Method executed by terminal device

Abstract

The invention relates to a method executed by a terminal device. Techniques for supplying power using a power supply vehicle are improved. A terminal device (10) specifies a power supply vehicle or an operator that satisfies a prescribed condition pertaining to power supply to a user vehicle on the basis of a desired power supply location that is the current location of the user vehicle or the power supply location desired by the user. Next, the terminal device (10) acquires, for each power supply vehicle or each operator, information relating to the amount of power that can be supplied, and information relating to the time at which power supply can be started or the scheduled time at which power supply has been completed. Then, the terminal device (10) displays, on the terminal device (10), information relating to the amount of power that can be supplied, and information relating to the timing at which power supply can be started or the scheduled timing at which power supply is completed, for each of the power supply vehicles or each of the operators.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a method performed by a terminal device. Background Art

[0002] In the past, for example, it is known that a technology is used to supply power using a power supply vehicle when an electric vehicle is out of power. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technology in which a vehicle out of power sends information including the current location of the vehicle to a server, and each of a plurality of power supply vehicles sends information including the location of the vehicle to the server, so that the server selects a power supply vehicle to supply power to the vehicle out of power.

[0003] Prior art literature

[0004] Patent Literature

[0005] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2019-086841 Summary of the invention

[0006] There is room for improvement in the art of supplying electricity using a power supply vehicle.

[0007] The present disclosure has been made in view of the above circumstances and aims to improve the technology of power supply using a power supply vehicle.

[0008] A method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is performed by a terminal device, including:

[0009] Determining a power supply vehicle or operator that satisfies prescribed conditions related to power supply to the user vehicle based on the current location of the user vehicle or the power supply location desired by the user, i.e., the desired power supply location;

[0010] For each of the power supply vehicles or each of the operators, obtaining information on the amount of power that can be supplied and information on the time when power supply can be started or the estimated time when power supply is completed; and

[0011] The terminal device displays information on the power supply amount and information on the power supply startable time or the power supply completion estimated time for each of the power supply vehicles or each of the operators.

[0012] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a technique for supplying electricity using a power supply vehicle is improved. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] picture This is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a system according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0014] picture This is a block diagram showing a schematic structure of a terminal device.

[0015] picture It is a block diagram showing a schematic structure of an information processing device.

[0016] picture It is a flowchart showing the operation of the terminal device.

[0017] (Explanation of symbols)

[0018] 1: system; 10: terminal device; 11: communication unit; 12: output unit; 13: input unit; 14: storage unit; 15: control unit; 16: positioning unit; 20: information processing device; 21: communication unit; 22: storage unit; 23: control unit; 30: network. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described.

[0020] (Overview of Implementation Methods)

[0021] Reference Figure 1 , an overview of a system 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is described. The system 1 includes a plurality of terminal devices 10 and an information processing device 20. Each of the terminal devices 10 and the information processing device 20 is communicatively connected to a network 30 including, for example, the Internet and a mobile communication network.

[0022] The terminal device 10 is, for example, a computer such as a PC (Personal Computer), a smart phone, or a tablet terminal. In the present embodiment, the terminal device 10 is used, for example, by a user who uses a service that dispatches a power supply vehicle to a location specified by the user and supplies power to the user's vehicle at the location (hereinafter also referred to as a "door-to-door charging service"). The terminal device 10 may also be a computer mounted on a vehicle.

[0023] The information processing device 20 is, for example, a computer such as a server device. The information processing device 20 can communicate with a plurality of terminal devices 10 via the network 30. In the present embodiment, the information processing device 20 may also be a server of a carrier that provides door-to-door charging services.

[0024] First, an overview of the present embodiment will be described, and the details will be described later. The terminal device 10 determines a power supply vehicle or operator that satisfies prescribed conditions related to power supply to the user's vehicle based on the current location of the user's vehicle or the desired power supply location as the user's desired power supply location. Next, the terminal device 10 obtains information related to the amount of power that can be supplied, and information related to the time when power supply can be started or the scheduled time when power supply is completed for each power supply vehicle or each operator. Moreover, the terminal device 10 displays the information related to the amount of power that can be supplied and the information related to the time when power supply can be started or the scheduled time when power supply is completed on each power supply vehicle or each operator.

[0025] The user may not want to fully charge the user's vehicle through the power supply service based on the power supply vehicle, and for example, there is a situation where even a small amount of charge is desired to be charged until a specific time. In such a case, according to this embodiment, the available power, the time when power supply can be started, or the scheduled time when power supply is completed can be confirmed for each power supply vehicle or each operator, so that the user can select the door-to-door charging service according to the user's wishes. Therefore, according to this embodiment, the technology of power supply using the power supply vehicle is improved in that the user can select the door-to-door charging service according to the user's wishes.

