Ordering system and ordering method

Abstract

An order reception unit receives an input of order information of work related to construction from an orderer. A price reception unit receives an input of a received order price of work related to the order information from an operator. An operator identification unit determines whether or not it is possible to dispatch, to the operator, the order of the work related to the order information. A determination unit determines an operator to whom the order is to be dispatched on the basis of a received order price received from the operator to whom it has been determined that it is possible to dispatch the order.

Description

Ordering system and ordering method

[0001] This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2024-050261, filed on March 26, 2024, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a work selection system that allows an operator to select a desired work and a remote control device for performing the work using an information terminal.

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2022-179729

[0004] The amount of compensation for work is determined by the client. The amount of compensation determined by the client may not necessarily be commensurate with the demands of the contractor (operator). The purpose of this disclosure is to provide an ordering system and ordering method that can order work while satisfying the needs of both the client and the operator.

[0005] According to one aspect of the present invention, the ordering system includes an order receiving unit that receives input of order information for construction work from a client, an amount receiving unit that receives input of an order amount for the work related to the order information from an operator, an operator identification unit that determines whether or not the operator can be ordered to perform the work related to the order information, and a determination unit that determines an operator to order the work based on the order amount received from the operator that has been determined to be able to place an order.

[0006] According to the above aspect, the ordering system can order work while satisfying the needs of both the orderer and the operator.

[0007] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of an order system according to a first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an order management device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a controller management device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a flowchart (part 1) showing an order management method by the order management device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is a flowchart (part 2) showing an order management method by the order management device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a dashboard screen for an operator according to the first embodiment. FIG. 7 is a schematic block diagram showing the configuration of a computer according to at least one embodiment.

[0008] <First Embodiment> <Configuration of Ordering System> Hereinafter, the embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of an ordering system 1 according to a first embodiment. The ordering system 1 includes an orderer terminal 100, an operator terminal 200, an order management device 300, a work machine 400, a remote control station 500, and a controller management device 600. The ordering system 1 is a system for supporting a contract for construction work between an orderer and an operator. The orderer terminal 100, the operator terminal 200, the order management device 300, the work machine 400, the remote control station 500, and the controller management device 600 are connected to each other via a network NW so as to be able to communicate with each other. The network NW may be, for example, the Internet.

[0009] The orderer terminal 100 is a terminal operated by the orderer. The orderer terminal 100 accesses the order management device 300 via the network NW. The orderer accesses the order management device 300 via the orderer terminal 100 and registers order information related to construction work in the order management device 300. The order information includes, for example, the site address, work content, required skill level, construction machine 400 to be used for the work, work period, bidding deadline, maximum bid price, and buy-it-now price. The orderer terminal 100 may be a PC, smartphone, tablet terminal, etc.

[0010] The operator terminal 200 is a terminal operated by an operator, who is a contractor. The operator terminal 200 accesses the order management device 300 via the network NW. The operator accesses the order management device 300 via the operator terminal 200 to check order information. The operator registers order information, including the amount of payment, for work that can be accepted in the order management device 300. A push notification of the order information may also be sent from the order management device 300 to the operator terminal 200. The operator can select work that can be accepted based on the order information notified from the order management device 300 and register the order information, including the amount of payment, in the order management device 300. The operator can arbitrarily set notification settings for the order information. The operator terminal 200 may be a PC, smartphone, tablet terminal, or the like.

[0011] The order management device 300 determines an operator to whom to order the work, based on order information related to the construction work registered by the client and order information registered by the operator.

[0012] The work machine 400 is a machine used to carry out construction work. Examples of the work machine 400 include a hydraulic excavator, a bulldozer, a wheel loader, a dump truck, a motor grader, and a forklift. For example, the work machine 400 may be a compaction machine or a forestry machine. A portion of the work machine 400 may be remotely operated using a remote controller 510. The work machine 400 is placed at the construction site by the client. The work machine 400 is connected to the network NW via an access point AP installed at the work site. The work machine 400 may also be directly connected to the network NW.

