Garbage collection service notification system and program

Abstract

To provide a garbage collection work notification system capable of notifying users with sufficient alert effectiveness that a garbage truck is approaching a garbage dump site for each type of garbage.SOLUTION: A garbage collection work notification system includes a management server, an on-board terminal device, and a user terminal device. The management server acquires and stores the trajectory of each work vehicle using location information transmitted from each on-board terminal device. The management server calculates the required time from the current location of the work vehicle on a patrol route of garbage dump sites to each garbage dump site for each type of garbage used by each user based on the past trajectory of the work vehicle on the patrol route, and then sends a work vehicle approaching notification to the user terminal device of each user who is registered for each uncollected garbage dump site located within a predetermined time distance from the current location of the work vehicle. This minimizes the frequency of work vehicle approaching notifications, prevents a decline in alert effectiveness due to habituation, and ensures that notifications are delivered with sufficient alert effectiveness.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a garbage collection service notification system that notifies users of a garbage collection service provided by a city, town, or village of the current status and schedule of the garbage collection service. [Background technology]

[0002] As technologies relating to a garbage collection service notification system, those described in Patent Documents 1 to 4 are known.

[0003] The garbage collection management method in Patent Document 1 is a technology that notifies registered users of the garbage collection service of the approach of a garbage collection truck via multicast (a method of simultaneously transmitting the same data to multiple terminals (hosts)), enabling timely garbage collection. This garbage collection management method (i) distributes the location of the garbage collection truck via multicast, (ii) users request collection based on that information, (iii) calculates the collection route, and (iv) notifies the requested user of the "arrival time."

[0004] The method for notifying local residents and others of the approach of a garbage collection truck in Patent Document 2 is a technology that enables the notification of the approach of a garbage collection truck to prompt them to put out their garbage at an appropriate time. In this method, a garbage collection truck that patrols a predetermined garbage collection point is equipped with a vehicle position detection function (GPS receiver) and a communication function with a management center, and the management center communicates with the garbage collection truck to manage its operation while keeping track of the vehicle's position. When the garbage collection truck approaches a garbage collection point, the management center notifies residents near the garbage collection point to prompt them to put out their garbage. An audio announcement is made using a speaker to notify residents near the garbage collection point.

[0005] The in-vehicle system of Patent Document 3 (see Example 3 of the document) displays garbage disposal notification information on an in-vehicle device (such as a "Display Audio" (DA) or car navigation device installed in an automobile). This in-vehicle system is a system in which a mobile terminal device (a mobile communication terminal such as a personal computer, PDA, mobile phone, or PHS) and the in-vehicle device are connected via wireless communication. The mobile terminal device acquires its own location information using GPS, sends a request to a center to obtain garbage disposal notification information, and stores the garbage disposal notification information obtained from the center in a service database. Thereafter, based on timing information sent from the in-vehicle device when the vehicle starts moving (such as immediately before starting moving or when the engine is turned on) or stops, the mobile terminal outputs the garbage disposal notification information and a display instruction to the in-vehicle device when those timings are reached.

[0006] The rendezvous candidate selection device in Patent Document 4 calculates the meeting point of the user's terminal based on the passing times and passing points on the planned driving route of multiple mobile terminals, and notifies the user of the meeting point candidate. As an embodiment, a case where the rendezvous candidate selection device is used for a rendezvous between a garbage collection truck and a user who wants to dispose of garbage is described (see the second embodiment in Patent Document 4). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-257354 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-341802 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-193319 [Patent Document 4] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2020-087154 [Non-patent literature]

[0008] [Non-Patent Document 1] Kaoru Suzuki, "Garbage Collection Methods," National Institute for Environmental Studies News, Vol. 39, No. 4, pp. 11-14, 2020. [Non-patent document 2] Michael Domjan, "Domjan's Principles of Learning and Behavior (7th Edition)", Kitaoji Shobo, October 2022, pp. 32-47, ISBN: 978-4-7628-3203-1. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0009] In actual garbage collection services currently provided by local governments and other organizations, it is common for users of the garbage collection service to forget the garbage collection day at their garbage dump and miss the garbage collection time on that day. It is also common for users of the garbage collection service to put out their garbage at a garbage dump after the collection service has already finished. It is also common for users of the garbage collection service to mistakenly set the collection day at their garbage dump and put out their garbage at the garbage dump on a day that is not a collection day. In light of these circumstances, it is expected that the current situation described above can be improved by notifying each user of the garbage collection service that a garbage collection service will be conducted a certain number of minutes before the garbage collection service is conducted at their garbage dump (here, this certain number of minutes takes into account the time the user will be taking out the garbage). A notification system for providing such notifications could utilize the conventional technologies listed in the background art above.

[0010] However, the above-mentioned conventional garbage collection service notification system has the following problem. The system described in Patent Document 1 distributes the "arrival time" of the garbage collection truck (refuse truck) via multicast to the communication terminals of users (such as residents who put out their garbage in the garbage collection area), but it is expected that there will be a certain number of users who will not notice the arrival of the garbage collection truck's "arrival time" if the time is only distributed. In particular, if the "arrival time" is distributed every week, users will become accustomed to the distribution and tend to check the "arrival time" on their communication terminals less frequently, which creates the problem that the notification does not provide sufficient attention.

[0011] The system described in Patent Document 2 widely notifies residents of the approach of a garbage truck to a collection point by using audio announcements on the street or within the jurisdiction of an apartment complex. However, this requires the installation of dedicated broadcasting equipment in the area in advance, which results in significant installation and maintenance costs, making it impractical. Furthermore, it is anticipated that the announcements may not be heard during rain or when the windows are closed, meaning that sufficient warning effects cannot be expected. Furthermore, because audio announcements are made every time a garbage truck approaches, regardless of the type of garbage the truck collects, there is a problem that the repeated announcements can be annoying for residents who do not plan to take out their garbage.

[0012] The system described in Patent Document 3 displays garbage disposal notification information on an in-vehicle device, but has the problem that it cannot notify residents who do not drive frequently or who do not own a car.

[0013] The system described in Patent Document 4 calculates the meeting points of users' terminals based on the passing times and passing points along the planned driving routes of multiple mobile terminals, and notifies the users of these meeting points as candidate meeting points. In other words, it performs a 1:n matching calculation of the movement locations and movement times of all users' communication terminals and notifies the results. While Patent Document 4 describes a garbage collection truck (refuse truck) and a garbage collector (user) as an example of a usage pattern, the collection service described in Patent Document 4, in which users hand their garbage to garbage collection truck workers, is not actually carried out (this is considered practically difficult due to reasons such as the complexity of garbage sorting and collection work), and garbage of each type must be disposed of at a garbage collection point designated by each resident (or at the door facing the street in the case of door-to-door collection). Therefore, it is currently considered unlikely that this system will be implemented in an actual garbage collection service.

[0014] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a garbage collection service notification system that can notify users of garbage collection services that a garbage truck is approaching the garbage dump used by the user on the user's garbage collection day, with sufficient warning effect, for each type of garbage for which collection service is performed. [Means for solving the problem]

[0015] A first configuration of the garbage collection work notification system according to the present invention is a garbage collection notification system including a management server, an on-board terminal device mounted on each work vehicle that performs garbage collection work and communicably connected to the management server via a communication line, and a user terminal device carried by a user, communicably connected to the management server via a communication line, and equipped with an input device and an output device, The in-vehicle terminal device a positioning device that measures the current position of the work vehicle on which the on-board terminal device is mounted; a location information transmitting means for transmitting current location information of the work vehicle to a management server, The management server a route information storage means for storing information on the patrol route of each work vehicle; a garbage bin information storage means installed along each of the circular routes for storing garbage bin information, which is information on the location of a garbage bin where users can leave their garbage during garbage collection and the types of garbage that can be placed in the garbage bin; a locus information storage means for storing locus information of each work vehicle; A user information storage means for storing user information for each registered user, including address information of the user terminal device of the user and specific information of the garbage dump used by the user; a locus information updating means for receiving current position information of each work vehicle transmitted from each of the vehicle-mounted terminal devices and storing the information in the locus information storage means as locus information of the work vehicle; an approaching garbage dump extraction means for extracting, for each working vehicle in operation, an approaching garbage dump that is a garbage dump of a garbage type related to the patrol route on which the working vehicle is operating and that is an uncollected garbage dump that is located within a predetermined time distance from the current position of the working vehicle stored in the trajectory information storage means; an approaching notification distribution means for extracting user information of users who use each approaching garbage dump extracted by the approaching garbage dump extraction means from the user information storage means, and distributing a work vehicle approaching notification to the user terminal device of each extracted user, notifying that a work vehicle is approaching; The present invention is characterized by the following features.

