Delivery support device

Abstract

To provide a delivery support apparatus configured to reduce the possibility of redelivery of a package.SOLUTION: A delivery support apparatus 30 includes a first database 41 formed by registering daily schedules of customers, and a second database 42 formed by registering schedules of delivery vehicles for delivering packages. A control apparatus 32 of the delivery support apparatus 30 executes setting a delivery place and delivery time and date on the basis of a daily schedule of a customer and a schedule of a delivery vehicle for delivering packages, and proposing the delivery place and the delivery time and date to the customer.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a delivery support device.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a delivery item notification system that notifies a customer of a desired date and time for redelivery of a specified package based on the schedule of the customer who receives the delivery service.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] When the customer is a customer who is often out, there is a possibility that the customer will be absent again even if the delivery person goes to the customer's home at the date and time specified by the above system.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] A delivery support device for solving the above problems is a device that supports the delivery of packages to customers who receive a package delivery service using a delivery vehicle. The delivery support device includes a first database in which the daily schedule of the customer is registered, a second database in which the delivery schedule of the packages of the delivery vehicle is registered, and a control device. The control device sets a delivery location and a delivery date and time at which the delivery vehicle delivers the package to the customer based on the daily schedule of the customer and the delivery schedule of the packages of the delivery vehicle, and proposes the delivery location and the delivery date and time to the customer.

Effects of the Invention

[0006] The above-mentioned delivery support device has the effect of reducing the likelihood of packages needing to be redelivered. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0007] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of the delivery support device according to the embodiment and the information terminal owned by the customer receiving the delivery service. [Figure 2] Figure 2 shows an example of the information registered in the first database of the delivery support device shown in Figure 1. [Figure 3] Figure 3 shows an example of the information registered in the second database of the delivery support device shown in Figure 1. [Figure 4] Figure 4 shows an example of the information registered in the third database of the delivery support device shown in Figure 1. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a sequence diagram showing the process flow when proposing the delivery location and date / time of a package to the customer. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is a flowchart showing a series of processes performed by the control device included in the delivery support device shown in Figure 1. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0008] An embodiment of the delivery support device will be described below with reference to Figures 1 to 6. Figure 1 illustrates a delivery support device 30 and multiple information terminals 10. The information terminals 10 are electronic devices owned by customers receiving delivery services using delivery vehicles. The information terminals 10 can send and receive various types of information with the delivery support device 30 via a communication network 100. Examples of information terminals 10 include smartphones, tablet devices, and personal computers.

[0009] <Information Terminal> The information terminal 10 comprises a user interface 11 and a processing circuit 15. The user interface 11 has a display screen and an operation unit. An example of the processing circuit 15 is an electronic control unit. When the operation unit is operated by the user, the processing circuit 15 executes processing corresponding to that operation. The processing circuit 15 then transmits information indicating the result of the execution of the processing to the delivery support device 30 via the communication network 100. Furthermore, when the information terminal 10 receives information from the delivery support device 30 via the communication network 100, the processing circuit 15 displays the received information on the display screen of the user interface 11.

[0010] <Delivery support device> The delivery support device 30 includes a communication device 31, a control device 32, a first database 41, a second database 42, and a third database 43.

[0011] The communication device 31 is an interface for the delivery support device 30 to send and receive information with external communication devices via the communication network 100. The communication device 31 outputs the information received via the communication network 100 to the control device 32. The communication device 31 transmits the information output by the control device 32 to the information terminal 10 via the communication network 100.

[0012] An example of a control device 32 is an electronic control device. In this case, the control device 32 has a CPU 33 and a memory 34. The memory 34 stores a control program executed by the CPU 33. When the CPU 33 executes the control program in the memory 34, the control device 32 sets the delivery location and delivery date and time for delivering the package to the customer by the delivery vehicle. The control device 32 then proposes the set delivery location and delivery date and time to the customer. The specific details of this series of processes will be described later.

[0013] <First Database> Referring to FIG. 2, the information registered in the first database 41 will be described. In the first database 41, the daily schedules SCA of a plurality of customers are registered. Hereinafter, the daily schedule SCA of a customer will be referred to as the "daily schedule SCA".

[0014] FIG. 2 illustrates the daily schedule SCA1 of a certain day of the first customer among a plurality of customers. In the example shown in FIG. 2, the daily schedule SCA1 is as follows.

[0015] · The first customer is at home until around 7 o'clock, for example. · The first customer leaves home at around 7 o'clock and arrives at the company at around 8 o'clock, for example. At this time, the first customer goes from home to "AA Station", and takes a train at "AA Station". Then, the first customer gets off the train at "BB Station" and goes from "BB Station" to the company.

