Method, apparatus, and recording medium for managing operation of a traffic service vehicle

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a method, an apparatus, and a recording medium for managing operation of a transportation service vehicle. According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, first, an application for a reservation is obtained from a user, the reservation relating to at least one of a location and a time at which a reservation desired vehicle is to be parked. Next, overlap of an operation plan of other transportation service vehicles operating in an area in which the reservation desired vehicle is to operate, with respect to the parking location and the parking time, and the reservation is detected. Then, a priority order between the other transportation service vehicles and the reservation desired vehicle is decided based on at least service categories of the respective vehicles having an operation plan that overlaps the reservation. Finally, the user is notified of whether or not the reservation is approved according to the priority order.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable recording media for managing the operation of autonomous transportation service vehicles. Background Technology

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a technology related to traffic management for multiple autonomous vehicles. When multiple vehicles share the same destination, they may arrive at that destination within the same time period. In the prior art disclosed in Patent Document 1, parking priority at desired parking locations is determined among vehicles arriving at the destination within the same time period based on information about the passengers in each vehicle. For example, if the destination is a train station, the desired parking location is set in a fixed area of ​​the roundabout in front of the station. The passenger information includes information related to the passenger's age, whether they are pregnant, whether they are traveling with infants, whether they have a disability, the degree of their disability, and whether they have an injury or illness, and the severity of their injury or illness.

[0003] It should be noted that, in addition to Patent Document 1, Patent Documents 2 to 5 may also be cited as examples of documents representing the level of technology in the technical field related to this disclosure.

[0004] Existing technical documents

[0005] Patent documents

[0006] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2020-095460

[0007] Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2020-187520

[0008] Patent Document 3: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2006-350842

[0009] Patent Document 4: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2020-166755

[0010] Patent Document 5: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 09-016898

[0011] In the aforementioned existing technologies, parking locations are determined based on parking priority. However, this is manageable in situations with fixed areas, such as roundabouts in front of stations, but in on-street parking scenarios, some vehicles may be unable to park due to limited space. Furthermore, even at roundabouts in front of stations, if the designated parking areas are full, subsequent vehicles will be unable to park and will be stuck. Moreover, if the goal is to provide smooth transportation services, the differences in the service categories offered by various transportation vehicles should be considered. Summary of the Invention

[0012] This disclosure was made in view of the aforementioned problems. The object of this disclosure is to provide a technique that can suppress confusion at parking locations and enable the smooth provision of transportation services when parking locations and parking times overlap among multiple autonomous transportation service vehicles.

[0013] This disclosure provides a method for managing the operation of autonomous transportation service vehicles.

[0014] The method disclosed herein includes the following steps. The first step is to obtain from a user an application for a reservation related to at least one of the location and time for parking a first transportation service vehicle. The second step is to detect any overlap between the operating schedules of other transportation service vehicles operating in the area where the first transportation service vehicle operates and the reservation for the first transportation service vehicle, relating to parking location and parking time. The third step is to determine the priority between the first transportation service vehicle and a second transportation service vehicle among the other transportation service vehicles whose operating schedules overlap with the reservation for the first transportation service vehicle. In the method of this disclosure, the priority is determined at least based on the respective service categories of the first and second transportation service vehicles. Then, the fourth step is to notify the user whether the reservation for the first transportation service vehicle, determined according to the priority, is approved.

[0015] When multiple transportation service vehicles converge at a single parking location during the same time period, chaos can occur at the parking location. However, according to the method disclosed herein, during the user's reservation stage, it is determined whether there will be overlap in parking location and parking time with other transportation service vehicles. This prevents chaos at the parking location in advance. Furthermore, the user's reservation is approved based on the priority of the reserved transportation service vehicle. Then, priority is determined based on the service category of each transportation service vehicle. The transportation services provided by transportation service vehicles include a wide variety of service categories, and their impact on the overall transportation service in the area varies. Therefore, by reflecting the differences in service categories in the priority ranking, chaos at the parking location can be suppressed, and the smooth provision of transportation services can be achieved.

[0016] In the method disclosed herein, determining priority can also include: if the service categories of the first and second transportation service vehicles are identical, determining priority based on the number of passengers each vehicle carries. If the service categories are the same, the transportation service vehicle carrying more passengers has a greater impact on the overall transportation service in the region. Therefore, by reflecting passenger numbers in the priority ranking, a smoother provision of transportation services can be achieved.

[0017] Alternatively, the method disclosed herein may also include: modifying the operation plan of the second transportation service vehicle according to priority. By modifying the operation plan of the second transportation service vehicle, the first transportation service vehicle with higher priority can be operated according to the reservation.

[0018] Alternatively, the method disclosed herein may also include: suggesting a change to the parking location or time of the first transportation service vehicle when a reservation cannot be approved. Furthermore, the method disclosed herein may also include: suggesting transportation service vehicles that can be approved when a reservation cannot be approved. By making these suggestions, inconvenience to users can be reduced.

[0019] Alternatively, in the method of this disclosure, if an overlap is detected between the operation plan of the second transportation service vehicle and the reservation for the first transportation service vehicle, the vehicle that arrives at the parking location first between the first and second transportation service vehicles is moved from its original parking position and parked. By moving and parking the vehicle that arrives first, parking spaces for vehicles that arrive later can be secured, and the aforementioned overlap can be eliminated.

[0020] In the method of this disclosure, stopping the first arriving vehicle may also involve determining the offset direction of the parking position of the first arriving vehicle by positioning the vehicle with the earlier departure time in front of the first arriving vehicle and the vehicle with the shorter stopping time in front of the second arriving vehicle. By parking the first arriving vehicle in this way, the smooth departure of the vehicle from the parking location is achieved.

[0021] This disclosure provides an apparatus for managing the operation of autonomous transportation service vehicles.

[0022] The apparatus disclosed herein includes: at least one processor; and a program memory storing a plurality of executable instructions. These instructions are configured to cause the at least one processor to perform the following processes: A first process is the process of obtaining a reservation application from a user related to at least one of the location and time for parking a first transportation service vehicle. A second process is the process of detecting overlap between the reservation for the first transportation service vehicle and the operating schedules of other transportation service vehicles operating in the area where the first transportation service vehicle operates, related to parking location and parking time. A third process is the process of determining a priority order between the first transportation service vehicle and a second transportation service vehicle among the other transportation service vehicles whose operating schedules overlap with the reservation for the first transportation service vehicle. The priority order is determined at least based on the respective service categories of the first and second transportation service vehicles. Then, a fourth process is the process of notifying the user whether the reservation for the first transportation service vehicle has been approved based on the priority order.

[0023] In the apparatus of this disclosure, the aforementioned multiple instructions may also cause at least one processor, upon detecting an overlap between the operating schedule of the second traffic service vehicle and the reservation for the first traffic service vehicle, to cause the vehicle that arrives first of the first and second traffic service vehicles to deviate from its original parking position and stop. By causing the first-arriving vehicle to deviate and stop, parking space for the later-arriving vehicle is secured, thereby eliminating the aforementioned overlap.

[0024] This disclosure provides a program for managing the operation of autonomous transportation service vehicles.

[0025] The procedure disclosed herein is configured to cause a computer to perform the following processes. A first process is the processing of obtaining from a user an application for a reservation related to at least one of the location and time for parking a first transportation service vehicle. A second process is the processing of detecting overlap between the operation plans of other transportation service vehicles operating in the area where the first transportation service vehicle operates and the reservation for the first transportation service vehicle, related to the parking location and parking time. A third process is the processing of determining the priority between the first transportation service vehicle and a second transportation service vehicle among the other transportation service vehicles whose operation plans overlap with the reservation for the first transportation service vehicle. The priority is determined at least based on the respective service categories of the first and second transportation service vehicles. Then, a fourth process is the processing of notifying the user whether the reservation for the first transportation service vehicle has been approved based on the priority determination.

