Vehicle allocation management device and vehicle allocation management method

Abstract

To protect a user from tailgating against a vehicle in which the user is riding.SOLUTION: A vehicle allocation management device according to the present invention includes a vehicle travel monitoring control unit that monitors and controls the travel of a user vehicle according to travel management information obtained from the user vehicle. The vehicle travel monitoring control unit includes: a tailgating detection unit that detects tailgating by other vehicles against the user vehicle; an emergency call issuing unit that issues an emergency call to a security-related organization in response to the tailgating; a security vehicle location information acquisition unit that acquires location information of a security vehicle of the security-related organization; and a merge point selection unit that extracts candidate merge points for the user vehicle and the security vehicle to merge based on the location information indicated by the travel management information of the user vehicle and the location information of the security vehicle, selects the candidate merge points at which the security vehicle can arrive before the user vehicle as the merge point, and notifies the security vehicle of the merge point.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle allocation management device and a vehicle allocation management method.

Background Art

[0002] In recent years, so-called aggressive driving, in which a driver of a vehicle causes a danger to other vehicles and obstructs driving wantonly, has become a social problem. For this reason, technologies for suppressing aggressive driving have been proposed.

[0003] For example, in Patent Document 1 below, when an in-vehicle control unit of a first vehicle detects aggressive driving from a second vehicle to the first vehicle, the in-vehicle control unit transmits first information for notifying a law enforcement organization to the second vehicle, and when the aggressive driving by the second vehicle continues even after the transmission of the first information, the in-vehicle control unit notifies the law enforcement organization and transmits second information for notifying the second vehicle that the law enforcement organization has been notified.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] In recent years, a vehicle allocation service that allocates a vehicle to a user using a driverless vehicle has been put into practical use. In such a vehicle allocation service using a driverless vehicle, the vehicle transports a user (passenger) to a destination under the supervision of a vehicle allocation management device. However, since there is no driver in the driverless vehicle, there is a problem that it is difficult to respond flexibly to aggressive driving. Therefore, for a user who rides in a driverless vehicle, there is a problem that the impression of such a vehicle allocation service deteriorates due to anxiety and fear caused by aggressive driving, so that the vehicle allocation service is shunned and the utilization rate decreases.

[0006] Also, although the technology disclosed in Patent Document 1 can be expected to suppress aggressive driving to some extent, it is not sufficient from the perspective of protecting users riding in a driverless vehicle. In particular, a driver who engages in malicious aggressive driving tends to continue aggressive driving indefinitely unless a law enforcement officer is actually in sight. There is a problem that users riding in a driverless vehicle will feel anxiety and fear.

[0007] Furthermore, when a vehicle carrying a user drives to a police vehicle under the instruction of a police agency in response to aggressive driving, if the vehicle carrying the user arrives at the merging point with the police vehicle first, a situation can be assumed where the driver who engaged in aggressive driving approaches the vehicle carrying the user and causes harm until the police vehicle arrives. For this reason, when merging with a police vehicle, it is desirable that the vehicle carrying the user arrives at the merging point after the police vehicle.

[0008] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a technology that can protect a user from aggressive driving against a vehicle in which the user is riding and can wipe out the user's anxiety and fear.

Means for Solving the Problem

[0009] The present invention for solving the above problems is configured to include the following invention specific matters or technical features.

[0010] According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vehicle dispatching management device that manages vehicle dispatching in response to a user's vehicle dispatching request. The vehicle dispatching management device includes a vehicle dispatching plan creation unit that creates a vehicle dispatching plan for a user vehicle to be dispatched to the user based on the vehicle dispatching request, and a vehicle travel monitoring and control unit that monitors and controls the travel of the user vehicle along the travel route indicated by the vehicle dispatching plan according to travel management information. The vehicle travel monitoring and control unit includes a travel management information acquisition unit that acquires the travel management information including at least position information from the user vehicle, a tailgating detection unit that detects tailgating of the user vehicle by another vehicle, an emergency notification issuing unit that issues an emergency notification to a security-related agency in response to the detected tailgating, a security vehicle position information acquisition unit that acquires the position information of a security vehicle of the security-related agency in response to the emergency notification, and a merging point selection unit that selects a merging point from among merging point candidates for the user vehicle and the security vehicle to merge based on the position information of the user vehicle and the position information of the security vehicle. The merging point selection unit selects, as the merging point, a merging point candidate at which the security vehicle can arrive earlier than the user vehicle, and notifies the merging point to the user vehicle and the security vehicle for which the emergency notification has been issued.

[0011] The present invention also provides a vehicle dispatching management method by a vehicle dispatching management device that manages vehicle dispatching in response to a vehicle dispatching request, a computer program for executing the method, and a recording medium that non-temporarily records the computer program.

[0012] In the present disclosure, the term "system" refers to a collection of a plurality of devices (or functional modules that realize specific functions) logically, and it does not matter whether each device or functional module is in a single housing.

Advantages of the Invention

[0013] According to the present invention, it is possible to protect the user from tailgating of the vehicle in which the user is riding, wipe out the user's anxiety and fear, and thus prevent a decrease in the utilization rate of the vehicle dispatching service due to a deteriorated impression.

[0014] Other technical features, objectives, effects, and advantages of the present invention will be clarified by the following embodiments described with reference to the attached drawings. The effects described in this specification are merely illustrative and not limiting, and there may be other effects.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0015]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0016] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the embodiments described below are merely illustrative and are not intended to exclude various modifications and applications of technologies not explicitly stated below. The present invention can be implemented with various modifications (for example, combining each embodiment) without departing from its gist. Also, in the description of the following drawings, the same or similar parts are denoted by the same or similar reference numerals. The drawings are schematic and do not necessarily match the actual dimensions, ratios, etc. There may be parts where the dimensional relationships and ratios are different between the drawings.