[0016] · The first customer works at the company from around 8 o'clock to around 17 o'clock, for example. · The first customer leaves the company at around 17 o'clock and returns home at around 18 o'clock, for example. At this time, the first customer goes from the company to "BB Station" and takes a train at "BB Station". Then, the first customer gets off the train at "AA Station" and goes from "AA Station" to home.

[0017] In the first database 41, the daily schedule SCA1 for each day within a certain period is registered for each customer. Note that the schedule SCA1 as shown in FIG. 2 is registered in the first database 41 by the customer operating their own information terminal 10.

[0018] <Second Database> Referring to FIG. 3, the information registered in the second database 42 will be described. In the second database 42, the delivery schedules SCB of the goods of a plurality of delivery vehicles are registered.

[0019] Figure 3 illustrates a typical delivery schedule (SCB1) for one day of delivery vehicle number 1 among several delivery vehicles. In the example shown in Figure 3, the delivery schedule (SCB1) is as follows:

[0020] The first delivery vehicle departs the delivery center, for example, around 9:00 AM, and arrives at "near AA Town, BB City" around 10:00 AM. The first delivery vehicle departs from "near AA town, BB city" around 11:00 AM and arrives at "near CA town, BB city" around 12:00 PM.

[0021] The first delivery vehicle departs from, for example, "near CA town, BB city" around 13:00 and arrives at, for example, "near DD town, AA city" around 14:00. • The first delivery vehicle departs from "near DD town, AA city" around 3 PM, for example, and arrives at "near CA town, CB city" around 4 PM.

[0022] • The first delivery vehicle departs from, for example, "near CA town, CB city" around 5 PM and returns to the delivery center around 6 PM. The second database 42 contains the delivery schedule SCB1 for each delivery vehicle for each day within a certain period.

[0023] <Third Database> Referring to Figure 4, the information registered in the third database 43 will be explained. The third database 43 registers candidate locations H for handing over packages to customers for each customer.

[0024] Figure 4 illustrates an example of a candidate location H for handing over the package to the first customer. In the example shown in Figure 4, the registered candidates H are the first customer's home, the company where the first customer works, and shops H1 and H2. Shop H1 is a shop near "AA Station". Shop H2 is a shop near "BB Station".

[0025] <Process flow for proposing delivery location and date / time to the customer> Referring to Figure 5, the process flow for proposing a delivery location and date / time to a customer will be explained. Here, the case of proposing a delivery location and date / time to the first customer C1 will be explained as an example.

[0026] In step S101, the control device 32 of the delivery support device 30 retrieves the daily schedule SCA of the first customer C1 from the first database 41. At this time, the control device 32 retrieves the daily schedule SCA for all days that the first customer C1 has registered in the first database 41.

[0027] In the subsequent step S103, the control device 32 obtains the delivery schedule SCB for the delivery vehicle from the second database 42. At this time, the control device 32 obtains the delivery schedule SCB for multiple days.

[0028] In the next step S105, the control device 32 retrieves multiple candidate H registered in the third database 43. Then, in step S107, the control device 32 sets the delivery location and delivery date and time based on the acquired schedule SCA1, delivery schedule SCB, and multiple candidate H. Details of the process for setting the delivery location and delivery date and time will be described later.

[0029] In the next step S109, the communication device 31 of the delivery support device 30 transmits information regarding the delivery location and delivery date and time set by the control device 32 in step S107 to the information terminal 10 of the first customer C1.

[0030] When the information terminal 10 receives the information, the processing circuit 15 of the information terminal 10 executes the process of step S201. In step S201, the processing circuit 15 executes a notification process to inform the first customer C1 of the delivery location and delivery date and time included in the information received from the delivery support device 30. For example, in the notification process, the processing circuit 15 displays the delivery location and delivery date and time on the display screen of the user interface 11.

[0031] <Setting delivery location and delivery date / time> Referring to Figure 6, an example of the delivery location and delivery date / time setting process performed by the control device 32 of the delivery support device 30 will be explained. Hereafter, the delivery location and delivery date / time setting process will be simply referred to as the "setting process".

[0032] In step S10, the control device 32 determines whether the predetermined conditions for the package are met. The predetermined conditions for the package are those conditions under which it is best to set the home as the delivery location. For example, the control device 32 determines whether the predetermined conditions for the package are met based on the size and weight of the package. In this case, the control device 32 may determine that the predetermined conditions for the package are met if at least one of the following two conditions (A1) and (A2) is met. On the other hand, the control device 32 may determine that the predetermined conditions are not met if neither of the two conditions (A1) and (A2) is met.

