Loading sequence output device, loading sequence output method, and program

Abstract

To provide a loading order output device assisting loading of multiple delivery objects onto delivery means, in order to realize more efficient delivery.SOLUTION: A loading order output device 1 comprises: a storage part 11 for storing delivery order information showing delivery order of multiple delivery objects; a loading order acquiring part 13 acquiring loading order information showing loading order for loading the delivery objects onto delivery means, by using the delivery order information; an image acquiring part 15 acquiring an imaged image of the multiple delivery objects each attached with a code; and an output part 16 wherein the output part outputs the imaged image, and when the codes identified respectively by code identifiers corresponding to the delivery objects with the loading order indicated by the delivery order information is included in the imaged image, the output part outputs an image showing the loading orders corresponding to the codes at positions of the codes, respectively, in the imaged image.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a loading order output device and the like that outputs information indicating the loading order of delivery objects by using a code assigned to the delivery objects.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, information regarding an object has been obtained by photographing an object to which a code is assigned and acquiring information corresponding to the code (see, for example, Patent Document 1). By using such information, for example, the delivery destination of a delivery object can be known.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In recent years, with the increase in delivery objects, efficient delivery has been demanded. Therefore, for example, when loading delivery objects onto a delivery means such as a truck using the delivery destination corresponding to the code assigned to the delivery objects, it is conceivable to load the delivery objects closer to the delivery destination together, but further efficiency improvement is also required.

[0005] The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a loading order output device and the like that enable loading a plurality of delivery objects onto a delivery means so as to enable more efficient delivery.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] To achieve the above objective, a loading order output device according to one aspect of the present invention comprises: a storage unit that stores delivery order information indicating the delivery order of a plurality of delivery objects; a loading order acquisition unit that uses the delivery order information to acquire loading order information indicating the loading order when loading the delivery objects onto a delivery means; an image acquisition unit that acquires captured images of a plurality of delivery objects to which codes have been assigned; and an output unit that outputs captured images and, when a code identified by a code identifier corresponding to a delivery object whose loading order is indicated by the loading order information is included in the captured image, outputs an image at the position of the code in the captured image that displays the loading order corresponding to the code.

[0007] This configuration allows the loading order, which is the reverse of the delivery order, to be displayed at the location of the delivery item's code in the image of the item to be delivered. Therefore, by loading the items to be delivered onto a delivery vehicle such as a truck according to the loading order, the items can be unloaded from the delivery vehicle in a short time at the destination, enabling efficient delivery.

[0008] Furthermore, in a loading order output device according to one aspect of the present invention, the output unit may output an image in which all loading orders indicated by the loading order information are displayed at the positions of the codes corresponding to the loading orders. This configuration allows, for example, to check the entire loading order at once.

[0009] Furthermore, in a loading order output device according to one aspect of the present invention, the output unit may output an image in which a predetermined number of loading orders from all loading orders indicated by the loading order information are displayed at the positions of the codes corresponding to the loading orders. This configuration allows for confirmation of the loading order, such as loading in groups of five, making it easier to identify the next items to be loaded onto the delivery vehicle.

[0010] Furthermore, in a loading order output device according to one aspect of the present invention, a quantity acquisition unit that acquires the number of deliverables that can be loaded onto the delivery means and a loading order acquisition unit may acquire loading order information for the number of deliverables acquired by the quantity acquisition unit, from among the deliverables whose delivery order is indicated by the loading order information. With this configuration, the loading order is determined according to the number of items that can be loaded onto the delivery vehicle. For example, even if there is a quantity of items to be delivered that cannot be loaded onto the delivery vehicle in a single trip, such as in a warehouse, it is possible to obtain an appropriate loading order.

