DIAGRAM CREATING SYSTEM, DIAGRAM CREATING METHOD,
AND PROGRAM FOR A DIAGRAM CREATING SYSTEM
Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates to a diagram creating
system, a diagram creating method, and a program for a diagram creating
system. The present invention claims priority to Japanese Patent
Application No. 2013-129477 filed on June 20, 2013, the contents
of which are incorporated herein by reference in designated states
where incorporation of literature by reference is allowed.
Background Art
[0002] There has hitherto been known a vehicle running system
evaluation method in which a reference demand observed when a service
of a particular service level is provided is evaluated to subsequently
obtain a demand curve for predicting fluctuations in bus utilization
demand due to fluctuations in service level and to evaluate the
bus utilization demand with the use of the demand curve obtained
for each of various service levels, and input resources for achieving
the service level in question are evaluated for scheduled vehicle
running and on-demand vehicle running each to subsequently evaluate
cost effectiveness (see Patent Literature 1, for example).
According to the vehicle running system evaluation method of Patent
Literature 1, the cost effectiveness of a vehicle running system
3
can be evaluated.
Citation List
Patent Literature
[0003] [PTL 1] Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No.
2003-317192
Summary of Invention
Technical Problem
[0004] In a vehicle running system evaluation method as the
one described in Patent Literature 1, however, cost calculation
is not based on actual accounting information and a cost related
to concrete vehicle running therefore cannot be calculated. The
vehicle running system evaluation method of Patent Literature 1
or a similar method is consequently incapable of telling how much
vehicle running in accordance with a given diagram costs by referring
to the diagram.
[0005] An object of the present invention is therefore to
provide a diagram creating system, a diagram creating method, and
a program for a diagram creating system with which a vehicle running
cost is output along with a transport schedule diagram.
Solution to Problem
[0006] This patent application includes a plurality of means
for attaining at least a part of the object described above, and
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examples of the means are given as follows. In order to attain the
object described above, according to one embodiment of the present
invention, there is provided a diagram creating system including:
an accounting information storing portion which stores, for each
of a plurality of items, a piece of accounting information in
association with the each of the plurality of items; an extracting
portion which extracts, from the accounting information storing
portion, an item related to vehicle running for transportation and
a piece of accounting information that is associated with the item
related to vehicle running for transportation; a quantity adding
portion which associates quantity information of the item related
to vehicle running for transportation with the item; a unit accounting
information calculating portion which divides the piece of
accounting information that is associated with the item related
to vehicle running for transportation by the quantity information
that is associated with the item, to thereby calculate unit accounting
information, which is accounting information per unit quantity of
the item related to vehicle running for transportation; an add-up
portion which calculates a total expense per unit quantity from
a sum of pieces of the unit accounting information; a past vehicle
running performance storing portion which stores, for each
utilization operation identifier for identifying a utilization
operation of a transportation machine, a moving distance of the
transportation machine in association with the each utilization
operation identifier; a moving distance calculating portion which
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calculates a total moving distance from a sum of the moving distances
stored in the past vehicle running performance storing portion,
and divides the total moving distance by a total count of the
utilization operation identifiers, to thereby calculate a unit
moving distance per unit quantity; an expense calculating portion
which divides the total expense by the unit moving distance, to
thereby calculate an expense per unit distance; a predicted cost
calculating portion which calculates a predicted cost for each
utilization operation of the transportation machine in a diagram
that illustrates a schedule for running the transportation machine,
a transportation machine utilization operation schedule, or a crew
shift schedule, or for each of a plurality of vehicle runs included
in the utilization operation, by multiplying a planned mileage that
is planned in the utilization operation of the transportation machine
or the plurality of vehicle runs by the expense per unit distance;
and an output portion which outputs the predicted cost along with
the diagram.
[0007] Further, the diagram creating system described above
may further include: a diagram creating portion which creates a
diagram illustrating the schedule for running the transportation
machine, the transportation machine utilization operation schedule,
or the crew shift schedule; and a diagram storing portion which
stores a plurality of diagrams created by the diagram creating portion.
The predicted cost calculating portion may further calculate the
predicted cost for a diagram selected out of the diagram storing
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portion.
[0008] Further, in the diagram creating system described above,
the output portion may be a display device which displays the predicted
cost and the diagram, or a printing device which prints the predicted
cost and the diagram on a given medium.
[0009] Further, in the diagram creating system described above,
the diagram may be a "mountain"-format diagram, a bar-format diagram,
or a ledger-format diagram.
[0010] Further, in the diagram creating system described above,
the accounting information storing portion may store the accounting
information on a fiscal year basis.
[0011] Further, in the diagram creating system described above,
the quantity information may be a count of the transportation
machines.
