JP6978356B2 - Gas container replacement system, its replacement device, its replacement method and its replacement program - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to, for example, a technique for exchanging an LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) container.

LP gas is loaded into a gas container such as a cylinder or a cylinder and delivered to the user's eaves. Gas containers installed by users are installed according to the amount of gas consumed, and usually multiple gas containers are installed, including for backup. This gas container is replaced by a delivery company before the gas runs out.
Regarding the remaining amount management of LPG, it can be consumed by the gas consumption equipment from the gas consumption amount detected by the flow rate measuring means arranged in the gas supply path between the gas container and the gas consumption equipment and the gas remaining amount of the gas container. It is known to calculate and display the remaining time (for example, Patent Document 1).
Regarding the delivery prediction of gas containers, it is known to predict the occurrence date of gas outage using the safety factor master and calculate the scheduled delivery date in consideration of delivery efficiency and gas outage risk (for example, Patent Document 2). ..

Regarding the delivery date of the gas container, we accept the guideline data of the gas meter, update the gas remaining amount based on the gas usage amount from the previous guideline date to the next guideline date, and the daily gas usage amount of the guideline day and the past. According to the predicted daily gas usage based on the rate of change in daily gas usage during the period, the updated gas remaining amount is reduced to predict the future gas remaining amount, and this gas It is known that a delivery date is determined when the remaining amount is a predetermined date (for example, Patent Document 3). In addition, the gas usage amount is obtained from multiple meter reading data of the gas meter to update the gas remaining amount, and the updated gas remaining amount is reduced based on the change in the gas usage amount by comparing the past gas usage amount of the gas container. It is known that the future remaining amount of gas is predicted and the date when the predicted remaining amount of gas becomes a predetermined value is determined as the delivery date of the gas container (for example, Patent Document 4).
Furthermore, the gas usage amount and gas remaining amount are updated from the data measured by the gas meter to generate trend data of gas usage amount and gas remaining amount, and trend data according to changes in gas usage amount and gas remaining amount. (For example, Patent Documents 5 and 6)

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2016-075366 Japanese Patent No. 5802225 Japanese Patent No. 5570552 Japanese Patent No. 55705553 Japanese Patent No. 6263298 Japanese Patent No. 6263299

By the way, in the LP gas exchange process, for example, a delivery base is provided for each predetermined area, and a customer (user) of a delivery destination is assigned to each delivery base. In the delivery and replacement of conventional gas containers, for example, the date of gas outage is predicted from the monthly gas meter reading result, and the predicted gas outage date is added to the safety factor considering prediction error and delivery work. Set as the delivery person. Then, the delivery person replenishes a large number of gas containers at the delivery base and works toward the designated delivery destination. Therefore, when the amount of gas used increases, for example, in winter, the number of gas containers delivered also increases. Since the number of gas containers that can be loaded on the vehicle used for delivery processing is limited, as the number of gas containers delivered increases, the number of times the gas containers are returned to the delivery base and replenished also increases.
Further, in the gas container replacement work, the load required for delivery differs between the user who is close to the delivery base and the user who is far from the delivery base. For example, depending on the weather and road conditions, delivery from the delivery base may take longer than usual, or delivery may not be possible. As in the past, it is difficult to accurately predict the gas out date by measuring the amount of residual gas in the gas container about once a month, for example.
Further, as in the gas container replacement process (Patent Documents 5 and 6), by grasping the trend data based on the amount of gas used and the remaining amount from the measured gas data, the amount of residual gas in the gas container is reduced. When the replacement timing is set as described above, there is a problem that if the tendency of the user who is away from the distribution base to use gas suddenly increases, the gas may run out before the gas container is transported from the distribution base.
For this reason, in the gas container replacement process, measures such as taking more safety days than the predicted gas out date in the delivery date setting are taken, which increases the amount of residual gas in the gas container. The work load is increasing. In addition, if a large number of users replace the gas container when the gas runs out in order to reduce the number of round trips to the delivery base, the risk of running out of gas increases.
In order to solve the problem of the difference in delivery load due to the difference in the distance to the delivery destination and the risk of gas shortage, there is a means to increase the number of bases that stock gas containers, but to store gas containers. It is not realistic either humanly or financially to secure and manage new land.
Patent Documents 1 to 6 do not disclose or suggest such requirements or problems, and there is no disclosure or suggestion of a structure for solving them.
Therefore, in view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to reduce the work load of gas container replacement and reduce the risk of gas exhaustion by the user in the gas container replacement process.
Further, another object of the present invention is to improve the responsiveness of the gas container replacement process to the change of the gas usage tendency and the occurrence of gas shortage by increasing the replenishment source of the gas container.

In order to achieve the above object, one aspect of the gas container exchange system of the present invention utilizes a data measuring means for outputting gas data obtained by frequently measuring the amount of gas in the gas container, and the gas data or the gas data. The estimated gas shortage dates calculated in Among the extracted users, a user having a large amount of gas in the gas container or a long time until the estimated gas out date is set as a candidate for the first user who provides the gas container, and the gas container is provided. A user who has a small amount of gas in the container or a short time until the estimated date of gas exhaustion is set as a second user who is likely to run out or run out of gas in the gas container, and the remaining amount of gas is set to the second user. The first user who provides the gas container from the candidate by combining the delivery route to the user, the delivery distance, the delivery time, or the delivery area divided by a predetermined range, or two or more of these information. Is provided, and a processing unit for outputting gas container replacement instruction information for executing the replacement processing of the gas container of the second user by using a part of the gas container of the first user is provided.

In the above SL gas container exchange system, wherein the processing unit, a delivery distance or user delivery time is less from the candidate to the second user may be selected to preferentially the first user.
In the gas container exchange system, further, user information including information on the number of gas containers owned, the delivery destination of the gas container, the identification information for identifying the gas container, the estimated gas out date, the delivery section, the delivery route, and the delivery time. , Meteorological information, traffic information, or two or more are stored in the storage unit, and the processing unit stores or updates the acquisition of gas data and the calculation result of the estimated gas outage date in the storage unit, and the information. May be changed dynamically.
The gas container exchange system may further include an information presenting unit that presents delivery instruction information including the gas container exchange instruction information and the delivery route.
In the gas container exchange system, the user information includes gas container providing information indicating an intention to provide the gas container to another user, and the processing unit includes the gas. The first user may be selected based on the container provision information.
In the gas container exchange system, the processing unit uses the gas data to create trend data showing a transitional tendency of the amount of gas obtained in a predetermined period, and the trend data is used for subsequent measurement by the data measuring means. Gas data may be measured frequently by setting the timing.

In order to achieve the above object, one aspect of the gas container exchange device of the present invention is a data acquisition means for acquiring gas data obtained by frequently measuring the amount of gas in the gas container from the data measurement means, and the gas data or the gas. The estimated gas out date calculated using the data is compared between the users, and the difference in the amount of gas in the gas container or the difference in the time until the estimated out of gas date becomes a predetermined value or more based on the comparison result. Users are extracted, and a user who has a large amount of gas in the gas container or has a long time until the estimated gas out date is set as a candidate for the first user who provides the gas container. Set the user who has a small amount of gas in the gas container or the time until the estimated date of gas exhaustion as a second user who is likely to be short or short of gas in the gas container, and the remaining amount of gas, The delivery route to the second user, the delivery distance, the delivery time, or any of the delivery areas divided by a predetermined range, or a combination of two or more of these information to provide the gas container from the candidate. A processing unit that outputs gas container replacement instruction information for selecting a first user and executing a replacement process for the gas container of the second user by using a part of the gas container of the first user. To prepare for.

