JP2003288689A - Vehicle allocation support method, vehicle allocation support system and vehicle allocation support program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the vehicle allocation efficiency and enable the rapid response to a client's request by enabling the proper selection of a vehicle to be dispatched to an intended position by precisely grasping the operating state of each vehicle. <P>SOLUTION: When an operator enters a load receiving place in an allocation computer 4, information for the load receiving place is transmitted to the vehicle allocation support system 2. In the vehicle allocation support system, the linear distance between two points is calculated by a distance calculation system 6 based on the information for the load receiving place and the position information of each vehicle stored in a vehicle information database 10, the distance between two points is compared every vehicle, and telephone numbers of vehicles within near distances are listed on the display 14 of the allocation computer 4. The operator selects an optimum vehicle from the list displayed on the display 14, considering the distance from each vehicle to the receiving place, the loading state of each vehicle, and the like. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vehicle allocation support method, a vehicle allocation support system, and a vehicle support program that contribute to improving operational efficiency of a plurality of vehicles.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when a shipping company or the like uses a plurality of vehicles to collect and deliver parcels, each vehicle periodically collects and delivers the parcels and requests for collection. It was general that the person in charge of the transportation company or the like who received the information contacted the mobile phone of the driver, and the vehicle of the driver went to the requested location to collect the cargo. In the latter case, the person in charge contacts the driver of the vehicle that seems to be near the requested location, confirms the current location of the vehicle and the loading status of the vehicle, and the vehicle can respond to the request. If so, it gives instructions to go to the requested place.

[0003]

By the way, in the method in which the person in charge communicates with the driver by telephone as described above, the person in charge exchanges the current position or loading condition of each vehicle several times a day. Since it can be known only by phone, it was not always possible to give instructions to the most suitable vehicle near the requested location when the vehicle had to be headed to the requested location in response to a pickup request. That is, even if another vehicle that can handle the request is closer to the request place, if the person in charge finds a vehicle that seems to be suitable to some extent by telephone contact, the vehicle that seems to be suitable will be requested. The other vehicles above were not utilized because they would comply.

Further, when the driver cannot answer the telephone immediately, for example, when the driver is unloading luggage, the person in charge cannot contact the driver. The dispatch decision is delayed. In particular, if the requester makes an urgent delivery request, the person in charge may have to call back to the requester after making the vehicle allocation decision. There was a problem in that it could be a nuisance to the client and could lead to a decline in the credit of the transportation company.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and it is possible to appropriately select a vehicle to be headed for a target position by accurately grasping the operation status of each vehicle, and to improve dispatch efficiency. It is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle dispatch support method, a vehicle dispatch support system, and a vehicle dispatch support program that enable quick response to requests from clients and the like.

[0006]

In order to solve the above problems, in the vehicle allocation support method according to the first aspect, the server is a GPS
A position information receiving step of receiving vehicle position information detected by the GPS terminal from a plurality of vehicles equipped with terminals, and determining a vehicle located at a position close to a predetermined target position from the plurality of vehicles. And a distance information acquisition step of obtaining a distance from the target position to the vehicle position determined by the vehicle position information for each vehicle.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle allocation support method according to the first aspect, a receiving means for receiving information from the server is mounted on the plurality of vehicles.
The server executes a destination position information transmitting step of transmitting address information or map information of the destination position to a receiving unit of the vehicle which is determined to be near the destination position based on the distance. And

According to a third aspect of the invention, in the vehicle allocation support method according to the first or second aspect, the server is
It is characterized in that a loading information receiving step of receiving loading information relating to a loading state of luggage from the plurality of vehicles is further executed.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle allocation support method according to the third aspect, the server displays the vehicle position, the distance, and the loading information by comparing them for each vehicle. The vehicle information display step of displaying the vehicle information is further executed.

The vehicle allocation support system according to claim 5 is G
Position information receiving means for receiving vehicle position information detected by the GPS terminal from a plurality of vehicles equipped with PS terminals, and a vehicle located near a predetermined target position from the plurality of vehicles. To this end, a server having a distance information acquisition unit for obtaining the distance from the target position to the vehicle position determined by the vehicle position information for each vehicle is provided.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle allocation support system according to the first aspect, a receiving means for receiving information from the server is mounted on the plurality of vehicles, and the server is It is characterized by further comprising target position information transmitting means for transmitting the address information or map information of the target position to the receiving means of the vehicle which is determined to be near the target position based on the distance.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle allocation support system according to the fifth or sixth aspect, the server receives loading information relating to a loading state of luggage from the plurality of vehicles. It is characterized in that the receiving means is further executed.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle allocation support system according to the seventh aspect, the server displays the vehicle position, the distance, and the loading information by comparing them for each vehicle. It is characterized by further comprising vehicle information display means for displaying.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a program according to claim 9, wherein the computer receives position information of vehicles detected by the GPS terminals from a plurality of vehicles having GPS terminals mounted on the computer. In order to execute a distance information acquisition step for determining the distance from the target position to the vehicle position determined by the vehicle position information for each vehicle in order to determine the vehicle that is close to the predetermined target position from the vehicle It is a vehicle dispatch support program of.

