Information processing device, information processing method, and program

Abstract

Provide a mechanism to reduce delivery costs. [Solution] The information processing device 4 has a reception unit 431 that receives a prescription issued to a user by a medical institution and a desired receiving location desired by the user as a receiving location for the medicines dispensed based on the prescription, a selection unit 435 that selects a delivery facility from among multiple delivery facilities that deliver packages that plans to deliver items other than medicines to the desired receiving location, and an output unit 436 that outputs a delivery request to have the selected delivery facility, which is the delivery facility selected by the selection unit 435, deliver the medicines to the desired receiving location, and a dispensing request to have a target dispensing facility, which is a dispensing facility that dispenses the medicines and is a target dispensing facility determined by the selected delivery facility, dispense the medicines based on the prescription.

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] Conventionally, medical services have been provided online. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a system in which a doctor examines a patient and a pharmacist provides medication instructions to the patient remotely, and the dispensed medicines are delivered to the patient after the medication instructions have been provided. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2022-41363 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Conventional technology delivers medicines to a location specified by the patient, but since delivering medicines incurs delivery costs, there is a need to create a system to reduce delivery costs.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of these points, and aims to provide a mechanism for reducing delivery costs. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] An information processing device according to a first aspect of the present invention includes: a reception unit that receives a prescription issued to a user by a medical institution and a desired receiving location desired by the user as a receiving location for the medicine dispensed based on the prescription; a selection unit that selects a delivery facility from among a plurality of delivery facilities that deliver packages, the delivery facility that plans to deliver an item other than the medicine to the desired receiving location; and an output unit that outputs a delivery request to have the selected delivery facility, which is the delivery facility selected by the selection unit, deliver the medicine to the desired receiving location; and a dispensing request to have a target dispensing facility, which is a dispensing facility that dispenses the medicine and is a target dispensing facility determined by the selected delivery facility, dispense the medicine based on the prescription.

[0007] The target dispensing facility may be located at the same place as the selected delivery facility, and the output unit may notify the selected delivery facility of the delivery request and the dispensing request.

[0008] The target dispensing facility may be located at a different location from the selected delivery facility, and the output unit may notify the selected delivery facility of the delivery request and notify the target dispensing facility or the selected delivery facility of the dispensing request.

[0009] The output unit may output the delivery request including an instruction to have the medicine delivered on a scheduled delivery flight for delivering the item from the selected delivery facility to the desired receiving location.

[0010] The information processing device may further have an identification unit that identifies a delivery time at which the medicine will be delivered to the desired receiving location based on the flight schedule, and the output unit may notify the user of the delivery time identified by the identification unit.

[0011] The information processing device may further include an acquisition unit that acquires time identification information for identifying a dispensing start time at which the target dispensing facility can start dispensing the medicine based on the prescription, and an estimation unit that estimates a completion time at which the dispensing of the medicine based on the prescription will be completed based on the dispensing start time identified by the time identification information acquired by the acquisition unit and the time required to dispensing the medicine based on the prescription, and the identification unit may further identify the delivery time based on the completion time estimated by the estimation unit.

[0012] The information processing device may further have a memory unit that stores, for each receiving location, an association between the receiving location, the delivery facility, and the dispensing facility, and the reception unit may accept the prescription, the information processing device may further have an identification unit that identifies, for each receiving location, a delivery time at which the medicine will be delivered to the desired receiving location based on a schedule of a flight on which the delivery facility associated with the receiving location plans to deliver the medicine to the receiving location, the output unit may associate the receiving location with the delivery time identified by the identification unit and present it to the user, and the reception unit may accept the receiving location selected by the user from the multiple receiving locations presented in association with the delivery time as the desired receiving location.

[0013] The information processing device may further have a memory unit that stores, for each of the receiving locations, an association between the receiving location, the delivery facility, and the dispensing facility, the reception unit may receive the prescription, the output unit may present to the user one or more receiving locations that are each associated with one or more dispensing facilities that can dispense the medicine based on the prescription based on the inventory status of the drugs used to dispense the medicine based on the prescription at each of the multiple dispensing facilities, and the reception unit may accept the receiving location selected by the user from the presented one or more receiving locations as the desired receiving location.

[0014] The information processing device may further have a memory unit that stores, for each of the desired receiving locations, an association between the receiving location and the delivery facility, and when multiple delivery facilities are associated with the desired receiving location, the selection unit may select, from the multiple delivery facilities associated with the desired receiving location, a delivery facility whose delivery time at which the pharmaceutical will be delivered to the desired receiving location is relatively early, as determined based on the schedule of a flight on which the item is scheduled to be delivered to the desired receiving location.

[0015] The information processing device includes a storage unit that stores, for each of the desired receiving locations, the delivery facility, and the dispensing facility in association with each other; an acquisition unit that acquires, when a plurality of the dispensing facilities are associated with the desired receiving location, time specifying information for specifying a dispensing start time at which the dispensing facility can start dispensing the medicine based on the prescription, for each of the dispensing facilities associated with the desired receiving location; and a unit that acquires, for each of the dispensing facilities associated with the desired receiving location, time specifying information for specifying a dispensing start time at which the dispensing facility can start dispensing the medicine based on the prescription, based on the dispensing start time specified by the time specifying information corresponding to the dispensing facility and the time required to dispensing the medicine based on the prescription. The system may further include an estimation unit that estimates a completion time for the desired receiving location, and the selection unit may select, from among a plurality of combinations of the delivery facility and the dispensing facility associated with the desired receiving location, a combination of the delivery facility and the dispensing facility for which the delivery time is relatively early, which is identified based on the delivery time at which the drug will be delivered to the desired receiving location, which is a schedule of a flight for delivering the item to the desired receiving location, and the completion time estimated by the estimation unit for each dispensing facility, and the output unit may output the dispensing request to the dispensing facility selected by the selection unit as the target dispensing facility to dispense the drug based on the prescription.

