Method executed by information processing apparatus

Abstract

Techniques for providing a power supply service for supplying power to a vehicle are improved. A method performed by an information processing device (10) for providing a door-to-door power supply service for allocating a power supply vehicle and supplying power to a vehicle of a user, the method comprising: accepting, from each of a plurality of users, a user designation of one or more power supply conditions requesting power supply to the vehicle; a prediction step for predicting, as a target date and time, a date and time at which the one or more power supply conditions related to the user designation are satisfied; and a decision step for deciding to allocate an operation plan of the power supply vehicle at the target date and time. And repeatedly performing the processing each time power supply to the vehicle is completed with respect to each of the plurality of users.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to methods. Background Technology

[0002] Previously, there were technologies that provided power supply services to vehicles. For example, Patent Document 1 disclosed that when a server receives a request for assistance to supply power to a power-deficient EV from the power-deficient EV, it notifies the vehicle with the same specifications as the power-deficient EV among a plurality of power-supplying vehicles of the assistance request.

[0003] Existing technical documents

[0004] Patent documents

[0005] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2022-139845 Summary of the Invention

[0006] There is room for improvement in the technology for providing power supply services to vehicles.

[0007] The method disclosed herein is executed by an information processing device for providing on-site power supply service by dispatching power supply vehicles to power users' vehicles. The method includes: receiving user designations from multiple users requesting power supply for one or more power supply conditions; performing a process including a prediction step of predicting a date and time that satisfies the one or more power supply conditions associated with the user designation as a target date and time, and a decision step of determining an operation plan for dispatching the power supply vehicle at the target date and time; and repeatedly performing the process with respect to each of the multiple users whenever power supply to the vehicle is completed.

[0008] According to one embodiment of this disclosure, the technology for providing power supply services to vehicles is improved. Attached Figure Description

[0009] Figure 1 This is a diagram showing a schematic structure of the information processing apparatus according to this embodiment.

[0010] Figure 2 This is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the information processing apparatus according to this embodiment. Detailed Implementation

[0011] Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, one embodiment of the present disclosure will be described.

[0012] Reference Figure 1This section describes the structure of the information processing apparatus 10 involved in this embodiment. The information processing apparatus 10 is, for example, a server device, a computer such as a PC (personal computer), or a general-purpose or special-purpose electronic device. The information processing apparatus 10 may also be a server belonging to a cloud computing system. The information processing apparatus 10 provides on-site power supply services by dispatching power supply vehicles to each user.

[0013] First, an overview of this embodiment will be given; details will be described later. The information processing device 10 receives user requests from multiple users for power supply to vehicles based on one or more power supply conditions. The information processing device 10 performs a process including a prediction step and a decision step. In the prediction step, the date and time that satisfies one or more power supply conditions related to the user's request is predicted as a target date and time. In the decision step, an operation plan for dispatching the powered vehicle at the target date and time is determined. The information processing device 10 repeatedly performs this process for each of the multiple users, each time power is supplied to the vehicle.

[0014] According to this embodiment, users can receive power supply services whenever the predicted date and time for meeting power supply conditions is reached simply by pre-determining the power supply conditions. Therefore, for example, the burden on users is reduced compared to situations where users need to request power to their vehicles every time. For operators providing door-to-door power supply services, the date and time when power should be supplied to each user's vehicle is automatically predicted. Therefore, the predictability of the operation plan for dispatching power supply vehicles is improved, and resources can be allocated efficiently. Thus, the technology for providing power supply services to vehicles can be improved.

[0015] Reference Figure 1 The structure of the information processing device 10 is explained below. The information processing device 10 includes a control unit 11, a storage unit 12, and a communication unit 13.

[0016] The control unit 11 includes at least one processor, at least one programmable circuit such as an FPGA (field-programmable gate array), at least one special-purpose circuit such as an ASIC (application-specific integrated circuit), or any combination thereof. The processor is a general-purpose processor such as a CPU (central processing unit) or a GPU (graphics processing unit), or a special-purpose processor dedicated to specific processing. The control unit 11 controls the various parts of the information processing device 10 while performing processing related to the operation of the information processing device 10.