[0026] Next, each structure of the system 1 will be described in detail.

[0027] (Structure of terminal device)

[0028] like Figure 2 As shown, the terminal device 10 includes a communication unit 11 , an output unit 12 , an input unit 13 , a storage unit 14 , a control unit 15 , and a positioning unit 16 .

[0029] The communication unit 11 includes one or more communication interfaces connected to the network 40. The communication interface corresponds to, for example, a mobile communication standard such as 4G (4th generation) or 5G (5th generation), but is not limited thereto. In the present embodiment, the terminal device 10 communicates with the information processing device 20 via the communication unit 11 and the network 30.

[0030] The output unit 12 includes one or more output devices for outputting information. The output device may be, for example, a display for outputting information using images, or a speaker for outputting information using sounds, but is not limited thereto. Alternatively, the output unit 12 may also include an interface for connecting to an external output device.

[0031] The input unit 13 includes one or more input devices for detecting input operations performed by the user. The input device is, for example, a physical key, an electrostatic capacitance key, a mouse, a touch panel, a touch screen integrally provided with the display of the output unit 12, or a microphone, but is not limited thereto. Alternatively, the input unit 13 may also include an interface for connecting an external input device.

[0032] The storage unit 14 includes one or more memories. The memories are, for example, semiconductor memories, magnetic memories, or optical memories, but are not limited to these. Each memory included in the storage unit 14 may also function as a main storage device, an auxiliary storage device, or a cache memory, for example. The storage unit 14 stores arbitrary information used in the operation of the terminal device 10. Arbitrary information used in the operation of the terminal device 10 includes the maximum power supply capacity, the remaining power supply, and the SOC (State Of Charge) of the user vehicle related to the terminal device 10. In addition, for example, the storage unit 14 may also store system programs, application programs, and embedded software. For example, the information stored in the storage unit 14 may also be updated using information obtained from the network 40 via the communication unit 11.

[0033] The control unit 15 includes one or more processors, one or more programmable circuits, one or more dedicated circuits, or a combination thereof. The processor is, for example, a general-purpose processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), or a dedicated processor specifically used for specific processing, but is not limited to these. The programmable circuit is, for example, an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array), but is not limited to this. The dedicated circuit is, for example, an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), but is not limited to this. The control unit 15 controls the overall operation of the terminal device 10.

[0034] The positioning unit 16 includes one or more devices that acquire the position information of the terminal device 10. Specifically, the positioning unit 16 includes, for example, a receiver corresponding to GPS, but is not limited thereto and may include a receiver corresponding to any satellite positioning system.

[0035] (Structure of Information Processing Device)

[0036] like Figure 3 As shown, the information processing device 20 includes a communication unit 21 , a storage unit 22 , and a control unit 23 .

[0037] The communication unit 21 includes one or more communication interfaces connected to the network 30. The communication interface corresponds to, for example, a mobile communication standard, a wired LAN (Local Area Network) standard, or a wireless LAN standard, but is not limited thereto and may correspond to any communication standard. In the present embodiment, the information processing device 20 communicates with a plurality of terminal devices 10 and a power supply vehicle via the communication unit 21 and the network 30. In addition, the information processing device 20 may also communicate with other information processing devices such as an information processing device of an operator.

[0038] The storage unit 22 includes one or more memories. Each memory included in the storage unit 22 may function as a main storage device, an auxiliary storage device, or a cache memory, for example. The storage unit 22 stores any information used in the operation of the information processing device 20. For example, the storage unit 22 may store system programs, application programs, embedded software, and databases. The information stored in the storage unit 22 may be updated using information obtained from the network 30 via the communication unit 21, for example.

[0039] The control unit 23 includes one or more processors, one or more programmable circuits, one or more dedicated circuits, or a combination thereof. The processor is, for example, a general-purpose processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), or a dedicated processor specifically used for specific processing, but is not limited to these. The programmable circuit is, for example, an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array), but is not limited to this. The dedicated circuit is, for example, an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), but is not limited to this. The control unit 23 controls the overall operation of the information processing device 20.

[0040] (System 1 action flow)

[0041] Reference Figure 4 , describing the operation of the terminal device 10 in the system 1 according to the present embodiment.

[0042] S100: The control unit 15 of the terminal device 10 determines a power supply vehicle or operator that satisfies a predetermined condition regarding power supply to the user vehicle based on the current location of the user vehicle or a desired power supply location that is a power supply location desired by the user.

