Information processing device, information processing system, information processing method, and computer program

Abstract

This information processing device has an acquisition unit that acquires a proper harvest period for a fruit and burden information related to a harvest burden for the fruit. The information processing device performs generation processing that generates display information on the basis of the proper harvest period and the burden information as provided from the acquisition unit, the display information including icons that indicate the length of the proper harvest period and the size of the harvest burden, and output processing that outputs the display information to a display device.

Description

Information processing device, information processing system, information processing method, and computer program

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an information processing device, an information processing system, an information processing method, and a computer program. This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2024-102581 filed on June 26, 2024, and incorporates all of the contents of said Japanese application by reference. Agricultural support technologies are known. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technology for calculating a predicted value for the harvest time of agricultural crops based on the actual measured values ​​of the average temperature for each day from the start date of cultivation of the crops to the day before the prediction is made.

[0002] Patent Document 2 discloses a work management program that displays multiple maps containing work data for different items side by side on a display screen. In Patent Document 2, for example, a display processing unit displays multiple maps side by side on a display screen to compare harvest yields when different crops are cultivated in the same field depending on the year.

[0003] JP 2013-191107 A JP 2022-30858 A

[0004] The information processing device of the present disclosure is an information processing device that includes an acquisition unit that acquires the optimum harvesting period for fruits and load information regarding the harvesting load of the fruits, a generation process that generates display information including icons indicating the length of the optimum harvesting period and the amount of the harvesting load based on the optimum harvesting period and the load information provided by the acquisition unit, and an output process that outputs the display information to a display device.

[0005] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the overall configuration of an information processing system according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of multiple farm fields managed by the information processing system. FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of an information processing method. FIG. 4 is a tree diagram illustrating an example of member information. FIG. 5 is a subflow illustrating details of an optimum harvest time calculation process. FIG. 6 is a graph illustrating an example of a predicted quality value. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data structure of optimum harvest times stored in an optimum harvest time database. FIG. 8 is an example of a selection screen. FIG. 9 is a subflow illustrating details of an workload calculation process. FIG. 10 is a subflow illustrating details of a display information generation process. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of display information. FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating another state of the display information. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of the display information. FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating another state of the display information. FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an example of the display information. FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating another example of the display information. FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating another example of the display information. FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating another example of the display information. FIG. 19 is a diagram showing another example of display information.

[0006] [Problem to be Solved by the Present Disclosure] Even if an optimal harvest period (hereinafter referred to as the "optimal harvest period") is predicted as in Patent Document 1, the farm manager will ultimately decide the most appropriate harvest date from among the optimal harvest periods, taking into account various factors. Factors to be considered include, for example, the yield and quality of the crop, the number of personnel and machinery available on the planned harvest date, the availability of factories and warehouses, and the weather on that day. The priority of these factors is not uniquely determined, but varies depending on the type and value of the crop, the management policy of the farm manager, and the like.

[0007] For this reason, when a farm manager creates a harvest plan, such as an actual harvest date, based on the optimum harvest time, there is a potential need for a display of the optimum harvest time that is easier for the farm manager to see. Patent Document 2 discloses a technology for displaying multiple maps to compare farm fields, but does not disclose a display of the optimum harvest time.

[0008] In view of the above-described conventional problems, the present disclosure aims to provide an information processing device, an information processing system, an information processing method, and a computer program that can suitably display the optimum harvest time to users such as farm managers.

[0009] Effect of the Present Disclosure According to the present disclosure, the optimum harvest time can be suitably displayed to a user such as a farm manager.

[0010] [Summary of the embodiment] The gist of the embodiment of the present disclosure includes the following configurations.

[0011] (1) The information processing device of the present disclosure is an information processing device that includes an acquisition unit that acquires the optimum harvesting period for fruits and load information regarding the harvesting load of the fruits, a generation process that generates display information including icons indicating the length of the optimum harvesting period and the amount of the harvesting load based on the optimum harvesting period and the load information provided by the acquisition unit, and an output process that outputs the display information to a display device.

[0012] The icons not only show the optimum harvest time but also the amount of harvest load, making it easier for users to create harvest plans that take the harvest load into account. In this way, the information processing device can conveniently display the optimum harvest time to users such as farm managers.

[0013] (2) In the information processing device of (1) above, the control unit generates the display information in which the optimum harvest time is represented by the width of one of the vertical and horizontal axes of the icon, and the harvest load is represented by at least one of the width of the other of the vertical and horizontal axes of the icon, the color of the icon, the depth of the icon if the icon is displayed three-dimensionally, a numerical value displayed on the icon, and a graph displayed adjacent to the icon.

[0014] This configuration allows the user to visually and easily grasp the harvest load.

[0015] (3) In the information processing device of (1) or (2) above, the control unit manages a plurality of fruit orchards in which different varieties are grown, and the display information includes a plurality of icons that differ for each of the varieties.

[0016] By including an icon for each variety, which is a category higher than orchard, the number of icons displayed can be reduced somewhat compared to when multiple icons are initially displayed for each orchard, and the icons can be grouped into the same category, thereby enabling the optimum harvest time to be displayed to the user in an optimal manner.

[0017] (4) In the information processing device of (3) above, the control unit generates a plurality of pieces of display information, and the plurality of pieces of display information includes first display information including a plurality of icons that differ for each of the varieties, and second display information including the icon related to the fruit orchard where the variety selected by the user is to be cultivated.

[0018] By configuring it in this way, it is possible to display in order from a display for each variety (broad outline) to a display for the field (details), so that the optimum harvest time can be displayed more appropriately.

[0019] (5) In the information processing device of (4) above, the second display information includes a plurality of icons that differ for each manager, each region, or each group of people with the closest optimum harvest time for the fruit orchard where the variety selected by the user is grown.

[0020] By configuring it in this way, the user can move from a display by variety (broad overview) to a display by manager, by region, or by group with the closest optimum harvest time (detailed), thereby making it possible to display the optimum harvest time more conveniently.

[0021] (6) In the information processing device of (1) to (5) above, the control unit acquires the load information based on parameters, and the parameters include at least one of the size of each of the plurality of fruit orchards, the number of fruit trees growing in each of the plurality of fruit orchards, and the past harvest yield or the predicted future harvest yield in each of the plurality of fruit orchards.

[0022] With this configuration, it is possible to acquire load information.

[0023] (7) In the information processing device of (2) to (6) above, the control unit generates the display information including a plurality of the icons, and the plurality of the icons are displayed in a line along one of the axes according to a predetermined priority policy, the policy being in the order of earliest start of the optimum harvest period, shortest optimum harvest period, or heaviest harvest load.

[0024] By configuring in this way, it is possible to display icons according to an appropriate alignment policy.

[0025] (8) In the information processing device of (1) to (7) above, the optimum harvest time includes a first optimum harvest time and a second optimum harvest time having worse harvest conditions than the first optimum harvest time, and the control unit displays the second optimum harvest time in the icon in a different way from the first optimum harvest time.

[0026] This allows the user to distinguish between the first optimum harvest time, which is the more optimum harvest time, and the second optimum harvest time, which is the next best.

[0027] (9) The information processing system of the present disclosure is an information processing system comprising: an information processing device according to any one of (1) to (8) above; and a user terminal having the display device, wherein the information processing device further comprises a communication unit that transmits the display information to the user terminal, and the user terminal displays the icon on the display device based on the display information.

[0028] The user terminal displays an icon on the display device of the user terminal based on the received display information. By looking at the icon displayed on the user terminal, the user can visually understand the optimum harvest time and harvest load. The icon not only indicates the optimum harvest time but also the amount of harvest load, making it easier for the user to create a harvest plan that takes the harvest load into account. In this way, the information processing system can appropriately display the optimum harvest time to users such as farm managers.

[0029] (10) The information processing method of the present disclosure is an information processing method performed by the information processing devices described in (1) to (9) above. Therefore, the information processing method of the present disclosure achieves the same effects as the information processing devices described in (1) to (9) above.

[0030] (11) A computer program according to the present disclosure is a computer program for causing a computer to function as the information processing device described above in (1) to (9). Therefore, the computer program according to the present disclosure has the same effects as the information processing device described above in (1) to (9).

[0031] [Details of the embodiment] Hereinafter, details of the embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0032] [Overall Configuration of Information Processing System 1] Fig. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the overall configuration of an information processing system 1 according to an embodiment. The information processing system 1 includes a server 11, a database 12, a user terminal 13, a sensor information server 14, and a weather information server 15. These units 11 to 15 are connected to each other so as to be able to communicate with each other via a public communication network N1 such as the Internet. In the information processing system 1, the server 11 functions as the "information processing device" of the present disclosure.

[0033] The information processing system 1 is a system that manages multiple farm fields 71 ​​and visually displays the optimum fruit harvesting time X1 and load information regarding the harvest load of the fruit (for example, the amount of work required to harvest the fruit X2) to users such as farm managers.

[0034] Specifically, the server 11 calculates the optimum harvest time X1 and the amount of work X2 based on various information provided by the database 12, the sensor information server 14, the weather information server 15, etc. Then, the server 11 generates display information Y1 for visually representing the calculated optimum harvest time X1 and the amount of work X2.

