Information Processing Apparatus, Program, and Information Processing Method

Abstract

To reduce the occurrence of congestion in a parking lot or takeout area.SOLUTION: An information processing device 1 that can communicate with a user terminal 3 and a moving body 4 includes a control unit. The control unit executes the operation including: receiving an order of a product from the user terminal 3; searching for one or more delivery destination candidates for the product when a parking lot of a store that sells the product is full or a takeout area of the store is full; determining a delivery destination and presenting the delivery destination to the user terminal 3 or a vehicle 2 that is driven by a user of the user terminal 3; and causing the moving body 4 to deliver the product to the delivery destination.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

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

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, when there is a queue of waiting vehicles in a parking lot related to a facility, a technique is known in which the position of the rearmost vehicle in the queue of waiting vehicles is specified, and route search is performed with the position of the rearmost vehicle as a target point (for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the above conventional technology, congestion in the parking lot is not reduced.

[0005] In view of such circumstances, an object of the present disclosure is to provide an information processing apparatus, a program, and an information processing method capable of reducing the occurrence of congestion in a parking lot or a takeout area.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] An information processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is an information processing apparatus capable of communicating with a user terminal and a moving body, including a control unit, and the control unit receives an order for a product from the user terminal, searches for one or more candidates for a delivery destination of the product when the parking lot of a store selling the product is full or the takeout area of the store is full, Determine the delivery destination and present the delivery destination to the user terminal or to a vehicle driven by the user of the user terminal. Cause the mobile body to transport the merchandise to the delivery destination. Execute operations including the above.

[0007] A program according to an embodiment of the present disclosure causes a computer, as an information processing apparatus capable of communicating with a user terminal and a mobile body, to receive an order for merchandise from the user terminal, when the parking lot of the store selling the merchandise is full or the takeout area of the store is full, search for one or more candidates for the delivery destination of the merchandise, determine the delivery destination and present the delivery destination to the user terminal or to a vehicle driven by the user of the user terminal, and cause the mobile body to transport the merchandise to the delivery destination. Execute operations including the above.

[0008] An information processing method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is an information processing method by an information processing apparatus capable of communicating with a user terminal and a mobile body, receiving an order for merchandise from the user terminal, when the parking lot of the store selling the merchandise is full or the takeout area of the store is full, searching for one or more candidates for the delivery destination of the merchandise, determining the delivery destination and presenting the delivery destination to the user terminal or to a vehicle driven by the user of the user terminal, and causing the mobile body to transport the merchandise to the delivery destination. including the above. [Effect of the Invention]

[0009] According to the information processing apparatus, program, and information processing method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, it is possible to reduce the occurrence of congestion in the parking lot or the takeout area. [Brief Description of the Drawings]

[0010]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0011] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an information processing system S according to the present embodiment. The information processing system S includes an information processing apparatus 1, a vehicle 2, a user terminal 3, and a mobile body 4. The vehicle 2 is driven by a user U01. The information processing apparatus 1 can communicate with the vehicle 2, the user terminal 3, and the mobile body 4 via a network NW. The network NW includes, for example, a mobile communication network or the Internet.

[0012] In FIG. 1, for simplicity of explanation, one information processing apparatus 1 is illustrated. However, the number of information processing apparatuses 1 is not limited to this. For example, the processing executed by the information processing apparatus 1 may be executed by a plurality of information processing apparatuses 1 arranged in a distributed manner.

[0013] An overview of the processing executed by the information processing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment will be described. When the parking lot of the store is full or the takeout area of the store is full, the control unit of the information processing apparatus 1 searches for one or more candidates for the destination of the product, determines the destination, and presents the destination to the user terminal 3 or to the vehicle 2 driven by the user U01 of the user terminal 3. The control unit 11 further causes the mobile body 4 to transport the product to the destination. With this configuration, the information processing apparatus 1 can reduce the occurrence of congestion (traffic jam) in the parking lot or the takeout area and support the user U01 in receiving the product.

