Method executed by information processing apparatus

Abstract

Techniques for door-to-door power supply services are improved. An information processing device (20) accepts, from a user, designation of one or more power supply conditions for which the user requests power supply to a vehicle of the user. Next, the information processing device (20) determines, as a predetermined power supply date and time, the date and time for which the one or more power supply conditions are predicted to be satisfied. Next, the information processing device (20) notifies the user of the predetermined power supply date and time. Next, the information processing device (20) notifies the user of one or more idle time frames selected in accordance with the cost of deployment of the power supply vehicle from among a plurality of idle time frames in which the power supply vehicle can be deployed, when receiving a request for changing the predetermined power supply date and time from the user. Then, the information processing device (20) changes the predetermined power supply date / time to an idle time frame selected by the user from among the one or more idle time frames.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to methods. Background Technology

[0002] Previously, technologies for providing door-to-door power supply services using powered vehicles in situations such as when an electric vehicle (EV) is out of power were known. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a method in which, when a server receives a request for assistance to supply power to an EV that is out of power, it notifies the vehicle with the same specifications as the EV that is out of power, among a plurality of vehicles capable of supplying power to external devices, 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 used for on-site power supply services.

[0007] The purpose of this disclosure, made in view of the above circumstances, is to improve the technology used for on-site power supply services.

[0008] One embodiment of this disclosure is a method performed 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, wherein the method includes:

[0009] The user specifies one or more power supply conditions for supplying power to the vehicle upon accepting the user's request;

[0010] The date and time predicted to meet one or more of the power supply conditions will be determined as the scheduled power supply date and time.

[0011] The user will be notified of the scheduled power supply date and time.

[0012] In the event of a change request from the time the user receives the request to the scheduled power supply date and time, the user will be notified of at least one idle time slot selected from multiple idle time slots available for dispatching the power supply vehicle in the operation plan, based on the dispatch cost of the power supply vehicle; and

[0013] Change the scheduled power supply date and time to an idle time frame selected by the user from one or more idle time frames.

[0014] According to one embodiment of this disclosure, the technology for on-site power supply service is improved. Attached Figure Description

[0015] Figure 1 This is a block diagram illustrating the general structure of a system according to one embodiment of this disclosure.

[0016] Figure 2 This is a flowchart illustrating the operation of an information processing device. Detailed Implementation

[0017] The following describes the implementation of this disclosure.

[0018] (Summary of the implementation method)

[0019] Reference Figure 1 This section provides an overview of the system 1 involved in the embodiments of this disclosure. System 1 includes multiple terminal devices 10 and an information processing device 20. The multiple terminal devices 10 and the information processing device 20 are communicatively connected to a network 30, such as the Internet and mobile communication networks.

[0020] Terminal device 10 is, for example, a computer such as a PC (Personal Computer), smartphone, or tablet. In this embodiment, terminal device 10 is used by a user utilizing on-site power supply service. Terminal device 10 may also be a computer installed in the user's vehicle.

[0021] The information processing device 20 is, for example, a computer such as a server device. The information processing device 20 can communicate with multiple terminal devices 10 via a network 30.

[0022] First, an overview of this embodiment will be provided; details will be described later. An information processing device 20 for providing on-site power supply service by dispatching power supply vehicles to power a user's vehicle receives a user's request for power supply to their vehicle, specifying one or more power supply conditions. Next, the information processing device 20 determines a predetermined power supply date and time as the predicted date and time for fulfilling the one or more power supply conditions. Next, the information processing device 20 notifies the user of the predetermined power supply date and time. Next, in the event of a change request from the user to the predetermined power supply date and time, the information processing device 20 notifies the user of one or more available time slots selected from multiple available time slots based on the dispatch cost of the power supply vehicles. Furthermore, the information processing device 20 changes the predetermined power supply date and time to an available time slot selected by the user from one or more available time slots.

[0023] In on-site power supply services, a method is considered where the scheduled power supply date and time are automatically determined based on the power supply conditions specified by the user before each request. However, with this method, the predictability of the scheduled power supply date and time may not be high for the user, so a scenario is envisioned where the user requests a change to the already determined scheduled power supply date and time. However, if the structure allows the user to freely choose a power supply date and time from all available time slots of the power supply vehicle when changing the scheduled power supply date and time, there is a possibility of increased dispatch costs for the power supply vehicle. Therefore, it is preferable to determine the operation plan of the power supply vehicle in a way that reduces dispatch costs and provides efficient power supply, for example, by supplying power to multiple users' vehicles in a single trip. To address this issue, according to this embodiment, when a user receives a request to change the scheduled power supply date and time, only one or more available time slots selected from the multiple available time slots of the power supply vehicle based on dispatch costs are displayed to the user. Therefore, for example, within the time slot corresponding to the user's desired power supply conditions, only available time slots where dispatch costs will not be excessively increased can be displayed to the user. Therefore, according to this embodiment, compared with, for example, prompting the user with all of the multiple idle time slots, the technology for door-to-door power supply service is improved in that it can reduce the increase in dispatch costs of power supply vehicles associated with changes in the scheduled power supply date and time.

