafter, embodiments according to the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.

[0011] (First Embodiment) First, referring to FIG. 1, the schematic configuration of the information processing system 1 according to the present embodiment will be described.

[0012] The information processing system 1 according to this embodiment presents recommended vehicle types for delivery vehicles (hereinafter simply referred to as "recommended vehicle types") in order to create a dispatch plan for vehicles that deliver goods, etc. (delivery vehicles). In this application, "vehicle type" is a concept that includes classifications of delivery vehicles categorized by the user based on vehicle type (passenger car, medium-sized car, large car, etc.), vehicle class (A-segment to F-segment, etc.), vehicle size, weight, etc.

[0013] As shown in Figure 1, the information processing system 1 comprises an administrator terminal 2, a driver terminal 2A, a server 3, and a communication network 4 such as the Internet. The administrator terminal 2, the driver terminal 2A, and the server 3 are connected to each other via the communication network 4 so that they can communicate with one another. The communication network 4 may be either a wired or wireless line, and the type and configuration of the line are not restricted.

[0014] Administrator terminal 2 is an information processing device used by the delivery company's administrator to register various information such as vehicle information, driver information, and case information in the server 3 database, and to create dispatch plans for delivery vehicles. This administrator terminal 2 may be, for example, a laptop computer or a desktop computer, but it may also be a smartphone or tablet device.

[0015] The driver terminal 2A is an information processing device for the driver (worker) of a delivery vehicle to receive dispatch plans, etc. This driver terminal 2A is, for example, a mobile device such as a smartphone or tablet, but is not limited to that, and may be configured as a communication terminal (car navigation device, etc.) installed in the delivery vehicle.

[0016] Note that the administrator terminal 2 and driver terminal 2A are not limited to one unit each; multiple administrator terminals 2 and multiple driver terminals 2A may be connected to the server 3.

[0017] Furthermore, the administrator terminal 2 and the driver terminal 2A do not necessarily need to be strictly distinguished; for example, the dispatch plan may be created on the driver terminal 2A. In the following explanation, the administrator terminal 2 and the driver terminal 2A will be collectively referred to as terminal devices 2 and 2A.

[0018] <Terminal device 2,2A> Next, with reference to Figure 2, terminal devices 2 and 2A according to the first embodiment will be described.

[0019] As shown in Figure 2, terminal devices 2,2A include a control unit 21, a communication unit 22, a storage unit 23, an operation input unit 24, a display unit 25, and a positioning unit 26.

[0020] The control unit 21 includes an information receiving unit 211 that receives various types of information and an output control unit 212 that controls the information output to the user. The information receiving unit 211 receives information such as the worker and destination via, for example, the operation input unit 24. The output control unit 212 displays the processing results of the server 3 (for example, the route searched, the recommended vehicle type, etc.) on the display unit 25. The output control unit 212 may also control a speaker (not shown) to present predetermined information (such as the recommended vehicle type) to the user.

[0021] Each part of the control unit 21 is realized by the processor in the terminal devices 2 and 2A executing a predetermined program. At least some of the parts of the control unit 21 may be realized by hardware.

[0022] The communication unit 22 is an interface for sending and receiving information between terminal devices 2,2A and the server 3 via the communication network 4.

[0023] The memory unit 23 stores programs executed by the processors in the terminal devices 2,2A, as well as various data for transmission and reception. This memory unit 23 is composed of, for example, a non-volatile semiconductor memory.

[0024] The operation input unit 24 is an interface for users of terminal devices 2,2A to input information, and is an information input means such as a keyboard, mouse, touch panel, or built-in microphone.

[0025] The display unit 25 displays various information to the user from the terminal devices 2 and 2A. This display unit 25 is, for example, a liquid crystal display, an organic EL display, or other image display means. If the display unit 25 is a touch panel, it may also function as the operation input unit 24.

[0026] The positioning unit 26 determines and acquires the current location of the terminal devices 2,2A, and determines the current location by means of GPS (Global Positioning System), WiFi positioning, etc.

[0027] <Server 3> Next, with reference to Figure 3, a server 3 according to the first embodiment will be described.

[0028] As shown in Figure 3, the server 3 comprises a control unit 31, a communication unit 32, and a storage unit 33. The communication unit 32 is an interface for sending and receiving information between the terminal devices 2,2A and the server 3 via the network 4.

[0029] The control unit 31 includes an information acquisition unit 311, a database registration unit 312, a route search unit 313, a recommended vehicle type determination unit 314, an additional information generation unit 315, and an information output unit 316. In this embodiment, each part of the control unit 31 is executed by a predetermined program run by a processor in the server 3. At least a portion of each part of the control unit 31 may be implemented by hardware.

[0030] The information acquisition unit 311 acquires information transmitted from terminal devices 2 and 2A. For example, it acquires information to be written to the database in the storage unit 33. The information acquisition unit 311 also accesses the database in the server 3 to acquire desired information, or acquires information obtained by other functional units (such as the route search unit 313) (such as route information and recommended vehicle type information).

[0031] The database registration unit 312 registers information received from external devices such as terminal devices 2 and 2A into the database of the storage unit 33. For example, it receives vehicle information such as the number of vehicles owned for each vehicle type from terminal devices 2 and 2A and registers it in the vehicle information database 333. In addition, the database registration unit 312 registers driver information in the driver information database 334 and case information in the case information database 335.