[0013] The remote operation station 500 is a facility where a remote controller 510 is installed. The remote controller 510 is a device for operating the work machine 400 related to remote operation. A plurality of remote controllers 510 may be installed in one remote operation station 500. The remote operation station 500 is installed in various regions. The remote operation station 500 may be installed at a location away from the construction site.

[0014] The controller management device 600 associates the remote controller 510 provided in the remote operation station 500 with the work machine 400. The controller management device 600 also manages the usage schedule of the remote controller 510. The controller management device 600 accesses the remote controller 510 and the work machine 400 via the network NW.

[0015] 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the order management device 300 according to the first embodiment. The order management device 300 includes a job database 301, an operator registration unit 302, a skill estimation unit 303, an order reception unit 304, a facility information acquisition unit 305, an operator identification unit 306, a notification unit 307, a bid reception unit 308, and a determination unit 309.

[0016] The project database 301 has an operator table T31, an order information table T32, a bid information table T33, and a confirmation table T34.

[0017] The operator table T31 stores information about operators. The operator table T31 stores an operator ID, authentication information, the operator's name, a contact method, and a skill level for each type of work, in association with each other. The authentication information is data used to log in to the ordering system 1. An example of the authentication information is a password. The contact method may be, for example, an email address or a telephone number. Skill levels are set for, for example, excavation and loading, flat ground forming, and slope forming. Skill levels may be expressed in five levels, for example, A, B, C, D, and E, from highest to lowest. Furthermore, the skill level is not limited to five levels and may be expressed as a number. When the skill level is expressed as a number, the skill level may be a continuous value. In other words, the method of expressing the skill level is arbitrary. The operator table T31 may also store an operator ID in association with a facility ID, which is the ID of an accessible remote operation station 500 (accessible facility).

[0018] The order information table T32 is a table that stores order information from the orderer received from the orderer terminal 100 via the network NW. The order information table T32 stores, in association with each other, the case ID, the site address, the work content, the required skill level, the machine ID which is the ID of the work machine 400 used for the work, the work period, the bidding deadline, the maximum bidding price, and the buyout price. The bidding deadline is the date and time of the deadline for determining the contractor. The determination unit 309 determines the operator to be the contractor from among the operators who submitted bids by the bidding deadline. The maximum bidding price is the maximum price related to the order. If the order amounts related to all bids are higher than the maximum bidding price, the determination unit 309 will not place an order with any operator. The buyout price is the minimum price at which the order is confirmed. If the order amount related to a bid is equal to or lower than the buyout price, the determination unit 309 determines the operator related to the bid as the contractor without waiting for the bidding deadline to expire. For example, the determination unit 309 may determine the supplier to be the operator offering the lowest price by having multiple operators submit bids by the bidding deadline and competing over prices.

[0019] The bidding information table T33 is a table for storing bidding information from operators received from the purchaser terminal 100 via the network NW. The bidding information is information indicating the amount of compensation (order amount) requested by the operator when accepting an order for work related to the project information. The bidding information table T33 stores the project ID, operator ID, order amount, and facility ID of the remote control station 500 to be used in association with each other. The bidding information is an example of order information.

[0020] The confirmation table T34 is a table for storing information related to work cases for which orders have been confirmed. The confirmation table T34 stores a case ID, an operator ID, an order amount, and a controller ID, which is the ID of the remote controller 510, in association with each other.

[0021] The operator registration unit 302 receives operator information from the operator terminal 200 via the network NW and records the received information in the operator table T31 of the project database 301. The skill estimation unit 303 estimates the skill level of the operator based on the operation history of the remote controller 510 and the operation history of the work machine 400 by the operator, which are stored in the operator table T31, and the results of training conducted separately. The skill estimation unit 303 records the estimated skill level in the operator table T31. The skill estimation unit 303 may also receive input of an operator evaluation from the client and estimate the skill level by taking this evaluation into consideration. For example, the operator evaluation may be based on the performance of the construction work, etc.