[0043] Specifically, a user who wishes to use the home charging service inputs information related to the desired use of the charging service using the terminal device 10. The input of information related to the desired use of the charging service can be performed, for example, using an input form displayed on the screen of the terminal device 10, or by opening a site for making a reservation for the home charging service using a browser, but any input method other than these can be used.

[0044] Triggered by the input of information related to the user's desire to use the charging service, the control unit 15 of the terminal device 10 sends the information related to the desired use and the current location of the user's vehicle or the information of the desired power supply location as the power supply location desired by the user to the information processing device 20 via the communication unit 11 and the network 30. Next, the control unit 23 of the information processing device 20 that receives the information via the communication unit 21 determines a power supply vehicle or operator that meets the prescribed conditions related to power supply to the user's vehicle, and sends the information of the power supply vehicle or operator that meets the prescribed conditions to the terminal device 10, whereby the control unit 15 determines a power supply vehicle or operator that meets the prescribed conditions related to power supply to the user's vehicle.

[0045] The "specified conditions" can be determined arbitrarily. For example, the specified conditions may also include a power supply vehicle or operator that exists within a specified distance that can be arbitrarily determined from the current location of the user's vehicle or the power supply location desired by the user. In the above case, the control unit 23 can, for example, receive the current location of the power supply vehicle or the destination location of the power supply vehicle from the power supply vehicle via the network 30, and determine the power supply vehicle by determining whether it is within the specified distance from the current location of the user's vehicle or the power supply location desired by the user, or send the current location of the user's vehicle or the power supply location desired by the user to the operator's information processing device via the network 30, and receive information related to whether the user's vehicle can be powered from the operator's information processing device to determine the operator.

[0046] The “current location of the user's vehicle” or the “current location of the power supply vehicle” can be acquired by any method such as using GPS.

[0047] The “desired power supply location” can be acquired by any method using an input form displayed on the screen of the terminal device 10 .

[0048] The "predetermined distance" can be set to any distance including 100m, 200m, 500m, 1km, 2km, 5km, 10km, etc. The predetermined distance may also be changeable. In addition, the predetermined distance may be calculated using the SOC of the user vehicle described later.

[0049] In addition, instead of the information processing device 20 communicating with the power supply vehicle or the operator, the terminal device 10 may directly communicate with the power supply vehicle or the operator via the communication unit 21. In the above case, the processing performed by the control unit 23 may be performed by the control unit 15 instead.

[0050] S101: The control unit 15 obtains information on the power supply amount and information on the power supply startable time or the power supply completion estimated time for each power supply vehicle or each operator.

[0051] Specifically, when receiving the power supply vehicle information or the operator information in S100, the control unit 15 obtains information on the power supply amount and information on the power supply startable time or the power supply completion estimated time included in the power supply vehicle information or the operator information.

[0052] The information on the power supply vehicle or the information on the operator may include information on the fee incurred when utilizing the door-to-door charging service, or may include any information other than this.

[0053] S102: The control unit 15 displays information on the power supply amount and information on the power supply startable time or the power supply completion estimated time for each power supply vehicle or each operator on the terminal device 10.

[0054] Specifically, the control unit 15 may also display the information related to the power supply amount obtained in S101 and the information related to the time when power supply can be started or the scheduled time when power supply is completed on the terminal device 10 by any method, such as displaying them in association with the power supply vehicle or the operator on a map displayed on the screen of the terminal device 10, or displaying them in association with the power supply vehicle or the operator displayed at a glance on the screen, for each power supply vehicle or for each operator.

[0055] The information on the power supply amount displayed on the screen of the terminal device 10 may also be displayed in terms of SOC. In the above case, the control unit 15 calculates the SOC by dividing the total value, which is the sum of the remaining charge amount of the user vehicle obtained from the storage unit 14 and the power supply amount obtained in S101, by the full charge capacity of the user vehicle obtained from the storage unit 14.

[0056] In addition, for example, the control unit 15 may also display, on the terminal device 10 , information on the fee incurred when utilizing the door-to-door charging service for each power supply vehicle or for each operator.

[0057] In addition, for example, the control unit 15 may also display the information related to the amount of power available when displaying the information related to the amount of power available for the power supply vehicle or the operator where the total of the amount of power available for the power supply vehicle or the operator and the remaining charge of the user vehicle is less than the full charge capacity of the user vehicle.

