Construction support system

Abstract

We provide construction support systems and other tools that can improve construction quality. [Solution] The construction support system comprises a first acquisition means, a second acquisition means, and an output means. The first acquisition means acquires construction-related information relating to the construction of at least one plumbing fixture, such as a toilet, kitchen, washbasin, and bathtub. The second acquisition means acquires evaluation results of the construction performance performed by the contractors who installed the plumbing fixtures. The output means outputs information based on the construction-related information and the evaluation results of the construction performance.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a construction support system.

Background Art

[0002] As products have become more highly functional, the assembly and installation of products have become more complex. In addition, consumers' scrutiny of quality has become stricter, and the importance of construction quality, which is affected not only by products but also by the skills of the constructors who install the products, is increasing.

[0003] Note that Patent Document 1 discloses a risk map generation device that generates a risk map indicating danger points according to vehicle equipment.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] For example, the construction of plumbing equipment such as toilet devices, kitchens, washstands, and bathtubs involves complex and large-scale assembly processes. In addition, the combination and order of processes differ depending on the product number of the plumbing equipment. Therefore, in the construction of plumbing equipment, it is necessary to guide appropriate procedures that match individual construction projects. Furthermore, some of the assembly processes are processes that require design-related caution, and others are processes that have actually caused defects in the market. In addition, some constructors who install plumbing equipment have little experience and are unskilled. How to improve quality while supporting these constructors is a challenge.

[0006] However, the conventional risk map generation device does not perform construction management or support for improving construction quality.

[0007] One aspect of this project is to provide installation support systems and other tools that can improve the quality of plumbing fixture installation. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] A construction support system according to one embodiment comprises a first acquisition means, a second acquisition means, and an output means. The first acquisition means acquires construction-related information relating to the construction of at least one plumbing fixture, such as a toilet, kitchen, washbasin, and bathtub. The second acquisition means acquires evaluation results of the construction performance performed by the contractors who installed the plumbing fixtures. The output means outputs information based on the construction-related information and the evaluation results of the construction performance.

[0009] The construction support system according to one embodiment of the system can support the construction work of plumbing fixtures by outputting information based on the evaluation results of construction performance, along with construction-related information regarding the construction of plumbing fixtures, thereby improving the quality of plumbing fixture construction. For example, the construction support system can improve the quality of plumbing fixture construction by managing points to be careful of during construction based on the evaluation results of construction performance and outputting these points to be careful of during construction.

[0010] A construction support system according to one embodiment further comprises a management means. The management means manages the construction work of the plumbing fixtures based on the construction-related information and the evaluation results of the construction performance. The output means outputs the information managed by the management means.

[0011] As a result, the construction support system according to one embodiment can manage the construction work of plumbing fixtures based on construction-related information and the evaluation results of the construction performance, and can output the managed information. For example, the construction support system can improve the quality of plumbing fixture construction by managing points to be careful of during construction based on the evaluation results of the construction performance and outputting the points to be careful of during construction.

[0012] In a construction support system according to one embodiment, the construction-related information is a procedure manual for installing the plumbing fixtures, and includes information on processes that require attention during installation. The output means outputs alert information to the contractor indicating that a process requires attention.

[0013] As a result, a construction support system according to one embodiment can output alert information to the contractor indicating that a process requiring attention is a process that requires attention during construction. For example, the construction support system can output alert information for processes that require attention by designating processes that require attention as processes that require attention. The contractor can recognize that a process requires attention based on the alert information and carry out the construction work carefully, thereby improving the quality of the installation of plumbing fixtures.

[0014] In a construction support system according to one embodiment, the evaluation result of the construction performance includes information about a process in which a malfunction occurred in the past during a predetermined construction process. The output means outputs alert information indicating that the malfunction occurred during the construction work process for the plumbing equipment.

[0015] As a result, the construction support system according to one embodiment can output alert information to the contractor indicating that a problem occurred in a process in the past. For example, the construction support system can output alert information based on actual past problems. The contractor can recognize that a problem has occurred in a process in the past based on the alert information and carry out the construction work carefully, thereby improving the quality of the installation of plumbing fixtures.

[0016] In a construction support system according to one embodiment, the evaluation result of the construction performance includes past construction information of the construction company. The output means outputs alert information indicating that the construction work process for the plumbing equipment is a process requiring attention.

[0017] As a result, a construction support system according to one embodiment can output alert information to a construction contractor at a stage requiring attention, based on the contractor's past construction information. For example, the construction support system can output alert information tailored to the contractor's level at a stage requiring attention, based on the contractor's past construction information. The contractor can receive alert information appropriate to their level at a stage requiring attention, based on their own past construction information.

[0018] In a construction support system according to one embodiment, the output means outputs past construction defect images in which the defect occurred, along with the alert information.

[0019] As a result, the construction support system according to one embodiment of the system can output alert information to the contractor along with images of past construction defects where problems occurred. Furthermore, by outputting actual construction defect images to the contractor, the construction support system can draw attention to actual examples of defects and alert the contractor. By viewing the construction defect images, the contractor can specifically understand the actual defects and carry out the construction work carefully, thereby improving the quality of plumbing fixture installation.

[0020] A construction support system according to one embodiment includes a construction quality evaluation means. The construction quality evaluation means evaluates the construction quality from images or videos of the progress status saved by the contractor for each construction process and corrects the alert information.

[0021] As a result, the construction support system according to one embodiment can correct the alert information output to the construction contractor according to the construction quality of the construction contractor. For example, the construction support system can output alert information to the construction contractor according to the construction quality of the construction contractor. The construction contractor can receive alert information according to their own construction quality. [Effects of the Invention]

[0022] According to one aspect, the construction quality of plumbing equipment can be improved. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a construction support system according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of information output for each process of plumbing equipment construction. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a diagram illustrating another example of information output for each process of plumbing equipment construction. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a procedure of procedure information acquisition processing. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a procedure of evaluation result acquisition processing. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a procedure of correction processing. [Figure 7] Figure 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a procedure of construction procedure output processing. [Figure 8] Figure 8 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a server related to a construction support system according to a second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0024] Hereinafter, embodiments of the construction support system and the like will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the embodiments described below are merely examples, and are not intended to exclude the application of various modifications and techniques not explicitly specified in the embodiments. That is, the embodiments can be implemented with various modifications without departing from the spirit thereof. In addition, each drawing does not mean that it includes only the components shown in the drawing, and may include other functions and the like.

