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

Abstract

[Problem] Conventionally, it was impossible to collect and use gas information including gas use information related to use of an LPG cylinder. [Solution] Gas information including gas use information related to use of an LPG cylinder can be collected and used by the information processing device according to the present invention comprising: a gas information receiving unit that receives gas information associated with a cylinder identifier from a gas information transmitting device including a gas information storing unit that stores two or more pieces of gas information in association with time information specifying a time and a cylinder identifier, a terminal acquiring unit that acquires the gas information including gas use information of the LPG cylinder and corresponding to the cylinder identifier, and a terminal transmitting unit that transmits the gas information acquired by the terminal acquiring unit to the information processing device; a gas information accumulating unit that accumulates the gas information received by the gas information receiving unit in association with the time information and the cylinder identifier in the gas information storing unit; and a processing unit that performs predetermined processing using the two or more pieces of gas information in the gas information storing unit.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an information processing device that receives, accumulates, and utilizes gas information including information on the use of gas in one or more LPG cylinders.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, there has been a technology that can efficiently support maintenance management of propane gas meters, aggregation of meter reading data, sales operations, etc. in LPG sales stores, and contribute to reducing the labor and costs associated with these operations (see Patent Document 1).

[0003] Such a technology includes a first step of wirelessly collecting the meter reading values of gas meters at consumers in a portable terminal held by the meter reader, a second step of transmitting the collected meter reading values to an aggregation center via a network, a third step of aggregating the consumer meter reading values by sales store at the aggregation center, further creating sales data, and sending it to the sales store via a network, a communication line, or by mail, and a fourth step of performing processing related to fee collection such as issuing bills and receipts for each consumer at the aggregation center and sending sales performance data to the sales store.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] However, in the prior art, it has not been possible to easily collect and utilize gas information including appropriate information on the use of LPG cylinders.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The information system of the first invention is an information system including one or more gas information transmission devices and an information processing device. The gas information transmission device includes a terminal acquisition unit that acquires gas information which is information including gas usage information related to the use of gas in an LPG cylinder and is information corresponding to a customer identifier for identifying a customer, and a terminal transmission unit that transmits the gas information acquired by the terminal acquisition unit to the information processing device in association with the customer identifier. The information processing device includes a gas information storage unit that stores two or more pieces of gas information in association with time information for specifying time and a customer identifier, a gas information reception unit that receives the gas information associated with the customer identifier from the gas information transmission device, a gas information accumulation unit that accumulates the gas information received by the gas information reception unit in the gas information storage unit in association with the time information and the customer identifier, and a processing unit that performs a predetermined process using two or more pieces of gas information in the gas information storage unit. The information system includes the information processing device.

[0007] With such a configuration, gas information including gas usage information related to the use of an LPG cylinder can be collected and utilized.

[0008] Further, the information system of the second invention, with respect to the first invention, the gas information transmission device further includes a terminal storage unit that stores gas information at two or more time points, and a terminal accumulation unit that accumulates the gas information acquired by the terminal acquisition unit in the terminal storage unit. The terminal transmission unit is an information system that transmits the gas information at two or more time points in the terminal storage unit to the information processing device in association with the customer identifier when a predetermined condition is satisfied.

[0009] With such a configuration, by efficiently transmitting gas information, the power consumption of the power supply of the gas information transmission device can be suppressed.

[0010] Further, the information system of the third invention, with respect to the second invention, the terminal acquisition unit acquires gas information n (n is 2 or more) times a day at regular time intervals, and the terminal transmission unit is an information system that transmits the gas information at two or more time points in the terminal storage unit to the information processing device less than n times a day.

[0011] With such a configuration, by efficiently transmitting gas information, it is possible to suppress the power consumption of the power supply of the gas information transmission device.

[0012] Further, in the information system of the fourth invention, with respect to the third invention, the terminal acquisition unit acquires gas information every hour, and the terminal transmission unit transmits the gas information to the information processing device once a day.

[0013] With such a configuration, by efficiently transmitting gas information, it is possible to suppress the power consumption of the power supply of the gas information transmission device.

[0014] Further, in the information system of the fifth invention, with respect to any one of the first to fourth inventions, the gas information is information associated with a customer identifier for identifying a customer and date information indicating a date, and is an information system having gas usage information for specifying the gas usage amount per unit time.

[0015] With such a configuration, it is possible to collect and utilize gas information including gas usage information regarding the use of an LPG cylinder.

[0016] Further, in the information system of the sixth invention, with respect to any one of the first to fifth inventions, it is information regarding a cylinder to be delivered, and includes a delivery cylinder information storage unit that stores one or more delivery cylinder information corresponding to a customer identifier, a delivery cylinder information reception unit that receives the delivery cylinder information in association with the customer identifier, and a delivery cylinder information accumulation unit that accumulates the delivery cylinder information received by the delivery cylinder information reception unit in the delivery cylinder information storage unit in association with the customer identifier. The processing unit is an information system that performs predetermined processing using the delivery cylinder information stored in the delivery cylinder information storage unit.

[0017] With such a configuration, it is also possible to collect and utilize information on delivery cylinder information regarding the cylinder to be delivered.

[0018] Further, the information system of the seventh invention is an information system in which, for the sixth invention, the delivery cylinder information has cylinder type information that specifies the type of cylinder.

[0019] With such a configuration, information on delivery cylinder information having cylinder type information can also be collected and used.

[0020] Further, the information system of the eighth invention is an information system in which, for any one of the first to seventh inventions, a delivery vehicle position information storage unit that stores delivery vehicle position information for specifying the position of a delivery vehicle in association with a delivery vehicle identifier for identifying the delivery vehicle of the cylinder, a delivery vehicle position information receiving unit that receives the delivery vehicle position information in association with the delivery vehicle identifier from a delivery vehicle terminal that is a terminal of the delivery vehicle, and a delivery vehicle position information accumulation unit that accumulates the delivery vehicle position information received by the delivery vehicle position information receiving unit in the delivery vehicle position information storage unit in association with the delivery vehicle identifier are further provided, and the processing unit performs predetermined processing using the delivery vehicle position information stored in the delivery vehicle position information storage unit.

[0021] With such a configuration, the position information of the delivery vehicle can also be collected and used.

[0022] Further, the information system of the ninth invention is an information system in which, for any one of the first to eighth inventions, a weather information storage unit that stores weather information related to the weather in association with date information, a weather information reception unit that receives the weather information, and a weather information accumulation unit that accumulates the weather information in the weather information storage unit in association with the date information are further provided, and the processing unit performs predetermined processing using the weather information stored in the weather information storage unit.

[0023] With such a configuration, weather information can also be acquired and used.

[0024] In addition, for the information system of the tenth invention, for any one of the first to ninth inventions, the gas information in the gas information storage unit is associated with a customer identifier, has gas remaining amount information regarding the remaining amount of gas, and is information indicating that a gas cylinder has been replaced. The information system further includes a gas cylinder replacement information receiving unit that receives gas cylinder replacement information paired with customer identification, and a gas cylinder replacement information storage unit that, when the gas cylinder replacement information receiving unit receives the gas cylinder replacement information, updates the gas remaining amount information included in the gas information paired with the customer identifier to information specifying that the remaining amount of gas is full.

[0025] With such a configuration, when the gas cylinder is replaced, the gas cylinder replacement information can be received and utilized.

[0026] In addition, the information processing apparatus of the eleventh invention includes a gas information storage unit in which two or more pieces of gas information are stored, associated with time information for specifying time and a customer identifier, a terminal acquisition unit that acquires gas information including gas usage information regarding the use of gas in an LPG gas cylinder and that is information corresponding to the customer identifier, and a terminal transmission unit that transmits the gas information acquired by the terminal acquisition unit to the information processing apparatus. The information processing apparatus further includes a gas information receiving unit that receives the gas information associated with the customer identifier from the gas information transmission apparatus, a gas information storage unit that stores the gas information received by the gas information receiving unit in association with the time information and the customer identifier, and a processing unit that performs predetermined processing using two or more pieces of gas information in the gas information storage unit.

[0027] With such a configuration, gas information including gas usage information regarding the use of an LPG gas cylinder can be collected and utilized.

[0028] Further, the information processing apparatus according to the twelfth invention, compared with the eleventh invention, in the gas information storage unit, two or more gas information items including gas usage information at two or more time points related to the use of gas in an LPG cylinder are stored in association with a customer identifier, and further includes a customer identifier reception unit that receives a customer identifier. The processing unit includes: a gas usage information acquisition unit that acquires, from the gas information storage unit, gas usage information at two or more time points that pairs with the customer identifier received by the customer identifier reception unit; a scheduled date prediction unit that uses the gas usage information at two or more time points acquired by the gas usage information acquisition unit to acquire scheduled date information regarding a scheduled delivery date on which the gas in the cylinder becomes less than or equal to a predetermined condition; and a scheduled date output unit that outputs the scheduled date information acquired by the scheduled date prediction unit.

[0029] With such a configuration, gas information including gas usage information related to the use of an LPG cylinder can be collected, and delivery date prediction processing can be performed.

[0030] Further, the information processing apparatus according to the thirteenth invention, compared with the twelfth invention, further includes a customer information storage unit in which one or more pieces of customer information having LPG cylinder information associated with a customer identifier and having cylinder amount information related to the amount of the LPG cylinder of the customer identified by the customer identifier are stored. The scheduled date prediction unit includes: a usage amount value calculation formula acquisition means that acquires a usage amount value calculation formula, which is an arithmetic formula for calculating information regarding the usage amount of gas, using the gas usage information at two or more time points acquired by the gas usage information acquisition unit; and a scheduled date prediction means that acquires the LPG cylinder information that pairs with the customer identifier received by the customer identifier reception unit from the customer information storage unit, and uses the LPG cylinder information and the usage amount value calculation formula acquired by the usage amount value calculation formula acquisition means to acquire the scheduled date information.

[0031] With such a configuration, the delivery date of gas to a customer can be predicted with high accuracy.

[0032] Further, the information processing apparatus of the fourteenth invention further includes a weather information receiving unit that receives weather information related to the weather for the twelfth or thirteenth invention, and the scheduled date prediction unit uses the gas usage information at two or more time points acquired by the gas usage information acquisition unit and the weather information received by the weather information receiving unit to obtain scheduled date information.

[0033] With such a configuration, it is possible to predict the delivery date of gas to customers using weather information as well.

[0034] Further, the information processing apparatus of the fifteenth invention, with respect to the fourteenth invention, the scheduled date prediction unit uses the gas usage information at two or more time points acquired by the gas usage information acquisition unit to obtain scheduled date information regarding the scheduled delivery date, which is the date when the gas in the cylinder becomes less than a predetermined condition, and when the weather information received by the weather information receiving unit indicates that it is warm enough to satisfy a predetermined condition, or when it is cold enough to satisfy a predetermined condition, the scheduled date information is corrected so as to delay or advance the scheduled delivery date specified by the scheduled date information, and the information processing apparatus outputs the obtained scheduled date information.

[0035] With such a configuration, it is possible to accurately predict the delivery date of gas to customers using weather information as well.

[0036] Further, the information processing apparatus of the sixteenth invention further includes a customer information storage unit that stores one or more pieces of customer information having a customer identifier and customer position information that specifies the position of a customer identified by the customer identifier, a delivery cylinder information storage unit that stores one or more pieces of delivery cylinder information, which is information regarding cylinders to be delivered by a delivery vehicle, in association with a delivery vehicle identifier that identifies the delivery vehicle, a delivery vehicle position information storage unit that stores delivery vehicle position information that specifies the position of the delivery vehicle in association with the delivery vehicle identifier, and a customer identifier reception unit that receives a customer identifier that identifies a customer whose remaining gas is less than or equal to a predetermined condition. The processing unit includes a customer information position information acquisition unit that acquires, from the customer information storage unit, the customer position information that pairs with the customer identifier received by the customer identifier reception unit, a delivery vehicle determination unit that determines a delivery vehicle responsible for delivery using the customer position information acquired by the customer information position information acquisition unit, a set of the delivery vehicle position information and the delivery cylinder information that pair with the same delivery vehicle identifier, and a customer information transmission unit that transmits customer information that pairs with the customer identifier to the delivery vehicle terminal of the delivery vehicle determined by the delivery vehicle determination unit.

[0037] With such a configuration, gas information including gas usage information regarding the use of LPG cylinders can be collected, and delivery control processing can be performed.

[0038] Further, in the information processing apparatus of the seventeenth invention, with respect to the sixteenth invention, the delivery cylinder information includes cylinder type information that specifies the type of the cylinder, the customer information includes cylinder type information that specifies the type of the cylinder used by the customer, and the delivery vehicle determination unit determines a delivery vehicle responsible for delivery using the number of cylinders information that specifies the number of cylinders acquired using the delivery cylinder information that pairs with the delivery vehicle identifier, the cylinder type information, the cylinder type information included in the customer information, the customer position information, and the delivery vehicle position information that pairs with the delivery vehicle identifier.

[0039] With such a configuration, delivery of LPG cylinders to customers in the case of gas shortage or the like can be performed more efficiently.

[0040] Further, in the information processing apparatus of the eighteenth invention, with respect to the seventeenth invention, the delivery vehicle determination unit uses the cylinder quantity information and cylinder type information obtained using the cylinder information paired with the delivery vehicle identifier, and the cylinder quantity information and cylinder type information satisfy the cylinder conditions, which are the conditions regarding the cylinder quantity information and cylinder type information that the customer information has, and the delivery vehicle determination unit determines a delivery vehicle corresponding to the delivery vehicle position information that satisfies the position condition regarding the distance between the position specified by the customer position information and the position specified by the delivery vehicle position information.

[0041] With such a configuration, the delivery of LPG cylinders to customers in the event of a gas shortage or the like can be made more efficient.

[0042] Further, in the information processing apparatus of the nineteenth invention, with respect to the eighteenth invention, the delivery vehicle determination unit determines a delivery vehicle corresponding to the delivery vehicle position information that satisfies the cylinder conditions and the position condition that the distance between the position specified by the customer position information and the position specified by the delivery vehicle position information is the shortest.

[0043] With such a configuration, the delivery of LPG cylinders to customers in the event of a gas shortage or the like can be made more efficient.

[0044] Further, in the information processing apparatus of the twentieth invention, with respect to any one of the sixteenth to nineteenth inventions, the information processing apparatus further includes a delivery list storage unit that stores a delivery list, which is delivery destination information for two or more delivery destinations regarding gas cylinders, in association with a delivery vehicle identifier, and a delivery list update unit that acquires the delivery list corresponding to the delivery vehicle determined by the delivery vehicle determination unit and adds at least some of the information of the customer information paired with the customer identifier to the delivery list to obtain an updated delivery list. The customer information transmission unit transmits the delivery list updated by the delivery list update unit to the delivery vehicle terminal of the delivery vehicle determined by the delivery vehicle determination unit.

[0045] With such a configuration, the delivery of LPG cylinders to customers in the event of a gas shortage or the like can be made more efficient.

[0046] In addition, the information processing apparatus of the twenty-first invention further includes a gas information storage unit that stores two or more pieces of gas information including gas usage information of two or more households, and a weather information reception unit that receives weather information associated with time information for specifying time. The processing unit includes a price information acquisition unit that acquires price information for specifying the price of LPG per unit amount at the time specified by the time information using the gas usage information of two or more households and the weather information, and a price information output unit that outputs the price information acquired by the price information acquisition unit.

[0047] With such a configuration, the price of LPG can be determined using the gas usage information and the weather information.

[0048] In addition, the information processing apparatus of the twenty-second invention, with respect to the twenty-first invention, the price information acquisition unit includes a demand prediction means for acquiring a predicted demand amount, which is the future demand amount of LPG, using the gas usage information of two or more households, and a price information acquisition means for acquiring price information for each of one or more days using the predicted demand amount acquired by the demand prediction means and the weather information.

[0049] With such a configuration, the price of LPG can be determined using the gas usage information and the weather information.

[0050] In addition, the information processing apparatus of the twenty-third invention, with respect to the twenty-first or twenty-second invention, further includes a related information storage unit that stores one or more pieces of related information among gas price information regarding the price of gas, exchange rate information regarding the exchange rate, and operation status information regarding the operation status of a gas tanker. The price information acquisition unit is an information processing apparatus that acquires price information for each of one or more days at a predetermined period in the future using the gas usage information of two or more households, the weather information, and one or more pieces of related information.

[0051] With such a configuration, the price of LPG can be determined using the related information.

[0052] In addition, the information processing apparatus according to the twenty-fourth invention, with respect to the twenty-third invention, the price information acquisition unit acquires price information at a higher price as the price specified by the gas price information is higher, or when the exchange rate information indicates a stronger yen, acquires price information at a higher price compared to the case of a weaker yen, or when the operation status information indicates no problems, acquires price information at a lower price compared to the case of indicating some problems.

[0053] With such a configuration, the price of LPG can be appropriately determined using related information.

[0054] In addition, the server apparatus according to the twenty-fifth invention, with respect to any one of the twenty-first to twenty-fourth inventions, includes a server storage unit that stores price information output by the information processing apparatus, a server output unit that outputs the price information stored in the server storage unit, a server reception unit that receives a purchase instruction corresponding to the price information output by the server output unit and includes a user identifier and quantity information that specifies the quantity, and a server processing unit that performs a futures trading process for reserving the purchase of LPG at the price specified by the price information and in the quantity specified by the quantity information in response to the purchase instruction.

[0055] With such a configuration, a server that performs a futures trading process can be provided.

[0056] In addition, the server apparatus according to the twenty-sixth invention, with respect to the twenty-fifth invention, the server processing unit includes a futures trading means that performs a futures trading process for reserving the purchase of LPG at the price specified by the price information stored in the server storage unit and in the quantity specified by the quantity information in response to the purchase instruction, a price change means that, when the purchase instruction is received, acquires price information obtained by changing the price information stored in the server storage unit and accumulates the price information in the server storage unit, and the server output unit is a server apparatus that outputs the price information changed by the price information acquisition means.

[0057] With such a configuration, a server that performs an appropriate futures trading process can be provided.

[0058] Further, the information processing apparatus according to the twenty-seventh invention, with respect to the eleventh invention, is gas usage information for two or more days, associated with a customer identifier for identifying a customer, and includes a gas information storage unit that stores two or more pieces of gas information associated with time information for specifying time, and further includes a customer identifier reception unit that receives a customer identifier. The processing unit includes a gas usage information acquisition unit that acquires, from the gas information storage unit, gas usage information at two or more time points that pairs with the customer identifier received by the customer identifier reception unit, a stay information acquisition unit that acquires stay information regarding whether or not the household identified by the customer identifier received by the customer identifier reception unit is at home, using the gas usage information at two or more time points acquired by the gas usage information acquisition unit, and a stay information output unit that outputs the stay information acquired by the stay information acquisition unit.

[0059] With such a configuration, the staying situation of residents can be grasped from the gas usage situation.

[0060] Further, the information processing apparatus according to the twenty-eighth invention, with respect to the twenty-seventh invention, the stay information acquisition unit is an information processing apparatus that acquires stay information, which is a stay score regarding the degree of being at home, according to the amount of gas usage indicated by the gas usage information per unit time for two or more days, using the gas usage information at two or more time points acquired by the gas usage information acquisition unit.

[0061] With such a configuration, the staying situation of residents can be grasped from the gas usage situation.

[0062] Further, the information processing apparatus according to the twenty-ninth invention, with respect to the twenty-eighth invention, the gas usage information acquisition unit acquires, from the gas information storage unit, target gas usage information that is gas usage information for each target period for outputting stay information that is a day of the week, or a time zone, or a day of the week and a time zone, which is gas usage information that pairs with the customer identifier received by the customer identifier reception unit. The stay information acquisition unit is an information processing apparatus that acquires stay information, which is the staying probability of the residents for each target period, using the target gas usage information acquired by the gas usage information acquisition unit.

[0063] With such a configuration, the occupancy status of residents can be precisely grasped from the usage status of LPG.

[0064] In addition, the information processing apparatus according to the thirtieth invention, with respect to the twenty-seventh invention, the at-home information acquisition unit uses the gas usage information at two or more time points acquired by the gas usage information acquisition unit, and determines that there is a time period in the residence where the amount of gas indicated by the gas usage information for each of two or more days is as large as to satisfy a predetermined condition, and determines that there is no time period in the residence where the amount of gas is as large as to satisfy the predetermined condition, and acquires at-home information which is the occupancy determination result of the determination result.

[0065] With such a configuration, the occupancy status of residents can be grasped accurately and in detail from the usage status of LPG.

[0066] In addition, the information processing apparatus according to the thirty-first invention, with respect to any one of the twenty-seventh to thirtieth inventions, the gas information storage unit stores two or more pieces of gas information including gas usage information by day of the week and by time period, and the at-home information acquisition unit acquires at-home information by day of the week and by time period using the gas usage information by day of the week and by time period, and the at-home information output unit outputs the at-home information by day of the week and by time period.

[0067] With such a configuration, the occupancy status of residents can be grasped accurately and in detail from the usage status of LPG.

[0068] In addition, the information processing apparatus according to the thirty-second invention, with respect to the eleventh invention, further includes a gas information storage unit that stores two or more pieces of gas information including time-series gas usage information related to gas usage, and an electric information storage unit that stores two or more pieces of electric information including time-series electric usage information related to electric usage, and the processing unit includes an energy proposal information acquisition unit that acquires energy proposal information indicating a proposal regarding the energy to be used using the time-series gas usage information and the time-series electric usage information, and an energy proposal information output unit that outputs the energy proposal information acquired by the energy proposal information acquisition unit.

[0069] With such a configuration, an energy consumption plan can be proposed using the usage status of gases such as LPG and the usage status of electricity.

[0070] Further, the information processing apparatus of the thirty-third invention further includes a weather information acquisition unit that acquires weather information regarding the weather with respect to the thirty-second invention, and the energy proposal information acquisition unit uses the weather information acquired by the weather information acquisition unit, the time-series gas usage information, and the time-series electricity usage information to acquire energy proposal information indicating a proposal regarding energy.

[0071] With such a configuration, an energy consumption plan can be proposed using the usage status of gases such as LPG, the usage status of electricity, and weather information.

[0072] Further, the information processing apparatus of the thirty-fourth invention further includes a unit charge information storage unit that stores two or more unit charge information for specifying the charge per unit amount of two or more types of energy, including unit gas charge information for specifying the gas charge per unit amount and unit electricity charge information for specifying the electricity charge per unit amount, with respect to the thirty-second or thirty-third invention. The energy proposal information acquisition unit includes a gas charge information acquisition means for acquiring gas charge information for specifying the charge for gas usage using the time-series gas usage information and the unit gas charge information, an electricity charge information acquisition means for acquiring electricity charge information for specifying the charge for electricity usage using the time-series electricity usage information and the unit electricity charge information, and a medium identifier acquisition means for acquiring a medium identifier for specifying the cheapest energy among two or more types of energy using the gas charge information and the electricity charge information. The energy proposal information output unit is an information processing apparatus that outputs the medium identifier acquired by the medium identifier acquisition means.

[0073] With such a configuration, a proposal for energy medium selection can be made using the usage status of gases such as LPG and the usage status of electricity.

[0074] Further, the information processing apparatus of the thirty-fifth invention, with respect to the thirty-fourth invention, stores in the unit charge information storage unit time-zone unit charge information, which is information from which the unit charges for two or more types of energy including gas and electricity can be obtained for each time zone. The gas charge information acquisition means acquires time-zone gas charge information using the time-zone gas usage information and the time-zone unit gas charge information. The electricity charge information acquisition means acquires time-zone electricity charge information using the time-zone electricity usage information and the time-zone unit electricity charge information. The medium identifier acquisition means acquires, for each time zone, a medium identifier that identifies the cheapest energy among two or more types of energy using the gas charge information for the corresponding time zone and the electricity charge information for the corresponding time zone. The energy proposal information output unit is an information processing apparatus that outputs the medium identifier for each time zone acquired by the medium identifier acquisition means.

[0075] With such a configuration, it is possible to propose a medium selection for energy for each time zone using the usage status of gas such as LPG and the usage status of electricity.

[0076] Furthermore, the information processing apparatus of the thirty-sixth invention, with respect to the thirty-fifth invention, further includes a control unit that performs processing for using the energy corresponding to the received medium identifier among two or more types of energy including gas and electricity. When the medium identifier for one time zone acquired by the medium identifier acquisition means is different from the medium identifier for the immediately preceding time zone, the energy proposal information output unit passes the medium identifier for the one time zone to the control unit when the one time zone arrives. The control unit is an information processing apparatus that performs processing for using the energy corresponding to the medium identifier received from the energy proposal information output unit.

[0077] With such a configuration, it is possible to control the medium of energy for each time zone using the usage status of gas such as LPG and the usage status of electricity.

[0078] In addition, the information processing apparatus of the thirty-seventh invention further includes a unit charge information storage unit that stores unit charge information for two or more types of energy, including unit gas charge information that specifies the gas charge per unit quantity and unit electricity charge information that specifies the electricity charge per unit quantity, for the invention of the thirty-second or thirty-third invention. The apparatus also includes an appliance information storage unit that stores two or more pieces of appliance information having an appliance identifier that identifies an appliance and performance information that specifies the performance of the appliance. The energy proposal information acquisition unit includes an appliance identifier acquisition means that acquires an appliance identifier corresponding to the lowest-cost energy using the time-series gas usage information, the time-series electricity usage information, and the performance information of the appliance information. The energy proposal information output unit is an information processing apparatus that outputs the appliance identifier acquired by the appliance identifier acquisition means.

[0079] With such a configuration, it is possible to propose a selection of an energy appliance using the usage status of gas such as LPG and the usage status of electricity.