In order to achieve the above object, one aspect of the gas container replacement method of the present invention is a step of frequently measuring the gas amount of the gas container and outputting the gas data, and using the gas data or the gas data. A process of comparing the calculated estimated gas out date between users and a user whose difference in the amount of gas in the gas container or the difference in time until the estimated out of gas date is equal to or more than a predetermined value are extracted based on the comparison result. Then, among the extracted users, a user who has a large amount of gas in the gas container or has a long time until the estimated gas out date is set as a candidate for the first user who provides the gas container, and the gas. A user who has a small amount of gas in the container or a short time until the estimated date of out of gas is set as a second user who is likely to be short or short of gas in the gas container, and the remaining amount of gas, the second. 1. It includes a step of selecting a user and outputting gas container replacement instruction information for executing a replacement process of the gas container of the second user by using a part of the gas container of the first user .

In order to achieve the above object, one aspect of the gas container exchange program of the present invention is a gas container exchange program realized by a computer, which has a function of frequently measuring the amount of gas in the gas container and outputting gas data. , The function of comparing the gas data or the estimated gas out date calculated by using the gas data among users, and the difference in the amount of gas in the gas container or the estimated gas out date based on the comparison result. A user whose time difference is equal to or greater than a predetermined value is extracted, and a user who has a large amount of gas in the gas container or has a long time until the estimated date of out of gas is provided to the gas container. A second user who is set as a candidate for one user and who has a small amount of gas in the gas container or a short time until the estimated date of out of gas is likely to be deficient or deficient in gas in the gas container. Set to the user , the remaining amount of gas, the delivery route to the second user, the delivery distance, the delivery time, or one of the delivery areas divided by a predetermined range, or a combination of two or more of these information, said. A gas container in which the first user who provides the gas container is selected from the candidates, and a part of the gas container of the first user is used to execute the replacement process of the gas container of the second user. The computer realizes a function of outputting exchange instruction information .

According to the present invention, any of the following effects can be obtained.

(1) By delivering the gas container from a user closer to the delivery base of the gas container, it is possible to reduce the delivery load of the gas container and speed up the replacement process of the gas container.
(2) By accommodating gas inventories among users, the provider of gas containers can be freely set, the selectivity of delivery routes can be improved, and the risk of gas shortage can be reduced.
(3) By accommodating gas containers between users, it is possible to speed up the delivery process of gas containers regardless of the distance from the delivery base, so even if the safety factor for the estimated gas outage date is set low. The risk of running out of gas can be reduced. In addition, since the safety factor can be lowered, the amount of residual gas in the gas container is reduced, and the work load of gas container replacement and delivery can be reduced.
(4) By providing a gas container from a user who has a sufficient amount of gas in the gas container to a user who has a small amount of gas, the difference in the amount of gas held between users will be reduced, and the gas container replacement date will be set at a close timing. , The number of deliveries can be reduced.

And other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be further clarified by reference to the accompanying drawings and each embodiment.

It is a figure which shows the structural example of the gas container exchange system which concerns on one Embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the gas data comparison processing. It is a flowchart which shows an example of a gas container exchange process. It is a figure which shows an example of the gas container exchange system which concerns on Example 1. FIG. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the data measuring means. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the gas container exchange apparatus. It is a figure which shows an example of a user database and a gas amount database. It is a figure which shows an example of a delivery information data table. It is a figure which shows an example of the selection process of the user who provides a gas container. It is a figure which shows an example of the delivery process of a gas container. It is a figure which shows an example of the setting information of a delivery route. It is a sequence diagram which shows the example of a gas container exchange process. It is a figure which shows an example of the transition state of the estimated gas exhaustion date by exchanging a gas container. It is a figure which shows an example of the gas container exchange system which concerns on Example 2. FIG. It is a sequence diagram which shows the example of a gas container exchange process. It is a figure which shows an example of the weather / traffic information table of the delivery date which concerns on Example 3. FIG. It is a figure which shows the comparative example.

[One Embodiment]
FIG. 1 shows a configuration example of a gas container exchange system according to an embodiment. The configuration shown in FIG. 1 is an example, and the present invention is not limited to such a configuration.
This gas container exchange system 2 calculates the estimated gas out date of the installed gas container based on the gas data measured frequently for each user, and the amount of residual gas in the gas container while preventing the gas outage. This is an example of a system for exchanging gas containers so as to reduce the amount of gas. Further, in the gas container exchange system 2, when the gas runs out or when it is determined that the gas is likely to run out, the gas container is provided by a user who has a sufficient remaining amount of gas, and the gas runs out or occurs. Execute the gas container replacement process for the user who is about to run out of gas.
As shown in FIG. 1, for example, the gas container exchange system 2 includes a gas container exchange device 4 and a data measuring means 6. The gas container exchange device 4 includes, for example, a processing unit 10 and a storage unit 12. The data measuring means 6 includes, for example, a gas meter 8. The gas container exchange device 4 is connected to the gas meter 8 wirelessly or by wire, acquires gas data from the gas meter 8, and transmits gas container exchange instruction information to the gas meter 8 side.

The gas container exchange device 4 acquires gas data measured for each user, calculates an estimated gas outage date based on the gas data, and sets a gas container exchange timing.
The processing unit 10 of the gas container changing device 4 is an example of the calculation means, integrates the measured gas data Si of the gas container in use, and calculates the estimated gas out date dx based on the capacity of the gas container. The notification date for replacing the gas container may be set several days before the calculated estimated gas outage date dx, for example. Further, the processing unit 10 selects, for example, a user who has a sufficient amount of gas as an instruction to replace the gas container, and the gas container is sent to a user who is out of gas or has a high possibility of being out of gas. Perform the process of providing a part. The user who provides the gas container may be selected based on, for example, the delivery distance between users and the delivery time.
The storage unit 12 stores, for example, the gas data Si of the gas container included in the gas data acquired from the data measuring means 6, and also has a history of representing the amount of gas used, the number of gas containers, or the amount of gas used in the past for each user. Data etc. are accumulated.

<Connection configuration of gas container and its connection destination>
The gas G flows from the gas container 16 to the gas appliance to which the gas is consumed through the gas supply path 14. The data measuring means 6 measures gas data Si such as a gas flow rate flowing through the gas supply path 14 at a predetermined frequency and timing. The measurement frequency and timing of the data measuring means 6 are set at a predetermined time, for example, every day or every few days, and the user's trend data (gas usage tendency information) is calculated from the measured gas data Si, and the trend data is used. The next measurement date and measurement timing may be set depending on the amount of residual gas to be estimated and whether or not the estimated date of out of gas estimated from the trend data is near.
The gas container 16 is provided with, for example, a gas container 16-1 for supplying gas G to a gas appliance and a gas container 16-2 for backing up the gas out of the gas container 16-1. When the gas container 16-1 runs out of gas, the switch 18 switches from the gas container 16-1 of the gas supply source to the gas container 16-2 on the backup side, and the gas G from the gas container 16-2 to the gas device. Supply.

