Vehicle dispatching device, control method, and storage medium

Abstract

The vehicle dispatching device (1) includes: a demand information acquisition unit (21) that acquires a demand location at which a vehicle dispatching demand is expected and a demand time at which the demand is expected; a physical condition acquisition unit (22) that acquires, for each driver, a change in a driver's physical condition on a time axis during a period from a current time to the demand time; and a vehicle dispatching support unit (23) that determines, for each driver, a required rest time in which the driver should rest in order for a level of the physical condition that changes on the time axis at the demand time to be lower than a specified threshold value, and determines a driver who can complete movement to the demand location and rest before the demand time.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to a vehicle dispatching device for dispatching a driver in a passenger service. BACKGROUND

[0002] Patent Literature 1 discloses a vehicle dispatching support system that appropriately dispatches a taxi based on predicted taxi user demand prediction information, which can be obtained from empty vehicle information, sales, location information of a taxi, and the like.

[0003] Patent Literature 2 discloses an obstacle degree calculation system that calculates an obstacle degree of a driver in safe driving and makes a suggestion to the driver or proposes a break to the driver according to the obstacle degree.

[0004] (Prior Art Documents)

[0005] (Patent Literature)

[0006] Patent Literature 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-91274

[0007] Patent Literature 2: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2020-64553

[0008] (Non-Patent Literature)

[0009] Non-Patent Literature 1: C. Jacobe de Naurois et al., “Detection and prediction of driver drowsiness using artificial neural network models”, Accident Analysis and Prevention 126, P. 95-P. 104, 2019

[0010] Non-Patent Literature 2: Ajjen Joshi et al., “In-the-wild Drowsiness Detection from Facial Expressions”, October 21, 2020 SUMMARY

[0011] (Problems to be Solved by the Invention)

[0012] Although the system of Patent Literature 1 can take demand into account for vehicle dispatching, it does not take into account the burden on the driver and can therefore have a problem in terms of safety. On the other hand, although the system of Patent Literature 2 makes a suggestion to take a break from the viewpoint of safety, it does not take demand into account, and therefore, for example, efficiency in terms of profitability and the like can be affected.

[0013] An object of one aspect of the present application is to realize a vehicle dispatching device that can ensure safety and efficiency in a balanced manner.

[0014] (Technical means for solving the problem)

[0015] To solve the above problem, a vehicle dispatching device of one aspect of the present application includes: a demand information acquisition section that acquires a demand location at which a vehicle dispatching demand is expected and a demand time at which the demand is expected; a physical condition acquisition section that acquires, for each driver, a change in a physical condition of the driver on a time axis during a period from a current time to the demand time; and a vehicle dispatching support section that determines, for each driver, a required rest time for which the driver should rest in order for a level of the physical condition that changes on the time axis at the demand time to be lower than a specified threshold value, and determines a driver who can complete movement to the demand location and the rest before the demand time.

[0016] To solve the above problem, a control method of a vehicle dispatching device of one aspect of the present application includes: a demand information acquisition step of acquiring a demand location at which a vehicle dispatching demand is expected and a demand time at which the demand is expected; a physical condition acquisition step of acquiring, for each driver, a change in a physical condition of the driver on a time axis during a period from a current time to the demand time; and a vehicle dispatching support step of determining, for each driver, a required rest time for which the driver should rest in order for a level of the physical condition that changes on the time axis at the demand time to be lower than a specified threshold value, and determining a driver who can complete movement to the demand location and the rest before the demand time.

[0017] The vehicle dispatching device of each aspect of the present application can be realized by a computer, in which case a control program of the vehicle dispatching device in which a computer functions as each section (software element) included in the vehicle dispatching device and a computer-readable storage medium in which the control program is stored also belong to the scope of the present application.

[0018] (EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION)

[0019] According to one aspect of the present application, a vehicle dispatching device that can ensure safety and efficiency in a balanced manner can be realized. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0020] Figure 1 is a configuration block diagram of a vehicle dispatching system of Embodiment 1 of the present application.

[0021] Figure 2 is an example of a data structure of demand information.

[0022] Figure 3 is an example of change information in time axis of inappropriateness.

[0023] Figure 4 is an example of data structure of a table.

[0024] Figure 5 is an example of data structure of vehicle dispatch result information.

[0025] Figure 6 is a flowchart of a processing flow executed by the vehicle dispatch device.

[0026] Figure 7 is a flowchart of a vehicle dispatch possibility determination processing flow executed by the vehicle dispatch support section.

[0027] Figure 8 is an example of notification output from the information output section of the on-vehicle system.

[0028] Figure 9 is a structural block diagram of the vehicle dispatch system of Embodiment 2 of the present application.

[0029] Figure 10 is an example of a result screen displayed by the display section of the user terminal device.

[0030]

[0031] 1 vehicle dispatch device

[0032] 2 demand prediction device

[0033] 3 on-vehicle system

[0034] 4 user terminal device

[0035] 10 control section

[0036] 11 storage section

[0037] 21 demand information acquisition section

[0038] 22 driver information acquisition section (physical condition acquisition section, driver position acquisition section)

[0039] 23 vehicle dispatch support section

[0040] 24 notification section

[0041] 25 checking section

[0042] 26 information providing section

[0043] 31 actual performance summarizing section

[0044] 32 physical condition acquisition section ​

[0045] 33 presumption unit

[0046] 34 position information acquisition unit

[0047] 35 information output unit

[0048] 100, 200 vehicle dispatching system DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0049] 〔Embodiment 1〕

[0050] <Summary of Vehicle Dispatching System>

[0051] Figure 1 is a block diagram of a vehicle dispatching system 100. Figure 1 Also shown are main parts of each of a vehicle dispatching apparatus 1 and a vehicle-mounted system 3 included in the vehicle dispatching system 100. In this embodiment, the vehicle dispatching system 100 is a system for managing taxis (hereinafter referred to as vehicles) belonging to a taxi company, by way of example.

[0052] The vehicle dispatching system 100 includes the vehicle dispatching apparatus 1 that manages a plurality of vehicles and performs vehicle dispatching, the vehicle-mounted system 3 that is installed on each of the plurality of vehicles managed by the vehicle dispatching apparatus 1, and the demand prediction apparatus 2 that predicts a demand for vehicle dispatching. The demand prediction apparatus 2 can be included in the vehicle dispatching apparatus 1 as a part thereof.

[0053] In the vehicle dispatching system 100, the vehicle dispatching apparatus 1 communicates with the vehicle-mounted system 3 installed on vehicles driven by respective drivers working at the taxi company, and the vehicle dispatching apparatus 1 manages the respective vehicles, that is, the respective drivers. The vehicle dispatching apparatus 1 can judge to arrange a certain vehicle to an arbitrary place as needed, that is, can perform vehicle dispatching and issue an instruction to a driver of the arranged vehicle to go to the place.

[0054] It is assumed in this embodiment that one driver corresponds to one vehicle. Hereinafter, expressions such as "send a driver (to a place)", "arrange a driver (to a place)", and "arrange a driver (to a place)" all mean "(the vehicle dispatching apparatus 1) arranges a vehicle (to a place)", that is, "perform vehicle dispatching".

[0055] In the vehicle dispatching system of the present application, the object of vehicle dispatching is not limited to vehicles. In a passenger service in which a customer himself / herself can use and select a departure time and a departure-arrival place, and the like, the vehicle dispatching system of the present application can also be used to perform vehicle dispatching on all means of transport used in the passenger service.

[0056] (Scheme of Vehicle-Mounted System)

[0057] The in-vehicle system 3 is installed in each vehicle, and performs necessary information transmission and reception with the vehicle dispatching device 1. Specifically, the in-vehicle system 3 transmits information relating to the vehicle and the driver who drives the vehicle to the vehicle dispatching device 1. In addition, the in-vehicle system 3 receives a notification from the vehicle dispatching device 1, and conveys the content thereof to the driver.

[0058] As an example, the in-vehicle system 3 is provided with an actual performance summarizing section 31, a physical information acquiring section 32, an estimating section 33, a position information acquiring section 34, and an information output section 35.

[0059] The actual performance summarizing section 31 summarizes the performance of the driver. The actual performance summarizing section 31 can include, for example, a taximeter or the like. The actual performance summarizing section 31 acquires and stores, as performance information, the state of the vehicle (passenger pickup, passenger drop-off, empty vehicle, return to the garage, payment, and the like), the distance traveled, the speed of travel, the time of travel, the sales amount, and the like. The performance information summarized by the actual performance summarizing section 31 is transmitted to the demand prediction device 2 or the vehicle dispatching device 1 via a communication device (not shown) of the in-vehicle system 3.

[0060] The physical information acquiring section 32 acquires the physical information of the driver. The physical information acquiring section 32 can include, for example, various measuring devices for observing, measuring, or detecting the state of the driver. For example, the physical information acquiring section 32 includes, as measuring devices, a camera that captures the behavior of the driver, a heart rate sensor that measures the heart rate of the driver, a respiration sensor that measures the respiration rate of the driver, and the like. The measuring devices are not limited to the above-described devices, and any measuring device can be used as long as the physical information acquired thereby can be used to derive the inappropriateness (the level of the physical condition) as an index value. Here, the inappropriateness indicates the degree of impairment of the fitness of the driver to drive.

[0061] As described above, the inappropriateness also refers to the degree of the unfitness of the driver to drive, and the unfitness refers to a state that can be recovered by rest such as sleep, rest, or diet. The inappropriateness can also indicate, for example, the degree of drowsiness, fatigue, or a decrease in concentration. In the present embodiment, the higher the value of the inappropriateness, the higher the degree of the unfitness of the driver to drive. The inappropriateness can be reduced by rest.

[0062] In the present embodiment, as an example, the inappropriateness is the drowsiness degree (the level of the physical condition) that indicates the degree of drowsiness of the driver. Therefore, the camera, the heart rate sensor, the respiration sensor, and the like described above can be used as the measuring devices to acquire the physical information that enables the drowsiness of the driver to be determined.

[0063] The acquisition unit 32 acquires, for example, a photograph or a video obtained from a camera, a number of heartbeats obtained from a heartbeat sensor, a number of breaths obtained from a breath sensor, and the like, as the physical information. The physical information acquired by the physical information acquisition unit 32 is input to the estimation unit 33. As needed, the physical information acquisition unit 32 can input the physical information itself (raw data) output from a measurement device to the estimation unit 33, or input a feature quantity extracted from the physical information in a prescribed manner to the estimation unit 33.

