Diagram Creation Method, Diagram Creation Device, and Computer Program in a Logistics System

Abstract

To provide a diagram generating method, a diagram generating device, and a computer program for a physical distribution system that generate a diagram of transportation equipment capable of transshipping distribution members at a transit point.SOLUTION: A diagram generating method includes: a step of generating, from data indicating a result of demand forecast for transportation of goods, diagrams of physical distribution members based on a departure point, a departure possible time, a destination point, and a due time of the physical distribution members that accommodate the goods, according to the predicted demand number of the physical distribution members; a step of grouping the generated diagrams of the physical distribution members by a diagram in which some or all of the routes may be determined to overlap on the basis of the departure point and the departure possible time, and the destination point and the due time; and a step of generating a diagram of transportation equipment that accommodates the distribution members according to the departure point, the departure possible time, the destination point, and the due time of the grouped diagrams of the distribution members.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 10

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for creating a diagram, a diagram creation device, and a computer program in a logistics system.

Background Art

[0002] In order to improve the distribution efficiency of articles, a method has been proposed in which transport equipment or containers for transporting articles in units of pallets (logistics members), and base facilities for loading or unloading articles in units of pallets to / from the transport equipment or containers are used, and the location of each pallet at each time point and each location is determined by a central device (Patent Documents 1 and 2).

[0003] Patent Documents 1 and 2 disclose a method for controlling and improving the efficiency by optimizing the movement of articles in the backbone (main line) of logistics as a whole. In the methods disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2, it is possible to share the luggage accommodation parts of each transport equipment, and at a stopover point on the moving route of the transport equipment, part of the luggage is loaded and unloaded from the luggage accommodation part, and loading into the empty accommodation part is permitted.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] In trunk transportation as disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2, when sharing and using the luggage accommodation parts on the loading platforms of transport equipment, in order to determine which luggage is to be transported by which transport equipment, information on where each transport equipment can depart at what time and where it can head to by what time is required.

[0006] Not only for trunk transportation, but also for the transportation route from the shipper to the trunk until the goods are loaded onto the trunk, and for the transportation route from the trunk to the consignee until the goods are distributed, when sharing transportation equipment, information on the planned route of the transportation equipment and the number of transportation equipment is required.

[0007] In the transportation route of goods in logistics, like the belt conveyor in a material handling system or the communication route of packets in communication, it is not possible to sequentially load goods at the timing when the route is empty. Since each transportation equipment is inefficient if it transports only one piece of goods, it should be transported in a state that satisfies a certain loading rate. Therefore, it is necessary to collect a plurality of goods and temporarily store them in one transportation equipment so that they can be transported by the earliest arrival time among the arrival times of each of those goods, and depart so as to make it in time for that time.

[0008] Conversely, when, where and to where a transportation equipment departs cannot be determined without information on the demand for transportation, i.e., at what time and to which location the goods must arrive.

[0009] The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a diagram creation method, a diagram creation device, and a computer program in a logistics system for creating a diagram of a transportation equipment capable of transferring logistics members at a transit point.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0010] The diagram creation method of the present disclosure includes steps of creating a diagram of a logistics member that houses the article based on the departure point, the possible departure time, the destination point, and the required arrival time of the logistics member from data indicating the result of demand prediction for the transportation of the article, according to the predicted number of demands for the logistics member; grouping the created diagrams of the respective logistics members by diagrams that can be determined that part or all of the routes overlap based on the departure point and the possible departure time, and the destination point and the required arrival time; and creating a diagram of a transportation device that houses the logistics member from the departure point, the possible departure time, the destination point, and the required arrival time of the grouped diagrams of the logistics members.

[0011] The diagram creation apparatus of the present disclosure includes a processing unit that executes a process of creating a diagram of a logistics member that houses the article based on the departure point, the possible departure time, the destination point, and the required arrival time of the logistics member from data indicating the result of demand prediction for the transportation of the article, according to the predicted number of demands for the logistics member; grouping the created diagrams of the respective logistics members by diagrams that can be determined that part or all of the routes overlap based on the departure point and the possible departure time, and the destination point and the required arrival time; and creating a diagram of a transportation device that houses the logistics member from the departure point, the possible departure time, the destination point, and the required arrival time of the grouped diagrams of the logistics members.

[0012] The computer program of the present disclosure causes a computer to execute a process including steps of creating a diagram of a logistics member that houses the article based on the departure point, the possible departure time, the destination point, and the required arrival time of the logistics member from data indicating the result of demand prediction for the transportation of the article, according to the predicted number of demands for the logistics member; grouping the created diagrams of the respective logistics members by diagrams that can be determined that part or all of the routes overlap based on the departure point and the possible departure time, and the destination point and the required arrival time; and creating a diagram of a transportation device that houses the logistics member from the departure point, the possible departure time, the destination point, and the required arrival time of the grouped diagrams of the logistics members.

[0013] In the diagram creation method, diagram creation device, and computer program of the present disclosure, a diagram is created based on the departure point, available departure time, destination point, and required arrival time of each logistics member. Among the diagrams of each logistics member, diagrams that can partially overlap routes based on conditions such as time are grouped. As long as there is any overlap, they are grouped together so that they can be used as diagrams of transportation equipment.

