Method and information processing device

Abstract

To improve the technique for providing a delivery service that can designate a vehicle as a delivery destination of a package.SOLUTION: A method is executed by an information processing apparatus 20 for use in providing a delivery service that can designate a vehicle used by a recipient of a package as a delivery destination, the method including: determining a delivery work plan for a deliverer on the basis of vehicle information of the vehicle designated as the destination of the package; setting a state of first position information indicating an area 40 where the vehicle is located so as to be browsed by the deliverer through a terminal device 10; and setting a state of second position information indicating a spot 41 where the vehicle is located so as to be browsed by the deliverer through the terminal device 10 on the basis of at least one of the delivery work plan and the progress of delivery work of the deliverer.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a method and an information processing device. [Background technology]

[0002] A technology for providing a delivery service that allows a user to specify a vehicle as the delivery destination of a package is known. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technology for changing the delivery order of packages to multiple destinations, including the trunk of a vehicle, based on a change in the vehicle's position. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-059453 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] There is room for improvement in the technology that provides delivery services that allow users to specify a vehicle as the delivery destination for their packages.

[0005] The purpose of the present disclosure, made in consideration of the above circumstances, is to improve the technology for providing a delivery service that allows a vehicle to be specified as the delivery destination of a package. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a method comprises: A method executed by an information processing device used to provide a delivery service in which a vehicle used by a consignee can be designated as a delivery destination of a package, comprising: determining a delivery work plan for a delivery person based on vehicle information of a vehicle designated as a delivery destination of the package; Making the first location information indicating the area where the vehicle is located viewable by the delivery person on a terminal device; and This includes making second location information indicating the location of the vehicle available for the delivery person to view on the terminal device based on at least one of the delivery work plan and the progress of the delivery work by the delivery person.

[0007] An information processing device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes: An information processing device used to provide a delivery service in which a vehicle used by a consignee can be designated as a delivery destination of a package, The system is equipped with a control unit that determines a delivery work plan for a delivery person based on vehicle information of a vehicle designated as the delivery destination of a package, makes first location information indicating the area in which the vehicle is located viewable by the delivery person from a terminal device, and makes second location information indicating the point in which the vehicle is located viewable by the delivery person from the terminal device based on at least one of the delivery work plan and the progress of the delivery work by the delivery person. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, there is an improvement in the technology for providing a delivery service that allows a vehicle to be designated as the destination for delivery of a package. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing first location information displayed on the terminal device. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing second location information displayed on the terminal device. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a terminal device. [Figure 5] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an information processing device. [Figure 6] 10 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the information processing device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described.

[0011] (Outline of the embodiment) An overview of a system 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to Fig. 1. The system 1 includes a terminal device 10 and an information processing device 20.

[0012] The system 1 is used by a delivery company that provides a delivery service that allows a consignee to specify a vehicle used by the consignee as the delivery destination of a package. Specifically, the terminal device 10 is a mobile computer such as a smartphone or tablet terminal. The terminal device 10 is carried by a delivery person. The information processing device 20 is configured to include one or more computers that can communicate with each other. The information processing device 20 is used to provide the delivery service. For example, the information processing device 20 stores any information used to provide the delivery service, such as information about the delivery destination. The terminal device 10 and the information processing device 20 can communicate via a communication line 30 that includes, for example, the Internet and a mobile communication network. For example, when performing delivery work, a delivery person can view information about the delivery destination, etc. stored in the information processing device 20, from the terminal device 10.

[0013] An overview of this embodiment will be described below, and details will be provided later. The information processing device 20 determines a delivery work plan for a delivery person based on vehicle information for a vehicle designated as the delivery destination of a package. The information processing device 20 makes first location information indicating the area in which the vehicle is located available for viewing by the delivery person from the terminal device 10. The information processing device 20 then makes second location information indicating the location in which the vehicle is located available for viewing by the delivery person from the terminal device 10, based on at least one of the delivery work plan and the progress of the delivery work by the delivery person.