[0017] Storage unit 12 includes at least one semiconductor memory, at least one magnetic memory, at least one optical memory, or any combination thereof. Semiconductor memory is, for example, RAM (random access memory), ROM (read-only memory), or flash memory. RAM is, for example, SRAM (static random access memory) or DRAM (dynamic random access memory). ROM is, for example, EEPROM (electrically erasable programmable read-only memory). Flash memory is, for example, SSD (solid-state drive). Magnetic memory is, for example, HDD (hard disk drive). Storage unit 12 functions as, for example, a primary storage device, an auxiliary storage device, or a cache memory. Storage unit 12 stores information used in the operation of information processing device 10 and information obtained through the operation of information processing device 10.

[0018] The communication unit 13 includes at least one communication module. This communication module may be, for example, a module compatible with wired LAN (local area network) communication standards such as Ethernet, wireless LAN communication standards such as IEEE 802.11, or mobile communication standards such as LTE (Long Term Evolution), 4G (4th generation), or 5G (5th generation). The communication unit 13 receives information used in the operation of the information processing device 10 and transmits information obtained through the operation of the information processing device 10. The communication unit 13 enables the information processing device 10 to transmit and receive information with other devices via a network.

[0019] A network includes the Internet, at least one WAN (wide area network), at least one MAN (metropolitan area network), or a combination thereof. A network may also include at least one wireless network, at least one optical network, or a combination thereof. Wireless networks include, for example, ad-hoc networks, cellular networks, wireless LANs, or satellite communication networks.

[0020] The functions of the information processing device 10 are implemented by the processor, which serves as the control unit 11, executing the program described in this embodiment. That is, the functions of the information processing device 10 are implemented through software. The program causes the computer to perform the actions of the information processing device 10, thereby enabling the computer to function as the information processing device 10. In other words, the computer functions as the information processing device 10 by executing the actions of the information processing device 10 according to the program.

[0021] Programs can be stored on non-transitory computer-readable media. Examples of non-transitory computer-readable media include flash memory, magnetic recording devices, optical discs, optical-magnetic recording media, or ROM.

[0022] Some or all of the functions of the information processing device 10 can also be implemented by a programmable circuit or a dedicated circuit that serves as the control unit 11. That is, some or all of the functions of the information processing device 10 can also be implemented by hardware.

[0023] Reference Figure 2 The operation of the information processing apparatus 10 according to this embodiment will be explained. Hereinafter, communication between the information processing apparatus 10 and external devices will be performed via the communication unit 13 and the network. Hereinafter, it will be assumed that the control unit 11 communicates with the vehicles of each of the multiple users, and continuously obtains information indicating the remaining battery level from the vehicles.

[0024] exist Figure 2 In step S1, the control unit 11 receives user specifications regarding power supply conditions from multiple users when they request power to their vehicles. Specifically, the control unit 11 receives user specifications indicating power supply conditions input by multiple users into their respective terminal devices. The power supply conditions include at least one of the following: a first condition specifying a range of the vehicle's remaining battery capacity; a second condition specifying the day of the week and time period; and a third condition specifying the location where the vehicle can be powered. The range of the vehicle's remaining battery capacity can be a percentage of the remaining battery capacity relative to a fully charged state. Multiple days of the week and time periods related to the second condition can be specified. The time period can be specified using predetermined time frames such as morning or afternoon, or every few hours. The location where the vehicle can be powered can include the user's residence or workplace, or other locations visited by the user using their vehicle.

[0025] In this example, User A inputs the following user designation into the terminal device: first condition "30% or more and less than 50%", second condition "Wednesday from 10:00 to 16:00", and third condition "Area A, Street B". User B inputs the following user designation into the terminal device: first condition "40% or more and less than 60%", second condition "Saturday from 10:00 to 12:00 and Sunday from 10:00 to 12:00", and third condition "Area C, Street D". The control unit 11 receives the user designation information representing User A and User B from each terminal device.

[0026] In S2, the control unit 11 predicts the latest date and time that will satisfy the power supply conditions specified by the user for each user as the target date and time. For example, the control unit 11 first obtains remaining information representing the estimated remaining battery level of each user's vehicle in the future. Any method can be used to obtain this remaining information. For example, the control unit 11 can calculate the estimated remaining battery level in the future based on the rate of change of the remaining battery level represented by the information received from each vehicle.