[0024] Next, the structure of System 1 will be described in detail.

[0025] (Structure of the terminal device)

[0026] like Figure 1 As shown, the terminal device 10 communicates with the information processing device 20 via the network 30. Furthermore, the terminal device 10 may include, for example, a display that outputs image information or a speaker that outputs sound information. Additionally, the terminal device 10 may include, for example, one or more input devices that detect user input operations, such as physical keys, electrostatic capacitive keys, a mouse, a touch panel, a touch screen integrated with the display of the output unit 12, or a microphone.

[0027] (Structure of an information processing device)

[0028] like Figure 1 As shown, the information processing device 20 includes a communication unit 21, a storage unit 22, and a control unit 23.

[0029] The communication unit 21 includes one or more communication interfaces connected to the network 30. These communication interfaces may correspond to, for example, mobile communication standards, wired LAN (Local Area Network) standards, or wireless LAN standards, but are not limited to these; they can correspond to any communication standard. In this embodiment, the information processing device 20 communicates with each terminal device 10 via the communication unit 21 and the network 30.

[0030] The storage unit 22 includes one or more memory units. Each memory unit included in the storage unit 22 can function as a main storage device, an auxiliary storage device, or a cache memory. The storage unit 22 stores any information used in the operation of the information processing device 20. For example, the storage unit 22 can also store system programs, application programs, and embedded software. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the storage unit 22 stores the operating plan of the powered vehicle.

[0031] "Power supply vehicle operation plan" refers to the reservation of power supply services by one or more power supply vehicles used for door-to-door power supply services. The power supply vehicle operation plan may include, for example, a schedule information such as when one or more power supply vehicles will provide power supply on a certain day, at a certain time, and at a certain location.

[0032] The control unit 23 includes one or more processors, one or more programmable circuits, one or more dedicated circuits, or combinations thereof. The processor may be a general-purpose processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), or a dedicated processor for specific processing, but is not limited to these. The programmable circuit may be, for example, a FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array), but is not limited to these. The dedicated circuit may be, for example, an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), but is not limited to these. The control unit 23 controls the overall operation of the information processing device 20.

[0033] (Operational flow of the information processing device)

[0034] Reference Figure 2 This explains the operation of the information processing device 20 involved in this embodiment.

[0035] S100: The control unit 23 of the information processing device 20 specifies one or more power supply conditions for receiving a user's request to supply power to the user's vehicle.

[0036] Specifically, the control unit 23 receives from the terminal device 10, via the network 30 and the communication unit 21, a request from the user to specify one or more power supply conditions for powering the user's vehicle, input by the user through the user's terminal device 10. Furthermore, while the user can specify one or more power supply conditions using a template displayed on the terminal device 10, any method, not limited to this, can be used.

[0037] "One or more power supply conditions" may also include (1) a first condition indicating that the remaining battery capacity is within a specified numerical range, such as 20% to 90%; (2) a second condition indicating that the scheduled power supply date and time is a specified weekday and / or time period; and (3) a third condition indicating that the user's vehicle is located at a specified power supply location.

[0038] Furthermore, regarding the setting of condition 1, users can specify only the lower limit of the numerical range, while the upper limit is predetermined by the operator. Alternatively, users can specify both the lower and upper limits of the numerical range.

[0039] S101: The control unit 23 determines the date and time when it is predicted that one or more power supply conditions will be met as the scheduled power supply date and time.

[0040] For example, if there are more than one power supply condition, including a first condition and a second condition, the control unit 23 can also receive the remaining battery level of the user's vehicle from the vehicle. Next, the control unit 23 can predict the future remaining battery level of the vehicle based on the remaining battery level received from the vehicle, and determine the predicted date and time when the first and second conditions will be met. Furthermore, if the control unit 23 can allocate any one of more than one power supply vehicle during that time period according to the power supply vehicle operation plan, it can designate the determined date and time as the scheduled power supply date and time. Additionally, if there are multiple possible date and time periods that can be used as the scheduled power supply date and time, the control unit 23 can designate the latest date and time as the scheduled power supply date and time. Alternatively, the control unit 23 can designate the earliest date and time as the scheduled power supply date and time.