[0016] According to this configuration, the management server delivers a notification of approaching work vehicle to the user's terminal device when a work vehicle collecting that type of waste approaches the waste dump used by that user and comes within a predetermined time distance. By providing a notification of an "approaching work vehicle" within a predetermined time distance rather than a notification of the "arrival time," users can be adequately alerted. While a notification of "arrival time" is likely to result in users not realizing the arrival time after receiving the notification, a notification of an "approaching work vehicle" delivers the notification immediately before the arrival time, preventing users from accidentally missing the arrival time and missing their trash. Furthermore, because notifications are delivered individually for each type of waste being collected, the frequency of notifications is reduced. Furthermore, because a notification of approaching work vehicle is delivered only to the user terminal device of a user using the nearby waste dump, the frequency of notifications to each user is reduced compared to conventional notifications for all users, improving the effectiveness of alerting users when receiving notifications. In other words, if notifications that are irrelevant to the user are sent frequently, the user will often ignore the notifications because they are not relevant to them, and the effectiveness of the alert will decrease due to habituation (a phenomenon in which a response decreases when a stimulus that induces a certain reaction is presented repeatedly). (According to learning psychology, the more frequently a stimulus is presented through irrelevant notifications, the faster habituation will occur, and the shorter the interval between presentations of the stimulus (inter-trial interval), the faster habituation will occur.) However, by delivering notifications of approaching work vehicles only to the user terminal devices of users using the upcoming garbage dump, notifications that are irrelevant to the user will no longer be sent, and the frequency of notifications will also decrease, preventing the decline in the effectiveness of the alert due to habituation.

[0017] Here, the "management server" may be a single server accessible via a communication line, or a cloud server in which one or more servers work together to function as a single virtualized server. A "patrol route" refers to the route traveled sequentially from each location for garbage collection. A "garbage type" refers to the category of garbage categorized by type. A "garbage dump" refers to a location where various types of garbage, primarily from households, are accumulated until collection vehicles arrive. This includes not only garbage stations (garbage collection points) in station collection systems, but also locations where garbage is left in door-to-door collection systems (such as the entrances of individual households facing the road). Note that "station collection" refers to a system in which multiple households share a garbage dump (a garbage station: a temporary collection location for general waste (household waste)) and have the garbage collected by a collection company. Door-to-door collection refers to a system in which garbage is left in front of each household and collected by a collection company. An "uncollected garbage dump" refers to a garbage dump where garbage collection by a work vehicle has not been completed. A "nearby garbage dump" refers to an uncollected garbage dump that is within a specified time distance from the current location of the work vehicle. "Time distance" refers to the distance between two points expressed not as spatial distance but as the time required to travel between the two points. A "work vehicle approach notification" refers to a notification that a work vehicle is approaching. In the present invention, there are no particular limitations on the notification method, but from the perspective of increasing the effectiveness of alerting users when receiving a notification, it is preferable to use a push notification (a mechanism that allows the management server to actively notify users of information without receiving an inquiry from the client (user terminal device)) that includes a ringtone output.

[0018] A second configuration of the garbage collection service notification system according to the present invention is the first configuration, wherein the management server: The system is characterized in that it is provided with a collection schedule notification distribution means for distributing, for each user whose user information is stored in the user information storage means, a collection schedule notification to the user's user terminal device, informing the user that it is a collection day and the scheduled time for garbage collection work to be carried out at the garbage dump used by the user, at a time before the time when the work vehicle approach notification is distributed on the day when garbage collection work is to be carried out at the garbage dump.

[0019] According to this configuration, by distributing a collection schedule notice that notifies users on the day or the day before that garbage collection will be carried out at their garbage dump, it is possible to further improve the effectiveness of alerting users. Also, by notifying users of the scheduled time for garbage collection in the collection schedule notice, users who become aware of the scheduled collection can prepare to take out their garbage in plenty of time, improving convenience.

[0020] A third configuration of the garbage collection service notification system according to the present invention is the first configuration, wherein the management server The system is characterized by being provided with a garbage collection calendar distribution means that generates a garbage collection calendar, which is schedule data that displays the days on which garbage collection work will be carried out at a garbage dump used by each user for each user whose user information is stored in the user information storage means, for each type of garbage for that garbage dump used by that user, and distributes the garbage collection calendar to the user terminal device of that user.

[0021] This will make it easier for users to schedule their trash disposal, further improving convenience.

[0022] A fourth configuration of the garbage collection service notification system according to the present invention is the first configuration, wherein the management server When a work vehicle location transmission request, which is a signal requesting transmission of the current location of a work vehicle, is received from the user terminal device, specific information of the waste dump used by the user of the user terminal device is acquired based on the user information stored in the user information storage means; a circuit route specifying means for specifying the circuit route that passes through the garbage dump based on the location information of the garbage dump stored in the garbage dump information storage means and the circuit route information stored in the route information storage means; a work vehicle identification means for identifying a work vehicle (hereinafter referred to as a "specific work vehicle") currently operating on the specified patrol route based on the trajectory information of the work vehicle stored in the trajectory information storage means; map information generation means for generating operation map information, which is information for map display, for displaying a map of the area surrounding the current position of the specified work vehicle and for adding and displaying a marker indicating the current position of the specified work vehicle on the map; The system is characterized by comprising a map information distribution means for distributing the operation map information to the user terminal device that has transmitted the work vehicle position distribution request.

[0023] This allows each user to easily check on a map from the user terminal device the current location of a specific work vehicle that patrols the garbage dump where the user disposes of garbage, thereby making it possible to make more accurate decisions about the timing of garbage disposal, etc.

[0024] A fifth configuration of the garbage collection service notification system according to the present invention is the first configuration, wherein the management server a collection completion detection means for detecting the completion of collection work at a certain garbage dump when collection completion information, which is notification information that collection work at a certain garbage dump has been completed and is transmitted from the on-board terminal device of each of the working vehicles in operation, is received, or when the current position of the working vehicle on the patrol route, which is transmitted from the on-board terminal device of each of the working vehicles in operation, passes the position of a certain garbage dump on the patrol route, or when the working vehicle enters and then leaves the block to which the garbage dump belongs; a notification user extraction means for retrieving users who use a garbage bin for which collection work has been completed (hereinafter referred to as a "collection-completed garbage bin") detected by the collection completion detection means from the user information stored in the user information storage means, and acquiring address information of each retrieved user; a collection completion notification distribution means for distributing a collection completion notification to the user terminal device associated with the address information of each user acquired by the notification user extraction means, the collection completion notification notifying the completion of garbage collection work at the collection completion garbage bin; The present invention is characterized by the following features.

[0025] This allows each user to know that the garbage collection work at the garbage dump where the user puts out the garbage has already been completed, and it is possible to more effectively prevent a situation in which a user puts out garbage at the garbage dump after the garbage collection work at the garbage dump has been completed.

[0026] A sixth configuration of the garbage collection service notification system according to the present invention is the first configuration, wherein the user terminal device: a garbage dump information etc. distribution request means for transmitting a garbage dump information etc. distribution request, which is a signal requesting distribution of the garbage dump information of each garbage dump or information on the patrol route of each work vehicle, to the management server; a garbage dump etc. map display means for displaying a map showing the location of each garbage dump or the tour route on the output device when the garbage dump information or the tour route information of each garbage dump distributed from the management server is received; and a garbage bin registration request means for transmitting to the management server a request for registration of a garbage bin to be used, when a user selects one of the garbage bins or a point on the tour route from the map of garbage bins, etc. displayed on the output device by the input device, the request being a signal requesting that the selected garbage bin or the point on the tour route be registered as a garbage bin to be used by the user; The management server a garbage dump information distribution means for, when receiving the garbage dump information distribution request from the user terminal device, acquiring garbage dump information of each garbage dump or information on the tour route from the garbage dump information storage means or the route information storage means, and distributing the information to the user terminal device; a used garbage bin registration means for, when receiving the used garbage bin registration request from the user terminal device, registering the garbage bin related to the used garbage bin registration request in the user information storage means as a garbage bin used by the user related to the used garbage bin registration request; The present invention is characterized by the following features.