[0032] The route search unit 313 performs route searches for each vehicle type based on information received from terminal devices 2,2A. This route search is performed using the route network database 331 of the storage unit 33. The route searched by the route search unit 313 may be a travel route from the starting point to the destination, or a route that travels from the starting point to the final destination via one or more visiting locations. In this case, the searched route may be a loop route where the final destination is the same as the starting point. In this embodiment, the visiting locations are the delivery destinations for packages, but they may also be collection facilities that receive packages to be delivered, or the houses or office buildings used for moving. In this specification and in the claims, the term "destination" is used to encompass both visiting locations (intermediate locations) and the final destination.

[0033] When the route search unit 313 performs a route search, if there are roads that are difficult to pass (such as narrow streets) or roads with traffic restrictions around the destination for the vehicle type being searched, it may set a temporary destination that can be reached without passing through such roads and search for a route to the temporary destination. Furthermore, when setting a temporary destination, it is preferable to consider whether it is possible to park a vehicle and perform work on that road, even if the road is passable. For example, even if a road is passable, locations where parking or other work is difficult due to reasons such as heavy traffic should not be set as temporary destinations.

[0034] Even if the route search unit 313 cannot find a route to reach the destination, it may search for a route to reach a predetermined location if it is possible to reach that location within a predetermined distance from the destination. Here, the predetermined distance is, for example, the distance over which goods can be transported using a trolley or the like.

[0035] The route information obtained by the route search unit 313 includes information indicating a travel route that satisfies the route search conditions. The route information also includes at least one of the following: required time, distance traveled, toll fees, road limits, minimum road width, number of right and left turns, and distance from the destination. This information is displayed numerically and can be used by the user as one of the factors in deciding which delivery vehicle to use.

[0036] Here, the required time is the time required for the delivery vehicle to travel from the departure point to the destination or its vicinity. The distance traveled is the length of the travel route. The toll fee is the fee incurred if the travel route includes toll roads such as expressways. The traffic limit is the strictest traffic restriction on the travel route, and includes at least one of the restrictions related to vehicle height, vehicle width, and vehicle weight. The minimum road width is the width of the narrowest road on the travel route. The number of right and left turns is the number of right and left turns that occur while traveling from the departure point to the destination or its vicinity. The distance from the destination is the distance between the destination and the nearest reachable point. The nearest reachable point is the closest point to the destination that can be reached by the vehicle type in question. Note that the route information may also include the distance traveled on the minimum road width. Furthermore, the user may be shown how far the vehicle will travel on the road with the minimum road width.

[0037] Furthermore, route information may include at least one of the following: road width margin, difficulty of turning, and driving difficulty. These indicators are displayed as degrees rather than numerical values, and can be used by users as one of the factors in deciding on the type of vehicle to use for delivery.

[0038] Here, road width margin is an indicator showing the margin of road width when traveling on the route with that vehicle type, and is displayed as a degree such as "ample," "normal," or "strict." Turning difficulty is an indicator showing the difficulty of turning on the route with that vehicle type, and is displayed as a degree such as "easy," "normal," or "difficult." Driving difficulty shows the difficulty of driving on the route with that vehicle type, and is displayed as a degree such as "easy," "normal," or "difficult."

[0039] In addition to the above numerical values ​​and degrees, the information displayed for comparison with each vehicle type may also be relative to the recommended vehicle type. For example, the relative travel time of other vehicle types (e.g., "+25 minutes") based on the travel time of the recommended vehicle type may be displayed.

[0040] The recommended vehicle type determination unit 314 determines at least one vehicle type from among several different vehicle types as the recommended vehicle type. For example, the recommended vehicle type determination unit 314 accesses the vehicle information database 333 and determines the recommended vehicle type from among the registered vehicle types, specifically those with one or more units owned.

[0041] In this case, the multiple vehicle types are, for example, the vehicle types owned by the delivery company. Furthermore, the multiple vehicle types may also be vehicle types owned by the delivery company that can be driven by pre-assigned drivers. Additionally, the multiple vehicle types may be vehicle types that can be leased or otherwise leased.

[0042] The criteria used by the Recommended Vehicle Type Determination Unit 314 to determine the recommended vehicle type are explained below. Criteria for determining the recommended vehicle type include drivability, transportability, and suitability. Drivability is the criterion of whether the target vehicle type is easy to travel on the roads of the travel route. Transportability is the criterion of whether the target vehicle type is highly efficient at transporting cargo. Suitability is the criterion of whether the target vehicle type is suitable for the driver who has been pre-assigned.

[0043] When determining the recommended vehicle type based on the "passability" criterion, the recommended vehicle type determination unit 314 determines, for example, a vehicle type that can travel on the road to the destination as the recommended vehicle type. For example, if the travel route from the starting point to the destination includes roads with restrictions on vehicle width, vehicle height, etc. (narrow streets, etc.), a vehicle type that can travel on such roads is determined as the recommended vehicle type.

[0044] If none of the registered vehicle types can reach the destination, the recommended vehicle type determination unit 314 may determine the vehicle type with the shortest distance from the destination, or one or more vehicle types whose distance from the destination is shorter than a predetermined distance, as the recommended vehicle type. The predetermined distance is, for example, the distance over which goods can be transported between an accessible point and the destination using a trolley or the like. In this way, the recommended vehicle type determination unit 314 may determine the recommended vehicle type based on the distance from the destination.

[0045] When determining the recommended vehicle type based on the "transportability" criterion, the recommended vehicle type determination unit 314 determines, for example, as the recommended vehicle type the vehicle type with the largest maximum load capacity, or one or more vehicle types with a maximum load capacity greater than a predetermined amount, among vehicle types whose distance from the destination is shorter than a predetermined distance.