[0080] In addition, for the thirty-eighth invention, the information processing apparatus, with respect to the thirty-seventh invention, has a unit charge information storage unit that stores time-band specific unit charge information, which is information that enables acquisition of the unit charge for two or more types of energy, including gas and electricity, for each time band. The energy proposal information acquisition unit includes an appliance identifier acquisition means that acquires, for each time band, an appliance identifier corresponding to the lowest-cost energy using the gas usage information for each time band, the electricity usage information for each time band, the time-band specific unit charge information, and the performance information of the appliance information.

[0081] With such a configuration, it is possible to propose a selection of an energy appliance for each time band using the usage status of gas such as LPG and the usage status of electricity.

[0082] Further, the information processing apparatus of the thirty-ninth invention further includes a control unit that performs processing for using an energy appliance corresponding to the received appliance identifier among two or more types of energy including gas and electricity with respect to the thirty-eighth invention. When the appliance identifier in one time period acquired by the energy proposal information acquisition unit is different from the appliance identifier in the immediately preceding time period, the energy proposal information output unit passes the appliance identifier in the one time period to the control unit when the one time period arrives. The control unit is an information processing apparatus that performs processing for using the appliance identifier received from the energy proposal information output unit.

[0083] With such a configuration, control of energy appliances by time period can be performed using the usage status of gas such as LPG and the usage status of electricity.

[0084] Further, the information processing apparatus of the fortieth invention includes, with respect to the thirty-second or thirty-third invention, a corporate information storage unit that stores two or more pieces of corporate information having a corporate identifier for identifying a company that provides energy and a media identifier for specifying the type of energy provided by the company, a unit price information storage unit that stores two or more pieces of unit price information associated with the corporate identifier, and the energy proposal information acquisition unit includes a corporate identifier acquisition means for acquiring the corporate identifier of the company that provides the lowest-cost energy among the companies that provide energy using time-series gas usage information, time-series electricity usage information, corporate information, and unit price information. The energy proposal information output unit is an information processing apparatus that outputs the corporate identifier acquired by the corporate identifier acquisition means.

[0085] With such a configuration, it is possible to propose a selection of an energy company using the usage status of gas such as LPG and the usage status of electricity.

[0086] Further, the information processing apparatus of the forty-first invention, with respect to the fortieth invention, stores in the unit charge information storage unit time-zone unit charge information, which is information that can acquire the unit charge for each time zone and is associated with two or more enterprise identifiers. The energy proposal information acquisition unit is an information processing apparatus comprising enterprise identifier acquisition means for acquiring the enterprise identifier corresponding to the enterprise with the lowest price using the gas usage information for each time zone, the electricity usage information for each time zone, and the time-zone unit charge information.

[0087] With such a configuration, it is possible to propose a selection of energy companies for each time zone using the usage status of gas such as LPG and the usage status of electricity.

[0088] Further, the information processing apparatus of the forty-second invention, with respect to the forty-first invention, further comprises a control unit that performs processing for using the energy corresponding to the received enterprise identifier. The energy proposal information output unit passes the enterprise identifier for one time zone acquired by the enterprise identifier acquisition means to the control unit when the enterprise identifier for one time zone becomes the current time zone and is different from the enterprise identifier for the immediately preceding time zone. The control unit is an information processing apparatus that performs processing for using the energy corresponding to the enterprise identifier received from the energy proposal information output unit.

[0089] With such a configuration, it is possible to control energy companies for each time zone using the usage status of gas such as LPG and the usage status of electricity.

[0090] Further, the information processing apparatus of the forty-third invention, with respect to the invention <with no dependency>, further comprises a reception unit that receives a customer identifier for identifying a customer. The processing unit comprises a gas information acquisition unit that acquires gas information having gas usage information related to gas usage and associated with the same customer identifier as the customer identifier received by the reception unit, a credit information acquisition unit that acquires credit information for specifying the creditworthiness of the household identified by the customer identifier received by the reception unit using the gas information acquired by the gas information acquisition unit, and a credit information output unit that outputs the credit information acquired by the credit information acquisition unit. The information processing apparatus according to claim 11.

[0091] With such a configuration, it is possible to obtain the creditworthiness of a household by using information related to gas usage.

[0092] Further, the information processing apparatus of the forty-fourth invention, with respect to the forty-third invention, the gas usage information includes gas usage amount classification information that specifies the amount of gas usage cost, and the gas information, in addition to the gas usage amount classification information, has one or more pieces of information among gas supply classification information that specifies the type of gas supplied, gas payment classification information that specifies the payment means for the gas cost, and housing classification information that specifies the type of the customer's residence.

[0093] With such a configuration, it is possible to obtain the creditworthiness of a household by using appropriate information related to gas usage.

[0094] Further, the information processing apparatus of the forty-fifth invention, with respect to the forty-third or forty-fourth invention, the processing unit further includes an electric customer information acquisition unit that acquires electric customer information related to the use of electricity associated with the same customer identifier as the customer identifier received by the reception unit, and the creditworthiness information acquisition unit is an information processing apparatus that acquires creditworthiness information by also using the electric customer information.

[0095] With such a configuration, it is possible to obtain the creditworthiness of a household by also using information related to the use of electricity.

[0096] Further, the information processing apparatus of the forty-sixth invention, with respect to the forty-fifth invention, the electric customer information has one or more pieces of information among electric supply classification information that specifies the type of electricity supplied, electric payment classification information that specifies the payment means for the electricity cost, housing classification information that specifies the type of the customer's residence, and electric usage amount classification information that specifies the amount of electric usage cost.

[0097] With such a configuration, it is possible to obtain the creditworthiness of a household by also using information related to the use of electricity.

[0098] In addition, for the information processing apparatus according to the forty-seventh invention, with respect to any one of the forty-third to forty-sixth inventions, the processing unit further includes a water customer information acquisition unit that acquires water customer information related to the use of water, which is associated with the same customer identifier as the customer identifier received by the reception unit, and the credit information acquisition unit is an information processing apparatus that acquires credit information using the water customer information as well.

[0099] With such a configuration, it is possible to acquire the household creditworthiness using information related to the use of water as well.

[0100] In addition, for the information processing apparatus according to the forty-eighth invention, with respect to the forty-seventh invention, the water customer information is an information processing apparatus having one or more pieces of information among water supply classification information for specifying the type of water supplied, water payment classification information for specifying the payment means of the water bill, housing classification information for specifying the type of the customer's residence, and water usage fee classification information for specifying the amount of the water usage fee.

[0101] With such a configuration, it is possible to acquire the household creditworthiness using appropriate information related to the use of water as well.

[0102] In addition, for the information processing apparatus according to the forty-ninth invention, with respect to any one of the forty-third to forty-eighth inventions, the processing unit further includes a bank customer information acquisition unit that acquires bank customer information related to a bank account, which is associated with a personal identifier paired with the same customer identifier as the customer identifier received by the reception unit, and the credit information acquisition unit is an information processing apparatus that acquires credit information using the bank customer information as well.

[0103] With such a configuration, it is possible to acquire the household creditworthiness using information related to the bank account as well.

[0104] In addition, for the information processing apparatus according to the fiftieth invention, with respect to the forty-ninth invention, the bank customer information acquisition unit acquires two or more pieces of bank customer information associated with two or more personal identifiers paired with the same customer identifier as the customer identifier received by the reception unit, and the credit information acquisition unit is an information processing apparatus that acquires credit information using the two or more pieces of bank customer information as well.

[0105] With such a configuration, it is possible to obtain the creditworthiness of a household by using information of a plurality of families related to a bank account.

[0106] Further, the information processing apparatus of the fifty-first invention is an information processing apparatus having, with respect to the forty-ninth or fiftieth invention, at least one piece of information among the amount of deposits and withdrawals with respect to a bank account, the balance of the deposit, housing classification information specifying the type of the customer's residence, the presence or absence of a credit card, and the presence or absence of a safe deposit box, for the bank customer information.

[0107] With such a configuration, it is possible to obtain the creditworthiness of a household by using appropriate information related to a bank account.

[0108] Further, the information processing apparatus of the fifty-second invention is an information processing apparatus having, with respect to any one of the inventions from the forty-third to the fifty-first, a mobile customer information acquisition unit that acquires mobile customer information related to the use of a mobile device, which is associated with a personal identifier paired with the same customer identifier as the customer identifier received by the reception unit, and the creditworthiness information acquisition unit acquires creditworthiness information by using the mobile customer information.

[0109] With such a configuration, it is possible to obtain the creditworthiness of a household by using information related to the use of a mobile device.

[0110] Further, the information processing apparatus of the fifty-third invention is an information processing apparatus having, with respect to the fifty-second invention, the mobile customer information acquisition unit acquires two or more pieces of mobile customer information associated with two or more personal identifiers paired with the same customer identifier as the customer identifier received by the reception unit, and the creditworthiness information acquisition unit acquires creditworthiness information by using the two or more pieces of mobile customer information.

[0111] With such a configuration, it is possible to obtain the creditworthiness of a household by using information of a plurality of families related to the use of a mobile device.

[0112] Further, the information processing apparatus of the fifty-fourth invention is an information processing apparatus that, with respect to the fifty-second or fifty-third invention, has mobile customer information including one or more pieces of information among the payment history of mobile charges and the usage status of the mobile device.

[0113] With such a configuration, it is possible to obtain the creditworthiness of a household by also using appropriate information regarding the use of the mobile device.

Advantages of the Invention

[0114] According to the information system of the present invention, gas information including gas usage information regarding the use of an LPG cylinder can be easily collected and utilized.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0115]

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Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0116] Hereinafter, embodiments of an information system and the like will be described with reference to the drawings. In the embodiments, components denoted by the same reference numerals perform the same operations, so the description may be omitted again.

[0117] (Embodiment 1) In the present embodiment, an information system including one or more gas information transmission devices that acquire and transmit gas information including information on the use of gas in one or more LPG cylinders and an information processing device will be described.

[0118] In addition, in the present embodiment, an information system including a gas information transmission device that collectively transmits two or more pieces of gas information at once will be described. The gas information transmission device acquires the gas usage information described later, for example, once an hour, and transmits the gas usage information for one day to the information processing device once a day. Further, the gas information transmission device may acquire the gas usage information described later, for example, once an hour, and transmit the gas usage information for one day to the information processing device in two or more divided times a day.

[0119] Furthermore, in the present embodiment, an information system including an information processing device that also receives the delivery cylinder information described later, the delivery vehicle position information described later, the weather information described later, and the cylinder replacement information described later will be described.

[0120] Figure 1 is a conceptual diagram of the information system A in the present embodiment. The information system A includes one or more gas information transmission devices A1, an information processing device A2, one or more delivery person terminals A3, and one or more facility terminals A4.

[0121] The gas information transmission device A1 is a device that acquires gas information including gas usage information and transmits it to the information processing device A2. The gas information transmission device A1 only needs to have a communication function, and its type is not limited.

[0122] The information processing device A2 is a server device that receives and stores information such as gas information. The information such as gas information may be only gas information, or may be one or more pieces of information among the delivery cylinder information, the delivery vehicle position information, the cylinder replacement information, and the weather information described later in addition to the gas information. The information processing device A2 can be realized by a so-called cloud server or an ASP server, and its type is not limited.

[0123] The delivery person terminal A3 is a terminal used by the delivery person. However, the delivery person terminal A3 may be a terminal mounted on a delivery vehicle. The delivery person terminal A3 is, for example, a smartphone, a tablet terminal, a so-called personal computer, etc., and its type is not limited. The delivery person terminal A3 has a communication function.

[0124] The facility terminal A4 is a terminal existing in the facility. The facility terminal A4 is, for example, a smartphone, a tablet terminal, a so-called personal computer, etc., and its type is not limited. The facility terminal A4 has a communication function. Here, the facility is, for example, a factory or a depot. The factory is a facility for filling gas cylinders with gas. The depot is a facility where gas cylinders are placed.

[0125] Figure 2 is a block diagram of the information system A in the present embodiment. Figure 3 is a block diagram of the information processing device A2 that constitutes the information system A.

[0126] The gas information transmission device A1 includes a terminal storage unit A10, a terminal processing unit A11, and a terminal transmission unit A12. The terminal processing unit A11 includes a terminal acquisition unit A111 and a terminal storage unit A112.

[0127] The information processing device A2 includes a storage unit A21, a reception unit A22, a processing unit A23, and an output unit A24. The storage unit A21 includes a customer information storage unit A211, a gas information storage unit A212, a delivery cylinder information storage unit A213, a delivery vehicle position information storage unit A214, and a weather information storage unit A215. The reception unit A22 includes a gas information reception unit A221, a delivery cylinder information reception unit A222, a delivery vehicle position information reception unit A223, a weather information reception unit A224, and a cylinder replacement information reception unit A225. The processing unit A23 includes a gas information storage unit A231, a delivery cylinder information storage unit A232, a delivery vehicle position information storage unit A233, a weather information storage unit A234, and a cylinder replacement information storage unit A235. The output unit A24 includes a processing result output unit A241.

[0128] The delivery person terminal A3 includes a delivery person storage unit A31, a delivery person reception unit A32, a delivery person processing unit A33, a delivery person transmission unit A34, a delivery person reception unit A35, and a delivery person output unit A36.

[0129] The facility terminal A4 includes a facility storage unit A41, a facility reception unit A42, a facility processing unit A43, a facility transmission unit A44, a facility reception unit A45, and a facility output unit A46.

[0130] Various types of information are stored in the terminal storage unit A10 that constitutes the gas information transmission device A1. The various types of information are, for example, gas information, a customer identifier for identifying a customer, a cylinder identifier for identifying a cylinder, and time information for specifying time. The time information is, for example, date information for specifying a date, time information for specifying a date and time, and time zone information for specifying a time zone. When the time information is time information, it may be considered that the time information includes the date information.

[0131] The terminal storage unit A10 stores gas information at two or more time points. The gas information is information associated with, for example, a cylinder identifier, a customer identifier for identifying a customer, and date information indicating a date. The gas information is associated with, for example, time information. The gas information has, for example, gas usage information. The gas usage information is information regarding the used gas. The gas usage information has, for example, one or more pieces of information among gas utilization information per unit time and gas meter reading value information. The gas utilization information per unit time is information for specifying the gas utilization amount per unit time. The gas utilization information per unit time is, for example, information for specifying the gas utilization amount per hour. The gas meter reading value information is, for example, information for specifying the gas meter reading value. The gas meter reading value information is, for example, information for specifying the gas meter reading value per hour.

[0132] The gas information in the terminal storage unit A10 is usually information accumulated by the terminal storage unit A112.

[0133] The terminal processing unit A11 performs various processes. The various processes are, for example, processes performed by the terminal acquisition unit A111 and the terminal storage unit A112. The various processes are, for example, a process of deleting the transmitted gas information from the terminal storage unit A10.

[0134] The terminal acquisition unit A111 acquires gas information that is information including gas usage information regarding the use of gas in an LPG cylinder and is information corresponding to a cylinder identifier for identifying the LPG cylinder. The terminal acquisition unit A111 acquires, for example, information from a gas meter. The terminal acquisition unit A111 acquires, for example, the meter reading value obtained from the gas meter, and calculates gas usage information that is the difference between the previous meter reading value and the current meter reading value and specifies the gas utilization amount per unit time.

[0135] It is preferable that the terminal acquisition unit A111 acquires gas usage information every unit time n (n is 2 or more) times a day. Also, it is preferable that the terminal acquisition unit A111 acquires gas usage information every hour.

[0136] The terminal acquisition unit A111 preferably acquires time information from a clock (not shown) and associates the time information with the acquired gas usage information. Note that the clock (not shown) may be present in the gas information transmission device A1 or may be a clock of an external device such as an NTP server.

[0137] The terminal storage unit A112 stores the gas information acquired by the terminal acquisition unit A111 in the terminal storage unit A10. The terminal storage unit A112 preferably stores the gas information acquired by the terminal acquisition unit A111 in the terminal storage unit A10 every unit time. Note that the unit time is, for example, 1 hour, 30 minutes, 2 hours, etc. Further, the terminal storage unit A112 preferably stores the gas information acquired by the terminal acquisition unit A111 in the terminal storage unit A10 in association with one or more pieces of information among the customer identifier, the cylinder identifier, and the time information.

[0138] The terminal transmission unit A12 transmits the gas information acquired by the terminal acquisition unit A111 to the information processing device A2. The gas information acquired by the terminal acquisition unit A111 may be the gas information stored in the terminal storage unit A10.

[0139] The terminal transmission unit A12 transmits, for example, the gas information acquired by the terminal acquisition unit A111 to the information processing device A2 in association with one or more identifiers. The one or more identifiers are, for example, one or more of the customer identifier and the cylinder identifier.

[0140] The terminal transmission unit A12 preferably transmits the gas information at two or more time points in the terminal storage unit A10 to the information processing device A2 when a predetermined condition is satisfied. The predetermined condition is, for example, reaching a predetermined time, storing a predetermined number of gas information in the terminal storage unit A10, etc. Further, transmitting in association with a cylinder identifier or the like means, for example, transmitting together with the cylinder identifier or the like, but the method of associating the information is not limited. Note that the cylinder identifier is usually stored in the terminal storage unit A10. Also, when the cylinder to be used is changed, it is preferable that the cylinder identifier of the cylinder is automatically stored in the terminal storage unit A10.

[0141] Here, the transmission of gas information at two or more time points means that two or more pairs of gas information and time information may be transmitted, or two or more pieces of gas information arranged in time series may be transmitted.

[0142] Also, the transmission of gas information for one day means that 24 pairs of gas information and time information may be transmitted, or 24 pieces of gas information arranged in time series may be transmitted.

[0143] Note that although one piece of gas information is information including one piece of gas usage information, it may also be information including a plurality of pieces of gas usage information.

[0144] It is preferable that the terminal transmission unit A12 transmits two or more pieces of gas information in the terminal storage unit A10 to the information processing device A2 less than n times a day.

[0145] It is preferable that the terminal transmission unit A12 transmits gas information to the information processing device A2 once a day. Note that the time when the terminal transmission unit A12 transmits gas information is not limited.

[0146] The terminal transmission unit A12 may transmit gas information at different timings according to conditions. That is, for example, the terminal transmission unit A12 usually transmits a plurality of pieces of gas information to the information processing device A2 at a low frequency (the first frequency), and when a predetermined condition is satisfied, it may transmit gas information to the information processing device A2 at a higher frequency (the second frequency) than usual. The predetermined condition here is, for example, the case where it is determined by the terminal processing unit A11 that more gas has been used as the predetermined condition is satisfied (for example, gas usage is equal to or more than a threshold value). Also, the predetermined condition is, for example, the case where it is determined by the terminal processing unit A11 that the gas usage amount has been small for a long time as the predetermined condition is satisfied (for example, the gas usage amount is less than or equal to the threshold value or less than the first threshold value for a time equal to or more than the threshold value).

[0147] Also, after the terminal transmission unit A12 transmits the gas information to the information processing device A2, it is preferable that the terminal processing unit A11 deletes the transmitted gas information from the terminal storage unit A10.

[0148] In the storage unit A21 that constitutes the information processing device A2, various types of information are stored. The various types of information are, for example, customer information, gas information, delivery cylinder information, delivery vehicle position information, and weather information described later.

[0149] In the customer information storage unit A211, one or more pieces of customer information are stored in association with a customer identifier. Customer information is information related to a customer. Customer information has, for example, a name, customer position information, and contact information. Customer position information is information for specifying the position of a customer. Customer position information is, for example, (latitude, longitude), address, etc. Contact information is information for specifying a contact, for example, an email address or a telephone number. Customer information has, for example, date information for specifying the date when a gas cylinder was replaced. Customer information has, for example, cylinder type information, cylinder number information, and gas remaining amount information. Cylinder type information is information for specifying the type of cylinder used by a customer. Cylinder number information is information for specifying the number of cylinders installed at a customer's home. Gas remaining amount information is information for specifying the remaining amount of gas in a customer's gas cylinder. Customer information has, for example, one or more media identifiers (e.g., "LPG", "electricity") for identifying the media used by a customer, one or more appliance identifiers (e.g., "gas appliance A", "electric appliance B", "appliance C") for the energy appliances owned by the customer, and one or more company identifiers (e.g., "company A") for specifying the energy company with which the customer has a contract. Customer information may include LPG cylinder information having cylinder amount information related to the amount of LPG cylinders used by a customer. Note that the LPG cylinder information may be the cylinder type information.

[0150] One or more pieces of gas information are stored in the gas information storage unit A212. Usually, two or more pieces of gas information associated with a customer identifier are stored in the gas information storage unit A212. It is preferable that the gas information is associated with one or more pieces of information among time information for specifying time and cylinder identifiers. Also, here, the time information and the cylinder identifier may be associated as long as the gas information is stored in a manner that allows the time information and the cylinder identifier to be known.

[0151] One or more pieces of delivery cylinder information are stored in the delivery cylinder information storage unit A213. The delivery cylinder information is information regarding the cylinders to be delivered. The delivery cylinder information has, for example, cylinder type information and cylinder state information. The delivery cylinder information is usually information that allows the number of cylinders to be grasped. That is, the delivery cylinder information may include quantity information for specifying the number of cylinders, or the number of received delivery cylinder information may indicate the number of cylinders. The cylinder type information is information for specifying the type of cylinder, for example, 20 Kg, 30 Kg, 50 Kg, etc. The cylinder state information is information indicating whether the cylinder is full or not. The delivery cylinder information is associated with, for example, one or more pieces of information among cylinder identifiers, delivery vehicle identifiers, deliverer identifiers, and time information for specifying the entry / exit date and time. Note that the entry / exit date and time is the entry date and time or exit date and time to / from the factory where the cylinder is filled with gas, or the entry date and time or exit date and time to / from the deposition where the cylinder is placed. Also, the time information may be information that only specifies the day.

[0152] One or more pieces of delivery vehicle position information are stored in the delivery vehicle position information storage unit A214. The delivery vehicle position information is information for specifying the position of the delivery vehicle. The delivery vehicle position information is, for example, (latitude, longitude), but may also be a facility identifier for specifying the nearest facility. The facility is, for example, a factory or a deposition. The delivery vehicle position information is associated with, for example, a delivery vehicle identifier for identifying the delivery vehicle for the cylinder or a deliverer identifier.

[0153] The weather information storage unit A215 stores one or more pieces of weather information. The weather information is information regarding the weather. The weather information is, for example, one or more pieces of information among weather, temperature, humidity, and the like. It is preferable that the weather information is associated with time information. The time information is, for example, date information and time information.

[0154] The receiving unit A22 receives various types of information. The various types of information are, for example, gas information, delivery cylinder information, delivery vehicle position information, weather information, and cylinder replacement information.

[0155] The gas information receiving unit A221 receives one or more pieces of gas information from the gas information transmission device A1. The gas information receiving unit A221 receives, from the gas information transmission device A1, gas information associated with one or more identifiers among, for example, a customer identifier or a cylinder identifier.

[0156] The delivery cylinder information receiving unit A222 receives one or more pieces of delivery cylinder information. The delivery cylinder information receiving unit A222 receives the delivery cylinder information in association with, for example, one or more pieces of information among cylinder identifiers, delivery vehicle identifiers, and deliverer identifiers. The delivery cylinder information receiving unit A222 receives the delivery cylinder information in association with, for example, a loading platform identifier. The loading platform identifier is information for identifying the loading platform on which the cylinder is placed. The delivery cylinder information receiving unit A222 receives the delivery cylinder information in association with, for example, time information for specifying the entry / exit date and time. The entry / exit date and time is the date and time of entry / exit from the facility. The delivery cylinder information receiving unit A222 receives the delivery cylinder information from, for example, the facility terminal A4. The delivery cylinder information receiving unit A222 receives the delivery cylinder information from, for example, the deliverer terminal A3. Note that the transmission source of the delivery cylinder information is not limited. Also, the cylinder identifier is stored, for example, in a communication means (e.g., RFID tag) installed on the cylinder to be delivered, and is information received indirectly or directly from such a communication means. The cylinder identifier may be, for example, information input by the user to the facility terminal A4 and transmitted from the facility terminal A4. The delivery vehicle identifier is stored, for example, in a communication means (e.g., RFID tag) installed on the delivery vehicle itself (e.g., trailer head), and is information received indirectly or directly from such a communication means. In such a case, the delivery vehicle identifier may be referred to as a trailer head identifier. Also, the delivery vehicle identifier and the trailer head identifier may be different pieces of information. In such a case, the delivery cylinder information receiving unit A222 may receive the delivery cylinder information in association with the trailer head identifier as well. Also, the deliverer identifier is information received indirectly or directly from, for example, the deliverer terminal A3 held by the deliverer. Also, the deliverer identifier may be information stored in a communication means installed on the delivery vehicle itself (e.g., trailer head) and received indirectly or directly from such a communication means. Furthermore, the loading platform identifier is stored, for example, in a communication means (e.g., RFID tag) installed on the loading platform of the delivery vehicle, and is information received indirectly or directly from such a communication means.

[0157] The delivery vehicle position information receiving unit A223 receives one or more pieces of delivery vehicle position information. The delivery vehicle position information receiving unit A223 usually receives the delivery vehicle position information from the delivery person terminal A3, which is a terminal of the delivery vehicle, but the source of the delivery vehicle position information is not limited. Note that the delivery person terminal A3 is a terminal different from the terminal held by the delivery person and may be a terminal mounted on the delivery vehicle.