[0011] Furthermore, a loading order output method according to one aspect of the present invention is a loading order output method processed using a storage unit that stores delivery order information indicating the delivery order of a plurality of delivery objects, a loading order acquisition unit, an image acquisition unit, and an output unit, comprising the steps of: the loading order acquisition unit acquiring loading order information indicating the loading order when loading delivery objects onto a delivery means using the delivery order information; the image acquisition unit acquiring captured images of a plurality of delivery objects to which codes have been assigned; and the output unit outputting the captured images and, if the captured images include a code identified by a code identifier corresponding to a delivery object whose loading order is indicated by the loading order information, outputting an image displaying the loading order corresponding to the code at the position of the code in the captured image. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] According to one aspect of the present invention, a loading order output device, etc., enables the loading of items to be delivered onto a delivery means such as a truck according to the loading order, thereby achieving efficient delivery. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0013] [Figure 1] Block diagram showing the configuration of a loading sequence output device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] Flowchart showing the operation of the loading sequence output device according to this embodiment. [Figure 3] A diagram showing an example of delivery order information in the same embodiment. [Figure 4] This figure shows an example of loading order information in the same embodiment. [Figure 5] This figure shows an example of the shooting status of multiple delivery targets in the same embodiment. [Figure 6] This figure shows an example of the output of captured images in the same embodiment. [Figure 7] This figure shows an example of the output of captured images in the same embodiment. [Figure 8] This figure shows an example of the configuration of the computer system in the same embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0014] The loading order output device and loading order output method according to the present invention will be described below using embodiments. In the following embodiments, components and steps denoted by the same reference numerals are the same or equivalent and may not be described again. The loading order output device according to this embodiment acquires loading order information based on delivery order information and uses the acquired loading order information to output an image that displays the loading order corresponding to the code at the position of the code in a photographed image of a delivery object to which a code has been assigned, thereby supporting the efficient delivery of the delivery object.

[0015] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the loading order output device 1 according to the present embodiment. The loading order output device 1 according to the present embodiment includes a storage unit 11, a quantity acquisition unit 12, a loading order acquisition unit 13, a reception unit 14, an image acquisition unit 15, and an output unit 16. The loading order output device 1 may be, for example, a portable information processing terminal having a photographing function, such as a smartphone, a tablet terminal, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), etc., or may be an information processing device or a server that receives and processes a photographed image from a device having a photographing function. In the present embodiment, in the former case, particularly when the loading order output device 1 is a smartphone, it will be mainly described. The loading order output device 1 is used to know the loading order of delivery objects to be loaded onto a delivery means such as a truck in, for example, a warehouse or a logistics base, using a photographed image of a code attached to the delivery object.

[0016] The delivery object may be, for example, a commodity, a delivery object such as a parcel delivery, a delivery object in logistics, or other delivery objects. The delivery object may be, for example, a box-shaped delivery object such as a cardboard box or a folding container, a delivery object such as a bag, a bin, or a can, or other delivery objects. In the present embodiment, the case where the delivery object is box-shaped will be mainly described.

[0017] It is assumed that the object to be delivered is provided with a code. The code may be, for example, a color code such as a Chameleon Code (registered trademark), a QR Code (registered trademark), a barcode, an AR marker, or other codes. For example, a plurality of AR markers may be used as one code. More specifically, two adjacent AR markers, three AR markers arranged in a row, three AR markers arranged in an L shape, four AR markers arranged in a square shape of 2×2, etc. may be used as the code. When a plurality of codes are included in the captured image, it is preferable to use a code that can collectively acquire a plurality of code identifiers corresponding to the plurality of codes, such as a color code or an AR code. In the present embodiment, the case where the code is a color code will be mainly described.

[0018] The method of attaching the code to the object to be delivered is not limited. For example, the code may be pasted on the object to be delivered, printed on the surface of the object to be delivered, a tag with the code displayed may be attached to the object to be delivered, or the code may be attached to the object to be delivered by other methods. Note that it is preferable that the code is attached to the object to be delivered so that the code can be easily read. For example, when the location of the object to be delivered with the code is photographed, it is preferable that the code can be read in the captured image.

[0019] The storage unit 11 stores delivery order information indicating the delivery order of multiple delivery items. The delivery order information can be any information that, as a result, allows the delivery order of the delivery items to be determined. For example, the delivery order information may be information that associates an object identifier that identifies a delivery item with the delivery order of that delivery item, or it may be object identifiers arranged in a delivery order, or it may be information that associates an object identifier that identifies a delivery item with the delivery time of that delivery item. Thus, the delivery order information may be information that indicates the delivery order of delivery items by object identifiers. In this embodiment, the case in which the delivery order information is object identifiers arranged in a delivery order will be mainly described.

[0020] Preferably, there is a one-to-one relationship between the code identifier, which identifies the code, and the object identifier, which identifies the object to be delivered. For example, the correspondence between the code identifier and the object identifier may be indicated by correspondence information that links the two. In this case, for example, the correspondence information may be stored in the storage unit 11. Alternatively, the code identifier may be the object identifier itself. This embodiment will mainly describe this case. Note that the code identifier may be any identifier that can identify the code. The code identifier may be, for example, the information indicated by the code (i.e., the information obtained by reading the code), or it may be information managed in association with the information obtained by reading the code. This embodiment will mainly describe the former case.