[0033] (A1) The size of the package must be equal to or greater than the size threshold. (A2) The weight of the luggage must be equal to or greater than the weight threshold. When a customer receives a package at a location other than their home, such as a company, they will need to carry the package home. If the package is relatively large or heavy, it can be difficult for the customer to carry it home. Therefore, a size threshold is set for packages that are deemed too large to carry. Similarly, a weight threshold is set for packages that are deemed too heavy to carry.

[0034] If the control device 32 determines that the predetermined conditions for the package are met (S10: YES), it proceeds to step S25. On the other hand, if the control device 32 determines that the predetermined conditions for the package are not met (S10: NO), it proceeds to step S11.

[0035] In step S11, the control device 32 obtains the number of candidate delivery locations Nth. In the example shown in Figure 4, the number of candidates Nth is 4. In the next step S13, the control device 32 sets the coefficient N to 1. Then, the control device 32 moves the process to step S15.

[0036] In step S15, the control device 32 sets the Nth candidate H(N) out of the Nth candidates H as a temporary delivery location. In the following step S17, the control device 32 predicts the date and time when the package can be delivered to the first customer C1 at the temporary delivery location. The predicted delivery date and time is called the "predicted delivery date and time". For example, based on the first customer C1's daily schedule SCA, the control device 32 extracts a first date and time, which is the date and time when the first customer C1 can go to the temporary delivery location. Based on the delivery schedule SCB, the control device 32 extracts a second date and time, which is the date and time when the first delivery vehicle can go to the temporary delivery location. Based on the first and second dates and times, the control device 32 searches for a date and time when both the first customer C1 and the first delivery vehicle can go to the temporary delivery location. Then, the control device 32 sets the date and time closest to the current date and time among the searched dates and times as the predicted delivery date and time.

[0037] In the next step S19, the control device 32 updates the coefficient N so that it is one unit larger. In step S21, the control device 32 determines whether the updated coefficient N is greater than the number of candidates Nth. If the coefficient N is greater than the number of candidates Nth (S21: YES), the control device 32 proceeds to step S23. On the other hand, if the coefficient N is less than or equal to the number of candidates Nth (S21: NO), the control device 32 proceeds to step S15. In other words, the control device 32 repeatedly executes the processes from step S15 to step S21 until the predicted delivery date and time settings for all candidates H are completed.

[0038] In step S23, the control device 32 determines whether the predicted delivery date and time, when the home is set as the temporary delivery location, is later than the predetermined date and time. The predetermined date and time is the date and time a predetermined number of days have elapsed from the current date and time. The predetermined number of days is the number of days that the customer can set. Therefore, the predetermined date and time can be said to be the date and time set by the customer.

[0039] If the control device 32 determines that the predicted delivery date and time when the home is set as a temporary delivery location is later than the predetermined date and time (S23: YES), it proceeds to step S29. On the other hand, if the control device 32 determines that the predicted delivery date and time when the home is set as a temporary delivery location is not later than the predetermined date and time (S23: NO), it proceeds to step S25.

[0040] In step S25, the control device 32 selects the home as the delivery location. In the next step S27, the control device 32 sets the predicted delivery date and time, assuming the home is set as the delivery location, as the delivery date and time. After that, the control device 32 terminates the setting process.

[0041] In step S29, the control device 32 selects candidate H as the delivery location from among several candidate H, which has the earliest delivery date and time. In this case, the control device may select a location other than the home as the delivery location. In the next step S31, the control device 32 sets the predicted delivery date and time of the delivery location selected in step S29 as the delivery date and time. After that, the control device 32 finishes the setting process.

[0042] <Operation and Effects of This Embodiment> (1) The control device 32 of the delivery support device 30 sets the delivery location and delivery date and time based on the customer's daily schedule SCA and the delivery vehicle's delivery schedule SCB. In other words, the delivery location and delivery date and time are set considering the convenience of both the customer and the delivery vehicle. When the delivery vehicle goes to the delivery location at this delivery date and time, the delivery person using the delivery vehicle can hand over the package to the customer at that location. Therefore, the delivery support device 30 can reduce the possibility of redelivery of the package.

[0043] (2) The third database 43 has registered several candidate locations H, including the customer's home, as places to hand over packages to the customer. The control device 32 selects one of the candidate locations H as the delivery location, taking into consideration the convenience of both the customer and the delivery vehicle.

[0044] Now, let's consider the case where the delivery support device does not have a third database 43. In this case, the control unit of the delivery support device needs to search for candidate delivery locations based on the delivery vehicle's delivery plan and the customer's action plan. In other words, the processing load on the control unit increases when it sets the delivery locations.

