JP6670518B2 - Container matching system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to port cargo handling, and more particularly to a container matching system suitable for performing smooth and efficient transport using containers.

  One of the issues in improving the efficiency of container logistics is that when containers need to be packed, empty containers are taken to the container yard where the containers are stored, but the container yard is located at a port etc. If the shipper exists and the shipper is inland, there is a problem that it takes a lot of time to prepare an empty container.

  In order to solve such a problem, for example, Patent Document 1 requires a computer to manage the transportation status of a container, arrange a container storage location (inland depot) inland, and require the container storage location via an inland depot. There is disclosed a method of increasing the efficiency of container transportation by matching a container to be transported and a trailer for transporting the container.

JP-A-2002-169869

  The technique disclosed in Patent Literature 1 is considered to be a very efficient method as compared with the related art in terms of increasing the efficiency of container distribution. However, the inland depot provided as a storage location for containers requires a vast site and requires high management cost, so that it cannot be scattered to cover each region. For this reason, in the case of a shipper who is far from the area where the Inland Depot is located, there is a problem that the time and cost required to pick up an empty container are not much different from those in the past.

  Accordingly, the present invention provides a container matching system that can improve the efficiency of container logistics by centrally managing container information and matching required containers without accumulating and managing containers. Aim.

  In order to achieve the above object, a container matching system according to the present invention includes an imaging function for acquiring a container number of an empty container, an optical character recognition function for recognizing a container number from image data acquired by the imaging function, A first terminal having a position information measurement function of detecting position information obtained by imaging the container number, and a container number identified by the optical character recognition function, and a communication function of transmitting the position information; A second computer having a computer for receiving and recording the container number and the position information transmitted from the first terminal, and a communication function for transmitting current position information and empty container request information to the computer; A computer, based on the current location information transmitted from the second terminal. The position information of the container terminal is compared with the position information of the container terminal closest to the current position information, and the position information closer to the current position information than the container terminal in the empty container recorded in the storage unit. It is determined whether or not a corresponding empty container exists, and if there is a corresponding empty container, the fact is transmitted to the second terminal, and the first terminal is notified that a request has been made to the registered empty container. It is characterized by having a function of transmitting information.

  Further, in the container matching system having the above characteristics, when transmitting information to the first terminal that a request for an empty container has been made, the computer uses the second A function to attach the current position information transmitted from the terminal may be provided.

  According to such a feature, when the requested empty container is transported under the shipper who requested the container, it is not necessary to obtain information on the delivery place again.

  Further, in the container matching system having the above-described features, the computer extracts, for a predetermined period of time, a request without a request based on the registration date and time of the registered empty container, and registers the extracted empty container in the first terminal. , A function of transmitting information indicating that there is no request for an empty container may be provided.

  According to such a feature, in the case where there is no request for registered empty containers for a long period of time, it is possible to confirm the presence or absence of storage continuation with the shipper who stores the containers.

  Further, in the container matching system having the above characteristics, when the first terminal receives information from the computer indicating that there is no request for the registered empty container, the first terminal continues to store the corresponding empty container. The computer has a function of returning a selection of whether or not to perform storage to the computer, and when the information indicating that the storage of the empty container is to be continued is returned from the first terminal, It is preferable to have a function of updating the registration date and time of the empty container and performing a process of deleting the registration information of the corresponding empty container when information indicating that the storage of the empty container is not continued is returned. .

  By having such a feature, it is possible to avoid an increase in the burden on the shipper caused by storing empty containers.

  According to the container matching system having the above-described features, required container matching can be achieved without centrally managing container information and collecting and managing containers. This also makes it possible to improve the efficiency of container distribution.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a container matching system according to an embodiment and an operation status thereof. It is a figure showing an example of information transmitted or recorded in a container matching system concerning an embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the flow at the time of operating a container matching system.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of a container matching system of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[System configuration]
The container matching system 10 according to the present embodiment is configured based on a first terminal 12, a second terminal 14, and a computer 16. The first terminal 12 may be a terminal owned by the driver of the trailer 52 that transports the containers 50 (50a, 50b) packed with the cargo of a specific shipper (referred to as a first shipper). The first terminal 12 preferably has an imaging function, an optical character recognition function, a global positioning system (GPS) function (an example of a position information measurement function), a communication function, and the like. May be a high-performance mobile terminal (tablet terminal), a high-performance mobile phone, or the like.

