JP7476026B2 - Delivery processing method, delivery processing system, program, recording medium, and server - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a technology for formulating a delivery plan for gas containers to gas supply destinations, such as LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas).

Gas companies deliver gas cylinders filled with LPG to contracted gas supply destinations, replacing them with gas cylinders that are in use or have been used, ensuring a continuous supply of gas. The delivery process of these gas cylinders involves a vendor-managed inventory system in which the company that delivers the gas is responsible for setting the timing of gas cylinder replacement. In the delivery process of gas cylinders, if the timing of replacement is accelerated to prevent gas shortages at the gas supply destination, the amount of gas refilled will be small, meaning there will be a large amount of remaining gas, which will lead to an increase in the number of deliveries and an increase in the workload when replacing gas cylinders. Furthermore, delaying the timing of replacement will lead to a decrease in the amount of remaining gas when the gas cylinder is replaced, but delaying it too much will also increase the risk of running out of gas.

With regard to the delivery process of such gas cylinders, there is a method that uses a safety factor master to predict the date when gas will run out, and calculates a predicted delivery date that takes into account delivery efficiency and the risk of running out of gas (for example, Patent Document 1). There is also a method that uses multiple meter reading data from a gas meter to update the remaining gas amount, compares it with the amount of gas used in the past, and uses the amount of change to predict that the remaining gas amount in the future will reach a specified value as the delivery date of the gas cylinder (for example, Patent Document 2).

JP 2014-149659 A JP 2013-254415 A

Conventionally, gas companies make delivery plans within a visitable period set for each gas delivery destination, and deliver and replace gas containers at a specified delivery timing. The visitable period may be set implicitly for each delivery destination, set uniformly such as at regular intervals or on a specified day of each month, or set by the delivery staff's experience. In this way, there is a problem that if the delivery process is performed based on the delivery staff's personal sense or at a uniformly set timing, it may result in a decrease in delivery efficiency and an increase in the human delivery load.
In gas delivery processing, the timing of visits has a large effect on delivery efficiency and delivery load. In other words, delivery destinations with short visit intervals for replacing gas containers have a large change in the amount of gas in the gas container due to a one-day delay in gas delivery processing, for example, because of the large amount of gas used. For this reason, if the delivery processing is brought forward by one day, the amount of remaining gas increases accordingly, and the delivery frequency increases, resulting in an inefficient gas container replacement processing. Conversely, if the gas delivery processing is delayed by one day, the amount of remaining gas decreases, but there is a problem that the possibility of running out of gas increases due to the large tendency to use gas. If a large margin is set in the delivery timing in order to prevent such gas running out, there is a risk that the delivery load will exceed the limit, such as an increase in the amount of remaining gas.
Furthermore, if the gas usage trends of all customers were monitored one by one and all of the acquired data were analyzed and processed in order to optimize the timing of visits, the load of determining the delivery timing would be enormous.

The inventors of the technology disclosed in this application have discovered that the delivery process can be streamlined and optimized by setting the delivery interval based on the relationship between the delivery interval at the delivery destination and the amount of remaining gas in the gas container.
Such a problem is not disclosed or suggested in Patent Documents 1 and 2. Furthermore, Patent Documents 1 and 2 do not disclose or suggest any means for solving such a problem.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT DISCLOSURE An object of the present invention is to improve delivery efficiency by calculating a gas delivery processing period based on gas usage trends and formulating a gas delivery processing plan.

In order to achieve the above- mentioned object, one aspect of the delivery processing method of the present disclosure includes a step in which a management server acquires gas supply information including past delivery information indicating delivery of a gas container to a gas delivery destination, a step in which the management server calculates coefficient information using advance period information obtained from the past delivery information, a step in which the management server acquires gas demand information issued from the gas delivery destination or calculated from gas usage, a step in which the management server calculates a delivery processing period that enables delivery processing of the gas container using the gas supply information and the coefficient information and sets the delivery processing period for each of the gas delivery destinations, a step in which the management server reads a delivery reference date, which is the delivery deadline for each gas delivery destination, and the delivery processing period, and generates delivery plan information for the gas container, and a step in which the management server registers the delivery plan information in a delivery processing database.

The above delivery processing method may include a step in which the management server calculates the delivery reference date for the gas delivery destination based on the gas demand information, and a step in which the management server sets the delivery processing period for the delivery reference date and generates the delivery plan information.
The above delivery processing method may include a step in which the management server acquires meter reading data from a gas meter at the gas delivery destination, and a step in which the management server analyzes gas usage trends or gas shortage predictions at the gas delivery destination using the meter reading data, and calculates the delivery reference date.
The above delivery processing method may include a step in which the management server extracts the delivery plan information for multiple gas supply destinations and generates classification information that classifies the multiple gas delivery destinations based on the delivery processing period, and a step in which the management server outputs delivery instructions to a deliverer based on the classification information.
In the above delivery processing method, among multiple gas supply destinations, the management server may analyze the gas demand information and the delivery processing period, and set the delivery instructions by combining gas delivery destinations whose gas demand information and delivery processing period are the same or within a specified range.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, one aspect of the gas delivery processing system of the present disclosure is a gas delivery processing system comprising: a meter reading information acquisition means for collecting gas meter reading data and acquiring gas demand information issued from gas delivery destinations or calculated from gas usage; a delivery processing database in which gas supply information including past delivery information indicating the delivery of gas containers to the gas delivery destinations is stored; and a server for calculating coefficient information using advance period information obtained from the past delivery information, setting a delivery processing period for each of the gas delivery destinations that enables the delivery processing of the gas containers calculated using the gas supply information and the coefficient information , and generating delivery plan information for the gas containers based on a delivery reference date, which is the delivery deadline for each gas delivery destination, and the delivery processing period, and registering the information in the delivery processing database.

In the above gas delivery processing system, the server may set the delivery processing period for the delivery reference date of the gas delivery destination calculated based on the gas demand information, and generate the delivery plan information for the gas delivery destination.
In the above gas distribution processing system, the server may read the collected meter reading data of the gas distribution destination, analyze the gas usage trends or gas shortage predictions of the gas distribution destination based on the meter reading data, and calculate the delivery reference date.
In the above-mentioned gas distribution processing system, the server may generate classification information for the extracted multiple delivery plan information, dividing the multiple gas delivery destinations based on the delivery processing period, and output delivery instructions to a distributor based on the classification information.
In the above gas delivery processing system, the server may analyze the gas demand information and the delivery processing period among multiple gas supply destinations, and set the delivery instructions by combining gas delivery destinations whose gas demand information and delivery processing period are the same or within a specified range.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, one aspect of the program of the present disclosure is a program to be executed by a computer, which causes the computer to execute the following functions: a function to cause a management server computer to acquire gas supply information including past delivery information indicating the delivery of gas containers to gas delivery destinations ; a function to cause the management server computer to calculate coefficient information using advance period information obtained from the past delivery information; a function to cause the management server computer to acquire gas demand information issued from the gas delivery destinations or calculated from gas usage; a function to cause the management server computer to calculate a delivery processing period that enables delivery processing of the gas containers using the gas supply information and the coefficient information and set the delivery processing period for each of the gas delivery destinations; a function to have the management server read the delivery reference date, which is the delivery deadline for each gas delivery destination, and the delivery processing period, to generate delivery plan information for the gas containers; and a function to register the delivery plan information in a delivery processing database.

The above program may include a function for causing the management server computer to calculate a delivery reference date for the gas delivery destination based on the gas demand information, and a function for setting the delivery processing period for the delivery reference date and causing the management server computer to generate the delivery plan information for the gas delivery destination.
The above program may include a function of reading meter reading data obtained from a gas meter at a gas supply destination into the management server computer, and a function of having the management server computer analyze the gas usage trends or gas shortage predictions at the gas delivery destination using the meter reading data and calculate the delivery reference date.
The above program may include a function for extracting the delivery plan information for multiple gas supply destinations and generating classification information in the management server computer that classifies the multiple gas delivery destinations based on the delivery processing period, and a function for outputting delivery instructions from the management server computer to a delivery person's terminal device based on the classification information.
The above program may include a function of having the management server computer analyze the gas demand information and the delivery processing period among multiple gas supply destinations, and set the delivery instructions by combining gas delivery destinations whose gas demand information and delivery processing period are the same or within a specified range.