[0025] <1. First Embodiment> <1-1. Configuration of Construction Support System 10> Figure 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a construction support system 10 according to the first embodiment. The construction support system 10 is a system that supports the construction of plumbing fixtures such as toilets, kitchens, washbasins, and bathtubs. The construction support system 10 comprises a server 11 and a schedule management device 20. The server 11 and the schedule management device 20 are connected to each other via a network NE.

[0026] Server 11 is an information processing device such as a server computer. Server 11 has a DB (database) 12. DB 12 stores information about plumbing fixtures such as toilets, kitchens, washbasins, and bathtubs.

[0027] The term "water-related equipment" as used here refers to a concept that includes equipment related to water and the functions they possess (are installed). For example, water-related equipment includes various devices and functions installed in water-related spaces. For example, water-related equipment includes toilets, urinals, bathrooms, bathtubs, washbasins, and other equipment related to sanitary spaces, as well as various water-related devices such as kitchens. For example, water-related equipment includes toilet equipment, bathroom equipment, vanity equipment, kitchen equipment, etc.

[0028] For example, DB12 stores installation-related information concerning the installation of plumbing fixtures. This installation-related information is a procedure manual for installing plumbing fixtures and includes information on processes that require attention during installation. For example, the installation-related information, as a procedure manual, includes installation procedure information that shows the work content of each process in order for multiple processes performed in the assembly and installation of plumbing fixtures. In addition, the installation-related information includes cautionary information regarding processes that require attention during installation. This cautionary information includes information indicating the processes that require attention and points to be noted or checked in those processes. For example, cautionary information may include processes that require attention from a design perspective, processes that are prone to malfunctions, newly added processes, irregular processes, and processes that branch depending on the product, and points to be noted or checked in those processes are stored.

[0029] The installation-related information is linked to the plumbing fixtures corresponding to each installation procedure. For example, the installation procedure information is linked to the product number of the plumbing fixtures corresponding to each installation procedure.

[0030] Furthermore, DB12 stores evaluation results of the installation work performed by plumbing equipment installers. For example, DB12 stores evaluation results of plumbing equipment and the installation of plumbing equipment as part of the evaluation of installation work performance.

[0031] The evaluation results include information on various defects that occurred in plumbing fixtures and during their installation. A defect refers to a fault or problem that occurred in the plumbing fixtures or during their installation. For example, defects may include missing parts, installation errors, damage, malfunctions, or other issues.

[0032] For example, evaluation result information includes information about processes in which defects have occurred in the past during a given construction process. For example, evaluation result information includes market defect information regarding market defects that have occurred in the past for plumbing equipment, and contractor-specific defect information regarding contractor-specific defects that have occurred in the past. Market defects are defects that occur after plumbing equipment has been installed. Contractor-specific defects are defects that have occurred in the past during the construction work of a construction company. Market defect information includes information about defects that have occurred in the market. For example, market defect information includes case information about defects that have occurred in the market. Contractor-specific defect information includes information about defects that have occurred during the construction work of a construction company. For example, contractor-specific defect information includes case information about defects that have occurred during the construction work of a construction company. Defect case information only needs to show an example of a defect that has occurred, and may be, for example, an explanatory text describing the content of the defect, or an image of the defect.

[0033] Furthermore, the evaluation results information includes past construction information of the contractor. The construction information includes construction defect information for each contractor regarding construction defects that occurred in the contractor's construction work. The construction defect information includes various types of information on construction defects that occurred in construction work. For example, the construction defect information includes case information on defects that occurred in the contractor's construction work. In addition, the construction information includes information on the contractor's proficiency in installing plumbing fixtures for each contractor. Proficiency refers to the degree to which a contractor is familiar with the installation of plumbing fixtures. Proficiency can be set from the number of plumbing fixtures installed and the evaluation of the installation results. Proficiency may be set as an input value by the manufacturer of the plumbing fixtures or the client requesting the installation of plumbing fixtures, or it may be calculated and set from the evaluation of the installation performance.

[0034] Furthermore, the defect information may be associated with the product number of the plumbing fixture in which the defect occurred. In addition, the defect information may be associated with the process in which the defect occurred. For example, market defect information, contractor-specific defect information, and installation defect information may be associated with either the product number of the plumbing fixture in which the defect occurred, the process in which the defect occurred, or both.

[0035] Server 11 provides various types of information. Upon request, Server 11 provides construction-related information and evaluation result information stored in DB 12.

[0036] The schedule management device 20 is a terminal device operated by contractors responsible for the installation of plumbing fixtures, or by managers who oversee the installation, and is an information processing device such as a personal computer, tablet, or smartphone.

[0037] <1-2. Configuration of the Schedule Management Device 20> Figure 1 shows a schematic configuration of the schedule management device 20. The schedule management device 20 includes a communication interface 21, an interface 22, a storage unit 23, and a control unit 24.

[0038] Communication interface 21 is a communication interface that manages communication with the network NE.

[0039] Interface 22 includes, for example, input / output ports such as USB (Universal Serial Bus) ports, and video input / output ports such as DisplayPort and HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface). An input unit 22a and an output unit 22b are connected to interface 22. Output unit 22b is an example of an output means stage.

[0040] The input unit 22a is an input device that receives various types of information. For example, the input unit 22a may be an input device such as a mouse or keyboard. The input unit 22a receives operation input from the user and inputs operation information indicating the received operation content to the control unit 24 via the interface 22. The input unit 22a may also have a camera capable of capturing images.

[0041] The output unit 22b is an output device that outputs various types of information. The output unit 22b is a display device such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube). The output unit 22b displays various types of information.