[0021] The storage unit 11 may store information other than delivery order information. For example, loading order information may be stored in the storage unit 11. The process by which information is stored in the storage unit 11 is not specified. For example, information may be stored in the storage unit 11 via a recording medium, information transmitted via a communication line or the like may be stored in the storage unit 11, or information input via an input device may be stored in the storage unit 11. In addition, information may be accumulated in the storage unit 11 by a component of the loading order output device 1, such as the loading order acquisition unit 13. The storage unit 11 is preferably implemented using a non-volatile recording medium, but it may also be implemented using a volatile recording medium. The recording medium may be, for example, a semiconductor memory or a magnetic disk.

[0022] The quantity acquisition unit 12 acquires the number of deliverables that can be loaded onto the delivery means. In other words, the total number of deliverables that can be loaded onto the delivery means is acquired. The delivery means is a means for delivering deliverables and has an area where the deliverables are loaded. The delivery means may be self-moving, such as a truck, or it may be transported by other means of transport or by people, such as a cage cart. The delivery means is not particularly limited, but may be a truck, delivery robot, ship, drone, cage cart, container, handcart, etc. In this embodiment, the case where the delivery means is a truck will be mainly described.

[0023] For example, if the size of the items to be delivered and the loading area for the items in the delivery means are all the same, the number of items that can be loaded onto the delivery means is predetermined, so the quantity acquisition unit 12 may acquire the predetermined number. In this case, the quantity acquisition unit 12 may acquire the number by reading the number stored in the storage unit 11 or the like. Alternatively, if the size of each item to be delivered and the size of the loading area for the items in the delivery means are known, the quantity acquisition unit 12 may use both sizes to acquire the number of items that can be loaded onto the delivery means. In this case, for example, the unit may calculate how many items can be loaded into the delivery means if they are loaded sequentially from the items with the earliest delivery order among the items that have not yet been loaded onto the delivery means. Note that here it is assumed that the number of items that can be loaded onto the delivery means does not depend on the loading order. On the other hand, if the number of items that can be loaded onto the delivery vehicle depends on the loading order, the quantity acquisition unit 12 may, for example, calculate a provisional number of items based on how many items can be loaded when loaded sequentially from the earliest delivery order, and then check whether that provisional number of items can be loaded onto the delivery vehicle in the loading order, which is the reverse of the delivery order. If it is not possible to load them, the provisional number may be reduced by one and the same process may be performed. Also, if there is still room to load items even after loading the provisional number of items in the reverse of the delivery order, the provisional number may be increased by one and the same process may be performed. In this way, the maximum number of items that can be loaded onto the delivery vehicle in the reverse of the delivery order may be set as the number of items that can be loaded onto the delivery vehicle. Furthermore, if the size of the items or the size of the loading area for the items on the delivery vehicle is used to acquire the quantity, information associating the item identifier with the size, and the size of the loading area for the items on the delivery vehicle, may be stored in the storage unit 11. This calculation may be performed, for example, by simulation, or by other algorithms.

[0024] The loading order acquisition unit 13 uses the delivery order information to acquire loading order information, which indicates the loading order when loading the delivery objects onto the delivery means. The loading order information is usually information that indicates the reverse order of the delivery order indicated by the delivery order information. Note that, like the delivery order information, the loading order information can be any information as long as it allows us to know the loading order of the delivery objects. The loading order information may be, for example, information that associates an object identifier that identifies the delivery objects with the loading order of those delivery objects, or it may be object identifiers arranged in a way that determines the loading order. In this embodiment, the former case will be mainly described. Note that even in the latter case, since the object identifiers are arranged in loading order, the loading order corresponding to each object identifier can be easily determined.

[0025] The loading order acquisition unit 13 acquires loading order information for the number of delivery items acquired by the quantity acquisition unit 12, from among the delivery items whose delivery order is indicated by the loading order information. For example, if the number acquired by the quantity acquisition unit is N (items) and the lowest order indicated by the delivery order information is A, then loading order information will be acquired for N delivery items from the Ath item to the A+N-1th item, and the loading order of the delivery item whose delivery order is Mth will be A+NM. Hereinafter, N and A are integers of 1 or greater, and M is an integer between A and A+N-1. Furthermore, if both the delivery order information and the loading order information are object identifiers arranged in order of delivery or loading, the loading order acquisition unit 13 may, for example, identify the object identifiers corresponding to the number of items in the delivery order information, starting from the lowest order, according to the number acquired by the quantity acquisition unit 12, and then acquire the loading order information by reversing the order of the identified object identifiers. Furthermore, if the loading order information is information that associates an object identifier that identifies a delivery object with the order in which that delivery object is loaded, the loading order acquisition unit 13 may, for example, use the delivery order information to acquire object identifiers arranged in the order of loading, and associate loading orders such as "1" and "2" with the multiple object identifiers arranged in this way, starting from the lowest loading order. Also, if the loading order information is information that associates an object identifier that identifies a delivery object with the delivery time of that delivery object, the loading order acquisition unit 13 may convert the delivery time into delivery order and acquire the loading order information using the converted delivery order.