[0016] The information processing device may further include a memory unit that stores, for each of the receiving locations, the delivery facility, and the dispensing facility in association with each other, and when a plurality of combinations of the delivery facility and the dispensing facility are associated with the desired receiving location, the selection unit may select from the plurality of combinations a combination of the dispensing facility that is capable of dispensing the medicine based on the prescription and the delivery facility associated with the dispensing facility based on an inventory status of the medicine used to dispense the medicine based on the prescription, and when the selection unit selects the dispensing facility, the output unit may identify the dispensing facility selected by the selection unit as the target dispensing facility and output the dispensing request to the identified target dispensing facility to dispense the medicine based on the prescription.

[0017] The information processing device may further include a benefit granting unit that grants a benefit to the user when the user receives the medicine at the desired receiving location.

[0018] The information processing device may further include an instruction processing unit that executes processing to enable the user to receive medication instructions from one of a plurality of instructors who provide medication instructions for the medication dispensed based on the prescription and who are employed at each of a plurality of dispensing facilities including the target dispensing facility and other dispensing facilities different from the target dispensing facility, before the user receives the medication at the desired receiving location. The item may be a product sold at the desired pickup location.

[0019] An information processing method according to a second aspect of the present invention includes the steps of: receiving a prescription issued to a user by a medical institution and a desired receiving location desired by the user as a receiving location for a medicine to be dispensed based on the prescription; selecting a delivery facility from among a plurality of delivery facilities that deliver packages, the delivery facility that plans to deliver an item other than the medicine to the desired receiving location; outputting a delivery request to a selected delivery facility that is the selected delivery facility to have the medicine delivered to the desired receiving location; and outputting a dispensing request to a target dispensing facility that dispenses the medicine and is a target dispensing facility determined by the selected delivery facility, to have the medicine dispensed based on the prescription.

[0020] A program according to a third aspect of the present invention causes a computer to function as: a reception unit that receives a prescription issued to a user by a medical institution and a desired receiving location desired by the user as a receiving location for the medicine dispensed based on the prescription; a selection unit that selects, from a plurality of delivery facilities that deliver packages, a delivery facility that plans to deliver an item other than the medicine to the desired receiving location; and an output unit that outputs a delivery request to have a selected delivery facility, which is the delivery facility selected by the selection unit, deliver the medicine to the desired receiving location; and a dispensing request to a target dispensing facility, which is a dispensing facility that dispenses the medicine and is a target dispensing facility determined by the selected delivery facility, to dispense the medicine based on the prescription. [Effects of the Invention]

[0021] The present invention has the effect of providing a mechanism for reducing delivery costs. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0022] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overview of an information processing system. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating a functional configuration of an information processing device. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a relationship management database. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of a display screen of a dedicated application. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a sequence diagram showing a processing flow of the information processing system. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0023] [Outline of Information Processing System S] FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining an overview of an information processing system S. The information processing system S is a system used to provide an information processing service. The information processing service is a service that provides medicines dispensed based on prescriptions issued by medical institutions. The information processing system S has a user terminal 1, a dispensing terminal 2, a delivery terminal 3, and an information processing device 4.

[0024] The user terminal 1 is a terminal used by a user, such as a smartphone, tablet terminal, or personal computer. The user is, for example, a member of an information processing service. For example, a dedicated application program (hereinafter referred to as a "dedicated app") for providing the information processing service is installed in the user terminal 1. The user can use the information processing service by using the dedicated app. The information processing service may be a service provided on a website.

[0025] The dispensing terminal 2 is a terminal used by a dispensing facility that dispenses medicines, and is, for example, a smartphone, a tablet terminal, a personal computer, etc. The dispensing facility is, for example, a pharmacy.

[0026] The delivery terminal 3 is a terminal used by a delivery facility that delivers packages, and is, for example, a smartphone, a tablet terminal, a personal computer, etc. The delivery facility is, for example, a warehouse, a sales office, etc. managed by a delivery company.

[0027] The information processing device 4 is a device that manages the information processing service, and is, for example, a server. For each receiving location, the information processing device 4 manages, in association with each other, information indicating the receiving location, information indicating a delivery facility that is scheduled to deliver an item to the receiving location, and information indicating a dispensing facility that is located within an acceptable range for delivering pharmaceuticals to the delivery facility (for example, a location close to the delivery facility or the same location as the delivery facility). The receiving location is, for example, a location that is designated as a location where pharmaceuticals dispensed based on a prescription in the information processing service can be delivered, such as a convenience store or other store. The processing executed by the information processing system S will be described below.

[0028] First, when a user who has received a prescription issued by a medical institution inputs the received prescription and the desired pick-up location desired by the user as the place to receive the medicine into the user terminal 1, the user terminal 1 transmits a request to use the information processing service including the prescription and the desired pick-up location to the information processing device 4 ((1) in FIG. 1). Inputting the prescription involves, for example, capturing an image of the prescription, reading a code image (e.g., a barcode, a QR (Quick Response) code (registered trademark), etc.) displayed on the prescription, inputting the contents of the prescription, etc.

[0029] When the information processing device 4 receives a usage request from the user terminal 1, it selects from among a plurality of delivery facilities a delivery facility that is scheduled to deliver the item to the desired receiving location included in the usage request ((2) in FIG. 1). The item is an item other than a pharmaceutical product, for example, a commodity sold at the desired receiving location.

[0030] The information processing device 4 transmits a dispensing request to the dispensing terminal 2 of the target dispensing facility, which is a target dispensing facility determined by the selected delivery facility, to dispense the medicine based on the prescription ((3) in FIG. 1). The target dispensing facility is, for example, a dispensing facility associated with the desired pickup location and the selected delivery facility. Upon receiving the dispensing request, the target dispensing facility dispenses the medicine based on the prescription and hands over the dispensed medicine to the selected delivery facility.