[0015]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a delivery system including a vehicle allocation support system according to the present invention. The delivery system 1 includes a vehicle allocation support system 2 and a G carried by a driver.
Mobile phones 3a, 3b, 3c with PS function, computer 4 for allocating vehicles that manage the operating conditions of vehicles, map providing system 5 for accumulating information to be transmitted to mobile phones 3a, 3b, 3c, and distance calculation And a system 6.

Mobile phones with GPS function 3a, 3b, 3
c has a built-in chip for receiving radio waves from GPS in the main body of the mobile phone, and uses radio waves from GPS satellites and radio waves from a base station for mobile communication to obtain information about the current position and to search the network from the mobile terminal. Position information (coordinate information on the WGS84 system) transmitted to the positioning server (not shown) of the vehicle allocation support system 2
Sent to.

This position information is stored in the mobile phones 3a, 3b, 3
mobile phones 3a, 3 via the WAP-Internet gateway provided between c and the vehicle dispatch support system 2.
It is transmitted from b and 3c to the vehicle dispatch support system 2,
Mobile phones 3a, 3b and 3c are WAP (Wireless Applica
location information can be periodically transmitted to the vehicle dispatch support system 2. The vehicle allocation support system 2 includes mobile phones 3a, 3b, 3
It is possible to grasp the positional change of the mobile phones 3a, 3b, 3c by using the positional information periodically transmitted from c. Also, each time the driver finishes delivering the package, the driver uses the mobile phone to send information regarding the completed package to the vehicle dispatch support system 2. The vehicle allocation support system 2 can know the loading status of the loading platform of the vehicle based on the information received from the mobile phone.

Although only three mobile phones are shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of mobile phones of three or more may be used.

As shown in FIG. 2, the vehicle dispatch support system 2 includes an input / output unit 9 for transmitting / receiving data to / from a mobile phone,
A vehicle information database 10 that stores information about each vehicle,
A control processing unit 11 that controls various processes in the vehicle allocation support system 2, a ROM 12 that stores a program related to control of the control processing unit 11, and a RAM 13 that is used as a temporary work area or the like during data processing are provided. Has been.

The vehicle information database 10 includes, for each vehicle, a vehicle identification number (vehicle number), a driver, a vehicle type (vehicle type), a mobile phone number, a time (reception time) when the latest position information is received, and a position. Information such as the current position of the vehicle and the vacancy of the loading platform, which is obtained from the information, is recorded. Information such as the driver's name and mobile phone number can be set in advance using the dispatch computer 4 or mobile phone 3, and the information can be changed as necessary. The current position of the vehicle, the reception time of the position information, and the load information regarding the load status of the package are automatically detected by the control processing unit 11 every time the input / output unit 9 receives the position information from the mobile phone 3 or the information of the package that has been delivered. Will be updated.

The vehicle dispatching computer 4 is provided with a display 14 for displaying information in the vehicle information database 10 and a keyboard (input section) 15 for inputting necessary information into the vehicle information database 10, and requests delivery from the shipper. If received, the operator uses the vehicle dispatching computer 4 to input the information regarding the pickup / delivery location of the luggage.

A map providing system 5 for accumulating map information and a distance calculating system 6 for calculating a distance are connected to the vehicle allocation support system 2.

The map providing system 5 receives the position information of the mobile phone 3 from the vehicle dispatch support system 2, and based on this position information, the address (place name) of the position and the map showing the address are provided to the map providing system. It is specified using a map database (not shown) provided in the vehicle 5 and provided to the vehicle dispatch support system 2.

The distance calculation system 6 receives the position information of each vehicle and the information of the pick-up and delivery place requested by the shipper from the vehicle dispatch support system 2, and based on these information, the straight line distance from the pick-up and delivery place to the vehicle. Is calculated for each vehicle and provided to the vehicle allocation support system 2.