To achieve the above object, one aspect of the recording medium of the present disclosure has any one of the above programs recorded on it.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, one aspect of the server of the present disclosure is a server that executes gas delivery processing, and includes a meter reading information acquisition means that collects gas meter reading data and acquires gas demand information emitted from the gas delivery destination or calculated from gas usage, a memory unit that stores a delivery processing database in which gas supply information including past delivery information indicating the delivery of gas bottles to the gas delivery destination is stored, and a processing unit that calculates coefficient information using advance period information obtained from the past delivery information, sets a delivery processing period that enables the delivery processing of the gas bottles calculated using the gas supply information and the coefficient information , and generates delivery plan information for the gas bottles based on a delivery reference date, which is the delivery deadline for each gas delivery destination, and the delivery processing period, and registers the information in the delivery processing database.

In the above server, the processing unit may set the delivery processing period for the delivery reference date of the gas delivery destination calculated based on the gas demand information, and generate the delivery plan information for the gas delivery destination.
In the above server, the processing unit may read the collected meter reading data of the gas delivery destination, analyze the gas usage trend or gas shortage prediction of the gas delivery destination based on the meter reading data, and calculate the delivery reference date.
In the above server, the processing unit may generate classification information for the extracted multiple delivery plan information, dividing the multiple gas delivery destinations based on the delivery processing period, and output delivery instructions to a delivery person based on the classification information.
In the above server, the processing unit may analyze the gas demand information and the delivery processing period among multiple gas supply destinations, and set the delivery instructions by combining gas delivery destinations whose gas demand information and delivery processing period are the same or within a specified range.

According to the present invention, any one of the following effects can be obtained.
(1) By using past delivery information to calculate a delivery processing period that allows for delivery to be brought forward from the delivery reference date, it is possible to set an efficient delivery plan that corresponds to the gas usage trends of the gas delivery destination.
(2) By setting the delivery date using the delivery processing period calculated using gas supply information including past delivery information, the amount of remaining gas can be reduced.
(3) The possibility of running out of gas is reduced.
(4) By reducing the amount of remaining gas at the time of delivery, the workload of delivery personnel can be reduced.
(5) By using the delivery processing period calculated using the gas supply information including stored past delivery information, the load of the calculation process for determining the delivery timing can be reduced.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent with reference to the accompanying drawings and each embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a process of a delivery process according to the first embodiment. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a gas management system. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a customer information DB. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a delivery processing DB. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a meter reading information DB. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a delivery history DB. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a delivery plan. FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a hardware configuration of a management server. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a process of a delivery process according to the second embodiment. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a gas management system. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of setting gas usage trends and gas delivery processing periods. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of a deliverer terminal. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a process of a delivery process according to the third embodiment. FIG. 2 illustrates an example of the configuration of a management server. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a delivery management table. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a process for sorting delivery destinations. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a delivery group.

First Embodiment
Fig. 1 shows an example of steps of a delivery process according to the first embodiment. The steps shown in Fig. 1 are an example of a delivery process method and a delivery process program of the present disclosure, and the present invention is not limited to such a configuration.
The delivery process of the present disclosure is to formulate a delivery plan based on the delivery record of the gas container, and for example, to improve the efficiency of the delivery and replacement work of the gas container and reduce the replacement work burden on the worker by calculating the period for the next delivery of the gas container using past delivery information. In such delivery process, for example, the following process is executed as formulation of the delivery plan.
The delivery processing step shown in FIG. 1 is an example of a delivery processing method or program of the present disclosure, and includes, for example, identifying a gas supply destination (S101), identifying a gas management file (S102), extracting gas supply information (S103), calculating a delivery processing period (S104), obtaining meter reading values (S105), storing meter reading values (S106), determining whether to generate a delivery plan (S107), setting a gas delivery reference date (S108), and generating a delivery plan (S109).

Further, the following terms are used in the delivery process of this disclosure:
a) Gas delivery destination: The gas delivery destination refers to a building or facility where a gas container is installed on the eaves or the like under a contract with a gas company, as well as a customer who consumes LPG from this gas container. In other words, this gas delivery destination is a gas supply destination that uses a gas container, and it does not matter whether it is a private home or a corporation (business) such as a store.
b) Delivery Information: Delivery information is an example of information indicating that a gas container has been delivered to a gas delivery destination, and includes, for example, the date and time of delivery, time information, the number of deliveries, and information on the person responsible for delivering or replacing the gas container.
c) Gas supply information: Gas supply information is a record of overall information on the gas supply process for gas delivery destinations, and includes delivery information, which is a record of when to replace gas containers, etc., as well as the amount of gas delivered to each gas delivery destination, a predicted value calculated for the period until the amount of remaining gas in the installed gas containers reaches a specified threshold, and other information.
d) Gas demand information: Gas demand information is an example of information for understanding the gas usage status calculated based on information collected from the gas delivery destination, and includes, for example, information such as gas usage amount, gas usage trends, and the amount of gas remaining in a gas container obtained periodically or at specified times, as well as information such as requests for gas container replacement issued by the gas delivery destination.
e) Delivery processing period: The delivery processing period is a designated period during which the delivery and replacement of the gas container is possible with respect to the delivery reference date set for the gas delivery destination. In other words, the delivery processing period is an advance period with respect to the delivery reference date, which is the delivery deadline for the gas container, and the length of the period varies depending on, for example, the gas usage tendency of the gas delivery destination.

f) Delivery Reference Date: The gas delivery reference date is an example of a delivery deadline set for each gas delivery destination, and is set based on information such as the gas usage trend of the gas delivery destination and the amount of remaining gas in the gas container predicted and calculated using the gas meter reading information s. This gas delivery reference date is a reference date for setting the delivery processing period in the delivery plan.
g) Delivery plan information: The delivery plan information is an example of information for formulating a delivery plan including the delivery and replacement timing of gas containers to gas delivery destinations, and includes, for example, information on the amount of gas used for each gas delivery destination, the usage trend, the past delivery intervals and delivery dates of gas containers, etc. This delivery plan information is used to generate instruction information for a deliverer who delivers and replaces gas containers.
h) Coefficient information: The coefficient information is an example of a coefficient value for calculating the next delivery processing period from the past delivery information. The same value may be set for all gas delivery destinations, or different values may be set depending on the gas usage trends of the gas delivery destinations. The coefficient information may also be changed depending on, for example, the season or month, or a correction value may be set based on the amount of gas remaining in the gas container collected in the past delivery processing.
i) Meter reading data: The meter reading data is meter reading value information s obtained from a gas meter that is installed for each gas delivery destination or that is collectively installed for multiple gas delivery destinations.
k) Classification information: Classification information is an example of information for classifying gas delivery destinations to which gas containers are delivered on the same day or within a specified period, and is, for example, information combining multiple gas delivery destinations whose delivery processing periods are the same or within a specified range. The gas deliverer executes the delivery processing of the gas container based on the delivery instructions set based on this classification information.

Identification of gas supply destinations (S101): In the process of identifying gas supply destinations 10-1, 10-2, ..., 10-N (FIG. 2, hereinafter simply referred to as "gas supply destinations 10"), the management server 4 (FIG. 2) accesses a database that stores customer information, for example, to identify customers who are the targets of gas supply management. In identifying the gas supply destinations, for example, information related to the gas usage status is registered as customer information.
Identifying gas management file (S102): The gas management file is an example of management information including gas usage and gas delivery processing for each customer, and indicates information stored in, for example, a customer information DB (Data Base) 20 (FIG. 3), a delivery processing DB 30 (FIG. 4), a meter reading information DB 40 (FIG. 5), a delivery history DB 50 (FIG. 6), etc. As an example of the process of identifying the gas management file, the management server 4 reads the customer information DB 20, delivery processing DB 30, meter reading information DB 40, delivery history DB 50, etc. associated with the identified customer to whom gas is supplied.