[0031] The information processing device 4 also transmits a delivery request to the delivery terminal 3 of the selected delivery facility to have the selected delivery facility deliver the medicine to the desired receiving location ((4) in FIG. 1). The selected delivery facility accepts the delivery request, receives the medicine from the target pharmacy, and delivers the medicine to the desired receiving location. The user then receives the medicine at the desired receiving location.

[0032] In this way, the information processing system S can have the pharmaceuticals delivered to a delivery facility that is scheduled to deliver the item to the desired receiving location. As a result, the information processing system S can reduce delivery costs by having the delivery facility deliver the pharmaceuticals on an existing flight compared to when the delivery facility delivers the pharmaceuticals on a new flight. As a result, the information processing system S can provide a mechanism for reducing delivery costs. The functional configuration of the information processing device 4 will be described below.

[0033] [Functional configuration of information processing device 4] FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically illustrating the functional configuration of an information processing device 4. The information processing device 4 includes a communication unit 41, a storage unit 42, and a control unit 43. In FIG. 2, arrows indicate main data flows, and there may be data flows not shown in FIG. 2. In FIG. 2, each functional block indicates a configuration in functional units, rather than a configuration in hardware (device) units. Therefore, the functional blocks shown in FIG. 2 may be implemented in a single device, or may be implemented separately in multiple devices. Data may be exchanged between functional blocks via any means, such as a data bus, a network, or a portable storage medium.

[0034] The communication unit 41 is a communication interface for connecting to a network, and includes a communication controller for receiving data from an external device.

[0035] The storage unit 42 is a large-capacity storage device such as a ROM (Read Only Memory) that stores the BIOS (Basic Input Output System) and the like of a computer that realizes the information processing device 4, a RAM (Random Access Memory) that serves as a work area for the information processing device 4, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or an SSD (Solid State Drive) that stores the OS (Operating System), application programs, and various information referenced when the application programs are executed. The storage unit 42 stores information about the user, information about the pickup location, information about the delivery facility, and information about the dispensing facility.

[0036] The information about the user is information including, for example, a user ID (Identification) that is information for identifying the user, and a credit card number used to pay for pharmaceuticals on the information processing service. The information about the receiving location is information including, for example, a receiving location ID that is information for identifying the receiving location, the name and address of the receiving location. The information about the delivery facility is information including, for example, a delivery facility ID that is information for identifying the delivery facility, the name and address of the delivery facility, and a delivery schedule of a package that delivers to the receiving location associated with the delivery facility. The delivery schedule is, for example, information that associates, for each package, the destination of the package, the time that the package departs from the delivery facility, and the time that the package arrives at the destination. The information about the dispensing facility is information including, for example, a dispensing facility ID that is information for identifying the dispensing facility, the name and address of the dispensing facility. The storage unit 42 also stores a relationship management database that manages the relationship between the receiving location, the delivery facility, and the dispensing facility.

[0037] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the relationship management database. In the example shown in FIG. 3, the relationship management database stores, for each receiving location, a receiving location ID, a delivery facility ID, and a dispensing facility ID corresponding to the receiving location, in association with each other. A delivery facility associated with a receiving location is a delivery facility that plans to deliver items to the receiving location, for example, a delivery facility that regularly delivers items to the receiving location. A dispensing facility associated with a delivery facility is, for example, a dispensing facility that exists within an area that is permitted to deliver pharmaceuticals to the delivery facility. Note that a dispensing facility associated with a delivery facility may be a dispensing facility that has permission to deliver pharmaceuticals to the delivery facility. In a delivery facility that is not associated with a dispensing facility, for example, the delivery facility specifies an arbitrary dispensing facility to request dispensing of pharmaceuticals.

[0038] Returning to Figure 2, the control unit 43 is a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), or NPU (Neural network Processing Unit) of the information processing device 4, and by executing programs stored in the memory unit 42, it functions as a reception unit 431, an identification unit 432, an acquisition unit 433, an estimation unit 434, a selection unit 435, an output unit 436, a guidance processing unit 437, and a bonus granting unit 438.

[0039] The reception unit 431 receives a prescription issued to a user by a medical institution and a desired pick-up location desired by the user as a pick-up location for the medicines dispensed based on the prescription. For example, when the user first performs an operation to launch a dedicated app on the user terminal 1, the user terminal 1 displays a display screen of the dedicated app. The display screen of the dedicated app has input fields for inputting the prescription etc. and a list of pick-up locations for selecting a desired pick-up location.

[0040] When the user inputs a prescription in the input fields on the display screen of the dedicated app and selects a desired pickup location from a list of pickup locations, the user terminal 1 transmits a usage request including the user ID, the prescription input by the user, and the pickup location ID corresponding to the desired pickup location selected by the user to the information processing device 4. Then, the reception unit 431 receives the usage request from the user terminal 1, thereby receiving the prescription and the desired pickup location.

[0041] The receiving unit 431 may receive the desired receiving location after the delivery time of the medicine for each receiving location is presented. The delivery time is the time when the medicine will arrive at the receiving location. Specifically, the information processing device 4 receives the desired receiving location after presenting the delivery time of the medicine for each receiving location by performing the following four steps.

[0042] As a first step, the reception unit 431 receives a prescription. The reception unit 431 receives the prescription input by the user on the display screen of the dedicated app, for example.

[0043] In a second step, the identifying unit 432 refers to the information related to the delivery facilities stored in the memory unit 42, and identifies, for each receiving location, a delivery time at which the pharmaceutical will be delivered to the desired receiving location based on the delivery schedule of the flight on which the delivery facility associated with the receiving location plans to deliver the pharmaceutical to the receiving location. Note that the identifying unit 432 may identify the delivery time using the delivery schedule obtained from the delivery terminal 3 of the delivery facility.

