Information processing apparatus, information processing system, and information processing method

Abstract

The present application provides an information processing device, an information processing system, and an information processing method, which determine which one of a passenger or a cargo a transport object is based on a transport request requesting transport of the transport object. In addition, a travel path candidate via a start point candidate where transport is started and an end point candidate where transport is ended is calculated. In a case where it is determined that the transport object is the passenger, a travel path is extracted from the travel path candidate based on a travel time until transport of the passenger as the transport object ends, in a case where it is determined that the transport object is the cargo, a travel path is extracted from the travel path candidate based on a moving cost of a vehicle, and the extracted travel path is output.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to information processing apparatus, information processing system, and information processing method. Background Technology

[0002] A technology is disclosed that involves calculating the route of an operating vehicle based on passenger movement requests and cargo movement requests and sending the calculated route to the vehicle's onboard unit to provide mixed passenger and cargo services (see Patent Document 1).

[0003] Existing technical documents

[0004] Patent documents

[0005] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2017-220090 Summary of the Invention

[0006] The problem that the invention aims to solve

[0007] The technology described in Patent Document 1 calculates the route of the operating vehicle based on whether the vehicle itself prioritizes passenger transport or freight transport, rather than based on a new travel request. Therefore, there are problems such as increased travel costs when using an operating vehicle that prioritizes passenger transport to handle a freight travel request, or increased travel time when using an operating vehicle that prioritizes freight transport to handle a passenger travel request.

[0008] In view of the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides an information processing device, an information processing system, and an information processing method, which can reduce the overall travel time or travel cost in mixed passenger and freight services by calculating which path to prioritize for passenger transport or freight transport based on a new travel request.

[0009] Technical solutions for solving the problem

[0010] To address the aforementioned problems, one aspect of the present invention, including an information processing apparatus, an information processing system, and an information processing method, determines whether the transported object is a passenger or cargo based on a transport request for the transport of the requested object. Furthermore, it calculates travel path candidates via a start location candidate for the start of transport and an end location candidate for the end of transport. If the transported object is determined to be a passenger, a travel path is extracted from the travel path candidates based on the travel time up to the end of the transport of the passenger. If the transported object is determined to be cargo, a travel path is extracted from the travel path candidates based on the vehicle's movement cost, and the extracted travel path is output.

[0011] Invention Effects

[0012] According to the present invention, by calculating which route to prioritize between passenger transport and cargo transport based on a new mobility request, the overall mobility time or mobility cost of mixed passenger and cargo services can be reduced. Attached Figure Description

[0013] Figure 1 This is a block diagram illustrating the structure of an information processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0014] Figure 2 This is a flowchart illustrating the processing of an information processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0015] Figure 3 This is a timing diagram illustrating an example of the operation of an information processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0016] Figure 4 This is a flowchart illustrating the processing of an information processing system according to a modified embodiment of the present invention.

[0017] Figure 5 This is a timing diagram illustrating an operation example of an information processing system according to a modified embodiment of the present invention.

[0018] Figure 6A This is a diagram representing the first example of a travel path extracted based on a delivery request.

[0019] Figure 6B This is a diagram representing the second example of a travel path extracted based on a delivery request. Detailed Implementation

[0020] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, the same symbols are used to refer to the same parts and the descriptions are omitted.

[0021] [Structure of an Information Processing System]

[0022] Figure 1 This is a block diagram illustrating the structure of an information processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. For example... Figure 1 As shown, the information processing system includes terminals 100 (information terminals), a server 200, and vehicles 300 interconnected via a wireless or wired network 400. The information processing system uses one or more vehicles 300 to provide mixed freight and passenger services.

[0023] Network 400 can be exemplified by, for example, the Internet. Network 400 can also use mobile communication functions such as 4G / LTE or 5G.

[0024] Terminal 100 receives user operations and sends information related to the received operations to network 400. Examples of terminal 100 include portable terminals used by users in daily life (smartphones, tablets, etc.).

[0025] Additionally, based on user actions or predetermined events detected by the terminal 100, the terminal 100 sends a transport request to the network 400 requesting the transport of passengers or goods by a vehicle. Details regarding the transport request will be described later.

[0026] Vehicle 300 is a means of transportation that provides transport up to the destination specified in the transport request, and examples include, for instance, autonomous vehicles. Furthermore, various other means of transportation, such as manned / unmanned taxis, buses, and trucks, can also be included as vehicle 300. Multiple vehicles can also be registered in the information processing system.

[0027] For example, vehicle 300 includes a communication unit 310 and a vehicle control device 320. Vehicle 300 can transmit vehicle information via the communication unit 310 at predetermined intervals or periods, or based on instructions from terminal 100 or server 200. The vehicle information includes location data indicating the location of vehicle 300. Furthermore, vehicle control device 320 can also control vehicle 300 to move based on a travel path obtained via the communication unit 310.

[0028] Based on a delivery request from a user, server 200 generates information related to the vehicle to be dispatched to that user and the vehicle's travel route. Server 200 can also be mounted on terminal 100 or vehicle 300.

[0029] The terminal 100, server 200, and vehicle 300 can then communicate bidirectionally with each other via network 400.

[0030] [Terminal Structure]

[0031] Next, terminal 100 (information terminal) will be described. For example... Figure 1 As shown, the terminal 100 includes a sensor 150, a display unit 160, an operation unit 170, a communication unit 110, and a controller 130.

[0032] Sensor 150 comprises multiple sensor groups, including a position detection sensor that acquires position data representing the location of terminal 100. For example, the position detection sensor is a sensor that measures absolute position, such as GPS (Global Positioning System). Alternatively, the position detection sensor can also be a sensor that measures absolute position using methods such as Wi-Fi positioning, RFID (Radio Frequency Identifier) ​​positioning, or beacon positioning.

[0033] Display unit 160 displays information related to the waiting location for vehicle 300. Additionally, display unit 160 can also display guidance information to direct the user's movement to the waiting location. Furthermore, display unit 160 can also display information about vehicle 300 or information related to the vehicle 300's travel path. The information displayed by display unit 160 can also be obtained from server 200 via network 400 through communication unit 110 (described later).

[0034] Furthermore, the display unit 160 can provide information not only through visual information but also through auditory information or by generating vibrations to provide information through the stimulation caused by the vibrations.