[0042] In the example shown in Figure 1, the schedule management device 20 is shown in a functional configuration, and therefore the input unit 22a and output unit 22b are shown separately. However, the input unit 22a and output unit 22b may be configured as a device that integrates input and output, such as a touch panel.

[0043] The memory unit 23 is implemented by, for example, a semiconductor memory element such as RAM (Random Access Memory) or flash memory, or a storage device such as a hard disk or optical disc. The memory unit 23 stores the OS (Operating System) and various programs executed by the control unit 24. For example, the memory unit 23 stores a program that performs information processing, which will be described later. Furthermore, the memory unit 23 stores various data used by the program executed by the control unit 24. For example, the memory unit 23 stores product number information 23a, installation procedure information 23b, market defect information 23c, sales representative information 23d, contractor information 23e, contractor defect information 23f, and contractor proficiency information 23g.

[0044] Product number information 23a is data that stores the product numbers of plumbing fixtures that support installation. Installation procedure information 23b is data that stores various information related to the installation procedure of plumbing fixtures. For example, installation procedure information 23b stores installation-related information.

[0045] Market defect information 23c is data that stores various information about defects specific to the market and the contractor. For example, market defect information 23c stores case information about defects that occurred in the market and case information about defects that occurred at a specific contractor. Sales representative information 23d is data that stores various information about the person in charge of selling the plumbing equipment. Contractor information 23e is data that stores various information about the contractor responsible for installing the plumbing equipment. Contractor defect information 23f is data that stores various information about defects for each contractor. For example, contractor defect information 23f stores various information about installation defects that occurred during installation work for each contractor. Contractor proficiency information 23g is data that stores the proficiency level of each contractor in installing plumbing equipment.

[0046] The control unit 24 may be, for example, an information processing device (control device) that controls various configurations and processes. The control unit 24 may have, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), and may be implemented by executing a program stored inside the control unit 24 (for example, an information processing program related to this disclosure) using RAM or the like as a working area. The control unit 24 may also have, for example, an integrated circuit such as an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) or an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array).

[0047] The control unit 24 includes a reception unit 24a, a first acquisition unit 24b, a second acquisition unit 24c, a management unit 24d, and a construction quality evaluation unit 24e, and realizes or executes the information processing functions and operations described below. The first acquisition unit 24b is an example of a first acquisition means. The second acquisition unit 24c is an example of a second acquisition means. The management unit 24d is an example of a management means. The construction quality evaluation unit 24e is an example of a construction quality evaluation means. Note that the internal configuration of the control unit 24 is not limited to the configuration shown in Figure 1, and other configurations are also acceptable as long as they perform the information processing described later.

[0048] The reception unit 24a accepts various inputs. For example, the reception unit 24a displays various screens on the output unit 22b and accepts various information inputs from the input unit 22a.

[0049] The reception unit 24a accepts the designation of plumbing fixtures to be installed. For example, the reception unit 24a accepts the input of the product number of the plumbing fixtures to be installed. The reception unit 24a also accepts the input of information regarding the contractor who will install the plumbing fixtures. For example, the reception unit 24a accepts the input of the contractor's name, email address, phone number, and other contact information. The reception unit 24a also accepts various information regarding the person in charge of selling the plumbing fixtures. For example, the reception unit 24a accepts the input of the person in charge's name, email address, phone number, and other contact information.

[0050] The reception unit 24a stores the received information in the storage unit 23. For example, the reception unit 24a stores the product number of the received plumbing equipment in the product number information 23a. The reception unit 24a also stores information about the contractor who will install the received plumbing equipment in the contractor information 23e. For example, the reception unit 24a stores the contractor's name, email address, telephone number, and other contact information in the contractor information 23e. The reception unit 24a also stores various information about the person in charge of receiving the information in the sales information 23d. For example, the reception unit 24a stores the person in charge's name, email address, telephone number, and other contact information in the sales information 23d.

[0051] Furthermore, the reception unit 24a receives various instructions. For example, the reception unit 24a receives output instructions for the installation procedure of plumbing fixtures. For example, the reception unit 24a receives output instructions for the installation procedure of plumbing fixtures by specifying a process. It also receives output instructions for the installation procedure of plumbing fixtures by specifying all processes.

[0052] The first acquisition unit 24b acquires various types of information. For example, the first acquisition unit 24b acquires installation-related information relating to the installation of at least one plumbing fixture such as a toilet, kitchen, washbasin, and bathtub. For example, the first acquisition unit 24b acquires installation-related information from the server 11 that corresponds to the plumbing fixture for which installation support is provided. For example, the first acquisition unit 24b acquires installation-related information from the server 11 that corresponds to the product number of the plumbing fixture received by the reception unit 24a. The installation-related information is a procedure manual for installing the plumbing fixture with the specified product number, and includes information on processes that require attention during installation. For example, the installation-related information includes installation procedure information and cautionary information for the plumbing fixture with the specified product number.

[0053] The first data acquisition unit 24b extracts the work content for each of the multiple processes performed in the installation of plumbing fixtures from the construction procedure information included in the acquired construction-related information. The first data acquisition unit 24b also extracts processes that require attention during construction and points to be noted or checked from the caution information included in the acquired construction-related information. The first data acquisition unit 24b adds information indicating caution processes to the processes that require attention among the multiple processes performed in construction, and adds points to be noted or checked to the work content of the processes that require attention, thereby creating a construction procedure that includes the work content of each process and points to be noted or checked. The first data acquisition unit 24b stores the created construction procedure in the construction procedure information 23b.

[0054] The second acquisition unit 24c acquires various types of information. The second acquisition unit 24c acquires evaluation results of the installation performance of plumbing equipment installers. For example, the second acquisition unit 24c acquires evaluation result information from the server 11 as an evaluation result of the installation performance. The evaluation result information includes plumbing equipment and various types of defect information that occurred during the installation of plumbing equipment. For example, the evaluation result information includes market defect information, contractor-specific defect information, and installation information. The installation information includes installation defect information and proficiency information for each installer.