[0026] The loading order information acquired by the loading order acquisition unit 13 may be stored in, for example, the storage unit 11. Furthermore, the loading order acquisition unit 13 may, in the delivery order information, set information such as a flag indicating that the object identifier used to acquire the loading order information was used, or it may delete such information from the delivery order information. In the former case, the loading order acquisition unit 13 may acquire the loading order information using an object identifier in the delivery order information that does not have information such as a flag indicating that it was used to acquire the loading order information set.

[0027] The reception unit 14 may receive instructions to start processing or to end processing, and may also receive instructions to proceed to the next processing step when multiple stages of processing are performed, and may also receive other inputs. The reception unit 14 may receive information input from an input device (e.g., a keyboard, mouse, touch panel, etc.), and may also receive information transmitted via a wired or wireless communication line. In this embodiment, the case in which the reception unit 14 receives input from a touch panel will be mainly described. The reception unit 14 may or may not include a device for receiving information (e.g., a touch panel or a network card, etc.). Furthermore, the reception unit 14 may be implemented by hardware, or by software such as a driver that drives a predetermined device.

[0028] The image acquisition unit 15 acquires images of multiple delivery objects that have been assigned codes. The image acquisition unit 15 may be, for example, an optical device such as a camera that photographs the delivery objects, or it may accept images of delivery objects taken by an optical device such as a camera. Preferably, the captured images include images of multiple codes assigned to multiple delivery objects. This photography is performed to determine the loading order when loading the delivery objects onto the delivery means. The image acquisition unit 15 may, for example, acquire the captured images only once, or it may continuously acquire the captured images in real time. In this embodiment, the latter case will be mainly described. Therefore, in this embodiment, the case where the captured images are moving images will be mainly described. For example, the captured images may be moving images taken by a user while scanning multiple delivery objects. Also, in order to obtain a code identifier from the codes contained in the captured images, it is preferable that the captured images have a resolution sufficient to obtain the code identifier. Also, if the codes of the objects being photographed are color codes, it is preferable that the captured images be color images.

[0029] The output unit 16 outputs the captured image acquired by the image acquisition unit 15. The output unit 16 may also output, for example, a moving image of the captured image for real-time display. This embodiment will mainly describe this case. Furthermore, if the captured image contains a code identified by a code identifier corresponding to a delivery object whose loading order is indicated by the loading order information acquired by the loading order acquisition unit 13, the output unit 16 outputs an image displaying the loading order corresponding to that code at the position of the code in the captured image. If the captured image is a moving image, this process may be performed for each frame. The code identifier corresponding to a delivery object whose loading order is indicated may be a code identifier associated with an object identifier that identifies the delivery object whose loading order is indicated. For example, if both identifiers are associated by the above-mentioned association information, this code identifier may be a code identifier associated with the object identifier that identifies the delivery object whose loading order is indicated by the association information, and if both identifiers are the same, it may be the object identifier that identifies the delivery object whose loading order is indicated itself.

[0030] The output unit 16 may, for example, obtain a pair of the position of a code in the captured image and the code identifier of that code. The output unit 16 may then, for example, identify the object identifier corresponding to each code identifier obtained. Note that if the code identifier and the object identifier are the same, this process is unnecessary because the object identifier corresponding to the code identifier is the code identifier itself. If the loading order of the delivery items identified by the object identifier is indicated by loading order information, the output unit 16 may obtain the loading order corresponding to that object identifier and place an image showing that loading order at the position of the code identified by the code identifier corresponding to that object identifier, that is, at the position of the code paired with that code identifier. On the other hand, if the loading order of the delivery items identified by the object identifier corresponding to the code identifier is not indicated by loading order information, the output unit 16 does not need to perform the process of placing an image for that code identifier. By performing such processing for the code identifier of each code included in the captured image, an image displaying the loading order corresponding to that code may be generated at the position of the code in the captured image.

