Information processing device

Abstract

To enable an efficient operations using mobile vehicles.SOLUTION: An information processing device 10 provided herein comprises a control unit 13. The control unit 13 is configured to predict a demand for each business category in a given area, and determine a business category that should employ mobile sales in the given area on the basis of a demand prediction result for each business category in the given area.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] Conventionally, there are known technologies for conducting business using mobile objects. For example, a service providing system described in Patent Document 1 determines a location and time for placing a mobile object based on acquired mobile object information and location information. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2020-181416 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] There is a demand for technology that allows businesses to operate efficiently using mobile devices.

[0005] The purpose of the present disclosure, made in consideration of the above, is to conduct business efficiently using mobile objects. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] An information processing device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure includes a control unit that predicts demand for each industry in a specified area and determines the industry in which mobile sales should be conducted in the specified area based on the predicted demand for each industry in the specified area. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, business can be conducted efficiently using mobile devices. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1]FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a sequence diagram showing the operation of the system shown in FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a website. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0010] (System configuration) 1, a system 1 according to this embodiment includes an information processing device 10, a terminal device 20, a terminal device 30, and a plurality of mobile objects 40. However, the system 1 only needs to include at least one mobile object 40. Furthermore, the system 1 may include any number of terminal devices 20 and any number of terminal devices 30.

[0011] The information processing device 10, the terminal device 20, the terminal device 30, and a plurality of mobile objects 40 can communicate with each other via a network 2. The network 2 may be any network including a mobile communication network, the Internet, and the like.

[0012] The information processing device 10 is, for example, a dedicated computer configured to function as a server, a general-purpose personal computer, or a cloud computing system.

[0013] The information processing device 10 provides a service of renting out the mobile object 40. The information processing device 10 also determines the type of business in which a mobile business should be conducted in a predetermined area.

[0014] In the present disclosure, a mobile business is a business conducted using a mobile vehicle. In other words, a mobile business can be conducted at any location by using a mobile vehicle without using a permanent store. A mobile business is, for example, a mobile sales business or a service using a mobile vehicle. A mobile sales business is selling products using a mobile vehicle. For example, a mobile sales business is selling products transported by a mobile vehicle or selling food cooked in a kitchen installed inside the mobile vehicle. A service using a mobile vehicle is, for example, providing day care services using a mobile vehicle or providing education or learning support using a mobile vehicle.

[0015] In the present disclosure, the predetermined area may be any location where mobile sales can be conducted. The predetermined area may be set according to the region. For example, the predetermined area may be a park, a theme park, an apartment building, a commercial facility, a public facility such as a city hall, or an office district.

[0016] Each of the terminal device 20 and the terminal device 30 is, for example, a smartphone, a tablet terminal, or a personal computer (PC).

[0017] The terminal device 20 is operated by a business operator 3. The business operator 3 rents a mobile object 40 to carry out mobile business.

[0018] The terminal device 30 is operated by a worker 4. The worker 4 performs work such as maintenance on the moving object 40.

[0019] The moving body 40 is, for example, a vehicle. However, the moving body 40 is not limited to a vehicle as long as it is capable of moving. The vehicle is, for example, a gasoline-powered automobile, an electric automobile (BEV: Battery Electric Vehicle), a hybrid automobile (HEV: Hybrid Electric Vehicle), a plug-in hybrid automobile (PHEV: Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle), a fuel cell automobile (FCEV: Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle), or the like.

[0020] The mobile object 40 may be movable by manual driving. In other words, the mobile object 40 may be driven by a driver. The mobile object 40 may be movable by automated driving. In this case, part or all of the driving of the mobile object 40 may be automated at any level. The level of automation is, for example, any of levels 1 to 5 in the classification of the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE). The mobile object 40 may also be a vehicle dedicated to MaaS (Mobility as a Service).

[0021] The mobile unit 40 is rented to a business operator who runs a mobile business. Depending on the type of business being conducted, a kitchen unit, a cash register unit, a bathroom unit, a seat unit, or the like is installed inside the mobile unit 40 by the worker 4.

