JP2001084491A - Map information input device, physical distribution support device using it, and storage medium with control program for them recorded - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily take in passable roads, which don't appear on a digital map, as new road information, to quickly cope with the change of the road condition to obtain practical map information, and to use the map information generated by a map information input device to generate a load delivery plan corresponding to the change of the road condition. SOLUTION: When a vehicle on which a terminal 2 on vehicle is mounted reaches a desired branch point, an input key 31b for virtual node is depressed. A vehicle position at this time is detected by a position detection means 3 such as a GPS satellite 3a and is converted into X-Y coordinates by a present position conversion means 11, and a position setting means 13 stores this position as a new virtual node on a map data base 6 to update the data base 6.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a map information input device which can update a road condition on a map and can create the latest road condition, and a logistics support for guiding a luggage delivery route and the like based on the map information. The present invention relates to an apparatus and a storage medium storing these control programs.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A destination on a map can be easily searched for by inputting the name of a destination by storing a destination in XY coordinates in advance by using a map information device. This delivery destination can be designated by a point on a map on which roads are described in advance. In this map information device, a destination is stored in XY coordinates, so that retrieval can be performed reliably and at high speed with a small-scale system while handling a minimum amount of data as compared with a conventional one that images the entire map. It has features that can be performed. A conventional map information device uses a commercially available digital map as a basis of map information, and stores the position of a destination on the digital map as destination information.

[0003] As this map information device, there is one disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 2888857 by the present applicant. The map information of such a map information device is also used in a dynamic physical distribution automatic navigation device disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 2816294 by the present applicant. This navigation device is a device for creating a delivery route for delivering an article from a distribution center to a delivery destination, and obtains map information of the delivery destination in XY coordinates from the map information device when creating the delivery route. This navigation device is a device that simulates the shortest delivery route connecting each delivery destination in response to dynamic changes such as road conditions, and can achieve various effects such as improvement of delivery efficiency and shortening of time. have.

[0004]

However, the above-mentioned map information device can only store a destination on a digital map and cannot cope with a change in road conditions. For example, it is assumed that the newly added destination passes on the road described on this digital map. Therefore, it was not possible to reach the destination through a road that is not registered in the digital map in a suburb or a rural area. In addition, if the roads appearing on the digital map were blocked due to rain or snow, the destination could not be reached.

[0005] The problem here is that there are many roads that can actually pass vehicles, such as private roads and agricultural roads that do not appear on the digital map. That is, it is almost impossible to describe all possible roads on the digital map. For this reason, it often happens that the driver can reach the destination in a short time by passing through the road stored by the driver without passing through the road represented by the digital map. In particular, when the main road is congested or closed, a method of detouring through a narrow path remembered by the driver was adopted, and at this time, the function of the digital map could not be used.

Of course, the final destination information obtained by the digital map is effective at the time of this detour. However, when the navigation device based on the map information of the digital map creates a route for circulating a plurality of delivery destinations for logistics delivery, in the above-mentioned point, the rural area or the like uses the created route based on the created route. There was a problem that delivery effectiveness was low. These problems must be resolved urgently in order to improve logistics automation and overall delivery efficiency.

[0007] In addition to the logistics business described above,
It is desired to be able to search for roads that do not appear on the digital map but are actually passable. It is also desired that a road under construction or abolished can be modified at any time by adding or deleting the road.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and can easily take in a traversable road which does not appear on a digital map as new road information, and can quickly change road conditions. It is an object of the present invention to provide a map information input device capable of obtaining practical map information in correspondence with the above. It is another object of the present invention to provide a logistics support device capable of creating a package delivery plan corresponding to a change in road conditions using map information created by the map information input device, and a storage medium recording these control programs. .

[0009]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a map information input device which is mounted on a vehicle movable to a destination and is provided on a desired road on a road. An in-vehicle terminal (2) having an input key (31b) for generating a virtual node which is operated when reaching a branch point, and position detection for detecting the position of the in-vehicle terminal at the time of operating the input key using latitude and longitude. Means (3), a map database (6) storing map information of a predetermined range in which the vehicle is moving, and generating a virtual node on the map information when an input key of the in-vehicle terminal is operated. And a position setting means (13) for causing the data to be stored again in the map database.

In addition, the fixed central control unit (1) is provided with the map database (6) and the position setting means (13), and connects the central control unit and the vehicle-mounted terminal. By providing communication means (10, 30), the map information before and after updating stored in the map database (6) may be freely transmitted between the central control unit and the vehicle-mounted terminal.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the input key (31b) is provided on the in-vehicle terminal (2) of the moving vehicle.
A position detecting means (3) for detecting the position of the in-vehicle terminal at the time of operation is provided, and the in-vehicle terminal (2) operates the input key (31b) every time a desired branch point is reached. , The latitude and longitude indicating the position of the branch point detected by the position detection means are stored in the communication means (10, 3).
0) to the central control unit (1), and the position setting means (13) provided in the central control unit (1) uses the position of the branch point transmitted from the vehicle-mounted terminal as a virtual node in the map. A configuration in which the data is re-stored in the database (6) may be adopted.

A map information input device according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is mounted on a vehicle movable to a destination, and is provided with a destination input key (31a) operated each time the destination is reached. An in-vehicle terminal (2) having an input key (31b) for generating a virtual node which is operated when the vehicle reaches a desired branch point on a road to be reached; A position detecting means (3) for detecting a position by latitude and longitude, a map database (6) storing map information of a predetermined range in which the vehicle is moving, and an input key for generating a virtual node of the on-vehicle terminal. When operated, a virtual node is generated on the map information and stored again in the map database, and when the destination input key of the in-vehicle terminal is operated, from when the virtual node is operated to when the destination is reached. The path of phosphorus Generated and characterized by comprising a position setting means (13) to be stored in the map database as.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, based on the latitude and longitude of the on-board terminal detected by the position detecting means (3), the positions of the destination and the branch point are converted to characters in the XY coordinate axis format. A current position conversion means (11) for conversion may be provided, and the map database (6) may store the map information including the virtual node and the destination as characters in an XY coordinate axis format.

The position detecting means (3) receives a radio wave of a GPS satellite (3a) and detects the position of the vehicle-mounted terminal (2) by latitude and longitude.
The receiving means (3c) may be used.

The storage medium storing the map information input program according to the present invention can manage the map information by a computer and update the map information by an input from a vehicle-mounted terminal provided in the vehicle. A map information input program, the program causing a computer to detect the position of the in-vehicle terminal at the time of a request for input of map information from the in-vehicle terminal using latitude and longitude. , A virtual node is generated and stored in the map database.

