JP4610483B2 - Course creation system - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

  The present invention relates to a course creation system and a program thereof.

Conventionally, a route determination method for creating route data suitable for route search from an image map and determining a route with a shorter distance or time using the route data has been disclosed (Patent Document 1). Here, the route is determined in consideration of map traffic such as road traffic volume, intersection position, road shape, and one-way traffic. As a result, it is possible to determine an optimum route having a smaller distance or time.
Patent Document 1 JP-A-6-273181

  However, in such a process for determining the optimum route, it is necessary to repeat the calculation in order to obtain the optimum solution. From the system point of view, how to eliminate the repetition of the calculation, that is, the loop process. Thus, it is important whether an optimal solution can be obtained without requiring a long processing time.

  Further, as in the technique described in Patent Document 1, when an optimum route is determined by reflecting actual road conditions, information necessary for obtaining an optimum solution becomes enormous and processing time becomes long.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a technique for creating a course capable of efficiently performing a patrol work by reducing the number of necessary workers when creating a delivery course in an area by a simple process. Another object of the present invention is to provide a technique capable of objectively creating such a course. Another object of the present invention is to provide a system that can flexibly create such a course. Still another object of the present invention is to provide a technique for simplifying the configuration of a system for creating a course as described above.

According to the present invention, when creating a course for delivering an article in an area including a plurality of tour points, a course creation system for selecting a tour point to be included in the same course,
Location information data including location information of delivery locations from an external system via a network, location information of each of the traveling points, the amount of articles delivered to the traveling points, and when delivering the items to the traveling points An information acquisition unit for acquiring traveling point information data including information on flexibility indicating the degree of restriction ;
A condition setting accepting unit that accepts the lower limit and upper limit of the delivery time of the course and the lower limit and upper limit of the delivery amount as end conditions for completing the creation of one course;
Based on the location information of the delivery base acquired by the information acquisition unit and the location information of the tour point, a selection unit that sequentially selects the tour points included in the same course;
When the selection unit selects a new tour point, the tour point included in the same course that has already been selected and includes the tour point selected is based on the base information data and the tour point information data. When the points are circulated in the selected order or when the circulated points included in the already selected course are circulated by the shortest route, the first statistic determined by the delivery time and the circulated points are delivered to the circulated points. a calculation processing unit for calculating a second statistics determined by the amount of the articles, respectively,
Based on the first statistic and the second statistic calculated by the calculation processing unit, the first statistic sets the upper limit of the delivery time of the course for which the condition setting receiving unit has received the setting. Judgment to determine whether or not the second statistic exceeds the upper limit of the delivery amount that has been set by the condition setting receiving unit, and whether or not the end condition is satisfied And
If the determination unit determines that the first statistic exceeds the upper limit of the delivery time of the course and the second statistic also exceeds the upper limit of the delivery amount, the same course A first provisional process of preferentially selecting the tour point from the tour points included in the map and removing the selected tour point as the flexibility becomes higher, and When the second statistic is greater than or equal to the lower limit and less than or equal to the upper limit of the delivery amount, the first tentative process is determined as the second statistic being improved. In addition, the calculation processing unit is further configured to calculate the first statistic, and when the first statistic is equal to or less than the upper limit of the course delivery time, the process ends, while the first tentative process Improves the second statistic. There case, or after the determination of the first interim processing repeats the processing of the first statistic perform provisional processing new the first if not less the upper limit,
When the determination unit determines that only the second statistic exceeds the upper limit of the delivery amount, the circulation point is selected from the circulation points included in the same course. Is selected preferentially the higher the is, the selected tour point is removed and a second provisional process is performed for exchanging with the other unselected tour points that are not included in the same course. The first statistic and the second statistic are calculated, the second statistic is smaller than the state before the second provisional process, and is equal to or greater than the lower limit of the delivery amount. When the first statistic is less than or equal to the upper limit of the course delivery time and is greater than or equal to the lower limit of the course delivery time or increased from the state prior to the second provisional process, the second Confirm tentative processing of When the second statistic is less than or equal to the upper limit of the delivery amount, the process is terminated. On the other hand, when the second provisional process cannot be confirmed, or the second provisional process is confirmed. Thereafter, when the second statistic is not less than or equal to the upper limit of the delivery amount, the process of performing the new second provisional process is repeated,
When it is determined by the determination unit that only the first statistic exceeds the upper limit of the course delivery time, the circulation point is selected from the circulation points included in the same course. The calculation processing unit performs a third provisional process in which the higher the flexibility is selected, the selected tour point is removed and replaced with another unselected tour point that is not included in the same course, To calculate the first statistic and the second statistic, and the second statistic is less than or equal to the upper limit of the delivery amount and greater than or equal to the lower limit of the delivery amount or the third statistic When the first statistic is increased from the state before the provisional process and the first statistic is decreased from the state before the third provisional process, the third provisional process is confirmed, and the first statistic is further determined. The amount of the course The process ends when the time is less than or equal to the upper limit of the time, while the first statistic is determined to be that of the course when the third provisional process cannot be confirmed, or after the third provisional process is confirmed. An adjustment processing unit that repeats the process of performing the new third provisional process when the delivery time does not fall below the upper limit; and
Including
Until it is determined that satisfies the termination condition by the determining section, the course creation system, characterized by creating one course repeating the selection of the cyclic point by the selection unit is provided.

Here, the course, also to patrol each patrol point from the site, for example, the starting point of the tour will have a route to return to the base. Also, the selection unit, in response to the first statistics and second statistics value calculation unit has calculated, already may be processed to deselect cyclic the selected point.

In this way, it is possible to provide a wide range of timings for ending the course creation process, and to quickly create a course. As a result, when a delivery course is created in a region, it is possible to create a course capable of efficiently performing a patrol work by reducing the number of necessary workers and the like with a simple process.
Further, if this is done, the method of selecting the tour points can be varied according to the conditions, so that various courses can be created according to the user's needs. Moreover, it is possible to create a course without considering the conditions that the user does not want, and to speed up the process.
The external system can be, for example, a company system that manages each traveling point. In this way, the course creation system of the present invention can use the information that each company collects, updates, and accumulates every day. As a result, it is not necessary to collect information relating to the traveling points in order to create the course, so that the course creation process can be simplified. Thereby, the structure of a course creation system can also be simplified. In addition, existing information accumulated by each company can be used effectively.
When acquiring information necessary for course creation from various external systems, the format and type of data stored may be different depending on the company operating each system. In this way, even if the information acquired from the external system does not include all necessary information, alternative information can be acquired and course creation processing can be performed appropriately.

If the first statistic and the second statistic are not within the predetermined range, an operation of exchanging a part of the selected cyclic points with the other unselected cyclic points is repeatedly executed. Therefore, it is possible to surely create a reasonable course.

  In the course creation system of the present invention, the tour points to be included in the same course in the region A search area setting unit for setting a search area for selection can be further included. You can select the tour points to be included in the same course for each search area. The

  In the course creation system of the present invention, the search area setting unit sets a predetermined reference point in the area. As a core, the axis passes when the axis with the reference point as one end is rotated by a predetermined angle. The search area is set for the search area, and the selection unit sets the same course for the search area. Select each patrol point to include, and when you rotate the axis in the search area, The search area setting section is selected in order starting from the hitting point, and the search area setting unit is substantially perpendicular to the axis. The search area can be set in consideration of the distance in the direction.

  The course creation system of the present invention may further include an optimization processing unit that optimizes the order of the cyclic points included in the course, and the calculation processing unit circulates the cyclic points in the order in which the selection unit selects the cyclic points. The delivery time is calculated as a preliminary first statistic, and it is determined whether or not the preliminary first statistic exceeds a predetermined reference value. When the predetermined reference value is exceeded, the optimization processing unit is optimized, and the delivery time when the circulation point is visited in the optimized circulation order can be calculated.

  In this way, the course creation process can be speeded up because optimization only needs to be performed when the preliminary statistics exceed a predetermined reference value.

In the course creation system of the present invention, a course information storage unit that stores information related to a course created by a tour point finally selected by the selection unit in association with a condition received by the condition setting reception unit, and information about the course And a display processing unit for displaying together with the conditions.

  In this way, it is possible to easily compare information on courses created according to various conditions. With reference to this, the user can create an appropriate course.

  In the course creation system of the present invention, a display processing unit that displays information about the tour points together with the map information of the area, a tour condition for each tour point, and display information having a different external shape depending on the difference of the tour conditions, A display information storage unit that stores the information in association with each other, and the display processing unit detects a traveling condition for the traveling point based on information about the traveling point acquired by the information acquisition unit, and Display information corresponding to the points can be displayed.

  Thereby, the user can visually grasp the traveling conditions for each traveling point, and can recognize the result of course creation with high convenience.

In the course creation system of the present invention, it may further include a flexibility granting unit that grants information related to flexibility to each traveling point based on information related to the traveling point, and the selection unit considers information related to flexibility. It is possible to preferentially select a tour point with low flexibility .

Here, the information on flexibility indicates the degree of restriction when an article is delivered to each traveling point , that is, the degree of restriction when each traveling point is included in the course. Further, the information on flexibility can be set as a flexibility parameter, and can be set according to whether or not a day of the week to be visited for each patrol point is specified, the number of delivery required per week, and the like. For example, a tour point in which a day of the week is specified is set with low flexibility. In addition, a tour point having a large number of deliveries per week is set with low flexibility. Flexibility is high cyclic point, and is easy to make adjustments for incorporation in any of the course, the selection unit, by going the lower flexible cyclic point preferentially selected in the course carried out flexibly route creation be able to.

In the course creation system of the present invention, the selection unit selects a seed that serves as a reference when creating a course in consideration of information on flexibility, and selects the same seed in consideration of information on the seed. The tour points to be included in the course can be selected sequentially.

In the course creation system of the present invention, the information acquisition unit includes all information necessary for the calculation processing unit to calculate the first statistic and the second statistic in the information acquired from the external system. If all the necessary information is not included, it is possible to perform processing for prompting the input of the substitute information for the necessary information.

  In the course creation system of the present invention, the selection unit first selects a seed serving as a reference for creating a course from a plurality of circulation points, and sequentially selects the circulation points to be included in the same course in consideration of information related to the seed. You can choose.

  In the course creation system of the present invention, the region can include a base, and the selection unit can select a seed in consideration of the distance from the base.

  The course creation system of the present invention may further include an optimization processing unit that optimizes the cyclic order of the cyclic points included in the course, and the calculation processing unit considers the cyclic order optimized by the optimization processing unit. Thus, the first statistic can be calculated.

  In the course creation system of the present invention, the patrol work is performed using a vehicle, and can further include an order determination unit that determines the order in which the tour points included in the course are visited for each created course. The order determination unit can determine the order so as to make a round trip in order from the round points located on the vehicle direction side.

  In the course creation system of the present invention, the selection unit can select the tour points by associating with the days of the week so that the number of courses on each day is equal, and can create the courses according to the days of the week.

  As a process for making the number of courses equal on each day of the week, for example, when selecting a tour point with no restrictions on the day of the week, the tour point is selected in association with a day of the week that has already been created with a smaller number of courses. be able to. By equalizing the number of courses on each day of the week, it is possible to arrange the number of vehicles required for each day of the week, so that the patrol work can be efficiently performed with the minimum number of vehicles. Thereby, the number of vehicles and the number of workers can be reduced.

  In the course creation system of the present invention, the information acquisition unit also acquires information regarding the presence / absence of designation of the day of the week on which each circulation point should be circulated, and the selection unit includes the circulation point having the same designation of the day of the week in the same course. Each tour point can be selected.

  The course creation system of the present invention may further include a course information storage unit that stores information relating to a course that has already been created, and the information acquisition unit includes information regarding whether or not to specify the day of the week on which to visit each tour point. When there is no designation of the day of the week to be visited for any one of the tour points, the selection unit can refer to the course information storage unit and determine the day of the week to go to the tour point.

In the course creation system of the present invention, the selection unit refers to the course information storage unit when there is no designation of the day of the week to be visited for any one of the circulation points, and the tour point on the day of the week with the smallest number of assigned courses. it can be determined to perform the patrol to.

In the course creation system of the present invention, the search area setting unit can set a search area for an area through which the axis passes when the axis is rotated by a predetermined angle clockwise and counterclockwise .

In the course creation system of the present invention, the selection unit can sequentially select from the cyclic points that hit one of the axes when the axis is simultaneously rotated clockwise and counterclockwise in the search area. .

In the course creation system of the present invention, the search area setting unit divides the area into a plurality of search areas by rotating an axis line having the reference point as one end around the predetermined reference point by a predetermined angle around the predetermined reference point in the area. The selection unit can select each of the tour points included in the same course for each search area.

  In the course creation system of the present invention, the search area setting unit can adjust the angle at which the axis is rotated for each search area in consideration of the average value of the statistics in each course.

  In the course creation system of the present invention, the search area setting unit considers the average value of the statistics in each course, and sets the search area when the statistics in the corresponding course is smaller than the average value. When the process of widening the angle of rotating the axis is performed and the statistic in the corresponding course is larger than the average value, the process of narrowing the angle of rotating the axis can be performed when setting the search area.