[0045] In this regard, the delivery support device 30 is equipped with a third database 43. Therefore, the control device 32 does not need to search for multiple candidates. Consequently, the delivery support device 30 can set the delivery location and delivery date and time while suppressing an increase in the processing load of the control device 32.

[0046] (3) If the delivery support device 30 determines that it can deliver the package to the customer within a predetermined number of days, assuming that the package will be delivered to the customer's home, it sets the customer's home as the delivery location. On the other hand, if the delivery support device 30 determines that it cannot deliver the package to the customer within a predetermined number of days, assuming that the package will be delivered to the customer's home, it sets a location other than the customer's home as the delivery location. In other words, if the control device 32 determines that it cannot complete the delivery of the package by the date and time requested by the customer if the customer's home is set as the delivery location, it sets the candidate that can complete the delivery of the package the fastest among multiple candidate locations H as the delivery location. This prevents the delivery support device 30 from taking too many days to deliver the package to the customer.

[0047] (4) When a package is handed over to a customer at a location other than their home, the customer takes the package home. In this case, if the package is large or heavy, the burden on the customer when returning home will be too great. In this regard, the control device 32 of the delivery support device 30 sets the customer's home as the delivery location if it determines that the package is too large or too heavy. This allows the delivery support device 30 to prevent the burden on the customer when returning home from becoming too great.

[0048] <Example of changes> The above embodiment can be implemented with the following modifications. The above embodiment and the following modifications can be combined with each other to the extent that they do not contradict each other technically.

[0049] The control device 32 may determine that the predetermined conditions for the package shown in Figure 6 have been met if the package is refrigerated or frozen. In the setting process shown in Figure 6, the determination in step S10 may be omitted.

[0050] The designated date and time do not need to be changeable by the customer. It is not mandatory for the delivery support device to have a third database 43. The control device 32 is not limited to one that includes a CPU and ROM and executes software processing. In other words, the control device 32 may have any of the following configurations: (a), (b), and (c).

[0051] (a) The control device 32 includes one or more processors that perform various processes according to a computer program. The processors include a CPU and memory such as RAM and ROM. The memory stores program code or instructions configured to cause the CPU to perform processes. The memory, i.e., computer-readable media, includes any available media that can be accessed by a general-purpose or dedicated computer.

[0052] (b) The control device 32 includes one or more dedicated hardware circuits that perform various processes. Examples of dedicated hardware circuits include application-specific integrated circuits, i.e., ASICs or FPGAs. ASIC is an abbreviation for "Application Specific Integrated Circuit," and FPGA is an abbreviation for "Field Programmable Gate Array."

[0053] (c) The control device 32 includes a processor that executes a portion of the various processes according to a computer program, and a dedicated hardware circuit that executes the remaining processes among the various processes.

[0054] In this specification, the expression "at least one" means "one or more" of the desired options. For example, if there are two options, the expression "at least one" means "only one option" or "both of the two options." As another example, if there are three or more options, the expression "at least one" means "only one option" or "a combination of two or more arbitrary options." [Explanation of symbols]

[0055] 10... Information terminal, 30... Delivery support device, 32... Control device, 33... CPU, 34... Memory, 41... First database, 42... Second database, 43... Third database, 100... Communication network.

Claims

1. A delivery support device that assists in the delivery of packages to customers who use a delivery vehicle for package delivery services, A first database in which the customer's daily schedule is registered, A second database in which the delivery schedules for the aforementioned delivery vehicles are registered, A control device is provided, The control device is Based on the customer's daily schedule and the delivery schedule of the delivery vehicle, the delivery location and date / time for the delivery vehicle to deliver the package to the customer are set. To propose the delivery location and delivery date and time to the customer, and to carry out the following: When setting the delivery location and delivery date and time, Assuming that the customer's home is set as the delivery location, if the delivery date and time falls before the current date and time, the customer's home is set as the delivery location, and the delivery date and time is set to the date and time at which the delivery vehicle can reach that delivery location. Assuming that the customer's home is set as the delivery location, if the delivery date and time falls after the predetermined date and time, a location other than the customer's home is set as the delivery location, and the delivery date and time is set to a date and time when the delivery vehicle can reach that location. Delivery support device.

2. The aforementioned predetermined date and time is the date and time set by the customer. The delivery support device according to claim 1.

3. When the control device sets the delivery location and delivery date and time, it sets the delivery location and delivery date and time based on the customer's daily schedule, the delivery schedule of the delivery vehicle, and the size and weight of the package. A delivery support device according to claim 1 or claim 2.

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