[0014] Here, from the perspective of protecting the consignee's privacy, it is undesirable to allow the delivery person to freely view the second location information, which is detailed location information of the vehicle designated by the consignee as the delivery destination. In contrast, in the present embodiment, the delivery person can first view, from the terminal device 10, the first location information indicating the area in which the vehicle designated as the delivery destination is located (i.e., the vehicle's general location information). Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, for example, an area 40 in which the vehicle is located may be identifiably displayed on a map displayed on the screen of the terminal device 10. Thereafter, depending on the delivery work plan and / or the progress of the delivery work, the delivery person can view the second location information indicating the location of the vehicle (i.e., the vehicle's detailed location information). Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, for example, a location 41 in which the vehicle is located may be identifiably displayed on a map displayed on the screen of the terminal device 10. As described above, according to the present embodiment, by placing restrictions on the circumstances in which the delivery person can view the vehicle's second location information, the consignee's privacy can be appropriately protected, thereby improving the technology for providing a delivery service in which a vehicle can be designated as the delivery destination of a package.

[0015] Next, each of the components of the system 1 will be described in detail.

[0016] (Terminal Device Configuration) As shown in FIG. 4, the terminal device 10 includes a communication unit 11, an output unit 12, an input unit 13, a storage unit 14, and a control unit 15.

[0017] The communication unit 11 includes one or more communication interfaces connected to the communication line 30. The communication interfaces correspond to mobile communication standards such as 4G (4th Generation) and 5G (5th Generation), wired LAN (Local Area Network) standards, or wireless LAN standards, but are not limited to these and may correspond to any communication standard.

[0018] The output unit 12 includes one or more output devices that output information. Examples of the output devices include, but are not limited to, a display that outputs information as a video or a speaker that outputs information as a sound. Alternatively, the output unit 12 may include an interface for connecting an external output device.

[0019] The input unit 13 includes one or more input devices that detect an input operation by a user. Examples of the input devices include, but are not limited to, physical keys, capacitive keys, a mouse, a touch panel, a touch screen integrated with the display of the output unit 12, or a microphone. Alternatively, the input unit 13 may include an interface for connecting an external input device.

[0020] The storage unit 14 includes one or more memories. The memories may be, for example, semiconductor memories, magnetic memories, optical memories, etc., but are not limited to these. Each memory included in the storage unit 14 may function as, for example, a main memory device, an auxiliary memory device, or a cache memory. The storage unit 14 stores any information used in the operation of the terminal device 10. For example, the storage unit 14 may store system programs, application programs, map data, etc.

[0021] The control unit 15 includes one or more processors, one or more programmable circuits, one or more dedicated circuits, or a combination thereof. The processor may be, for example, a general-purpose processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), or a dedicated processor specialized for a specific process, but is not limited to these. The programmable circuit may be, for example, but is not limited to, an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array). The dedicated circuit may be, for example, but is not limited to, an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit). The control unit 15 controls the overall operation of the terminal device 10.

[0022] (Server configuration) As shown in FIG. 5, the information processing device 20 includes a communication unit 21, a storage unit 22, and a control unit .

[0023] The communication unit 21 includes one or more communication interfaces that connect to the communication line 30. The communication interfaces correspond to, for example, a mobile communication standard, a wired LAN standard, or a wireless LAN standard, but are not limited to these and may correspond to any communication standard.

[0024] The storage unit 22 includes one or more memories. Each memory included in the storage unit 22 may function as, for example, a main storage device, an auxiliary storage device, or a cache memory. The storage unit 22 stores any information used in the operation of the information processing device 20. For example, the storage unit 22 may store system programs, application programs, map information, embedded software, databases, etc.

[0025] The control unit 23 includes one or more processors, one or more programmable circuits, one or more dedicated circuits, or a combination thereof. The control unit 23 controls the operation of the information processing device 20 as a whole.

[0026] (Operation of information processing device) The operation performed by the information processing device 20 will be described with reference to FIG. 6. This operation is performed after a consignee designates a vehicle as the delivery destination of a package and requests a delivery company to deliver the package. In this embodiment, the vehicle has a communication function and periodically transmits vehicle information, including the vehicle's identification information (e.g., vehicle registration number or vehicle identification number) and location information, to a vehicle management server. Typically, the vehicle management server is managed by the manufacturer of the vehicle, but the manager of the vehicle management server is not limited to this example.