[0014] The information processing apparatus 1 may be a server that supports the provision of services by a business operator. The information processing apparatus 1 may be installed, for example, in a dedicated facility of the business operator or in a shared facility including a data center. As an alternative example, the information processing apparatus 1 may be mounted on the vehicle 2.

[0015] The vehicle 2 includes, for example, any type of automobile such as a gasoline vehicle, a diesel vehicle, an HEV, a PHEV, a BEV, or an FCEV. "HEV" is an abbreviation for hybrid electric vehicle. "PHEV" is an abbreviation for plug-in hybrid electric vehicle. "BEV" is an abbreviation for battery electric vehicle. "FCEV" is an abbreviation for fuel cell electric vehicle. In the present embodiment, the vehicle 2 is driven by a driver. As an alternative example, the driving of the vehicle 2 may be automated at any level. The level of automation is, for example, any one of levels 1 to 5 in the SAE level classification. "SAE" is an abbreviation for Society of Automotive Engineers. The vehicle 2 may be a vehicle dedicated to MaaS. "MaaS" is an abbreviation for Mobility as a Service.

[0016] The user terminal 3 is a terminal operated by the user U01. The user terminal 3 is, for example, a mobile device such as a mobile phone, a smartphone, a wearable device, or a tablet. As an alternative example, the user terminal 3 may be a general-purpose device such as a PC or a dedicated device. "PC" is an abbreviation for personal computer.

[0017] The mobile body 4 is, for example, an autonomous vehicle that operates based on information received from the information processing device 1 and the like. As an alternative example, the mobile body 4 may be a drone or a vehicle driven by a driver.

[0018] With reference to FIG. 2, the internal configuration of the information processing device 1 will be described in detail.

[0019] The information processing device 1 includes a control unit 11, a communication unit 12, and a storage unit 13. Each component of the information processing device 1 is communicably connected to each other via, for example, a dedicated line.

[0020] The control unit 11 includes, for example, one or more general-purpose processors including a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or an MPU (Micro Processing Unit). The control unit 11 may include one or more dedicated processors specialized for specific processing. Instead of including a processor, the control unit 11 may include one or more dedicated circuits. The dedicated circuit may be, for example, an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array) or an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit). The control unit 11 may include an ECU (Electronic Control Unit).

[0021] The communication unit 12 includes a communication module that conforms to one or more wired or wireless LAN (Local Area Network) standards for connecting to a network. The communication unit 12 may include a module that conforms to one or more mobile communication standards including LTE (Long Term Evolution), 4G (4th Generation), or 5G (5th Generation). The communication unit 12 may include a communication module or the like that conforms to one or more short-range communication standards or specifications including Bluetooth (registered trademark), AirDrop (registered trademark), IrDA, ZigBee (registered trademark), Felica (registered trademark), or RFID. The communication unit 12 transmits and receives any information via the network.

[0022] The storage unit 13 is, for example, a semiconductor memory, a magnetic memory, an optical memory, or at least RAM or ROM among these. The RAM is, for example, SRAM or DRAM. The ROM is, for example, EEPROM. The storage unit 13 may function as, for example, a main storage device, an auxiliary storage device, or a cache memory. The storage unit 13 may store the information of the result analyzed or processed by the control unit 11. The storage unit 13 may store various information related to the operation or control of the information processing apparatus 1. The storage unit 13 may store a system program, an application program, and embedded software, etc.

[0023] With reference to FIG. 3, the internal configuration of the vehicle 2 will be described in detail.

[0024] The vehicle 2 includes a control unit 21, a communication unit 22, a storage unit 23, and a display unit 24. Each component of the vehicle 2 is communicably connected to each other via, for example, a dedicated line.

[0025] The hardware configurations of the control unit 21, the communication unit 22, and the storage unit 23 of the vehicle 2 may be the same as the hardware configurations of the control unit 11, the communication unit 12, and the storage unit 13 of the information processing apparatus 1. The description here is omitted.

