JP6617818B1 - Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and information processing program - Google Patents

Abstract

An object is to calculate a point where a plurality of moving bodies meet. An information processing device (1) includes a position information acquisition unit that acquires position information about each of one or a plurality of first moving bodies and a second moving body; A moving route calculating unit that calculates at least one moving route of the second moving body; a merging point calculating unit that calculates a future merging point of the first moving body and the second moving body; , Is provided. [Selection diagram] Fig. 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and an information processing program.

  Techniques for efficiently delivering and receiving packages are known. For example, in Patent Document 1, the operation management center determines the route of the operating vehicle, gets each passenger on and off, calculates the route for collecting each cargo, and guides the route based on the route. A passenger currency mixed loading system and an in-vehicle device for moving a vehicle to a boarding point, a getting off point of each passenger, and a pickup point of each cargo are disclosed.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2017-220090

  However, since the conventional technology as described above is configured to deliver and collect packages at a bus center and a bus stop at a prescribed route, the degree of freedom in terms of location is low. In addition to the bus driver, a home delivery sales driver is required for each bus stop, which requires a lot of manpower.

  An object of one embodiment of the present invention is to provide a technique for calculating a point at which a plurality of moving objects meet.

  In order to solve the above problems, an information processing device according to one embodiment of the present invention relates to each of one or more first moving bodies and a second moving body different from the first moving body. A position information acquisition unit that acquires position information, a movement route calculation unit that calculates at least one movement route of the first moving body and the second moving body by referring to the position information; By referring to the result calculated by the movement route calculation unit, a merging point calculation unit that calculates a merging point in the future between the first moving body and the second moving body is provided.

  According to this, a 1st moving body and a 2nd moving body can be matched. In addition, a merging point between the first moving body and the second moving body can be calculated.

  In the information processing apparatus according to the one aspect, the travel route calculation unit calculates at least one travel route of the first mobile body and the second mobile body by further referring to external information.

  According to this, it is possible to accurately calculate at least one moving route of the first moving body and the second moving body suitable for the external information.

  In the information processing apparatus according to the aspect, the external information is at least one of map information, traffic jam information, road construction information, road surface conditions, weather information, and charging spot information.

  According to this, it is possible to accurately calculate at least one moving route of the first moving body and the second moving body suitable for the external information.

  The information processing apparatus according to the aspect further includes an ID collating unit that associates each ID of the first moving body with an ID of the second moving body, and the joining point calculating unit includes the ID collating unit A confluence point between the first moving body and the second moving body associated with each other is calculated.

  According to this, the information processing apparatus can perform matching between the first moving body and the second moving body. Further, the first moving body and the second moving body can be merged.

  In the information processing apparatus according to the aspect, the moving route calculation unit relates to at least one moving body among the moving bodies and the second moving body by referring to the information about the position for each predetermined period. A new moving route is calculated, and the merging point calculating unit calculates a new merging point between each moving body and the second moving body by referring to the result calculated by the moving route calculating unit. To do.

  According to this, it is possible to appropriately calculate the movement route according to the real-time position information of each moving body.

  In the information processing apparatus according to the aspect, the position information includes a current location and a destination of the first moving body and a current location and a destination of the second moving body.

  According to this, the junction point of the 1st moving body and the 2nd moving body can be computed suitably.

  In the information processing apparatus according to the one aspect, when a distance between any one of the one or the plurality of first moving bodies and the second moving body is less than a predetermined threshold, any one of the above A notification unit that performs notification to at least one of the mobile body and the second mobile body.

  According to this, it is possible to know that the distance between the first moving body and the second moving body is less than the threshold value.

  In the information processing apparatus according to the aspect, the first moving body is a recipient vehicle of a package recipient, and the second moving body is a delivery vehicle that delivers the package.

  According to this, it is possible to perform matching between the recipient vehicle and the delivery vehicle, and calculate a junction point between the recipient vehicle and the delivery vehicle.

  In order to solve the above problem, an information processing method according to one embodiment of the present invention includes one or a plurality of first moving bodies and a second moving body different from the first moving body. A position information acquisition step of acquiring position information relating to each of them; a movement route calculation step of calculating at least one movement route of the first moving body and the second moving body by referring to the position information; A merging point calculating step of calculating a merging point in the future between the first moving body and the second moving body by referring to the result calculated in the moving route calculating step. It is characterized by.

  According to this, a 1st moving body and a 2nd moving body can be matched. In addition, a merging point between the first moving body and the second moving body can be calculated.

  In order to solve the above problem, an information processing program according to an aspect of the present invention is an information processing program for causing a computer to function as the information processing apparatus according to any one of the above, And a computer function as the movement route calculation unit and the merging point calculation unit.

  According to this, a 1st moving body and a 2nd moving body can be matched. In addition, a merging point between the first moving body and the second moving body can be calculated.

  According to one embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to provide a technique for calculating a point where a plurality of moving bodies meet.

It is a block diagram which shows an example of the component of the information processing apparatus which concerns on each embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the outline | summary of the information processing system containing the information processing apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the information processing method which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the determination which the information processing apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention performs. It is a table | surface which shows a response | compatibility with the process which the information processing apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention performs, and the information referred by each process. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the information processing method which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the information processing method which concerns on Embodiment 3 of this invention.