The physical distribution supporting apparatus according to the present invention is characterized in that:
As described, receiving a delivery request for packages from multiple shippers, allocating a vehicle that delivers the package to a destination starting from a distribution base such as a warehouse, and performing a delivery business according to a predetermined vehicle allocation plan for the vehicle. A logistics support device for performing
An input key (31b) for generating a virtual node which is mounted on the vehicle and operated when the vehicle reaches a desired branch point on the road
An on-vehicle terminal (2), a position detecting means (3) for detecting the position of the on-vehicle terminal at the time of operating the input key by latitude and longitude, and a road map stored in advance and a map indicating a destination position. Means for extracting, from the information, map information in a range in which each of the plurality of destinations created in the shipping instruction file is described, and a set of a plurality of links in which the road in the extracted map information has a branch point as a node. Means for converting to an equivalent route; means for adding a static constraint condition such as preset distance information to the equivalent route to search for the shortest route between any two destinations; 2
Means for simulating a delivery route by reconnecting links so that all destinations are connected by one delivery route and the travel time of the delivery is minimized with reference to the shortest route between points; Means for generating a virtual node on the equivalent route to make a new equivalent route when an input key is operated.
9, 159), wherein the delivery plan editing means sequentially re-executes the processing of each of the internal means at the time of generating the virtual node to simulate the shortest delivery route again.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, a storage medium storing a logistics support program of the present invention receives a delivery request of a package from a plurality of shippers by a computer, and transfers the package to a destination at a distribution base such as a warehouse. A storage medium storing a logistics support program for creating a dispatch plan for vehicles to be delivered to a shipping instruction file from a road map and map information indicating a location of a destination stored and held in advance in a computer. The map information of the range in which each of the plurality of created destinations is described is extracted, and the road in the extracted map information is converted into an equivalent route of a set of a plurality of links each having a branch point as a node. The shortest route between any two destinations is searched by adding a static constraint condition such as preset distance information, and the shortest route between the two obtained points is obtained. Request to generate a new branch point by simulating the delivery route by reconnecting the links so that all destinations are connected by one delivery route and the travel time of the delivery is minimized by referring to the route In some cases, a delivery route with the branch point added as a virtual node on the equivalent route is simulated again.

According to the above configuration, when the vehicle equipped with the on-vehicle terminal 2 reaches a desired branch point, the current position of the vehicle is detected by operating the virtual node input key 31b. The detected position is updated as a new node on the equivalent route. By adding this virtual node, it is possible to register a branch point that does not originally appear on the map information,
Map information can be updated. In addition, a delivery route is simulated based on the updated map information, so that efficient delivery work can be performed.

[0019]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [First Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a map input device according to the present invention. The present device is mainly composed of a central control unit 1 provided at a distribution center or the like, which is a distribution base, and an in-vehicle terminal 2 provided in a moving vehicle for delivery. Can be obtained at

This satellite position detecting means 3 is a GPS satellite 3
GPS receivers 3b and 3c that can check the latitude and longitude by receiving radio waves from a (GPS; Global Positioning System)
Consists of The GPS satellites 3a are provided at a plurality of locations in the sky as shown in the figure, and the GPS receiving means 3b and 3c can obtain the position based on the reception time difference between the plurality of radio waves.

The central control section 1 stores a delivery information section 5a for storing delivery information to a destination, a map information section 5b for storing map information, and map information (a basic diagram 50 described later) in the form of a digital map. It has a map database (DB) 6 and control means 12 for performing data processing described later. The delivery information section 5a stores input information N for each destination as shown in FIG. 2 as delivery information of the destination. The input information N includes a code number, a name, an address, a delivery item, a quantity, and the like for each destination, and is information transmitted from a newly generated destination, and is input from the input means 20.

As shown in FIG. 2, destination information W corresponding to the input information N of the delivery information section 5a is stored in the map information section 5b.
Is stored (for creating an output diagram 60 described later). The map information section 5b has a function of reading the basic map 50 of the area corresponding to the destination information W from the map DB 6 and transferring the read basic map 50 to the control means 12.

The digital map 6 stores in advance the distance, the time, the average speed, and the like between the nodes, with the roads being linked and the intersections (branches) being the nodes, for the main arterial roads.

The current position conversion means 11 is provided via the communication means 10.
Converts the input latitude and longitude information of the terminal 2 into an XY coordinate axis format on a map. This current position is used as destination information W as described later.

The control means 12 reads the destination input information N from the delivery information section 5a, and reads the current position conversion means 1
When the destination information W of the terminal 2 is inputted from 1, the destination information W is stored again in the map information section 5 b by the position setting means 13. Here, in the destination information W, the destination corresponding to the destination is stored in the XY coordinate format. However, at the stage where only the input information N of the destination is input from the input unit 20, the destination information W is blank. is there.

The mobile terminal position correcting means 14 corrects the latitude and longitude output errors of the satellite position detecting means 3. The latitude and longitude of the central control unit 1 obtained by the GPS receiving unit 3b provided in the central control unit 1 are likely to have errors with respect to the latitude and longitude on an actual map. Therefore, the latitude and longitude of the central control unit 1 previously measured on the map are set in the mobile terminal position correcting unit 14, and the set values and the GPS receiving unit 3b of the central control unit 1 are obtained. The difference between the obtained latitude and longitude is obtained, and the position error of the central control unit 1 is corrected. This calculation is performed every predetermined time, that is, GPS
This is performed every time the latitude and longitude are obtained by the receiving means 3b, and the difference between the latitude and longitude is individually calculated and constantly updated.

This difference is used to correct the position of the terminal 2 when a specific request for the terminal 2 described later is made. That is, the mobile terminal position correcting means 14 corrects the position error of the terminal 2 based on the following formula: mobile station current position = mobile station GPS latitude / longitude- (fixed station map latitude / longitude-fixed station GPS latitude / longitude). Although the latitude and longitude are described in one equation in the above equation, the latitude and longitude are actually calculated separately. The fixed station corresponds to the central control unit 1, and the map latitude and longitude are true fixed values indicating the latitude and longitude actually measured on the map,
The GPS latitude / longitude is a fluctuation value including a position error indicating the latitude and longitude received by the GPS receiving units 3b and 3c.

The central control unit 1 includes a display output unit 1.
5 are provided to output delivery information and map information. The display output unit 15 is configured by an image display such as a CRT or the like, or a printer such as a printer.

The terminal 2 is connected to the central control unit 1 via the wireless communication means 25 between the communication means 30 and 10. Then, by pressing the destination input key 31a of the terminal 2,
The terminal 2 issues a request for generating a current position (destination information W) to the current position converter 11. The destination input key 31a transmits input information N such as a destination code. At the same time, the latitude and longitude of the terminal 2 are transmitted by the GPS receiving means 3c of the terminal 2.

The wireless communication between the terminal 2 and the central control unit 1 can be configured such that data can be transmitted and received between them. In this case, the display output means 32 is also provided on the terminal 2 side, and the central control unit The delivery information and the map information can be transmitted from one side, and the information can be displayed and output by the display output means 32.
The terminal 2 has a terminal control means 33 for controlling the terminal 2.
Is provided.