  In the course creation system of the present invention, the search area setting unit considers the average value of the statistics in each course, and if the statistics in the corresponding course is larger than the average value, the search points included in the search area A process for creating another course for transferring a part of the program can be performed.

  In the course creation system of the present invention, other courses may be created such that the statistics are different from the corresponding course.

  The course creation system of the present invention may further include a theoretical number calculation unit for calculating the theoretical number n of courses to be created in the region, and the search region setting unit is an angle at which the axis is an approximate value of 360 / n Can be rotated.

  In the course creation system of the present invention, the search area setting unit can set a starting point for rotating the axis in consideration of road information marking roads included in the area.

In the course creation system of the present invention, the region can include a base, the information acquisition unit can also acquire information about the base, and the search region setting unit can use the base as a reference point.
In the course creation system of the present invention, the search area setting unit first selects a seed as a starting point when creating a course from a plurality of circulation points, and sets an axis line through the reference point and the seed. Can do.

  In the course creation system of the present invention, the search area setting unit can set the search area in consideration of the distance from the seed.

  In the course creation system of the present invention, the search area setting unit determines whether the distance between the reference point and the seed is within a predetermined length, and if the distance between the reference point and the seed is longer than the predetermined length, the axis line The axis line can be set so that the length of is equal to or greater than the distance between the reference point and the seed.

In the course creation system of the present invention, a delivery method selection for selecting a delivery method to each traveling point from among a plurality of delivery methods in consideration of the first statistic and the second statistic. The selection unit can select a tour point to be included in the same course for each delivery method.

  Here, the delivery method can be in the form of a delivery course. For example, after leaving the delivery base in the morning, the delivery is performed without returning to the base until the evening (hereinafter simply referred to as a single course), or the delivery base. After departure from the vehicle, a system (hereinafter simply referred to as “piston course”) may be included in which the delivery work is performed to go around several patrol points, the work is returned to the base, and another delivery work is performed again on the same day. . In this way, for example, when an article is delivered by a vehicle such as a truck, an optimized delivery course can be created in consideration of the delivery time and the delivery amount of the article. Here, the longer delivery time can be included in the single course as much as possible, and the larger delivery amount can be included in the piston course as much as possible. Thereby, the number of workers and vehicles can be reduced.

  In the course creation system of the present invention, the plurality of delivery methods may be different in the upper limit value of the first statistic determined by the delivery time to each selected traveling point. In this way, for example, workers having different working hours can be assigned to an appropriate delivery course, and the number of workers can be reduced.

  In the course creation system of the present invention, in any of the plurality of delivery methods, the upper limit value of the second statistic determined by the amount of articles delivered to the selected circulation point can be made substantially equal. Here, making the upper limit value of the second statistic substantially equal means making the loading amount of a vehicle such as a truck uniform. In this way, by uniformly standardizing the loading capacity of the vehicle, it becomes easier to deal with problems such as the location of the delivery base and the parking space of the delivery destination as compared with the case where the size of the vehicle varies. . As a result, a delivery course can be created automatically and easily.

  In the course creation system of the present invention, the region can include bases, and the delivery method selection unit can respond to the distance from the seed base that serves as a reference when creating a course selected from a plurality of tour points. The delivery method can be selected.

According to the present invention, a program for causing a computer to select a tour point to be included in the same course when creating a course for delivering an article in an area including a plurality of tour points,
Computer
Location information data including location information of delivery locations from an external system via a network, location information of each of the traveling points, the amount of articles delivered to the traveling points, and when delivering the items to the traveling points Information acquisition means for acquiring traveling point information data including information on flexibility indicating the degree of restriction ;
Condition setting accepting means for accepting the setting of the lower limit and upper limit of the delivery time of the course and the lower limit and upper limit of the delivery amount, which are the end conditions for finishing the creation of one course
Selection means for sequentially selecting the circulation points to be included in the same course based on the position information of the delivery base acquired by the information acquisition means and the position information of the circulation points;
When the selection means selects the new tour point, the tour point included in the same course that has already been selected and includes the tour point selected is based on the base information data and the tour point information data. When the points are circulated in the selected order or when the circulated points included in the already selected course are circulated by the shortest route, the first statistic determined by the delivery time and the circulated points are delivered to the circulated points. calculation processing means for calculating a second statistics determined by the amount of the articles, respectively,
Based on the first statistic and the second statistic calculated by the calculation processing means, the first statistic sets the upper limit of the delivery time of the course for which the condition setting receiving means has received the setting. Judgment to determine whether or not the second statistic exceeds the upper limit of the delivery amount received by the condition setting accepting unit and whether or not the end condition is satisfied means,
If it is determined by the determining means that the first statistic exceeds the upper limit of the delivery time of the course and the second statistic also exceeds the upper limit of the delivery, the same course A first provisional process of preferentially selecting the tour point from the tour points included in the map and removing the selected tour point as the flexibility becomes higher, and When the second statistic is greater than or equal to the lower limit and less than or equal to the upper limit of the delivery amount, the first tentative process is determined as the second statistic being improved. Further, the calculation processing means is further configured to calculate the first statistic, and when the first statistic is less than or equal to the upper limit of the course delivery time, the process ends, while the first tentative process The second statistic is revised If not, or after the determination of the first interim processing repeats the processing of the first statistic perform provisional processing new the first if not less the upper limit,
When it is determined by the determining means that only the second statistic exceeds the upper limit of the delivery amount, the circulating point is selected from the circulating points included in the same course. Is selected preferentially the higher the is, the selected tour point is removed and a second provisional process for exchanging with the other unselected tour points not included in the same course is performed, and the calculation processing means The first statistic and the second statistic are calculated, the second statistic is smaller than the state before the second provisional process, and is equal to or greater than the lower limit of the delivery amount. When the first statistic is less than or equal to the upper limit of the course delivery time and is greater than or equal to the lower limit of the course delivery time or increased from the state prior to the second provisional process, the second Provisional processing The process is terminated when the second statistic is less than or equal to the upper limit of the delivery amount, while the second provisional process cannot be confirmed, or the second provisional process After the determination, when the second statistic is not less than or equal to the upper limit of the delivery amount, repeat the process of performing the new second provisional process,
When it is determined by the determination means that only the first statistic exceeds the upper limit of the course delivery time, the circulation point is selected from the circulation points included in the same course. The calculation processing means performs a third provisional process of preferentially selecting the higher the flexibility and removing the selected tour point and exchanging with the other unselected tour points not included in the same course, To calculate the first statistic and the second statistic, and the second statistic is less than or equal to the upper limit of the delivery amount and greater than or equal to the lower limit of the delivery amount or the third statistic When the first statistic is increased from the state before the provisional process and the first statistic is decreased from the state before the third provisional process, the third provisional process is confirmed, and the first statistic is further determined. The amount of the course The process ends when the delivery time is less than or equal to the upper limit, while the first statistic is the course when the third provisional process cannot be confirmed, or after the third provisional process is confirmed. Adjustment processing means for repeating the process of performing the new third provisional process when the delivery time is not less than the upper limit of
Function as
There is provided a program characterized in that one course is created by repeating the selection of the cyclic points by the selection means until it is determined by the determination means that the termination condition is satisfied .

In the program of the present invention, the computer can function as a condition receiving unit that receives a setting of a condition to be considered when the calculation processing unit calculates the first statistic and the second statistic. Can calculate the first statistic and the second statistic in accordance with the setting received by the condition receiving means.

In the program of the present invention, the information acquisition means determines whether or not the information necessary for the calculation processing means to calculate the first statistic and the second statistic is included in the information acquired from the external system. If all necessary information is not included, it is possible to perform processing for prompting input of alternative information for necessary information.

  It should be noted that any combination of the above-described constituent elements and the expression of the present invention converted between a method, an apparatus, a system, a recording medium, a program, etc. are also effective as an aspect of the present invention.

  As described above, according to the present invention, when a plurality of delivery courses are created in a region, a course capable of efficiently performing a patrol work by reducing the number of necessary workers can be created by a simple process. According to the present invention, such a course can be created flexibly.

The above-described object and other objects, features, and advantages will become more apparent from the preferred embodiments described below and the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a course creation system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the course creation process according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the course creation system in the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a part of the data structure of the acquired information storage unit in the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing in detail the information acquisition unit shown in FIG.
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an internal configuration of a store information storage unit held by each of the second external system to the fourth external system.
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an internal configuration of the management information storage unit.
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating data for each transfer format.
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an input screen for allowing the user to select setting of conditions to be considered when creating a course.
FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a screen for accepting input of conditions for course creation.
FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a screen for accepting input of conditions for course creation.
FIG. 12 is a diagram showing points in a region and a plurality of stores.
FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a part of the data structure of the condition storage unit.
FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a part of the data structure of the course information storage unit in the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 15 is a flowchart specifically showing the course creation process of step 6 shown in FIG.
FIG. 16 is a flowchart specifically showing an example of the store selection process in step 40 of FIG.
FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating an example of a search area setting method.
FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating the search area set by the search area setting unit.
FIG. 19 is a diagram showing the search area set by the search area setting unit.
FIG. 20 is a flowchart specifically showing an example of the adjustment process in step 56 of FIG.
FIG. 21 is a diagram for explaining the course creation order every two weeks.
FIG. 22 is a diagram illustrating a process in which the calculation unit calculates the total amount of stores that are delivered only once every two weeks.
FIG. 23 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure when a course is created in consideration of the day of the week.
FIG. 24 is a diagram illustrating an example of a procedure for calculating a theoretical value of course time required in an area.
FIG. 25 is a diagram showing a screen on which a course creation result by the course creation system according to the embodiment of the present invention is displayed.
FIG. 26 is a diagram showing map information and a created course state in a certain area.
FIG. 27 is an enlarged view showing each icon shown in FIG.
FIG. 28 is a diagram showing a state of the icon shown in FIG.
FIG. 29 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the course creation system in the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 30 is a diagram showing a part of the data structure of the condition storage unit in the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 31 is a flowchart specifically showing the course creation process of step 6 shown in FIG.
FIG. 32 is a diagram illustrating an example of a search area dividing method.
FIG. 33 is a diagram illustrating another example of the search area dividing method.
FIG. 34 is a diagram illustrating an example of a method of adjustment processing at the time of course creation.
FIG. 35 is a diagram showing another example of the adjustment processing method at the time of course creation.
FIG. 36 is a diagram schematically showing the shape of a course created in the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 37 is a diagram for explaining a course creation method according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 38 is a diagram for explaining a course creation method according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 39 is a diagram showing a network configuration including the course creation system of the present invention.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described using a traveling point as a store.
In the embodiment of the present invention, an example will be described in which a plurality of delivery courses for delivering goods by truck to each store are created in an area including a plurality of stores. Each person in charge carries out a delivery operation of loading articles on a truck at a delivery base every day, delivering the goods to a store included in his delivery course, and then returning to the delivery base.

  In the embodiment of the present invention, it is assumed that various kinds of information such as map information data, base information data, and store information data necessary for course creation use existing commercial information or information that is independently held by a company. For example, as base information data and store information data, master information that is collected, updated, and stored every day in a system held by each company is used. Thereby, it is not necessary to bother to accumulate information on the base and the store for the course creation system of the present invention, the processing can be simplified, and existing corporate assets can be effectively utilized. In addition, master information constructed by a company system is used not only for course creation but also for other purposes, and is therefore updated daily. Therefore, data consistency is extremely high, and course creation can be performed accurately by using such master information. Thereby, the structure of a course creation system can also be simplified.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a course creation system and an external system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
The course creation system 100 includes an information acquisition unit 170. The information acquisition unit 170 uses, for example, a fixed telephone line, a mobile phone network, a dedicated line, etc., via the network 148, the first external system 10, the second external system 20a, the third external system 20b, And a fourth external system 20c. These systems can also be directly connected using a cable or the like.

  The first external system 10 includes a map information providing server 12 and a map information storage unit T1. The second external system 20a includes an information providing server 22a, a base information storage unit T2a, and a store information storage unit T3a. The third external system 20b includes an information providing server 22b, a base information storage unit T2b, and a store information storage unit T3b. The fourth external system 20c includes an information providing server 22c, a base information storage unit T2c, and a store information storage unit T3c. The second external system 20a, the third external system 20b, and the fourth external system 20c may be managed by different companies, and the course creation system 100 may be managed by any of these external systems. Various information can be read out. The course creation system 100 can appropriately read out information from any external system and create a course according to the user's request.

  The map information storage unit T1 stores map information data for displaying bases and stores in the target area on the map. As map information data, for example, commercially available digital map information can be used. The map information providing server 12 provides map information data to the course creation system 100 via the network 148. In this way, it is not necessary to prepare the map information data for course creation, and the course creation system 100 only needs to read and store only the data necessary for course creation. Cost performance can be improved.

  The base information storage unit T2a, the base information storage unit T2b, and the base information storage unit T2c are respectively companies that manage the second external system 20a, the third external system 20b, and the fourth external system 20c. The base information data of is stored. The base information data includes a base identification code, a base name, a base position (latitude and longitude, or X coordinate and Y coordinate), and the like. Here, the base is a delivery base such as a distribution center in the area.