<Embodiment 1>
[System Overview]
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an overview of the information processing system 100 of the present embodiment. The information processing system according to the present embodiment is a system that calculates information of a delivery vehicle and a recipient vehicle by matching information on a delivery vehicle that delivers a package with information on a recipient vehicle that receives the package.

  The merge point is when the recipient vehicle is moving on the first route from point P to point Q, and the delivery vehicle is moving on the second route from point R to point S. When the first route and the second route intersect, this is the point of intersection.

  If the first route and the second route do not intersect, the second route after the change is changed by changing the second route (in other words, by changing the delivery route of the delivery vehicle). May intersect the first route, and the intersecting point may be set as the merge point. In the present embodiment, the merge point is a formation formation point.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the information processing system 100 matches information of a delivery vehicle 4 that delivers a package, a recipient vehicle 3 that receives the package, and information on each vehicle, and calculates a formation point. 1 is included.

  In the present embodiment, the second moving body is a delivery vehicle 4 that delivers a package. The delivery vehicle 4 is a vehicle that delivers a target package to a destination of the package, that is, a recipient. The number of packages delivered by the delivery vehicle 4 is not limited to one, and a plurality of packages may be delivered. The vehicle type of the delivery vehicle 4 and the size of the vehicle are not particularly limited, but the delivery vehicle 4 has information for specifying the vehicle type, the size of the vehicle, etc., and the information is processed by the information processing apparatus 1. It is preferable to mount an information communication device for transmitting to the network. Moreover, it is preferable that the delivery vehicle 4 carries the navigation system which shows the own present location, for example. The navigation system uses, for example, a satellite positioning system (GPS).

  The delivery vehicle 4 transmits delivery package information and delivery vehicle information to the information processing apparatus 1. Here, the delivery package information is information on the package to be delivered, and includes the destination of the package to be delivered, the size, weight, number, and attributes of the package. The attribute is an attribute of the package such as whether it is a refrigerated product or a cracked item. Further, the delivery vehicle information is information on a vehicle that delivers the package, and is, for example, a power consumption of the vehicle and a current location. Delivery vehicle information such as the current location may be generated by the navigation system.

  The first moving body is a recipient vehicle 3 for a package recipient. The recipient vehicle 3 is a vehicle of the recipient of the delivery package and is a vehicle driven by the target person who receives the delivery package. There may be one recipient vehicle 3 or a plurality of recipient vehicles 3. The vehicle type and the size of the delivery vehicle 4 are not particularly limited, but the delivery vehicle 4 has information for specifying the vehicle type, the size of the vehicle, and the like. It is preferable to mount an information communication device for transmitting to the network.

  The recipient vehicle 3 transmits the package recipient information and the recipient vehicle information to the information processing apparatus 1. Here, the package recipient information is personal identification information of a person who receives the package to be delivered, and is, for example, a name and an address. The recipient vehicle information is information on the vehicle that the recipient of the package is using for movement, such as the power consumption of the vehicle, the current location, the destination, and the estimated arrival time at the destination. The recipient vehicle 3 may be equipped with, for example, a navigation system, and recipient vehicle information such as the current location, the destination, and the estimated arrival time at the destination may be generated by the navigation system.

  The navigation system and the information communication apparatus described above may be integrated with the recipient vehicle 3 and the delivery vehicle 4 or may be separate. An example of a separate body is a case where a recipient, a deliverer, a driver, or a passenger who travels with each vehicle has a navigation device and a terminal device including an information communication device. .

  The information processing apparatus 1 refers to the delivery baggage and the information about the delivery vehicle acquired from the delivery vehicle 4 and the information about the baggage recipient and the recipient vehicle acquired from the recipient vehicle 3, thereby delivering the delivery vehicle 4, Matching with the recipient vehicle 3 is performed. In addition, the information processing apparatus 1 should travel in order for the delivery vehicle 4 to deliver the package from now on by referring to the location information of the moving delivery vehicle 4 and the location information of the moving recipient vehicle 3. A package delivery route is calculated, and a formation formation point at which the recipient vehicle 3 and the delivery vehicle 4 form a formation is calculated.

  Thus, the information processing system 100 can calculate the formation point of the recipient vehicle 3 and the delivery vehicle 4. One form of the information processing apparatus 1 is, for example, a server. The information processing apparatus 1 may acquire external information such as map information, traffic jam information, and a charging spot from another server.

[Main Configuration of Information Processing Apparatus 1]
A main configuration of the information processing apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a main configuration of the information processing apparatus 1. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the information processing apparatus 1 includes a position information acquisition unit 102, a movement route calculation unit 103, and a merging point calculation unit 104. The location planning unit 20 includes the position information acquisition unit 102, the movement route calculation unit 103, and the junction point calculation unit 104. The information processing apparatus 1 further includes an ID collation unit 101 and an input / output unit 30.

  According to this, a recipient vehicle and a delivery vehicle can be matched. In addition, a merging point between the recipient vehicle and the delivery vehicle can be calculated.