[0014] Even when the cargo bed of the transportation equipment is empty and the departure point, destination point, and time at each point are not completely the same, a plurality of these logistics members (pallets) can be loaded onto the transportation equipment. This is because in the operation of the transportation equipment of the present disclosure, it is allowed to load and unload only a part of the plurality of logistics members in which goods are stored at the transit point. If there is another logistics member that can depart before the passing time at a point where the logistics member can be loaded onto the transportation equipment and pass through, and the subsequent destination points are in the same direction, the other logistics member can be additionally loaded onto the transportation equipment at the passing point. Therefore, if diagrams in which the diagrams from the departure point to the destination point of each logistics member can partially overlap are grouped together and the group is assigned to the transportation equipment, a diagram of the transportation equipment for loading and unloading logistics members at intermediate transit points can be created.

Advantages of the Invention

[0015] According to the diagram creation method of the present disclosure, based on the diagrams of each logistics member (pallet) calculated as demand prediction, a diagram of the transportation equipment that can transfer these logistics members is created.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0016]

Figure 1

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Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0017] Hereinafter, the diagram creation method of the present disclosure will be described based on the drawings showing embodiments. In the following embodiments, a logistics system to which the diagram creation method of the present disclosure is applied will be described as an example.

[0018] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a logistics system 100. The logistics system 100 includes a transport device 1 for transporting goods, a base center 2 which is a transfer center (TC), and a distribution center 3 which is a distribution center (DC). The logistics system 100 is operated based on the processing of a central server 4. The central server 4 can communicate and connect with the transport device 1, the base center 2, and the distribution center 3. The central server 4 can communicate and connect with a terminal device 5 used by a producer or manufacturer who is a shipper of goods, or a retailer or end-user who is a consignee of goods.

[0019] The transport device 1 is a vehicle such as a transport truck, a train, a transporter, or a ship. The transport device 1 may be a transport robot that travels by automatic driving.

[0020] The base center 2 is a passing type center provided on a so-called main line in logistics, and is installed at a location that serves as a base for the transport device 1, such as a port, an airport, a freight station, or an interchange (IC) in a road network. The base center 2 is provided, for example, at every predetermined distance.

[0021] The distribution center 3 corresponds to a wholesaler or a distribution center that serves as a base for collecting goods to be transported from the base of a producer or manufacturer and transporting them to the base center 2, or conversely, receiving goods from the base center 2, storing them, and transporting the goods to an end user. A plurality of distribution centers 3 may be provided with respect to the base center 2. The distribution center 3 may be managed by a retailer. When the distribution center 3 collects goods to be transported to the base center 2, the goods may be stacked on a pallet P at the distribution center 3.

[0022] In the logistics system 100 centered around the base center 2, the objects to be transported are loaded onto logistics members and conveyed. The logistics members are specifically the pallet P and the small container C. In the following description, the explanation will be focused on the pallet P, but the small container C may be treated in the same way. The logistics members may further be flexible containers, so-called flexi-containers, iron containers, or cardboard boxes. In addition, bags, plate materials, and box materials used for placing or storing articles in logistics are included in the logistics members.

[0023] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the route determination cycle in the logistics system 100. In the logistics system 100 of the present disclosure, the central server 4 virtually determines the number of required transport devices 1 and the movement routes based on the demand prediction for transport in units of the pallet P, and temporarily determines the movement routes of each transport device 1 to form a transport schedule for the transport device 1. The determination of the transport schedule may include a step of performing a simulation for optimization. The demand prediction and the determination of the transport schedule are based on a simulation in a virtual space. The central server 4 virtually determines the transport route for each article, that is, at which point and when it should be shipped and at which point it must arrive by when, based on the demand prediction. The central server 4 virtually determines, based on the transport routes of a plurality of articles, how many transport devices 1 are required to travel on which movement route and at what schedule. The central server 4 may temporarily determine the required number of transport devices 1, the schedule of each transport device 1, and the movement route determined virtually, and optimize them by simulation.

[0024] The central server 4 sequentially accepts actual transportation requests in units of pallets P based on the determined transportation schedule. The central server 4 allocates the pallet P related to the accepted transportation request to each storage unit of the loading platform of the transportation device 1 based on the position and destination of the actual transportation device 1. The central server 4 actually determines the moving route (waypoint) of the transportation device 1 so that the transportation device 1 stops at the base center 2 where the allocated pallet P exists, instructs the transportation device 1, instructs the pallet identification data of the pallet P to be stored at the waypoint, and instructs the next waypoint. At this time, the identification data of the pallet P that the transportation device 1 should load and unload at the waypoint is also instructed to each transportation device 1. As the transportation progresses, the central server 4 sequentially updates the determined transportation schedule, that is, the destination and waypoints of each transportation device 1, and the information of the pallet P to be loaded and unloaded at the waypoint, based on the running position of each transportation device 1 and the sequentially accepted transportation requests. That is, it is different from, for example, a train schedule in that the transportation device 1 does not necessarily run according to the pre-determined transportation schedule. The acceptance of transportation requests, the allocation to the transportation device 1, and the determination of the moving route of the transportation device 1 are actual data. Then, the central server 4 collects and analyzes the actual results of the actual transportation of the pallet P, creates actual result data, and uses it for the next demand prediction. The central server 4 composes the next transportation schedule. This route determination cycle may be executed in units such as daily, every three days, weekly, monthly, etc.

[0025] Hereinafter, in order to manage the operation of the logistics system 100, the configuration and processing for realizing this route determination cycle will be described in detail.