[0035] The operation unit 170 receives user operations corresponding to various instructions from the user relative to the information processing system. For example, the operation unit 170 may be an input interface with multiple buttons or a touch panel with a touch interface.

[0036] More specifically, the display unit 160 may display icons represented by pictures or symbols, enabling the user to operate them. The user can touch, drag, or otherwise interact with the displayed icons, thereby the operation unit 170 receives the user's input.

[0037] The communication unit 110 sends and receives information with the network 400. The communication unit 110 stores information obtained from the network 400 in a memory (not shown) or similar device. Furthermore, it outputs specified information to the network 400, such as transmission requests or location data generated based on user operations. For example, the communication unit 110 may be a device with 4G / LTE or 5G mobile communication capabilities, or it may be a device with Wi-Fi communication capabilities.

[0038] The controller 130 is connected to the sensor 150, the display unit 160, the operation unit 170, and the communication unit 110. Information from the sensor 150, the operation unit 170, and the communication unit 110 is input to the controller 130, and information is output from the controller 130 to the display unit 160 and the communication unit 110.

[0039] Furthermore, the controller 130 is a general-purpose microcomputer equipped with a CPU (central processing unit), memory, and input / output units. A computer program (information terminal program) is installed in the controller 130 to function as part of an information processing system. By executing the computer program, the controller 130 controls the display unit 160 and the communication unit 110.

[0040] The various information processing capabilities of the controller 130 can be implemented through software or dedicated hardware.

[0041] The controller 130 generates a transmission request to the information processing system based on the user's operation of the operation unit 170.

[0042] Here, a transport request refers to a request for the transport of passengers or goods by a vehicle, or a vehicle allocation request for the dispatch of a vehicle used for transport. A transport request must contain at least category data indicating whether the object of transport is a passenger or goods.

[0043] Category data includes, for example, information identifying the terminal 100 that sent the delivery request, information identifying the application that generated the delivery request and the action taken on the terminal 100, and information identifying user actions related to the delivery request.

[0044] For example, by referring to the information of the identification terminal 100, it is possible to determine which terminal 100, which sent the transport request, is requesting to transport either passengers or goods. Similarly, by referring to the information of the identification application, it is possible to determine which application, which sent the transport request, is requesting to transport either passengers or goods. Furthermore, by referring to the information of the user operation related to the transport request, it is possible to determine which of the user, passengers or goods, they wish to transport.

[0045] In addition, the transport request may also include information on the desired start location and desired start time of the transport of the object to be transported. Furthermore, the transport request may also include information on the desired end location and desired end time of the transport of the object to be transported.

[0046] For example, when the transport target is a passenger, the transport request may include the passenger's desired boarding location as the desired start point and the desired boarding time at that location as the desired start time. Alternatively, the transport request may include the passenger's desired alighting location as the desired end point and the desired alighting time at that location as the desired end time.

[0047] When the object of transport is goods, the transport request may include information such as the desired loading location for loading goods onto the vehicle as the desired start location, and the desired loading time at that location as the desired start time. Alternatively, the transport request may include information such as the desired unloading location for unloading goods from the vehicle as the desired end location, and the desired unloading time at that location as the desired end time.

[0048] [Server Structure]

[0049] Next, the server 200 (information processing device) will be described. For example... Figure 1 As shown, the server 200 includes a communication unit 210 (acquisition unit, output unit), a database 220, and a controller 230.

[0050] The communication unit 210 sends and receives information with the network 400. The communication unit 210 obtains specified information from the network 400, such as delivery requests sent from the terminal 100, location data, and vehicle information sent from the vehicle 300, and records the obtained information in the database 220. Furthermore, the communication unit 210 can also send specified information generated by the controller 230 to the terminal 100 and the vehicle 300.

[0051] Database 220 (storage unit) stores information acquired by communication unit 210. Specifically, database 220 stores one or more transport requests. Furthermore, database 220 stores candidate routes and actual routes calculated by controller 230 based on the transport requests. At this time, database 220 stores the vehicle and the candidate routes and actual routes associated with that vehicle.

[0052] Furthermore, the travel route is extracted from the travel route candidates by the passenger route extraction unit 237 and the cargo route extraction unit 239, which will be described later. When the travel route candidates are updated by the route candidate calculation unit 233, which will be described later, the travel route corresponding to the updated travel route candidate can also be updated together. The updated travel route candidates and travel routes can also be stored in the database 220 each time an update is performed.

[0053] In addition, database 220 can also store parking locations where vehicles can park in the area where mixed freight and passenger services are provided. For example, parking locations stored in database 220 could include places where passengers have boarded or disembarked during actual vehicle travel, places where goods have been loaded onto or unloaded from vehicles, etc.

[0054] Furthermore, the parking locations stored in database 220 can also be pre-defined locations. For example, locations stored in database 220 could include taxi stands, bus stops, shops such as supermarkets or convenience stores, entrances and exits of public facilities, and places where goods are gathered.

[0055] The controller 230 is a general-purpose microcomputer equipped with a CPU (Central Processing Unit), memory, and input / output units. A computer program (information processing server program) is installed in the controller 230 to function as part of an information processing system. By executing the computer program, the controller 230 functions as multiple information processing circuits (231, 233, 235, 237, 239).

[0056] Furthermore, an example is shown here of multiple information processing circuits (231, 233, 235, 237, 239) implemented in the controller 230 via software. However, it is also possible to prepare dedicated hardware for performing the information processing shown below, thereby constructing the information processing circuits (231, 233, 235, 237, 239). Alternatively, multiple information processing circuits (231, 233, 235, 237, 239) can be constructed using individual hardware components.

[0057] The controller 230 includes a location determination unit 231, a route candidate calculation unit 233 (calculation unit), a decision unit 235, a passenger route extraction unit 237 (extraction unit), and a cargo route extraction unit 239 (extraction unit) as multiple information processing circuits (231, 233, 235, 237, 239).

[0058] Based on the transport request, the location determination unit 231 determines candidate start locations for transporting objects and candidate end locations for transporting objects. Alternatively, the location determination unit 231 may determine one or more candidate start locations and one or more candidate end locations for each transport request.

[0059] For example, the location determination unit 231 may also determine a parking location near the desired start location included in the transport request as a candidate start location. Additionally, the location determination unit 231 may also determine a parking location near the desired end location included in the transport request as a candidate end location. The location determination unit 231 may also determine the desired start location and desired end location included in the transport request as candidate start locations and candidate end locations, respectively.