  The position information acquisition unit 102 acquires position information regarding each of the recipient vehicle and the delivery vehicle. Specifically, the first mobile body position information acquisition unit 1021 included in the position information acquisition unit 102 acquires the position information of the recipient vehicle, and the second mobile body position information included in the position information acquisition unit 102 also. The acquisition unit 1022 acquires the position information of the delivery vehicle. The position information is, for example, the current location of each vehicle, the destination of each vehicle, and the estimated arrival time at the destination. Further, these pieces of information can be acquired by using, for example, a navigation system of each vehicle.

  According to this, it is possible to suitably calculate the junction point between the recipient vehicle and the delivery vehicle.

  The travel route calculation unit 103 refers to the position information of each vehicle acquired from the position information acquisition unit 102, and calculates a travel route that is a route to be used for the movement of each vehicle or one of the vehicles from now on. To do. In the present embodiment, the travel route is a route that the delivery vehicle can travel to deliver the package to the recipient. For example, when the recipient vehicle is moving on the first route from the point P to the point Q, the moving route calculation unit 103 determines whether the delivery vehicle is any point on the first route from the current location. The route that can be traveled to get to is calculated. That is, a point on the first route that is the shortest in distance from the current location of the delivery vehicle is calculated. The travel route is not necessarily one route. For example, a plurality of moving route candidates may be calculated.

  Further, the travel route calculation unit 103 may calculate the travel route of each vehicle by further referring to external information acquired from the outside. The external information is information acquired from an information processing device different from the information processing device 1, a server, and the like. In the present embodiment, the external information is, for example, map information, traffic jam information, charging spots where vehicles can be charged, road construction information, road surface conditions, weather information, road traffic information, etc., and these information are updated in real time. It is preferable that it is information to be processed. Moreover, it is preferable that these external information is provided in the state which combined several information. The external information may be, for example, information indicating which point on the map is under construction from map information and road construction information. In addition, from the map information and the road surface conditions, even information on which point on the map is frozen, which point on the map can not pass due to falling rocks and collapse due to the earthquake Good. The movement route calculation unit 103 further refers to the external information and calculates a route that bypasses the point where the failure and the trouble occur. That is, the travel route calculation unit 103 calculates not only a short distance to travel but also a route that can avoid a failure and trouble and can travel in a short time.

  According to this, at least one movement route can be accurately calculated among the recipient vehicle (first moving body) and the delivery vehicle (second moving body). In addition, it is possible to accurately calculate a travel route suitable for external information that changes with time.

  In addition, the travel route calculation unit 103 may calculate the travel route of each vehicle or one of the vehicles by referring to the location information of each vehicle acquired by the location information acquisition unit 102 every predetermined period. Good. The length of the predetermined period is not particularly limited, and may be set as appropriate, such as every 1 minute or every 5 minutes. In addition, the movement route calculation unit 103 may calculate the movement route with reference to the position information at any timing that one of the recipient vehicle and the delivery vehicle obtains from the information processing apparatus 1.

  According to this, the movement route calculation part 103 can recalculate a movement route suitably according to the real-time position information of each vehicle.

  The ID collating unit 201 collates the ID of the recipient vehicle with the ID of the delivery vehicle, and associates the corresponding recipient vehicle ID with the ID of the delivery vehicle. The ID of the recipient vehicle is an ID for identifying each recipient vehicle, and is, for example, a license plate of the recipient vehicle. Note that the ID of the recipient vehicle and the recipient who drives the recipient vehicle may be linked in advance. Further, the ID of the delivery vehicle is an ID for identifying the delivery vehicle, and is, for example, a number plate of the delivery vehicle. The delivery vehicle ID and the package delivered by the delivery vehicle may be linked in advance. The corresponding recipient vehicle ID and delivery vehicle ID indicate the recipient vehicle ID of the recipient who is the destination of the target delivery package and the delivery vehicle ID that delivers the target delivery package. Matching and associating the ID of the recipient vehicle with the ID of the delivery vehicle can also be referred to as collating and associating the ID of the recipient and the ID of the delivery package.

  Thus, the information processing apparatus 1 can match the recipient vehicle and the delivery vehicle by collating the ID of the recipient vehicle with the ID of the delivery vehicle.

  The joining point calculation unit 104 refers to the result calculated by the movement route calculation unit 103 to calculate a formation point that is a point at which the recipient vehicle and the delivery vehicle can form a future formation. Here, the recipient vehicle and the delivery vehicle to be calculated by the joining point calculation unit 104 are the recipient vehicle and the delivery vehicle collated by the ID collation unit 101, respectively. The formation formation point is a place where the formation running is started or a section where the formation running is performed. The formation point may be, for example, a local point or a section of a predetermined distance including the local point. The section of the predetermined distance may be, for example, a section of several kilometers. Thus, by providing a section of a predetermined distance, the delivery vehicle can easily form a formation with the recipient vehicle.

  For example, the joining point calculation unit 104 is a place where the distance from the current location of each vehicle is the shortest on the travel route, a place where the road width is relatively wide on the travel route, a place where traffic congestion is relatively small on the travel route, etc. Is the formation point.