[0158] The delivery vehicle position information receiving unit A223 usually receives the delivery vehicle position information in association with a delivery vehicle identifier that identifies the delivery vehicle. However, the delivery vehicle position information receiving unit A223 may receive the delivery vehicle position information in association with a delivery person identifier. Also, the delivery vehicle identifier and the delivery person identifier may be the same information.

[0159] The weather information receiving unit A224 receives one or more pieces of weather information. Here, "receiving" is, for example, receiving from a server device (not shown), but it may be considered a concept including receiving information input from an input device such as a keyboard, mouse, or touch panel, and receiving information read from a recording medium such as an optical disk, magnetic disk, or semiconductor memory. Note that the server device (not shown) is a device that stores the weather information.

[0160] The cylinder exchange information receiving unit A225 receives one or more pieces of cylinder exchange information. The cylinder exchange information is information indicating that a cylinder has been exchanged. The cylinder exchange information receiving unit A225 receives, for example, cylinder exchange information paired with one or more pieces of information among a customer identifier and a cylinder identifier. The cylinder exchange information receiving unit A225 receives the cylinder exchange information from the delivery person terminal A, for example. However, the source of the cylinder exchange information is not limited.

[0161] The processing unit A23 performs predetermined processing using two or more pieces of gas information in the gas information storage unit A212. The predetermined processing is, for example, the delivery date prediction processing described later, the delivery control processing described later, the futures trading processing described later, the residence stay processing described later, the energy optimal plan presentation processing described later, the household creditworthiness acquisition processing described later, statistical processing, and the like. Statistical processing is statistical processing for a plurality of pieces of gas information. Statistical processing is processing for calculating the average gas usage amount of a household over a certain period from a plurality of pieces of gas information, processing for calculating the cumulative value of the gas usage amount over a certain period, processing for obtaining a graph of the transition of the gas usage amount, and the like. Note that the delivery date prediction processing, the delivery control processing, the futures trading processing, the residence stay processing, the energy optimal plan presentation processing, and the household creditworthiness acquisition processing will be described after Embodiment 2. Note that the delivery date prediction processing is processing for predicting the delivery date of a gas cylinder to a household. The delivery control processing is processing for delivering a gas cylinder to a household with a gas shortage or the like. The futures trading processing is processing for determining the price of gas and supporting futures trading. The residence stay processing is processing for outputting information regarding whether or not there is a resident in a residence. The energy optimal plan presentation processing is processing for presenting an appropriate energy plan. The household creditworthiness acquisition processing is processing for acquiring and outputting the creditworthiness of a household.

[0162] The processing unit A23 performs predetermined processing using one or two or more pieces of delivery cylinder information stored in the delivery cylinder information storage unit A213, for example. The predetermined processing is, for example, the delivery control processing.

[0163] The processing unit A23 performs predetermined processing using one or two or more pieces of delivery vehicle position information stored in the delivery vehicle position information storage unit A214, for example. The predetermined processing is, for example, the delivery control processing.

[0164] The processing unit A23 performs predetermined processing using one or two or more pieces of weather information stored in the weather information storage unit A215. The predetermined processing is, for example, the delivery date prediction processing, the futures trading processing, and the energy optimal plan presentation processing.

[0165] The gas information storage unit A231 stores one or more pieces of gas information received by the gas information receiving unit A221 in the gas information storage unit A212. The gas information storage unit A231 stores each piece of gas information received by the gas information receiving unit A221 in the gas information storage unit A212 in association with, for example, one or more pieces of information among time information, customer identifier, and cylinder identifier. Note that such time information may be information received from the gas information transmission device A1 or information obtained from a clock (not shown).

[0166] The delivery cylinder information storage unit A232 stores one or more pieces of delivery cylinder information received by the delivery cylinder information receiving unit A222 in the delivery cylinder information storage unit A213. The delivery cylinder information storage unit A232 stores each piece of delivery cylinder information in the delivery cylinder information storage unit A213 in association with, for example, one or more pieces of information among cylinder identifier, delivery vehicle identifier, and deliverer identifier.

[0167] The delivery vehicle position information storage unit A233 stores one or more pieces of delivery vehicle position information received by the delivery vehicle position information receiving unit A223 in the delivery vehicle position information storage unit A214. The delivery vehicle position information storage unit A233 stores each piece of delivery vehicle position information in the delivery vehicle position information storage unit A214 in association with a delivery vehicle identifier or a deliverer identifier.

[0168] The weather information storage unit A234 stores one or more pieces of weather information in the weather information storage unit A215. The weather information storage unit A234 usually stores each piece of weather information in the weather information storage unit A215 in association with time information. Note that the time information may be information received by the receiving unit A22 or obtained from a clock (not shown). Also, the time information may be date information or time information.

[0169] When the cylinder exchange information receiving unit A225 receives cylinder exchange information, the cylinder exchange information storage unit A235 updates the gas remaining amount information included in the gas information paired with one or more pieces of information among the customer identifier and the cylinder identifier to information specifying that the remaining amount of gas is full.

[0170] In the deliverer storage unit A31 that constitutes the deliverer terminal A3, various types of information are stored. The various types of information are, for example, a deliverer identifier that identifies the deliverer. The various types of information are, for example, a delivery vehicle identifier that identifies the delivery vehicle. The deliverer identifier and the delivery vehicle identifier may be the same information. The various types of information are, for example, cylinder exchange information. The cylinder exchange information is information indicating that the cylinder has been exchanged. The cylinder exchange information is associated with, for example, one or more identifiers among the customer identifier and the cylinder identifier.

[0171] The deliverer reception unit A32 receives various instructions and information. The various instructions and information are, for example, cylinder exchange information. The various instructions and information are, for example, cylinder exchange information and one or more identifiers among the customer identifier and the cylinder identifier. When the cylinder of a certain household is to be exchanged or has been exchanged, the deliverer inputs the cylinder exchange information into the deliverer terminal A3. Also, the cylinder exchange information may be input, for example, by pressing a button, or by inputting information into a field, etc.

[0172] It is preferable for the deliverer to input one or more identifiers among the customer identifier and the cylinder identifier together with the cylinder exchange information. In such a case, the deliverer reception unit A32 receives the cylinder exchange information and one or more identifiers among the customer identifier and the cylinder identifier.

[0173] The input means for the cylinder exchange information or the like can be anything, such as a touch panel, a keyboard, a mouse, or a menu screen. The deliverer reception unit A32 can be realized by a device driver of an input means such as a touch panel or a keyboard, or control software of a menu screen, etc.

[0174] The deliverer processing unit A33 performs various processes. The various processes are, for example, processes for creating the data structure of information to be transmitted from the information received by the deliverer reception unit A32. The various processes are, for example, when the deliverer reception unit A32 receives cylinder exchange information, processes for constructing information in which the cylinder exchange information is associated with one or more identifiers among the deliverer identifier in the deliverer storage unit A31, the input customer identifier, and the cylinder identifier. The various processes are, for example, processes for creating the data structure of information to be output from the information received by the deliverer receiving unit A35.

[0175] The deliverer transmission unit A34 transmits the cylinder exchange information to the information processing device A2. The deliverer transmission unit A34 usually transmits the cylinder exchange information associated with one or more identifiers among the customer identifier and the cylinder identifier to the information processing device A2. Note that it is preferable for the deliverer transmission unit A34 to also transmit the deliverer identifier together with the cylinder exchange information.

[0176] The deliverer receiving unit A35 receives various information. The deliverer receiving unit A35 receives various information from, for example, the information processing device A2. The deliverer receiving unit A35 receives, for example, customer information described later from the information processing device A2. Note that the customer information is information about the customer and is information paired with the customer identifier. The customer information received by the deliverer receiving unit A35 is, for example, information about the customer who is the delivery destination of the gas cylinder. Note that the customer identifier may be included in the customer information.

[0177] The deliverer output unit A36 outputs various information. The various information is, for example, the information constructed by the deliverer processing unit A33. The various information is, for example, customer information. This customer information is information about the customer who is the delivery destination of the gas cylinder. It is preferable for this customer information to have one or more pieces of information among the customer identifier, the customer location information, and the information about the gas cylinder to be delivered. The customer location information is information for specifying the location of the customer. The customer location information is, for example, (latitude, longitude), address, etc. The information about the gas cylinder to be delivered is, for example, the cylinder type information for specifying the type of the gas cylinder, the number of gas cylinders, etc.

[0178] Here, the output is usually the display on a display, but it may be considered a concept that includes projection using a projector, printing by a printer, sound output, transmission to an external device, storage in a recording medium, delivery of the processing result to other processing devices or other programs, etc.

[0179] Various types of information are stored in the facility storage unit A41 that constitutes the facility terminal A4. The various types of information are, for example, facility identifiers that identify the facility. It is preferable that the facility storage unit A41 stores information received from the terminal of the delivery vehicle (for example, RFID) and delivery cylinder information regarding the cylinders mounted on the delivery vehicle. The delivery cylinder information is associated with the cylinder identifier. The delivery cylinder information is preferably associated with, for example, the platform identifier and the entry / exit date and time. The delivery cylinder information has, for example, cylinder type information and cylinder status information. It is preferable that the delivery cylinder information has information for specifying the number of cylinders to be delivered.

[0180] The facility reception unit A42 receives various instructions and information.

[0181] The facility processing unit A43 performs various types of processing. The various types of processing are, for example, the processing of storing the information received by the facility reception unit A45. The facility processing unit A43 temporarily stores at least the delivery cylinder information and the identifier received by the facility reception unit A45 in the facility storage unit A41. The identifier is, for example, one or more identifiers among the cylinder identifier, the platform identifier, the delivery vehicle identifier, and the deliverer identifier.

[0182] The facility transmission unit A44 transmits various types of information. The facility transmission unit A44 transmits, for example, various types of information to the information processing device A2. The facility transmission unit A44 transmits, for example, the delivery cylinder information in association with the identifier. The identifier is, for example, one or more identifiers among the cylinder identifier, the platform identifier, the delivery vehicle identifier, and the deliverer identifier.

[0183] The facility receiving unit A45 receives various types of information. The facility receiving unit A45 receives various types of information from, for example, the terminal of a delivery vehicle (e.g., RFID). The facility receiving unit A45 receives, for example, delivery cylinder information in association with an identifier. The identifier is, for example, one or more identifiers among cylinder identifiers, loading platform identifiers, delivery vehicle identifiers, and delivery person identifiers.

[0184] The facility output unit A46 outputs various types of information.

[0185] The terminal storage unit A10, the storage unit A21, the customer information storage unit A211, the gas information storage unit A212, the delivery cylinder information storage unit A213, the delivery vehicle position information storage unit A214, the weather information storage unit A215, the delivery person storage unit A31, and the facility storage unit A41 are preferably non-volatile recording media, but can also be realized with volatile recording media.

[0186] The process of storing information in the terminal storage unit A10 or the like is not limited. For example, information may be stored in the terminal storage unit A10 or the like via a recording medium, information transmitted via a communication line or the like may be stored in the terminal storage unit A10 or the like, or information input via an input device may be stored in the terminal storage unit A10 or the like.

[0187] The terminal processing unit A11, the terminal acquisition unit A111, the terminal storage unit A112, the processing unit A23, the gas information storage unit A231, the delivery cylinder information storage unit A232, the delivery vehicle position information storage unit A233, the weather information storage unit A234, the cylinder replacement information storage unit A235, the delivery person processing unit A33, and the facility processing unit A43 can usually be realized from an MPU, memory, etc. The processing procedures of the terminal processing unit A11 or the like are usually realized by software, and the software is recorded on a recording medium such as a ROM. However, it may also be realized by hardware (a dedicated circuit). Needless to say, a CPU or GPU may be adopted instead of the MPU.

[0188] The terminal transmission unit A12, the output unit A24, the processing result output unit A241, the deliverer transmission unit A34, and the facility transmission unit A44 are usually realized by wireless or wired communication means, but may also be realized by broadcast means.

[0189] The reception unit A22, the gas information reception unit A221, the delivery cylinder information reception unit A222, the delivery vehicle position information reception unit A223, the weather information reception unit A224, the cylinder replacement information reception unit A225, the deliverer reception unit A35, and the facility reception unit A45 are usually realized by wireless or wired communication means, but may also be realized by means of receiving broadcasts.

[0190] The deliverer reception unit A32 and the facility reception unit A42 can be realized by a touch panel, a keyboard, a mouse, a menu screen, or the like.

[0191] The deliverer output unit A36 and the facility output unit A46 may or may not be considered to include output devices such as a display and a speaker. The deliverer output unit A36 etc. can be realized by the driver software of the output device or the driver software of the output device and the output device etc.

[0192] Next, the operation of the information system A will be described. First, an operation example of the gas information transmission device A1 will be described using the flowchart of FIG. 4.

[0193] (Step S401) The terminal processing unit A11 determines whether it is the timing to acquire gas usage information. If it is the timing to acquire gas usage information, it proceeds to step S402, and if it is not the timing to acquire gas usage information, it proceeds to step S407. For example, when acquiring gas usage information every hour, the terminal processing unit A11 acquires time information from a clock (not shown), and when the time indicated by the time information matches "X:00" (X is a natural number from 1 to 24), it determines that it is the timing to acquire gas usage information.

[0194] (Step S402) The terminal acquisition unit A111 acquires gas meter reading information from a gas meter (not shown). Such technology is well-known. The gas meter is usually an LP gas meter and is a device that holds a gas meter reading indicating the integrated flow rate since installation.

[0195] (Step S403) The terminal acquisition unit A111 calculates gas consumption information per unit time, which is the difference between the gas meter reading information acquired previously and the gas meter reading information acquired in this step S402. For example, the terminal acquisition unit A111 acquires gas consumption information per unit time according to "Gas consumption information per unit time = Gas meter reading information acquired previously - Gas meter reading information acquired in step S402".

[0196] (Step S404) The terminal acquisition unit A111 acquires time information indicating the current time from a clock (not shown).

[0197] (Step S405) The terminal acquisition unit A111 uses the gas consumption information per unit time acquired in step S403 to construct gas usage information to be stored.

[0198] (Step S406) The terminal storage unit A112 stores the time information acquired in step S404 and the gas usage information constructed in step S405 in association with each other. Return to step S401. Usually, the storage destination for gas usage information and the like is the terminal storage unit A10. The terminal storage unit A112 may store the gas usage information in association with the cylinder identifier. In such a case, the terminal acquisition unit A111 also acquires the cylinder identifier.

[0199] (Step S407) The terminal processing unit A11 determines whether it is the timing to transmit the gas information. If it is the timing to transmit the gas information, it proceeds to step S408; if it is not the timing to transmit the gas information, it returns to step S401. For example, when transmitting the gas information once a day, the terminal processing unit A11 acquires the time information from a clock (not shown), and when it determines that the time indicated by the time information has passed a predetermined time (for example, "00:01"), it determines that it is the timing to transmit the gas information. Even if it is determined that the predetermined time has passed, usually, the gas information that has already been transmitted is not transmitted again. Also, even if the terminal processing unit A11 determines that the predetermined time has passed, usually, it does not determine that it is the timing to transmit the gas information until a predetermined period (for example, one day) has elapsed.

[0200] (Step S408) The terminal processing unit A11 acquires the gas usage information etc. to be transmitted from the terminal storage unit A10. The gas usage information etc. is, for example, information in the form of a set of gas usage information and time information, or only gas usage information, or gas usage information and cylinder identifier, or information in the form of a set of gas usage information, cylinder identifier, and time information.

[0201] (Step S409) The terminal processing unit A11 acquires the customer identifier from the terminal storage unit A10.

[0202] (Step S410) The terminal processing unit A11 composes the gas information etc. to be transmitted. The gas information etc. has, for example, a plurality of gas usage information etc. and one or more identifiers. The one or more identifiers are, for example, one or more pieces of information among the customer identifier and the cylinder identifier.

[0203] (Step S411) The terminal transmission unit A12 transmits the gas information etc. composed in step S410 to the information processing device A2.

[0204] (Step S412) The terminal processing unit A11 deletes the transmitted gas usage information and the like. Here, a flag indicating that transmission has been made may be stored in association with the transmitted gas usage information and the like. The addition of such a flag may be regarded in the same way as deletion. Return to step S401.

[0205] Note that in the flowchart of FIG. 4, the number of times of accumulating gas usage information was more than the number of times of transmitting gas information. That is, in the flowchart of FIG. 4, a plurality of gas usage information was collectively transmitted to the information processing device A2. By doing so, there are effects such as reduction of power consumption of the gas information transmission device A1 and reduction of the frequency of battery replacement of the gas information transmission device A1. However, in the flowchart of FIG. 4, gas information may be transmitted each time gas usage information is acquired.

[0206] Also, in the flowchart of FIG. 4, the terminal transmission unit A12 may transmit gas information to the information processing device A2 at different frequencies depending on whether a predetermined condition is satisfied or not satisfied. Here, the predetermined condition is, for example, the case where the terminal processing unit A11 determines that as much gas as satisfying a predetermined condition has been used. Also, in the flowchart of FIG. 4, the process ends due to a power-off or an interrupt of the end of processing.

[0207] Next, the operation of the information processing device A2 will be described using the flowchart of FIG. 5.

[0208] (Step S501) The gas information receiving unit A221 determines whether it has received the gas information and the like transmitted from the gas information transmission device A1. If it has received the gas information and the like, it proceeds to step S502, and if it has not received the gas information and the like, it proceeds to step S504. Here, the gas information and the like are, for example, gas information and one or more identifiers. The one or more identifiers are, for example, one or more pieces of information among a customer identifier and a cylinder identifier.

[0209] (Step S502) The gas information storage unit A231 constructs the gas information to be stored using the gas information etc. received in Step S501.

[0210] (Step S503) The gas information storage unit A231 stores the gas information etc. constructed in Step S502 in the gas information storage unit A212. Return to Step S501.

[0211] (Step S504) The delivery cylinder information reception unit A222 determines whether it has received delivery cylinder information etc. If it has received the delivery cylinder information etc., it proceeds to Step S505; if it has not received the delivery cylinder information etc., it proceeds to Step S507. Note that the delivery cylinder information etc. is, for example, the delivery cylinder information and one or more identifiers. The one or more identifiers are, for example, one or more pieces of information among the cylinder identifier, the deliverer identifier, and the delivery vehicle identifier.

[0212] (Step S505) The delivery cylinder information storage unit A232 constructs the delivery cylinder information to be stored using the delivery cylinder information etc. received in Step S504.

[0213] (Step S506) The delivery cylinder information storage unit A232 stores the delivery cylinder information etc. constructed in Step S505 in the delivery cylinder information storage unit A213. Return to Step S501.

[0214] (Step S507) The delivery vehicle position information reception unit A223 determines whether it has received delivery vehicle position information etc. If it has received the delivery vehicle position information etc., it proceeds to Step S508; if it has not received the delivery vehicle position information etc., it proceeds to Step S510. Note that the delivery vehicle position information etc. is, for example, the delivery vehicle position information and one or more identifiers. The one or more identifiers are, for example, one or more pieces of information among the deliverer identifier and the delivery vehicle identifier.

[0215] (Step S508) The delivery vehicle position information storage unit A233 constructs the delivery vehicle position information to be stored using the delivery vehicle position information etc. received in Step S507.

[0216] (Step S509) The delivery vehicle position information storage unit A233 stores the delivery vehicle position information and the like configured in step S508 in the delivery vehicle position information storage unit A214. Return to step S501.

[0217] (Step S510) The cylinder exchange information receiving unit A225 determines whether it has received cylinder exchange information and the like. If it has received cylinder exchange information and the like, it proceeds to step S511; if it has not received cylinder exchange information and the like, it proceeds to step S513. Here, the cylinder exchange information and the like are, for example, cylinder exchange information and one or more identifiers. The one or more identifiers are, for example, one or more pieces of information among customer identifiers and cylinder identifiers.

[0218] (Step S511) The cylinder exchange information storage unit A235 configures the cylinder exchange information and the like to be stored using the cylinder exchange information and the like received in step S510.

[0219] (Step S512) The cylinder exchange information storage unit A235 updates the gas remaining amount information in the customer information storage unit A211 using the cylinder exchange information and the like configured in step S511. Return to step S501.

[0220] (Step S513) The processing unit A23 determines whether it is the timing to acquire weather information. If it is the timing to acquire weather information, it proceeds to step S514; if it is not the timing to acquire weather information, it proceeds to step S516. Here, the timing to acquire weather information is, for example, every hour, every day, etc.

[0221] (Step S514) The weather information reception unit A224 acquires weather information and the like from a server (not shown). Here, the weather information reception unit A224 may acquire, for example, weather information and the like of two or more regions.

[0222] (Step S515) The weather information storage unit A234 stores the weather information and the like acquired in step S514 in the weather information storage unit A215 in association with the time information. Return to step S501. The weather information and the like are, for example, weather information and time information. Further, the weather information storage unit A234 may store the weather information and the like in the weather information storage unit A215 in association with the time information and the region identifier that identifies the region.

[0223] (Step S516) The processing unit A23 determines whether it is the timing to perform processing using the gas information. If it is the timing to perform processing, go to step S517; if it is not the timing to perform processing, return to step S501.

[0224] (Step S517) The processing unit A23 performs predetermined processing. The predetermined processing is, for example, delivery date prediction processing, delivery control processing, futures trading processing, residence stay processing, energy optimal plan presentation processing, household creditworthiness acquisition processing, statistical processing, and the like.

[0225] (Step S518) The processing unit A23 acquires a processing result, which is information identifying the result of the processing in step S517.

[0226] (Step S519) The processing result output unit A241 outputs the processing result acquired in step S518. Return to step S501.

[0227] Note that in the flowchart of FIG. 5, the processing ends due to a power-off or an interrupt of the end of processing.

[0228] Next, an operation example of the delivery person terminal A3 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 6.

[0229] (Step S601) The delivery person reception unit A32 determines whether it has received information. If it has received information, go to step S602; if it has not received information, go to step S603. Note that the information is, for example, a customer identifier and a cylinder identifier.

[0230] (Step S602) The deliverer processing unit A33 temporarily stores at least the information received in Step S601 in the deliverer storage unit A31. Return to Step S601.

[0231] (Step S603) The deliverer reception unit A32 determines whether it has received cylinder exchange information. If it has received the cylinder exchange information, it proceeds to Step S604; if it has not received the cylinder exchange information, it proceeds to Step S606.

[0232] (Step S604) The deliverer processing unit A33 constructs the cylinder exchange information etc. to be transmitted. Note that the cylinder exchange information etc. has, for example, a customer identifier and a cylinder identifier.

[0233] (Step S605) The deliverer transmission unit A34 transmits the cylinder exchange information etc. constructed in Step S604 to the information processing device A2. Return to Step S601.

[0234] (Step S606) The deliverer reception unit A35 determines whether it has received information. If it has received the information, it proceeds to Step S607; if it has not received the information, it proceeds to Step S609. Note that the information is, for example, customer information and a delivery list. Also, the delivery list is information on a list of customers to whom the deliverer should deliver gas cylinders.

[0235] (Step S607) The deliverer processing unit A33 constructs the information to be output using the information received in Step S606. Note that the information to be output is, for example, customer information, a delivery list, a map indicating the position specified by the customer position information included in the customer information, and route information as a result of route search from the position specified by the delivery vehicle position information to the position specified by the customer position information. Note that the deliverer processing unit A33 may have a function to acquire the delivery vehicle position information (for example, the function of a GPS receiver) and a route search function.

[0236] (Step S608) The deliverer output unit A36 outputs the information constructed in Step S607. Return to Step S601.

[0237] (Step S609) The delivery person processing unit A33 acquires the position information of the delivery vehicle. When the delivery person processing unit A33 acquires the position information, the delivery person processing unit A33 usually has a GPS receiver, but it may also acquire the position information by other means. The other means is, for example, a process using the intensity of radio waves from three or more wireless base stations.

[0238] (Step S610) The delivery person processing unit A33 acquires the delivery vehicle identifier from the delivery person storage unit A31.

[0239] (Step S611) The delivery person processing unit A33 uses the delivery vehicle position information acquired in Step S609 and the delivery vehicle identifier acquired in Step S610 to construct the delivery vehicle position information to be transmitted.

[0240] (Step S612) The delivery person transmission unit A34 transmits the delivery vehicle position information and the like configured in Step S611 to the information processing device A2. Return to Step S601.

[0241] Note that in the flowchart of FIG. 6, the timing of transmitting the delivery vehicle position information is not limited.

[0242] Also, in the flowchart of FIG. 6, the process ends due to power-off or an interrupt of the end of processing.

[0243] Next, an operation example of the facility terminal A4 will be described using the flowchart of FIG. 7.

[0244] (Step S701) The facility reception unit A45 determines whether it has received the delivery cylinder information and the like. If it has received the delivery cylinder information and the like, it proceeds to Step S702. If it has not received the delivery cylinder information and the like, it returns to Step S701.

[0245] (Step S702) The facility processing unit A43 acquires time information from a clock (not shown).

[0246] (Step S703) The facility processing unit A43 constructs the delivery cylinder information etc. to be transmitted by using the delivery cylinder information etc. received in Step S701 and the time information acquired in Step S702.

[0247] (Step S704) The facility transmission unit A44 transmits the delivery cylinder information etc. configured in Step S703 to the information processing device A2. Return to Step S701.

[0248] In the flowchart of FIG. 7, the process ends due to a power-off or a processing end interrupt.

[0249] Hereinafter, a specific operation example of the information system A in the present embodiment will be described using the conceptual diagram of the processing of the information system A (FIG. 8). Note that the conceptual diagram of the system structure of the information system A is FIG. 1.