[0046] When determining the recommended vehicle type based on the "suitability" criterion, the recommended vehicle type determination unit 314 determines, for example, the vehicle type that is most suitable for the driver pre-assigned to the delivery assignment (also simply called the assignment), or one or more vehicle types whose suitability exceeds a predetermined value, as the recommended vehicle type. The suitability between the driver and the vehicle type is evaluated based on the driver's skills (licenses held, etc.), experience (license duration, number of times driven, etc.), etc.

[0047] The recommended vehicle type determination unit 314 may determine the recommended vehicle type based on multiple criteria (such as road accessibility and suitability). For example, if there are multiple vehicle types that can travel on the road to the destination, the vehicle type that is most suitable for the driver may be determined as the recommended vehicle type.

[0048] Furthermore, the recommended vehicle type determination unit 314 may generate a reason for determining the recommended vehicle type. For example, it may generate a recommendation reason such as "shortest travel time and able to reach the destination." Artificial intelligence may also be used to create the text related to the recommendation reason.

[0049] Furthermore, the recommended vehicle type determination unit 314 may determine the recommended vehicle type using the results of machine learning (for example, a neural network constructed using deep learning) based on the delivery performance of each driver. In this case, the server 3 may be equipped with machine learning means, or it may be possible to utilize the learning results obtained from other servers.

[0050] The additional information generation unit 315 generates additional information that can be used by the user as a basis for determining the vehicle type of the delivery vehicle.

[0051] For example, the additional information generation unit 315 generates vehicle information for each of several vehicle types as additional information. This vehicle information includes, for example, whether or not the user owns a vehicle of the target vehicle type, and whether or not the vehicle is available for lease. The additional information generation unit 315 obtains this information by accessing the vehicle information database 333.

[0052] Furthermore, the additional information generation unit 315 may generate information on the number of round trips (with discretionary consideration) for each of the multiple vehicle types as additional information. The number of round trips is the number of round trips required to deliver all the cargo related to the case when using a vehicle of the target vehicle type. This number of round trips is calculated based on the maximum load capacity and the amount of cargo. The maximum load capacity is obtained from the vehicle information database 333, and the amount of cargo is obtained from the cargo information in the case information database 335.

[0053] Furthermore, the additional information generation unit 315 may generate driver suitability rate information for each of the multiple vehicle types as additional information. This driver suitability rate is an indicator showing the suitability between the target vehicle type and the driver assigned to the case in advance, and is calculated based on the driver's skills, experience, etc. In this case, the additional information generation unit 315 accesses the driver information database 334 to obtain the necessary information.

[0054] The information output unit 316 outputs various types of information to terminal devices 2 and 2A via the communication unit 32. For example, it outputs route information related to the travel route obtained by the route search unit 313 and the recommended vehicle type determined by the recommended vehicle type determination unit 314 to terminal devices 2 and 2A.

[0055] The storage unit 33 stores programs necessary for information processing by the server 3, as well as various data and databases. This storage unit 33 is composed of storage devices such as a hard disk or semiconductor memory (SSD, etc.).

[0056] Next, the various databases stored in the storage unit 33 will be described. In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 3, the storage unit 33 stores a route network database 331, a map information database 332, a vehicle information database 333, a driver information database 334, and a case information database 335.

[0057] The route network database 331 is a database used by the route search unit 313 when performing route searches, and it contains road network information as route network information. Road network information is represented by a combination of data for nodes in the road network representation, such as intersections, and data for links, which are road sections between nodes.

[0058] Furthermore, the road network information may include traffic restriction information for each vehicle type. Links may also have costs assigned to them for each vehicle type. The route network database 331 may also include pedestrian network information for routes that are impassable by vehicle but passable on foot.

[0059] The map information database 332 is primarily used for displaying travel routes on maps or for searching for locations (e.g., latitude and longitude searches).

[0060] The vehicle information database 333 is a database that stores vehicle information for each vehicle type. Figure 4 shows an example of the vehicle information database 333. In this example, five types of vehicles are registered: mopeds, regular cars, medium-sized cars, large cars, and extra-large cars. For each registered vehicle type, the maximum load capacity, number of vehicles owned (the number of vehicles owned by the delivery company), and whether or not they are leased (whether or not they are available for lease or rental) are stored.

[0061] Furthermore, the vehicle type column in the vehicle information database 333 may contain vehicle class such as A-segment to F-segment, or user-defined vehicle dimensions (width, height, length, etc.). The vehicle type column may contain a mixture of vehicle type, vehicle class, and user-defined vehicle dimensions.

[0062] Furthermore, the vehicle information database 333 may include a column for engine displacement. This allows for the recommendation of vehicle types while taking into account automobile exhaust gas regulations.

[0063] Furthermore, the vehicle information database 333 may include a column indicating the number of vehicles owned by the delivery company that are operational (i.e., not already assigned to a job).

[0064] Furthermore, the vehicle information database 333 may include columns for vehicle size (vehicle height, vehicle width, vehicle length, gross vehicle weight, etc.).

[0065] The driver information database 334 is a database that stores information for each driver. Figure 5 shows an example of the driver information database 334. In this example, the driver's information stored includes name, group (group to which the driver belongs), drivable vehicle types (types of driver's licenses held), experience level, working conditions (working hours, etc.), assigned vehicle, and contact information (telephone number, email address, etc.). "Experience level" is a value calculated based on transport record, driving record, etc. In addition, the number of years elapsed since obtaining the license may also be stored as experience level. The experience level column may also store experience levels for each vehicle type. "Assigned vehicle" is the identification information of the vehicle that has been assigned to the driver in advance, or the vehicle type of that vehicle.