[0035] The display information Y1 includes an icon Z1 representing an optimum harvest time X1 and an amount of work X2. For example, the width of the icon Z1 represents the length of the optimum harvest time X1, and the height of the icon Z1 represents the amount of work X2. The server 11 transmits the display information Y1 to the user terminal 13, for example, in response to a request from the user terminal 13.

[0036] The user terminal 13 displays an icon Z1 on the screen of the user terminal 13 (display unit 44, described below) based on the received display information Y1. By looking at the icon Z1 displayed on the screen of the user terminal 13, the user can visually grasp the optimum harvest time X1 and the amount of work X2. Because the icon Z1 represents not only the optimum harvest time X1 but also the amount of work X2, the user can easily create a harvest plan that takes the amount of work X2 into account. In this way, the information processing system 1 can suitably display the optimum harvest time X1 to users such as farm managers.

[0037] As an example, the information processing system 1 is operated by an information service company that provides farm management support services to users. Specifically, the information service company manages the server 11 and the database 12, and the user manages the user terminal 13. In this way, the server 11 and the user terminal 13 may be used by different entities. Alternatively, an organization such as an agricultural cooperative may manage the server 11, the information service company may manage the database 12, and a user who is a member of the agricultural cooperative may manage the user terminal 13. The management entities of each of the units 11 to 15 of the information processing system 1 may be different entities as described above, or may be the same entity.

[0038] 1 illustrates one user terminal 13 for simplicity, the information processing system 1 may include multiple user terminals 13. Furthermore, the server 11 may transmit the display information Y1 to a user terminal 13 located in a country (country B) different from the country (country A) in which the server 11 is installed. For example, if an information service company in country A operates globally, it may transmit the display information Y1 to a user terminal 13 used by a user in country B, and further transmit the display information Y1 to a user terminal 13 used by a user in country C.

[0039] [Regarding the Field 71] Here, we will explain the field 71 that is managed by the information processing system 1. The information processing system 1 is a system for suitably displaying the optimum harvest time X1 to users who manage many fields 71, such as agricultural cooperatives or large-scale farms. Such users need to create harvest plans for each of the many fields 71, and therefore have a particularly high need for a more easily viewable display of the optimum harvest time X1. For this reason, the information processing system 1 manages multiple fields 71 ​​(for example, 100 or more fields 71).

[0040] 2 is a schematic diagram of a plurality of farm fields 71 ​​that are subject to management 70 by the information processing system 1. In FIG. 2, an enlarged view of the farm field 71 is shown on the right side, and an enlarged view of a fruit tree 72 is shown above it.

[0041] The field 71 is, for example, a fruit orchard, i.e., a vineyard, where grape trees 72, which are used to make wine, are grown. In the field 71, the fruit trees 72 are grown lined up in multiple rows 73. Each fruit tree 72 has multiple grape bunches 74 (hereinafter simply referred to as "bunch 74"). The field 71 may also be a field where fruit trees 72 other than grapes, such as apples, pears, mandarin oranges, lemons, or bananas, are grown.

[0042] The information processing system 1 has a plurality of fields 71, each cultivating a different variety, as the management target 70. For example, of the 100 fields 71 ​​included in the management target 70, 50 fields 71 ​​cultivate variety V1 (e.g., Semillon for white wine), 30 fields 71 ​​cultivate variety V2 (e.g., Sauvignon Blanc for white wine), and the remaining 20 fields 71 ​​cultivate variety V3 (e.g., Merlot for red wine).

[0043] Furthermore, the information processing system 1 has a plurality of fields 71, each managed by a different manager, as its managed objects 70. For example, the information processing system 1 is used by an agricultural association to which a plurality of managers M1, M2, and M3 belong. In this case, for example, of the 100 fields 71 ​​included in the managed objects 70, manager M1 manages 60 fields 71 ​​(fields shown with a hatched pattern in FIG. 2 ), manager M2 manages 20 fields 71 ​​(fields shown with a white background in FIG. 2 ), and manager M3 manages the remaining 20 fields 71 ​​(fields shown with a dotted pattern in FIG. 2 ).

[0044] Furthermore, managers may manage multiple fields 71, each cultivating a different variety. For example, manager M1 cultivates variety V1 in 40 of the 60 fields 71 ​​he manages, and cultivates variety V2 in the remaining 20 fields 71. Manager M2 cultivates variety V1 in 10 of the 30 fields 71 ​​he manages, and cultivates variety V2 in the remaining 10 fields 71. Manager M3 cultivates only variety V3.

[0045] Furthermore, the information processing system 1 sets a plurality of fields 71, each grown in a different region, as the managed object 70. For example, of the 100 fields 71 ​​included in the managed object 70, 50 fields 71 ​​are located in region A1, 30 fields 71 ​​are located in region A2, and the remaining 20 fields 71 ​​are located in region A3. These regions A1, A2, and A3 are, for example, regions in different administrative districts (such as prefectures or municipalities).

[0046] In this way, there are multiple categories (in the above example, three categories: variety cultivated, manager, and region) in the division of one farm field 71. Furthermore, there are multiple small units, such as rows 73, fruit trees 72, and bunches 74, within one farm field 71.

[0047] An example of the configuration of each unit included in the information processing system 1 will be described below.

[0048] [Configuration Example of Server 11] The server 11 (information processing device) includes a control unit 21, a storage unit 22, a communication unit 23, a display unit 24, and an input unit 25. These units 21 to 25 are electrically connected to each other via a bus 26.

[0049] The server 11 is, for example, a single server computer. However, the server 11 may be configured with multiple computers. When configured with multiple computers, these multiple computers may be installed in the same facility or may be scattered across multiple geographically separated locations. When the server 11 is configured with multiple computers, the functions of a single server 11 may be realized by the multiple geographically separated computers working together via a network such as the public communications network N1.

[0050] The control unit 21 is an arithmetic processing device including an arithmetic processing unit such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and a volatile memory such as a RAM (Random Access Memory). The arithmetic processing unit may be an integrated circuit other than a CPU, such as an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array). The control unit 21 reads a computer program 27 stored in the storage unit 22 into the RAM and performs various information processing described below in accordance with the read computer program 27.

[0051] The storage unit 22 is an auxiliary storage device including a nonvolatile memory such as a hard disk drive (HDD) and a solid state drive (SSD). The storage unit 22 may include a flash read-only memory (ROM), a universal serial bus (USB) memory, or an SD card. The storage unit 22 stores a computer program 27 and various parameters in the nonvolatile memory. The computer program 27 and various parameters are stored in the storage unit 22 by reading information from a recording medium via a reading device (not shown) provided in the server 11. The computer program 27 and various parameters may also be stored in the storage unit 22 by being downloaded from another computer via the public communication network N1. The storage unit 22 further includes a storage area for constructing the database 12.

[0052] The communication unit 23 is a communication interface that communicates with the user terminal 13, the sensor information server 14, and the weather information server 15 via the public communication network N1. The communication unit 23 periodically receives sensor information D1 from the sensor information server 14 and periodically receives weather information D2 from the weather information server 15. The communication unit 23 also periodically transmits display information Y1 to the user terminal 13 in response to a request from the user terminal 13.

[0053] The display unit 24 is a display device having a screen such as a display, and displays various information such as the display information Y1 to the administrator of the server 11. The input unit 25 is an input device such as a mouse and keyboard, and is operated by the administrator of the server 11. The display unit 24 and the input unit 25 may be integrated into one unit, such as a touch panel.

[0054] [Configuration Example of Database 12] The database 12 is constructed in a large-capacity storage such as an HDD or SSD included in the storage unit 22. The large-capacity storage of the storage unit 22 may be one or more external storage devices connected to the server 11. The database 12 may also be constructed in the storage of a cloud service operated by a party other than the person managing the server 11.

[0055] In this way, the memory unit 22 in the sense of storage on which the database 12 is constructed may be, from the perspective of the server 11, a memory unit of the device itself (a memory unit within the server 11), or an external device (a memory unit outside the server 11, such as the above-mentioned external storage device or cloud server).

[0056] The database 12 includes a sensor information database 31 , an optimum harvest time database 32 , a work parameter database 33 , a work amount database 34 , and a member information database 35 .

[0057] The sensor information database 31 stores the sensor information D1 that is periodically provided from the sensor information server 14. When a plurality of pieces of sensor information D1 measured at different times are input from the sensor information server 14 to the sensor information database 31, the sensor information D1 is not overwritten by new sensor information D1, but the plurality of pieces of sensor information D1 are all saved (archived) in the sensor information database 31 in chronological order.

[0058] The optimum harvest time database 32 stores optimum harvest times X1 calculated based on the sensor information D1. The optimum harvest time X1 is calculated by the control unit 21, for example, in a optimum harvest time calculation step (step S23) described below. Note that the optimum harvest time database 32 may also store optimum harvest times X1 calculated by a computer outside the server 11 and received by the server 11 via the public communication network N1.

[0059] The task parameter database 33 stores task parameters D3 for calculating the task amount X2. The task parameters D3 are parameters that have a positive correlation with the task amount X2. The task parameters D3 include, for example, at least one of the following parameters:

[0060] <Parameters> 1) Size of the field 71 (cultivated area) 2) Number of fruit trees 72 growing in the field 71 3) Total number of fruit clusters 74 contained in the fruit trees 72 in the field 71 4) Past harvest yield or predicted future harvest yield in the field 71

[0061] The workload database 34 stores the workload X2 calculated based on the workload parameter D3. The workload X2 is calculated by the control unit 21, for example, in a workload calculation step (step S24) described below. The workload database 34 may also store the workload X2 calculated by a computer external to the server 11 and received by the server 11 via the public communication network N1.