[0250] In the information system A, as described above, gas information is transmitted from the gas information transmission device A1 to the information processing device A2 at an appropriate timing and accumulated in the information processing device A2. Also, the delivery vehicle position information is transmitted from the delivery person terminal A3 to the information processing device A2 and accumulated in the information processing device A2. Further, the delivery cylinder information is transmitted from the facility terminal A4 to the information processing device A2 and accumulated in the information processing device A2. Also, the cylinder replacement information is transmitted from the delivery person terminal A3 to the information processing device A2 and accumulated in the information processing device A2. Further, the information processing device A2 receives and accumulates weather information from a weather server (not shown). Note that the weather server is a server in which weather information is stored.

[0251] Note that the delivery person terminal A3 that transmits the delivery vehicle position information and the delivery person terminal A3 that transmits the delivery person terminal A3 are terminals used by the delivery person, but it goes without saying that they may be different terminals.

[0252] Then, the information processing device A2 uses various information stored in the DB (A21) for the processing unit A23 to perform various processes. The various processes are, for example, delivery date prediction processing, delivery control processing, futures trading processing, residence stay processing, energy optimal plan presentation processing, and household creditworthiness acquisition processing. Also, the various processes may be, for example, processes that simply output the results of the above-described statistical processing or various accumulated information.

[0253] As described above, according to the present embodiment, gas information including gas usage information related to the use of the LPG cylinder can be collected and utilized.

[0254] Also, according to the present embodiment, by efficiently transmitting the gas information, the power consumption of the power supply of the gas information transmission device A1 can be suppressed.

[0255] Also, according to the present embodiment, information on the delivery cylinder information regarding the cylinder to be delivered can be collected and utilized.

[0256] Also, according to the present embodiment, information on the delivery cylinder information having cylinder type information can be collected and utilized.

[0257] Also, according to the present embodiment, weather information can be acquired and utilized.

[0258] Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, when the cylinder is replaced, the cylinder replacement information can be received and utilized.

[0259] Note that the processing in this embodiment may be implemented by software. And this software may be distributed by software download or the like. Also, this software may be recorded on a recording medium such as a CD-ROM and distributed. Note that this also applies to other embodiments in this specification. The software for realizing the gas information transmission device A1 in this embodiment is a program as follows. That is, this program causes a computer that can access a terminal storage unit storing gas information at two or more time points, which is information including gas usage information regarding the use of gas in an LPG cylinder and is gas information corresponding to a cylinder identifier for identifying the LPG cylinder, to function as a terminal acquisition unit that acquires gas information, a terminal storage unit that accumulates the gas information acquired by the terminal acquisition unit in the terminal storage unit, and a terminal transmission unit that, when a predetermined condition is satisfied, transmits the gas information at two or more time points in the terminal storage unit to the information processing device in association with a customer identifier.

[0260] Also, the software for realizing the information processing device A2 in this embodiment is a program as follows. That is, this program causes a computer that can access a gas information storage unit storing two or more pieces of gas information associated with time information for specifying time and a customer identifier, which is information including gas usage information regarding the use of gas in an LPG cylinder and is gas information corresponding to a customer identifier, to function as a gas information receiving unit that receives gas information associated with a customer identifier from a gas information transmission device including a terminal acquisition unit that acquires gas information and a terminal transmission unit that transmits the gas information acquired by the terminal acquisition unit to the information processing device, a gas information storage unit that accumulates the gas information received by the gas information receiving unit in the gas information storage unit in association with time information and a customer identifier, and a processing unit that performs a predetermined process using two or more pieces of gas information in the gas information storage unit.

[0261] (Embodiment 2) In this embodiment, an information system B including an information processing device that predicts the delivery date of a gas cylinder for each household using gas usage information regarding past gas usage will be described. Note that, in this embodiment, as the gas usage information and the like used when predicting the delivery date of a gas cylinder, the information accumulated by the information system A of Embodiment 1 can be used.

[0262] Also, in this embodiment, an information system B including an information processing device that predicts the delivery date of a gas cylinder using weather information will be described.

[0263] FIG. 9 is a conceptual diagram of the information system B in this embodiment. The information system B includes one or two or more terminal devices B1 and an information processing device B2.

[0264] The terminal device B1 is a terminal used by a person who wants to obtain information on the scheduled delivery date. The terminal device B1 is, for example, a smartphone, a tablet terminal, a so-called personal computer, etc., and its type does not matter.

[0265] The information processing device B2 is a device for acquiring the scheduled delivery date. The information processing device B2 can be realized by, for example, a so-called cloud server or an ASP server, and its type does not matter. The information processing device B2 may have some or all of the functions of the information processing device A2.

[0266] FIG. 10 is a block diagram of the information system B in this embodiment.

[0267] The terminal device B1 includes a terminal storage unit B11, a terminal reception unit B12, a terminal processing unit B13, a terminal transmission unit B14, a terminal reception unit B15, and a terminal output unit B16.

[0268] The information processing apparatus B2 includes a storage unit B21, a reception unit B22, a processing unit B23, and an output unit B24. The storage unit B21 includes a customer information storage unit A211, a gas information storage unit A212, and a weather information storage unit A215. The reception unit B22 includes a customer identifier reception unit B221, a gas information reception unit A221, a weather information reception unit A224, and a cylinder replacement information reception unit A225. The processing unit B23 includes a gas information accumulation unit A231, a weather information accumulation unit A234, a cylinder replacement information accumulation unit A235, a gas usage information acquisition unit B231, and a scheduled date prediction unit B232. The scheduled date prediction unit B232 includes a usage amount value calculation formula acquisition means B2321 and a scheduled date prediction means B2322. The output unit B24 includes a scheduled date output unit B241.

[0269] Various types of information are stored in the terminal storage unit B11 that constitutes the terminal device B1. The various types of information are, for example, customer identifiers.

[0270] The terminal reception unit B12 receives instructions, information, etc. The instructions, information, etc. are, for example, customer identifiers and delivery date prediction instructions. The delivery date prediction instruction is an instruction to perform delivery date prediction processing. The delivery date prediction instruction may have a customer identifier that specifies the household for which the predicted date is to be obtained, or may not have a customer identifier. The input means for the instructions, information, etc. can be anything, such as a touch panel, keyboard, mouse, or menu screen. The terminal reception unit B12 can be realized by a device driver of an input means such as a touch panel or keyboard, or control software for a menu screen.

[0271] The terminal processing unit B13 performs various types of processing. The various types of processing are, for example, processing to convert the instructions, information, etc. received by the terminal reception unit B12 into instructions, information, etc. in a data structure for transmission. Also, the various types of processing are, for example, processing to convert the information received by the terminal transmission unit B14 into a data structure for output.

[0272] The terminal transmission unit B14 transmits various types of instructions, information, etc. to the information processing apparatus B2. The various types of instructions, information, etc. are, for example, customer identifiers and delivery date prediction instructions.

[0273] The terminal receiving unit B15 receives various types of information and the like from the information processing device B2. The various types of information and the like are, for example, information in the form of a pair of a customer identifier and scheduled date information. The scheduled date information is information that specifies the scheduled delivery date.

[0274] The terminal output unit B16 outputs various types of information and the like. The various types of information and the like are, for example, information in the form of a pair of a customer identifier and scheduled date information. Here, output generally refers to display on a display, but it may also be considered as a concept including projection using a projector, printing by a printer, sound output, transmission to an external device, storage on a recording medium, and delivery of processing results to other processing devices or other programs.

[0275] Various types of information are stored in the storage unit B21 that constitutes the information processing device B2. The various types of information are, for example, customer information, gas information, and weather information.

[0276] The receiving unit B22 receives various types of information. The various types of information are, for example, customer identifier, gas information, weather information, and cylinder replacement information.

[0277] The customer identifier reception unit B221 receives a customer identifier. Here, reception is, for example, reception from a terminal device B1 or the like. However, reception may also be considered as a concept including reception of information input from input devices such as a keyboard, mouse, touch panel, and reception of information read from recording media such as optical disks, magnetic disks, and semiconductor memories.

[0278] The processing unit B23 performs various types of processing. The various types of processing are, for example, the processing performed by the gas information storage unit A231, weather information storage unit A234, cylinder replacement information storage unit A235, gas usage information acquisition unit B231, and scheduled date prediction unit B232.

[0279] The gas usage information acquisition unit B231 acquires gas usage information at two or more time points that corresponds to the customer identifier received by the customer identifier reception unit B221 from the gas information storage unit A212. The customer identifier received by the customer identifier reception unit B221 may be the customer identifier acquired by the customer identifier reception unit B221.

[0280] The scheduled date prediction unit B232 acquires scheduled date information using the gas usage information at two or more time points acquired by the gas usage information acquisition unit B231. The scheduled date information is information regarding the delivery scheduled date. The scheduled date information is usually information that specifies the delivery scheduled date. The delivery scheduled date is the day when the gas in the cylinder becomes less than a predetermined condition. The predetermined condition is that the amount of gas in the cylinder becomes 0, the amount of gas in the cylinder becomes less than or equal to a threshold value (e.g., 10%) of the total capacity, etc. The scheduled date information may be the delivery scheduled date itself, or the predicted number of days until the next delivery after the delivery, etc.

[0281] The scheduled date prediction unit B232 acquires scheduled date information using the gas usage information at two or more time points acquired by the gas usage information acquisition unit B231 and the weather information received by the weather information reception unit A224.

[0282] The scheduled date prediction unit B232 acquires scheduled date information regarding the delivery scheduled date, which is the day when the gas in the cylinder becomes less than a predetermined condition, using the gas usage information at two or more time points acquired by the gas usage information acquisition unit B231. When the weather information received by the weather information reception unit A224 is information indicating that it is warm enough to satisfy a predetermined condition, the scheduled date information is corrected so as to delay the delivery scheduled date specified by the scheduled date information, and the scheduled date information to be output is acquired.

[0283] Further, the scheduled date prediction unit B232 uses the gas usage information at two or more time points acquired by the gas usage information acquisition unit B231 to acquire scheduled date information regarding the delivery scheduled date, which is the date when the gas in the cylinder becomes less than or equal to a predetermined condition, and when the weather information received by the weather information reception unit A224 indicates that it is cold enough to satisfy a predetermined condition, the scheduled date information is corrected so as to advance the delivery scheduled date specified by the scheduled date information, and the scheduled date information to be output is acquired.

[0284] Three specific processing examples in which the scheduled date prediction unit B232 acquires the scheduled date information will be described below. (1) The case where the scheduled date information is acquired by the usage amount value calculation formula acquisition means B2321 and the scheduled date prediction means B2322, and the weather information is not used

[0285] The scheduled date prediction unit B232 may acquire the scheduled date information by the usage amount value calculation formula acquisition means B2321 and the scheduled date prediction means B2322.

[0286] The usage amount value calculation formula acquisition means B2321 uses the gas usage information at two or more time points acquired by the gas usage information acquisition unit B231 to acquire a usage amount value calculation formula, which is an arithmetic expression for calculating information regarding the gas usage amount. Here, the information regarding the gas usage amount may be the usage amount per unit time or the cumulative usage amount. Further, the usage amount value calculation formula may have two or more arithmetic expressions. The usage amount value calculation formula has, for example, two or more arithmetic expressions for each specific time zone. The usage amount value calculation formula is, for example, a unit time arithmetic expression of a linear equation associated with an identifier for identifying time.

[0287] The usage value calculation formula acquisition means B2321 acquires the usage value calculation formula for each customer identifier, for example. The usage value calculation formula acquisition means B2321 acquires, for example, the gas usage amount information per unit time included in the gas usage information paired with a customer identifier, and acquires the gas usage amount information for the processing target period (for example, the month of interest last year (for example, March 2018)) from the gas information storage unit A212. Next, the usage value calculation formula acquisition means B2321 calculates, for example, the average value (average gas usage amount for each time period) of the gas usage amount information for each time period in the processing target period using the gas usage amount information for a plurality of unit times in each time period (for example, 0:00 to 1:00, ···, 6:00 to 7:00, 7:00 to 8:00, ···, 12:00 to 13:00, ···, 17:00 to 18:00, 18:00 to 19:00, ···, 23:00 to 24:00).

[0288] Then, the usage value calculation formula acquisition means B2321 is an arithmetic expression for drawing a graph with the time period on the horizontal axis and the average value of the gas usage amount information on the vertical axis, and acquires an arithmetic expression that is a set of linear expressions with the average value for each time period as the passing coordinates. Note that the usage value calculation formula in such a case is an arithmetic expression that draws a so-called bathtub curve.

[0289] Note that the usage value calculation formula acquisition means B2321 may acquire, for example, one approximate arithmetic expression that passes through the average value using the average value for each time period.

[0290] Also, the usage value calculation formula acquisition means B2321 may, for example, calculate the cumulative value for each time period of the average value for each time period, and acquire an arithmetic expression for drawing a graph with the time period on the horizontal axis and the cumulative value on the vertical axis. That is, the usage value calculation formula acquisition means B2321 only needs to be able to acquire an arithmetic expression for calculating the future gas usage amount using past gas usage amount information.

[0291] Note that it is preferable for the usage value calculation formula acquisition means B2321 to acquire arithmetic expressions for each day, each week, each month, and each year for each customer identifier.

[0292] The scheduled date prediction means B2322 acquires scheduled date information using the usage value calculation formula acquired by the usage value calculation formula acquisition means B2321. For example, the scheduled date prediction means B2322 uses the usage value calculation formula to acquire the number of days from the state where the gas cylinder is full until the gas in the gas cylinder becomes less than a predetermined condition, and adds the number of days to the date of gas cylinder replacement to obtain the scheduled delivery date. The date of gas cylinder replacement is the date information included in the cylinder replacement information or the date information paired with the cylinder replacement information, and is the information acquired from the customer information storage unit A211. Such scheduled date information is information that identifies the initially predicted scheduled delivery date.

[0293] The scheduled date prediction means B2322 acquires scheduled date information, for example, by acquiring the LPG cylinder information paired with the customer identifier received by the customer identifier reception unit B221 from the customer information storage unit A211, and using the LPG cylinder information and the usage value calculation formula acquired by the usage value calculation formula acquisition means B2321. For example, the scheduled date prediction means B2322 obtains the difference between the cumulative value (actual value) of the gas usage amount specified by the cylinder amount information included in the LPG cylinder information paired with the customer identifier received by the customer identifier reception unit B221 and the cumulative value (predicted value) of the gas usage amount obtained using the usage value calculation formula acquired by the usage value calculation formula acquisition means B2321. When the difference is greater than the threshold value and the actual value exceeds the predicted value, scheduled date information indicating a scheduled delivery date earlier than the initially predicted scheduled delivery date is acquired according to the excess amount. Further, for example, the scheduled date prediction means B2322 obtains the difference between the cumulative value (actual value) of the gas usage amount specified by the cylinder amount information included in the LPG cylinder information paired with the customer identifier received by the customer identifier reception unit B221 and the cumulative value (predicted value) of the gas usage amount obtained using the usage value calculation formula acquired by the usage value calculation formula acquisition means B2321. When the difference is greater than the threshold value and the predicted value exceeds the actual value, scheduled date information indicating a scheduled delivery date later than the initially predicted scheduled delivery date is acquired according to the excess amount. The usage value calculation formula acquired by the usage value calculation formula acquisition means B2321 is the usage value calculation formula paired with the customer identifier received by the customer identifier reception unit B221. (2) This is the case where schedule date information is obtained by the usage amount calculation formula acquisition means B2321 and the scheduled date prediction means B2322, when weather information is used.

[0294] The scheduled date prediction means B2322 obtains schedule date information without considering weather information by, for example, the algorithm of (1).

[0295] Next, the scheduled date prediction means B2322 acquires one or more pieces of weather information (for example, temperature information) that pair with the time information corresponding to the usage amount information from which the usage amount calculation formula was obtained, from the weather information storage unit A215. Such weather information is referred to as a past weather information group.

[0296] Then, the scheduled date prediction means B2322 acquires one or more pieces of future weather information (for example, temperature information), which is information on future weather forecasts, from the weather information storage unit A215. The future weather information is, for example, weather information up to the date specified by the schedule date information obtained by the algorithm of (1). Such weather information is referred to as a future weather information group.

[0297] Next, the scheduled date prediction means B2322 compares the past weather information group and the future weather information group, and when it is determined that it is warm or cold enough for the difference between the two to satisfy a predetermined condition, corrected schedule date information is obtained so as to delay or advance the schedule date information obtained by the algorithm of (1).

[0298] More specifically, the scheduled date prediction means B2322 acquires the past average temperature, which is the average temperature, from the past weather information group. Further, the scheduled date prediction means B2322 acquires the future average temperature, which is the average temperature, from the future weather information group. Then, when "future average temperature - past average temperature" is equal to or greater than the first threshold value or greater than the first threshold value, the scheduled date prediction means B2322 acquires updated scheduled date information that delays the date specified by the scheduled date information obtained by the algorithm of (1) according to the difference. The scheduled date prediction means B2322 acquires updated scheduled date information that advances the date specified by the scheduled date information obtained by the algorithm of (1) according to the difference when "past average temperature - future average temperature" is equal to or greater than the second threshold value or greater than the second threshold value. (3) This is the case where scheduled date information is acquired by an algorithm of machine learning and weather information is not used

[0299] The scheduled date prediction unit B232 may acquire scheduled date information by an algorithm of machine learning using the gas usage information at two or more time points acquired by the gas usage information acquisition unit B231.

[0300] That is, the scheduled date prediction unit B232 performs the process of configuring the learning device and the process of predicting the scheduled date as follows. (3-1) Process of configuring the learning device

[0301] The scheduled date prediction unit B232 acquires, for example, past gas usage information, specifically, among the gas usage information from when the gas cylinder is full to when it becomes empty, the past gas usage information for a certain period from when the gas cylinder is full and the period from when the gas cylinder is full to when it becomes empty (appropriately referred to as the "redelivery period") using the past gas information paired with the customer identifier. Then, a learner that takes the past gas usage information for a certain period from when the gas cylinder is full as input and outputs the redelivery period is configured using a machine learning algorithm. That is, the scheduled date prediction unit B232 acquires, for example, two or more sets of information of the pair of the past gas usage information for a certain period from when the gas cylinder is full and the redelivery period, and gives the acquired two or more sets of information to a module for configuring a learner of machine learning, configures the learner, and stores it in the storage unit B21. Note that the machine learning algorithm can be, for example, deep learning, random forest, SVR, etc., without limitation. Also, the machine learning module can be, for example, a module of TensorFlow, fastText, TinySvm, various RandomForest functions, etc., anything is fine. Note that the learner can also be called a classifier. (3-2) Prediction process of the scheduled date

[0302] Next, the scheduled date prediction unit B232 performs a prediction process of the scheduled date using the learner configured in (3-1).

[0303] That is, the scheduled date prediction unit B232 constructs a vector using the gas usage information at two or more most recent time points acquired by the gas usage information acquisition unit B231, gives the vector and the learner in the storage unit B21 to a module for performing machine learning prediction, and acquires the redelivery period by a machine learning algorithm. Note that the machine learning algorithm in such a prediction can also be, for example, deep learning, random forest, SVR, etc., without limitation. Also, the module for machine learning prediction can be, for example, a module of TensorFlow, fastText, TinySvm, various RandomForest functions, etc., anything is fine.

[0304] Next, the scheduled date prediction unit B232 acquires scheduled date information including the delivery scheduled date obtained by adding the acquired period to the most recent day when the gas cylinder was replaced. The most recent day when the gas cylinder was replaced is the date information included in the cylinder replacement information or the date information paired with the cylinder replacement information, and is information obtained from the customer information storage unit A211. (4) This is the case of acquiring scheduled date information by means of a machine learning algorithm and using weather information.

[0305] When using weather information by means of a machine learning algorithm, there are, for example, the following two methods depending on how the weather information is used. (4-1) In the case of correcting with weather information

[0306] The scheduled date prediction unit B232 may acquire the scheduled date information by using the gas usage information at two or more time points acquired by the gas usage information acquisition unit B231 and the weather information received by the weather information reception unit A224.

[0307] That is, the scheduled date prediction unit B232 acquires scheduled date information by, for example, the prediction process of machine learning in (3-2) described above. Next, the scheduled date prediction unit B232 acquires future weather information including weather forecasts (for example, a set of temperature information). Then, the scheduled date prediction unit B232 acquires the date information paired with the gas usage information that was the basis for constructing the learning device and the weather information (for example, a set of temperature information) paired with it from the weather information storage unit A215. And when the weather indicated by the weather information of the weather forecast is information indicating that it is colder to the extent that it satisfies a predetermined condition compared to the weather indicated by the weather information corresponding to the gas usage information that was the basis for constructing the learning device, since the gas usage amount increases, the scheduled date prediction unit B232 acquires scheduled date information with the scheduled date indicated by the scheduled date information acquired by the machine learning algorithm described above advanced. Also, when the weather indicated by the weather information of the weather forecast is information indicating that it is warmer to the extent that it satisfies a predetermined condition compared to the weather indicated by the weather information corresponding to the gas usage information that was the basis for constructing the learning device, since it is predicted that the gas usage amount will decrease, the scheduled date prediction unit B232 acquires scheduled date information with the scheduled date indicated by the scheduled date information acquired by the machine learning algorithm described above delayed. Note that it is preferable that the number of days to advance and the number of days to delay increase depending on the magnitude of the difference in temperature indicated by the two weather information. (4-2) When constructing a learning device using weather information

[0308] The scheduled date prediction unit B232 may acquire scheduled date information by a machine learning algorithm using the gas usage information at two or more time points acquired by the gas usage information acquisition unit B231 and weather information (for example, one or more of weather and temperature).

[0309] That is, the scheduled date prediction unit B232 acquires, for example, past gas usage information, specifically, among the gas usage information from when the gas cylinder is full until it becomes empty, the past gas usage information for a certain period from when the gas cylinder is full, and the redelivery period, using the past gas information paired with the customer identifier. Further, the scheduled date prediction unit B232 acquires, for example, weather information paired with the date information corresponding to the past gas usage information for a certain period from when the gas cylinder is full.

[0310] Then, a learning device that takes as input the past gas usage information and weather information for a certain period from when the gas cylinder is full and outputs the redelivery period is configured by a machine learning algorithm. Note that the weather information included in the weather information is converted into values such as "1" for "sunny", "2" for "cloudy", "3" for "rainy", etc. and becomes elements of the vector. The weather information is, for example, temperature and becomes an element of the vector.

[0311] Then, the scheduled date prediction unit B232 acquires, for example, two or more sets of information including the past gas usage information, weather information, and redelivery period for a certain period from when the gas cylinder is full, and gives the acquired two or more sets of information to a module for configuring a learning device of machine learning to configure the learning device and store it in the storage unit B21. Note that the information given to the module is usually a multi-dimensional vector. Further, the scheduled date prediction unit B232 configures, for example, a learning device that takes as input a vector of a set of (gas usage information, temperature, weather information) for a certain period for each time zone and outputs the redelivery period by a machine learning algorithm.

[0312] Then, the scheduled date prediction unit B232 constructs a vector using the gas usage information and weather information at two or more most recent time points acquired by the gas usage information acquisition unit B231, gives the vector to a module for performing machine learning prediction of the learning device in the storage unit B21, and acquires the redelivery period by a machine learning algorithm.

[0313] The output unit B24 outputs various types of information. The various types of information are, for example, scheduled date information. Here, output means, for example, storage in the customer information storage unit A211. Also, output means, for example, display or transmission. When the output is display, the output unit B24 may or may not be considered to include output devices such as a display and a speaker. The output unit B24 can be realized by driver software for the output device or by the driver software for the output device and the output device or the like.

[0314] The scheduled date output unit B241 outputs the scheduled date information acquired by the scheduled date prediction unit B232. The scheduled date output unit B241 usually outputs the scheduled date information in association with a customer identifier.

[0315] The terminal storage unit B11, the storage unit B21, the customer information storage unit A211, the gas information storage unit A212, and the weather information storage unit A215 are preferably non-volatile recording media, but can also be realized by volatile recording media.

[0316] The process by which information is stored in the terminal storage unit B11 or the like is not limited. For example, information may be stored in the terminal storage unit B11 or the like via a recording medium, information transmitted via a communication line or the like may be stored in the terminal storage unit B11 or the like, or information input via an input device may be stored in the terminal storage unit B11 or the like.

[0317] The terminal processing unit B13, the processing unit B23, the gas usage information acquisition unit B231, the scheduled date prediction unit B232, the usage amount value calculation formula acquisition means B2321, and the scheduled date prediction means B2322 can usually be realized from an MPU, a memory, or the like. The processing procedures of the terminal processing unit B13 or the like are usually realized by software, and the software is recorded on a recording medium such as a ROM. However, it may also be realized by hardware (dedicated circuit).

[0318] The terminal transmission unit B14, the output unit B24, and the scheduled date output unit B241 are usually realized by wireless or wired communication means, but may also be realized by broadcast means.

[0319] The terminal receiving unit B15, the receiving unit B22, and the customer identifier receiving unit B221 are usually realized by wireless or wired communication means, but may also be realized by means of receiving broadcasts.

[0320] The terminal output unit B16 may or may not be considered to include output devices such as displays and speakers. The terminal output unit B16 can be realized by the driver software of the output device or the driver software of the output device and the output device, etc.

[0321] Next, the operation of the information system B will be described. First, the operation of the terminal device B1 will be described.

[0322] The terminal receiving unit B12 of the terminal device B1 receives a delivery date prediction instruction. Next, the terminal processing unit B13 configures the delivery date prediction instruction to be transmitted. Next, the terminal transmitting unit B14 transmits the configured delivery date prediction instruction to the information processing device B2. Next, the terminal receiving unit B15 receives the scheduled date information for each customer corresponding to the delivery date prediction instruction. Then, the terminal processing unit B13 configures the information to be output using the received scheduled date information for each customer. Next, the terminal output unit B16 outputs the scheduled date information for each customer.