[0027] This allows each user to register the garbage dump they use with the management server themselves, improving convenience. In particular, in cases where there are no predetermined garbage stations, such as in door-to-door collection systems, users can designate a point on their own route as the garbage dump, and notifications such as approaching service vehicles can be sent based on the location of the garbage dump that meets the user's requirements.

[0028] A program according to the present invention is characterized in that, when read and executed by a computer, the computer functions as a management server having any one of the first to sixth configurations.

[0029] Furthermore, the program according to the present invention is characterized in that, when loaded into and executed by a computer equipped with an input device and an output device, the computer functions as the user terminal device having the configuration of item 6 above. [Effects of the Invention]

[0030] As described above, according to the present invention, users of a garbage collection service are notified (work vehicle approach notification) that a work vehicle has approached the garbage dump used by the user on the user's garbage collection day for each type of garbage for which collection work is performed, thereby minimizing the frequency of work vehicle approach notifications, preventing a decrease in the effectiveness of the warning due to habituation, and making it possible to notify with sufficient warning effectiveness.In addition, because the warning is given just before the work vehicle arrives at the garbage dump where the user is to put out the garbage, it is prevented that the user will not inadvertently notice the arrival time and miss putting out the garbage. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0031] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram illustrating the overall configuration of a garbage collection service notification system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 2 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the waste collection service notification system of FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 3] 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of a user of the waste collection service notification system according to the first embodiment to register a waste dump site to be used. [Figure 4] 10A and 10B are diagrams showing examples of a map of the area around the user's address, nearby garbage dumps, and a surrounding tour route displayed on the output device of the user terminal device. [Figure 5] 10 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of updating the work vehicle trajectory information of the waste collection work notification system according to the first embodiment. [Figure 6] 1 is a flowchart showing the basic operation of notifying garbage collection progress information of the garbage collection work notification system according to the first embodiment. [Figure 7] 10 is a flowchart showing the operation of the garbage collection work notification system to notify garbage collection progress information when each work vehicle V starts garbage collection work. [Figure 8] 10 is a flowchart showing the garbage collection schedule notification operation of the garbage collection service notification system of the first embodiment. [Figure 9] 10 is a flowchart showing the operation of distributing a garbage collection calendar in the garbage collection service notification system of the first embodiment. [Figure 10] 10 is a diagram showing an example of a garbage collection calendar and detailed viewing date information displayed on a display screen 70 of a user terminal device 3. FIG. [Figure 11] 10 is a flowchart showing the operation of distributing operation map information of a work vehicle in the garbage collection work notification system of the first embodiment. [Figure 12] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a work vehicle operation map displayed on the display screen of the user terminal device 3. [Figure 13] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the overall configuration of a garbage collection service notification system according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 14] 14 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the waste collection service notification system of FIG. 13. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0032] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. [Example]

[0033] (1) System configuration 1 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of a garbage collection service notification system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The garbage collection service notification system includes a management server 1, an in-vehicle terminal device 2 that is mounted on each work vehicle V that performs garbage collection service and is communicatively connected to the management server 1 via a communication line 4, and a user terminal device 3 that is carried by a user U who uses the garbage collection service and is communicatively connected to the management server 1 via the communication line 4.

[0034] Here, "garbage collection services" (refuse collection services) refer to services in which a work vehicle (such as a garbage truck) travels along a predetermined route, collecting garbage and transporting it to a garbage disposal facility. Garbage collection services are generally divided into station collection methods and door-to-door collection methods (see Non-Patent Document 1). "Station collection" refers to a garbage collection method in which multiple households share a garbage collection point (garbage station), and garbage is collected by a collection company. "Door-to-door collection" refers to a garbage collection method in which garbage is left in front of each house and collected by a collection company. The garbage collection services in this embodiment may be either method. "Work vehicle" refers to a vehicle used for garbage collection services, and includes not only garbage trucks (commercial vehicles specialized for collecting garbage and transporting it to disposal facilities), but also trucks that collect non-combustible waste, bulky garbage, special garbage, etc.

[0035] The management server 1 is a server installed in a management center, which is a facility that manages the entire system. This management server 1 may be a single server that can be used via a communication line 4, or may be a cloud server in which one or more servers cooperate via the communication line 4 to function as a single virtualized server. In this embodiment, these will be collectively described as a single server.

[0036] The vehicle-mounted terminal device 2 is a terminal device equipped with a computer, a positioning module (positioning device) such as a GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System), and a communication module (including a location information transmission means), and is equipped with an input device such as a touch panel and output devices such as a display and a speaker. The vehicle-mounted terminal device 2 is mounted on the work vehicle V, but "mounted" here does not only mean that it is attached to the work vehicle V, but also means that it is carried by a worker P who is on board the work vehicle V and performs garbage collection work and is on board the work vehicle V.

[0037] The user terminal device 3 is a terminal device used by a user, and is a terminal device equipped with a computer and a communication module, and is equipped with an input device such as a touch panel and an output device such as a display, a speaker, etc. The user terminal device 3 can be a smartphone, a tablet, a personal computer, etc.

[0038] Figure 2 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the garbage collection service notification system of Figure 1. As explained in Figure 1, the garbage collection service notification system functions through the cooperation of a management server 1, an in-vehicle terminal device 2, and a user terminal device 3, which are connected by a communication line 4.

[0039] The management server 1 includes route information storage means 11, garbage dump information storage means 12, trajectory information storage means 13, user information storage means 14, trajectory information update means 20, garbage dump information distribution means 25, used garbage dump registration means 26, upcoming garbage dump extraction means 30, approach notification distribution means 31, collection schedule notification distribution means 32, garbage collection calendar distribution means 33, patrol route identification means 34, work vehicle identification means 35, map information generation means 36, map information distribution means 37, collection completion detection means 38, notified user extraction means 39, and collection completion notification distribution means 40. Each of these means is configured as a functional module within the computer by having the management server 1 computer load and execute a dedicated program.

[0040] The route information storage means 11 stores information about the patrol route of each work vehicle V. "Patrol route information" refers to information including information about the sequence of nodes along the path (circuit) of the patrol route, information about the types of garbage that are subject to garbage collection work along that patrol route, and information about the days of the week on which garbage collection work is carried out along that patrol route. The garbage dump information storage means 12 stores information about garbage dumps installed along each patrol route. "Garbage dump information" refers to information including the location of garbage dumps where users U can leave their garbage during garbage collection, the types of garbage that can be put out at those garbage dumps, the days of the week on which garbage collection work is carried out (or the dates if the work vehicle V collects garbage irregularly), and the scheduled collection time period. The trajectory information storage means 13 stores trajectory information for each work vehicle V. "Trajectory information" refers to information including the sequence of points on the trajectory of the work vehicle V and identification information for the work vehicle V, and information about each point in the sequence of points on the trajectory includes the position of that point and the time when that point was passed. The user information storage means 14 stores user information for each registered user U. Here, "user information" for a user U refers to information including the address information of the user U who owns the user terminal device 3 of that user U and specific information about the garbage dump used by that user U. The map information storage means 15 stores map information for the area where garbage collection work is performed. Note that, for the sake of convenience, this embodiment will be described using an example in which the management server 1 has map information, but map information can also be obtained using a map API service that is widely provided as a cloud service on the Internet.

[0041] The trajectory information update means 20 receives the current position information of each vehicle V transmitted from each vehicle-mounted terminal device 2 and stores it in the trajectory information storage means 13 as trajectory information of that vehicle V.

[0042] When the garbage dump information distribution means 25 receives a garbage dump information distribution request from the user terminal device 3, in the case of the station collection method, it acquires garbage dump information for each garbage dump from the garbage dump information storage means 12 and distributes it to the user terminal device 3. In the case of the door-to-door collection method, it acquires information on each patrol route from the route information storage means 11 and distributes it to the user terminal device 3. Here, the "garbage dump information distribution request" is a signal sent from the user terminal device 3 to the management server 1 requesting distribution of garbage dump information for each garbage dump or information on the patrol routes of each work vehicle. When the used garbage dump registration means 26 receives a used garbage dump registration request from the user terminal device 3, it registers the garbage dump related to the used garbage dump registration request in the user information storage means 14 as the garbage dump used by the user U related to the used garbage dump registration request. Here, the "request to register a garbage dump site in use" is a signal sent from the user terminal device 3 to the management server 1, requesting registration of a garbage dump site used by the user who possesses the user terminal device 3.

