1. An information processing apparatus that manages a plurality of first units that are separable from vehicles respectively owned by a plurality of users, that are capable of autonomous travel, and that are each combinable with a second unit having a space in which luggage is accommodated, the information processing apparatus comprising:

a control unit configured to

For each of the plurality of first units, acquiring first unit information containing information on a non-use period, which is a period in which the first unit is not scheduled to be used by the user,

obtaining second unit information containing information on the number of the second units to be used for delivering the baggage within a predetermined period, and

selecting the first unit from the plurality of first units to be combined with the second unit for delivering baggage within the predetermined period based on the first unit information and the second unit information.

2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the first cell information further contains information on a size of the second cell that can be combined with each of the plurality of first cells;

the second unit information further contains information on a size of each of the second units to be used for delivering baggage within the predetermined period; and

the control unit is configured to select from the plurality of first units the first unit that is compatible with a size of each second unit to be used for delivering baggage within the predetermined period of time.

3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein:

the first unit information contains position information on a position of each of the plurality of first units within the non-use period;

the second unit information includes information including a bonding site for bonding the first unit with the second unit; and

the control unit is configured to select the first unit to be combined with the second unit for delivering baggage within the predetermined period from the plurality of first units based on the position information and the information including the combining place.

4. The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the control unit is configured to transmit notification information to a specific user terminal associated with the user of the selected first unit to notify the first unit to be used in conjunction with the second unit for delivering baggage within the predetermined period.

5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the control unit is configured to, when the user of the specific user terminal that has received the notification information does not permit use of the first unit, select again the first unit to be combined with the second unit for delivering baggage within the predetermined period from the plurality of first units.

6. The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the control unit is configured to acquire the first unit information from a user terminal associated with the user of each of the plurality of first units.

7. The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the control unit is configured to calculate, based on the second unit information, the number of the first units to be combined with the second unit for delivering baggage within the predetermined period.

8. The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the number of the second units contained in the second unit information is calculated based on baggage information containing a size of each piece of baggage to be delivered within the predetermined period.

9. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a size of each of the second units included in the second unit information is calculated based on baggage information including a size of each piece of baggage to be delivered within the predetermined period.

10. The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein:

the second unit information includes information including a bonding site for bonding the first unit with the second unit; and

the control unit is configured to transmit, to the selected first unit, information on a time at which the selected first unit starts autonomous traveling to the joining point and information for causing the selected first unit to perform autonomous traveling to the joining point.

11. An information processing method executed by a computer that manages a plurality of first units that are separable from vehicles respectively owned by a plurality of users, that are capable of autonomous driving, and that are each combinable with a second unit having a space in which luggage is accommodated, the information processing method comprising:

for each of the plurality of first units, acquiring first unit information containing information on a non-use period, which is a period in which the first unit is not scheduled to be used by the user;

obtaining second unit information containing information on the number of the second units to be used for delivering baggage within a predetermined period of time; and

selecting the first unit from the plurality of first units to be combined with the second unit for delivering baggage within the predetermined period based on the first unit information and the second unit information.

12. The information processing method according to claim 11, wherein:

the first cell information further contains information on a size of the second cell that can be combined with each of the plurality of first cells;

the second unit information further contains information on a size of each of the second units to be used for delivering baggage within the predetermined period; and

selecting the first cell from the plurality of first cells that is compatible with the size of each of the second cells to be used for delivering baggage within the predetermined period of time.

13. The information processing method according to claim 11 or 12, wherein:

the first unit information contains position information on a position of each of the plurality of first units within the non-use period;

the second unit information includes information including a bonding site for bonding the first unit with the second unit; and

selecting the first unit from the plurality of first units to be combined with the second unit for delivering baggage within the predetermined period of time based on the location information and the information including the combining location.

14. The information processing method according to any one of claims 11 to 13, further comprising sending notification information to a specific user terminal associated with the user of the selected first unit to notify the first unit to be used in conjunction with the second unit for delivering baggage within the predetermined period.

15. The information processing method according to claim 14, further comprising, when the user of the specific user terminal that has received the notification information does not permit use of the first unit, selecting again the first unit to be combined with the second unit for delivering baggage within the predetermined period from the plurality of first units.