Next, input of a destination according to the above configuration will be described. As an example of this input, it is assumed that input information N of a plurality of destinations has been input to the central control unit 1 in advance, and the terminal 2 sequentially moves along a predetermined delivery route connecting the plurality of destinations. Shall go. And
On the central control unit 1 side, the difference between the latitude and longitude on the map and the latitude and longitude obtained by the GPS receiving means 3b is set in the mobile terminal position correction means 14 (calculation setting in parentheses in the above formula).

When the terminal 2 moves, the latitude and longitude of the terminal 2 are obtained by the GPS receiving means 3c mounted on the terminal 2. Then, when the terminal 2 is moved to the destination, the destination input key 31a is pressed (at this time, a code number corresponding to the corresponding destination may be input).
The latitude and longitude are transmitted from the terminal 2 via the wireless communication unit 25, and the current position (XY coordinates) is created by the current position conversion unit 11.

At this time, the mobile terminal position correcting means 14 obtains the difference from the above equation, and corrects the position error of the terminal 2 included in the GPS device. Here, the central control unit 1
On the side, the position error of the central control unit 1 is corrected every predetermined time, and as a result, the current position of the mobile station (the position of the terminal 2) is corrected every predetermined time as shown in the above equation, and the accuracy is improved. You can do it. This is based on the fact that the position error generated by the central control unit 1 and the position error generated by the terminal 2 are substantially equal as viewed from the GPS satellite 3a. The control means 12 reads out the input information N of the destination corresponding to the code number. Thereafter, the control unit 12 re-stores the destination information W characterized in the XY coordinate axis format in a blank destination information W portion corresponding to the input information N of the map information unit 5b.

Thus, the destination information W for the input information N
Can be stored in pairs, and thereafter, in the central control unit 1,
Just enter the code number or name of the destination,
The location of the destination can be searched on a map.

At the time of map search, map information can be output from the display output means 15 of the central control unit 1.
In other words, on the screen of the CRT or the like, the output map 60 including the area of the destination information W and the basic map 50 (read from the map DB 6) of the area corresponding to the output map 60 are displayed in a superimposed manner. Is output. In the basic diagram 50 shown in FIG. 3, map information S1 such as roads, lane markings, town names, and target names in an area is converted into lines, frames, and characters from the information of the digital map at a predetermined scale ratio. It is displayed in the state where it was done.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a display image at the time of map search. On the output diagram 60, the position information S2 of the destination information W corresponding to the input information N is output at the same scale ratio as the basic diagram 50. The location information S2 is displayed at the destinations A, B, C,.
Is displayed. In addition, each destination A,
B, C... Indicate the code number of the input information N or information S3 indicating the delivery order. Then, as shown in the figure, by superimposing the basic diagram 50 on the output diagram 60 on the screen of the display output means 15, the destinations A, B, C.
Can be found on the map.

Here, the destination information W stored in the map information section 5b stores the location of the destination as a character in the XY coordinate format, and stores all the information described in a commercially available map book. Since the data is not stored (for example, in the form of an image), no load is imposed on the CPU constituting the control means 12, and the processing speed can be increased. At the same time, the memory capacity of the map information section 5b can be reduced.

As a modification, an image in which both the basic drawing 50 and the output drawing 60 are superimposed is printed out, or a map book or the like generally used in the basic drawing 50 is used, and a transparent output drawing 60 Location information S
2 can be obtained.

Next, generation of a virtual node will be described. The above-mentioned destination is reached only using the road registered in the basic diagram 50, and cannot reach the destination via a road not registered in the basic diagram 50. The apparatus of the present invention has a function of adding a new road not registered in the basic diagram 50 (generation of a virtual node).

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a basic diagram 50 of a suburb, a rural area, a mountain area and the like. Map DB as shown
No. 6 often stores only the main arterial road 70 in the suburbs. Therefore, in order to reach a certain destination F, if only the trunk roads 70a to 70c are to be traveled, as shown by the dotted line D in the figure, the traveling distance becomes long and the route becomes inefficient. Therefore, in the present invention, roads that are not registered in the map DB 6 (roads that can actually pass vehicles, such as farm roads and private roads, are newly registered and the destination F
It is configured so that it can be reached by an efficient route.

Here, it is assumed that the destination F has a farm road 71 to which vehicles can directly enter from the main road 70a. In this case, the route to the farm road 71 is newly registered.

As a configuration for executing the above processing, the in-vehicle terminal 2 includes a virtual node generation input key 31b as shown in FIG. 1 and is configured to be operable by the driver.
When the driver arrives at the branch point f to the farm road 71, the driver operates the virtual node generation input key 31b. On the other hand, on the central control unit 1 side, the input key 3
At the time of operation of 1b, the current position is transmitted to the current position conversion means 11 via the wireless communication means 25, and at this time, the current position (XY coordinates) of the vehicle is obtained using the satellite communication means 3. The position setting means 13 additionally stores the current position (virtual node f) at a corresponding coordinate position on the map DB 6.

As described above, upon arrival at the destination F, the destination information W is operated by operating the destination input key 31a.
Is stored in the map information section 5b. At this time, the control means 12
Calculates the distance and time from the virtual node f to the destination, and stores it as the information of the corresponding link in the map DB 6. As described above, the distance, time, etc. relating to these links are determined by the distance measuring means 35 and the time measuring means 36 on the in-vehicle terminal 2 side.
Alternatively, the central control unit 1 obtains the time by processing a change state of the vehicle position obtained by the satellite position detecting means 3 or the like.

With the above configuration, a new road not registered in the map DB 6 can be added.
Thereafter, the route G using the farm road 71 to the destination F
Will be able to choose.

In the above description, the input key 31b for generating a virtual node is provided to add a new node f. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and it can be used to delete an existing node. In this case, the in-vehicle terminal 2
A combination with another function key or a node erasing key is provided. This makes it possible to temporarily delete a node that branches to a road that has become impassable due to snowfall or heavy rain, and to use appropriate map information (for a detour route) when searching for other vehicles or the like that have accessed the central control unit 1. Guidance, etc.).

The setting of the virtual node f to the destination F may be a route from a main road which differs depending on other delivery vehicles or the like. Therefore, the central control unit 1 can improve the reliability of the map information in the map DB 6 by accumulating the information of the input virtual node f and the link. It should be noted that this accumulation may be initially held in a temporary registration state, and only those for which predetermined reliability is obtained by performing predetermined statistical processing and registered in the map DB 6 may be registered. For example, on a farm road, depending on the weather conditions,
Roads in mountainous areas are likely to be impassable due to weather conditions, altitude, etc., and it is effective to take seasonal statistics. In this case, the validity of the virtual node f is determined using statistical information such as the season.