[0012] Further, in order to attain the object described above,
according to one embodiment of the present invention, there is
provided an accounting device including: an accounting information
storing portion which stores, for each of a plurality of items,
a piece of accounting information in association with the each of
the plurality of items; an extracting portion which extracts, from
the accounting information storing portion, an item related to
vehicle running for transportation and a piece of accounting
information that is associated with the item; a quantity adding
portion which associates quantity information of the item related
to vehicle running for transportation with the item; a unit accounting
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information calculating portion which divides the piece of
accounting information that is associated with the item related
to vehicle running for transportation by the quantity information
that is associated with the item, to thereby calculate unit accounting
information, which is accounting information per unit quantity of
the item related to vehicle running for transportation; an add-up
portion which adds up pieces of the unit accounting information
to calculate a total expense per unit quantity; a past vehicle running
performance storing portion which stores, for each utilization
operation identifier for identifying a utilization operation of
a transportation machine, a moving distance of the transportation
machine in association with the each utilization operation
identifier; a moving distance calculating portion which calculates
a total moving distance by adding up the moving distances, and divides
the total moving distance by a total count of the utilization operation
identifiers, to thereby calculate a unit moving distance per unit
quantity; and an expense calculating portion which divides the total
expense by the unit moving distance, to thereby calculate an expense
per unit distance.
[0013] Further, in order to attain the object described above,
according to one embodiment of the present invention, there is
provided a diagram creating method including: an extracting step
of extracting an item related to vehicle running for transportation
and a piece of accounting information that is associated with the
item related to vehicle running for transportation from an accounting
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information storing portion which stores, for each of a plurality
of items, a piece of accounting information in association with
the each of the plurality of items; a quantity adding step of
associating quantity information of the item related to vehicle
running for transportation with the item; a unit accounting
information calculating step of calculating unit accounting
information, which is accounting information per unit quantity of
the item related to vehicle running for transportation by dividing
the piece of accounting information that is associated with the
item related to vehicle running for transportation by the quantity
information that is associated with the item; an add-up step of
calculating a total expense per unit quantity from a sum of pieces
of the unit accounting information; a moving distance calculating
step of obtaining a sum of moving distances from a past vehicle
running performance storing portion which stores, for each
utilization operation identifier for identifying a utilization
operation of a transportation machine, a moving distance of the
transportation machine in association with the each utilization
operation identifier, calculating a total moving distance from the
sum of moving distances, and dividing the total moving distance
by a total count of the utilization operation identifiers, to thereby
calculate a unit moving distance per unit quantity; an expense
calculating step of calculating an expense per unit distance by
dividing the total expense by the unit moving distance; a predicted
cost calculating step of calculating a predicted cost for each
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utilization operation of the transportation machine in a diagram
that illustrates a schedule for running the transportation machine,
a transportation machine utilization operation schedule, or a crew
shift schedule, or for each of a plurality of vehicle runs included
in the utilization operation, by multiplying a planned mileage that
is planned in the utilization operation of the transportation machine
or the plurality of vehicle runs by the expense per unit distance;
and an outputting step of outputting the predicted cost along with
the diagram.
[0014] Further, in order to attain the object described above,
according to one embodiment of the present invention, there is
provided a program for a diagram creating system, for causing a
computer to implement: an extracting function of extracting an item
related to vehicle running for transportation and a piece of
accounting information that is associated with the item related
to vehicle running for transportation from an accounting information
storing portion which stores, for each of a plurality of items,
a piece of accounting information in association with the each of
the plurality of items; a quantity adding function of associating
quantity information of the item related to vehicle running for
transportation with the item; a unit accounting information
calculating function of calculating unit accounting information,
which is accounting information per unit quantity of the item related
to vehicle running for transportation by dividing the piece of
accounting information that is associated with the item related
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to vehicle running for transportation by the quantity information
that is associated with the item; an add-up function of calculating
a total expense per unit quantity from a sum of pieces of the unit
accounting information; a moving distance calculating function of
obtaining a sum of moving distances from a past vehicle running
performance storing portion which stores, for each utilization
operation identifier for identifying a utilization operation of
a transportation machine, a moving distance of the transportation
machine in association with the each utilization operation
identifier, calculating a total moving distance from the sum of
moving distances, and dividing the total moving distance by a total
count of the utilization operation identifiers, to thereby calculate
a unit moving distance per unit quantity; an expense calculating
function of calculating an expense per unit distance by dividing
the total expense by the unit moving distance; a predicted cost
calculating function of calculating a predicted cost for each
utilization operation of the transportation machine in a diagram
that illustrates a schedule for running the transportation machine,
a transportation machine utilization operation schedule, or a crew
shift schedule, or for each of a plurality of vehicle runs included
in the utilization operation, by multiplying a planned mileage that
is planned in the utilization operation of the transportation machine
or the plurality of vehicle runs by the expense per unit distance;
and an outputting function of outputting the predicted cost along
with the diagram.
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Advantageous Effects of Invention
[0015] With the diagram creating system, the diagram creating
method, and the program for a diagram creating system according
to one embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to provide
the diagram creating system, the diagram creating method, and the
program for a diagram creating system with which the vehicle running
cost is output along with the transport schedule diagram.
[0016] Other objects, configurations, and effects than those
described above are revealed through the following description of
an embodiment of the present invention.
Brief Description of Drawings
[0017] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an output screen of a diagram
creating system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic view of another output screen of the
diagram creating system according to the embodiment of the present
invention.
FIG. 3 is a schematic view of still another output screen of
the diagram creating system according to the embodiment of the present
invention.
FIG. 4 is a function configuration block diagram of the diagram
creating system according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a function configuration block diagram of an
accounting device according to the embodiment of the present
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invention.
FIG. 6 is a function configuration block diagram of a diagram
creating device according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a data configuration diagram of an accounting
information storing portion according to the embodiment of the
present invention.