[0044] For example, the identification unit 432 identifies, for each receiving location, the delivery time of a flight whose destination is the receiving location and that departs from the delivery facility at the nearest future time from the current time, from among one or more flights included in the delivery schedule corresponding to the delivery facility associated with the receiving location. The identification unit 432 may also identify, from among one or more flights included in the delivery schedule, the delivery time of a flight that departs from the delivery facility at the nearest future time from a time that is a predetermined period (e.g., 10 minutes, 30 minutes, 60 minutes, etc.) from the current time. The predetermined period is, for example, a period determined as the time required to dispense a medicine and to complete delivery procedures for the medicine.

[0045] The identification unit 432 may identify the delivery time in consideration of the actual time required to dispense the medicine based on the prescription. For example, first, the acquisition unit 433 acquires, for each dispensing facility, time identification information corresponding to the dispensing facility from the dispensing terminal 2 of the dispensing facility. The time identification information is information for identifying the dispensing start time at which the dispensing facility can start dispensing the medicine based on the prescription, and is, for example, a combination of the dispensing start time, the number of requests to dispense other medicines, and the number of pharmacists working at the dispensing facility.

[0046] The estimation unit 434 estimates, for each dispensing facility, the completion time at which dispensing of the medicine based on the prescription will be completed, based on the dispensing start time identified by the time identification information corresponding to the dispensing facility and the time required to dispense the medicine based on the prescription accepted by the acceptance unit 431. For example, the storage unit 42 stores the time required to dispense the medicine for each medicine. When the time identification information indicates the dispensing start time, the estimation unit 434 estimates, as the completion time, the time when the required time corresponding to the medicine indicated in the prescription accepted by the acceptance unit 431 has elapsed from the dispensing start time indicated by the time identification information.

[0047] When the time identification information is a combination of the number of requests for dispensing other medicines and the number of pharmacists, the estimation unit 434 first calculates a multiplied time by multiplying the number of requests by a predetermined unit time (e.g., 10 minutes, 30 minutes, etc.) required to dispense the medicines, and then calculates the working time of the dispensing facility by dividing the calculated multiplied time by the number of pharmacists. Then, the estimation unit 434 estimates, as the completion time, the time obtained by elapse of the working time of the dispensing facility from the current time and the required time corresponding to the medicines indicated in the prescription accepted by the acceptance unit 431.

[0048] When the estimation unit 434 estimates the completion time, the identification unit 432 identifies, for each receiving location, the delivery time of a flight that departs from the delivery facility associated with the receiving location and the dispensing facility associated with the delivery location at the time nearest to the completion time or the time nearest to the time when a predetermined period has elapsed since the completion time, from one or more flights included in the delivery schedule corresponding to the delivery facility associated with the receiving location. In this way, the information processing device 4 can improve the accuracy of identifying the delivery time.

[0049] As a third step, the output unit 436 associates each pickup location with the delivery time identified by the identification unit 432 and presents the associated pickup location to the user. The output unit 436 displays a list of pickup locations associated with the delivery time on the display screen of the dedicated app, for example.

[0050] In a fourth step, the reception unit 431 receives, as the desired pickup location, a pickup location selected by the user from among a plurality of pickup locations presented in association with delivery times. For example, the reception unit 431 receives, as the desired pickup location, a pickup location selected by the user from the list of pickup locations on a display screen of the dedicated app that displays a list of pickup locations associated with delivery times.

[0051] FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of a display screen of the dedicated app. The display screen shown in FIG. 4 displays a map showing the location of each pickup location and a list of pickup locations. In the example shown in FIG. 4, it can be seen that the names of pickup locations are displayed in association with delivery times. When a user presses a selection button corresponding to a desired pickup location from the list of pickup locations on the display screen shown in FIG. 4, the reception unit 431 receives the desired pickup location by acquiring the pickup location ID corresponding to the pressed selection button. In this way, the information processing device 4 can make it easier for the user to select a pickup location taking the delivery time into consideration.

[0052] The receiving unit 431 may receive the desired receiving location after a list of receiving locations associated with dispensing facilities that can dispense medicines is presented. Specifically, the information processing device 4 receives the desired receiving location after a list of receiving locations associated with dispensing facilities that can dispense medicines is presented, by performing the following two steps.

[0053] In a first step, when the receiving unit 431 receives a prescription, the output unit 436 presents to the user one or more pickup locations associated with one or more dispensing facilities that can dispense the prescription-based medicine, based on the inventory status of the medicine at each of the multiple dispensing facilities. The medicine is, for example, an ingredient used to dispense the prescription-based medicine.

[0054] For example, first, the acquisition unit 433 acquires inventory information for identifying the inventory status of drugs from the dispensing terminal 2 of each of the multiple dispensing facilities. The inventory information includes, for example, the quantity of drugs, whether or not the drug can be dispensed based on a prescription, etc. The identification unit 432 identifies a dispensing facility that can dispense the drug based on a prescription based on the inventory information of each of the multiple dispensing facilities acquired by the acquisition unit 433.

[0055] For example, when the inventory information indicates the quantity of drugs, the identification unit 432 identifies, as a dispensing facility capable of dispensing prescription-based drugs, a dispensing facility where the quantity of drugs indicated by the inventory information is equal to or greater than the quantity of drugs used to dispense prescription-based drugs. Furthermore, when the inventory information indicates whether prescription-based drugs can be dispensed, the identification unit 432 identifies, as a dispensing facility capable of dispensing prescription-based drugs, a dispensing facility corresponding to inventory information indicating that prescription-based drug dispensing is possible. Then, the output unit 436 presents to the user a list of pickup locations associated with the dispensing facilities identified by the identification unit 432.

[0056] In a third step, the reception unit 431 receives, as the desired pickup location, a pickup location selected by the user from one or more presented pickup locations. For example, the reception unit 431 receives, as the desired pickup location, a pickup location selected by the user from a list of pickup locations on a display screen of the dedicated app that displays a list of pickup locations where medicines based on prescriptions can be dispensed. In this way, the information processing device 4 can prevent a situation in which, after the user has specified a desired pickup location, the user cancels the designation of the desired pickup location due to a shortage of medicines used to dispense medicines based on prescriptions at a dispensing facility associated with the desired pickup location, or a situation in which medicines cannot be delivered to the desired pickup location.