Extraction of gas supply information (S103): In the process of extracting gas supply information, for example, the delivery plan information section 32 stored in the delivery processing DB 30 is extracted and read for the specified customer.
Calculation and setting process of delivery processing period (S104): The delivery processing period is calculated using past delivery information for the target customer. This delivery information includes, for example, the date before last gas container replacement, the date when the previous gas container replacement was planned, and the date when the previous gas container replacement was actually performed. The delivery information used to calculate the delivery processing period may be, for example, information obtained in the latest delivery process, or older delivery information stored in the delivery processing DB 30. Furthermore, the calculation of the delivery processing period may use, for example, a combination of multiple delivery information.
Then, in the gas container delivery process, information on the calculated delivery process period is set in the delivery plan information section 32 of the delivery process DB 30 .

Acquisition of meter reading value (S105): In this process, the management server 4 acquires meter reading value information s obtained by reading a gas meter from the gas supply destination 10. This meter reading value information s is acquired, for example, from a communication unit 78 ( FIG. 10 ) installed on the gas meter of the gas supply destination 10. In addition, the management server 4 may acquire the meter reading value information s together with information identifying the gas supply destination 10 from an external meter reading information source (not shown). This meter reading information source is, for example, an example of a means for collecting gas meter meter reading value information s from a plurality of gas supply destinations 10 and providing the meter reading value information s to the management server 4 at a predetermined timing or in response to access from the management server 4, and functions as a relay means connecting the gas supply destination 10 and the management server 4.
Storage process of meter reading value (S106): The management server 4 stores the acquired data of the meter reading value information s in the storage unit 18 (FIG. 2). The storage unit 18 stores, for example, a meter reading information DB 40 (FIG. 5), which stores the meter reading value for each customer.

Determination of generation of delivery plan (S107): The generation of the delivery plan is an example of a determination of whether or not it is time to calculate the deadline for the next gas delivery process or the delivery process period for each customer who is the gas supply destination 10. In determining whether or not to generate the delivery plan, the management server 4 may determine the timing of whether or not to generate the delivery plan based on, for example, the timing information of a timer, the stored past delivery interval information, or information on whether the remaining gas amount grasped from the acquired gas meter reading value information s is below a predetermined threshold. When the timing for generating the delivery plan is reached (YES in S107), the management server 4 calculates the delivery process period using the gas supply information including the extracted past delivery information. Also, when the timing for generating the delivery plan has not been reached (NO in S107), the management server 4 continues to store the gas meter reading value and enters a standby state until the timing for generating the delivery plan is reached.
Gas delivery reference date setting process (S108): The gas delivery reference date is, for example, a date set based on gas usage trends calculated from past delivery information for each delivery destination, or a specified date agreed upon between the delivery destination, or a predicted date on which a specified remaining gas value will be reached, calculated using gas meter reading information s.

Delivery plan generation process (S109): The delivery plan is instruction information for completing the delivery process within the number of days or hours of the delivery processing period, with the set gas delivery reference date as the deadline. The management server 4 combines information on the set gas delivery reference date with the calculated delivery processing period to generate a delivery plan that includes at least the gas container replacement schedule. In addition, the delivery plan may include setting information such as the delivery route and delivery order.

<Gas management system 2>
Fig. 2 shows an example of a gas management system. The configuration shown in Fig. 2 is merely an example, and the present invention is not limited to such a configuration.
The gas management system 2 includes, for example, a management server 4, an information presentation unit 6, and an information input unit 8, and obtains gas demand information from gas supply destinations 10 (10-1, 10-2, ... 10-N) to grasp gas usage, etc., and also performs gas delivery management such as calculating a delivery processing period based on past gas supply information and setting a gas delivery plan. The management server 4 is also connected by wireless communication to a delivery person terminal 12 (12-1, 12-2, ... 12-N) used by a delivery person who delivers gas or installed in a vehicle used for delivery processing, and transmits delivery instructions based on the set gas delivery plan and receives delivery progress information, etc. This management server 4 is composed of a computer and is an example of the gas delivery processing system and server of the present disclosure. The management server 4 is connected to each gas supply destination 10 via wired or wireless communication, and can transmit and receive control instructions and data between the gas meter installed in each gas supply destination 10.
The information presentation unit 6 is an example of a means for presenting the processing information output from the management server 4 on a screen or by voice, and is composed of, for example, a monitor composed of an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or a speaker for outputting voice information. In addition, the information presentation unit 6 may be, for example, a communication function unit that notifies gas demand forecast information to an information terminal device available to a customer of the gas supply destination 10, or an information terminal device carried by a company that delivers gas containers or a delivery person.
The information input unit 8 is an example of a means for inputting data such as the control information program, delivery reference date information of the gas supply destination 10, coefficient information for calculating the delivery processing period, and other customer information to the management server 4, and is composed of an input device such as a keyboard, a mouse, a touch panel, etc. In addition, the information input unit 8 is an example of a communication function of the management server 4, and enables input of updated data for customer information from the gas supply destination 10 via a network, and may also acquire a demand forecast model by connecting to an external database (not shown).

The management server 4 includes, for example, a meter reading information acquisition means 14 , a processing unit 16 , and a storage unit 18 .
The meter reading information acquisition means 14 is an example of a functional unit that imports meter reading information s read at the gas meter of each gas supply destination 10, and is composed of a communication unit that communicates with the gas meter. The meter reading information acquisition means 14 may also have a function of aggregating data of the meter reading information s together with the guideline information or meter reading value acquired from each gas supply destination 10 and past meter reading value data.
The processing unit 16 reads out past delivery information and set coefficient information stored in the memory unit 18 to calculate the delivery processing period, and also has the function of formulating a delivery plan in combination with the set gas delivery reference date.
The storage unit 18 is an example of a means for storing data such as the meter reading information s and customer information, and a program for operating the management server 4. The storage unit 18 includes, for example, a customer information DB 20 for managing delivery, a delivery process DB 30 for storing setting values for delivery process and delivery plan information, a meter reading information DB 40 for storing information such as meter reading values obtained from a gas meter, and a delivery history DB 50 for storing the history of past delivery processes.

<About Customer Information DB 20>
Fig. 3 shows an example of the configuration of the customer information DB. The configuration shown in Fig. 3 is just an example.
The customer information DB 20 includes a customer information section 21 which contains information on contract holders and gas users of the gas supply destination 10, information used in the gas container replacement process, an equipment usage information section 22 which contains information on gas consumption loads, a gas usage trend section 23, a gas usage information section 24, a coefficient information section 25, etc., and is composed of multiple databases 20-1, 20-2, ... 20-N for each customer.
The customer information section 21 includes a customer name section 21-1, an address section 21-2, a gas container installation location section 21-3, and a type section 21-4.
In the customer name section 21-1, information such as the contract holder of a gas supply service is registered.
The address section 21-2 registers the address of the installation location of the gas container specified in the contract with the customer.
The gas container installation location section 21-3 is information that the delivery person should be aware of when processing the replacement of a gas container, and may store, for example, information on the installation location of the gas container at the customer's home, information indicating the arrangement of multiple gas containers, as well as information on the time required for gas container delivery and installation processing.
The information stored in the address section 21-2 and the gas container installation location section 21-3 is an example of gas container delivery information for the gas supply destination 10 that is notified to the delivery person.
The classification section 21-4 is an example of management information for the gas supply destination 10, and stores information such as the customer's gas usage and usage pattern. Information registered in this classification section 21-4 includes, for example, information on whether the gas supply destination 10 is a residence or a restaurant that uses a lot of gas, as well as information on whether it is a single-family home or an apartment building that houses multiple families, and information on whether it is a restaurant that requires heating power.

