JP2007034566A - Operation management system for delivery vehicle and portable terminal to be used for the same system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To attain the instruction or management of an operation through data communication between a fixed terminal at a loading side or unloading side and a portable terminal at a delivery vehicle side. <P>SOLUTION: The terminal of a distribution center and the portable telephone of a driver are connected through data communication, and data of an entry permission time or delivery destination are transmitted to an operation management part operable by permanent software in the portable telephone so as to be confirmed on the screen of the portable telephone by the driver. The terminal of the distribution center calculates the location of the portable telephone in its communication, and predicts an arrival time for the assortment of loads, and confirms that the distributed vehicle has passed through an entry gate by picking up the image of a number plate by a camera, and guides it to a berth. Thus, it is possible for the distribution center to directly give the instruction of an operation to the portable telephone of the driver through the data communication. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to delivery vehicle operation management, and in particular, a system that enables operation instruction and management by data communication between a fixed terminal on the loading side or unloading side and a portable terminal on the delivery vehicle side, and It is related with the portable terminal to be used.

  In many cases, an operation instruction from a distribution center or the like to a delivery vehicle such as a truck is made by a call from a fixed telephone of a shipping company to a driver's mobile phone via a fixed terminal of the shipping company. However, in this case, it is impossible to give a direct instruction to the driver from a distribution center or the like, and since it is impossible to make a call with a mobile phone while driving, an emergency contact cannot be made.

An object of the present invention is to enable an accurate operation instruction by data communication between a fixed terminal of a delivery source and a portable terminal of a delivery vehicle.
An additional problem in the invention of claim 2 is to predict the arrival time of the delivery vehicle at the delivery source so that it can be loaded immediately after arrival.
An additional problem in the invention of claim 3 is to prevent the transportation vehicles from concentrating on the delivery source in a time zone earlier than the scheduled time.
An additional problem in the invention of claim 4 is to provide a portable terminal suitable for achieving the above-mentioned problem.

  The delivery vehicle operation management system according to the present invention is a system including at least a fixed terminal as a delivery source and a portable terminal in a delivery vehicle, wherein each terminal is provided with a data communication means, and the portable terminal includes the fixed terminal. The present invention is characterized in that operation management means is provided which can always respond to data communication from the terminal and can display the operation instruction sent from the fixed terminal on the display means of the portable terminal.

Preferably, the fixed terminal is provided with means for determining the position of the portable terminal and means for instructing assortment of shipped articles according to the determined position.
Particularly preferably, the arrival time of the delivery vehicle is provided by instructing the entry time to the operation management means of the portable terminal from the fixed terminal of the delivery source, and providing means for identifying the delivery vehicle at the entrance gate of the delivery source. Do not open the introductory gate if it is more than a predetermined time from the introductory time.

  Further, the portable terminal for managing the operation of the delivery vehicle according to the present invention is a portable terminal for data communication with the data communication means of the fixed terminal of the delivery source, and for the data communication means and data communication from the fixed terminal. And an operation management means capable of always responding and displaying operation instructions sent from the fixed terminal on the display means of the portable terminal.

  The portable terminal is, for example, a cellular phone or a car phone, and instructing the entry time means designating the time literally or instructing the time zone to be entered. Identifying the delivery vehicle includes identifying a mobile terminal in the delivery vehicle.

  In the delivery vehicle operation management system and portable terminal of the present invention, the delivery source can directly instruct the delivery vehicle by data communication between the delivery source fixed terminal and the portable terminal in the delivery vehicle. Since this instruction is data communication, there is no need for the driver to pick up the phone and talk. Further, since the mobile terminal side can always respond to data transmission from the fixed terminal, the fixed terminal can transmit a change of the operation instruction or the like at an arbitrary time and display it immediately. Since the operation instruction from the fixed terminal is displayed on the display unit of the portable terminal, the driver can read the operation instruction when the driver is free while the vehicle is stopped.

Since the fixed terminal can determine the position of the portable terminal, the time until the arrival of the delivery vehicle can be predicted. Therefore, if a preparatory work such as assortment of shipped goods is performed according to the position of the delivery vehicle, the loading can be performed promptly when the delivery vehicle arrives.
Preferably, the entry time is instructed to the delivery vehicle so that the entry gate cannot be opened when the delivery vehicle arrives earlier than a predetermined time. On the other hand, when the delivery vehicle arrives at the introductory time, it is possible to quickly load pre-packed articles. Then, the delivery vehicle has a strong incentive to arrive at the delivery source at a predetermined time, and when the delivery vehicle is too early, it concentrates on the delivery source and requires an excessive parking space or traffic congestion around it You can reduce problems such as doing.

  In the following, an optimum embodiment for carrying out the present invention will be shown.