[0026] Alternatively, the procedure of this disclosure is configured to cause the computer to further perform the following: upon detecting an overlap between the operating schedule of the second traffic service vehicle and the reservation for the first traffic service vehicle, to cause the vehicle that arrives first of the first and second traffic service vehicles to deviate from its original parking position and stop. By causing the first-arriving vehicle to deviate and stop, parking space for the later-arriving vehicle is secured, thereby eliminating the aforementioned overlap.

[0027] Invention Effects

[0028] As described above, the method, apparatus and procedure of this disclosure can suppress confusion at parking locations and ensure the smooth provision of transportation services when parking locations and parking times overlap among multiple autonomous transportation service vehicles. Attached Figure Description

[0029] Figure 1 This diagram illustrates the method for determining the approval / rejection of a reservation according to an embodiment of this disclosure.

[0030] Figure 2 This diagram illustrates the method for determining the approval / rejection of a reservation according to an embodiment of this disclosure.

[0031] Figure 3 This diagram illustrates the method for determining the approval / rejection of a reservation according to an embodiment of this disclosure.

[0032] Figure 4 This is a block diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a reservation approval / rejection determination device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0033] Figure 5 It means as Figure 4 A flowchart illustrating an example of the processing performed by such an appointment approval / rejection determination device.

[0034] Figure 6 is a diagram illustrating the method for determining the parking location according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0035] Figure 7 This is a block diagram illustrating a first example of the configuration of a parking position determination device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0036] Figure 8 This is a block diagram illustrating a second example of the configuration of a parking position determination device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0037] Figure 9 This is a block diagram illustrating a third example of the configuration of the parking position determination device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0038] Figure 10 It means as Figure 7A flowchart illustrating an example of the processing performed by the parking position determination device.

[0039] Figure 11 illustrates the method for determining the parking sequence according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0040] Figure 12 This is a block diagram illustrating a first example of the configuration of a parking sequence determination device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0041] Figure 13 This is a block diagram illustrating a second example of the configuration of a parking sequence determination device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0042] Figure 14 It means as Figure 12 A flowchart illustrating an example of the processing performed by the device that determines the parking sequence.

[0043] Figure 15 This is a block diagram illustrating an example of the hardware configuration of the operation management device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0044] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures

[0045] 2: User

[0046] 4: Portable terminal

[0047] 6: Bus stop

[0048] 8: Parking Location

[0049] 10: Taxi (transportation service vehicle)

[0050] 20: Regularly scheduled bus routes (transportation service vehicles)

[0051] 30: Parking Location

[0052] 40: Vehicles (transportation service vehicles)

[0053] 100: Operation Management Device

[0054] 102: Processor

[0055] 104: Program Memory

[0056] 106: Instructions

[0057] 108: Data storage device

[0058] 150: Runtime Plan Database

[0059] 200: Communication network. Detailed Implementation

[0060] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, when the number, quantity, quantity, range, etc., of each element are mentioned in the embodiments shown below, the concept of the present disclosure is not limited to the mentioned numbers, except where specifically stated or clearly determined in principle. Furthermore, regarding the structures described in the embodiments shown below, they are not necessarily essential to the concept of the present disclosure, except where specifically stated or clearly determined in principle.

[0061] 1. Methods for determining appointment approval / rejection

[0062] 1-1. Overview of the Judgment Method

[0063] In this embodiment, transportation services are provided within a designated area using transportation service vehicles. This area may include, for example, a smart city. Multiple transportation service vehicles are used to provide the transportation services, and at least a portion of these vehicles are autonomous vehicles capable of autonomous driving. The vehicles to which the reservation approval / rejection determination method of this embodiment applies are autonomous transportation service vehicles (also known as MaaS (Mobility as a Service) vehicles). Hereinafter, "vehicle" refers to autonomous transportation service vehicles.

[0064] In this embodiment, multiple types of transportation services are provided within the same area. Specifically, scheduled bus services, on-demand bus services, and taxi services are provided within the same area. Each service uses autonomous vehicles as the means of service delivery.

[0065] Scheduled bus services are transportation services that allow buses capable of carrying multiple passengers to travel along pre-determined routes and stop at designated bus stops according to a pre-determined timetable. Passengers wait at the bus stop when boarding the scheduled bus and press the alighting button inside the bus to stop at their designated alighting point. Essentially, scheduled buses only stop at bus stops if there are passengers waiting at the bus stop or passengers alighting at the bus stop. It should be noted that if the scheduled bus is a long-distance bus with reserved seating, a reservation must be made specifying both the boarding and alighting points when boarding.

[0066] Regular, scheduled bus services also include those similar to trams, where the vehicle stops and doors open and close regardless of whether passengers are boarding or alighting at pre-determined bus stops. This type of regular, scheduled bus service is specifically called a tram-type bus service. Tram-type bus services essentially involve a service provider pre-booking the vehicle's stopping times and locations.

[0067] On-demand bus service is a transportation service that arranges shared buses (on-demand buses) upon request from users. Similarly, taxi service is a transportation service that arranges taxis for personal use upon request from users. Unlike scheduled bus services, on-demand bus services do not have predetermined routes or timetables. Users can specify any pick-up location or pick-up location and time to book an on-demand bus or taxi. Furthermore, in addition to pick-up location and time, users can also specify any drop-off location or drop-off location and time to book an on-demand bus or taxi. However, drop-off location and time can also be booked after boarding.

[0068] In scheduled bus services, pre-determined locations are used as parking areas for scheduled buses. In contrast, in on-demand bus and taxi services, any location requested by the user can be designated as a parking area for on-demand buses or taxis. However, parking spaces are limited, so on-demand bus and taxi parking areas sometimes overlap with scheduled bus parking areas. A typical example is the drop-off area at a bus stop roundabout. In a narrow roundabout, the limited space for drop-off is used by both buses and taxis. Furthermore, it's possible for scheduled bus stops to be designated as pick-up or drop-off points for on-demand buses or taxis. Moreover, facilities with high traffic, such as hotels, restaurants, and hospitals, are often designated as pick-up and drop-off points for on-demand buses and taxis.

[0069] As mentioned above, when multiple types of transportation services are offered in the same area, vehicles of different service categories may use the same parking location simultaneously. However, autonomous vehicles may not be able to choose their movements as flexibly as humans, and therefore cannot always park in suitable locations, potentially causing congestion near parking areas or inconveniencing users. For example, consider a combination of scheduled buses and taxis. Even without passengers, scheduled buses need to depart at predetermined times, but taxis do not depart unless passengers arrive. Since taxi turnaround times can vary, if scheduled buses and taxis use the same parking location, it will hinder each other's operations.

[0070] Therefore, according to the method of this embodiment, when a user submits a reservation request related to boarding or a reservation request related to alighting, it is confirmed whether the reservation overlaps with the operation schedule of other vehicles. If an overlap is detected, the priority order between the vehicle for which the user has requested a reservation (the first transportation service vehicle, hereinafter referred to as the reservation-request vehicle) and a vehicle with an operation schedule that overlaps with the reservation (the second transportation service vehicle, hereinafter referred to as the overlapping vehicle) is determined. Then, the approval of the reservation is determined based on the priority order, and the user is notified of the determination result.

[0071] According to the method of this embodiment, priority is determined based on the service category of the desired vehicle and the overlapping vehicle. For example, if the transportation services provided in a region are scheduled bus service, on-demand bus service, and taxi service, the priority is, in order, scheduled bus service, on-demand bus service, and taxi service. That is, the more users there are, the greater the impact on the overall transportation service in the region, and the higher the priority is set. It should be noted that the scheduled bus service mentioned here also includes electric bus service.

[0072] According to the method of this embodiment, parking space usage is permitted for vehicles of service categories that have a significant impact on traffic services throughout the region, including both reserved vehicles and overlapping vehicles. If the vehicle whose parking space usage is permitted is an overlapping vehicle, the user's reservation request is rejected. Conversely, if the vehicle whose parking space usage is permitted is a reserved vehicle, the user's reservation request is approved. In this case, a change to the operating schedule is indicated for the overlapping vehicle, that is, a change to the parking location or a change to the parking time.