  The imaging function is a function for imaging a container number and a model number assigned to an empty container (referred to as an empty container 50a) unloaded under the first shipper. In addition, the optical character recognition function may be a function for recognizing and acquiring a container number or a model number as a numerical value from image data captured by the imaging function. The GPS function is a function for adding position information obtained by imaging the container number to the container number. This is because it is possible to define that the empty container 50a exists at the position where the container number is imaged. Further, the communication function is a function for transmitting the container number and the model number identified by the optical character recognition function and the position information attached thereto to the computer 16 described later in detail.

  In this embodiment, the first shipper who is in a position to manage the first terminal 12 having such a function is a shipper that provides the empty container 50a.

  The second terminal 14 is owned by a driver of a trailer 52 that transports a shipper other than a specific shipper (referred to as a second shipper) or a container packed with the cargo of the second shipper (referred to as a full container 50b). Any terminal that does it will do. The second terminal 14 may have a GPS function, an empty container request information creating function, a communication function, an input / output function, and the like. Specifically, the second terminal 14 may be a tablet terminal, a high-performance mobile phone, or the like. .

  The GPS function in the second terminal 14 is a function for adding current position information to empty container request information. The empty container request information creating function is a program provided with a form for inputting necessary information such as the number of empty containers 50a to be requested, the standard (for example, 20 feet or 40 feet), and the use date and time. For example, it is preferable that the program can be downloaded and acquired from a computer 16 described later in detail by application software or the like. The communication function transmits the empty container request information created through the empty container request information creating function and the current position information attached to the empty container request information to a computer 16 which will be described in detail later, and returns information from the computer 16 This is a function for receiving The input / output function displays an input screen for creating empty container request information, a reply information from the computer 16, and the like on a display unit provided in the second terminal 14. This is a function for inputting various types of information via a touch panel or push keys provided in the PC.

  In this embodiment, the second shipper who is in a position to manage the second terminal 14 having such a function is a shipper receiving the empty container 50a.

  Further, the computer 16 records the information transmitted from the first terminal 12, performs collation with the recorded information based on the information transmitted from the second terminal 14, and sends reply information to the second terminal 14. Is an element for transmitting. For this reason, the computer 16 preferably includes at least a storage unit, a calculation unit, and a communication unit (all not shown). Note that the computer 16 in the present embodiment is managed by first and second shippers who manage the first terminal 12 and the second terminal 14 and a system provider as a third party different from the container terminal 18. Good to be. This is because the management of the container 50 can be performed without depending on whether the related organization (for example, the container terminal 18) has introduced the system.

  The storage unit is an element for recording the transmission information from the first terminal 12 input via the communication unit, that is, the container number and model number of the empty container 50a, and the position information. In addition, the storage unit stores empty container request information creation software downloaded for communication with the second terminal 14, search software that operates via the arithmetic unit, and location information of the container terminals 18 existing in each region. Also, there are recorded navigation software and the like for calculating the traveling distance and time between destinations.

  The arithmetic unit is an element for performing arithmetic processing via various software based on input information. For example, when the container number, the model number, and the position information of the empty container 50a are input from the first terminal 12, a process of associating the information and recording the information in the database is performed. When the current position information and the standard (model) of the requested empty container 50a are input from the second terminal 14, whether the empty container 50a of the requested model is near the second terminal 14 is determined. Is determined.

  Whether the empty container 50a is near the second terminal 14 is determined by detecting the position information of the container terminal 18 closest to the position corresponding to the current position information of the second terminal 14 (the position of the second terminal 14), The navigation software is activated, and the travel distance and travel time from the position of the second terminal 14 to the detected container terminal 18 are obtained.

  Thereafter, the search software is activated to detect whether or not the empty container 50a of the requested type exists in the database of the empty container 50a. When the empty container 50a of the requested type is recorded, the position corresponding to the position information recorded with the container number and the model number of the empty container 50a (the position of the empty container 50a) via the navigation software. , The travel distance and the travel time from the position of the second terminal 14 are determined. When there are a plurality of empty containers 50a, the travel distance and travel time for each of the empty containers 50a are determined, and the travel distance or travel time, or the travel distance or travel distance (hereinafter simply referred to as travel distance or the like) that is the shortest, is determined. Extract.