16. A system, comprising:

an information processing device; and

a plurality of user terminals respectively associated with a plurality of users, wherein:

the information processing apparatus is configured to manage a plurality of first units that are separable from vehicles respectively owned by the plurality of users and that are capable of autonomous traveling;

the plurality of user terminals are respectively configured to transmit, to the information processing apparatus, first unit information containing information on a non-use period, which is a period in which the first unit is not scheduled to be used by the user, for each of the plurality of first units;

each first unit being capable of being combined with a second unit having a space for accommodating luggage; and is

The information processing apparatus is configured to select the first unit to be combined with the second unit for delivering baggage within the predetermined period from among the plurality of first units, based on the first unit information received from the plurality of user terminals and second unit information containing information on the number of the second units to be used for delivering baggage within the predetermined period.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein:

the first cell information further contains information on a size of the second cell that can be combined with each of the plurality of first cells;

the second unit information further contains information on a size of each of the second units to be used for delivering baggage at the predetermined period; and

the information processing apparatus is configured to select, from the plurality of first units, the first unit compatible with a size of each of the second units to be used for delivering baggage within the predetermined period.

18. The system of claim 16 or 17, wherein:

the first unit information contains position information on a position of each of the plurality of first units within the non-use period;

the second unit information includes information including a bonding site for bonding the first unit with the second unit; and

the information processing apparatus is configured to select the first unit to be combined with the second unit for delivering the baggage within the predetermined period from the plurality of first units based on the position information and the information including the combining place.

19. The system of any of claims 16 to 18, wherein the information processing apparatus is configured to send notification information to a particular user terminal, from among the plurality of user terminals, associated with the user of the selected first unit to notify the first unit in combination with the second unit for delivering baggage within the predetermined period of time.

20. The system according to claim 19, wherein the information processing apparatus is configured to, when the user of the specific user terminal that has received the notification information does not permit use of the first unit, select again the first unit to be combined with the second unit for delivering baggage within the predetermined period from the plurality of first units.

Background

Japanese unexamined utility model application publication No. 03-007089 (JP 03-007089U) describes an automobile. The vehicle includes a power unit, an operating unit, and a coupling device. The power unit includes a steering mechanism and a drive wheel driven by the drive mechanism. The operation unit includes an operator seat and an operation device for operating a drive mechanism and a steering mechanism of the power unit, and includes only non-drive wheels. The coupling device couples the power unit and the operating unit so that the power unit and the operating unit can be separated from each other.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure provides for efficient use of a first unit for baggage delivery that is separable from a vehicle owned by a user and capable of autonomous travel.

A first aspect of the present disclosure relates to an information processing apparatus that manages a plurality of first units that are separable from vehicles respectively owned by a plurality of users, that are capable of autonomous traveling, and that are each capable of being combined with a second unit having a space in which luggage is accommodated. The control unit is configured to: for each of the plurality of first units, acquiring first unit information containing information on a non-use period, which is a period in which the first unit is not scheduled to be used by a user; acquiring second unit information containing information on the number of second units to be used for delivering the baggage within a predetermined period; and selecting, from a plurality of first units, the first unit to be combined with the second unit for delivering baggage within a predetermined period of time, based on the first unit information and the second unit information.

A second aspect of the present disclosure relates to an information processing method executed by a computer that manages a plurality of first units that are separable from vehicles respectively owned by a plurality of users, are capable of autonomous traveling, and are each capable of being combined with a second unit having a space in which luggage is accommodated. The information processing method comprises the following steps: for each of the plurality of first units, acquiring first unit information containing information on a non-use period, which is a period in which the first unit is not scheduled to be used by a user; obtaining second unit information containing information on the number of the second units to be used for delivering baggage within a predetermined period of time; and selecting the first unit to be combined with the second unit for delivering baggage within the predetermined period of time from the plurality of first units based on the first unit information and the second unit information.