[0062] The member information database 35 stores member information D4, which is information about users. Details of the member information D4 will be described later.

[0063] [Configuration Example of User Terminal 13] The user terminal 13 includes a control unit 41, a storage unit 42, a communication unit 43, a display unit 44, and an input unit 45. These units 41 to 45 are electrically connected to each other via a bus 46.

[0064] The control unit 41 is a processing unit including a CPU and a RAM, and reads out a computer program 47 stored in the storage unit 42 and performs various information processes described below in accordance with the computer program 47.

[0065] The storage unit 42 is an auxiliary storage device including a non-volatile memory such as an HDD and an SSD. The storage unit 42 stores a computer program 47 and various parameters in the non-volatile memory. The computer program 47 and various parameters are stored in the storage unit 42 by reading information from a recording medium via a reading device (not shown) provided in the user terminal 13. Note that the computer program 47 and various parameters may be stored in the storage unit 42 by being downloaded from another computer (e.g., the server 11) via the public communication network N1.

[0066] The communication unit 43 is a communication interface that communicates with the server 11 via the public communication network N1. In response to a user operation, the communication unit 43 transmits a request for display information Y1 to the server 11. The communication unit 43 also receives the display information Y1 transmitted from the server 11.

[0067] The display unit 44 ("display device" in the present disclosure) is a display device having a screen such as a display, and displays various information such as display information Y1 to the user. The input unit 45 is an input device such as a mouse and keyboard, and is operated by the user. The display unit 44 and the input unit 45 may be integrated, for example, like a touch panel.

[0068] [Configuration Example of Sensor Information Server 14] The sensor information server 14 generates sensor information D1 based on various measurement values ​​provided from the sensor group 60 observing the field 71, and provides the generated sensor information D1 to the server 11. The sensor information server 14 is, for example, a server computer.

[0069] Here, the sensor group 60 includes, for example, a camera 61 that captures images of the field 71 and a quality sensor 62 that observes the quality of the bunches 74. The camera 61 is a visible light camera that is mounted on an unmanned aerial vehicle such as a drone and captures images of the field 71 from the air. The image capture results of the camera 61 allow the manager to observe the state of the field 71 from a bird's-eye view.

[0070] The quality sensor 62 is, for example, a sensor mounted on a vehicle that moves within the field 71. The quality sensor 62 may be a handheld device that is carried by a worker passing through the field 71, or may be a stationary device that is continuously installed in the field 71.

[0071] The quality sensor 62 irradiates the bunch 74 with a predetermined light, receives the reflected light from or transmitted light from the bunch 74, and performs spectral analysis of the reflected light or transmitted light to measure the quality of the bunch 74. The quality of the bunch 74 to be measured is, for example, at least one of sugar content, acidity, pH, and polyphenol content.

[0072] The sensor information D1 includes, for example, an aerial image of each field 71, the measured sugar content of each bunch 74, the measured acidity of each bunch 74, and the time and location information when these values ​​were acquired. The sensor group 60 may include sensors other than the above-mentioned sensors 61 and 62, and the sensor information D1 may include information other than the above.

[0073] [Configuration Example of Weather Information Server 15] The weather information server 15 provides weather information D2 such as the weather, temperature, and humidity in each region to the server 11. The weather information server 15 is, for example, a server computer. The weather information server 15 may be, for example, a server operated by a public institution that conducts weather observations, or may be a server operated by a private company that provides weather information D2.

[0074] [Regarding the Information Processing Method] Fig. 3 is a sequence diagram showing an example of an information processing method executed by the information processing system 1. In Fig. 3, the process executed by the server 11 is shown in the center, the process executed by the user terminal 13 is shown on the left, and the process executed by the sensor information server 14 is shown on the right. The order of the processes shown in Fig. 3 may be changed as appropriate.

[0075] In the information processing method described below, in the server 11, the control unit 21 reads out a computer program 27 from the storage unit 22 and executes various information processes. In the user terminal 13, the control unit 41 reads out a computer program 47 from the storage unit 42 and executes various processes.

[0076] First, the outline of the information processing method will be described. The information processing method disclosed herein is a method for assisting a user in developing a harvest plan by visually displaying an optimum harvest time X1 and an amount of work X2 on a user terminal 13. Specifically, the server 11 acquires the optimum harvest time X1 and the amount of work X2. The server 11 then generates display information Y1 that visually represents the optimum harvest time X1 and the amount of work X2 based on a user request transmitted from the user terminal 13 to the server 11 and the acquired optimum harvest time X1 and amount of work X2. The server 11 then transmits the display information Y1 to the user terminal 13 and displays the display information Y1 on the display unit 44 of the user terminal 13.

[0077] The display information Y1 includes not only the optimum harvest time X1 but also a visual representation of the amount of work X2 required to harvest the fruit, so that a user who views the display information Y1 on the user terminal 13 can more easily plan a harvest.

[0078] Each step will be described in detail below.

[0079] First, the user terminal 13 transmits member information D4 to the server 11 (member information transmission process: step S11). The member information D4 is basic information about the user, such as categories of varieties, managers, and regions for multiple fields 71 ​​to be managed 70, and information about rows 73, fruit trees 72, and bunches 74 included in these fields 71, all linked together.

[0080] 4 is a tree diagram that schematically illustrates an example of member information D4. Member information D4 is, for example, tree-structured data. In this case, for example, the type of fruit tree 72 (e.g., grape or apple) is described at the root of member information D4, and varieties V1, V2, V3, ... (e.g., Semillon or Merlot) are described at the first-level nodes.

[0081] Thereafter, managers M1, M2, ... are described in the nodes of the second layer, areas A1, A2, ... in which the field 71 is located are described in the nodes of the third layer, fields 71 ​​(referred to as fields F1, F2, ... when particularly distinguished) are described in the nodes of the fourth layer, columns 73 included in the field 71 (referred to as columns L1, L2, ... when particularly distinguished) are described in the nodes of the fifth layer, fruit trees 72 included in the columns 73 (referred to as fruit trees T1, T2, ... when particularly distinguished) are described in the nodes of the sixth layer, and bunches 74 included in the fruit trees 72 (referred to as bunches B1, B2, ... when particularly distinguished) are described in the leaves of the lowest layer. These structures are merely examples, and the descriptions of each layer may be arranged in a vertical order as long as there is no contradiction, such as areas being described in the second layer and managers in the third layer.

[0082] The user terminal 13 transmits, for example, member information D4 to the server 11 on a regular or irregular basis. For example, when the fruit tree 72 has finished thinning flowers or thinning bunches after fruit set and the fruit reaches ripening, the total number of bunches 74 on the fruit tree 72 is roughly determined, so at such times the user collects member information D4 using various methods (for example, using a bunch counting device or visual inspection) and transmits the member information D4 from the user terminal 13 to the server 11 once a year. Furthermore, whenever the member information D4 is updated, the user transmits the member information D4 from the user terminal 13 to the server 11.

[0083] The server 11 may acquire the member information D4 from a route other than the user terminal 13. For example, the server 11 may acquire the member information D4 by accepting input of the member information D4 directly from the input unit 25 of the server 11.

[0084] When the server 11 receives the member information D4 from the user terminal 13, it stores the received member information D4 in the member information database 35 (member information storage process: step S21).

[0085] Next, the sensor information server 14 transmits the sensor information D1 to the server 11 (sensor information transmission process: step S31). The sensor information server 14 transmits the sensor information D1 to the server 11, for example, periodically. The sensor information server 14 also transmits the sensor information D1 to the server 11 irregularly in response to a sensor information request from the server 11.

[0086] When the server 11 receives the sensor information D1 from the sensor information server 14, it stores the received sensor information D1 in the sensor information database 31 (sensor information storage process: step S22). Various information included in the sensor information D1 is accumulated as time-series data in the sensor information database 31. For example, the sensor information database 31 stores time-series data of the actual sugar content measurements of each bunch 74 based on the sensor information D1.

[0087] Next, the server 11 calculates the optimum harvest time X1 based on the sensor information D1 (optimum harvest time calculation process: step S23). The server 11 calculates the optimum harvest time X1, for example, every time it receives sensor information D1 from the sensor information server 14. Note that the server 11 may calculate the optimum harvest time X1 in response to an instruction input from the input unit 25, or may calculate the optimum harvest time X1 periodically at a predetermined interval.

[0088] Furthermore, the server 11 may acquire the optimum harvest time X1 by receiving, via the public communications network N1, the optimum harvest time X1 that has already been calculated by a device other than the server 11. As described above, whether the server 11 itself calculates the optimum harvest time X1 or receives the optimum harvest time X1 from outside the server 11, the term "obtaining" the optimum harvest time X1 will be used as appropriate.

[0089] 5 is a subflow illustrating the details of the optimum harvest time calculation process executed by the server 11. In the optimum harvest time calculation process, the control unit 21 first calculates a predicted quality value based on the time-series data of the quality values ​​(actual measured values) included in the sensor information D1. Then, the start or end of the optimum harvest time is determined based on the point in time when the predicted quality value reaches a predetermined threshold value (quality limit value).