  The input / output unit 30 acquires information from the outside of the information processing device such as a recipient vehicle, a delivery vehicle, and an external device. The input / output unit 30 also serves as a notification unit that outputs information generated by the matching unit 10 to the outside of the information processing apparatus 1 and notifies the recipient vehicle, the delivery vehicle, the external device, and the like.

  When the distance between the recipient vehicle and the delivery vehicle is less than a predetermined threshold, the input / output unit 30 connects each vehicle or any one of the vehicles to the distance between the recipient vehicle and the delivery vehicle. May be notified as approach information that the value is less than the threshold. The predetermined threshold is, for example, a unit of several kilometers. By notifying each vehicle that the recipient vehicle and the delivery vehicle have approached within a few kilometers, for example, the recipient vehicle can change the lane so that the delivery vehicle can easily form a platoon. it can. Also, the recipient vehicle can be prepared to receive the package. Moreover, the predetermined threshold is, for example, several meters to several tens of meters. The fact that the recipient vehicle and the delivery vehicle approached each other within a range of several meters to several tens of meters means that the recipient vehicle and the delivery vehicle formed a formation or immediately before the formation of the formation. Indicates the time. Normally, the recipient knows in advance which delivery company will deliver his package, but which delivery vehicle delivers his package and whether the target delivery vehicle has been formed It is difficult to identify while driving. Therefore, by notifying that the recipient vehicle and the delivery vehicle have formed a formation, each vehicle can know that the formation has been formed with the target vehicle. The recipient can stop the vehicle and receive the package.

[Processing flow 1-1]
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a flow of a series of processes performed by the information processing apparatus 1, the recipient vehicle, and the delivery vehicle. The flow of processing will be described based on the flowchart of FIG.

(Step S1)
First, the delivery vehicle applies a package delivery application to the information processing apparatus 1. The delivery application is a process for notifying that there is a package to be delivered. In addition, the package delivery application includes delivery package information such as the size of the package and the attributes of the package.

(Step S2)
In S2, the information processing apparatus 1 issues a package delivery notification to the recipient (recipient vehicle) based on the delivery application acquired from the delivery vehicle in S1. The package delivery notification is a process for notifying that the recipient vehicle has a package to be received by the recipient. In order for the information processing apparatus 1 to issue a package delivery notification, it is assumed that the personal identification information of the recipient is stored in advance in a storage unit (not shown) of the information processing apparatus 1 or the like. For example, a recipient is a member of a service provided by a delivery company and has registered personal identification information, or has used a delivery service before and has a history of personal identification information. Can be mentioned.

(Step S3)
In S3, the recipient vehicle transmits the recipient information and the recipient vehicle information to the information processing device 1 based on the package delivery notification acquired from the information processing device 1 in S2.

(Step S4)
In S4, the information processing device 1 uses the delivery application acquired from the delivery vehicle in S3, the recipient information obtained from the recipient vehicle, and the recipient vehicle information, the ID of the recipient vehicle, and the delivery vehicle. Are compared with each other, and both IDs are associated with each other. In addition, the information processing apparatus 1 transmits notification information for notifying the recipient vehicle and the delivery vehicle that the ID has been verified and the ID of the package to be delivered from now on.

(Step S5: Position information acquisition step)
In S5, the information processing apparatus 1 acquires position information from the recipient vehicle, and confirms the desired receiving location when the recipient desires. The position information may be acquired as the recipient vehicle information in S3, but the recipient vehicle is a moving body, and it is necessary to check whether the current location is updated and whether the destination is changed. Therefore, the position information of the recipient vehicle is acquired also in S5.

(Step S6)
In S6, the information processing apparatus 1 acquires map information and the like in a range including the range from the current location of the recipient vehicle to the destination and the current location of the delivery vehicle.

(Step S7: Travel route calculation step)
In S <b> 7, the movement route calculation unit 103 of the information processing device 1 calculates a delivery route to be traveled to deliver the package, and transmits the calculated result to the delivery vehicle. Here, the delivery vehicle may start traveling as a result of the acquired delivery route, and when there are a plurality of candidates in the acquired delivery route, select one of them and use the selected result as information. You may transmit to the processing apparatus 1.

(Step S8: Junction point calculation step)
In S8, the merging point calculation unit 104 of the information processing device 1 calculates a formation point based on the delivery route calculated in S7. The joining point calculation unit 104 may reacquire the current location of the recipient vehicle and the delivery vehicle at the time when the formation point is calculated. The information processing apparatus 1 transmits the calculated result to the delivery vehicle and the recipient vehicle.

(Step S9)
In S9, based on the result of the formation point acquired from the information processing apparatus 1 in S8, the delivery vehicle moves to the formation point. As the delivery vehicle moves to the formation point, the input / output unit (notification unit) 30 may appropriately notify each vehicle that the vehicles have approached each other as it approaches the recipient vehicle.