A third aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a system. The system includes an information processing apparatus and a plurality of user terminals respectively associated with a plurality of users. The information processing apparatus is configured to manage a plurality of first units that are separable from vehicles respectively owned by a plurality of users and are capable of autonomous traveling. The plurality of user terminals are respectively configured to transmit, to the information processing apparatus, first unit information containing information on a non-use period, which is a period in which the first unit is not scheduled to be used by a user, for each of a plurality of first units. Each first unit can be combined with a second unit having a space for accommodating luggage. The information processing apparatus is configured to select the first unit to be combined with a second unit for delivering baggage within a predetermined period from among the plurality of first units, based on the first unit information received from the plurality of user terminals and second unit information containing information on the number of the second units to be used for delivering baggage within a predetermined period.

According to the present disclosure, it is possible to effectively use the first unit, which is separable from the vehicles respectively owned by the users and is capable of autonomous traveling, for the delivery of the baggage.

Drawings

Features, advantages, and technical and industrial significance of exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals illustrate like elements, and wherein:

fig. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a delivery system;

fig. 2 is a diagram showing the combination and separation of the first unit and the second unit;

fig. 3 is a block diagram schematically showing an example of the functional configuration of the travel management server;

fig. 4 is a table showing an example of a table configuration of the second unit information;

fig. 5 is a table showing an example of a table configuration of the first unit information stored in the first unit information database;

FIG. 6 is a flow chart for a selection process; and

fig. 7 is a flowchart for notification processing.

Detailed Description

An information processing apparatus according to a first aspect of the present disclosure is an information processing apparatus that manages a plurality of first units. The first unit is a mobile unit that is separable from vehicles respectively owned by a plurality of users. The first unit is a mobile unit capable of autonomous travel. Each first unit can be coupled to a second unit having a space for accommodating the luggage. When the first unit is coupled to the second unit, the first unit can travel while the second unit contains the luggage. In other words, the first unit is capable of delivering luggage when the first unit is combined with the second unit.

The control unit included in the information processing apparatus according to the first aspect of the present disclosure is configured to acquire, for each of the plurality of first units, first unit information containing information on a non-use period. The non-use period is a period in which the first unit is not scheduled for use by a user owning the first unit. The control unit is configured to acquire the second unit information. The second unit information contains information on the number of second units to be used for baggage delivery within a predetermined period of time. In this way, the control unit acquires the first unit information and the second unit information, so that the control unit can grasp the first unit that is not scheduled to be used within the predetermined period, and the number of second units that are required to deliver the baggage within the predetermined period, that is, the number of second units that need to be combined with the first unit.

The control unit is configured to select, from the plurality of first units, a first unit to be combined with the second unit for delivering the baggage within a predetermined period of time, based on the first unit information and the second unit information. Thus, the first unit that is not scheduled for use within the predetermined period of time can be used for the delivery of baggage. Thus, the first unit can be effectively used for delivering baggage.

Specific embodiments of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The size, material and shape of the components, the arrangement of the components, and the like described in the embodiment are not intended to limit the technical scope of the present disclosure unless otherwise specified.

First embodiment

System overview

A delivery system 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to fig. 1. Fig. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a delivery system 1. The delivery system 1 includes a plurality of first units 100, a delivery management server 300 that manages baggage delivery, a travel management server 400 that manages travel of the plurality of first units 100, and user terminals 500 associated with users of the first units 100, respectively. A smart phone, a mobile information terminal, a computer, etc. owned by a user may be shown as the user terminal 500.

In the delivery system 1, each of the first unit 100, the delivery management server 300, the travel management server 400, and the user terminal 500 are connected to each other through the network N1. A Wide Area Network (WAN) which is a global public telecommunication network such as the internet or a telephone communication network such as a mobile phone network may be used as the network N1.

First unit

The first unit 100 whose travel is managed by the travel management server 400 will be described first with reference to fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a diagram illustrating the coupling and separation of the first unit 100 and the second unit 200. The first unit 100 is a mobile unit capable of autonomous travel. Each first unit 100 can perform autonomous traveling by, for example, generating information for itself to control the drive unit in the first unit 100. Alternatively, each first unit 100 may perform autonomous traveling, for example, by receiving information for controlling a driving unit in the first unit 100 from the travel management server 400.