[0022] (Configuration of information processing device) The information processing device 10 includes a communication unit 11, a storage unit 12, and a control unit 13.

[0023] The communication unit 11 is configured to include at least one communication module connectable to the network 2. The communication module is, for example, a communication module compatible with standards such as a wired LAN (Local Area Network) or a wireless LAN. The communication unit 11 is connected to the network 2 via the wired LAN or wireless LAN by the communication module.

[0024] The storage unit 12 includes at least one semiconductor memory, at least one magnetic memory, at least one optical memory, or a combination of at least two of these. The storage unit 12 may function as a main storage device, an auxiliary storage device, or a cache memory. The storage unit 12 stores data used in the operation of the information processing device 10 and data obtained by the operation of the information processing device 10.

[0025] The control unit 13 is configured to include at least one processor, at least one dedicated circuit, or a combination of these. The processor is, 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. The control unit 13 executes processes related to the operation of the information processing device 10 while controlling each part of the information processing device 10.

[0026] (System Operation) FIG. 2 is a sequence diagram showing the operation of the system shown in FIG.

[0027] In the process of step S1, the control unit 13 of the information processing device 10 predicts demand for each business type in a predetermined area. The business types for which demand is predicted may be businesses that allow mobile sales. Examples of the business types for which demand is predicted include sales of food and beverages, sales of goods such as miscellaneous goods, provision of day care services, and provision of education for children.

[0028] The control unit 13 may predict the demand for each business type in a predetermined area on a predetermined date. The predetermined date may be several days or months in the future, or may be set in advance.

[0029] The control unit 13 may predict demand for each industry in a specified area by time period of a specified day. For example, people's lifestyles change by time period, such as morning, daytime, evening, and nighttime. As people's lifestyles change by time period of a day, demand for each industry may also change by time period of a day. Therefore, the time period for which demand for each industry is predicted may be set taking people's lifestyles into consideration. For example, the time period for which demand for each industry is predicted may include at least one of morning, daytime, evening, and nighttime.

[0030] The control unit 13 may predict demand for each business type in a predetermined area based on people's location information, people's attribute information, past purchase history, weather information, temperature information, or humidity information.

[0031] The person's location information and person's attribute information may be location information and person's attribute information, respectively, of people living in a predetermined area where demand for each industry is predicted or a district including the predetermined area. The person's attribute information is information indicating attributes such as child, adult, male, or female.

[0032] The past purchase history may be a purchase history for a predetermined period going back from a predetermined date for which demand for each industry is predicted. The predetermined period may be set according to the industry for which demand is predicted. The past purchase history may be a purchase history for a predetermined area for which demand for each industry is predicted or a district including that predetermined area.

[0033] The weather information, temperature information, or humidity information may be weather information, temperature information, or humidity information for a predetermined day for which demand for each industry is predicted. The weather information, temperature information, or humidity information may be weather information, temperature information, or humidity information for each time period on a predetermined day.

[0034] In the process of step S2, the control unit 13 determines the type of business in which the mobile sales business should be conducted in the predetermined area based on the predicted results of demand for each type of business in the predetermined area acquired in the process of step S1.

[0035] The control unit 13 may predict the sales amount for each industry in the specified area based on the predicted demand for each industry in the specified area. The control unit 13 may determine that an industry with a high predicted sales amount should be prioritized as the industry for which mobile sales should be performed in the specified area. When the control unit 13 predicts the demand for each industry in the specified area by time zone on a specified day, the control unit 13 may predict the sales amount for each industry in the specified area by time zone on a specified day. The control unit 13 may determine that an industry with a high predicted sales amount by time zone on a specified day should be prioritized as the industry for which mobile sales should be performed in the specified area.