(Step S10)
In S10, the information processing apparatus 1 confirms that the recipient vehicle and the delivery vehicle have formed a formation. The information processing apparatus 1 can confirm that the formation has been formed by acquiring the current location of the recipient vehicle and the delivery vehicle. Further, the information processing apparatus 1 may notify each vehicle that a formation has been formed via the input / output unit (notification unit) 30.

[Processing flow 1-2]
In the processing method described above, the processing method when the recipient is moving by a vehicle has been described, but the information processing method according to the present embodiment is also used when the recipient is moving by a vehicle other than the vehicle. Can do.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing performed by the information processing apparatus 1 including the case where the recipient is moving outside the vehicle. Depending on whether the recipient is moving by a vehicle or moving by a different means of transportation, the objects to be designated as “first moving body” and “second moving body” vary.

  FIG. 5 is a table showing an example of correspondence between processing performed by the information processing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment and information referred to in each processing. In each process, it is shown that information with a circle is used. For example, the personal identification information of the recipient, the destination of the delivery package, and the number of pieces of information are used for the ID verification.

  The flow of processing will be described below using the flowchart of FIG. 4 and the correspondence table of FIG.

(Step S101)
In S101, the delivery package ID and the recipient ID are confirmed and collated, and both IDs are associated. This step corresponds to the ID verification in FIG. Here, the ID of the delivery package is an ID for identifying the package, for example, a destination. The recipient ID is an ID for identifying the recipient, and is, for example, a personal number associated with the personal identification information of the recipient stored in the storage unit or the like of the information processing apparatus 1. Through this step, the ID of the delivery package and the ID of the recipient of the package are collated and correlated. In this step, after collation, a package delivery application corresponding to S1 described in [Processing flow 1-1] may be made.

(Step S102)
In S102, it is determined whether or not the recipient is out. If S102 is YES, the process proceeds to S103, and if NO, the process proceeds to S109.

(Step S103)
In S103, when the recipient is out, it is determined whether the recipient's moving means is a car. If S103 is YES, the process proceeds to S104. If NO, the process proceeds to S105.

  The determination processing in S102 and S103 may be such that the information processing apparatus 1 transmits an application to a terminal device of the recipient, for example, and makes the recipient answer whether or not the recipient is out. Further, if the information processing device 1 can acquire the position of the recipient's terminal device, the information processing device 1 determines that the user is out and the moving means from the location information of the recipient and the moving speed of the recipient. Also good.

(Step S104)
In S104, it is determined whether or not joining at the destination is possible. That is, this step is a determination as to whether or not the delivery vehicle may head for formation with the recipient vehicle. If S104 is YES, the process proceeds to S106, and if NO, the process proceeds to S107. This step corresponds to the formation formation formation in the correspondence table of FIG.

(Step S105)
In S105, when the recipient is out of the vehicle, it is determined whether or not the package can be received at the destination. The process proceeds to S109 regardless of whether S105 is YES or NO.

(Step S106)
In S106, the information processing apparatus 1 checks the current location of the recipient vehicle, the destination, and the movement route of the recipient vehicle so that the delivery vehicle can move to form a formation with the recipient vehicle. Send the confirmed result. Further, based on the result, the travel route calculation unit 103 calculates the delivery route of the delivery vehicle. Further, the joining point calculation unit 104 calculates a formation formation point, and the process proceeds to S108. This step corresponds to the calculation of the delivery route and the formation point of the correspondence table in FIG. Further, the electric power travel distance of each vehicle may be calculated, and the calculation result may be used for calculating the delivery route and the formation point.

(Step S107)
In S107, the information processing apparatus 1 confirms the current location of the delivery vehicle, the destination, and the travel route of the delivery vehicle so that the recipient vehicle can move to form a formation with the delivery vehicle, and calculates a formation point. To do. Further, the calculated result is transmitted to the recipient vehicle, and the process is terminated. In this step, the “first moving body” is a delivery vehicle, and the “second moving body” is a recipient vehicle.

(Step S108)
In S108, the information processing apparatus 1 confirms that the delivery vehicle and the recipient vehicle have formed a formation, and then ends the process.

(Step S109)
In S109, the recipient is confirmed with the place of receipt of the package. Specifically, if the previous step is S102, the recipient is at home, so the information for confirming whether the recipient's home address is correct and the receipt time zone are confirmed. Information and the like may be transmitted to the recipient.

  If the previous step is S105 and it is determined NO in this step, that is, if the recipient cannot receive the package on the go, in order to confirm the time when the recipient can receive the package at home Information may be sent to the recipient. Further, information for designating a place other than the home (such as a convenience store) may be transmitted.

  Also, if the previous step is S105 and it is determined YES in this step, that is, if the recipient is moving outside the vehicle but can receive the package on the go, the receiving location Information for confirming the information, information for confirming the receivable time zone, and the like may be transmitted to the recipient. This step corresponds to the confirmation of the package receiving location in the correspondence table of FIG.

(Step S110)
In S110, the information processing apparatus 1 calculates a movement route for the delivery vehicle to move to the receiving place desired by the recipient, and sets the formation point so that the other vehicle traveling along the movement route can form a formation. calculate.