[0017] FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining an example of a vehicle allocation management system according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the vehicle allocation management system 1 includes a vehicle allocation management device 10, a terminal device 20, and a vehicle V, which are communicably connected to each other via a communication network N. Further, the vehicle allocation management system 1 may be connected to a road traffic information management system 30 that provides various traffic information in real time via the communication network N. The vehicle allocation management system 1 provides, for example, a vehicle allocation service using a plurality of vehicles V for a certain area. The vehicle allocation service may be either an "on-demand system" or a "reservation system". In the present disclosure, the vehicle V is assumed to be a self-driving vehicle without a driver, but is not limited thereto.

[0018] In addition, the vehicle allocation management system 1 can cooperate with a security-related agency (not shown). The security-related agency is, for example, an administrative agency such as a police department that enforces violators in accordance with traffic laws, and may vary depending on the national legal system. In the present disclosure, the vehicle allocation management system 1, under the remote monitoring and control of the vehicle allocation management device 10, especially when there is a vehicle that harasses the vehicle V carrying a user and traveling to the destination, from the perspective of user protection, cooperates with the security-related agency so that the security-related agency takes action against the harassing vehicle, and controls the vehicle V. Hereinafter, among the vehicles V, the vehicle V carrying a user and traveling to the destination may be referred to as "user vehicle V_U" in relation to harassment by other vehicles.

[0019] The vehicle allocation management device 10 is a computing device that comprehensively manages a vehicle allocation service by a plurality of vehicles V in the service target area of the vehicle allocation service. The service target area may be divided into several areas (sub-areas). The vehicle allocation management device 10 realizes a vehicle allocation service, for example, by implementing a vehicle allocation management server program and executing the vehicle allocation management server program under the control of a processor.

[0020] The vehicle allocation management device 10 includes various databases 12 that accumulate and manage the data necessary to implement such a vehicle allocation service. The databases 12 may include, for example, a user information database 12a, a road map information database 12b, a vehicle information database 12c, and a vehicle allocation plan database 12d (see FIG. 2). The databases 12 may be configured as part of the vehicle allocation management device 10, or all or part of them may be configured separately from the vehicle allocation management device 10.

[0021] Generally speaking, the vehicle allocation management device 10 receives a vehicle allocation request from a user who desires vehicle allocation for travel to a destination, and based on the vehicle allocation request, refers to the vehicle information database 12c to extract a vehicle V for allocation (vehicle allocation) to the user from among a plurality of vehicles V, creates a vehicle allocation plan therefor, and proposes the created vehicle allocation plan to the user. The vehicle allocation management device 10 determines the vehicle allocation plan based on the user's acceptance of the proposed vehicle allocation plan, and gives a vehicle allocation instruction according to the determined vehicle allocation plan to the vehicle V. The vehicle allocation management device 10 remotely monitors and controls the travel of the vehicle V based on the travel management information acquired from the vehicle V so as to transport the user to the destination.

[0022] The vehicle allocation plan includes a travel route defined from a location where the vehicle V waits (a waiting location that is the starting point), via several locations (boarding / alighting locations) where the user boards and alights on the way, to a waiting location that is the end point (not necessarily the same as the first waiting location). If the vehicle V is waiting, the vehicle allocation plan is newly created based on the received vehicle allocation request, and if the vehicle V is in operation, it may be updated based on the vehicle allocation request.

[0023] In the present disclosure, while the vehicle dispatch management device 10 monitors and controls the driving of the vehicle V according to the driving management information acquired from the user vehicle V_U, when it detects tailgating of the user vehicle V_U by another vehicle, it issues an emergency notification to the security-related agency. Further, the vehicle dispatch management device 10 acquires the position information of the vehicle of the security-related agency (hereinafter referred to as "security vehicle"), and based on the position information of the user vehicle V_U and the position information of the security vehicle, determines a merging point for the user vehicle V_U and the security vehicle to merge, and notifies the merging point to the vehicle V and the security vehicle. The merging point is a merging point candidate where the security vehicle can arrive earlier than the user vehicle V_U. Thereby, the user vehicle V_U being subjected to tailgating behavior can head towards the merging point where the security vehicle is waiting and receive protection by the security vehicle (security-related personnel).

[0024] The vehicle V is a vehicle registered in the vehicle information database 12c that is provided for user use. The vehicle V is typically a self-driving type vehicle (driverless vehicle) by an automatic driving system, regardless of the so-called level of automation. Also, the vehicle type of the vehicle V (for example, sedan, minivan, SUV, etc.) is not limited. The vehicle V includes a control device CTL and a user interface UI that control the vehicle V itself or its mounted devices according to the vehicle dispatch instruction from the vehicle dispatch management device 10. Although not shown, the control device CTL includes a processor, a memory, etc., and realizes various functions by executing a control program. Further, the vehicle V acquires driving management information necessary for autonomous driving from various cameras and sensors under the control of the control device CTL, and transmits this to the vehicle dispatch management device 10. The vehicle dispatch management device 10 monitors and controls the driving of the vehicle V according to the driving management information transmitted from the vehicle V. The driving management information includes, for example, video / audio information around the vehicle V by a camera / microphone, spatial recognition information (point cloud information) by spatial recognition sensors such as LiDAR and RADAR, geographical position information of the vehicle V by a GPS system, and state information by a state monitoring sensor that monitors the state of the vehicle V, each device, and each part.