[0055] The second acquisition unit 24c stores market defect information and contractor-specific defect information included in the acquired evaluation result information in market defect information 23c. The second acquisition unit 24c also stores contractor-specific construction defect information included in the acquired evaluation result information in contractor defect information 23f. The second acquisition unit 24c also stores contractor-specific proficiency information included in the acquired evaluation result information in contractor proficiency information 23g.

[0056] As a result, market defect information 23c stores case information of defects that have occurred in the market and case information of defects that have occurred by specific contractors. Contractor defect information 23f stores case information of defects that have occurred during construction work by contractors. Contractor proficiency information 23g stores information on the proficiency level of each contractor in the installation of plumbing fixtures.

[0057] Management Department 24d performs various management tasks. Based on construction-related information and evaluation results of construction performance, Management Department 24d manages the construction work for plumbing fixtures.

[0058] When the management unit 24d receives an output instruction for the installation procedure of plumbing equipment, specifying the process, from the reception unit 24a, it reads the installation procedure for the specified process from the installation procedure information 23b.

[0059] Furthermore, the management unit 24d reads market defect information and contractor-specific defect information from market defect information 23c, evaluates the case information for each defect, and identifies the content of the defect and the process in which the defect occurred. For example, the management unit 24d analyzes the defect description text and images included in the defect case information of the market defect information and contractor-specific defect information to identify the content of the defect and the process in which the defect occurred. For example, the management unit 24d identifies the content of the defect and the process in which the defect occurred from the name of the component where the defect occurred and the construction location, etc., included in the defect description text. In addition, the management unit 24d analyzes images to identify the name of the component and construction location, etc., shown in the image, and identifies the content of the defect and the process in which the defect occurred from the identified component name and construction location, etc.

[0060] Furthermore, the management unit 24d reads construction defect information from the contractor defect information 23f, evaluates the case information for each defect, and identifies the nature of the defect and the process in which the defect occurred. For example, the management unit 24d analyzes the descriptive text and images of the defect included in the defect case information to identify the nature of the defect and the process in which the defect occurred.

[0061] Furthermore, if the process in which a defect occurs is associated with market defect information, contractor-specific defect information, or construction defect information, the management unit 24d may identify the associated process in which the defect occurs as the process in which the defect occurred. Also, if the product number of a water-related equipment that has a defect is associated with market defect information, contractor-specific defect information, or construction defect information, the management unit 24d may identify the nature of the defect and the process in which the defect occurred from the market defect information, contractor-specific defect information, and construction defect information associated with the same product number as the water-related equipment that is being supported in the construction. For example, the management unit 24d may identify the nature of the defect and the process in which the defect occurred from the market defect information, contractor-specific defect information, and construction defect information of water-related equipment that is associated with the same product number as the product number stored in the product number information 23a. With regard to construction defect information, the management unit 24d may identify the nature of the defect and the process from the construction defect information of the construction contractor responsible for the construction.

[0062] Furthermore, the management unit 24d may identify the process in which the defect occurs as the defect occurrence process. For example, the management unit 24d identifies the defect occurrence location by analyzing the defect description text and images included in the defect case information. For example, the management unit 24d identifies the defect occurrence location from the name of the defective component and the construction location included in the defect description text. The management unit 24d also analyzes images to identify the names of components and construction locations shown in the images, and identifies the defect occurrence location from the identified component names and construction locations. In the construction procedure, the management unit 24d may identify the process in which the defect occurs as the defect occurrence process.

[0063] The management unit 24d controls the output of the construction procedure read from the construction procedure information 23b to the output unit 22b. Furthermore, if the read construction procedure is a step requiring attention, the management unit 24d controls the output of alert information to the output unit 22b to indicate to the contractor that it is a step requiring attention. For example, the management unit 24d controls the output of alert information to the output unit 22b along with the construction procedure read from the construction procedure information 23b, including points to be careful about or to check.

[0064] As a result, the output unit 22b outputs the construction procedure. In addition, if the process requires special attention, the output unit 22b outputs alert information along with the construction procedure, including points to be careful about or to check.

[0065] The contractor can understand the work content of each step by reading the construction procedure output on the output unit 22b, and proceed with the construction work without making mistakes. In addition, the contractor can recognize that a step requires attention by receiving alert information output for steps that require attention, and perform the construction work carefully, thereby improving the quality of the installation of plumbing fixtures.

[0066] Furthermore, the management unit 24d extracts defects from the market defect information, contractor-specific defect information, and construction defect information, respectively, for the processes specified by the reception unit 24a. For example, the management unit 24d extracts the details of defects for the processes specified by the reception unit 24a from the details of defects and the processes in which the defects occurred, respectively, that were identified from the market defect information, contractor-specific defect information, and construction defect information. If a defect for a specified process is extracted, the management unit 24d controls the output unit 22b to output alert information indicating that the defect occurred in that process, along with the construction procedure. For example, the management unit 24d controls the output unit 22b to output the details of the extracted process defect as alert information. For example, the management unit 24d controls the output unit 22b to output an image included in the defect case information as a past construction defect image in which the defect occurred, as alert information.

[0067] As a result, if a malfunction occurs in a particular process, the output unit 22b outputs alert information indicating that the malfunction occurred in that process, along with the construction procedure. For example, the output unit 22b outputs images of past construction malfunctions as alert information.

[0068] The contractor can understand the work content of each step by looking at the construction procedure output on the output unit 22b, and can proceed with the construction work without making mistakes. In addition, the contractor can recognize past problems by looking at the alert information output for steps where problems have occurred in the past, and perform the construction work carefully, thereby improving the quality of the installation of plumbing fixtures.

[0069] When the reception unit 24a specifies all processes, the management unit 24d identifies the nature of the defect and the process in which the defect occurred for each process, and controls the output unit 22b to output the construction procedure in the order of the processes. In addition, the management unit 24d controls the output unit 22b to output alert information for processes requiring attention and processes in which defects occurred.