[0031] The loading order corresponding to a code is usually preferably represented by numbers such as "1" or "8," but it may also be represented by other information (for example, information indicating "1" or "8" by the number of predetermined shapes). Displaying the loading order at the code's location may, for example, involve displaying an image showing the loading order overlaid on the code, or displaying an image showing the loading order at a predetermined location relative to the code. In any case, it is preferable that the display shows the correspondence between the delivered item assigned a code and the loading order corresponding to that code.

[0032] The output unit 16 may output an image that displays all loading sequences indicated by the loading sequence information at the positions corresponding to the codes in the loading sequence. For example, if 20 delivery items, each with a loading sequence from 1st to 20th, are to be loaded onto the delivery means, all of the 20 loading sequences corresponding to the codes in the captured image may be displayed at the positions corresponding to the codes in the captured image. In this case, a user viewing the output image will be able to see the positions of all delivery items corresponding to all loading sequences at once.

[0033] On the other hand, the output unit 16 may output an image in which a predetermined number of loading sequences from all the loading sequences indicated by the loading sequence information are displayed at the positions of the codes corresponding to those loading sequences. The predetermined number is usually less than the number of delivery items whose loading sequence is indicated by the loading sequence information. In this case as well, it is preferable that a predetermined number of consecutive loading sequences are displayed at the positions of the codes corresponding to those loading sequences. For example, if 20 delivery items, whose loading sequences are from 1st to 20th, are to be loaded onto the delivery means, first, the loading sequences from 1st to 5th that correspond to the codes included in the captured image may be displayed at the positions of the codes in the captured image. Then, after that (for example, after loading the delivery items from 1st to 5th), the loading sequences from 6th to 10th that correspond to the codes included in the captured image may be displayed at the positions of the codes in the captured image, and this process may be repeated sequentially for the 11th and subsequent loading sequences. In this case, the number of items displayed in the loading order will be narrowed down, making it easier to identify the next item to be loaded onto the delivery vehicle.

[0034] The output from the output unit 16 may be, for example, displayed on a display device (e.g., a liquid crystal display or an organic EL display), transmitted via a communication line to a predetermined device, or transferred to another component. In any case, it is preferable that the output image is ultimately displayed on the loading sequential output device 1 or another device. The output unit 16 may or may not include an output device (e.g., a display device or a communication device). Furthermore, the output unit 16 may be implemented by hardware, or by software such as a driver that drives those devices.

[0035] Furthermore, since the loading order is displayed according to the captured image, if, for example, the delivery items corresponding to a certain loading order are not included in the captured image, that order will not be displayed in the captured image. In this case, the user taking the picture can find the delivery items corresponding to that loading order by changing the shooting direction or changing the shooting area.

[0036] Next, the operation of the loading sequence output device 1 will be explained using the flowchart in Figure 2. For example, when the receiving unit 14 receives an instruction to start outputting the loading sequence, the processing from step S101 may begin.

[0037] (Step S101) The quantity acquisition unit 12 acquires the number of items to be delivered that can be loaded onto the delivery vehicle.

[0038] (Step S102) The loading order acquisition unit 13 acquires loading order information using the number acquired in step S101 and the delivery order information stored in the storage unit 11. This loading order information may be stored in the storage unit 11, for example.

[0039] (Step S103) The image acquisition unit 15 determines whether to acquire a captured image. If it decides to acquire a captured image, it proceeds to step S104; otherwise, it proceeds to step S108. The image acquisition unit 15 may, for example, periodically decide whether to acquire a captured image.

[0040] (Step S104) The image acquisition unit 15 acquires the captured image.

[0041] (Step S105) The output unit 16 outputs the captured image acquired in step S104.

[0042] (Step S106) The output unit 16 determines whether the captured image contains a code corresponding to the delivery item whose loading order is indicated by the loading order information obtained in step S102. If the code is contained in the captured image, the process proceeds to step S107; otherwise, it returns to step S103.

[0043] (Step S107) The output unit 16 outputs an image displaying the loading order corresponding to a code at the position of the code corresponding to the delivery object whose loading order is indicated by the loading order information in the captured image. If the captured image contains multiple codes corresponding to delivery objects whose loading order is indicated by the loading order information, the output unit 16 may generate and output an image displaying the loading order at each of the positions of the multiple codes. Then, the process returns to step S103.

