Logistics System

• US 20150088581A1
• Filed: 09/17/2014
• Published: 03/26/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Daifuku Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Daifuku Company Limited
• Inventors: IKAWA, Kouichi
• Granted Patent: US 9,792,569 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/7.23
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0631 Resource planning, allocation, distributing or scheduling for enterprises or organisations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06313 Resource planning in a project environment
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0833 Tracking

Abstract

A logistics system includes a control unit, an actual arrival time acquisition section, and a storage section. The control unit calculates estimated arrival time of each transport vehicle at a logistics center. The actual arrival time acquisition section acquires actual arrival time of the each transport vehicle at the logistic center. The storage section stores actual difference information. The control unit calculates a corrected estimated arrival time of the transport vehicle at the logistics center based on the estimated arrival time of the transport vehicle at the logistics center and the actual difference information. The control unit makes an item assortment plan based on the corrected estimated arrival time.

Claims

1. A logistics system comprising:

a control unit configured to calculate estimated arrival time of each transport vehicle at a logistics center;

an actual arrival time acquisition section configured to acquire actual arrival time of said each transport vehicle at the logistic center; and

a storage section configured to store actual difference information calculated based on a difference between said estimated arrival time calculated in a past by said control unit and said actual arrival time acquired in a past by said actual arrival time acquisition section,

wherein said control unit is configured to calculate estimated arrival time of a transport vehicle currently traveling at the logistics center based on variation of location information of said transport vehicle currently traveling over time, time when a distance between the logistics center and said transport vehicle currently traveling becomes shorter than a predetermined distance, and said predetermined distance,

wherein said control unit is configured to calculate corrected estimated arrival time of said transport vehicle currently traveling at the logistics center based on said estimated arrival time of said transport vehicle currently traveling at the logistics center and said actual difference information, and

wherein said control unit is configured to make an item assortment plan based on said corrected estimated arrival time.

2. The logistics system according to claim 1, wherein said actual difference information is circumstance-associated actual difference information associated with a status of at least one of circumstance factors, and

wherein said control unit is configured to calculate said corrected estimated arrival time based on said estimated arrival time of said transport vehicle currently traveling at the logistics center and said circumstance-associated actual difference information.

3. The logistics system according to claim 2, wherein said circumstance factors include weather, and

wherein said status includes any one of fine weather, cloudy weather and rainy weather.

4. The logistics system according to claim 1, wherein said actual difference information is direction-associated actual difference information associated with a status of at least one of circumstance factors, said circumstance factors including direction information,

wherein said status includes any one of a plurality of directions, and

wherein said control unit is configured to calculate said corrected estimated arrival time based on said estimated arrival time of said transport vehicle currently traveling at the logistics center and said direction-associated actual difference information.

5. The logistics system according to claim 1, wherein said control unit is configured to selectively set said predetermined distance.

6. The logistics system according to claim 5, wherein said control unit is configured to set said predetermined distance based on a period required to assort items.

7. A logistics system comprising:

a control unit configured to execute an arrival time estimation process for calculating estimated arrival time of each transport vehicle at a logistics center, an estimated arrival time correction process for calculating corrected estimated arrival time of said each transport vehicle at the logistics center, and an item assortment plan making process for making an item assortment plan;

an actual arrival time acquisition section configured to acquire actual arrival time of said each transport vehicle at the logistic center; and

a storage section,

wherein said arrival time estimation process is a process for calculating said estimated arrival time based on variation of location information of said each transport vehicle over time, time when a distance between the logistics center and said each transport vehicle becomes shorter than a predetermined distance, and said predetermined distance,

wherein said estimated arrival time correction process is a process for calculating said corrected estimated arrival time based on said estimated arrival time and actual difference information,

wherein said item assortment plan making process is a process for making said item assortment plan based on said corrected estimated arrival time,

wherein said control unit is configured to calculate estimated arrival time of a first transport vehicle by executing said arrival time estimation process,

wherein said storage section is configured to store said actual difference information calculated based on a difference between said estimated arrival time of said first transport vehicle and actual arrival time of said first transport vehicle acquired by said actual arrival time acquisition section,

wherein said control unit is configured to calculate estimated arrival time of a second transport vehicle by executing said arrival time estimation process,

wherein said control unit is configured to calculate corrected estimated arrival time of said second transport vehicle by executing said estimated arrival time correction process, and

wherein said control unit is configured to make an assortment plan corresponding to said second transport vehicle by executing said item assortment plan making process.