[0041] Whether one or more power supply vehicles can be assigned can also be based on the allocation cost of the power supply vehicles. For example, the "allocation cost" of the power supply vehicle can be calculated based on factors such as travel distance, travel time, and the charging time or number of battery replacements of the power supply vehicle. Specifically, the allocation cost can be calculated higher if the travel distance or travel time is longer, or higher if the battery charging time or number of battery replacements is more frequent. For example, if the third condition, in which the power supply location is "Kichijoji", is included among the more than one power supply conditions, the control unit 23 can also determine the power supply vehicle that is scheduled to provide power in "Tachikawa", which is closer to "Kichijoji", as an assignable power supply vehicle to shorten the travel distance.

[0042] S102: The control unit 23 determines the operation plan of the powered vehicle by the method of supplying power to the vehicle on the scheduled power supply date and time.

[0043] Specifically, the control unit 23 adds the scheduled power supply date and time determined in S101 to the power supply vehicle operation plan stored in the storage unit 22.

[0044] S103: Control unit 23 notifies the user of the scheduled power supply date and time.

[0045] Specifically, the control unit 23 sends the scheduled power supply date and time determined in S101 to the user's terminal device 10 via the communication unit 21 and the network 30. Furthermore, the terminal device 10 notifies the user of the scheduled power supply date and time by displaying the information processing unit 20 received from the terminal device 10 on its screen. In addition, the notification can be sent to the user at any time, such as the scheduled weekday of the week or the scheduled time before the scheduled power supply date and time. Multiple notifications to the user are also possible.

[0046] Furthermore, when the control unit 23 notifies the user of the scheduled power supply date and time, it can also allow the user to confirm whether the scheduled power supply date and time is appropriate. User confirmation can be achieved, for example, by providing a "OK" button (indicating no problem) and a button (indicating a desire to set a different date and time) on the screen displaying the power supply date and time on the terminal device 10. However, any method, not limited to these, can also be used.

[0047] There can be multiple buttons indicating a desired date and time. For example, terminal device 10 may provide an "earlier" button for a desired date and time within a predetermined period, such as two days earlier than the predetermined power supply date and time, and a "later" button for a desired date and time within a predetermined period later than the predetermined power supply date and time. Additionally, terminal device 10 may also provide a "skip" button for changing the date and time to a week or time period specified in the second condition within a predetermined period after the predetermined power supply date and time, such as one week later. Furthermore, the user may specify the predetermined period on the screen of terminal device 10.

[0048] The buttons displayed on the screen of the terminal device 10 can also vary depending on the conditions. For example, if there is no free time during a period earlier than the scheduled power supply date, the "earlier" button can be hidden; if there is no free time during a period later than the scheduled power supply date, the "later" button can be hidden. Additionally, for example, if the predicted remaining battery level does not meet the first condition, either the "later" button or the "skip" button can be hidden.

[0049] The control unit 23 may also execute S103 without performing S102, or it may execute S102 only when the user presses the "button that means there is no problem".

[0050] S104: Control unit 23 receives a request from the user to change the scheduled power supply date and time.

[0051] Specifically, the control unit 23 accepts the user's request to change the scheduled power supply date and time by having the user press a button in S103 that indicates a desire to set the date and time to another. Alternatively, the control unit 23 may provide an interface on the screen of the terminal device 10 for making a request to change the scheduled power supply date and time, thereby accepting the change request.

[0052] S105: Control unit 23 will notify the user of one or more idle time slots selected from multiple idle time slots of the dispatchable power supply vehicles based on the dispatch cost of the power supply vehicles.

[0053] Specifically, the control unit 23 will notify the user of one or more idle time slots other than the scheduled power supply date and time, selected by adding the condition of the change request from the user to the scheduled power supply date and time accepted in S104 to the processing described in S101.

[0054] For example, when a user presses the "earlier" button on the screen of terminal device 10, control unit 23 can select one or more idle time slots that satisfy the processing described in S101, within a predetermined period earlier than the scheduled power supply date. Alternatively, for example, when the "later" button is pressed, control unit 23 can select one or more idle time slots within the same week as the scheduled power supply date, within a predetermined period later than the scheduled power supply date, satisfying the processing described in S101. Or, for example, when the "skip" button is pressed, control unit 23 can select one or more idle time slots within the following week, within a predetermined period later than the scheduled power supply date, satisfying the processing described in S101.