[Second Embodiment] In the second embodiment, a configuration in which the above-described generation of the virtual node is used for a vehicle delivery plan will be described. FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the physical distribution support device of the present invention. This device is installed in each of the above-mentioned distribution center and a vehicle to be delivered. To explain each part, first, the delivery meter that is installed in the distribution center and constitutes the central part

The image creating means 100 (also described in FIG. 1)
Static information processing means 10 configured by a microcomputer such as a PU and a memory, and roughly processing static information
3, dynamic information processing means 105 for processing dynamic information,
An operation monitoring means 107 for monitoring the actual operation status is provided. The vehicle-mounted terminal 2 is provided with a delivery plan changing unit 155 substantially similar to the delivery plan creating unit 100, and includes an interrupt information processing unit 157, a delivery plan reediting unit 159, and the like.

First, the configuration of the distribution center will be described. A delivery request from each shipper at a plurality of locations is input to the package information input means 110 in a predetermined data format via online, and output to the static information processing means 103. The static information input means 103 includes an inventory management device 120 (Japanese Patent Application No.
No. 41320) is connected to obtain inventory information.

The output of the static information processing means 103 is output to the delivery plan editing means 109, and the delivery plan is edited. Further, the map information input device 125 described in the first embodiment is connected to the delivery plan editing means 109, and the destination map information can be obtained. The map information input device 125
Is provided with the map DB 6 described above. The output of the delivery plan editing means 109 is output to a display output means 15 such as a CRT or a printer.

The change information, such as road conditions and operation schedules, is input to the change information input means 112 online or operationally. The change information is output to the dynamic information processing means 105 every time this data is input. You. The dynamic information processing means 105 outputs a change request to the delivery plan edited by the delivery plan editing means 109 in accordance with the type of the information and the degree of change.

The delivery operation is actually performed according to the delivery plan created by the delivery plan creation means 100. The operation status is determined by the satellite position detection means 3 in which the position of the vehicle is always operated as the operation information. Information input means 114
Has been entered. Therefore, the operation monitoring means 107 monitors the actual operation status of the delivery plan created by the delivery plan editing means 109, and
5 is output.

Next, the details of the above components will be described. The data input to the package information input means 110 as a delivery request from the shipper includes a shipper code, an item code of the package, a destination code, and the like. As shown in FIG. 7, the static information processing means 103 has master files for shipper, item, and destination, and uses the shipper code shown in FIG. Obtainable. Further, information such as an item name, a volume, a capacity, a unit price, and a packing style can be obtained from an item file by using the item code shown in FIG. Similarly, information such as a district code, a destination name, an address, a designated time, and notes can be obtained from the destination code shown in FIG.

Although not shown, similar master files include a delivery distance-transportation fee file, a transportation company,
There are files about vehicles and drivers. These pieces of information are used each time there is a business request (such as inventory management, freight calculation, time management, and delivery order calculation, which will be described later). These codes and master files are sequentially updated for new shippers, destinations, and items.

The static information processing means 3 outputs a shipping instruction for picking up articles of the corresponding item to the inventory management device 120 based on the item code. At the same time, the inventory management device 120 updates the inventory information.
Note that the picked-up articles are stored in the delivery plan editing means 10.
The vehicle is sent to the designated vehicle based on the delivery plan created in step 9.

The shipping instruction in the static information processing means 103 is created on a shipping instruction file as an updatable data file as shown in FIG. This shipping instruction file includes destination data which is a parent file of FIG. 7A and item data as a child file of FIG. The destination data includes the shipping date, shipper code, destination code,
Consists of designated time, shipping company, notes, etc. The item data includes a shipping date, a shipper code, a destination code, an item code, a packing category, a quantity, and the like. The destination data and the item data have a corresponding hierarchical structure, as shown in FIG.
Convenience is obtained for each operation such as verification and reading.

Next, the change information input means 112
The following pieces of change information shown in FIG. When there is a change in the vehicle information such as a regular flight truck or the schedule such as the departure time of a ship or an aircraft, the change data is input to the schedule information input unit 112a. In addition, information on traffic signals indicating the degree of congestion of road traffic in the city and information on traffic signal switching timing (beacon) used by police are input to the traffic signal information input means 112b. Further, road information of the Ministry of Construction used on the expressway is input to the road-to-vehicle information input means 112c. Each of these pieces of information is output to the dynamic information processing means 105 via the switching output means 112d each time it is input.

The dynamic information processing means 105 integrates the change information clocked from the change information input means 112 and assigns a priority order according to the degree of change of each information to the delivery plan editing means. Output change request to.

Then, after the static information processing means 103 processes the data of each shipper's item to each destination,
The processed data is output to the delivery plan editing means 109. Similarly, change information from the dynamic information processing means 105 is also output to the delivery plan editing means 109.

The delivery plan editing means 109 creates a delivery plan for efficiently distributing the items of each shipper to each destination. For this reason, the delivery plan editing means 109 first edits the destination for each district predetermined in the district master file. The district file is as shown in FIG.
It is made up of a district code, district name, district coordinates XY, standard travel time to the district (standard time to enter the district from the distribution center), average travel speed in the district, basic regional shipping fee, etc., and is created in advance. .

The configuration of the district coordinates XY indicating the destination in this district file is as described in the first embodiment.
The delivery point is an XY coordinate point on a map, and is composed of a map number for each region and an XY point in the map number. Not all map information is stored as image data. , XY points, the load on the calculation process can be reduced.

The information of this district file is processed on a shipping instruction sorting file which is a data file. The shipping instruction sorting file has a hierarchical structure of course data as a parent file in FIG. 11A, destination data in FIG. 11B, and item data in FIG. 11C. The course data consists of the course number, the route order of this course number, the number of stopover destinations and the estimated total distance, the departure time and end time of this course, the total weight, loading rate, amount of money, vehicle number, vehicle belonging code, driver code, etc. It is configured. The destination data includes the shipping date, shipper code, course number, in-course order for each destination, in-course and district, and in-course and in-area order, destination code, total transported amount and weight by destination, estimated arrival time,
It consists of designated time, shipping company designation, driver designation, etc. The item data includes a course number, a shipper code, a destination code, an item code, an item name, a package classification, a package, a quantity, a weight, a volume weight, and the like for each item.

In creating this shipping sorting file,
Each of the course numbers is assigned to a predetermined area in the map information input device. Hereinafter, a file creation process can be speeded up in order to create a delivery plan within the predetermined area. . First, in the course data creation, after collecting a plurality of destinations corresponding to this area for each course number from the static information processing means 3, the quantity of articles that can be loaded on the vehicle for delivery is selected and the destination data is selected. , Item data is created.

Next, each of the plurality of destinations is connected by one route by a route calculation process in which the calculation range is within the predetermined area. The route creation is simulated by a general calculation, a neural technology, and a Monte Carlo method using a numerical processor. If you express the calculation on the map specifically,
As shown in FIG. 12, the delivery route in the course of the destination is simulated based on the distance of the shortest route connecting the destinations A, B, and C on the road, and the estimated arrival time is added at the same time. Then, the scheduled delivery route arrival time is changed as described later due to a change in the dynamic information.