[0323] Next, an example of the delivery date prediction process in the information processing device B2 will be described using the flowchart of FIG. 11.

[0324] (Step S1101) The receiving unit B22 determines whether it has received a delivery date prediction instruction from the terminal device B1. If it has received the delivery date prediction instruction, it proceeds to step S1102, and if it has not received the delivery date prediction instruction, it returns to step S1101. Here, it is assumed that the delivery date prediction instruction here is an instruction to obtain the predicted delivery dates of all customers.

[0325] (Step S1102) The processing unit B23 substitutes 1 for the counter i.

[0326] (Step S1103) The processing unit B23 determines whether the i-th customer identifier exists in the storage unit B21. If the i-th customer identifier exists, it proceeds to step S1104; if the i-th customer identifier does not exist, it returns to step S1101. The determination of whether the i-th customer identifier exists is a determination of whether the i-th customer exists.

[0327] (Step S1104) The gas usage information acquisition unit B231 acquires the gas usage information corresponding to the i-th customer identifier from the gas information storage unit A212.

[0328] (Step S1105) The gas usage information acquisition unit B231 acquires the weather information for the target period from the weather information storage unit A215.

[0329] (Step S1106) The usage amount value calculation formula acquisition means B2321 performs a usage amount value calculation formula acquisition process. The usage amount value calculation formula acquisition process will be described using the flowchart of FIG. 12.

[0330] (Step S1107) The scheduled date prediction means B2322 performs a scheduled date prediction process. The scheduled date prediction process will be described using the flowchart of FIG. 13.

[0331] (Step S1108) The processing unit B23 increments the counter i by 1 and returns to step S1103.

[0332] Note that in the flowchart of FIG. 11, the process ends due to a power-off or a processing end interrupt.

[0333] Next, the usage amount value calculation formula acquisition process in step S1106 will be described using the flowchart of FIG. 12.

[0334] (Step S1201) The usage amount value calculation formula acquisition means B2321 substitutes 1 into the counter i.

[0335] (Step S1202) The usage value calculation formula acquisition means B2321 determines whether the i-th time zone exists. If the i-th time zone exists, it proceeds to step S1203; if it does not exist, it returns to the upper-level process. Note that when the time zone is 1 hour, i can take values from 1 to 24.

[0336] (Step S1203) The usage value calculation formula acquisition means B2321 obtains all the gas usage information per unit time in the i-th time zone from the gas usage information for the target period (for example, N days), which is the gas usage information corresponding to the i-th time zone. Note that the gas usage information per unit time is information indicating the gas usage amount per unit time.

[0337] (Step S1204) The usage value calculation formula acquisition means B2321 calculates the average value of the gas usage information per unit time obtained in step S1203 and temporarily stores it in the storage unit B21.

[0338] (Step S1205) The usage value calculation formula acquisition means B2321 determines whether the (i - 1)-th time zone exists. If the (i - 1)-th time zone exists, it proceeds to step S1206; if the (i - 1)-th time zone does not exist, it proceeds to step S1207.

[0339] (Step S1206) The usage value calculation formula acquisition means B2321 obtains the i-th linear equation using the average value of the gas usage information per unit time in the (i - 1)-th time zone and the average value of the gas usage information per unit time in the i-th time zone. Note that this linear equation is a straight line connecting the average value of the gas usage information per unit time in the (i - 1)-th time zone and the average value of the gas usage information per unit time in the i-th time zone. Note that the linear equation is stored in the customer information storage unit A211 in pairs with the customer identifier.

[0340] (Step S1207) The usage value calculation formula acquisition means B2321 increments the counter i by 1. It returns to step S1202.

[0341] Next, the scheduled date prediction process in step S1107 will be described using the flowchart of FIG. 13.

[0342] (Step S1301) The scheduled date prediction means B2322 acquires the remaining gas amount information corresponding to the target customer identifier. The remaining gas amount information is stored, for example, in the customer information storage unit A211. Further, the remaining gas amount information is, for example, gas usage information corresponding to the customer identifier, and the cumulative gas usage amount is obtained using the gas usage information after the date corresponding to the cylinder replacement information (the date when the gas cylinder was replaced), and the cumulative gas usage amount is subtracted from the capacity information corresponding to the cylinder type information corresponding to the customer identifier, and is acquired by the scheduled date prediction means B2322.

[0343] (Step S1302) The scheduled date prediction means B2322 acquires the usage amount value calculation formula corresponding to the target customer identifier from the customer information storage unit A211. Then, the scheduled date prediction means B2322 uses the usage amount value calculation formula to obtain the number of days from full tank until the gas becomes equal to or less than the threshold value.

[0344] (Step S1303) The scheduled date prediction means B2322 acquires, from the gas information storage unit A212, gas usage information (first gas usage information group) within the threshold value that is paired with the target customer identifier. Also, the scheduled date prediction means B2322 acquires, from the gas information storage unit A212, gas usage information (second gas usage information group) that was used when the usage amount calculation formula was acquired, which is paired with the target customer identifier. Next, the scheduled date prediction means B2322 compares the first gas usage information group and the second gas usage information group, and acquires difference information regarding the difference between the two. For example, the scheduled date prediction means B2322 calculates the average gas usage amount per day (first average usage amount) from the first gas usage information group. Also, the scheduled date prediction means B2322 calculates the average gas usage amount per day (second average usage amount) from the second gas usage information group. Then, the scheduled date prediction means B2322 acquires, for example, the difference between the first average usage amount and the second average usage amount as the difference information. Note that the difference information is usually information that specifies the difference between the representative value of the first gas usage information group and the representative value of the second gas usage information group. The representative value may be the median, the maximum value, etc., instead of the average value.

[0345] (Step S1304) The scheduled date prediction means B2322 determines whether or not the difference information acquired in Step S1303 is large enough to satisfy a predetermined condition. If it is large, it proceeds to Step S1305, and if it is not large, it proceeds to Step S1306.

[0346] (Step S1305) The scheduled date prediction means B2322 adjusts the number of days obtained in step S1302. Note that when "the first average usage - the second average usage" is positive and the difference information is large, the scheduled date prediction means B2322 shortens the number of days obtained in step S1302 according to the difference information. Also, when "the second average usage - the first average usage" is positive and the difference information is large, the scheduled date prediction means B2322 lengthens the number of days obtained in step S1302 according to the difference information. The number of days to be shortened or lengthened is adjusted by the scheduled date prediction means B2322 so that the larger the absolute value of the difference information, the greater the number. The scheduled date prediction means B2322 calculates, for example, the number of days to be shortened or lengthened by an increasing function using the absolute value of the difference information as a parameter.

[0347] (Step S1306) The scheduled date prediction means B2322 acquires a future weather information group, which is information on future weather forecasts, from the weather information storage unit A215.

[0348] (Step S1307) The scheduled date prediction means B2322 acquires a past weather information group at the time of obtaining the usage amount value calculation command from the weather information storage unit A215.

[0349] (Step S1308) The scheduled date prediction means B2322 determines whether the difference between the future weather information group and the past weather information group is large enough to satisfy a predetermined condition. If it is large enough to satisfy the predetermined condition, it proceeds to step S1309; if it is not large enough to satisfy the predetermined condition, it proceeds to step S1310. Note that the predetermined condition is that "the average temperature difference is equal to or greater than the threshold value" or "the average temperature difference is greater than the threshold value".

[0350] (Step S1309) The scheduled date prediction means B2322 performs a number of days adjustment according to the difference between the future weather information group and the past weather information group. Since an example of the number of days adjustment using weather information has been described above, a detailed explanation here is omitted. Note that the scheduled date prediction means B2322 obtains, for example, the number of days to be adjusted by an increasing function using the difference between the future weather information group and the past weather information group as a parameter.

[0351] (Step S1310) The scheduled date prediction means B2322 obtains the predicted date information by adding the number of days acquired to the current date. Return to the upper-level process.

[0352] As described above, according to the present embodiment, the next delivery date of the gas cylinder to the customer can be predicted using the gas usage information.

[0353] Also, according to the present embodiment, by also using the weather information, the next delivery date of the gas cylinder can be predicted with higher accuracy.

[0354] In the present embodiment, the delivery date after the next one may also be predicted. In such a case, based on the predicted next delivery date, the information processing device B2 can predict the delivery dates of the subsequent times by the same process as the process described above. That is, the information processing device B2 can predict the (n + 1)-th delivery date based on the n-th delivery date in the future by the same process as the process described above.

[0355] In addition, the processing in this embodiment may be realized by software. And this software may be distributed by software download or the like. Also, this software may be recorded on a recording medium such as a CD-ROM and distributed. Note that this also applies to other embodiments in this specification. The software that realizes the information processing apparatus B2 in this embodiment is a program as follows. That is, this program is associated with a customer identifier for identifying a customer, and is a computer that can access a gas information storage unit in which two or more pieces of gas information including gas usage information at two or more points in time regarding the use of gas in an LPG cylinder are stored. It includes a customer identifier reception unit that receives a customer identifier, a gas usage information acquisition unit that acquires gas usage information at two or more points in time that pairs with the customer identifier received by the customer identifier reception unit from the gas information storage unit, and uses the gas usage information at two or more points in time acquired by the gas usage information acquisition unit to obtain schedule information regarding a scheduled delivery date that is the day when the gas in the cylinder becomes less than or equal to a predetermined condition. It is a program for causing it to function as a scheduled delivery date prediction unit and a scheduled delivery date output unit that outputs the schedule information acquired by the scheduled delivery date prediction unit.

[0356] (Embodiment 3) In this embodiment, an information system that enables efficient delivery of gas cylinders to customers in the event of gas shortages or the like will be described.

[0357] In addition, in this embodiment, an information system having an information processing apparatus that determines a delivery vehicle for delivering a gas cylinder to a customer in the event of a gas shortage or the like and transmits the customer's information to a delivery person terminal, and a delivery person terminal that receives the customer's information will be described. Note that the customer information to be transmitted is, for example, an updated delivery list.

[0358] FIG. 14 is a conceptual diagram of the information system C in this embodiment. The information system C includes one or more terminal devices C1, an information processing apparatus C2, one or more delivery person terminals C3, and one or more facility terminals A4.

[0359] The terminal device C1 is, for example, a terminal used by the administrator of the information system C. The terminal device C1 may be, for example, a smartphone, a tablet terminal, a so-called personal computer, etc., and its type does not matter.

[0360] Also, the information processing device C2 is a server device that performs delivery control processing. That is, the information processing device C2 is a device that determines a delivery vehicle for delivering a gas cylinder in an emergency of a customer such as a gas shortage. The information processing device C2 can be realized by a so-called cloud server, an ASP server, etc., and its type does not matter. Note that the information processing device C2 may have all or part of the functions of the information processing device A2. That is, the information processing device C2 may be the information processing device A2 that performs delivery control processing.

[0361] Also, the delivery person terminal C3 is a terminal used by the delivery person. The delivery person terminal C3 may be, for example, a smartphone, a tablet terminal, a so-called personal computer, a so-called navigation terminal, etc., and its type does not matter. The delivery person terminal C3 has a communication function. Note that the delivery person terminal C3 may be a terminal carried by the delivery person, or a terminal mounted on a delivery vehicle (for example, an in-vehicle navigation device). Also, some functions of the delivery person terminal C3 described later may be performed by a terminal carried by the delivery person, and other functions may be performed by a terminal mounted on a delivery vehicle. That is, it goes without saying that a device such as the delivery person terminal C3 may be realized by two or more devices. Furthermore, the delivery person terminal C3 may be able to realize some or all of the functions of the delivery person terminal A3.

[0362] FIG. 15 is a block diagram of the information system C in the present embodiment. FIG. 16 is a block diagram of the information processing device C2 that constitutes the information system C.

[0363] The terminal device C1 includes a terminal storage unit C11, a terminal reception unit C12, a terminal processing unit C13, a terminal transmission unit C14, a terminal reception unit C15, and a terminal output unit C16.

[0364] The information processing apparatus C2 includes a storage unit C21, a reception unit C22, a processing unit C23, and a transmission unit C24. The storage unit C21 includes a customer information storage unit A211, a gas information storage unit A212, a delivery cylinder information storage unit A213, a delivery vehicle position information storage unit A214, and a delivery list storage unit C211. The reception unit C22 includes a customer identifier reception unit C221, a gas information reception unit A221, a delivery cylinder information reception unit A222, a delivery vehicle position information reception unit A223, and a cylinder replacement information reception unit A225. The processing unit C23 includes a customer information position information acquisition unit C231, a delivery vehicle determination unit C232, a delivery list update unit C233, a gas information accumulation unit A231, a delivery cylinder information accumulation unit A232, a delivery vehicle position information accumulation unit A233, and a cylinder replacement information accumulation unit A235. The transmission unit C24 includes a customer information transmission unit C241.

[0365] The delivery person terminal C3 includes a delivery person storage unit C31, a delivery person reception unit C32, a delivery person processing unit C33, a delivery person transmission unit C34, a delivery person reception unit C35, and a delivery person output unit C36.

[0366] The facility terminal A4 includes a facility storage unit A41, a facility reception unit A42, a facility processing unit A43, a facility transmission unit A44, a facility reception unit A45, and a facility output unit A46.

[0367] Various types of information are stored in the terminal storage unit C11 that constitutes the terminal device C1. The various types of information are, for example, a customer identifier and a terminal identifier that identifies the terminal device C1. Note that this customer identifier is an identifier of a customer for whom a gas cylinder should be delivered promptly due to a gas shortage or the like.

[0368] The terminal reception unit C12 receives various types of information, instructions, etc. The various types of information, instructions, etc. are, for example, a customer identifier. The customer identifier is information that identifies a customer.

[0369] The input means for various types of information, instructions, etc. can be anything, such as a touch panel, a keyboard, a mouse, or a menu screen. The terminal reception unit C12 can be realized by a device driver of an input means such as a touch panel or a keyboard, or control software of a menu screen.

[0370] The terminal processing unit C13 performs various processes. The various processes are, for example, processes of converting various information, instructions, etc. received by the terminal reception unit C12 into data structures of various information, instructions, etc. to be transmitted. Also, the various processes are, for example, processes of converting the information received by the terminal reception unit C15 into a data structure for outputting.

[0371] The terminal transmission unit C14 transmits various information. The various information is, for example, a customer identifier.

[0372] The terminal reception unit C15 receives various information. The various information is, for example, information of a delivery person or a delivery list. Note that the information of the delivery person is information of the delivery person who delivers a gas cylinder to a customer with a gas shortage or the like, and is, for example, a name, a delivery person identifier, etc.

[0373] The terminal output unit C16 outputs various information. The various information is, for example, information configured by the terminal processing unit C13. The various information is, for example, information of a delivery person or a delivery list.

[0374] Here, output is a concept including display on a display, projection using a projector, printing by a printer, sound output, transmission to an external device, storage in a recording medium, delivery of a processing result to another processing device, another program, etc.

[0375] In the storage unit C21 that constitutes the information processing apparatus C2, various types of information are stored. The various types of information are, for example, customer information, gas information, delivery cylinder information, and delivery vehicle position information. The various types of information may be, for example, one or more pieces of information indicating the correspondence between the delivery vehicle identifier and the delivery person identifier. The information indicating the correspondence between the delivery vehicle identifier and the delivery person identifier is, for example, information having the delivery vehicle identifier and the delivery person identifier, or information on the link between the delivery vehicle identifier and the delivery person identifier. The various types of information are, for example, unique information associated with the delivery person identifier. The unique information is, for example, "whether to allow addition or change of the delivery destination", "information specifying whether overtime is allowed", "the latest working time", "information specifying whether to allow sudden change of the delivery route". The unique information can be changed, for example, by the declaration of the delivery person.

[0376] In the customer information storage unit A211, one or more pieces of customer information having a customer identifier and customer position information are stored. The customer position information is information for specifying the position of the customer identified by the customer identifier. The customer position information is, for example, an address, (latitude, longitude). Further, it is preferable that the customer information includes cylinder type information for specifying the type of cylinder used by the customer. Further, it is preferable that the customer information has cylinder number information for specifying the number of cylinders installed at the customer's home. Note that the customer information may have two or more sets of the combination of the cylinder type information and the cylinder number information. The cylinder type information is, for example, information for specifying the weight, and is, for example, "50KG", "30KG", "20KG".

[0377] In the delivery cylinder information storage unit A213, one or more pieces of delivery cylinder information are stored in association with a delivery vehicle identifier for identifying the delivery vehicle. The delivery cylinder information is information regarding the cylinders to be delivered by the delivery vehicle. It is preferable that the delivery cylinder information corresponds to a cylinder identifier. It is preferable that the delivery cylinder information includes cylinder type information. It is preferable that the delivery cylinder information has cylinder quantity information for specifying the number of cylinders during delivery. The cylinder quantity information is information for specifying the number of cylinders remaining in each delivery vehicle. The cylinder quantity information is information for specifying the number of cylinders that each delivery vehicle can deliver next. The cylinder quantity information may be obtained, for example, based on the number of pieces of delivery cylinder information. In such a case, the delivery cylinder information is information corresponding to one cylinder.

[0378] In the delivery vehicle position information storage unit A214, one or two or more pieces of delivery vehicle position information associated with a delivery vehicle identifier are stored. The delivery vehicle position information is information for specifying the position of the delivery vehicle. The delivery vehicle position information is, for example, (latitude, longitude), but any information that can specify a position or area other than (latitude, longitude), such as the identifier of the nearest facility, is acceptable.

[0379] In the delivery list storage unit C211, one or two or more delivery lists are stored in association with a delivery vehicle identifier. The delivery list may be associated with a deliverer identifier. The delivery vehicle identifier may be the same as the deliverer identifier. The delivery list usually has two or more pieces of delivery destination information regarding the delivery destinations of gas cylinders. The delivery destination information here has, for example, the name of the customer, postal code, address, and cylinder type information for specifying the type of gas cylinder to be used. The delivery destination information may be part or all of the customer information. The delivery destination information may be only the customer identifier.

[0380] The receiving unit C22 receives various types of information. The various types of information include, for example, customer identifiers, customer information, delivery completion information, gas information, delivery cylinder information, and delivery vehicle location information. The receiving unit C22 receives, for example, a customer identifier from the terminal device C1. The receiving unit C22 receives, for example, delivery completion information from the delivery person terminal C3. Note that the delivery completion information has, for example, a customer identifier, cylinder type information for specifying the type of cylinder delivered, and cylinder quantity information for specifying the number of cylinders delivered. Also, when the delivery completion information has, for example, a customer identifier but does not have cylinder type information and cylinder quantity information, the cylinder type information and cylinder quantity information corresponding to the customer identifier are obtained, for example, from the customer information storage unit A211.

[0381] The customer identifier reception unit C221 receives a customer identifier that identifies a customer whose remaining gas is less than a predetermined condition. "The remaining gas is less than a predetermined condition" means, for example, running out of gas, the remaining gas volume being less than or equal to a threshold value, or the cumulative gas usage being greater than or equal to a threshold value.

[0382] Here, reception means receiving information transmitted via a wired or wireless communication line. However, it may be considered a concept that includes receiving information input from input devices such as keyboards, mice, and touch panels, and receiving information read from recording media such as optical disks, magnetic disks, and semiconductor memories.

[0383] The processing unit C23 performs various types of processing. The various types of processing include, for example, the processing performed by the customer information location information acquisition unit C231, the delivery vehicle determination unit C232, the delivery list update unit C233, the gas information accumulation unit A231, the delivery cylinder information accumulation unit A232, the delivery vehicle location information accumulation unit A233, and the cylinder replacement information accumulation unit A235.

[0384] The processing unit C23 processes the customer information in the delivery list that corresponds to the delivery vehicle identifier or the deliverer identifier included in the received delivery completion information, such that it can be recognized that the delivery has been made to the corresponding customer for the customer information corresponding to the customer identifier included in the received delivery completion information. Such processing includes, for example, deleting the customer information corresponding to the customer identifier included in the received delivery completion information, adding the delivery completion information, etc.

[0385] The processing unit C23 subtracts the number of cylinders indicated by the cylinder number information that specifies the number of cylinders delivered from the number of cylinders information included in the delivery cylinder information that corresponds to the delivery vehicle identifier, and accumulates the updated number of cylinders information in the delivery cylinder information storage unit A213. Such a delivery vehicle identifier is information included in the received delivery completion information or information that corresponds to the deliverer identifier included in the received delivery completion information.

[0386] Note that the processing unit C23, for example, acquires, as the cylinder number information that specifies the number of cylinders delivered, the cylinder number information included in the customer information corresponding to the customer identifier included in the received delivery completion information, which is the customer information in the delivery list. Also, the processing unit C23, for example, acquires, as the cylinder number information that specifies the number of cylinders delivered, the cylinder number information included in the received delivery completion information.

[0387] The customer information location information acquisition unit C231 acquires, from the customer information storage unit A211, the customer location information that corresponds to the customer identifier received by the customer identifier reception unit C221.

[0388] The delivery vehicle determination unit C232 determines the delivery vehicle responsible for the delivery, using the customer location information acquired by the customer information location information acquisition unit C231 and the combination of the delivery vehicle location information, the delivery cylinder information, and the delivery cylinder information. Note that the delivery vehicle location information and the delivery cylinder information included in a set of information each correspond to the same delivery vehicle identifier. Also, the determination of the delivery vehicle includes, for example, acquiring the delivery vehicle identifier and acquiring the information of the deliverer to be transmitted (for example, contact information, etc.).

[0389] When the cylinder-related information regarding customer information, the cylinder identifier, and the delivery cylinder information that pairs with the cylinder identifier satisfy predetermined conditions, the delivery vehicle determination unit C232 determines the delivery vehicle identified by the delivery vehicle identifier as the delivery vehicle responsible for the delivery.

[0390] Note that the cylinder-related information and the delivery cylinder information are, for example, one or two pieces of information among the cylinder quantity information and the cylinder type information.

[0391] The delivery vehicle determination unit C232 determines the delivery vehicle corresponding to the delivery vehicle position information that satisfies the cylinder conditions and the position conditions.

[0392] The cylinder conditions are conditions regarding cylinders. The cylinder conditions are conditions regarding the relationship between the cylinder quantity information and the cylinder type information obtained using the delivery cylinder information that pairs with the delivery vehicle identifier, and the cylinder quantity information and the cylinder type information of the customer information. The cylinder conditions are, for example, "the cylinder type information included in the delivery cylinder information that pairs with the delivery vehicle identifier matches the cylinder type information of the customer information" and "the cylinder quantity information obtained using the delivery cylinder information that pairs with the delivery vehicle identifier >= the total cylinder quantity information of the customer whose delivery is scheduled + the cylinder quantity information of the customer information". The cylinder conditions are, for example, to satisfy "the cylinder quantity information of the cylinder-related information regarding the customer information <= the cylinder quantity information of the delivery cylinder information".

[0393] The position conditions are conditions regarding the position information including the customer position information. The position conditions are, for example, conditions regarding the distance between the position specified by the customer position information and the position specified by the delivery vehicle position information. The position conditions are, for example, that the distance between the position specified by the customer position information and the position specified by the delivery vehicle position information is less than or equal to a threshold value or less than the threshold value. The position conditions are, for example, that among the delivery vehicles that satisfy the cylinder conditions, it is the delivery vehicle corresponding to the delivery vehicle position information with the smallest distance between the position specified by the customer position information and the position specified by the delivery vehicle position information.

[0394] The delivery vehicle determination unit C232 determines the delivery vehicle responsible for the delivery by using, for example, the cylinder quantity information and cylinder type information obtained using the cylinder information paired with the delivery vehicle identifier, the cylinder type information in the customer information, the customer location information, and the delivery vehicle location information paired with the delivery vehicle identifier. That is, for example, the delivery vehicle determination unit C232 selects the delivery vehicle that is carrying the types of gas cylinders required by the customer and the number of gas cylinders required by the customer, and is the closest to the customer's location.

[0395] The delivery vehicle determination unit C232 determines the delivery vehicle identified by the delivery vehicle identifier as the delivery vehicle responsible for the delivery when, for example, the cylinder quantity information obtained using the cylinder information paired with the delivery vehicle identifier satisfies the conditions regarding the cylinder quantity information in the customer information. The cylinder quantity information obtained using the cylinder information refers to, for example, the cylinder quantity information in the cylinder information or the cylinder quantity information that is the number of cylinder information. That is, for example, the delivery vehicle determination unit C232 selects the delivery vehicle that is carrying the number of gas cylinders required by the customer.

[0396] The delivery vehicle determination unit C232 determines the delivery vehicle identified by the delivery vehicle identifier as the delivery vehicle responsible for the delivery when, for example, the cylinder type information in the cylinder information paired with the delivery vehicle identifier satisfies the conditions regarding the cylinder type information in the customer information. That is, for example, the delivery vehicle determination unit C232 selects the delivery vehicle that is carrying the types of gas cylinders required by the customer.

[0397] The delivery vehicle determination unit C232 determines the delivery vehicle identified by the delivery vehicle identifier as the delivery vehicle responsible for the delivery when, for example, the cylinder quantity information and cylinder type information obtained using the cylinder information paired with the delivery vehicle identifier satisfy the conditions regarding the cylinder quantity information and cylinder type information in the customer information. That is, for example, the delivery vehicle determination unit C232 selects the delivery vehicle that is carrying the types of gas cylinders required by the customer and carrying more than the required number.

