Server device, device control method, and recording medium

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11003194-B2
Application number	US-201815928967-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 22, 2018
Priority date	Jul 20, 2017
Publication date	May 11, 2021
Grant date	May 11, 2021

Abstract

A distance between an autonomously mobile information processing device and an apparatus is calculated based on positional information of the information processing device and positional information of the apparatus installed in a service provision site and necessary for a service to be provided by the information processing device, and the apparatus that is available is determined based on the distance between the information processing device and the apparatus in a case where the information processing device coordinates with the apparatus to provide the service.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A server device that controls an autonomously mobile information processing device, comprising:
a distance calculator that calculates a distance between the information processing device and an apparatus based on positional information of the information processing device and positional information of the apparatus installed in a service provision site and necessary for a service to be provided by the information processing device;
an availability determiner that determines the apparatus that is available based on the distance between the information processing device and the apparatus in a case where the information processing device coordinates with the apparatus to provide the service, and based on a scheduled time period to use the service and a time period for the movement;
a usage time period calculator that calculates the time period for the movement of the information processing device to the apparatus based on the distance between the information processing device and the apparatus and a moving speed of the information processing device; and
a priority determiner that determines that the apparatus is available if the availability determiner determines that the apparatus is not available and a priority of the service that is stored in association with the scheduled time period to use a service scheduled to be started is higher than a priority of the service that is stored in association with a scheduled time period to use a service being executed.

2. The server device according to claim 1 , further comprising a usage time period updating section that calculates the scheduled time period to use the service based on service information storing a standard time period required for the service to be provided by the information processing device and updates the scheduled time period to use the service, which is stored for each apparatus.

3. The server device according to claim 2 ,
wherein the usage time period updating section determines whether the scheduled time period to use the service exceeds a wait limitation time defined for the information processing device, and the usage time period updating section causes the information processing device to stand by based on a result of the determination.

4. The server device according to claim 2 ,
wherein the usage time period updating section updates the scheduled time period to use the service in a service state indicating a current state and progress of the service.

5. The server device according to claim 3 ,
wherein the usage time period updating section provides an alternative function of the service if the scheduled time period to use the service exceeds the wait limitation time defined for the information processing device.

6. A device control method comprising:
calculating a distance between an autonomously mobile information processing device and an apparatus based on positional information of the information processing device and positional information of the apparatus installed in a service provision site and necessary for a service to be provided by the information processing device;
determining the apparatus that is available based on the distance between the information processing device and the apparatus in a case where the information processing device coordinates with the apparatus to provide the service, and based on a scheduled time period to use the service and the time period for the movement; and
calculating a time period for a movement of the information processing device to the apparatus based on the distance between the information processing device and the apparatus and a moving speed of the information processing device;
wherein in the determining, it is determined that the apparatus is available if it is determined that the apparatus is not available and a priority of the service that is stored in association with a scheduled time period to use a service scheduled to be started is higher than a priority of the service that is stored in association with a scheduled time period to use a service being executed.

7. The device control method according to claim 6 , further comprising:
calculating the scheduled time period to use the service based on service information storing a standard time period required for the service to be provided by the information processing device and updating a scheduled time period to use the service, which is stored for each apparatus.

8. The device control method according to claim 7 ,
wherein in the updating, whether the scheduled time period to use the service exceeds a wait limitation time defined for the information processing device is determined, and the information processing device stands by based on a result of the determination.

9. The device control method according to claim 7 ,
wherein in the updating, the scheduled time period to use the service is updated in a service state indicating a current state and progress of the service.

10. The device control method according to claim 8 ,
wherein in the updating, an alternative function of the service is provided if the scheduled time period to use the service exceeds the wait limitation time defined for the information processing device.

11. A computer-readable recording medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute:
calculating a distance between an autonomously mobile information processing device and an apparatus based on positional information of the information processing device and positional information of the apparatus installed in a service provision site and necessary for a service to be provided by the information processing device;
determining the apparatus that is available based on the distance between the information processing device and the apparatus in a case where the information processing device coordinates with the apparatus to provide the service, and based on a scheduled time period to use the service and the time period for the movement; and
calculating a time period for a movement of the information processing device to the apparatus based on the distance between the information processing device and the apparatus and a moving speed of the information processing device;
wherein in the determining, it is determined that the apparatus is available if it is determined that the apparatus is not available and a priority of the service that is stored in association with a scheduled time period to use a service scheduled to be started is higher than a priority of the service that is stored in association with a scheduled time period to use a service being executed.

Assignees

• Hitachi Ltd

Inventors

• Matsuda Tomohiro
• Yoshiuchi Hideya

Classifications

• G05B19/042 Primary

  using digital processors (G05B19/05 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G05B2219/34348

  Coordination of operations, different machines, robots execute different tasks · CPC title

• Y10S901/01

  Mobile robot · CPC title

• G05D1/0287 Primary

  involving a plurality of land vehicles, e.g. fleet or convoy travelling (traffic control systems for road vehicles G08G1/00, particularly anticollision systems G08G1/16) · CPC title