[0070] Furthermore, the management unit 24d may change the alert information depending on the extracted defects. For example, for defects in market defect information and contractor-specific defect information, the management unit 24d may output the content of the defect and images included in the case information as alert information, and for defects in construction defect information, it may output the content of the defect as alert information.

[0071] Figure 2 illustrates an example of information output for each stage of plumbing fixture installation. Figure 2 shows stages A through D of plumbing fixture installation. In Figure 2, contractor A is responsible for stages A through C, and contractor B is responsible for stage D. Stage A is a normal stage with no past defects, points to check, or points to note. Stage B is a stage that requires attention during installation. Stage C is a stage where market defects have occurred. Stage D is a stage similar to the one in which contractor B has previously experienced defects.

[0072] When the schedule management device 20 receives an instruction from contractor A to output the installation procedure for plumbing fixtures, specifying process A, it outputs the installation procedure A for process A. Furthermore, when the schedule management device 20 receives an instruction from contractor A to output the installation procedure for plumbing fixtures, specifying process B, it outputs the installation procedure B for process B along with any points to note or check. Also, when the schedule management device 20 receives an instruction from contractor A to output the installation procedure for plumbing fixtures, specifying process C, it outputs the installation procedure C for process C along with alert information including images of installation defects. Finally, when the schedule management device 20 receives an instruction from contractor B to output the installation procedure for plumbing fixtures, specifying process D, it outputs the installation procedure D for process D along with alert information indicating that a defect occurred in that process.

[0073] As a result, contractor A can carry out the construction work as usual in process A. Also, contractor A can recognize process B as a process requiring attention, and by paying attention to and checking points that require attention and confirmation, contractor A can carry out the construction work carefully, thereby improving the quality of the plumbing fixture installation. Also, contractor A can recognize process C as a process where a defect occurred, identify the defect from the images of the construction defect, and carry out the construction work carefully, thereby improving the quality of the plumbing fixture installation. Also, contractor B can recognize process D as a process where a defect occurred, similar to a process in which contractor B has previously experienced defects, and carry out the construction work carefully to prevent similar defects from occurring, thereby improving the quality of the plumbing fixture installation.

[0074] Furthermore, the schedule management device 20 may change the alert information it outputs to contractors according to their skill level and the quality of their work. The schedule management device 20 may also notify the person responsible for selling the plumbing fixtures of the alert information.

[0075] If the management unit 24d outputs a construction procedure that is either a procedure requiring special attention during construction or a procedure where a problem may occur, it will notify the person in charge of selling the plumbing equipment. For example, the management unit 24d retrieves the email address of the person in charge of selling the plumbing equipment from the sales information 23d, and sends an email to the retrieved email address, describing the precautions, points to check, and details of the problem that were output along with the construction procedure.

[0076] The contractor transmits image or video data of the progress of each stage of the plumbing fixture installation to the schedule management device 20. The schedule management device 20 receives the image or video data of the progress via the communication interface 21. The image or video of the progress may also be captured by a camera provided by the schedule management device 20 and input from the camera.

[0077] The construction quality evaluation unit 24e performs various evaluations. For example, the construction quality evaluation unit 24e evaluates the construction quality from the input image or video data and corrects the output alert information.

[0078] For example, the construction quality evaluation unit 24e analyzes images or videos of the progress to identify the names of components and construction locations shown in the images or videos, and then identifies the identified component names and processes. If process information is attached to the image or video data, the construction quality evaluation unit 24e may identify the processes from the process information attached to the image or video data. Alternatively, the contractor may specify the processes.

[0079] The construction quality evaluation unit 24e identifies components and construction locations shown in images or videos, and evaluates the quality of the construction by judging the workmanship based on the arrangement of components, the inclination of components, the presence or absence of gaps between components, the shape of the construction location, the surface condition of the construction location, etc., according to the work content of the identified process.

[0080] The construction quality evaluation unit 24e determines an alert correction value, with higher construction quality corresponding to a larger value. The alert correction value is the value used to set the defects to be alerted. For example, market defects, contractor-specific defects, and construction defects are each assigned ranks indicating their importance in multiple stages. For example, the rank is set in the range of 0 to 2, with a higher value indicating higher importance. The construction quality evaluation unit 24e determines an alert correction value in the range of 0 to 2 for each contractor. The management unit 24d controls the output unit 22b to output alert information along with the construction procedure for defects with a rank equal to or higher than the alert correction value. The construction quality evaluation unit 24e may also determine the alert correction value based on the contractor's proficiency in installing plumbing fixtures, or based on the results of the progress evaluation and the contractor's proficiency in installation.

[0081] Figure 3 illustrates another example of information output for each stage of plumbing fixture installation. Figure 3 shows stages A through D of plumbing fixture installation. In Figure 3, contractor A is responsible for stages A through D. Stage A is a normal stage with no past defects, points to check, or points to note. Stages B through D are stages where market defects occur, and all of them have a defect rank of 1. Figure 3 shows the case where an alert correction value is determined for each stage. At the start of stage A, contractor A's alert correction value is 0.

[0082] When the schedule management device 20 receives an instruction from contractor A to output the installation procedure for plumbing fixtures, specifying process A, it outputs the installation procedure A for process A.

[0083] When contractor A completes process A, it sends image or video data of the progress of process A to the schedule management device 20 as progress data. The schedule management device 20 evaluates the progress of process A and determines that contractor A's alert correction value is 1.

[0084] When the schedule management device 20 receives an instruction from contractor A to output the installation procedure for plumbing equipment, specifying process B, it outputs alert information along with the installation procedure B for process B because the defect rank (1) of process B is equal to or greater than contractor A's alert correction value (1).

[0085] When contractor A completes process B, it sends image or video data of the progress of process B to the schedule management device 20 as progress data. The schedule management device 20 evaluates the progress of process B and determines that contractor A's alert correction value is 2.

[0086] When the schedule management device 20 receives an instruction from contractor A to output the installation procedure for plumbing equipment, specifying process C, it does not output alert information because the defect rank (1) of process C is less than contractor A's alert correction value (2), and instead outputs the installation procedure C for process C.