The second units 200 are units each having a space for accommodating luggage. Each second unit 200 can be coupled to the top of the first unit 100. Each second unit 200 can also be separated from the top of the first unit 100. In other words, the first unit 100 and the second unit 200 can be coupled to and separated from each other in the up-down direction. Containers, etc. may be shown as the second unit 200. When the first unit 100 is coupled to the second unit 200, the first unit 100 can travel while accommodating luggage in the coupled second unit 200. In this way, each first unit 100 can be used to deliver luggage when combined with the second unit 200. The second unit 200 includes a plurality of second units 200 of different sizes. The number of pieces of luggage that can be accommodated in the second unit 200 of different sizes varies. A large size, a middle size, a small size, etc. may be shown as the size of the second unit 200.

Each first unit 100 is typically used by a user owning the vehicle (i.e., the user of the first unit 100) as a vehicle in which the first unit 100 is combined with units other than the second unit 200. Here, a unit having a space for accommodating passengers or a unit having a space for accommodating luggage, which is different from the second unit 200, may be shown as a unit that a user couples to the first unit 100 and uses in a vehicle. When the first unit 100 is used to deliver luggage, the first unit 100 is separated from the vehicle owned by the user. Then, the first unit 100, which is separated from the vehicle owned by the user, is coupled to the second unit 200.

The method of coupling and separating the first unit 100 and the second unit 200 is not limited to a specific method. For example, a combination using a bolt may be adopted as the combination of the first unit 100 and the second unit 200. In this case, the first unit 100 and the second unit 200 are separated from each other by removing the bolts. For example, a combination using an electromagnet may be adopted as the combination of the first unit 100 and the second unit 200. In this case, by stopping the energization of the electromagnet, the first unit 100 and the second unit 200 are separated from each other.

Delivery management server

The delivery management server 300 is a server that manages delivery of baggage. The delivery management server 300 acquires baggage information including the size of each piece of baggage to be delivered and the delivery date and time. For example, baggage information is entered by a delivery company that delivers baggage.

The delivery company has a plurality of second units 200 for accommodating baggage to be delivered. However, the delivery company does not own the first unit 100, but borrows the first unit 100 needed to deliver the baggage from the user who owns the first unit 100. In other words, the delivery company delivers the baggage by combining the second unit 200 owned by the delivery company with the first unit 100 borrowed from the user.

Accordingly, the delivery management server 300 generates second unit information for delivering the baggage in a predetermined period based on the baggage information, the second unit information including the size of each second unit 200 and the number of second units 200 for each size of second units 200. Here, the predetermined period is a period in which the baggage is delivered. A known method may be employed as a method in which the delivery management server 300 calculates the size of each second unit 200 to be used for baggage delivery based on baggage information, and the number of second units 200 for each size of second units 200.

Driving management server

The travel management server 400 shown in fig. 1 is a server that manages travel of a plurality of first units 100. The travel management server 400 includes a computer including a processor 410, a main storage 420, an auxiliary storage 430, and a communication interface (communication I/F) 440. The processor 410 is, for example, a Central Processing Unit (CPU) or a Digital Signal Processor (DSP). The main storage 420 is, for example, a Random Access Memory (RAM). The secondary storage 430 is, for example, a Read Only Memory (ROM). The secondary storage device 430 is also, for example, a Hard Disk Drive (HDD) or a disk recording medium such as a CD-ROM, a DVD disk, and a blu-ray disk. The secondary storage device 430 may be a removable medium (portable storage medium). For example, a USB flash drive or SD card is shown as the removable medium. The communication I/F440 is, for example, a Local Area Network (LAN) interface board or a wireless communication circuit for wireless communication.

In the travel management server 400, an Operating System (OS), various programs, various information tables, and the like are stored in the auxiliary storage device 430. In the travel management server 400, the processor 410 can implement various functions as will be described later by loading a program stored in the auxiliary storage 430 onto the main storage 420 and then running the loaded program. Some or all of the functions in the travel management server 400 may be implemented by hardware circuits such as ASICs and FPGAs. The travel management server 400 does not necessarily have to be implemented by a single physical component, and may be composed of a plurality of computers cooperating with each other. Like the travel management server 400, the delivery management server 300 and the user terminal 500 each include a computer.