[0026] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the transport device 1. In the first embodiment, the transport device 1 is a transport truck. FIG. 3A shows an example of a loading platform having a horizontally opening door, and FIG. 3B shows an example of a loading platform having a rear door. In both examples shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the transport device 1 is provided with a pallet frame 11 inside the loading platform for transporting articles in units of pallets P. Specifically, the pallet frame 11 is a platform that divides the height of the loading platform from the floor to the ceiling into upper and lower two stages. The platform has an inner dimension in which two pallets P can be juxtaposed in the vehicle width direction. The pallet frame 11 may further have a frame that divides the vehicle length direction by the width of the pallet P. The accommodation positions of the pallets P can be specified in the order of up and down, left and right, and further from the front of the vehicle, which are divided by the pallet frame 11.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 3B, the pallet frame 11 may be able to be pulled out entirely from the rear door of the loading platform together with the floor plate material of the loading platform itself or the floor plate material laid on the floor surface. In this case, considering the floor plate material of the loading platform as a huge pallet, it is also possible to manage in a nested state where a plurality of pallets P are stacked on the pallet as a logistics member, and a plurality of small containers C are stacked on each of the pallets P. In the case of FIG. 3B, a plurality of rollers are provided on the floor surface of the loading platform so that the pallet P can be easily moved, and a stopper for suppressing free movement is erected so as to be foldable.

[0028] When the transport device 1 is a vehicle such as a train, a transporter, or a ship, a large container having the same structure as the loading platform portion in FIG. 3A or FIG. 3B may be used, and the large container may be configured to include the pallet frame 11.

[0029] In the logistics system 100, the central server 4 controls the transport schedule of the transport device 1 and the allocation of the pallets P by using the in-vehicle device 10, the base controller 20 in the base center 2, and the terminal device 5.

[0030] Figures 4 and 5 are block diagrams showing the configuration of the logistics system 100. Figure 4 shows the configurations of the in-vehicle unit 10 and the central server 4. In the transport device 1, the in-vehicle unit 10 is mounted near the driver's seat. The in-vehicle unit 10 may be a portable terminal device brought in by the driver. The in-vehicle unit 10 includes a processing unit 101, a storage unit 102, a display unit 103, an audio output unit 104, a GPS reception unit 105, a communication unit 106, and an input / output unit 107.

[0031] The processing unit 101 is a processor using a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit). The processing unit 101 executes processing using memories such as built-in ROM (Read Only Memory) and RAM (Random Access Memory). The processing unit 101 can sequentially acquire time information by means of a built-in timer.

[0032] The storage unit 102 includes a non-volatile storage medium such as a flash memory or an SSD (Solid State Drive), for example. The storage unit 102 stores information created by the processing unit 101 and information referred to by the processing unit 101. The storage unit 102 stores the pallet identification information of the pallet P loaded on the loading platform of the transport device 1 on which the in-vehicle unit 10 is mounted. It is preferable that information specifying the position of the pallet P on the loading platform is stored in association with the pallet identification information of the loaded pallet. Information on the consignee of the pallet P and the transport route may be acquired from the central server 4 and stored in the storage unit 102 in association with the pallet identification information.

[0033] The display unit 103 includes a display device such as a liquid crystal panel or an organic EL display. The display unit 103 is a notification unit that notifies the driver of the transport device 1 of the route, destination, etc.

[0034] The audio output unit 104 includes a speaker. The audio output unit 104 is a notification unit that generates sound or a beep sound with the speaker and notifies the driver of the transport device 1 of the route, destination, etc.

[0035] The GPS receiver unit 105 is a device that receives GPS signals and derives the position of the transport device 1 on which the in-vehicle unit 10 is mounted. The processing unit 101 can appropriately identify the position of the transport device 1 by the GPS receiver unit 105.

[0036] The communication unit 106 is a device that performs wireless communication. The communication unit 106 is a wireless communication module that realizes the transmission and reception of information with the central server 4 via a public communication network or according to a predetermined mobile communication standard. The communication unit 106 uses a network card, a wireless communication device, or a carrier communication module. The processing unit 101 receives the notification content from the central server 4 to the driver, the pallet identification information of the pallet P to be carried into the cargo bed, and the pallet identification information of the pallet P to be carried out of the cargo bed by the communication unit 106, and stores them in the storage unit 102.

[0037] The central server 4 is a server computer and includes a processing unit 40, a storage unit 41, and a communication unit 42. Note that the central server 4 may not only use a configuration of one server computer (hardware), but also a configuration in which processing is distributed among a plurality of server computers, or may be one of a plurality of server computers (instances) virtually generated in a large computer.

[0038] The processing unit 40 uses a CPU or a GPU and includes a built-in volatile memory, a clock, etc. The processing unit 40 controls each component based on the control program 40P stored in the storage unit 41.

[0039] The storage unit 41 uses a hard disk or an SSD. The storage unit 41 stores the control program 40P. A Web server program 42P is stored in the storage unit 41, and the processing unit 40 exhibits a Web server function, and can receive requests for sharing the cargo bed of the transport device 1, etc. from the terminal device 5 by this Web server function.

[0040] A logistics DB (Data Base) 410 may be constructed in the memory unit 41. The logistics DB 410 may be an external storage device. The processing unit 40 can read from and write to the logistics DB 410 through a database operation module. For example, pallet information 411, transport equipment information 412, transport schedule information 413, and transport performance information 414 are stored in the logistics DB 410.