[0027] Step S100: The control unit 23 transmits the identification information of the vehicle designated as the delivery destination of the package to the vehicle management server.

[0028] Specifically, the control unit 23 transmits the identification information of the vehicle to the vehicle management server via the communication unit 21 and the communication line 30. It should be noted that the identification information of the vehicle is assumed to have been notified to the delivery company in advance by the consignee, for example, when the delivery company receives a delivery request for a package from the consignee.

[0029] Step S101: The control unit 23 acquires vehicle information of the vehicle designated as the delivery destination of the package from the vehicle management server.

[0030] Specifically, in response to receiving vehicle identification information from the information processing device 20 in step S100, the vehicle management server transmits vehicle information of the vehicle to the information processing device 20. The control unit 23 of the information processing device 20 acquires the vehicle information of the vehicle from the vehicle management server via the communication unit 21 and the communication line 30. The control unit 23 then stores the acquired vehicle information in the memory unit 22. In this embodiment, the vehicle information acquired in step S101 includes both first location information indicating the area 40 in which the vehicle is located and second location information indicating the point 41 in which the vehicle is located. Here, the "area in which the vehicle is located" refers to an area on a map that is large enough that a delivery person cannot immediately find the vehicle. On the other hand, the "point in which the vehicle is located" refers to a point on a map or an area on a map that is small enough that a delivery person can immediately find the vehicle.

[0031] Step S102: The control unit 23 determines a delivery work plan for the delivery person based on the vehicle information acquired in step S101.

[0032] A "delivery work plan" is information indicating a delivery work plan in which a delivery person delivers packages to one or more delivery destinations in sequence. For example, a delivery work plan may include, but is not limited to, location information of the delivery destination and a scheduled delivery time for each delivery destination, and may also include any information related to the delivery work.

[0033] Any method can be used to determine the delivery work plan. For example, the control unit 23 adds the vehicle associated with the vehicle information to the delivery work plan of the delivery person as one of the delivery destinations. The control unit 23 determines the second location information included in the vehicle information as the location information of the added delivery destination (i.e., the vehicle). The control unit 23 calculates the estimated arrival time at the vehicle by a route search process using the location information and estimated delivery time of the previous delivery destination of the vehicle, which are specified in the delivery work plan, and the second location information of the vehicle. The control unit 23 then sets the calculated estimated arrival time as the estimated delivery time for the added delivery destination (i.e., the vehicle).

[0034] Step S103: The control unit 23 monitors the progress of the delivery work by the delivery person.

[0035] The "progress of delivery work" includes the delivery person's location information and information indicating whether delivery to each delivery destination specified in the delivery work plan has been completed. Any method can be used to monitor the progress of delivery work. For example, while performing delivery work according to the delivery work plan, the delivery person inputs into the terminal device 10 that delivery to that delivery destination has been completed each time delivery to that delivery destination is completed. In response to the delivery person's input, the control unit 15 of the terminal device 10 notifies the information processing device 20 via the communication unit 11 and the communication line 30 that delivery to that delivery destination has been completed. The control unit 15 also periodically obtains location information of the terminal device 10 (i.e., the delivery person's location information) using a satellite positioning system such as GPS (Global Positioning System) and notifies the information processing device 20 via the communication unit 11 and the communication line 30. The control unit 23 of the information processing device 20 monitors the delivery person's location information notified from the terminal device 10 and information indicating whether delivery to each delivery destination specified in the delivery work plan has been completed.

[0036] Step S104: The control unit 23 makes the first location information of the vehicle available for viewing by the delivery person from the terminal device 10.