[0087] When contractor A completes process C, it sends image or video data of the progress of process C to the schedule management device 20 as progress data. The schedule management device 20 evaluates the progress of process C and determines contractor A's alert correction value to be 1.

[0088] When the schedule management device 20 receives an instruction from contractor A to output the installation procedure for plumbing equipment, specifying process D, it outputs alert information along with the installation procedure D for process D because the defect rank (1) of process D is equal to or greater than contractor A's alert correction value (1).

[0089] In this way, the schedule management device 20 can be controlled so that it does not output alert information in process C. As a result, the schedule management device 20 can output alert information to the contractor according to the contractor's work quality. The contractor can receive alert information according to their own work quality.

[0090] Furthermore, the construction quality evaluation unit 24e may evaluate the construction quality of plumbing fixtures installed during a predetermined period (for example, every three months) and determine an alert correction value. Alternatively, the construction quality evaluation unit 24e may evaluate the construction quality of multiple plumbing fixtures and determine an alert correction value.

[0091] <1-3. Processing Flow> Next, the processing flow of the embodiment will be described. First, the flow of the procedure information acquisition process performed by the schedule management device 20 will be described. Figure 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the procedure information acquisition process. The procedure information acquisition process is performed at a predetermined timing, for example, when the reception unit 24a receives the input of the product number of the plumbing equipment.

[0092] The first acquisition unit 24b acquires construction-related information from the server 11 that corresponds to the product number of the plumbing equipment received by the reception unit 24a (step S10).

[0093] The first acquisition unit 24b extracts the work content for each of the multiple processes performed in the installation of plumbing fixtures from the construction procedure information included in the acquired construction-related information (step S11). The first acquisition unit 24b also extracts processes that require attention during installation and points that require attention or confirmation from the caution information included in the acquired construction-related information (step S12).

[0094] The first acquisition unit 24b adds information indicating that a particular step is required among the multiple steps to be performed in the construction, and adds points to be noted or checked to the work content of the steps requiring attention, thereby creating a construction procedure that includes the work content, points to be noted or checked for each step (step S13). The first acquisition unit 24b stores the created construction procedure in the construction procedure information 23b (step S14) and terminates the process.

[0095] Next, the flow of the evaluation result acquisition process performed by the schedule management device 20 will be explained. Figure 5 is a flowchart showing an example of the evaluation result acquisition process procedure. The evaluation result acquisition process is performed at predetermined timings, such as a predetermined period of time, such as a specific date and time. Note that the evaluation result acquisition process may be performed before the construction procedure output process, which will be described later.

[0096] The second acquisition unit 24c acquires evaluation result information from the server 11 as an evaluation result of the construction performance (step S20).

[0097] The second acquisition unit 24c stores the market defect information and contractor-specific defect information included in the acquired evaluation result information into the market defect information 23c (step S21). The second acquisition unit 24c also stores the construction defect information for each contractor included in the acquired evaluation result information into the contractor defect information 23f (step S22). The second acquisition unit 24c also stores the proficiency level for each contractor included in the acquired evaluation result information into the contractor proficiency level information 23g (step S23), and then terminates the process.

[0098] Next, the flow of the correction process performed by the schedule management device 20 will be explained. Figure 6 is a flowchart showing an example of the correction process procedure. The correction process is performed when an image or video of the progress status is input.

[0099] The construction quality evaluation unit 24e analyzes the input progress images or videos to identify the names of components and construction locations shown in the images or videos, and then identifies the process from the identified component names and construction locations (step S30).

[0100] The construction quality evaluation unit 24e identifies components and construction locations shown in the image or video, and evaluates the quality of the construction based on the arrangement of components, the inclination of components, the presence or absence of gaps between components, the shape of the construction location, the surface condition of the construction location, etc., according to the work content of the identified process (step S31).

[0101] The construction quality evaluation unit 24e determines an alert correction value according to the construction quality (step S32) and terminates the process.

[0102] Next, the flow of the construction procedure output processing performed by the schedule management device 20 will be explained. Figure 7 is a flowchart showing an example of the construction procedure output processing procedure. The construction procedure output processing is performed at a predetermined timing, for example, when the receiving unit 24a receives an output instruction for the construction procedure of plumbing equipment, specifying the process.

[0103] The management unit 24d reads the construction procedure for the specified process from the construction procedure information 23b (step S40).

[0104] The management unit 24d reads market defect information and vendor-specific defect information from market defect information 23c, evaluates the case information for each defect, and identifies the content of the defect and the process in which the defect occurs (step S41). Alternatively, the management unit 24d may identify the content of the defect and the process in which the defect occurs from the market defect information and vendor-specific defect information of plumbing equipment associated with the same product number as the product number stored in product number information 23a. In this case, the management unit 24d can identify the content of the defect and the process in which the defect occurs from the market defect and vendor-specific defect of the same plumbing equipment as the plumbing equipment that supports installation.

[0105] The management unit 24d reads construction defect information from the contractor defect information 23f, evaluates the case information for each defect, and identifies the content of the contractor defect and the process in which the defect occurred (step S42). Alternatively, the management unit 24d may identify the content of the defect and the process in which the defect occurred from the construction defect information of plumbing equipment associated with the same product number as the product number stored in the product number information 23a. In this case, the management unit 24d can identify the content of the defect and the process in which the defect occurred from the construction defect of the same plumbing equipment that is supporting the construction.

[0106] The management unit 24d extracts defects from the market defect information, contractor-specific defect information, and construction defect information, respectively, that are located in the process specified by the reception unit 24a (step S43). For example, the management unit 24d extracts the details of defects in the process specified by the reception unit 24a from the details of defects identified from the market defect information, contractor-specific defect information, and construction defect information, respectively, and from the process in which the defects occurred.

[0107] The control unit 24d determines whether the read construction procedure is a step requiring attention, to which information indicating a caution step has been added (step S44). If it is not a step requiring attention (step S44: No), the control unit 24d controls the output of the construction procedure to the output unit 22b (step S45).