[0022] The order receiving unit 304 receives order information from the orderer terminal 100 via the network NW and records the received order information in the order information table T32 of the project database 301. The facility information acquiring unit 305 acquires a list of remote operation stations 500 available for work related to the order information from the controller management device 600 via the network NW. The operator identifying unit 306 determines whether any of the operators stored in the bid information table T33 is available to place an order for work related to the order information. In addition, an operator who has subsequently become unable to perform work related to the order information may be identified.

[0023] The notification unit 307 notifies the operator of information related to the order of work. When new order information is registered in the order information table T32, the notification unit 307 notifies the operator terminal 200 of the order information of the work related to the order information. When the remote controller 510 that the operator can access is reserved and the operator is subsequently unable to accept orders, the notification unit 307 notifies the operator that the order is no longer available. When the remote controller 510 that the operator planned to use is reserved and it becomes necessary to change the remote controller 510 to be used, the notification unit 307 notifies the operator of an inquiry as to whether the change is possible.

[0024] The bid receiving unit 308 receives bid information from the operator terminal 200 via the network NW and records the received bid information in a bid information table T33 in the project database 301. The bid receiving unit 308 is an example of a price receiving unit. The determination unit 309 determines an operator to whom to place an order for work related to the order information, based on the order price included in the bid information. The determination unit 309 records the determined information in a confirmation table T34.

[0025] 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the controller management device 600 according to the first embodiment. The controller management device 600 includes a controller database 601, a schedule management unit 602, and a collaboration unit 603.

[0026] The controller database 601 stores information related to the remote controllers 510. The controller database 601 has a master table T61 and a schedule table T62. The master table T61 stores the controller ID of the remote controller 510, the facility ID of the remote operation station 500 in which the remote controller 510 is installed, and version information of the remote controller 510, in association with each other. The schedule table T62 stores the usage schedule of each remote controller 510. In other words, the schedule table T62 stores the controller ID of the remote controller 510, the machine ID of the work machine 400 to be operated by the remote controller 510, and the period of connection to the work machine 400, in association with each other.

[0027] In response to a request from the order management device 300, the schedule management unit 602 outputs information about the remote controllers 510 available for work to the order management device 300 via the network NW. In addition, the schedule management unit 602 updates the usage schedule of the remote controllers 510 based on a request from the order management device 300.

[0028] The linking unit 603 links the remote controller 510 and the work machine 400 based on the schedule table T62. While the work machine 400 is working, the remote controller 510 and the work machine 400 may communicate via the linking unit 603, or after the linking process by the linking unit 603, the remote controller 510 and the work machine 400 may communicate directly.

[0029] <<Operator Registration Process>> The operator accesses the order management device 300 using the operator terminal 200. The operator registration unit 302 of the order management device 300 displays an operator registration screen on the operator terminal 200. The operator registration screen includes an operator ID, authentication information, the operator's name, and contact information. The operator registration unit 302 may set the initial value of the operator's skill level to the self-reported value of the operator. The operator registration unit 302 may also record E rank as the initial value of the operator's skill level. Thereafter, the operator can log in to the order management device 300 using the registered operator ID and authentication information.

[0030] <<Skill Level Update>> The skill level of the operator is updated by operating the work machine 400 using the remote control station 500. Specifically, the skill estimation unit 303 estimates the skill level of the operator based on log data collected from the remote control station 500 and the work machine 400.

[0031] For example, the skill estimation unit 303 estimates the skill level for slope forming and flat ground forming based on the accuracy of forming relative to the design surface. The terrain after forming is identified, for example, from aerial photography data taken by a drone or the movement trajectory of the work machine 400. Specifically, the skill estimation unit 303 estimates the skill level for slope forming to Class A when the average accuracy of terrain forming relative to the design surface of the slope is less than ±10 mm. Furthermore, the skill estimation unit 303 estimates the skill level for slope forming to Class E when the average accuracy of terrain forming relative to the design surface of the slope is greater than ±50 mm. When the average accuracy is between ±10 mm and ±50 mm, the skill estimation unit 303 estimates the skill level based on a threshold value obtained by proportionally dividing the range between the A class threshold and the E class threshold. Similarly, the skill estimation unit 303 estimates the skill level for flat ground forming based on the average accuracy relative to the design surface of flat ground.