[0043] The approaching garbage dump extraction means 30 extracts, from the garbage dump information stored in the garbage dump information storage means 12, the approaching garbage dump relative to the current location of each operating work vehicle V, stored in the trajectory information storage means 13. Here, "approaching garbage dump" refers to a garbage dump of a garbage type related to the route on which the work vehicle V is traveling, that is located within a predetermined time distance from the current location of the work vehicle V and has not yet been collected. An "uncollected garbage dump" refers to a garbage dump for which garbage collection for that day has not yet been completed. The "predetermined time distance" can be set arbitrarily by the management server 1, but is typically set to approximately several minutes to 30 minutes. The approaching notification distribution means 31 extracts, from the user information storage means 14, user information of users U who will use each approaching garbage dump extracted by the approaching garbage dump extraction means, and distributes an approaching garbage dump notification to the user terminal device 3 of each extracted user U. Here, "work vehicle approaching notification" refers to a notification sent from the management server 1 to the user terminal device 3 informing the user that a work vehicle V will soon arrive at the garbage dump registered by the user who is disposing of the garbage.

[0044] The collection schedule notification distribution means 32 distributes a collection schedule notification to the user terminal device 3 of each user U associated with the user information stored in the user information storage means 14. Here, a "collection schedule notification" refers to a notification sent from the management server 1 to the user terminal device 3, which notifies the user terminal device 3 of the user U that it is a collection day and the scheduled time for garbage collection work to be performed at the garbage dump used by the user U, at a time before the time when a work vehicle approaching notification is distributed on the day when garbage collection work is to be performed at the garbage dump.

[0045] The garbage collection calendar distribution means 33 generates a garbage collection calendar for each user U associated with the user information stored in the user information storage means 14, and distributes the garbage collection calendar to the user terminal device 3 of that user U. Here, the term "garbage collection calendar" refers to schedule data that displays the days on which garbage collection will be carried out at the garbage dump used by the user U, for each type of garbage.

[0046] When the patrol route identification means 34 receives a vehicle location transmission request from the user terminal device 3, it acquires the identification information of the waste dump used by the user of the user terminal device 3 based on the user information stored in the user information storage means 14, and identifies a patrol route that passes through the waste dump based on the location information of the waste dump stored in the waste dump information storage means 12 and the patrol route information stored in the route information storage means 11. Here, the "vehicle location transmission request" refers to a signal sent from the user terminal device 3 to the management server 1 requesting transmission of the current position of the vehicle V. The vehicle identification means 35 identifies the vehicle currently operating on the identified patrol route based on the trajectory information of the vehicle V stored in the trajectory information storage means 13. This identified vehicle V is referred to as the "identified vehicle." The map information generation means 36 generates operational map information. Here, the "operation map information" refers to information for displaying a map of the area around the current position of the identified vehicle and adding a marker indicating the current position of the identified vehicle on the map. The map information distribution means 37 distributes the operation map information to the user terminal device 3 that has transmitted the work vehicle position distribution request.

[0047] The collection completion detection means 38 detects that collection work for a certain garbage dump is complete when it receives collection completion information for that garbage dump transmitted from the on-board terminal device 2 of each operating work vehicle V (station collection method), or when the current position of the work vehicle V on its patrol route transmitted from the on-board terminal device 2 of the working vehicle V passes the location of a certain garbage dump on the patrol route or enters and then leaves the block to which the garbage dump belongs (door-to-door collection method). Here, "collection completion information" refers to notification information transmitted from the on-board terminal device 2 to the management server 1 notifying that collection work for a certain garbage dump is complete. For a garbage dump for which collection work has been completed (hereinafter referred to as a "collection-completed garbage dump") detected by the collection completion detection means 38, the notification user extraction means 39 searches for users U who use the collection-completed garbage dump from the user information stored in the user information storage means 14, and acquires the address information of the user terminal device 3 of each retrieved user U. The collection completion notification distribution means 40 distributes a collection completion notification to the user terminal device 3 associated with the address information of each user acquired by the notification user extraction means 39. Here, the "collection completion notification" refers to a notification sent from the management server 1 to the user terminal device 3 informing that garbage collection work at the collection completion garbage bin has been completed.

[0048] The on-board terminal device 2 is equipped with a positioning device 50 and a position information transmission means 51. The positioning device 50 is a device that determines the current position of the on-board terminal device 2 (i.e., the current position of the work vehicle V on which the on-board terminal device 2 is mounted). As described above, the positioning device 50 may be a positioning device that uses GNSS positioning or base station positioning that performs positioning using information from base stations operated by telecommunications operators such as mobile phone carriers. The position information transmission means 51 transmits the current position information of the work vehicle V determined by the positioning device 50 to the management server 1.

[0049] The user terminal device 3 is equipped with an input device 60, an output device 61, a garbage dump information etc. distribution request means 65, a garbage dump etc. map display means 66, and a usable garbage dump registration request means 67. Of these, the garbage dump information etc. distribution request means 65, the garbage dump etc. map display means 66, and the usable garbage dump registration request means 67 are configured as functional modules in the computer of the user terminal device 3 by having the computer load and execute dedicated application programs.

[0050] The input device 60 is a computer input device such as a touch panel, a keyboard, etc. The output device 61 is a computer output device including a display (display device) and a speaker (audio output device).

[0051] The garbage dump information etc. distribution request means 65 sends a garbage dump information etc. distribution request, which is a signal requesting distribution of garbage dump information for each garbage dump (in the case of the station collection system) or information on the patrol route of each work vehicle (in the case of the individual collection system), to the management server 1 in accordance with instructions input by the user U via the input device 60. When the garbage dump etc. map display means 66 receives the garbage dump information for each garbage dump (in the case of the station collection system) or information on the patrol route (in the case of the individual collection system) distributed from the management server 1, it displays on the output device 61 a map showing the location of each garbage dump or the patrol route (hereinafter referred to as the "garbage dump etc. map"). When user U selects one of the garbage dumps (in the case of the station collection system) or a point on the circular route (in the case of the individual collection system) from the garbage dump map displayed on output device 61 via input device 60, the garbage dump registration request means 67 sends a garbage dump registration request to management server 1 requesting that the selected garbage dump or point on the circular route be registered as a garbage dump to be used by user U.

[0052] (2) System operation The operation of the waste collection service notification system according to this embodiment configured as above will now be described.

[0053] (2.1) Registration of the garbage dump site by users 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of a user registering a used garbage dump site in the garbage collection service notification system according to Example 1. This operation is performed between the management server 1 and the user terminal device 3 of the user U.

[0054] First, in step S01, a user U who is registering a garbage dump site to be used starts a dedicated application program on the user terminal device 3 and inputs the user U's username and address using the input device 60. After completing the input, the user U inputs a transmission instruction using the input device 60. Next, in step S02, when the transmission instruction is input, the garbage dump site information distribution request means 65 of the user terminal device 3 transmits a request for distribution of garbage dump site information, etc., including the user U's username and address, to the management server 1.

[0055] Next, in step S11, the management server 1 receives a request for distribution of garbage dump information, etc., including the user U's username and address, from the user terminal device 3 of the user U. In step S12, the garbage dump information, etc. distribution means 25 of the management server 1 acquires, for all garbage types, garbage dump information around the user U's address (in the case of station collection) and / or address block information of the user U (in the case of door-to-door collection and station collection) from the garbage dump information storage means 12 and / or map information generation means 36. It also acquires map information around the user U's address from the map information storage means 15. Then, in step S13, the garbage dump information, etc. distribution means 25 transmits the acquired map information, garbage dump information, and address block information to the user terminal device 3 of the user U.

[0056] Next, in step S03, the user terminal device 3 of user U receives the map information and garbage dump information from the management server 1. In step S04, the garbage dump etc. map display means 66 displays a map of the area around user U's address on the output device 61 of the user terminal device 3, and also displays on the map garbage dumps around user U's address (surrounding garbage dumps) and / or user U's address block (a section of the city that includes user U's address. Here, this particularly refers to a section defined by the smallest unit of address, such as a street address). Figure 4 shows an example of a map of the area around user U's address and surrounding garbage dumps displayed on the output device 61 of the user terminal device 3. In the example of Figure 4, a touch panel display is assumed as the output device 61. In Figure 4, the bull's-eye dot indicates user U's address. Furthermore, the square dot (■) indicates surrounding garbage dumps. If the garbage collection service method around user U's address is a station collection method, surrounding garbage dumps (garbage collection points) are displayed. On the other hand, if the garbage collection service is door-to-door collection, there is no predetermined garbage collection point, so only the collection block is displayed. Also, in the upper left of the screen, a "Garbage Type Selection Box" is displayed as a list box (a GUI component in which multiple options are displayed in a single square, allowing the user to select from the list), and the surrounding garbage dumps and / or collection block areas for the garbage type currently selected by user U in the garbage type selection box are displayed on the map. Also, a "Send button" is displayed in the lower right of the screen.