[0058] Specifically, the control unit 15 calculates the sum of the remaining charge amount of the user vehicle obtained from the storage unit 14 and the supply amount obtained in S101, that is, the total value, for each of the power supply vehicles or each of the operators. Next, the control unit 15 compares the total value calculated for each of the power supply vehicles or each of the operators with the full charge capacity of the user vehicle obtained from the storage unit 14. As a result of the comparison, in the case of the power supply vehicle or the operator whose total value is less than the full charge capacity of the user vehicle, the information related to the supply amount is displayed, and in the case of the power supply vehicle or the operator whose total value is greater than the full charge capacity of the user vehicle, the information related to the supply amount is not displayed.

[0059] As described above, the terminal device 10 determines the power supply vehicle or operator that satisfies the prescribed conditions related to power supply to the user's vehicle based on the current location of the user's vehicle or the desired power supply location as the user's desired power supply location. Next, the terminal device 10 obtains information related to the amount of power available and information related to the time when power supply can be started or the scheduled time when power supply is completed for each power supply vehicle or each operator. Then, the terminal device 10 displays the information related to the amount of power available and information related to the time when power supply can be started or the scheduled time when power supply is completed on the terminal device 10 for each power supply vehicle or each operator.

[0060] According to the above structure, when the user wants to charge the battery to a specific time even if the charging amount is small, the available power and the time when the power supply can be started or the scheduled time when the power supply is completed can be confirmed for each power supply vehicle or each operator, so that the user can select the door-to-door charging service according to the user's wishes. Therefore, according to this embodiment, the technology of power supply using the power supply vehicle is improved in that the user can select the door-to-door charging service according to the user's wishes.

[0061] Although the present disclosure is described based on the drawings and embodiments, it should be noted that those skilled in the art may also make various modifications and changes based on the present disclosure. Therefore, it is hoped that these modifications and changes are included in the scope of the present disclosure. For example, the functions included in each structural part or each step can be reconfigured in a logically non-contradictory manner, and multiple structural parts or steps can be combined into one or divided.

[0062] For example, in the above-mentioned embodiment, it is also possible to implement an embodiment in which the structure and operation of the terminal device 10 are distributed to a plurality of computers that can communicate with each other. In addition, for example, it is also possible to implement an embodiment in which part or all of the components of the terminal device 10 are provided in the information processing device 20. For example, the information processing device 20 may also include part or all of the components of the terminal device 10.

[0063] In addition, for example, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the terminal device 10 may filter the displayed power supply vehicles or operators by the power supply amount, the power supply startable time, or the power supply completion scheduled time.

[0064] Specifically, the control unit 15 of the terminal device 10 can provide a filtering function on the screen of the terminal device 10 displayed in S102, so that the displayed power supply vehicles or operators are filtered by the power supply amount desired by the user, or the time when power supply can be started, or the scheduled time when power supply is completed. In addition to filtering, the control unit 15 can also sort the displayed power supply vehicles or operators in ascending or descending order by the power supply amount, or the time when power supply can be started, or the scheduled time when power supply is completed.

[0065] In addition, for example, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the terminal device 10 can also obtain the minimum SOC desired by the user, that is, the minimum limit SOC, the desired time for the user to start power supply or the desired time for the power supply to be completed, and set a recommendation degree for each of the power supply vehicles or the operators based on the minimum limit SOC and the power supply available by the power supply vehicle or the operator, or the desired time for the power supply to start or the desired time for the power supply to be completed and the time when power supply can be started or the scheduled time for the power supply to be completed, and change the display style of each power supply vehicle or the operator based on the recommendation degree.

[0066] Specifically, the control unit 15 of the terminal device 10 obtains the minimum SOC, the desired time to start power supply, or the desired time to complete power supply by allowing the user to input the minimum SOC, the desired time to start power supply, or the desired time to complete power supply. Next, the control unit 15 sets the recommended degree for each power supply vehicle or operator based on the difference between the minimum SOC and the SOC calculated using the above-mentioned power supply, or the difference between the desired time to start power supply and the time when power supply can be started by the power supply vehicle or operator, or the difference between the desired time to complete power supply and the scheduled time to complete power supply by the power supply vehicle or operator. Then, the control unit 15 changes the display style of each power supply vehicle or operator based on the recommended degree set for each power supply vehicle or operator.

[0067] For example, the control unit 15 may set the recommended degree higher as the difference between the minimum limit SOC and the SOC calculated using the above-mentioned supplyable power is larger, or the recommended degree may be set higher as the difference between the desired time to start power supply and the time when power supply vehicle or operator can start power supply is smaller, or the recommended degree may be set higher as the difference between the desired time to start power supply and the time when power supply vehicle or operator can start power supply is smaller. In addition, for example, the control unit 15 may set the recommended degree set based on the difference between the desired time to start power supply and the time when power supply vehicle or operator can start power supply to be higher than the recommended degree set based on the difference between the minimum limit SOC and the SOC calculated using the above-mentioned supplyable power, or vice versa. The method for setting the recommended degree may also be changeable.