[0032] For example, the skill estimation unit 303 estimates the skill level for excavation and loading based on the cycle time for excavation and loading. Specifically, if the average cycle time for excavation and loading exceeds 30 seconds, the skill estimation unit 303 determines the skill level for excavation and loading to be Class E. If the average cycle time for excavation and loading is less than 15 seconds, the skill estimation unit 303 determines the skill level for excavation and loading to be Class A. If the average cycle time is between 15 and 30 seconds, the skill estimation unit 303 estimates the skill level based on a threshold obtained by proportionally dividing the range between the threshold for Class A and the threshold for Class E. The skill estimation unit 303 may also change the skill level based on the number of loading operations from the start to the completion of loading into a dump truck. For example, the skill estimation unit 303 increases the skill level for excavation and loading by one level if the number of loading operations is five or less, and decreases the skill level for excavation and loading by one level if the number of loading operations is seven or more. It is preferable that the skill estimation unit 303 determines the difference between excavation and loading and incidental work such as earth piling from the movement of the work machine, and calculates the cycle time for excavation and loading. For example, excavation and loading involves a cycle in which the bucket moves forward near the ground (digging), then swings away from the ground (hoist swing), moves toward the back (earth discharge), and then swings back toward the ground (down swing). When the work machine is performing incidental work, the bucket moves near the ground.

[0033] The skill estimation unit 303 may also estimate the skill level based on the relationship between the desired delivery date and the work duration. For example, the skill estimation unit 303 may increase the skill level by one level if the work duration is shorter than the desired delivery date by at least a threshold, and decrease the skill level by one level if the work duration is longer than the desired delivery date by at least a threshold. The skill estimation unit 303 may also multiply the desired delivery date or work duration by a coefficient in consideration of the influence of weather. For example, if the weather during the work is rainy, the skill estimation unit 303 may estimate the skill level by multiplying the desired delivery date by a coefficient greater than 1 or the work duration by a coefficient less than 1. For example, if the desired delivery date is 10 days, the actual work duration is 12 days, and the weather is rainy, it is possible that the work duration was extended due to the rain, regardless of the work skill. In such a case, the skill estimation unit 303 may multiply the work duration by a coefficient less than 1 (e.g., 0.8) to determine the work duration corrected for the influence of weather as 9.6 days. As a result, the skill estimation unit 303 can estimate the skill level taking into account the influence of weather by comparing the desired delivery date of 10 days with the corrected work period of 9.6 days.

[0034] The skill estimation unit 303 may estimate the skill level using a simulator or the like before the operator performs the work ordered through the ordering system 1. The skill estimation unit 303 preferably estimates the skill level using a moving average of the operator's most recent multiple work operations. In other words, the skill level is determined not only based on the quality of the most recent work performed, but also based on the content of past work. The skill estimation unit 303 also estimates the skill level by weighting the quality of the most recent work more heavily than the quality of past work.

[0035] The skill estimation unit 303 records the estimated skill level in the operator table T31 in association with the ID of the operator.

[0036] <<Ordering Method>> Fig. 4 is a flowchart (part 1) showing an order management method by the order management device 300 according to the first embodiment. Fig. 5 is a flowchart (part 2) showing an order management method by the order management device 300 according to the first embodiment. First, the purchaser accesses the order management device 300 using the orderer terminal 100. The order reception unit 304 of the order management device 300 causes the orderer terminal 100 to display an input screen for order information. The input screen is provided with an input form for inputting the address of the site, the work content (type of work), the required skill level, the work machine 400 to be used for the work, and the work period. The work period is represented by a start date and time and an end date and time. The work machine 400 is selected from a plurality of work machines 400 registered in advance.