  In this step, the “first moving object” for which the delivery vehicle forms a platoon is a vehicle from which the information processing apparatus 1 can acquire the position information of the vehicle, and before the delivery vehicle moves to the receiving location. It is a moving vehicle that can join. As an example, the “first moving body” includes other delivery vehicles of the same delivery company. Further, in this case, it may include a form in which a delivery package is delivered to another delivery vehicle after forming a formation with another delivery vehicle of the same delivery company, and the delivery vehicle delivers the package to the recipient.

<Embodiment 2>
Another embodiment of the present invention will be described below. For convenience of explanation, members having the same functions as those described in the embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will not be repeated.

  In the first embodiment, a description has been given of a mode in which there is one recipient (one recipient vehicle) and one delivery vehicle. However, the information processing apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment includes a plurality of recipients, and It can also be used when there is only one delivery vehicle. In the present embodiment, a mode in which there are two recipients (two recipient vehicles) and one delivery vehicle will be described. The two recipients are a and b, respectively, and the recipient vehicles to be driven are A and B, respectively.

  The configuration and function of the information processing apparatus according to the present embodiment are the same as the configuration and function of the information processing apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment.

[Processing flow 2]
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a flow of a series of processes performed by the information processing apparatus 1, the recipient vehicle A, the recipient vehicle B, and the delivery vehicle according to the present embodiment. The flow of processing will be described based on the flowchart of FIG.

(Step S201)
First, the delivery vehicle applies a package delivery application to the information processing apparatus 1.

(Step S202)
In S202, the information processing apparatus 1 issues a package delivery notification to the recipient vehicles A and B based on the delivery application acquired from the delivery vehicle in S201.

(Step S203)
In S203, the recipient vehicle A sends the recipient information of the recipient a and the recipient vehicle information of the recipient vehicle A to the information processing device 1 based on the package delivery notice acquired from the information processing device 1 in S202. Send.

(Step S204)
In S204, the recipient vehicle B sends the recipient information of the recipient b and the recipient vehicle information of the recipient vehicle B to the information processing device 1 based on the package delivery notification acquired from the information processing device 1 in S202. Send. Note that the order of S203 and S204 may be reversed.

(Step S205)
In S205, the information processing apparatus 1 determines the ID of each recipient vehicle and the ID of the delivery vehicle based on the recipient information acquired from the recipient vehicles A and B and recipient vehicle information in S203 and S204. And match. In addition, the recipient vehicle and the delivery vehicle are notified of confirmation of the ID and the ID of the package to be delivered from now on.

(Step S206: Position information acquisition step)
In S206, the information processing apparatus 1 acquires the position information of each recipient vehicle from the recipient vehicles A and B, and confirms the desired receiving location when the recipient desires. This step corresponds to S5 of the first embodiment [Processing flow 1-1].

(Step S207)
In S207, the information processing apparatus 1 acquires and confirms the map information and the like of the range including the current location of each of the recipient vehicles A and B to the respective destination and the current location of the delivery vehicle. This step corresponds to S6 of the first embodiment [Processing flow 1-1].

(Step S208: Travel route calculation step)
In S208, the movement route calculation unit 103 of the information processing apparatus 1 calculates a delivery route to be traveled to deliver the package, and transmits the calculated result to the delivery vehicle. This step corresponds to S7 of the first embodiment [Processing flow 1-1].

(Step S209: Junction point calculation step)
In S209, based on the delivery route calculated in S208, the merging point calculation unit 104 of the information processing apparatus 1 calculates the formation points A ′ and B ′ with the recipient vehicles A and B, respectively. In addition, the information processing apparatus 1 transmits the calculated result to the delivery vehicle and each recipient vehicle.

  This step corresponds to S8 in the first embodiment [Processing flow 1-1]. However, the difference from the first embodiment is that the confluence point calculation unit 104 determines which vehicle among the recipient vehicles A and B. It is a point to calculate whether the package can be delivered efficiently by forming the formation first. Here, “efficient” may mean, for example, that delivery is performed while minimizing the power consumption required from the distance traveled and the weight of the delivery package. Further, the joining point calculation unit 104 may further refer to information such as a schedule after the delivery vehicle finishes delivering the package to the recipients a and b, and a location of the business office to which the delivery vehicle should return.

(Step S210)
In S210, based on the formation result obtained from the information processing apparatus 1 in S209, the delivery vehicle first moves to the formation point A ′. This step corresponds to S9 of the first embodiment [Processing flow 1].

(Step S211)
In S211, the information processing apparatus 1 confirms that the recipient vehicle A and the delivery vehicle have formed a formation. This step corresponds to S10 of the first embodiment [Processing flow 1-1].

(Step S212)
In S212, the recipient vehicle A (recipient a) notifies the information processing apparatus that the parcel has been received from the delivery vehicle.

(Step S213)
In S213, the information processing apparatus 1 ends the process for forming a convoy of the recipient vehicle A and the delivery vehicle. That is, the information processing apparatus 1 releases the association between the recipient vehicle A and the delivery vehicle.