[0090] 6 is a graph showing an example of predicted quality values. For example, the control unit 21 calculates the optimum harvest time based on predictions of two types of quality values, namely, sugar content and acidity. Note that the control unit 21 may also calculate the optimum harvest time based on predictions of quality values ​​other than sugar content and acidity.

[0091] In Fig. 6, the horizontal axis represents the date, the first vertical axis represents the sugar content, and the second vertical axis represents the acidity. Also, in Fig. 6, circles represent the sugar content quality value (actually measured quality value), and squares represent the acidity quality value (actually measured quality value).

[0092] First, the control unit 21 reads the sensor information D1 and the member information D4 from the database 12, and predicts the quality value of each bunch 74, etc. based on this information (quality value prediction process: step S41).

[0093] Specifically, the control unit 21 calculates a prediction curve L10 based on the sugar content quality value (time-series sugar content data) included in the sensor information D1. For example, the control unit 21 calculates an approximate curve L11 based on time-series sugar content data from before date d0, and then calculates a sugar content prediction curve L10 by extending the approximate curve L11 in the future direction from date d0. This prediction curve L10 shows the predicted sugar content value for the future from date d0 onwards. In other words, the prediction curve L10 is a predicted sugar content (first predicted quality value).

[0094] The control unit 21 also calculates a prediction curve L20 based on the acidity quality value (acidity time-series data) included in the sensor information D1. For example, the control unit 21 calculates an approximate curve L21 based on acidity time-series data from before date d0, and then calculates the acidity prediction curve L20 by extending the approximate curve L21 in the future direction from date d0. This prediction curve L20 indicates the predicted acidity value from date d0 onwards. In other words, the prediction curve L20 is a predicted acidity (second predicted quality value). Note that a known method, such as regression analysis using the least squares method, can be used to calculate the approximate curve.

[0095] As described above, the control unit 21 obtains the predicted curve L10 as the predicted sugar content and the predicted curve L20 as the predicted acidity.

[0096] Here, the control unit 21 calculates prediction curves L10 and L20 for each category shown in Fig. 4. For example, the control unit 21 calculates prediction curves L10 and L20 for each bunch 74. The control unit 21 also calculates statistical values ​​(e.g., average or median) of the quality values ​​of the bunches 74 included in the fruit tree 72 based on the membership information D4, and calculates prediction curves L10 and L20 for each fruit tree 72 based on these statistical values. In other words, the sugar content value of the fruit tree 72 on date d0 is the statistical value of the sugar content of the bunches 74 included in the fruit tree 72 measured on date d0.

[0097] In this way, the statistical value of the quality values ​​of the lower category (the n+1th layer) is used as the quality value of the higher category (the nth layer). Similarly, the quality value of column 73 is the statistical value of the quality values ​​of the fruit trees 72 included in column 73, and the quality value of field 71 is the statistical value of the quality values ​​of column 73 included in field 71. Note that the quality value of the higher category may be the statistical value of the quality values ​​of a category two or more layers lower. For example, the quality value of field 71 (the nth layer) may be the statistical value of the quality values ​​of the bunches 74 (the n+3th layer) included in field 71.

[0098] Next, the control unit 21 calculates a first period during which both the predicted sugar content and the predicted acidity satisfy the quality conditions (first period calculation process: step S42). The quality conditions are conditions that the fruit must satisfy at the time of harvest, such as "sugar content must be equal to or greater than a predetermined first threshold value Th1 (i.e., the fruit has a certain degree of sweetness)" and "acidity must be equal to or greater than a predetermined second threshold value Th2 (i.e., the fruit has a certain degree of sourness)."

[0099] Here, the first threshold value Th1 and the second threshold value Th2 are set by the user to values ​​required for grapes used as raw materials for wine, and are stored as parameters in the memory unit 22 prior to the optimum harvest time calculation process (step S23).

[0100] The control unit 21 calculates the first period as the period during which the predicted sugar content calculated in the quality value prediction process is greater than or equal to the first threshold value Th1 and the period during which the predicted acidity calculated in the quality value prediction process is greater than or equal to the second threshold value Th2 overlap.

[0101] 6, the sugar content has a tendency to gradually increase as the days go by. Therefore, the period in which the sugar content prediction curve L10 is equal to or greater than the first threshold value Th1 is the period after point P1 (the point where Th1 is reached), that is, after date d1.

[0102] 6, the acidity value tends to gradually decrease as the days pass. Therefore, the period in which the acidity is equal to or greater than the second threshold value Th2 on the acidity prediction curve L20 is the period before point P2 (the point where Th2 is reached), and before date d2.

[0103] Since sugar content and acidity have different trends of increase and decrease over time, the first period during which both sugar content and acidity satisfy the quality conditions is the period from date d1 to date d2. The control unit 21 stores the first period calculated as described above in the memory unit 22.

[0104] Note that if there is no period in which both the sugar content and the acidity satisfy the quality requirements, the above method cannot automatically determine the first period. In this case, the control unit 21 displays the predicted curves L10 and L20 on the display unit 24 and prompts the administrator of the server 11 to specify the first period. The administrator operates the input unit 25 to specify an appropriate period as the first period based on the displayed predicted curves L10 and L20. For example, if the administrator prioritizes acidity as a quality factor for the fruit, the administrator specifies as the first period the period in which the sugar content is at or above the second threshold Th2 and thus provides the best quality. The control unit 21 stores the specified first period in the memory unit 22.

[0105] Next, the control unit 21 calculates a second period during which the weather will be suitable for harvesting fruit based on the weather information D2 (second period calculation process: step S43). The weather information D2 includes a forecast of whether the weather will be sunny or rainy and a forecast of precipitation for a period up to nine days from the present.

[0106] For example, grapes are not suitable for harvesting in rainy weather because the sugar content of the grape clusters 74 tends to be diluted by the moisture they absorb. Also, high temperatures tend to cause the grape juice to oxidize and weaken the aromatic components contained in the grape clusters 74, making these conditions unsuitable for harvesting. For these reasons, the most suitable time to harvest grapes for wine is in the morning on days when the weather is not rainy and the temperature is not too high.

[0107] Therefore, based on the weather information D2 provided by the weather information server 15, the control unit 21 extracts, for example, days when the predicted morning precipitation is equal to or less than a predetermined third threshold Th3 (for example, equal to or less than 20 mm) and when the average morning temperature is equal to or less than a predetermined fourth threshold Th4, and stores the extracted days as second periods in the storage unit 22. The control unit 21 calculates the second periods for each region in which the field 71 is located, for example, based on the member information D4.

[0108] Finally, the control unit 21 reads the first and second periods from the storage unit 22 and calculates the period in which the first and second periods overlap as the optimum harvest time X1 (optimum harvest time calculation process: step S44). The control unit 21 stores the calculated optimum harvest time X1 in the optimum harvest time database 32. This completes the optimum harvest time calculation process (step S23).

[0109] The control unit 21 may omit calculation of the second period for the higher-level category and directly calculate the first period as the optimum harvest time X1. For example, in the managed object 70, if a specific variety (e.g., variety V1) is grown in areas A1 and A2, which are each in a different administrative district, the weather may differ between area A1 and area A2. For example, in area A1, it may be rainy on date d1, which is not included in the second period, while in area A2, it may be cloudy on date d1, which is included in the second period. In such a case, since there is little practical benefit in calculating the second period for the higher-level category, such as variety, the first period is directly calculated as the optimum harvest time X1.

[0110] 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of the data structure of the optimum harvest time X1 stored in the optimum harvest time database 32. For example, the optimum harvest time X1 is calculated for each category, and a separate table for each category is stored in the optimum harvest time database 32. In the first table TB1, the optimum harvest time X1 for each variety V1, V2, V3 is stored in a state linked to time-series data (e.g., a CSV file) of the quality values ​​(actual measured values) of sugar content and acidity, and the limit time of sugar content (date d1 in FIG. 6 ) and the limit time of acidity (date d2 in FIG. 6 ) predicted in the quality value prediction process (step S41).

[0111] Furthermore, as a subcategory of variety V1, information about managers M1, M2, and M3 who grow variety V1 is stored in a second table TB2. Similarly, as a subcategory of manager M1, information about areas A1, A2, and A3 managed by manager M1 is stored in a third table TB3.

[0112] 3 . Next, the user terminal 13 receives an instruction regarding the display information Y1 from the user (user input process: step S12). For example, the control unit 41 causes the display unit 44 to display a selection screen SC1 for the user to select information desired by the user as the display information Y1. The user operates the input unit 45 to select various options displayed on the selection screen SC1, thereby specifying the information desired as the display information Y1.

[0113] 8 shows an example of the selection screen SC1. The selection screen SC1 includes a plurality of options 51 to 53 and a send button 54 for sending the selections made in these options 51 to 53 to the server 11. When the user selects each of the options 51 to 53 and clicks the send button 54, the control unit 41 generates a user request according to the selections made in the options 51 to 53.

[0114] The options 51 are options for alternatively selecting a category (the category that is specified first, and is appropriately referred to as the “first category”) to be displayed as the display information Y1. The options 51 include a plurality of radio buttons, such as a variety button 511, a manager button 512, a region button 513, and a harvest time button 514.