[0057] The selection unit 435 selects a delivery facility that is scheduled to deliver an item other than medicines to the desired receiving location from among a plurality of delivery facilities that deliver packages. The selection unit 435 selects a delivery facility from among the plurality of delivery facilities by, for example, identifying the delivery facility indicated by the delivery facility ID associated with the receiving location ID included in the usage request acquired by the reception unit 431 in the relationship management database.

[0058] When multiple delivery facilities are associated with the desired receiving location, the selection unit 435 selects one delivery facility from the multiple delivery facilities. Specifically, when multiple delivery facilities are associated with the desired receiving location, the selection unit 435 selects, from the multiple delivery facilities associated with the desired receiving location, a delivery facility with a relatively early delivery time that is specified based on the delivery schedule of the flight on which the item is scheduled to be delivered to the desired receiving location and that is the time when the pharmaceutical will be delivered to the desired receiving location.

[0059] For example, first, when multiple delivery facilities are associated with the desired receiving location, the identification unit 432 refers to information about the delivery facilities, and for each delivery facility associated with the desired receiving location, identifies, from one or more flights included in the delivery schedule corresponding to the delivery facility, the delivery time of a flight whose destination is the desired receiving location and that departs from the delivery facility at the time nearest to the current time or the time nearest to the time after a predetermined period has elapsed from the current time. Then, the selection unit 435 selects, from the multiple delivery facilities associated with the desired receiving location, the delivery facility with the earliest delivery time identified by the identification unit 432. In this way, the information processing device 4 can provide pharmaceuticals to the user promptly.

[0060] When a plurality of combinations of delivery facilities and dispensing facilities are associated with the desired reception location, the selection unit 435 may select one combination from the plurality of combinations. Specifically, first, when a plurality of dispensing facilities are associated with the desired reception location, the acquisition unit 433 acquires time identification information corresponding to each dispensing facility associated with the desired reception location.

[0061] The estimation unit 434 estimates, for each dispensing facility associated with the desired receiving location, a completion time at which the dispensing of the prescription-based medicine will be completed, based on the dispensing start time identified by the time identification information corresponding to the dispensing facility and the time required to dispense the medicine based on the prescription. The identification unit 432 identifies, for each combination of a delivery facility and a dispensing facility associated with the desired receiving location, the delivery time of a flight that departs from the delivery facility at the time closest to the completion time corresponding to the delivery facility or the time closest to a time when a predetermined period has elapsed since the completion time corresponding to the dispensing facility, from one or more flights included in the delivery schedule corresponding to the delivery facility.

[0062] Then, the selection unit 435 selects, from among multiple combinations of delivery facilities and dispensing facilities associated with the desired receiving location, a combination of a delivery facility and a dispensing facility with a relatively early delivery time identified by the identification unit 432. For example, from among multiple combinations of delivery facilities and dispensing facilities associated with the desired receiving location, the selection unit 435 selects a combination of a delivery facility and a dispensing facility with the earliest delivery time identified by the identification unit 432. In this way, the information processing device 4 can provide the medicine to the user earlier.

[0063] When a plurality of combinations of delivery facilities and dispensing facilities are associated with a desired receiving location for a desired pickup location, the selection unit 435 may select one combination including a dispensing facility capable of dispensing medicines based on a prescription from the plurality of combinations. Specifically, when a plurality of combinations of delivery facilities and dispensing facilities are associated with a desired receiving location for a desired pickup location, the selection unit 435 selects, from the plurality of combinations, a combination of a dispensing facility capable of dispensing medicines based on a prescription and a delivery facility associated with the dispensing facility, based on the inventory status of medicines used to dispense the medicines based on the prescription.

[0064] For example, first, the acquisition unit 433 acquires drug inventory information from the dispensing terminal 2 of each of multiple dispensing facilities associated with the desired pickup location. The identification unit 432 identifies a dispensing facility that can dispense prescription-based medicines based on the inventory information of each of the multiple dispensing facilities acquired by the acquisition unit 433. Then, the selection unit 435 selects a combination of the dispensing facility identified by the identification unit 432 and a delivery facility associated with the identified dispensing facility. In this way, the information processing device 4 can prevent a situation from occurring in which dispensing of prescription-based medicines is requested from a dispensing facility that is short of the medicines used to dispense the prescription-based medicines.

[0065] The output unit 436 outputs a delivery request to have the selected delivery facility, which is the delivery facility selected by the selection unit 435, deliver the medicine to the desired receiving location, and a dispensing request to have the target dispensing facility, which is the target dispensing facility that dispenses the medicine and is determined by the selected delivery facility, dispense the medicine based on the prescription. The dispensing request includes, for example, the prescription accepted by the acceptance unit 431.

[0066] The output unit 436, for example, refers to the relationship management database, identifies a dispensing facility associated with the selected delivery facility as a target dispensing facility, and outputs a delivery request corresponding to the selected delivery facility and a dispensing request corresponding to the identified target dispensing facility. When the selection unit 435 selects a combination of a delivery facility and a dispensing facility, the output unit 436 may identify the dispensing facility identified by the selection unit 435 as a target dispensing facility and output a dispensing request to have the identified target dispensing facility dispense the drug based on the prescription. The output unit 436, for example, notifies either the selected delivery facility or the target dispensing facility of the delivery request and the dispensing request.

[0067] If the target dispensing facility is located in the same location as the selected delivery facility, the output unit 436 notifies the selected delivery facility of the delivery request and the dispensing request. The output unit 436 notifies the selected delivery facility of the delivery request and the dispensing request, for example, by performing the following two steps.

[0068] As a first step, the output unit 436 refers to the relationship management database, information on delivery facilities, and information on dispensing facilities, and determines whether the target dispensing facility is located in the same location as the selected delivery facility. For example, the output unit 436 refers to the relationship management database, information on delivery facilities, and information on dispensing facilities, and determines that the target dispensing facility is located in the same location as the selected delivery facility if a dispensing facility is associated with the selected delivery facility and the address of the selected delivery facility is the same as the address of the target dispensing facility, which is a dispensing facility associated with the selected delivery facility.