[0073] 1-2. Details of the determination method

[0074] 1-2-1. Specific example 1

[0075] The following examples illustrate the methods for determining the approval / rejection of appointments. Figure 1 This is a diagram illustrating a specific example of the method for determining the approval / rejection of an appointment.

[0076] In Example 1, User 2 wishes to book a taxi, specifically a taxi 10. User 2, wanting to use taxi 10, submits a booking request using a portable terminal 4, such as a smartphone. User 2 launches the application installed on the portable terminal 4 and enters the desired pick-up location and pick-up time on the booking request screen displayed on the portable terminal 4. The pick-up time can be specified arbitrarily. If no pick-up time is specified in the booking request, the earliest vehicle to arrive at the pick-up location will be dispatched. The desired drop-off location and drop-off time can be specified simultaneously with the booking of the pick-up location and pick-up time, or they can be specified after boarding. In Example 1, it is assumed that the pick-up location, pick-up time, drop-off location, and drop-off time are all specified in the booking request.

[0077] The reservation request entered by user 2 into portable terminal 4 is sent to operation management device 100 via a communication network including a mobile communication system. Operation management device 100 has an operation plan database 150. The operation plan database 150 stores operation plans for vehicles operated by providers within the area. The operation plan includes at least the parking location and parking time for the vehicle. Details regarding the functionality and physical configuration of operation management device 100 will be described later.

[0078] The operation management device 100 accepts a reservation request for a taxi 10 from user 2 and searches the operation plan database 150 using the information contained in the reservation. This search confirms whether there are any vehicles with operation plans that overlap with the pick-up location and pick-up time specified by user 2. Furthermore, if a drop-off location and drop-off time are also specified in advance, it confirms whether there are any vehicles with operation plans that overlap with the drop-off location and drop-off time specified by user 2.

[0079] exist Figure 1 The diagram illustrates an example of overlap determination at drop-off locations performed by the operation management device 100. In the map data held by the operation management device 100, a fixed area near bus stop 6 is designated as parking location 8. Parking locations vary depending on their area and shape, and sometimes multiple vehicles can park there. However, it is assumed that only one vehicle can park at parking location 8 as shown in Example 1.

[0080] According to the search results of the operation plan database 150, in addition to taxi 10, scheduled bus 20 also intends to park at parking location 8. The operation management device 100 determines whether the parking time of taxi 10 at parking location 8 overlaps with the parking time of scheduled bus 20 at parking location 8. In specific example 1, taxi 10 parks at parking location 8, but scheduled bus 20 does not arrive at parking location 8. In this case, the operation management device 100 determines that there is no overlap between the drop-off location and drop-off time of the reserved taxi 10 and the operation plans of other vehicles.

[0081] If there is no overlap between the pick-up and drop-off locations and the operating schedules of other vehicles, taxi 10 can be scheduled according to the reservation. The operation management device 100 approves the reservation and instructs taxi 10 to arrive at the reserved pick-up location at the reserved time. In addition, at the same time, the operation management device 100 notifies user 2 that the reservation has been approved and updates the operating schedule of taxi 10 registered in the operation plan database 150.

[0082] 1-2-2. Specific example 2

[0083] Next, refer to Figure 2 Example 2 illustrates the specific method for determining the approval / rejection of appointments.

[0084] In Example 2, similar to Example 1, user 2 requests a reservation for taxi 10. The operation management device 100 accepts the taxi 100 reservation request from user 2 and retrieves the operation plan database 150 based on the information contained in the reservation. It then checks whether there are any vehicles with operation plans overlapping with the reservation requested by user 2. In Example 2, in addition to taxi 10, a scheduled bus 20 is also intended to park at the parking location 8 included in the reservation information.

[0085] exist Figure 2 The diagram illustrates an example of overlap determination at drop-off locations made by the operation management device 100. Based on a search result from the operation plan database 150, during the time period when taxi 10 is parked at parking location 8, scheduled bus 20 is also parked at parking location 8. In this case, the operation management device 100 determines that there is an overlap between the drop-off location and time of the reserved taxi 10 and the operation plan of scheduled bus 20. That is, scheduled bus 20 is an overlapping vehicle for taxi 10.

[0086] If the parking times of taxi 10 and scheduled bus 20 booked by user 2 overlap at parking location 8, neither taxi 10 nor scheduled bus 20 can park at parking location 8 simultaneously. In this case, a priority order between taxi 10 and scheduled bus 20 is determined. In this embodiment, the priority of scheduled bus 20, which has a greater impact on the overall transportation service of the area, is set higher than that of taxi 10, which is for personal use. The operation management device 100 rejects the reservation for taxi 10, which has a relatively lower priority, and notifies user 2 that the reservation has been rejected.

[0087] User 2, who has been notified of a reservation rejection, can request a suggestion from the operation management device 100 regarding a method for moving to parking location 8. If the transportation service requested by user 2 is a service like the taxi in Example 2, which allows parking at any location, the operation management device 100 can suggest available parking locations. For example, if a location X meters away from the parking location 8 requested by user 2 is available for reservation, a suggestion is made to park at that location. If user 2 accepts the suggestion, the operation management device 100 notifies user 2 that the reservation has been approved and registers the taxi 10 operation plan, created based on the suggestion, in the operation plan database 150.

[0088] It should be noted that if the parking times of three or more vehicles overlap at parking location 8, it is necessary to suggest alternative parking locations to the two or more vehicles that cannot park at parking location 8. For example, if users A and B have overlapping reservations, a reservation at a location X meters away from parking location 8 can be suggested to both users A and B. If user A accepts the suggestion first, the reservation at the location X meters away from parking location 8 is approved for user A, and a reservation at a location Y meters away from parking location 8 (Y > X) is suggested to user B. Alternatively, a reservation at a location X meters away from parking location 8 can be suggested to user A from the beginning, and a reservation at a location Y meters away from parking location 8 can be suggested to user B.

[0089] Furthermore, in cases where boarding can be reserved but alighting cannot, as in Example 2, the operation management device 100 can also suggest parking times at the reservable parking location 8. When suggesting reservable parking times for two or more vehicles, the suggestions are made by staggering the parking times for each vehicle. Methods for changing parking times include, for example, taking a detour to stagger the arrival time at parking location 8, or adjusting the time at a waiting area such as a platform. User 2 can request either or both of the suggestions for reservable parking locations and reservable parking times from the operation management device 100.

[0090] If a user 2, who has been notified of a reservation rejection, requests a suggestion on how to move to parking location 8, the operation management device 100 may also suggest using another vehicle. For example, if a vehicle is available that can arrive at parking location 8 earlier than the taxi 10 that was intended to be booked, and if that vehicle can be used to book a drop-off at parking location 8, the user 2 may be advised to use that vehicle. Furthermore, if moving to the opposite lane or other vehicles from the user 2's current location would allow them to use other vehicles to reach parking location 8, the user 2 may be advised to move from their current location and use other vehicles at their destination. In specific example 2, if the user 2 can board the scheduled bus 20 by changing their boarding location and boarding time, the user 2 may also be advised to use the scheduled bus 20.

[0091] If user 2 accepts any of the suggestions, the operation management device 100 can compensate user 2 for any inconvenience caused. For service categories like taxi 10, the fare is calculated based on distance. However, increasing the distance and fare for the convenience of the service provider is not preferable for user 2. Therefore, the cheaper fare between the booking pick-up and drop-off points or between the actual pick-up and drop-off points can be used. Alternatively, the fare can be requested directly, or a discount coupon for the next ride can be issued.

[0092] 1-2-3. Specific example 3

[0093] Next, refer to Figure 3 Example 3 illustrates the specific method for determining the approval / rejection of appointments.