[0115] For example, when the variety button 511 is selected, a user request is generated requesting display information Y1 that displays the optimum harvest time X1 for each variety. Similarly, when the manager button 512 (or the region button 513) is selected, a user request is generated requesting display information Y1 that displays the optimum harvest time X1 for each manager (or region). Furthermore, when the optimum harvest time button 514 is selected, a user request is generated requesting display information Y1 that groups multiple fields 71 ​​that have similar optimum harvest times X1 and displays the optimum harvest time X1 for each group.

[0116] The options 52 are options for selecting a display mode for the amount of work X2. The options 52 include, for example, a width button 521 for displaying the amount of work X2 in the icon Z1 by width, a three-dimensional button 522 for displaying the amount by a three-dimensional shape (for example, depth), a numeric button 523 for displaying the amount by a numerical value, a color button 524 for displaying the amount by color, and a graph button 525 for displaying the amount by a graph displayed adjacent to the icon Z1.

[0117] These buttons 521 to 525 are, for example, check buttons, and multiple buttons can be selected within a range that does not contradict each other. For example, if the user wants to display the amount of work X2 by the width, value, and color of the icon Z1, the user checks the width button 521, the value button 523, and the color button 524, respectively.

[0118] The options 53 are options for alternatively selecting a policy (hereinafter referred to as an "arrangement policy") for determining the priority when arranging the icons Z1, and include a plurality of radio buttons. The options 53 include, for example, a start date order button 531 for arranging the icons Z1 in order of the earliest start date of the optimum harvest period X1, a shortest period order button 532 for arranging the icons Z1 in order of the shortest optimum harvest period X1, and a workload order button 533 for arranging the icons Z1 in order of the greatest workload X2.

[0119] Next, the control unit 41 transmits the user request to the server 11 (user request transmission process: step S13). While FIG. 3 shows the user request being transmitted after the optimum harvest time calculation process (step S23), the timing of transmitting the user request is not particularly limited. However, the server 11 may execute the optimum harvest time calculation process (step S23) without waiting for the reception of the user request. This configuration can shorten the time required from receiving the user request to the display information transmission process (step S26) described below.

[0120] Next, the server 11 calculates the workload X2 based on the workload parameter D3 (workload calculation process: step S24). In the following description, the server 11 calculates the workload X2 included in the generated display information Y1 in response to, for example, a user request. This allows the calculation range of the workload X2 to be limited to the range requested by the user, thereby reducing the amount of information processing in the server 11.

[0121] The server 11 may calculate various workloads X2 corresponding to the optimum harvest time X1 for each category in advance, without waiting for a user request. In this case, because the workload X2 not included in the user request is also calculated, the amount of information processing in the server 11 is greater than when the workload X2 is calculated in response to a user request. On the other hand, because the workload X2 included in the user request has already been calculated at the time of the user request, the time required from receiving the user request to the display information transmission process (step S26) described below can be further reduced. For example, this method is suitable when the server 11 has sufficient processing capacity and is in an environment where the workload calculation process can be performed in the background without waiting for a user request.

[0122] 9 is a subflow illustrating the details of the workload calculation process executed by the server 11. In the workload calculation process, the control unit 21 specifies the range for calculating the workload X2 and the workload parameter D3, and calculates the workload X2 based on these specified details.

[0123] First, the control unit 21 specifies the range for calculating the workload X2 in response to a user request (calculation range specification process: step S51). For example, if "variety" is selected as the first category of the user request, the control unit 21 calculates the workload X2 required for fruit harvesting for each variety. In this case, the control unit 21 does not need to calculate the workload X2 for each manager or region, thereby reducing the amount of information processing required for the calculation. That is, the control unit 21 specifies the range for calculating the workload X2 for each variety in response to the user request.

[0124] Next, the control unit 21 identifies a parameter to be emphasized in calculating the workload X2 from among the task parameters D3 (parameter identification process: step S52). The parameter identification is set by the user of the user terminal 13 or the administrator of the server 11 prior to the workload calculation process.

[0125] For example, the amount of work X2 is calculated as a weighted sum of various parameters included in the work parameter D3 as shown in equation (1).

[0126] X2=W1×α1+W2×α2+W3×α3+...+Wn×αn...(1)

[0127] Here, αn (n=1, 2, 3, ...) are various parameters included in the work parameter D3, and Wn (n=1, 2, 3, ...) are coefficients that weight these parameters. In the parameter specification process, the coefficient Wn is determined.

[0128] For example, α1 is the cultivated area of ​​field 71, α2 is the number of fruit trees 72 growing in field 71, α3 is the total number of fruit clusters 74 contained in the fruit trees 72 in field 71, α4 is the past harvest yield in field 71, and α5 is the future predicted harvest yield in field 71.

[0129] In this case, if, for example, the user wants to prioritize only the cultivated area of ​​the field 71 and the past harvest volume as the workload X2, and does not consider other parameters, the user sets only the coefficients W1 and W4 to significant values, and sets the other coefficients to 0. This allows the user to calculate the workload X2 according to the parameters that the user wants to prioritize.

[0130] Next, the control unit 21 calculates the workload X2 based on the specified calculation range and coefficient Wn (work workload calculation process: step S53). For example, the control unit 21 reads the work parameter database 33 and obtains the total cultivated area (=α1) of the fields 71 ​​belonging to variety V1 and the total past harvest volume (=α4) of the fields 71 ​​belonging to variety V1. Then, based on equation (1), the control unit 21 weights these totals α1 and α4 with coefficients W1 and W4, respectively, and calculates the sum as the workload X2 for variety V1.

[0131] Similarly, the control unit 21 calculates the workload X2 for each of the other product types V2 and V3. After calculating the workload X2 for all product types included in the managed object 70, the control unit 21 stores the workload X2 for each product type in the workload database 34. This completes the workload calculation process (step S24).

[0132] The server 11 may acquire the workload X2 by receiving, via the public communication network N1, the workload X2 that has already been calculated by a device other than the server 11. As described above, whether the server 11 itself calculates the workload X2 or receives the workload X2 from a device other than the server 11, the server 11 will be referred to as "acquiring" the workload X2 as appropriate.

[0133] 3. Next, the control unit 21 generates display information Y1 based on the optimum harvest time X1 and the workload X2 calculated in the above processes and the user request received from the user terminal 13 (display information generation process: step S25).

[0134] 10 is a subflow illustrating details of the display information generation process executed by the server 11. In the display information generation process, the control unit 21 acquires various display settings in response to a user request, and generates display information Y1 based on the acquired contents.

[0135] First, the control unit 21 acquires the first category included in the user request (category acquisition process: step S61). For example, when the product type button 511 is selected in the options 51 (FIG. 8), the control unit 21 acquires "product type" as the first category designation.

[0136] Next, the control unit 21 acquires the display mode included in the user request (display mode acquisition process: step S62). For example, if the width button 521 and the color button 524 are selected in the options 52, the control unit 21 acquires "width" and "color" as the display mode designation.

[0137] The control unit 21 also acquires the sorting policy included in the user request (sorting policy acquisition process: step S63). For example, if the workload order button 533 is selected from the options 53, the control unit 21 acquires "workload order" as the sorting policy designation.

[0138] Next, the control unit 21 generates display information Y1 including an icon Z1 visually representing the optimum harvest time X1 and the workload X2 (display information generation process: step S64). Specifically, the control unit 21 reads out the optimum harvest time X1 for each first category from the optimum harvest time database 32. The control unit 21 also reads out the workload X2 for each first category from the workload database 34.

[0139] The control unit 21 generates an icon Z1 for each first category, and for each icon Z1, represents the read-out optimum harvest time X1 by the width of one of the vertical and horizontal axes, and represents the read-out amount of work X2 according to the display mode. Then, the control unit 21 generates display information Y1 by arranging the multiple icons Z1 according to the arrangement policy. Specific examples of the display information Y1 will be described later.

[0140] 3 , the control unit 21 transmits the generated display information Y1 to the user terminal 13 (display information transmission process: step S26). The user terminal 13 displays the received display information Y1 on the display unit 44 (screen display process: step S14). The user can easily grasp the optimum harvest time X1 from the display information Y1 visually displayed on the display unit 44.

[0141] Furthermore, when the user performs a predetermined operation using the input unit 45 while the display information Y1 is being displayed, an additional user request is generated and transmitted from the user terminal 13 to the server 11 (additional request transmission process: step S15). The server 11 generates additional display information Y2 in response to the additional user request (display information generation process: step S27).

[0142] The display information Y1 includes a plurality of different icons Z1 for each first category (e.g., for each variety). For example, if a user selects the icon Z1 representing the variety V1 from among these icons Z1, the server 11 generates display information Y2 including a plurality of different icons Z1 for each subcategory of the variety V1 (e.g., for each field 71) in response to an additional user request. Specific examples of the display information Y2 will be described later.

[0143] The server 11 transmits the generated display information Y2 to the user terminal 13 (display information transmission process: step S28). The user terminal 13 displays the received display information Y2 on the display unit 44 (screen display process: step S16). The user can easily grasp the optimum harvest time X1 from the display information Y2 visually displayed on the display unit 44. This completes the series of information processing methods.