When the course data, the destination data, and the item data are created, each file has a hierarchical structure as shown in FIG. The map information shown in FIG.
A screen is displayed on a display output unit 15 such as a CRT. The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that routes between destinations are connected. At the time of display, the visual recognition is facilitated by changing the route of the road on the map to a different color or changing the thickness of the line.

When the course data is simulated, the dispatch status table shown in FIGS. 14 to 16 as the contents of the shipping sorting file can be selectively displayed on the screen of the display output means 15 as appropriate. The dispatch status table shown in FIG. 14 is a list (top screen) showing the dispatch status for each course.
As shown in the figure, the vehicle number, the tonnage of each vehicle, the number of destinations, and the loading rate are displayed in frames for each of the course numbers 101 to 109.

FIGS. 15 and 16 are lower screens of FIG. 14. In the screen of FIG. 15, detailed contents (delivery destination, scheduled arrival time, etc.) for each course are displayed. In FIG. Another delivery content is displayed. When the inside of each course frame in FIG. 14 is designated with a mouse, the screens can be switched to the screens in FIGS. 15 and 16, and the automatic dispatching device can be designated by designating a permanent function area provided on the right side of the screen with the mouse. Operations such as display switching of each function of the device itself and input / output of information can be performed.

As described above, the delivery plan creating means 100
Is simulated by a predetermined route to the destination for the cargo from the shipper, but this process is determined based on the baggage information from the shipper, automatically dispatched to vehicles of each course, and simulated dispatch Status is displayed and output by means 15
On the other hand, these data are transferred to the vehicle-mounted terminal 2 for the driver in charge of each course, and the dispatch status table equivalent to FIG. 15 is printed out by the printer. The delivery work can be accomplished only by handing the.

Hereinafter, the processing operation when the dynamic information changes will be described. When a change in the dynamic information is input to the change information input unit 112, the dynamic information processing unit 105 outputs a request for changing the simulated delivery plan. Specifically, when there is a change in the above-mentioned various schedules, there is a delay of a ship or an airplane to be used, or cancellation, so that an alternative transportation means is searched. The traffic congestion state is determined based on changes in traffic signal information and road-to-vehicle information.

Accordingly, the contents of the shipping instruction sorting file shown in FIG. 11 are changed. For example, the route order, departure time, and end time are changed in the course data of FIG. 7A, and the order within the course, the order of the district, and the order within the district are changed in the destination data of FIG. Specifically, the order of destinations shown in FIG. 12 was initially set to A, B, and C. However, if there is information (signal information) where roads on the way from A to B are congested, this congestion will occur. A process of avoiding a certain road or changing the route order (for example, A, C, B) is performed. Similarly,
If the passing expressway is congested, the route is changed, for example, to avoid this congested section. However, at the time of this change, if the designated time for delivery, which is a request for the destination, is set,
This item is prioritized.

Since the total time required for the delivery changes due to this change, the delivery cannot be performed according to the above-mentioned vehicle allocation status table.
Step 9 determines whether to simulate a new delivery plan and update the dispatch status table. When a new problem occurs during the change, the problem is displayed in the problem display area M at the bottom of the screen in FIG.

The configuration of the delivery plan creating means 100 installed in the distribution center as the central side described above is provided as the delivery plan changing means 155 in the vehicle terminal 2 shown in FIG. A delivery plan can be freely communicated between these distribution centers and vehicles via the communication means 10 and 30. The delivery plan created by the delivery plan editing means 109 on the distribution center side communicates with the vehicle. Means 1
Delivery plan changing means 1 mounted on the vehicle via 0, 30
55, and can be transferred to the delivery plan re-editing means 159, and the display output means 32 of the in-vehicle terminal 2 can read the same dispatch status table. Further, a configuration may be provided in which a map information input device 126 similar to the map information input device 125 is provided. In this case, the map information input devices 125 and 126 are configured to be able to sequentially update each other's map information via the communication means 10 and 30. When the map information input device 125 is arranged only on the distribution center side, on the in-vehicle terminal 2 side,
Necessary map information of the area can also be acquired via the communication means 10 and 30.

The in-vehicle terminal 2 is provided with an interrupt information input means 151 for inputting interrupt information when there is an interrupted package such as a pickup request during delivery, and a change for inputting a change in road conditions. Information input means 153 is provided, and these pieces of interrupt information are input to the interrupt information processing means 157. These interrupt information input means 151 and change information input means 153 are provided by the package information input means 110 and the change information input means 1 provided at the distribution center.
In both cases, the same configuration as that of FIG.

The information input to the interrupt information input means 151 includes the shipper code, item code,
The destination code is a bar code, and the bar code can be easily input with fixed data by a bar code scanner.
It is designed to supplement with a numeric keypad or the like. At the time of delivery and collection, a map describing the area of the corresponding course is provided in the vehicle, and a plurality of predetermined district frames on this map are provided with a corresponding address to be entered. A bar code indicating address information of a simplified content such as a chome is provided. By simply reading this bar code with a scanner, the map information input device 12 can be
6 can be greatly facilitated.

Based on this interrupt information, the interrupt information processing means 157 outputs to the delivery plan re-editing means 159 an interrupt signal to interrupt the dispatch status table.
The delivery plan reediting means 159 reedits the dispatch status table by the interruption, and outputs the dispatched status table after the reediting to the display output means 32 mounted on the vehicle. The delivery plan changing means 155 is different only in that a new delivery plan is created on the vehicle side based on interrupt information and change information as input conditions. The basic processing is the same as that of the delivery plan creating means 100 installed in the distribution center described above.

According to the above configuration, when a vehicle of a certain course number is directly delivering luggage in a predetermined area, and the vehicle is directly requested by a shipper in the vicinity of the delivery route to the vehicle, the request for collection is received. The information is input to interrupt information input means 151 provided in the vehicle, and in accordance with this, the vehicle delivery plan changing means 155 changes the contents of the shipping instruction sorting file such as package information, route order, etc., and re-edits the dispatch status table. Therefore, the interruption request can be accepted only on the vehicle side without meeting the processing of the distribution center.

The order of the routes on the new dispatch status table is determined by the map information input device 126 mounted on the vehicle.
Thus, the driving vehicle can easily confirm the location and route order of the destination based on the map information, and can perform a reliable delivery operation according to the new delivery plan. The new dispatch status table re-edited on the vehicle side can be transmitted to the central distribution center via the communication means 10 and 30, and the contents of the interrupt information can be obtained even at the central location.

The distribution support apparatus described above monitors the delivery status of the vehicle being delivered. That is, the current position of each vehicle being delivered can be confirmed by satellite communication, and the position is determined via the operation information input unit 114.
When input to the operation monitoring device 107, the operation monitoring device 107 collates the created dispatch status table with the actual progress of the delivery, and performs the delivery operation according to the arrival time in the dispatch status table shown in FIG. It can be confirmed whether or not is performed. At the same time, the display color of the planned route and the color of the route portion up to the current position of the vehicle are changed and displayed on the display screen of the display output means 15 shown in FIG. Progress can be checked. On the vehicle side, the display output means 3 of the in-vehicle terminal 2
2 is displayed and output.

