Vehicle dispatch management device and vehicle dispatch management method

Abstract

To properly select and dispatch vehicles that correspond to a deteriorated travel environment in an emergency occurrence area in an emergency situation.SOLUTION: A vehicle dispatch management device includes: a vehicle information acquisition unit that acquires vehicle information from each of vehicles; a vehicle selection unit that selects a vehicle from among the plurality of vehicles by referring to a vehicle information database that stores the vehicle information for each of the vehicles; and a vehicle dispatch instruction unit that gives a vehicle dispatch instruction to the selected vehicle. When an emergency situation notification is made, the vehicle selection unit refers to the vehicle information database and selects a vehicle of a first group having vehicle characteristics that can respond to a category of the emergency situation indicated by the emergency situation notification, while during the emergency situation, the vehicle selection unit selects a vehicle of a second group in response to a vehicle dispatch request of a user. The vehicle dispatch instruction unit gives a vehicle dispatch instruction to the vehicle in the first group while giving a vehicle dispatch instruction to the vehicle in the second group to allow the user to be on board.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle allocation management device and a vehicle allocation management method. [Background technology]

[0002] Mobility services are services that provide smooth transportation of passengers and / or luggage by vehicles. Mobility services require efficient vehicle allocation to increase the utilization rate of each vehicle and improve user convenience.

[0003] On the other hand, when an emergency or emergency situation such as a disaster occurs, it is desirable to suspend normal vehicle dispatch services and respond to the emergency.

[0004] For example, Patent Document 1 below discloses a technology in which, when an emergency occurs while an autonomous vehicle is performing a first task, the first task is interrupted and the vehicle is moved to a predetermined location related to the second task in order to perform the second task in response to the emergency. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] JP 2020-113130 ​​A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] However, the technology disclosed in the above Patent Document 1 did not take into consideration the deterioration of the driving environment due to the occurrence of an emergency, and therefore had the problem that when performing the second task, vehicles that are not adapted to the deteriorated driving environment would be moved.

[0007] In view of the above problems, the present invention aims to provide a vehicle dispatch management device and a vehicle dispatch management method that, when an emergency occurs in a certain area, can appropriately select and dispatch a vehicle that is suited to the deteriorated driving environment of the area. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The present invention, which aims to solve the above problems, includes the following invention-specific matters and technical features.

[0009] The present invention according to one aspect is a vehicle dispatch management device that manages dispatch of a plurality of vehicles in a predetermined service target area. The vehicle dispatch management device includes a vehicle information acquisition unit that acquires vehicle information from each of the plurality of vehicles, a vehicle information database that stores the vehicle information of each of the vehicles, a vehicle selection unit that refers to the vehicle information database to select a vehicle from among the plurality of vehicles, and a dispatch instruction unit that issues a dispatch instruction to the selected vehicle. When an emergency report is received, the vehicle selection unit refers to the vehicle information database to select at least one or more vehicles of a first group having vehicle characteristics that can correspond to the emergency category indicated by the emergency report, while during the emergency, in response to a dispatch request from a user, selects a vehicle of a second group. The dispatch instruction unit issues a dispatch instruction to the at least one or more vehicles of the first group, while issuing a dispatch instruction to have the user board a vehicle of the second group.

[0010] The present invention also provides a vehicle allocation management method using a vehicle allocation management device that manages vehicle allocation in response to a vehicle allocation request, a computer program for executing the method, and a recording medium on which the method is non-temporarily recorded. Effect of the Invention

[0011] According to the present invention, when an emergency occurs in a certain area, a vehicle suited to the deteriorated driving environment in that area can be appropriately selected and dispatched.

[0012] Other technical features, objects, and operational effects or advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following embodiments described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The effects described in this specification are merely examples and are not limited thereto, and other effects may also be present. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a vehicle dispatch management system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a functional configuration model of a vehicle dispatch control device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing details of the vehicle dispatch plan formulation unit in the vehicle dispatch management device according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of an emergency vehicle characteristic table in the vehicle dispatch management device according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining an example of a vehicle dispatch management process by the vehicle dispatch management device according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining an example of a vehicle allocation management process by the vehicle allocation management device according to one embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0014] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the embodiment described below is merely an example, and there is no intention to exclude various modifications and application of techniques not specified below. The present invention can be implemented by various modifications (for example, combining the respective embodiments) within the scope of the gist of the present invention. In addition, in the following description of the drawings, the same or similar parts are represented by the same or similar reference numerals. The drawings are schematic and do not necessarily correspond to actual dimensions, ratios, etc. The drawings may also include parts with different dimensional relationships and ratios.