[0398] The delivery vehicle determination unit C232 refers to a delivery list paired with, for example, a deliverer identifier or a delivery vehicle identifier, and selects a delivery vehicle that has a light load, is a deliverer or a delivery vehicle, and is carrying the gas cylinders required by the customer. Note that having a light load means that the number of customers with future delivery schedules in the delivery list is the smallest, or the number of customers with future delivery schedules in the delivery list is less than or equal to a threshold value. That is, the delivery vehicle determination unit C232 refers to a delivery list paired with, for example, a deliverer identifier or a delivery vehicle identifier, and selects a delivery vehicle specified by the deliverer identifier of a deliverer whose load can be determined to be small enough to meet predetermined conditions.

[0399] The delivery vehicle determination unit C232 obtains, for example, the unique information of the deliverer paired with the delivery vehicle identifier from the storage unit C21. Then, the delivery vehicle determination unit C232 determines whether the unique information matches the conditions (for example, whether to allow addition or change of the delivery destination). If the unique information matches the conditions (for example, when addition or change of the delivery destination is not allowed), the deliverer is not selected as the deliverer for delivering gas cylinders to new customers.

[0400] The delivery list update unit C233 obtains the delivery list corresponding to the delivery vehicle determined by the delivery vehicle determination unit C232, and adds at least part of the customer information paired with the customer identifier to the delivery list to obtain an updated delivery list. Note that the method of updating the delivery list is not limited. The method of updating the delivery list is, for example, "appending at least part of the customer information paired with the customer identifier to the end of the list", "inserting at least part of the customer information paired with the customer identifier", or "appending or inserting at least part of the customer information paired with the customer identifier and deleting one or more delivery destinations".

[0401] When the delivery list update unit C233 updates the delivery list, it is preferable to insert at least part of the customer information corresponding to the customer identifier into the delivery list so that the delivery cost becomes as low as possible (for example, the delivery cost is minimized) using the customer location information included in the customer information corresponding to the customer identifier. That is, the delivery list update unit C233 preferably inserts at least part of the customer information corresponding to the customer identifier, for example, between the customer location information corresponding to the delivery destination in the delivery list of future delivery schedules, between consecutive customer location information, and between the two closest customer location information. Further, the delivery list update unit C233 may determine the order of movement of two or more points so that the delivery cost is minimized using, for example, one or more customer location information in the delivery list of future delivery schedules and the customer location information included in the customer information corresponding to the customer identifier, and configure a delivery list according to the determined order of movement. Note that the process of determining the order of movement that minimizes the delivery cost when passing through a plurality of points is a known technique as the traveling salesman problem, and thus a detailed description thereof is omitted. Note that the delivery cost is a load or cost during delivery, and is information proportional to, for example, a physical distance or a time distance.

[0402] The transmission unit C24 transmits various types of information. The various types of information are, for example, customer information. The customer information may be a delivery list.

[0403] The customer information transmission unit C241 transmits the customer information corresponding to the customer identifier to the delivery person terminal C3 of the delivery vehicle determined by the delivery vehicle determination unit C232.

[0404] The customer information transmission unit C241 transmits, for example, the delivery list updated by the delivery list update unit C233 to the delivery person terminal C3 of the delivery vehicle determined by the delivery vehicle determination unit C232. That is, the customer information may be considered as information constituting the delivery list.

[0405] Various types of information are stored in the delivery person storage unit C31 that constitutes the delivery person terminal C3. The various types of information are, for example, a delivery person identifier or a delivery vehicle identifier.

[0406] The deliverer reception unit C32 receives various types of information, instructions, etc. The various types of information, instructions, etc. are, for example, delivery completion information indicating that the delivery has been completed. The delivery completion information usually has a customer identifier for identifying the delivered customer.

[0407] The input means for various types of information can be anything, such as a touch panel, keyboard, mouse, menu screen, etc. The deliverer reception unit C32 can be realized by a device driver for an input means such as a touch panel or keyboard, control software for a menu screen, etc.

[0408] The deliverer processing unit C33 performs various types of processing. The various types of processing are, for example, processing to convert information such as that received by the deliverer reception unit C32 into information having a structure for transmission, processing to convert the information received by the deliverer reception unit C35 into information having a structure for output, etc.

[0409] The deliverer transmission unit C34 transmits various types of information to the information processing device C2. The various types of information are, for example, delivery completion information.

[0410] The deliverer reception unit C35 receives various types of information from the information processing device C2. The various types of information are, for example, customer information, delivery list, etc.

[0411] The deliverer output unit C36 outputs various types of information. The various types of information are, for example, customer information, delivery list. Here, output usually means display on a display.

[0412] The terminal storage unit C11, storage unit C21, customer information storage unit A211, gas information storage unit A212, delivery cylinder information storage unit A213, delivery vehicle position information storage unit A214, delivery list storage unit C211, and deliverer storage unit C31 are preferably non-volatile recording media, but can also be realized by volatile recording media.

[0413] The process of storing information in the terminal storage unit C11 or the like is not limited. For example, information may be stored in the terminal storage unit C11 or the like via a recording medium, or information transmitted via a communication line or the like may be stored in the terminal storage unit C11 or the like, or information input via an input device may be stored in the terminal storage unit C11 or the like.

[0414] The terminal processing unit C13 and the processing unit C23, the customer information position information acquisition unit C231, the delivery vehicle determination unit C232, the delivery list update unit C233, and the delivery person processing unit C33 can usually be realized from an MPU, a memory, or the like. The processing procedure of the terminal processing unit C13 is usually realized by software, and the software is recorded on a recording medium such as a ROM. However, it may be realized by hardware (a dedicated circuit).

[0415] The terminal transmission unit C14, the transmission unit C24, the customer information transmission unit C241, and the delivery person transmission unit C34 are usually realized by wireless or wired communication means, but may be realized by a broadcast means.

[0416] The terminal reception unit C15, the reception unit C22, the customer identifier reception unit C221, and the delivery person reception unit C35 are usually realized by wireless or wired communication means, but may be realized by a means for receiving a broadcast.

[0417] The terminal output unit C16 and the delivery person output unit C36 may or may not be considered to include output devices such as a display and a speaker. The terminal output unit C16 can be realized by the driver software of the output device or the driver software of the output device and the output device or the like.

[0418] Next, the operation of the information system C will be described. First, the operation of the terminal device C1 will be described.

[0419] The terminal reception unit C12 of the terminal device C1 receives the customer identifier. Next, the terminal processing unit C13 constructs the customer identifier to be transmitted. Next, the terminal transmission unit C14 transmits the constructed customer identifier to the information processing device C2. Next, the terminal reception unit C15 receives information about, for example, the deliverer who delivers the gas cylinder to the customer in response to the transmission of the customer identifier. Then, the terminal processing unit C13 constructs the information to be output using the received information. Next, the terminal output unit C16 outputs information about the deliverer who delivers the gas cylinder to the customer.

[0420] Next, the operation of the information processing device C2 will be described using the flowchart of FIG. 17.

[0421] (Step 1701) The customer identifier reception unit C221 determines whether it has received a customer identifier that identifies a customer whose remaining gas is less than or equal to a predetermined condition. If it has received the customer identifier, it proceeds to step 1702, and if it has not received the customer identifier, it returns to step 1701. Note that a customer whose remaining gas is less than or equal to a predetermined condition is, for example, a customer who has experienced a gas shortage.

[0422] (Step 1702) The customer information position information acquisition unit C231 acquires the customer position information corresponding to the customer identifier received in step 1701 from the customer information storage unit A211.

[0423] (Step 1703) The delivery vehicle determination unit C232 acquires the cylinder type information included in the customer information corresponding to the customer identifier received in step 1701. Note that such cylinder type information is information that specifies the type of cylinder used by the customer.

[0424] (Step 1704) The delivery vehicle determination unit C232 acquires the cylinder quantity information included in the customer information corresponding to the customer identifier received in step 1701. Note that such cylinder quantity information is information that specifies the number of cylinders to be delivered to the customer at one time.

[0425] (Step 1705) The delivery vehicle determination unit C232 substitutes 1 for counter i.

[0426] (Step 1706) The delivery vehicle determination unit C232 determines whether the i-th delivery vehicle identifier exists in the delivery cylinder information storage unit A213. If the i-th delivery vehicle identifier exists, it proceeds to Step 1707. If the i-th delivery vehicle identifier does not exist, it proceeds to Step 1712. It is assumed that the delivery cylinder information in the delivery cylinder information storage unit A213 is associated with the delivery vehicle identifier.

[0427] (Step 1707) The delivery vehicle determination unit C232 acquires the cylinder type information included in the delivery cylinder information associated with the i-th delivery vehicle identifier in the delivery cylinder information storage unit A213. Note that such cylinder type information is the cylinder type information of the delivery vehicle.

[0428] (Step 1708) The delivery vehicle determination unit C232 acquires the cylinder quantity information included in the delivery cylinder information associated with the i-th delivery vehicle identifier in the delivery cylinder information storage unit A213. Note that such cylinder quantity information is the cylinder quantity information of the delivery vehicle.

[0429] (Step 1709) The delivery vehicle determination unit C232 determines whether the cylinder conditions are satisfied using the customer's cylinder type information acquired in Step 1703, the customer's cylinder quantity information acquired in Step 1704, the delivery vehicle's cylinder type information acquired in Step 1707, and the delivery vehicle's cylinder quantity information acquired in Step 1708. If the cylinder conditions are satisfied, it proceeds to Step 1710. If the cylinder conditions are not satisfied, it proceeds to Step 1711.

[0430] (Step 1710) The delivery vehicle determination unit C232 temporarily stores the i-th delivery vehicle identifier in the buffer.

[0431] (Step 1711) The delivery vehicle determination unit C232 increments counter i by 1 and returns to Step 1706.

[0432] (Step 1712) The delivery vehicle determination unit C232 performs a delivery vehicle determination process. An example of the delivery vehicle determination process will be described using the flowcharts of FIGS. 18 to 20.

[0433] (Step 1713) The delivery list update unit C233 performs a delivery list update process. An example of the delivery list update process will be described using the flowchart of FIG. 21.

[0434] (Step 1714) The customer information transmission unit C241 acquires the contact information paired with the customer identifier received in Step 1701 from the customer information storage unit A211.

[0435] (Step 1715) The customer information transmission unit C241 transmits the delivery list updated in Step 1713 to the contact specified by the contact information. Return to Step 1701.

[0436] Note that in the flowchart of FIG. 17, the process ends due to a power-off or a process end interrupt.

[0437] Next, a first example of the delivery vehicle determination process in Step 1712 will be described using the flowchart of FIG. 18.

[0438] (Step 1801) The delivery vehicle determination unit C232 substitutes 1 for the counter i.

[0439] (Step 1802) The delivery vehicle determination unit C232 determines whether the i-th delivery vehicle identifier exists among the delivery vehicle identifiers temporarily stored in the buffer in Step 1710. If the i-th delivery vehicle identifier exists, proceed to Step 1803; if the i-th delivery vehicle identifier does not exist, proceed to Step 1807.

[0440] (Step 1803) The delivery vehicle determination unit C232 acquires the unique information of the delivery person paired with the i-th delivery vehicle identifier from the storage unit C21. Then, the delivery vehicle determination unit C232 determines whether or not the unique information meets the conditions (for example, whether or not additional delivery destinations or changes are allowed). If it meets the conditions, it proceeds to step 1804; if it does not meet the conditions, it proceeds to step 1806. Here, if it meets the conditions, for example, when the unique information is "allows addition or change of delivery destination", "allows overtime", "allows sudden change of delivery route", or even when adding a delivery destination, it does not exceed the "latest working time". Assume that the "latest working time" is stored in the storage unit C21 in pairs with the delivery vehicle identifier or the delivery person identifier.

[0441] (Step 1804) The delivery vehicle determination unit C232 acquires the delivery person location information paired with the i-th delivery vehicle identifier from the delivery vehicle location information storage unit A214.

[0442] (Step 1805) The delivery vehicle determination unit C232 acquires the distance between the location specified by the customer location information and the location specified by the delivery person location information acquired in step 1804, and accumulates it in a buffer (not shown) in pairs with the i-th delivery vehicle identifier.

[0443] Note that such distance may be the physical distance (spatial distance) when moving via roads, the straight-line distance, or the time when moving (temporal distance). Also, since the methods for acquiring the physical distance, the straight-line distance, and the time when moving are well-known techniques, detailed descriptions are omitted.

[0444] (Step 1806) The delivery vehicle determination unit C232 increments the counter i by 1. Return to step 1802.

[0445] (Step 1807) The delivery vehicle determination unit C232 determines the shortest distance among the distances accumulated in the buffer (not shown) in step 1805. Then, the delivery vehicle determination unit C232 acquires the delivery vehicle identifier paired with the shortest distance from the buffer (not shown). Return to the upper-level process.

[0446] In the flowchart of FIG. 18, the customer information including the customer identifier received by the customer identifier reception unit C221 is registered in the list as the delivery destination before the remaining one or more delivery destinations. That is, in the flowchart of FIG. 18, the location information is information for specifying the leading position in the remaining route information, and the delivery vehicle determination unit C232 temporarily stores the location information in a buffer (not shown). The remaining route information includes part or all of the information in the delivery list and is a set in which the order of the customer location information of the undelivered customers can be determined. The remaining route information is, for example, the delivery list and route information for delivering the remaining cylinders. The route information is information regarding the road to travel. Note that the location information is information for specifying a location within the delivery list.

[0447] Next, a second example of the delivery vehicle determination process in step 1712 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 19.

[0448] (Step 1901) The delivery vehicle determination unit C232 assigns 1 to the counter i.

[0449] (Step 1902) The delivery vehicle determination unit C232 determines whether the i-th delivery vehicle identifier exists among the delivery vehicle identifiers (delivery vehicle identifiers that satisfy the cylinder conditions) temporarily stored in the buffer in step 1210. If the i-th delivery vehicle identifier exists, the process proceeds to step 1903; if the i-th delivery vehicle identifier does not exist, the process proceeds to step 1907.

[0450] (Step 1903) The delivery vehicle determination unit C232 acquires the unique information of the delivery person paired with the i-th delivery vehicle identifier. Then, the delivery vehicle determination unit C232 determines whether the unique information matches the conditions. If it matches the conditions, the process proceeds to step 1904; if it does not match the conditions, the process proceeds to step 1906.

[0451] (Step 1904) The delivery vehicle determination unit C232 acquires the customer location information of the last customer in the delivery list paired with the i-th delivery vehicle identifier. Note that the last customer is the last customer scheduled for delivery on the day.

[0452] (Step 1905) The delivery vehicle determination unit C232 acquires the distance between the location specified by the customer location information and the location specified by the customer location information of the last customer acquired in Step 1904, and accumulates it in a buffer (not shown) in pair with the i-th delivery vehicle identifier.

[0453] Note that such distance may be a physical distance, a straight-line distance, or the time (temporal distance) when moving. Also, the physical distance is the moving distance.

[0454] (Step 1906) The delivery vehicle determination unit C232 increments counter i by 1. Return to Step 1902.

[0455] (Step 1907) The delivery vehicle determination unit C232 determines the shortest distance among the distances accumulated in the buffer (not shown) in Step 1905. Then, the delivery vehicle determination unit C232 acquires the delivery vehicle identifier paired with the shortest distance. Return to the upper-level process.

[0456] Note that in the flowchart of FIG. 19, the customer information including the customer identifier received by the customer identifier reception unit C221 is registered in the list as the last delivery destination. That is, in the flowchart of FIG. 19, the location information is the information specifying the last position in the remaining route information, and the delivery vehicle determination unit C232 temporarily accumulates the location information in a buffer (not shown).

[0457] Next, a third example of the delivery vehicle determination process in Step 1712 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 20.

[0458] (Step 2001) The delivery vehicle determination unit C232 assigns 1 to counter i.

[0459] (Step 2002) The delivery vehicle determination unit C232 determines whether the i-th delivery vehicle identifier exists among the delivery vehicle identifiers temporarily stored in the buffer in step 1210. If the i-th delivery vehicle identifier exists, it proceeds to step 2003; if the i-th delivery vehicle identifier does not exist, it proceeds to step 2009.

[0460] (Step 2003) The delivery vehicle determination unit C232 acquires the delivery list paired with the i-th delivery vehicle identifier.

[0461] (Step 2004) The delivery vehicle determination unit C232 acquires remaining route information, which is a set where the order of customer location information of undelivered customers can be determined, from the delivery list acquired in step 2003.

[0462] (Step 2005) The delivery vehicle determination unit C232 determines the insertion position of customer information that satisfies predetermined conditions within the remaining route information using the customer location information. Note that the delivery vehicle determination unit C232 inserts customer information in all cases where insertion is possible within the remaining route information and acquires the delivery cost for each case. The delivery cost is, for example, distance or travel time. Also, the delivery vehicle determination unit C232, for example, calculates the loss distance "(distance when moving from the first customer location information → customer location information acquired in step 1202 → second customer location information) - (distance when moving from the first customer location information → second customer location information)" when inserting the customer location information acquired in step 1202 between two consecutive customer location information (first customer location information, second customer location information) within the remaining route information, and determines the position between the two consecutive customer location information with the minimum loss distance as the insertion position of the customer information acquired in step 1202. Note that the technique for acquiring the distance or travel time when moving through multiple points in sequence is a known technique. It is preferable that the travel time is the driving time when the delivery vehicle is moving plus the working time at each customer. Also, the working time is, for example, a fixed time (e.g., 10 minutes).

[0463] (Step 2006) The delivery vehicle determination unit C232 acquires the unique information of the delivery person corresponding to the i-th delivery vehicle identifier from the storage unit C21. Then, the delivery vehicle determination unit C232 determines whether or not the unique information meets the conditions. If it meets the conditions, it proceeds to step 2007; if it does not meet the conditions, it proceeds to step 2008.

[0464] (Step 2007) The delivery vehicle determination unit C232 calculates the delivery cost when inserting customer information into the remaining route information at the insertion location determined in step 2005, and temporarily stores the delivery cost in a buffer (not shown) in association with the i-th delivery vehicle identifier. If the delivery cost has already been calculated, here, the delivery vehicle determination unit C232 acquires the minimum cost.

[0465] (Step 2008) The delivery vehicle determination unit C232 increments the counter i by 1. It returns to step 2002.

[0466] (Step 2009) The delivery vehicle determination unit C232 acquires from the buffer (not shown) the delivery vehicle identifier corresponding to the minimum delivery cost among the delivery costs acquired in step 2007. It returns to the upper-level process.

[0467] Note that in the flowchart of FIG. 20, the customer information including the customer identifier received by the customer identifier reception unit C221 is registered in the list so that the loss is minimized. That is, in the flowchart of FIG. 19, the location information is information for specifying the position between the first customer position information and the second customer position information in the remaining route information, and the delivery vehicle determination unit C232 temporarily stores the location information in a buffer (not shown).

[0468] Next, the delivery list update process of step 1713 will be described using the flowchart of FIG. 21.

[0469] (Step 2101) The delivery list update unit C233 acquires the delivery list corresponding to the acquired delivery vehicle identifier.

[0470] (Step 2102) The delivery list update unit C233 obtains, from the customer information storage unit A211, the customer information that corresponds to the customer identifier received in Step 1201 and that is the information to be added to the delivery list. Note that the information to be added to the delivery list is predetermined.

[0471] (Step 2103) The delivery list update unit C233 obtains the location information, which is the information on the location where the customer information is to be added.

[0472] (Step 2104) The delivery list update unit C233 adds the customer information obtained in Step 2102 to the location in the delivery list obtained in Step 2101, at the location according to the location information.

[0473] (Step 2105) The delivery list update unit C233 obtains the unique information of the delivery person that corresponds to the obtained delivery vehicle identifier. Note that the unique information of the delivery person is, for example, "information specifying whether overtime is allowed", "the latest working time when available", and "information specifying whether a sudden change in the delivery route is allowed".

[0474] (Step 2106) The delivery list update unit C233 determines whether to delete the customer information of the customer at the delivery destination from the delivery list obtained in Step 2104, using the unique information of the delivery person obtained in Step 2105. If deletion is required, it proceeds to Step 2107; if deletion is not required, it proceeds to Step 2108. Note that the delivery list update unit C233 determines to delete the customer information of the customer at the delivery destination from the delivery list when the obtained unique information of the delivery person is "information indicating that overtime is not allowed", "information indicating that a sudden change in the delivery route is not allowed", or when the work completion time obtained using the remaining route information before deletion and the customer location information of the additional customer results in a time later than the "latest working time when available".

[0475] Note that to determine whether the delivery list update unit C233 exceeds the "latest workable time", the following determination process is performed. That is, the delivery list update unit C233 acquires the delivery vehicle position information and, from the delivery list, the location information of a plurality of customers at the current delivery destinations (including emergency customers). Then, the delivery list update unit C233 acquires the travel time when moving sequentially from the position indicated by the delivery vehicle position information to the positions indicated by the location information of the plurality of customers. Also, the delivery list update unit C233 acquires the cumulative time of the working time at each customer. Then, the delivery list update unit C233 acquires the current time. Next, the delivery list update unit C233 uses the current time, the travel time, and the cumulative time of the working time to acquire the work completion time. Next, the delivery list update unit C233 determines whether the work completion time exceeds the "latest workable time". Note that the method for acquiring the travel time for moving sequentially through a plurality of locations is a known technique. Also, the cumulative time of the working time is calculated, for example, by multiplying the placement time of one cylinder by the number of items at the delivery destination. The cumulative time of the working time may be obtained, for example, by using the number of cylinders to obtain the working time at each customer. In such a case, the delivery list update unit C233 obtains a longer working time as the number of cylinders increases.

[0476] (Step 2107) The delivery list update unit C233 deletes the customer information of one delivery destination from the delivery list acquired in step 2104. Note that the customer information to be deleted is, for example, the customer information of the customer at the last delivery destination, but it does not matter. Also, the deletion of the customer information may be, for example, the addition of information indicating that delivery is not required. That is, the deletion of the customer information only needs to be a process that allows the delivery person to know that delivery to that customer is not necessary.

[0477] (Step 2108) The customer information transmission unit C241 acquires the contact information corresponding to the delivery person identifier corresponding to the delivery vehicle identifier of the determined delivery vehicle.

[0478] (Step 2109) The customer information transmission unit C241 transmits the updated delivery list to the delivery person corresponding to the acquired contact information. Return to the upper-level process. Note that the transmission of the updated delivery list can also be said to be the transmission of customer information.

[0479] Next, an operation example of the delivery person terminal C3 will be described using the flowchart of FIG. 22.

[0480] (Step 2201) The delivery person reception unit C32 determines whether it has received delivery completion information. If it has received the delivery completion information, it proceeds to step 2202; if not, it proceeds to step 2205. Note that the delivery completion information has, for example, the customer identifier of the customer who has completed the delivery.

[0481] (Step 2202) The delivery person processing unit C33 makes the delivery completion information into a structure for transmitting the delivery completion information received in step 2201. Then, the delivery person transmission unit C34 transmits the said delivery completion information to the information processing device C2.

[0482] (Step 2203) The delivery person reception unit C35 determines whether it has received from the information processing device C2 a delivery list indicating that a cylinder has been delivered to the customer identified by the customer identifier in response to the transmission of the delivery completion information. If it has received the delivery list, it proceeds to step 2204; if not, it returns to step 2203.

[0483] (Step 2204) The delivery person processing unit C33 makes the delivery list received in step 2203 into a structure for outputting the information. The delivery person output unit C36 outputs the said delivery list. It returns to step 2201.

[0484] (Step 2205) The delivery person reception unit C35 determines whether it has received from the information processing device C2 an urgently updated delivery list. If it has received the delivery list, it proceeds to step 2206; if not, it returns to step 2201.

[0485] (Step 2206) The delivery person processing unit C33 makes the delivery list received in step 2205 into a structure for outputting the information. The delivery person output unit C36 outputs the said delivery list. It returns to step 2201.

[0486] Next, the specific operation of the information system C in this embodiment will be described. The conceptual diagram of the information system C is shown in FIG. 14.

[0487] In addition, the concept of the process in which the information processing device C2 constituting the information system C determines a delivery vehicle is shown in FIG. 23.

[0488] Delivery vehicle position information is transmitted from the delivery person terminal C3 to the information processing device C2 and stored in the information processing device C2 (see 2301). Also, delivery completion information is transmitted from the delivery person terminal C3 to the information processing device C2, and the remaining route information is updated and stored in the information processing device C2 (see 2302). Further, delivery cylinder information is transmitted from the facility terminal A4 to the information processing device C2 and stored in the information processing device C2 (see 2303). Note that the update of the remaining route information may be synonymous with the update of the delivery list.

[0489] In such a situation, assume that, for example, the customer identifier of a customer with a gas shortage is transmitted from the terminal device C1 to the information processing device C2.

[0490] Then, as described above, the information processing device C2 uses the customer position information corresponding to the customer identifier, the delivery position information of each delivery vehicle, the remaining route information of each delivery vehicle, and the unique information of each delivery person (for example, whether overtime is permitted or not) to make one or more of the following judgments: judgment of cylinder conditions, judgment of position conditions, and judgment using unique information (suitability delivery ability judgment 2304), and determines a delivery vehicle that delivers a cylinder to the customer identified by the customer identifier. Note that the suitability delivery ability judgment 2304 using the unique information of the delivery person may, for example, increase the number of delivery destinations by one additional location depending on the ability of the delivery person, or change the delivery destination that was scheduled to exist in the old delivery list to the next day.

[0491] Then, the information processing device C2 updates the delivery list corresponding to the determined delivery vehicle and transmits it to the delivery person terminal C3 (see 2305).

[0492] Next, the delivery person terminal C3 receives and outputs the updated delivery list. As a result, the delivery person terminal C3 switches from the old delivery list to the new delivery list, and the new delivery list is output (see 2306).