The device information section 22 includes, for example, a model name section 22-1, a consumption amount section 22-2, and an installation date section 22-3.
The model name section 22-1 is an example of information for identifying the product of the installed gas consumption load, and in addition to the manufacturer name and device name, identification code information and the like are registered.
The consumption amount unit 22-2 may store information such as the required gas consumption amount for each appliance as the gas consumption amount information for each appliance. This consumption amount information may be used, for example, for making an approximate prediction of the total gas consumption amount of the appliances owned by the customer.
The installation date section 22-3 is information indicating the time when the appliance started to be used. The installation date information may be used, for example, for the timekeeping information of the appliance, as well as for monitoring the gas consumption efficiency and the like, and for advising the customer on appliance replacement.

The gas usage trend section 23 stores gas usage trend information for each customer, which is calculated and analyzed from gas demand information such as past gas usage. This gas usage trend information may store numerical values such as the gas usage rate for a predetermined period such as each month, or may store evaluation information such as "high" or "low" against a judgment reference value (not shown). The gas usage trend information may be used to determine the priority of gas container delivery processing and gas shortage prediction processing by combining it with information such as the gas usage purpose stored in the classification section 21-4 of the customer information section 21.
The gas usage information unit 24 may store the latest gas demand information obtained from, for example, a gas meter.
The coefficient information section 25 stores coefficient values used in the calculation process of the gas delivery process period.

<About the delivery processing DB 30>
Fig. 4 shows an example of the configuration of the delivery processing DB. The configuration shown in Fig. 4 is just an example.
The delivery processing DB 30 includes a gas supply destination information section 31 containing information used in the gas bottle replacement process for the gas supply destination 10, a delivery plan information section 32 for issuing gas bottle delivery instructions, and the like, and is composed of multiple databases 30-1, 30-2, ... 30-N for each customer.

The gas supply destination information section 31 includes a customer name section 31-1, a gas container installation location section 31-2, a number of containers section 31-3, a type section 31-4, and the like.
The customer name section 31-1 stores information such as the contract holder of the gas supply service, and includes information similar to that in the customer name section 21-1 of the customer information DB 20.
The gas container installation location section 31-2 includes information for identifying the location of the gas container at the customer's delivery destination. The information registered in the gas container installation location section 31-2 may be linked to the information in the gas container installation location section 21-3 of the customer information DB 20.
The number of gas bottles section 31-3 stores, as an example of information indicating the gas supply amount, the total number of gas bottles to be installed at the customer's gas bottle installation location, or information on the number of bottles to be replaced in the delivery process.
The type section 31-4 stores information such as the customer's gas usage amount and usage pattern. The information registered in this type section 31-4 may be the same as the information stored in the type section 21-4 of the customer information DB 20. In the gas delivery process, the information on the gas usage amount and gas usage pattern registered in the type section 31-4 may be used to determine whether or not the customer can take a long delivery process period.

The delivery plan information unit 32 includes a meter reading information unit 32-1, a gas usage amount information unit 32-2, a delivery interval information unit 32-3, a gas usage period information unit 32-4, a coefficient information unit 32-5, a delivery reference date information unit 32-6, a delivery processing period information unit 32-7, a delivery date information unit 32-8, a gas usage prediction cycle unit 32-9, etc. The management server 4 may notify the deliverer terminal 12 of delivery instruction information that is set using a part or all of the information stored in the delivery plan information unit 32.
The meter reading information unit 32-1 stores the meter reading value information s obtained from the gas meter.
The gas usage information section 32-2 stores customer gas demand information calculated from the meter reading information s.
The meter reading information section 32-1 and the gas usage information section 32-2 store, for example, the latest values among the values stored in the meter reading information DB 40 as information to be used for formulating a delivery processing plan.
The delivery interval information section 32-3 stores information such as the number of days and time that indicates the actual delivery interval to the delivery destination. The delivery interval is calculated, for example, as the period from the delivery date of the gas container two days before last to the delivery date of the previous gas container. This delivery interval is part of the information used in the calculation process of the coefficient information and delivery processing period of the present invention.
The gas usage period information section 32-4 stores information indicating the start and end dates of the delivery interval stored in the delivery interval information section 32-3. The start point of this gas usage period is the date on which the previous gas cylinder was replaced, and the end point is the date on which the next gas cylinder was replaced.
The coefficient information section 32-5 is numerical information used to calculate the gas container delivery processing period, and may be set for each customer or each region, or the same value may be set for all customers. This coefficient may be calculated, for example, from past gas usage records, delivery reference date, delivery date, etc.
The delivery reference date information section 32-6 stores a delivery reference date set for each customer. This delivery reference date is an example of a deadline for delivery of gas containers to a customer, and is used to calculate a delivery processing period. A delivery processing plan is created using the calculated delivery processing period for the delivery reference date.
The delivery processing period information section 32-7 stores a delivery processing period calculated using past delivery period information and coefficient information.
The delivery date information section 32-8 only needs to store the date on which the gas container was actually delivered and exchanged, and may further include information on the delivery time of the gas container.
The gas usage prediction cycle section 32-9 stores gas usage prediction period information. The gas usage prediction period information is information on the period from the start of use of the replaced gas container to the predicted delivery reference date, and is used to calculate coefficient information.

<Meter Reading Information DB40>
FIG. 5 shows an example of the meter reading information DB.
The meter reading information DB 40 is an example of a database that stores the meter reading value information s collected at the gas supply destination 10, and includes a plurality of databases 40-1, 40-2, . . . 40-N for each gas supply destination 10.
The meter reading information DB 40 includes, for example, a meter reading date and time section 42, a gas meter indicator section 44, a gas usage amount since the previous time section 46, and a remaining gas information section 48.
The meter reading date and time section 42 stores information such as the time when the gas guideline value was collected, which was set on the gas meter or based on instruction information output from the management server 4 to the gas meter, or the time when the management server 4 obtained the meter reading information s from the gas meter.
The gas meter indicator section 44 stores indicator value information obtained by the gas meter at the meter reading timing.
The calculated value of the gas usage at the current meter reading timing is stored in the gas usage from previous time section 46. That is, the processing section 16 of the management server 4 calculates the gas usage by taking the difference between the gas meter indication value acquired this time and the gas meter indication value acquired at the previous meter reading timing.
The remaining gas information unit 48 stores information on the measured amount of gas remaining in the collected gas container or the calculated value of the percentage of remaining gas. The amount of remaining gas is measured, for example, using the weight or internal pressure value of the gas container. For example, in the set gas delivery plan, when the amount of remaining gas becomes equal to or exceeds a threshold value, the management server 4 may change the coefficient information for calculating the gas delivery processing period.

<Delivery History DB50>
FIG. 6 shows an example of the delivery history DB.
This delivery history DB is an example of a database that stores past delivery records for delivery destinations, and includes a plurality of databases 50-1, 50-2, . . . 50-N for each gas supply destination 10.
The delivery history DB 50 includes, for example, a delivery destination information section 51 , a region information section 52 , and a delivery history information section 53 .
The delivery destination information section 51 stores the name, address, and quantity of customers to whom gas containers are to be supplied.
The regional information section 52 is an example of information that identifies the region of the delivery destination, and may, for example, be used to classify multiple delivery destinations, or may store information that links with a delivery base that delivers and manages gas containers.
The delivery history information section 53 stores delivery records, and includes, for example, a delivery date information section 53-1, a delivery interval information section 53-2, and a gas usage amount information section 53-3.
The delivery date information section 53-1 stores the actual date of replacement of the gas container within the delivery processing period set in the delivery plan.
The delivery interval information section 53-2 stores information on the number of days calculated by the processing section 16 from the delivery/exchange date of the previous gas container to the exchange date of the current gas container.
The gas usage information section 53-3 stores the gas demand during the gas delivery interval, calculated from the gas meter reading.