[0025] In addition, the control device CTL can detect intimidating driving by other vehicles based on the driving management information. For example, the control device CTL uses a learned intimidating driving detection model to recognize excessive approach of the inter-vehicle distance with other vehicles traveling behind, frequent and rapid changes, sudden braking ahead, sudden interruptions, and / or other intimidating behaviors, etc. based on the acquired driving management information, and detects them as intimidating driving. When the control device CTL detects intimidating driving, it notifies the vehicle dispatch management device 10 of this. Note that the detection of intimidating driving may be performed by the vehicle dispatch management device 10 instead of the vehicle V.

[0026] In addition, the vehicle V may be provided with an emergency notification button for the user to operate in case of an emergency such as the occurrence of an accident or a breakdown, or being subjected to intimidating driving by other vehicles. For example, when the user is being subjected to intimidating driving, the user presses the provided emergency notification button, and thereby, the control device CTL can detect intimidating driving in combination with the driving management information and notify this to the vehicle dispatch management device 10.

[0027] Furthermore, the vehicle V may be provided with a notification device such as a display and a speaker for notifying the outside of an emergency such as being subjected to intimidating driving by other vehicles.

[0028] The terminal device 20 is, for example, a computing device for a user who wishes to board to operate a user interface to make a vehicle dispatch request. The terminal device 20 is, for example, a smartphone, a tablet computer, a notebook personal computer, a desktop computer, etc., but is not limited thereto. The terminal device 20 implements, for example, a vehicle dispatch client program (so-called vehicle dispatch app). The terminal device 20 enables the user to use the vehicle dispatch service of the vehicle dispatch management device 10 by executing the vehicle dispatch app under the control of a processor. For example, the user can make a reservation to board the vehicle V by making a vehicle dispatch request from a vehicle dispatch request screen (not shown) on the user interface of the terminal device 20 and accepting the vehicle dispatch plan created by the vehicle dispatch management device 10 in response thereto.

[0029] Further, the terminal device 20 may provide the user with a user interface for receiving an emergency notification for the boost operation. The user inputs an emergency notification via the user interface, and in response thereto, the terminal device 20 may notify the vehicle allocation management device 10.

[0030] The road traffic information management system 30 is an information communication system that provides road traffic information in real time. For example, the road traffic information management system 30 collects road traffic data from various monitoring facilities installed on the road and also collects driving data from a control device CTL mounted on the vehicle V, and manages road traffic information obtained by integrally processing and editing these data. The monitoring facilities include, for example, but are not limited to, live cameras and vehicle sensors. The edited road traffic information may include, for example, information on traffic stops and detour routes, and the time required between points via a specific route. The road traffic information management system 30 appropriately provides the road traffic information to the vehicle allocation management device 10 and the vehicle V. The road traffic information management system 30 may provide the vehicle allocation management device 10 with live camera moving image information, sound collection microphone voice information, and vehicle sensor sensor information obtained from the monitoring facilities as driving management information in addition to weather information, traffic information, and road regulation information. Thereby, the vehicle allocation management device 10 can appropriately monitor and guide the vehicle V according to the driving management information.

[0031] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a functional configuration model of a vehicle allocation management device according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the vehicle allocation management device 10 can be configured as a functional configuration model including functional components such as, for example, a front-end processing unit 110, a vehicle allocation plan formulation unit 120, a vehicle running monitoring and control unit 130, and a communication control unit 140. Further, as described above, the vehicle allocation management device 10 includes various databases 12. Such a functional model is realized by the vehicle allocation management device 10 executing a vehicle allocation management server program under the control of a processor and thereby cooperating with various hardware resources. The functional configuration model shown here is an example, and all or part of the functions in a certain functional component may be realized by other functional components. In the figure, for convenience of explanation, the user's terminal device 20 and the control device CTL in the vehicle V are also shown.

[0032] The user information database 12a stores information about users who use the vehicle allocation service (hereinafter referred to as "user information"). The user information includes, for example, a user ID and password, personal attributes (gender, age, address, work address, etc.), and information regarding service usage status. In the present disclosure, the user's address and work address can be used as private areas when selecting a joining point. The user information is registered in the user information database 12a under the control of the vehicle allocation management device 10, for example, when the user inputs predetermined information at the first startup of the vehicle allocation application.

[0033] The road map information database 12b stores road map information in the target area of the vehicle dispatch service. The road map information includes, for example, map data regarding addresses, place names, road networks (links and nodes), facilities, etc. Further, the road map information includes information necessary for searching for a driving route, such as road information, ground feature information, and environmental information. Moreover, the road map information includes information regarding the boarding and alighting locations of the user and locations where the vehicle V can temporarily stop. The information regarding the boarding and alighting locations and the stoppable locations is used as a merging point between the vehicle V and the security vehicle. Furthermore, the road map information includes information regarding a predetermined safety consideration area. The predetermined safety consideration area includes, for example, residential areas, childcare facilities for non-school children such as nurseries and kindergartens, and areas near schools such as elementary schools and junior high schools, and congested areas with a lot of pedestrian traffic and traffic volume. The information regarding the predetermined safety consideration area is used to exclude the merging point from the predetermined safety consideration area.

[0034] The vehicle information database 12c stores information regarding the vehicle V provided for the user's use (vehicle information). The vehicle information includes, for example, information regarding the vehicle ID, vehicle attributes (vehicle registration number, vehicle type, and maximum number of passengers / maximum load, level of automation, etc.), vehicle characteristics, other specifications, the current vehicle dispatch plan, the current location, and the current state (service state, remaining battery capacity (endurance), and passengers, etc.). The vehicle information acquired from the vehicle V via the communication control unit 140 can be updated at any time.

[0035] The vehicle dispatch plan database 12d stores the vehicle dispatch plan for each vehicle V created by the vehicle dispatch plan formulation unit 120 based on the vehicle dispatch request. As described above, the vehicle dispatch plan includes the driving route from the starting waiting location through several boarding and alighting locations (departure locations) to the ending waiting location and the estimated arrival time for each passing location.