[0066] In addition, the column for drivable vehicle types may also store the type of driver's license the driver possesses, as well as the year and month in which that license was obtained.

[0067] Furthermore, the driver information database 334 may include a column for the driver's driving history information (information on the routes they have traveled). This allows for, for example, understanding how wide roads the driver has driven on and for how long, or whether the driver tends to avoid narrow streets.

[0068] Furthermore, the driver information database 334 may include a column that stores the driver suitability rate for each vehicle type. Such a driver suitability rate is calculated based on information such as the types of vehicles the driver can drive, the driving history information of the target vehicle type, and the transport record.

[0069] The case information database 335 is a database that stores detailed information for each delivery case. Figure 6 shows an example of the case information database 335. In this example, the case information stored includes the case name, destination (collection and delivery location), desired date and time of visit, work time, case status, and cargo information. Here, the desired date and time of visit is not limited to a specific time, but can also be a time range. The case status can be, for example, not yet started, in transit, work started, work completed, or other. Cargo information includes information such as the size (volume, etc.), weight, and number of packages.

[0070] Furthermore, the storage unit 33 may store databases other than those mentioned above, depending on the processing content of the server 3. For example, a traffic information database including congestion information, a driving history database including driving history information for each vehicle, and a POI (Point of Interest) information database containing location information and name information of points may be stored in the storage unit 33.

[0071] Furthermore, at least one of the databases in the storage unit 33 may be stored in the storage unit of another information processing device that is connected to the server 3 in a manner that allows communication.

[0072] <Example of operation of Information Processing System 1> Next, an example of processing by the information processing system 1 will be explained with reference to the flowcharts in Figures 7A to 7D. Figure 8 is an example of the initial screen displayed on the administrator terminal 2, showing the "Vehicle Dispatch Plan" tab at the top of the screen selected. In this specification, the selection of tabs, buttons, etc., includes screen operations such as clicking, tapping, touching, double-clicking, and swiping, as well as operations that can be performed via the operation input unit 24, such as decisions made by voice input.

[0073] Furthermore, by selecting the "Worker Information" tab at the top of the initial screen in Figure 8, you can display a list of workers (drivers) and register or edit driver information. Additionally, by selecting the "Reception" tab at the top of the screen, you can display a list of cases and register or edit cases.

[0074] First, the control unit 21 of the administrator terminal 2 determines whether the "Add dispatch plan" button B1 was selected on the initial screen in Figure 8 (step S11).

[0075] If button B1 is selected (S11: Yes), the administrator terminal 2 displays the "Add Delivery Plan" screen shown in Figure 9 (step S12). On the screen in Figure 9, the user selects the worker (driver) and destination by checking the checkbox CB. Multiple workers and destinations can be selected. However, the number of destinations must be greater than or equal to the number of workers. In this step, the information receiving unit 211 of the administrator terminal 2 accepts the workers and destinations (step S13).

[0076] The control unit 21 of the administrator terminal 2 determines whether the "Create Assignment" button B2 in Figure 9 is selected (step S14). If button B2 is selected (S14: Yes), the administrator terminal 2 displays the delivery plan summary S as shown in Figure 10 (step S15). In this example, the summary S shows that "Intellectual Property 01" is designated as the worker and two locations, G1 and G2, are designated as destinations.

[0077] Subsequently, the control unit 21 of the administrator terminal 2 determines whether the "Route Search / Time Specification" button B3 in Figure 10 has been selected (step S16). If button B3 is selected (S16: Yes), the administrator terminal 2 displays the "Route Creation" screen shown in Figure 11 (step S17). On this screen, the user enters route search conditions such as the departure point, the work time at each destination, the final destination, and the departure date and time (or arrival date and time). In the example screen in Figure 11, the user selects the departure point (final destination) from pre-registered locations using the pull-down menu PD1 (PD2). Also, the user selects the vehicle type for which information such as the travel route will be displayed by default on the map preview screen (see Figure 13) using the pull-down menu PD3. Here, "Standard Car" is selected.

[0078] In addition, on the screen shown in Figure 11, it is also possible to select one of the following options: “Visit Order” (e.g., do not change the visit order), “Consider” (e.g., consider traffic congestion), or “Prioritize” (e.g., prioritize the recommended route). Based on the user's input, the information receiving unit 211 of the administrator terminal 2 receives time information and other data necessary for route searching (step S18).

[0079] Furthermore, in the screen shown in Figure 11, the criteria for determining the recommended vehicle type (such as traversability, transportability, and suitability) may be made selectable by the user using a pull-down menu or radio buttons.

[0080] Subsequently, the control unit 21 of the administrator terminal 2 determines whether the "Create" button B5 in Figure 11 has been selected (step S19). If button B5 is selected (S19: Yes), the administrator terminal 2 sends the route search conditions selected or entered by the user and the information of the selected driver (worker) to the server 3 (step S20). The server 3 then receives the route search conditions and driver information (step S21).

[0081] The route search conditions sent to server 3 in step S20 include location information for the departure point, destination, and final destination, as well as time information (departure time or arrival time, and working time at the destination). The driver information sent also includes identification information for the driver selected by the user.

[0082] The route search unit 313 of server 3 performs a route search based on the route search conditions received from the administrator terminal 2 in step S21 (step S22). More specifically, the route search unit 313 performs a route search for each vehicle type registered in the vehicle information database 333. This step provides route information for each vehicle type regarding a travel route that departs from the starting point, visits at least one destination, and arrives at the final destination.