  Thereafter, the travel distance to the extracted empty container 50a and the like are compared with the travel distance to the container terminal 18. As a result of the comparison, when the traveling distance or the like to the position of the empty container 50a is shorter than the traveling distance or the like to the container terminal 18, it is determined that the required empty container 50a exists near the second terminal 14. judge. On the other hand, when the empty container 50a of the requested standard is not recorded, and although there is an empty container 50a of the requested standard, the container terminal 18 which is closest to the travel distance to the position of the empty container 50a or the like. If it is calculated that the distance traveled to is shorter, it is determined that there is no required empty container 50a near the second terminal 14.

  The determination result calculated by the calculation unit is transmitted to the second terminal 14 via the transmission unit. When it is determined that “an empty container of the standard required exists nearby”, the determination result is transmitted to the second terminal 14 and information on the extracted empty container 50a is recorded (transmission). The first terminal 12 is notified of the request for the empty container 50a and information about the delivery location. Here, the information on the delivery location may be based on the current position information transmitted from the second terminal 14 or information separately attached to the information from the second terminal 14.

  On the other hand, if it is determined that “an empty container of the standard required does not exist nearby”, the registration date and time of the empty container 50a recorded in the database is compared with the current time, and a predetermined time has elapsed since the registration date and time. A determination is made as to whether or not it is. Then, information indicating that there is no request (matching) of the empty container 50a is given to each of the first terminals 12 (there may be a plurality of terminals) that have transmitted the information of the empty container 50a for which the predetermined time has passed from the registration date and time. Sent.

  Here, the first terminal 12 that has received the information indicating that there is no matching from the computer 16 selects whether or not to keep the registered empty container 50a continuously, and returns a message to the computer 16 to that effect. I do. Thereby, the computer 16 can perform the following processing. That is, if the user has selected to keep the empty container 50a continuously, the registration date and time of the database is changed to the current time, and the recording information is updated. On the other hand, when the user has selected to stop storing the empty container 50a, a process of deleting the information of the corresponding empty container 50a from the database is performed.

  In addition, the second terminal 14 that has received the determination result that “there is no nearby empty container of the required standard” may go to pick up the empty container 50a to the container terminal 18 closest to the current position. . The container terminal 18 here includes an inland depot which is a terminal other than a port.

  In addition, an example of information (first shipper transmission information and second shipper transmission information) transmitted to the computer 16 for the above processing and information (computer record information) recorded on the computer 16 is shown. It is shown in FIG.

[System operation example]
The utilization of the container matching system 10 having such a configuration will be described with reference to FIG. First, the driver carrying the luggage of the first shipper (the driver having the first terminal 12) goes to the container terminal 18 and picks up the full container 50b. Next, unloading of the full container 50b is performed under the first shipper, and the container number and model number of the empty container (empty container 50a) are imaged by the first terminal 12, and the position information and the computer are taken. 16 to be transmitted.

  The computer 16 having received the information from the first terminal 12 records the container number and the position information in the database together with the date and time, and the registration of the empty container 50a is completed.

  Thereafter, when the request information of the empty container 50a is transmitted from the terminal (second terminal 14) owned by the driver carrying the cargo of the second shipper to the computer 16, the computer 16 having received the request information transmits the request to the computer 16. A determination process is performed to determine whether there is an empty container 50a that matches the request information near the terminal 14. If there is an empty container 50a, the fact is output to the second terminal 14, and information indicating the fact and the delivery location of the empty container 50a are transmitted to the first terminal 12. .

  The driver having the first terminal 12 that has received the instruction information of the delivery place of the empty container 50a transports the empty container 50a under the second shipper and returns to below the first shipper. After that, the second shipper, having received the empty container 50a from the first shipper, packs the empty container 50a with the cargo and carries the empty container 50a to the container terminal 18 as a full container 50b for transportation by ship.

