# US 12,182,753 B2 · Management method and management apparatus

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- Number: US 12,182,753 B2
- Document ID: US12182753B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/492,780
- Filed: 2023-10-24
- Published: 2024-05-02
- Granted: 2024-12-31
- Earliest claimed: 2022-11-01
- Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
- Applicants: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
- Inventors: Motohiro Nakamura; Toshiki Kashiwakura; Yosuke Togami; Yusuke Kobayashi; Seii Sai; Tsuyoshi Okada; Naoko Yokoyama; Keishi Kinoshita
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12182753B2

## CPC

- G06Q 10/083: Shipping
- G06Q 50/40: Business processes related to the transportation industry (shipping G06Q10/083)
- G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

## Abstract

A management method includes determining, by a management apparatus, a stopping location for a vehicle used for delivery, based on vehicle classification data on the vehicle, delivery environment information, and stopping environment information during the delivery.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A management method of managing a delivery of a package to a delivery destination performed by a management apparatus including a controller and an interface, the management method comprising:
acquiring, by the controller via the interface, vehicle classification data on a vehicle used for the delivery, delivery environment information, and stopping environment information during the delivery;
extracting, by the controller, a plurality of candidate locations to stop the vehicle at the delivery destination during the delivery based on the vehicle classification data, the delivery environment information, and the stopping environment information;
calculating, by the controller, a magnitude of an impact of stopping the vehicle during the delivery at each of the plurality of candidate locations;
determining, by the controller, one of the plurality of candidate locations as a stopping location for the vehicle at the delivery destination during the delivery based on the magnitude of the impact of stopping the vehicle;
outputting, by the controller via the interface, the stopping location to the vehicle; and
causing, by the controller, the vehicle to autonomously travel to the stopping location to reduce the impact of stopping the vehicle at the delivery destination during the delivery, wherein
the vehicle classification data comprises data indicative of at least one of: an external shape of the vehicle; a luggage carrier provided in the vehicle; or whether the vehicle is an engine vehicle or an electric vehicle,
the delivery environment information comprises data indicative of an environment of the delivery destination including at least one of: a delivery location; a delivery date and time; whether a package drop is acceptable; or a factor having an impact on time duration to stop the vehicle during the delivery, and
the stopping environment information comprises data indicative of surroundings of the stopping location including at least one of: a size of space for handling the package; a resident; traffic volume; noise; or weather conditions.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The management method according to claim 1, comprising:
calculating, by the controller, a score representing an impact of stopping the vehicle, based on an estimated result of time to stop the vehicle during the delivery or an estimated result of a magnitude of the impact of stopping the vehicle; and
determining, by the controller, the stopping location for the vehicle based on the score.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The management method according to claim 1, comprising:
generating, by the controller, based on the stopping location for the vehicle, an expected delivery time period; and
notifying, by the controller via the interface, the expected delivery time period to a terminal apparatus of a user who receives the delivery.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The management method according to claim 2, comprising:
generating, by the controller, based on the stopping location for the vehicle, an expected delivery time period; and
notifying, by the controller via the interface, the expected delivery time period to a terminal apparatus of a user who receives the delivery.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The management method according to claim 3, comprising:
acquiring, by the controller via the interface, from the terminal apparatus of the user, delivery acceptability information notifying whether the delivery is acceptable during the expected delivery time period; and
changing, by the controller, the stopping location for the vehicle based on the delivery acceptability information.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The management method according to claim 4, comprising:
acquiring, by the controller via the interface, from the terminal apparatus of the user, delivery acceptability information notifying whether the delivery is acceptable during the expected delivery time period; and
changing, by the controller, the stopping location for the vehicle based on the delivery acceptability information.

### Claim 7

A management apparatus of managing a delivery of a package to a delivery destination comprising a controller and an interface, wherein
the controller is configured to:
acquire, via the interface, vehicle classification data on a vehicle used for the delivery, delivery environment information, and stopping environment information during the delivery;
extract a plurality of candidate locations to stop the vehicle at the delivery destination during the delivery based on the vehicle classification data, the delivery environment information, and the stopping environment information;
calculate a magnitude of an impact of stopping the vehicle during the delivery at each of the plurality of candidate locations;
determine one of the plurality of candidate locations as a stopping location for the vehicle at the delivery destination during the delivery based on the magnitude of the impact of stopping the vehicle;
output, via the interface, the stopping location to the vehicle; and
cause the vehicle to autonomously travel to the stopping location to reduce the impact of stopping the vehicle at the delivery destination during the delivery,
the vehicle classification data comprises data indicative of at least one of: an external shape of the vehicle; a luggage carrier provided in the vehicle; or whether the vehicle is an engine vehicle or an electric vehicle,
the delivery environment information comprises data indicative of an environment of the delivery destination including at least one of: a delivery location; a delivery date and time; whether a package drop is acceptable; or a factor having an impact on time duration to stop the vehicle during the delivery, and
the stopping environment information comprises data indicative of surroundings of the stopping location including at least one of: a size of space for handling the package; a resident; traffic volume; noise; or weather conditions.