[0057] Next, in step S05, the user U uses the input device 60 to specify the garbage dump he or she will use for each garbage type. In the example of FIG. 4, the garbage type can be switched using the garbage type selection box in the upper left. The garbage dump can be specified by tapping with a finger (or clicking if the input device 60 is a mouse) on one of the nearby garbage dumps displayed as square dots (■) on the screen to specify the garbage dump to use for the garbage type specified in the "garbage type selection box." In the case of door-to-door collection, the nearby garbage dumps are not displayed, but the collection block is displayed. Therefore, the user U can specify the location of the garbage dump to use for the garbage type specified in the "garbage type selection box" by tapping with a finger (or clicking if the input device 60 is a mouse) on any collection block. In the case of door-to-door collection, the collection block can be automatically selected based on the user U's address, even if the user U does not select the collection block.

[0058] Next, in step S06, after user U specifies a garbage dump for each garbage type, he / she selects the "send button," which causes the garbage dump registration request means 67 to send a "used garbage dump registration request," which is a signal requesting registration as the selected garbage dump (or garbage dump in the collection block), to the management server 1.

[0059] Next, in step S14, the management server 1 receives a garbage bin registration request from the user terminal device 3 of user U, which includes information about the garbage bin used by user U. In step S15, the garbage bin registration means 26 of the management server 1 registers the user information, including the user name, address, etc. of user U, as well as the garbage bin related to the garbage bin registration request, as the garbage bin used by user U related to the garbage bin registration request, in the user information storage means 14. In the case of a door-to-door collection system, at the same time, information about the location, garbage type, block, etc. of the garbage bin related to the garbage bin registration request is registered as new garbage bin information in the garbage bin information storage means 12. This is because, in the case of a door-to-door collection system, there are no garbage bins such as predetermined garbage collection points.

[0060] When the user information has been registered as described above, in step S16 the used garbage bin registration means 26 of the management server 1 sends a "registration completion notice" to the user terminal device 3 of the user U to notify that registration has been completed. In step S07, when the user terminal device 3 of the user U receives the "registration completion notice" from the management server 1, it displays a message on the output device 61 notifying that registration has been completed, and the series of operations for registering the used garbage bin by the user is completed.

[0061] (2.2) Updating the work vehicle trajectory FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of updating the vehicle trajectory information in the waste collection service notification system according to the first embodiment.

[0062] First, in step S21, the positioning device 50 of the in-vehicle terminal device 2 measures its current position at regular intervals and generates current position information. Next, in step S22, the position information transmitting means 51 of the in-vehicle terminal device 2 transmits the generated current position information to the management server 1.

[0063] In step S31, the trajectory information update means 20 of the management server 1 receives current location information transmitted from the vehicle terminal device 2 mounted on the work vehicle V, and in step S32, stores the current location information and the time of receipt in the trajectory information storage means 13 as trajectory information of the work vehicle V.

[0064] Thereafter, steps S21, S22, S31, and S32 are repeatedly executed, whereby the trajectory information of each vehicle V is successively stored in the trajectory information storage means 13 in real time.

[0065] (2.3) Notification of garbage collection progress information Next, the operation of reporting garbage collection progress information of the garbage collection work notification system according to the first embodiment will be described. Here, "progress" refers to the degree of progress of something. "Garbage collection progress information" refers to information related to the progress of garbage collection work. "Garbage collection progress report" refers to a report notifying the progress of garbage collection work, and garbage collection progress reports include "approaching work vehicle report" and "collection completion report." "Approaching work vehicle report" refers to a report notifying each user U that a work vehicle will soon arrive at the garbage dump site registered by the user U. "Collection completion report" refers to a report notifying each user U that garbage collection work at the garbage dump site registered by the user U has been completed. In this specification, "notification" refers to notifying a user of a certain event in advance from the management server, and "reporting" refers to urgent communication from the management server to the user (communicating an event requiring immediate response).

[0066] (2.3.1) Basic operation First, a basic operation of the garbage collection service notification system for notifying garbage collection progress information will be described. Fig. 6 is a flowchart showing the basic operation of the garbage collection service notification system for notifying garbage collection progress information according to the first embodiment.

[0067] First, in step S41, the approaching garbage dump extraction means 30 of the management server 1 acquires, for each operating work vehicle Vi (i = 1, 2, ...), information on the current position of the work vehicle Vi and past trajectory information for each work vehicle ahead of the current position of the work vehicle Vi on the route Ri on which the work vehicle Vi is operating, from the trajectory information storage means 13. Next, in step S42, the approaching garbage dump extraction means 30 calculates, for each work vehicle Vi (i = 1, 2, ...), the section on the route Ri along which the work vehicle Vi is predicted to travel within a predetermined time T from the current position on the route Ri (hereinafter referred to as the "predicted progress section"). This is estimated by statistical processing of the travel time on the route Ri required for past operations, based on the trajectory information for each work vehicle ahead of the current position of the work vehicle Vi on the route Ri. Specifically, for example, the predicted progress section on the route Ri that will be traveled within a specified time T is calculated by calculating the average travel speed on the route Ri required for past operations, or the average travel speed multiplied by a constant number of standard deviation values.

[0068] Next, in step S43, the upcoming garbage dump extraction means 30 of the management server 1 extracts, for each work vehicle Vi (i=1, 2, ...), garbage dump information for garbage dumps located on the predicted progress section of the patrol course Ri from the garbage dump information storage means 12. Here, in the case of the station collection method, predetermined garbage dumps (garbage collection points) located on the predicted progress section are extracted. On the other hand, in the case of the door-to-door collection method, uncollected garbage dumps located on the predicted progress section from among the garbage dumps registered in advance by the user in the garbage dump information storage means 12 (hereinafter referred to as "upcoming garbage dumps") are extracted. Here, if no upcoming garbage dumps are extracted (step S44), the process proceeds to step S47, which will be described later.

[0069] If an approaching garbage dump is extracted in step S44, in step S45, the approach notification distribution means 31 of the management server 1 extracts user information of each user U who uses each of the extracted approaching garbage dumps from the user information storage means 14. The extracted user information of each user U includes address information of the user terminal device 3 of that user U. Next, in step S46, the approach notification distribution means 31 distributes a work vehicle approach notification, notifying the user terminal device 3 of each extracted user U, by push notification, notifying the user terminal device 3 of the extracted user U. Here, "push notification" refers to a mechanism in a client-server system or service that allows information to be actively notified from the server side without receiving an inquiry from the client, and particularly refers to a mechanism in which an administrator of a service being used actively outputs information to a user terminal device 3 such as a smartphone.

[0070] In step S61, the user terminal device 3 of user U receives the work vehicle approaching notification transmitted from the management server 1. In step S62, the output device 61 outputs the work vehicle approaching notification by push notification. An example of the work vehicle approaching notification is the output of a voice message such as, "A collection vehicle will arrive shortly." As a result, the user U is notified that the garbage collection vehicle will soon be arriving just before the time the garbage collection vehicle is to arrive at the garbage dump (a predetermined time T before), and the user U is alerted just before the arrival time. Because the notification is sent just before the arrival time (a predetermined time T before), the collection time arrives not long after the notification, and the user is required to take out the garbage immediately upon receiving the notification, and takes action immediately, thereby preventing the user from inadvertently missing the arrival time and missing the opportunity to take out the garbage. Furthermore, if each user U takes out their trash after receiving a notification of the approaching work vehicle, the time between when trash is placed in the trash dump and when the work vehicle collects it can be made extremely short, which can prevent trash from being scattered in the trash dump by birds and animals such as crows. Furthermore, notifications are not sent to all users regardless of the type of trash, and the notification of the approaching work vehicle is only sent to the user terminal device 3 of users U registered in the user information storage means 14 who use the trash dump of the type of trash corresponding to the route on which the work vehicle is currently operating. Therefore, the frequency of notifications to each user is low, and users will not mistakenly receive notifications for others. This makes it difficult for the effectiveness of the alert to decrease due to habituation, and increases the effectiveness of the alert when a notification is received.