[0083] After the travel route has been searched, the recommended vehicle type determination unit 314 of server 3 determines at least one recommended vehicle type (step S23). The determination of the recommended vehicle type is made based on the criteria such as passability, transportability, and suitability described above. This step provides information indicating the recommended vehicle type (recommended vehicle type information).

[0084] The additional information generation unit 315 of server 3 generates additional information that can be used by the user as a basis for determining the vehicle type of delivery vehicle (step S24). For each of the multiple vehicle types, the additional information generation unit 315 generates information such as driver suitability rate, vehicle information (number of vehicles owned, whether or not they can be leased, etc.), and the number of round trips.

[0085] Server 3 transmits the route information obtained in step S22, the recommended vehicle type information obtained in step S23, and the additional information obtained in step S24 to the administrator terminal 2 (step S25). The administrator terminal 2 receives this information (step S26) and displays that the route search is complete (step S27). In step S27, the progress indicator stops to indicate that the route search is in progress. As shown in Figure 12, the color of the boxes indicating destinations G1 and G2 may change.

[0086] Subsequently, the control unit 21 of the administrator terminal 2 determines whether the "Map Preview" button B4 in Figure 12 is selected (step S28). If button B4 is selected (S28: Yes), the administrator terminal 2 displays the "Map Preview" screen shown in Figure 13 (step S29). The map information to be displayed may be sent in advance from the server 3 in step S25, or it may be obtained from the server 3 in response to a user request.

[0087] In Figure 13, the travel route (circuit route CR) for the vehicle type selected on the route creation screen in Figure 11 (a regular car in this example) is displayed on the map as a thick line. The display method (color, line width, etc.) of the line indicating the travel route may be changed depending on the road type (general road, expressway, etc.) and whether or not there are traffic restrictions such as vehicle width restrictions. For example, roads with the strictest vehicle width restrictions and narrow streets can be displayed in a more prominent way (red line, etc.).

[0088] In Figure 13, the locations of the departure and final destination SG, and the visited locations G1 and G2 are shown as pin markers on the map. Route information such as departure time, arrival time, travel time, and distance is displayed at the top left of the screen, while a list of visited locations is displayed at the bottom left of the screen.

[0089] The control unit 21 of the administrator terminal 2 determines whether the "Compare" button B6 in Figure 13 is selected (step S30). If button B6 is selected (S30: Yes), the administrator terminal 2 displays the table related to "Compare with other vehicle types" in Figure 14 (step S31). More specifically, the output control unit 212 of the control unit 21 controls the display unit 25 to display the screen in Figure 14. The table in Figure 14 may also be displayed overlaid on the screen in Figure 13.

[0090] Figure 14 displays route information (travel time, distance, toll fees, road limits, minimum road width, and number of turns) for multiple vehicle types in a comparable manner. The road limits section shows height restrictions (vertical arrows), width restrictions (horizontal arrows), and vehicle weight restrictions. In addition to this information, the distance from the destination may also be displayed.

[0091] Furthermore, when the "Change Vehicle Type" button B7 is selected in Figure 14, the information such as the travel route on the map is updated to reflect the currently highlighted vehicle type.

[0092] In the table in Figure 14, the vehicle type selected via the pull-down menu PD3 on the route creation screen in Figure 11 (in this example, a regular car) is highlighted (in this example, the vehicle type is displayed in reverse text and the column for that vehicle type is colored). However, selecting another vehicle type by tapping or clicking will highlight that other vehicle type.

[0093] Regarding the route information in Figure 14, the best value may be displayed in a way that makes it distinguishable from the other values. For example, the shortest travel time may be displayed in a different color from the others.

[0094] In the comparison screen of Figure 14, a mark M indicating the recommended vehicle type is displayed in association with the vehicle type name (in this case, "regular car"). By adding such a mark M, the recommended vehicle type is presented to the user in a way that makes it distinguishable from other vehicle types. However, the manner in which the recommended vehicle type is presented to the user is not particularly limited, as long as it is distinguishable from other vehicle types. For example, the text of the recommended vehicle type may be highlighted or displayed in a different color, or the recommended vehicle type may be output as audio from the built-in speaker of the administrator terminal 2.

[0095] As described above, the output control unit 212 of the administrator terminal 2 controls the display unit 25 to present route information acquired for each of the multiple vehicle types in a comparable manner, and also presents at least one of the multiple vehicle types as a recommended vehicle type so that it can be identified from the other vehicle types.

[0096] The output control unit 212 may also display additional information received from the server 3 on the display unit 25. For example, as shown in Figure 15, the road width margin, turning difficulty, driving difficulty, cumulative distance from destination, work efficiency, vehicle information, number of round trips (considering discretion), and driver suitability may be displayed in a comparable manner for each vehicle type. The cumulative distance from destination is the sum of the distances from each destination when the travel route includes multiple destinations. If there is only one destination, the cumulative distance from destination is the same as the distance from the destination.

[0097] Additionally, although not shown in the illustrations, the reasons for recommending a particular vehicle type (e.g., "It can travel to the destination and has the largest carrying capacity") may be displayed.

[0098] Furthermore, if a difficult-to-access section (a road with strict regulations) on the travel route is selected by a user operation such as tapping or clicking on the map preview screen in Figure 13, the administrator terminal 2 may allow the user to confirm the difficult-to-access section by displaying a Street View of that location, as shown in Figures 16 and 17. On the Street View screen, regulatory signs may be highlighted with lines, as indicated by the symbols RS1 in Figure 16 and RS2 in Figure 17. This allows the user to easily understand the appearance of the difficult-to-access section.