[0026] The display unit 24 is, for example, a display. The display is, for example, an LCD or an organic EL display. "LCD" is an abbreviation for liquid crystal display. "EL" is an abbreviation for electro luminescence. Instead of being provided in the vehicle 2, the display unit 24 may be connected to the vehicle 2 as an external output device. As a connection method, for example, any method such as USB, HDMI (registered trademark), or Bluetooth (registered trademark) can be used.

[0027] The internal configuration of the user terminal 3 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 4.

[0028] The user terminal 3 includes a control unit 31, a communication unit 32, a storage unit 33, and a display unit 34. Each component of the user terminal 3 is communicably connected to each other via, for example, a dedicated line.

[0029] The hardware configurations of the control unit 31, the communication unit 32, the storage unit 33, and the display unit 34 of the user terminal 3 may be the same as those of the control unit 21, the communication unit 22, the storage unit 23, and the display unit 24 of the vehicle 2. The description here is omitted.

[0030] The hardware configuration of the moving body 4 may be the same as that of the vehicle 2. The description here is omitted.

[0031] Hereinafter, the processing executed in the information processing system S of the present embodiment will be described in detail. Here, as an example, a scenario where the user U01 operates the user terminal 3 to pre-order a product online is described. In the present embodiment, the store that sells the product is a fast food restaurant, but it may be any other store.

[0032] The user terminal 3 displays one or more candidates for the store where the product is to be delivered on the map application. The user terminal 3 receives a selection (for example, a tap) on one of the one or more candidates from the user. The user terminal 3 transmits information indicating the selected store to the information processing device 1.

[0033] The user terminal 3 receives an order for a product from the user. The user terminal 3 generates order information and transmits it to the information processing device 1. The order information may include the delivery time of the product. The information processing device 1 receives an order for a product from the user terminal 3.

[0034] As an alternative example, when the user terminal 3 receives a selection of a store from the user, it may launch another application and receive an order from the user through the other application.

[0035] As shown in FIG. 5, the user drives the vehicle 2 and moves to the store ST to pick up the product. When the vehicle 2 is within a predetermined distance from the store ST, or when the current time is within a predetermined time from the delivery time, the control unit 11 of the information processing device 1 determines whether the parking lot PA of the store ST is full or whether the takeout area of the store ST is full.

[0036] Whether the parking lot PA is full may be determined by obtaining parking status information from any server that manages the parking lot, or may be determined from the position information of one or more vehicles parked in the parking lot PA.

[0037] The takeout area is a place where customers who pick up takeout while in the vehicle (i.e., customers who use the drive-through) wait until they receive the product from the store. Whether the takeout area is full may be determined by obtaining information on whether it is full from any server, or may be determined from the position information of one or more vehicles waiting in the takeout area.

[0038] Here, as shown in FIG. 5, the parking lot PA of the store ST is full.

[0039] When the control unit 11 determines that the parking lot of the store ST or the takeout area of the store ST is full, it refers to the storage unit 13 and searches for one or more candidates for the delivery destination of the product. In the storage unit 13, one or more candidates for the delivery destination of the product are stored in association with the store ST. The candidates for the delivery destination may be registered in advance by the user. The candidates for the delivery destination may be any of the following, for example. · The parking lot of another store (e.g., convenience store) within a predetermined distance from the store ST · A place where roadside parking is possible within a predetermined distance from the store ST · In addition to the above, a place where it is easy to deliver the product within a predetermined distance from the store ST

[0040] As an alternative example or an additional example, when the destination of the vehicle 2 is set to a place different from the store ST and the destination of the vehicle 2 is within a predetermined distance from the current location of the vehicle 2, the candidate for the delivery destination may be the destination of the vehicle 2. As another alternative example or an additional example, the candidate for the delivery destination may be a place that has been determined as a delivery destination in the information processing device 1 in the past. The place that has been determined as a delivery destination in the past is stored in the storage unit 13.