<Example of gas data Si>
If the maximum value of the gas amount of the gas container 16 is Gmax, the measured gas amount is gi, and the integrated value is Σgi, the gas amount Gi remaining in the gas container 16 at the time of measurement is
Gi = Gmax-Σgi ・ ・ ・ (1)
It can be represented by (however, i = 1, 2, ..., N).

<Replacement process of gas container 16>
For data processing of the gas container exchange device 4, for example, a. Acquisition of gas data Si, b. Accumulation of gas data Si, c. Calculation of estimated out-of-gas date dx, d. Comparison of gas volume or estimated out-of-gas date between users, e. Selection process of users who provide gas containers, f. Other data processing etc. are included.
a. Acquisition of gas data Si The processing unit 10 continuously or discontinuously acquires and collects gas data Si from the data measuring means 6.
b. Storage of gas data Si The gas data Si collected in the processing unit 10 is stored in the storage unit 12.

c. Calculation of estimated gas outage date dx The processing unit 10 calculates the gas consumption tendency from, for example, a plurality of stored gas data Sis, and the gas container 16 in use or a plurality of gas containers 16-1, 16-2. Calculate the estimated out-of-gas date dx. The calculated out-of-gas estimated date dx is stored in the storage unit 12 for each user.
d. Comparison of gas amount or estimated gas outage date between users The gas container exchange device 4 has a gas amount or out of gas between users in order to distinguish between a user who has gas and a user who is short of gas. Performs comparison processing of estimated date dx. The processing unit 10 reads out gas data Si or gas outage estimated date information of all users stored in the storage unit 12 or a plurality of users extracted according to preset conditions, and compares these information. Further, the processing unit 10 determines whether or not there is a user who shifts to the gas container replacement processing based on the gas data Si or the gas outage estimation date information. The transition to the gas container replacement process is, for example, whether the estimated gas out date has been reached, or whether the estimated gas outage date dx has been reached within a predetermined number of days, or the amount of gas remaining in the gas container 16 is less than or equal to a predetermined value. It should be judged by whether or not.

e. Selection processing of a user who provides a gas container The processing unit 10 selects a user who provides a gas container to a user who is short of gas from among the users who have gas. The user who provides the gas container is an example of the first user of the present disclosure, and the user who receives the gas container is an example of the second user of the present disclosure. In this selection process, for example, the first user who owns the gas is on the delivery route to the second user who receives the gas, faces the same road, and delivers to the second user. It may be selected by either time, other conditions, or a combination thereof.

f. Other data processing The processing unit 10 may store, for example, the calculated gas outage estimated date dx in the storage unit 12 and notify the user or the delivery person of the gas container of the gas outage estimated date dx. In the notification of the estimated gas outage date dx, for example, information may be presented at the time of calculation, or when the estimated gas outage date approaches from the calculation results of a plurality of estimated gas outage dates dx over time. Information may be presented.
Further, the processing unit 10 sets the timing of the next gas measurement based on, for example, the gas usage tendency calculated from the acquired gas data Si, or sets the measurement instruction information to move the preset gas measurement date back and forth. It may be generated and transmitted to the data measuring means 6.

<Gas data comparison processing>
FIG. 2 shows an example of gas data comparison processing.
The accumulated gas data Si is acquired at predetermined intervals, for example, in chronological order. In FIG. 2, for example, the elapsed time is set on the horizontal axis, and the amount of gas (residual gas amount) stored in the gas container is set on the vertical axis, and the gas usage state is represented from the transition of gas data of a specific user. ing.
The processing unit 10 calculates the estimated out-of-gas date dxi for the gas container in use or the gas container owned by the user, for example, at the time point ti. In the calculation of this estimated gas outage date, for example, using a plurality of gas data S measured from the start of measurement of the gas container to the time point ti, the decreasing tendency (gas consumption tendency) of the gas is read out, and based on the decreasing tendency. It suffices to predict the estimated date of gas shortage when the amount of residual gas disappears. In the calculation of the estimated gas outage date dxi, in addition to the case of calculating from the decreasing tendency of gas, the estimated gas outage date may be calculated by predicting the gas usage tendency after the time point ti in combination with the past measurement information. ..
2A and 2B show gas data Si of different users and the estimated gas out date dxi calculated from this gas data Si.
For example, as a comparison process, the processing unit 10 calculates the difference between the residual gas amounts la and lb at the time point ti, or the time Za and Zb from the time point ti to the respective estimated gas out date dxi. Then, the processing unit 10 determines, for example, a user who has a large amount of residual gas or a long time until the estimated gas out date as a user who owns gas, depending on whether the calculated difference is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, and determines the amount of residual gas. A user who has a small amount of gas or has a short time to the estimated out-of-gas date is judged as a user who is out of gas. Then, at this time, the processing unit 10 may set the user who holds the gas as a candidate for the first user who provides the gas container 16.

<Gas container replacement process>
FIG. 3 shows an example of the gas container replacement process. The processing content and processing procedure shown in FIG. 3 are examples, and the present invention is not limited to such a configuration. This gas container exchange process is an example of the gas container exchange method of the present invention or a gas container exchange program realized by a computer.
The data measuring means 6 measures the amount of gas such as the flow rate of gas flowing through the gas appliance or the amount of residual gas in the gas container 16, and generates gas data Si from this amount of gas (S11). The processing unit 10 acquires gas data Si from the data measuring means 6.
The gas container exchange device 4 calculates the gas usage tendency by using the gas data Si acquired from the data measuring means 6 at the set timing, and calculates the gas outage estimated date dxi based on this gas usage tendency (S12). ). This estimated gas out date dxi is calculated using, for example, gas data Si measured from the gas container 16 in use or gas data Si based on the amount of gas in all the gas containers 16 owned by the user. .. Further, the processing unit 10 calculates the amount of residual gas at the current time point ti (S13).
Then, the processing unit 10 performs a comparison processing of the amount of gas such as the amount of gas used or the amount of residual gas or the estimated date of out of gas among the users who are the management targets of the gas container (S14). By this comparison process, a candidate user on the gas container provider side and a user who needs to replenish the gas container or who needs to replenish the gas container most recently are determined.

The processing unit 10 selects a first user for a second user who receives the gas container, for example, any one of the delivery route, the delivery road, the delivery time, and the like, or a combination thereof (S15).
Then, the processing unit 10 generates gas container replacement instruction information including the selection results of the selected first user and the second user, the estimated gas outage date, the residual gas amount, the gas container replacement date, and the like (S16). ). This gas container replacement instruction information may be notified to, for example, a first user and a second user who replace the gas container, and a worker who delivers and replaces the gas container.

The processing unit 10 may calculate the inventory gas container E2 at the set date or month, or at the gas container replacement timing. Further, the processing unit 10 may shift to a process of selecting a first user and a second user at the timing of acquiring gas data by frequent measurement.