[0036] In the process of step S3, the control unit 13 identifies the optimal location for the mobile sales business determined in the process of step S2 based on the distribution information of people in the specified area. If the business type for which the mobile sales business should be performed by time period on a specified day is determined in the process of step S2, the distribution information of people may be the distribution information of people by time period on a specified day. The control unit 13 may determine, based on the distribution information of people in the specified area, a location with a higher density of people compared to other locations as the optimal location for the mobile sales business. For example, assume that the specified area is an apartment complex with a park in front of the specified area. The location near the park in the specified area may have a higher density of people compared to other locations. In this case, the control unit 13 determines, as the optimal location, a location with a higher density of people compared to other locations, thereby determining the location near the park in the specified area as the optimal location for the mobile sales business.

[0037] In the processing of step S4, the control unit 13 determines the rental fee for the mobile unit 40 in the specified area based on the predicted results of demand for each industry in the specified area acquired in the processing of step S1. The rental fee for the mobile unit 40 in the specified area is the fee required to rent the mobile unit 40 in the specified area. The control unit 13 may determine the rental fee for the mobile unit 40 for each area for which demand is predicted. The control unit 13 may determine a higher rental fee for the mobile unit 40 for an area with a higher total demand, which is the sum of the demand for each industry. If the control unit 13 predicted the demand for each industry in the specified area by time period on a specified day in the processing of step S1, the control unit 13 may determine the rental fee for the mobile unit 40 by time period on a specified day.

[0038] In the processing of step S5, the control unit 13 predicts the number of mobile bodies 40 to be rented out in a predetermined area based on the predicted results of demand for each business type in the predetermined area acquired in the processing of step S1. The control unit 13 may predict the number of mobile bodies 40 to be rented out for each area for which demand is predicted. The control unit 13 may predict that the higher the total demand obtained by adding up the demand for each business type in an area, the greater the number of mobile bodies 40 to be rented out in that area.

[0039] In the processing of step S6, the control unit 13 posts information on the business type for which the mobile business should be conducted, determined in the processing of step S2, on the website 5, as shown in FIG. 3. The control unit 13 may post on the website 5 the rental fee for the mobile unit 40, determined in the processing of step S4, along with the business type for which the mobile business should be conducted. In FIG. 3, the predetermined areas for which the business type for which the mobile business should be conducted are determined are area 6A, area 6B, and area 6C. Also, in FIG. 3, the business for which the mobile business should be conducted is determined for each of the following time periods on March 18, 2023: 8:00-11:00, 11:00-14:00, 14:00-17:00, and 17:00-21:00. The business for which the mobile business should be conducted and the rental fee for the mobile unit 40 are posted on the website 5 for each of these time periods.

[0040] By executing the processing of step S6, the business operator 3 can view the website 5 as shown in FIG. 3 using the terminal device 20. The business operator 3 views the information posted on the website 5 and determines the type of business the mobile business will be conducted in, the area in which the mobile business will be conducted, and the date and time period for renting the mobile unit 40. After determining these, the business operator 3 inputs, into the terminal device 20, an input indicating the type of business the mobile business will be conducted in, an input indicating the area in which the mobile business will be conducted, and an input indicating the date and time period for renting the mobile unit 40. For example, assume that the business operator 3 has decided to sell food and beverages in area 6A as shown in FIG. 3 from 8:00 to 11:00 on March 18, 2023. In this case, the business operator 3 inputs, into the terminal device 20, an input indicating the sale of food and beverages as the type of business the mobile business will be conducted in, an input indicating area 6A as the area, and an input indicating the time period for renting the mobile unit 40 from 8:00 to 11:00 on March 18, 2023.

[0041] In the processing of step S7, the terminal device 20 receives from the business operator 3 an input indicating the type of business in which the business will operate, an input indicating the area in which the business will operate, and an input indicating the date and time period for renting the mobile unit 40. Upon receiving these inputs, the terminal device 20 transmits application information to the information processing device 10 via the network 2. The application information includes the information that the terminal device 20 received as input from the business operator 3. In other words, the application information includes information on the type of business in which the business operator 3 will operate the mobile unit, information on the area in which the business operator 3 will operate the mobile unit, and information on the date and time period for renting the mobile unit 40. The application information may further include information on the business operator 3.

[0042] In the process of step S8, the control unit 13 of the information processing device 10 receives the application information from the terminal device 20 via the network 2 through the communication unit 11.