[0041] The control unit 11 presents one or more candidates for the delivery destination to the user terminal 3 or to the vehicle 2 driven by the user U01 of the user terminal 3. At this time, the one or more candidates are displayed on the display unit 34 of the user terminal 3 or on the display unit 24 of the vehicle 2. The timing of the presentation is before the user U01 of the user terminal 3 arrives at the store ST. As an alternative example, the timing of the presentation may be before the user U01 gets on the vehicle 2.

[0042] When the number of candidates is plural, the control unit 11 may prompt the user U01 to select any one of the one or more candidates. An example in the case where the candidates for the delivery destination are candidate OP1 and candidate OP2 is shown in FIG. 6. The user terminal 3 or the vehicle 2 receives a selection operation from the user U01 and notifies the information processing device 1 of the selected candidate among candidate OP1 and candidate OP2.

[0043] The control unit 11 of the information processing apparatus 1 determines the delivery destination of the product. When there are multiple candidates, the candidate selected by the user terminal 3 is determined as the delivery destination. When there is a single candidate, that candidate may be automatically determined as the delivery destination.

[0044] The control unit 11 instructs the mobile body 4 to transport the product to the determined delivery destination. Here, the mobile body 4 is an autonomous vehicle. When the product is loaded onto the mobile body 4, the mobile body 4 transports the product to the determined delivery destination.

[0045] The user U01 drives the vehicle 2 and moves to the determined delivery destination. The user U01 receives the product from the mobile body 4 at the determined delivery destination.

[0046] Referring to FIG. 7, the information processing method by the control unit 11 of the information processing apparatus 1 will be described.

[0047] In step S1, the control unit 11 receives an order for a product from the user terminal 3.

[0048] In step S2, the control unit 11 determines whether the parking lot or the takeout area of the store where the product is to be delivered is full.

[0049] When the result in step S2 is No, the control unit 11 ends the flow.

[0050] When the result in step S2 is Yes, the control unit 11 searches for candidates for the delivery destination in step S3.

[0051] In step S4, the control unit 11 presents one or more candidates for the delivery destination to the user terminal 3 or the vehicle 2.

[0052] In step S5, the control unit 11 receives a selection of the delivery destination from the user from one or more candidates. When there are multiple candidates, the control unit 11 determines the selected candidate as the delivery destination. When there is a single candidate, the control unit 11 may automatically determine the single candidate as the delivery destination and omit step S5.

[0053] In step S6, the control unit 11 controls the moving body 4 to transport the merchandise to the destination.

[0054] As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the parking lot PA of the store ST is full or the takeout area of the store ST is full, the control unit 11 searches for one or more candidates for the destination of the merchandise, determines the destination, and presents the destination to the user terminal 3 or to the vehicle 2 driven by the user of the user terminal 3. The control unit 11 further causes the moving body 4 to transport the merchandise to the destination. With this configuration, the information processing apparatus 1 can reduce the occurrence of congestion in the parking lot PA or the takeout area and can assist the user in receiving the merchandise.

[0055] Also according to the present embodiment, when there are a plurality of candidates for the destination, the operation includes presenting the plurality of candidates to the user terminal 3 or the vehicle 2 and determining the destination selected from the plurality of candidates as the destination. With this configuration, the information processing apparatus 1 enables the user to receive the merchandise at a location convenient for the user.

[0056] Also according to the present embodiment, the candidates for the destination include either a parking lot different from the parking lot of the store or a location where roadside parking is possible. With this configuration, it is easy for the user to receive the merchandise.

[0057] Also according to the present embodiment, when the destination of the vehicle 2 driven by the user of the user terminal 3 is set to a location different from the store and the destination of the vehicle 2 is within a predetermined distance from the current location of the vehicle 2, the candidates for the destination include the destination of the vehicle 2. With this configuration, the information processing apparatus 1 can directly deliver the merchandise to the destination of the vehicle 2, thereby improving the convenience for the user.