[0094] In specific example 3, user 2 wishes to book a scheduled bus 20. The portable terminal 4 is not required for using the scheduled bus 20; it can be used by waiting for its arrival at the bus stop. User 2 boards the scheduled bus 20, which is scheduled to arrive at the desired bus stop 6 at the desired time. The user can check which scheduled bus arrives at the target bus stop 6 and when from the timetable displayed at the bus stop or on the internet.

[0095] User 2, riding on the scheduled bus 20, conveys their intention to get off at the next bus stop by pressing the disembarkation button 50 located inside the bus. In the case of the scheduled bus 20, pressing the disembarkation button 50 constitutes a parking reservation request. The parking reservation request entered by user 2 through pressing the disembarkation button 50 is transmitted from the scheduled bus 20 to the operation management device 100 via a communication network including a mobile communication system.

[0096] The operation management device 100 accepts a parking reservation application from user 2 for a scheduled bus 20 and searches the operation plan database 150 based on the information contained in the reservation. This search confirms whether there are any vehicles with operation plans that overlap with the drop-off location and time specified by user 2. In the case of the scheduled bus 20, the retrieved drop-off location is the next bus stop 6, and the retrieved drop-off time is the arrival time of bus stop 6 registered in the timetable of the scheduled bus 20.

[0097] exist Figure 3 The diagram illustrates an example of overlap determination at drop-off locations performed by the operation management device 100. Based on the search results from the operation plan database 150, in addition to the scheduled bus 20, a taxi 10 is also scheduled to stop at parking location 8. The operation management device 100 determines whether the parking time of the scheduled bus 20 at parking location 8 overlaps with the parking time of the taxi 10 at parking location 8. In specific example 3, during the time period when the scheduled bus 20 is parked at parking location 8, the taxi 10 is also parked at parking location 8. In this case, the operation management device 100 determines that there is an overlap between the drop-off location and drop-off time of the reserved scheduled bus 20 and the operation plan of the taxi 10. That is, the taxi 10 is an overlapping vehicle with respect to the scheduled bus 20.

[0098] If the parking times at parking location 8 overlap between the scheduled bus 20 and taxi 10 booked by user 2, the priority between the scheduled bus 20 and taxi 10 is determined. In this embodiment, the priority of the scheduled bus 20 is set higher than that of taxi 10. The operation management device 100 approves the reservation for the scheduled bus 20 with the relatively higher priority and instructs the scheduled bus 20 to stop at the next bus stop 6 according to the timetable. Simultaneously, the operation management device 100 notifies user 2 that the reservation has been approved and updates the operation plan of the scheduled bus 20 registered in the operation plan database 150.

[0099] The operation management device 100 instructs taxi 10 to change its operation plan to avoid overlap between the parking time at parking location 8 and the parking time of the scheduled bus 20. In specific example 3, the instruction is to shift the parking location of taxi 10 away from parking location 8. The operation management device 100 registers the changed operation plan of taxi 10 in the operation plan database 150.

[0100] Furthermore, while instructing taxi 10, the operation management device 100 also notifies the user of taxi 10 that the parking location 8 has been changed. This notification to the user of taxi 10 can be made via speakers or displays installed in the taxi 10's passenger compartment, or via a portable terminal held by the user. Moreover, the operation management device 100 can also compensate the user of taxi 10 for any inconvenience caused. For example, it can offer a fare discount or issue a discount coupon for future rides.

[0101] Here, details regarding the notification to users of overlapping vehicles when they wish to have their vehicles prioritized and the instructions for changes to the operation schedule of overlapping vehicles are explained for three scenarios.

[0102] Scenario A: Overlapping parking times are a problem; reducing the time users spend getting on and off the vehicle will solve the issue.

[0103] Users of overlapping vehicles are notified that boarding and alighting times are shorter, and arrangements are made for them to disembark before arrival to facilitate a smooth boarding and alighting process. Users already on the overlapping vehicle are notified via in-vehicle announcements, and users who will board the overlapping vehicle later are notified via portable terminals and announcement equipment located at boarding and alighting points.

[0104] For autonomous driving systems of overlapping vehicles, assistance can be provided by a remote operator located at a remote position to enable the autonomous driving system to take action as quickly as possible. For example, in the case of a remote support system that requests remote support from a remote operator when the autonomous driving system cannot make an autonomous decision, remote support can be requested before the autonomous decision is made if the remote operator is available. Alternatively, both autonomous decision-making and remote support can be used, with the response being expedited by using the input from the side that arrives at the decision earlier. Specific examples of using both autonomous decision-making and remote support include safety checks near vehicle doors, determining whether a wheelchair ramp is needed, and starting decisions.

[0105] Scenario B: The overlap of parking times is a problem, which can be solved by delaying the arrival time.

[0106] Users of overlapping vehicles are notified of the delayed arrival time. The notification method is the same as in case A. The automated driving system of the overlapping vehicles instructs them to extend the stopping time at intermediate stations to postpone the arrival time. Alternatively, the system may instruct them to change the route to a degree that does not obstruct boarding or alighting. The route calculation can be performed either inside the vehicle or via an external server.

[0107] Case C: Overlapping parking times are a problem; the problem can be solved by advancing the arrival time.

[0108] Users of overlapping vehicles are notified that their arrival time has been moved earlier. The notification method is the same as in case A. The automatic driving system of the overlapping vehicles instructs them to shorten the stopping time at intermediate platforms to advance the arrival time. Additionally, it may be instructed not to stop at platforms where there are no passengers scheduled to alight and no passengers using the vehicle, or even if the vehicle stops, not to open or close the doors. Furthermore, if there are passengers using the vehicle at a platform, their reservations may be updated by allowing them to board other vehicles or by enabling them to board other vehicles.

[0109] 2. Operation management device as a reservation approval / rejection determination device

[0110] 2-1. Composition of the appointment approval / rejection determination device

[0111] As explained above, the operation management device 100 functions as a reservation approval / rejection determination device that determines whether to approve or reject reservations from users. In other words, the operation management device 100 includes a reservation approval / rejection determination device as an application. Figure 4 This is a block diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the operation management device 100, which serves as a reservation approval / rejection determination device. In addition to the aforementioned operation plan database 150, the operation management device 100 also includes a reservation application acquisition unit 111, a parking information retrieval unit 112, a priority determination unit 113, and a reservation approval / rejection determination unit 114.

[0112] Operations plan database 150 is a database that stores information related to the parking locations and parking times of all vehicles operating in a certain area. Furthermore, the vehicle's service category is associated with this information. With databases created for each MaaS service provider, operations plan database 150 is constructed by connecting them online.

[0113] The information stored in the operation plan database 150 is basically a combination of parking locations and parking times for each vehicle. For example, as a user, the pick-up and drop-off locations should be distinct information, but as a vehicle, the pick-up and drop-off locations can be stored as parking locations in the database. Similarly, as a user, the pick-up and drop-off times should be distinct information, but as a vehicle, the pick-up and drop-off times can be stored as parking times in the database. However, it is also possible to store information such as arrival time, departure time, and waiting time based on the parking time at the parking location.

[0114] The reservation request acquisition unit 111 is configured to obtain from the user a reservation request related to at least one of the location and time of parking for the vehicle the user wishes to reserve (hereinafter, the desired reservation vehicle: the first transportation service vehicle). More specifically, the reservation request includes information related to any one or a combination of the pick-up location, pick-up time, drop-off location, and drop-off time.

[0115] Input units for users to enter reservation requests can include, for example, portable terminals (smartphones, tablets), PCs (Personal Computers), websites, telephones, ticket machines, call buttons, and get-off buttons.

[0116] Regarding portable devices, PC websites, and telephones, all information can be specified through a combination of applications, or reservations can be limited to any one piece of information. For example, when "want to get on the bus immediately" is entered on a portable device, the GPS information indicating the current location will be combined with the time information from the portable device to generate reservation information specifying both pick-up and drop-off locations and times. The option to specify the pick-up location without specifying the pick-up time is also considered.