[0044] (Step S108) The loading order acquisition unit 13 determines whether to terminate the output of the image displaying the loading order. If it decides to terminate, the series of processes ends; otherwise, it returns to step S103. The loading order acquisition unit 13 may, for example, decide to terminate the output of the image displaying the loading order when the receiving unit 14 receives an instruction to terminate the output of the image displaying the loading order.

[0045] Note that the order of processing in the flowchart in Figure 2 is just one example, and the order of each step may be changed if similar results can be obtained. For example, in the flowchart in Figure 2, the process may proceed from step S104 to step S106, and in step S106, if it is determined that the captured image contains a code corresponding to the delivery items indicating the loading order, the process in step S107 may be performed and the process may return to step S103. If it is determined in step S106 that the captured image does not contain a code corresponding to the delivery items indicating the loading order, the process in step S105 may be performed and the process may return to step S103.

[0046] Next, the operation of the loading order output device 1 according to this embodiment will be explained using a specific example. In this example, the loading order output device 1 is assumed to be a smartphone. Also in this example, the storage unit 11 is assumed to store the delivery order information shown in Figure 3. The delivery order information in Figure 3 is information that indicates the delivery order according to the order of the object identifiers. For example, the delivery order of the object identified by object identifier "ID0001" is assumed to be 1, and the delivery order of the object identified by object identifier "ID0002" is assumed to be 2. Also in this example, the code identifier and the object identifier are assumed to be the same. That is, each delivery object is assumed to be assigned a code that is identified by the object identifier (i.e., the code identifier) ​​that identifies that delivery object.

[0047] First, when the user inputs an instruction to output the loading order into the loading order acquisition unit 13, which is a smartphone, the instruction is received by the reception unit 14 and passed to the quantity acquisition unit 12. The quantity acquisition unit 12 then acquires the number of items that can be loaded onto the delivery target in accordance with the instruction (step S101). Let's assume this number is predetermined as "20 items". Then, the quantity acquisition unit 12 reads the predetermined number "20 items" from the storage unit 11 and passes it to the loading order acquisition unit 13. Upon receiving the number, the loading order acquisition unit 13 reads the object identifiers from "ID0001", which corresponds to the first item in the delivery order information shown in Figure 3, up to the object identifier corresponding to the 20th item, reverses the order, and generates loading order information shown in Figure 4, which associates the loading order from the 1st to the 20th item with each object identifier, and stores it in the storage unit 11 (step S102). The loading order acquisition unit 13 may also delete the object identifier used to acquire the loading order information from the delivery order information.

[0048] Subsequently, as shown in Figure 5, the user photographs the delivery items 3 stacked in the warehouse using the loading sequence output device 1. Since it is difficult to photograph all delivery items 3 at once, the user photographs the delivery items 3 by panning the loading sequence output device 1 left and right and tilting it up and down. A color code 5 is attached to the front side of the delivery items 3, i.e., the side the user is photographing, so when the delivery items 3 are photographed, an image of code 5 is acquired. The photography is performed at a predetermined frame rate.

[0049] When it is time to acquire a captured image, the image acquisition unit 15 acquires the captured image and passes it to the output unit 16 (steps S103, S104). Upon receiving the captured image, the output unit 16 displays the captured image on the touch panel (step S105). Upon receiving the captured image, the output unit 16 recognizes the position of each code contained in the captured image and acquires the information indicated by the code, i.e., the code identifier obtained by reading the code, thereby obtaining a pair of the code position in the captured image and the code identifier. Subsequently, the output unit 16 determines whether each object identifier (i.e., each code identifier) ​​indicated by the loading order information is included in the acquired code identifier. If it is included, the output unit 16 places an image indicating the loading order, which is associated with that code identifier by the loading order information, at the position of the code identified by that code identifier, and generates and displays an image by combining the captured image and the image indicating the loading order (steps S106, S107). As a result, as shown in Figure 6, the loading order "1," "2," "3," etc., will be displayed at the location of the code of the items to be delivered. The user can then load the items onto the delivery vehicle, such as a truck, in the order of loading order "1" according to this display. By loading the items according to the loading order in this way, when the vehicle moves to the delivery destination, the items to be unloaded at the destination will be positioned closer to the driver, allowing for quicker unloading and resulting in more efficient delivery.

[0050] For example, in Figure 6, it is not possible to determine which item is the fourth item to be loaded. Therefore, the user may search for the fourth item to be loaded by changing the shooting direction of the loading order output device 1 in the vertical or horizontal direction.