[0037] The purchaser inputs order information according to the input screen. The purchaser terminal 100 transmits the order information to the order management device 300 (step S1). The order reception unit 304 of the order management device 300 assigns an order ID to the received order information and records it in the order information table T32 (step S2). Next, the facility information acquisition unit 305 transmits a request to the controller management device 600 to send a list of available remote control stations 500 based on the order information received in step S1 (step S3). Specifically, the facility information acquisition unit 305 identifies the model of the work machine 400 to be used for the work based on the machine ID included in the order information, and identifies the version of the remote controller 510 that can operate that model. The facility information acquisition unit 305 transmits a request to the controller management device 600 to send a list of available remote control stations 500, including the identified version and the work period related to the order information.

[0038] Based on the transmission request, the schedule management unit 602 of the controller management device 600 identifies the relevant remote operation station 500 from the controller database. Specifically, the schedule management unit 602 identifies all controller IDs associated with version information indicating the same version as or compatible with the version of the remote controller 510 included in the transmission request. The schedule management unit 602 reads schedule data related to the identified controller ID from the schedule table T62. In the read schedule data, the schedule management unit 602 identifies all (available) remote controllers 510 for which no reservations overlap with the work period included in the transmission request. The schedule management unit 602 identifies all remote operation stations 500 equipped with the identified remote controllers 510. The schedule management unit 602 transmits a list of the identified remote operation stations 500 to the order management device 300 (step S4).

[0039] The notification unit 307 notifies each operator registered in the order management device 300 of the order information received in step S1 (step S5). The notification unit 307 issues the notification using, for example, a contact means stored in the operator table T31. For example, the contact means may be the ID of the operator terminal 200 for push notification.

[0040] When the operator terminal 200 receives the notification of the order information transmitted in step S5, it displays the received order information on the display. The notification of the order information displays details of the order information (job ID, site address, work content, required skill level, machine ID, work period, and bid deadline), a selection form for the remote control station 500 desired to use, an input form for the order amount, and a bid button. Furthermore, if other operators have already submitted bids, the notification may also include the lowest bid (current price) from the other operators. The remote control station 500 desired to use can be selected from the remote control stations 500 included in the list received in step S4. On the other hand, if the work machine 400 related to the order information is operated by an operator while on board, on-board operation can be selected. If the operator does not wish to accept the order for the work related to the order information, the operator closes the notification of the order information without pressing the bid button. On the other hand, if the operator wishes to accept an order for work, he or she inputs the desired order price and selects whether to operate from the remote control station 500 or from aboard the remote control station. If he or she wishes to operate from the remote control station 500, he or she selects the remote control station 500 he or she wishes to use and presses the bid button. This causes the operator terminal 200 to transmit bidding information including the case ID, operator ID, order price, and facility ID of the remote control station 500 to the order management device 300 (step S6). At this time, the operator may select the remote controller 510 he or she wishes to use from the multiple remote controllers 510 provided on the remote control station 500. In this case, the operator terminal includes the controller ID of the selected remote controller 510 in the bidding information.

[0041] After notifying the order information in step S5, the order management device 300 repeatedly executes the following steps S7 to S21 until the bidding deadline related to the order information.

[0042] When the bid receiving unit 308 receives the bid information from the operator terminal 200 in response to the notification sent in step S5, the bid receiving unit 308 records the bid information in the bid information table T33 (step S7). The facility information acquiring unit 305 sends a request to the controller management device 600 to send a list of available remote control stations 500 based on the order information (step S8). The facility information acquiring unit 305 receives the list of available remote control stations 500 from the controller management device 600 (step S9).