(Step S214)
In S214, the delivery vehicle moves to the formation point B ′ based on the result of the formation point acquired from the information processing apparatus 1 in S209. Further, the information processing apparatus 1 calculates the delivery route and the formation point B ′ again from the current location of the recipient vehicle B and the current location of the delivery vehicle before the delivery vehicle moves to the formation point B ′. May be. When the result calculated here is different from the result calculated in S209, the newly formed formation formation point B ′ may be notified to the delivery vehicle.

  Thus, even when there are a plurality of recipient vehicles, the information processing apparatus 1 can calculate a formation formation point for each recipient vehicle and the delivery vehicle to form a formation.

<Embodiment 3>
In the first and second embodiments, the delivery vehicle forms a formation with the recipient vehicle in order to deliver the package to the recipient. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration. For example, the client vehicle that requests the collection and the collection vehicle that collects the luggage may form a formation.

  The configuration of the information processing apparatus according to the present embodiment is the same as the configuration of the information processing apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment.

  Differences between the first embodiment and the present embodiment will be described below.

  In the present embodiment, the first moving body corresponds to a client vehicle that requests collection, and the second moving body corresponds to a collection vehicle that collects luggage. In the first and second embodiments, the delivery vehicle, which is the second moving body, starts the processing of the information processing apparatus 1 by applying for a package delivery. In this embodiment, the delivery vehicle is the first moving body. When the client vehicle applies for a collection request, the processing of the information processing apparatus 1 is started.

[Processing flow 3]
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a flow of a series of processes performed by the information processing apparatus 1, the client vehicle, and the collection vehicle. The flow of processing will be described based on the flowchart of FIG.

(Step S301)
First, a client (client vehicle) applies to the information processing apparatus 1 for a package collection request. The application for collection request is a process for notifying that there is a package to be collected. When applying for a collection request, personal identification information such as the name and address of the client may be input by the client. Further, when the client's personal identification information is already stored in the storage unit or the like of the information processing apparatus 1 in advance, it is not necessary for the client to input each time collection is performed, and the information processing apparatus 1 is already stored. Personally identifiable information can be used. For example, the client may be a member of a service provided by the delivery company and apply for a collection request from the delivery company member page or application. In addition, when applying for a collection request, it is preferable that the requester also inputs the size of the package, the attributes of the package (refrigerated, ware, etc.), the designated delivery date and time, and the like.

(Step S302)
In S302, the information processing apparatus 1 notifies the collection vehicle of collection based on the application for the collection request acquired from the collection vehicle in S301. Here, the collection notification is a process of notifying that there is a package to be collected in the collection vehicle.

(Step S303)
In S303, the collection vehicle transmits collection vehicle information to the information processing apparatus based on the collection notification acquired from the information processing apparatus 1 in S302. Here, the collection vehicle information is information on the vehicle that collects the vehicle, and includes, for example, the power consumption of the vehicle and the current location. The collection vehicle information may include information indicating whether the collection vehicle has a space for loading the collection target packages or whether the collection vehicle has an environment suitable for the attributes of the collection target packages.

(Step S304)
In S304, the information processing apparatus 1 collates the ID of the requester vehicle with the ID of the collection vehicle based on the collection request acquired from the requester vehicle in S303 and the collected vehicle information acquired from the collection vehicle. . Here, the information processing apparatus 1 may determine whether or not the collection vehicle is suitable for collecting the package to be collected with reference to the collection vehicle information. Alternatively, the collection notice may be sent to another collection vehicle. If it is determined that it is suitable for collection, the client vehicle and the collection vehicle are notified of confirmation of the ID and the ID of the package to be delivered.

(Step S305)
In S305, the information processing apparatus 1 acquires the requester vehicle position information from the requester vehicle, and confirms a desired pickup location when there is a request from the requester.

(Step S306)
In S306, the information processing apparatus 1 acquires and confirms the map information and the like of the range from the current location to the destination of the client vehicle and the current location of the delivery vehicle.

(Step S307)
In S307, the movement route calculation unit 103 of the information processing apparatus 1 calculates a movement route that should be traveled to collect the luggage, and transmits the calculated result to the collection vehicle.

(Step S308)
In S308, based on the movement route calculated in S307, the merging point calculation unit 104 of the information processing device 1 calculates a formation point. The joining point calculation unit 104 may re-acquire the current location of the client vehicle and the collection vehicle at the time of calculating the formation formation point. The information processing apparatus 1 transmits the calculated result to the requester vehicle and the delivery vehicle.

(Step S309)
In S309, the collection vehicle moves to the formation point based on the result of the formation point acquired from the information processing apparatus 1 in S308. As the collection vehicle moves to the formation point, the input / output unit (notification unit) 30 may appropriately notify each vehicle that the vehicles have approached each other as it approaches the recipient vehicle.

(Step S310)
In S310, the information processing apparatus 1 confirms that the client vehicle and the collection vehicle have formed a formation. The information processing apparatus 1 can confirm that the formation has been formed by acquiring the current location of the client vehicle and the collecting vehicle. Further, the information processing apparatus 1 may notify each vehicle that a formation has been formed via the input / output unit (notification unit) 30.