[0058] Also according to this embodiment, the candidate delivery destinations include locations that have been determined as delivery destinations in the past. With this configuration, the information processing apparatus 1 can use locations where there is a record of successful delivery of goods as candidate delivery destinations, thereby increasing the probability that the current delivery will be successfully carried out.

[0059] Also according to this embodiment, the operation includes determining a delivery destination before the user terminal 3 arrives at the store. With this configuration, the information processing apparatus 1 can further reduce the occurrence of congestion in the parking lot PA or the takeout area.

[0060] It should be noted that although this disclosure is described based on the drawings and embodiments, those skilled in the art may make various modifications and alterations based on this disclosure. Additionally, changes are possible without departing from the spirit of this disclosure. For example, the functions etc. included in each means or each step can be rearranged so as not to be logically contradictory, and it is possible to combine multiple means or steps into one or divide them.

[0061] For example, in the above embodiment, a program that executes all or part of the functions or processes of the information processing apparatus 1 can be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium. A computer-readable recording medium includes non-transitory computer-readable media, for example, a magnetic recording device, an optical disk, a magneto-optical recording medium, or a semiconductor memory. The distribution of the program is carried out, for example, by selling, transferring, or lending a portable recording medium such as a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) or CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read Only Memory) on which the program is recorded. Also, the distribution of the program can be carried out by storing the program in the storage of an arbitrary server and transmitting the program from the arbitrary server to another computer. Also, the program may be provided as a program product. This disclosure can also be realized as a program executable by a processor.

[0062] A computer stores, for example, a program recorded on a portable recording medium or a program transferred from a server, once, in a main memory device. Then, the computer reads the program stored in the main memory device by a processor and executes processing according to the read program by the processor. The computer may directly read a program from a portable recording medium and execute processing according to the program. The computer may sequentially execute processing according to the received program each time a program is transferred from the server to the computer. Processing may be executed by a so-called ASP-type service that realizes functions only by execution instructions and result acquisition without transferring a program from the server to the computer. "ASP" is an abbreviation for application service provider. A program includes information for use in processing by an electronic computer that conforms to the program. For example, data that is not a direct instruction to the computer but has a property that defines the processing of the computer corresponds to "something conforming to the program".

Explanation of Signs

[0063] 1 Information processing device 11 Control unit 12 Communication unit 13 Storage unit 2 Vehicle 21 Control unit 22 Communication unit 23 Storage unit 24 Display unit 3 User terminal 31 Control unit 32 Communication unit 33 Storage unit 34 Display unit 4 Mobile body

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus capable of communicating with a user terminal, a mobile body, and a vehicle, including a communication unit, a storage unit, and a control unit, wherein the control unit receives, via the communication unit, information indicating a store where a user of the user terminal delivers a product and order information of the product from the user of the user terminal from the user terminal; determines whether the parking lot of the store where the product is to be delivered is full or the takeout area of the store is full; when it is determined that the parking lot of the store or the takeout area of the store is full, refers to the storage unit in which one or more candidates for the delivery destination of the product are stored in association with the store, and searches for one or more candidates for the delivery destination of the product; determines a delivery destination from the one or more candidates and presents the determined delivery destination to the user terminal or to the vehicle driven by the user of the user terminal via the communication unit; instructs, via the communication unit, the mobile body to transport the product to the determined delivery destination; An information processing apparatus that executes operations including the above.

2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the mobile body is an autonomous vehicle, An information processing apparatus including instructing, via the communication unit, the autonomous vehicle to transport the product to the determined delivery destination.

3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the operation includes presenting a plurality of candidates to the user terminal or to the vehicle driven by the user of the user terminal when there are a plurality of candidates for the delivery destination, and determining the delivery destination selected from the plurality of candidates as the delivery destination.

4. The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the candidate for the delivery destination includes either a parking lot different from the parking lot of the store or a place where roadside parking is possible.

5. The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein when the destination of the vehicle driven by the user of the user terminal is set to a place different from the store and the destination of the vehicle is within a predetermined distance from the current location of the vehicle, the candidate for the delivery destination includes the destination of the vehicle.