FIG. 8 is a diagram of a result of adding quantity information
by way of a quantity adding portion according to the embodiment
of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a data configuration diagram of a past vehicle running
performance storing portion according to the embodiment of the
present invention.
FIG. 10 is a flow chart of processing in the diagram creating
system according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 11 is a hardware configuration diagram of the diagram
creating system according to the embodiment of the present invention.
Description of Embodiment
[0018] [Embodiment]
FIGS. 1 to 3 illustrate examples outlining output screens of
a diagram creating system according to an embodiment of the present
invention. Specifically, FIG. 1 illustrates an example outlining
an output screen of a "mountain"-format diagram that is created
by the diagram creating system according to the embodiment of the
present invention, FIG. 2 illustrates an example outlining an output
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screen of a bar-format diagram that is created by the diagram creating
system according to the embodiment of the present invention, and
FIG. 3 illustrates an example outlining an output screen of a
ledger-format diagram that is created by the diagram creating system
according to the embodiment of the present invention.
[0019] (The Outline of a Diagram Creating System 1)
The diagram creating system according to the embodiment of
the present invention which is denoted by 1 is a system for calculating,
based on accounting information, a cost required for transport that
is scheduled at a transport planning stage of public transportation,
and for outputting the calculated cost along with a diagram that
illustrates a transport schedule of the public transportation in
a manner recognizable to users. Specifically, the diagram creating
system 1 calculates a cost (i.e., expense) required for running
a transportation machine of public transportation per unit moving
distance based on accounting information possessed by a corporation
or an organization that runs the public transportation. In the
planning of a transport schedule, the diagram creating system 1
multiplies a moving distance in each vehicle run that constitutes
a utilization operation planned in the transport schedule by the
calculated cost per unit moving distance, to thereby calculate a
cost required for each vehicle run. The diagram creating system
1 then outputs a cost required for vehicle running, a cost required
for utilization operation, a cost required for a transport schedule,
or the like along with a transport schedule diagram. Examples of
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the transportation machine include a train, a subway train, a street
car, a cable car, a bus, a ship, an airplane, and a passenger
automobile.
[0020] For example, the diagram creating system 1 displays,
along with a mountain-format diagram 251 of FIG. 1, information
about the diagram 251 in display areas 252 and 253 of an output
screen 250. An example of what is displayed by the diagram creating
system 1 in the display area 252 is the originating point and final
destination of one diagram 251 selected by a user or the like, a
moving distance between the originating point and the final
destination, and an amount of money that is a cost required for
public transportation operation represented by the diagram 251 from
the originating point to the final destination. An example of what
is displayed by the diagram creating system 1 in the display area
253 is table-format information (e.g., a start point, an arrival
point, leaving time, arriving time, a distance from the start point
to the arrival point, and an amount of money that is a cost required
for the run from the start point to the arrival point) of each of
one or more vehicle runs that constitute the one diagram 251 selected
by a user or the like. For example, information about a first vehicle
run constituting the diagram 251 is displayed in a row 253a, and
information about a second vehicle run constituting the diagram
251 which differs from the first vehicle run is displayed in a row
253b.
[0021] The diagram creating system 1 also displays, along with
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a bar-format diagram 256 of FIG. 2, information about the diagram
in a display area 257 of an output screen 255. For instance, the
diagram creating system 1 displays, for each of a plurality of
utilization operations, a bar-format diagram of each vehicle run
that constitutes the utilization operation on the output screen
255. The diagram creating system 1 also displays for each of a
plurality of utilization operations an originating point, a final
destination, a distance from the originating point to the final
destination, and the like. The diagram creating system 1 displays
in the display area 257 the total distance of all utilization
operations including "Utilization Operation 1" and "Utilization
Operation 2", and a total amount that is the sum of costs required
to run the transportation machine for the total distance.
[0022] The diagram creating system 1 is further capable of
displaying information about each of a plurality of utilization
operations in a ledger format on an output screen 260 as illustrated
in FIG. 3. For instance, the diagram creating system 1 can display
information about a utilization operation number (e.g., a distance
from an originating point to a final destination, an amount of money
that is a cost required for a run from the originating point to
the final destination, the originating point, and the final
destination) in association with the utilization operation number
in a ledger format on the output screen 260. The diagram creating
system 1 is capable of not only displaying a transport schedule
diagram along with a cost that is required to run a vehicle according
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to the diagram on an output screen but also outputting the diagram
and the cost to a given medium. For instance, the diagram creating
system 1 can print a transport schedule diagram and a cost that
is required to run a vehicle in accordance with the diagram on a
printing medium.
[0023] (Details of the Diagram Creating System 1)
FIG. 4 illustrates an example of a function configuration block
of the diagram creating system according to the embodiment of the
present invention. FIG. 5 illustrates an example of a function
configuration block of an accounting device according to the
embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 illustrates an example
of a function configuration block of a diagram creating device
according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7
illustrates an example of the data configuration of an accounting
information storing portion according to the embodiment of the
present invention. FIG. 8 illustrates an example of a result of
adding quantity information by way of a quantity adding portion
according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9
illustrates an example of the data configuration of a past vehicle
running performance storing portion according to the embodiment
of the present invention.