[0144] [First Example of Display Information Y1] Fig. 11 is a diagram showing an example of the display information Y1. The display information Y1 itself is digital information generated by the control unit 21. Fig. 11 shows a display screen SC2 of the user terminal 13 that is displayed based on the display information Y1. In other words, the display screen SC2 visually shows the display information Y1.

[0145] The display screen SC2 includes a period display section 81, a category display section 82, and a back button 83. The period display section 81 is an area that displays multiple icons Z1. The period display section 81 represents a period using either a vertical axis or a horizontal axis. In the example of FIG. 11 , the horizontal axis represents the period from August 21 to September 13, and these periods are displayed at equal intervals by date. For each of the multiple icons Z1, the optimum harvest time X1 is represented by the width of the horizontal axis, and the amount of work X2 is represented by the width and color of the vertical axis. For example, in an icon Z1, the greater the amount of work X2, the longer the width of the vertical axis and the darker the color.

[0146] The category display section 82 displays the categories shown in the period display section 81. In the example of the display screen SC2, multiple icons Z1 are displayed for each variety, and therefore, for example, text information such as "Variety Information" is displayed in the category display section 82. For example, when the administrator button 512 is selected in the options 51 of the selection screen SC1 in FIG. 8, multiple icons Z1 are displayed for each administrator on the display screen SC2, and text information such as "Manager Information" is displayed in the category display section 82. By looking at the display in the category display section 82, the user can understand which category the multiple icons Z1 are displayed for.

[0147] The back button 83 is a button for transitioning to the previous display, specifically, a button for transitioning from the display screen SC2 to the selection screen SC1. For example, the user presses the back button 83 when he or she wants to change from the display by product type to a display by another first category (for example, by manager). This causes the control unit 41 to display the selection screen SC1 on the display unit 44 and return to the user input process (step S12).

[0148] Hereinafter, when distinguishing between the four icons Z1 illustrated on the display screen SC2, they will be referred to as icon Z11, icon Z12, icon Z13, and icon Z14, respectively. Icon Z11 is an icon that represents the optimum harvest time X1 for variety V1 by the width of the horizontal axis, and the amount of work X2 for variety V1 by the width and color of the vertical axis. Furthermore, icon Z12 represents the optimum harvest time X1 and the amount of work X2 for variety V2, icon Z13 represents the optimum harvest time X1 for variety V3, and icon Z14 represents the optimum harvest time X1 and the amount of work X2 for variety V4 in the same manner as icon Z11.

[0149] For example, by looking at the width of icon Z11, it can be seen that the optimum harvest period X1 for variety V1 begins on August 21st and ends on August 27th. Furthermore, because icon Z12 has the shortest width among the multiple icons Z1, it can be seen that the optimum harvest period X1 for variety V2 is the shortest among the multiple varieties. In this way, by representing the optimum harvest period X1 by the width of one axis of the multiple icons Z1, the user can visually grasp the start, end, and length of the optimum harvest period X1 for each of the multiple varieties included in the managed object 70.

[0150] Furthermore, since the icon Z11 has the longest vertical width among the multiple icons Z1 (or the icon Z11 has the darkest color), it can be seen that the workload X2 of the multiple workload V1 is the greatest among the multiple workloads. In this way, by expressing the workload X2 by the width of the other axis of the multiple icons Z1, the user can visually grasp the amount of workload X2 of each of the multiple workloads included in the managed object 70.

[0151] As described above, by displaying the optimum harvest time X1 and the amount of work X2 on a single icon Z1, the user can determine an appropriate harvest date from the optimum harvest time X1 while taking into consideration the amount of work X2. In this way, by also displaying the amount of work X2, the optimum harvest time X1 can be displayed to the user in an appropriate manner.

[0152] 12 is a diagram showing another state of the display information Y1. Fig. 12 illustrates a method for specifying a second category (a category specified after the first category) in the display information Y1. For example, a user may wish to check more detailed information about variety V1 in order to develop a harvest plan for variety V1.

[0153] To cope with such a case, in this embodiment, when a predetermined operation is performed on icon Z1 on display screen SC2 using mouse pointer 84, a dialog box 85 for selecting the second category is displayed. Here, the predetermined operation is, for example, hovering the mouse pointer 84 over icon Z1 or clicking icon Z1.

[0154] The dialog 85 includes a plurality of buttons for alternatively selecting the second category. For example, the dialog 85 includes a region button 851, an administrator button 852, and an optimum harvest time button 853. For example, when the region button 851 is selected in the dialog 85 displayed by clicking the icon Z11, an additional user request is generated requesting display information Y2 that displays optimum harvest times X1 for each region as a subcategory of the variety V1, and the user request is transmitted to the server 11 (step S15).

[0155] [First Example of Display Information Y2] Fig. 13 is a diagram showing an example of the display information Y2. The display information Y2 itself is digital information generated by the control unit 21. Fig. 13 shows a display screen SC3 of the user terminal 13 that is displayed based on the display information Y2. In other words, the display screen SC3 visually shows the display information Y2.

[0156] The display screen SC3 includes a period display section 81, a category display section 82, a back button 83, and a map display button 86. Descriptions of the same displays on the display screen SC3 as those on the display screen SC2 will be omitted as appropriate.

[0157] The category display unit 82 includes a first category display unit 821 that displays an item selected from the first category on the display screen SC2, and a second category display unit 822 that displays the second category shown in the period display unit 81. As described in FIG. 12 , the user selected variety V1 from the first category (varieties) and selected "area" as the second category. Therefore, in the example of the display screen SC3, text information "V1" is displayed in the first category display unit 821, and text information "Area Information" is displayed in the second category display unit 822. By looking at the display in the category display unit 82, the user can see that multiple icons Z1 are displayed for each second category (each area) in which variety V1 is grown.

[0158] The back button 83 is a button for transitioning from the display screen SC3 to the display screen SC2. For example, if the user wants to check the display for each product type again, he or she clicks the back button 83. This causes the control unit 41 to return to the screen display process (step S14) and cause the display unit 44 to display the display screen SC2.

[0159] Hereinafter, when distinguishing between the four icons Z1 illustrated on the display screen SC3, they will be referred to as icon Z21a, icon Z21b, icon Z22, and icon Z23, respectively. Icons Z21a and Z21b represent the optimum harvest time X1 for the field 71 in region A1 where variety V1 is grown by the width of the horizontal axis, and similarly represent the amount of work X2 by the width and color of the vertical axis. For example, if the optimum harvest time X1 in region A1 is divided into a first half period from August 21 to August 23 and a second half period from August 26 to August 27, then the icon Z1 representing region A1 will be displayed as two icons Z21a and Z21b.

[0160] In addition, icon Z22 represents the optimum harvest time X1 and the amount of work X2 for a field 71 in area A2 where variety V1 is grown, and icon Z23 represents the optimum harvest time X1 and the amount of work X2 for a field 71 in area A3 where variety V1 is grown, in the same manner as icons Z21a and 21b.

[0161] The map display button 86 is a button for switching the period display section 81 to a map display section 81a that displays icons geographically. When the user clicks the map display button 86, the display screen transitions to a display screen SC3 shown in FIG.

[0162] 14 is a diagram showing another state of the display information Y2. For example, when the user wants to check the geographical information of the areas A1, A2, and A3, the user clicks the map display button 86. This switches the period display section 81 to the map display section 81a, and the map display button 86 to the period display button 87.

[0163] The map display section 81a is an area that displays a plurality of icons Z2. The map display section 81a represents, for example, latitude and longitude using vertical and horizontal axes. The map display section 81a displays, for example, a topographical map. The plurality of icons Z2 correspond to the respective areas A1, A2, and A3, and the positions of the icons Z2 represent the locations of the respective areas A1, A2, and A3, and the sizes of the icons Z2 represent the sizes of the respective areas A1, A2, and A3. The icons Z2 are displayed with transparency (e.g., 50% transparency) and are overlaid on the topographical map of the map display section 81a.

[0164] In addition, the icon Z2 includes a display Z2a indicating the optimum harvest time X1. Therefore, by looking at the multiple icons Z2, the user can visually grasp the location, size, and optimum harvest time X1 of each area A1, A2, A3. Furthermore, by making the color of the icon Z2 for an area with a large amount of work X2 darker, the user can also grasp the amount of work X2.

[0165] When the amount of work X2 is represented by color in the icon Z2, a predetermined color coding may be used instead of a shade of color. For example, like the color coding used in thermography, the amount of work X2 may be represented by color coding in the order of black, blue, green, yellow, orange, red, and white, from a region with a small amount of work X2 to a region with a large amount of work X2. Such color coding may also be used in the icon Z1.

[0166] 13. The user may wish to confirm more detailed information in order to create a harvest plan for, for example, a field 71 in area A1 where variety V1 is being cultivated. To accommodate such a case, in this embodiment, the user clicks on icon Z1 on display screen SC3 (FIG. 13), which transitions from display screen SC3 to display screen SC4.

[0167] For example, when the user clicks on icon Z22, an additional user request is generated requesting display information Y3 that displays optimum harvest times X1 for each field 71 included in area A2 as a subcategory of area A2, and the user request is transmitted to the server 11. The server 11 generates display information Y3 in response to the user request and transmits it to the user terminal 13. As a result, a display screen SC4 based on the display information Y3 is displayed on the display unit 44 of the user terminal 13.