[Effect of one embodiment]
According to this embodiment, any of the following effects can be expected.
(1) By delivering the gas container from a user who has a large amount of gas to another user, the degree of freedom in improving the efficiency of the delivery method is increased.
(2) Since the gas owned by the user can be regarded as the current delivery base and delivered to the user who is near or out of gas, the degree of freedom in the delivery route and delivery timing is increased, and the delivery can be performed. Efficiency can be improved.
(3) Since the gas container can be delivered from a user who is closer to the delivery base, the delivery load of the gas container can be reduced and the gas container replacement process can be expedited.
(4) By receiving gas from a user who has enough gas to carry out the gas container replacement process, the selectivity of the delivery route of the gas container is enhanced and the risk of gas shortage can be reduced.
(5) By accommodating gas containers between users, it is possible to speed up the delivery process of gas containers regardless of the distance from the delivery base, so even if the safety factor for the estimated gas outage date is set low. The risk of running out of gas can be reduced. In addition, since the safety factor can be lowered, the amount of residual gas in the gas container is reduced, and the work load of gas container replacement and delivery can be reduced.
(6) By providing a gas container from a user who has a sufficient amount of gas in the gas container to a user who has a small amount of gas, the difference in the amount of gas held between users will be reduced, and the gas container replacement date will be set at a close timing. , The number of deliveries can be reduced.

FIG. 4 shows a configuration example of the gas container exchange device according to the first embodiment. In FIG. 4, the same configurations as those in FIG. 1 are assigned the same numbers.
In this gas container exchange system 2, for example, as shown in FIG. 4, a distribution base 22 in which a large number of gas containers 16 which are management centers for outputting gas container delivery instructions are arranged, and a gas container 16 from the distribution base 22 The vehicle 24 for delivering the gas is provided. The distribution base 22 acquires gas data from the data measuring means 6 installed in the buildings of each user X and Y, for example, and acquires information such as the amount of gas used and the amount of residual gas. In the delivery base 22, for example, a user Y whose estimated gas outage date dx is close is set as a second user, and a user X who exists on the delivery path of this user Y and has gas is selected as a first user. There is. Then, the delivery base 22 issues a delivery instruction including a delivery route to the building of the user Y via the location of the user X to the vehicle 24, and is installed at the eaves of the user X to store gas. A gas container in which a part of the gas container 16 is recovered or replaced with an empty gas container 16 loaded on the vehicle 24, or the gas container 16 recovered from the user X is replaced with the gas container 16 of the user Y. Output exchange instruction information.

<Structure of data measuring means 6>
As shown in FIG. 5, for example, the data measuring means 6 includes a gas meter 8 including a data measuring unit 28 and a data acquisition unit 30. Further, the data measuring means 6 communicates with the gas container exchange device 4 side through the communication unit 32-1. The data measuring unit 28 measures, for example, the flow rate of gas flowing through the gas supply path 14 to the gas appliances 34-1, 34-2, ... At a predetermined frequency and timing.
The frequency and timing of measurement by the data measuring unit 28 may be calculated and set by, for example, the data measuring means 6, or may be calculated and set by the gas container changing device 4 that performs the gas container changing process.
The data acquisition unit 30 is an example of a means for collecting the measurement result by the data measurement unit 28 and generating gas data to be notified to the gas container exchange device 4 side. The data acquisition unit 30 may be configured as a data repeater together with the communication unit 32-1, for example, or may be configured inside the gas meter 8.
The communication unit 32-1 is an example of means for transmitting and receiving instruction information such as gas data and measurement timing between the data measurement means 6 and the gas container exchange device 4. The communication unit 32-1 communicates with, for example, the communication unit 32-2 (FIG. 6) installed in the gas container exchange device 4. The communication units 32-1 and 32-2 may use, for example, a general telephone line, a mobile phone line, a network communication line such as the Internet, infrared communication, a dedicated wired line, an optical communication line, or the like. Further, in the data communication processing, for example, communication may be performed with the data measuring means 6 via a mobile phone or other communication terminal device (not shown). The transmitted and received gas data is used to calculate the estimated gas out date dx of the gas container 16. Therefore, the gas data includes, for example, the measured value of the gas flow rate, the amount of gas used, the amount of residual gas, the output pulse of the load survey or the gas meter 8, data indicating the amount of gas used or the amount of residual gas as well as the measured value, and alarm information. , The pressure inside the container indicating the amount of gas used or the amount of residual gas may be used, or the data may be a combination of two or more of these.

<Structure on the gas container exchange device 4 side>
As shown in A of FIG. 6, for example, the gas container exchange device 4 is formed in the distribution base 22 in which the gas container 16 is stored and replenishes the gas container 16, or is outside the distribution base 22. It may be formed in a management center or the like that manages and monitors each distribution base 22.
The gas container exchange device 4 receives the gas data measured by the gas meter 8 via, for example, the communication unit 32-2, and the necessary information is read through the data acquisition unit 36.
The data acquisition unit 36 is an example of the data acquisition means of the present invention, and is a process of calculating the estimated gas out date dx such as the measured value such as the amount of gas used or the amount of residual gas contained in the gas data, the measurement date and time, and the user name. This is an example of a functional unit for extracting or organizing data necessary for setting a gas container replacement date, calculating an inventory gas container, calculating a gas charge, and the like. The gas data extracted or organized by the data acquisition unit 36 is used in the data processing unit 38 for processing such as calculation of the estimated gas outage date, and is also stored in the storage unit 12.
Further, the gas container exchange device 4 is provided with, for example, a display unit 40. The display unit 40 has, for example, the acquisition status of gas data, the estimated gas out date calculated by the data processing unit 38, the presence / absence of an inventory gas container, and the inventory status of the delivery base 22 and the gas container in the area in charge of the delivery person. Information such as is displayed. The information displayed on the display unit 40 may be notified to, for example, an external delivery base 22 or a communication terminal device 26 possessed by the delivery person.
For example, the user database 42 (A in FIG. 7), the gas amount database 44 (B in FIG. 7), the delivery information data table 46 (FIG. 8), the gas container replacement instruction information 48, and the like are stored in the storage unit 12.

The gas container exchange device 4 is composed of a computer, and the control unit 50 includes a processor 52, a memory unit 54, an input / output unit (I / O) 56, and the like, as shown in FIG. 6B, for example.
The processor 52 is an example of a calculation means, and is an OS (Operating System) executed by the memory unit 54, various firmware programs, a gas container exchange program based on gas data, calculation of an estimated gas out date dx, and a gas container exchange instruction. Performs arithmetic processing of various programs such as a management program that generates information 48. Further, the processor 52 sets the measurement frequency to the gas meter 8, outputs the gas data transmission instruction according to the program to be executed, controls the display to the display unit 40, and is a functional unit connected via the I / O 56. Control to.
The memory unit 54 is an example of a work area for executing an OS and various programs. For the memory unit 54, for example, a storage element such as a RAM (Random-Access Memory) is used. The processor 52 and the memory unit 54 function as a data processing unit 38 and a data acquisition unit 32 of the gas container exchange device 4 by performing calculations and executing various programs.
The storage unit 12 is an example of various programs for operating the gas container switching device 4 and means for storing gas data acquired by the gas meter 8, for example, ROM (Read-Only Memory) or EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read). -Only Memory).

The I / O 56 is an example of an interface for connecting the gas container exchange device 4 and an external device. The I / O56 is connected to an external device by a wired connection such as a serial cable, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) cable, or a communication cable, as well as wireless communication such as a telephone line or an internet line, infrared communication, and optical communication. Those connected by such as are included. The gas container exchange device 4 includes, for example, an input operation device for writing information via an I / O 56, and an external storage device for transmitting and receiving data used for calculating the estimated gas out date dx and calculating the gas charge. Etc. may be connected.