[0117] Regarding ticket vending machines, some require only the boarding and alighting locations, similar to unreserved seat reservations on the Shinkansen; others require all information, similar to reserved seat reservations. Still others only require specifying the boarding location, similar to ordinary tickets. For the call button, the boarding location and time are entered as reservation information. For the alighting button, the alighting location and time are entered as reservation information.

[0118] The parking information retrieval unit 112 is configured to retrieve database information overlapping with the reservation information from the operation plan database 150 based on the reservation information included in the reservation application obtained by the reservation application acquisition unit 111. In other words, it detects overlap between the reservation of the vehicle requested by the user and the operation plans of other vehicles. Then, if the search results show that a vehicle with database information overlapping with the reservation information has been found, i.e., an overlapping vehicle has been found, the database information related to the overlapping vehicle is extracted from the operation plan database 150.

[0119] The database information in the expected operation plan database 150 is defined as a time band from arrival time to departure time. On the other hand, reservation information is considered to be defined both as time bands and as points, such as boarding times. The overlap between reservation information and database information includes overlaps between time periods and between time periods and points in time.

[0120] Ideally, arrival and departure times should be strictly adhered to. However, depending on traffic conditions and passenger volume, it may be impossible to consistently maintain the scheduled times. Therefore, when searching for overlaps between reservation information and database information, it is more realistic to not only strictly determine overlaps but also allow for a certain degree of time tolerance (e.g., around 10 seconds). Furthermore, in transportation services like taxis that can stop at any location, tolerances can be set not only for parking time but also for the determination of overlapping parking locations. For example, if the parking locations in the reservation information and database information differ by only a few meters, they can be considered as overlapping.

[0121] The priority determination unit 113 is configured to determine the priority between the desired vehicle and the overlapping vehicle. As explained in the chapter on "Methods for Determining Reservation Approval / Rejection," the priority is determined based on the service category of each vehicle. However, there are cases where both the desired vehicle and the overlapping vehicle are taxis, or where their service categories are the same. In such cases, the priority is determined according to any of the following determination methods.

[0122] The primary method for determining priority is to prioritize vehicles that booked earlier, based on the principle of "first come, first served." In this case, vehicles with overlapping booking times that are already registered in the operation plan database 150 are given priority.

[0123] The second method for determining priority is to prioritize vehicles with more passengers. This assumes that both the reservation information obtained from users and the database information in the operation plan database 150 contain information related to the number of passengers. If the service categories are the same, vehicles carrying more passengers have a greater impact on the overall transportation service in the region. Therefore, by reflecting passenger numbers in the priority ranking, the smooth provision of regional transportation services can be achieved.

[0124] The third method of priority determination is based on the length of the parking time. For example, compared to vehicles waiting for a long time at a bus terminal without passengers boarding or alighting, vehicles with shorter parking times (waiting times) can better meet the needs of more people with faster turnaround. Therefore, according to the third method, vehicles with shorter parking times are given priority over vehicles with longer parking times.

[0125] Here, we assume a bus terminal is located near a bus stop with multiple parking locations. In this case, vehicles with shorter waiting times are given priority to park at parking locations near the bus stop within the terminal. Conversely, vehicles with longer waiting times are given priority to park at parking locations further away from the bus stop within the terminal. Thus, the length of waiting time and the ease of access to the parking location can be used as criteria for determining priority.

[0126] The fourth method of priority determination is based on user priority. For example, vehicles used by users with high urgency are given priority over other vehicles. Specifically, vehicles for patients with acute illnesses or pregnant women whose water is about to break are given priority over other vehicles. In addition, reservations made by users with priority rights, such as those using express tickets, can also be given priority.

[0127] The fifth method for determining priority is to prioritize vehicles that are scheduled to connect with other transport infrastructure. That is, when a vehicle's operating plan includes connections to other transport infrastructure such as buses and trams, that vehicle with that operating plan is given priority over other vehicles. Accordingly, connections between transport infrastructure can be included to provide smooth transport services throughout the region.

[0128] The reservation approval / rejection determination unit 114 is configured to determine whether to approve a reservation applied for by a user based on the presence or absence of overlap determined by the parking information retrieval unit 112 and the priority determined by the priority determination unit 113. Specifically, the approval / rejection of the reservation is determined based on the priority of the reservation applied for by the user, that is, the priority of the desired vehicle among the vehicles scheduled to park at the parking location. Specifically, when the vehicles scheduled to park at the parking location are sorted according to priority, and the priority of the desired vehicle is compared with the lowest priority that allows parking at the parking location, if the priority of the desired vehicle is higher than the lowest priority, then the desired vehicle can park at the parking location. In this case, the reservation approval / rejection determination unit 114 approves the reservation applied for by the user and notifies the user of the reservation approval. It should be noted that, as explained in Specific Example 3 of the reservation approval / rejection determination method, if the desired vehicle is given priority compared to overlapping vehicles, a change in the operation plan is indicated for the overlapping vehicles, and the passengers of the overlapping vehicles are notified.

[0129] On the other hand, when vehicles scheduled to park at a parking location are sorted according to priority and the priority of the desired vehicle is compared with the lowest priority that allows parking at the location, if the desired vehicle's priority is lower than the lowest priority, the desired vehicle cannot park at the parking location. In this case, the reservation approval / rejection determination unit 114 rejects the reservation submitted by the user and notifies the user of the reservation rejection. It should be noted that, as explained in Specific Example 2 of the reservation approval / rejection determination method, when the user is notified of the reservation rejection, an alternative method for moving to the destination is also suggested to the user. This suggestion is executed through an application different from the reservation approval / rejection determination device included in the operation management device 100.

[0130] 2-2. Processing performed by the appointment approval / rejection determination device

[0131] Next, use Figure 5 The processing performed by the reservation approval / rejection determination device configured as described above will be explained. Figure 5 This is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process performed by the appointment approval / rejection determination device.

[0132] In step S101, the reservation request acquisition unit 111 acquires a reservation request from the user. The reservation request contains information related to at least one of the location and time for parking the vehicle to be reserved (reservation desired vehicle).

[0133] In step S102, the parking information retrieval unit 112 searches the operation plan database 150. This search retrieves operation plans for other vehicles that overlap with reservations requested by the user.

[0134] Next, in step S103, the parking information retrieval unit 112 determines whether there are overlapping vehicles, i.e., vehicles with operation plans that overlap with the reservations requested by the user. The retrieval results of the parking information retrieval unit 112 are input to the priority determination unit 113, and the determination results are input to the reservation approval / rejection determination unit 114.

[0135] If it is determined in step S103 that there are no overlapping vehicles, proceed to step S104. In step S104, the reservation is approved by the reservation approval / rejection determination unit 114, and the user is notified of the reservation approval.

[0136] If overlapping vehicles are determined in step S103, the process proceeds to step S105. In step S105, the priority determination unit 113 calculates the priority of the desired vehicle and the overlapping vehicles.

[0137] Next, in step S106, the priority determination unit 113 determines whether the priority of the vehicle to be reserved is higher than the priority of the overlapping vehicles. The determination result of the priority determination unit 113 is input to the reservation approval / rejection determination unit 114.

[0138] If, in step S106, it is determined that the overlapping vehicle has a higher priority, the process proceeds to step S107. In step S107, the reservation is rejected by the reservation approval / rejection determination unit 114, and the user is notified of the reservation rejection.

[0139] If it is determined in step S106 that the vehicle to be reserved has a higher priority, the process proceeds to step S108. In step S108, the reservation is approved by the reservation approval / rejection determination unit 114, and the user is notified of the reservation approval.

[0140] Next, in step S109, the appointment approval / rejection determination unit 114 notifies the autonomous driving system of the overlapping vehicles and the user of the change in the operation plan.