[0069] In a second step, when the output unit 436 determines that the target dispensing facility is located in the same place as the selected delivery facility, it notifies the selected delivery facility of a delivery request and a dispensing request. Specifically, the output unit 436 transmits the delivery request and the dispensing request to the delivery terminal 3 of the selected delivery facility. In this way, the information processing device 4 can consolidate notification destinations.

[0070] If the target dispensing facility is located at a different location from the selected delivery facility, the output unit 436 may notify the selected delivery facility of the delivery request and the target dispensing facility of the dispensing request. The output unit 436 notifies the selected delivery facility of the delivery request and the target dispensing facility of the dispensing request by, for example, performing the following two steps.

[0071] As a first step, the output unit 436 refers to the relationship management database, information about delivery facilities, and information about dispensing facilities, and determines whether the target dispensing facility is located at a different location from the selected delivery facility. For example, the output unit 436 refers to the relationship management database, information about delivery facilities, and information about dispensing facilities, and determines that the target dispensing facility is located at a different location from the selected delivery facility when a dispensing facility is associated with the selected delivery facility and the address of the selected delivery facility is not the same as the address of the target dispensing facility that is the dispensing facility associated with the selected delivery facility. Furthermore, for example, when the selection unit 435 selects a combination of a delivery facility and a dispensing facility, the output unit 436 refers to information about delivery facilities and information about dispensing facilities, and determines that the target dispensing facility is located at a different location from the selected delivery facility when the address of the selected delivery facility is not the same as the address of the target dispensing facility that is the dispensing facility selected by the selection unit 435.

[0072] In a second step, when the output unit 436 determines that the target dispensing facility is located at a different location from the selected delivery facility, it notifies the selected delivery facility of a delivery request and notifies the target dispensing facility of a dispensing request. Specifically, the output unit 436 transmits the delivery request to the delivery terminal 3 of the selected delivery facility and transmits the dispensing request to the dispensing terminal 2 of the target dispensing facility. In this way, the information processing device 4 can notify the facility that will perform the requested work of the request.

[0073] The output unit 436 may notify the selected delivery facility of the dispensing request regardless of whether the target dispensing facility is located at a different location from the selected delivery facility. For example, if no dispensing facility is associated with the selected delivery facility in the relationship management database, the output unit 436 sets the dispensing facility designated by the selected delivery facility as the target dispensing facility and transmits the delivery request and dispensing request to the delivery terminal 3 of the selected delivery facility. Upon receiving the dispensing request, the selected delivery facility requests a dispensing facility of its choice to dispense the medicine. In this way, the information processing device 4 can consolidate notification destinations.

[0074] The output unit 436 may output a delivery request including an instruction to have the pharmaceutical delivered on a scheduled flight from the selected delivery facility to the desired receiving location. In this case, the output unit 436 may output a delivery request including an instruction to have the pharmaceutical delivered on a specific flight among multiple flights from the selected delivery facility to the desired receiving location.

[0075] For example, the selection unit 435 first refers to the delivery schedule of the selected delivery facility and selects a flight to deliver the pharmaceutical from among multiple flights scheduled to deliver items to the desired receiving location based on the current time. The selection unit 435, for example, selects a flight scheduled to depart at a time in the future nearest to the current time from among multiple flights scheduled to deliver items to the desired receiving location. The selection unit 435 may also select a flight scheduled to depart at a time in the future nearest to a time a predetermined period has elapsed from the current time from among multiple flights scheduled to deliver items to the desired receiving location.

[0076] Then, the output unit 436 outputs a delivery request including an instruction to have the medicine delivered on the flight selected by the selection unit 435. The output unit 436 transmits, for example, a delivery request including information for identifying the flight selected by the selection unit 435 to the delivery terminal 3 of the selected delivery facility. In this way, the information processing device 4 can have the medicine delivered on an existing flight.

[0077] The output unit 436 may notify the user of the delivery time of the medicine. Specifically, the information processing device 4 notifies the user of the delivery time of the medicine by executing the following two steps.

[0078] As a first step, the specifying unit 432 specifies a delivery time for the medicine to be delivered to the desired receiving location based on the delivery schedule of the flight on which the item is scheduled to be delivered to the desired receiving location. The specifying unit 432 may specify the delivery time taking into account the time required to dispense the medicine.

[0079] Specifically, first, the acquisition unit 433 acquires time specifying information corresponding to the target dispensing facility. The estimation unit 434 estimates the completion time at which the dispensing of the medicine based on the prescription will be completed, based on the dispensing start time specified by the time specifying information acquired by the acquisition unit 433 and the time required to dispense the medicine based on the prescription accepted by the acceptance unit 431.

[0080] The identifying unit 432 then identifies a delivery time based on the delivery schedule of the flight that is scheduled to deliver the item to the desired receiving location and the completion time estimated by the estimating unit 434. For example, the identifying unit 432 identifies the delivery time of the flight that departs from the delivery facility at the time nearest to the completion time estimated by the estimating unit 434, or the time nearest to the time a predetermined period has elapsed since the completion time, from among one or more flights included in the delivery schedule. In this way, the information processing device 4 can improve the accuracy of identifying the delivery time.

[0081] In a second step, the output unit 436 notifies the user of the delivery time identified by the identification unit 432. For example, the output unit 436 displays the delivery time identified by the identification unit 432 on the display screen of the dedicated app that is displayed after the reception unit 431 receives the usage request. In this way, the information processing device 4 allows the user to recognize the time when the medicine will be delivered to the desired receiving location.