[0099] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 16 and 17, the Street View screen may also display trucks T1 and T2 of the vehicle type selected by the user overlaid on it. This allows the user to easily visually grasp the road width and other factors.

[0100] As described above, according to this embodiment, route information acquired for each of the multiple vehicle types is presented in a comparable manner, and at least one of the multiple vehicle types is presented as a recommended vehicle type so that it can be identified from the other vehicle types. This makes it easier for users such as delivery company managers to determine the vehicle type for delivery vehicles.

[0101] Furthermore, by presenting recommended vehicle types that take traffic restrictions into consideration, it is possible to prevent situations where unsafe vehicle types are selected, such as those with limited road width or low compatibility with assigned drivers, resulting in traffic accidents or logistics accidents.

[0102] In this embodiment, the worker and destination were received in step S13, but the system is not limited to this, and only the destination may be received. In this case, driver information is not sent in step S20, and only the route search conditions are sent to the server 3. The driver may be determined by the server 3.

[0103] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the worker and destination were received in step S13, but this is not limited to this, and a case may be selected instead of a destination. In this case, on the screen in Figure 9, instead of clicking radio button RB1 for selecting a destination, radio button RB2 is clicked, and a case is selected from the displayed case list. By obtaining cargo information by referring to the case information database 335, the recommended vehicle type determination unit 314 can determine the recommended vehicle type considering the cargo information, for example, by determining the recommended vehicle type based on the distance between destinations and the amount of cargo. Note that when delivering cargo to multiple destinations, if the vehicle type (vehicle type) is "large vehicle" and the distance between destinations is relatively long but the amount of cargo to be delivered to that destination is small, that vehicle type may be used as the recommended vehicle type.

[0104] Furthermore, in this embodiment, route information is presented in a comparable manner for all vehicle types registered in the vehicle information database 333. However, if a particular vehicle type is extremely unsuitable (for example, in the case of an oversized vehicle for which no travel route can be found at all), the route information for that vehicle type does not need to be displayed.

[0105] Furthermore, in this embodiment, route information for multiple vehicle types is displayed in a comparable manner, but instead, only the recommended vehicle type may be displayed. For example, the route creation screen in Figure 11 may not have a pull-down menu PD3 for selecting a vehicle type, and the map preview in Figure 13 may default to displaying information such as the travel route for the recommended vehicle type.

[0106] (Second embodiment) Next, a second embodiment will be described. While the first embodiment concerned the creation of delivery plans, the second embodiment concerns automated vehicle dispatch.

[0107] The schematic configuration of the information processing system according to the second embodiment is the same as that of information processing system 1 described with reference to Figure 1. The configuration of terminal devices 2 and 2A is also the same as that described with reference to Figure 2. The server in this embodiment differs slightly from the server and control unit in the first embodiment, so it will be described with reference to the functional block diagram in Figure 18.

[0108] The control unit 31A of the server 3A according to the second embodiment includes an information acquisition unit 311, a database registration unit 312, a vehicle type pre-determination unit 317, a route search unit 313, and an information output unit 316. In this embodiment, each part of the control unit 31A is executed by a predetermined program run by a processor within the server 3A. At least a portion of each part of the control unit 31A may be implemented by hardware.

[0109] The information acquisition unit 311 accesses the road network information in the route network database 331 to obtain road information around the destination. The information acquisition unit 311 obtains information such as regulations (vehicle height, vehicle width, vehicle weight, etc.) as road information. Alternatively, it may access a traffic information database on an external server to obtain traffic congestion forecast information, etc.

[0110] The database registration unit 312 is the same as in the first embodiment, so a detailed explanation will be omitted.

[0111] The vehicle type pre-determination unit 317 determines the vehicle type based on road information around the destination acquired by the information acquisition unit 311.

[0112] The route search unit 313 searches for a route to the destination using the vehicle type determined by the vehicle type pre-determination unit 317. In other words, in the first embodiment, the route search unit 313 performed a route search for each vehicle type, but in the second embodiment, it performs a route search only for the vehicle type determined by the vehicle type pre-determination unit 317.

[0113] The information output unit 316 outputs various information to terminal devices 2 and 2A via the communication unit 32, similar to the first embodiment. Specifically, the information output unit 316 outputs the travel route and related information obtained from the route search performed by the route search unit 313 for the vehicle type determined by the vehicle type pre-determination unit 317 to terminal devices 2 and 2A.

[0114] <Operation of the information processing system according to the second embodiment> Next, we will explain an example of processing performed by the information processing system according to the second embodiment, focusing on the differences from the first embodiment.

[0115] In the screen shown in Figure 8, described in the first embodiment, when the "Automatic Dispatch" button B8 is selected by the user, the screen shown in Figure 19 is displayed. The radio buttons RB3, RB4, and RB5 on the left side of the screen allow the user to select the assignment method for the destination (or case).

[0116] If radio button RB3 is selected, the number of destinations (or cases) will be evenly distributed across the specified number of flights (or vehicles). The number of flights is specified by entering the number in text box TB. For example, if you set the number of flights to 5 vehicles and select 30 destinations, the destinations will be allocated so that each flight visits 6 locations.

[0117] If radio button RB4 is selected, the specified number of flights will be allocated so that the working time (sum of travel time and work time) is evenly distributed. In this case, the user enters the number of flights, the office to be used, and the departure or arrival time into a designated input form (not shown).

[0118] If radio button RB5 is selected, the optimal number of vehicles will be calculated and allocated based on the operating hours and cargo volume. In this case, the user enters the type of vehicle to be used, the operating hours per person, the branch office to be used, and the departure or arrival time into a designated input form (not shown).