[0064] The estimation unit 33 estimates a level of the physical condition of the driver on the basis of the physical information acquired by the physical information acquisition unit 32. As an example, the estimation unit 33 can estimate a maladaptation degree as the physical condition, in which the maladaptation degree indicates a degree of impairment of fitness of the driver to perform driving. More specifically, the estimation unit 33 predicts a progress of the maladaptation degree in a prescribed period on the basis of the physical information acquired by the physical information acquisition unit 32 up to the present, and a progress of the maladaptation degree up to the present determined from the physical information. As an example, the prescribed period can be a period from a point in time at which the latest physical information is acquired (for example, the present time) to a prescribed time later. The estimation unit 33 generates information of a change in the predicted progress of the maladaptation degree on a time axis, and outputs the information to the vehicle dispatch device 1. The change in the maladaptation degree on the time axis (change in the physical condition on the time axis) can be, for example, a maladaptation degree estimation graph made with the maladaptation degree as a horizontal axis and a time on the prescribed period as a vertical axis.

[0065] As an example, the estimation unit 33 can be a drowsiness estimation unit that predicts a progress of a drowsiness degree in a prescribed period, in which the drowsiness degree indicates a degree of drowsiness of the driver. That is, the maladaptation degree can be the drowsiness degree.

[0066] In the present embodiment, as an example, the estimation unit 33 can be realized by AI (Artificial Intelligence). As an example of the AI, for example, a prediction model that, having been subjected to learning, outputs predicted change information of the drowsiness degree on a time axis in a prescribed period from the present time to a prescribed time later, as an input, from one or more feature quantities extracted from the physical information of the driver and past change information of the drowsiness degree on the time axis.

[0067] For example, the drowsiness prediction model disclosed in Non-Patent Literature 1 can be employed. The model disclosed in Non-Patent Literature 1 is a neural network type model that uses blinking, the proportion of eyelid closure per unit time (PERCLOS; Percent of Eyelid Closure), and the like as characteristic quantities. This model predicts how many minutes it will take for the degree of drowsiness of the driver to reach 1.5 based on the driver's physiological indices and behavioral indices. The degree of "drowsiness 1.5" is between "Slightly drowsy" and "Moderately drowsy" shown in Non-Patent Literature 2.

[0068] The information on the change in the degree of drowsiness of the driver on the time axis within a prescribed period output by the estimation section 33 is transmitted to the vehicle dispatching device 1 via a communication device not shown. The information on the change in the degree of drowsiness on the time axis can be, for example, a drowsiness estimation graph in which the degree of drowsiness is taken as the horizontal axis and the time of day in the prescribed period is taken as the vertical axis.

[0069] The estimation section 33 can also judge the state of the driver at the point in time (e.g., the current time) at which the physical information is acquired based on the physical information acquired by the physical information acquisition section 32. The estimation section 33 can also transmit the measured value indicating the judged state of the driver to the driver information acquisition section 22.

[0070] The position information acquisition section 34 acquires the current position of the vehicle. The position information acquisition section 34 can include, for example, a global positioning system (GPS; Global Positioning System) or the like. The position information acquisition section 34 transmits the acquired current position of the vehicle to the vehicle dispatching device 1 via a communication device not shown of the in-vehicle system 3.

[0071] The information output section 35 outputs and conveys information processed by the in-vehicle system 3 to the driver. The information output section 35 can be, for example, a display device that displays visual information such as images and characters generated by the in-vehicle system 3 or received from the vehicle dispatching device 1. The information output section 35 can be an audio output device that outputs auditory information such as sound generated by the in-vehicle system 3 or received from the vehicle dispatching device 1. The position information acquisition section 34 and the information output section 35 can also be part of a car navigation system.

[0072] (Scheme of demand prediction device)

[0073] The demand prediction device 2 predicts the demand for vehicle dispatching. In the present embodiment, the demand prediction device 2 periodically predicts the demand that is expected to occur in a prescribed period from the current time to a prescribed time elapse (for example, 3 hours later) based on the performance information transmitted from the actual performance aggregation unit 31 of each vehicle. In the present embodiment, as an example, the demand prediction device 2 predicts the demand that is expected to occur in a prescribed period from the current time to 3 hours later every 3 hours. However, the present embodiment is not limited thereto, and the demand prediction device 2 can predict the demand every 1 hour, for example, with respect to a nearby business area as an object.

[0074] The method by which the demand prediction device 2 predicts the demand can appropriately employ a publicly known technique. The demand prediction device 2 can further refer to the vehicle position information as of the prediction date, past performance information under the same conditions (season, weather, day of the week, time period, and the like) as the prediction date, and the like to predict the demand.

[0075] In the present embodiment, the demand prediction device 2 determines, with respect to a prescribed period from the current time to a prescribed time, a region in which the demand degree is equal to or higher than a specified threshold value in the business area of the taxi company. The demand degree is an index value that indicates the degree of demand for vehicle dispatching, and can be expressed by 5 stages, for example. The more passengers who want to ride or sales are predicted to occur in the prescribed period, the higher the value of the demand degree.

[0076] Hereinafter, a region in which the demand degree is equal to or higher than a specified threshold value in a prescribed period and in which a demand of a certain degree or more is expected to occur in the prescribed period will be referred to as a hot demand region. In the present embodiment, as an example, the demand prediction device 2 determines a region in which the demand degree is equal to or higher than 3 in a prescribed period as a hot demand region.

[0077] The demand prediction device 2 generates demand information with respect to each of the determined hot demand regions and outputs the demand information to the vehicle dispatching device 1. In the present embodiment, as an example, the demand information includes the demand location, the demand time, and the number of required drivers. The demand information can include information on the change in the demand degree in the hot demand region over time in the prescribed period, as needed. The information on the change over time can be a demand prediction graph in which the demand degree is plotted on the horizontal axis and the time in the prescribed period is plotted on the vertical axis, for example.

[0078] The demand location is information for specifying a location where a demand for dispatching a vehicle is expected to occur. In the present embodiment, the demand location can be a typical location in the hot demand area. Hereinafter, the typical location in the hot demand area will be referred to as a hot demand area location. It is not limited which location in the hot demand area is taken as the typical location. The center of gravity or the center of the two-dimensional map figure of the hot demand area can also be taken as the typical location. The location of a taxi stand included in the hot demand area can also be taken as the typical location. The location closest to each vehicle, i.e., each driver, in the hot demand area can also be taken as the typical location.

[0079] The demand time is time information of a time when a demand is expected to occur at the demand location described above. In the present embodiment, the demand time can be a demand peak time, which shows the time of the highest demand predicted for the hot demand area within a prescribed period.

[0080] The required number of drivers (driver number) is information of the number of drivers appropriate for the demand. For example, the required number of drivers can be a reasonable number of drivers that can cope with the demand of the hot demand area exactly. The method of determining the required number of drivers is not particularly limited. For example, the correspondence between each demand degree and the required number of drivers can be set in advance, so that the demand prediction device 2 can determine the required number of drivers corresponding to the demand degree of the demand peak time for the hot demand area. Alternatively, the demand prediction device 2 can calculate the required number of drivers taking into account the length of the period during which the demand degree is continuously 3 or more and the area of the hot demand area, for example.

[0081] (Configuration of the vehicle dispatching device)

[0082] The vehicle dispatching system 100 includes at least one vehicle dispatching device 1, which can be provided in a vehicle dispatching center of a taxi company, for example, together with the demand prediction device 2. The vehicle dispatching device 1 can communicate with the vehicle-mounted system 3 of each vehicle in which each driver works via a communication network via a communication device not shown. If the demand prediction device 2 is not incorporated in the vehicle dispatching device 1, the vehicle dispatching device 1 can be connected to the demand prediction device 2 in a manner that enables communication with the demand prediction device 2 via a LAN (Local Area Network) or the like, for example.

[0083] The vehicle dispatching device 1 includes a control section 10, a storage section 11, and a communication device not shown. The control section 10 controls each section of the vehicle dispatching device 1. The control section 10 can be constituted by a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or a dedicated processor, for example. The control section 10 reads a program stored in a storage device (for example, the storage section 11) realized by a ROM (Read Only Memory) or the like into a RAM (Random Access Memory) or the like and executes the program, thereby realizing each section of the control section 10 described later. The storage section 11 stores various data used by the control section 10. The storage section 11 can also be an external storage device accessible by the control section 10.

[0084] In the present embodiment, the control section 10 includes a demand information acquisition section 21, a driver information acquisition section 22, and a vehicle dispatch support section 23, for example. The control section 10 can further include a notification section 24, as needed. The inspection section 25 will be described in detail in Modified Example 1 described later. The storage section 11 stores a possibility table 111 and vehicle dispatch result information 112, for example.

[0085] The demand information acquisition section 21 acquires at least a demand location at which a demand for vehicle dispatch is expected and a demand time at which the demand is expected. In the present embodiment, the demand information acquisition section 21 acquires the demand location and the demand information from the demand prediction device 2. The demand information acquisition section 21 acquires demand information including a hot demand area location, a demand peak time, and a required number of drivers for each hot demand area, for example.

[0086] The driver information acquisition section 22 acquires information related to each driver. The driver information acquisition section 22 acquires the current position of a driver as a driver position acquisition section from the position information acquisition section 34, for example. In addition, the driver information acquisition section 22 acquires the change in the level of the physical condition of each driver on a time axis as a physical condition acquisition section, for example. The level of the physical condition can also be a degree of unsuitability. The degree of unsuitability is an index indicating the degree of impairment of fitness (i.e., the degree to which the driver is suitable for driving) estimated on the basis of driver physical information. The change information on the time axis of the degree of unsuitability is information on the progress of the degree of unsuitability in a prescribed period (including a period from the current time to the demand time). The driver information acquisition section 22 can acquire the change information on the time axis of each driver from the estimation section 33 installed in each vehicle.

[0087] The physical information acquisition unit 32 can have a determination unit (not shown) that determines the inappropriateness of the driver at the current time based on the measured value of the physical information acquired from the driver. In this case, the driver information acquisition unit 22 can further acquire the measured inappropriateness of the driver at the current time from the physical information acquisition unit 32.

[0088] The vehicle dispatch support unit 23 supports the vehicle dispatch. That is, the vehicle dispatch support unit 23 determines the driver to be dispatched to the demand location at the demand time. Specifically, the vehicle dispatch support unit 23 determines the required rest time for each driver in order to make the physical condition level at the demand time lower than the specified threshold value, based on the change information on the time axis. The vehicle dispatch support unit 23 determines the driver who can complete the movement to the demand location and the rest before the demand time. Further, the vehicle dispatch support unit 23 can select one or more drivers to be assigned to the demand location, that is, one or more drivers to be dispatched, from the determined driver. The vehicle dispatch support unit 23 can support the vehicle dispatch by the above.