[0141] 3. Methods for determining parking locations

[0142] The reservation approval / rejection method described in this embodiment helps to suppress the chaos caused by vehicles exceeding the parking capacity congregating at a parking location within the same time period. However, even if the number of vehicles gathered at the parking location is less than the parking capacity, if the parking position of the first vehicle is unsuitable, it can hinder the smooth parking of subsequent vehicles and cause traffic flow chaos. The parking position determination method in this embodiment is a method to achieve smooth parking of vehicles at the parking location.

[0143] Figures 6A-6D This diagram illustrates the method for determining the parking location in this embodiment. (See diagram for example.) Figure 6A As shown, parking location 30 is defined as an area of ​​a certain size along the road. The original parking position of vehicle 40 at parking location 30 is the position where vehicle 40 is most easily parked and most easily dispatched, for example... Figure 6A The parking location 30 is located in the center as shown. It should be noted that the service category of vehicle 40 does not affect the method of determining the parking location. That is, vehicle 40 can be a scheduled bus, an on-demand bus, or a taxi.

[0144] The method for determining parking locations in this embodiment is a method for determining parking locations when multiple vehicles gather at parking location 30 at the same time. For example... Figure 6B As shown, when two vehicles 41 and 42 arrive at parking location 30 consecutively, the vehicle 41 that arrives first is parked with its position shifted forward from its original parking position. By parking the vehicle 41 forward, a space 30r is created behind vehicle 41, thus securing a parking space for the vehicle 42 that arrives later. Therefore, as... Figure 6C As shown, the vehicle 42 that arrives later can park behind the vehicle 41 that arrives earlier.

[0145] If a third vehicle 43 arrives while two vehicles 41 and 42 are parked, vehicle 43 waits behind parking spot 30. Then, if either vehicle 41 or 42 departs, vehicle 43 enters an empty parking space. Figure 6D In the example shown, vehicle 41 proceeds first, creating a free space 30f in front of vehicle 42, thus ensuring parking space for the arriving vehicle 43. In this way, by having vehicles park sequentially in the created free space, traffic flow disruptions caused by multiple vehicles arriving at the same time can be prevented.

[0146] The order in which a vehicle arrives at parking location 30 is determined, and whether there is available parking space for that vehicle, can be determined based on the operation plans of each vehicle registered in the operation plan database 150. Specifically, vehicles with overlapping parking times can be detected by searching the operation plan database 150. The arrival order of vehicles with overlapping parking times can be determined based on the operation plans of each vehicle. If the arrival order of each vehicle at parking location 8 is known, a parking location can be determined for each vehicle according to the aforementioned method for determining parking positions.

[0147] It should be noted that, in Figures 6A-6D In this method, the parking position of the first-arriving vehicle is shifted longitudinally to accommodate the later-arriving vehicle. However, the idea behind this parking position determination method can also be applied to other methods. For example, based on the idea of ​​the parking position determination method described above, the parking position of the first-arriving vehicle can be shifted laterally, the parking direction of the first-arriving vehicle can be rotated, or these methods can be combined appropriately.

[0148] 4. Operation and management device as parking location determination device

[0149] 4-1. Composition of the parking position determining device

[0150] 4-1-1. The first example

[0151] The aforementioned method for determining parking locations is executed by the operation management device 100. That is, the operation management device 100 functions as a parking location determination device, deciding the parking locations of multiple vehicles arriving at the parking location within the same time period. In other words, the operation management device 100 incorporates a parking location determination device as an application. Figure 7 This is a block diagram showing a first example of the configuration of the operation management device 100, which is a parking location determination device. In the first example, the operation management device 100, which is a parking location determination device, includes, in addition to the aforementioned operation plan database 150, a parking location / time acquisition unit 121, a parking reservation overlap confirmation unit 122, an arrival order determination unit 123, and a parking location determination unit 124.

[0152] The information stored in the operation plan database 150 is as described above. Information related to parking location and parking time is stored in association with vehicle information. Vehicle information is information that can identify an individual vehicle. However, in the implementation of the parking location determination method in this embodiment, information related to the service category of each vehicle is not necessarily required.

[0153] The parking location / time acquisition unit 121 is configured to acquire the reserved parking location and time when parking in a certain vehicle (target vehicle) has been reserved. The parking reservation information related to the parking location and time can be acquired from either the target vehicle or the user of the target vehicle. When an application is made to reserve a parking space for at least one of the locations and times where the user intends to park the vehicle, the information contained in that application is acquired as parking reservation information. It should be noted that the parking location acquired by the parking location / time acquisition unit 121 can be not only the next reserved parking location for the vehicle, but also a previous parking location.

[0154] The parking reservation overlap confirmation unit 122 is configured to retrieve database information that overlaps with the parking reservation information from the operation plan database 150 based on the parking reservation information obtained by the parking location / time acquisition unit 121. This retrieval confirms whether there are any vehicles with overlapping parking reservations. It should be noted that the overlap between parking reservation information and database information includes overlaps between time periods and overlaps between time periods and specific time points. Furthermore, when retrieving the overlap between parking reservation information and database information, a certain degree of tolerance is set for time and distance to determine whether there is an overlap.

[0155] The arrival order determination unit 123 is configured to determine the arrival order of each vehicle to the parking location among the vehicles with overlapping parking reservations confirmed in the parking reservation overlap confirmation unit 122. If the overlap of parking times is interrupted midway, that is, if there are no vehicles parked, the calculation of the arrival order is reset. Then, when the next parking reservation overlap occurs, the arrival order determination is performed again.

[0156] The arrival order is determined using parking reservation information for each vehicle registered in the operation plan database 150. In this case, it is preferable that the database information includes detailed service statuses such as "driving," "x meters to parking location," "arrived at parking location," "boarding / alighting started," "boarding / alighting ended," "preparing for departure," and "departure completed." It should be noted that if the GPS devices installed in each vehicle are highly accurate and the management system located outside the vehicles accurately grasps the location relationships of each vehicle, each vehicle can determine its arrival order by querying the management system. Furthermore, the arrival order can also be determined through inter-vehicle communication.

[0157] The parking location determination unit 124 is configured to determine the parking location of each vehicle at the parking location based on the arrival order determined by the arrival order determination unit 123. According to the parking location determination method of this embodiment, the vehicle that arrives at the parking location first is moved from its original parking location and parked to ensure parking space for the vehicles that arrive later.

[0158] 4-1-2. Second example

[0159] In the second example, the parking location determination device is combined with the reservation approval / rejection determination device. That is, in the operation management device 100, the parking location determination device is prepared as an application integrated with the reservation approval / rejection determination device. Figure 8 This is a block diagram illustrating a second example of the configuration of an operation management device 100 that serves as a parking location determination device. The parking location determination device, integrated with a reservation approval / rejection determination device, includes an arrival order determination unit 123 and a parking location determination unit 124.

[0160] In the second example, the output of the reservation approval / rejection determination unit 114 is input to the arrival order determination unit 123. The information input from the reservation approval / rejection determination unit 114 to the arrival order determination unit 123 includes information related to the overlap between the requested vehicle and the overlapping vehicle. The arrival order determination unit 123 determines the arrival order between the requested vehicle and the overlapping vehicle based on the input information. Then, based on the arrival order determined by the arrival order determination unit 123, the parking position determination unit 124 determines the respective parking positions of the requested vehicle and the overlapping vehicle at the parking location. As a result, the overlap between the requested vehicle and the overlapping vehicle is eliminated.

[0161] 4-1-3. The Third Case

[0162] In the first example mentioned above, the parking location determination method is triggered by the reservation of parking in a certain vehicle. In contrast, in the third example, the parking location determination method is triggered by an update to the operation plan database 150. Figure 9 This is a block diagram illustrating a third example of the configuration of an operation management device 100 as a parking location determination device. In this third example, the operation management device 100 as a parking location determination device includes an operation plan database 150, a parking reservation overlap retrieval unit 125, an arrival order determination unit 123, and a parking location determination unit 124.