  The store information storage unit T3a, the store information storage unit T3b, and the store information storage unit T3c are respectively companies that manage the second external system 20a, the third external system 20b, and the fourth external system 20c. Store store information data. The store information data includes a base identification code, a store identification code, a store name, a store position (latitude, longitude and height, or X coordinate, Y coordinate and Z coordinate), delivery amount per time, and monthly delivery. Number of times, delivery date and time conditions, work time per minute (minutes), travel speed from the base (km / hour), travel speed between stores (km / hour), monthly sales (yen), monthly sales volume per product ( Etc.) and stores information collected, updated, and accumulated daily for stores managed by each company.

  The information providing server 22a, the information providing server 22b, and the information providing server 22c provide base information data and store information data to the course creation system 100 via the network 148. In this way, there is no need to collect, update, and store base information data and store information data for course creation, and the course creation system 100 appropriately reads and stores only data necessary for course creation. This can simplify the course creation process. In addition, the system configuration can be simplified.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the course creation process according to the embodiment of the present invention.
First, conditions necessary for course creation are set (S2). Subsequently, information necessary for course creation is acquired (S3). Note that part of the setting of the condition in step 2 may be performed after the acquisition of information in step 3. Next, various information such as map information, base information, and store information is displayed (S4). Subsequently, stores to be included in the same course are sequentially selected to create a course (S6). Thereafter, the course creation result is displayed (S8). At the same time, the course creation result is saved based on the user's instruction or automatically (S10). Subsequently, the course creation result is evaluated and recreated (S12). When the evaluation and re-creation are finished, the course creation process is finished.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the course creation system 100 according to the first embodiment.
In addition to the information acquisition unit 170 described above, the course creation system 100 includes a display processing unit 108, a condition setting reception unit 110, a store selection unit 112, a determination unit 114, a calculation processing unit 116, and an adjustment processing unit 122. A course state evaluation unit 124, a search region setting unit 160, a course form selection unit 162, a condition storage unit T4, a course information storage unit T5, a logic storage unit T6, a search region storage unit T8, and a display. It has information storage part T11, acquisition information storage part T12, and management information storage part T13. The calculation processing unit 116 includes a calculation unit 118 and an optimization processing unit 120.

The condition setting accepting unit 110 accepts setting of various conditions for course creation from the user. The condition storage unit T4 stores the conditions received by the condition setting reception unit 110.
The condition setting reception unit 110 receives, for example, designation of a region where a course is to be created, designation of a base, and the like from a user.

  In addition, the condition setting accepting unit 110 includes, for example, a daily standard work time, a lower limit work time, a work start time, an article loading time, a rest time, a work time after returning to the base, It accepts the setting of conditions such as the standard working time at the store, the standard moving speed between the stores, the standard moving speed between the base and the store, and the truck load capacity.

  Furthermore, the condition setting reception unit 110 receives setting of conditions to be considered when creating a course. For example, whether the time required to circulate the course to be created should be considered, whether to consider the amount of goods to circulate the course to be created, whether to consider the day of the week to circulate each cruising point, When setting a condition, such as whether or not to select a tour point to be included in the same course for a predetermined search area. In this way, by accepting the setting of conditions to be considered when creating a course, various courses according to the user's needs can be flexibly created. In addition, the course creation process can be simplified and the course can be created quickly.

  Furthermore, the condition setting reception unit 110 receives settings for the allowable load ratio of the load capacity such as the maximum load capacity and the lower limit load capacity of the truck. Here, the maximum load amount is an amount in which no more items can be loaded in each truck, and the lower limit load amount is a lower limit target value of the load amount. Here, when a 2t truck is used, for example, the maximum load capacity can be set to 2t, the allowable load ratio can be set to 80%, and the lower limit load capacity can be set to 1.6t which is 80% of the maximum load capacity. Thus, by setting the allowable loading rate of the loading amount, each truck can be used efficiently, and thereby the number of vehicles such as trucks and the number of workers can be reduced. Further, by providing such an allowable loading ratio range, the range satisfying the end condition in the course creation process shown in Step 6 of FIG. 2 can be widened, and the process for obtaining the optimum solution for the delivery course creation Can be done quickly.

  Furthermore, the condition setting reception unit 110 receives the setting of the upper limit and the lower limit of the course time. Here, the course time is the time from the base to the store in the course until returning to the base. The course time includes goods loading time, truck running time, working time at each store, working time after returning home, and the like. For example, the upper limit of the course time can be set as the daily standard work time of each person in charge, and the lower limit time can be set so that the difference from the upper limit time is within one hour. As described above, by providing the allowable range of the course time, the range satisfying the end condition in the course creation process shown in Step 6 of FIG. 2 can be widened, and the process for obtaining the optimum solution for the delivery course creation Can be done quickly.

  Furthermore, the condition setting reception unit 110 can also receive designation of combinations of stores to be included in the same course among a plurality of stores. For example, the user can specify combinations for stores in the same building or stores that are preferably delivered by the same person in charge. Thereby, each person in charge can perform delivery work efficiently.

  Furthermore, the condition setting reception unit 110 receives setting of parameters necessary for setting a search area when selecting stores to be included in the same course. The parameters include, for example, seed store selection conditions, search angle, distance from the base, distance from the seed store, distance from the axis, and the like. Here, the seed store is a store serving as a starting point when creating a course. The axis is a straight line passing through the base and the seed store with the base as one end.

  Furthermore, the condition setting reception unit 110 can receive settings such as the upper limit of the distance between stores included in one course, the upper limit of the distance between the base and the store, the upper limit of the search angle, and the like. By accepting such a setting, it is possible to widen the range that satisfies the end condition in the course creation process, and it is possible to quickly perform the process for obtaining the optimum solution for the delivery course creation.

  The information acquisition unit 170 refers to the condition storage unit T4 to obtain map information, base information, store information, etc. related to the specified region or the specified base, in the first external system 10, the second external The system 20a, the third external system 20b, and the fourth external system 20c are appropriately read out. The acquisition information storage unit T12 stores various information read by the information acquisition unit 170. As described above, the information acquisition unit 170 reads out only necessary information from the first external system 10 and the second external system 20a to the fourth external system 20c, so that the configuration of the course creation system 100 is simplified. can do. Further, for example, the collection, updating, and accumulation of information such as base information and store information are performed by other systems (second external system 20a to fourth external system 20c) and are necessary for course creation. Since the processing is distributed, the processing of the course creation system 100 can be simplified. The detailed configuration of the information acquisition unit 170 will be described later.

  The display processing unit 108 performs a process of displaying various information and the created course state together with map information on a screen (not shown). The display information storage unit T11 stores information that allows the display processing unit 108 to display various information conveniently. The display processing unit 108 determines the display shape and the like of each store with reference to the store information of each store stored in the acquired information storage unit T12 and the display information storage unit T11.

  The search area setting unit 160 refers to the condition storage unit T4 and performs a process of setting a search area when selecting stores to be included in the same course. The search area storage unit T8 stores the search area set by the search area setting unit 160 at least temporarily.

  The course form selection unit 162 can accept setting of course types such as a plurality of course forms. Here, for example, the course form is a single that departs from the base in the morning and goes around each store in the course, takes a break during the day, goes around the store in the afternoon, and returns to the base in the evening Depart from the course and base in the morning and visit each store in the course in the morning and return to the base. After taking a break during the day, leave the base again and visit each store in the course to the evening base. It is the returning piston course. For example, when going around a store far from the base, it takes longer to return to the base, so it is more efficient to use a single course. On the other hand, when going around a store close to the base, the piston course is more efficient because the total amount per day that can be delivered by one truck is substantially increased. In order to create a more flexible course by reducing the number of tracks, it is preferable to create more piston courses. The course form selection unit 162 refers to the condition storage unit T4 and selects whether to create a single course or a piston course.

  The store selection unit 112 refers to the search region storage unit T8 while considering the conditions related to the course selected by the course form selection unit 162, and selects the same course from the search regions set by the search region setting unit 160. Select the stores to be included in the order. With reference to the condition storage unit T4, the store selection unit 112 can end the store selection when the search region does not include a store that matches the condition received by the condition setting reception unit 110. By doing so, the range that satisfies the end condition in the course creation process can be widened, and the process for obtaining the optimum solution for the delivery course creation can be performed quickly.

  In the present embodiment, the store selection unit 112 can create a new course with reference to information about the already created course. The course creation process will be described later. The course information storage unit T5 stores information related to the created course.

  In the calculation processing unit 116, the calculation unit 118 sequentially calculates the total amount and / or course time of the store selected by the store selection unit 112. The optimization processing unit 120 calculates a tour order in which the stores can be visited on the shortest route based on the location information of the stores included in the same course. In an area including a plurality of traveling points, the shortest route for traveling these traveling points can be obtained by a so-called traveling salesman problem method. The traveling salesman problem is a problem of searching for the shortest route when a salesman travels through n cities once. When the number of cities is n, there are (n-1) 1/2 combinations. When the number of n increases, the number of all combinations increases exponentially, so it is difficult to obtain an exact solution. . Therefore, various approximation algorithms are used to optimize the combination. Examples of such approximate algorithms include random search, hill climbing method, simulated annealing (SA), genetic algorithm (GA), and the like. In the present embodiment, the optimization processing unit 120 calculates a tour order in which the stores included in the course can be visited on the shortest route using such an approximation algorithm as appropriate.

  The determination unit 114 determines whether or not the total amount and / or course time calculated by the calculation unit 118 is within a predetermined range. When the total amount or the course time is not within a predetermined range, the adjustment processing unit 122 performs correction such as exchanging a store included in the course with another store not selected.

  The course state evaluation unit 124 determines whether or not the created course is appropriate when all the stores in the area are included in any course and the course creation process is completed. The course state evaluation unit 124 determines the suitability of course creation by, for example, calculating the theoretical value of the number of courses required in the area and comparing it with the number of courses actually created. In addition, according to the conditions received by the condition setting receiving unit 110, the course creation process can be ended even if stores that are not included in any of the courses remain in the area. Thereby, course preparation can be performed rapidly.

  The logic storage unit T6 stores logic relating to various processing procedures. The management information storage unit T13 stores management information related to external systems (the first external system 10 and the second external system 20a to the fourth external system 20c).

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a part of a data structure related to store information stored in the acquired information storage unit T12. Here, the acquisition information storage unit T12 includes a base code column, a store code column, a name column, a position column, a height column, a work time column, a delivery amount column, a frequency column, a date / time condition column, a flexibility parameter column, and the like. . Of these, the contents of the base code column, store code column, name column, position column, height column, work time column, delivery amount column, number of times column, date / time condition column, etc. are stored in advance by each company's system as master information. You can use what you were doing. The flexibility parameter indicates the degree of restriction when each store is included in the course. For example, a store with a fixed delivery day and time must deliver on that day or time, and the degree of restriction is strong. Therefore, the flexibility parameter is set low. In addition, the flexibility parameter is set low also in stores with a large number of deliveries per month. The flexibility parameter is set by the information acquisition unit 170, for example.

Here, for example, the store with the store code “a” belongs to the base with the base code “1000”, the name is “super”, the position is “(X ₁ , Y ₁ )”, the height is “ground”, The working time in this store is “25 minutes”, the delivery amount per delivery is 0.001 t, the delivery count per week is 2, and the delivery date and time condition is “-(none in particular)”. In addition, since this store has two delivery times per week but no date / time conditions, the flexibility parameter is medium “3”. For example, the store with the store code “b” belongs to the base with the base code “1000”, the name is “shopping mall 1”, the position is “(X ₂ , Y ₂ )”, the height is “ground”, The work time at the store is “15 minutes”, the delivery amount per delivery is 0.002 t, the delivery count per week is 3, and the delivery date and time condition is “Monday / Wednesday / Friday”. That is, it is necessary to deliver goods to the store with the store code “b” every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. In this store, since the number of delivery times per week is three and the date and time conditions are determined, the flexibility parameter is the lowest “1”.

  FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing in detail the information acquisition unit 170 shown in FIG. In the present embodiment, the course creation system 100 acquires various types of information from external systems (the first external system 10 and the second external system 20a to the fourth external system 20c). These external systems may be operated by different companies. When various types of information are acquired from a plurality of different companies, there is a possibility that the structure of the database is different for each company and the transfer format is different. For example, database field names (items) and field order may be different.

  The information acquisition unit 170 has a function of integrating these data. The management information storage unit T13 stores management information regarding the characteristics of the database and transfer format for each external system.