[0089] As an example, the vehicle dispatch support unit 23 first determines the driver who can arrive at the demand location before the demand time in a state where the inappropriateness is lower than the specified threshold value, taking into account the required rest time required for the driver to rest in order to make the inappropriateness lower than the specified threshold value. The vehicle dispatch support unit 23 determines to dispatch the determined driver to the demand location. That is, the vehicle dispatch support unit 23 performs the process of assigning the driver to the demand location.

[0090] More specifically, in the present embodiment, as an example, the vehicle dispatch support unit 23 performs the vehicle dispatch possibility determination process for each driver to determine whether the driver can be dispatched to the hot demand area, for each hot demand area. Further, the vehicle dispatch support unit 23 performs the vehicle dispatch determination process of selecting the driver to be dispatched to the hot demand area from among the drivers determined to be able to be dispatched to the hot demand area.

[0091] In the vehicle dispatch possibility determination process, the vehicle dispatch support unit 23 determines the required rest time of the driver based on the sleepiness estimation graph of the driver. Further, the vehicle dispatch support unit 23 determines whether the driver can arrive at the hot demand area location before the demand peak time in a state where the sleepiness is lower than the specified threshold value, that is, in a state where the driver can safely drive, based on taking into account the required rest time. The vehicle dispatch support unit 23 determines the driver who can arrive at the hot demand area location before the demand peak time in a state where the sleepiness is lower than the specified threshold value as the driver who can be dispatched to the hot demand area.

[0092] The vehicle dispatch support section 23 generates the possibility table 111 for each of the hot demand areas after the vehicle dispatch possibility determination processing, and stores it in the storage section 11. The possibility table 111 is a table showing whether each of the drivers can be dispatched to the hot demand areas.

[0093] For the drivers whose drowsiness degrees in the drowsiness estimation graph described above have not reached the specified threshold value at all, the vehicle dispatch support section 23 can determine that they do not need to take a break and set the required break time to zero, or omit the determination processing of the required break time.

[0094] In the vehicle dispatch decision processing, the vehicle dispatch support section 23 selects the drivers who should actually be dispatched to each of the hot demand areas from among the drivers who can be dispatched. The vehicle dispatch support section 23 can also arrange the same number of drivers as the number of drivers required for the hot demand areas.

[0095] The vehicle dispatch support section 23 generates the vehicle dispatch result information 112 after the vehicle dispatch decision processing, and stores it in the storage section 11. The vehicle dispatch result information 112 includes the drivers (vehicles) to be dispatched, the hot demand areas to which the drivers are arranged as the dispatch destinations, and the scheduled times of arrival at the hot demand areas. Thus, the vehicle dispatch device 1 can determine when and where to dispatch which driver to which hot demand area by referring to the vehicle dispatch result information 112.

[0096] The notification section 24 notifies at least the demand locations and the demand times to the drivers arranged by the vehicle dispatch support section 23 to the hot demand areas (demand locations) via the on-board systems 3 of the respective vehicles. Specifically, the notification section 24 transmits the vehicle dispatch request including at least the hot demand area locations in the hot demand areas to which the drivers have been decided to be dispatched and the scheduled times of arrival at the hot demand areas to the on-board systems 3 of the vehicles of the drivers.

[0097] If the vehicle dispatch support section 23 determines that the driver needs to take a break, the notification section 24 can also transmit a break method guide, that is, guide information, to the on-board system 3 of the vehicle of the driver. For example, the notification section 24 can notify the driver of a break place. The break place can be any of the current position of the driver, the hot demand area location, or the route from the current position to the hot demand area location.

[0098] < Demand Information >

[0099] Figure 2 This is an example of the data configuration of the demand information. For example, the demand prediction device 2 can set the prescribed period to 15:00 to 18:00 on April 17, 2021, and determine the hot demand areas in which the demand is expected to increase in the prescribed period, and generate the demand information for each of the hot demand areas. Figure 2The demand information for each heat demand area for the target period "from 15:00 to 18:00 on April 17, 2021" is shown in FIG. 6. Although Figure 2 The demand information for two heat demand areas is shown in FIG. 6, but if the number of heat demand areas determined exceeds two, demand information (not shown) is also generated for these heat demand areas. Figure 2

[0100] As an example, the demand information includes at least the heat demand area location (demand location) and the demand peak time (demand time). The demand information can also include the area ID, the required number of drivers, and the demand prediction map, as needed.

[0101] The area ID is unique identification information for a plurality of heat demand areas determined for the same prescribed period.

[0102] The heat demand area location is position information for the determined heat demand area. As shown in the figure, the heat demand area location can be the latitude and longitude information of one representative location in the heat demand area, can be the plotted information of the heat demand area on a map or the plotted information of one representative location in the heat demand area on a map, or can be both the latitude and longitude information and the plotted information.

[0103] As described above, the demand peak time is the peak time predicted for the demand of the heat demand area. The required number of drivers is information on the number of drivers appropriate for the demand, such as information on the predicted number of drivers that can just cope with the demand of the heat demand area.

[0104] The demand prediction map can be omitted from the demand information. Conversely, if the demand peak time and the required number of drivers can be determined from the demand prediction map included in the demand information, the demand peak time and the required number of drivers can be omitted from the demand information.

[0105] The demand information described above is generated by the demand prediction device 2 and is provided to the vehicle dispatch device 1.

[0106] <Inappropriateness Change Information on Time Axis>

[0107] Figure 3 An example of the inappropriateness change information on the time axis is shown in FIG. 7. In the present embodiment, as an example, the inappropriateness change information on the time axis is a driver drowsiness estimation map.

[0108] The estimation unit 33 outputs the inappropriateness change information on the time axis estimated for the prescribed period (for example, from the current time 15:00 to 18:00 three hours later). As an example, as shown in FIG. 7, the inappropriateness change information on the time axis is a drowsiness estimation map made with the drowsiness degree as the vertical axis and the time within the prescribed period as the horizontal axis. Figure 3 ​​

[0109] The method of evaluating the sleepiness degree can employ any of the existing evaluation methods. For example, the evaluation method proposed by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) of Japan can be employed. In the evaluation method of NEDO, the degree of sleepiness is evaluated in five levels of sleepiness degree 1 (appears to be completely not sleepy) to sleepiness degree 5 (appears to be very sleepy). The state of falling asleep is evaluated as sleepiness degree S.

[0110] The information of the change in the sleepiness degree over the time axis, which is configured in the above-described manner, is generated by the estimation section 33 for each driver, and is supplied from each vehicle-mounted system 3 to the vehicle dispatching device 1.

[0111] The information of the change over the time axis can be any form of information as long as it can be used to determine the highest value of the sleepiness degree in a prescribed period and the estimated time when the highest value is likely to come. For example, the information of the change over the time axis can be a table in which the sleepiness degrees estimated for each prescribed time in a prescribed period are arranged in chronological order. Hereinafter, the highest value of the sleepiness degree will be referred to as the peak sleepiness degree, and the estimated time when the highest value is likely to come will be referred to as the sleepiness peak time.

[0112] <Ability Table>

[0113] Figure 4 This is an example of the data configuration of the ability table 111. The ability table 111 is generated by the vehicle dispatching support section 23 for each hot demand area that is determined. Figure 4 The ability table 41 shown is an example of the ability table 111 generated for the hot demand area identified by the area ID "AREA0001". Figure 2 The ability table 42 is an example of the ability table 111 generated for the hot demand area identified by the area ID "AREA0002".

[0114] As an example, the ability table 111 includes columns of the driver name, the required moving time, the required rest time, the arrival scheduled time, the vehicle dispatchability, and the like.

[0115] The "driver name" column stores identification information for identifying the driver. The driver name can be any string that uniquely identifies the driver, and can be the name of the driver, or an employee number of a taxi company, or the like.

[0116] The "required movement time" column stores the time required for the driver to reach the demand location from the current position, specifically, the time required to reach the hot demand area location. The vehicle dispatch support section 23 calculates the required movement time based on the distance between the current position of the driver and the hot demand area location. The required movement time can be calculated by any known method.

[0117] The "required rest time" column stores the time required for the driver to rest so that the inappropriateness degree becomes below the specified threshold value. In the present embodiment, as an example, the time required for the predicted upcoming driver peak drowsiness degree to become below 3, i.e., 2, is set as the required rest time. In the present embodiment, the required rest time is preconfigured in correspondence with the driver peak drowsiness degree. Therefore, the vehicle dispatch support section 23 determines the required rest time corresponding to the driver peak drowsiness degree within the prescribed period as the required rest time of the driver. As another example, the vehicle dispatch support section 23 can calculate the required rest time corresponding to the drowsiness degree for each driver, taking into account the sleep habits of each driver. In the present embodiment, as for the driver whose drowsiness degree is predicted not to reach 3 or more within the prescribed period, the vehicle dispatch support section 23 can determine that the driver does not need to rest, and omit the determination process of the required rest time.

[0118] The "scheduled arrival time" column stores the time at which the driver can reach the demand location in a state where the inappropriateness degree is below the specified threshold value. The vehicle dispatch support section 23 calculates the scheduled arrival time by adding the required movement time to the current time, and further adding the required rest time. In the present embodiment, the calculated scheduled arrival time is the time at which the driver can reach the hot demand area location in a state where the drowsiness degree is 2 or less.

[0119] The "vehicle dispatch possibility" column stores the result of the determination of whether the driver can be dispatched to the hot demand area location. The vehicle dispatch support section 23 compares the scheduled arrival time with the demand time (in the present embodiment, the demand peak time of the hot demand area), and determines that the driver can be dispatched when the scheduled arrival time is before the demand time. The driver who is determined to be able to be dispatched in the possibility table 111 is the driver who can reach the demand location before the demand time in a state where the inappropriateness degree is below the specified threshold value.

[0120] As an example, the "vehicle dispatch possibility" column can store flag information. In the illustrated example, the flag information expressed as "possible" indicates that the driver can be dispatched, and the flag information expressed as "impossible" indicates that the driver cannot be dispatched.

[0121] < Vehicle dispatch result information >

[0122] Figure 5 is an example of the data configuration of the vehicle dispatch result information 112. One piece of vehicle dispatch result information 112 as shown in FIG. 12 can be generated for the vehicle dispatch demand obtained by performing one prediction for one prescribed period. Figure 5 The demand prediction device 2 performs one vehicle dispatch demand prediction for one prescribed period, and outputs demand information for each hot demand area determined to the vehicle dispatch device 1, and then the vehicle dispatch support section 23 of the vehicle dispatch device 1 can generate one piece of vehicle dispatch result information 112 as shown in FIG. 12 for the result of the one prediction. Figure 5

[0123] The vehicle dispatch result information 112 is information showing which hot demand area each driver is to be assigned to for the prescribed period. As an example, the vehicle dispatch result information 112 can be configured in the form of a table.