[0055] Furthermore, the control unit 23 notifies the user of one or more idle time slots by displaying one or more idle time slots on the screen of the user's terminal device 10.

[0056] S106: Control unit 23 changes the scheduled power supply date and time to an idle time frame selected by the user from one or more idle time frames.

[0057] Specifically, the control unit 23 provides an interface on the user's terminal device 10 that allows the user to select one time frame from more than one available time frame. This interface can be implemented in various ways, such as by directly selecting one or more available time frames on the screen. Then, when the user selects a time frame, the control unit 23 changes that time frame to the scheduled power supply date and time, thereby updating the power supply vehicle operation plan stored in the storage unit 22.

[0058] While this disclosure has been described with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments, it should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and alterations based on this disclosure. Therefore, it is desirable to understand that such modifications and alterations are included within the scope of this disclosure. For example, the functions included in each structural part or step can be reconfigured in a logically consistent manner, and multiple structural parts or steps can be combined into one or divided.

[0059] For example, in the above embodiments, it is also possible to implement an embodiment in which the structure and operation of the information processing device 20 are distributed among multiple computers that can communicate with each other. Additionally, for example, it is also possible to implement an embodiment in which some or all of the components of the information processing device 20 are incorporated into the terminal device 10. For example, the terminal device 10 may also include some or all of the components of the information processing device 20.

[0060] Additionally, for example, in the above embodiment, the control unit 23 may also calculate the increase in dispatch cost when the scheduled power supply date and time is changed to each of the multiple idle time slots, and when the user receives the request to change the scheduled power supply date and time, notify the user of one or more idle time slots from the multiple idle time slots whose increase is less than a threshold.

[0061] Specifically, the control unit 23 calculates the allocation cost of each of the multiple idle time slots according to the allocation cost calculation method described in S101, and calculates the difference between the allocation cost and the allocation cost of the scheduled power supply date and time before the change, thereby calculating the increase in allocation cost. Then, the control unit 23 notifies the user only the idle time slots whose increase is less than a threshold from one or more idle time slots selected in S105. Furthermore, the threshold can be changed.

[0062] Alternatively, control unit 23 may notify the user of a predetermined number of idle time frames from multiple idle time frames in ascending order of increase. Furthermore, the predetermined number can be variable.

[0063] Furthermore, it is also possible to implement an embodiment in which a general-purpose computer functions as the information processing apparatus 20 according to the above embodiments. Specifically, a program describing the processing content for implementing the functions of the information processing apparatus 20 according to the above embodiments is stored in the memory of a general-purpose computer, and the program is read and executed by a processor. Therefore, this disclosure can also be implemented as a processor-executable program or a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing the program.

[0064] (Symbol Explanation)

[0065] 1: System; 10: Terminal device; 20: Information processing device; 21: Communication unit; 22: Storage; 23: Control unit; 30: Network.

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, wherein, The method includes: The user specifies one or more power supply conditions for supplying power to the vehicle upon accepting the user's request; The date and time predicted to meet one or more of the power supply conditions will be determined as the scheduled power supply date and time. The user will be notified of the scheduled power supply date and time. In the event of a change request from the time the user receives the request to the scheduled power supply date and time, the user will be notified of one or more available time slots selected from among multiple available time slots for dispatching the power supply vehicles, based on the dispatch cost of the power supply vehicles; and Change the scheduled power supply date and time to an idle time frame selected by the user from one or more idle time frames.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein, The one or more power supply conditions include: The first condition indicates that the remaining battery level is within the specified numerical range; The second condition indicates that the predetermined power supply date and time is a specified weekday; and The third condition indicates that the vehicle is located at the designated power supply location.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein, The method further includes: predicting the future remaining battery capacity of the vehicle. The information processing device will predict the date and time that satisfy the first condition and the second condition and determine the predetermined power supply date and time.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein, The dispatch cost is calculated based on the travel distance of the power supply vehicle, the travel time of the power supply vehicle, and the charging time or number of replacements of the battery mounted on the power supply vehicle.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein, The method further includes: calculating the increase in dispatch cost when the scheduled power supply date and time are changed to each of the plurality of idle time frames. When the information processing device receives a change request from the user to the scheduled power supply date and time, it notifies the user of one or more idle time frames from the plurality of idle time frames where the increase is less than a threshold.

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