[0043] In the processing of step S9, the control unit 13 transmits the location information of the optimum location for conducting mobile business identified in the processing of step S3 to the terminal device 20 via the network 2 by the communication unit 11 based on the application information received in the processing of step S8. In other words, this location information of the optimum location is the location information of the optimum location for conducting mobile business in the area in which the business operator 3 conducts mobile business and on the date and time period in which the mobile body 40 is rented.

[0044] In the processing of step S10, the terminal device 20 receives location information of the optimum location for conducting mobile sales from the information processing device 10 via the network 2. The terminal device 20 may display the received location information of the optimum location on the terminal device 20. With this configuration, the business operator 3 can grasp the optimum location for conducting mobile sales. This allows the business operator 3 to move the mobile object 40 to the optimum location if the mobile object 40 can be moved by manual driving. Furthermore, the business operator 3 can conduct mobile sales using the mobile object 40 in the optimum location.

[0045] In the process of step S11, the control unit 13 of the information processing device 10 transmits an instruction signal to the terminal device 30 via the network 2 by the communication unit 11. The instruction signal is a signal that instructs the worker 4 on the work content.

[0046] The instruction signal transmitted to the terminal device 30 may be a signal instructing a change in the configuration of the mobile object 40 according to the business type determined in the processing of step S2. For example, in area 6A as shown in FIG. 3, it is necessary to change the configuration of one of the multiple mobile objects 40 to one that incorporates a kitchen unit by 8:00 on March 18, 2023. It is also necessary to change the configuration of one of the multiple mobile objects 40 to one that incorporates a bath unit by 8:00 on March 18, 2023. It is also necessary to change the configuration of one of the multiple mobile objects 40 to one that incorporates a seat unit by 17:00 on March 18, 2023. Therefore, the instruction signal may be a signal indicating information about the unit that the worker 4 will install in the mobile object 40 and the time when the worker 4 will install the unit in the mobile object 40.

[0047] The instruction signal transmitted to the terminal device 30 may be a signal indicating the number of mobile objects 40 that the worker 4 will prepare in a predetermined area on a predetermined day. This number of mobile objects 40 may be the number of mobile objects predicted to be rented in the predetermined area in the processing of step S5, or may be the number of mobile objects 40 calculated based on the application information received from the terminal device 20 or the like.

[0048] In the process of step S12, the terminal device 30 receives an instruction signal from the information processing device 10 via the network 2. The terminal device 30 may display the content indicated by the received instruction signal on the terminal device 30. With this configuration, the worker 4 can understand the content of the work to be performed on the mobile object 40.

[0049] In the processing of step S9 described above, the control unit 13 may transmit location information of the optimum location for conducting mobile business to the mobile object 40 via the network 2 by the communication unit 11. With this configuration, if the mobile object 40 can move by autonomous driving, the mobile object 40 can move by autonomous driving to the optimum location when the business operator 3 conducts mobile business.

[0050] In the processing of step S11 described above, the control unit 13 may transmit an instruction signal to the terminal device 30 based on the application information received from the terminal device 20. In this case, the instruction signal may be a signal instructing a change in the mode of the mobile object 40 depending on the type of business in which the business operator 3 operates a mobile business, which is included in the application information. The control unit 13 may also calculate the number of mobile objects 40 to be rented out in a predetermined area on a predetermined day based on multiple pieces of application information received from the terminal devices of multiple business operators. In this case, the instruction signal may be a signal indicating the calculated number of mobile objects 40 that the worker 4 will prepare in the predetermined area on a predetermined day.

[0051] As described above, in the information processing device 10 according to this embodiment, the control unit 13 predicts the demand for each business type in a predetermined area and determines the business type in which the mobile salesperson should operate in the predetermined area based on the predicted demand for each business type in the predetermined area. With this configuration, the business type in which the mobile salesperson should operate in the predetermined area can be determined taking into account the demand for each business type in the predetermined area. By taking into account the demand for each business type in the predetermined area, the mobile salesperson can be operated more efficiently than if the demand for each business type was not taken into account. Furthermore, by taking into account the demand for each business type in the predetermined area, the mobile units 40 can be managed more efficiently.