[0124] The vehicle dispatch result information 112 contains, for example, each column of a driver name and an area ID. As needed, the vehicle dispatch result information 112 can also contain each column of an arrival scheduled time, a demand peak time, and an estimated sleepiness degree. In addition, the vehicle dispatch result information 112 can also include each column of "rest necessity" and "rest timing". Each column of "rest necessity" and "rest timing" will be described in detail in Modified Example 2 described later.

[0125] The "driver name" column stores identification information for identifying a driver, and this identification information can also be identification information common to the can / cannot table 111.

[0126] The "area ID" column stores an area ID of a hot demand area, which is a vehicle assignment destination ID of a driver who meets the conditions.

[0127] The "arrival scheduled time" column stores an arrival scheduled time of a driver who meets the conditions. The vehicle dispatch support section 23 can read the arrival scheduled time of the driver who meets the conditions from the corresponding can / cannot table 111 (FIG. 11) of the hot demand area to which the driver is assigned. Figure 4

[0128] The "demand peak time" column stores a demand peak time of a hot demand area that meets the conditions. The vehicle dispatch support section 23 can read the demand peak time of the hot demand area that meets the conditions from the demand information (FIG. 10) of the hot demand area to which the driver who meets the conditions is assigned. Figure 2

[0129] The "estimated sleepiness degree" column stores an estimated sleepiness degree of a driver who meets the conditions at an arrival scheduled time. The vehicle dispatch support section 23 can extract the sleepiness degree of the driver who meets the conditions at the arrival scheduled time from the sleepiness estimation map (FIG. 9) generated for the driver who meets the conditions. Figure 3 ​​​​

[0130] As described above, the vehicle dispatch result information 112 generated by the vehicle dispatch support section 23 is stored in the storage section 11. The vehicle dispatch result information 112 stored in the storage section 11 is appropriately referred to by the notification section 24 and the check section 25 described later.

[0131] Specifically, the notification section 24 can notify each driver of the heat demand area and the demand peak time as the dispatch destination by referring to the vehicle dispatch result information 112.

[0132] <PROCESS FLOW SUMMARY>

[0133] Figure 6 is a flowchart of a process flow executed by the vehicle dispatch device 1.

[0134] In step S1 (demand information acquisition step), the demand information acquisition section 21 acquires demand information of each heat demand area determined for one prescribed period from the demand prediction device 2. For example, as shown in Figure 2 the acquired demand information includes the heat demand area location, the demand peak time, and the number of required drivers, and the like.

[0135] In step S2 (physical condition acquisition step), the driver information acquisition section 22 acquires, for each driver, the inappropriateness degree change information on the time axis within the prescribed period from the estimation section 33. The inappropriateness degree change information on the time axis can be, for example, the drowsiness estimation graph shown in Figure 3

[0136] In step S3 (vehicle dispatch support step), the vehicle dispatch support section 23 executes a vehicle dispatch process. The vehicle dispatch process is a process of deciding which driver to dispatch to which heat demand area. In the present embodiment, as an example, the vehicle dispatch process includes a vehicle dispatch possibility determination process of step S3-1 and a vehicle dispatch decision process of step S3-2.

[0137] In the vehicle dispatch possibility determination process of step S3-1, the vehicle dispatch support section 23 determines whether or not it is possible to dispatch a vehicle based on the

[0138] (1) the heat demand area location of each heat demand area,

[0139] (2) the demand peak time of each heat demand area,

[0140] (3) the peak drowsiness degree of each driver,

[0141] (4) the drowsiness peak time of each driver, and

[0142] (5) the current position of each driver,

[0143] ​The can-do table 111 showing the result of the determination of the vehicle dispatch of each driver is output for each hot demand area.

[0144] In the vehicle dispatch decision process of step S3-2, the vehicle dispatch support section 23, for example, outputs the vehicle dispatch result information 112 showing which driver is dispatched to which hot demand area, based on (1) the can-do table 111 for each hot demand area output in step S3-1 and (2) the number of required drivers for each hot demand area input thereto. The vehicle dispatch support section 23 can determine whether each driver needs a break by step S3-2 and decide the break timing to be proposed to each driver determined to need a break (described later in Modification Example 2).

[0145] In step S4, the notification section 24 notifies the vehicle-mounted system 3 of each driver of the vehicle dispatch result information 112 showing the result of the vehicle dispatch process of step S3. As an example, the notification section 24 transmits the hot demand area location in the corresponding hot demand area assigned to the driver and the target arrival time to the vehicle-mounted system 3 of the driver assigned to one or more hot demand areas. The target arrival time can be the demand peak time of the hot demand area, or the arrival scheduled time calculated for the hot demand area and the driver, or both. The notification section 24 can further notify each driver of the necessity and timing of a break in order to enable the driver to work smoothly at the demand peak time.

[0146] The control section 10 of the vehicle dispatch device 1 can further include a check section 25. If the control section 10 includes the check section 25, the check section 25 can further perform step S5 and step S6 (described later in Modification Example 1).

[0147] <Modification Example 1>

[0148] The check section 25 checks the state of the driver on standby at the hot demand area near the demand peak time, thereby finally checking whether the driver can safely work at the hot demand area.

[0149] In step S5, the check section 25 monitors whether the current time is within a predetermined time (for example, 15 minutes) before the demand peak time of a certain hot demand area. If the current time is within the predetermined time before the demand peak time of a certain hot demand area, the check section 25 proceeds to the process of step S6 from "Yes" in step S5.

[0150] In step S6, the checking section 25 executes a checking process. Specifically, the checking section 25 first determines a driver who has been assigned to a hot demand area that is about to come to a demand peak. Then, the checking section 25 acquires, from the estimation section 33, a measured value of the inappropriateness (e.g., sleepiness) of the driver at the current time, which is judged from the body information of the above-mentioned determined driver. If the inappropriateness at the current time (e.g., 15 minutes before the work is about to end) is equal to or higher than a specified threshold value (e.g., 3 or higher in sleepiness), the checking section 25 can cancel the assignment of the above-mentioned driver to the hot demand area.

[0151] The notification section 24 that receives the notification of the cancellation decision from the checking section 25 can send a notification of the prohibition of driving to the in-vehicle system 3 of the driver who has been cancelled. The notification can also include a message that urges the above-mentioned cancelled driver to take a rest.

[0152] According to the above-mentioned scheme, for each driver who has been predicted to be able to arrive at a hot demand area in a non-sleepy state before a specified time (e.g., 3 hours before) and has been assigned accordingly, the inappropriateness of the driver can be confirmed again at the approach of the demand peak (e.g., 15 minutes before). By the pre-approach checking, a driver who is judged to have a high inappropriateness that can affect safe driving can be notified of the cancellation of driving. Thus, it is possible to avoid a situation in which safety is sacrificed for efficiency (profit), and as a result, it is possible to realize a vehicle dispatch system 100 that improves efficiency or profit while giving top priority to safety.

[0153] The checking section 25 can also be incorporated into the vehicle dispatch support section 23 to execute part of the functions of the vehicle dispatch support section 23.

[0154] <Variant 2>

[0155] In step S3-2, the vehicle dispatch support section 23 also generates, when generating the vehicle dispatch result information 112, guide information that indicates to each driver who has been assigned to a hot demand area how the driver should take a rest, and includes the information in the vehicle dispatch result information 112. In this variant, Figure 5 The vehicle dispatch result information 112 shown is configured to include each column of "Rest necessity" and "Rest timing", and the like.

[0156] The "Rest necessity" column stores rest necessity information that indicates whether a driver who meets the conditions needs to take a rest before the time when the demand peak is coming. As the rest necessity information, for example, flag information can be stored. Figure 5 In the example shown, the flag information expressed as "Yes" indicates that the driver needs to take a rest, and the flag information expressed as "No" indicates that the driver does not need to take a rest.

[0157] The vehicle dispatch support section 23 refers to the sleepiness estimation map (Fig. 6) that has been generated for each driver who meets the conditions, and determines whether the driver needs to take a rest before the time when the demand peak is coming. Figure 3). Also, the vehicle dispatch support part 23 can determine that the driver does not need to rest, based on the sleepiness estimation chart, if the sleepiness degree of the driver does not reach 3 or more even once during the prescribed period. Also, the vehicle dispatch support part 23 can store flag information expressed as "no" in the "rest necessity" column. That is, the vehicle dispatch support part 23 can determine that the driver does not need to rest, if the sleepiness degree of the driver is predicted to be maintained at 1 or 2 during the prescribed period.

[0158] On the other hand, the vehicle dispatch support part 23 can determine that the driver needs to rest, based on the sleepiness estimation chart, if the sleepiness degree of the driver reaches 3 or more even once during the prescribed period. Also, the vehicle dispatch support part 23 can store flag information expressed as "yes" in the "rest necessity" column.

[0159] The determination of whether or not the driver needs to rest can be performed in step S3-1, and the result of the determination of whether or not the driver needs to rest can be stored in the possibility table 111. In this case, the vehicle dispatch support part 23 can reflect the result of the determination of whether or not the driver needs to rest stored in the possibility table 111 in the "rest necessity" column of the vehicle dispatch result information 112.

[0160] The "rest timing" column stores rest method guide information proposed to the driver who meets the conditions. The data form of the guide information is not particularly limited. It can be text data, voice data, or an icon that describes the rest method, or it can be structured data that specifies the rest place and time.

[0161] As an example, in the present modified example, the guide information can be either of a first rest method that indicates to move to the hot demand area after completing the rest at the current location, and a second rest method that indicates to rest after moving to the hot demand area. Figure 5 The string "rest after moving" indicates the first rest method, and the string "move after rest" indicates the second rest method.

[0162] The vehicle dispatch support part 23 can determine the rest method to be guided to the driver, depending on whether the sleepiness peak time determined from the sleepiness estimation chart of the driver is closer to the current time or closer to the demand peak time. Specifically, if the sleepiness peak time is closer to the current time than the demand peak time, the vehicle dispatch support part 23 can determine to guide the first rest method to the driver, and store guide information expressed as "rest after moving" in the "rest timing" column. If the sleepiness peak time is closer to the demand peak time than the current time, the vehicle dispatch support part 23 can determine to guide the second rest method to the driver, and store guide information expressed as "move after rest" in the "rest timing" column.

[0163] According to the above-described aspect, the notification section 24, which refers to the vehicle dispatch result information 112, can notify the driver who needs a break of a break method suitable for the driver at step S4.