[0119] After the assignment method and destination are selected, selecting the "Create Assignment" button B9 will display an overview of the delivery plan, similar to the first embodiment (Figure 10). If the number of flights is specified, an overview of the delivery plan will be displayed for each of the specified number of flights. At this time, a search for a travel route may be performed based on the conditions specified by the user. The travel route search procedure in this embodiment will be explained with reference to the flowchart in Figure 20.

[0120] First, the information acquisition unit 311 of the server 3A acquires road information around the destination based on the destination information received from the terminal devices 2 and 2A (step S51). In this step, for example, information regarding regulations such as vehicle height, vehicle width, and vehicle weight on roads around the destination is acquired.

[0121] Next, the vehicle type pre-determination unit 317 of server 3A determines the vehicle type based on the road information acquired in step S51 (step S52). For example, if there are restrictions on vehicle width on the roads around the destination, the vehicle type pre-determination unit 317 determines the type of vehicle that can travel on those roads.

[0122] Next, the route search unit 313 of server 3A performs a route search based on the vehicle type determined in step S52 (step S53). This step provides a travel route from the departure point to the destination using the vehicle type determined by the vehicle type pre-determination unit 317.

[0123] After the travel route is obtained as described above, server 3A transmits the travel route information obtained through route search to terminal devices 2,2A. The output control unit 212 of terminal devices 2,2A displays the determined vehicle type and travel route on the display unit 25 based on the travel route information received from server 3A.

[0124] According to the above route search method, the vehicle type is determined in advance based on road information around the destination before the route search is performed, thus enabling efficient route searching. For example, by pre-determining the vehicle type that can travel on the roads around the destination, it is possible to avoid situations where the user has to change the vehicle type and perform a route search again because a route using the vehicle type specified by the user or the default vehicle type could not be found that travels on the roads around the destination.

[0125] The vehicle type pre-determination unit 317 may determine multiple types of vehicles. For example, if the user specifies multiple trips, the unit may determine multiple types of vehicles (e.g., two regular cars and two light vehicles) according to the amount of luggage, etc.

[0126] Furthermore, the vehicle type pre-determination unit 317 may determine the vehicle type by considering vehicle information from the vehicle information database 333 in addition to road information. For example, it may determine the vehicle type to be one that is capable of traveling on roads around the destination and is owned by the delivery company. Alternatively, it may determine the vehicle type to be one that is capable of traveling on roads around the destination, is owned by the delivery company, and is operational.

[0127] Furthermore, the vehicle type pre-determination unit 317 may determine the vehicle type by taking into consideration driver information (e.g., skills, experience, driving history). For example, if the driver has high skills and experience, or has extensive driving experience on narrow streets, the unit may determine an upgraded vehicle type from the one specified by the user (e.g., from a medium-sized car to a large car).

[0128] Furthermore, the vehicle type pre-determination unit 317 may determine the vehicle type by taking into consideration case information (such as the amount of luggage). For example, if multiple vehicle types are recommended based on road information around the destination, the unit may select the vehicle type that best suits the amount of luggage.

[0129] The vehicle type pre-determination unit 317 may determine the vehicle type based on road information and at least one of the following: vehicle information, driver information, and case information.

[0130] The vehicle type pre-determination unit 317 may determine a vehicle type that cannot travel on the roads surrounding the destination if the distance from the destination is shorter than a predetermined distance. In this case, the route search unit 313 performs a route search using a point reachable by that vehicle type as a provisional destination. On the other hand, if the distance from the destination is longer than a predetermined distance, the vehicle type pre-determination unit 317 determines a smaller vehicle type, and the route search unit 313 searches for a travel route for that vehicle type.

[0131] Furthermore, the route search unit 313 may search for travel routes not only for the vehicle type determined by the vehicle type pre-determination unit 317, but also for the vehicle type specified by the user.

[0132] Figure 21 shows an example of a comparison table screen displayed on the display unit 25 of terminal devices 2,2A. In this example, route information (estimated time, distance traveled, etc.) related to the vehicle type specified by the user (5 standard cars) and route information related to the recommended vehicle type are displayed in a comparable manner. As shown in Figure 21, additional information such as driving difficulty may also be displayed in a comparable manner.

[0133] This example shows the case where the allocation method (radio button RB3 in Figure 19) is selected, which allocates the specified number of flights so that the number of destinations (or cases) is evenly distributed, and there are 5 flights. "Recommendation 1" recommends a total of 3 vehicles: 1 light vehicle and 2 large vehicles, while "Recommendation 2" recommends a total of 5 vehicles: 3 light vehicles, 1 regular vehicle and 1 large vehicle.

[0134] By displaying such a comparison table, users such as delivery company administrators can appropriately determine delivery plans using multiple types of delivery vehicles while comparing vehicle types, number of trips, route information, etc.

[0135] As described above, in the second embodiment, route searching is performed after determining the vehicle type based on road information around the destination, thus enabling efficient route searching. Furthermore, automatic dispatching can be performed using a mixture of multiple vehicle types according to the allocation method selected by the user.

[0136] <Note> A vehicle type pre-determination means for determining the vehicle type based on road information around the destination, and a route search means for searching for a route to the destination using a vehicle of the determined vehicle type. An information processing system characterized by comprising the following features.

[0137] Embodiments of the present invention have been described above. Note that the system configuration in Figure 1 is just one example, and at least some of the configuration requirements in servers 3 and 3A may be located in terminal devices 2 and 2A, respectively. For example, the control units 31 and 31A and the storage unit 33 in servers 3 and 3A may be placed in terminal devices 2 and 2A to configure an information processing device (for example, a car navigation system for delivery vehicles) that can create dispatch plans and perform automatic dispatch using only terminal devices 2 and 2A without communication.