[0108] On the other hand, if it is a process that requires attention (Step S44: Yes), the control unit 24d controls the output unit 22b to output alert information indicating that it is a process that requires attention, along with the construction procedure (Step S46). For example, the control unit 24d controls the output unit 22b to output alert information such as points to be careful about or to check, along with the construction procedure.

[0109] The management unit 24d determines whether or not there are any defects with a rank higher than the alert correction value among the extracted defects (step S47). If there are no defects with a rank higher than the alert correction value (step S47: No), the process proceeds to step S49, which will be described later.

[0110] On the other hand, if there is a defect with a rank higher than the alert correction value (step S47: Yes), the management unit 24d controls the output unit 22b to output alert information indicating that the defect occurred in that process (step S48). For example, the management unit 24d controls the output unit 22b to output the details of the defect with a rank higher than the alert correction value as alert information. For example, the management unit 24d controls the output unit 22b to output an image included in the defect case information as a past construction defect image in which the defect occurred as alert information.

[0111] If the designated process is either a process requiring special attention during construction or a process where a problem may occur, the management unit 24d notifies the person in charge of selling the plumbing equipment (step S49) and terminates the process. For example, the management unit 24d reads the email address of the person in charge of selling the plumbing equipment from the sales information 23d, and sends an email to the read email address, containing the notes, points to check, and details of the problem that were output along with the construction procedure.

[0112] When the entire process is specified by the reception unit 24a, the management unit 24d performs the procedure information acquisition process described above for all processes in the order of the processes and controls the output unit 22b to output the construction procedure for each process. In addition, the management unit 24d controls the output unit 22b to output alert information for processes requiring attention and processes where defects have occurred.

[0113] As a result, the output unit 22b outputs the construction procedure. In addition, if the process requires special attention, the output unit 22b outputs alert information along with the construction procedure, indicating points to be careful about or to check. Furthermore, if a problem occurs in the process, the output unit 22b outputs alert information indicating that a problem occurred in that process, along with the construction procedure.

[0114] In this way, the schedule management device 20 can support construction work by outputting the construction procedure to the output unit 22b, thereby improving the quality of plumbing equipment installation. Furthermore, for processes requiring attention, the schedule management device 20 can prompt contractors to pay attention by outputting alert information to the output unit 22b along with the construction procedure, indicating points to be careful or to check, thereby improving the quality of plumbing equipment installation. In addition, for processes where a problem occurs, the schedule management device 20 can prompt contractors to pay attention by outputting alert information to the output unit 22b along with the construction procedure, indicating that a problem occurred in that process, thereby improving the quality of plumbing equipment installation.

[0115] In the first embodiment of the construction support system 10, an example was given in which the schedule management device 20 performs functions such as the reception unit 24a, the first acquisition unit 24b, the second acquisition unit 24c, the management unit 24d, and the construction quality evaluation unit 24e. However, these functions may also be performed by the server 11 instead of the schedule management device 20, and such an embodiment will be described below as the second embodiment. Note that the same reference numerals are used for components identical to those in the first embodiment of the construction support system 10, and the explanation of redundant components and operations will be omitted.

[0116] <2. Second Embodiment> Figure 8 is a block diagram showing an example of a server 11A related to the construction support system 10 according to the second embodiment. The server 11A shown in Figure 8 has a communication interface 31, a storage unit 33, and a control unit 34.

[0117] Communication interface 31 is a communication interface that manages communication with the network NE.

[0118] The memory unit 33 is implemented by, for example, a semiconductor memory element such as RAM or flash memory, or a storage device such as a hard disk or optical disc. The memory unit 33 stores the OS and various programs executed by the control unit 34. For example, the memory unit 33 stores the program that performs the information processing described above. Furthermore, the memory unit 33 stores various data used by the program executed by the control unit 34. For example, in addition to the DB 12 described above, the memory unit 33 stores product number information 23a, construction procedure information 23b, market defect information 23c, sales representative information 23d, contractor information 23e, contractor defect information 23f, and contractor proficiency information 23g.

[0119] The control unit 34 may be, for example, an information processing device (control device) that controls various configurations and processes. The control unit 34 may have, for example, a CPU or GPU, and be implemented by executing a program stored inside the control unit 34 (for example, an information processing program related to this disclosure) using RAM or the like as a working area. Alternatively, the control unit 34 may have, for example, an integrated circuit such as an ASIC or FPGA.

[0120] The control unit 34 includes a reception unit 24a, a first acquisition unit 24b, a second acquisition unit 24c, a management unit 24d, and a construction quality evaluation unit 24e, and realizes or executes the functions and operations of the information processing described above. Note that the internal configuration of the control unit 34 is not limited to the configuration shown in Figure 8, and other configurations are also acceptable as long as they perform the information processing described above.

[0121] In the construction support system 10 of the second embodiment, the processing load on the schedule management device 20 can be significantly reduced.

[0122] <3. Others> Furthermore, all or at least one of the functions of the control unit 24 of the schedule management device 20 in the first embodiment may be assigned to the control unit 34 of the server 11, and this can be changed as appropriate. For example, the control unit 24 of the schedule management device 20 may perform the functions of the reception unit 24a, and the control unit 34 of the server 11 may perform the functions of the first acquisition unit 24b, the second acquisition unit 24c, the management unit 24d, and the construction quality evaluation unit 24e, and this can be changed as appropriate. In this case, the processing load on the schedule management device 20 related to schedule creation can be reduced. Also, the burden required for transmitting information from the server 11 to the schedule management device 20 can be reduced.