[0493] Note that an example of the old delivery list is shown in FIG. 24. In FIG. 24, the customer information constituting the delivery list is name, location information (postal code, prefecture, address), and cylinder type information (here, weight). An example of the new delivery list updated by the delivery list update unit C233 is shown in FIG. 25. FIG. 25(a) is a new delivery list when customer information of an additional delivery destination is added at the end of the old delivery list. FIG. 25(b) is a new delivery list when customer information of an additional delivery destination is inserted in the middle of the old delivery list and customer information of other delivery destinations is not deleted. FIG. 25(c) is a new delivery list when customer information of an additional delivery destination is inserted in the middle of the old delivery list and customer information of another delivery destination (here, the last delivery destination) is deleted. Note that although there are many people with the same surname in the "name" in FIGS. 24 and 25, they are usually people from different households.

[0494] As described above, according to the present embodiment, efficient delivery of gas cylinders to customers in the case of gas shortage or the like becomes possible.

[0495] Also, according to the present embodiment, the updated delivery list can be sent to the delivery vehicle.

[0496] Further, according to the present embodiment, by flexibly updating the delivery list, it is possible to respond to the urgent demands of customers in the case of gas shortage or the like, and to control the delivery of cylinders according to the demands or capabilities of the delivery person. That is, for example, an urgent delivery can be requested to a delivery person who wants to make a delivery even if they work overtime to increase their salary, and if there is no delivery person who wants to make a delivery even if they work overtime in an emergency to increase their salary, the delivery to non-urgent customers can be postponed to the next day, and cylinders can be delivered to urgent customers in the case of gas shortage or the like.

[0497] Note that the processing in this embodiment may be realized by software. And this software may be distributed by software download or the like. Also, this software may be recorded on a recording medium such as a CD-ROM and distributed. Note that this also applies to other embodiments in this specification. The software for realizing the information processing apparatus C2 in this embodiment is the following program. That is, this program has a customer information storage unit in which one or more pieces of customer information having a customer identifier and customer position information for specifying the position of the customer identified by the customer identifier are stored, and is associated with a delivery vehicle identifier for identifying a delivery vehicle. A delivery cylinder information storage unit in which one or more pieces of delivery cylinder information, which is information regarding cylinders to be delivered by the delivery vehicle, are stored, and a delivery vehicle position information storage unit in which delivery vehicle position information for specifying the position of the delivery vehicle is stored in association with the delivery vehicle identifier. A program for causing a computer accessible to these units to function as a customer identifier reception unit that receives a customer identifier for identifying a customer whose remaining gas is less than or equal to a predetermined condition, a customer information position information acquisition unit that acquires customer position information paired with the customer identifier received by the customer identifier reception unit from the customer information storage unit, and uses the customer position information acquired by the customer information position information acquisition unit, a set of delivery vehicle position information and delivery cylinder information paired with the same delivery vehicle identifier, to determine a delivery vehicle responsible for delivery, and a customer information transmission unit that transmits customer information paired with the customer identifier to the delivery vehicle terminal of the delivery vehicle determined by the delivery vehicle determination unit.

[0498] (Embodiment 4) In this embodiment, an information system including an information processing apparatus that determines the price of LPG using gas usage information and weather information will be described.

[0499] Also, in this embodiment, an information system including an information processing apparatus that determines the price of LPG using one or more pieces of related information among gas price information regarding the price of gas, exchange rate information regarding exchange rates, and operation status information regarding the operation status of gas tankers will be described.

[0500] Next, an information system including a server device that supports futures trading will be described in this embodiment.

[0501] Furthermore, an information system including a server device that varies the price according to the result of futures trading will be described in this embodiment.

[0502] FIG. 26 is a conceptual diagram of the information system D in this embodiment. The information system D includes one or more terminal devices D1, an information processing device D2, and a server device D3.

[0503] The terminal device D1 is, for example, a terminal that instructs the information processing device D2 to start an operation. Also, the terminal device D1 is, for example, a terminal that transmits a purchase instruction for futures trading of LPG to the server device D3. The terminal device D1 is, for example, a smartphone, a tablet terminal, a so-called personal computer, etc., and its type is not limited.

[0504] The information processing device D2 is a device that determines the future price of LPG. It is preferable that this price is a variable price.

[0505] The information processing device D2 can be realized by a so-called cloud server, an ASP server, etc., and its type is not limited. Note that the information processing device D2 may have all or part of the functions of the information processing device A2. That is, the information processing device D2 may be the information processing device A2 that performs futures trading processing. Note that the futures trading processing may be described as processing for determining the future price of LPG.

[0506] The server device D3 is a device that supports futures trading. The server device D3 can be realized by a so-called cloud server, an ASP server, etc., and its type is not limited.

[0507] FIG. 27 is a block diagram of the information system D in this embodiment. FIG. 28 is a block diagram of the information processing device D2.

[0508] The terminal device D1 that constitutes the information system D includes a terminal storage unit D11, a terminal reception unit D12, a terminal processing unit D13, a terminal transmission unit D14, a terminal reception unit D15, and a terminal output unit D16.

[0509] The information processing device D2 includes a storage unit D21, a reception unit D22, a processing unit D23, and an output unit D24.

[0510] The storage unit D21 includes a gas information storage unit A212, a weather information storage unit A215, and a related information storage unit D211.

[0511] The reception unit D22 includes a gas information reception unit A221, a weather information reception unit A224, and a related information reception unit D221.

[0512] The processing unit D23 includes a gas information accumulation unit A231, a weather information accumulation unit A234, and a price information acquisition unit D231.

[0513] The price information acquisition unit D231 includes a demand prediction means D2311 and a price information acquisition means D2312.

[0514] The output unit D24 includes a price information output unit D241.

[0515] The server device D3 includes a server storage unit D31, a server output unit D32, a server reception unit D33, a server processing unit D34, and a server transmission unit D35.

[0516] The server processing unit D34 includes a futures trading means D341 and a price change means D342.

[0517] Various types of information are stored in the terminal storage unit D11 that constitutes the terminal device D1. The various types of information are, for example, a user identifier and a terminal identifier that identifies the terminal device D1. Note that this user identifier is identification information of the user who inputs a purchase instruction described later. The user identifier is, for example, an ID, an email address, a phone number, etc.

[0518] The terminal reception unit D12 receives various types of information, instructions, etc. The various types of information, instructions, etc. are, for example, the purchase instructions and operation start instructions described later. Note that the operation start instruction is an instruction to start an operation for the information processing device D2. Also, it is preferable that the terminal device D1 that receives the purchase instruction and the terminal device D1 that receives the operation start instruction are different. The terminal device D1 that receives the purchase instruction is the terminal of the user who conducts the forward transaction. Also, the terminal device D1 that receives the operation start instruction is, for example, the terminal of the operator of the information processing device D2.

[0519] The input means for various types of information, instructions, etc. can be anything, such as a touch panel, keyboard, mouse, or based on a menu screen. The terminal reception unit D12 can be realized by a device driver of an input means such as a touch panel or keyboard, or control software of a menu screen.

[0520] The terminal processing unit D13 performs various types of processing. The various types of processing are, for example, the processing of converting various types of information, instructions, etc. received by the terminal reception unit D12 into the data structure of various types of information, instructions, etc. to be transmitted. Also, the various types of processing are, for example, the processing of converting the information received by the terminal reception unit D15 into the data structure for output.

[0521] The terminal transmission unit D14 transmits various types of information to the information processing device D2 or the server device D3. The various types of information are, for example, the purchase instructions and operation start instructions described later.

[0522] The terminal reception unit D15 receives various types of information. The various types of information are, for example, the result of the forward transaction processing, the screen information of the web page for the forward transaction, the operation completion notification, and the price information. Note that the operation completion notification is information indicating that the acquisition processing of the price information has been completed in the information processing device D2 in response to the transmission of the operation start instruction.

[0523] The terminal output unit D16 outputs various types of information. The various types of information are, for example, the information configured by the terminal processing unit D13. The various types of information are, for example, the web page for the forward transaction and the price information.

[0524] Here, the output is a concept that includes display on a display, projection using a projector, printing by a printer, sound output, transmission to an external device, storage in a recording medium, delivery of a processing result to another processing device, another program, etc.

[0525] In the storage unit D21 that constitutes the information processing apparatus D2, various types of information are stored. The various types of information are, for example, gas information, weather information, related information, price information, one or more arithmetic expressions (which may also be referred to as functions) described later, and a learning device described later.

[0526] The gas information storage unit A212 stores two or more pieces of gas information including gas usage information of two or more households.

[0527] The weather information storage unit A215 stores weather information associated with date information. It is preferable that the weather information storage unit A215 stores weather information up to three months in the future. Here, the weather information is preferably predicted weather and predicted temperature.

[0528] The related information storage unit D211 stores one or more pieces of related information. The related information is information that can affect the determination of the LPG price. The related information is, for example, gas price information, exchange rate information, and operation status information.

[0529] The gas price information is information regarding the price of gas. The gas price information is, for example, one or more pieces of information among Middle East gas price information that specifies the Middle East gas price and MB (Mont Belvieu) gas price information that specifies the MB gas price. The Middle East gas price is the price of gas in Middle East oil-producing countries. The MB gas price is the propane trading price at the LPG base in Mont Belvieu, Texas.

[0530] The exchange rate information is information regarding the exchange rate. The exchange rate information is, for example, the price of yen per dollar.

[0531] The operation status information is information regarding the operation status of the gas tanker. The operation status information is, for example, information indicating that there is a trouble, information indicating that there is no trouble, information indicating that there is a trouble within a period within a threshold value (e.g., the most recent one month), information indicating that there is no trouble within a period within a threshold value (e.g., the most recent one month), and information specifying the content or type of the trouble.

[0532] The receiving unit D22 receives various types of information. The various types of information are, for example, gas information, weather information, related information, and an operation start instruction.

[0533] The gas information receiving unit A221 receives gas information from the gas information transmitting device A1.

[0534] The weather information receiving unit A224 receives weather information associated with time information for specifying time. Here, the reception generally means reception of information transmitted from a server (not shown) via a wired or wireless communication line, but it may be considered as a concept including reception of information input from an input device such as a keyboard, a mouse, or a touch panel, and reception of information read from a recording medium such as an optical disk, a magnetic disk, or a semiconductor memory.

[0535] The related information receiving unit D221 receives related information. The related information receiving unit D221 receives one or more pieces of related information from a server (not shown).

[0536] The processing unit D23 performs various types of processing. The various types of processing are, for example, processing performed by the gas information storage unit A231, the weather information storage unit A234, and the price information acquisition unit D231.

[0537] The price information acquisition unit D231 acquires price information for specifying the price of LPG per unit amount at the time specified by the time information, using the gas usage information and the weather information of two or more households. The time specified by the time information is usually the day specified by the date information. However, the time specified by the time information may be a period longer than one day.

[0538] The price information acquisition unit D231 preferably acquires price information for each day in a predetermined period in the future using gas usage information of two or more households, weather information, and one or more pieces of related information.

[0539] The price information acquisition unit D231 acquires price information at a higher price as the gas usage amount indicated by the gas usage information of two or more households is larger. For example, the price information acquisition unit D231 acquires a higher price as the predicted demand amount described later is larger.

[0540] The price information acquisition unit D231 usually acquires price information at a higher price as the temperature specified by the weather information is lower.

[0541] The price information acquisition unit D231 usually acquires price information at a higher price as the weather specified by the weather information is worse (for example, when there is more rain compared to when there is more sunshine).

[0542] The price information acquisition unit D231 usually acquires price information at a higher price as the price specified by the gas price information is higher.

[0543] The price information acquisition unit D231 usually acquires price information at a higher price as the exchange rate information indicates a weaker yen.

[0544] Hereinafter, the details of the processing example of the price information acquisition unit D231 will be described. Here, the processing when price information is acquired by the demand prediction means D2311 and the price information acquisition means D2312 will be described. (1) Demand prediction by the demand prediction means D2311

[0545] The demand prediction means D2311 acquires a predicted demand amount, which is the future demand amount of LPG, using the gas usage information of two or more households. Note that the predicted demand amount is the future demand amount of LPG, for example, the total annual usage amount, and the period is not limited.

[0546] And, as methods for acquiring the predicted demand amount, for example, the following three methods may be available. (1-1) Method by calculation

[0547] The demand prediction means D2311 acquires, for example, the past gas usage information of two or more households from the gas information storage unit A212. Then, the demand prediction means D2311 acquires, for example, the total amount of gas usage of the two or more households from the gas usage information of the two or more households. Next, the demand prediction means D2311 acquires the predicted demand amount by, for example, an increasing function using the total amount as a parameter. (1-2) Method by correspondence table

[0548] The demand prediction means D2311 acquires, for example, the total amount of gas usage of two or more households from the gas usage information of the two or more households, and acquires the predicted demand amount corresponding to the total amount from the correspondence table. Note that such a correspondence table is a table having two or more pieces of correspondence information having information on the width of the total amount of gas usage (total number of past usage amounts) and the predicted demand amount.

[0549] The demand prediction means D2311 acquires the predicted demand amount by, for example, machine learning. Hereinafter, an example of an algorithm for acquiring the predicted demand amount using machine learning will be described. (1-3) Method by machine learning

[0550] Hereinafter, the process of configuring the learning device and the process of acquiring the predicted demand amount will be described. (1-3-1) Process of configuring the learning device

[0551] The demand prediction means D2311 acquires, for example, the past gas usage information of two or more households from the gas information storage unit A212. Note that the past gas usage information is, for example, the gas usage information for January of each of two or more years (for example, 2010, 2011, ···, 2018).

[0552] Also, the demand prediction means D2311 adds, for example, the usage amounts indicated by the past gas usage information of two or more households in each of two or more years, and calculates the total annual gas usage.

[0553] Next, the demand prediction means D2311 acquires, by means of a machine learning algorithm, a learning device that takes gas usage information for a short period (for example, one month, from January to March, from January to June) as input and outputs the total annual gas usage. Note that it is preferable that the short period is a period included in the year for which the total gas usage is obtained, but it may also be a period not included in the year for which the total gas usage is obtained.

[0554] That is, for each year, the demand prediction means D2311 acquires a set of short-term gas usage information and the total annual gas usage, and constitutes learning source information having a plurality of sets. Next, the demand prediction means D2311 gives the learning source information to a module for configuring a learning device of machine learning, executes the module, configures a learning device, and stores it in the storage unit D21. Note that the machine learning algorithm may be, for example, deep learning, random forest, SVR, etc. Also, the machine learning module may be, for example, a module of TensorFlow, fastText, TinySvm, various RandomForest functions, etc. Also, the learning device may be called a classifier.

[0555] Furthermore, in the above, the demand prediction means D2311 may use gas usage information for one month, or gas usage information for a period of two months or more to configure the learning device. For example, it may use gas usage information for a predetermined period (for example, one month, three months, six months, twelve months, etc.) of the previous year. (1-3-2) Process of obtaining predicted demand

[0556] The demand prediction means D2311 acquires, from the gas information storage unit A212, gas usage information for a period corresponding to the demand amount to be predicted (for example, January to February of this year) in a period equivalent to the gas usage information for the period (for example, January to February before last year) used to configure the learning device.

[0557] Next, the demand prediction means D2311 uses the acquired gas usage information and the learning device in the storage unit D21 to obtain the predicted annual demand volume by means of a machine learning algorithm. That is, for example, the demand prediction means D2311 constructs a vector with each usage volume of the acquired gas usage information as an element, gives the vector and the learning device in the storage unit D21 to a module for performing machine learning prediction, and obtains, for example, the predicted annual demand volume by means of a machine learning algorithm. Note that the machine learning algorithm in such a prediction case may also be, for example, deep learning, random forest, SVR, etc. Also, the module for machine learning prediction may be, for example, a module of TensorFlow, fastText, TinySvm, various RandomForest functions, etc., anything is fine. Note that prediction here is a process of obtaining the predicted annual demand volume. (2) Determination process of price information by the price information acquisition means D2312

[0558] The price information acquisition means D2312 uses the predicted demand volume acquired by the demand prediction means D2311 and the weather information to acquire the price information of LPG for each day of 1 or more.

[0559] And as a method of acquiring price information using the predicted demand volume, for example, the following three methods may exist. (2-1) Method by calculation

[0560] The price information acquisition means D2312 acquires, for example, 1 or more pieces of related information from the related information storage unit D211. Then, the price information acquisition means D2312 substitutes the predicted demand volume and 1 or more pieces of related information as parameters into an arithmetic expression, executes the arithmetic expression, and obtains the reference price information.

[0561] Next, the price information acquisition means D2312 corrects the reference price information using, for example, 1 or more pieces of information among the temperature information and weather information included in the weather information of each day for price determination, and acquires the corrected price information.

[0562] Note that the price information acquisition means D2312, for example, reduces the price information by a predetermined amount or according to the temperature information when the temperature information is high enough to satisfy a predetermined first condition. Further, the price information acquisition means D2312 increases the price information by a predetermined amount or according to the temperature information when the temperature information is low enough to satisfy a predetermined second condition. The first condition is, for example, "higher than a threshold value than the average temperature of the day stored in the storage unit D21" or "higher than the threshold value than the average temperature of the day stored in the storage unit D21". The second condition is, for example, "lower than a threshold value than the average temperature of the day stored in the storage unit D21" or "lower than the threshold value than the average temperature of the day stored in the storage unit D21".

[0563] Further, the price information acquisition means D2312 corrects the reference price information according to the weather information and acquires the corrected price information. For example, when the weather information indicates "rain", the price information acquisition means D2312 increases the price information by a predetermined amount. Further, for example, when the weather information indicates "sunny", the price information acquisition means D2312 reduces the price information by a predetermined amount. (2-2) Method using a correspondence table

[0564] Assume that a correspondence table consisting of two or more pieces of correspondence information having "conditions related to the predicted demand volume" or "conditions related to the predicted demand volume and one or more pieces of related information" and "price information" is stored in the storage unit D21. The "conditions related to the predicted demand volume" are, for example, the range of the predicted demand volume (for example, "y1 <= predicted demand volume < y2"). The "conditions related to the predicted demand volume and one or more pieces of related information" are, for example, conditions consisting of the range of the predicted demand volume (for example, "y1 <= predicted demand volume < y2") and the range of the exchange rate (for example, "z1 <= yen / 1 dollar < z2").

[0565] Then, the price information acquisition means D2312 acquires, for example, one or more pieces of related information from the related information storage unit D211. Then, the price information acquisition means D2312 acquires, for example, price information corresponding to the predicted demand volume and one or more pieces of related information from the correspondence table, and obtains the reference price information.

[0566] Next, in the same manner as (2-1), the price information acquisition means D2312 corrects the reference price information using, for example, one or more pieces of information among the temperature information and weather information included in the weather information for each day of price determination, and acquires the corrected price information. (2-3) Method by machine learning (2-3-1) Processing for configuring the learning device

[0567] The price information acquisition means D2312 acquires, for example, a plurality of sets of combinations of past predicted demand volumes, past one or more pieces of each related information, past weather information, and past price information as learning source information, and obtains a learning device by a machine learning algorithm. This learning device is a learning device that takes the predicted demand volume, one or more pieces of each related information, and weather information as inputs and outputs price information.

[0568] More specifically, the price information acquisition means D2312 provides, for example, the above learning source information to a module for configuring a machine learning learning device, executes the module, configures a learning device, and stores it in the storage unit D21. Note that the machine learning algorithm may be, for example, deep learning, random forest, SVR, etc. Also, the machine learning module may be, for example, a module of TensorFlow, fastText, TinySvm, various RandomForest functions, etc. Also, the learning device may be called a classifier. (2-3-2) Processing for acquiring price information

[0569] The price information acquisition means D2312 acquires, for example, one or more pieces of related information from the related information storage unit D211. Further, the price information acquisition means D2312 acquires, for example, the weather information of the day for which the price information is to be acquired from the weather information storage unit A215. Then, the price information acquisition means D2312 uses the predicted demand volume, one or more pieces of related information, the weather information, and the learning device of the storage unit D21 to acquire price information by means of a machine learning algorithm. That is, for example, the price information acquisition means D2312 constructs a vector from the acquired predicted demand volume, one or more pieces of related information, and the weather information, and gives the vector and the learning device of the storage unit D21 to a module that performs machine learning prediction, and acquires price information by means of a machine learning algorithm. Note that the machine learning algorithm in such a prediction case may also be, for example, deep learning, random forest, SVR, etc., without limitation. Also, the module for machine learning prediction may be, for example, a module of TensorFlow, fastText, TinySvm, various RandomForest functions, etc., anything is fine. Note that prediction here is a process of acquiring price information.

[0570] The output unit D24 outputs various types of information. The various types of information are, for example, price information.

[0571] The price information output unit D241 outputs the price information acquired by the price information acquisition unit D231. It is preferable that the price information output unit D241 outputs the price information acquired by the price information acquisition unit D231 in association with the date information that specifies the day for which the price information is to be acquired.

[0572] Also, here, output is, for example, accumulation in the storage unit D21. Also, output is, for example, transmission to the server device D3. Also, output is, for example, display. When the output is display, the output unit D24 may be considered to include or not include output devices such as a display and a speaker. The output unit D24 can be realized by the driver software of the output device or the driver software of the output device and the output device, etc.

[0573] In the server storage unit D31 that constitutes the server device D3, various types of information are stored. The various types of information are, for example, one or more price information items output by the information processing device D2. Note that each of the one or more price information items is usually associated with date information.

[0574] The server output unit D32 outputs the price information stored in the server storage unit D31. The server output unit D32 outputs the price information, for example, upon receiving a user's instruction. Here, the output usually refers to sending to a terminal (not shown) of the user, but may also include concepts such as display.

[0575] The server output unit D32 outputs the price information changed by the price change means D342. Here, the output usually refers to sending to a terminal (not shown) of the user, but may also include concepts such as display.

[0576] The server reception unit D33 receives a purchase instruction. The purchase instruction is a purchase instruction corresponding to the price information output by the server output unit D32. The purchase instruction has, for example, a user identifier, quantity information specifying a quantity, and date information.

[0577] The server processing unit D34 performs a futures trading process (described later) in response to the purchase instruction. The server processing unit D34 also performs a price change process (described later).

[0578] The futures trading means D341 performs a futures trading process. The futures trading process is a process for reserving the purchase of LPG in the quantity specified by the quantity information at the price specified by the price information. Note that the purchase instruction has, for example, date information, quantity information, and price information. Also, the purchase instruction is associated with, for example, a user identifier.

[0579] The futures trading process can be anything as long as it is a process for reserving the purchase of LPG. The futures trading process is, for example, a process of constructing futures trading information having a user identifier for identifying a purchaser, price information, quantity information, and date information, and accumulating it in the server storage unit D31. Also, the futures trading process is, for example, a process of sending the futures trading information to the terminal that sent the purchase instruction.

[0580] The price change means D342 performs a price change process. When a purchase instruction is received, the price change means D342 acquires price information obtained by changing the price information stored in the server storage unit D31, and accumulates the price information in the server storage unit D31.

[0581] For example, in response to a purchase instruction, the price change means D342 raises the price specified by the price information paired with the date information included in the purchase instruction, acquires the updated price information, and accumulates the updated price information in pair with the date information.

[0582] For example, it is preferable that the price change means D342 changes the price information according to the transaction volume. For example, the price change means D342 obtains information on the increasing price by an increasing function using the transaction volume on the corresponding day as a parameter, adds the information on the price to the current price information, and obtains the price information to be updated. Also, for example, in response to the reception of a purchase instruction, the price change means D342 adds a fixed amount to the current price information and obtains the price information to be updated. Further, for example, when there is no transaction or the transaction is below a threshold value for a predetermined period, the price change means D342 subtracts a fixed amount from the current price information and obtains the price information to be updated.

[0583] The server transmission unit D35 transmits various types of information. The various types of information are, for example, futures trading information, futures trading process completion notice, etc. The futures trading process completion notice is information indicating that the futures trading process has been completed. Note that the server transmission unit D35 transmits the various types of information to, for example, the terminal device D1.

[0584] The terminal storage unit D11, the storage unit D21, the gas information storage unit A212, the weather information storage unit A215, the related information storage unit D211, and the server storage unit D31 are preferably non-volatile recording media, but can also be realized with volatile recording media.

[0585] The process of storing information in the terminal storage unit D11 or the like is not limited. For example, information may be stored in the terminal storage unit D11 or the like via a recording medium, information transmitted via a communication line or the like may be stored in the terminal storage unit D11 or the like, or information input via an input device may be stored in the terminal storage unit D11 or the like.

[0586] The terminal processing unit D13, the processing unit D23, the gas information storage unit A231, the weather information storage unit A234, the price information acquisition unit D231, the demand prediction means D2311, the price information acquisition means D2312, the server processing unit D34, the futures trading means D341, and the price change means D342 can usually be realized from an MPU, a memory, or the like. The processing procedures of the terminal processing unit D13 and the like are usually realized by software, and the software is recorded on a recording medium such as a ROM. However, it may also be realized by hardware (a dedicated circuit).

[0587] The terminal transmission unit D14, the output unit D24, the price information output unit D241, and the server transmission unit D35 are realized by, for example, wireless or wired communication means, but may also be realized by broadcasting means.

[0588] The terminal reception unit D15, the reception unit D22, and the related information reception unit D221 are usually realized by wireless or wired communication means, but may also be realized by means of receiving broadcasts.

[0589] The terminal output unit D16 may or may not be considered to include output devices such as a display and a speaker. The terminal output unit D16 can be realized by the driver software of the output device or the driver software of the output device and the output device or the like.