[0138] At least a part of the information processing system described in the above-described embodiment may be configured with hardware or with software. If configured with software, a program that realizes at least a part of the functions of the information processing system may be stored on a recording medium such as a flexible disk or CD-ROM, loaded into a computer, and executed. The recording medium is not limited to removable ones such as magnetic disks or optical disks, but may also be a fixed recording medium such as a hard disk drive or memory.

[0139] Furthermore, programs that implement at least some of the functions of an information processing system may be distributed via communication lines such as the Internet (including wireless communication). In addition, such programs may be encrypted, modulated, or compressed and distributed via wired or wireless lines such as the Internet, or stored on a recording medium.

[0140] Furthermore, the information processing system may be made to function using one or more information processing devices. When multiple information processing devices are used, one of the information processing devices may be a computer, and the computer may execute a predetermined program to realize the function of at least one means of the information processing system.

[0141] Based on the above description, those skilled in the art may conceive of additional effects and various modifications of the present invention, but the embodiments of the present invention are not limited to the individual embodiments described above. Various additions, modifications, and partial deletions are possible without departing from the conceptual idea and spirit of the present invention derived from the claims and their equivalents. [Explanation of symbols]

[0142] 1. Information Processing System 2 Administrator terminal 2A Driver Terminal 21 Control Unit 211 Information Reception Department 212 Output Control Unit 22 Communications Department 23 Memory section 24 Operation Input Section 25 Display section 26 Positioning Unit 3,3A Server 31,31A Control Unit 311 Information Acquisition Department 312 Database Registration Section 313 Route Search Unit 314 Recommended Vehicle Type Determination Section 315 Additional Information Generation Unit 316 Information Output Unit 317 Vehicle Type Pre-determination Section 32 Communications Department 33 Storage section 331 Route Network Database 332 Map Information Database 333 Vehicle Information Database 334 Driver Information Database 335 Project Information Database 4. Communication Network B1, B2, B3, B4, B5, B6, B7, B8 buttons CR patrol route G1,G2 Visited destinations CB checkbox M mark PD1, PD2 pull-down menu RS1, RS2 regulatory signs S Delivery Plan Overview SG Departure / Final Destination T1, T2 Trucks

Claims

1. An information acquisition means for acquiring information on automatic dispatch conditions and multiple cases for assigning destinations or cases to multiple vehicles, A vehicle type determination means that determines the type of vehicle to use to travel to the destination from among several different vehicle types, based on the vehicle accessibility to the destination. Information output means that outputs delivery plan information for carrying out deliveries related to the multiple case information based on the automatic dispatch conditions and the determined vehicle type, An information processing system characterized by comprising the following features.

2. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle type determination means determines a plurality of types of vehicles.

3. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein the information output means outputs route information searched based on the plurality of case information in place of or together with the delivery plan information.

4. Information acquisition means for acquiring automatic dispatch conditions and information on multiple cases, A vehicle type determination means that determines the vehicle type based on at least one of road information, vehicle information, driver information, and case information, Information output means that outputs delivery plan information for carrying out deliveries related to the multiple case information based on the automatic dispatch conditions and the determined vehicle type, Equipped with, The information output means outputs route information searched based on the multiple case information, either in place of or together with the delivery plan information. An information processing system further comprising a presentation means for presenting, in a comparative manner, the route information relating to the determined vehicle type and the route information relating to the vehicle type specified by the user.

5. An information processing system comprising multiple computers connected in a communicative manner, An information acquisition means for acquiring information on automatic dispatch conditions and multiple cases for assigning destinations or cases to multiple vehicles, A vehicle type determination means that determines the type of vehicle to use to travel to the destination from among several different vehicle types, based on the vehicle accessibility to the destination. Information output means that outputs delivery plan information for carrying out deliveries related to the multiple case information based on the automatic dispatch conditions and the determined vehicle type, In order to make an information processing system equipped with the following functions, An information processing program for causing at least one of the above-mentioned computers to function as at least one of the above-mentioned means.

6. Multiple information processing devices connected in a communicative manner, An information acquisition means for acquiring information on automatic dispatch conditions and multiple cases for assigning destinations or cases to multiple vehicles, A vehicle type determination means that determines the type of vehicle to use to travel to the destination from among several different vehicle types, based on the vehicle accessibility to the destination. Information output means that outputs delivery plan information for carrying out deliveries related to the multiple case information based on the automatic dispatch conditions and the determined vehicle type, In order to configure an information processing system that includes, An information processing device characterized by comprising at least one of the above-described means.

7. Computers, Automatic dispatch conditions for assigning destinations or cases to multiple vehicles, and information acquisition means for acquiring information on multiple cases. A vehicle type determination means for determining the type of vehicle to travel to the destination from among several different vehicle types, based on the vehicle accessibility to the destination, and Information output means that outputs delivery plan information for carrying out deliveries related to the multiple case information based on the automatic dispatch conditions and the determined vehicle type. An information processing program designed to function as such.

8. The information acquisition means includes the steps of acquiring automatic dispatch conditions and multiple case information for assigning destinations or cases to multiple vehicles, The vehicle type determination means includes the step of determining the type of vehicle to travel to the destination from among a plurality of different vehicle types, based on the vehicle accessibility to the destination. The information output means outputs delivery plan information for carrying out deliveries related to the multiple case information based on the automatic dispatch conditions and the determined vehicle type, An information processing method characterized by comprising:

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