[Application example]
Although Embodiments 1-3 demonstrated formation of a formation of a delivery vehicle and a receiver vehicle, or formation of a collection vehicle and a client vehicle, the present invention is not limited to this. The moving body only needs to be moving, and the moving speed, the moving range, the size of the moving body, the moving object of the moving body, the work performed by the moving body at the junction point, and the like are not limited.

  One example is the merging of lifts that deliver packages within a factory. The position information acquisition unit of the information processing apparatus acquires position information of each target lift in the factory, and the movement route calculation unit calculates the movement route of each lift with reference to the position information. Further, the merging point calculation unit can calculate at which point in the factory each target lift should be merged by referring to the result of the calculated travel route. As the information on each lift, for example, the load amount of the load that can be loaded by the lift is used. Further, a map or the like in the factory showing the route on which the lift can travel may be used as the external information. The number of target lifts is not limited, and two lifts may be joined together, or three or more lifts may be joined.

[Example of software implementation]
The control block (particularly the merge planning unit 20) of the information processing apparatus 1 may be realized by a logic circuit (hardware) formed in an integrated circuit (IC chip) or the like, or may be realized by software.

  In the latter case, the information processing apparatus 1 includes a computer that executes instructions of a program that is software for realizing each function. The computer includes, for example, one or more processors and a computer-readable recording medium storing the program. In the computer, the processor reads the program from the recording medium and executes the program, thereby achieving the object of the present invention. As the processor, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) can be used. As the recording medium, a “non-temporary tangible medium” such as a ROM (Read Only Memory), a tape, a disk, a card, a semiconductor memory, a programmable logic circuit, or the like can be used. Further, a RAM (Random Access Memory) for expanding the program may be further provided. The program may be supplied to the computer via an arbitrary transmission medium (such as a communication network or a broadcast wave) that can transmit the program. Note that one aspect of the present invention can also be realized in the form of a data signal embedded in a carrier wave, in which the program is embodied by electronic transmission.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope shown in the claims, and embodiments obtained by appropriately combining technical means disclosed in different embodiments. Is also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Information processing apparatus 102 Location information acquisition part 103 Travel route calculation part 104 Join point calculation part

Claims (10)

A plurality of first moving bodies and a position information acquisition unit that acquires position information regarding each of the second moving bodies different from the first moving bodies;
A movement route calculation unit that calculates at least one movement route of the first moving body and the second moving body by referring to the position information;
By referring to the result calculated by the movement route calculation unit, a merging point calculation unit that calculates a merging point in the future between the first moving body and the second moving body;
With
In order to travel so that the moving route is directed to any point on the route where one moving body of the first moving body and the second moving body is moving, and approaches one of the points, The other is a route you can drive,
The confluence point is a formation point where the first moving body and the second moving body start running in a row,
The merging point calculation unit calculates a merging point where the second moving body should go ahead among the different merging points of the second moving body and each of the plurality of first moving bodies.
Information processing device. The travel route calculation unit calculates at least one travel route of the first mobile body and the second mobile body by further referring to external information.
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1. The external information is at least one of map information, traffic jam information, road construction information, road surface conditions, weather information, and charging spot information.
The information processing apparatus according to claim 2. An ID collating unit that associates each ID of the first moving body with the ID of the second moving body;
The joining point calculation unit calculates a joining point between the first moving body and the second moving body associated with the ID collating unit,
The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The moving route calculation unit refers to the position information every predetermined period, thereby determining a new moving route for each of the plurality of first moving bodies and at least one moving body among the second moving bodies. Calculate
The merging point calculation unit calculates a new merging point between each of the plurality of first moving bodies and the second moving body by referring to a result calculated by the moving route calculating unit.
The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4. The location information includes a current location and a destination of the first moving body and a current location and a destination of the second moving body.
The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5. When the distance between any one of the plurality of first moving bodies and the second moving body is less than a predetermined threshold,
A notification unit for notifying at least one of the mobile object and the second mobile object;
The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6. The first mobile body is a recipient vehicle of a package recipient, and the second mobile body is a delivery vehicle that delivers packages.
The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7. An information processing method executed by an information processing apparatus,
A position information acquisition step in which the position information acquisition unit of the information processing apparatus acquires position information related to each of a plurality of first moving bodies and a second moving body different from the first moving body;
A movement route calculation step in which a movement route calculation unit of the information processing apparatus calculates at least one movement route of the first moving body and the second moving body by referring to the position information;
The merging point calculation unit of the information processing device calculates a merging point in the future between the first moving body and the second moving body by referring to the result calculated in the moving route calculating step. A joining point calculation step,
The travel route is such that one of the first mobile unit and the second mobile unit travels to one point on the route on which one travels, and the other travels to approach one. Is a possible route,
The confluence point is a formation point where the first moving body and the second moving body start running in a row,
In the merging point calculation step, the merging point calculation unit is configured such that the second moving body should go ahead among different merging points between the second moving body and each of the plurality of first moving bodies. Calculate the confluence point,
An information processing method characterized by the above.   An information processing program for causing a computer to function as the information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the position information acquisition unit, the movement route calculation unit, and the merging point calculation unit An information processing program for causing a computer to function.

Images