Bulletin Posting Route Optimization System

Solution Overview

Problem

The existing advertisement generation systems do not optimize the route taken by workers when posting multiple bulletins in stores, leading to inefficiencies such as detours and carrying heavy materials over long distances, which decreases working efficiency.

Innovation Solution

An information processing system that includes an information acquisition unit to gather data on bulletin posting locations, a determination unit to determine the most efficient order of visitation, and an instruction unit to provide instructions for printing and outputting the bulletins based on this order, utilizing a network of control servers, head-office terminals, and image forming apparatuses in stores.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a worker visits posting locations in an arbitrary order, then the posting task can be completed, but the worker takes detours and carries heavy materials over long distances, decreasing working efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveworking efficiencyVSAvoidtime spent on detours

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary determination of the optimal visitation order before the worker begins posting bulletins. The determination unit calculates the most efficient route based on posting locations and bulletin weights, and the instruction unit provides this optimized sequence to the worker in advance, allowing the worker to prepare and follow the optimal path without making decisions during execution

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates a virtual model of the posting task including posting locations, bulletin weights, and route calculations. This virtual copy is processed by the determination unit to find the optimal sequence, which is then transmitted to the worker as instructional information, separating the complex calculation work from the physical execution work

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Productivity

If a worker visits posting locations in an arbitrary order, then the posting task can be completed, but the worker carries heavy bulletins for long distances, increasing physical effort

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveworking efficiencyVSAvoiddistance carried with materials

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary determination of the optimal visitation order before the worker begins posting bulletins. The determination unit calculates the most efficient route based on posting locations and bulletin weights, and the instruction unit provides this optimized sequence to the worker in advance, allowing the worker to prepare and follow the optimal path without making decisions during execution

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The determination unit evaluates multiple possible visitation sequences and selects the one that minimizes the total weighted distance. By changing the parameter of visitation order from arbitrary to optimized, the system reduces the physical effort required while maintaining complete bulletin posting

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If the system determines an optimized visitation order, then working efficiency improves, but the system complexity increases due to additional determination and instruction units

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveworking efficiencyVSAvoidsystem structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The determination unit serves multiple functions: it receives posting location information, calculates optimal routes, determines visitation sequences, and outputs instructions. This multi-functional unit consolidates what could be separate complex subsystems into a single integrated component, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining the optimization capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates a virtual model of the posting task including posting locations, bulletin weights, and route calculations. This virtual copy is processed by the determination unit to find the optimal sequence, which is then transmitted to the worker as instructional information, separating the complex calculation work from the physical execution work

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentUS11372597B2Information processing system, and non-transitory computer readable medium

Publication Date: 2022.06.28 FUJIFILM BUSINESS INNOVATION CORP

AI summary

An information processing system includes an information acquisition unit that acquires information on multiple bulletins to be posted in posting locations that are different from each other, a determination unit that determines, based on the information, an order of visitation according to which a worker posting bulletins visits each of the posting locations, and an instruction unit that provides an instruction to output printed matter that accounts for the order of visitation determined.