<Regarding gas distribution plans>
An example of a delivery plan is shown in Fig. 7. The process contents shown in Fig. 7 are just an example.
In the process of setting a delivery plan for gas containers, for example, as shown in Fig. 7, the period from a past delivery date dh1 to a delivery reference date de2 is set as a predicted gas usage cycle TdA, and the period from a past delivery date dh2 to a delivery reference date de3 is set as a predicted gas usage cycle TdB. Then, a delivery plan is set using these predicted gas usage cycles TdA and TdB, and the delivery processing period Ts and the delivery reference date dex calculated using coefficient information.
The coefficient information may be a preset value or a value calculated using a gas usage prediction cycle TdA, TdB, etc. for each gas delivery destination. The delivery processing period Ts is a period during which delivery processing of the gas container is performed by the delivery reference date dex, and is a period that can be brought forward with respect to the delivery reference date dex.
As part of the process of setting the delivery plan, the management server 4 calculates the delivery processing period Ts by multiplying, for example, information on either the past gas usage prediction cycles TdA or TdB, or the sum or average value of these, by coefficient information. The past gas usage prediction cycles TdA and TdB are period information that predicts the timing at which the amount of remaining gas in the gas container will be equal to or less than a predetermined threshold and will not run out of gas, for example, according to the gas usage trends of each customer. Therefore, by calculating the delivery processing period Ts based on these gas usage prediction cycles TdA and TdB, a delivery processing plan can be formulated that is in accordance with the gas usage trends of the customer.
The coefficient information used to calculate the delivery processing period Ts is calculated using, for example, a preset value, as well as advance periods TfA, TfB, etc. in past delivery plans. This advance period TfA is the period from the delivery reference date de2 to the actual delivery date dh2 when the amount of remaining gas reaches the threshold in past delivery processing. Moreover, the advance period TfB is the period from the delivery reference date de3 to the actual delivery date dh3. These advance periods TfA, TfB are delivery processing performance information.
The management server 4 then calculates, for example, the ratio of the advance periods TfA, TfB to the gas usage prediction cycles TdA, TdB as coefficient information.
The delivery person then sets the delivery reference date dex as the final deadline based on the next gas usage prediction cycle TdX analyzed based on gas usage trends, etc., and sets the scheduled delivery date dhx within the preceding delivery processing period Ts.
As described above, the delivery reference date dex may be set based on a period established between the customer and the delivery date, or on the date on which a specified amount of remaining gas is reached, calculated using a gas demand model or the like.

<About Management Server 4>
FIG. 8 shows an example of the hardware configuration of the management server.
The management server 4 is configured as a computer having a communication function. The management server 4 includes, for example, a processor 60, a storage unit 18, a communication unit 62, a timer 64, and an input/output unit (I/O) 66.
The processor 60 functions as the processing section 16 described above by performing calculations on the OS (Operating System) in the storage section 18, the various stored databases (DB), and a program for creating a gas distribution plan. In addition to the OS, the storage section 18 also stores a program for calculating a gas distribution processing period and creating a gas distribution plan, as well as databases such as a customer information DB 20, a distribution processing DB 30, a meter reading information DB 40, and a distribution history DB 50. The storage section 18 includes a ROM (Read-Only Memory) and a RAM (Random-Access Memory) as storage means for various information, and is an example of a recording medium.
The communication unit 62 is controlled by the processor 60 and is capable of communicating with a gas meter installed at the gas supply destination 10 and with the distributor terminal 12 .
The timer 64 is an example of a timing means, and is a functional unit that performs timing processes such as timing the meter reading by the management server 4, measuring delivery intervals, and other timing processes.
The I/O 66 is used for sending and receiving information between the processor 60 and the information presentation unit 6 or the information input unit 8 .

<Effects of the First Embodiment>
According to this configuration, one of the following effects can be obtained.
(1) By calculating the delivery processing period using gas supply information including past delivery information, it is possible to set a generous gas delivery processing plan for delivery destinations with a small tendency for gas consumption and long delivery intervals. Also, for delivery destinations with a large tendency for gas consumption and short delivery intervals, the delivery processing period is shortened so that delivery processing is not performed when there is a large amount of remaining gas.
(2) By formulating a delivery plan based on the delivery processing period calculated using past gas usage prediction cycles for the delivery reference date, delivery periods can be set according to gas usage trends, enabling delivery processing with reduced delivery load.
(3) In addition, by delivering and replacing gas cylinders within this delivery and processing period, the amount of remaining gas can be reduced.
(4) By reducing the amount of remaining gas at the time of delivery, the workload of delivery personnel can be reduced.
(5) Since the delivery timing can be determined using the delivery processing period calculated using the stored past gas usage prediction cycles, the load of the gas usage status monitoring processing and calculation processing can be reduced.

Second Embodiment

Fig. 9 shows an example of the steps of a delivery process according to the second embodiment. The process contents and steps shown in Fig. 9 are merely examples, and the present invention is not limited to such a configuration.
9 is an example of a gas delivery processing method and a program thereof according to the present disclosure. In this embodiment, a gas container delivery plan is created using a delivery processing period calculated based on a past delivery period and a predicted gas shortage date calculated based on gas meter reading information s as a gas delivery reference date.
The gas delivery process includes, for example, a process for identifying the delivery destination (S201), a process for calculating the delivery process period (S202), a process for obtaining gas usage information (S203), a process for determining the timing of generating a delivery plan (S204), a process for calculating the predicted gas shortage date (S205), and a process for generating a delivery plan (S206).

Processing to identify delivery destination (S201): The management server 4 identifies customer information and gas supply information, for example, to identify the gas delivery destination. In identifying this information, for example, the customer information DB 20, the delivery processing DB 30, the meter reading information DB 40, etc. are read, and address information of the delivery destination, information on the location where the gas container is installed, and information on the number of gas containers installed or replaced are read.
Calculation process of delivery processing period (S202): In the calculation process of the delivery processing period, gas supply information including past delivery information registered for the specified customer and set coefficient information are read and calculated by the processing unit 16.
Gas usage information acquisition process (S203): Gas usage information is acquired, for example, by accessing the gas meter to collect meter readings or meter readings that are periodically transmitted, and calculating the difference between multiple meter readings over a specified period to obtain the gas usage.
Determination process for timing of generating a delivery plan (S204): A delivery plan may be generated at least once during gas usage, and may be generated multiple times if detailed management processing is performed in accordance with the gas usage trends of the delivery destination. The delivery plan may be generated, for example, when the gas container is replaced last time, or after a predetermined time has elapsed since the delivery processing of the last gas container. In addition, the delivery plan may be generated when a customer at the gas delivery destination requests the generation of a delivery plan.
Calculation process for predicted gas shortage date (S205): The processing unit 16 of the management server 4 predicts the timing when the remaining gas amount or remaining gas ratio will reach zero or a specified value based on the calculated gas usage trend and the total amount of gas in the gas container or the current amount of remaining gas.
Generation process of delivery plan (S206): The management server 4 generates a delivery plan for the gas container by setting the calculated estimated gas shortage date as the delivery reference date and setting a date and time that is earlier than the calculated delivery processing period with respect to the delivery reference date. The generated delivery plan is registered in the delivery processing DB 30, for example.

<About Gas Management System 2>
Fig. 10 shows an example of the configuration of a gas management system 2 according to the second embodiment. In Fig. 10, the same components as those in Fig. 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals.
A plurality of gas containers 70-1, 70-2 provided by a gas utility are installed at each gas supply destination 10. The gas containers 70-1, 70-2 are connected to gas equipment 74 via a gas meter 72. A gas switching unit 76 is installed between the gas containers 70-1, 70-2 and the gas meter 72, and LPG is supplied from either the gas container 70-1, 70-2 to the gas equipment 74. The gas equipment 74 is a gas consuming device such as a gas water heater or a gas stove.
The gas meter 72 is, for example, a microcomputer meter, and a measuring unit measures the amount of LPG passing through, and this passing amount becomes the guideline information. In addition, the gas meter 72 performs meter reading date information and data conversion on the information measured by the measuring unit in a processing unit constituted by, for example, a processor, and transmits the guideline information to the management server 4 via the communication unit 78.
The communication unit 78 is connected to the gas meter 72 and transmits guideline information provided from the gas meter 72 to the management server 4. The management server 4 and the gas meter 72 are connected to a network 82 such as the Internet via a relay unit 80 or the like by wired or wireless connection.