[0036] The front-end processing unit 110 performs various processes with the user's terminal device 20. As an example, the front-end processing unit 110 refers to the user information database 12a and performs login authentication processing in accordance with a login request from the carpooling application on the user's terminal device 20. Also, the front-end processing unit 110 communicates with the terminal device 20 in order to respond to a carpooling request from the carpooling application on the user's terminal device 20. More specifically, the front-end processing unit 110 receives the carpooling request, delivers it to the carpooling request reception unit 121, and in response, transmits the carpooling plan created by the carpooling plan determination unit 120 to the terminal device 20, causing the carpooling plan (candidate vehicles) to be displayed on the user interface of the terminal device 20. In response, the front-end processing unit 110 receives a notification of approval or rejection by the user transmitted from the terminal device 20 and delivers it to the carpooling plan determination unit 120.

[0037] Based on the carpooling request delivered from the front-end processing unit 110, the carpooling plan determination unit 120 extracts candidate vehicles V from among the vehicles V operable in the target area, and creates and / or updates the carpooling plan. When extracting candidate vehicles V, the carpooling plan determination unit 120 can obtain the position information of each vehicle V. Thereby, the carpooling plan determination unit 120 can extract the vehicle V close to the destination indicated by the carpooling request. The carpooling plan determination unit 120 proposes the created or updated carpooling plan to the user via the front-end processing unit 110. When the carpooling plan determination unit 120 receives approval from the user for the proposed carpooling plan, it finalizes the approved carpooling plan, stores the finalized carpooling plan in the carpooling plan database 12d, and gives a carpooling instruction to the vehicle V of the carpooling plan.

[0038] The vehicle travel monitoring and control unit 130 remotely monitors and controls the vehicle V so that the vehicle V can travel appropriately along the travel route indicated by the vehicle allocation plan. For example, the vehicle travel monitoring and control unit 130 obtains travel management information from the vehicle V and / or the road traffic information management system 30 at any time via the communication control unit 140. Based on the obtained travel management information, the vehicle travel monitoring and control unit 130 monitors the travel of the vehicle V and performs guidance control as necessary. The vehicle travel monitoring and control unit 130 may present the travel status of the vehicle V to the operator and, if necessary, transmit the guidance instruction received from the operator to the vehicle V.

[0039] In addition, the vehicle travel monitoring and control unit 130 detects tailgating of the user vehicle V_U during travel by other vehicles. As an example, the vehicle travel monitoring and control unit 130 detects tailgating of the user vehicle V_U by receiving a notification regarding tailgating from the user vehicle V_U that has detected the tailgating. As another example, the vehicle travel monitoring and control unit 130 may detect tailgating by other vehicles based on the travel management information obtained from the user vehicle V_U. Specifically, the vehicle travel monitoring and control unit 130 uses a pre-trained tailgating detection model and, based on the obtained travel management information, when recognizing excessive approach of the inter-vehicle distance with other vehicles traveling behind, frequent and rapid changes, sudden braking ahead, sudden cut-ins, and / or other threatening behaviors, etc., it detects them as tailgating.

[0040] In the present disclosure, when the vehicle driving monitoring control unit 130 detects aggressive driving of the user vehicle V_U, it issues an emergency notification to security-related agencies. The emergency notification may include, for example, the current position and traveling direction of the user vehicle V_U. Further, the vehicle driving monitoring control unit 130 acquires the position information of security vehicles of security-related agencies. For example, the security-related agencies may provide the vehicle driving monitoring control unit 130 with the position information of at least one or more available security vehicles in the vicinity of the user vehicle V_U in response to the emergency notification. Furthermore, based on the position information of the user vehicle V_U and the position information of the security vehicles, the vehicle driving monitoring control unit 130 extracts candidate merging points for the user vehicle V_U and the security vehicles to merge, and selects the optimal merging point from among them. That is, the vehicle driving monitoring control unit 130 selects, as the merging point, a candidate merging point at which the security vehicle V can arrive earlier than the user vehicle V_U among the candidate merging points extracted based on the position information of the user vehicle V_U and the position information of the security vehicles. The merging point may be on the driving route indicated by the vehicle allocation plan, or may be a location outside the driving route. Then, the vehicle driving monitoring control unit 130 notifies the merging point to the user vehicle V_U and the security vehicle related to the issuance of the emergency notification. In response to this, each of the user vehicle V_U and the security vehicle travels toward the merging point indicated by the notification and merges with each other. In this case, the security vehicle waits at the merging point together with the vehicle that has been aggressively driving and has chased the user vehicle V_U to the merging point.

[0041] The vehicle driving monitoring control unit 130 may select a merging point from among the candidate merging points according to a predetermined selection criterion. The predetermined selection criterion includes, for example, the distance to the destination, the distance from the current position, and the exclusion of the user's private area and safety consideration area. For example, the vehicle driving monitoring control unit 130 may select, as the merging point, a candidate merging point closer to the destination of the user indicated by the vehicle allocation request.

[0042] The communication control unit 140 exchanges various types of information with the vehicle V via the communication network N. For example, the communication control unit 140 transmits a vehicle information transmission request to the vehicle V and receives the vehicle information transmitted by the vehicle V in response thereto. The vehicle information includes, for example, the position information of the vehicle V. Further, the communication control unit 140 transmits an operation instruction to the vehicle V according to the determined vehicle allocation plan.

[0043] FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining an example of selection of a merging point by the vehicle allocation management device according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 3(a), it is assumed that the user vehicle V_U is traveling toward a destination (not shown) according to the travel route R indicated by the vehicle allocation plan, while the security vehicle V_S is performing a patrol.