[0071] Next, in step S47, the collection completion detection means 38 of the management server 1 detects, for each operating service vehicle Vi (i = 1, 2, ...), a garbage dump for which garbage collection has been newly completed (hereinafter referred to as a "collected garbage dump") that is located on the route Ri on which the service vehicle Vi is traveling. Here, in the case of the station collection system, when garbage collection at each garbage dump is completed, the on-board terminal device 2 of the service vehicle Vi transmits collection completion information, which is notification information that collection at that garbage dump has been completed, to the management server 1, and the management server 1 detects the collected garbage dump by receiving this collection completion information. On the other hand, in the case of the door-to-door collection system, the garbage dump is the doorway facing the road of each house, and the garbage dump is not predetermined, so collection completion information is not normally transmitted from the on-board terminal device 2 of the service vehicle Vi one by one. Therefore, in the case of the door-to-door collection method, when the current position on the patrol route Ri of each work vehicle Vi transmitted from the on-board terminal device 2 of that work vehicle Vi passes the position of a certain garbage dump on that patrol route Ri (a garbage dump that has been registered in advance by the user U in the garbage dump information storage means 12 (see the explanation of step S04 in Figure 3)), or when the work vehicle Vi enters and then leaves the block to which the garbage dump belongs, it is determined that collection work for that garbage dump is complete, and the garbage dump is detected as a collection-completed garbage dump. Note that in the latter case (determination by leaving the block), collection completion is determined by "the work vehicle Vi entering and leaving the block to which the garbage dump belongs."

[0072] Here, if no completed collection waste bins are detected (step S48), the process returns to the initial step S41. On the other hand, if a completed collection waste bin is detected in step S49, the notified user extraction means 39 of the management server 1 extracts user information of each user U who uses each detected completed collection waste bin from the user information storage means 14. The extracted user information of each user U includes address information of the user terminal device 3 of that user U. Next, in step S50, the collection completion notification distribution means 40 distributes a collection completion notification by push notification to the user terminal device 3 of each extracted user U, notifying that waste collection work for the completed collection waste bin has been completed.

[0073] In step S63, upon receiving the collection completion notification sent from the management server 1, the user terminal device 3 of user U outputs the collection completion notification from the output device 61 by push notification. The collection completion notification may be, for example, a voice message such as, "Today's garbage collection has now ended." This allows user U to clearly recognize that the garbage collection time at the garbage collection site for that day has ended, preventing the user from taking out their garbage after garbage collection at the garbage collection site has been completed. Furthermore, since the user knows approximately what time their garbage will be collected each time, they can anticipate the collection time and dispose of their garbage accordingly.

[0074] Thereafter, the operations from steps S41 to S50 are repeatedly executed until the garbage collection work on the patrol route of each work vehicle is completed (step S51).

[0075] (2.3.2) Operation of each work vehicle at the start of garbage collection work Next, we will explain the basic operation of the garbage collection operation notification system for reporting garbage collection progress information when each work vehicle V begins garbage collection work. When a work vehicle V begins garbage collection work, the work vehicle V is not performing garbage collection work at any garbage dump on its patrol route, and is not on the patrol route at the time of departure, so it cannot report garbage collection progress information using the basic operation in Figure 6 above. Therefore, when the work vehicle V begins garbage collection work, the following special garbage collection progress information reporting operation is performed.

[0076] FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the garbage collection work notification system to report garbage collection progress information when each work vehicle V starts garbage collection work.

[0077] First, in steps S71 and S81, communication is performed between the on-board terminal device 2 and the management server 1, and a process for setting a patrol route is performed. At this time, a worker P of a work vehicle V equipped with the on-board terminal device 2 operates an input device (not shown) of the on-board terminal device 2 to select a patrol route R along which garbage collection work will be carried out, and transmits information about the selected patrol route R to the management server 1. The management server 1 sets the patrol route R transmitted from the on-board terminal device 2 as the patrol route of the work vehicle V equipped with the on-board terminal device 2.

[0078] Next, in step S72, worker P inputs an instruction to start garbage collection work from an input device (not shown) of on-board terminal device 2, and on-board terminal device 2 transmits a work start notification to management server 1. When management server 1 receives the work start notification transmitted from on-board terminal device 2 in step S82, approaching garbage dump extraction means 30 of management server 1 extracts, from garbage dump information storage means 12, garbage dump information for garbage dumps on tour route R that are within a predicted progress section on tour route R along which work vehicle V is predicted to travel within a predetermined time T from the starting point of the tour route R. Note that the calculation of the predicted progress section is the same as in step S42. If an approaching garbage dump is extracted (step S84), in step S85, approach notification distribution means 31 of management server 1 extracts, from user information storage means 14, user information for each user U who will use each of the extracted approaching garbage dumps. Then, in step S86, the approaching notification distribution means 31 distributes, by push notification, a work vehicle approaching notification informing the user terminal device 3 of each extracted user U that a work vehicle V is approaching.

[0079] In step S91, the user terminal device 3 of the user U receives the work vehicle approaching notification transmitted from the management server 1, and in step S92, outputs the work vehicle approaching notification from the output device 61 by push notification.

[0080] In this way, a notification of the approach of the work vehicle is distributed at the appropriate time to the garbage dump near the starting point of the patrol route R.

[0081] (2.3.3) Actions to be taken when a work vehicle deviates from its patrol route or when another worker enters the patrol route As a work vehicle V1 travels along a certain route R and an approaching work vehicle report is sent to the user's terminal device 3, the work vehicle V1 may reach its load limit just before the garbage dump that the approaching work vehicle report is for, causing the work vehicle V1 to depart from the route to head for the garbage disposal facility. In such a case, after the work vehicle V1 departs from the route, another work vehicle V2 acting as a backup vehicle, or a work vehicle V1 that has turned back after unloading its load at the garbage disposal facility, will continue traveling along the route, so the approaching work vehicle report that has already been sent will remain as is, and after the work vehicle V2 begins operation or the work vehicle V1 resumes operation, garbage collection progress information will be reported according to the basic operation of Figure 6.

[0082] Furthermore, while a work vehicle V1 is operating on a certain route R, another work vehicle V2 may enter the same route R as a support vehicle midway through an incomplete section of the route R, and multiple work vehicles may perform garbage collection work on one route R in parallel with the work vehicle V1. In such a case, before entering the route R, the support vehicle V2 notifies the management server 1 of the start of support along with an entry point Q on the route R from which it will enter support. Upon receiving this notification, the management server 1 sets the entry point Q on the route R as the starting point of a new partial section of the route R and reports garbage collection progress information in the same manner as in the flowchart of Figure 7. This allows a work vehicle approach notification to be distributed at the appropriate time to garbage dumps near the entry point Q on the route R.

[0083] (2.4) Distribution and viewing of garbage collection schedules, etc. (2.4.1) Garbage collection schedule notification Next, a description will be given of the garbage collection schedule notification operation by the management server 1. Fig. 8 is a flowchart showing the garbage collection schedule notification operation of the garbage collection service notification system of Example 1. The garbage collection schedule notification operation of Fig. 8 is executed by the management server 1 once every day at a set time (for example, 6:00 AM).

[0084] First, in step S101, the collection schedule notification distribution means 32 of the management server 1 refers to a clock (not shown) built into the management server 1 to determine whether the current time has reached the predetermined scheduled collection time, and if the scheduled collection time has been reached, proceeds to the next step S102.

[0085] In step S102, the collection schedule notification distribution means 32 extracts from the route information storage means 11 a route for which garbage collection will be performed within a predetermined time period a predetermined time from the current time (hereinafter referred to as a "notification target route"). Here, the "predetermined time period after the predetermined time" is assumed to be set in advance in the management server 1, such as "1:00 AM to 2:00 AM one day from now" or "7:00 AM to 10:00 AM on the same day." The "predetermined time" is set to a time within one day (one day from now or the same day).

[0086] Next, in step S103, the collection schedule notification distribution means 32 extracts garbage dump information for each garbage dump located on each extracted notification target route from the garbage dump information storage means 12. Next, in step S104, the collection schedule notification distribution means 32 extracts user information for users U who use the garbage dumps associated with each extracted garbage dump information from the user information storage means 14. Here, the extracted user information for each user U includes address information for the user terminal device 3 of that user U. Then, in step S105, the collection schedule notification distribution means 32 distributes a collection schedule notification to the user terminal device 3 of the user U associated with each extracted user information, informing that it is a collection day and the scheduled time for garbage collection work to be performed at that garbage dump.