The travel management server 400 manages travel of the plurality of first units 100. The travel management server 400 receives, from each user terminal 500, first unit information containing information on a period in which the user of each of the plurality of first units 100 does not use the own first unit 100 (hereinafter, it may be referred to as a non-use period). When the user of the first unit 100 operates the user terminal 500, the first unit information is transmitted to the travel management server 400. In the present embodiment, the travel management server 400 may be regarded as the information processing apparatus in the first aspect of the present disclosure. The travel management server 400 also receives second unit information from the delivery management server 300. Therefore, the travel management server 400 can grasp the size and the number of the second units 200 required to deliver the baggage within the predetermined period.

The travel management server 400 selects a first unit 100 to be combined with the second unit 200 for delivering the baggage within a predetermined period from the plurality of first units 100 based on the first unit information and the second unit information. Here, the first unit 100 for delivering the baggage selected from the plurality of first units 100 is the first unit 100 which is not scheduled to be used by the user within the predetermined period.

In other words, the user of each of the plurality of first units 100 uses the first unit 100 as a vehicle by coupling the first unit 100 to a unit other than the second unit 200 in a period other than the non-use period. When the delivery company requires the first unit 100 to deliver the baggage within the predetermined period, the delivery company selects and borrows the first unit 100 that is not scheduled for use by the user within the predetermined period, i.e., the first unit 100 that includes the predetermined period in the non-use period. The delivery company borrowed from the first unit 100 can deliver the baggage using the first unit 100 by coupling the first unit 100 to the second unit 200.

System configuration

Next, a functional configuration of the travel management server 400 constituting the delivery system 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a block diagram schematically showing an example of the functional configuration of the travel management server 400. The travel management server 400 includes a control unit 401, a communication unit 402, and a first unit information database (first unit information DB) 403. The control unit 401 has a function of executing arithmetic processing for controlling the travel management server 400. The control unit 401 is implemented by a processor 410.

The communication unit 402 has a function of connecting the travel management server 400 to the network N1. The communication unit 402 is implemented by a communication I/F440. The control unit 401 communicates with the first unit 100, the delivery management server 300, and the user terminal 500 via the communication unit 402.

The control unit 401 receives the second unit information from the delivery management server 300 via the communication unit 402. Fig. 4 is a table showing an example of a table configuration of the second unit information. As shown in fig. 4, the second unit information table has a combination place field, a predetermined period field, a unit size field, and a number field. Information on a bonding location where the first unit 100 is bonded to the second unit 200 is input in the bonding location field. A warehouse or the like that stores baggage to be delivered by a delivery company may be shown as a bonding site. Information on a predetermined period is input in the predetermined period field. Information on the size of the second unit 200 for delivering the baggage within a predetermined period of time is input in the unit size field. Information on the number of second units 200 for delivering the baggage within a predetermined period of time is input in the number field of the second units 200 of each size.

For example, in the example of the second unit information shown in fig. 4, like three large-sized second units 200, two middle-sized second units 200, and one small-sized second unit 200, the size of each second unit 200 for delivering the baggage within a predetermined period of time and the number of second units 200 of each size to be used are associated with each other.

The control unit 401 receives first unit information from each user terminal 500 via the communication unit 402. The control unit 401 stores the received first unit information in the first unit information DB 403. The first unit information DB 403 may be implemented by the auxiliary storage 430. Fig. 5 is a table showing an example of a table configuration of the first unit information stored in the first unit information DB 403. As shown in fig. 5, the first unit information table has a unit ID field, a non-use period field, a location information field, and a compatible size field. An identifier for identifying each first unit 100 is entered in the unit ID field. The non-use period of the first unit 100 associated with each unit ID is input to the non-use period field. Information on the position of each first cell 100 within the non-use period is input to the position information field. The information on the position of each first unit 100 in the non-use period is, for example, position information of a place where the user parks his or her first unit 100 in the non-use period (a parking lot of a vehicle including the first unit 100, etc.).

The size of the second unit 200 that can be combined with the first unit 100 is determined in advance for each first unit 100. The compatible size field contains information indicating the size of the second unit 200 that can be combined with each first unit 100.

The control unit 401 selects the first unit 100 to be combined with the second unit 200 for delivering the baggage within a predetermined period of time based on the first unit information about each first unit 100 stored in the first unit information DB 403 and the second unit information received from the delivery management server 300. A method of the control unit 401 selecting the first unit 100 will be described later.