[0041] The pallet information 411 includes information (part number (type), quantity) of the articles stored in the pallet P, storage unit identification data of the pallet storage unit that stores the pallet P, and transport equipment identification data of the transport equipment 1 that includes the pallet storage unit on the loading platform, which are associated with the pallet identification data for identifying the pallet P. Each time the pallet P is loaded or unloaded, it is sequentially updated. The central server 4 collects data such as the transport equipment 1 that transports the pallet P by the controller in the distribution center 3, the controller 20 in the base center 2, the reading equipment mounted on the transport equipment 1, and the storage unit identification data from the base controller 20, the in-vehicle unit 10, etc., and sequentially updates it.

[0042] The transport equipment information 412 includes the pallet identification data and the storage unit identification data of the loaded pallet P, which are associated with the transport equipment identification data for identifying the transport equipment 1. The transport equipment information 412 sequentially stores and updates the position information received from the in-vehicle unit 10 in association with the transport equipment identification data. The transport equipment information 412 sequentially stores and updates the position information of the destination (identification data of the base center 2 and the distribution center 3) of each transport equipment 1 in association with the transport equipment identification data.

[0043] The transport schedule information 413 includes the departure point, transit point, and destination point of each transport equipment 1 created based on demand prediction by the process described later, and the scheduled time at each point. After being created based on demand prediction, the transport schedule information 413 is adjusted and changed based on a transport request, and can also be sequentially updated and changed even after the transport equipment 1 actually starts transporting. In addition, the transport schedule information 413 stores route data, etc. for creating or referring to the transport schedule as described later.

[0044] The transportation schedule information 413 may include conditions for determining which route and which section should be prioritized as a route corresponding to demand. The timing for referring to the priority conditions is the timing for determining which demand including which route should be prioritized as the representative of the group in the grouping for diagram creation described later, and the timing for determining which route should be prioritized for assignment when accepting a reservation. For example, when there are multiple routes connecting the same departure point and destination point, if one includes a toll road and the other is only a general road, a condition that the toll road should be prioritized, or based on the actual congestion status by time zone, even if the distance is longer among multiple routes and there is a route that should be preferentially selected, it is advisable to store it with a higher priority for that route. Note that the unit for assigning the priority here may be for each "route" which is a major trunk route, or for a route connecting any one of the base center 2 and the distribution center 3, or for each "section" which is a shorter segmented route.

[0045] The transportation performance information 414 includes the departure point, transit point, and destination point of each transportation device 1, and the actual time of each point. The transportation performance information 414 includes data that stores, in time series, the pallet identification data of the pallet P loaded on each transportation device 1 in association with the storage unit identification data each time it is transferred. The transportation performance information 414 may include data that arranges, in time series, the transportation device identification data of the transportation device 1 on which the pallet P has transferred in association with the pallet identification data.

[0046] In addition, the storage unit 41 stores map information, and information such as distance data and fare tables on toll roads. The storage unit 41 also stores the maximum number of pallets P that can be transferred at each base center 2 and distribution center 3, and the maximum number of pallets that can be buffered.

[0047] The communication unit 42 realizes communication in the public communication network N1 or the carrier network N2. The processing unit 40 can transmit and receive information to and from the terminal device 5 via the communication unit 42 through the public communication network N1 or the carrier network N2. Also, the processing unit 40 can transmit and receive information to and from the in-vehicle device 10 mounted on the transport device 1 via the communication unit 42 through the carrier network N2.

[0048] FIG. 5 shows the configuration of the terminal device 5. The terminal device 5 includes a processing unit 50, a storage unit 51, a communication unit 52, a display unit 53, and an operation unit 54.

[0049] The processing unit 50 uses a CPU or a GPU. The processing unit 50 controls components using a volatile memory, a clock, etc. The processing unit 50 may be configured as a single SoC integrating a processor, a memory, the storage unit 51, and the communication unit 52. Based on the terminal program 5P stored in the storage unit 51, the processing unit 50 executes a communication connection to the Web server of the central server 4 and executes processing via a Web page related to a transportation request using the transport device 1 provided by the central server 4.

[0050] The storage unit 51 uses a flash memory and stores programs and data referred to by the processing unit 50 including the terminal program 5P for the transportation requester.

[0051] The communication unit 52 is a communication module that realizes a communication connection to the network N. The communication unit 52 may be a network card, a wireless communication device, or a module for next-generation communication in the carrier network N2.

[0052] The display unit 53 uses a display device such as a liquid crystal panel or an organic EL display. The operation unit 54 is an interface that receives user operations, and uses physical buttons, a touch panel device built into the display, a speaker, a microphone, etc. The operation unit 54 may receive an operation on the screen displayed on the display unit 53 using physical buttons or a touch panel, or may recognize the operation content from the input voice using the microphone and receive the operation in an interactive form with the voice output from the speaker.

[0053] FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of the procedure for creating a transport schedule in the central server 4. In the description of the procedure shown in the flowchart of FIG. 6, the central server 4 creates a transport schedule between the base centers 2, that is, in trunk transportation. The procedure described below is similarly applicable to the routes from each base center 2 to the distribution center 3, the routes from the distribution center 3 to the base center 2, and the routes between the distribution centers 3. Since the logistics system 100 allows transporting by changing multiple transport devices 1 for one pallet P, it may be carried out separately for each area centered on the base center 2. Also, the procedure described below may be executed for the entire route, with the distribution center 3 from which the pallet P is shipped as the starting point and the destination distribution center 3 as the destination point.