[0060] Additionally, the location determination unit 231 can also determine a parking location near the terminal 100 as a candidate start location based on location data indicating the location of the terminal 100. Furthermore, the location determination unit 231 can also determine a parking location near the destination as a candidate end location based on information about the destination of the transport object included in the transport request.

[0061] Furthermore, the location determination unit 231 determines parking locations other than those designated as candidate start locations as candidate end locations. Therefore, there are no parking locations that are both designated as candidate start locations and candidate end locations.

[0062] The route candidate calculation unit 233 (calculation unit) calculates the route candidates for the vehicle scheduled to travel through the start point candidate and the end point candidate for the transport object.

[0063] Specifically, the route candidate calculation unit 233 calculates the driving route candidates for one or more vehicles 300 that are managed by the information processing system, from the starting point candidate to the ending point candidate.

[0064] When calculating driving route candidates by the route candidate calculation unit 233, in order to reduce the calculation load, the route candidate calculation unit 233 may also extract one or more vehicles 300 located within the specified range of the starting location and calculate driving route candidates for the extracted vehicles.

[0065] Note that the route candidate calculated by the route candidate calculation unit 233 is associated with one or more transport requests received by the transport request system. For example, when calculating a route candidate for one of the one or more vehicles 300, if a route candidate for that vehicle has not yet been calculated, the route candidate calculation unit 233 newly calculates a route candidate via a start point candidate and an end point candidate determined based on the newly received transport request.

[0066] On the other hand, if a candidate travel route for the vehicle has already been calculated based on past transport requests (including transport requests that have not yet been completed), the route candidate calculation unit 233 corrects the already calculated candidate travel route and calculates a candidate travel route via the start point candidate and end point candidate determined based on the newly accepted transport request. The corrected candidate travel route is calculated using both the start point candidate and end point candidate determined based on the past transport request and the start point candidate and end point candidate determined based on the newly accepted transport request.

[0067] In the case of multiple transport requests associated with a route candidate, a vehicle traveling in the route candidate performs multiple transports related to the multiple transport requests associated with the route candidate.

[0068] The driving route candidates calculated by the route candidate calculation unit 233 are stored in the database 220.

[0069] In addition, the route candidate calculation unit 233 calculates the travel time and vehicle movement cost for the calculated route candidates up to the end of the transport of the passenger to be transported.

[0070] For example, the route candidate calculation unit 233 may also extract passenger transport requests from the transport requests associated with the route candidate as passenger transport requests. Additionally, the route candidate calculation unit 233 may also extract the latest passenger transport request from the passenger transport requests as a new passenger transport request.

[0071] Alternatively, the route candidate calculation unit 233 may calculate the travel time for each route candidate based on the time from the moment a new passenger transport request is received to the predetermined time when the transport involving the new passenger transport request ends. That is, the route candidate calculation unit 233 may calculate the travel time considering the time related to the new passenger transport request, or it may calculate the travel time without considering the time related to passenger transport requests other than the new passenger transport request.

[0072] Furthermore, the route candidate calculation unit 233 can also cover all extracted passenger transport requests, and sum the time calculated based on the route candidate, from the time the passenger transport request is determined or the time the passenger transport request is obtained, to the predetermined time when the transport related to the passenger transport request ends, and calculate the summed value as the travel time for each route candidate. That is, the route candidate calculation unit 233 can also calculate the travel time considering the time related to the new passenger transport request, and also consider the time related to passenger transport requests other than the new passenger transport request.

[0073] Alternatively, the route candidate calculation unit 233 may calculate the travel cost for each travel route candidate as the predetermined travel distance or predetermined travel time of the vehicle traveling in the travel route candidate, based on the travel route candidate calculation. That is, the route candidate calculation unit 233 may calculate the travel cost considering the predetermined travel distance or predetermined travel time of the vehicle traveling in the travel route candidate that is the object of the calculation, or it may calculate the travel cost without considering the predetermined travel distance or predetermined travel time of vehicles other than the vehicles traveling in the travel route candidate that is the object of the calculation.

[0074] Furthermore, the route candidate calculation unit 233 can also cover all vehicles, summing the predetermined travel distances or predetermined travel times of vehicles calculated based on the route candidate, and using the summed value as the movement cost for each route candidate. That is, the route candidate calculation unit 233 can also calculate the movement cost by considering the predetermined travel distance or predetermined travel time of vehicles traveling in the route candidate that are being calculated from their current location to the final destination (final drop-off point or delivery point) on the route candidate path, and also consider the predetermined travel distance or predetermined travel time of vehicles other than those traveling in the route candidate that are being calculated.

[0075] Furthermore, the route candidate calculation unit 233 may also calculate only the route candidates that satisfy the constraints determined based on the transport request. Alternatively, the route candidate calculation unit 233 may remove route candidates that do not satisfy the constraints determined based on the transport request. For example, the route candidate calculation unit 233 may only calculate route candidates for which the difference between the predetermined time of the vehicle arriving at the destination and the desired arrival time contained in the transport request is below a predetermined threshold. Additionally, the route candidate calculation unit 233 may only calculate route candidates for which the difference between the predetermined time of the vehicle arriving at the start point and the desired start time contained in the transport request is below a predetermined threshold.

[0076] In this way, by calculating only the travel route candidates that meet the constraints determined based on the delivery request, the number of travel route candidates stored in the database 220 can be reduced, thus reducing the usage of storage resources. Furthermore, the computational load on the route candidate calculation unit 233 when calculating travel time and movement costs can be reduced. Moreover, reliable extraction of travel routes that meet the constraints determined based on the delivery request is guaranteed, improving user convenience.

[0077] Here, the threshold for transporting goods can be greater than the threshold for transporting passengers. Therefore, by comparing the desired start and end times in a transport request for goods, it is possible to calculate a candidate route that prioritizes the desired start and end times in a transport request for passengers.

[0078] The determination unit 235 determines whether the object to be transported is a passenger or cargo based on the category data contained in the transport request.

[0079] For example, the determination unit 235 refers to the information identifying the terminal 100 in the category data to determine whether the terminal 100 that sent the transport request is for transporting passengers or goods. Furthermore, if the terminal 100 is the terminal sending the transport request for passengers, the determination unit 235 determines that the transport target is a passenger. If the terminal 100 is the terminal sending the transport request for goods, the determination unit 235 determines that the transport target is goods.