[0024] The diagram creating system 1 according to this
embodiment includes an accounting device 10 which performs data
processing on accounting information of a corporation or an
organization that is involved in the running of public transportation,
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and a diagram creating device 20 which creates a diagram illustrating
a transport schedule of the public transportation. While the
accounting device 10 and the diagram creating device 20 are separate
in the description of this embodiment, the accounting device 10
may include a part of or the entirety of the configuration and function
of the diagram creating device 20, and the diagram creating device
20 may include a part of or the entirety of the configuration and
function of the accounting device 10.
[0025] (Accounting Device 10)
The accounting device 10 includes an accounting information
storing portion 100 for storing accounting information of a
corporation or an organization, an extracting portion 105 for
extracting from the accounting information storing portion 100 an
item related to the running of a transportation machine for
transportation and a piece of accounting information that is
associated with the item, and a quantity adding portion 110 for
associating an item related to vehicle running for transportation
with the quantity of transportation machines that is relevant to
the item. The accounting device 10 also includes a unit accounting
information calculating portion 115 for calculating unit accounting
information which is accounting information per unit quantity of
an item related to vehicle running for transportation, and an add-up
portion 120 for adding up pieces of unit accounting information
that are calculated by the unit accounting information calculating
portion 115.
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[0026] The accounting device 10 further includes a past vehicle
running performance storing portion 125 for storing information
about the past performance on the running of a transportation machine
which is possessed by a corporation or an organization, a moving
distance calculating portion 130 for calculating a unit moving
distance per unit quantity of transportation machines from past
vehicle running performance which is stored in the past vehicle
running performance storing portion 125, and an expense calculating
portion 140 for calculating a cost that is an expense per unit moving
distance of a transportation machine based on an add-up result of
the add-up portion 120 and a calculation result of the moving distance
calculating portion 130.
[0027] (Accounting Information Storing Portion 100)
The accounting information storing portion 100 stores, for
each of a plurality of items (i.e., accounting items), a piece of
accounting information that is associated with the item (i.e., money
amount information which indicates an amount of money), in
association with the item. The accounting information storing
portion 100 can store accounting information on a fiscal year basis.
To give an example, the accounting information storing portion 100
stores a money amount "1,000,000 yen" in association with an item
"vehicle carrying equipment", and stores a money amount "5,000,000
yen" in association with an item "wage" as illustrated in FIG. 7.
The accounting information storing portion 100 similarly stores
other items in association with amounts of money. In response to
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a request from the extracting portion 105, the accounting information
storing portion 100 supplies a piece of accounting information that
is requested by the extracting portion 105 to the extracting portion
105.
[0028] (Extracting Portion 105)
The extracting portion 105 extracts from the accounting
information storing portion 100 an item related to vehicle running
for transportation and a piece of accounting information that is
associated with the item related to vehicle running for
transportation. For instance, the extracting portion 105 extracts
from the accounting information storing portion 100 an item related
to vehicle running as the last year's vehicle running for
transportation and money amount information that is associated with
the item related to vehicle running. The extracting portion 105
supplies the extracted information to the quantity adding portion
110.
[0029] (Quantity Adding Portion 110)
The quantity adding portion 110 additionally associates
quantity information of an item related to vehicle running for
transportation with the item. Quantity information is, for example,
the count of transportation machines. In the case where
transportation machines in question are buses, for example, the
quantity information is the count of buses. Specifically, as
illustrated in FIG. 8, the quantity adding portion 110 associates
a quantity "5" with an item "vehicle carrying equipment", and
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associates a quantity "10" with an item "non-life insurance expense".
To give a more concrete example, when ten vehicles as transportation
machines are purchased, the quantity adding portion 110 associates
"10" as the quantity information with an item related to vehicle
purchase. The quantity adding portion 110 similarly associates
other items related to vehicle running for transportation with
quantities. The quantity adding portion 110 receives a choice of
an item related to vehicle running for transportation and quantity
information of the item from a user via, for example, an input device.
The quantity adding portion 110 supplies information in which
quantity information of an item related to vehicle running for
transportation is additionally associated with the item to the unit
accounting information calculating portion 115.
[0030] (Unit Accounting Information Calculating Portion 115)
The unit accounting information calculating portion 115
calculates unit accounting information which is accounting
information per unit quantity of an item related to vehicle running
for transportation by dividing a piece of accounting information
that is associated with an item related to vehicle running for
transportation by a piece of quantity information that is associated
with the item. In other words, the unit accounting information
calculating portion 115 calculates unit accounting information as
information about an amount of money that is spent for one
transportation machine during a unit period under one item related
to vehicle running for transportation. For each of a plurality of
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items related to vehicle running for transportation, the unit
accounting information calculating portion 115 calculates unit
accounting information by dividing a piece of accounting information
that is associated with the item related to vehicle running for
transportation by a piece of quantity information that is associated
with the item. The unit accounting information calculating portion
115 supplies the calculated unit accounting information to the add-up
portion 120.
[0031] (Add-up Portion 120)
The add-up portion 120 adds up pieces of unit accounting
information calculated by the unit accounting information
calculating portion 115, to thereby calculate a total expense per
unit quantity. In other words, the add-up portion 120 calculates
a total cost required during a unit period for the acquisition,
maintenance, utilization operation, and the like of one
transportation machine. The add-up portion 120 supplies
information that indicates the total expense calculated by adding
up to the expense calculating portion 140.