[0054] The processing unit 40 of the central server 4 executes a demand prediction for the transport of the pallet P based on the performance data collected in the logistics DB 410 and created through analysis processing (step S1).

[0055] In step S1, the processing unit 40 predicts the data of the base center 2 at the departure point and the data of the base center 2 at the destination point of the pallet P to be transported for each pallet P. For example, the demand is that the pallet P with the serial number "000001" can arrive at the base center 2 of "X" by 09:00 on May 1, 2021 and be ready to depart, and must arrive at the base center 2 of "Y" at 18:00 on the same day, May 1. In this case, the demand can be expressed as the route data of the pallet P such as (000001, From:X, 20210501:09:00, To:Y, 20210501:18:00). More specifically, when the processing unit 40 executes demand prediction on a daily basis, it predicts the demand for the next day based on data such as the actual performance of the demand for the pallet P on the same day in the past three years included in the actual performance data, the actual performance of the demand for the pallet P on the same day of the week in the past month, and the actual performance of the demand on the previous day. The processing unit 40 predicts the demand in a predetermined time unit such as one hour. The processing unit 40 may create route data representing such demand for the number of pallets P and obtain it as the result of demand prediction. The demand prediction may be executed using a learning model trained to output demand data (array) when inputting actual performance data as described above.

[0056] The processing unit 40 may assign a priority to the route to be prioritized in the grouping described later for the route data obtained by demand prediction. For example, a priority may be given to either the departure point or the destination point, and the route (diagram) data to the destination point with a higher priority may be preferentially grouped and summarized.

[0057] Based on the result of executing demand prediction in step S1, the processing unit 40 creates a diagram that connects the departure point and the destination point of each pallet (logistics member) P based on the departure possible time and the arrival required time (step S2). The processing unit 40 executes a process of grouping a plurality of diagrams into one group based on the arrival required time from the created diagram (step S3). The processes of step S2 and step S3 will be described later.

[0058] The processing unit 40 creates, based on the diagram by the grouping process in step S3, data on the departure point and destination point of the transport device 1 and the time at each point as a transport schedule for the number of transport devices 1 (step S4), and ends the creation process of the transport schedule.

[0059] FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of the procedure for creating a diagram of the pallet P. The flowchart of FIG. 7 corresponds to the details of step S3 in FIG. 6. Note that the process of aligning the diagrams is not limited to the following process, and any procedure that can achieve the process shown in the schematic diagram of FIG. 8 described later may be used.

[0060] The processing unit 40 selects one base center 2 (step S301). In step S301, the processing unit 40 may select a base center 2 with a higher priority. Thereby, for demands having the same departure point and destination point, even if there are many transit points, if the transit points have a high priority, the schedule of the route passing through the transit points is preferentially created.

[0061] The processing unit 40 selects a diagram of the pallet P (departure point, available departure time, destination point, and required arrival time) with the selected base center 2 as the destination point and an earlier time as the required arrival time (step S302). Here, not only the pallet P with an earlier time as the required arrival time, but the processing unit 40 may also select a diagram of the pallet P including a route with a higher priority.

[0062] The processing unit 40 sets the destination point of the selected diagram of the pallet P as a destination point with a required arrival time after the required arrival time or a passing point, and selects a diagram of another pallet P whose demand and route partially overlap with the demand selected in step S302 (step S303).

[0063] In step S303, the processing unit 40 selects diagrams (demands) of other pallets P having overlapping routes in ascending order of time, with the maximum number of stowable pallets of the transport device 1 as the upper limit. In step S303, the processing unit 40 may select the partial diagrams to be created in step S304 described later.

[0064] In this way, even if the departure point, destination point, available departure time, and required arrival time are not completely common, as long as some overlap, it is possible to select diagrams of other pallets P as objects for grouping. This is because, as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the transport device 1 can transport articles in units of pallets P, and can partially load and unload at waypoints or load them into empty storage sections.

[0065] The processing unit 40 separates the selected demands of other pallets P in S303 into a partial route that overlaps with the route data of the demand selected in step S302 and a partial route that does not overlap, and creates diagrams (demands) of the partial routes respectively (step S304).

[0066] Regarding the routes and partial route demands (diagrams) selected in steps S302 and S303, the processing unit 40 stores them as processed demands (diagrams) (step S305). In step S305, the processing unit 40 may associate flag data indicating processed with the route data indicating the demand.

[0067] The processing unit 40 determines whether there are any remaining other demands with the selected base center 2 as the destination point (step S306). If it is determined that there are remaining (S306: YES), the process returns to step S302 to select other demands.

[0068] If it is determined in step S306 that there is no remaining (S306: NO), the processing unit 40 determines whether all the base centers 2 have been selected (step S307). If it is determined that there is an unselected base center 2 remaining (S307: NO), the processing unit 40 returns the process to step S301 and selects the next base center 2.

[0069] If it is determined that all the base centers 2 have been selected (S307: YES), the processing unit 40 ends the process of creating the diagram of the pallet P.

[0070] Figures 8 to 10 are schematic diagrams of the process of creating the diagram of the pallet P. The horizontal axis direction of the diagram indicates the passage of time, and the vertical axis direction of the diagram indicates the distance and arrangement between points "W" to "Z". It is assumed that they are arranged in the order of point "X", point "Z", point "Y", and point "W", and it is possible to pass through point "Z" and point "Y" during the movement from point "X" to point "W". Figure 8 shows the diagram before the process of grouping the diagram of Figure 7, Figure 9 shows the selected route and partial routes. Figure 10 shows the diagram of the pallet P after the grouping process is executed.