[0080] The determination unit 235 refers to the application identification information in the category data to determine whether the application that sent the transport request is for transporting passengers or goods. Furthermore, if the application is requesting transport of passengers, the determination unit 235 determines that the transport object is a passenger. If the application is requesting transport of goods, the determination unit 235 determines that the transport object is goods.

[0081] The determination unit 235 refers to the information from user operations related to the transport request to determine whether the transport target is passengers or goods. For example, if the number of passengers specified by the user operation is included in the transport request, the determination unit 235 determines that the transport target is passengers. Conversely, if the number or quantity of goods to be transported by vehicle, specified by the user operation, is included in the transport request, the determination unit 235 determines that the transport target is goods.

[0082] Furthermore, the decision-making process performed by the decision-making unit 235 is not sequential with the processing performed by the location determination unit 231 and the path candidate calculation unit 233. For example, Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the determination process performed by the determination unit 235 can also be performed before the processes performed by the location determination unit 231 and the path candidate calculation unit 233. For example... Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown, the determination process performed by the determination unit 235 can also be performed after the process performed by the location determination unit 231 and the path candidate calculation unit 233.

[0083] If the determination unit 235 determines that the transport target is a passenger, the passenger route extraction unit 237 (extraction unit) extracts a travel route from the travel route candidates based on the travel time until the passenger's transport is completed. Alternatively, the passenger route extraction unit 237 may prioritize the travel route candidate with the shorter travel time from the travel route candidates compared to those with longer travel times.

[0084] Additionally, the passenger route extraction unit 237 can also extract routes with a maximum occupancy number below a specified number when the vehicle is traveling in the route candidate list, based on a transport request, and extract routes from the extracted route candidates based on travel time. Here, the specified number of people is, for example, the maximum capacity (staff) determined for each vehicle. The passenger route extraction unit 237 can also refer to the transport request associated with the route candidate list and calculate the maximum occupancy number of vehicles traveling in the route candidate list based on the passenger number information contained in the request.

[0085] If the determination unit 235 determines that the transport object is cargo, the cargo route extraction unit 239 (extraction unit) extracts a travel route from the travel route candidates based on the vehicle's movement cost. Alternatively, the cargo route extraction unit 239 may also prioritize the travel route candidate with lower movement cost as the travel route extraction option compared to the travel route candidate with higher movement cost.

[0086] Additionally, the cargo route extraction unit 239 can also extract, based on a transport request, routes for which the vehicle's load capacity is below a specified amount when traveling in the route candidate, and extract a route from the extracted route candidates based on the travel cost. Here, the specified amount is, for example, the maximum load capacity determined for each vehicle. The cargo route extraction unit 239 can also refer to the transport request associated with the route candidate and calculate the maximum load capacity of the vehicle traveling in the route candidate based on the information about the number or load capacity of the loaded goods contained in the request.

[0087] Furthermore, the passenger route extraction unit 237 and the freight route extraction unit 239 described above can also extract travel routes from travel route candidates whose difference between the predetermined time of vehicle arrival at the destination and the desired end time contained in the transport request is below a predetermined threshold. This ensures reliable extraction of travel routes that meet the constraints determined based on the transport request, improving user convenience.

[0088] Furthermore, the passenger route extraction unit 237 and the freight route extraction unit 239 can also extract travel routes from travel route candidates whose difference between the predetermined time of vehicle arrival at the starting point and the desired start time contained in the transport request is below a predetermined threshold. This ensures reliable extraction of travel routes that meet the constraints determined based on the transport request, improving user convenience.

[0089] Furthermore, the threshold for transporting goods can be greater than the threshold for transporting passengers. Therefore, by comparing the desired start and end times in a transport request for goods, a travel path that prioritizes the desired start and end times in a transport request for passengers can be extracted.

[0090] The travel route extracted by the passenger route extraction unit 237 or the cargo route extraction unit 239 is output via the communication unit 210. For example, the extracted travel route can also be displayed to the user after being output to the terminal 100. The extracted travel route can also be output to the vehicle 300 and the vehicle 300 can be controlled according to the travel route.

[0091] [Processing steps of an information processing system]

[0092] Next, refer to Figure 2 and Figure 3 The processing steps of the information processing system in this embodiment will be explained. Figure 2 This is a flowchart illustrating the processing of an information processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3 This is a timing diagram illustrating an example of the operation of an information processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0093] Figure 2 The flowchart shown begins with the deployment of the information processing system that provides mixed cargo and passenger services and is repeated while the information processing system is in operation.

[0094] like Figure 3 As shown, in step S301, a transmission request is generated by terminal 100 and sent from terminal 100 to server 200. Furthermore, in step S101, communication unit 210 receives the transmission request from terminal 100.

[0095] In step S303, vehicle information is generated by vehicle 300 and sent from vehicle 300 to server 200. Furthermore, communication unit 210 receives the vehicle information from vehicle 300.

[0096] In step S103, the determination unit 235 determines the category of the transport object based on the category data contained in the transport request. That is, the determination unit 235 determines whether the transport object is a passenger or cargo.

[0097] If the destination is determined to be a passenger (if "YES" is received in step S103), steps S105, S107, S109, S111, and S113 are executed. On the other hand, if the destination is determined to be cargo (if "NO" is received in step S103), steps S115, S117, S119, S121, and S123 are executed.

[0098] If the transport object is determined to be a passenger (in the case of "yes" in step S103), in step S105, the location determination unit 231 determines the candidate pick-up / drop-off locations (candidate for the start location of the transport object and candidate for the end location of the transport object) based on the transport request.

[0099] In step S107, the route candidate calculation unit 233 calculates the route candidates for the vehicle scheduled to travel through the start location candidate and the end location candidate for the vehicle transporting the transport object.

[0100] In step S109, the route candidate calculation unit 233 removes travel route candidates that do not meet the constraints determined based on the transport request.

[0101] In step S111, the route candidate calculation unit 233 calculates the travel time for the travel route candidate.

[0102] In step S113, the passenger route extraction unit 237 extracts the travel route from the travel route candidates based on the travel time.

[0103] If the object to be transported is determined to be cargo (in the case of "No" in step S103), in step S115, the location determination unit 231 determines the candidates for loading location / unloading location (candidate for the start location of the transport of the object to be transported and candidate for the end location of the transport of the object to be transported) based on the transport request.