[0052] Therefore, according to this embodiment, business can be conducted efficiently using the mobile object 40.

[0053] Furthermore, in the information processing device 10 according to this embodiment, the control unit 13 may transmit an instruction signal to the terminal device 30 of the worker 4 via the communication unit 11, the instruction signal instructing the worker 4 to change the mode of the mobile object 40 in accordance with the determined business type. With this configuration, the worker 4 can efficiently perform the work of changing the mode of the mobile object 40. For example, if the instruction signal indicates information about a unit that the worker 4 is to install in the mobile object 40, the worker 4 can efficiently install the unit in the mobile object 40.

[0054] Furthermore, in the information processing device 10 according to this embodiment, the control unit 13 may identify the optimum location for conducting the determined mobile sales business based on information on the distribution of people in a predetermined area. With this configuration, the business operator 3 can conduct the mobile sales business using the mobile object 40 in the optimum location. Therefore, the business operator 3 can reliably increase profits.

[0055] Furthermore, in the information processing device 10 according to this embodiment, the control unit 13 may determine the type of business in which the mobile business should be conducted in a predetermined area for each time period of the day based on the predicted demand for each business type in the predetermined area for each time period of the day. By determining the type of business in which the mobile business should be conducted in a predetermined area for each time period of the day, the mobile unit 40 can be rented out throughout the day. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the mobile unit 40 is assumed to be rented out to the business operator 3 from 8:00 to 11:00 on March 18, 2023. In this case, the mobile unit 40 rented out to the business operator 3 can be rented out to a business operator other than the business operator 3 from 14:00 to 17:00 on March 18, 2023.

[0056] Furthermore, in the information processing device 10 according to this embodiment, the control unit 13 may predict the sales amount for each business type in a predetermined area based on the predicted demand for each business type in the predetermined area. The control unit 13 may also determine that the business type with the highest predicted sales amount should be prioritized as the business type for mobile sales in the predetermined area. By determining the business type with the highest predicted sales amount as the business type for mobile sales in the predetermined area, the business operator 3 can reliably increase profits.

[0057] Furthermore, in the information processing device 10 according to this embodiment, the control unit 13 may predict the number of mobile objects 40 to be rented out in a predetermined area based on the predicted demand for each business type in the predetermined area. By predicting the number of mobile objects 40 to be rented out in the predetermined area, the mobile objects 40 can be rented out efficiently.

[0058] Furthermore, in the information processing device 10 according to the present embodiment, the control unit 13 may determine the rental fee for the mobile object 40 in a predetermined area based on the predicted results of demand for each business type in the predetermined area. With this configuration, an appropriate rental fee for the mobile object 40 can be determined.

[0059] 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. [Explanation of symbols]

[0060] 1: System, 2: Network, 3: Business operator, 4: Worker, 5: Website, 6A, 6B, 6C: Area, 10: Information processing device, 11: Communication unit, 12: Storage unit, 13: Control unit, 20, 30: Terminal device, 40: Mobile object

Claims

1. a control unit that predicts demand for each business type in a predetermined area and determines the business type in which mobile sales should be conducted in the predetermined area based on the predicted demand for each business type in the predetermined area; The control unit determining rental fees for the mobile body in the predetermined area based on the predicted demand for each business type in the predetermined area; An information processing device that posts on a website the type of business in which the mobile business should be conducted and the rental fee for the mobile body.

2. Further comprising a communication unit, The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit transmits, via the communication unit, an instruction signal to the terminal device of the worker, instructing the worker to change the mode of the mobile object in accordance with the determined type of business.

3. The information processing device according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit identifies an optimum location for conducting the mobile sales business based on information about a distribution of people in the predetermined area.

4. The information processing device according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit determines the type of business in which mobile sales should be conducted in the specified area by time period of the day based on a predicted result of demand for each type of business in the specified area by time period of the day.

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