[0164] The vehicle dispatch support section 23 can determine the current position of the driver as the break place if the sleepiness peak time is closer to the current time than the demand peak time, and can determine the demand place as the break place if the sleepiness peak time is closer to the current time than the demand peak time. In this case, the notification section 24 notifies the driver who is assigned to the demand place by the vehicle dispatch support section 23 of at least the demand place, the demand time of the demand place, and the break place.

[0165] < Vehicle dispatch possibility determination processing >

[0166] Figure 7 A flowchart of the vehicle dispatch possibility determination processing performed by the vehicle dispatch support section 23. Figure 7 The vehicle dispatch possibility determination processing illustrated in FIG. 10 corresponds to step S3-1 illustrated in FIG. 9. Figure 6

[0167] In step S101, the vehicle dispatch support section 23 acquires the hot demand area place and the demand peak time. As an example, the vehicle dispatch support section 23 determines one hot demand area among a plurality of hot demand areas determined by the demand prediction device 2 for one prescribed period as a target hot demand area for which the vehicle dispatch possibility determination processing is to be performed. The vehicle dispatch support section 23 reads the demand information of the target hot demand area from the demand information of each hot demand area acquired in step S1 of the demand prediction processing illustrated in FIG. 8. Figure 6 Figure 2 The vehicle dispatch support section 23 acquires the hot demand area place and the demand peak time of the target hot demand area from the demand information of the target hot demand area.

[0168] In step S102, the vehicle dispatch support section 23 acquires the peak sleepiness degree and the sleepiness peak time. As an example, the vehicle dispatch support section 23 determines one driver among the drivers managed by the taxi company and on duty on the day as a target driver for which the vehicle dispatch possibility determination processing is to be performed. The vehicle dispatch support section 23 determines the target driver by reading the sleepiness estimation map acquired in step S2 of the sleepiness estimation processing illustrated in FIG. 9. Figure 6

[0169] ​​​In step S103, the vehicle dispatch support part 23 calculates the required movement time. As an example, with respect to the driver of interest, the vehicle dispatch support part 23 reads the current position of the driver of interest acquired by the driver information acquisition part 22 from the position information acquisition part 34. The vehicle dispatch support part 23 calculates the required movement time on the basis of the current position of the driver of interest and the hot demand area location acquired in step S101. The required movement time refers to the time required for the driver of interest to move from the current position to the hot demand area location in the hot demand area of interest. The method of calculating the required movement time is not particularly limited. The vehicle dispatch support part 23 can calculate the required movement time on the basis of only the distance from the current position to the hot demand area location. Alternatively, the vehicle dispatch support part 23 can calculate the required movement time on the basis of the movement distance of the route from the current position to the hot demand area location selected on the basis of the map information, and can further calculate it with reference to the congestion information of the route.

[0170] In step S104, the vehicle dispatch support part 23 determines whether the peak drowsiness degree of the driver of interest acquired in step S102 is equal to or higher than a specified threshold value. As an example, the vehicle dispatch support part 23 determines whether the peak drowsiness degree is 3 or lower than 3. In the present embodiment, the vehicle dispatch support part 23 determines that the drowsiness degree S indicating that the driver has fallen asleep is equal to or higher than 3. If the peak drowsiness degree of the driver of interest is lower than 3, that is, if the peak drowsiness degree is 1 or 2, the vehicle dispatch support part 23 proceeds to the processing of step S105 from "No" in step S104. If the peak drowsiness degree of the driver of interest is equal to or higher than 3, that is, if the peak drowsiness degree is 3 to 5 or S, the vehicle dispatch support part 23 proceeds to the processing of step S106 from "Yes" in step S104.

[0171] In step S105, the vehicle dispatch support part 23 calculates the arrival scheduled time to the hot demand area of interest on the basis of the current time and the required movement time. In the present embodiment, with respect to the driver of interest whose drowsiness degree does not reach 3 or higher within the prescribed period, the vehicle dispatch support part 23 can calculate the arrival scheduled time on the basis of only the required movement time without taking the required rest time into consideration. For example, the vehicle dispatch support part 23 calculates the arrival scheduled time by adding the required movement time to the current time. As described above, the arrival scheduled time refers to the time at which the driver can arrive at the hot demand area location in a state in which the drowsiness degree is 2 or lower. Alternatively, with respect to the driver of interest whose drowsiness degree does not reach 3 or higher, the vehicle dispatch support part 23 can determine the required rest time to be 0 minutes uniformly and calculate the arrival scheduled time on the basis of the required movement time.

[0172] In step S106, the vehicle dispatch support unit 23 determines the required rest time based on the peak drowsiness degree. In the present embodiment, each drowsiness degree corresponds to a required rest time that holds a fixed value. The vehicle dispatch support unit 23 determines the required rest time corresponding to the peak drowsiness degree. The required rest time can also be predetermined according to the difference between the peak drowsiness degree and a specified threshold value. For example, the drowsiness degree 3 can be predetermined to correspond to the required rest time "20 minutes", and if the peak drowsiness degree of the target driver is 3, the required rest time of the target driver is determined to be "20 minutes". The peak drowsiness degree can also be higher than 3, and the greater the difference from 3, the longer the corresponding required rest time.

[0173] In step S107, the vehicle dispatch support unit 23 calculates the arrival scheduled time to the target hot demand area, taking into account the required rest time. For example, the vehicle dispatch support unit 23 calculates the arrival scheduled time based on the current time, the required movement time, and the required rest time. Specifically, the vehicle dispatch support unit 23 can calculate the arrival scheduled time by adding the required movement time and the required rest time to the current time. Also, the vehicle dispatch support unit 23 can calculate the arrival scheduled time with reference to the drowsiness peak time (the peak time of the level of physical condition). For example, the later one of the first time obtained by adding the required movement time and the required rest time to the current time, and the second time obtained by adding the required rest time to the drowsiness peak time, can be set as the arrival scheduled time. Thus, it is possible to avoid the inconvenience that the drowsiness peak time is close to the demand peak time, and even if it is possible to arrive at the hot demand area location in advance to catch the demand peak time and stand by, it can not be possible to overcome the drowsiness condition before the demand peak time, and the above-described solution can avoid the inconvenience that the arrival scheduled time is estimated to be earlier than the actual time.

[0174] In addition, for the target driver whose drowsiness degree is S, i.e., who has fallen asleep, the estimation unit 33 of the in-vehicle system 3 can predict the wake-up scheduled time of the target driver using the physical information of the target driver acquired from the physical information acquisition unit 32. For example, the estimation unit 33 analyzes the nap start time, the drowsiness degree at the nap start time, the current sleep depth obtained from other physical information, and the like, to predict the wake-up scheduled time of the target driver. The vehicle dispatch support unit 23 can calculate the arrival scheduled time of the target driver whose drowsiness degree is S by adding the required movement time to the wake-up scheduled time predicted by the estimation unit 33.

[0175] In step S108, the vehicle dispatch support part 23 determines whether the target driver can reach the target hot demand area and catch up with the demand of the target hot demand area. For example, if the scheduled time of arrival is before the demand peak time, the vehicle dispatch support part 23 can determine that the arrival is possible. In this case, the vehicle dispatch support part 23 proceeds to the process of S109 from "Yes" of S108. If the scheduled time of arrival is after the demand peak time, the vehicle dispatch support part 23 can determine that the arrival is impossible. In this case, the vehicle dispatch support part 23 proceeds to the process of S110 from "No" of S108. As another example, even if the scheduled time of arrival exceeds the demand peak time, if the arrival is within a prescribed time, for example, within 5 minutes, the vehicle dispatch support part 23 can determine that the arrival is possible.

[0176] In step S109, the vehicle dispatch support part 23 associates the target driver who is determined to be able to reach the hot demand area location before the demand peak time in a state where the drowsiness degree is less than 3 with the determination result of "possible" for the vehicle dispatch. Specifically, the vehicle dispatch support part 23 stores flag information indicating that the vehicle dispatch is possible, which is expressed as "possible", in the "vehicle dispatch possibility" column of the target driver in the possibility table 111 shown in Fig. 10. Figure 4

[0177] In step S110, the vehicle dispatch support part 23 associates the target driver who is determined to be unable to reach the hot demand area location before the demand peak time in a state where the drowsiness degree is less than 3 with the determination result of "impossible" for the vehicle dispatch. Specifically, the vehicle dispatch support part 23 stores flag information indicating that the vehicle dispatch is impossible, which is expressed as "impossible", in the "vehicle dispatch possibility" column of the target driver in the possibility table 111 shown in Fig. 10. Figure 4

[0178] In step S111, the vehicle dispatch support part 23 determines whether the vehicle dispatch possibility determination process is completed for all the drivers on duty for the day with respect to one target hot demand area determined in step S101. If there is a driver who has not undergone the vehicle dispatch possibility determination, the vehicle dispatch support part 23 returns to the process of step S102 from "No" of step S111 and repeats the processes after S102 for the next target driver. If the vehicle dispatch possibility determination process is completed for all the drivers, the vehicle dispatch support part 23 proceeds to the process of step S112 from "Yes" of step S111. Through the above-described processes, the vehicle dispatch possibility determination process for one target hot demand area is completed, and one possibility table 111 for the target hot demand area is also completed.

[0179] ​​In step S112, the vehicle dispatch support part 23 determines whether the possibility table 111 for all of the hot demand areas determined for the prescribed period is completed. If there is a hot demand area for which the possibility table 111 has not been generated, the vehicle dispatch support part 23 returns to the process of step S101 from "No" in step S112, and repeats the process after S101 for the next hot demand area of interest. If the possibility table 111 for all of the hot demand areas has been generated, the vehicle dispatch support part 23 proceeds to "Yes" in step S112, and ends the series of vehicle dispatch possibility determination processes. As described above, the possibility table 111 for each hot demand area is generated for one prescribed period, and the tables are stored in the storage part 11.

[0180] < Vehicle dispatch decision process >

[0181] After the vehicle dispatch support part 23 determines the driver who can complete the movement to the demand location and the rest before the demand time through the vehicle dispatch possibility determination process of step S3-1, the vehicle dispatch decision process of step S3-2 is executed. The vehicle dispatch decision process is a process of selecting one or more drivers who should be assigned to the demand location. In Embodiment 1, as an example, in the vehicle dispatch decision process, the vehicle dispatch support part 23 can select one or more drivers who should be assigned to the demand location from among the drivers who can complete the movement and the rest, which are determined through the vehicle dispatch possibility determination process. In other embodiments, not limited to the drivers determined through the vehicle dispatch possibility determination process, the drivers specified by the user based on the results of the vehicle dispatch possibility determination process can be assigned to the demand location.