The control processing unit 11 of the vehicle allocation support system 2
The position information of the mobile phone 3 received via the input / output unit 9 is transmitted to the map providing system 5, and the address of the current position of each vehicle provided by the map providing system 5 is stored in the vehicle information database 10. Further, when a delivery request is received, the distance calculation system 6 obtains the linear distance from the collection location of the luggage input from the vehicle dispatching computer 4 to the current position of each vehicle and stores it in the vehicle information database 10. .

When there is a delivery request from the shipper and the information regarding the collection / delivery location of the parcel is input by the vehicle dispatching computer 4, the control processing unit 11 uses the distance calculation system 6 to determine the distance from the delivery / delivery location of the vehicle. Then, various information such as distance information in the vehicle and availability of the loading platform is displayed on the display of the vehicle dispatch computer 4.

The operator decides the vehicle to pick up the baggage by referring to the information of each vehicle displayed on the display 14, and gives a message to the mobile phone 3 of the vehicle to "contact the company". To send. In addition, the operator transmits data such as the address of the collection / delivery place and the map, if necessary.

Hereinafter, in the delivery system 1 described above,
The process by which the vehicle dispatch support system 2 acquires the position information, loading information, etc. of the mobile phone 3 from the mobile phone 3 is performed by the display screen of the mobile phone 3 and the display 14 of the car dispatch computer 4.
The display screen will be described.

The driver operates the mobile phone 3 to acquire the position information of the mobile phone 3 by using the GPS function of the mobile phone 3, and the acquired position information is periodically sent to the vehicle dispatch support system 2. Set so that it can be sent manually. In order to enable the GPS function of the mobile phone 3, the driver selects "Tr @ GP" on the data folder screen displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 20 of the mobile phone 3 as shown in FIG.
The item 21 of “S” is selected, and the item is determined using the “play” icon 22. When the driver determines “Tr @ GPS”, the liquid crystal display unit 20 displays a communication function use confirmation screen (“Tr @ GPS” display) as shown in FIG. 4. When the driver selects “Yes” 23 from the options displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 20, the terminal information input screen is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 20 as shown in FIG. The driver selects from the displayed items on the terminal information input screen, specifically, the driver's own name 24, vehicle number 25, vehicle type 26, and mobile phone number (TEL) 27, as necessary. By inputting and changing predetermined items and selecting the registration button 28, the terminal information is stored in the mobile phone 3.

After that, a selection screen is displayed on the liquid crystal display section 20 of the mobile phone 3, as shown in FIG. The driver selects “7. Change registration” 29 from the options displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 20 to enable the GPS function, and the position information, name, vehicle number, vehicle type, and telephone number of the mobile phone 3. Is transmitted to the vehicle allocation support system 2. The position information of the mobile phone 3 is thereafter periodically transmitted to the vehicle dispatch support system 2. It should be noted that the transmission interval of the position information can be freely changed by setting the mobile phone 3, for example, every 3 minutes or every 10 minutes.

From the options on the selection screen shown in FIG. 6, the driver's vehicle is loading the package during delivery (“3 Loading” 3
0) or during wholesale (“4 during wholesale” 31), and whether there is any parcel to be delivered to the loading platform (“1 actual vehicle” 3
By selecting the option 2) or not listed (“2 empty cars” 33), information about the selected item is transmitted to the vehicle dispatch support system 2 at the same time as the transmission of the position information.

Further, the driver re-detects (updates) the current position in the mobile phone 3 using the GPS function of the mobile phone 3.
It is also possible to set the time (position information acquisition time) before performing, and the interval from one update to the next update is displayed on the upper left portion 32a of the liquid crystal display unit 20.

When the input / output unit 9 of the vehicle allocation support system 2 receives the position information and the loading information from the mobile phone 3, the received various information is stored in the vehicle information database 10. The various information stored in the vehicle dispatch support system 2 is set not only by the mobile phone 3 but also by inputting necessary information in various information fields displayed on the vehicle dispatch computer 4 as shown in FIG. It is possible to set.

Next, the processing of the delivery system when a delivery request for a package is received will be described with reference to the flowchart and the display screen of the liquid crystal display unit of the mobile phone 3 and the display of the vehicle allocation computer.

The operator is a telephone, fax, web
When a delivery request is received via the (Internet) or the like, the pickup location or the like of the parcel is input to the dispatch computer 4 (FIG. 8, step S1). FIG. 9 shows an image displayed on the display 14 of the vehicle allocation computer 4. The operator uses the address column 34 shown in FIG.
Enter the address of the place where you want to pick up your luggage (predetermined destination). By entering the telephone number of the place to pick up the luggage in the telephone number field 35 of FIG. 9,
It is possible to specify the address of the pickup location.