[0104] In step S117, the route candidate calculation unit 233 calculates the route candidates for the vehicle scheduled to travel through the start location candidate and the end location candidate for the vehicle transporting the transport object.

[0105] In step S119, the route candidate calculation unit 233 removes travel route candidates that do not meet the constraints determined based on the transport request.

[0106] In step S121, the route candidate calculation unit 233 calculates the movement cost of the travel route candidate.

[0107] In step S123, the passenger route extraction unit 237 extracts a travel route from the travel route candidates based on the travel cost.

[0108] In step S131, the extracted driving path is output via the communication unit 210.

[0109] Alternatively, the output driving route can also be sent from server 200 to terminal 100, and displayed to the user via display unit 160 of terminal 100 in step S305. Alternatively, the output driving route can also be sent from server 200 to vehicle 300, and vehicle 300 performs route-based control in step S307.

[0110] In addition, Figure 3 As not shown, the user can also determine whether to agree to the delivery based on the suggested travel route, and send the result of their agreement or disagreement from the terminal 100 to the vehicle 300. Moreover, if the delivery is agreed to, the agreed travel route can also be sent from the server 200 to the vehicle 300.

[0111] [Processing steps of an information processing system (variant example)]

[0112] Next, refer to Figure 4 and Figure 5 The processing steps of the information processing system in the modified example of this embodiment will be described. Figure 4 This is a flowchart illustrating the processing of an information processing system according to a modified embodiment of the present invention. Figure 5 This is a timing diagram illustrating an operation example of an information processing system according to a modified embodiment of the present invention.

[0113] Figure 4The flowchart shown begins with the deployment of the information processing system that provides mixed cargo and passenger services and is repeated while the information processing system is in operation.

[0114] like Figure 5 As shown, in step S301, a transmission request is generated by terminal 100 and sent from terminal 100 to server 200. Furthermore, in step S201, communication unit 210 receives the transmission request from terminal 100.

[0115] In step S303, vehicle information is generated by vehicle 300 and sent from vehicle 300 to server 200. Furthermore, communication unit 210 receives the vehicle information from vehicle 300.

[0116] In step S203, the location determination unit 231 determines, based on the transport request, a candidate start location for the transport of the object to be transported and a candidate end location for the transport of the object to be transported.

[0117] In step S205, the route candidate calculation unit 233 calculates the route candidates for the vehicle scheduled to travel through the start location candidate and the end location candidate for the vehicle transporting the transport object.

[0118] In step S207, the route candidate calculation unit 233 removes travel route candidates that do not meet the constraints determined based on the transport request.

[0119] In step S211, the determination unit 235 determines the category of the transport object based on the category data contained in the transport request. That is, the determination unit 235 determines whether the transport object is a passenger or cargo.

[0120] If the destination is determined to be a passenger (in the case of "yes" in step S211), in step S213, the route candidate calculation unit 233 calculates the travel time for the travel route candidate. Furthermore, in step S215, the passenger route extraction unit 237 extracts the travel route from the travel route candidate based on the travel time.

[0121] On the other hand, if the object of transport is determined to be goods (in the case of "No" in step S211), in step S217, the route candidate calculation unit 233 calculates the movement cost for the travel route candidate. Furthermore, in step S219, the passenger route extraction unit 237 extracts the travel route from the travel route candidate based on the movement cost.

[0122] In step S221, the extracted driving path is output via the communication unit 210.

[0123] Alternatively, the output driving route can also be sent from server 200 to terminal 100, and displayed to the user via display unit 160 of terminal 100 in step S305. Alternatively, the output driving route can also be sent from server 200 to vehicle 300, and vehicle 300 performs route-based control in step S307.

[0124] In addition, Figure 5 As not shown, the user can also determine whether to agree to the delivery based on the suggested travel route, and send the result of their agreement or disagreement from the terminal 100 to the vehicle 300. Moreover, if the delivery is agreed to, the agreed travel route can also be sent from the server 200 to the vehicle 300.

[0125] [Effects of the Implementation Method]

[0126] As explained in detail above, the information processing apparatus, information processing system, and information processing method of this embodiment determine whether the transported object is a passenger or cargo based on a transport request for the transport of the requested object. Furthermore, they calculate travel path candidates via a start location candidate for the start of transport and an end location candidate for the end of transport. If the transported object is determined to be a passenger, a travel path is extracted from the travel path candidates based on the travel time up to the passenger's end location. If the transported object is determined to be cargo, a travel path is extracted from the travel path candidates based on the vehicle's movement cost, and the extracted travel path is output.

[0127] Therefore, by calculating which path to prioritize for passenger or freight transport based on new transport requests (movement requests), the overall travel time or travel cost of mixed passenger and freight services can be reduced.

[0128] Reference Figure 6A , Figure 6B Explain the ways to reduce the overall travel time and travel costs of mixed freight and passenger services. Figure 6A This is a diagram representing the first example of a travel path extracted based on a delivery request. Figure 6B This is a diagram representing the second example of a travel path extracted based on a delivery request.

[0129] Figure 6A , Figure 6B All requests for the transport of passenger H1, the transport target, from location PA to location PB are made through a first transport request. Assume that, corresponding to the first transport request, the travel path of vehicle V1 is extracted, starting from standby location PX, passing through location PA and location PB, and returning to standby location PX.

[0130] Moreover, in Figure 6AIn this context, it is assumed that after a first transport request, a second transport request is made to transport passenger H2, the object of transport, from location PA to location PC. Figure 6B In this context, it is assumed that after the first transport request, a second transport request is made to request the transport of the goods CG, which are the objects of transport, from location PA to location PC.

[0131] In this case, as candidates for the driving route corresponding to the second delivery request, a first driving route candidate and a second driving route candidate are considered. Here, the first driving route candidate is the route taken by vehicle V1, starting from standby location PX, passing through location PA, location PB, and location PC in sequence, and returning to standby location PX. The second driving route candidate is the route taken by vehicle V2, starting from standby location PX, passing through location PA and location PC in sequence, and returning to standby location PX.

[0132] When following the first travel path candidate, vehicle V2 does not travel, and only vehicle V1 travels. When following the second travel path candidate, both vehicle V1 and vehicle V2 travel. Therefore, the total travel cost for both vehicle V1 and vehicle V2 is smaller for the first travel path candidate compared to the second travel path candidate.

