APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR ESTIMATING WORKLOAD

• US 20120233086A1
• Filed: 01/19/2012
• Published: 09/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
• Original Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
• Inventors: SHIN, Sang Hoon
• Application Number:
  US13/353,493
• Publication Number:
  US 20120233086A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/338
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3407 specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/14 specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/047 Optimisation of routes or paths, e.g. travelling salesman problem

Abstract

The apparatus includes a route manager configured to generate comparison result information by comparing an actual travel route of a mail carrier with an optimum service route on the basis of obtained global positioning system (GPS) information and then provide the generated comparison result information, a delivery point determiner configured to determine a delivery point on the basis of the obtained GPS information and provide information about the determined delivery point, a GPS information statistics unit configured to provide statistical information obtained by interpreting the obtained GPS information, and an information output unit configured to convert information obtained from one of the route manager, the delivery point determiner, and the GPS information statistics unit to be output as a document, or process the information to be checked by the mail carrier through a user interface (UI). Accordingly, efficiency of a collection and delivery service can be improved.

Claims

1. An apparatus for estimating a workload, comprising:

a route manager configured to generate comparison result information by comparing an actual travel route of a mail carrier with an optimum service route on the basis of obtained global positioning system (GPS) information, and then provide the generated comparison result information;

a delivery point determiner configured to determine a delivery point on the basis of the obtained GPS information and provide information about the determined delivery point;

a GPS information statistics unit configured to provide statistical information obtained by interpreting the obtained GPS information; and

an information output unit configured to convert information obtained from one of the route manager, the delivery point determiner, and the GPS information statistics unit to be output as a document, or process the information to be checked by the mail carrier through a user interface (UI).

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the obtained GPS information includes at least one of the mail carrier'"'"'s travel distance information, travel time information, travel speed information, stop location information, optimum service route information, actual travel route information, and information about a time for which the mail carrier has stayed at a predetermined place.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein, when a condition that the mail carrier stay within a predetermined range of a predetermined place for a predetermined time or more is satisfied while the mail carrier performs a collection and delivery service on the basis of the obtained GPS information, the delivery point determiner determines the predetermined place satisfying the condition as a delivery point.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the statistical information includes at least one of information about a number of cases in which the optimum service route provided by a GPS-mounting device differs from the actual travel route, information about a difference in time to perform a collection and delivery service when the optimum service route provided by the GPS-mounting device differs from the actual travel route, information about an average travel speed of the mail carrier for the collection and delivery service, information about a daily average number of delivery points, and information about whether the mail carrier travels by foot or a means of transportation.

5. A method of estimating a workload, comprising:

generating at least one of comparison result information obtained by comparing an actual travel route of a mail carrier with an optimum service route on the basis of obtained global positioning system (GPS) information, delivery point information obtained by determining a delivery point on the basis of the obtained GPS information, and statistical information obtained by interpreting the obtained GPS information; and

converting at least one of the comparison result information, the delivery point information, and the statistical information to be output as a document, or processing the information to be checked by the mail carrier through a user interface (UI).

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the obtained GPS information includes at least one of the mail carrier'"'"'s travel distance information, travel time information, travel speed information, stop location information, optimum service route information, actual travel route information, and information about a time for which the mail carrier has stayed for his/her work at one place.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein generating at least one of the comparison result information, the delivery point information, and the statistical information includes, when a condition that the mail carrier stay within a predetermined range of a predetermined place for a predetermined time or more is satisfied while the mail carrier performs a collection and delivery service on the basis of the obtained GPS information, determining the predetermined place satisfying the condition as a delivery point.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the statistical information includes at least one of information about a number of cases in which the optimum service route provided by a GPS-mounting device differs from the actual travel route, information about a difference in time to perform a collection and delivery service when the optimum service route provided by the GPS-mounting device differs from the actual travel route, information about an average travel speed of the mail carrier for the collection and delivery service, information about a daily average number of delivery points, and information about whether the mail carrier travels by foot or a means of transportation.