[0068] In addition, for example, the control unit 15 may set the recommendation level of each power supply vehicle or operator based on arbitrary information including information on the cost of using the home charging service, but is not limited thereto.

[0069] The “recommendation degree” may be expressed by a number, for example. The larger the number, the higher the recommendation degree may be set, or the smaller the number, the higher the recommendation degree may be set. Various expressions of recommendation degrees other than these may be used.

[0070] The “display style” includes, for example, display using colors such as red, blue, and yellow, display using shapes such as circles and double circles, and display using numbers or symbols, but various display styles other than these may also be used.

[0071] In addition, for example, in the above-mentioned embodiment, when there is a change in the information of the power supply vehicle or operator, the terminal device 10 can also display information related to the power supply vehicle or the operator's available power, as well as information related to the time when power supply can be started or the scheduled time when power supply is completed based on the changed information.

[0072] Specifically, the control unit 15 of the terminal device 10 repeatedly obtains the information of the power supply vehicle or operator from the information processing device 20 via the network 30 at a predetermined time interval. Next, the control unit 15 compares the previous information of the power supply vehicle or operator with the obtained information of the power supply vehicle or operator to confirm whether there is a change. In the case of a change, the information related to the power supply amount of the power supply vehicle or the operator, and the information related to the time when power supply can be started or the scheduled time when power supply is completed are displayed based on the changed information.

[0073] The "prescribed time interval" can be set to any time interval including every 1 second, every 2 seconds, every 5 seconds, every 10 seconds, every 1 minute, every 2 minutes, every 10 minutes, every 30 minutes, and every 1 hour. In addition, the prescribed time interval can also be appropriately changed.

[0074] Furthermore, the control unit 15 may acquire information on the power supply vehicle or operator from the information processing device 20 in real time.

[0075] In addition, the information processing device 20 may transmit the information of the power supply vehicle or operator to the terminal device 10 only when there is a change in the information of the power supply vehicle or operator in response to the terminal device 10's request to obtain the information of the power supply vehicle or operator.

[0076] Alternatively, the control unit 15 may directly communicate with the power supply vehicle or the operator via the communication unit 21 and repeatedly acquire information of the power supply vehicle or the operator at predetermined time intervals.

[0077] In addition, for example, it is also possible to implement an embodiment in which a general-purpose computer functions as the terminal device 10 involved in the above-mentioned embodiment. Specifically, a program describing the processing contents of each function of the terminal device 10 involved in the above-mentioned embodiment is stored in a memory of a general-purpose computer, and the program is read and executed by a processor. Therefore, the present disclosure can also be implemented as a program executable by a processor, or a non-temporary computer-readable medium storing the program.

Claims

1. A method is a method executed by a terminal device, comprising: Determining a power supply vehicle or operator that satisfies prescribed conditions related to power supply to the user vehicle based on the current location of the user vehicle or the power supply location desired by the user, i.e., the desired power supply location; For each of the power supply vehicles or each of the operators, obtaining information related to the amount of power that can be supplied and information related to the time when power supply can be started or the estimated time when power supply is completed; as well as The terminal device displays information on the power supply amount and information on the power supply startable time or the power supply completion estimated time for each of the power supply vehicles or each of the operators.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein: When displaying information related to the available power, the terminal device displays information related to the available power for the power supply vehicle or the operator where the total of the available power of the power supply vehicle or the operator and the remaining charge of the user vehicle is less than the full charge capacity of the user vehicle.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein: Also includes: The displayed power supply vehicles or operators are filtered using the available power supply amount, the time at which power supply can be started, or the scheduled time at which power supply is completed.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein: Also includes: Obtaining the minimum SOC desired by the user, that is, the minimum SOC, or the desired time for starting power supply or the desired time for completing power supply desired by the user; setting a recommended degree for each of the power supply vehicle or the operator based on the minimum SOC and the power supply amount of the power supply vehicle or the operator, or the desired power supply start time or the desired power supply completion time and the power supply startable time or the expected power supply completion time; as well as The display style of each of the power supply vehicle or the operator is changed according to the recommendation degree.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein: Also includes: When the information of the power supply vehicle or the operator is changed, information on the power supply amount and information on the power supply startable time or the power supply completion estimated time of the power supply vehicle or the operator are displayed based on the changed information.

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