[0043] The operator identifying unit 306 identifies an operator who subsequently becomes unable to perform work related to the order information based on the list of remote operation stations 500 (step S10). Specifically, if the remote controller 510 provided in the remote operation station 500 that the operator wishes to use in step S6 is reserved for use by another operator and subsequently becomes unavailable, the operator will subsequently be unable to perform work related to the order information. Also, if a remote controller 510 is selected and the remote controller 510 is reserved for use by another operator, the operator will subsequently be unable to perform work related to the order information.

[0044] The notification unit 307 notifies the operator identified in step S10 that bidding for the order information is no longer possible (step S11). The bid acceptance unit 308 places the bid information associated with the operator ID of the operator identified in step S10 and the case ID related to the order information received in step S1 in a suspended state (step S12). For example, the bid acceptance unit 308 adds information such as a suspended flag to the bid information associated with the operator ID of the operator identified in step S10 and the case ID related to the order information received in step S1 from the bid information table T33.

[0045] When the operator terminal 200 receives the notification in step S11, a confirmation screen including a selection form for the remote control station 500, an OK button, and a Cancel button is displayed. If there is no remote control station 500 that can access the selection form for the remote control station 500, the operator presses the Cancel button. The operator terminal 200 transmits confirmation result information indicating the cancellation to the order management device 300. When the bid receiving unit 308 receives the confirmation result information indicating the cancellation (step S13: Cancel), it cancels the bid information for the operator that was put on hold in step S12 (step S14). On the other hand, if there is a remote control station 500 that can access the selection form for the remote control station 500, the operator changes the selection form for the remote control station 500 to the accessible remote control station 500 and presses the OK button. The operator terminal 200 transmits the changed remote control station 500 and confirmation result information indicating OK to the order management device 300. When the bid acceptance unit 308 receives the changed remote control station 500 and confirmation result information indicating OK (step S13: OK), it releases the hold status of the bid information related to the operator that was put on hold in step S12 (step S15).

[0046] The operator identification unit 306 determines, for each operator recorded in the bidding information table T33, whether the operator is an operator who is able to place an order for the work related to the order information (step S16). Specifically, the operator identification unit 306 reads the skill level related to the operator from the operator table T31 and determines whether the skill level is equal to or higher than the required skill level related to the order information. If the operator's skill level is not equal to or higher than the required skill level (step S16: NO), the determination unit 309 determines that the contract related to the order information has not been concluded. The notification unit 307 notifies the purchaser terminal 100 that the contract related to the order information has not been concluded (step S17).

[0047] If the skill level of the operator is equal to or higher than the required skill level (step S16: YES), the determination unit 309 determines whether or not any bid information recorded in the bid information table T33 has an order price set lower than the buyout price in the order information (step S18). If any bid information has an order price set lower than the buyout price in the order information (step S18: YES), the determination unit 309 determines the operator associated with the bid information that is not in a pending state and has the lowest order price as the contractor (step S19).

[0048] If there is no bid information with an order price set below the buyout price in the order information (step S18: NO), the order management device 300 determines whether the current time is within the bidding deadline related to the order information (step S20). If the current time is not within the bidding deadline related to the order information (step S20: NO), the process returns to step S6. If the current time is beyond the bidding deadline related to the order information (step S20: YES), the determination unit 309 determines whether there is any bid information recorded in the bid information table T33 with an order price set below the maximum bidding price in the order information (step S21). If there is bid information with an order price set below the maximum bidding price in the order information (step S21: YES), the determination unit 309 selects the operator associated with the bid information that is not in a pending state and has the lowest order price as the contractor (step S19).

[0049] If there is no bidding information in which an order price lower than the maximum bid price of the order information is set (step S21: NO), the decision unit 309 determines that the contract related to the order information has not been concluded. The notification unit 307 notifies the purchaser terminal 100 that the contract related to the order information has not been concluded (step S17).