[0087] Next, in step S111, when the user terminal device 3 of each user U receives the collection schedule notification sent from the management server 1, in step S112, it outputs the contents of the collection schedule notification to the output device 61. The method of outputting to the output device 61 is not particularly limited, but for example, methods such as an email arrival notification or a push notification of the collection schedule notification can be used.

[0088] In this way, by distributing a collection schedule notice that notifies each user U on the day that garbage collection will be performed at their garbage collection location, it is possible to further improve the effectiveness of alerting the users U. Furthermore, by notifying the scheduled time for garbage collection in the collection schedule notice, users U who become aware of the scheduled collection schedule from the notice can prepare to take out their garbage in plenty of time, thereby improving convenience.

[0089] (2.4.2) Garbage collection calendar distribution Next, a description will be given of the operation of distributing a garbage collection calendar by the management server 1. Fig. 9 is a flowchart showing the operation of distributing a garbage collection calendar in the garbage collection work notification system of the first embodiment.

[0090] First, in steps S121 and S131, a user U executes a dedicated application program on the user terminal device 3, thereby executing a login operation between the user terminal device 3 and the management server 1. Next, in step S122, the user terminal device 3 transmits a calendar distribution request to the management server 1, and in step S132, the management server 1 receives the calendar distribution request transmitted from the user terminal device 3. A "calendar distribution request" refers to a signal requesting distribution of a garbage collection calendar. Next, in step S133, the garbage collection calendar distribution means 33 of the management server 1 acquires, from the user information storage means 14, the user information of the user U of the user terminal device 3 that transmitted the calendar distribution request, and acquires each garbage dump site information from the garbage dump site information storage means 12 based on the identification information of the user U (identification information for each garbage type) contained in the user information. Then, from the information on the type of garbage at each garbage dump and the day of the week (or date if irregular) and time period on which garbage collection is performed included in the garbage dump information, garbage collection calendar information is generated, which is schedule data showing the days on which garbage collection is performed at that garbage dump. Then, in step S133, the garbage collection calendar distribution means 33 distributes the garbage collection calendar information to the user terminal device 3 that sent the calendar distribution request, and in step S123, the user terminal device 3 receives the garbage collection calendar information.

[0091] Next, in step S124, the user terminal device 3 displays a garbage collection calendar on the display screen 70 of the output device 61 based on the garbage collection calendar information. FIG. 10 shows an example of the garbage collection calendar and the viewed date detailed information displayed on the display screen 70 of the user terminal device 3. In step S124, the display screen 70 of the output device 61 of the user terminal device 3 displays, for example, the information shown in FIG. 10(a). A calendar display area 71 is provided at the bottom of the display screen 70, and a detailed information display area 72 is provided at the top. The calendar display area 71 displays the garbage collection calendar, which displays the garbage collection schedule for each garbage type at the garbage dump used by user U for each day of the week starting from the current day (today). Each column of the garbage collection calendar is configured in two rows, with the day of the week displayed in the top row and the date and an icon indicating the garbage collection schedule for the garbage dump used by user U in the bottom row. The icons for scheduled garbage collection operations are displayed as different shapes for each type of garbage, making it possible to identify the garbage type. In Fig. 10, the dark gray field 71a on the left side represents the current day's field in the garbage collection calendar, and the light gray field 71b represents the selected date field in the garbage collection calendar, with the finger mark indicating the field selected by user U. In addition, the detailed information display area 72 displays detailed information (selected date, garbage collection operation time period, and garbage type) about the scheduled garbage collection operation for the day selected in the garbage collection calendar (selected date). In the initial state, the day following the current day is the selected day.

[0092] Next, in step S125, the user U of the user terminal device 3 inputs an instruction to select a day for which detailed information is to be displayed from the garbage collection calendar using the input device 60. For example, if the input device 60 is a touch panel, the user U taps on the day for which detailed information is to be displayed from the garbage collection calendar, as indicated by the finger mark in FIGS. 10(b) and (c), and the day in the tapped field is selected as the selected day. Next, in step S126, the user terminal device 3 follows the selection instruction and displays detailed information for the selected day on the display screen 70 of the output device 61, as shown in the detailed information display area 72 in FIGS. 10(b) and (c), for example. In the example of Figure 10, the detailed information display area 72 displays detailed information such as the selected date ("tomorrow (4 / 11)", "the day after tomorrow (4 / 12)", "four days later (4 / 14)", etc.), the type of garbage (garbage type icon and garbage type name) for the garbage collection work scheduled to be carried out at the garbage dump used by user U on the selected day, and the time period during which the garbage collection work will be carried out ("(9:00-10:00)", "(12:00-14:00)", etc.).

[0093] In this way, by displaying the garbage collection calendar and detailed information on the scheduled garbage collection operations for each garbage collection day on the display screen 70 of the user terminal device 3, it becomes easier for the user U to plan garbage collection, thereby further improving convenience.

[0094] (2.4.3) Distribution of work vehicle operation map information Next, a description will be given of the operation of distributing the operation map information of the work vehicle by the management server 1. Fig. 11 is a flowchart showing the operation of distributing the operation map information of the work vehicle in the waste collection work notification system of the first embodiment.

[0095] First, in step S141, the user terminal device 3 sends a work vehicle position distribution request to the management server 1 in accordance with input from the input device 60 by the user U, and in step S151 the management server 1 receives the work vehicle position distribution request. A "work vehicle position distribution request" is a signal that requests the management server 1 to distribute the current position of the work vehicle.

[0096] Next, in step S152, the patrol route identification means 34 of the management server 1 extracts the user information of the user U of the user terminal device 3 from the user information storage means 14, and in step S153, based on the user information, obtains from the garbage dump information storage means 12 identification information of the garbage dump S used by the user U of the user terminal device 3 (hereinafter referred to as the "used garbage dump") and identifies a patrol route R that passes through the used garbage dump S, and in step S154, the work vehicle identification means 35 identifies the work vehicle Vs that will collect the user U's garbage dump on that day from among the work vehicles V currently operating on the patrol route R as a "specific work vehicle" and obtains the current location of the specific work vehicle Vs.

[0097] Next, in step S154, the map information generation means 36 of the management server 1 generates operation map information, which is information for map display, for displaying a map of the area surrounding the garbage dump S and the current location of the designated work vehicle Vs, and for adding to the map a marker indicating the patrol route R and the current location of the designated work vehicle Vs, as well as a marker indicating the location of the used garbage dump S. Here, the "information for map display" may be image information (unit layer or multi-layer image information) in which a line of the patrol route R and a marker for the designated work vehicle Vs are added to a map image, or it may be transaction data for displaying the patrol route R and a marker indicating the current location of the designated work vehicle Vs using a map API service that is widely provided as a cloud service on the Internet. In addition, the map information generation means 36 references the trajectory information of the work vehicle on the past patrol route R stored in the trajectory information storage means 13, calculates the required time from the current location of the designated work vehicle Vs to the used garbage dump S, and calculates the estimated arrival time ts for the designated work vehicle Vs to arrive at the used garbage dump S. Next, in step S154, the map information distribution means 37 of the management server 1 distributes the generated operation map information and estimated arrival time ts to the user terminal device 3 that sent the work vehicle position distribution request, and in step S142 the user terminal device 3 receives the operation map information and estimated arrival time ts. Then, in step S143, the user terminal device 3 displays on the display screen of the output device 61, based on the operation map information, a work vehicle operation map showing the used garbage dump S, the patrol route R, and the current position of the specific work vehicle Vs, as well as the estimated arrival time ts.

[0098] 12 shows an example of a work vehicle operation map displayed on the display screen of the user terminal device 3. A map of the area around the available garbage dump S and the designated work vehicle Vs is displayed on the display screen 70 of the user terminal device 3, and on that map are displayed a thick line indicating the patrol route R, a marker indicating the available garbage dump S, and a marker indicating the designated work vehicle Vs. In addition, the estimated arrival time ts is displayed near the marker indicating the available garbage dump S.