[0163] The parking reservation overlap retrieval unit 125 is configured to search the operation plan database 150 to detect vehicles with overlapping parking reservations. The arrival order determination unit 123 determines the arrival order of each vehicle to the parking location among the vehicles with overlapping parking reservations detected by the search of the operation plan database 150. Then, the parking position determination unit 124 determines the parking position of each vehicle at the parking location based on the arrival order determined by the arrival order determination unit 123.

[0164] 4-2. Processing performed by the parking position determination device

[0165] Next, use Figure 10The processing performed by the parking position determination device configured as described above will be explained. Figure 10 This is a flowchart illustrating an example of the processing performed by a parking position determination device configured as in the first example.

[0166] In step S201, the parking location / time acquisition unit 121 acquires parking reservation information for the target vehicle that is the object of the parking location determination. The parking reservation information includes the reserved parking location and parking time for the target vehicle.

[0167] In step S202, the operation plan database 150 is retrieved by the parking reservation overlap confirmation unit 122. This retrieval extracts the operation plans of other vehicles whose parking reservations overlap with the target vehicle.

[0168] Next, in step S203, the parking reservation overlap confirmation unit 122 confirms whether there are any overlapping vehicles, i.e., vehicles with operation plans that overlap with the target vehicle's parking reservation. The confirmation result obtained by the parking reservation overlap confirmation unit 122 is input to the arrival order determination unit 123.

[0169] If overlapping vehicles are determined in step S203, the process proceeds to step S204. In step S204, the arrival order determination unit 123 calculates the arrival order of the target vehicle and the overlapping vehicles.

[0170] Next, in step S205, the parking position of each vehicle is determined by the parking position determination unit 124 based on the arrival order calculated in step S204. If it is determined in step S203 that there are no overlapping vehicles, steps S204 and S205 are skipped.

[0171] 5. Methods for determining parking order

[0172] The parking location determination method described above in this embodiment involves moving the first vehicle to the parking spot from its original parking position and parking there, thus ensuring parking space for vehicles arriving later. According to this embodiment's parking location determination method, vehicles arrive first and then park close together in front of each other, with subsequent vehicles parking behind. If all available parking spaces are occupied, the next vehicle parks in the space vacated by the departing vehicle.

[0173] However, given that each vehicle stops at a different time, the vehicle that stops first may not necessarily depart first. That is, a vehicle arriving later may depart first. To ensure that vehicles behind exit the parking area before those in front, sufficient clearance between vehicles needs to be ensured beforehand. Furthermore, even if there is sufficient clearance for vehicles behind to exit, if this clearance is insufficient, vehicles behind may have to enter the lane while in a blind spot in the camera's view due to vehicles in front. The parking sequence determination method in this embodiment is a method to ensure smooth vehicle departure from the parking area.

[0174] Figures 11A-11D This diagram illustrates the method for determining the parking sequence in this embodiment. (See diagram for example.) Figure 11A As shown, parking location 30 is defined as an area of ​​a certain size along the road. The original parking position for vehicles at parking location 30 is the position where vehicles are most easily parked and most easily dispatched, for example, the center of parking location 30 (see reference). Figure 6A It should be noted that the service category of the vehicle does not affect the method for determining the parking order. That is to say, the vehicle may be a scheduled bus, an on-demand bus, or a taxi.

[0175] The method for determining the parking order in this embodiment is a method for determining the parking order when multiple vehicles gather at parking location 30 at the same time. For example... Figure 11A As shown, when two vehicles 41 and 42 arrive at parking location 30 consecutively, according to the parking position determination method of this embodiment described above, the vehicle 41 that arrives first parks further forward than its original parking position. However, according to the parking order determination method of this embodiment, the departure times of the two vehicles 41 and 42 are compared. Then, the parking order is determined by parking the vehicle with the earlier departure time in front and the vehicle with the later departure time behind.

[0176] Figure 11B This illustrates the parking sequence when the departure time of the later-arriving vehicle 42 is earlier than that of the earlier-arriving vehicle 41. By parking the earlier-arriving vehicle 41 further back, a free space 30f is created in front of vehicle 41, thus ensuring parking space for the later-arriving vehicle 42. Therefore, as... Figure 11C As shown, the vehicle 42 that arrives later can stop in front of the vehicle 41 that arrives earlier.

[0177] Vehicle 42 departs before vehicle 41. Other vehicles do not stop in front of vehicle 42. Therefore, as... Figure 11DAs shown, vehicle 42 can drive from parking location 30 into the lane without being obstructed by other parked vehicles. In this way, by parking vehicles with earlier departure times ahead of vehicles with later departure times, traffic flow can be prevented from becoming chaotic due to multiple vehicles arriving at the same time.

[0178] The parking order of vehicles arriving at parking location 30 can be determined based on the operation plans of each vehicle registered in the operation plan database 150. Specifically, vehicles with overlapping parking times can be detected by searching the operation plan database 150. The parking order among vehicles with overlapping parking times can be determined based on the departure time included in each vehicle's operation plan. It should be noted that when the information registered in the operation plan defines parking times as start and end times, the end time is used as the departure time. If a single time is registered as a parking time, that time is used as both the arrival time and the parking time.

[0179] It should be noted that, in Figures 11A-11D In this method, the parking position of the first-arriving vehicle is shifted longitudinally to accommodate the later-arriving vehicle. However, the idea behind this parking order determination method can also be applied to other methods. For example, based on the idea of ​​the parking position determination method described above, the parking position of the first-arriving vehicle can be shifted laterally, the parking direction of the first-arriving vehicle can be rotated, or these can be combined appropriately.

[0180] 6. Operation management device as a parking sequence determination device

[0181] 6-1. Composition of the parking sequence determination device

[0182] 6-1-1. The first example

[0183] The aforementioned method for determining the parking order is executed by the operation management device 100. That is, the operation management device 100 functions as a parking order determination device, deciding the parking order of multiple vehicles arriving at the parking location within the same time period. In other words, the operation management device 100 incorporates the parking order determination device as an application. Figure 12 This is a block diagram showing a first example of the configuration of an operation management device 100 as a parking sequence determination device. In this first example, the operation management device 100 as a parking sequence determination device includes an operation plan database 150, a parking location / time acquisition unit 131, a parking reservation overlap confirmation unit 132, and a parking sequence determination unit 133.

[0184] The information stored in the operation plan database 150 is as described above. Information related to parking location and parking time is stored in association with vehicle information. Vehicle information is information that can identify an individual vehicle. However, in the implementation of the parking sequence determination method in this embodiment, information related to the service category of each vehicle is not necessarily required.

[0185] The parking location / time acquisition unit 131 is configured to acquire the reserved parking location and parking time when parking in a certain vehicle (target vehicle) is reserved. The function of the parking location / time acquisition unit 131 is the same as that of the parking location / time acquisition unit 121 provided in the operation management device 100, which is a parking location determination device.

[0186] The parking reservation overlap confirmation unit 132 is configured to retrieve database information that overlaps with the parking reservation information from the operation plan database 150 based on the parking reservation information obtained by the parking location / time acquisition unit 131. The function of the parking reservation overlap confirmation unit 132 is the same as that of the parking reservation overlap confirmation unit 122 provided in the operation management device 100, which is a parking location determination device.

[0187] The parking order determination unit 133 is configured to determine the parking order of each vehicle at a parking location among vehicles with overlapping parking reservations confirmed in the parking reservation overlap confirmation unit 132. The parking order determination uses parking reservation information for each vehicle registered in the operation plan database 150. Based on the departure times included in the parking reservation information, the parking order is determined such that vehicles with earlier departure times are parked in front of vehicles with later departure times.