[0133] On the other hand, when following the first route waiting list, passenger H2 departs from location PA, passes through location PB, and then heads towards location PC. When following the second route waiting list, passenger H2 departs from location PA and heads directly towards location PC. Therefore, the travel time for the first route waiting list is longer than the travel time for the second route waiting list.

[0134] According to the information processing apparatus, information processing system, and information processing method of this embodiment, when it is determined that the transport target is a passenger, a travel path is extracted from the travel path candidates based on the travel time up to the end position of the transport target passenger. Therefore, in situations such as Figure 6A If the transport object related to the second transport request is a passenger, the second travel route candidate is extracted as the travel route. Therefore, for transport requests where the passenger is the transport object, it is possible to output a vehicle and its travel route that shortens the passenger's travel time.

[0135] On the other hand, according to the information processing apparatus, information processing system, and information processing method of this embodiment, when it is determined that the object to be transported is goods, a travel route is extracted from the candidate travel routes based on the vehicle's movement cost. Therefore, in situations such as Figure 6BIn the case where the transport object related to the second transport request is goods, the first travel path candidate is extracted as the travel path. Therefore, for transport requests where the goods are the transport object, it is possible to output vehicles V1 and V2 with reduced movement costs, as well as the vehicles and their travel paths.

[0136] Therefore, by shortening travel time for passengers using mixed freight and passenger services, passengers can move in less time, improving passenger convenience. On the other hand, when transporting goods, short-distance movement is not required, which further reduces vehicle movement costs. As a result, service providers offering mixed freight and passenger services can reduce expenses such as vehicle fuel consumption and maintenance costs.

[0137] In addition, vehicles deployed in mixed freight and passenger services can operate efficiently, which can reduce traffic congestion or environmental impact.

[0138] Furthermore, when the information processing apparatus, information processing system, and information processing method of this embodiment determine that the transport target is a passenger, they can prioritize the candidate with a shorter travel time from the candidate candidate for the travel route, compared with the candidate candidate for the travel route with a longer travel time. As a result, since the travel time of passengers using the mixed passenger and freight service can be shortened, passengers can move in a shorter time, thus improving passenger convenience.

[0139] Furthermore, when the information processing apparatus, information processing system, and information processing method of this embodiment determine that the transported object is cargo, they can prioritize the candidate for a route with lower movement costs from the route candidate pool, compared to candidates with higher movement costs. This further reduces vehicle movement costs when transporting goods via mixed freight and passenger services. Consequently, for service providers offering mixed freight and passenger services, expenses such as vehicle fuel consumption and maintenance costs can be reduced. In other words, service provider convenience can be improved.

[0140] In addition, the information processing apparatus, information processing system and information processing method of this embodiment may also take the passenger-related transportation request among the transportation requests associated with the driving route candidate as the passenger transportation request, take the latest passenger transportation request among the passenger transportation requests as the new passenger transportation request, and calculate the travel time for each driving route candidate based on the time from the time of obtaining the new passenger transportation request to the predetermined time of ending the transportation associated with the new passenger transportation request.

[0141] Therefore, travel time can be calculated without considering the time associated with passenger transport requests other than new passenger transport requests, thus reducing the computational load. In particular, it is possible to extract the travel route that approximates the shortest travel time for passengers, reducing the computational load without compromising passenger convenience.

[0142] Furthermore, the information processing apparatus, information processing system, and information processing method of this embodiment may also take the passenger-related transportation request among the transportation requests associated with the driving route candidate as the passenger transportation request, and sum the time calculated based on the driving route candidate from the time the passenger transportation request is determined or the time the passenger transportation request is obtained until the predetermined time when the transportation associated with the passenger transportation request ends, and use the summed value as the travel time for each driving route candidate.

[0143] Therefore, because it can shorten the travel time for passengers using mixed freight and passenger services, passengers can move in a shorter time, thus improving passenger convenience. In particular, it can extract the travel route that minimizes the travel time for passengers.

[0144] In addition, the information processing apparatus, information processing system, and information processing method of this embodiment may also calculate the predetermined travel distance or predetermined travel time of the vehicle when traveling in the travel path candidate based on the calculation of the travel path candidate as the movement cost for each travel path candidate.

[0145] Therefore, the computational load can be reduced by calculating the travel cost without considering the predetermined travel distance or time of vehicles other than those traveling in the candidate travel routes. In particular, the computational load can be reduced without compromising the convenience of service providers by extracting the travel route that approximates the shortest possible travel cost.

[0146] Furthermore, the information processing device, information processing system, and information processing method of this embodiment can also be applied to the entire vehicle to sum up the predetermined travel distance or predetermined travel time of the vehicles based on the travel path candidate calculation, and use the summed value as the movement cost for each travel path candidate.

[0147] Therefore, when transporting goods via mixed freight and passenger services, vehicle movement costs can be further reduced. As a result, service providers offering mixed freight and passenger services can reduce expenses such as vehicle fuel consumption and maintenance costs. In particular, it is possible to select travel routes that minimize vehicle movement costs.

[0148] Furthermore, the information processing apparatus, information processing system, and information processing method of this embodiment can also extract one or more vehicles located within a specified range from the starting location, calculate potential driving paths for the extracted vehicles, and extract a driving path from any of the extracted driving path candidates. This reduces the number of driving path candidates that can be explored, thereby lessening the computational load required for extracting driving paths.

[0149] Furthermore, when the transport request includes a desired end time for the transport of the object to be transported, the information processing apparatus, information processing system, and information processing method of this embodiment can also extract a travel path from a travel path candidate whose difference between the predetermined time of the vehicle's arrival at the end point candidate and the desired end time is below a predetermined threshold.

[0150] This reduces the computational load when calculating travel time and movement costs. Furthermore, it ensures reliable extraction of travel routes that meet the constraints determined based on the delivery request, improving user convenience.

[0151] Furthermore, when the transport request includes a desired start time for the transport of the object to be transported, the information processing apparatus, information processing system, and information processing method of this embodiment can also extract a travel path from a travel path candidate whose difference between the predetermined time of the vehicle's arrival at the starting location and the desired start time is below a predetermined threshold.

[0152] This reduces the computational load when calculating travel time and movement costs. Furthermore, it ensures reliable extraction of travel routes that meet the constraints determined based on the delivery request, improving user convenience.