Further, the vehicle 24 or the delivery person for executing the delivery and exchange processing of the gas container 16 includes a communication terminal device 26 for receiving and displaying the gas container exchange instruction information 48 from the gas container exchange device 4. The communication terminal device 26 is, for example, a dedicated terminal device, a mobile phone, a smartphone, a mobile PC (Personal Computer), or the like, and has a communication function capable of communicating with the communication unit 32-2, as well as a display screen and an input. It has an operation screen.

<Configuration example of user database 42>
A in FIG. 7 shows the user database 42. The user database 42 stores, for example, user name information 61, address information 62, area in charge information 63, gas container holding number information 64, intention display information 65 for providing gas containers to other users, and the like.
The user name information 61 is an ID (Identification) that identifies a user who is the target of the gas container exchange process. The user name information 61 may include, for example, information for identifying the installed gas container, or may store only the gas container identification information instead of the user name.
The address information 62 is information indicating a place where the gas container is installed, and is an example of information for specifying a delivery destination in the gas container exchange process.
The responsible area information 63 includes, for example, information indicating a delivery base 22 in charge of delivery or information for subdividing and specifying a delivery area for a delivery destination of a gas container.
The gas container holding number information 64 stores the number of gas containers 16 purchased by the user and installed at a predetermined position. The number of gas containers may be set to, for example, a fixed value set in advance, a number specified by the user, or a number calculated from past gas usage records.

The intention display information 65 indicating the intention to provide the gas container to other users is provided to other users whose gas outage has occurred due to a change in the gas usage tendency or whose estimated gas outage date dx is the latest. This is an example of information indicating an intention to provide a part of the gas container 16 when there is a margin in the amount of gas. The intention display information 65 includes, for example, information indicating an intention to refuse to provide the gas container, and when selected by the gas container replacement process of the present invention, a part of the gas container 16 is provided to any user. It may store a display indicating that it is provided, or information that the provision is permitted only to a specific user in advance. Further, the gas container exchange device 4 may have the user selected as the provider of the gas container 16 answer the indication of intention to provide the gas container. The gas container exchange device 4 determines a first user who provides the gas container 16 based on the intention display information 65 or a response from the user, and receives the provision of the gas container 16 from the first user. Generate delivery information including delivery routes to 2 users.

<Structure example of gas amount database 44>
The gas amount database 44 is an example of a database that stores information including measured gas data. For example, as shown in FIG. 7B, user name information 71, measured value information 72, gas outage estimated date information 73, and gas. Information on the number of containers 74, measurement date information 75, and the like are included.
The user name information 71 is an ID that identifies a user who is the target of the gas container replacement process.
The measured value information 72 is information acquired from the gas meter 8 and is an example of the gas data of the present invention.
In the gas outage estimation date information 73, the gas outage estimation date dx calculated by using the measured gas data Si is stored. For the calculation of the estimated gas outage date, for example, the measured value information 72, the gas container holding number information 64, and the like may be used.

The number information 74 of the gas container is, for example, a gas container 16 installed at the eaves of the user, and the number of the gas containers 16 in a state in which the user can use the gas container 16 is stored. That is, when only the required number of gas containers used by the user is installed at the eaves, the same number of gas container number information 74 as the gas container possession number information 64 of the user database 42 is stored. On the other hand, when the user stocks more gas containers 16 than the number used in advance, the gas container number information 74 stores a smaller number than the gas container possession number information 64 of the user database 42. ..
The measurement date information 75 stores information on the date or time when the gas meter 8 measures.

The user database 42 and the gas amount database 44 show a case where a plurality of user information is displayed side by side, but the present invention is not limited to this. These databases may store the current data and the past data collectively for each user, for example.

<Configuration example of delivery information data table 46>
As shown in FIG. 8, for example, the delivery information data table 46 is an example of delivery record information in which weather information and the like are stored together with the delivery section and delivery time, and the registered weather state information 81, delivery section information 82, and record. The required time information 83 and the recording date / time 84 are included.
The weather condition information 81 stores the weather at the time of past delivery. As the weather, the types of weather that affect the road condition, such as "sunny", "rain", and "snow", are stored. In addition, the temperature and humidity may be stored as the weather conditions.
The delivery section information 82 stores information indicating a delivery section between two points, such as between registered users, or between a delivery base 22 that manages a gas container 16 and fills gas, and a user. The delivery section information 82 may store, for example, a registration number indicating a user, a delivery base 22, or the like, as well as information indicating a delivery route, such as a road name used at the time of delivery (not shown) or coordinate information on a map.
The actual required time information 83 is an example of the required time of the present disclosure, and the time information required for the delivery process is stored for the delivery section registered in the delivery section information 82. In the delivery information data table 46, for example, all delivery records may be registered for the same section, or the actual required time may be registered for each weather condition. Here, for example, the actual required time in the case of "sunny", "rain", and "snow" is registered for the user "B" (AB) from the user "A" which is the delivery section. In the case of "rain" or "snow", for example, the traveling condition of the road may change, and it may take longer to deliver than in the case of "sunny" due to traffic congestion.
For the recording date and time 84, date information or the like in which the delivery record for each delivery section is registered is registered.

Next, the selection of the first user who provides the gas container will be described. FIG. 9 shows an example of selection of a user who provides a gas container.
<Selection example 1>
As shown in A of FIG. 9, for example, the gas container exchange device 4 estimates the distance, the amount of gas, or the out of gas from the route planned to be delivered to the user c to the user c who is the second user who is short of gas. As a result of comparing the days and the like, user a and user b are selected. In this case, the gas container exchange device 4 may use, for example, the delivery distance or the delivery time for the user c, which is the delivery destination, as the selection criterion as the selection example 1. That is, the gas container exchange device 4 selects the user b facing the same main street, for example, based on the straight line distance on the map, the delivery distance along the road to reach the user c, and the like. For the calculation of the straight line distance on the map, for example, the coordinate information assigned to the map may be used. Further, as the road information between users, for example, the delivery information data table 46 in which the past delivery records of the two sections are stored may be read out.

<Selection example 2>
Further, in the gas container exchange device 4, for example, as selection example 2, the first user may be selected based on the number of gas containers 16 possessed. That is, as shown in B of FIG. 9, for example, the gas container exchange device 4 may compare the selected user a and the user b's gas container holding number information 64 to calculate the user a having a large number of holdings. By selecting a user who has a large number of gas containers 16, it is possible to reduce the influence of gas shortage on the user who provided the gas container 16.

In this way, the gas container exchange device 4 matches a user who is out of gas or a user who is likely to be out of gas with a user who can provide the selected gas container 16. As a result, in the gas container exchange system 2, as shown in FIG. 10, for example, an efficient delivery plan of the vehicle 24 that delivers the gas container to a plurality of users designated from the distribution base 22 on the gas container exchange date. To set. In this gas container replacement process, for example, a user b who has a margin in the gas container 16 is interposed for the user a, the user c, and the user d set on the gas container replacement date. Then, the vehicle 24 exchanges a part of the gas container 16 carried from the delivery base 22 with the user a and the empty or small gas container 16 installed at the eaves of the user a. After the user a, the vehicle 24 collects a part of the full gas container 16 installed at the eaves of the user b via the user b. Then, the vehicle 24 exchanges a predetermined number of full gas containers 16 for the user c and the user d, and returns to the delivery base 22.