[0188] 6-1-2. Second example

[0189] In the first example mentioned above, vehicles are parked in a parking order independent of their arrival order. Therefore, a situation arises where the first arriving vehicle parks behind the designated parking spot, and the later arriving vehicle cuts in front of the first arriving vehicle and parks (see [reference]). Figure 11B In this case, the vehicle that arrives later ( Figure 11B Vehicle 42) had to not be with the vehicle that arrived first ( Figure 11B The vehicle 41) repeatedly moves forward and backward to adjust its parking position in a way that causes interference.

[0190] If the arrival order of the vehicles is the same as the parking order, the vehicles can be parked close together from the front in the order of arrival. When parking close together from the front, there is no need to adjust the parking position by repeatedly moving forward and backward. In the second example, the arrival order of the vehicles is made consistent with the parking order. Figure 13This is a block diagram illustrating a second example of the configuration of the operation management device 100, which serves as a parking sequence determination device. In this second example, the operation management device 100, which serves as a parking sequence determination device, includes an operation plan database 150, a parking location / time acquisition unit 131, a parking reservation overlap confirmation unit 132, a parking sequence determination unit 133, and an arrival order adjustment unit 134.

[0191] The arrival order adjustment unit 134 is configured to adjust the arrival order of each vehicle at the parking location in a manner that makes the order in which the vehicles arrive at the parking location consistent with the parking sequence. The arrival order of the vehicles at the parking location can be determined based on the arrival time of each vehicle contained in the operation plan information. The arrival order adjustment unit 134 adjusts the arrival order, for example, by adjusting the vehicle speed, adjusting the stopping time at intermediate stations, or adjusting the travel time based on route changes.

[0192] 6-2. Processing performed by the shutdown sequence determination device

[0193] Next, use Figure 14 The processing performed by the parking sequence determination device configured as described above will be explained. Figure 14 This is a flowchart illustrating an example of the processing performed by a parking sequence determination device configured as in the first example.

[0194] In step S301, the parking reservation information of the target vehicle that will be determined in the parking order is obtained by the parking location / time acquisition unit 131. The parking reservation information includes the reserved parking location and parking time for the target vehicle.

[0195] In step S302, the operation plan database 150 is retrieved by the parking reservation overlap confirmation unit 132. This retrieval extracts the operation plans of other vehicles whose parking reservations overlap with the target vehicle.

[0196] Next, in step S303, the parking reservation overlap confirmation unit 132 confirms whether there are any overlapping vehicles, that is, vehicles with operation plans that overlap with the target vehicle's parking reservation. The confirmation result obtained by the parking reservation overlap confirmation unit 132 is input to the parking sequence determination unit 133.

[0197] If overlapping vehicles are determined in step S303, proceed to step S304. In step S304, the parking order determination unit 133 determines the parking order of the target vehicle and the overlapping vehicles. If no overlapping vehicles are determined in step S303, skip step S304.

[0198] 7. Hardware configuration of the operation management device

[0199] The operation management device 100, which includes the aforementioned reservation approval / rejection determination device, parking location determination device, and parking sequence determination device, can perform the functions of these functions through... Figure 15 The hardware configuration shown is used to achieve this. Figure 15 This is a block diagram illustrating an example of the hardware configuration of the operation management device 100.

[0200] The operation management device 100 is, for example, a server connected to the autonomous driving system 40a of the vehicle 40 and the user's portable terminal 4 via a communication network 200 including a mobile communication system. The operation management device 100 includes at least one processor 102 (hereinafter simply referred to as processor 102), a program memory 104, and a data storage device 108. The processor 102 is coupled to the program memory 104 and the data storage device 108. The program memory 104 is a non-transitory memory storing a plurality of executable instructions 106. The data storage device 108 is, for example, flash memory, an SSD (Solid State Disk), or an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), and contains the aforementioned operation plan database 150. The plurality of instructions 106 include: instructions that cause the operation management device 100 to function as a reservation approval / rejection determination device, instructions that cause the operation management device 100 to function as a parking location determination device, and instructions that cause the operation management device 100 to function as a parking sequence determination device.

[0201] 8. Variations of the implementation method

[0202] In the aforementioned method of determining the parking order, the order is determined by placing the vehicle with the earlier departure time at the front among the arriving and subsequent arriving vehicles. Alternatively, the order can be determined by placing the vehicle with the shorter parking time at the front among the arriving and subsequent arriving vehicles. Parking time can be obtained from the operation plan information. By prioritizing vehicles with shorter parking times at the front, the smooth departure of vehicles from the parking location is achieved.

Claims

1. A method for managing the operation of autonomous transportation service vehicles, the method being characterized by comprising: The user obtains a ride reservation application for a first-class transportation service vehicle that allows the user to specify any parking location and time, including at least the drop-off location and time. The system detects the overlap between the operation plan of a second transportation service vehicle, which operates in the area where the first transportation service vehicle operates and the drop-off location and time specified by the ride reservation, and the second transportation service vehicle, which travels along a predetermined route and stops at designated stations according to a predetermined timetable. If the drop-off location and time specified in the ride reservation overlap with the operation plan of the second transportation service vehicle, the ride reservation shall be rejected, and the user shall be advised of alternative drop-off locations or drop-off times for the first transportation service vehicle. as well as If the user accepts the suggestion, the ride reservation is approved.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, Also includes: If the overlap is detected, the vehicle that arrives at the parking location first among the first and second traffic service vehicles is moved from its original parking position and parked to ensure parking space for the vehicle that arrives later.

3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that, Stopping the first arriving vehicle includes determining the offset direction of the parking position of the first arriving vehicle by positioning the vehicle with the earlier departure time in front of the first arriving vehicle and the later arriving vehicles.

4. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that, Stopping the first arriving vehicle includes determining the offset direction of the parking position of the first arriving vehicle by positioning the vehicle with the shorter parking time among the first arriving and the later arriving vehicles in front.

5. An apparatus for managing the operation of autonomous transportation service vehicles, the apparatus being characterized by comprising: At least one processor; and Program memory stores multiple executable instructions. The plurality of instructions are configured to cause the at least one processor to execute: The user obtains a ride reservation application for a first-class transportation service vehicle that allows the user to specify any parking location and time, including at least the drop-off location and time. The system detects the overlap between the operation plan of a second transportation service vehicle, which operates in the area where the first transportation service vehicle operates and the drop-off location and time specified by the ride reservation, and the second transportation service vehicle, which travels along a predetermined route and stops at designated stations according to a predetermined timetable. If the drop-off location and time specified in the ride reservation overlap with the operation plan of the second transportation service vehicle, the ride reservation shall be rejected, and the user shall be advised of alternative drop-off locations or drop-off times for the first transportation service vehicle. as well as If the user accepts the suggestion, the ride reservation is approved.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that, The plurality of instructions are configured to cause the at least one processor to further execute: If the overlap is detected, the vehicle that arrives at the parking location first among the first and second traffic service vehicles is moved from its original parking position and parked to ensure parking space for the vehicle that arrives later.

7. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium containing a program for managing the operation of an autonomous transportation service vehicle, characterized in that the program includes a plurality of executable instructions configured to cause at least one processor to execute: The user obtains a ride reservation application for a first-class transportation service vehicle that allows the user to specify any parking location and time, including at least the drop-off location and time. The system detects the overlap between the operation plan of a second transportation service vehicle, which operates in the area where the first transportation service vehicle operates and the drop-off location and time specified by the ride reservation, and the second transportation service vehicle, which travels along a predetermined route and stops at designated stations according to a predetermined timetable. If the drop-off location and time specified in the ride reservation overlap with the operation plan of the second transportation service vehicle, the ride reservation shall be rejected, and the user shall be advised of alternative drop-off locations or drop-off times for the first transportation service vehicle. as well as If the user accepts the suggestion, the ride reservation is approved.

8. The non-transitory computer-readable recording medium according to claim 7, characterized in that, The plurality of instructions are configured to cause the at least one processor to further execute: If the overlap is detected, the vehicle that arrives at the parking location first among the first and second traffic service vehicles is moved from its original parking position and parked to ensure parking space for the vehicle that arrives later.

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