[0153] Furthermore, in the information processing apparatus, information processing system, and information processing method of this embodiment, the predetermined threshold when the transport object is cargo can be greater than the predetermined threshold when the transport object is passenger. Therefore, by comparing the desired start time and desired end time in a transport request where the transport object is cargo, it is possible to calculate a candidate travel route that prioritizes the desired start time and desired end time in a transport request where the transport object is passenger.

[0154] Furthermore, in the information processing apparatus, information processing system, and information processing method of this embodiment, the category data may also include at least one of the following: information identifying the information terminal that sent the transport request, information identifying the application that generated the transport request, and information identifying user operations related to the transport request. This allows for a more accurate determination of whether the transported object related to the transport request is a passenger or cargo.

[0155] Furthermore, the information processing apparatus, information processing system, and information processing method of this embodiment can also update the driving path stored in the storage unit, which associates the vehicle with the extracted driving path, each time a driving path is extracted. Therefore, the driving paths of vehicles under the management of mixed freight and passenger services can be dynamically updated based on received transport requests, enabling faster allocation of vehicles for transport based on transport requests.

[0156] Furthermore, the information processing apparatus, information processing system, and information processing method of this embodiment can, after determining that the transport target is a passenger, determine a start location candidate and an end location candidate based on the transport request, and calculate a travel route candidate that passes through the start location candidate and then the end location candidate. Moreover, based on the transport request, the maximum number of occupants of the vehicle when traveling in the travel route candidate can be extracted as a travel route candidate with a specified number of occupants, and a travel route can be extracted from the extracted travel route candidates based on the travel time.

[0157] Therefore, even if carpooling occurs, the situation of passengers exceeding the vehicle's capacity is prevented. As a result, passenger convenience is improved. In addition, passenger transport can be reliably carried out using dispatched vehicles.

[0158] Furthermore, the information processing apparatus, information processing system, and information processing method of this embodiment can, after determining that the object to be transported is goods, determine a start location candidate and an end location candidate based on a transport request, and calculate a travel route candidate that passes through the start location candidate and then the end location candidate. Moreover, based on the transport request, they can extract travel route candidates whose maximum load capacity is below a predetermined amount when the vehicle is traveling in the travel route candidates, and extract a travel route from the extracted travel route candidates based on the travel cost.

[0159] Therefore, even if multiple requests for cargo loading occur, situations where cargo exceeding the vehicle's maximum load capacity is loaded onto the vehicle are prevented. As a result, the convenience for users requesting cargo loading onto the vehicle is improved. Furthermore, cargo transportation can be reliably carried out using dispatched vehicles.

[0160] Furthermore, the information processing apparatus, information processing system, and information processing method of this embodiment can also determine whether the transport target is a passenger or cargo after calculating the driving route candidates. Moreover, if the transport target is determined to be a passenger, the system can extract driving route candidates with a maximum passenger capacity below a specified number when the vehicle is traveling in the driving route candidates, based on the transport request, and extract a driving route from the extracted driving route candidates based on travel time. Similarly, if the transport target is determined to be cargo, the system can extract driving route candidates with a maximum load capacity below a specified amount when the vehicle is traveling in the driving route candidates, based on the transport request, and extract a driving route from the extracted driving route candidates based on travel cost.

[0161] Therefore, even if carpooling occurs, the situation where more passengers than the vehicle's capacity is exceeded is prevented. As a result, the convenience for passengers using the vehicle is improved. Furthermore, even if multiple requests for cargo are made, the situation where cargo exceeding the vehicle's maximum load capacity is prevented from being loaded onto the vehicle is prevented. As a result, the convenience for users requesting cargo to be loaded onto the vehicle is improved. Thus, the transportation of passengers or cargo can be reliably carried out using dispatched vehicles.

[0162] The functions described in the above embodiments can be implemented by one or more processing circuits. The processing circuit includes a programmed processor or circuit, as well as a device such as an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or circuit components configured to perform the described functions.

[0163] The present invention has been described above according to the embodiments, but the present invention is not limited to these descriptions. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and improvements can be made. The descriptions and drawings that form part of this disclosure should not be construed as limiting the present invention. Based on this disclosure, those skilled in the art will recognize various alternative embodiments, examples, and techniques.

[0164] This invention naturally includes various embodiments not described herein. Therefore, based on the above description, the technical scope of this invention is determined only by the inventive specific matters of the appropriate claims.

[0165] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures

[0166] 100 Terminals (Information Terminals)

[0167] 110 Ministry of Communications

[0168] 130 Controller

[0169] 150 sensors

[0170] 160 Display Section

[0171] 170 Operations Department

[0172] 200 servers

[0173] 210 Communications Department (Acquisition Department, Output Department)

[0174] 220 Database (Storage Department)

[0175] 230 Controller

[0176] 231 Location Determination Department

[0177] 233 Path Candidate Calculation Department

[0178] 235 Judgment Department

[0179] 237 Passenger Route Extraction Department

[0180] 239 Cargo route extraction department

[0181] 300 vehicles

[0182] 310 Ministry of Communications

[0183] 320 Vehicle Control Device

[0184] 400 network

Claims

1. An information processing device comprising: The acquisition unit acquires a delivery request that requests delivery of the vehicle's transport object, which includes data indicating whether the vehicle's transport object is a passenger or cargo. The determination unit determines, based on the category data, whether the transported object is a passenger or cargo; The location determination unit determines, based on the transport request, a candidate start location for starting the transport of the transported object and a candidate end location for ending the transport of the transported object; The calculation unit calculates the planned travel path of the vehicle transporting the object, which passes through the candidate starting point and then the candidate ending point. When the extraction unit determines that the transport target is a passenger, it extracts a travel route from the travel route candidates based on the travel time up to the end of the transport of the passenger. If the object to be transported is determined to be cargo, the extraction unit extracts a travel route from the candidate travel routes based on the vehicle's movement cost. as well as The output unit outputs the extracted travel path. Its features are, The computing unit If the vehicle's route candidates have already been calculated based on past delivery requests, the calculated route candidates are revised, and further route candidates are calculated based on start and end point candidates determined based on newly accepted delivery requests. The passenger transport request among the transport requests associated with the candidate travel route will be considered as the passenger transport request. The travel time for each of the driving route candidates is calculated based on the time from the moment the passenger transport request is received to the predetermined time when the transport associated with the passenger transport request ends.