<Configuration example of delivery route data 90>
FIG. 11 shows a display example of the delivery route.
The delivery route data 90 is displayed on the communication terminal device 26 possessed by the delivery person who performs the gas container exchange processing or mounted on the vehicle 24, for example, as shown in A of FIG. The delivery route data 90 is an example of the gas container exchange instruction information of the present disclosure. In the delivery route data 90, for example, section information 91, delivery route information 92 in which specific information of a delivery route between two points is registered, elapsed time information 93, and the like are registered.
The section information 91 is information indicating a delivery section including a delivery destination to be delivered on the gas container exchange date. By selecting the delivery section information 82 in the delivery information data table 46, the delivery route data 90 may be read out.
The delivery route information 92 is an example of the actual information of the delivery route in which which road or point has passed for the delivery section is registered. The delivery route information 92 includes, for example, the name of the road passing through, one or both of the coordinate information on the map, the moving distance of each road, the position information of the end point of the delivery destination, and the like, starting from the user or the delivery base 22. The route is shown. In the delivery route information 92, for example, character information that can be grasped by the delivery person may be registered, or only a program processed by a computer may be registered.
In the elapsed time information 93, the actual required time information 83 of the delivery information data table 46, time information including the time required for replacement of the gas container 16 in addition to this time information, and the like are registered. The time required to replace the gas container 16 increases or decreases depending on the number of replacements and the like.

Further, on the display screen of the communication terminal device 26, for example, as shown in B of FIG. 11, map data 94 showing a delivery route or the like is displayed. In the delivery route display process, for example, the delivery destination information 95 between two points, the elapsed time information 96, the route display information 97 for clearly indicating the passing road, and the like are displayed on the map data 94. The map data 94 may further display a delivery order or the like.

<About gas container replacement processing>
FIG. 12 is a sequence diagram showing an example of gas container replacement processing. The processing content and processing procedure shown in FIG. 12 are examples, and the present invention is not limited to such a configuration. This gas container exchange process is an example of the gas container exchange method of the present invention or a gas container exchange program executed by using a computer.
The gas meter 8 constituting the data measuring means 6 measures the amount of gas such as the gas flow rate flowing through the gas appliance 34 or the amount of residual gas in the gas container 16 (S21), and generates gas data Si from this gas amount (S22). ).
The gas container exchange device 4 acquires and accumulates gas data Si from the data gas meter 8 side at a set timing (S23), and calculates the estimated gas out date dxi using this gas data Si (S24).
The gas container exchange device 4 compares the amount of gas or the estimated out-of-gas date with other users (S25), and provides the in-stock gas container to the user whose estimated out-of-gas date is near or out of gas. Select a user (S26). Then, the gas container exchange device 4 generates gas container exchange instruction information including the delivery order and delivery plan of the gas container (S27), and transmits the gas container exchange instruction information to the delivery person or the communication terminal device 26 of the vehicle 24. Along with (S28), the display unit 40 displays the estimated gas out date, the gas charge, and the like (S29).

In the gas container replacement process, for example, as shown in FIG. 13, the gas container 16 is connected between the user a (A in FIG. 13) and the user b (B in FIG. 13), the gas container replacement process executed on different days. May be offered. In this case, for example, it is set that the user a receives a part of the gas container 16 from the user b by comparing the estimated gas out date dxi calculated by the gas amount measurement at the timing of the time point ti.
Then, in the gas container exchange device 4, for example, when the gas container exchange process is performed at the timing of the time point nt, the gas amounts of the user a and the user b fluctuate. That is, the user b decreases the amount of gas by providing the gas container 16, and the user a increases the amount of gas.
In the gas container exchange system 2, for example, by measuring gas data after the time point nt and repeating the calculation process of the estimated gas outage date, the next gas outage estimation date dxi of the user a and the user b is close to each other. I will go. As a result, for example, in the next gas container replacement process, the gas container 16 is replaced at the same time for the user a and the user b, and the number of deliveries can be adjusted.

<Effect of Example 1>
According to this Example 1, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) By delivering the gas container from a user who has a large amount of gas to another user, the degree of freedom in improving the efficiency of the delivery method is increased.
(2) Since the gas owned by the user can be regarded as the current delivery base and delivered to the user who is near or out of gas, the degree of freedom in the delivery route and delivery timing is increased, and the delivery can be performed. Efficiency can be improved.
(3) Since the gas container can be delivered from a user who is closer to the delivery base, the delivery load of the gas container can be reduced and the gas container replacement process can be expedited.
(4) By executing the gas container replacement process using the gas of the user who has enough gas in possession, the selectivity of the delivery route of the gas container can be enhanced and the risk of gas shortage can be reduced.
(5) By selecting the user (first user) who will provide the gas container 16 based on the distance on the map and the delivery record, we will promptly respond to the user who has run out of gas or is close to running out of gas. be able to.
(6) Based on the distance on the map and the delivery record, it is possible to reduce the delivery cost and time loss for the collection process of the gas container from the first user.

FIG. 14 shows a configuration example of the gas container exchange device according to the second embodiment. In FIG. 14, the same configurations as those in FIGS. 1 and 4 are given the same numbers.
In this gas container exchange system 2, for example, as shown in FIG. 14, when some users have stocked more stock gas containers than necessary, the estimated gas out date is near by using this stock gas container. Or, it is delivered to the user who has reached the estimated out-of-gas date. In the gas container exchange system 2, for example, the user a has only the required number of gas containers 16-1 and 16-2, while the user b and the user x have a large number of gas containers more than the required number. ..
The gas container 16 includes, for example, a required gas container E1 and an inventory gas container E2 composed of a predetermined number. The required gas container E1 is, for example, the number of gas containers required by the user within a predetermined period among the installed gas containers 16. The required number is, for example, the number of gas containers including the amount of gas set by the contract with the gas supply company, or the number of gas containers calculated from the past gas usage record. Each user is supplied with at least the required gas container E1.
The stock gas container E2 is an example of a gas container 16 having more than the number of required gas containers E1 installed among the gas containers owned by the user. For example, the stock gas container E2 is replaced when the gas in the required gas container E1 becomes empty. Or it is used as a stock for distribution to other users. For example, the number of stock gas containers E2 that can be installed on the site owned or managed by the user, or the number set by the contract between the gas supply company and the user is installed. Therefore, the inventory gas container E2 is allocated to a user who has a site where a plurality of gas containers can be installed and who desires to install more gas containers than the required gas container E1. The gas containers 16-3, 16-4, and further gas containers (not shown) included in the stock gas container E2 may be connected to, for example, the gas supply pipe 14, or may not be connected to the gas supply pipe 14. It may only be placed on the user's premises.
The number of gas containers 16 possessed including the stock gas container E2 is stored in the gas container possessed number information 64 (FIG. 7) of the user database 42.