  The information acquisition unit 170 includes a reading unit 200, a field name conversion unit 202, a missing field detection unit 204, and a missing field input instruction unit 206. The reading unit 200 reads various information from the first external system 10 and the second external system 20a to the fourth external system 20c. After the reading unit 200 reads various information, the field name conversion unit 202 converts the field name of the read data with reference to the management information storage unit T13. The missing field detection unit 204 detects a missing field for each data among fields necessary for course creation. The missing field input instructing unit 206 instructs the condition setting accepting unit 110 to accept input of substitute information from the user for the missing field. The condition setting accepting unit 110 receives an instruction from the missing field input instructing unit 206 and accepts input of alternative information such as an average value of the field from the user. For example, some companies do not store the delivery amount of articles for each store as master information. When the information acquisition unit 170 reads store information from the system of such a company, information on the delivery amount of the article is lacking for the store managed by the company. In such a case, the condition setting receiving unit 110 stores data necessary for course creation in the acquired information storage unit T12 by allowing the user to input an average value of the delivery amount of the articles.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an internal configuration of the store information storage units T3a to T3c held by the second external system 20a, the third external system 20b, and the fourth external system 20c, respectively. 6A shows the internal configuration of the store information storage unit T3a, FIG. 6B shows the internal configuration of the store information storage unit T3b, and FIG. 6C shows the internal configuration of the store information storage unit T3c. . As illustrated, the store information storage unit T3a has field names of “delivery destination”, “address”,. The store information storage unit T3b has field names “No.”, “Store name”,. The store information storage unit T3c has field names of “affiliation” and “shop”. Here, “delivery destination” in FIG. 6A, “store name” in FIG. 6B, and “shop” in FIG. 6C have different field names, but all have “name” in FIG. Corresponding to 6A is “location” in FIG. 4, “No.” in FIG. 6B is “store code” in FIG. 4, and “affiliation” in FIG. Corresponds to “base code” in FIG.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an internal configuration of the management information storage unit T13. The management information storage unit T13 has a management table for each external system. FIG. 7A is a management table for the second external system 20a. Here, it is stored that “delivery destination” in the store information storage unit T3a corresponds to “name” and “address” corresponds to “position”. FIG. 7B is a management table for the third external system 20b. Here, it is stored that “No.” in the store information storage unit T3b corresponds to “store code” and “store name” corresponds to “name”. FIG. 7C shows a management table for the fourth external system 20c. Here, it is stored that “affiliation” in the fourth external system 20c corresponds to “base code” and “shop” corresponds to “name”. The field name conversion unit 202 refers to the management information storage unit T13 and performs conversion so that the field names of data acquired from each external system are unified.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating data for each transfer format. FIG. 8A schematically shows data to which data is transferred in the XML format. FIG. 8B schematically shows data transferred in the CSV format. The management information storage unit T13 stores a transfer format and a data transfer order for each external system.

  Returning to FIG. 5, the information acquisition unit 170 further includes an information addition unit 208. The information granting unit 208 selects, for each store, a store to be included in the same course, gives information necessary for calculating statistics such as the total amount and the course time, and obtains information associated with each store. Store in the storage unit T12. For example, the information assigning unit 208 assigns an flexibility parameter to each store based on the store information acquired by the reading unit 200.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an input screen when the condition setting accepting unit 110 accepts a setting of conditions to be considered when creating a course from the user. Here, “time consideration”, “physical quantity consideration”, “day of week consideration”, “search area setting”, and the like can be selected.

  In the present embodiment, the course creation system 100 can create a course in consideration of the upper and lower limits of the course time. The user checks “time consideration” when he / she wants to create a course in consideration of the course time. In the present embodiment, the course creation system 100 can create a course in consideration of the maximum load capacity and the lower limit load capacity of the truck. When the user wants to create a course in consideration of the load amount, the “consume quantity” check box is checked.

  In the present embodiment, the course creation system 100 can create a course in which the tour points included in the course are fixed, for example, each tour point is visited every week on a fixed day of the week. When the user wants to create a delivery course for each day of the week, the user checks “Day of Week Consideration”. When “Consideration of day of the week” is checked, the course creation system 100 includes stores that must be delivered every Monday in the course of Monday, and stores that do not have a delivery day decided to trade with other stores. Then, the course is created so that the course time on each day is included in the course on any day so that the course time on each day is averaged.

  In the present embodiment, the course creation system 100 can set a plurality of search areas in the area in advance and create a course for each search area in order to objectively create the course. When the user wants to create a course after setting the search area, the user checks “Search area setting”.

  FIG. 10 and FIG. 11 are diagrams showing screens in which the condition setting receiving unit 110 receives input of conditions for course creation. FIG. 10A shows a screen for inputting the truck load amount, the allowable load ratio, and the work start time of the worker at the delivery base. Here, the loading amount of the truck is set to 2t, the allowable loading rate is set to 80%, and the work start time is set to 8:00. In such a case, the range that satisfies the course creation end condition at the time of creating the delivery course can be set to a range of 1.6 t to 2 t that is 80% of 2t, and a process for obtaining an optimal solution for creating the delivery course Can be done quickly. Note that if the user does not check “Consider amount” on the input screen shown in FIG. 9, the input of the load amount or the like can be omitted.

  FIG. 10 (b) shows a screen for inputting the reference work time, the lower limit work time, the loading time, the rest time, and the post-return work time at the delivery base for each of the single course and the piston course. . Here, the standard work time in the case of a single course is set to 405 minutes, the lower limit work time is 10 minutes, the loading time is 10 minutes, the break time is 60 minutes, and the work time after returning home is 10 minutes. In the case of the piston course, the reference work time for the A course is set to 190 minutes, the lower limit work time is set to 10 minutes, the reference work time for the B course is set to 195 minutes, and the lower limit work time is set to 10 minutes. Here, for example, the A course can be a course that circulates in the morning, and the B course can be a course that circulates in the afternoon. In both cases, the loading time is set to 10 minutes, the break time is set to 60 minutes, and the work time after returning to home is set to 10 minutes. Note that if the user does not check “time consideration” on the input screen shown in FIG. 9, input of work time and the like can be omitted.

  FIG. 11A shows a screen for setting a course creation order, a piston creation method, a seed selection method, and the like. Here, it is set to create from the piston course, and to create the piston, the seed is usually selected from the inside.

  FIG. 11A also shows a screen for inputting the distance from the seed, the search angle, and the distance from the axis. In the present embodiment, when a delivery course is created, a search area is set with an angle limit and a distance limit based on an axis having the base as one end, with the delivery base as the center, and delivery is performed from within the search area. Create a course by selecting stores to include in the course. Here, as an initial value, for example, the distance r from the seed is set to 5 km, the search angle α is set to 5 degrees, the distance d from the axis is set to 1 km, and an area within these ranges is set as the first search area. . Moreover, even if it performs the process which selects the store included in the same course within the 1st search area, when it is still necessary to select another store, a search area is expanded. Here, the increment for that is also set. As the increment, for example, the distance r from the seed is 0.5 km, the search angle α is 5 degrees, the distance d from the axis is enlarged by 1 km, and the second search area, the third search area,. Stores included in the same course are selected by expanding the area. For example, the upper limit of the distance d from the axis is set to 30 km. If the user does not check “Search area setting” on the input screen shown in FIG. 9, the input of the distance from the seed can be omitted.

  FIG. 11B shows a screen for inputting store conditions for inclusion in the piston course. For example, here, the conditions for inclusion in the piston course are as follows: the upper limit of travel time to the store is 60 minutes, the lower limit is 30 minutes, the increment is 10 minutes, and the upper limit of the amount of articles delivered to the store is 0.00. 005t, the lower limit is set to 0.001t, and the increment is set to 0.0002t. Here, the notch is a condition when a store to be included in the target course is selected for stores that satisfy the conditions set in the beginning, and it is still necessary to select a store that should be included in the course. It is a condition to ease the. In FIG. 9, the input for the conditions that are not checked can be omitted.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing points in a region and a plurality of stores as points. Here, for example, points a in enclosed from the site in the circle C ₁ within a predetermined range region, c, and store e, etc., is relatively close to the base, it is possible to be included in the piston Course . In addition, for example, stores such as points b, d, and f in the region surrounded by the circle C ₂ outside the region surrounded by the circle C ₁ are relatively far from the base, so that they may be included in the single course. it can. Further, for example, a store having a large amount of articles delivered per time can be included in the piston course. Thereby, even when the loading ratio of the truck is high, the delivery time can be shortened and the overall efficiency can be improved. Also, for example, stores such as points a, c, and e, which are relatively close to the base, have short travel time to these stores and high flexibility, so that they are once included in a single course. Even if the course is determined, the adjustment process can be included in the piston course during the adjustment process.

  FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a part of the data structure of the condition storage unit T4. Here, the selection condition for the seed store is set to select from a position close to the base (inside). The search angle is set to an initial value of 5 degrees and an increment of 5 degrees. As the distance from the base, the initial value is set to 10 km and the increment is set to 1 km. As the distance from the seed store, the initial value is set to 5 km and the increment is set to 0.5 km. As the distance from the axis, the initial value is set to 1 km and the increment is set to 1 km.

  FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a part of the data structure of the course information storage unit T5 in the present embodiment. The course information storage unit T5 also stores schedule information related to the already created course. Here, in this region, the track No. 1 to 6 trucks are included, and the delivery date is from Monday to Friday.

  When a store with no date and time designation is selected as the seed store, the store selection unit 112 refers to the schedule information in FIG. 14 and sets the day of the course to be created this time so that the total course time of each day is equal. Set.

  Here, since the course time on Tuesday and Wednesday is the lowest at “2”, the store selection unit 112 sets the track No. 2 is set to deliver on Wednesday.

  When the delivery date of this course is set to be Wednesday, the store selection unit 112 refers to the store information in the acquisition information storage unit T12 when selecting a store to be included in this course, and the delivery day is set to Wednesday. Select a store that is designated or a store that does not specify a day of the week. When the user does not check “Consideration of day of week” on the input screen illustrated in FIG. 9, the store selection unit 112 selects a store without considering the schedule information. Thereby, a course creation process can be simplified and a course can be created quickly.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart specifically showing the course creation process of step 6 shown in FIG.
First, the course form selection unit 162 refers to the condition storage unit T4 and selects a course form of a course to be created (S14). Subsequently, the store selection unit 112 selects a seed store serving as a reference for creating a course (S16). The store selection unit 112 refers to the condition storage unit T4 and sets a seed according to the distance from the base (from the inside or from the outside) or the like. In addition, for example, the store selection unit 112 can also set the seeds in order from a store with a low flexibility parameter with reference to the acquired information storage unit T12. A store having a low flexibility parameter is, for example, a store having a large number of visits per month or a store having a visit date / time specified. In this way, a flexible course can be created by preferentially setting a delivery destination with a strong restriction on delivery conditions as a seed.

  Next, the store selection unit 112 selects stores to be included in the same course as the selected seed store (S40). The store selection unit 112 refers to the base information and store information stored in the acquired information storage unit T12, the schedule information of the condition storage unit T4 and the course information storage unit T5, etc., and the distance and positional relationship from the base and seed store Based on the above, a store to be included in the course is selected. Details of the store selection method will be described later.

  When the store selection unit 112 selects a new store (S40), the calculation unit 118 calculates the total amount and / or course time of stores included in the course (S42). At this time, the calculation unit 118 calculates the course time when the shops in the course have visited in the selected order. Thereby, the time required for calculation can be shortened. The determination unit 114 determines whether or not the total quantity exceeds the maximum load capacity of the truck (S44). When the total amount does not exceed the maximum load amount (No in S44), the determination unit 114 determines whether or not the course time exceeds the upper limit time (S46). If the user does not check “Consider physical quantity” on the input screen shown in FIG. 9, step 44 can be omitted and the process can proceed to step 46. Thereby, a course creation process can be simplified and a course can be created quickly.

  If the course time does not exceed the upper limit time (No in S46), the determination unit 114 determines whether or not the delivery course setting end condition is satisfied (S48). The end condition may be, for example, a case where the total amount is not less than the lower limit load amount and not more than the maximum load amount, and the course time is not less than the lower limit time and not more than the upper limit time. The end condition may be a case where the total amount or the course time is not improved even when the exchange process is performed for all stores within a predetermined range in the adjustment process described below. If the end condition is not satisfied (No in S48), the process returns to step 40, and the store selection unit 112 selects the next store.

  In step 46, when the course time exceeds the upper limit time (Yes in S46), the optimization processing unit 120 detects an optimal order in which the stores included in the course can be visited in the shortest route order (S50). ). The calculation unit 118 calculates the actual course time when delivery is performed in the optimal order (S52). Subsequently, the determination unit 114 determines whether or not the actual course time exceeds the upper limit time (S54). If the actual course time does not exceed the upper limit time (No in S54), the process proceeds to step 48, where it is determined whether the end condition is satisfied, and the same processing as described above is repeated. If it is determined in step 48 that the course creation end condition is satisfied (Yes in S48), the course creation process ends. When the optimal order is detected in step 50 and the actual course time is calculated in step 52, the course information storage unit T5 stores the optimal order and the actual course time. When calculating the time, the course time may be calculated by adding to this actual course time the time for visiting the selected store thereafter.

  On the other hand, if the total amount exceeds the maximum load amount in Step 44 (Yes in S44), or if the actual course time exceeds the upper limit time in Step 54 (Yes in S54), the adjustment processing unit 122 Adjustment processing (S56) is performed. If the user does not check “time consideration” on the input screen shown in FIG. 9, step 46 can be omitted and the process can proceed to step 48. Thereby, a course creation process can be simplified and a course can be created quickly.

  FIG. 16 is a flowchart specifically showing an example of the store selection process in step 40 of FIG. First, the store selection unit 112 sets an axis passing through the base and the seed store (S18). Subsequently, the store selection unit 112 sets a search area (S20).

  An example of a search area setting method will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 17 is a diagram showing points in a region and a plurality of stores as points. Here, description will be made assuming that the point a is a seed store. The store selection unit 112 sets a straight line connecting the base and the point a as the axis L with the base as one end. The store selection unit 112 refers to the condition storage unit T4 and sets a search area based on various preset conditions. Here, when the initial value of the distance from the base is 10 km and the initial value of the search angle α is set to 5 degrees, the search area is a fan-shaped area having a radius of 10 km and an angle of 10 degrees.