[0044] When the vehicle allocation management device 10 detects that the user vehicle V_U is being tailgated by another vehicle, the vehicle allocation management device 10 extracts merging point candidates P(1) to P(3) based on the position information of each of the user vehicle V_U and the security vehicle. Subsequently, the vehicle allocation management device 10 calculates the expected arrival times of each of the user vehicle V_U and the security vehicle for each of the merging point candidates P(1) to P(3), and selects, for example, the merging point candidate P(2) where the security vehicle can arrive earlier than the user vehicle V_U as shown in FIG. 3(b) as the merging point.

[0045] Note that when there are a plurality of merging point candidates P where the security vehicle can arrive earlier than the user vehicle V_U, for example, the vehicle allocation management device 10 may select the merging point candidate P closer to the destination of the user indicated by the vehicle allocation request as the merging point. Alternatively, the vehicle allocation management device 10 may select the merging point candidate P closer to the current position of the user vehicle V_U as the merging point. Further, when extracting the merging point candidate P, the vehicle allocation management device 10 may narrow down the merging point candidate P according to a predetermined exclusion condition.

[0046] FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of the details of a vehicle running monitoring control unit in a vehicle allocation management device according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, in this example, the vehicle running monitoring control unit 130 includes a running management information acquisition unit 131, a tailgating detection unit 132, an emergency notification issuing unit 133, a security vehicle position information acquisition unit 134, and a merging point selection unit 135.

[0047] The running management information acquisition unit 131 acquires running management information from the vehicle V via the communication control unit 140. As described above, the running management information includes, for example, video / audio information, spatial recognition information (point cloud information), position information, and status information. Further, the running management information acquisition unit 131 may additionally acquire running management information from the road traffic information management system 30.

[0048] The tailgating detection unit 132 detects tailgating by receiving an emergency notification related to tailgating from the user vehicle V_U. Alternatively, the tailgating detection unit 132 may detect tailgating by other vehicles based on the running management information. For example, the tailgating detection unit 132 may include a trained tailgating detection model. The trained tailgating detection model takes the acquired running management information as input and outputs a recognition result related to tailgating, such as an excessive approach of the inter-vehicle distance with other vehicles running behind, frequent and rapid changes, sudden braking ahead, sudden cut-ins, and / or other intimidating behaviors. The trained tailgating detection model recognizes tailgating based on the running management information and outputs the recognition result.

[0049] When tailgating is detected, the emergency notification issuing unit 133 issues an emergency notification to the security-related agency in the jurisdiction. The emergency notification may be transmitted to the security-related agency via the communication control unit 140, or may be transmitted to the security-related agency via another communication line. In response to this, the security-related agency recognizes that tailgating has occurred within the jurisdiction.

[0050] Upon the issuance of an emergency report, the security vehicle position information acquisition unit 134 requests the provision of the position information of security-related vehicles to security-related agencies. When a security-related agency receives a request for the provision of position information along with an emergency report, it provides the position information of security vehicles capable of responding thereto to the vehicle dispatching management device 10. Alternatively, the security-related agency may provide the position information of security vehicles to the vehicle dispatching management device 10 at regular intervals.

[0051] Based on the position information of the vehicle V that issued the emergency report and the position information of security vehicles capable of responding to the emergency report, the merging point selection unit 135 selects an optimal merging point for the user vehicle V_U and the security vehicle to merge. That is, first, based on the position information of the user vehicle V_U and the position information of the security vehicle, the merging point selection unit 135 refers to the road map information database 12b and extracts one or more merging point candidates where the user vehicle V_U can safely stop. Subsequently, the merging point selection unit 135 selects, as the merging point, a merging point candidate from among the extracted merging point candidates where the security vehicle can arrive earlier than the user vehicle V_U. As a result, the user vehicle V can arrive at the merging point after the security vehicle, thereby being protected by the security vehicle (security-related personnel) and eliminating the user's anxiety and fear regarding tailgating behavior.

[0052] For example, the merging point selection unit 135 may select, as the merging point, a merging point candidate that is closer to the destination indicated by the vehicle dispatching request and where the security vehicle can arrive earlier than the user vehicle V_U. In this case, the merging point candidate may coincide with the destination. Thus, even if the vehicle dispatching service is suspended due to tailgating, the user's convenience can be minimized by allowing the user to get off at a location as close as possible to the destination.

[0053] Alternatively, the merging point selection unit 135 may select, as the merging point, a merging point candidate that is closer to the current position based on the position information of the user vehicle V_U and where the security vehicle can arrive earlier than the user vehicle V_U. Thereby, the arrival time to the merging point can be made shorter, and the user's anxiety about tailgating driving can be wiped out as soon as possible.

[0054] Further, the merging point selection unit 135 may narrow down the merging point candidates according to a predetermined exclusion condition. The predetermined exclusion condition includes, for example, exclusion conditions related to areas such as the user's private area and / or safety consideration area.

[0055] For example, the merging point selection unit 135 refers to the user information database 12a and may exclude a merging candidate point that is a merging point candidate where the security vehicle can arrive earlier than the user vehicle V_U but is within the private area based on the residence of the user shown in the user information of the user in the user vehicle V_U. That is, the merging point selection unit 135 selects an appropriate merging point candidate as the merging point from among the merging point candidates outside the user's private area. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the user's residence from being easily known to the driver who has performed tailgating driving, protect the user's privacy, and avoid retaliation by the driver who has performed tailgating driving.