  The operation management system 2 of the delivery vehicle of an Example is shown in FIGS. In each figure, 4 is a delivery center, which is an example of a delivery source. Reference numeral 6 denotes a distribution center terminal, which is a fixed terminal on the ground side. Reference numeral 7 denotes a position data acquisition unit, which acquires the position of the mobile phone 14 from, for example, the position of the ground station intervening in communication. Reference numeral 8 denotes an assortment instruction unit for instructing the automatic warehouse 16 and the picking area 18 to assort the shipment items based on the position of the delivery vehicle 12. Reference numeral 9 denotes a shipping company terminal, and reference numeral 10 denotes a delivery destination terminal, which is configured in the same manner as the fixed terminal 6 of the delivery center. Hereinafter, in this specification, the fixed terminals 6, 9, and 10 are referred to as fixed terminals.

  The delivery vehicle 12 is, for example, a truck, and the driver includes a mobile phone 14 and performs data communication with the fixed terminals 6 and 10 and voice communication and data communication with the terminal 9. The data communication between the delivery destination terminal 10 and the mobile phone 14 is substantially the same as the data communication with the fixed terminal 6 at the distribution center. Hereinafter, the data communication with the fixed terminal 6 at the distribution center will be described as an example. Reference numeral 20 denotes a berth, and reference numeral 22 denotes an introductory gate. The camera 24 is provided to read the license plate of the delivery vehicle 12, report the license plate to the fixed terminal 6, and open and close the gate according to the instruction.

  The mobile phone 14 has a voice communication unit 26 and a data communication unit 28. For example, the voice communication unit 26 performs voice communication with the shipping company terminal 9 and the data communication unit 28 performs data communication with the fixed terminals 6 and 10. . The data communication unit 28 is provided with an operation management unit 30 configured by, for example, resident software, dedicated hardware, or dedicated hardware resources. Here, the term “resident” means that the driver can perform data communication with the fixed terminals 6 and 10 and can store the data obtained without calling the operation management unit 30. For example, when the driver operates the mobile phone 14 and calls the operation management unit 30, the operation instruction received from the fixed terminals 6, 10, etc. is displayed as a schedule, a message, or a guidance screen to the berth 20. Displayed on the display screen of the mobile terminal.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the operation management unit 30 is provided with a schedule management unit 32 for storing data such as entry times, delivery destinations, items, and quantities instructed from the fixed terminal 6. The message management unit 34 manages messages communicated from the fixed terminal 6. This message is used, for example, when the schedule is changed or supplemented. The vehicle number storage unit 36 stores the vehicle number and the like of the delivery vehicle 12 that is driving on that day by manual input from the driver. The guidance screen display unit 38 displays a guidance screen to the berth to be landed by data from the fixed terminal 6 when passing through the introductory gate 22.

  3 to 5 show communication between the mobile phone 14 and the fixed terminal 6 in the distribution center. When it is determined on which side of the delivery center the article is to be delivered, the shipping company to be requested is determined accordingly. The criteria for selecting a shipping company is arbitrary. Data communication is performed from the fixed terminal 6 of the delivery center to the terminal 9 of the shipping company, and data such as receipt / shipment date, direction, delivery destination, entry time zone, item, and quantity are notified. Also, the entry time zone can be determined by calculating backward from the required travel time once the destination is determined. The terminal 9 of the shipping company confirms the situation such as an empty vehicle or an actual vehicle by voice communication with the driver's mobile phone 14, and based on this, the delivery requested to the fixed terminal 6 of the distribution center is requested. Register whether to assign work, where the vehicle number and the mobile phone number of the driver are registered. On the other hand, a delivery operation is instructed to the driver of the delivery vehicle by voice communication.

  Next, when the driver calls and activates the operation management unit 30 that has been sleeping, the operation management unit 30 logs in to the fixed terminal 6 of the distribution center through data communication, and the mobile phone number, vehicle number, and password. Etc. The vehicle number may not be notified at this stage, and the password may be manually input by the driver, or may be stored in advance in the operation management unit 30. However, in order to restrict access by the driver of a third-party transportation company to the fixed terminal 6 of the delivery center, it is preferable to change the password with time, such as daily or weekly.

  When the login from the operation management unit 30 of the mobile phone 14 is completed, the fixed terminal 6 of the distribution center 4 transmits the entry permission time and the like. The transmitted destination, entry time zone, item, quantity, and other data are stored in the schedule management unit 32 of the operation management unit and displayed on the display screen of the mobile phone 14 unless the driver calls another screen, for example. ing. The driver then operates according to the designated entry permit time. Further, when it is necessary to change the transportation instruction, the contact information is transmitted from the fixed terminal 6 of the distribution center by data communication. The transmitted contact information is stored in the message management unit 34 and displayed on the screen of the mobile phone 14 together with the data of the schedule management unit 32. Especially in the case of an emergency contact, there is an emergency notification by voice notification from the mobile phone 14. Let them know. This voice is preferably different from the so-called ring melody of the mobile phone. Since the operation management unit 30 is resident, in this process, the fixed terminal 6 can transmit data at an arbitrary time and display an operation instruction on the display unit of the mobile phone in real time.