<About gas container replacement processing>
FIG. 15 is a sequence diagram showing an example of gas container replacement processing. The processing content and processing procedure shown in FIG. 15 are examples, and the present invention is not limited to such a configuration. This gas container exchange process is an example of the gas container exchange method of the present invention or a gas container exchange program executed by using a computer.
In this gas container replacement process, the measurement process of the gas meter 8, the calculation of the gas outage estimated date dx by the gas container exchange device 4, the comparison process of the gas outage estimated date, and the like (S31 to S35) are performed in S21-S25 (S21-S25) of the first embodiment. The same processing as in FIG. 12) may be performed.
Further, the gas container exchange device 4 determines whether or not there is a user who has the stock gas container E2 in stock among the users who have a margin in the amount of gas selected by the comparison process of the estimated gas outage date (S36). ), If there is a user who has the stock gas container E2 in stock (YES in S36), that user is preferentially selected (S37). Further, when there is no user who has the stock gas container E2 in stock (NO in S36), a user who is a candidate for providing the gas container is selected based on the information such as the estimated gas outage date (S38).
Then, among the selected users, a user who meets the conditions such as a delivery route and a short delivery time is selected as the first user (S39).
The gas container exchange device 4 generates gas container exchange instruction information including a gas container delivery order and a delivery plan (S40), and transmits the gas container exchange instruction information to the delivery person or the communication terminal device 26 of the vehicle 24 (S41). ), The display unit 40 displays the estimated date of out of gas, the gas charge, and the like (S42).

<Effect of Example 2>
According to the second embodiment, the following effects can be obtained in addition to the effects of one embodiment and the first embodiment.
(1) The gas container 16 is provided by delivering the gas container to a user who is near the estimated gas out date or a user who is out of gas by using the stock gas container E2 that is stocked in excess of the required number. The gas container can be replaced quickly without affecting the amount of gas that can be used by the user.
(2) If gas containers are stocked on the user's premises and normal gas container delivery is not possible or delayed, stock gas is used as a gas container delivery base or a local gas supply base. The container E2 can be used, and the convenience of gas supply is enhanced.
(3) By having the user own a large number of stock gas containers E2, the time required for delivery and replacement of the gas container 16 can be shortened even if a sudden change in gas usage occurs, and the delivery base 22 and the delivery destination can be shortened. Since the number of round trips to and from can be reduced, the delivery load can also be reduced.
(4) By processing the delivery of gas containers using the stock gas containers owned by the user, the number of returns to the delivery base to replenish the gas containers can be reduced, and the delivery cost can be reduced. Can be done.

FIG. 16 shows an example of the weather / traffic information table on the delivery date according to the third embodiment.
The gas container exchange device 4 collects weather forecast information and traffic information for, for example, an area or a user who delivers and exchanges gas containers, and uses these information to generate gas container exchange instruction information.
FIG. 16 shows the weather / traffic information table 100 as an example of the state information associated with the delivery date. The weather / traffic information table 100 is a database for registering forecast or observation information of weather information on a candidate date for replacement of a gas container or the day of replacement and traffic information in an area in charge of delivery of a gas container, for example, as a state of a delivery date. This is an example. For example, date information 101, area information 102, weather information 103, road identification information 104, traffic information 105, and the like are registered in the weather / traffic information table 100. In the date information 101, for example, at least the exchange candidate date of the gas container 16 or the weather forecast or the observed weather information on the exchange date is registered. In the area information 102, information for dividing and specifying the delivery range is stored. This area information may be the same information as the area information 63 in charge of the user database 42. In the meteorological information 103, for example, meteorological information acquired through a network is registered as a meteorological forecast. The road identification information 104 is an example of information for identifying a road used for a delivery route. In the traffic information 105, for example, traffic jam information, accident information, and the like are registered for each road identification information 104.

The gas container exchange device 4 reads, for example, the weather / traffic information table 100 on the delivery date in the selection process of the first user who provides the gas container 16, and refers to the weather forecast and the traffic information in the delivery area. A user with a short delivery time or delivery route may be selected as the first user.
Further, the gas container exchange device 4 reads out the weather / traffic information table 100 and delivers the vehicle 24 when an event such as a change in the weather condition or a traffic accident occurs after the delivery process of the gas container 16 is started. A new first user may be selected in combination with the location information of.

<Effect of Example 3>
According to the third embodiment, the following effects can be obtained in addition to the effects of one embodiment, the first embodiment, and the second embodiment.
(1) Even if the collection of the gas container 16 from the first user selected at the beginning is delayed or cannot be collected due to changes in weather conditions or traffic conditions, other users can be replaced with new first users. It is possible to collect the gas container 16 from the user and deliver the gas container 16 to the second user.
(2) By selecting the provider of the gas container 16 in consideration of the weather conditions and traffic conditions, it is possible to set a more accurate delivery plan for the gas container.

Comparative example

FIG. 17 shows a comparative example of the delivery process of the gas container.
In the gas container exchange process shown in FIG. 17, for example, the delivery state of the gas container to the user a, the user c, and the user d set on the gas container exchange date by a predetermined process is shown. In this delivery process, a predetermined number of gas containers 16 are mounted on the vehicle 24 from the delivery base 22, and after exchanging a predetermined number of gas containers 16 for the user a, the gas is directed to the user c away from the delivery base 22 and gas is used. The container 16 is being replaced. Here, since all of the loaded gas containers 16 are empty or the amount of gas is small, the vehicle 24 returns to the distribution base 22 from the building of the user c and replenishes the full gas container 16. After that, the vehicle 24 heads from the distribution base 22 to the user d, replaces a part of the loaded number with the gas container 16 having a small amount of gas owned by the user d, and returns to the distribution base 22 again.
As described above, in the gas container replacement process according to the comparative example, if the number of gas containers 16 at the delivery destination requiring replacement and the number of gas containers 16 that can be mounted on the vehicle 24 do not match, the gas returns to the delivery base 22 and gas is used. Container 16 needs to be refilled. At this time, the vehicle 24 will deliver the empty gas container 16 during the delivery work.
On the other hand, in the gas container exchange system 2 of the present invention, the eaves of a user who owns gas is used as a temporary delivery base, and gas container exchange instruction information can be created using a part of the gas container owned by this user. Therefore, the number of round trips to the delivery base 22 can be reduced, the delivery time and the delivery load can be reduced, and the fuel consumption used for operating the vehicle 24 can be reduced.

[Other embodiments]
(1) In the above-described embodiment and embodiment, a case is shown in which a process of selecting a user who can provide a gas container is performed after performing a comparison process of an estimated gas outage date, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, information that provided the gas container 16 in the past and information of the user who received the gas container 16 are registered in the user database 42, and this registration is performed in the next and subsequent exchange processing of the gas container 16. The information user may be selected as the second user.

(2) When the user who has reached the replacement timing of the gas container 16 has provided the gas container 16 to another user in the past, for example, the user who provided the gas container 16 is preferentially selected as the first user. , The gas container 16 may be provided.

(3) The gas container replacement process of receiving a part of the gas container 16 from the selected first user and delivering the gas container 16 to another user is, for example, when the gas container replacement date is set. The delivery efficiency may be calculated and executed at all times, or when the gas usage tendency of some users changes suddenly, when the weather deteriorates, or when a sudden event such as construction of a delivery route occurs. You may do it. Further, the gas container exchange system 2 performs a process of receiving the gas container 16 from some users in a normal gas container exchange process, and further provides the gas container 16 when a sudden event occurs. The number of users may be increased to deliver gas containers.