[0056] In addition, the merging point selection unit 135 may refer to the road map information database 12b and exclude the merging point candidates within a predetermined safety consideration area from the merging points. That is, the merging point selection unit 135 selects an appropriate merging point candidate as the merging point from among the merging point candidates outside the predetermined safety consideration area. The predetermined safety consideration area includes, for example, residential areas, facilities for childcare of non-school-age children such as nurseries and kindergartens, areas near schools such as elementary schools and junior high schools, play facilities, and congested areas with a lot of pedestrian traffic and traffic volume. Thereby, it is possible to prevent harm from reaching people who particularly need to consider safety and protect the safety of the user and the surroundings.

[0057] The merging point selection unit 135 notifies the selected merging point to the user vehicle V_U and the security vehicle. Instead of directly notifying the security vehicle, the merging point selection unit 135 may notify a security-related institution, and the security-related institution that responds thereto may notify the security vehicle. In response to this, the user vehicle V_U and the security vehicle will head towards the merging point. As a result, the vehicle V being harassed can head towards the merging point where the security vehicle is waiting and receive protection from the security vehicle and its security personnel.

[0058] Based on the notification of the merging point to the user vehicle V_U, the merging point selection unit 135 may control the user vehicle V_U to inform the situation of being harassed while driving in the user vehicle V_U. For example, upon receiving the notification of the merging point, the user vehicle V_U, under the control of the control device CTL, displays a sign requesting assistance on the display to inform the situation of being harassed while driving around the user vehicle V_U. Thereby, it becomes easier for the security personnel waiting at the merging point to identify the vehicle V being harassed.

[0059] As described above, although it is planned that the security vehicle can arrive at the merging point earlier than the user vehicle V_U, there may be a case where the security vehicle cannot arrive earlier than the user vehicle V_U due to traffic congestion on the driving route of the security vehicle. Therefore, when it is determined that the security vehicle cannot arrive at the merging point earlier than the vehicle V, the merging point selection unit 135 can reselect the merging point and notify the user vehicle V_U and the security vehicle. Thereby, it is possible to avoid the vehicle V arriving at the merging point earlier than the security vehicle and eliminate the user's psychological uneasiness.

[0060] Also, the merging point selection unit 135 may select a merging point candidate where multiple security vehicles can arrive as the merging point. Thereby, the response to the driver who performs harassing driving can be made reliable, and the user's psychological uneasiness can be eliminated. In this case, it is not necessary for all of the security vehicles dealing with the harassing driving to arrive at the merging point earlier than the user vehicle V_U, and at least one of them only needs to arrive at the merging point earlier than the user vehicle V_U.

[0061] Note that after the user vehicle V_U arrives at the merging point where the security vehicle is waiting, if the user in the vehicle wishes to get off, for example, based on the video information in the driving management information obtained from the user vehicle V_U, the vehicle driving monitoring and control unit 130 can control the user vehicle V_U to open the door of the user vehicle V_U that is distal to the position of the driver of the vehicle that performed aggressive driving and let the user get off. Further, based on the video information in the driving management information, when it is determined that the driver of the vehicle that performed aggressive driving is under the management of security personnel, the vehicle driving monitoring and control unit 130 may control the user vehicle V_U to let the user get off. Thereby, the psychological anxiety of the user who has been subjected to aggressive driving can be eliminated.

[0062] FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining an example of aggressive driving response processing by the vehicle allocation management device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Such aggressive driving response processing is realized by the vehicle allocation management device 10 executing a vehicle allocation management server program under the control of a processor in cooperation with various hardware resources. Note that in the aggressive driving response processing, the vehicle allocation management device 10 allocates a vehicle V in response to a user's vehicle allocation request in the target area of the vehicle allocation service, and it is assumed that the user rides in the vehicle V and moves to the destination.

[0063] As shown in the figure, the vehicle allocation management device 10 (that is, the vehicle driving monitoring and control unit 130) monitors aggressive driving against the user vehicle V_U under the vehicle allocation service (S501). For example, based on the driving management information obtained from the user vehicle V_U, the vehicle allocation management device 10 detects aggressive driving of other vehicles against the user vehicle V_U. Alternatively, based on a notification regarding aggressive driving from the user vehicle V_U, the vehicle allocation management device 10 may detect aggressive driving of other vehicles against the user vehicle V_U. Alternatively, based on a notification regarding aggressive driving from the vehicle V, the vehicle allocation management device 10 may detect aggressive driving of other vehicles against the user vehicle V_U from the terminal device 20 of the user riding in the vehicle V that is being subjected to aggressive driving.

[0064] When the vehicle allocation management device 10 detects a stalking operation on the user vehicle V_U (Yes in S501), it issues an emergency notification to the security-related agency (S502). When issuing the emergency notification, the vehicle allocation management device 10 notifies the security-related agency of, for example, the current position and traveling direction of the user vehicle V_U. In response to the emergency notification, the security-related agency transmits the position information of the security vehicle that can respond to this to the vehicle allocation management device 10, and the vehicle allocation management device 10 acquires this (S503).

[0065] Next, the vehicle allocation management device 10 refers to the road map information database 12b based on the position information of the user vehicle V_U related to the issuance of the emergency notification and the position information of the security vehicle that can respond to the emergency notification, extracts one or more candidate merging points where the user vehicle V_U can safely stop, and then extracts candidate merging points where the security vehicle can arrive earlier than the vehicle V (S504).

