Vehicle Scheduling for Event Goods Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Large numbers of advance goods purchasers at event sites lead to congestion as they wait to receive their goods, which existing technologies have not adequately addressed.
Innovation Solution
An information processing apparatus that plans the service schedule of vehicles transporting visitors to an event site by receiving advance purchases, setting a threshold for the number of people that can be served per time period, and distributing goods purchasers among vehicles to ensure concurrent arrivals do not exceed this threshold, thereby reducing wait times and congestion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If advance purchase of goods is accepted from visitors, then convenience for visitors is improved, but congestion at the event site increases due to long lines for goods receipt
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the goods purchasers into multiple groups and assigns them to different vehicles, distributing arrivals at the event site across multiple time periods. This segmentation prevents all goods purchasers from arriving simultaneously, thereby reducing congestion while maintaining the convenience of advance purchase.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action by assigning vehicles to goods purchasers before the event site, planning their routes and arrival times in advance. This preliminary arrangement ensures that goods purchasers are distributed across different time periods, preventing congestion at the receipt counter while preserving the benefit of advance purchase.
2Device complexity
If all goods purchasers arrive at the event site simultaneously, then simplicity of goods distribution is maintained, but wait time for goods receipt increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the simultaneous arrival of goods purchasers into multiple staggered arrival waves using different vehicles. This segmentation extends the goods distribution period, reducing wait time while maintaining operational simplicity through automated vehicle scheduling.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic action by scheduling vehicles to arrive at the event site at different time intervals. This periodic arrival pattern distributes goods purchasers across multiple time periods, reducing individual wait times while maintaining a simple and systematic distribution process.
3Productivity
If the number of vehicles is increased to transport more visitors, then capacity to handle goods purchasers is improved, but cost and complexity of transportation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the vehicle assignment flexible and adaptive. The system dynamically assigns vehicles to goods purchasers based on real-time needs and arrival patterns, optimizing capacity utilization without requiring a fixed, complex transportation infrastructure. This dynamic approach improves handling capacity while keeping the system relatively simple.
Data Source
AI summary
An information processing apparatus, an information processing method, or a non-transitory storage medium plans a service schedule of vehicles that transport visitors to an event site. The apparatus includes a processor configured to execute: receiving advance purchase of goods sold in the event site from the visitors; setting a threshold for a total value of upper limit numbers of people up to which the goods can be handed over per predetermined period of time respectively at one or more shops at the event site; when the number of goods purchasers purchased the goods in advance exceeds the threshold, distributing the goods purchasers such that the goods purchasers in number smaller than or equal to the threshold get a ride on each vehicle; and planning the service schedule of the vehicles such that the number of goods purchasers who concurrently arrive at the event site does not exceed the threshold.