[0168] [First Example of Display Information Y3] Fig. 15 is a diagram showing an example of display information Y3. The display information Y3 itself is digital information generated by the control unit 21. Fig. 15 shows a display screen SC4 of the user terminal 13 that is displayed based on the display information Y3. In other words, the display screen SC4 visually shows the display information Y3.

[0169] The display screen SC4 includes a period display section 81, a category display section 82, a back button 83, and a map display button 86. Descriptions of the same displays on the display screen SC4 as those on the display screen SC2 will be omitted as appropriate.

[0170] The period display section 81 of the display screen SC4 includes a climate display section 811. The climate display section 811 represents the climate for each date using a predetermined symbol. For example, sunny weather is represented by a sun symbol, cloudy weather by a cloud symbol, and rainy weather by a cloud symbol with drops falling from it. By displaying the weather in this manner, the user can easily understand the weather forecast for that date. In addition to the climate, the climate display section 811 may also display the predicted temperature and humidity for that day. Furthermore, because grape harvesting often takes place in the morning, the climate, temperature, and humidity displayed in the climate display section 811 may be values ​​for the morning of that day.

[0171] The category display unit 82 includes a first category display unit 821, a second category display unit 823 that displays an item selected from the second category on the display screen SC3, and a third category display unit 824 that displays the third category shown in the period display unit 81. As described with reference to FIG. 13 , the user selected variety V1 from the first category (variety) and region A2 from the second category (region). Therefore, in the example of the display screen SC4, the first category display unit 821 displays text information "V1," the second category display unit 823 displays text information "A2," and the third category display unit 824 displays text information "Farm Information." By viewing the display in the category display unit 82, the user can see that multiple icons Z1 are displayed for each third category (each field 71) included in region A2 where variety V1 is grown.

[0172] The back button 83 is a button for transitioning from the display screen SC4 to the display screen SC3. For example, if the user wants to check the display by region again, he or she clicks the back button 83. This causes the control unit 41 to return to the screen display process (step S16) and cause the display unit 44 to display the display screen SC3.

[0173] Hereinafter, when distinguishing between the three icons Z1 illustrated on the display screen SC4, they will be referred to as icon Z31, icon Z32, and icon Z33, respectively. Icon Z31 is an icon that represents the optimum harvest time X1 for field F1 in region A2 where variety V1 is grown using the width of the horizontal axis, and similarly represents the amount of work X2 using the width and color of the vertical axis. Furthermore, icon Z32 is an icon that represents the optimum harvest time X1 and the amount of work X2 for field F2 in region A2 where variety V1 is grown, and icon Z33 is an icon that represents the optimum harvest time X1 and the amount of work X2 for field F3 in region A2 where variety V1 is grown, in the same manner as icon Z31.

[0174] Here, the optimum harvest time X1 for field F1 includes a first optimum time and a second optimum time with worse harvesting conditions than the first optimum time. For example, the first optimum time is the most suitable period for harvesting, and the second optimum time is the next best period that is not the most suitable for harvesting but is somewhat suitable for harvesting. The control unit 21 displays the second optimum time in icon Z31 in a different color from the first optimum time. Specifically, as shown in section Z31a, August 24, which corresponds to the second optimum time, in icon Z31 in a different color from the other periods (first optimum time).

[0175] Similarly, if the optimum harvest time X1 for field F3 includes a first optimum time and a second optimum time, the control unit 21 displays the second optimum time in a different color from the first optimum time, as shown in section Z33a, allowing the user to easily understand the first optimum time and the second optimum time.

[0176] The map display button 86 is a button for switching the period display section 81 to a map display section 81a that displays icons geographically. When the user clicks the map display button 86, the screen transitions to a display screen that shows the geographical locations of the multiple fields F1, F2, and F3, as in FIG. 14 .

[0177] Alternatively, for example, clicking on icon Z31 may display a graph ( FIG. 6 ) showing predicted quality values ​​for field F1, allowing the user to select a more suitable harvest date from the optimum harvest time X1 based on specific values ​​in the graph.

[0178] Additionally, by clicking on the icon Z31, aerial images of the field F1 may be displayed in chronological order, allowing the user to select a suitable harvest date while observing the latest and past image capture results of the field F1 taken by the camera 61.

[0179] As described above, the control unit 21 generates the plurality of pieces of display information Y1, Y2, and Y3. Then, the user terminal 13 displays the display information Y1 (the “first display information” of the present disclosure) including the plurality of icons Z1 that differ for each first category, and then displays the display information Y2 (the “second display information” of the present disclosure) including the plurality of icons Z1 that differ for each second category in response to a user operation, and further displays the display information Y3 including the plurality of icons Z1 that differ for each third category in response to a user operation.

[0180] For example, if the managed object 70 includes a large number of fields 71 ​​(e.g., 100 fields 71), the number of icons Z1 will be enormous (e.g., 100) if display information including a different icon Z1 for each field 71 is initially displayed on the user terminal 13. Furthermore, because various fields 71, such as the field 71 in region A1 where variety V1 is grown and the field 71 in region A2 where variety V2 is grown, are each represented by an icon Z1, a user viewing this will not know which icon Z1 to focus on, which can result in a display that is difficult to read.

[0181] In contrast to this, in the present embodiment, display information Y1 is first generated that includes multiple different icons Z1 for each category higher than the field 71 (for example, by variety, manager, or region), and this is displayed to the user, thereby reducing the number of icons Z1 to a certain extent and grouping the icons Z1 into the same category.

[0182] This makes it easier for the user to assign priorities, for example, based on the display in Figure 11, such as "Let's create a harvest plan starting with variety V1, which has the most work volume X2," or "Let's create a harvest plan starting with variety V2, which has the second most work volume X2 and the shortest optimum harvest period X1," and thus helps the user to easily find a starting point.

[0183] Furthermore, for example, by displaying display information Y1 including a plurality of icons Z1 that differ for each variety, and then displaying display information Y2 including an icon Z1 relating to the variety V1 selected by the user and the corresponding regional field, detailed information about the variety on which the user wishes to focus can be shown, and the optimum harvest time X1 can be displayed more appropriately in order from the general outline to the details.

[0184] In the above example, the information is detailed in the order of variety type (display information Y1), region (display information Y2), and field (display information Y3). However, the order of detailed categories is not limited to this. For example, after displaying display information Y1, the display by region may be omitted, and display information Y3 may be displayed, including an icon Z1 relating to the field 71 where the variety V1 selected by the user is grown.

[0185] Furthermore, after the display information Y3 is displayed, display information including a plurality of different icons Z1 may be displayed for each of the columns 73, fruit trees 72, or bunches 74, which are sub-categories of the field 71. This allows the user to grasp the optimum harvest time X1 in the field 71 in more detail.

[0186] [Second Example of Display Information Y2] Fig. 16 is a diagram showing another example of display information Y2. When the user selects the administrator button 852 in Fig. 12, the server 11 generates display information Y2 in which multiple icons Z1 are displayed for each administrator, as shown in Fig. 16, and transmits this to the user terminal 13. Then, a display screen SC3 based on the display information Y2 is displayed on the display unit 44 of the user terminal 13.

[0187] 16, the text information "V1" is displayed in the first category display section 821, and the text information "Manager Information" is displayed in the second category display section 822. By looking at the display in the category display section 82, the user can see that multiple icons Z1 are displayed for each manager who is cultivating variety V1.

[0188] The multiple icons Z1 include an icon Z24 indicating the optimum harvest time X1 and the amount of work X2 for the field 71 of manager M1, who is cultivating variety V1; an icon Z25 indicating the optimum harvest time X1 and the amount of work X2 for the field 71 of manager M2, who is cultivating variety V1; and an icon Z26 indicating the optimum harvest time X1 and the amount of work X2 for the field 71 of manager M3, who is cultivating variety V1. The multiple icons Z1 are also labeled with the names of the managers. For example, icon Z24 is labeled with the name of manager M1, "AAA Winery," icon Z25 is labeled with the name of manager M2, "BBB Winery," and icon Z26 is labeled with the name of manager M3, "CCC Corp."

[0189] By looking at these icons Z1, the user can visually grasp the optimum harvest time X1 and the amount of work X2 of each of the multiple managers who are cultivating variety V1.

[0190] [Third Example of Display Information Y2] Figure 17 is a diagram showing another example of display information Y2. When the user selects the optimum harvest time button 853 in Figure 12, the server 11 generates display information Y2 in which multiple icons Z1 are displayed for each group of fields 71 ​​whose optimum harvest time X1 is close, as shown in Figure 17, and transmits this to the user terminal 13. Then, a display screen SC3 based on the display information Y2 is displayed on the display unit 44 of the user terminal 13.

[0191] In step S23, the control unit 21 calculates the optimum harvest time X1 for each of the multiple fields 71, and then groups the fields 71 ​​that have similar optimum harvest times X1. The grouping method is not particularly limited, and for example, the multiple fields 71 ​​may be grouped by executing a known clustering algorithm such as the K-means method on a plot of the multiple fields 71 ​​with the start time on the horizontal axis and the end time on the vertical axis.