[0071] In the diagram of FIG. 8, the demands for pallets P numbered from "000001" to "000006" are shown. The demand for pallet P numbered "000001" can depart from point "X" at 09:00 on May 1, 2021 and must arrive at point "Y" by 18:00 on the same day. The demand for pallet P numbered "000002" can depart from point "Z" at 14:00 on May 1 and must arrive at point "W" by 01:00 the next day. The demand for pallet P numbered "000003" can depart from point "X" by 07:00 on May 1 and must arrive at point "W" by 03:00 the next day. The demand for pallet P numbered "000004" can depart from point "X" at 08:00 on May 1 and must arrive at point "Y" by 23:00 on the same day. The demand for pallet P numbered "000005" can depart from point "X" at 11:00 on May 1 and must arrive at point "Y" by 21:00 on the same day. The demand for pallet P numbered "000006" can depart from point "Z" at 13:00 on May 1 and must arrive at point "W" by 05:00 the next day.

[0072] The processing unit 40 selects point "Y", which is the base center 2, by grouping processing (S301). The processing unit 40 selects the demand for pallet P numbered "000001" (000001, From: X, 20210501:09:00, To: Y, 20210501:18:00), which has the earliest time (18:00 on May 1) as the arrival time among the unselected demands (step S302).

[0073] The processing unit 40 selects the demand, such as the demand for pallet P numbered "000002" (000002, From: Z, 20210501:14:00, To: W, 20210502:01:00), for which the departure point "X" of pallet P numbered "000001" can depart before the departure time of 09:00 or the point "Z" through which it can pass can depart around 14:30 when pallet P numbered "000001" can pass through (step S303).

[0074] The processing unit 40 creates (000002-1, From:Z, 20210501:14:00, To:Y, 20210501:18:00) and (000002-2, From:Y, 20210501:18:30, To:W, 20210502:01:00) from the demand of the selected other pallet P (No. 「000002」) (000002, From:Z, 20210501:14:00, To:W, 20210502:01:00) (S304). As a result, as shown in FIG. 9, the diagram showing the demand for pallet P of No. 「000002」 is divided into two, and the transport demand for pallet P of No. 「000002-1」 and the transport demand for pallet P of No. 「000001」 are grouped. By setting the priority of location 「Y」 high and preferentially selecting it in this way, it is also possible to create a diagram in which the demand for pallet P with the departure location at location 「X」 and the destination location at location 「W」 passes through location 「Y」, which should be preferentially routed, rather than the direct route.

[0075] Similarly, for the demand of pallet P of No. 「000001」 (000001, From:X, 20210501:09:00, To:Y, 20210501:18:00), the demand for pallet P of the partial route of No. 「000003」, the demand for pallet P of No. 「000004」, and the demand for pallet P of No. 「000004」 are grouped. The demand for pallet P of No. 「000005」 is not grouped as shown in FIG. 10 because the available departure time from the departure location 「X」 is 2 hours later than the available departure time of pallet P of No. 「000001」. Also, as shown in FIG. 10, the partial route of pallet P of No. 「000003」 and the partial route of pallet P of No. 「000006」 are also grouped.

[0076] FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an example of the diagram creation process of the transport device 1. The processing procedure shown in the flowchart of FIG. 11 corresponds to the details of the process of step S4 in FIG. 6.

[0077] In the diagram after grouping of the pallets P as shown in FIG. 10, the processing unit 40 selects one group in which demands of a predetermined number or more are grouped together (step S401). The processing unit 40 selects the transport device 1 that can be located by the departure time at the departure point of the selected diagram based on the transport device information 412 (step S402). In step S402, the processing unit 40 selects the transport device 1 that can arrive at the destination by the arrival time (conditions described later).

[0078] After a predetermined time or later from the arrival time at the destination of the selected diagram, the processing unit 40 selects another group corresponding to the demand that can be transported by the transport device 1 selected in step S402, with this destination as the departure point (step S403). In step S403, conditions such as the movable range and movable time zone of each transport device 1 may be stored in the transport device information 412, and selection may be made based on these conditions.

[0079] In step S403, the processing unit 40 selects another group based on the priority order such as the same or opposite direction as the demand (diagram) of the group selected in step S401. The processing unit 40 may preferentially select a group having a location with a large demand as the departure point of the pallet P as the destination.

[0080] The processing unit 40 associates the group selected in step S401 and the group selected in step S403 with the transport device identification data of the transport device 1 selected in step S402, and stores the departure point, departure time, transit (passing) point, transit time, destination, and arrival time of the diagram of this transport device 1 (step S404).

[0081] The processing unit 40 determines whether there is another group connected from the destination point of the other group selected in step S403 (step S405). If the processing unit 40 determines that there is (S405: YES), it further associates the other group and adds it to the transportation diagram information 413 as a diagram (step S406), and returns the process to step S405. In step S405, the processing unit 40 may determine that there is no other group if the arrival time at the destination point of the other group is after a predetermined time such as 04:00 the next day.

[0082] If it is determined that there is no other group (S405: NO), the processing unit 40 determines whether all the target groups have been selected (step S407). If it is determined that there are unselected groups remaining (S407: NO), the processing unit 40 returns the process to step S401.