[0032] (Past Vehicle Running Performance Storing Portion 125)
The past vehicle running performance storing portion 125 stores
the moving distance (for example, annual moving distance) of a
transportation machine in association with a utilization operation
identifier (for example, utilization operation number) by which
a utilization operation of the transportation machine is identified.
The past vehicle running performance storing portion 125 may also
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store information that indicates the type of a transportation machine
(for example, information indicating a vehicle type in the case
where the transportation machine in question is a vehicle such as
a train or a bus) in association with a utilization operation
identifier by which the transportation machine is identified. For
instance, as illustrated in FIG. 9, the past vehicle running
performance storing portion 125 stores information that indicates
a vehicle type "ki ha 58" and information that indicates a mileage
"25,649 km" which is a total distance that a vehicle of the vehicle
type in question has traveled the last year in association with
a utilization operation number "101". In response to a request from
the moving distance calculating portion 130, the past vehicle running
performance storing portion 125 supplies information requested by
the moving distance calculating portion 130 to the moving distance
calculating portion 130. The past vehicle running performance
storing portion 125 may store identification information for
uniquely identifying a transportation machine in place of, or in
addition to, the vehicle type.
[0033] (Moving Distance Calculating Portion 130)
The moving distance calculating portion 130 calculates an
annual or fiscal total moving distance from the sum of moving distances
stored in the past vehicle running performance storing portion 125,
and divides the total moving distance by the total count of utilization
operation identifiers to calculate a unit moving distance per unit
quantity. In other words, the moving distance calculating portion
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130 calculates an average value of the annual moving distance of
one transportation machine owned by a corporation or an organization,
such as a bus. The moving distance calculating portion 130 supplies
information that indicates the calculated unit moving distance to
the expense calculating portion 140.
[0034] (Expense Calculating Portion 140)
The expense calculating portion 140 divides the information
indicating a total expense which is received from the add-up portion
120 by the unit moving distance which is received from the moving
distance calculating portion 130, to thereby calculate an expense
required per unit distance. The expense calculating portion 140
calculates an expense required for the traveling of a transportation
machine owned by a corporation or an organization, such as a bus,
for a unit distance (1 km, for example) in this manner. The expense
calculating portion 140 supplies information that indicates the
calculated expense per unit distance to a predicted cost calculating
portion 215.
[0035] (Diagram Creating Device 20)
The diagram creating device 20 includes a diagram creating
portion 205 for creating a diagram, a diagram storing portion 210
for storing a plurality of diagrams, the predicted cost calculating
portion 215 for calculating the annual cost of one utilization
operation illustrated by a diagram, or the respective annual costs
of a plurality of utilization operations illustrated by a plurality
of diagrams, and an output portion 220 for outputting the result
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of the calculation performed by the predicted cost calculating
portion 215 along with a relevant diagram.
[0036] (Diagram Creating Portion 205)
The diagram creating portion 205 creates a diagram that
illustrates a transportation machine running schedule, a utilization
operation schedule of a transportation machine, a crew shift schedule,
or the like. The diagram creating portion 205 creates, for example,
a diagram that contains one or more utilization operations each
constituted of one or more vehicle runs. To give an example, the
diagram creating portion 205 can create a mountain-format diagram
for a vehicle running schedule and a bar-format diagram for a vehicle
utilization operation schedule. The diagram creating portion 205
is also capable of creating a ledger-format diagram. The diagram
creating portion 205 supplies the created diagram to the diagram
storing portion 210.
[0037] (Diagram Storing Portion 210)
The diagram storing portion 210 stores one or more diagrams
created by the diagram creating portion 205. The diagram storing
portion 210 supplies a diagram to the predicted cost calculating
portion 215 in response to a request from the predicted cost
calculating portion 215. The predicted cost calculating portion
215 supplies the diagram to the output portion 220 in response to
a request from the output portion 220.
[0038] (Predicted Cost Calculating Portion 215)
For each transportation machine utilization operation in a
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diagram that illustrates a transportation machine running schedule,
a transportation machine utilization operation schedule, a crew
shift schedule, or the like, or for each of one or more vehicle
runs included in the utilization operation, the predicted cost
calculating portion 215 calculates a predicted cost which is
calculated by multiplying a planned mileage by an expense per unit
distance. A planned mileage is a moving distance planned in a
transportation machine utilization operation, or one or more
transportation machine runs. In short, the predicted cost
calculating portion 215 calculates a predicted cost for a diagram
selected out of the diagram storing portion 210. The predicted cost
calculating portion 215 calculates a predicted cost for each of
one or more utilization operations that are contained in one diagram,
or for each of one or more vehicle runs that constitute one utilization
operation. Alternatively, the predicted cost calculating portion
215 calculates a predicted total cost of one or more utilization
operations that constitute a transport schedule.
[0039] For example, from a diagram selected by a user or the
like via an input device or the like, the predicted cost calculating
portion 215 extracts the moving distance of one utilization operation
contained in the diagram (i.e., a distance between the originating
point and final destination of the one utilization operation). The
predicted cost calculating portion 215 then calculates a cost
predicted to be necessary for the extracted moving distance by
multiplying the moving distance by an expense per unit distance.