[0123] The programs for realizing the functions of the reception unit 24a, the first acquisition unit 24b, the second acquisition unit 24c, the management unit 24d, and the construction quality evaluation unit 24e are provided, for example, in the form of a computer-readable recording medium. The recording medium is, for example, a flexible disk, CD (CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, etc.), DVD (DVD-ROM, DVD-RAM, DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD-RW, DVD+RW, HD DVD, etc.), Blu-ray disc, magnetic disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, etc. The control unit 24 reads the program from the recording medium and transfers and stores the read program in an internal storage device such as memory or an external storage device such as storage. Alternatively, the program may be recorded on a recording medium such as a magnetic disk, optical disk or magneto-optical disk and provided to the computer via a communication path from that recording medium, and this can be changed as appropriate.

[0124] When implementing functions such as the reception unit 24a, the first acquisition unit 24b, the second acquisition unit 24c, the management unit 24d, and the construction quality evaluation unit 24e, the program stored in the ROM 44 is executed by the control unit 24. In this case, the program recorded on the recording medium may be read and executed by a computer.

[0125] At least some of the hardware elements constituting the server 11 and the schedule management device 20 may be provided by the cloud provider.

[0126] The disclosed technology is not limited to the embodiments described above and can be implemented in various modified forms without departing from the spirit of the embodiments. Each configuration and process of the embodiments can be selected or combined as needed.

[0127] Furthermore, the components of each part shown in the diagram do not necessarily have to be physically configured as depicted. In other words, the specific forms of distribution or integration of each part are not limited to those shown in the diagram, and all or part of them can be functionally or physically distributed or integrated in any unit according to various loads, usage conditions, etc.

[0128] Furthermore, the various processing functions performed by each device may be executed in whole or in part on a CPU, DSP (Digital Signal Processor), FPGA, etc. Alternatively, the various processing functions may be executed in whole or in part on a program run by the CPU, etc., or on wired logic hardware.

[0129] The area for storing various types of information may be composed of recording media such as SDRAM (Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory), MRAM (Magnetoresistive Random Access Memory), or NVRAM (Non-Volatile Random Access Memory).

[0130] Furthermore, the embodiments and modifications described above can be combined as appropriate, provided that the processing content is not inconsistent.

[0131] Further effects and modifications can be readily derived by those skilled in the art. Therefore, broader aspects of the present invention are not limited to the specific details and representative embodiments expressed and described above. Accordingly, various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit or scope of the overall concept of the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

[0132] The embodiments and modifications described above may also have the following configurations, but are not limited to them. (1) A first acquisition means for acquiring construction-related information concerning the installation of at least one plumbing fixture such as a toilet, kitchen, washbasin, and bathtub, A second acquisition means for obtaining evaluation results of the construction performance of the aforementioned plumbing equipment contractor, An output means that outputs information based on the aforementioned construction-related information and the evaluation results of the aforementioned construction performance, A construction support system characterized by having the following features. (2) The system further includes a management means for managing the installation work of the plumbing fixtures based on the aforementioned construction-related information and the evaluation results of the aforementioned construction performance. The output means outputs information managed by the management means. The construction support system according to (1), characterized in that (3) The aforementioned construction-related information is a procedure manual for installing the aforementioned plumbing fixtures, and includes information regarding processes that require attention during installation. The output means outputs alert information to the contractor indicating that it is a process requiring attention. The construction support system according to (1) or (2), characterized in that it is the same as described above. (4) The evaluation results of the aforementioned construction performance include information regarding the process in which defects have occurred in the past within the specified construction process. The output means outputs alert information indicating that the malfunction occurred during the installation process of the plumbing equipment. A construction support system as described in any one of (1) to (3), characterized by the above. (5) The evaluation results of the aforementioned construction performance include past construction information of the construction company, The output means outputs alert information indicating that the installation process for the plumbing fixtures is a process requiring special attention. The construction support system according to (3), characterized in that (6) The output means outputs, along with the alert information, images of past construction defects in which the defect occurred. The construction support system according to (4), characterized in that (7) The system includes a construction quality evaluation means that evaluates construction quality from images or videos of progress saved by the aforementioned construction contractor for each construction process, and corrects the aforementioned alert information. A construction support system as described in any one of (3) to (6), characterized by the above. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0133] 10. Construction support system 11, 11A Server 12 DB 20 Schedule Management Device 21, 31 Communication Interfaces 22 Interfaces 22a Input section 22b Output section 23, 33 Storage section 23a Product Part Number Information 23b Construction Procedure Information 23d Sales Representative Information 23e Contractor information 23f Vendor malfunction information 23g Business Proficiency Information 24, 34 Control Unit 24a Reception Department 24b 1st acquisition part 24c 2nd acquisition part 24d Management Department 24e Construction Quality Evaluation Department

Claims

1. A first acquisition means for acquiring construction-related information concerning the installation of at least one plumbing fixture such as a toilet, kitchen, washbasin, and bathtub, A second acquisition means for obtaining evaluation results of the construction performance of the aforementioned plumbing equipment contractor, An output means that outputs information based on the aforementioned construction-related information and the evaluation results of the aforementioned construction performance, A construction support system characterized by having the following features.

2. The system further includes a management means for managing the installation work of the plumbing fixtures based on the aforementioned construction-related information and the evaluation results of the aforementioned construction performance. The output means outputs information managed by the management means. The construction support system according to feature 1.

3. The aforementioned construction-related information is a procedure manual for installing the aforementioned plumbing fixtures, and includes information regarding processes that require attention during installation. The output means outputs alert information to the contractor indicating that it is a process requiring attention. The construction support system according to feature 1.

4. The evaluation results of the aforementioned construction performance include information regarding the process in which defects have occurred in the past within the specified construction process. The output means outputs alert information indicating that the malfunction occurred during the installation process of the plumbing equipment. The construction support system according to feature 1.

5. The evaluation results of the aforementioned construction performance include past construction information of the construction company, The output means outputs alert information indicating that the installation process for the plumbing fixtures is a process requiring special attention. The construction support system according to feature 3.

6. The output means outputs, along with the alert information, images of past construction defects in which the defect occurred. The construction support system according to feature 4.

7. The system includes a construction quality evaluation means that evaluates construction quality from images or videos of progress saved by the aforementioned construction contractor for each construction process, and corrects the aforementioned alert information. The construction support system according to feature 3.

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