For this reason, even after the dispatch status table is updated due to changes in various dynamic information or interrupt information, unexpected factors that cannot be included in the dynamic information appear in the actual operation status. Become. Therefore, even in the case where delivery cannot be performed according to the updated vehicle allocation status table, the configuration for monitoring the operation facilitates extraction of a problem that has occurred during the actual operation.

Next, a specific method of calculating the route in the delivery plan editing means 109 will be described. The delivery plan editing means 109 performs a route calculation process for a plurality of destinations within the predetermined area as a calculation range, and connects each of the destinations with one route.
Specifically, for each destination on the map shown in FIG. 17, only each destination and road are converted into an image as shown in FIG.
This imaged information is supplied to the map information input device 125.
, And not all the map information (for example, address information, various symbols, building outlines, roads, etc.) described in FIG. That is, since only the destinations (for example, five destinations A to E shown in FIG. 18 and corresponding to each building in FIG. 18) and roads are extracted, unnecessary information is deleted and map processing is performed. Does not burden the CPU.

Next, the imaged destination and road are replaced by an equivalent route shown in FIG. This equivalent route is obtained by obtaining map information of each destination on the XY coordinate axes from the map information input device 125, and then linearly connecting nodes (nodes) with intersections of roads connecting the destinations A to E as nodes. ) And get it.
For example, a road indicated by a bold line in FIG. 18 (a similar bold line portion on the map of FIG. 17) corresponds to this, and an equivalent route is created for this road as shown in FIG. The road of each destination is quantified by this equivalent route, and the calculation described later can be facilitated.

Information on each link on the equivalent route is stored in the map information input device 125 (distance information in Km units is shown in each link portion shown in FIG. 19 for reference). The average speed of each link (known as speed information of road traffic; unit Km / h) is input to the change information input means 112 as clock change information. The average speed is the traffic light information and road-vehicle information.

Accordingly, the delivery plan editing means 109 calculates the consumption time (Min) spent on each link portion based on the distance information (Km) and the average speed (Km / h) of each link portion input. Thereafter, the delivery plan editing unit 109 obtains the total required time for delivery by connecting the nodes. The conditions at this time are as follows. Conditions to connect multiple destinations all with one route,
2. There is a condition for minimizing the overall consumption time required for delivery), and this calculation is performed using the Monte Carlo method.

In the Monte Carlo method, the above conditions 1.2. By obtaining the information necessary for the above (image information shown in FIG. 18) from the map information input device 125 and generating a random number, first, a temporary route is simulated by connecting arbitrary nodes. Thereafter, the link time is gradually reduced, and if the total required time is long, the connection between different nodes is repeatedly simulated. (Figure 2
At 0, the consumed time Min on this link is shown in each link part. 21) For example, as shown in FIG. 21, all the delivery destinations are sequentially simulated as a combined delivery route H. By the connection change between the nodes at the time of the simulation, for example, a part of the connection is changed as shown by a dotted line. Finally, a delivery route H connected in the shortest time is obtained. Since the delivery route H at this time is a numerical operation based on an equivalent route, the calculation load on the delivery plan editing means 109 is small, and the operation itself can be performed in a short time.

At the time of creating a delivery route based on this equivalent route, as shown in FIG. 22, road conditions on a route to be passed are referred to. The road condition is fixed and input to the static information processing means 103 in advance, and one-way information, intersection information, and passage restriction information are stored in the form of identifiers (specifically, bit information). It is a thing.

The details will be described in detail with reference to FIG.
In the one-way link portion shown in (1), it is referred to whether or not the direction can pass at the time of the simulation. For example, if the passage is permitted, bit 1 is set. If the passage is prohibited, the link is deleted from the equivalent route by referring to bit 0 if the direction to be passed is prohibited. Only in the case of bit 1 that is possible, a link of this portion is provided, and it is determined whether or not the link can be used for the delivery route H. For example, in FIG. 21, when the node P is one-way impassable in the passing direction of the delivery route H, the node P is deleted, and thus the delivery route H is replaced by a node (the dotted line in FIG. 21). Passed to destination C
To reach.

Similarly, as the passage restriction information shown in FIG. 22B, there is a state of whether the link to be passed is under construction and whether or not the link is allowed to pass, and as shown in FIG. 22C. There are restrictions on passage depending on the vehicle type. For example, if the number of vehicles that can pass through a certain node is up to 2t, if the vehicle to be used is 4t, this node is prohibited. The pass restriction information is also referred to as bit information in the process of creating the delivery route H as described above.

The intersection information shown in FIG. 22 (d) is a diagram of each node portion. As shown in FIG. 22 (e), each node is stored as a bit in the form of a determinant. FIG. 22D shows a case where the node (intersection) is a three-way road, but when entering from each direction as shown in FIG. In this figure, the direction K1 corresponding to bit 0 is shown.
From the right to the direction K3. This intersection information is also bit-referenced at each node passing through in the process of creating the delivery route H, the link in the entry-prohibited direction from the traveling direction of the delivery route H is deleted, and the other delivery routes H Will be used.

As described above, when creating the delivery route H, the road conditions to be passed are processed as being usable or unusable by a simple method of only referring to the bits. This can be performed in a short time with a small burden, and can be created in accordance with the actual delivery work. It should be noted that this bit processing of road conditions is not limited to roads, but is also applied to airplane departure and arrival conditions on air routes and ship departure and arrival conditions on sea routes. It is effectively used in automatic creation of delivery routes for dynamic information.

The simulated route is developed again on a simplified map of only roads and each destination as shown in FIG. For example, as shown in FIG.
Is simulated based on the distance on the road of the shortest route connecting the route, and the delivery route in the destination course is simulated, and at the same time, the scheduled arrival time is added. The display output means 15
Is output as a vehicle allocation status table shown in FIG.

The time during which the vehicle stops (garden time) after arriving at each destination and before departure differs for each destination, and each garden time is determined by static information (static constraint conditions). 11 (b), and is added to the total consumption time (required time) of the simulated route. 11A and 11B, the number of destinations, total distance, delivery time (time from departure time to end time), designated delivery time, destination , A road condition of a delivery vehicle, intersection information, and the like, and a delivery route excluding dynamic changes (only based on static information) is created based on these. Further, the scheduled delivery route arrival time is changed by a change in the dynamic information. The scheduled arrival time of the delivery route is changed by inputting dynamic information when there is a dynamic change. The dynamic information (dynamic constraint conditions) includes a designated delivery time and a change in destination order. Presence, road conditions,
There are intersection conditions and the like, and the dynamic route is added again to re-create the delivery route.