<About delivery processing time>
Fig. 11 shows an example of setting the gas usage tendency and the gas delivery processing period. The contents shown in Fig. 11 are only an example.
11 shows a gas delivery plan for, for example, a customer A with a gradual gas usage trend α and a customer C with a sudden gas usage trend β as gas delivery destinations, in a manner that allows comparison. The gas usage trends of the customers A and C are in a relationship of α<β, and it is assumed that there has been no significant change in the gas usage trends of the customers A and C in the past (not shown).
The management server 4 predicts the times t1 and t2 when the remaining gas amount or the ratio GR of the remaining gas to the total volume of gas stocked at the delivery destination will be zero for customer A and customer C, respectively. The period from the date of the previous gas container replacement, i.e., the start of gas supply from the replaced gas container, to the predicted date of gas shortage is calculated as Td1 and Td2, respectively, by the gas shortage prediction process. These periods Td1 and Td2 are different values according to the gas usage trends α and β, and have the relationship Td1<Td2. These periods Td1 and Td2 are the gas usage prediction cycle for each gas supply destination, and are stored in the delivery processing DB 30.
If the respective gas processing delivery periods Ts1 and Ts2 are, for example, the period from when the remaining gas amount or remaining gas ratio GR reaches a predetermined value to the timing t1 or t2, which is the predicted date of gas shortage, then a longer period can be set for customer A with gas usage trend α, whereas a shorter period can be set for customer C with gas usage trend β. In this case, in the gas container delivery process, the amount of change in the remaining gas amount or remaining gas ratio GR when the delivery process is carried out one day ahead of schedule is affected by the gas usage trends α and β. The delivery intervals and delivery process of gas containers can also be set long if the gas usage trend α is gradual, whereas a shorter period is set if the gas usage trend β is rapid.
In the configuration of the present disclosure, the delivery processing period Ts can be calculated using gas supply information including past delivery information that is affected by gas usage trends.

<About the deliverer terminal 12>
FIG. 12 shows an example of the configuration of the deliverer terminal.
The deliverer terminal 12 is configured as a computer equipped with a communication function, and includes, for example, a mobile terminal device such as a mobile phone, a tablet terminal, a smartphone, a PC, etc. The deliverer terminal 12 includes, for example, a processor 84, a memory unit 86, a communication unit 88, an information input unit 90, an information presentation unit 92, and an I/O 94.
The processor 84 performs calculations for the OS and the gas delivery processing program stored in the memory unit 86, and performs delivery management such as presenting delivery instructions to delivery personnel.
The storage unit 86 stores the OS, as well as communication screens and delivery instruction information used for delivery management.
The communication unit 88 is controlled by the processor 84, and connects to the management server 4 to obtain and store a gas bottle delivery plan.
Communication with a gas meter installed at the gas supply destination 10 is possible via a wired connection or a wireless connection.
The information input unit 90 is an example of a means by which a deliverer or other person inputs information into the deliverer terminal 12, and can, for example, utilize input keys or sensors placed on the display screen to detect contact with the terminal user's physical body parts and perform input operations for characters and information.
The information presentation unit 92 is an example of a means for showing the delivery plan information received from the management server 4 to the delivery person. The information presentation unit 92 includes a display constituted by, for example, an LCD element. The information presentation unit 92 displays delivery instruction information such as delivery destination information and delivery plan information, and may also display weather information, traffic information to the delivery destination, detour information, and the like.
The I/O 94 is an example of a means for connecting the deliverer terminal 12 to an external device or an external database via a wired or wireless connection.

<Effects of the Second Embodiment>
According to this configuration, any one of the following effects can be obtained.
(1) The same effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained.
(2) When creating a gas distribution plan, the predicted gas shortage date is used as the delivery base date, which makes it possible to accurately grasp the customer's gas usage status and reduce the delivery load by setting gas distribution processing periods according to gas usage trends.

Third Embodiment

Fig. 13 shows an example of steps in a delivery process according to the third embodiment. The process contents and steps shown in Fig. 13 are merely examples, and the present invention is not limited to such a configuration.
The gas delivery process of this embodiment includes an example of setting a delivery plan between customers based on the calculated delivery process period. This gas delivery process is an example of the gas delivery process method and program of the present disclosure, and includes, for example, a process of creating a delivery plan (S301), grouping customers (S302), setting a gas delivery date (S303), and a process of transmitting delivery instruction information (S304).

Delivery Plan Creation Process (S301): The management server 4 performs the process of calculating the delivery processing period and the process of calculating or setting the delivery reference date according to the steps shown in the above embodiment, and creates a delivery plan for each customer.
Grouping of customers (S302): The management server 4 compares the created delivery plans between customers and classifies the customers into multiple groups based on the delivery processing period and other regional information. In this classification process, the number of customer classifications and the number of customers to be included in each classification may be set according to the gas container delivery capacity of each delivery person or gas company, for example. In other words, the groups into which customers are classified are combinations of customers for whom the delivery processing of gas containers is performed on the same day or on a similar day by the same delivery person or delivery company.
Setting the gas delivery date (S303): The gas delivery date is set for each group, selected from a predetermined date within the delivery processing period, and notified to the delivery person.
Delivery instruction information transmission process (S304): The management server 4 transmits delivery instruction information, such as the gas delivery date set for each group, customer information included in the group, and delivery destination information, to the responsible deliverer terminal 12. The management server 4 may store the delivery person in the delivery history DB 50 or the like for the customer for whom the notified delivery instruction information was generated.

<About Management Server 4>
FIG. 14 shows an example of the functional configuration of the management server.
As shown in FIG. 14, for example, the management server 4 includes a delivery management table 100 in the storage unit 18, a delivery plan generating unit 102, and a delivery management unit 104.
The delivery management table 100 is an example of a means for storing group information of customers divided into a predetermined number of groups, and is used by the management server 4 to manage the delivery schedule, delivery status, delivery results, etc. of the customers.
The delivery plan generating unit 102 is an example of a functional unit that calculates a delivery processing period and a delivery reference date, and divides customers into groups based on the delivery processing period and other information.
The delivery management unit 104 is an example of a functional unit that notifies the delivery person of delivery instruction information including information on the divided groups, and monitors the delivery schedule management, delivery results, and the like.

<Delivery Management Table 100>
FIG. 15 shows an example of the delivery management table.
15, this delivery management table 100 includes a delivery group section 106, a gas delivery destination section 107, an installation location section 108, an installation number section 109, a deliverable period section 110, a delivery interval section 111, a scheduled delivery date section 112, and an advancement possible information section 113. This delivery management table 100 is management information for the delivery schedule and delivery status of gas containers to customers, and may notify a person in charge of delivering the gas containers of a part or all of the delivery management table 100 as delivery instruction information.
In the delivery group section 106, the group name into which the customers are classified and an identifier for identifying the group are set.
The gas delivery destination section 107 stores delivery destination information including the address of the customer to whom the gas container is to be delivered.
The installation location unit 108 stores information such as the installation location of the gas container within the delivery address of the customer, the installation conditions, etc. This eliminates the need for the delivery person to perform a process for searching for the location of the gas container within the premises of the delivery destination, for example.
The number of installed gas bottles section 109 includes an instruction such as the total number of gas bottles at the delivery destination or the number of replacement bottles.
The possible delivery period section 110 stores information on the calculated delivery processing period or the delivery processing period common to classified customers.
Past delivery interval information for each customer is stored in the delivery interval section 111. This delivery interval section 111 makes it possible to grasp the gas usage tendency of the customer based on the stored information.
The scheduled delivery date section 112 is an example of delivery date information set in the delivery instruction within the period stored in the possible delivery period section 110. The management server 4 notifies the deliverer terminal 12 of the delivery instruction information including the delivery date information for each group.
The advance possibility information unit 113 stores information on whether or not the scheduled delivery date can be brought forward with respect to the set date. In other words, it is possible to know that customers for whom advancement is possible have ample time for the delivery process and have a gradual tendency for gas usage. The management server 4 may use this information to determine whether or not the scheduled delivery date can be changed when, for example, the gas delivery process is canceled or changed due to weather or road conditions, or when delivery is not completed on the scheduled delivery date.