[0182] In this embodiment, the vehicle dispatch support part 23 can refer to the demand information (S1) for each hot demand area, and the possibility table 111 (S112) generated for each hot demand area, and assign the determined drivers with priority to the demand location for which the number of required drivers is relatively large. Figure 2 Figure 4 Alternatively, the vehicle dispatch support part 23 can determine the assignment pattern between the drivers and the hot demand areas that become the destinations of the vehicles in such a manner that the number of remaining drivers who are not assigned to any hot demand area is minimized.

[0183] Alternatively, the vehicle dispatch support part 23 can assign the drivers with priority to the hot demand area for which the sales are most likely to increase. For example, the drivers can be assigned with priority to the hot demand area such as the station area where long-distance customers are more likely to be present, based on the actual performance in the past.

[0184] Alternatively, the vehicle dispatch support part 23 can assign the drivers with priority to the hot demand area for which the sales are most likely to increase. For example, the drivers can be assigned with priority to the hot demand area such as the station area where long-distance customers are more likely to be present, based on the actual performance in the past.

[0185] ​Alternatively, the vehicle dispatch support unit 23 can assign the drivers in such a manner that the distance of each driver to the hot demand area location is the shortest. For example, assume that there is a driver A who can dispatch a vehicle to both the hot demand area A and the hot demand area B, and the current position of the driver A is closer to the hot demand area B than to the hot demand area A. In this case, the vehicle dispatch support unit 23 can assign the driver A to the hot demand area B.

[0186] Alternatively, the vehicle dispatch support unit 23 can determine the hot demand area to be assigned to a driver on the basis of the past experience of the driver. For example, the vehicle dispatch support unit 23 can determine the area where the driver usually travels on the basis of the past actual performance of the driver, and assign the hot demand area closer to the area to the driver. In this way, the hot demand area familiar to each driver and known to the driver in terms of the route and the road situation can be assigned to the driver, and thus more efficient (profitable) vehicle dispatch can be performed.

[0187] <Example of notification screen>

[0188] Figure 8 is an example of a notification output from the information output unit 35 of the in-vehicle system 3. As an example of the notification, Figure 8 a notification screen displayed by the information output unit 35 configured as a display device is shown.

[0189] By the action of a control unit not shown, which is provided in the in-vehicle system 3, the in-vehicle system 3 receives at least the hot demand area location in the hot demand area assigned to the driver and the target arrival time from the notification unit 24 of the vehicle dispatch device 1. The in-vehicle system 3 configures a vehicle dispatch notification 351 including the received hot demand area location and target arrival time in the notification screen, and displays it to the information output unit 35. The vehicle dispatch notification 351 in the notification screen can include the required movement time in addition to the hot demand area location and the target arrival time. The required movement time can be calculated by the vehicle dispatch device 1 and transmitted from the notification unit 24, or can be calculated by the in-vehicle system 3 on the basis of the current position of the driver and the hot demand area location. Further, the hot demand area location 352 can be displayed in superposition with the map information.

[0190] The notification screen can also include a rest notification 353 for notifying the driver of the necessity of rest and the rest timing. After the in-vehicle system 3 receives the necessity of rest and the rest timing from the notification unit 24, the in-vehicle system 3 configures the rest notification 353 including these received information in the notification screen, and displays it to the information output unit 35.

[0191] The driver can know where he or she should arrive at before what time by viewing the notification screen displayed on the information output section 35. In addition, if the notification screen includes the rest notification 353, the driver can know whether he or she needs to take a rest and at which timing he or she should take a rest if he or she needs to take a rest.

[0192] Embodiment 2

[0193] Other embodiments of the present application will be described below. For the convenience of explanation, components having the same functions as those described in the above embodiments are assigned the same reference numerals and will not be described again.

[0194] Summary of Vehicle Dispatching System

[0195] Figure 9 is a block diagram of a vehicle dispatching system 200. In the present embodiment, the vehicle dispatching system 200 is a system that manages drivers and matches them with users as an example of a service operator that operates a vehicle sharing service.

[0196] In the present embodiment, the driver is a person who provides an empty seat of a vehicle such as a private car (hereinafter referred to as a vehicle) when moving using the vehicle to others, that is, the driver is a person who recruits a fellow passenger. A person who wishes to move as a fellow passenger using the empty seat provided by the driver moves together with the driver when the conditions such as a destination are satisfied. The driver and the fellow passenger are both users of the vehicle sharing service operated by the service operator, but hereinafter, "user" refers to a person who rides as a fellow passenger using an empty seat, and a person who provides an empty seat is referred to as a "driver" to distinguish between the two. In the above vehicle sharing service, a part of various expenses borne by the driver accompanying movement can also be borne by the user.

[0197] In the present embodiment, "carrying out vehicle dispatching" means that a vehicle dispatching device 1 operated by the service operator matches a driver who satisfies the conditions to a user who wishes to move, and dispatches the driver to a time and a place approved by the user.

[0198] The vehicle dispatching system 200 differs from the vehicle dispatching system 100 of Embodiment 1 as follows. That is, the vehicle dispatching system 200 can not include a demand prediction device 2, and instead, the vehicle dispatching device 1 is connected to a user terminal device 4 operated by the user in a manner capable of communicating with the user terminal device 4.

[0199] The user terminal device 4 transmits a condition for a fellow passenger to the vehicle dispatching device 1 via a communication network such as the Internet to request vehicle dispatching. Information including a condition for a fellow passenger transmitted from the user terminal device 4 to request dispatch is hereinafter referred to as a vehicle dispatching request.

[0200] In the present embodiment, as an example, the vehicle dispatch request includes, as a carpooling condition, a desired destination, a ride request time, and a ride request location. The desired destination refers to a destination to which the user wants to go. The ride request location refers to a location where the user wants to get on, i.e., a pickup location. The ride request time refers to a time at which the user wants to get on.

[0201] In the present embodiment, the ride request time corresponds to the demand time, and the ride request location corresponds to the demand location.

[0202] (Scheme of vehicle-mounted system)

[0203] In the present embodiment, the actual performance summary section 31 of the vehicle-mounted system 3 summarizes a history of carpooling that has been implemented by the driver so far. The actual performance summary section 31 can, for example, summarize a carpooling start position, a carpooling end position, a moving distance, a moving time, a moving cost, user information related to a carpooler, i.e., a user, a driver's evaluation of the user, and a user's burden amount of the moving cost, as history information.

[0204] (Scheme of vehicle dispatch device)

[0205] In the present embodiment, as an example, the control section 10 further includes an information providing section 26 on the basis of each section of Embodiment 1.

[0206] In addition, the storage section 11 can store driver basic information of a driver who has logged in the vehicle sharing service, and user basic information of a user who has logged in the vehicle sharing service. The driver basic information can include a driver ID, a name, a contact, an address, a vehicle type used, an evaluation score calculated from evaluations from users who have carpoole with so far, and the like. The user basic information can include a user ID, a name, a contact, an address, a utilization history of carpooling, and the like.

[0207] In the present embodiment, the demand information acquisition section 21 receives a vehicle dispatch request from the user terminal device 4, and thereby acquires at least a ride request time and a ride request location.

[0208] The driver information acquisition section 22 acquires a current position of each driver who has logged in advance from the position information acquisition section 34. In addition, the driver information acquisition section 22 acquires, from the estimation section 33, information on changes in the inappropriateness degree on a time axis within a prescribed period, which can include a period from the current time to the above-mentioned ride request time. The information on changes in the inappropriateness degree on the time axis can be a drowsiness estimation graph. In addition, the driver information acquisition section 22 can acquire a current inappropriateness degree of the driver at the current time from the physical information acquisition section 32.

[0209] The vehicle dispatch support section 23 executes a vehicle dispatch possibility determination process Figure 7), thereby determining for each driver whether he or she can reach the boarding request location before the boarding request time in a state in which the drowsiness degree is less than 3. The vehicle dispatch support section 23 generates a possibility table 111 showing the results of the vehicle dispatch possibility determination, and stores it in the storage section 11.

[0210] In the present embodiment, the vehicle dispatch support section 23 can determine the required rest time corresponding to the peak drowsiness degree for all drivers as in steps S106 and S107, and calculate the arrival scheduled time taking the required rest time into account, regardless of whether the peak drowsiness degree is 3 or more.

[0211] In the present embodiment, the driver who meets the conditions such as the desired destination of the user is extracted by an extraction section not shown, before or after the vehicle dispatch possibility determination processing performed by the vehicle dispatch support section 23.

[0212] The information providing section 26 provides the state information of each driver to the user terminal device 4 as a reply to the vehicle dispatch request based on the possibility table 111 generated by the vehicle dispatch support section 23. As an example, the state information at least includes information for identifying the driver, and vehicle dispatch possibility information. For example, the information providing section 26 can acquire these pieces of information from the "driver name" column and the "vehicle dispatch possibility" column in the possibility table 111. Figure 4 ) respectively.

[0213] The state information can also include, instead of the boarding request time possibility, the time at which the driver can reach the boarding request location in a state in which the inappropriateness degree is below the specified threshold. The information providing section 26 can acquire the arrival scheduled time for each driver from the "arrival scheduled time" column of the possibility table 111.

[0214] In addition, the state information can include the predicted inappropriateness degree (e.g., drowsiness degree) of the driver at the boarding request time. For example, the information providing section 26 can acquire the drowsiness degree of each driver at the boarding request time from the drowsiness estimation graph ( Figure 3 ) of the driver.

[0215] In addition, the state information can include the evaluation score of the driver. The information providing section 26 can acquire the evaluation score for each driver from driver basic information not shown.

[0216] The user terminal device 4 displays the state information of each driver transmitted from the information providing section 26 on the display section of the user terminal device 4. Thereby, the user can confirm the state information, and select the driver who wants to be accompanied. The user terminal device 4, if it receives the selection processing of the driver by the user, returns information including the identification information of the selected driver to the vehicle dispatch device 1 as a reservation determination request.

[0217] If the vehicle dispatch support department 23 receives a reservation confirmation request, it will execute the request. Figure 6 The vehicle dispatch decision process shown in step S3-2 determines which vehicle to dispatch to the user for the selected driver. Similar to Embodiment 1, the vehicle dispatch support unit 23 can also determine the rest time for the selected driver during the vehicle dispatch decision process. The vehicle dispatch support unit 23 stores the vehicle dispatch result information 112 generated after executing the vehicle dispatch decision process in the storage unit 11.

[0218] The notification unit 24 notifies the vehicle's onboard system 3 of the selected driver that a vehicle dispatch has been confirmed. Similar to Embodiment 1, the notification unit 24 may also notify the driver of the rest area at the same time. Furthermore, in this embodiment, even for drivers whose peak drowsiness level is below 3 during a specified period, the notification unit 24 may still issue guidelines suggesting a short rest, rather than notifying them that a rest is not necessary.