[0066] Next, the vehicle allocation management device 10 narrows down the extracted candidate merging points according to a predetermined exclusion condition (S505). The predetermined exclusion condition includes, for example, exclusion conditions related to areas such as the user's private area and / or safety consideration area. For example, the vehicle allocation management device 10 refers to the user information database 12a and excludes candidate merging points within the private area based on the residence of the user indicated by the user information of the user in the user vehicle V_U. Also, the vehicle allocation management device 10 refers to the road map information database 12b and excludes candidate merging points within a predetermined safety consideration area from the merging points. The predetermined safety consideration area includes, for example, residential areas, childcare facilities for non-school-age children such as nurseries and kindergartens, areas near schools such as elementary and junior high schools, amusement facilities, and congested areas with a lot of pedestrian traffic and traffic volume. Here, an example of narrowing down the candidate merging points by applying the predetermined exclusion condition after extracting candidate merging points where the security vehicle can arrive earlier than the user vehicle V_U is shown, but it is not limited to this. For example, after extracting one or more candidate merging points where the user vehicle V_U can safely stop, the candidate merging points can be narrowed down by applying the predetermined exclusion condition, and further, candidate merging points where the security vehicle can arrive earlier than the user vehicle V_U can be extracted.

[0067] Next, the vehicle allocation management device 10 selects and determines an optimal merging point from among the merging point candidates narrowed down as described above (S506). For example, the vehicle allocation management device 10 selects, as the merging point, a merging point candidate that is closer to the destination of the user indicated by the vehicle allocation request and where a security vehicle can arrive earlier than the vehicle V. Alternatively, the vehicle allocation management device 10 selects, as the merging point, a merging point candidate that is closer to the current position based on the position information of the user vehicle V_U and where a security vehicle can arrive earlier than the user vehicle V_U. Also, the vehicle allocation management device 10 may select, as the merging point, a merging point candidate where a plurality of security vehicles can arrive among the merging point candidates.

[0068] After selecting the merging point, the vehicle allocation management device 10 notifies the merging point to the user vehicle V_U and the security vehicle (S507). Alternatively, the vehicle allocation management device 10 may notify a security-related institution, and the security-related institution that responds thereto may notify the security vehicle. In response to this, the user vehicle V_U and the security vehicle will head towards the merging point.

[0069] Subsequently, the vehicle allocation management device 10 monitors whether the user vehicle V_U heading towards the merging point has arrived at the merging point (S508). When the vehicle allocation management device 10 determines that the user vehicle V_U has arrived at the merging point (Yes in S508), the vehicle allocation management device 10 performs response processing at the merging point described later (S512).

[0070] On the other hand, when the vehicle allocation management device 10 determines that the user vehicle V_U has not yet arrived at the merging point (No in S508), it calculates the estimated arrival times of the user vehicle V_U and the security vehicle at the merging point (S509). For example, the vehicle allocation management device 10 calculates the estimated arrival times based on the position information of the user vehicle V_U and the security vehicle and the moving distance per unit time. Subsequently, the vehicle allocation management device 10 monitors whether the arrival of the security vehicle at the merging point will be later than the arrival of the user vehicle V_U based on the estimated arrival times of the user vehicle V_U and the security vehicle at the merging point until the user vehicle V_U arrives at the merging point (S510).

[0071] When the vehicle allocation management device 10 determines that the arrival of the security vehicle at the merging point is delayed compared to the arrival of the user vehicle V_U for some reason (Yes in S510), the vehicle allocation management device 10 attempts to change the merging point (S511). That is, the vehicle allocation management device 10 selects a new merging point where another security vehicle can arrive at the merging point earlier than the user vehicle V_U. For example, the arrival of the security vehicle may be delayed due to traffic congestion on the driving route of the security vehicle. When the vehicle allocation management device 10 selects a new merging point, it notifies this to the user vehicle V_U and the security vehicle (S507), and repeats the above processing until the user vehicle V_U arrives at the merging point.

[0072] On the other hand, when the vehicle allocation management device 10 determines that the user vehicle V_U has arrived at the merging point where the security vehicle is waiting (S508), the vehicle allocation management device 10 performs corresponding processing at the merging point (S512). For example, when the user in the vehicle wishes to get off, based on the video information in the driving management information acquired from the user vehicle V_U, the vehicle V is controlled to open the door of the user vehicle V_U that is distal from the position of the driver of the vehicle that has performed aggressive driving and let the user get off. Further, when it is determined based on the video information in the driving management information that the driver of the vehicle that has performed aggressive driving is under the management of security personnel, the vehicle may be controlled to let the user get off.

[0073] As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to protect the user from aggressive driving of the vehicle in which the user is riding, wipe out the user's anxiety and fear, and thus prevent a decrease in the utilization rate of the vehicle allocation service due to a deteriorated impression.

[0074] In particular, according to the present embodiment, since the merging point candidate where the security vehicle can arrive earlier than the user vehicle V_U is determined as the merging point, the user vehicle V can receive protection by the security vehicle (security personnel) by arriving at the merging point after the security vehicle, and the user's anxiety and fear against aggressive driving behavior can be wiped out.

[0075] Each of the above embodiments is an exemplification for explaining the present invention, and is not intended to limit the present invention only to these embodiments. The present invention can be implemented in various forms without departing from its gist.

[0076] For example, in the method disclosed in this specification, steps, operations, or functions may be performed in parallel or in a different order as long as there is no contradiction in the results. The described steps, operations, and functions are provided as mere examples, and some of the steps, operations, and functions can be omitted, combined with each other to form one, or other steps, operations, or functions can be added without departing from the gist of the invention.