As described above, the most preferable embodiment of the present invention has been described. The present invention is not limited to the above description. Various modifications and modifications can be made by those skilled in the art based on the gist of the invention described in the claims or disclosed in the form for carrying out the invention. Needless to say, such modifications and modifications are included in the scope of the present invention.

The gas container exchange system of the present invention uses a gas container of a user who has a sufficient amount of gas to deliver the gas container to a user who is almost out of gas, so that the gas container can be delivered from a distant delivery base. In addition to being able to generate gas outages and shorten the gas outage period, it is also beneficial to improve the efficiency of gas container replacement and reduce the delivery load.

2 Gas container exchange system 4 Gas container exchange device 6 Data measurement means 8 Gas meter 10 Processing unit 12 Storage unit 14 Gas supply path 16, 16-1, 16-2 Gas container 18 Switcher 22 Delivery base 24 Vehicle 26 Communication terminal device 28 Data measurement unit 30 Data acquisition unit 32-1, 32-2 Communication unit 34, 34-1, 34-2 Gas equipment 36 Data acquisition unit 38 Data processing unit 40 Display unit 42 User database 44 Gas volume database 46 Delivery information database 48 Gas container replacement instruction information 50 Control unit 52 Processor 54 Memory unit 56 I / O
61 User name information 62 Address information 63 Area in charge information 64 Gas container holding number information 65 Intention display information for providing gas containers to other users 71 User name information 72 Measured value information 73 Gas outage estimated date information 74 Gas container number information 75 Measurement date information 81 Meteorological condition information 82 Delivery section information 83 Actual time required information 84 Recording date and time 90 Delivery route data 91 Section information 92 Delivery route information 93 Elapsed time information 94 Map data 95 Delivery destination information between two points 96 Elapsed time information 97 Route display information 100 Meteorological / traffic information table 101 Date information 102 Regional information 103 Meteorological information 104 Road identification information 105 Traffic information

Claims (9)

A data measuring means that outputs gas data that frequently measures the amount of gas in a gas container,
The gas data or the estimated gas out date calculated by using the gas data is compared between users, and the difference in the amount of gas in the gas container or the difference in the time until the estimated gas out date is based on the comparison result. A first user who extracts a user whose value is equal to or higher than a predetermined value and provides a user who has a large amount of gas in the gas container or a long time until the estimated date of out of gas among the extracted users. A user who has a small amount of gas in the gas container or a short time until the estimated gas out date is set as a second user who is likely to run out or run out of gas in the gas container. Then, the remaining amount of gas, the delivery route to the second user, the delivery distance, the delivery time, or any of the delivery areas divided by a predetermined range, or a combination of two or more of these information, from the candidate to the said. Gas container replacement instruction information for selecting the first user who provides the gas container and using a part of the gas container of the first user to execute the replacement process of the gas container of the second user. And the processing unit that outputs
A gas container exchange system characterized by being equipped with. The gas container exchange according to claim 1 , wherein the processing unit preferentially selects a user having a short delivery distance or delivery time from the candidate to the second user as the first user. system. Further, user information including information on the number of gas containers owned, delivery destination of the gas container, identification information for identifying the gas container, estimated date of out of gas, delivery section, delivery route, delivery time, weather information, and traffic information. It has a storage unit that stores either or two or more.
The processing unit stores or updates the acquisition of gas data and the calculation result of the estimated gas outage date in the storage unit, and dynamically changes the information.
The gas container exchange system according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the gas container exchange system is characterized in that. The gas container exchange system according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , further comprising an information presenting unit for presenting the gas container exchange instruction information and the delivery instruction information including the delivery route. The user information includes gas container providing information indicating an intention to provide the gas container to other users.
The gas container exchange system according to claim 3 , wherein the processing unit selects the first user based on the information provided by the gas container. The processing unit creates trend data showing a transition tendency of the amount of gas obtained in a predetermined period by using the gas data, and sets the measurement timing from the next time onward by the data measuring means based on the trend data. The gas container exchange system according to any one of claims 1 to 5 , wherein gas data is measured with frequency. A data acquisition means for acquiring gas data obtained by frequently measuring the amount of gas in a gas container from a data measurement means,
The gas data or the estimated gas out date calculated by using the gas data is compared between users, and the difference in the amount of gas in the gas container or the difference in the time until the estimated gas out date is based on the comparison result. A first user who extracts a user whose value is equal to or higher than a predetermined value and provides a user who has a large amount of gas in the gas container or a long time until the estimated date of out of gas among the extracted users. A user who has a small amount of gas in the gas container or a short time until the estimated gas out date is set as a second user who is likely to run out or run out of gas in the gas container. Then, the remaining amount of gas, the delivery route to the second user, the delivery distance, the delivery time, or any of the delivery areas divided by a predetermined range, or a combination of two or more of these information, from the candidate to the said. Gas container replacement instruction information for selecting the first user who provides the gas container and using a part of the gas container of the first user to execute the replacement process of the gas container of the second user. And the processing unit that outputs
A gas container exchange device characterized by being provided with. The process of frequently measuring the amount of gas in a gas container and outputting gas data,
A process of comparing the estimated gas out date calculated by using the gas data or the gas data among users, and
Based on the comparison result, a user whose difference in the amount of gas in the gas container or the difference in time until the estimated gas outage date is equal to or more than a predetermined value is extracted, and the gas in the gas container among the extracted users is extracted. A user with a large amount or a long time until the estimated gas out of gas is set as a candidate for the first user who provides the gas container, and the amount of gas in the gas container is small or until the estimated out of gas date. A user with a short time is set as a second user who is or is likely to run out of gas in the gas container, and the remaining amount of gas, the delivery route to the second user, the delivery distance, the delivery time, or a predetermined value. One of the delivery areas divided by the range, or a combination of two or more of these information, the first user who provides the gas container is selected from the candidates, and the gas container of the first user is selected. A step of outputting gas container replacement instruction information for executing the gas container replacement process of the second user by using a part thereof, and a step of outputting the gas container replacement instruction information.
A gas container replacement method comprising: It is a gas container exchange program realized by a computer.
The function to measure the amount of gas in the gas container frequently and output the gas data,
A function to compare the estimated gas out date calculated using the gas data or the gas data among users, and
Based on the comparison result, a user whose difference in the amount of gas in the gas container or the difference in time until the estimated gas outage date is equal to or more than a predetermined value is extracted, and the gas in the gas container among the extracted users is extracted. A user with a large amount or a long time until the estimated gas out of gas is set as a candidate for the first user who provides the gas container, and the amount of gas in the gas container is small or until the estimated out of gas date. A user with a short time is set as a second user who is or is likely to run out of gas in the gas container, and the remaining amount of gas, the delivery route to the second user, the delivery distance, the delivery time, or a predetermined value. One of the delivery areas divided by the range, or a combination of two or more of these information, the first user who provides the gas container is selected from the candidates, and the gas container of the first user is selected. A function to output gas container replacement instruction information for executing the gas container replacement process of the second user by using a part thereof, and
A gas container exchange program characterized by realizing the above with the computer.

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