  Returning to FIG. 16, the store selection unit 112 rotates the search axis around the base with the axis as the search axis within the search area set by the store selection unit 112 (S22). When the search axis collides with a store (Yes in S24), the store selection unit 112 selects the store (S26). In this way, in the present embodiment, stores that collide with the search axis are automatically and sequentially taken into the course, so that a highly objective course can be created.

  Moreover, the store selection part 112 can select the store taken in in the course in consideration of the distance between the base and the store to be selected, for example, according to the form of the course selected by the course form selection part 162. . For example, when creation of a single course is selected by the course form selection unit 162, the store selection unit 112 can preferentially select a store at a position far from the base. Moreover, the store selection part 112 can also select the store taken in in the course in consideration of the quantity of the articles delivered to each store according to the form of the course selected by the course form selection part 162, for example. For example, when creation of a piston course is selected by the course form selection unit 162, the store selection unit 112 can preferentially select a store with a large delivery amount. Furthermore, the store selection unit 112 can preferentially select stores with low flexibility parameters. This is because a store having a high flexibility parameter can be easily incorporated into another course in subsequent processing.

Referring back to FIG. 17, the store selection unit 112 moves the search axis simultaneously in the directions of broken lines L ₁ and L ₂ that form an angle α with the axis L, respectively. When the search axis is moved in this way, the store selection unit 112 selects items in order from the store that hits the search axis. Here, the search axis is first moved toward the broken line L ₂ since collide with point b, the shop selection unit 112 selects the point b. Next, the search axis having been moved in the direction of the broken line L ₁ collides with the point c, the shop selection unit 112 selects the point c. Similarly, the store selection unit 112 selects point d, point e, and point f in this order.

  When the store selection unit 112 sequentially selects stores, the total amount and / or course time calculation process of step 42 shown in FIG. 15 is performed, and the adjustment process of step 56 and the like are performed. If it is determined in step 48 shown in FIG. 15 that the course creation end condition is not satisfied (No in S48), the process returns to step 24 in FIG. 16 to determine whether there is another store on the search axis. Is judged.

  In step 24, when there is no store (No in S24), the determination unit 114 determines whether or not the search in the search area has ended (S36). If the search in the search area has not been completed (No in S36), the process returns to step 22 and the search axis is moved. On the other hand, when the search in the search area is completed in step 36 (Yes in S36), the store selection unit 112 expands the search area with reference to the condition storage unit T4 (S38).

The process for expanding the search area will be described below.
18 and 19 are diagrams showing search areas set by the store selection unit 112. FIG. FIG. 18 shows an example in which the seed store a is selected from a position relatively close to the base. When creation of a piston course is selected by the course form selection unit 162, the store selection unit 112 can select a seed store from a position relatively close to the base. First, as shown in FIG. 18 (a), the shop selection unit 112, between the lines L ₁ and the straight line L _2, the first region the first search area within the range distance is predetermined from the seed store And Also, the shop selection unit 112, even if it is not included in the first region, the site and the seed store second located between the broken lines D ₁ and the broken line D ₂ in the straight line L (axis) at a predetermined distance d connecting a Regions can also be included in the first search region. Here, the second region is a region which is substantially perpendicular to the axis L and is closer to the seed store a than the straight line H passing through the base. As described above, even if the angle with the axis L is not included in the predetermined range, the first search region includes the second area whose distance from the axis L is within the predetermined range, thereby efficiently circulating. You can create a course that can. In this embodiment, since each search area is set based on the axis L connecting the base and the seed store, the processing time required for setting the search area can be shortened, and an efficient and highly objective course is created. can do.

Subsequently, as illustrated in FIG. 18B, the store selection unit 112 sets the third region where the distance from the seed store is increased as the second search region. Thereafter, as illustrated in FIG. 18C, the store selection unit 112 widens the angle from the axis L, and uses the fourth area between the straight line L ₁ ′ and the straight line L ₂ ′ as a third search area. Sequentially expand the search area. At this time, even if the store selection unit 112 is not included in the fourth area, the fifth area between the broken line D ₁ ′ and the broken line D ₂ ′ at a predetermined distance from the axis L is also the third search area. Can be included.

  In the search area as described above, the store selection unit 112 first selects a store in the first search area in the same manner as described with reference to step 26 in FIG. At this time, for example, the store selection unit 112 selects stores in the first region in the first search region, and then selects stores in the second region in the order of the distance from the axis L. .

  Even if the selection of the store in the first search area is ended, if the course creation end condition is not satisfied, the store selection unit 112 selects the store for the second search area. Subsequently, even if the selection of the store in the second search area is completed, if the course creation end condition is not satisfied, the store is selected for the third search area.

  In this way, the store selection unit 112 refers to the condition storage unit T4 and sequentially expands the search area based on the conditions set as increments. At this time, the method for enlarging the search area may be either preferentially enlarging the angle with the axis L or preferentially enlarging the distance from the seed store or the base, depending on the purpose. Is set as appropriate. The store selection unit 112 performs store selection processing until a predetermined end condition is satisfied.

FIG. 19 shows an example in which the seed store a is selected from a position relatively far from the base. When creation of a single course is selected by the course form selection unit 162, the store selection unit 112 can select a seed store from a position relatively far from the base. In this case, first, as shown in FIG. 19 (a), the shop selection unit 112, between the lines L ₁ and the straight line L _2, the first region where the distance from the seed store a is within a predetermined range, and Even if it is not in the first area, the second area located closer to the base than the seed store a is set as the first search area. Also, the shop selection unit 112, even if it is not included in the first region and the second region, the third region first search region between dashed lines D ₁ and the broken line D ₂ in the axis L at a predetermined distance Can be included. Here, the third region is a region that is on the seed store a side of the straight line H that is substantially perpendicular to the axis and passes through the base.

Subsequently, as illustrated in FIG. 19B, the store selection unit 112 can set the fourth search region having a larger distance from the seed store as the second search region. Furthermore, the store selection unit 112 expands the angle from the axis L, and even if it is not included in the fifth region and the fifth region between the straight line L ₁ ′ and the straight line L ₂ ′, it is more than the seed store a. The sixth area located near the base is set as a third search area. Further, even if the store selection unit 112 is not included in the fifth area and the sixth area, the seventh area between the broken line D ₁ ′ and the broken line D ₂ ′ at a predetermined distance from the axis L is also the third area. Can be included in the search area.

  If the user does not check “Search area setting” on the input screen shown in FIG. 9, the search area setting process and the enlargement process can be omitted.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart specifically showing an example of the adjustment process in step 56 of FIG.
If the total quantity exceeds the maximum loading capacity (Yes in step 44 shown in FIG. 15), whether the actual course time has exceeded the upper limit time in the same manner as in steps 50 to 54 in FIG. Judgment is made (S60).

  When the actual course time exceeds the upper limit time (Yes in S60), the adjustment processing unit 122 temporarily selects a store closest to the base from among the stores included in the course and sets it as a new course. Processing is performed (S61). This is because the store closest to the base can be incorporated into other courses and is highly flexible. Moreover, the adjustment process part 122 can also be made to remove a shop with a high flexibility parameter with reference to the shop information storage part T3. Subsequently, the determination unit 114 determines whether or not the total amount of the new course has been improved (S62). If the total amount of the new course is not less than the lower limit load amount and not more than the maximum load amount, the determination unit 114 determines that the total amount has been improved (Yes in S62), and finalizes the provisional process in step 61 (S63). . Subsequently, the determination unit 114 determines whether or not the actual course time is equal to or shorter than the upper limit time (S64). If the actual course time is less than or equal to the upper limit time (Yes in S64), the adjustment process is terminated and the process returns to step 48 in FIG.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step 62 that the total amount is not greater than or equal to the lower limit load amount and less than or equal to the maximum load amount, the determination unit 114 determines that the total amount has not been improved (No in S62). The provisional process which removes the selection of the near store and makes a new course is performed. In step 64, if the actual course time is not less than or equal to the upper limit time (No in S64), the process returns to step 61 and the provisional process for removing the store is repeated.

  In step 60, when the actual course time does not exceed the upper limit time (No in S60), the adjustment processing unit 122 determines that the store closest to the base is another unselected store with a smaller amount of articles than the store. Provisional processing is performed to replace the new course (S65). The determination unit 114 determines whether or not the total amount of the new course has been improved (S66). When the total amount of the new course decreases and the total amount is equal to or greater than the lower limit loading amount, the determination unit 114 determines that the total amount has been improved (Yes in S66), and calculates the actual course time of the new course. It is determined whether or not the actual course time has been improved (S67). The determination unit 114 determines that the actual course time has been improved when the condition that the actual course time is less than or equal to the upper limit time and the actual course time is greater than the lower limit time or increased from before the exchange is satisfied (in S67). Yes), the provisional processing in step 65 is confirmed (S68). Thereafter, it is determined whether or not the total amount exceeds the upper limit load amount (S69). If the total amount does not exceed the upper limit load amount (No in S69), the adjustment process is terminated, and the step of FIG. Return to 48. If the total quantity is not improved in step 66 (No in S66), or if the actual course time is not improved in Step 67 (No in S67), the total quantity exceeds the upper limit loading capacity in Step 69. If yes (Yes in S69), the process returns to step 65, and provisional processing for exchanging with another store is performed.

  When the total amount is less than or equal to the maximum load amount and the actual course time is less than or equal to the upper limit time (Yes in step 54 shown in FIG. 15), the adjustment processing unit 122 A provisional process is performed to exchange a store for a new course (S70). The determination unit 114 determines whether or not the total amount of the new course has been improved (S72). If the determination unit satisfies the condition that (i) the total load is equal to or less than the maximum load, and (ii) the minimum load is equal to or greater than the minimum load, the total load on the course is It is determined that the course has been improved (Yes in S72), and the actual course time of the new course is calculated to determine whether or not the actual course time has been improved (S74). When the actual course time has decreased from before the exchange, the determination unit 114 determines that the actual course has been improved (Yes in S74), and determines the provisional process in Step 70 (S76). Subsequently, the determination unit 114 determines whether or not the actual course time exceeds the upper limit time (S78), and ends the adjustment process when the actual course time does not exceed the upper limit time (No in S78). Then, the process returns to step 48 in FIG.

  On the other hand, if the total amount has not been improved in step 72 (No in S72), if the actual course time has not been improved in Step 74 (No in S74), or if the actual course time is the upper limit time in Step 78 When it has exceeded (Yes of S78), it returns to step 70 and performs the temporary process exchanged with another store.

FIG. 21 is a diagram for explaining the order of course creation every two weeks, for example. Hereinafter, a case where a piston course is created as a course form will be described as an example.
When the user checks “Consideration of day of week” on the input screen shown in FIG. 9, it is preferable for the store selection unit 112 to create a course that satisfies the following conditions.

(A) There should be no significant balance loss depending on the day of the week;
(B) The first week and the second week should be almost the same course;
(C) When a course is created with a piston course, a course A (for example, an morning course) and a course B (for example, an afternoon course) are created in pairs.

  For example, when a store requiring delivery five times a week is selected as the seed store, the store selection unit 112 needs to create a course from Monday to Friday. In this case, in order to satisfy the above conditions, the store selection unit 112 first creates the A course of the piston course on Monday of the first week, and then creates the A course of the piston course of Monday of the second week. . Subsequently, the B course of the piston course on Monday of the first week is created, and then the B course of the piston course on Monday of the second week is created. Similarly, courses are created for Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, respectively.

  For example, when a store requiring delivery three times a week is selected as a seed store, the store selection unit 112 needs to create a course for Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. In this case, the store selection unit 112 creates a course for Monday, then Wednesday, and then Friday.

  When the course is created for each day of the week in this way, the calculation unit 118 considers that when calculating the total quantity for a store that is delivered only once every two weeks, for example. In such a case, the calculation unit 118 temporarily calculates the total amount by assuming the amount of articles in the store as one half of the actual delivery amount.

FIG. 22 is a diagram illustrating a process in which the calculation unit 118 calculates the total amount of stores that are delivered only once every two weeks. FIG. 22A is a diagram showing stores and bases included in a course as points. Here, it is assumed that the point a is a seed store and the black circle points b to f are stores that are delivered only once every two weeks. FIG.22 (b) is a table | surface which shows the delivery amount per time of the store of each black circle point. The store selection unit 112 divides the black circle points b to f so that the amount of the black circle points b to f included in the course is halved so that the amount of the articles at the time of delivery each week is equal. . Here, the delivery amount per one time of the store at the black circle point b is 0.001t, the store at the black circle point c is 0.002t, the store at the black circle point d is 0.0016t, the store at the black circle point e is 0.002t, The store at black circle point f is 0.002t. In this case, splitting the black circle point store b~f by broken lines M ₁ that starts for example bases, total amount of stores bullet points b and c are 0.003T, total amount of stores bullet point d~f is 0.0056t. Further, for example, to divide the store b~f bullet point by a broken line _{M 2} that starting from the base, the total amount of stores bullet point b~d is 0.0046T, the total amount of stores bullet points e and f 0 .004t.