The distribution support system having the above configuration has a function of adding a virtual node as described in the first embodiment. That is, the map information input device 125 (126)
Then, a new virtual node is added by depressing a virtual node generation input key 31b provided in the vehicle-mounted terminal 2 shown in FIG.

Based on this, the delivery plan editing means 109 can create the delivery route H including the newly added node. Needless to say, a delivery route can be created in the delivery plan reediting means 159 of the vehicle-mounted terminal 2 as well. As a result, a delivery route H using a road that is not registered in the map DB 6 can be created, and a more practical delivery route can be created.

Further, by providing a node erasing function such as the above-described node erasing key on the in-vehicle terminal 2, a node that branches to a road that cannot be passed due to snow or heavy rain is temporarily removed. Can be simulated, and the delivery route corresponding to the dynamic change that changes with time can be simulated. By deleting this node, if a specific bit (for example, 0) is registered as a bit in the node portion at the time of creation of the delivery route, the link in the entry prohibited direction from the traveling direction of the delivery route H is deleted, and another delivery route is deleted. A detour to H can be created. For example, it is effective when the vehicle is temporarily impassable due to snow or heavy rain.

In each of the above embodiments, an example of application to a delivery service has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this and can be effectively used.
The snow removal area can be searched by using the map information sequential updating function having the above configuration. In addition, new map information can be created for the road under construction by adding the virtual node, and the delivery plan can be made more efficient. As a result, it is possible to update map information of an area where road maintenance is not progressing, such as a new residential area, and to improve the efficiency of logistics operations.

[0096]

According to the map information input device of the present invention, when the vehicle equipped with the on-vehicle terminal reaches a desired branch point, the current position of the vehicle can be determined by operating the virtual node input key. The map information can be updated as a detected node and the detected position is a new node on the equivalent route. By adding virtual nodes, you can register branch points that do not appear on map information such as farm roads and private roads, update map information, and add and modify new roads on map information. The reliability of information can be improved. In addition, the distribution support apparatus using the above-described map information can simulate a delivery route with a more practical route based on the addition of a new virtual node, thereby improving the efficiency of distribution.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a map information input device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a storage format of input information and destination information.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a basic diagram.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing display output states of a basic diagram and an output diagram.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a basic diagram of a suburb.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the distribution support apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a master file of packages to be delivered.

FIG. 8 is a view showing a shipping instruction file created in a delivery process.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a configuration of change information input means.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a district file.

FIG. 11 is a view showing a shipping instruction sorting file created in the delivery processing.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a delivery route.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a structure between shipping instruction sorting files.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a dispatch status list.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing details of a vehicle allocation status table for each course.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing details of delivery contents of each delivery destination.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing each delivery destination on a map.

FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating each delivery destination on a map.

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing an equivalent route connecting each delivery destination.

FIG. 20 is a diagram showing the time consumed by each link on the equivalent route.

FIG. 21 is a diagram in which delivery destinations are connected in the shortest time.

FIG. 22 is a diagram showing identification information on road conditions.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Central control part, 2 ... In-vehicle terminal, 3 ... Satellite position detection means, 5a ... Delivery information part, 5b ... Map information part, 11 ... Current position conversion means, 12 ... Position setting means, 13 ... Position setting means, 14 ... mobile terminal position correcting means, 31a ... destination input key, 31b virtual node generation input key, 35 ... distance measuring means, 36 ... time measuring means, 37 ... memory, 100 ... delivery plan creating means, 103 ... static information Processing means, 105 ...
Dynamic information processing means, 107: operation monitoring means, 109: delivery plan editing means, 110: package information input means, 112 ...
Change information input means, 114 ... operation information input means, 120
... inventory management device, 125, 126 ... map information input device,
15, 32 ... display output means, 10, 30 ... communication means, 1
51: interrupt information input means, 155: delivery plan changing means, 157: interrupt information processing means, 159: delivery plan reediting means.

────────────────────────────────────────────────── ───

[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] April 17, 2000 (2004.1.
7)

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] Claims

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[Claims]

[Procedure amendment 2]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0006

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

Of course, the final destination information obtained by the digital map is effective at the time of this detour. However, when the navigation device based on the map information of the digital map creates a route for circulating a plurality of delivery destinations for logistics delivery, in the above-described points, in a rural area or the like, delivery based on the created route is performed. There was a problem of low effectiveness. These problems must be resolved urgently in order to improve logistics automation and overall delivery efficiency.

[Procedure amendment 3]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0009

[Correction method] Deleted

[Procedure amendment 4]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0010

[Correction method] Deleted

[Procedure amendment 5]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0011

[Correction method] Deleted

[Procedure amendment 6]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0012

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[0012]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a map information input device mounted on a vehicle movable to a destination. An input key (31a) for a destination to be operated and an input key (31b) for generating a virtual node to be operated when a desired branch point on a road for reaching the destination is reached
A vehicle-mounted terminal (2) having a position, a position detecting means (3) for detecting the position of the vehicle-mounted terminal at the time of operating each of the input keys by latitude and longitude, and map information of a predetermined range in which the vehicle is moving. The stored map database (6), and a virtual node is generated on the map information when the virtual node generation input key of the in-vehicle terminal is operated, and stored again in the map database. And a position setting means (13) for generating a link from the time of operating the virtual node to reaching the destination as a link when the land input key is operated and storing the link in the map database. I do.

[Procedure amendment 7]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0013

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

According to a second aspect of the present invention, based on the latitude and longitude of the on-board terminal detected by the position detecting means (3), the positions of the destination and the branch point are converted into characters in the XY coordinate axis format. A current position conversion means (11) for conversion may be provided, and the map database (6) may store the map information including the virtual node and the destination as characters in an XY coordinate axis format.

[Procedure amendment 8]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0014

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

The position detecting means (3) receives a radio wave of a GPS satellite (3a) and detects the position of the vehicle-mounted terminal (2) by latitude and longitude.
The receiving means (3c) may be used.

[Procedure amendment 9]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0015

[Correction method] Deleted

[Procedure amendment 10]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0016

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

Further, the physical distribution support device of the present invention is characterized in that
As described, receiving a delivery request for packages from multiple shippers, allocating a vehicle that delivers the package to a destination starting from a distribution base such as a warehouse, and performing a delivery business according to a predetermined vehicle allocation plan for the vehicle. A logistics support device for performing
An input key (31b) for generating a virtual node which is mounted on the vehicle and operated when the vehicle reaches a desired branch point on the road
An on-vehicle terminal (2), a position detecting means (3) for detecting the position of the on-vehicle terminal at the time of operating the input key by latitude and longitude, and a road map stored in advance and a map indicating a destination position. Means for extracting, from the information, map information in a range in which each of the plurality of destinations created in the shipping instruction file is described, and a set of a plurality of links in which the road in the extracted map information has a branch point as a node. Means for converting to an equivalent route; means for adding a static constraint condition such as preset distance information to the equivalent route to search for the shortest route between any two destinations; 2
Means for simulating a delivery route by reconnecting links so that all destinations are connected by one delivery route and the travel time of the delivery is minimized with reference to the shortest route between points; Means for generating a virtual node on the equivalent route to make a new equivalent route when an input key is operated.
9, 159), wherein the delivery plan editing means sequentially re-executes the processing of each of the internal means at the time of generating the virtual node to simulate the shortest delivery route again.