[0192] 17 , the text information "V1" is displayed in the first category display section 821, and the text information "Period Information" is displayed in the second category display section 822. By looking at the display in the category display section 82, the user can see that multiple icons Z1 are displayed for each group of multiple fields 71 ​​where variety V1 is being cultivated that have similar optimum harvest times X1.

[0193] The plurality of icons Z1 include icons Z27, Z28, and Z29 that indicate the optimum harvest times X1 and the amount of work X2 for groups G1, G2, and G3, respectively. By looking at these icons Z1, the user can visually understand, for example, that the optimum harvest times X1 are concentrated on August 24 and August 25, and that, among the plurality of groups, the optimum harvest time X1 for group G1 in particular is short and the amount of work X2 is large.

[0194] [Second Example of Display Information Y1] Figure 18 is a diagram showing another example of display information Y1. To distinguish it from the display information Y1 shown in Figure 11, the display information Y1 in Figure 18 will be referred to as "display information Y1a" as appropriate. In the display information Y1 in Figure 11, the icon Z1 represents the optimum harvest time X1 by its width, and the amount of work X2 by its height and color.

[0195] However, the method of expressing the amount of work X2 is not limited to this. In the display information Y1a, the amount of work X2 is expressed by the depth of the icon Z3. Specifically, in the period display section 81 of the display information Y1a, multiple icons Z3 are displayed in place of the multiple icons Z1. The icon Z3 is an icon represented by a rectangular parallelepiped, and the optimum harvest time X1 is expressed by its width, and the amount of work X2 is expressed by its depth.

[0196] For example, when the user checks the stereo button 522 (FIG. 8) among the options 52 in the user input process (step S12), the server 11 generates the display information Y1a.

[0197] [Third Example of Display Information Y1] Figure 19 is a diagram showing another example of display information Y1. To distinguish it from the display information Y1 shown in Figure 11, the display information Y1 of Figure 19 will be referred to as "display information Y1b" as appropriate. In display information Y1b, the workload X2 is represented by a graph Z5 displayed adjacent to an icon Z4. Specifically, in the period display section 81 of display information Y1b, multiple icons Z4 are displayed in place of the multiple icons Z1. Icon Z4 is an icon whose width represents the optimum harvest time X1.

[0198] The graph Z5 is displayed directly below the corresponding icon Z4. To visually represent the correspondence between the icon Z4 and the graph Z5, the icon Z4 and the graph Z5 are shown in the same color. The correspondence between the icon Z4 and the graph Z5 may be visually represented by connecting them with a graphic such as a line or an arrow.

[0199] Graph Z5 is a bar graph in which the height of the bar indicates the amount of work X2. Note that graph Z5 may be another type of graph, such as a line graph. Graph Z5 includes a display of a numerical value Z5a indicating the amount of work X2. Note that numerical value Z5a may be displayed within icon Z4 rather than within graph Z5. By looking at graph Z5 together with icon Z4, the user can quantitatively grasp the amount of work X2.

[0200] For example, when the numeric button 523 and the graph button 525 (FIG. 8) among the options 52 are checked in the user input process (step S12), the server 11 generates the display information Y1b.

[0201] 11, the icons Z1 are arranged from top to bottom in descending order of the amount of work X2. However, the arrangement order of the icons Z1 is not limited to this, and the icons Z1 may be arranged according to other arrangement policies.

[0202] For example, if the start order button 531 (FIG. 8) among the options 53 is checked in the user input process (step S12), the server 11 generates display information Y1 in which multiple icons Z1 are arranged in order of the earliest start of the optimum harvest time X1. In the example of FIG. 11, the display in order of the largest amount of work X2 and the display in order of the earliest start of the optimum harvest time X1 are the same.

[0203] Furthermore, when the shortest harvest time button 532 (FIG. 8) is checked among the options 53 in the user input process (step S12), the server 11 generates display information Y1 in which multiple icons Z1 are arranged in order of the shortest optimum harvest time X1. In this case, in the example of FIG. 11, the icons are arranged in this order from top to bottom: icon Z12, icon Z11, icon Z14, and icon Z13.

[0204] In addition, when there are icons Z1 in the same order among multiple icons Z1, the order of the icons Z1 in the same order may be determined based on another sorting policy. In the example of Fig. 11, when multiple icons Z1 are sorted in order of the shortest optimum harvest time X1, icon Z11 and icon Z14 are sorted in the same order. In this case, the second sorting policy may be adopted, in order of the greatest amount of work X2, and the icons Z11 and Z14 may be sorted from top to bottom.

[0205] [Additional Note] At least some of the above-described embodiments and modifications may be combined with each other in any desired manner. Furthermore, the embodiments and modifications disclosed herein should be considered to be illustrative and not restrictive in all respects. The scope of the present disclosure is defined by the claims, and it is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims.

[0206] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 Information processing system 11 Server (information processing device) 12 Database 13 User terminal 14 Sensor information server 15 Weather information server 21 Control unit 22 Memory unit 23 Communication unit 24 Display unit 25 Input unit 26 Bus 27 Computer program 31 Sensor information database 32 Optimal harvest time database 33 Work parameter database 34 Work volume database 35 Member information database 41 Control unit 42 Memory unit 43 Communication unit 44 Display unit 45 Input unit 46 Bus 47 Computer program 54 Send button 51, 52, 53 Options 511 Variety button 512 Administrator button 513 Area button 514 Optimal harvest time button 521 Width button 522 Three-dimensional button 523 Numerical value button 524 Color button 525 Graph button 531 Start time order button 532 Short-term order button 533 Work volume order button 60 Sensor group 61 Camera 62 Quality sensor 70 Managed object 71 Field 72 Fruit tree 73 Row 74 Bunch 81 Period display section 81a Map display section 811 Climate display section 82 Category display section 821 First category display section 822 Second category display section 823 Second category display section 824 Third category display section 83 Button 84 Mouse pointer 85 Dialog 851 Region button 852 Administrator button 853 Optimal harvest time button 86 Map display button 87 Period display button N1 Public communication network X1 Optimal harvest time X2 Work volume Y1, Y2, Y3 Display information Z1, Z2, Z3, Z4 Icon Z5 Graph SC1 Selection screen SC2, SC3, SC4 Display screen V1, V2, V3, V4 Product type M1, M2, M3 Administrator A1, A2, A3 Region D1 Sensor information D2 Weather information D3 Work parameters D4 Member information L10 Prediction curve L11 Approximation curve L20 Prediction curve L21 Approximation curve Th1 First threshold Th2 Second threshold TB1 First table TB2 Second table TB3 Third table

Claims

1. An information processing device comprising: an acquisition unit that acquires the optimum harvesting period for fruits and load information related to the harvesting load of the fruits; a control unit that executes a generation process that generates display information including icons indicating the length of the optimum harvesting period and the amount of the harvesting load based on the optimum harvesting period and the load information provided by the acquisition unit; and an output process that outputs the display information to a display device.

2. The information processing device of claim 1, wherein the control unit generates the display information that represents the optimum harvest time by the width of one of the vertical and horizontal axes of the icon, and the harvest load by at least one of the width of the other of the vertical and horizontal axes of the icon, the color of the icon, the depth of the icon if the icon is displayed three-dimensionally, a numerical value displayed on the icon, and a graph displayed adjacent to the icon.

3. An information processing device according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the control unit manages a plurality of fruit orchards each growing a different variety, and the display information includes a plurality of icons that differ for each variety.

4. The information processing device of claim 3, wherein the control unit generates a plurality of pieces of display information, and the plurality of pieces of display information includes: first display information including a plurality of icons that differ for each variety; and second display information including an icon related to the fruit orchard where the variety selected by the user is grown.

5. The information processing device described in claim 4, wherein the second display information includes a plurality of icons that differ for each manager, region, or group with the closest optimum harvest time for the fruit orchard where the variety selected by the user is grown.

6. An information processing device as described in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the control unit acquires the load information based on parameters, and the parameters include at least one of the size of each of the plurality of fruit orchards, the number of fruit trees growing in each of the plurality of fruit orchards, and the past harvest yield or the future predicted harvest yield in each of the plurality of fruit orchards.

7. An information processing device as described in any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein the control unit generates the display information including a plurality of the icons, and the plurality of the icons are displayed in a line along one of the axes according to a predetermined priority policy, and the policy is to display the icons in order of earliest start of the optimum harvest period, earliest start of the optimum harvest period, or largest harvest load.

8. An information processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the optimum harvest time includes a first optimum time and a second optimum time having worse harvesting conditions than the first optimum time, and the control unit displays the second optimum time in the icon in a different way from the first optimum time.

9. An information processing system comprising: an information processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 8; and a user terminal having the display device, wherein the information processing device further comprises a communication unit that transmits the display information to the user terminal, and the user terminal displays the icon on the display device based on the display information.

10. An information processing method comprising the steps of: acquiring load information relating to the optimum harvesting period for fruits and the harvesting load of the fruits; generating display information including icons indicating the length of the optimum harvesting period and the amount of the harvesting load based on the optimum harvesting period and the load information; and outputting the display information to a display device.

11. A computer program that causes a computer to execute the steps of: acquiring load information regarding the optimum harvesting period for fruits and the harvesting load of the fruits; generating display information including icons indicating the length of the optimum harvesting period and the amount of the harvesting load based on the optimum harvesting period and the load information; and outputting the display information to a display device.

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