[0037] Any method can be employed to restrict access to information from the terminal device 10. For example, the control unit 23 can use an access restriction function to restrict access from the terminal device 10 to any information stored in the storage unit 22. Specifically, in step S104, the control unit 23 allows the terminal device 10 to access the first location information stored in the storage unit 22, thereby making the first location information viewable by the delivery person from the terminal device 10. In this state, when the control unit 23 receives a request to view the first location information from the terminal device 10 via the communication unit 21 and the communication line 30, the control unit 23 reads the first location information from the storage unit 22 and transmits it to the terminal device 10.

[0038] Step S105: The control unit 23 makes the second location information of the vehicle available for the delivery person to view on the terminal device 10 based on at least one of the delivery work plan and the progress of the delivery work by the delivery person.

[0039] Specifically, the control unit 23 permits the terminal device 10 to access the second location information stored in the memory unit 22 when a first predetermined time (e.g., 30 minutes) before the scheduled delivery time for the vehicle as defined in the delivery work plan, a second predetermined time (e.g., 30 minutes) before the expected delivery time for the vehicle calculated based on the progress of the delivery work, when the completion of delivery to a delivery destination a predetermined number of destinations before (e.g., two destinations before) before the delivery time as defined in the delivery work plan is detected based on the progress of the delivery work, or when the distance between the vehicle and the delivery person is less than a predetermined distance (e.g., less than 5 km), or whichever occurs first. In this state, when the control unit 23 receives a request to view the second location information from the terminal device 10 via the communication unit 21 and the communication line 30, the control unit 23 reads the second location information from the memory unit 22 and transmits it to the terminal device 10.

[0040] Any method can be used to calculate the expected delivery time to the vehicle. For example, each time the control unit 23 detects that delivery to one delivery destination has been completed, it calculates a difference between the time when the completion of delivery to that delivery destination was detected and the scheduled delivery time for that delivery destination. The control unit 23 then corrects the scheduled delivery time of that vehicle by using the difference and calculates the resulting time as the expected delivery time to that vehicle.

[0041] Furthermore, the values ​​of the first predetermined time, the second predetermined time, the predetermined number of items, and the predetermined distance may each be fixed or may be determined based on the size of the area 40 indicated by the first location information. Consider, for example, a delivery person who arrives at the area 40 based on the first location information travels to point 41 based on the second location information that subsequently becomes available. In this case, the larger the area 40 indicated by the first location information, the longer the travel time to point 41, increasing the likelihood that the completion of delivery to the vehicle will be delayed relative to the scheduled delivery time. In response to this, the control unit 23 may increase the values ​​of the first predetermined time, the second predetermined time, the predetermined number of items, and the predetermined distance, the larger the area 40 indicated by the first location information. With this configuration, the larger the area 40, the earlier the delivery person can view the second location information of the vehicle, and at that point, the delivery person can change course to the shortest route to point 41. This reduces the likelihood that the completion of delivery to the vehicle will be delayed relative to the scheduled delivery time.

[0042] Step S106: The control unit 23 makes the first location information and the second location information of the vehicle unavailable for the delivery person to view from the terminal device 10 based on the progress of the delivery work by the delivery person.

[0043] Specifically, when the control unit 23 detects that delivery to the vehicle has been completed based on the progress of the delivery work, it prohibits access from the terminal device 10 to the first location information and the second location information stored in the memory unit 22, thereby making the first location information and the second location information unavailable for viewing by the delivery person from the terminal device 10.

[0044] As described above, the information processing device 20 according to this embodiment determines a delivery work plan for a delivery person based on vehicle information about a vehicle designated as the delivery destination of a package. The information processing device 20 makes first location information indicating the area in which the vehicle is located available for the delivery person to view on the terminal device 10. The information processing device 20 then makes second location information indicating the location in which the vehicle is located available for the delivery person to view on the terminal device 10 based on at least one of the delivery work plan and the progress of the delivery work by the delivery person.

[0045] This configuration improves the technology for providing delivery services that allow a vehicle to be specified as the delivery destination of a package, in that it can appropriately protect the privacy of the consignee by limiting the circumstances under which the delivery person can view the vehicle's second location information.