Therefore, the difference in total amount is reduced but is more divided by a broken line M ₂ divided, the shop selection unit 112 divides the store black circle points b~f by broken lines M _2. In this case, for example, black circle points b, c, and d are captured in the first week, and black circle points e and f are captured in the second week. After dividing the black circle point store as described above, the calculation unit 118 calculates the total amount of each week of each actual course in consideration of the amount of articles of the black circle point store taken in each week. As a result, if the total amount is less than or equal to the upper limit value, these stores can be taken in. On the other hand, if the total amount exceeds the maximum load capacity of the truck, these stores cannot be taken in, and the adjustment processing unit 122 performs adjustment processing.

  In this way, it is possible to efficiently and flexibly create a course in which the tour points included in the course are fixed.

  FIG. 23 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure when a course is created in consideration of the day of the week. The processing here corresponds to the processing shown in step 24 and step 26 of FIG.

  First, the store selection unit 112 determines whether or not there is a day designation in the course to be created (S200). Here, the store selection unit 112 can determine whether or not there is a day designation in the course depending on whether or not the selected seed store has a day designation. When no day of the week is specified (No in S200), the store selection unit 112 refers to the course information storage unit T5 and determines the day of the week with the shortest course time as the day of the course (S202). For example, when a course is created as shown in FIG. 14, the store selection unit 112 sets the lower track No. A search operation is performed in the order of days of the week when there is a vacancy or in the order of Monday to Friday, and one of the days is determined as the designated day of the course. When the day of the week is specified in step 200 (Yes in S200), and when the day of the week is determined in step 202, store selection unit 112 first specifies the day of the week in the set search area. It is determined whether or not a certain store is included (S204). Here, when there is a store designated on the same day (Yes in S204), the store selection unit 112 preferentially selects the store (S206). In step 204, when there is no store designated on the same day (No in S204), the store selection unit 112 determines whether or not there is a store for which no day of the week is specified in the set search area (S208). ). When there is a store without designation of the day of the week (Yes in S208), the store selection unit 112 selects a store without designation of the day of the week (S210). On the other hand, if there is no store for which the day of the week is not specified in the set search area (No in S208), as shown in step 36 of FIG. 16, it is determined whether or not the search in the search area has ended. Is done.

  If the user does not check “Consideration of day of week” on the input screen shown in FIG. 9, the store selection unit 112 selects a store without considering whether or not the day of the week is specified. Can do. Thereby, a course creation process can be simplified and a course can be created quickly.

Next, the course state evaluation process by the course state evaluation unit 124 will be described.
FIG. 24 is a diagram illustrating an example of a procedure for calculating the theoretical value of the number of courses required in the area.

  The course state evaluation unit 124 calculates the theoretical value of the number of courses according to the following procedure by appropriately referring to the base information and store information stored in the acquired information storage unit T12 and various conditions stored in the condition storage unit T4. To do.

Course state evaluation unit 124 calculates the average travel time _{M 1} to the store in the target area from the base (S160). First, after obtaining the total distance from the base to each store, the total travel time is obtained by dividing the total distance by the standard travel speed between the base and the store stored in the condition storage unit T4. Then, M ₁ is calculated by dividing the total travel time by the total number of stores.

Subsequently, the course status evaluation unit 124 calculates an average travel time _{M 2} between the store (S162). First, after obtaining the total distance from each store to the nearest n stores, the total travel time is obtained by dividing this total distance by the standard travel speed between stores stored in the condition storage unit T4. Next, by dividing this total travel time by n, average travel times m _{1 to mn} from each store to other stores are obtained. Subsequently, these average travel times m _{1 to mn} are totaled and divided by the total number of stores to calculate M ₂ .

Then, course condition evaluation unit 124, in this region, to calculate the number of stores _{N 1} that can work in a day (S164). Total working time per day Tz = M ₁ × 2 + M ₂ (N ₁ −1) + T × N ₁
(T is the average work time per store)
Therefore, this equation is transformed to N ₁ = (Tz−M ₁ × 2 + M ₂ ) / (M ₂ + T)
Is calculated.

On the other hand, the course state evaluation unit 124 calculates the number of stores N ₂ that needs to be processed per day (S166). First, the number of deliveries W per month is calculated by calculating and summing the number of deliveries per month for each store. Next, assuming that the number of working days in January of each person in charge is 4 weeks × 5 days = 20, N ₂ = W / 20 is obtained.
Thereafter, the course state evaluation unit 124 divides the number of stores N ₂ that needs to be processed per day by the number N ₁ of stores that can be worked on in one day, thereby obtaining a theoretical value of the number of required courses per day = N ₂ / N ₁ is calculated (S168).

  The course state evaluation unit 124 compares the number of courses created by the course creation system 100 in the present embodiment with the number of courses calculated as described above, and determines whether the number of courses created is lower than the theoretical value. If it is within the predetermined range, it is determined that the course has been properly created. On the other hand, if the number of courses created is higher than the theoretical value and out of the predetermined range, the user is notified of this fact and prompted to set new conditions. Such an evaluation process is not necessarily required, and the course creation result can be presented to the user and evaluated by the user himself / herself.

  FIG. 25 is a diagram showing a screen on which a course creation result by the course creation system 100 is displayed. Here, the display processing unit 108 displays a map, a course creation result, statistical information, a display control tree, course information, a scale change box, and the like on the screen. In the map, a plurality of courses created by the course creation system 100 are displayed together with the map information of the area to be created. When the user checks the selection box of the display control tree, the checked course is displayed on the screen together with the map information. Here, courses with the course names “20401”, “20501”, “20601”, “20701”, and “21101” for all days on Tuesday (single course) are selected and displayed on the screen. As the course information, a course with the course name “21001” is selected, and information on this course is displayed. As the statistical information, the number of working days, the travel distance, the travel time, the store time, the delivery time, the quantity, the number of delivery stores, etc. of the vehicle with the car number “1” are displayed. Further, when the user appropriately changes the scale, icons as shown in FIGS. 26 to 28 are displayed.

  FIG. 26 is a diagram showing map information and a created course state in a certain area. FIG. 26A shows map information with a small scale. Here, base information and store information are shown together with map information. FIG. 26B shows a portion surrounded by a broken line in the map information shown in FIG. In the map information with a large scale shown in FIG. 26B, each store information is indicated by an icon that can be distinguished on the map.

  FIG. 27 is an enlarged view of each icon shown in FIG. Each icon is set to have different shapes, patterns, colors, and other characteristics depending on the difference in the number of deliveries per week, whether a day of the week is specified, or the like. FIG. 27A is a diagram showing a difference in patterns for each day of the week. Here, the difference in the day of the week is indicated by the difference in the pattern. However, when the display processing unit 108 can display various information in color, the difference in the day of the week can also be indicated by the difference in color.

  FIG. 27B is a diagram illustrating the shape of an icon indicating a store where the number of deliveries per week is five. In this case, since it is necessary to deliver to the store on all business days from Monday to Friday, such a store is represented by an icon including a pattern indicating Monday to Friday. FIG. 27C is a diagram illustrating the shape of an icon indicating a store where the number of deliveries per week is four. Here, as an example, an icon including a pattern indicating a month to a tree is shown, which means that it is necessary to deliver to such a store on a month to a tree. FIG. 27D is a diagram illustrating the shape of an icon indicating a store where the number of deliveries per week is three. Here, as an example, an icon including a pattern indicating the month to water is shown, which means that it is necessary to deliver to such a store from the month to the water.

  FIG. 27E is a diagram showing the shape of an icon indicating a store where the number of deliveries per week is two. Here, this icon is indicated by a diamond divided into four, and when a delivery day is designated, a pattern indicating the designated day is displayed in two divided parts in the lower part of the figure. Here, a state in which Monday and Tuesday are specified is shown. In the upper two parts of the drawing, a pattern indicating the delivery day determined as a result of the course creation process is displayed. Here, a state where a course has not yet been created is shown and is blank.

  FIG. 27F is a diagram illustrating the shape of an icon indicating a store where the number of deliveries per week is one. Here, this icon is indicated by a circle divided into two, and when a delivery day of the week is designated, a pattern indicating the designated day of the week is displayed in the lower part of the drawing. Here, a state in which Monday is specified is shown. In the upper part of the drawing, a pattern indicating the delivery day determined as a result of the course creation process is displayed. Here, a state where a course has not yet been created is shown and is blank. FIG. 28A shows the icon state when there are a plurality of delivery day designations. In FIG. 28 (a), from the top in the figure, Monday delivery designation, delivery designation on Monday or Tuesday, delivery designation on any of Monday to Wednesday, delivery designation on any of Monday to Thursday, no delivery designation Show.

  Returning to FIG. 27, FIG. 27 (g) is a diagram showing the shape of an icon indicating a store where the number of deliveries per week is one. Here, this icon is shown in a shape in which a part of the circle is missing, and when a delivery day is designated, a pattern indicating the designated day is displayed in the divided part in the lower part of the figure. Here, a state in which Monday is specified is shown. In the upper part of the drawing, a pattern indicating the delivery day determined as a result of the course creation process is displayed. Here, a state where a course has not yet been created is shown and is blank. Also, in the figure, the missing part on the right side is delivered on the first week of the two weeks, and the missing part on the left side is designated for delivery in the second week of the two weeks. It means that. FIG. 28B shows an icon state when there are a plurality of delivery day designations. In FIG. 28B, from the top in the figure, the states of Monday delivery designation, Monday or Tuesday delivery designation, Monday to water delivery designation, Monday to tree delivery designation, no delivery designation state, Show.

Returning to FIG. 27, FIG. 27H is a diagram illustrating the shape of an icon indicating a base.
As described above, in the present embodiment, the base and each store are indicated by icons having different shapes, patterns, etc. together with the map information according to the delivery conditions, etc., so that the user displays the result displayed by the display processing unit 108. You can know the delivery conditions of each store just by looking at

  According to the course creation system 100 of the present embodiment, even when there is an upper limit on the load amount of an article, for example, when an article is delivered by a truck, the delivery worker takes into account the quantity of the article. Since the course is created in consideration of the delivery time, which is the work time, it is possible to create an effective course. In addition, even when the upper limit of the truck load is fixed, the course is created by selecting an appropriate form from a plurality of course forms, so the course that can be efficiently delivered is flexibly Can be created.

  In addition, since the course is created with an allowable range for the load amount of the truck and the course time, the process for obtaining the optimal solution for creating the delivery course can be quickly performed. Moreover, since various information such as map information, base information, and store information necessary for creating a delivery course is read from an external system, the process of the course creating system 100 can be simplified. Moreover, since these various types of information are read out from an external system only according to preset conditions, the configuration of the course creation system 100 can be simplified. Thereby, the simulation process of delivery course creation can be performed conveniently and easily.

  In addition, as described above, since the process for obtaining the optimum solution for course creation can be performed quickly, it is possible to quickly deliver a delivery course by setting several parameters while storing various necessary information. Can be created.

  Furthermore, the course creation process can be simplified according to the user's needs because the course can be created without considering the truck load, course time, day of the week, etc. A course can be created quickly. As described above, according to the course creation system 100 in the present embodiment, it is possible to quickly simulate a course creation under various conditions by changing conditions and parameters. Since course creation can be repeated in this way, simulation results can be displayed by saving simulation results, and courses created under various conditions can be evaluated very easily. .

  In addition, since a plurality of search areas are set under a certain rule and stores are automatically taken into the course sequentially for each search area, a highly objective course can be created.

  Furthermore, since the course is created so that the total course time for each day of the week is equalized by referring to the already prepared course status, this also reduces the required number of vehicles such as trucks and personnel. Can also be reduced. In addition, since it is preferentially incorporated into the course from a store having a low flexibility parameter, it is possible to improve the compatibility between the simulation result and the actual business needs.

(Second embodiment)
In the present embodiment, the search area setting method is different from that of the first embodiment. The course creation system according to the present embodiment, when creating a traveling course in an area including a plurality of traveling points, is divided into a plurality of search areas by dividing lines that radiate the target area from the base in the area. The traveling course is created by dividing and including the traveling points included in each search area in the same traveling course. In the first embodiment, when the user does not check “Search area setting” on the input screen shown in FIG. 9, such setting of the search area can be omitted.

  FIG. 29 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a course creation system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The present embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the calculation processing unit 116 includes an order determination unit 121 instead of the optimization processing unit 120. In the present embodiment, the same components as those shown in FIG. 3 in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted as appropriate.

  In the present embodiment, the information acquisition unit 170 obtains map information data including road information marked with road information such as arterial roads included in the map information together with the map information of the area for which the course is to be created. From the map information storage unit T1 of the external system 10.

  In the calculation processing unit 116, the calculation unit 118 also calculates an average value of course times of a plurality of courses. Moreover, the order determination part 121 determines the order which goes around the shop contained in the course for every created course. The tour order determined by the order determination unit 121 is also stored in the course information storage unit T5.

  The condition setting reception unit 110 receives parameter settings necessary for dividing the target area into a plurality of search areas. The target area is divided into a plurality of search areas by dividing the area with dividing lines that spread radially from the base. Here, the parameters include a theoretical value of the number of courses to be created in the area, a setting condition for the first dividing line, an angle formed by an adjacent dividing line, and the like. The first dividing line can be set taking into account the location of the marked road in the region, for example, starting from the base and taking into account the axis connecting the seed store and base set in the base. You can also Further, the angle formed by the adjacent dividing lines may be, for example, an angle obtained by dividing a circle (360 °) centered on the base by the theoretical value of the number of courses. The method of dividing the target area will be described later.