[0099] This allows each user U to easily check on a map from the user terminal device 3 the current location of the specific work vehicle Vs patrolling the garbage disposal area S where the user U disposes of their garbage, making it possible to make more accurate decisions about the timing of garbage disposal, etc. [Example]

[0100] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating the overall configuration of a garbage collection service notification system according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 14 is a block diagram illustrating the functional configuration of the garbage collection service notification system of FIG. 13. In FIGS. 13 and 14, components similar to those in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals. Compared to the first embodiment, the management server 1 in this embodiment is a cloud server including a collection vehicle traffic management server 1a that manages the traffic of each work vehicle V and a garbage sorting application server 1b that manages information distribution to each user U. The remaining components are similar to those in the first embodiment. Note that, for convenience of explanation, the communication line 4 is depicted as being divided into communication lines 4a, 4b, and 4c in FIG. 13, but these may use the same communication line 4. Furthermore, the collection vehicle traffic management server 1a and the garbage sorting application server 1b are linked via the communication line 4c, and the collection vehicle traffic management server 1a and the garbage sorting application server 1b cooperate to function as a single management server 1.

[0101] As shown in FIG. 14, the collection vehicle operation management server 1a has a functional configuration including a route information storage means 11, a garbage dump information storage means 12, a trajectory information storage means 13, a map information storage means 15, a trajectory information update means 20, an approaching garbage dump extraction means 30, a patrol route specification means 34, a work vehicle specification means 35, a map information generation means 36, and a collection completion detection means 38. The garbage sorting application server 1b includes a user information storage means 14, a garbage dump information distribution means 25, a used garbage dump registration means 26, an approach notification distribution means 31, a collection schedule notification distribution means 32, a garbage collection calendar distribution means 33, a map information distribution means 37, a notification user extraction means 39, and a collection completion notification distribution means 40. The functions and operations of these functional components are as described in the first embodiment.

[0102] The map information storage means 15 of the collection vehicle operation management server 1 a may be further divided into a map management server that stores and manages the map information storage means 15 .

[0103] In this way, in the present invention, the management server 1 can also be configured as a cloud server made up of multiple servers that cooperate via a network. [Explanation of symbols]

[0104] 1 Management Server 2. In-vehicle terminal device 3. User terminal device 4. Communication lines 11 Route information storage means 12 Garbage storage location information storage means 13 Trajectory information storage means 14 User information storage means 15 Map information storage means 20 Track information update means 25 Means of distributing garbage collection site information, etc. 26. Means of registering garbage collection points 30 Nearby garbage dump extraction method 31 Approach notification distribution method 32 Means of delivering notification of collection schedule 33 Garbage collection calendar distribution means 34 Means for identifying patrol routes 35 Work vehicle identification means 36 Map information generation means 37 Map information distribution means 38 Collection completion detection means 39 Notification user extraction means 40 Collection completion notification distribution method 50 Positioning device 51 Location information transmission means 60 Input Device 61 Output Device 65. Method of requesting distribution of garbage collection site information, etc. 66 Garbage disposal area map display means 67 Method of requesting registration of garbage dump site

Claims

1. A garbage collection notification system comprising: a management server; an on-board terminal device mounted on each work vehicle that performs garbage collection work and communicably connected to the management server via a communication line; and a user terminal device carried by a user, communicably connected to the management server via a communication line, and equipped with an input device and an output device, The in-vehicle terminal device a positioning device that measures the current position of the work vehicle on which the on-board terminal device is mounted; a location information transmitting means for transmitting current location information of the work vehicle to a management server, The management server a route information storage means for storing information on the patrol route of each work vehicle; a garbage bin information storage means installed along each of the circular routes for storing garbage bin information, which is information on the location of a garbage bin where users can leave their garbage during garbage collection and the types of garbage that can be placed in the garbage bin; a locus information storage means for storing locus information of each work vehicle; A user information storage means for storing user information for each registered user, including address information of the user terminal device of the user and specific information of the garbage dump used by the user; a locus information updating means for receiving current position information of each work vehicle transmitted from each of the vehicle-mounted terminal devices and storing the information in the locus information storage means as locus information of the work vehicle; an approaching garbage dump extraction means for extracting, for each working vehicle in operation, an approaching garbage dump that is a garbage dump of a garbage type related to the patrol route on which the working vehicle is operating and that is an uncollected garbage dump that is located within a predetermined time distance from the current position of the working vehicle stored in the trajectory information storage means; an approaching notification distribution means for extracting user information of users who use each approaching garbage dump extracted by the approaching garbage dump extraction means from the user information storage means, and distributing a work vehicle approaching notification to the user terminal device of each extracted user, notifying that a work vehicle is approaching; A garbage collection notification system comprising:

2. The management server a collection schedule notification distribution means for distributing, for each user related to the user information stored in the user information storage means, a collection schedule notification to the user terminal device of the user at a time before the time when the work vehicle approach notification is distributed to the garbage dump used by the user on the day when garbage collection work is to be performed at the garbage dump, informing the user that it is a collection day and the scheduled time when garbage collection work is to be performed at the garbage dump; 2. The garbage collection notification system according to claim 1, further comprising:

3. The management server a garbage collection calendar distribution means for generating a garbage collection calendar, which is schedule data indicating the days on which garbage collection work will be performed at a garbage dump used by each user for each user associated with the user information stored in the user information storage means, for each garbage dump used by the user, and distributing the garbage collection calendar to the user terminal device of the user; 2. The garbage collection notification system according to claim 1, further comprising:

4. The management server When a work vehicle location transmission request, which is a signal requesting transmission of the current location of a work vehicle, is received from the user terminal device, specific information of the waste dump used by the user of the user terminal device is acquired based on the user information stored in the user information storage means; a circuit route specifying means for specifying the circuit route that passes through the garbage dump based on the location information of the garbage dump stored in the garbage dump information storage means and the circuit route information stored in the route information storage means; a work vehicle identification means for identifying a work vehicle (hereinafter referred to as a "specific work vehicle") currently operating on the specified patrol route based on the trajectory information of the work vehicle stored in the trajectory information storage means; map information generation means for generating operation map information, which is information for map display, for displaying a map of the area surrounding the current position of the specified work vehicle and for adding and displaying a marker indicating the current position of the specified work vehicle on the map; a map information distribution means for distributing the operation map information to the user terminal device that has transmitted the work vehicle position distribution request; 2. The garbage collection notification system according to claim 1, further comprising:

5. The management server a collection completion detection means for detecting the completion of collection work at a certain garbage dump when collection completion information, which is notification information that collection work at a certain garbage dump has been completed and is transmitted from the on-board terminal device of each of the working vehicles in operation, is received, or when the current position of the working vehicle on the patrol route, which is transmitted from the on-board terminal device of each of the working vehicles in operation, passes the position of a certain garbage dump on the patrol route, or when the working vehicle enters and then leaves the block to which the garbage dump belongs; a notification user extraction means for retrieving users who use a garbage bin for which collection work has been completed (hereinafter referred to as a "collection-completed garbage bin") detected by the collection completion detection means from the user information stored in the user information storage means, and acquiring address information of each retrieved user; a collection completion notification distribution means for distributing a collection completion notification to the user terminal device associated with the address information of each user acquired by the notification user extraction means, the collection completion notification notifying the completion of garbage collection work at the collection completion garbage bin; 2. The garbage collection notification system according to claim 1, further comprising:

6. The user terminal device a garbage dump information etc. distribution request means for transmitting a garbage dump information etc. distribution request, which is a signal requesting distribution of the garbage dump information of each garbage dump or information on the patrol route of each work vehicle, to the management server; a garbage dump etc. map display means for displaying a map showing the location of each garbage dump or the tour route on the output device when the garbage dump information or the tour route information of each garbage dump distributed from the management server is received; and a garbage bin registration request means for transmitting to the management server a request for registration of a garbage bin to be used, when a user selects one of the garbage bins or a point on the tour route from the map of garbage bins, etc. displayed on the output device by the input device, the request being a signal requesting that the selected garbage bin or the point on the tour route be registered as a garbage bin to be used by the user; The management server a garbage dump information distribution means for, upon receiving a request for distribution of the garbage dump information etc. from the user terminal device, acquiring the garbage dump information of each garbage dump or the information of the tour route from the garbage dump information storage means or the route information storage means, and distributing the information to the user terminal device; a used garbage bin registration means for, when receiving the used garbage bin registration request from the user terminal device, registering the garbage bin related to the used garbage bin registration request in the user information storage means as a garbage bin used by the user related to the used garbage bin registration request; 2. The garbage collection notification system according to claim 1, further comprising:

7. 7. A program that, when loaded into a computer and executed, causes the computer to function as the management server according to claim 1.

8. 7. A program for causing a computer equipped with an input device and an output device to function as the user terminal device according to claim 6 by being read and executed by the computer.

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