[0051] Furthermore, while Figure 6 shows the case where all loading sequences indicated by the loading sequence information are displayed, this is not required. For example, if the loading sequences are displayed in groups of five, the loading sequences from the first to the fifth may be displayed, as shown in Figure 7. After the loading of the first five sequences is complete, if the user inputs an instruction to perform the next output, this instruction may be received by the reception unit 14 and passed to the output unit 16. Upon receiving this instruction, the output unit 16 may display the loading sequences from the sixth to the tenth.

[0052] As described above, the loading order output device 1 according to this embodiment can display the loading order, which is the reverse of the delivery order, at the position of the delivery item's code in the captured image of the delivery item. Therefore, by loading the delivery items onto a delivery means such as a truck according to the loading order, the delivery items can be unloaded from the delivery means in a short time at the delivery destination, thereby achieving efficient delivery. Furthermore, by acquiring loading order information according to the number acquired by the quantity acquisition unit 12, it is possible to acquire appropriate loading order information even when multiple loading order information can be acquired from one delivery order information.

[0053] In this embodiment, the case in which loading order information is acquired according to the number acquired by the quantity acquisition unit 12 has been mainly described, but this is not required. For example, if one loading order information is acquired from one delivery order information, the acquisition of loading order information according to the number acquired by the quantity acquisition unit 12 is not required. In this case, the loading order output device 1 does not need to be equipped with the quantity acquisition unit 12.

[0054] Furthermore, although the above embodiment mainly described the case where the loading sequence output device 1 is a standalone device, as mentioned above, the loading sequence output device 1 may be a standalone device or a server device in a server-client system. In the latter case, the receiving unit and output unit may receive input and output information via a communication line.

[0055] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, each process or function may be implemented by centralized processing by a single device or a single system, or by distributed processing by multiple devices or multiple systems.

[0056] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the exchange of information between each component may, for example, be performed by outputting information from one component and receiving information from the other component if the two components performing the information exchange are physically different, or by moving from the processing phase corresponding to one component to the processing phase corresponding to the other component if the two components performing the information exchange are physically the same.

[0057] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, information related to the processing performed by each component, such as information received, acquired, selected, generated, transmitted, or received by each component, as well as information such as thresholds, formulas, and addresses used by each component in processing, may be temporarily or for a long period of time stored in a recording medium (not shown), even if not explicitly stated in the above description. The storage of information in the recording medium (not shown) may be performed by each component or a storage unit (not shown). The reading of information from the recording medium (not shown) may be performed by each component or a reading unit (not shown).

[0058] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, if the information used in each component, such as thresholds, addresses, and various setting values ​​used by each component in processing, can be changed by the user, then even if not explicitly stated in the above description, the user may be allowed to change such information as appropriate, or not. If the user can change such information, the change may be implemented, for example, by a receiving unit (not shown) that receives change instructions from the user and a changing unit (not shown) that changes the information in response to those change instructions. The receiving unit (not shown) may receive change instructions from an input device, receive information transmitted via a communication line, or receive information read from a predetermined recording medium.

[0059] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, if two or more components included in the loading sequential output device 1 have communication devices, input devices, etc., the two or more components may have a single physical device or they may have separate devices.

[0060] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, each component may be made up of dedicated hardware, or, if it is a component that can be realized by software, it may be realized by executing a program. For example, each component can be realized by a program execution unit such as a CPU reading and executing a software program recorded on a recording medium such as a hard disk or semiconductor memory. During execution, the program execution unit may execute the program while accessing the storage unit or recording medium. The software that realizes the loading order output device 1 in the above embodiment is as follows. In other words, this program is a program that causes a computer that can access a storage unit that stores delivery order information indicating the delivery order of multiple delivery items to function as a loading order acquisition unit that acquires loading order information indicating the loading order when loading delivery items onto a delivery means using the delivery order information, an image acquisition unit that acquires captured images of multiple delivery items to which codes have been assigned, and an output unit that outputs captured images and, when a code identified by a code identifier corresponding to a delivery item whose loading order is indicated by the loading order information is included in the captured image, outputs an image that displays the loading order corresponding to the code at the position of the code in the captured image.

[0061] Furthermore, the functions implemented by the above program do not include any functions that can only be implemented by hardware. For example, functions that can only be implemented by hardware such as modems and interface cards in the receiving unit that receives information, the acquiring unit that obtains information, and the output unit that outputs information are not included in the functions implemented by the above program.

[0062] Furthermore, this program may be executed by being downloaded from a server or the like, or by being read from a predetermined recording medium (for example, an optical disc such as a CD-ROM, a magnetic disc, or a semiconductor memory). This program may also be used as a program constituting a program product.