[0046] Although the present disclosure has been described based on the drawings and examples, it should be noted that those skilled in the art may make various modifications and alterations based on the present disclosure. Therefore, it should be noted that these modifications and alterations are included in the scope of the present disclosure. For example, the functions included in each component or step can be rearranged so as not to be logically inconsistent, and multiple components or steps can be combined or divided into one.

[0047] For example, in the above-described embodiment, the vehicle information of the vehicle acquired by the information processing device 20 from the vehicle management server in step S101 includes both the first location information and the second location information of the vehicle. However, the vehicle information may include only the second location information. In such a case, the control unit 25 of the information processing device 20 determines the first location information from the second location information acquired as the vehicle information. For example, the first location information may be determined to indicate an area of ​​any shape (e.g., circular) centered on a point indicated in the second location information. Alternatively, the first location information (e.g., city, ward, town, or village) may be determined to indicate an area omitting finer divisions (e.g., house number) from an address (e.g., city, ward, town, or village and house number) that identifies the point indicated in the second location information.

[0048] In the above embodiment, an example has been described in which the information processing device 20 and the vehicle management server communicate with each other via the communication line 30. However, for example, the information processing device 20 may include the functions of the vehicle management server.

[0049] Also, for example, an embodiment is possible in which a general-purpose computer functions as the information processing device 20 according to the above-described embodiment. Specifically, a program describing the processing content for realizing each function of the information processing device 20 according to the above-described embodiment is stored in the memory of the general-purpose computer, and the program is read and executed by a processor. Therefore, the present disclosure can also be realized as a program executable by a processor, or a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing the program. [Explanation of symbols]

[0050] 1 System 10 Terminal Equipment 11 Communications Department 12 Output section 13 Input section 14 Storage section 15 Control Unit 20 servers 21 Communications Department 22 Memory section 23 Control Unit 30 Communication Lines 40 Area 41 points

Claims

1. A method executed by an information processing device used to provide a delivery service in which a vehicle used by a consignee can be designated as a delivery destination of a package, comprising: Acquiring vehicle information of a vehicle designated as a delivery destination of the package from a vehicle management server; determining a delivery work plan by adding second location information indicating a location where the vehicle is located, which is included in the vehicle information, as one of delivery destinations to a delivery work plan of a delivery person; determining first location information indicating an area in which the vehicle is located, which is rough location information of the vehicle, from the second location information, which is detailed location information of the vehicle, and making the first location information viewable by the delivery person on a terminal device; and Making the second location information included in the vehicle information viewable by the delivery person on the terminal device based on at least one of the delivery work plan and the progress of the delivery work by the delivery person. A method comprising:

2. 10. The method of claim 1, The information processing device makes the second location information viewable when it is a first predetermined time before the scheduled delivery time for the vehicle as specified in the delivery work plan, when it is a second predetermined time before the expected delivery time for the vehicle calculated based on the progress status, when it is detected based on the progress status that the vehicle has completed a predetermined number of deliveries to the previous delivery destinations as specified in the delivery work plan, or when the distance between the vehicle and the delivery person becomes less than a predetermined distance, or whichever occurs first.

3. 3. The method of claim 2, The method, wherein the first predetermined time, the second predetermined time, the predetermined number, and the predetermined distance are determined based on the size of the area indicated by the first location information.

4. 4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, Transmitting the vehicle identification information to the vehicle management server. The method further comprises:

5. An information processing device used to provide a delivery service in which a vehicle used by a consignee can be designated as a delivery destination of a package, An information processing device comprising: an information processing device that obtains vehicle information of a vehicle designated as a delivery destination of a package from a vehicle management server; determines a delivery work plan by adding second location information included in the vehicle information indicating the location of the vehicle as one of the delivery destinations to a delivery person's delivery work plan; determines first location information that indicates the area in which the vehicle is located, which is rough location information of the vehicle, from the second location information, which is detailed location information of the vehicle; makes the first location information viewable by the delivery person from a terminal device; and makes the second location information included in the vehicle information viewable by the delivery person from the terminal device based on at least one of the delivery work plan and the progress of the delivery work by the delivery person.

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