[0083] If it is determined that all the groups have been selected (S407: YES), the processing unit 40 extracts the diagrams in which the required number of pallets P exceeds the upper limit of the storage unit of the transportation device 1 at the transit points, departure points, and destination points of the stored diagrams of the transportation device 1 respectively (step S408). The processing unit 40 executes adjustment processing on the extracted diagrams by means of processing such as separating the excess amount or reorganizing with different groups (step S409). In step S409, when the number of pallets P to be transferred at each of the centers 2 and 3 exceeds the maximum number of pallets P that can be transferred at each of the centers 2 and 3 and the maximum number of pallets P that can be stored as a buffer, the processing unit 40 may perform adjustment processing and reorganize with different routes or groups with shifted times.

[0084] The processing unit 40 calculates at least one of the estimated transportation cost, the estimated time until the completion of transportation, and the total estimated transportation distance of the transportation device 1 until the completion of transportation when the transportation device 1 is run according to the diagrams of the transportation device 1 after the adjustment processing stored in the transportation diagram information 413 (step S410).

[0085] The processing unit 40 determines whether the calculation result is equal to or less than a predetermined judgment reference value (predetermined cost, predetermined time, or predetermined distance) (step S411). If it is determined that the value exceeds the predetermined judgment reference value (S411: NO), the processing unit 40 returns the process to step S401, and when selecting another transportation device 1 in step S402 or selecting another group in step S403, it changes the selection criteria and executes the calculation again. In this case, the processing unit 40 may re-execute the processing procedure shown in the flowchart of FIG. 7.

[0086] If it is determined that the calculation result is equal to or less than the predetermined judgment reference value (S411: YES), the processing unit 40 ends the creation process of the transportation schedule.

[0087] FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram of the created transportation schedule. FIG. 12 shows a part of the transportation schedule created from the diagram after grouping the pallets P shown in FIG. 10. The transportation schedule is a diagram of one transportation device 1 (transportation device identification data: V000100), which is a diagram obtained by grouping the diagram based on the demand for the pallet P numbered "000001" in FIG. 10, with a departure from point "X" at 09:00 on May 1, 2021, arrival at point "Y" at 18:00 on the same day, and then departure from point "Y" at 18:30 on the same day, with a required arrival time at point "W" at 01:00 the next day. By repeating such processing, a transportation schedule, which is a diagram of the transportation device 1 as shown in FIG. 12, is created. The processing unit 40 may create a timetable summarizing the arrival numbers and departure times of the transportation device 1 at each point "X" to "W" based on the created transportation schedule, and create screen data.

[0088] In FIG. 12, diagrams of other transport devices 1 are also created. For example, a diagram of transport device 1 with transport device identification data "V000150" is created based on the demand for pallet P numbered "000005" in FIG. 10. This diagram shows a journey that departs from location "X" at 11:00 on May 1, 2021, arrives at location "Y" at 21:00 on the same day, then departs from location "Y" at 22:00 on the same day, and returns to location "X" by 08:00 the next day. Similarly, a diagram of transport device 1 with transport device identification data "V0020100" is created based on the demand for pallet P with a partial route numbered "000006-2" in FIG. 10. This diagram shows a journey that departs from location "W" at 13:00 on May 1, 2021, arrives at location "Y" at 19:00 on the same day, then departs from location "Y" at 20:30 on the same day, and returns to location "W" by 03:00 the next day.

[0089] FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing an example of a procedure for accepting a transport request based on transport diagram information 413. The processing unit 40 of the central server 4 accepts a transport request based on the transport diagram information 413 that stores the transport diagram created according to the flowchart of FIG. 11 (step S201).

[0090] In step S201, the processing unit 40 accepts the actual demand for pallet P (the number of pallet P, type (product number), departure location, available departure time, destination location, required arrival time, etc.) from the terminal device 5. At this time, the terminal device 5 may be sent screen data including a diagram equivalent to a train route map that shows the timetable and route data in a map form, and the selection of the departure location, destination location, etc. may be accepted on the screen. In step S201, the processing unit 40 may accept the demand including the data of the departure location, available departure time, destination location, and required arrival time in units of pallet P.

[0091] The processing unit 40 selects one or a plurality of transport devices 1 associated with a diagram for traveling on a route that satisfies the demand of the transport request received in step S201, in units of pallets P (step S202). In step S202, the processing unit 40 may select a transport device 1 that travels on a route with a higher priority, which is stored in the storage unit 41 in advance, among the routes that satisfy the demand of the transport request. In step S202, transport devices 1 on different routes may be selected respectively, and a screen indicating which route is planned to be traveled may be displayed on the terminal device 5 so that it can be selected.

[0092] The "plurality of transport devices 1" in step S202 corresponds to a plurality of transport devices 1 that satisfy the demand when the route that satisfies the demand requires a transfer between a plurality of transport devices 1. When the demands of a plurality of pallets P are received in step S201, for demands with the same departure point and destination point, the same transport device 1 that can accommodate both may be selected. That is, when a group customer makes a reservation for a train, even if there is a transfer, pallets P with the same destination point from the same shipper may be firmly accommodated within the same transport device 1 so that tickets for nearby seats can be reserved.