[0063] Furthermore, the computer running this program may be a single computer or multiple computers. That is, it may perform centralized processing or distributed processing.

[0064] Figure 8 shows an example of a computer system 900 that executes the above program to realize the loading sequence output device 1 according to the above embodiment. The above embodiment can be realized by computer hardware and a computer program executed thereon.

[0065] In Figure 8, the computer system 900 includes an MPU (Micro Processing Unit) 911, a ROM 912 such as flash memory that stores programs such as boot-up programs, application programs, system programs, and data, a RAM 913 connected to the MPU 911 that temporarily stores instructions for application programs and provides temporary storage space, a touch panel 914, a wireless communication module 915, and a bus 916 that interconnects the MPU 911, ROM 912, etc. A wired communication module may be provided instead of the wireless communication module 915. Furthermore, a display and input devices such as a mouse or keyboard may be provided instead of the touch panel 914.

[0066] The program that causes the computer system 900 to execute the functions of the loading sequential output device 1 according to the above embodiment may be stored in the ROM 912 via the wireless communication module 915. The program is loaded into the RAM 913 when executed. The program may also be loaded directly from the network.

[0067] The program does not necessarily include an operating system (OS) or third-party program that causes the computer system 900 to execute the functions of the loading sequential output device 1 according to the above embodiment. The program may include only the instruction portion that calls appropriate functions or modules in a controlled manner to obtain the desired result. How the computer system 900 operates is well known, and a detailed explanation is omitted.

[0068] Furthermore, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications are possible, all of which are also included within the scope of the present invention. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0069] 1. Loading sequence output device 11 Storage section 12. Quantity acquisition unit 13 Loading Order Acquisition Unit 14 Reception Department 15 Image acquisition unit 16 Output section

Claims

1. A storage unit that stores delivery order information indicating the delivery order of multiple items to be delivered, A quantity acquisition unit that acquires the number of items to be delivered that can be loaded onto the delivery vehicle, A loading order acquisition unit acquires loading order information indicating the loading order when loading the delivery objects into the delivery means, for the number of delivery objects acquired by the quantity acquisition unit, among the delivery objects whose delivery order is indicated by the delivery order information, using the delivery order information. An image acquisition unit that acquires images of multiple delivery targets assigned codes, A loading order output device comprising: an output unit that outputs the aforementioned captured image, and, if the captured image contains a code identified by a code identifier corresponding to a delivery object whose loading order is indicated by the loading order information, outputs an image displaying the loading order corresponding to the code at the position of the code in the captured image.

2. The loading order output device according to claim 1, wherein the output unit outputs an image that displays all loading orders indicated by the loading order information at the position of the code corresponding to the loading order.

3. The loading order output device according to claim 1, wherein the output unit outputs an image in which a predetermined number of loading orders from all loading orders indicated by the loading order information are displayed at the position of the code corresponding to the loading order.

4. A loading order output method that processes using a storage unit that stores delivery order information indicating the delivery order of multiple delivery items, a quantity acquisition unit, a loading order acquisition unit, an image acquisition unit, and an output unit, The aforementioned quantity acquisition unit acquires the number of items to be delivered that can be loaded onto the delivery means, The loading order acquisition unit performs the following steps: For the number of items to be delivered, whose delivery order is indicated by the delivery order information, the loading order information is used to acquire loading order information indicating the loading order when loading the items to be delivered into the delivery means, using the delivery order information. The image acquisition unit performs the step of acquiring images of multiple delivery targets to which codes have been assigned, A loading order output method comprising the steps of: outputting the captured image, and if the captured image contains a code identified by a code identifier corresponding to a delivery object whose loading order is indicated by the loading order information, outputting an image displaying the loading order corresponding to the code at the position of the code in the captured image.

5. A computer that can access a memory unit that stores delivery order information indicating the delivery order of multiple items to be delivered, A unit for obtaining the number of items to be delivered that can be loaded onto a delivery vehicle. A loading order acquisition unit acquires loading order information indicating the loading order when loading the objects to be delivered into the delivery means, for the number of objects to be delivered obtained by the quantity acquisition unit, among the objects to be delivered whose delivery order is indicated by the delivery order information. Image acquisition unit that acquires images of multiple delivery targets assigned codes. A program that outputs the aforementioned captured image and, if the captured image contains a code identified by a code identifier corresponding to a delivery object whose loading order is indicated by the loading order information, outputs an image at the position of the code in the captured image that displays the loading order corresponding to that code.

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