The control unit 401 also transmits the running information to the first unit 100 selected by the control unit 401 via the communication unit 402. The travel information contains information on the time at which the first unit 100 starts autonomous travel to the joining point, and information for causing the first unit 100 to perform autonomous travel to the joining point. The time at which the first unit 100 starts autonomous travel to the joining point is determined based on the information about the predetermined period contained in the second unit information. Also, the time when the first unit 100 starts autonomous traveling to the joining place is included in the non-use period of the first unit 100. Information including a predetermined travel route from the place where the user parks his or her first unit 100 to the joining point may be taken as an example of information for causing the first unit 100 to perform autonomous travel to the joining point. Alternatively, the information for causing the first unit 100 to perform autonomous traveling to the joining point may be information for controlling a driving unit in the first unit 100. In this case, the first unit 100 performs autonomous traveling based on the information of controlling the driving unit received from the traveling management server 400. In this way, when the control unit 401 transmits the travel information to the first unit 100, the first unit 100 can perform autonomous travel to the joining point.

Selection process

Next, a selection process performed by the control unit 401 in the travel management server 400 in the delivery system 1 will be described with reference to fig. 6. Fig. 6 is a flowchart for the selection process. The selection process is a process in which the control unit 401 selects the first unit 100 to be borrowed from the user by the delivery company in order to combine the first unit 100 with the second unit 200 for delivering baggage. This selection processing is executed when the travel management server 400 receives the second unit information transmitted from the delivery management server 300.

In the selection process, first, in S101, the second unit information received from the delivery management server 300 via the communication unit 402 is acquired. Subsequently, in S102, the first unit information of each first unit 100 is acquired from the first unit information DB 403. In S103, a first unit 100 to be combined with the second unit 200 for delivering the baggage within a predetermined period is selected from the plurality of first units 100 based on the second unit information and the first unit information of each first unit 100.

Here, in S103, the first units 100 respectively compatible with the sizes of the second units 200 in the second unit information are selected by the number associated with the sizes. For example, in the example shown in fig. 3, it is assumed that the second cell information contains three large-sized second cells 200, two medium-sized second cells 200, and one small-sized second cell 200. In this case, the control unit 401 selects three first units 100 compatible with the large-sized second unit 200, two first units 100 compatible with the medium-sized second unit 200, and one first unit 100 compatible with the small-sized second unit 200, based on the information input in the compatible size field of the first unit information DB 403.

The number of first units 100 in the first unit information, which are compatible with each size of the second units 200, may be greater than the number of second units 200 in the second unit information, which are compatible with each size of the second units 200. In this case, the first unit 100 whose position is close to the combining site indicated by the position information stored in the position information field of the first unit information may be preferentially selected over the first unit 100 whose position is far from the combining site. By selecting the first unit 100 to be combined with the second unit 200 for use based on the position information in this way, it is possible to reduce the distance from the place where the user parks his or her own first unit 100 to the combining place, that is, the moving distance of the first unit 100 to the combining place. In this way, by reducing the moving distance of the first unit 100, it is possible to reduce the time taken to move the first unit 100 and the energy consumed during the movement.

After the process of S103, when the selection process ends, the control unit 401 transmits the traveling information to the first unit 100 selected in S103 via the communication unit 402.

As described above, the travel management server 400 selects the first unit 100 to be combined with the second unit 200 from the plurality of first units 100. Thus, the delivery company can borrow a first unit 100 from the user that is not scheduled to be used within a predetermined period of time and use the borrowed first unit 100 for the delivery of baggage. In this way, with the delivery system 1, the first unit 100 can be effectively used to deliver baggage.

Modifications of the invention

In the present embodiment, the second unit 200 has a variety of different sizes. Alternatively, the second cells 200 may be cells having the same size. In this case, the second unit information need not contain information on the size of each second unit 200 for delivering the baggage within the predetermined period. The first unit information need not contain information indicating the size of each second unit 200 that can be combined with the first unit 100.

In the present embodiment, the same number of first cells 100 as the number of second cells 200 specified by the second cell information are selected from the plurality of first cells 100. However, when the first unit 100 can be combined with the plurality of second units 200, the first unit 100 may be combined with the plurality of second units 200 when delivering the baggage. In this case, the number of second units 200 that can be combined with each first unit 100 is further included in the first unit information associated with each size of the second units 200. The control unit 401 may calculate the number of first units 100 to be combined with the second units 200 according to the size and the number of second units 200 to be used for delivering the baggage in the second unit information.