[0050] When the determination unit 309 determines a contractor in step S19, the determination unit 309 registers bidding information related to the operator determined as the contractor in the confirmation table T34 (step S22). The determination unit 309 transmits a reservation request for the remote controller 510 to the controller management device 600 (step S23). Specifically, the determination unit 309 associates the remote controller 510 of the remote operation station 500 related to the bidding information registered in step S23 with the remote controller 510 and requests a reservation for cooperation with the work machine 400 related to the bidding information during the work period related to the bidding information. The schedule management unit 602 of the controller management device 600 updates the schedule for the remote controller 510 recorded in the schedule table T62 in accordance with the received reservation request. If a remote controller 510 is specified in step S6, the controller management device 600 reserves the specified remote controller 510. If a remote controller 510 is not specified, the controller management device 600 reserves a remote controller 510 that has an available schedule. The notification unit 307 notifies the operator terminal 200 of the operator of the contractor and the orderer terminal 100 of the orderer that a contract related to the order information has been established (step S24).

[0051] When the operator terminal 200 logs in to the order management device 300, the order receiving unit 304 of the order management device 300 displays a dashboard screen D1 on the operator terminal 200, separate from the above-described flowchart. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of the operator's dashboard screen D1 according to the first embodiment. The dashboard screen D1 displays a list of order information that the logged-in operator can accept. The list of order information displays the orderer, work content, work time, the address of the remote operation station 500, the current price, and buttons. The order information included in the list of order information is order information that is not registered in the confirmation table T34. Among the buttons displayed in the list of order information, the button associated with order information for which the logged-in operator has not yet placed a bid, or order information for which another operator has already placed a bid but at a lower bid price, is the BID button. Among the buttons displayed in the list of order information, the button associated with order information for which the logged-in operator has already placed the lowest bid price is the CANCEL button. The current price displayed in the list of order information is, for example, the lowest bid price at the current time if there is a bid, or the highest bid price set by the orderer if there is no bid.

[0052] When the bid button is pressed, the operator terminal 200 accepts input of the order amount from the operator and transmits bid information including the case ID related to the bid button and the order amount to the order management device 300. When the bid acceptance unit 308 of the order management device 300 receives the bid information, it records the bid information in the bid information table T33. When the cancel button is pressed, the operator terminal 200 transmits cancellation information including the case ID related to the cancel button to the order management device 300. When the bid acceptance unit 308 of the order management device 300 receives the cancellation information, it cancels the bid information related to the operator ID of the recipient and the case ID included in the cancellation information. This allows the operator to make and cancel bids at any time.

[0053] <<Actions and Effects>> In this way, the ordering system 1 according to the first embodiment functions as follows. The order receiving unit 304 receives input of order information for work related to construction from the client. The bid receiving unit 308 receives input of the order price for the work related to the order information from operators who are considering accepting orders for work related to the construction from the client. The determination unit 309 determines the operator to whom the work will be ordered based on the order price. Therefore, the operator can set the order price himself and receive the order for the work. This allows the ordering system 1 to order work while meeting the needs of both the client and the operator.

[0054] Other Embodiments Although one embodiment has been described in detail above with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to the above, and various design modifications are possible. That is, in other embodiments, the order of the above-described processes may be changed as appropriate. Furthermore, some processes may be executed in parallel.

[0055] The order management device 300 according to the above-described embodiment may be configured by a single computer, or the configuration of the order management device 300 may be distributed across multiple computers, and the multiple computers may cooperate with each other to function as the order management device 300. In another embodiment, the order management device 300 and the controller management device 600 may be implemented on the same computer.

[0056] The order management device 300 according to the embodiment described above selects the operator with the lowest order amount among the candidate operators who submitted bids as the supplier, but this is not limited to this. For example, the order management device 300 according to another embodiment may select the supplier based on the order amount and skill rank. For example, the supplier may be the operator with the lowest value obtained by multiplying the order amount by a weight corresponding to the skill rank.