  The condition storage unit T4 stores the parameters set in this way. FIG. 30 is a diagram illustrating a part of the data structure of the condition storage unit T4. The condition storage unit T4 also stores, for example, data related to selection conditions for seed stores. The selection conditions for the seed store include a case of selecting from a position close to the base and a case of selecting from a position far from the base. Here, it is set to select from a position far from the base. Further, it is set that the course creation process may be terminated if the theoretical number of course times is 12 and the allowable range thereof is +2, that is, the course time is within 14. In this case, the angle between adjacent dividing lines is set to 30 degrees, and the allowable range is set to -10 degrees to +30 degrees.

The search area setting unit 160 sets a search area with reference to the condition storage unit T4.
FIG. 31 is a flowchart specifically showing the course creation processing (step 6 in FIG. 2) in the present embodiment.

  First, the search area setting unit 161 sets a dividing line that serves as a reference for dividing an area into a plurality of search areas (S118). For example, the search area setting unit 161 selects a seed store from stores in the region, sets an axis passing through the seed store starting from the base, and sets the first division line in consideration of the axis. Can do. Here, the calculation processing unit 116 can select a seed store in order from a store having a low flexibility parameter with reference to the acquired information storage unit T12. In addition, the search area setting unit 161 may select a seed store according to the distance from the base or the like with reference to the condition storage unit T4. The search area setting unit 161 can also set the first dividing line in consideration of the marked road position with reference to the map information in the acquired information storage unit T12.

  The search area setting unit 161 refers to the condition storage unit T4 on the basis of the first division line, and sequentially sets a plurality of division lines that spread radially around the base in consideration of the angle formed by the adjacent division lines. I will do it. The search area setting unit 161 divides the area into a plurality of search areas using the area surrounded by the dividing line as a search area (S120).

An example of the search area dividing method will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 32 is a diagram showing points in a region and a plurality of stores as points. The search area setting unit 161 refers to the condition storage unit T4 and divides the area into a plurality of search areas based on various preset parameters. As shown in FIG. 32 (a), here, it is assumed that the point a is a seed store. First, the search area setting unit 161 sets a straight line connecting the base and the point a as the axis L with the base as one end. Subsequently, the search area setting unit 161 refers to the condition storage unit T4 and considers the angle formed by the adjacent dividing lines. For example, the search area setting unit 161 first divides the search area into two substantially equally by the axis. Set the line. Here, the dividing line d ₁ as the first division line. At this time, the first dividing line is preferably set in a counterclockwise direction with respect to the axis. In this way, when traveling around the created course by vehicle, it is possible to visit the stores on the left side sequentially on the outbound route, and then visit the stores on the left side on the return route as well. This is because a course that can be visited can be created. Subsequently, the search area setting unit 161 refers to the condition storage unit T4, in consideration of the angle between the adjacent dividing line, set the following dividing line d _2. As shown in FIG. 32B, the search area setting unit 161 similarly sets a plurality of dividing lines d _{3 to} d ₁₂ . Thus, this area is divided into 12 search areas.

FIG. 33 is a diagram illustrating another example of the search area dividing method. In this area, for example, a road as indicated by a broken line in FIG. 33 (a) is marked. As shown in FIG. 33B, the search area setting unit 161 selects a reference main road from among the marked roads. As described above, the search area setting unit 161 refers to the condition storage unit T4 and considers the angle formed by the adjacent dividing lines. For example, the search area is divided into two substantially equally by the marked main road. Thus, the first dividing line can be set. Again, the dividing line d ₁ as the first of the dividing line. Again, as described above, the first dividing line is preferably set in a counterclockwise direction with respect to the main road. In this way, when traveling around the created course by vehicle, it is possible to visit the stores on the left side sequentially on the outbound route, and then visit the stores on the left side on the return route as well. This is because a course that can be visited can be created. In addition, when the vehicle is directed to a domestic area where traffic is on the right side, the direction is preferably reversed. Subsequently, the search area setting unit 161 refers to the condition storage unit T4, in consideration of the angle between the adjacent dividing line, as shown in FIG. 33 (c), set the following dividing line d ₂ .

  Returning to FIG. 31, the store selection unit 112 selects each search region divided by the search region setting unit 161 so that stores in the search region are included in the same course (S <b> 122). When the course is created, the order determining unit 121 sequentially visits the stores belonging to the region in the counterclockwise direction with respect to the axis L connecting the base and the seed store with the base as the starting point. The order of patrol is determined so as to invert the store at the farthest position and sequentially visit the stores belonging to the region in the clockwise direction with respect to the axis L. In this way, when the vehicle performs a patrol work in a left-handed country, it is possible to first visit the store on the left side of the road on the outbound route, and then visit the store on the left side on the return route. It is possible to create a course that can be visited efficiently. The calculation unit 118 calculates the statistics of the stores included in the course (S124). Here, the statistic is the course time and / or quantity in the course. Hereinafter, a case where the statistic is the course time will be described as an example. Subsequently, the calculation unit 118 calculates the average value of the statistics of these courses.

  The determination unit 114 determines whether or not the statistic amount in each course is within a predetermined allowable range (S126). When the statistics in all courses are within the predetermined allowable range (Yes in S126), the determination unit 114 determines whether or not the difference in statistics in each course is within the predetermined allowable range (S128). If the difference in statistics in each course is within the predetermined allowable range (Yes in S128), the course creation process ends. Here, the difference of the statistics in each course can also be calculated by comparison with the average value of the statistics of all courses.

  In step 126, when the statistic in any course is not within the predetermined allowable range (No in S126), the determination unit 114 determines whether the statistic in the course is equal to or greater than the allowable range (S130). . When the statistics in the course are lower than the allowable range (No in S130), the process returns to step 120, and the process of creating the search area by increasing the course time created in the target area is performed again. In step 130, when the statistical amount in the target course is equal to or larger than the allowable range (Yes in S130), or when the difference in the statistical amount in each course is not within the predetermined range (No in S128), the adjustment processing unit 122 performs the adjustment. Processing is performed (S132), and the course creation processing is terminated.

As the adjustment process, the following two methods can be mainly used.
The first method will be described with reference to FIG. As a result of the calculation unit 118 calculating the course time and the average value thereof as described above, for example, the statistic of the course created for the search area 5 surrounded by the dividing lines d ₅ and d ₆ is the statistic. When the average value is higher than the average value, the adjustment processing unit 122 performs adjustment to narrow the angle formed by the dividing lines d ₅ and d ₆ that form the search region 5. In this case, adjustment processing unit 122, for example, dividing line d ₄ and the statistics course created a search area 4 as a target surrounded by d _5, enclosed by dividing lines d ₆ and d ₇ search area 6 Is compared with the statistic of the course created for the subject, and the dividing line between the search areas with the smaller statistic is moved. Here, for example, it is assumed that the statistic of the course created for the search area 6 is smaller than the statistic of the course created for the search area 4. In this case, as illustrated, the adjustment processing unit 122 moves the dividing line d ₆ in the direction of the search area 5, and the angle formed by the dividing lines d ₅ and d ₆ forming the search area 5 is narrowed. processing is performed such that the angle spread of the dividing line d ₆ and d ₇ forming forms a. In addition, the adjustment processing unit 122 can perform processing such that both the dividing line d ₆ and the dividing line d ₅ are moved to narrow the search area 5. The adjustment processing unit 122 repeats the same processing until the statistics in each search region are within a predetermined allowable range and the difference in statistics between courses is within the predetermined allowable range.

  Further, the adjustment processing unit 122 performs a process of widening the angle of the dividing line forming the search area for the search area whose course statistic is lower than the average value of the statistic. By repeating such a process many times, it is possible to obtain an optimal solution in which the statistics in the courses created for each search area are substantially equal. In the present embodiment, by providing a predetermined range for the statistic and the difference between the statistic, the process for obtaining the optimum solution that satisfies the course creation end condition can be performed quickly, and the course creation can be performed quickly. it can.

  Next, the second method will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 35 (a), the order determination unit 121 circulates the store on the left side of the main road in the traveling direction of the forward route, and returns at the store farthest from the base to return to the main route in the traveling direction of the return route. The patrol order is decided so that the store on the left side of the road is patroled. As a result of calculating the statistic in each course when the calculation unit 118 visits each store in the order determined in this way, the statistic of the course created for a certain search area is an allowable value of the statistic. When the difference from the average value of the statistic amount with the range or more is greater than the allowable range, the adjustment processing unit 122, among the stores included in the course, as shown in FIG. For example, it is possible to remove a store close to the base, create a first course including the remaining stores, and then create a second course including a store removed from the first course.

  Here, the first course and the second course can be set so that the upper limit of the course time is different, for example. For example, the first course can be a single course. Further, the second course can be a piston course. When going around a store far from the base, it takes longer to return to the base, so it is more efficient to include it in the first course. In the present embodiment, the first course and the second course can be set so that the upper limit value of the loading amount is the same.

  Here, an example in which the first course and the second course are created for the same search area has been described, but the second course may be created so as to extend over a plurality of search areas. For example, the adjustment process part 122 performs the process which removes a store in order from the base, when the course time in a certain course is more than upper limit time. Such a process is repeated, and the same process is repeated until the course time in the course falls below the upper limit, and the course time of the course falls within a predetermined range from the average value of other courses. As a result of performing such processing, the store selection unit 112 can appropriately select a course that has been removed from each course and create a second course.

  When the course is created as described above, a radial flower-shaped course shaped like a flower petal is created as shown in FIG. FIG. 36A is a diagram schematically showing the shape of the course when only the first course is created, and FIG. 36B is a diagram showing the shape of the course when the second course is also created.

Thereby, it is possible to create a course in which the states of a plurality of courses can be clearly understood. Moreover, according to the course creation system 100 of the present embodiment, it is possible to create a course that can efficiently perform operations such as visits and patrols. In particular, when moving by a vehicle such as a car, the stores to be included in the same course are selected mathematically and objectively in consideration of the axis line and the main road passing through the base and the seed store. A high course can be created. As a result, it is possible to create a course that provides a sense of fairness among the workers. In addition, by creating objective courses with little consideration of actual problems such as actual geography, simulation of course creation can be performed in a very short period of time with only the minimum necessary parameter settings. Can do.
Also in the present embodiment, the same effects as in the first embodiment can be obtained.

(Third embodiment)
In the present embodiment, the search area setting method is different from the first and second embodiments. Also in the present embodiment, the course creation system 100 has the same configuration as that described with reference to FIG. 29 in the second embodiment.
Hereinafter, the course creation method in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 37 and 38.

As shown in FIG. 37 (a), in the present embodiment, the search area setting unit 161, the first dividing lines d ₁ and in a manner similar to that described with reference to FIG. 31 in the form of the first embodiment set the following dividing line d _2. Here, the order determination unit 121, as an object store included in the search area surrounded by the dividing lines d ₁ and dividing line d _2, to determine the cyclic order of these stores. The calculation unit 118 calculates a course time which is a statistic when the stores are visited in this order. In this embodiment, if the course time is not within a predetermined allowable range, adjustment processing section 122 performs processing to widen or narrow the angle of dividing lines d ₁ and dividing line d ₂ forms.

For example, when the state shown in FIG. 37 (a), if the course time course created surrounded by the dividing lines d ₁ and dividing line d ₂ search area is lower than a predetermined range, adjustment processing unit 122, spread angle dividing line d ₁ and dividing line d ₂ forms, performs a process of creating a re course the region surrounded by, for example dividing lines d _{1 'and} dividing line d _2' as a search area. Here, the adjustment processing unit 122 adjusts the angle so that the course time of the course created in the search area surrounded by the dividing line d ₁ ′ and the dividing line d ₂ ′ falls within a predetermined range.

As a result of the adjustment processing, when the course time of the course in the search area falls within the predetermined range, as shown in FIG. 38, the search area setting unit 161 sets the next dividing line d ₂ and sets the next search area. Create After this, the adjustment process is performed in the same manner, and the next course is sequentially created.
Also in this embodiment, the same effects as those of the first and second embodiments are obtained.

(Fourth embodiment)
FIG. 39 is a diagram showing a network configuration including the course creation system 100 described in the first to third embodiments. The process from the user described in the first embodiment can be performed from the user terminal 150 via the network 148. The course creation system 100 may be configured to be connected to an external system (the first external system 10 and the second external system 20a to the fourth external system 20c) via the network 148. it can.

  In the present embodiment, the user terminal 150 may be anything as long as it can communicate with the course creation system 100 via the network 148. For example, the user terminal 150 can be a PC, a PDA, a mobile phone, or any other hardware.

  In this way, the user can appropriately input conditions and view the course creation result from the user terminal 150 having a simple system configuration. Thereby, a course can be created with good convenience.

  In the present embodiment, information necessary for the course creation system 100 can be transmitted / received from the user terminal 150 to the course creation system 100 via the network 148. Can be sent to the creation system 100. Therefore, it is possible to suitably create a more effective course reflecting the on-site situation while achieving the same effects as the first to third embodiments.