[0082] The information processing device 4 may provide medication instruction for medicines dispensed based on a prescription in the information processing service. Specifically, the instruction processing unit 437 executes processing for the user to receive medication instruction from a predetermined instructor before the user receives the medicine at the desired pickup location. The predetermined instructor is an instructor who provides medication instruction for medicines dispensed based on a prescription, and is one of multiple instructors employed at multiple dispensing facilities including the target dispensing facility and other dispensing facilities different from the target dispensing facility. The predetermined instructor is, for example, an instructor selected by the user from multiple instructors, or an instructor registered in advance by the user in the information processing service.

[0083] For example, first, when the user performs an operation on the user terminal 1 to request medication instruction, the reception unit 431 receives an instruction request from the user terminal 1 for the user to receive medication instruction. Then, when the reception unit 431 receives the instruction request, the instruction processing unit 437 directly or indirectly connects the user terminal 1 with the terminal of a predetermined instructor, thereby providing a communication space for the user to receive medication instruction from the predetermined instructor. The communication space may be, for example, a video call, an audio-only call, a chat, or the like. In this way, the information processing device 4 can allow the user to receive medication instruction.

[0084] The information processing device 4 may grant a benefit to a user who uses the information processing service. The benefit may be, for example, points that can be used in the information processing service. Specifically, the benefit granting unit 438 grants a benefit to a user when the user receives a medicine at a desired receiving location.

[0085] For example, first, the acquisition unit 433 acquires purchase information indicating that the user has purchased a medicine at the desired pickup location from the user terminal 1 or a terminal (not shown) managed by the desired pickup location. The purchase information includes, for example, a user ID and information for identifying the medicine. Then, when the acquisition unit 433 acquires the purchase information, the benefit granting unit 438 grants a benefit to the user identified by the user ID included in the purchase information. In this way, the information processing device 4 can provide the user with an incentive to use the information processing service.

[0086] [Processing of information processing device 4] Next, a description will be given of the flow of processing executed by the information processing device 4. Fig. 5 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing by the information processing device 4. This processing starts when the reception unit 431 receives a usage request including a prescription and a desired pickup location (S1).

[0087] The selection unit 435 selects a delivery facility that is scheduled to deliver the item to the desired receiving location from among the plurality of delivery facilities (S2), and the output unit 436 outputs a delivery request and a dispensing request (S3).

[0088] The output unit 436, for example, references the relationship management database, information about delivery facilities, and information about dispensing facilities, and if a dispensing facility is associated with the selected delivery facility and the address of the selected delivery facility is the same as the address of a target dispensing facility that is the dispensing facility associated with the selected delivery facility, notifies the selected delivery facility of a delivery request and a dispensing request. Furthermore, the output unit 436, for example, references the relationship management database, information about delivery facilities, and information about dispensing facilities, and if a dispensing facility is associated with the selected delivery facility and the address of the selected delivery facility is not the same as the address of a target dispensing facility that is the dispensing facility associated with the selected delivery facility, notifies the selected delivery facility of a delivery request and notifies the target dispensing facility of a dispensing request. Furthermore, if a dispensing facility is not associated with the selected delivery facility in the relationship management database, the output unit 436 notifies the selected delivery facility of a delivery request and a dispensing request.

[0089] [Effects of this embodiment] As described above, when the information processing device 4 receives a prescription and a desired receiving location, it selects from among multiple delivery facilities a delivery facility that plans to deliver the item to the desired receiving location, and outputs a delivery request to the selected delivery facility, which is the selected delivery facility, to deliver the pharmaceutical to the desired receiving location, and a dispensing request to the target dispensing facility, which is the target dispensing facility determined by the selected delivery facility, to dispense the pharmaceutical based on the prescription. In this way, the information processing device 4 can have the pharmaceutical delivered to the delivery facility that plans to deliver the item to the desired receiving location. As a result, the information processing device 4 can reduce delivery costs by having the delivery facility deliver the pharmaceutical on an existing service compared to when the delivery facility delivers the pharmaceutical on a new service. As a result, the information processing device 4 can provide a mechanism for reducing delivery costs.

[0090] Furthermore, this invention will make it possible to contribute to Goal 9 of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which is "Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization, and promote innovation and resilience."

[0091] The present invention has been described above using embodiments, but the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope described in the above embodiments, and various modifications and changes are possible within the scope of the gist of the present invention. For example, all or part of the device can be configured by functionally or physically distributing or integrating any unit. Furthermore, new embodiments resulting from any combination of multiple embodiments are also included in the embodiments of the present invention. The effects of the new embodiments resulting from the combination also have the effects of the original embodiments. [Explanation of symbols]

[0092] 1. User terminal 2. Dispensing terminal 3. Delivery terminal 4. Information processing equipment 41 Communications Department 42 Storage section 43 Control Unit 431 Reception Department 432 Specific part 433 Acquisition Department 434 Estimation Department 435 Selection Section 436 Output Section 437 Guidance Department 438 Benefits Granting Department S Information Processing System

Claims

1. A memory unit that stores, in association with each other, a receiving location for medicines dispensed based on a prescription issued by a medical institution, a delivery facility that periodically delivers items other than the medicines to the receiving location, and a dispensing facility that dispenses the medicines to be delivered by the delivery facility; a reception unit that receives the prescription issued to a user and a desired pick-up location that is the pick-up location desired by the user; a selection unit that selects the delivery facility associated with the desired receiving location in the storage unit from among the plurality of delivery facilities; an output unit that outputs a delivery request to a selected delivery facility that is the delivery facility selected by the selection unit to deliver to the desired receiving location the medicine dispensed by a target dispensing facility that is the dispensing facility associated with the selected delivery facility in the storage unit, and a dispensing request to the target dispensing facility to dispense the medicine based on the prescription; An information processing device having the above.