[0057] <Computer Configuration> FIG. 7 is a schematic block diagram showing the configuration of a computer according to at least one embodiment. The computer 900 includes a processor 910, a main memory 930, a storage 950, and an interface 970. The order management device 300 and the controller management device 600 described above are each implemented in the computer 900. The operations of the above-described processing units are stored in the storage 950 in the form of a program. The processor 910 reads the program from the storage 950, loads it into the main memory 930, and executes the above-described processing in accordance with the program. The processor 910 also allocates storage areas in the main memory 930 corresponding to the above-described storage units in accordance with the program. Examples of the processor 910 include a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a GPU (Graphic Processing Unit), and a microprocessor.

[0058] The program may be for implementing some of the functions to be performed by the computer 900. For example, the program may be implemented in combination with other programs already stored in storage or in combination with other programs implemented in other devices. In another embodiment, the computer 900 may include a custom large-scale integrated circuit (LSI) such as a programmable logic device (PLD) in addition to or instead of the above configuration. Examples of PLDs include programmable array logic (PAL), generic array logic (GAL), complex programmable logic device (CPLD), and field programmable gate array (FPGA). In this case, some or all of the functions implemented by the processor 910 may be implemented by the integrated circuit. Such an integrated circuit is also an example of a processor. In another embodiment, the computer 900 may be virtualized on one or more computers.

[0059] Examples of storage 950 include a magnetic disk, a magneto-optical disk, an optical disk, and a semiconductor memory. Storage 950 may be an internal medium directly connected to the bus of computer 900, or an external medium connected to computer 900 via interface 970 or a communication line. Furthermore, when this program is distributed to computer 900 via a communication line, computer 900 that receives the program may load the program into main memory 930 and execute the above-described processing. In at least one embodiment, storage 950 is a non-transitory tangible storage medium.

[0060] The program may also be a program for realizing some of the above-described functions. Furthermore, the program may be a so-called differential file (differential program) that realizes the above-described functions in combination with another program already stored in storage 950.

[0061] According to the above aspect, the ordering system can order work while satisfying the needs of both the orderer and the operator.

[0062] DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1...Ordering system 100...Orderer terminal 200...Operator terminal 300...Order management device 301...Item database 302...Operator registration unit 303...Skill estimation unit 304...Order reception unit 305...Facility information acquisition unit 306...Operator identification unit 307...Notification unit 308...Bid reception unit 309...Decision unit 400...Work machine 500...Remote operation station 510...Remote controller 600...Controller management device 601...Controller database 602...Schedule management unit 603...Collaboration unit 900...Computer 910...Processor 930...Main memory 950...Storage 970...Interface

Claims

1. An ordering system comprising: an order receiving unit that receives input of order information for work related to construction from a client; an amount receiving unit that receives input of an order amount for the work related to the order information from an operator; an operator identification unit that determines whether or not the operator can be ordered to perform the work related to the order information; and a determination unit that determines an operator to order the work based on the order amount received from the operator that has been determined to be able to place an order.

2. The ordering system according to claim 1, further comprising a notification unit that notifies said ordering information based on a database that stores information relating to a plurality of operators.

3. The ordering system according to claim 2, wherein the order information includes information on the skill level required of the operator, and the operator identification unit identifies an operator whose skill level is equal to or higher than the skill level related to the order information.

4. An ordering system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the amount receiving unit further receives a selection from the operator as to whether the work related to the ordering information will be carried out at an accessible facility or whether the operator will board and operate the work machine related to the ordering information.

5. An ordering system as described in claim 4, further comprising a notification unit that notifies the user that the order information can no longer be accepted if the accessible facility selected by the operator no longer exists after the input of the order amount is accepted.

6. An ordering system as described in claim 4, wherein the ordering information includes information indicating the type of work machine, and the available accessible facilities are facilities that are capable of operating the type of work machine indicated by the ordering information and that are equipped with unreserved remote control devices.

7. An ordering method comprising the steps of: a computer receiving input of order information for work related to construction from an ordering party; said computer receiving input of an order amount for the work related to the order information from an operator of a work machine; said computer determining whether or not it is possible to order the work related to the order information from said operator; and said computer determining an operator to order the work based on the order amount received from the operator determined to be able to order.

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