[0077] Also, in this specification, although various embodiments are disclosed, specific features (technical matters) in one embodiment can be added to other embodiments while appropriately improving them, or replaced with specific features in other embodiments, and such forms are also included in the gist of the present invention.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0078] 1... Vehicle Allocation Management System 10... Vehicle Allocation Management Device 110... Front-End Processing Unit 120... Vehicle Allocation Plan Formulation Unit 130... Vehicle Travel Monitoring and Control Unit 131... Travel Management Information Acquisition Unit 132... Harsh Driving Detection Unit 133... Emergency Notification Issuing Unit 134... Security Vehicle Position Information Acquisition Unit 135... Merging Point Selection Unit 140... Communication Control Unit 12... Database 12a... User Information Database 12b... Road Map Information Database 12c... Vehicle Information Database 12d... Vehicle Allocation Plan Database 20... Terminal Device 30… Road traffic information management system N… Communication network V… Vehicle CTL… Control device

Claims

1. A vehicle dispatch management device that manages the dispatch of vehicles in response to a user's vehicle dispatch request, a dispatch plan creation unit that creates a dispatch plan for a user vehicle to be dispatched to the user based on the dispatch request, and a vehicle travel monitoring and control unit that monitors and controls the travel of the user vehicle along the travel route indicated by the dispatch plan according to travel management information. The vehicle travel monitoring and control unit, a travel management information acquisition unit that acquires the travel management information including at least position information from the user vehicle, a tailgating detection unit that detects tailgating of the user vehicle by other vehicles, an emergency notification issuing unit that issues an emergency notification to security-related agencies in response to the detected tailgating, a security vehicle position information acquisition unit that acquires the position information of the security vehicle of the security-related agency in response to the emergency notification, and a merging point selection unit that selects a merging point from among merging point candidates for the user vehicle and the security vehicle to merge based on the position information of the user vehicle and the position information of the security vehicle. The merging point selection unit selects, as the merging point, a merging point candidate at which the security vehicle can arrive earlier than the user vehicle, and notifies the merging point to the user vehicle and the security vehicle that issued the emergency notification. A vehicle dispatch management device.

2. The merging point selection unit selects, as the merging point, a merging point candidate that is closer to the destination indicated by the dispatch request among the merging point candidates at which the security vehicle can arrive earlier than the user vehicle. The vehicle dispatch management device according to Claim 1.

3. The merging point selection unit selects, as the merging point, a merging point candidate that is closer to the current position based on the position information of the user vehicle among the merging point candidates at which the security vehicle can arrive earlier than the user vehicle. The vehicle dispatch management device according to Claim 1.

4. The vehicle dispatch management device further includes a user information database that stores user information of the user, and the merging point selection unit refers to the user information database and excludes, from the merging point candidates, merging point candidates within the private area of the user indicated by the user information. The vehicle dispatch management device according to Claim 2.

5. The merging point selection unit excludes, from the merging point candidates, merging point candidates within a predetermined safety consideration area. The vehicle dispatch management device according to Claim 2.

6. The predetermined safety consideration area includes at least one of a residential area, a neighborhood area of a nursery facility for non-school children and a school, and a congested area. The vehicle dispatching management device according to claim 5.

7. The merging point selection unit selects, as the merging point, a merging point candidate among the merging point candidates at which a plurality of the security vehicles can arrive. The vehicle dispatching management device according to claim 1.

8. When it is determined that the arrival of the security vehicle at the selected merging point is delayed compared to the user vehicle, the merging point selection unit changes to another merging point at which the security vehicle can arrive earlier than the user vehicle. The vehicle running monitoring and control unit notifies the changed other merging point to the user vehicle and the security vehicle that issued the emergency notification. The vehicle dispatching management device according to claim 2.

9. The vehicle running monitoring and control unit controls the user vehicle to notify the situation in which the user vehicle is being tailgated around the user vehicle. The vehicle dispatching management device according to claim 1.

10. After the user vehicle stops to merge with the security vehicle at the merging point, the vehicle running monitoring and control unit gets the user out of the door of the user vehicle that is distal from the position of the driver of the other vehicle based on the video information in the running management information obtained from the user vehicle. The vehicle dispatching management device according to claim 1.

11. After the vehicle merges with the security vehicle and stops at the merging point, when it is determined that the driver of the other vehicle is under the management of the security personnel of the security vehicle, the vehicle running monitoring and control unit controls the vehicle to get the user out of the vehicle. The vehicle dispatching management device according to claim 10.

12. A vehicle dispatching management method for managing vehicle dispatching in response to a user's vehicle dispatching request, comprising: obtaining running management information including at least position information from a user vehicle dispatched to the user based on the vehicle dispatching request and in which the user rides; monitoring and controlling the running of the user vehicle according to the running management information; detecting tailgating of the user vehicle by another vehicle; issuing an emergency notification to a security-related agency in response to the detected tailgating; obtaining position information of a security vehicle of the security-related agency in response to the emergency notification. selecting a merging point from among merging point candidates for the user vehicle and the security vehicle to merge, based on the position information of the user vehicle and the position information of the security vehicle; selecting the merging point includes selecting, as the merging point, a merging point candidate where the security vehicle can arrive earlier than the user vehicle; notifying the merging point to the user vehicle that issued the emergency notification and the security vehicle; A vehicle allocation management method.

13. A computer program for causing a computing device to execute, under the control of a processor, a method for managing vehicle allocation in response to a vehicle allocation request of a user, the method comprising: The method includes acquiring driving management information including at least position information from a user vehicle that is allocated to the user based on the vehicle allocation request and in which the user rides; monitoring and controlling the driving of the user vehicle according to the driving management information; detecting tailgating of the user vehicle by another vehicle; issuing an emergency notification to a security-related agency in response to the detected tailgating; acquiring the position information of a security vehicle of the security-related agency in response to the emergency notification; selecting a merging point from among merging point candidates for the user vehicle and the security vehicle to merge, based on the position information of the user vehicle and the position information of the security vehicle; selecting the merging point includes selecting, as the merging point, a merging point candidate where the security vehicle can arrive earlier than the user vehicle; notifying the merging point to the user vehicle that issued the emergency notification and the security vehicle; A computer program.

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