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The predicted cost calculating portion 215 also extracts, for each
of one or more vehicle runs that constitute one utilization operation
contained in a diagram, the moving distance of the vehicle run (i.e.,
a distance from a start point to an arrival point). The predicted
cost calculating portion 215 then calculates, for each of the one
or more vehicle runs, a cost predicted to be necessary for the vehicle
run by multiplying the extracted moving distance by an expense per
unit distance.
[0040] The predicted cost calculating portion 215 further
calculates, for each of one or more utilization operations that
are contained in one diagram, a cost required for the utilization
operation by multiplying the moving distance of the utilization
operation by an expense per unit distance. The predicted cost
calculating portion 215 then adds up the one or more calculated
costs, to thereby calculate a predicted total cost that covers all
of the one or more utilization operations. The predicted cost
calculating portion 215 supplies information that indicates the
calculated predicted cost and the extracted moving distance to the
output portion 220 in association with each utilization operation
or each vehicle run. Alternatively, the predicted cost calculating
portion 215 supplies the predicted total cost and the total moving
distance to the output portion 220.
[0041] (Output portion 220)
The output portion 220 outputs a predicted cost which is
associated with a utilization operation or a vehicle run, along
27
with a diagram illustrating the utilization operation or the vehicle
run. The output portion 220 also outputs, along with the diagram,
such information as the name of an originating point, the name of
a final destination, and a distance from the originating point to
the final destination. The output portion 220 is specifically a
display device for displaying a predicted cost and a diagram, or
a printing device for printing a predicated cost and a diagram on
a given medium. To give an example, the output portion 220 outputs
a predicted cost and a diagram together in one of the formats
illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3. The output portion 220 can also output
a predicted cost along with a diagram in a format suited to an external
output instruction in response to the output instruction.
[0042] (Processing Flow of the Diagram Creating System 1)
FIG. 10 illustrates an example of the processing flow in the
diagram creating system according to the embodiment of the present
invention.
[0043] First, the extracting portion 105 extracts an item
related to vehicle running for transportation, and a piece of
accounting information that is associated with the item related
to vehicle running for transportation, from the accounting
information storing portion 100 (Step 10. "Step" is hereinafter
abbreviated as "S"). The extracting portion 105 supplies the
extracted information to the quantity adding portion 110. For each
of a plurality of items related to vehicle running for transportation
that is received from the extracting portion 105, the quantity adding
28
portion 110 associates a piece of quantity information with the
item (S15). The quantity adding portion 110 supplies information
with which quantity information is associated to the unit accounting
information calculating portion 115.
[0044] The unit accounting information calculating portion 115
calculates unit accounting information which is accounting
information per unit quantity of an item related to vehicle running
for transportation (S20). The unit accounting information
calculating portion 115 supplies the calculated unit accounting
information to the add-up portion 120. The add-up portion 120 adds
up pieces of unit accounting information received from the unit
accounting information calculating portion 115 to calculate a total
expense per unit quantity (S25). The add-up portion 120 supplies
information that indicates the calculated total expense to the
expense calculating portion 140.
[0045] Meanwhile, the moving distance calculating portion 130
calculates, for example, a fiscal total moving distance from the
sum of moving distances stored in the past vehicle running performance
storing portion 125. The moving distance calculating portion 130
then calculates a moving distance per transportation machine (i.e.,
unit moving distance) based on the calculated total moving distance
and the total count of transportation machines (i.e., the total
count of utilization operation identifiers) (S30). The moving
distance calculating portion 130 supplies information that indicates
the calculated unit moving distance to the expense calculating
29
portion 140.
[0046] The expense calculating portion 140 calculates an
expense per unit distance based on the information indicating a
total expense which is received from the add-up portion 120 and
the information indicating a unit moving distance which is received
from the moving distance calculating portion 130 (S35). The expense
calculating portion 140 supplies information that indicates the
calculated expense per unit distance to the predicted cost
calculating portion 215. The predicted cost calculating portion
215 multiplies the moving distance of a transportation machine that
is illustrated in a diagram stored in the diagram storing portion
210, or a diagram selected out of the diagram storing portion 210,
by the expense per unit distance which is received from the expense
calculating portion 140, to thereby calculate a predicted cost (S40).
The predicted cost calculating portion 215 supplies the calculated
predicted cost to the output portion 220. The output portion 220
outputs the predicted cost along with the diagram (S45).
[0047] FIG. 11 illustrates an example of the hardware
configuration of the diagram creating system according to the
embodiment of the present invention.
[0048] The diagram creating system 1 according to this
embodiment includes a CPU 1500, a graphic controller 1520, a memory
1530 which is a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM),
and/or a flash ROM or the like, a storage device 1540 which stores
data, a read/write device 1545 which reads data out of a recording
30
medium and/or writes data in a recording medium, an input device
1560 which inputs data, a communication interface 1550 which
transmits/receives data to/from an external communication device,
and a chip set 1510 which connects the CPU 1500, the graphic controller
1520, the memory 1530, the storage device 1540, the read/write device
1545, the input device 1560, and the communication interface 1550
to one another in a manner that allows communication.
[0049] The chip set 1510 executes the handing over of data
between components by interconnecting the memory 1530, the CPU 1500
which accesses the memory 1530 to execute given processing, and
the graphic controller 1520 which controls what is displayed on
an external display device. The CPU 1500 operates as programmed
by a program stored in the memory 1530 to control the components.