2. the target dispensing facility is co-located with the selected delivery facility; The output unit notifies the selected delivery facility of the delivery request and the dispensing request. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

3. the target dispensing facility is located at a different location from the selected delivery facility; The output unit notifies the selected delivery facility of the delivery request, and notifies the target delivery facility or the selected delivery facility of the dispensing request. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

4. the output unit outputs the delivery request including an instruction to have the medicine delivered on a scheduled delivery flight from the selected delivery facility to the desired receiving location. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

5. The information processing device further includes an identification unit that identifies a delivery time at which the medicine will be delivered to the desired receiving location based on the delivery schedule, the output unit notifies the user of the delivery time identified by the identification unit. The information processing device according to claim 4 .

6. The information processing device includes: an acquisition unit that acquires time identification information for identifying a dispensing start time at which the target dispensing facility can start dispensing the medicine based on the prescription; an estimation unit that estimates a completion time at which dispensing of the medicine based on the prescription will be completed, based on the dispensing start time identified by the time identification information acquired by the acquisition unit and a required time for dispensing the medicine based on the prescription; and The determination unit further determines the delivery time based on the completion time estimated by the estimation unit. The information processing device according to claim 5 .

7. The reception unit receives the prescription, The information processing device further includes an identification unit that identifies, for each of the receiving locations, a delivery time at which the medicine will be delivered to the desired receiving location based on a schedule of a flight at which the delivery facility associated with the receiving location plans to deliver the medicine to the receiving location; the output unit associates the pickup location with the delivery time identified by the identification unit for each pickup location and presents the associated pickup location to the user; the reception unit receives, as the desired receiving location, the receiving location selected by the user from the plurality of receiving locations presented in association with the delivery time; The information processing device according to claim 1 .

8. The reception unit receives the prescription, the output unit presents to the user one or more pickup locations associated with one or more of the dispensing facilities that are capable of dispensing the medicine based on the prescription, based on an inventory status of a medicine used to dispense the medicine based on the prescription at each of the plurality of dispensing facilities; the reception unit receives the receiving location selected by the user from the one or more receiving locations presented as the desired receiving location; The information processing device according to claim 1 .

9. When a plurality of delivery facilities are associated with the desired receiving location, the selection unit selects, from among the plurality of delivery facilities associated with the desired receiving location, the delivery facility whose delivery time at which the pharmaceutical product will be delivered to the desired receiving location is relatively early, the delivery time being determined based on the schedule of a flight on which the item is scheduled to be delivered to the desired receiving location. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

10. The information processing device includes: an acquisition unit that acquires, when a plurality of the dispensing facilities are associated with the desired pickup location, time identification information for identifying a dispensing start time at which the dispensing facility can start dispensing the medicine based on the prescription, for each of the dispensing facilities associated with the desired pickup location; an estimation unit that estimates, for each of the dispensing facilities associated with the desired receiving location, a completion time at which dispensing of the medicine based on the prescription will be completed, based on the dispensing start time identified by the time identification information corresponding to the dispensing facility and the time required to dispense the medicine based on the prescription; and the selection unit selects, from among a plurality of combinations of the delivery facility and the dispensing facility associated with the desired receiving location, a combination of the delivery facility and the dispensing facility having a relatively early delivery time, which is specified based on a delivery time at which the medicine will be delivered to the desired receiving location, a schedule of a flight by which the item is scheduled to be delivered to the desired receiving location, and the completion time estimated for each dispensing facility by the estimation unit; the output unit outputs the dispensing request to the dispensing facility selected by the selection unit as the target dispensing facility to dispense the medicine based on the prescription. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

11. When multiple combinations of the delivery facility and the dispensing facility are associated with the desired receiving location, the selection unit selects, from the multiple combinations, a combination of the dispensing facility that is capable of dispensing the medicine based on the prescription and the delivery facility associated with the dispensing facility based on the inventory status of drugs used to dispense the medicine based on the prescription, When the selection unit selects the dispensing facility, the output unit identifies the dispensing facility selected by the selection unit as the target dispensing facility, and outputs the dispensing request to the identified target dispensing facility to dispense the medicine based on the prescription. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

12. The information processing device further includes a benefit granting unit that grants a benefit to the user when the user receives the medicine at the desired receiving location. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

13. The information processing device further includes an instruction processing unit that executes processing for the user to receive medication instruction from any one of a plurality of instructors who provide medication instruction for the medicine dispensed based on the prescription and who are employed at each of a plurality of dispensing facilities including the target dispensing facility and another dispensing facility different from the target dispensing facility, before the user receives the medicine at the desired receiving location. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

14. The item is a product sold at the desired pickup location. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

15. Executed by a computer having a memory unit that associates and stores a receiving location for medicines dispensed based on a prescription issued by a medical institution, a delivery facility that periodically delivers items other than the medicines to the receiving location, and a dispensing facility that dispenses the medicines to be delivered to the delivery facility. receiving the prescription issued to the user and a desired pickup location that is the pickup location desired by the user; selecting the delivery facility associated with the desired pickup location in the storage unit from among the plurality of delivery facilities; outputting a delivery request to a selected delivery facility, which is the selected delivery facility, to deliver to the desired receiving location the pharmaceuticals dispensed by a target dispensing facility, which is the dispensing facility associated with the selected delivery facility in the storage unit; outputting a dispensing request to the target dispensing facility to dispense the medicine based on the prescription; An information processing method comprising:

16. A computer having a memory unit that stores, in association with each other, a receiving location for a medicine dispensed based on a prescription issued by a medical institution, a delivery facility that periodically delivers items other than the medicine to the receiving location, and a dispensing facility that dispenses the medicine to be delivered to the delivery facility, a reception unit that receives the prescription issued to the user and a desired pick-up location that is the pick-up location desired by the user; a selection unit that selects the delivery facility associated with the desired receiving location in the storage unit from among the plurality of delivery facilities; and an output unit that outputs a delivery request to a selected delivery facility that is the delivery facility selected by the selection unit to deliver to the desired receiving location the medicine dispensed by a target dispensing facility that is the dispensing facility associated with the selected delivery facility in the storage unit, and a dispensing request to the target dispensing facility to dispense the medicine based on the prescription; A program to function as a

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