[0093] The processing unit 40 acquires the empty state (the number of storage units for which the demand has not yet been assigned, or storage unit identification data, etc.) of the storage unit of the selected transport device 1 during the period of the transport request target, and transmits information on the selected one or a plurality of transport devices 1 to the terminal device 5 (step S203). In step S203, if the storage unit of the selected transport device 1 is not empty, the process may return to step S202 for re-selection. The processing unit 40 transmits screen data indicating the empty information of the pallet storage unit of the transport device 1 to the terminal device 5 so that the empty state can be displayed in units of pallet storage units.

[0094] The processing unit 40 assigns the storage unit identification data of the storage unit that is scheduled to be empty or is already empty in the transport device 1 selected in step S202 to the demand of the received transport request, stores it in the logistics DB401 of the storage unit 41 as having been assigned (step S204), and ends the process.

[0095] When the processing unit 40 of the central server 4 cannot select the transport device 1 of the diagram that matches the transport request received in step S201 in step S202, it may select and allocate a transport device 1 that can travel on a newly demand-corresponding route based on the transport device information 412. As a result, a diagram corresponding to a route that satisfies the newly created transport device 1 and its departure point and destination point is added to the transport diagram information 413. In this way, the transport diagram information 413 can be sequentially updated based on the transport request. After the transport is started, the processing unit 40 of the central server 4 can also rewrite the transport diagram information 413 based on the position information sequentially transmitted from each of the transport devices 1.

[0096] In this way, the processing unit 40 of the central server 4 can receive a transport request for transporting in units of pallets P in units of accommodation units of the transport device 1 in a manner of selecting a train from a train diagram and selecting a seat from the train.

[0097] The disclosed embodiments should be considered to be illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is shown not by the above description but by the claims, and it is intended that all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims be included.

Explanation of Signs

[0098] 100 Logistics system 1 Transport device 10 On-vehicle unit 101 Processing unit 4 Central server 40 Processing unit 41 Storage unit 410 Logistics DB 413 Transport diagram information P Pallet (logistics member) C Small container (logistics member)

Claims

1. A computer creates a diagram of the logistics member that accommodates the article according to the number of predicted logistics members needed, based on data indicating the results of demand prediction for the transportation of the article, from the starting point, the possible departure time, the destination point, and the required arrival time of the logistics member that accommodates the article; groups the created diagrams of each logistics member by diagrams that can be determined that part or all of the routes overlap, based on the starting point and the possible departure time, and the destination point and the required arrival time; repeats, until it is determined that there are no other connected groups, connecting diagrams of other groups, where the starting point in the diagram of one group is the destination point and the time before the possible departure time is the required arrival time, based on the starting point, the possible departure time, the destination point, and the required arrival time of the grouped diagrams of the logistics members, and creates a diagram of the transportation equipment that accommodates the logistics member with the connected diagrams; A diagram creation method including the above.

2. The grouping step includes: selecting one diagram from diagrams based on the starting point, the possible departure time, the destination point, and the required arrival time of a plurality of logistics members; selecting other diagrams whose routes overlap with the selected diagram; separating non-overlapping parts in the other diagrams as other diagrams; and grouping the selected one diagram and the other overlapping diagrams. The diagram creation method according to Claim 1, including the above.

3. The step of creating a diagram of the transportation equipment includes: selecting a diagram of a first group from the grouped diagrams of the logistics members; virtually allocating a transportation equipment that can depart from the starting point in the diagram of the first group; selecting a diagram of a second group with the destination point of the diagram of the first group as the starting point, based on the conditions of the transportation equipment; storing the diagrams of the first group and the second group as a diagram of the transportation equipment. The diagram creation method according to Claim 1 or 2, including the above.

4. The computer calculates an estimated total of any of the cost required for transportation, the transportation time, and the transportation distance, based on the created diagram of the transportation equipment. Re-create the diagram of the transportation equipment until the predicted total is equal to or less than a predetermined judgment reference value. The diagram creation method according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. From the data indicating the result of the demand prediction of the transportation of the article, create a diagram of the logistics member that houses the article based on the departure point, the possible departure time, the destination point, and the required arrival time of the logistics member according to the predicted number of demands of the logistics member. Group the diagrams of each of the created logistics members by a diagram that can be determined that part or all of the routes overlap based on the departure point and the possible departure time, and the destination point and the required arrival time. Based on the departure point, the possible departure time, the destination point, and the required arrival time of the diagram of the grouped logistics members, for the diagram of one group, connect the diagrams of other groups with the departure point in the diagram as the destination point and the time before the possible departure time as the required arrival time, and repeat until it is determined that there are no other connected groups, and create the connected diagram as the diagram of the transportation equipment that houses the logistics member. A diagram creation device including a processing unit that executes processing.

6. On a computer, From the data indicating the result of the demand prediction of the transportation of the article, create a diagram of the logistics member that houses the article based on the departure point, the possible departure time, the destination point, and the required arrival time of the logistics member according to the predicted number of demands of the logistics member; Group the diagrams of each of the created logistics members by a diagram that can be determined that part or all of the routes overlap based on the departure point and the possible departure time, and the destination point and the required arrival time; Based on the departure point, the possible departure time, the destination point, and the required arrival time of the diagram of the grouped logistics members, for the diagram of one group, connect the diagrams of other groups with the departure point in the diagram as the destination point and the time before the possible departure time as the required arrival time, and repeat until it is determined that there are no other connected groups, and create the connected diagram as the diagram of the transportation equipment that houses the logistics member; A computer program that causes the computer to execute a process including the above steps.

Images