  On the other hand, when it is determined in the determination process by the computer 16 that the empty container 50a does not exist, the fact is output to the second terminal 14. Further, the computer 16 determines whether the empty container 50a registered in the database has passed a predetermined time since the registration, and determines whether the first shipper (a plurality of owners) owns the empty container 50a that has passed the predetermined time. (In some cases), information indicating that there is no empty container request (no matching) is transmitted (transmission to the first terminal 12).

  The driver (including the first shipper) having the first terminal 12 having received the information indicating that there is no matching of the empty container 50a selects whether or not to continue storing the registered empty container 50a, Reply to computer 16. When the computer 16 sends a selection to continue storage of the empty container 50a, the computer 16 updates the registration date and time of the empty container 50a. On the other hand, when the selection of not continuing the empty container 50a is transmitted, the computer 16 deletes the information of the empty container 50a from the database.

  Note that the first shipper who has transmitted the selection to the computer 16 not to continue the storage of the empty container 50a may carry the empty container 50a into the container terminal 18.

  According to the container matching system 10 that performs such processing, it is possible to centrally manage the container information and perform matching of the required containers 50 without having to collectively manage the containers 50. This eliminates the need for the shipper (the driver carrying the shipper's luggage) who needs the empty container 50a to make a round trip from the shipper's (current position) to the container terminal 18 each time. Can be achieved.

  In addition, by operating such a container matching system 10, it is possible to prevent the trailer 52 for loading and unloading the empty container 50 a from being concentrated on the container terminal 18. Thereby, the occurrence of traffic jam at the entrance of the container terminal 18 can be suppressed.

  In the above-described embodiment, the first terminal 12, the second terminal 14, and the computer 16 are illustrated and described as if they are one each for the sake of simplicity. However, when the container matching system 10 having the above configuration is operated, a plurality of the first terminals 12 and a plurality of the second terminals 14 are provided for one computer 16. In the container matching system 10 having the above-described configuration, the first terminal 12 can be the second terminal 14 and the second terminal 14 can be the first terminal 12 depending on the usage status of the container 50 and the necessity of the request. Needless to say, I get it.

  Further, in the embodiment, the delivery of the empty container 50a is described such that the first shipper transports the empty container 50a to the second shipper. However, even if the empty container 50a is picked up from the second shipper side to the first shipper side, there is no problem in applying the container matching system 10 according to the present invention. In this case, when the computer 16 notifies the second shipper of the container matching determination result, the information on the delivery location of the empty container 50a is also notified. good.

10 container matching system, 12 first terminal 14, 14 second terminal 16, computer 18 container terminal 50 container 50a empty container 50b ... container, 52 ... trailer.

Claims (4)

An imaging function for acquiring a container number of an empty container, an optical character recognition function for recognizing a container number from image data acquired by the imaging function, a position information measurement function for detecting position information obtained by imaging the container number, and A first terminal including a container number identified by the optical character recognition function and a communication function for transmitting the position information;
A computer that receives and records the container number and the location information transmitted from the first terminal,
A second terminal having a communication function for transmitting current position information and empty container request information to the computer,
The computer, based on the current position information transmitted from the second terminal, compares the recorded position information of the empty container with the position information of the container terminal closest to the current position information, and It is determined whether there is any empty container having location information closer to the current location information than the container terminal among the empty containers recorded in the container terminal. If a corresponding empty container exists, the fact is notified to the second terminal. A container matching system for transmitting, to the first terminal, a function of transmitting information that a registered empty container has been requested.   A function of, when transmitting information indicating that an empty container has been requested to the first terminal, attaching the current location information transmitted from the second terminal as information on a delivery location of the container. The container matching system according to claim 1, comprising:   The computer extracts information for which no request has been made for a predetermined time based on the registration date and time of the registered empty container, and informs the first terminal that has registered the extracted empty container that there is no request for an empty container. 3. The container matching system according to claim 1, further comprising a function of transmitting the container matching information. When the first terminal receives, from the computer, information indicating that there is no request for the registered empty container, the first terminal returns a selection as to whether or not to continue storage of the corresponding empty container to the computer. Has functions,
The computer updates the registration date and time of the corresponding empty container when the information indicating that the storage of the empty container is to be continued is returned from the first terminal, and indicates that the storage of the empty container is not to be continued. 4. The container matching system according to claim 3, further comprising a function of performing a process of deleting registration information of a corresponding empty container when information is returned.

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