  The position of the mobile phone 14, and thus the position of the delivery vehicle 12, can be acquired by the position data acquisition unit 7 from the position of the ground station via data communication. Therefore, the assortment instructing unit 8 instructs the automatic warehouse, the picking area, etc. to perform predetermined assortment based on the position of the mobile phone 14 or the estimated time until arrival. However, if it is too early than the instructed entry time, no assortment will be instructed. As a result, when the delivery vehicle 12 enters the delivery center 4 at a predetermined entry time, articles can be loaded almost without waiting.

  The delivery vehicle 12 that has arrived at the delivery center 4 takes an image of a license plate, for example, by a camera 24 at an entrance gate 22. When the delivery vehicle 12 arrives at a predetermined introductory time zone, the introductory gate 22 is opened. In other cases, attention is drawn, and if the delivery vehicle 12 is too early for a predetermined time, the gate is not opened. At the entrance gate 22, the fixed terminal 6 inquires the mobile phone 14 about the mobile phone number, requests transmission of a password, and confirms the driver. In addition, when specifying the delivery vehicle 12 in the introductory gate 22, you may specify by the telephone number etc. of the mobile telephone 14 instead of a license plate.

  When the delivery vehicle 12 passes through the entrance gate, the delivery vehicle 12 guides the landing to the berth from the fixed terminal 6 of the delivery center to the mobile phone 14. For example, the arrangement of the berth and the designated berth number are displayed on the guidance screen, or a sound is played before the correct berth. This causes the delivery vehicle 12 to land on the correct berth and load it.

In the embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) It is possible to give operational instructions and emergency contact without voice communication between the fixed terminal 6 of the distribution center and the mobile phone 14.
(2) The operation management unit 30 can always respond to data communication from the fixed terminal 6 of the distribution center, and the operation instruction is read until the mail server is accessed, such as when an e-mail is used to transmit the operation instruction. There is no such thing as not being issued. The transmitted operation instructions are displayed on the display screen of the mobile phone in real time.
(3) By inputting the password, it is possible to prevent the driver side from illegally accessing the fixed terminal 6 of the distribution center.
(4) Since the entry time is designated and the delivery vehicle 12 detects that the delivery vehicle 12 has approached the delivery center and performs assortment in advance, the delivery vehicle 12 that arrives at the entry time is quickly loaded. be able to. In addition, the delivery vehicle 12 can be prevented from arriving at a time zone that is too early than the designated entry time. For this reason, it is not necessary to provide a large parking lot in the delivery center 4, and it is possible to prevent a delivery vehicle from being congested around the delivery center 4.
(5) The driver can be guided from the entry to the berth to be landed.

The figure which shows typically the relationship between terminals in the operation management system of the delivery vehicle of an Example. Block diagram of the operation management unit of the mobile phone used in the embodiment The figure which shows the processing until the portable terminal side logs in to the terminal of the delivery center Diagram showing entry permission time and contact information notification from the distribution center terminal to the mobile terminal side Diagram showing the process from introduction of a delivery vehicle to a distribution center to landing at a berth

Explanation of symbols

2 Delivery vehicle operation management system 4 Delivery center 6 Delivery center terminal 7 Location data acquisition unit 8 Assortment instruction unit 9 Shipping company terminal 10 Delivery destination terminal 12 Delivery vehicle 14 Mobile phone 16 Automatic warehouse 18 Picking area 20 Berth 22 Introductory gate 24 Camera 26 Voice communication unit 28 Data communication unit 30 Operation management unit 32 Schedule management unit 34 Message management unit 36 Vehicle number storage unit 38 Guide screen display unit

Claims (4)

A system including at least a fixed terminal of a delivery source and a portable terminal in a delivery vehicle, wherein each terminal is provided with data communication means, and the portable terminal can always respond to data communication from the fixed terminal An operation management system for a delivery vehicle, characterized in that operation management means is provided that can display operation instructions sent from a fixed terminal on a display means of a portable terminal. 2. The delivery vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the fixed terminal is provided with means for determining the position of the portable terminal and means for instructing assortment of shipment items according to the determined position. Operation management system. In addition to instructing an entry time from the fixed terminal of the delivery source to the operation management means of the portable terminal, a means for identifying the delivery vehicle is provided at the introduction gate of the delivery source, and the arrival of the delivery vehicle is determined from the introduction time. 3. The delivery vehicle operation management system according to claim 2, wherein the introductory gate is not opened when it is earlier than a predetermined time. A portable terminal for data communication with the data communication means of the fixed terminal of the delivery source, capable of always responding to data communication means and data communication from the fixed terminal, and an operation instruction sent from the fixed terminal A portable terminal for managing the operation of a delivery vehicle, comprising: an operation management means capable of displaying the information on the display means of the portable terminal.