The graphic controller 1520 displays an image on a given display
device based on image data temporarily stored in a buffer that is
provided in the memory 1530.
[0050] The chip set 1510 also connects the storage device 1540,
the read/write device 1545, and the communication interface 1550.
The storage device 1540 stores a program and data that are used
by the CPU 1500 of the diagram creating system 1. The storage device
1540 is a flash memory, for example. The read/write device 1545
reads a program and/or data out of a recording medium storing a
program and/or data, and stores the read program and/or data in
the storage device 1540. The read/write device 1545 obtains, for
example, a given program from a server on the Internet via the
31
communication interface 1550, and stores the obtained program in
the storage device 1540.
[0051] The communication interface 1550 executes data
transmission/reception to/from an external device via a
communication network. The communication interface 1550 can also
execute data transmission/reception to/from an external device
without the intervention of a communication network when the
communication network is disconnected. The input device 1560 is
a tablet, a microphone, or the like and connects to the chip set
1510 via a given interface.
[0052] A program for the diagram creating system 1 to be stored
in the storage device 1540 is provided to the storage device 1540
via a communication network such as the Internet, or via a recording
medium such as a magnetic recording medium or an optical recording
medium. Once stored in the storage device 1540, the program for
the diagram creating system 1 is executed by the CPU 1500.
[0053] The program for the diagram creating system 1 which is
executed by the diagram creating system 1 according to this embodiment
operates the CPU 1500 so that the diagram creating system 1 functions
as the accounting information storing portion 100, the extracting
portion 105, the quantity adding portion 110, the unit accounting
information calculating portion 115, the add-up portion 120, the
past vehicle running performance storing portion 125, the moving
distance calculating portion 130, the expense calculating portion
140, the diagram creating portion 205, the diagram storing portion
32
210, the predicted cost calculating portion 215, and the output
portion 220 which have been described with reference to FIGS. 1
to 10.
[0054] (Effects of the Embodiment)
The diagram creating system 1 according to this embodiment
is capable of calculating, from accounting information, a cost
predicted to be necessary for the running of a transportation machine
which is associated with a given diagram, and outputting the predicted
cost along with the diagram in a manner recognizable to users. The
diagram creating system 1 thus enables a person in charge of transport
schedule to grasp a predicted cost with ease, and can help a
corporation or an organization to make an optimum investment plan.
[0055] The embodiment of the present invention has now been
described. However, the embodiment described above is not to limit
the invention set forth in Scope of Claims. It should also be noted
that not all of combinations of the features described in the
embodiment are indispensable to means for attaining the object of
the invention. Moreover, technical elements of the embodiment
described above may each be applied alone, or may be applied divided
into a plurality of parts such as program parts and hardware parts.
Reference Signs List
[0056]
1 diagram creating system
10 accounting device
33
20 diagram creating device
100 accounting information storing portion
105 extracting portion
110 quantity adding portion
115 unit accounting information calculating portion
120 add-up portion
125 past vehicle running performance storing portion
130 moving distance calculating portion
140 expense calculating portion
205 diagram creating portion
210 diagram storing portion
215 predicted cost calculating portion
220 output portion
250 output screen
251 diagram
252, 253 display area
255 output screen
256 diagram
257 display area
260 output screen
1500 CPU
1510 chip set
1520 graphic controller
1530 memory
1540 storage device
34
1545 read/write device
1550 communication interface
1560 input device
Amendments to the claims under Article 19

We Claim:
[Claim 1] A diagram creating system, comprising:
an accounting information storing portion which stores, for
each of a plurality of items, a piece of accounting information in
association with the each of the plurality of items;
an extracting portion which extracts, from the accounting
information storing portion, an item related to vehicle running for
transportation and a piece of accounting information that is
associated with the item related to vehicle running for
transportation;
a quantity adding portion which associates quantity information
of the item related to vehicle running for transportation with the
item;
a unit accounting information calculating portion which divides
the piece of accounting information that is associated with the item
related to vehicle running for transportation by the quantity
information that is associated with the item, to thereby calculate
unit accounting information, which is accounting information per
unit quantity of the item related to vehicle running for
transportation;
an add-up portion which calculates a total expense per unit
quantity from a sum of pieces of the unit accounting information;
a past vehicle running performance storing portion which stores,
for each utilization operation identifier for identifying a
utilization operation of a transportation machine, a moving distance
of the transportation machine in association with the each utilization
Amendments to the claims under Article 19
36
operation identifier;
a moving distance calculating portion which calculates a total
moving distance from a sum of the moving distances stored in the
past vehicle running performance storing portion, and divides the
total moving distance by a total count of the utilization operation
identifiers, to thereby calculate a unit moving distance per unit
quantity;
an expense calculating portion which divides the total expense
by the unit moving distance, to thereby calculate an expense per
unit distance;
a predicted cost calculating portion which calculates a
predicted cost for each utilization operation of the transportation
machine in a diagram that illustrates a schedule for running the
transportation machine, a transportation machine utilization
operation schedule, or a crew shift schedule, and for each of a
plurality of vehicle runs comprised in the utilization operation,
by multiplying a planned mileage that is planned in the utilization
operation of the transportation machine and the plurality of vehicle
runs by the expense per unit distance; and
an output portion which outputs an output screen comprising
the diagram, a first display area to display the predicted cost of
the utilization operation in the diagram, and a second display area
to display the predicted cost for each of the plurality of vehicle
runs comprised in the utilization operation in the diagram.