When the operator inputs the address or telephone number of the pickup location, the information of the pickup location of the package is transmitted from the dispatch computer 4 to the dispatch support system 2 (step S2). The input / output unit 9 in the vehicle dispatch support system 2
In step S3, the control processing unit 11 receives the information on the pickup location of the parcel and transmits the information on the pickup location and the position information of each vehicle stored in the vehicle information database 10 to the distance calculation system 6 (step S3). The distance calculation system 6 calculates the linear distance between the two points based on the received vehicle position information and the information on the baggage pick-up location (step S4) and returns it to the vehicle allocation support system 2 (step S5).

In the vehicle allocation support system 2, the control processing unit 11
, The distance between the two points of each vehicle and the baggage pick-up location are compared for each vehicle, and a predetermined number of vehicles with a short distance,
For example, about 15 vehicles are selected (step S6), and the telephone number, vehicle number, vehicle type, driving type name, current position of the selected vehicle, and the time (reception time) last received from the position information from the vehicle,
The distance to the pickup location (to the destination) obtained by the distance calculation system 6 is the computer 4 for dispatching vehicles.
(Step S7). Computer 4 for dispatch
Displays the above-mentioned information received from the vehicle allocation support system 2 on the display 14 as a list 36 as shown in FIG. 9 (step S8).

The operator selects the optimum vehicle from the list 36 displayed on the display 14 in consideration of the distance from each vehicle to the pick-up location, the condition of the cargo, and the like.
When selecting an optimum vehicle, the operator selects the "history display" icon 37 displayed on the display 14 to display the traveling history of the corresponding vehicle on the display 14 as shown in FIG. It is possible. By referring to this history display, it is possible to determine which direction the selected vehicle is traveling.

When the operator specifies the optimum vehicle, it is possible to send a message, a map of the collection place, an address, etc. to the mobile phone 3 of the driver who drives the vehicle. For example, as shown in FIG. 11, a message field 38 displayed on the display 14 is displayed.
Then, the operator writes a message and selects a message transmission icon 39 provided to send a message to the corresponding vehicle, whereby the message field 38 is displayed.
The message described in is transmitted to the mobile phone 3. The driver can read the sent message as shown in FIG. 12 by selecting “6. Message” 40 from the selection screen of the mobile phone 3 shown in FIG. In addition, the operator sends the “map” shown in FIG.
By selecting the icon 41, it is possible to transmit a map showing the baggage pickup location from the vehicle dispatch support system 2 to the mobile phone 3, and the driver selects "5. check map" on the mobile phone 3. The map sent by
It becomes possible to confirm as shown in FIG.

By referring to the message, the map information and the like sent to the mobile phone 3, the driver knows where to pick up the baggage and confirms whether or not the baggage can be picked up. Telephone call or mobile phone 3
The operator can be notified promptly by using the message sending function (mail function) of.

Based on the response from the driver, the operator can quickly identify a vehicle that is near the place where the luggage is to be collected and can be collected. It is possible to promptly answer whether or not the product can be delivered by the desired time. In addition, if delivery is possible, inform the requester in advance of the current location of the vehicle to pick up the luggage, the estimated time to arrive at the pickup location, the characteristics (vehicle number and size) of the vehicle to pick up and deliver, etc. Is possible.

As described above, by using the vehicle allocation support system according to the present invention, it becomes possible to always grasp the information such as the current position of each vehicle currently running, the load status of the luggage, and the delivery request. It is possible to quickly identify the vehicle near the existing baggage pickup location, so it is possible to appropriately select the vehicle, it is possible to improve the dispatch efficiency and quickly respond to the request of the client etc. Can respond.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the map providing system 5 and the distance calculating system 6 are described as systems different from the vehicle dispatch support system 2. However, the map providing system 5 and the distance calculating system 6 are described as follows. One or both of them may be installed in the vehicle allocation support system 2, and the map information and the distance information may be obtained in the vehicle allocation support system 2.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the operator specifies the optimum vehicle from the vehicles displayed on the display 14, but the control processing unit 11
Automatically identifies the optimum vehicle based on the distance between the vehicle position and the place where the luggage is collected and the loading information, and automatically sends a message, map information, etc. to the mobile phone 3 of the vehicle. You can

Further, in the embodiment of the present invention,
In the distance calculation system 6, the linear distance between the position of the vehicle and the collection / delivery place is calculated and transmitted to the vehicle allocation support system 2. However, the distance information to be transmitted is not limited to the linear distance, and the route along which the vehicle travels. Distance along the road
May be transmitted. In addition to the distance information, V
ICS (Vehicle Information and Communication Syst)
em: Road traffic information and communication system) and ATIS (Advanced
Traffic information service) may be used to calculate an expected time from the current position of the vehicle until the vehicle arrives at the pickup / delivery location, and the estimated time may be transmitted to the vehicle dispatch support system 2.