2. The information processing device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The extraction section If the transport object is determined to be a passenger, the travel route candidate with the shorter travel time is selected as the preferred travel route candidate from the travel route candidate list, compared with the travel route candidate with the longer travel time.

3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The extraction section If the object to be transported is determined to be cargo, the candidate with the lower movement cost is selected as the driving route from the candidate driving route candidates compared with the candidate driving route candidates with the higher movement cost.

4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The computing unit The latest passenger transport request in the passenger transport requests will be used as the new passenger transport request. The travel time for each of the driving route candidates is calculated based on the time from the moment the new passenger transport request is received to the predetermined time when the transport associated with the new passenger transport request ends.

5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The computing unit Across all the extracted passenger transport requests, the time calculated based on the route candidates, from the time the passenger transport request is determined or the time the passenger transport request is obtained until the predetermined time when the transport related to the passenger transport request ends, is summed, and the summed value is used as the travel time for each route candidate.

6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The computing unit The predetermined travel distance or predetermined travel time of the vehicle while traveling in the aforementioned travel route candidate is calculated based on the travel route candidate as the movement cost for each of the aforementioned travel route candidates.

7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The computing unit The predetermined travel distance or predetermined travel time of all the vehicles is summed based on the travel path candidates, and the summed value is used as the movement cost for each of the travel path candidates.

8. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The computing unit Extract one or more of the vehicles located within a specified candidate range from the starting point of the transport of the object to be transported. Calculate the extracted candidate travel paths for the vehicle. The extraction section The driving path is extracted from any of the driving path candidates of the extracted vehicle.

9. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The transport request includes a desired end time at which the transport of the object is to be completed. The extraction section The driving path is extracted from the driving path candidates whose difference between the predetermined time when the vehicle arrives at the end point of the delivery of the object and the desired end time is below a specified threshold.

10. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The transport request includes a desired start time for the transport of the object to begin. The extraction section The travel path is extracted from the travel path candidates whose difference between the predetermined time of arrival of the vehicle at the starting point of the transport of the object and the desired start time is below a specified threshold.

11. The information processing apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in that, The specified threshold when the transported object is cargo is greater than the specified threshold when the transported object is a passenger.

12. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The category data includes at least one of the following: information identifying the information terminal that sent the delivery request, information identifying the application that generated the delivery request, and information identifying user actions related to the delivery request.

13. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, It also includes a storage unit that associates and stores the vehicle with the extracted travel path. The extraction section Each time the driving path is retrieved, the driving path stored in the storage unit is updated.

14. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, After the determination unit determines that the transport object is a passenger. The computing unit calculates the alternative driving routes. The extraction section Based on the transport request, the maximum number of occupants in the vehicle when it is traveling in the candidate routes is selected as the candidate routes with a specified number of occupants. Based on the travel time, the travel path is extracted from the extracted travel path candidates.

15. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, After the determination unit determines that the object to be transported is cargo, The computing unit calculates the alternative driving routes. The extraction section Based on the transport request, the maximum load capacity of the vehicle when it is traveling in the candidate routes is selected as the candidate routes for which the maximum load capacity is below a specified amount. Based on the mobility cost, the driving path is extracted from the extracted driving path candidates.

16. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, After the calculation unit calculates the candidate driving routes, The determination unit determines whether the transported object is a passenger or cargo. If the determination unit determines that the transport object is a passenger. The extraction section Based on the transport request, the maximum number of occupants in the vehicle when it is traveling in the candidate routes is selected as the candidate routes with a specified number of occupants. Based on the travel time, the driving route is extracted from the extracted driving route candidates. If the determination unit determines that the object to be transported is cargo. The extraction section Based on the transport request, the maximum load capacity of the vehicle when it is traveling in the candidate routes is selected as the candidate routes for which the maximum load capacity is below a specified amount. Based on the mobility cost, the driving path is extracted from the extracted driving path candidates.

17. An information processing system comprising a user-operated information terminal, a server, and a vehicle. The information terminal Send a delivery request containing data indicating whether the vehicle is transporting passengers or goods, requesting the transport of the transported object. The server has the following features: The acquisition unit acquires the transmission request from the information terminal; The determination unit determines, based on the category data, whether the transported object is a passenger or cargo; The location determination unit determines, based on the transport request, a candidate start location for starting the transport of the transported object and a candidate end location for ending the transport of the transported object; The calculation unit calculates the planned travel path of the vehicle transporting the object, which passes through the candidate starting point and then the candidate ending point. When the transport object is determined to be a passenger, the extraction unit extracts a travel route from the travel route candidates based on the travel time until the transport of the passenger is completed. When the transport object is determined to be cargo, the extraction unit extracts a travel route from the travel route candidates based on the vehicle's movement cost. as well as The output unit outputs the extracted travel path. The information processing system is characterized in that... The computing unit If the vehicle's route candidates have already been calculated based on past delivery requests, the calculated route candidates are revised, and further route candidates are calculated based on start and end point candidates determined based on newly accepted delivery requests. The passenger transport request among the transport requests associated with the candidate travel route will be considered as the passenger transport request. The travel time for each of the driving route candidates is calculated based on the time from the moment the passenger transport request is received to the predetermined time when the transport associated with the passenger transport request ends.

18. An information processing method, Obtain a delivery request that includes data indicating whether the vehicle's delivery object is a passenger or cargo, and requests delivery of the delivery object. Based on the category data, determine whether the transported object is a passenger or cargo. Based on the transport request, a candidate start location for starting the transport of the object and a candidate end location for ending the transport of the object are determined. Calculate the planned travel path of the vehicle transporting the object, passing through the candidate starting point and then the candidate ending point. If the transport target is determined to be a passenger, a travel route is extracted from the travel route candidates based on the travel time up to the end of the transport of the passenger. If the transported object is determined to be cargo, a travel route is extracted from the candidate travel routes based on the vehicle's movement cost. Output the extracted driving path. The information processing method is characterized in that... If the vehicle's route candidates have already been calculated based on past delivery requests, the calculated route candidates are revised, and further route candidates are calculated based on start and end point candidates determined based on newly accepted delivery requests. The passenger transport request among the transport requests associated with the candidate travel route will be considered as the passenger transport request. The travel time for each of the driving route candidates is calculated based on the time from the moment the passenger transport request is received to the predetermined time when the transport associated with the passenger transport request ends.

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