In the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 2, the first unit 100 and the second unit 200 are coupled to each other in the up-down direction. Alternatively, the combination of the first unit 100 and the second unit 200 is not limited to the combination in the up-down direction as long as the first unit 100 and the second unit 200 can be used to deliver baggage when combined with each other. The second unit 200 may be coupled to the rear of the first unit 100, for example.

The travel management server 400 may be integrated with the delivery management server 300 into a single server.

Second embodiment

Unlike the first embodiment, the travel management server 400 in the present embodiment performs a notification process of notifying the user of the first unit 100 selected by the travel management server 400 of borrowing the first unit 100. Hereinafter, only the differences from the first embodiment will be described.

Notification processing

The notification process performed by the control unit 401 in the travel management server 400 will be described with reference to fig. 7. Fig. 7 is a flowchart for notification processing. After the selection process shown in fig. 6, the notification process is executed by the travel management server 400. In the notification process, first, in S201, notification information is transmitted to the user terminals 500 of the users of all the first units 100 selected in the process of S103 of fig. 6 via the communication unit 402. The notification information is information for notifying the delivery company to couple the first unit 100 to the second unit 200 for delivering the baggage in a predetermined period. In other words, the notification information is information for requesting the user to borrow the first unit 100 for a predetermined period of time. In this case, the user having received the notification information transmits a response message via the user terminal 500 to respond whether the user's first unit 100 is allowed to be combined with the second unit 200 for delivering the baggage.

Subsequently, in S202, response information is received from the user terminal 500 of the user who has received the notification information. Thereafter, in S203, it is determined whether all users who have received the notification information are permitted to use the first unit 100 based on the response information. When an affirmative determination is made in S203, the notification process ends. Then, the traveling information is transmitted to the first unit 100 selected in the process of S103 in fig. 6.

When a negative judgment is made in S203, the first unit 100 to be combined with the second unit 200 for delivering the baggage within the predetermined period is selected again from the plurality of first units 100 except for the first unit 100 of the user who does not allow the first unit 100 to be combined with the second unit 200 for delivering the baggage, based on the first unit information. Then, the notification processing is temporarily ended. The notification process is executed again for the user terminals 500 of all the users of the first unit 100 selected again in S204. In other words, the notification process is repeatedly executed until the users of all the first units 100 selected (selected again) by the control unit 401 permit the use of the first units 100.

As described above, when the first unit 100 is selected, the delivery management server 300 in the present embodiment transmits notification information to the user terminal 500 of the user of the first unit 100. Therefore, when a plan to use the first unit 100 (vehicle) during the non-use period input to the travel management server 400 by the user occurs at the time point when the notification information is received, the user can refuse to use the own first unit 100 to deliver the baggage. Therefore, the situation in which the first unit 100 is borrowed when the user uses the first unit 100 can be reduced.

Other embodiments

The above embodiments are merely illustrative, and the present disclosure can be implemented by being modified as necessary without departing from the gist of the present disclosure. The processes and apparatuses described in the present disclosure can be implemented in a free combination without any technical contradiction.

The processing described as being performed by a single device may be shared and performed by a plurality of devices. Alternatively, processes described as being performed by different devices may be performed by a single device. In the computer system, the hardware configuration (server configuration) that realizes the functions can be flexibly changed.

The present disclosure can also be implemented in the following manner. The computer is provided with a computer program having the functions described in the above embodiments, and one or more processors of the computer read out and execute the program. Such a computer program may be provided to a computer having a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium connectable to a system bus of the computer, or may be provided to the computer via a network. Examples of the non-transitory computer readable storage medium include any type of disk such as a magnetic disk (floppy (registered trademark) (floppy) disk, a Hard Disk Drive (HDD), etc.), an optical disk (CD-ROM, DVD disk, blu-ray disk, etc.), a Read Only Memory (ROM), a Random Access Memory (RAM), an EPROM, an EEPROM, a magnetic card, a flash memory, an optical card, and any type of media suitable for storing electronic instructions.