[Procedure amendment 11]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0017

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

The storage medium storing the logistics support program according to the present invention receives a delivery request of a package from a plurality of shippers by a computer and transfers the package to a destination from a distribution base such as a warehouse as described in claim 5. A storage medium storing a logistics support program for creating a dispatch plan for vehicles to be delivered to a shipping instruction file from a road map and map information indicating a location of a destination stored and held in advance in a computer. The map information of the range in which each of the plurality of created destinations is described is extracted, and the road in the extracted map information is converted into an equivalent route of a set of a plurality of links each having a branch point as a node. The shortest route between any two destinations is searched by adding a static constraint condition such as preset distance information, and the shortest route between the two obtained points is obtained. Request to generate a new branch point by simulating the delivery route by reconnecting the links so that all destinations are connected by one delivery route and the travel time of the delivery is minimized by referring to the route In some cases, a delivery route with the branch point added as a virtual node on the equivalent route is simulated again.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2C032 HB11 HB22 HB25 HD13 HD18 HD21 2F029 AA02 AB07 AB13 AC02 AC06 AC09 AC14 AC16 AC20 AD01 5H180 AA15 CC12 EE02 FF01 FF05 FF10 FF13 FF22 FF32

Claims (9)

[Claims] An in-vehicle terminal (2) mounted on a vehicle movable to a destination and having an input key (31b) for generating a virtual node which is operated when a desired branch point on a road is reached.
Position detecting means (3) for detecting the position of the in-vehicle terminal at the time of operating the input key by latitude and longitude; and a map database (6) storing map information of a predetermined range in which the vehicle is moving. And map setting means (13) for generating a virtual node on the map information and re-storing the virtual node in the map database when an input key of the in-vehicle terminal is operated. Input device. 2. A fixed central control unit (1) provided with the map database (6) and position setting means (13), and a communication means (1) for connecting the central control unit and an on-board terminal.
0, 30), wherein the map information before and after updating stored in the map database (6) can be mutually transmitted between the central control unit and the vehicle-mounted terminal. Map information input device. 3. The in-vehicle terminal (2) of the moving vehicle is provided with position detection means (3) for detecting the position of the in-vehicle terminal when the input key (31b) is operated. By operating the input key (31b) each time a desired branch point is reached, each time the latitude and longitude indicating the position of the branch point detected by the position detecting means are calculated by the communication means (10, 30). ) To the central control unit (1), and the position setting means (1) provided in the central control unit (1).
3. The map information input device according to claim 2, wherein 3) is configured to cause the position of the branch point transmitted from the vehicle-mounted terminal to be stored again as a virtual node in the map database (6). 4. A destination input key (31a) mounted on a vehicle movable to a destination and operated each time the destination is reached.
An in-vehicle terminal (2) having an input key (31b) for generating a virtual node which is operated when a desired branch point on a road for reaching the destination is reached; and an operation of each of the input keys A position detecting means (3) for detecting the position of the vehicle-mounted terminal at the time by latitude and longitude; a map database (6) storing map information of a predetermined range in which the vehicle is moving; When a node generation input key is operated, a virtual node is generated on the map information and stored in the map database again, and when the destination input key of the vehicle-mounted terminal is operated, the virtual node is operated. And a position setting means (13) for generating a route from the route to the destination as a link and storing the link in the map database. 5. A current position conversion means (11) for converting the positions of the destination and the junction into characters in the form of XY coordinate axes based on the latitude and longitude of the vehicle-mounted terminal detected by the position detection means (3). The map according to any one of claims 1 and 5, wherein the map database (6) is configured to store the map information including the virtual node and the destination as characters in an XY coordinate axis format. Information input means. 6. The position detecting means (3) comprises a GPS receiving means (3c) for receiving a radio wave of a GPS satellite (3a) and detecting the position of the vehicle-mounted terminal (2) in latitude and longitude. Item 6. The map information input device according to any one of Items 1 and 5. 7. A storage medium storing a map information input program for managing map information by a computer and enabling the map information to be updated by an input from an in-vehicle terminal provided in a vehicle, wherein the program is stored in a computer. Detecting the position of the in-vehicle terminal at the time of a request for inputting map information from the in-vehicle terminal using latitude and longitude, generating a virtual node on the map information, and storing the generated virtual node in a map database. A storage medium on which a program is recorded. 8. Receiving a package delivery request from a plurality of shippers, allocating a vehicle for delivering the package to a destination starting from a distribution base such as a warehouse, and performing a delivery operation in accordance with a predetermined vehicle allocation plan for the vehicle. An input key (31b) for generating a virtual node, which is mounted on the vehicle and operated when the vehicle reaches a desired branch point on a road.
An on-vehicle terminal (2) having: a position detecting means (3) for detecting the position of the on-vehicle terminal at the time of operating the input key by latitude and longitude; and a road map stored in advance and a map indicating a destination position. Means for extracting, from the information, map information in a range in which each of the plurality of destinations created in the shipping instruction file is described, and a set of a plurality of links in which the road in the extracted map information has a branch point as a node. Means for converting to an equivalent route;
Means for adding a static constraint condition such as preset distance information to the equivalent route to search for the shortest route between any two destinations, and refer to the shortest route between the obtained two points Means for simulating the delivery route by reconnecting the links so that all destinations are connected by one delivery route and minimizing the travel time of the delivery, and when an input key of the on-vehicle terminal is operated Means for generating a virtual node on the equivalent route to make it a new equivalent route. (109, 159) A logistics support apparatus wherein the processing of each of the internal means is executed again and again to simulate the shortest delivery route. 9. A storage medium storing a logistics support program for receiving a distribution request of a package from a plurality of shippers by a computer and creating a dispatch plan of a vehicle for delivering the package to a destination starting from a distribution base such as a warehouse. The program causes the computer to extract map information in a range in which each of the plurality of destinations created in the shipping instruction file is described, from a road map stored in advance and map information indicating a position of the destination, A road in the extracted map information is converted into an equivalent route of a set of a plurality of links having a branch point as a node, and an arbitrary route is added to the equivalent route by adding a static constraint condition such as preset distance information. Search for the shortest route between two destinations, and refer to the shortest route between the two points obtained above, and make all destinations 1
The connection route is connected by two delivery routes and the connection is switched so that the travel time of the delivery is minimized to simulate the delivery route. When a request to generate a new branch point occurs, the branch point is placed on the equivalent route. A storage medium storing a logistics support program, characterized by re-simulating a delivery route in a state in which is added as a virtual node.