[Claim 2] A diagram creating system according to claim 1, further
Amendments to the claims under Article 19
37
comprising:
a diagram creating portion which creates a diagram illustrating
the schedule for running the transportation machine, the
transportation machine utilization operation schedule, or the crew
shift schedule; and
a diagram storing portion which stores a plurality of diagrams
created by the diagram creating portion,
wherein the predicted cost calculating portion calculates the
predicted cost for a diagram selected out of the diagram storing
portion.
[Claim 3] A diagram creating system according to claim 2, wherein
the output portion comprises a display device which displays the
predicted cost and the diagram, or a printing device which prints
the predicted cost and the diagram on a given medium.
[Claim 4] A diagram creating system according to any one of claims
1 to 3, wherein the diagram comprises a "mountain"-format diagram,
a bar-format diagram, or a ledger-format diagram.
[Claim 5] A diagram creating system according to any one of claims
1 to 4, wherein the accounting information storing portion stores
the accounting information on a fiscal year basis.
[Claim 6] A diagram creating system according to any one of claims
1 to 5, the quantity information comprises a count of the transportation
Amendments to the claims under Article 19
38
machines.
[Claim 7] A diagram creating method, comprising:
an extracting step of extracting an item related to vehicle
running for transportation and a piece of accounting information
that is associated with the item related to vehicle running for
transportation from an accounting information storing portion which
stores, for each of a plurality of items, a piece of accounting
information in association with the each of the plurality of items;
a quantity adding step of associating quantity information
of the item related to vehicle running for transportation with the
item;
a unit accounting information calculating step of calculating
unit accounting information, which is accounting information per
unit quantity of the item related to vehicle running for transportation
by dividing the piece of accounting information that is associated
with the item related to vehicle running for transportation by the
quantity information that is associated with the item;
an add-up step of calculating a total expense per unit quantity
from a sum of pieces of the unit accounting information;
a moving distance calculating step of obtaining a sum of moving
distances from a past vehicle running performance storing portion
which stores, for each utilization operation identifier for
identifying a utilization operation of a transportation machine,
a moving distance of the transportation machine in association with
the each utilization operation identifier, calculating a total moving
Amendments to the claims under Article 19
39
distance from the sum of moving distances, and dividing the total
moving distance by a total count of the utilization operation
identifiers, to thereby calculate a unit moving distance per unit
quantity;
an expense calculating step of calculating an expense per unit
distance by dividing the total expense by the unit moving distance;
a predicted cost calculating step of calculating a predicted
cost for each utilization operation of the transportation machine
in a diagram that illustrates a schedule for running the transportation
machine, a transportation machine utilization operation schedule,
or a crew shift schedule, and for each of a plurality of vehicle
runs comprised in the utilization operation, by multiplying a planned
mileage that is planned in the utilization operation of the
transportation machine and the plurality of vehicle runs by the expense
per unit distance; and
an outputting step of outputting an output screen comprising
the diagram, a first display area to display the predicted cost of
the utilization operation in the diagram, and a second display area
to display the predicted cost for each of the plurality of vehicle
runs comprised in the utilization operation in the diagram.
[Claim 8] A program for a diagram creating system, for causing a
computer to implement:
an extracting function of extracting an item related to vehicle
running for transportation and a piece of accounting information
that is associated with the item related to vehicle running for
Amendments to the claims under Article 19
40
transportation from an accounting information storing portion which
stores, for each of a plurality of items, a piece of accounting
information in association with the each of the plurality of items;
a quantity adding function of associating quantity information
of the item related to vehicle running for transportation with the
item;
a unit accounting information calculating function of
calculating unit accounting information, which is accounting
information per unit quantity of the item related to vehicle running
for transportation by dividing the piece of accounting information
that is associated with the item related to vehicle running for
transportation by the quantity information that is associated with
the item;
an add-up function of calculating a total expense per unit
quantity from a sum of pieces of the unit accounting information;
a moving distance calculating function of obtaining a sum of
moving distances from a past vehicle running performance storing
portion which stores, for each utilization operation identifier for
identifying a utilization operation of a transportation machine,
a moving distance of the transportation machine in association with
the each utilization operation identifier, calculating a total moving
distance from the sum of moving distances, and dividing the total
moving distance by a total count of the utilization operation
identifiers, to thereby calculate a unit moving distance per unit
quantity;
an expense calculating function of calculating an expense per
Amendments to the claims under Article 19
41
unit distance by dividing the total expense by the unit moving distance;
a predicted cost calculating function of calculating a
predicted cost for each utilization operation of the transportation
machine in a diagram that illustrates a schedule for running the
transportation machine, a transportation machine utilization
operation schedule, or a crew shift schedule, and for each of a
plurality of vehicle runs comprised in the utilization operation,
by multiplying a planned mileage that is planned in the utilization
operation of the transportation machine and the plurality of vehicle
runs by the expense per unit distance; and
an outputting function of outputting an output screen
comprising the diagram, a first display area to display the predicted
cost of the utilization operation in the diagram, and a second display
area to display the predicted cost for each of the plurality of vehicle
runs comprised in the utilization operation in the diagram.