[0219] In this embodiment, the information output unit 35 of the vehicle system 3 displays a vehicle dispatch notification 351 based on the notification from the notification unit 24. Figure 8 The information output unit 35 can include the requested pick-up location, pick-up time, desired destination, and basic user information. Additionally, the rest notification 353 displayed by the information output unit 35 can include information indicating whether the rest location is the driver's current location or a location near the requested pick-up location (demand location).

[0220] The information providing unit 26 can reply to the user terminal device 4 with the basic information of the driver whose reservation has been confirmed as a response to the reservation confirmation request.

[0221] In this embodiment, the inspection unit 25 can refer to the vehicle dispatch result information 112 to check the drowsiness level of the selected driver before the specified time of the ride request (e.g., 1 hour to 30 minutes before the time of the ride request). If the drowsiness level is above a specified threshold, the notification unit 24 can request the driver to rest so that he / she can be awake at the time of the ride request.

[0222] <Vehicle dispatch result information>

[0223] and Figure 5 Compared to the vehicle dispatching result information 112 of Embodiment 1 shown, the vehicle dispatching result information 112 generated by the vehicle dispatching support unit 23 in this embodiment may also have the following differences.

[0224] In this embodiment, the vehicle dispatch result information 112 is information showing the matching results between the driver and the user.

[0225] For example, vehicle dispatch result information 112 is configured to include a "User Basic Information" field and a "Pickup Request Location" field instead of the "Region ID" field. In addition, vehicle dispatch result information 112 is configured to include a "Pickup Request Time" field instead of the "Peak Demand Time" field.

[0226] The "User Basic Information" section stores the basic information of the users matched with the drivers. For example, it can store the user's name, contact information, etc.

[0227] The "Pickup Location" field stores the pickup locations approved by the user. For example, this field stores the pickup locations included in the vehicle dispatch request sent from the user terminal device 4.

[0228] The "Requested Ride Time" field stores the ride time approved by the user. For example, this field may store the ride time initially specified by the user as included in the vehicle dispatch request sent from the user terminal device 4. Alternatively, this field may store the scheduled arrival time of the selected driver as included in the reservation confirmation request. Or, the field may store the period from the user's initially specified ride time to the driver's scheduled arrival time.

[0229] In this embodiment, for drivers whose peak drowsiness level is below 3 during the specified period up to the time of travel request, the vehicle dispatch support unit 23 may not determine that they do not need to rest, but instead make a decision to recommend a rest. In this case, the vehicle dispatch support unit 23 stores flag information indicating that a rest is recommended in the "Rest or Not" column. For drivers whose peak drowsiness level is 3 or higher, the vehicle dispatch support unit 23, similar to Embodiment 1, stores flag information indicating that a rest is necessary in the "Rest or Not" column.

[0230] <Example of the result screen>

[0231] Figure 10 This is an example of a results screen displayed on the display unit of the user terminal device 4. The results screen 400 shows the search results for drivers who match the user's requested ride-sharing conditions.

[0232] The information providing unit 26 of the vehicle dispatching device 1 responds to vehicle dispatching requests by sending status information, including the determination of whether vehicle dispatching is possible for each driver, to the user terminal device. For example... Figure 10 As shown, the user terminal device 4 can display the received status information as a result screen 400 on the display unit.

[0233] As an example, the result screen 400 may include map information. The map information may include an icon 404 showing the location of the requested ride, and a vehicle icon showing the driver's current location.

[0234] The result screen 400 contains the state information of each driver who meets the conditions. In the illustrated example, the state information is displayed in the dialog boxes 401 to 403 corresponding to the current position icons of the three drivers, respectively. Among them, the dialog box 401 and the dialog box 403 show the state information of the drivers who are judged to be able to perform vehicle dispatching. The dialog box 402 shows the state information of the driver who is judged to be unable to perform vehicle dispatching.

[0235] As illustrated, the state information can contain, for example, "driver name", "vehicle dispatching possibility", "evaluation score", "sleepiness degree", and "scheduled arrival time".

[0236] As for the "vehicle dispatching possibility", for example, it can be displayed as "(dispatchable)" for the driver who is able to arrive at the pickup request location before the pickup request time in a state where the sleepiness degree is lower than 3. On the other hand, it can be displayed as "(not dispatchable)" for the driver who is unable to recover to a state where the sleepiness degree is lower than 3 before the pickup request time, or the driver who is unable to arrive at the pickup request location before the pickup request time.

[0237] The "evaluation score" can be represented by the number of stars as illustrated. As an example, the more the number of stars, the higher the evaluation from the user.

[0238] The "sleepiness degree" shows the predicted sleepiness degree of the driver at the pickup request time. As illustrated, the sleepiness degree can be represented by the number of sleepiness icons of the face. As an example, the more the number of icons, the higher the sleepiness degree of the driver, that is, the stronger the sleepiness.

[0239] The "scheduled arrival time" shows the time at which the driver is able to arrive at the pickup request location in a state where the sleepiness degree is lower than 3. That is, for the driver whose scheduled arrival time exceeds the pickup request time, it can be displayed as "(not dispatchable)" as shown in the dialog box 402. The scheduled arrival time can also be displayed as "possible dispatch time". In this way, even the state information of the driver who is not dispatchable is displayed together with the scheduled arrival time, that is, the possible dispatch time, so that the user is able to understand that the driver will be able to be dispatched after how many hours. Displaying the state information of the driver who is not able to perform vehicle dispatching together with the "possible dispatch time" increases the convenience for the user. The reason for this is that, in a case where the pickup request time can be postponed, the user is able to change the pickup request time in accordance with the possible dispatch time of the desired driver, so that the desired driver can be scheduled.

[0240] As described above, via the result screen 400, the user can select a desired driver who meets the conditions from among the drivers who are in a state suitable for safe driving, or can make a reservation (vehicle dispatch) for a desired driver who is in a state suitable for safe driving.

[0241] 〔Software-based implementation example〕

[0242] The functions of the vehicle dispatch device 1 (hereinafter referred to as "device") can be implemented by a program that causes a computer to function as the device, thereby causing the computer to function as each control block (particularly, each section included in the control section 10) in the device.

[0243] In this case, the device described above has a computer as hardware for executing the program described above, and the computer has at least one control device (for example, a processor) and at least one storage device (for example, a memory). The control device and the storage device execute the program described above, thereby implementing each function described in each embodiment described above.

[0244] The program described above can be stored in one or a plurality of computer-readable storage media that are not temporary. The device described above can have or can not have the storage media. When the device does not have the storage media, the program described above can be provided to the device through any transmission medium by wired or wireless communication.

[0245] In addition, part or all of the functions of each control block described above can also be implemented by a logic circuit. For example, an integrated circuit in which a logic circuit that functions as each control block described above is formed is also included in the scope of the present application. Furthermore, for example, each control block described above can also be implemented by a quantum computer.

[0246] In addition, each process described in each embodiment described above can also be performed by AI. In this case, AI can work through the control device described above, or can work through another device (for example, an edge computer or a cloud server, etc.).

[0247] 〔Additional notes〕

[0248] Part or all of the embodiments described above can also be described as follows, for example.

[0249] (Note 1)

[0250] A vehicle dispatch device includes:

[0251] a demand information acquisition section that acquires a demand location at which a demand for vehicle dispatch is expected and a demand time at which the demand is expected;

[0252] a physical condition acquisition section that acquires, for each driver, a change in a physical condition of the driver on a time axis in a period from a current time to the demand time; and

[0253] a vehicle dispatch support section that determines, for each of the drivers, a required rest time for which the driver should rest in order for a level of the physical condition at the demand time to be lower than a specified threshold based on a change in the level of the physical condition over time, and determines a driver who can complete movement to the demand location and the rest before the demand time.

[0254] According to the above-described aspect, the vehicle dispatch support section determines a required rest time for a driver based on a change in a level of the physical condition over time. Also, the vehicle dispatch support section determines a driver who can complete movement to the demand location and the rest before the demand time.

[0255] By referring to the above-described determination by the vehicle dispatch support section, a driver whose level of physical condition is lower than a specified threshold and who can reach the demand time can be easily assigned to the demand location. A driver whose level of physical condition is lower than a specified threshold is, for example, a driver who has a fitness for driving or a driver who has recovered fitness by resting. In this way, a driver who has fitness for driving does not miss the expected demand time and works safely at the demand location. With the above-described aspect, a vehicle dispatch that ensures safety and efficiency (profitability) can be achieved.

[0256] (Addendum 2)

[0257] The vehicle dispatch device according to Addendum 1, wherein the vehicle dispatch support section selects one or more of the drivers determined to be assigned to the demand location.

[0258] According to the above-described aspect, a driver whose level of physical condition is lower than a specified threshold, for example, a driver who has a fitness for driving or a driver who has recovered fitness by resting, is assigned to the demand location in a manner that the driver can reach the demand time. Thus, a vehicle dispatch that ensures safety and efficiency (profitability) can be achieved.

[0259] (Addendum 3)

[0260] The vehicle dispatch device according to Addendum 2, wherein

[0261] The physical condition acquisition section acquires, at a point in time that is a predetermined time before the demand time, a level of the physical condition of the driver assigned to the demand location at the point in time,

[0262] The vehicle dispatch support section cancels the assignment of the driver whose acquired level of physical condition is equal to or higher than the specified threshold.

[0263] According to the above-described aspect, even if a driver who has once been determined to be dispatched to a demand location is canceled from the arrangement if the level of the physical condition of the driver is above the specified threshold at a point in time that is a prescribed time away from the demand time, the vehicle dispatching device can cancel the arrangement. According to this determination, the driver can be notified of the cancellation of the work at the demand location at the demand time or the like. As a result, a more secure vehicle dispatching can be achieved while avoiding the prioritization of benefits.

[0264] (Note 4)

[0265] The vehicle dispatching device according to any one of Notes 1 to 3,

[0266] Further provided is a driver position acquisition unit that acquires, for each of the drivers, a current position of the driver,

[0267] The vehicle dispatching support unit calculates, for each of the drivers, a scheduled arrival time at the demand location based on the required rest time and a required movement time required for the driver to move from the current position to the demand location, and determines the driver for which the scheduled arrival time is before the demand time.

[0268] According to the above-described aspect, the vehicle dispatching support unit calculates a scheduled arrival time at which the driver can arrive at the demand location on standby in a safe working state and maintain the safe working state, taking into account the required rest time required for the level of the physical condition of the driver to be below the specified threshold and the required movement time required to move from the current position to the demand location. The vehicle dispatching support unit determines whether the driver can complete the movement to the demand location and the rest by the demand time, based on whether the calculated scheduled arrival time is before the demand time.