6. The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein The candidate for the delivery destination is an information processing device including a location that has been determined as a delivery destination in the past.

7. In the information processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, the operation includes presenting the delivery destination before the user of the user terminal arrives at the store, the information processing device.

8. A vehicle equipped with the information processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. In a computer as an information processing device capable of communicating with a user terminal, a mobile body, and a vehicle, receiving, via a communication means, information indicating a store where the user of the user terminal delivers a product and order information of the product from the user of the user terminal from the user terminal; determining whether the parking lot of the store where the product is delivered is full or the takeout area of the store is full; when it is determined that the parking lot of the store or the takeout area of the store is full, referring to a storage means in which one or more candidates for the delivery destination of the product are stored in association with the store, and searching for one or more candidates for the delivery destination of the product; determining a delivery destination from the one or more candidates and presenting the determined delivery destination to the user terminal or to the vehicle driven by the user of the user terminal via the communication means; instructing the mobile body to transport the product to the determined delivery destination via the communication means; A program for executing an operation including.

10. In the program according to claim 9, the mobile body is an autonomous vehicle, A program for executing an operation including instructing the autonomous vehicle to transport the product to the determined delivery destination via the communication means.

11. In the program according to claim 9 or 10, the operation includes presenting a plurality of candidates to the user terminal or to the vehicle driven by the user of the user terminal when there are a plurality of candidates for the delivery destination, and determining the delivery destination as the delivery destination selected from the plurality of candidates, the program.

12. In the program according to any one of claims 9 to 11, the candidate for the delivery destination includes either a parking lot different from the parking lot of the store or a place where roadside parking is possible, the program.

13. In the program according to any one of claims 9 to 12, When the destination of the vehicle driven by the user of the user terminal is set to a location different from the store and the destination of the vehicle is within a predetermined distance from the current location of the vehicle, the candidate for the delivery destination includes the destination of the vehicle. Program.

14. In the program according to any one of claims 9 to 13, The candidate for the delivery destination includes a place that has been determined as a delivery destination in the past. Program.

15. An information processing method by an information processing device capable of communicating with a user terminal, a mobile body, and a vehicle, Receiving, from the user terminal, information indicating a store where the user of the user terminal delivers a product and order information of the product from the user of the user terminal via a communication unit; Determining whether the parking lot of the store where the product is delivered is full or the takeout area of the store is full; When it is determined that the parking lot of the store or the takeout area of the store is full, referring to a storage unit in which one or more candidates for the delivery destination of the product are stored in association with the store, and searching for one or more candidates for the delivery destination of the product; Determining a delivery destination from the one or more candidates and presenting the determined delivery destination to the user terminal or the vehicle driven by the user of the user terminal via the communication unit; Instructing the mobile body to transport the product to the determined delivery destination via the communication unit; An information processing method including

16. In the information processing method according to claim 15, The mobile body is an autonomous vehicle, An information processing method including instructing the autonomous vehicle to transport the product to the determined delivery destination via the communication unit.

17. In the information processing method according to claim 15 or 16, When there are a plurality of candidates for the delivery destination, presenting the plurality of candidates to the user terminal or the vehicle driven by the user of the user terminal, and determining the delivery destination selected from the plurality of candidates as the delivery destination. Information processing method.

18. In the information processing method according to any one of claims 15 to 17, The candidate for the delivery destination includes either a parking lot different from the parking lot of the store or a place where on-road parking is possible. Information processing method.

19. In the information processing method according to any one of claims 15 to 18, An information processing method, wherein the destination of the vehicle driven by the user of the user terminal is set to a location different from the store, and when the destination of the vehicle is within a predetermined distance from the current location of the vehicle, the candidates for the destination include the destination of the vehicle.

20. In the information processing method according to any one of claims 15 to 19, An information processing method, wherein the candidates for the destination include locations that have been determined as destinations in the past.

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