<About distribution group classification>
Fig. 16 shows an example of a process for dividing a delivery destination. Fig. 17 shows an example of a distribution group. The division configurations and determination methods shown in Fig. 16 and Fig. 17 are merely examples, and the present invention is not limited to such disclosure.
The delivery plan generating unit 102 of the management server 4 compares the gas supply destinations 10 registered in the customer information DB 20, for example, as shown in Fig. 16, and extracts multiple customers with overlapping delivery processing periods. In addition, when extracting customers, regional information such as addresses is also analyzed in addition to the delivery processing periods, and customers who are handled by the same delivery person or whose gas delivery is managed by the same gas company are selected.
The management server 4 calculates the delivery processing periods TsP, TsQ, TsR, for example, for the classified customers P, Q, and R, using the predicted gas usage cycles TdP, TdQ, TdR, which are past delivery information, and the respective advance period information (not shown). The delivery plan generating unit 102 then extracts common dates or times from the calculated delivery processing periods TsP, TsQ, TsR for the customers P, Q, and R, and sets them as the possible delivery period TL. The scheduled delivery date is set within the possible delivery period TL.

Customers are managed by group, for example, as shown in Fig. 17. Groups A, B, C, and D are groups of customers (No. 1 to No. 16) for which delivery plans have been formulated, and customers whose delivery time periods TL overlap. In addition to the delivery time periods TL, the groups may be divided into groups based on regional information, such as whether the customers are from the same region or can be delivered to by the same delivery person.
The delivery management unit 104 of the management server 4 may generate a management table for each group, and may store, for example, customer identification information, scheduled delivery date information, remaining gas amount information, area information, and the like.
Then, the delivery person performs the delivery process based on the delivery instructions from the management server 4, the group information for which he is in charge, and the scheduled delivery date information.
In addition, the delivery plan generating unit 102 may change the group to one scheduled for an earlier delivery date based on information such as the possibility that delivery is impossible within the set delivery period or that gas may run out due to, for example, changes in gas usage trends or delays in delivery processing for other groups. Conversely, the delivery plan generating unit 102 may change the group to one scheduled for a later delivery period.

<Effects of the Third Embodiment>
According to this configuration, one of the following effects can be obtained.
(1) The same effects as those of the first and second embodiments can be obtained.
(2) By grouping delivery categories using the delivery processing period calculated from past delivery periods, the burden of selecting a gas delivery destination can be reduced.
(3) The calculated delivery processing period can be used to understand gas usage trends, as well as to determine whether there is a risk of running out of gas due to fluctuations in gas usage.
(4) Within the calculated delivery processing period, a delivery plan can be set by rearranging delivery groups.
(5) Since the length of the delivery processing period is set based on past delivery intervals, it is possible to prevent an increase in delivery frequency for customers with a high tendency to use gas by carrying out delivery processing early.
(6) In addition, since the length of the delivery processing period is set based on past delivery intervals, the delivery plan can be set with a high degree of freedom for customers with a low tendency to use gas.

(Modification)

The following are variations of the embodiment described above.

(1) In the above embodiment, the calculation process for the delivery processing period uses set coefficient information, but this is not limited to the above. The management server 4 may calculate the gas usage trend from guideline information obtained from a gas meter, for example, and select coefficient information depending on the degree of this gas usage trend. The coefficient information may be stored, for example, in the memory unit of the management server 4 or in an external database. This makes it possible to set a gas processing period that precisely corresponds to the current gas usage trend, which not only prevents gas shortages, but also reduces the workload caused by an increase in the amount of remaining gas.

(2) In the above embodiment, the delivery processing period is calculated by reading out gas supply information including the most recent past or other delivery information stored in the memory unit, but this is not limited to the above. The management server 4 may calculate the gas usage trend using, for example, the gas meter reading, and may select gas supply information that has a similar gas usage trend to the current gas usage trend from among the past gas supply information stored in the memory unit, and use this information to calculate the delivery processing period.
In other words, the amount of gas used varies greatly depending on the season, temperature, and other factors such as the number of weekdays and holidays in January, so the intervals between delivery of gas containers are not constant. Therefore, the management server 4 stores gas supply information such as past delivery intervals together with the gas usage trends at that time, or analyzes and stores the gas usage trends depending on the length of the delivery interval. The management server 4 may then refer to the current gas usage trends and select, for example, past gas supply information with similar gas usage trends.

(3) The management server 4 may set priorities for gas delivery destinations classified based on gas delivery processing periods, for example, based on gas usage trends. This priority is an example of information set for delivery destinations that have a high gas usage trend, are likely to run out of gas or fall below a predetermined value, and are therefore determined to require a higher priority in delivery processing within the same group or in overall management. The management server 4 may set the scheduled delivery date according to delivery destinations with high priorities, or may set the delivery order to be higher within the same group.
In addition, the management server 4 may group, for example, by combining only high-priority users and low-priority users in the classification of delivery groups. In addition, the number of customers in a group including a high-priority user may be reduced.

(4) In the above embodiment, the setting information for the delivery processing plan, the past delivery information used in calculating this delivery processing plan, or the delivery base date, advance period, delivery date, and other information are calculated on a day basis, but this is not limited to the above. In the setting process for the delivery processing plan, the calculation process may be performed using time information such as the delivery base time, delivery time, and predicted time. In other words, the management server 4 may perform the setting process for the delivery processing plan multiple times a day, and may also execute the delivery process.

(5) In the above embodiment, the past delivery information executed for the gas delivery destination is stored in the customer information DB 20 and the delivery processing DB 30 in the memory unit 18 of the management server 4, but this is not limited to the above. The past delivery information may be stored in a memory unit such as a gas meter installed at one or more gas delivery destinations or a repeater equipped with a communication function (not shown) that notifies the management server 4 of the meter reading value information s. In this way, the management server 4 may acquire the past delivery information of the gas delivery destination together with the meter reading value information s, for example, when performing gas delivery processing.

As described above, the most preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described. The present invention is not limited to the above description. Various modifications and changes are possible for those skilled in the art based on the gist of the invention described in the claims or disclosed in the description for carrying out the invention. It goes without saying that such modifications and changes are included in the scope of the present invention.

According to the configuration of the present disclosure, when creating a gas container delivery plan, the delivery processing period is calculated based on past delivery intervals, making it possible to set a delivery period based on the customer's gas usage trends, thereby reducing the delivery frequency and the workload due to the amount of remaining gas, which is useful.