[0269] (Note 5)

[0270] The vehicle dispatching device according to Note 4, wherein the vehicle dispatching support unit calculates the scheduled arrival time taking into account a peak time of the level of the physical condition that changes over time during a period from the current time to the demand time.

[0271] Even if the calculated required rest time is short, if the arrival time of the sleepiness peak is close to the demand time and the rest timing is too late, the time at which the state in which the driver can safely drive is restored can have already passed the demand time. In this regard, according to the above-described aspect, the vehicle dispatching support unit takes into account the estimated sleepiness peak that the driver will encounter within a prescribed period and the arrival time of the peak, and thus can correctly determine whether the driver can complete the movement and the rest. Therefore, even if the required movement time and the required rest time are short, it is possible to prevent a driver who will miss the demand time due to the rest from being arranged to the demand location.

[0272] (Note 6)

[0273] The vehicle dispatching device according to any one of Notes 1 to 5, wherein

[0274] The demand information acquisition section acquires the demand time, and a plurality of demand locations that will come to the demand time within a prescribed period from the current time to a prescribed time later,

[0275] The vehicle dispatching support section performs the following process for each of the demand locations: determining a driver who can complete the movement to the demand location and the rest before the demand time.

[0276] According to the above-described aspect, for the plurality of demand locations determined to be expected to have a demand within a prescribed period, the vehicle dispatching device can determine a driver who can reach the demand time and maintain the health stability for each demand location. That is, a determination result of whether or not the vehicle dispatching is possible can be obtained for each demand location. The vehicle dispatching device can appropriately determine which driver to dispatch to which demand location on the basis of ensuring safety and efficiency (profit).

[0277] (Note 7)

[0278] The vehicle dispatching device according to Note 6, wherein

[0279] The demand information acquisition section further acquires the number of drivers suitable for the demand for each of the demand locations,

[0280] The vehicle dispatching support section arranges the determined driver with priority to the demand location with a relatively larger number of drivers.

[0281] According to the above-described aspect, the vehicle dispatching device can preferentially dispatch the limited resources, that is, the drivers having the health stability suitable for driving, to the hot demand area in which the profit is easily increased as much as possible. Thus, the safety can be ensured, and the vehicle dispatching can be performed more efficiently.

[0282] (Note 8)

[0283] The vehicle dispatching device according to any one of Notes 1 to 7, wherein the demand location is a typical location in a hot demand area in which a vehicle dispatching demand is expected.

[0284] (Note 9)

[0285] The vehicle dispatching device according to Note 1, wherein

[0286] The demand location and the demand time are a boarding request location and a boarding request time transmitted from a terminal device of a user who requests a vehicle dispatch,

[0287] The vehicle dispatch support unit performs the possibility determination for each of the drivers to determine whether the driver can complete the movement to the boarding request location and the rest before the boarding request time,

[0288] The vehicle dispatch device further includes an information providing unit that provides state information of each of the drivers to the terminal device, wherein the state information includes a result of the possibility determination and a level of the physical condition at the boarding request time.

[0289] According to the above-described aspect, the vehicle dispatch support unit determines, for each driver, whether the driver can reach the boarding request location on standby and maintain the level of the physical condition below a specified threshold before the boarding request time. Also, the user is prompted with information of each driver and whether the driver is a driver who can reach the boarding request location in a state suitable for driving before the boarding request time.

[0290] Thus, the user can determine whether the driver is a driver who has a fitness to drive suitable for driving while comfortably selecting a desired driver.

[0291] (Addendum 10)

[0292] The vehicle dispatch device according to any one of addenda 1 to 9, wherein the vehicle dispatch support unit determines the required rest time corresponding to a difference degree, wherein the difference degree is a difference between a peak of the level varying on a time axis and the specified threshold.

[0293] According to the above-described aspect, the required rest time necessary depending on the level of the physical condition of each driver is determined, and thus it is possible to appropriately determine whether the driver is a driver who can complete the movement to the demand location and the rest before the demand time.

[0294] (Addendum 11)

[0295] The vehicle dispatch device according to any one of addenda 1 to 10,

[0296] Further includes a notification unit that notifies a driver who is assigned to the demand location by the vehicle dispatch support unit of the demand location, the demand time, and a rest place,

[0297] The vehicle dispatch support unit sets a current position of the driver as the rest place if a peak time of the level of the physical condition varying on a time axis is closer to a current time than the demand time,

[0298] If the peak time is closer to the demand time than the current time, the vehicle dispatch support section sets the demand site as the rest place.

[0299] According to the above-described aspect, the driver is informed of an appropriate rest place where the level of the physical condition is to be recovered to be lower than a specified threshold at the demand time. The rest place is determined by the vehicle dispatch support section on the basis of the judgment of the appropriate rest timing. Thus, the driver can take a rest in accordance with the notification, and thus can maintain a state of having a fitness to drive at the demand time and the demand site, and thus can fulfill the demand and work safely.

[0300] (Addendum 12)

[0301] The vehicle dispatch device according to any one of Addenda 1 to 11, wherein the physical condition acquisition section acquires a change in the drowsiness degree over time as the change in the physical condition over time.

[0302] According to the above-described aspect, the driver who is sufficiently awake to be able to drive safely can be dispatched to a site where a demand is expected to occur without missing the timing.

[0303] (Addendum 13)

[0304] A control method of a vehicle dispatch device, comprising:

[0305] a demand information acquisition step of acquiring a demand site where a demand for vehicle dispatch is expected to occur, and a demand time when the demand is expected to occur;

[0306] a physical condition acquisition step of acquiring, for each driver, a change in a physical condition of the driver over time during a period from a current time to the demand time; and

[0307] a vehicle dispatch support step of determining, for each of the drivers, a required rest time at which the driver is to take a rest in order for a level of the physical condition that changes over time to be lower than a specified threshold at the demand time, and determining a driver who is able to complete a movement to the demand site and the rest before the demand time.

[0308] According to the above-described method, the same effects as those of Addendum 1 can be obtained.

[0309] (Addendum 14)

[0310] A computer-readable storage medium storing a control program for causing a computer to function as the vehicle dispatch device according to any one of Addenda 1 to 12, and thus to function as the demand information acquisition section, the physical condition acquisition section, and the vehicle dispatch support section.

[0311] The present application is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the present application described in the specification, and embodiments obtained by appropriately combining the technical means disclosed in different embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present application.

Claims

1. A vehicle dispatching device, comprising: The demand information acquisition department acquires the locations where vehicle dispatching is expected to occur, as well as the expected times when such demand will occur. The physical condition acquisition unit acquires, for each driver, the changes in their physical condition over time from the current moment to the required moment; and The vehicle dispatch support department determines, for each driver, the required rest time to ensure that the level of their physical condition, which varies over time, falls below a specified threshold at the time of demand, and identifies drivers who can complete their journey to the desired location and finish their rest before the time of demand. Before the scheduled time of the demand, the vehicle dispatch support department re-obtains the driver's physical condition level. If the physical condition level is above the specified threshold, the dispatch for that driver is cancelled. The vehicle dispatch support department calculates the driver's scheduled arrival time based on the required rest time and the required travel time to the desired location, and if the scheduled arrival time is before the desired time, the driver is selected for vehicle dispatch. The vehicle dispatch support department determines rest locations by considering the peak times of the physical condition level as it changes over time.

2. The vehicle dispatching device according to claim 1, wherein, The vehicle dispatch support department selects one or more of the drivers from the identified drivers to be assigned to the required location.

3. The vehicle dispatching device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The demand information acquisition unit acquires the demand time and multiple demand locations that will experience the demand time during the specified period from the current time until a specified time later. For each of the required locations, the vehicle dispatch support department performs a process to determine the driver who can complete the journey to the required location and finish the rest before the required time.

4. The vehicle dispatching device according to claim 3, wherein, The demand information acquisition unit also acquires the number of drivers appropriate to the demand for each of the demand locations. The vehicle dispatch support department prioritizes locations with a relatively larger number of drivers and assigns the identified drivers accordingly.

5. The vehicle dispatching device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The demand locations are typical locations in high-demand areas where vehicle dispatching is expected.

6. The vehicle dispatching device according to claim 1, wherein, The requested location and the requested time are respectively sent from the terminal device of the user requesting the vehicle dispatch, indicating the desired pick-up location and pick-up time. The vehicle dispatch support department performs a feasibility determination for each driver to determine whether the driver can complete the journey to the required pick-up location and the rest period before the required pick-up time. The vehicle dispatching device also features: An information providing unit provides the terminal device with status information for each driver, wherein the status information includes the result of the determination of whether or not the driver is eligible, and the level of the driver's physical condition at the time of the required ride.

7. The vehicle dispatching device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The vehicle dispatch support unit determines the required rest time corresponding to the degree of difference, wherein the degree of difference is the difference between the peak value of the level that varies over time and the specified threshold.

8. The vehicle dispatching device according to claim 1 or 2, It also includes a notification department that notifies drivers assigned to the required location by the vehicle dispatch support department of the required location, the required time, and a rest area. If, compared to the time of demand, the peak of the physical condition level changing over time is closer to the current time, then the vehicle dispatch support unit sets the driver's current location as the rest area. If the peak time is closer to the demand time than the current time, the vehicle dispatch support department will set the demand location as the rest area.

9. The vehicle dispatching device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The physical condition acquisition unit acquires the change in sleepiness over time as the change in physical condition over time.

10. A control method for a vehicle dispatching device, comprising: The steps for obtaining demand information include obtaining the locations where vehicle dispatching is expected to occur, and the expected times when such demand will occur. The physical condition acquisition step involves acquiring, for each driver, the changes in the driver's physical condition over time from the current moment to the required moment. as well as The vehicle dispatch support step involves determining, for each driver, the required rest time needed to ensure that the level of their physical condition, which varies over time, falls below a specified threshold at the time of demand, and identifying drivers who can complete their journey to the desired location and finish their rest before the time of demand. In the vehicle dispatch support step, Before the specified time of the required event, the driver's physical condition level is assessed again. If the physical condition level is above the specified threshold, the assignment for that driver is cancelled. Based on the required rest time and the required travel time to the desired location, the driver's scheduled arrival time is calculated, and if the scheduled arrival time is before the desired arrival time, the driver is selected for vehicle dispatch. The location of rest is determined by taking into account the peak times of the physical condition's level as it changes over time.

11. A computer-readable storage medium storing the following control program: The computer is made to function as a vehicle dispatching device as described in any one of claims 1 to 9, thereby enabling the computer to perform the functions of the demand information acquisition unit, the physical condition acquisition unit, and the vehicle dispatching support unit.

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