[0027] Furthermore, the control unit 11 reads and obtains schedule information indicating the date and time on which power supply vehicles can be dispatched from the storage unit 12. The control unit 11 may also receive this schedule information from the power supply vehicles. The schedule information can indicate the dispatchable date and time and the dispatchable area for each of the multiple power supply vehicles maintained by the on-site power supply service operator. In this example, the schedule information is assumed to indicate the dispatchable date and time and the dispatchable area for the first power supply vehicle and the second power supply vehicle.

[0028] Based on the remaining battery level information and schedule information, the control unit 11 predicts the latest date and time that satisfies the first to third conditions related to the user's specifications as the target date and time for dispatching the power supply vehicle to the user's vehicle. In this example, the control unit 11 predicts the latest date and time related to user A's user specifications, that falls within the range of the remaining battery level under the first condition, the weekday and time period under the second condition, and the power supply location where the power supply vehicle can be moved under the third condition, as the target date and time for user A. Similarly, based on the remaining battery level information and schedule information, the control unit 11 predicts the latest date and time related to user B's user specifications, that falls within the range of the remaining battery level under the first condition, the weekday and time period under the second condition, and the power supply location where the power supply vehicle can be moved under the third condition, as the target date and time for user B.

[0029] In this example, the schedule information indicates that vehicle 1 can move to area A between 12:00 and 17:00 daily, and vehicle 2 can move to area C between 8:00 and 17:00 every Saturday and Sunday. The estimated remaining battery level of user A's vehicle, which meets the first condition "more than 30% and less than 50%" related to user designation, is from 10:00 on Monday, April 1st to 14:00 on Wednesday, April 3rd. Control unit 11 predicts 14:00 on Wednesday, April 3rd, as the latest date and time that satisfies the second condition "from 10:00 to 16:00 on Wednesday" related to user A's designation and that vehicle 1 can move to area A, street B, related to user A's designation. Furthermore, the estimated remaining battery level of user B's vehicle, which meets the first condition "more than 40% and less than 60%" related to user designation, is from 12:00 on Saturday, April 6th to 12:00 on Monday, April 8th. Control unit 11 will predict the target date and time as the latest date and time of Sunday, April 7th, which is the latest date and time of the third condition related to user B's designation, "10:00 to 12:00 on Saturday and 10:00 to 12:00 on Sunday" and the date and time of the second power supply vehicle being able to move to the third condition related to user B's designation, "C area D street".

[0030] In S3, the control unit 11 determines the operation plan. In this example, the control unit 11 decides to dispatch the first power supply vehicle to user A at 14:00 on Wednesday, April 3, and the second power supply vehicle to user B at 12:00 on Sunday, April 7.

[0031] In S4, the control unit 11 schedules power supply vehicles according to the operation plan. For example, the control unit 11 sends information indicating the operation plan to the first power supply vehicle and the second power supply vehicle respectively. The first power supply vehicle and the second power supply vehicle can move to the user via automatic driving according to their respective operation plans.

[0032] Subsequently, whenever power supply to each user's vehicle using the power supply vehicle is completed, the processing of the control unit 11 returns to S2. The control unit 11 can determine the completion of power supply using the power supply vehicle by receiving and obtaining information indicating the completion of power supply from each power supply vehicle or user's vehicle. By repeatedly executing S2 to S4, power supply services can be automatically provided according to the power supply conditions specified by the user.

[0033] As a variation of this disclosure, the control unit 11 may also predict the latest date and time that satisfies the first, second, and third conditions related to the user specifications of two or more users within the same area as the power supply location for each user's designated third condition among multiple users. In this case, the control unit 11 determines the operation plan for dispatching power supply vehicles for the two or more users at the target date and time. The scope of the same area can be a freely pre-defined range such as a county, city, or region.

[0034] For example, in S1 above, control unit 11, in addition to users A and B, also accepts user specifications for power supply conditions from user C. Let the first condition related to user C's specification be "10% or more and less than 40%", the second condition be "8:00 to 13:00 on Mondays, 8:00 to 13:00 on Tuesdays, and 8:00 to 13:00 on Wednesdays", and the third condition be "Area A, Street E". Control unit 11 receives information representing user C's specification from user C's terminal device.