[0590] Next, the operation of the information system D will be described. First, an operation example of the terminal device D1 will be described using the flowchart of FIG. 29.

[0591] (Step S2901) The terminal reception unit D12 determines whether a purchase instruction has been received. If a purchase instruction has been received, it proceeds to step S2902; if not, it proceeds to step S2905.

[0592] (Step S2902) The terminal processing unit D13 formats the purchase instruction received in step S2901 into the structure of a purchase instruction to be transmitted. Next, the terminal transmission unit D14 transmits the purchase instruction to the server device D3.

[0593] (Step S2903) The terminal reception unit D15 determines whether a futures trading process completion notification has been received. If a futures trading process completion notification has been received, it proceeds to step S2904; if not, it returns to step S2903.

[0594] (Step S2904) The terminal processing unit D13 formats the futures trading process completion notification received in step S2903 into the structure of information to be output. The terminal output unit D16 outputs the futures trading process completion notification. It returns to step S2901.

[0595] (Step S2905) The terminal reception unit D12 determines whether an operation start instruction has been received. If an operation start instruction has been received, it proceeds to step S2906; if not, it returns to step S2901.

[0596] (Step S2906) The terminal processing unit D13 formats the operation start instruction received in step S2905 into the structure of an operation start instruction to be transmitted. Next, the terminal transmission unit D14 transmits the operation start instruction to the information processing device D2.

[0597] (Step S2907) The terminal reception unit D15 determines whether an operation completion notification has been received from the information processing device D2. If an operation completion notification has been received, it proceeds to step S2908; if not, it returns to step S2907.

[0598] (Step S2908) The terminal processing unit D13 is configured to output the operation completion notification received in step S2907. The terminal output unit D16 outputs the operation completion notification. Return to step S2901.

[0599] Note that in the flowchart of FIG. 29, the process ends due to a power-off or a processing end interrupt.

[0600] Next, an example of the process in which the information processing apparatus D2 determines price information will be described using the flowchart of FIG. 30.

[0601] (Step S3001) The reception unit D22 determines whether an operation start instruction has been received. If an operation start instruction has been received, proceed to step S3002; if an operation start instruction has not been received, return to step S3001.

[0602] (Step S3002) The price information acquisition unit D231 assigns 1 to the counter i.

[0603] (Step S3003) The price information acquisition unit D231 determines whether it is the day for determining the price information and whether the i-th day exists. If the i-th day exists, proceed to step S3004; if the i-th day does not exist, return to step S3001. Note that the i-th day is, for example, the day specified by the i-th date information in the date information included in the operation start instruction, or a day within a predetermined period (for example, the 1st day of the month 3 months after today).

[0604] (Step S3004) The price information acquisition unit D231 acquires the gas usage information used when determining the price information from the gas information storage unit A212.

[0605] (Step S3005) The price information acquisition unit D231 acquires the weather information corresponding to the date information of the i-th day from the weather information storage unit A215. Note that the weather information corresponding to the date information of the i-th day is weather forecast information.

[0606] (Step S3006) The price information acquisition unit D231 acquires one or more pieces of related information from the related information storage unit D211.

[0607] (Step S3007) The price information acquisition unit D231 performs price information acquisition processing. An example of the price information acquisition processing will be described using the flowchart of FIG. 31.

[0608] (Step S3008) The price information acquisition unit D231 accumulates the price information acquired in Step S3007 in the storage unit D21 in association with the date information of the i-th day. Return to Step S3001. Note that the price information output unit D241 may transmit the price information acquired in Step S3007 to the server device D3 in association with the date information of the i-th day.

[0609] (Step S3009) The price information acquisition unit D231 increments the counter i by 1. Return to Step S3004.

[0610] In the flowchart of FIG. 30, the process ends due to a power-off or a processing end interrupt.

[0611] Next, an example of the price information acquisition processing in Step S3007 will be described using the flowchart of FIG. 31.

[0612] (Step S3101) The demand prediction means D2311 performs demand prediction processing. The demand prediction processing will be described using the flowchart of FIG. 32.

[0613] (Step S3102) The price information acquisition means D2312 acquires reference price information using the predicted demand volume that is the result of the demand prediction processing in Step S3101. Note that the price information acquisition means D2312, for example, substitutes the predicted demand volume into an increasing function having the predicted demand volume as a parameter, executes the function, and acquires the price information. Also, the price information acquisition means D2312, for example, acquires the price information paired with the predicted demand volume from a correspondence table. In such a case, the correspondence table has, for example, two or more pieces of correspondence information having the width of the predicted demand volume and the price information.

[0614] (Step S3103) The price information acquisition means D2312 determines whether the acquired weather information is information that needs to correct the price information. If the weather information is such information (for example, when the temperature is higher than the threshold by a certain amount or lower than the threshold by a certain amount compared to the standard), it proceeds to step S3104; if it is not such information, it proceeds to step S3105.

[0615] (Step S3104) The price information acquisition means D2312 corrects the price information. It is preferable that the price information acquisition means D2312 corrects the price information to different values according to the weather information.

[0616] (Step S3105) The price information acquisition means D2312 substitutes 1 for the counter i.

[0617] (Step S3106) The price information acquisition means D2312 determines whether the i-th related information exists in the acquired related information. If the i-th related information exists, it proceeds to step S3107; if the i-th related information does not exist, it returns to the upper-level process.

[0618] (Step S3107) The price information acquisition means D2312 acquires the i-th related information and determines whether the i-th related information is information that requires correction of the price information. If it is information that requires correction of the price information, it proceeds to step S3108; if it is not information that requires correction of the price information, it proceeds to step S3109.

[0619] (Step S3108) The price information acquisition means D2312 corrects the price information. It is preferable that the price information acquisition means D2312 corrects the price information to different values according to the related information.

[0620] (Step S3109) The price information acquisition means D2312 increments the counter i by 1 and returns to step S3106.

[0621] Next, the demand prediction process in step S3101 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 32.

[0622] (Step S3201) The demand prediction means D2311 acquires one or more pieces of gas usage information used for demand prediction.

[0623] (Step S3202) The demand prediction means D2311 acquires the stored learning device from the storage unit D21.

[0624] (Step S3203) The demand prediction means D2311 uses the gas usage information acquired in step S3201 and the learning device acquired in step S3202 to obtain a predicted demand volume by means of a machine learning algorithm. Return to the upper-level process.

[0625] Note that in the flowchart of FIG. 32, a machine learning algorithm is used, but as described above, a predicted demand volume may be obtained without using a machine learning algorithm.

[0626] Also, in the flowchart of FIG. 32, the process of configuring the learning device has been described above, so the description here is omitted.

[0627] Next, an operation example of the server device D3 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 33.

[0628] (Step S3301) The server reception unit D33 determines whether a purchase instruction has been received from the terminal device D1. If a purchase instruction has been received, proceed to step S3302; if not, return to step S3301.

[0629] (Step S3302) The futures trading means D341 acquires date information, quantity information, etc. included in the purchase instruction. The date information, quantity information, etc. are, for example, date information, quantity information, and user identifier.

[0630] (Step S3303) The futures trading means D341 acquires price information paired with the date information acquired in Step S3302 from the server storage unit D31.

[0631] (Step S3304) The futures trading means D341 constructs futures trading information having a user identifier, price information, quantity information, and date information. Then, the server processing unit D34 accumulates the futures trading information in the server storage unit D31. Note that, for example, using the accumulated trading information, processing for trading is performed at a later date.

[0632] (Step S3305) The price change means D342 determines whether to change the price information stored in the server storage unit D31. If it is determined to change the price information, it proceeds to Step S3306, and if it is determined not to change the price information, it proceeds to Step S3308.

[0633] Note that the price change means D342, for example, acquires the trading volume of the corresponding day using one or more quantity information paired with the date information of that day, and if it is determined that the trading volume is equal to or more than the threshold, it determines to change the price information. The price change means D342, for example, determines to change the price information each time a purchase instruction is received. The price change means D342, for example, determines to change the price information of days without trading for a period equal to or more than the threshold. It is preferable that the price change means D342 determines whether to change the price information using one or more of the information on trading volume or trading frequency.

[0634] (Step S3306) The price change means D342 acquires the price information to be changed. Note that it is preferable that the price change means D342 changes the price information so that the higher the trading volume of the corresponding day, the higher the price.

[0635] (Step S3307) The price change means D342 accumulates the updated price information in association with the date information.

[0636] (Step S3308) The server transmission unit D35 transmits a completion notice of the futures trading process to the terminal device D1. Return to step S3301.

[0637] Note that in the flowchart of FIG. 33, the process ends due to a power-off or a processing end interrupt.

[0638] As described above, according to the present embodiment, the price of LPG can be determined using gas usage information and weather information.

[0639] Also, according to the present embodiment, the price of LPG can be accurately determined using related information as well.

[0640] Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, futures trading of gas can be performed using gas usage information and weather information.

[0641] Note that the processing in the present embodiment may be realized by software. And this software may be distributed by software download or the like. Also, this software may be recorded on a recording medium such as a CD-ROM and distributed. Note that this also applies to other embodiments in this specification. The software for realizing the information processing device D2 in the present embodiment is a program as follows. That is, this program causes a computer that can access a gas information storage unit storing two or more pieces of gas information including gas usage information of two or more households to function as a weather information reception unit that receives weather information associated with time information for specifying time, a price information acquisition unit that acquires price information for specifying the price of LPG per unit amount at the time specified by the time information using the gas usage information of the two or more households and the weather information, and a price information output unit that outputs the price information acquired by the price information acquisition unit.

[0642] (Embodiment 5) In this embodiment, an information system including an information processing apparatus that outputs information regarding home using gas usage information will be described. Note that it is preferable that the information regarding home includes a home score regarding the degree of being at home. Further, it is preferable that the information processing apparatus outputs home information by day of the week and time zone. Also, the information regarding home is usually information regarding the presence of any resident in the household.

[0643] FIG. 34 is a conceptual diagram of the information system E in this embodiment. The information system E includes one or more terminal devices E1 and an information processing apparatus E2.

[0644] The terminal device E1 is, for example, a terminal used by an administrator of the information system E, a delivery company, or the like. The terminal device E1 is, for example, a smartphone, a tablet terminal, a so-called personal computer, or the like, and its type is not limited.

[0645] The information processing apparatus E2 is a server apparatus that performs residence stay processing. That is, the information processing apparatus E2 is an apparatus that outputs information regarding whether a resident is at home or not. The residence stay processing is a process of acquiring information regarding the presence of any resident in the household.

[0646] The information processing apparatus E2 can be realized by a so-called cloud server or an ASP server, and its type is not limited. Note that the information processing apparatus E2 may have all or part of the functions of the information processing apparatus A2. That is, the information processing apparatus E2 may be the information processing apparatus A2 that performs residence stay processing.

[0647] FIG. 35 is a block diagram of the information system E in this embodiment.

[0648] The terminal device E1 constituting the information system E includes a terminal storage unit E11, a terminal reception unit E12, a terminal processing unit E13, a terminal transmission unit E14, a terminal reception unit E15, and a terminal output unit E16.

[0649] The information processing device E2 includes a storage unit E21, a reception unit E22, a processing unit E23, and an output unit E24. The storage unit E21 includes a customer information storage unit A211 and a gas information storage unit A212. The reception unit E22 includes a gas information reception unit A221 and a customer identifier reception unit E221. The processing unit E23 includes a gas information accumulation unit A231, a gas usage information acquisition unit E231, and a presence information acquisition unit E232. The presence information acquisition unit E232 includes, for example, a usage amount value calculation formula acquisition means E2321 and a presence information acquisition means E2322. The output unit E24 includes a presence information output unit E2341.

[0650] Various types of information are stored in the terminal storage unit E11 that constitutes the terminal device E1. The various types of information are, for example, a customer identifier and a terminal identifier that identifies the terminal device E1. Note that this customer identifier is an identifier of a customer for whom presence information described later is to be acquired.

[0651] The terminal reception unit E12 receives various types of information, instructions, etc. The various types of information, instructions, etc. are, for example, a customer identifier and a presence information output instruction. The presence information output instruction is an instruction to output presence information. The presence information output instruction may or may not have a customer identifier. The presence information output instruction having a customer identifier is an instruction to output the presence information of the household of the customer identified by the customer identifier. The presence information output instruction not having a customer identifier is an instruction to output the presence information of the households of customers identified by one or more managed customer identifiers.

[0652] The input means for various types of information, instructions, etc. can be anything, such as a touch panel, a keyboard, a mouse, or a menu screen. The terminal reception unit E12 can be realized by a device driver of an input means such as a touch panel or a keyboard, or control software of a menu screen.

[0653] The terminal processing unit E13 performs various processes. The various processes are, for example, processes of converting various information, instructions, etc. received by the terminal reception unit E12 into the data structures of various information, instructions, etc. to be transmitted. Also, the various processes are, for example, processes of converting the information received by the terminal reception unit E15 into an output data structure.

[0654] The terminal transmission unit E14 transmits various information to the information processing device E2. The various information is, for example, a customer identifier and a home information output instruction.

[0655] The terminal reception unit E15 receives various information. The various information is, for example, home information.

[0656] The terminal output unit E16 outputs various information. The various information is, for example, the information configured by the terminal processing unit E13. The various information is, for example, home information.

[0657] Here, output generally refers to display on a display, but it is preferably considered as a concept including projection using a projector, printing by a printer, sound output, transmission to an external device, storage in a recording medium, delivery of processing results to other processing devices, other programs, etc.

[0658] Various information is stored in the storage unit E21 that constitutes the information processing device E2. The various information is, for example, customer information, gas information, and home information.

[0659] Two or more pieces of gas information are stored in the gas information storage unit A212. The gas information is associated with a customer identifier. The gas information here includes gas usage information for two or more days. Also, the gas information here is associated with time information for specifying time. The time information is, for example, time information for specifying a time, time zone information for specifying a time zone, day-of-week information for specifying a day of the week, and date information for specifying a date.

[0660] The time information has, for example, time zone information and day-of-week information. That is, it is preferable that the gas information storage unit A212 stores gas usage information by day of the week and time zone, and stores two or more pieces of gas information including gas usage information for two or more weeks. Note that the above time zone is preferably one hour (for example, "from 1 o'clock to 2 o'clock", "from 2 o'clock to 3 o'clock", etc.), but it may also be two hours, three hours, four hours, etc.

[0661] The receiving unit E22 receives various types of information. The various types of information are, for example, a customer identifier and a home information output instruction. The receiving unit E22 receives, for example, a customer identifier or a home information output instruction from the terminal device E1.

[0662] The gas information receiving unit A221 usually receives gas information from the gas information transmitting device A1. However, the gas information receiving unit A221 may receive gas information from a server (not shown).

[0663] The customer identifier receiving unit E221 receives a customer identifier. The customer identifier receiving unit E221 may receive a home information output instruction including a customer identifier.

[0664] Here, "receiving" usually means receiving from the terminal device E1, but it may be considered as a concept including receiving information input from an input device such as a keyboard, a mouse, or a touch panel, receiving from another device transmitted via a wired or wireless communication line, and receiving information read from a recording medium such as an optical disk, a magnetic disk, or a semiconductor memory.

[0665] The receiving of the customer identifier by the customer identifier receiving unit E221 may be the acquisition of the customer identifier. That is, the receiving of the customer identifier by the customer identifier receiving unit E221 may be, for example, the reading of the customer identifier from the customer information storage unit A211.

[0666] The processing unit E23 performs various types of processing. The various types of processing are, for example, the processing performed by the gas information accumulation unit A231, the gas usage information acquisition unit E231, and the home information acquisition unit E232.

[0667] The gas usage information acquisition unit E231 acquires, from the gas information storage unit A212, gas usage information at two or more time points that corresponds to each of one or more customer identifiers. Note that each of the one or more customer identifiers is, for example, a customer identifier received by the customer identifier reception unit E221.

[0668] The gas usage information acquisition unit E231 acquires, for example, target gas usage information from the gas information storage unit A212. The target gas usage information is gas usage information that corresponds to each of one or more customer identifiers. The target gas usage information is gas usage information for each target period. The target period is a day of the week, or a time zone, or a day of the week and a time zone, and is a period corresponding to the home information to be output. Note that each of the one or more customer identifiers is, for example, a customer identifier received by the customer identifier reception unit E221.

[0669] The home information acquisition unit E232 acquires home information of the households identified by each of one or more customer identifiers, using the gas usage information at two or more time points acquired by the gas usage information acquisition unit E231. Note that each of the one or more customer identifiers is, for example, a customer identifier received by the customer identifier reception unit E221. Also, the home information acquisition unit E232 usually acquires home information (for example, a high home score, a high home probability, prediction information indicating being at home) indicating being at home, compared with the case where the usage amount indicated by the gas usage information is small when it is large.

[0670] Home information is information regarding whether a person belonging to a household is at home or not. Home information is, for example, a home score, or information for identifying whether a person is at home or not. The home score is information regarding the degree of being at home. The home score is, for example, a probability of being at home. The home score is, for example, any one of five levels from "1" to "5", any one of "A", "B", "C", or a probability from "0%" to "100%". When the home score is in five levels, for example, it is preferable that "5" indicates the highest possibility of being at home and "1" indicates the lowest, but the reverse may also be true. When the home score is any one of "A", "B", "C", for example, it is preferable that "A" indicates the highest possibility of being at home and "C" indicates the lowest, but the reverse may also be true. Note that the home information may be, for example, information indicating whether a house is vacant or not.

[0671] The home information acquisition unit E232 acquires home information according to the gas usage amount indicated by the gas usage information per unit time of two or more days, using the gas usage information at two or more time points acquired by the gas usage information acquisition unit E231, for example.

[0672] The home information acquisition unit E232 acquires home information, which is the staying probability of the residents for each target period, using the target gas usage information acquired by the gas usage information acquisition unit E231, for example.

[0673] The home information acquisition unit E232 uses the gas usage information at two or more time points acquired by the gas usage information acquisition unit E231 to determine that there is a time period in the residence where the gas usage amount indicated by the gas usage information of each of the two or more days is as large as to satisfy a predetermined condition, and determines that there is no time period in the residence where the gas usage amount is as small as to satisfy the predetermined condition, and acquires home information, which is the staying determination result of the determination result.

[0674] It is preferable that the home information acquisition unit E232 acquires home information by day of the week and by time period, using the gas usage information by day of the week and by time period.

[0675] More specifically, the home information acquisition unit E232 acquires home information by any of the following two algorithms, for example. The first is the case where machine learning is not used. The second is the case where machine learning is used. Case where machine learning is not used (1-1) Case of using an arithmetic expression

[0676] The home information acquisition unit E232 acquires, for example, the average value of the gas usage amount for each day of the week and each time zone by using two or more pieces of gas usage information for each day of the week and each time zone.

[0677] Next, the home information acquisition unit E232 calculates, for example, home information, which is the probability of being at home, by using an increasing function with the average value of the gas usage amount as a parameter. (1-2) Case of using a correspondence table

[0678] First, assume that a correspondence table having two or more pieces of correspondence information indicating the correspondence between "information on the width of the gas usage amount" and "information indicating the probability of being at home" is stored in the storage unit E21.

[0679] Note that the correspondence information is information constituting the correspondence table, and is, for example, "0 <= usage amount per unit time < x1 | 30%", "x1 <= usage amount per unit time < x2 | 40%", "x2 <= usage amount per unit time < x3 | 50%", ···, "x4 <= usage amount per unit time < x5 | 70%", ···, etc.

[0680] In such a situation, the home information acquisition unit E232 acquires, for example, the average value of the gas usage amount for each day of the week and each time zone by using two or more pieces of gas usage information for each day of the week and each time zone.

[0681] Next, the home information acquisition unit E232 determines, for example, the "information on the width of the gas usage amount" corresponding to the average value of the gas usage amount, and acquires the "information indicating the probability of being at home" paired with the "information on the width of the gas usage amount" from the correspondence table for each day of the week and each time zone. (1-3) Case of using a usage amount value calculation formula

[0682] When using the usage value calculation formula, it is the case of using the usage value calculation formula acquisition means E2321 and the home information acquisition means E2322.

[0683] First, the home information acquisition unit E232 obtains, for example, the average value of the gas usage amount for each day of the week and each time zone using two or more gas usage information for each day of the week and each time zone.

[0684] Then, the usage value calculation formula acquisition means E2321 obtains a usage value calculation formula, which is an arithmetic expression for calculating information on the gas usage amount, using the gas usage information at two or more acquired time points. Here, the information on the gas usage amount may be the usage amount per unit time or the cumulative usage amount. Also, the usage value calculation formula may have two or more arithmetic expressions. The usage value calculation formula has, for example, two or more arithmetic expressions for each specific time zone. The usage value calculation formula is, for example, a unit time arithmetic expression of a linear equation associated with an identifier for identifying time.

[0685] The usage value calculation formula acquisition means E2321 obtains the usage value calculation formula for each customer identifier, for example. The usage value calculation formula acquisition means E2321 is, for example, the gas usage amount information per unit time of the gas usage inf...

Claims

1. An information system comprising a gas information transmission device and an information processing device, both being 1 or more, wherein the gas information transmission device, a terminal acquisition unit that acquires, n (n is 2 or more) times a day at each unit time, gas information that is information including gas usage information regarding the use of gas in an LPG cylinder and is information corresponding to a customer identifier for identifying a customer; a terminal storage unit that stores gas information at two or more time points; a terminal storage unit that accumulates the gas information acquired by the terminal acquisition unit in the terminal storage unit; a terminal transmission unit that transmits the gas information at two or more time points in the terminal storage unit to the information processing device in association with a customer identifier less than n times a day; wherein the terminal transmission unit, transmits gas information to the information processing device at different frequencies depending on whether a predetermined condition is satisfied or not satisfied; wherein the information processing device, a gas information storage unit that stores two or more pieces of gas information in association with a customer identifier; a gas information reception unit that receives the gas information at two or more time points associated with a customer identifier from the gas information transmission device; a gas information storage unit that accumulates the gas information at two or more time points received by the gas information reception unit in the gas information storage unit in association with a customer identifier; wherein the predetermined condition is, an information system that is a condition regarding the gas usage amount.

2. The terminal transmission unit, transmits the gas information to the information processing device at a first frequency when a specific condition is not satisfied, and transmits the gas information to the information processing device at a second frequency that is higher than the first frequency when the specific condition is satisfied; The specific condition is that the gas usage amount has been below or less than a threshold value for a longer time as the predetermined condition is satisfied, according to the information system of Claim 1.

3. The gas information is, information associated with a customer identifier for identifying a customer and date information indicating a date, and has gas usage information for specifying the gas usage amount per unit time, according to any one of Claims 1 to 2.

4. The gas information in the gas information storage unit is associated with a customer identifier and has gas remaining amount information regarding the remaining amount of gas, a cylinder replacement information reception unit that receives cylinder replacement information that is information indicating that a cylinder has been replaced and that pairs with customer identification, When the cylinder replacement information receiving unit receives cylinder replacement information, a cylinder replacement information storage unit that updates the gas remaining amount information included in the gas information corresponding to the customer identifier to information specifying that the gas remaining amount is full. The information system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising.

5. The information processing apparatus, The information system according to claim 1, further comprising a processing unit that performs statistical processing on two or more pieces of gas information in the gas information storage unit.

6. A terminal acquisition unit that acquires, n (n is 2 or more) times a day and for each unit time, gas information that is information including gas usage information regarding the use of gas in an LPG cylinder and is information corresponding to a customer identifier for identifying a customer; A terminal storage unit in which gas information at two or more time points is stored; A terminal storage unit that stores the gas information acquired by the terminal acquisition unit in the terminal storage unit; A terminal transmission unit that transmits the gas information at two or more time points in the terminal storage unit to an information processing apparatus in association with a customer identifier less than n times a day; The terminal transmission unit, Transmits gas information to the information processing apparatus at different frequencies depending on whether a predetermined condition is satisfied or not satisfied, The predetermined condition is, A gas information transmission device that is a condition regarding the usage amount of gas.

7. A gas information transmission method realized by a terminal storage unit, a terminal acquisition unit, a terminal storage unit, and a terminal transmission unit, which are information including gas usage information regarding the use of gas in an LPG cylinder and are information corresponding to a customer identifier for identifying a customer, and in which gas information at two or more time points is stored, A terminal acquisition step in which the terminal acquisition unit acquires gas information n (n is 2 or more) times a day and for each unit time; A terminal storage step in which the terminal storage unit stores the gas information acquired by the terminal acquisition unit in the terminal storage unit; A terminal transmission step in which the terminal transmission unit transmits the gas information at two or more time points in the terminal storage unit to an information processing apparatus in association with a customer identifier less than n times a day; The terminal transmission unit, Transmits gas information to the information processing apparatus at different frequencies depending on whether a predetermined condition is satisfied or not satisfied, The predetermined condition is, A gas information transmission method that is a condition regarding the usage amount of gas.

8. A computer that can access a terminal storage unit storing gas information including gas usage information regarding the use of gas in an LPG cylinder and corresponding to a customer identifier for identifying a customer, a terminal acquisition unit that acquires gas information n (n is 2 or more) times a day at each unit time, a terminal storage unit that stores the gas information acquired by the terminal acquisition unit in the terminal storage unit, a program for causing a terminal transmission unit to function as a terminal transmission unit that transmits the gas information at two or more time points in the terminal storage unit to an information processing device in association with a customer identifier less than n times a day, wherein the terminal transmission unit is a program for causing the computer to function such that gas information is transmitted to the information processing device at different frequencies depending on whether a predetermined condition is satisfied or not satisfied, wherein the predetermined condition is a condition regarding the amount of gas used. Program.

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