Reference Signs List 2 Gas management system 4 Management server 6, 92 Information presentation unit 8, 90 Information input unit 10, 10-1, 10-2, 10-3 Gas supply destination 12, 12-1, 12-2, 12-3 Distributor terminal 14 Meter reading information acquisition means 16 Processing unit 18, 86 Storage unit 20, 20-1, 20-2, ... 20-N Customer information DB
21 Customer information file 21-1, 31-1 Customer name section 21-2 Address section 21-3, 31-2 Gas cylinder installation location section 21-4, 31-4 Type section 22 Equipment used information section 22-1 Model name section 22-2 Consumption amount section 22-3 Installation date section 23 Gas usage tendency section 24 Gas usage information section 25, 32-5 Coefficient information section 30, 30-1, 30-2, ... 30-N Delivery processing DB
31 Gas supply destination information section 31-3 Number section 32 Delivery plan information section 32-1 Meter reading information section 32-2, 53-5 Gas usage amount information section 32-3, 53-2 Delivery interval information section 32-4 Gas usage period information section 32-6 Delivery reference date information section 32-7 Delivery processing period information section 32-8, 53-1 Delivery date information section 40, 40-1, 40-2, ... 40-N Meter reading information DB
42 Meter reading date and time section 44 Gas meter indication section 46 Gas usage amount since last time section 48 Remaining gas information section 50, 50-1, 50-2, ... 50-N Delivery history DB
51 Delivery destination information section 52 Area information section 53 Delivery history information section 60, 84 Processor 62, 88 Communication section 64 Timer 66, 94 I/O
70-1, 70-2 Gas cylinder 72 Gas meter 74 Gas equipment 76 Switch 78 Communication section 80 Relay section 82 Network 100 Delivery management table 102 Delivery plan generation section 104 Delivery management section 106 Delivery group section 107 Gas delivery destination section 108 Installation location section 109 Number of units to be installed section 110 Delivery possible period section 111 Delivery interval section 112 Scheduled delivery date section 113 Advancement possible section

Claims (21)

obtaining, by the management server, gas supply information including past delivery information indicating delivery of gas containers to gas delivery destinations;
a step of the management server calculating coefficient information using advance period information obtained from the past delivery information;
The management server acquires gas demand information generated from the gas delivery destination or calculated from gas usage;
a step of calculating a delivery processing period during which the delivery processing of the gas container is possible by the management server using the gas supply information and the coefficient information , and setting the delivery processing period for each of the gas delivery destinations;
A step in which the management server reads a delivery reference date, which is a delivery deadline for each gas delivery destination, and the delivery processing period, and generates delivery plan information for the gas container;
registering the delivery plan information in a delivery processing database;
including shipping handling methods. a step of the management server calculating the delivery reference date of the gas delivery destination based on the gas demand information;
A step of generating the delivery plan information by the management server by setting the delivery processing period for the delivery reference date;
The method of claim 1, further comprising: The management server acquires meter reading data from a gas meter at the gas delivery destination;
a step of the management server analyzing the gas usage tendency or the gas shortage prediction of the gas delivery destination based on the meter reading data and calculating the delivery reference date;
3. The method for processing a delivery according to claim 1 , further comprising: The management server extracts the delivery plan information of a plurality of gas supply destinations, and generates classification information that classifies the plurality of gas delivery destinations based on the delivery processing period;
outputting delivery instructions from the management server to a deliverer based on the sorting information;
4. The method for processing a delivery according to claim 1 , further comprising: The delivery processing method according to claim 4, characterized in that, among multiple gas supply destinations, the management server analyzes the gas demand information and the delivery processing period, and sets the delivery instruction by combining gas delivery destinations whose gas demand information and delivery processing period are the same or within a specified range. 1. A gas distribution and processing system comprising:
A meter reading information acquiring means for collecting gas meter reading data and acquiring gas demand information generated from a gas delivery destination or calculated from gas usage;
a delivery processing database in which gas supply information including past delivery information indicating delivery of gas containers to the gas delivery destinations is stored;
a server that calculates coefficient information using advance period information obtained from the past delivery information, sets a delivery processing period for each of the gas delivery destinations that enables delivery processing of the gas containers, the delivery processing period being calculated using the gas supply information and the coefficient information , generates delivery plan information for the gas containers based on a delivery reference date, which is a delivery deadline for each of the gas delivery destinations, and the delivery processing period, and registers the information in the delivery processing database;
1. A gas distribution and processing system comprising: The gas distribution processing system according to claim 6, characterized in that the server sets the distribution processing period for the delivery reference date of the gas distribution destination calculated based on the gas demand information, and generates the delivery plan information for the gas distribution destination . The gas distribution processing system according to claim 6 or claim 7, characterized in that the server reads the collected meter reading data of the gas distribution destination, analyzes the gas usage trends or gas shortage predictions of the gas distribution destination based on the meter reading data, and calculates the delivery reference date. The gas distribution processing system of any one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that the server generates classification information for the extracted multiple delivery plan information, dividing the multiple gas delivery destinations based on the delivery processing period, and outputs delivery instructions to a distributor based on the classification information . The gas distribution processing system according to claim 9, characterized in that the server analyzes the gas demand information and the delivery processing period among a plurality of gas supply destinations, and sets the delivery instructions by combining gas distribution destinations whose gas demand information and delivery processing period are the same or within a predetermined range. A program for causing a computer to execute the program,
a function of causing a management server computer to obtain gas supply information including past delivery information showing delivery of gas containers to gas delivery destinations;
a function of causing the management server computer to calculate coefficient information using advance period information obtained from the past delivery information;
A function of causing a management server computer to acquire gas demand information issued from the gas delivery destination or calculated from the gas usage amount;
a function of calculating, by a computer of a management server, a delivery processing period during which the delivery processing of the gas container is possible, using the gas supply information and the coefficient information, and setting the delivery processing period for each of the gas delivery destinations;
a function of causing the management server to read a delivery reference date, which is a delivery deadline for each gas delivery destination, and the delivery processing period, and generating delivery plan information for the gas container;
A function of registering the delivery plan information in a delivery processing database;
A program for causing the computer to execute the above. A function of causing a computer of the management server to calculate a delivery reference date of the gas delivery destination based on the gas demand information;
a function of setting the delivery processing period for the delivery reference date and causing a computer of the management server to generate the delivery plan information of the gas delivery destination;
12. The program according to claim 11 , further comprising: A function of reading meter reading data acquired from a gas meter at a gas supply destination into the management server computer;
A function of having the management server computer analyze the gas usage tendency or gas shortage prediction of the gas delivery destination based on the meter reading data and calculate the delivery reference date;
13. The program according to claim 11 or 12, comprising: A function of extracting the delivery plan information of a plurality of gas supply destinations and generating, by a computer of the management server, classification information that classifies the plurality of gas delivery destinations based on the delivery processing period;
a function of outputting delivery instructions from the management server computer to a terminal device of a deliverer based on the sorting information;
14. The program according to claim 11 , further comprising: The program according to claim 14, characterized in that it includes a function of causing the management server computer to analyze the gas demand information and the delivery processing period among a plurality of gas supply destinations, and to set the delivery instructions by combining gas delivery destinations whose gas demand information and delivery processing period are the same or within a predetermined range. A recording medium having the program according to any one of claims 11 to 15 recorded thereon. A server that executes a gas delivery process,
A meter reading information acquiring means for collecting gas meter reading data and acquiring gas demand information generated from a gas delivery destination or calculated from gas usage;
a storage unit for storing a delivery processing database in which gas supply information including past delivery information indicating delivery of gas containers to the gas delivery destination is stored;
a processing unit that calculates coefficient information using advance period information obtained from the past delivery information, sets a delivery processing period that enables delivery processing of the gas container calculated using the gas supply information and the coefficient information , generates delivery plan information for the gas container based on a delivery reference date, which is a delivery deadline for each gas delivery destination, and the delivery processing period, and registers the generated delivery plan information in the delivery processing database;
A server comprising: The server according to claim 17, characterized in that the processing unit sets the delivery processing period for the delivery reference date of the gas delivery destination calculated based on the gas demand information, and generates the delivery plan information for the gas delivery destination. The server according to claim 17 or claim 18, characterized in that the processing unit reads the collected meter reading data of the gas delivery destination, analyzes the gas usage trends or gas shortage predictions of the gas delivery destination based on the meter reading data, and calculates the delivery reference date. The server according to any one of claims 17 to 19, characterized in that the processing unit generates classification information for the extracted plurality of delivery plan information, dividing the plurality of gas delivery destinations based on the delivery processing period, and outputs delivery instructions to a delivery person based on the classification information . The server according to claim 20, characterized in that the processing unit analyzes the gas demand information and the delivery processing period among a plurality of gas supply destinations, and sets the delivery instructions by combining gas delivery destinations whose gas demand information and delivery processing period are the same or within a predetermined range.

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