  The present invention has been described based on the embodiments. The embodiments are exemplifications, and it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications can be made to combinations of the respective constituent elements and processing processes, and such modifications are within the scope of the present invention. .

  In the above embodiment, only the single course and the piston course are shown, but for example, a course for returning to the base more than once a day to load goods, a course for visiting one course over several days, etc. Various course forms can be assumed.

  Further, in the above embodiment, an example in which the load amount of a vehicle such as a truck is processed as uniform has been described, but the present invention is preferably applied even when the load amount of the vehicle is varied. Can do.

Furthermore, in the above embodiment, although the patrol work using vehicles, such as a motor vehicle, was demonstrated, the patrol work can also be performed on foot.
In addition, the course creation technique described in the above embodiment is highly versatile and can be appropriately applied to various logistics operations.

Claims (17)

A course creation system for selecting a tour point to be included in the same course when creating a course for delivering an article in an area including a plurality of tour points,
Location information data including location information of delivery locations from an external system via a network, location information of each of the traveling points, the amount of articles delivered to the traveling points, and when delivering the items to the traveling points An information acquisition unit for acquiring traveling point information data including information on flexibility indicating the degree of restriction ;
A condition setting accepting unit that accepts the lower limit and upper limit of the delivery time of the course and the lower limit and upper limit of the delivery amount as end conditions for completing the creation of one course;
Based on the location information of the delivery base acquired by the information acquisition unit and the location information of the tour point, a selection unit that sequentially selects the tour points included in the same course;
When the selection unit selects a new tour point, the tour point included in the same course that has already been selected and includes the tour point selected is based on the base information data and the tour point information data. When the points are circulated in the selected order or when the circulated points included in the already selected course are circulated by the shortest route, the first statistic determined by the delivery time and the circulated points are delivered to the circulated points. a calculation processing unit for calculating a second statistics determined by the amount of the articles, respectively,
Based on the first statistic and the second statistic calculated by the calculation processing unit, the first statistic sets the upper limit of the delivery time of the course for which the condition setting receiving unit has received the setting. Judgment to determine whether or not the second statistic exceeds the upper limit of the delivery amount that has been set by the condition setting receiving unit, and whether or not the end condition is satisfied And
If the determination unit determines that the first statistic exceeds the upper limit of the delivery time of the course and the second statistic also exceeds the upper limit of the delivery amount, the same course A first provisional process of preferentially selecting the tour point from the tour points included in the map and removing the selected tour point as the flexibility becomes higher, and When the second statistic is greater than or equal to the lower limit and less than or equal to the upper limit of the delivery amount, the first tentative process is determined as the second statistic being improved. In addition, the calculation processing unit is further configured to calculate the first statistic, and when the first statistic is equal to or less than the upper limit of the course delivery time, the process ends, while the first tentative process Improves the second statistic. There case, or after the determination of the first interim processing repeats the processing of the first statistic perform provisional processing new the first if not less the upper limit,
When the determination unit determines that only the second statistic exceeds the upper limit of the delivery amount, the circulation point is selected from the circulation points included in the same course. The higher the is, the higher the priority is selected, the selected tour point is removed, and a second provisional process of exchanging with the other unselected tour points not included in the same course is performed, and the calculation processing unit The first statistic and the second statistic are calculated, and the second statistic is smaller than the state before the second provisional process and is equal to or greater than the lower limit of the delivery amount. When the first statistic is less than or equal to the upper limit of the course delivery time and is greater than or equal to the lower limit of the course delivery time or increased from a state before the second provisional process, Second provisional processing And the process ends when the second statistic is less than or equal to the upper limit of the delivery amount, while the second provisional process cannot be determined, or the second provisional process After the determination, when the second statistic is not less than or equal to the upper limit of the delivery amount, repeat the process of performing the new second provisional process,
When it is determined by the determination unit that only the first statistic exceeds the upper limit of the course delivery time, the circulation point is selected from the circulation points included in the same course. The calculation processing unit performs a third provisional process in which the higher the flexibility is selected, the selected tour point is removed and replaced with another unselected tour point that is not included in the same course, To calculate the first statistic and the second statistic, and the second statistic is less than or equal to the upper limit of the delivery amount and greater than or equal to the lower limit of the delivery amount or the third statistic When the first statistic is increased from the state before the provisional process and the first statistic is decreased from the state before the third provisional process, the third provisional process is confirmed, and the first statistic is further determined. The amount of the course The process ends when the time is less than or equal to the upper limit of the time, while the first statistic is determined to be that of the course when the third provisional process cannot be confirmed, or after the third provisional process is confirmed. An adjustment processing unit that repeats the process of performing the new third provisional process when the delivery time does not fall below the upper limit; and
Including
Route creation system wherein the determination unit until it is determined that satisfies the termination condition, creating a one course repeating the selection of the cyclic point by the selection unit. In the course creation system according to claim 1 ,
A search area setting unit that sets a search area for selecting a tour point to be included in the same course in the area,
The course selection system, wherein the selection unit selects a tour point to be included in the same course for each of the search areas. In the course creation system according to claim 2 ,
The search area setting unit targets the area through which the axis passes when an axis having the reference point as one end is rotated by a predetermined angle around a predetermined reference point in the area. Set,
The selection unit selects each of the tour points to be included in the same course with respect to the search area, and sequentially selects the tour points that hit the axis line when the axis line is rotated in the search area. ,
The course creation system, wherein the search area setting unit sets a search area in consideration of a distance in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis. In the course creation system according to claim 2 ,
The search area setting unit divides the area into a plurality of search areas by rotating an axis having the reference point as one end around a predetermined angle around a predetermined reference point in the area,
The selection unit selects a traveling point to be included in the same course for each of the search areas,
The course creation system, wherein the search area setting unit sets a search area in consideration of a distance in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis. In the course creation system according to claim 3 or 4 ,
The region can include a base,
The information acquisition unit can also acquire information about the base,
The search area setting unit uses the base as the reference point. In the course creation system according to claim 3 or 4 ,
A theoretical number calculator for calculating a theoretical number n of courses to be created in the area;
The course creation system, wherein the search area setting unit rotates an axis at an angle that is an approximate value of 360 / n. In the course creation system according to claim 3 or 4 ,
The search area setting unit first selects a seed as a starting point when creating a course from a plurality of circulation points, and sets the axis so as to pass through the reference point and the seed. Course creation system. In the course creation system according to claim 7 ,
The search area setting unit determines whether a distance between the reference point and the seed is within a predetermined length, and when the distance between the reference point and the seed is longer than the predetermined length, the axis line The course creation system is characterized in that the axis line is set such that the length of the axis is equal to or greater than the distance between the reference point and the seed. The course creation system according to any one of claims 1 to 8 ,
An optimization processing unit for optimizing the tour order of the tour points included in the course;
The calculation processing unit calculates, as a preliminary first statistic, a delivery time when the selection unit circulates the cyclic points in the order in which the cyclic points are selected, and the preliminary first statistic is It is determined whether or not the predetermined reference value is exceeded, and when the preliminary first statistic exceeds the predetermined reference value, the optimization processing unit performs the optimization, and the optimized tour A course creation system for calculating a delivery time when the tour points are visited in order. The course creation system according to any one of claims 1 to 9 ,
A course information storage unit that stores information related to the course created by the tour point finally selected by the selection unit in association with the condition received by the condition setting reception unit;
A display processing unit for displaying information on the course together with the conditions;
A course creation system characterized by further including: In the course creation system according to any one of claims 1 to 10 ,
A display processing unit for displaying information on the patrol point together with map information of the area;
A display information storage unit that stores a traveling condition for each traveling point and display information having a different appearance shape according to a difference in the traveling condition;
Further including
The display processing unit detects a tour condition for the tour point based on the information about the tour point acquired by the information acquisition unit, and displays the display information corresponding to the tour point. Creation system. The course creation system according to any one of claims 1 to 11 ,
Based on information on the traveling point, further includes a flexibility providing unit that provides information on the flexibility to each traveling point,
The course creation system, wherein the selection unit preferentially selects the tour points having low flexibility in consideration of information on the flexibility . The course creation system according to any one of claims 1 to 12 ,
The information acquisition unit determines whether or not the information necessary for the calculation processing unit to calculate the first statistic and the second statistic is included in the information acquired from the external system. A course creation system characterized in that, when all the necessary information is not included, a process for prompting input of alternative information for necessary information is performed.   In the course creation system according to any one of claims 1 to 13,
  In the first provisional process, the adjustment processing unit preferentially selects one of the cyclic points as the flexibility becomes higher. In the second provisional process, the adjustment processing unit selects one of the cyclic points as the flexibility. A course creation system, wherein a higher priority is selected, and in the third provisional process, the two tour points are preferentially selected as the flexibility is higher. A program for causing a computer to select a traveling point to be included in the same course when creating a course for delivering an article in an area including a plurality of traveling points,
Computer
Location information data including location information of delivery locations from an external system via a network, location information of each of the traveling points, the amount of articles delivered to the traveling points, and when delivering the items to the traveling points Information acquisition means for acquiring traveling point information data including information on flexibility indicating the degree of restriction ;
Condition setting accepting means for accepting the setting of the lower limit and upper limit of the delivery time of the course and the lower limit and upper limit of the delivery amount, which are the end conditions for finishing the creation of one course,
Selection means for sequentially selecting the circulation points to be included in the same course based on the position information of the delivery base acquired by the information acquisition means and the position information of the circulation points;
When the selection means selects the new tour point, the tour point included in the same course that has already been selected and includes the tour point selected is based on the base information data and the tour point information data. When the points are circulated in the selected order or when the circulated points included in the already selected course are circulated by the shortest route, the first statistic determined by the delivery time and the circulated points are delivered to the circulated points. calculation processing means for calculating a second statistics determined by the amount of the articles, respectively,
Based on the first statistic and the second statistic calculated by the calculation processing means, the first statistic sets the upper limit of the delivery time of the course for which the condition setting receiving means has received the setting. Judgment to determine whether or not the second statistic exceeds the upper limit of the delivery amount received by the condition setting accepting unit and whether or not the end condition is satisfied means,
If it is determined by the determining means that the first statistic exceeds the upper limit of the delivery time of the course and the second statistic also exceeds the upper limit of the delivery, the same course A first provisional process of preferentially selecting the tour point from the tour points included in the map and removing the selected tour point as the flexibility becomes higher, and When the second statistic is greater than or equal to the lower limit and less than or equal to the upper limit of the delivery amount, the first tentative process is determined as the second statistic being improved. Further, the calculation processing means is further configured to calculate the first statistic, and when the first statistic is less than or equal to the upper limit of the course delivery time, the process ends, while the first tentative process The second statistic is revised If not, or after the determination of the first interim processing repeats the processing of the first statistic perform provisional processing new the first if not less the upper limit,
When it is determined by the determining means that only the second statistic exceeds the upper limit of the delivery amount, the circulating point is selected from the circulating points included in the same course. Is selected preferentially the higher the is, the selected tour point is removed and a second provisional process for exchanging with the other unselected tour points not included in the same course is performed, and the calculation processing means The first statistic and the second statistic are calculated, the second statistic is smaller than the state before the second provisional process, and is equal to or greater than the lower limit of the delivery amount. When the first statistic is less than or equal to the upper limit of the course delivery time and is greater than or equal to the lower limit of the course delivery time or increased from the state prior to the second provisional process, the second Provisional processing The process is terminated when the second statistic is less than or equal to the upper limit of the delivery amount, while the second provisional process cannot be confirmed, or the second provisional process After the determination, when the second statistic is not less than or equal to the upper limit of the delivery amount, repeat the process of performing the new second provisional process,
When it is determined by the determination means that only the first statistic exceeds the upper limit of the course delivery time, the circulation point is selected from the circulation points included in the same course. The calculation processing means performs a third provisional process of preferentially selecting the higher the flexibility and removing the selected tour point and exchanging with the other unselected tour points not included in the same course, To calculate the first statistic and the second statistic, and the second statistic is less than or equal to the upper limit of the delivery amount and greater than or equal to the lower limit of the delivery amount or the third statistic When the first statistic is increased from the state before the provisional process and the first statistic is decreased from the state before the third provisional process, the third provisional process is confirmed, and the first statistic is further determined. The amount of the course The process ends when the delivery time is less than or equal to the upper limit, while the first statistic is the course when the third provisional process cannot be confirmed, or after the third provisional process is confirmed. Adjustment processing means for repeating the process of performing the new third provisional process when the delivery time is not less than the upper limit of
Function as
Wherein until it is determined that the end condition is satisfied, the program for creating one course repeating the selection of the cyclic point by the selecting means by said determining means. The program according to claim 15 , wherein
The information acquisition means determines whether or not the information necessary for the calculation processing means to calculate the first statistic and the second statistic is included in the information acquired from the external system. A program that performs a process of prompting input of substitute information of necessary information when the necessary information is not included when the determination is made. The program according to claim 15 or 16 ,
In the first provisional process, the adjustment processing unit preferentially selects one of the cyclic points as the flexibility becomes higher. In the second provisional process, the adjustment processing unit selects one of the cyclic points as the flexibility. A program that is preferentially selected as it is higher, and in the third provisional process, the two tour points are preferentially selected as the flexibility is higher.

Images