[0035] In S2 above, the control unit 11 determines that users A and C, from user A to user C, are within the same "Area A" as the power supply location specified by the user. In this variation, similar to the above embodiment, the schedule information indicates that the first power supply vehicle can move to Area A between 12:00 and 17:00 daily, and the second power supply vehicle can move to Area C between 8:00 and 17:00 on Saturdays and Sundays. The control unit 11 obtains the remaining battery level information for users A and B's vehicles, and then obtains the remaining battery level information for user C's vehicle, similar to the above. In this variation, the period during which the estimated future battery level of user C's vehicle meets the first condition "more than 10% and less than 40%" related to the user's specified timeframe is from 10:00 on Monday, April 1st to 10:00 on Friday, April 5th. In this case, the control unit 11 will determine the target date and time as 13:00 on Wednesday, which satisfies the second condition related to user A's user designation ("Wednesday from 10:00 to 16:00") and the second condition related to user C's user designation ("Monday from 8:00 to 13:00, Tuesday from 8:00 to 13:00, and Wednesday from 8:00 to 13:00"), and the third condition related to the user designation of both users A and C. Then, in S3 above, the control unit 11 will determine an operation plan to dispatch the first power supply vehicle to users A and C at 13:00 on Wednesday, April 3rd. In this case, the control unit 11 may also determine an operation plan to prioritize dispatching the vehicle with the lower estimated remaining battery level at the target date and time to users A and C. Furthermore, similarly, the control unit 11 will determine an operation plan to dispatch the second power supply vehicle to user B at 12:00 on Sunday, April 7th. In S4, the control unit 11, in the same manner as described above, arranges power supply vehicles according to the operation plan.

[0036] According to this variation, the control unit 11 can determine the operation plan for allocating one power supply vehicle to multiple users within a predetermined area. Thus, the operator providing power supply services can further optimize the allocation of power supply vehicles as a resource.

[0037] This disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described above. For example, two or more blocks described in the block diagram may be merged, or one block may be divided. Alternatively, instead of executing two or more steps described in the flowchart in a time sequence as described, the steps may be executed in parallel or in a different order depending on the processing capacity of the device executing each step or as needed. Furthermore, modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of this disclosure.

[0038] (Symbol Explanation)

[0039] 10: Information processing device; 11: Control unit; 12: Storage unit; 13: Communication unit.

Claims

1. A method executed by an information processing device for providing on-site power supply service by dispatching power supply vehicles to supply power to a user's vehicle, the method comprising: The user designation of one or more power supply conditions for powering the vehicle is obtained from the individual user acceptance requests of multiple users; The process includes a prediction step and a decision step. In the prediction step, the date and time that satisfies one or more power supply conditions related to the user's specification are predicted as the target date and time. In the decision step, the operation plan of the power supply vehicle is determined to be scheduled at the target date and time. as well as For each of the multiple users, the process is repeatedly executed whenever power is supplied to the vehicle.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein, The one or more power supply conditions include a first condition specifying a range of the remaining battery capacity of the vehicle and a second condition specifying the week and time period.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein, The prediction steps include: The steps include obtaining remaining quantity information representing the estimated remaining quantity of the vehicle's battery in the future, and predicting the latest date and time that satisfies the first and second conditions specified by the user as the object's date and time based on the remaining quantity information.

4. The method according to claim 2 or 3, wherein, The more than one power supply condition also includes a third condition specifying the power supply location of the power supply vehicle. The prediction steps include: The steps include obtaining remaining quantity information representing the future remaining quantity of the vehicle's battery and timetable information representing the date and time when the powered vehicle can move, and predicting the latest date and time that satisfies the first condition, the second condition, and the third condition related to the user's specification as the object's date and time based on the remaining quantity information and the timetable information.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein, The prediction steps include: If the power supply location is within the same area as the third condition related to the user designation of two or more users among the plurality of users, the step of predicting the latest date and time that satisfies the first, second, and third conditions related to the user designation of the two or more users as the object date and time is as follows: The decision-making steps include: For the two or more users, the steps for determining the operation plan of the power supply vehicle to be allocated on the target date and time.

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