Further, the present invention includes a delivery support method used in a vehicle dispatch support system within the technical scope of the invention, and not only the delivery support method but also a program for realizing the delivery support method by a computer. And a computer-readable recording medium recording the program, for example, CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, M
O, flexible disk, etc. are also included.

[0048]

As described above, by using the vehicle allocation support system according to the present invention, it is possible to always grasp the information such as the current position of each vehicle currently traveling, the load status of the luggage, and the delivery request. Vehicles that are close to the baggage pick-up location where there was a problem can be quickly identified, so delivery vehicles can be selected appropriately, it is possible to improve vehicle allocation efficiency, and in response to requests from clients etc. And can respond quickly.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a delivery system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a vehicle allocation support system according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a data folder screen of a mobile phone according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a use confirmation screen of a communication function of the mobile phone according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a terminal information input screen of the mobile phone according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a selection screen of a mobile phone according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a terminal information input screen displayed on the display of the vehicle dispatch computer according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the processing of the delivery system when there is a delivery request for a package.

FIG. 9 is a screen displaying information of each vehicle displayed on the display of the vehicle allocation computer according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a traveling history of the vehicle displayed on the display of the vehicle allocation computer according to the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a screen for delivering a message displayed on the display of the vehicle dispatch computer according to the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a view showing a message displayed on the liquid crystal display unit of the mobile phone according to the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a map showing the current position of the mobile phone displayed on the liquid crystal display unit of the mobile phone according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 delivery system 2 vehicle dispatch support system 3, 3a, 3b, 3c mobile phones 4 Computer for dispatch 5 Map providing system 6 Distance calculation system 9 Input / output section 10 Vehicle information database 11 Control processing unit 12 ROM 13 RAM 14 display 15 Keyboard (input section)

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A server, wherein the GPS is selected from a plurality of vehicles equipped with GPS terminals.
A position information receiving step of receiving the vehicle position information detected by the terminal, and a position information determining step from the target position to determine a vehicle that is close to a predetermined target position from the plurality of vehicles. And a distance information acquisition step of obtaining a distance to a vehicle position for each vehicle, the vehicle allocation support method. 2. A reception means for receiving information from the server is mounted on each of the plurality of vehicles, and the reception of the vehicle determined by the server to be close to the target position according to the distance. The vehicle allocation support method according to claim 1, wherein a destination position information transmitting step of transmitting address information or map information of the destination position to the means is executed. 3. The server comprises:
The vehicle dispatching support method according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising: performing a loading information receiving step of receiving loading information regarding a loading state of luggage. 4. The server further executes a vehicle information display step of displaying the vehicle position, the distance, and the loading information for each vehicle on a display unit in comparison with each other. The vehicle allocation support method described in 3. 5. Position information receiving means for receiving vehicle position information detected by the GPS terminals from a plurality of vehicles equipped with GPS terminals, and at a position close to a predetermined target position from the plurality of vehicles. In order to determine a certain vehicle, a vehicle allocation support system including a server having distance information acquisition means for obtaining a distance from the target position to the vehicle position determined by the vehicle position information for each vehicle. . 6. A reception means for receiving information from the server is mounted on each of the plurality of vehicles, and the reception of the vehicle determined by the server to be close to the target position according to the distance. The vehicle allocation support system according to claim 1, further comprising a destination position information transmitting unit that transmits address information or map information of the destination position to the means. 7. The server comprises:
The vehicle allocation support system according to claim 5 or 6, further comprising: a loading information receiving unit that receives loading information relating to a loading state of luggage. 8. The server further comprises a vehicle information display means for displaying the vehicle position, the distance, and the loading information on a display means by comparing them with each other for each vehicle. Vehicle dispatch support system described in. 9. The GPS from a plurality of vehicles in which a GPS terminal is mounted on a computer.
A position information receiving step of receiving the vehicle position information detected by the terminal, and a position information determining step from the target position to determine a vehicle that is close to a predetermined target position from the plurality of vehicles. A vehicle allocation support program for executing a distance information acquisition step of obtaining a distance to a vehicle position for each vehicle.