[0015] 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a vehicle dispatch management system according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the vehicle dispatch management system 1 includes a vehicle dispatch management device 10, a terminal device 20, and a vehicle V, which are connected to each other so as to be able to communicate with each other via a communication network N. In addition, the vehicle dispatch management system 1 can be connected via the communication network N to a road traffic information management system 30 that provides various types of traffic information in real time.

[0016] The vehicle dispatch management system 1 of the present disclosure provides a vehicle dispatch service using a plurality of vehicles V, for example, for a certain area. The vehicle dispatch service may be either an "on-demand" system or a "reservation" system. In addition, the vehicles V may be either a manned vehicle or an unmanned vehicle.

[0017] The vehicle dispatch management device 10 is a computing device that comprehensively manages a vehicle dispatch service by multiple vehicles V in a target area of ​​the vehicle dispatch service (hereinafter referred to as the "service target area"). The service target area may be divided into several areas (sub-areas). The vehicle dispatch management device 10, for example, implements a vehicle dispatch management server program and realizes the vehicle dispatch service by executing the vehicle dispatch management server program under the control of a processor.

[0018] The vehicle dispatch management device 10 includes various databases 12 that accumulate and manage data necessary to realize such a vehicle dispatch service. The databases 12 may include, for example, a user information database 12a, a road map information database 12b, a vehicle information database 12c, and a vehicle dispatch plan database 12d (see FIG. 2). The databases 12 may be configured as a part of the vehicle dispatch management device 10, or all or a part of the databases 12 may be configured separately from the vehicle dispatch management device 10.

[0019] In general, the vehicle allocation management device 10 normally receives a vehicle allocation request from a user who wishes to allocate a vehicle V to a destination, refers to the vehicle information database 12c based on the vehicle allocation request, extracts a vehicle V to be allocated to the user from among multiple vehicles V, creates a vehicle allocation plan, and proposes the created vehicle allocation plan to the user. The vehicle allocation management device 10 confirms the proposed vehicle allocation plan based on the user's consent to the plan, and issues a vehicle allocation instruction to the vehicle V according to the confirmed vehicle allocation plan.

[0020] The dispatch plan includes a driving route that defines a route from a location where the vehicle V is waiting (a starting waiting location) to a final waiting location (not necessarily the same as the initial waiting location) via several points (boarding and disembarking points) along the way where the user gets on and off. If the vehicle V is waiting, the dispatch plan is newly created based on the received dispatch request, and if the vehicle V is in operation, the dispatch plan can be updated based on the dispatch request.

[0021] In the present disclosure, when a report indicating that an emergency such as a disaster has occurred in a certain area (hereinafter referred to as an "emergency report") is received, the vehicle dispatch management device 10 selects a vehicle V (vehicle V1 of the first group) having vehicle characteristics capable of responding to the emergency indicated by the emergency report, creates or updates a dispatch plan, and issues a dispatch instruction to the area where the emergency has occurred (hereinafter referred to as an "emergency occurrence area"). Emergencies are divided into several categories, such as road flooding, heavy snow, road damage, power outage, and fuel supply disruption. In addition, even during an emergency, the vehicle dispatch management device 10 may accept a user's dispatch request at any time, select an appropriate vehicle V (vehicle V2 of the second group) from the remaining vehicles V, create a dispatch plan, and issue a dispatch instruction. In this case, even when an emergency occurs, if the boarding and alighting point indicated by the user's vehicle dispatch request is on a travel route according to the dispatch plan of the vehicle V1 of the first group, the vehicle dispatch management device 10 may assign the vehicle V1 of the first group to the vehicle dispatch request and update the vehicle dispatch plan to accommodate the boarding and alighting of the user. For example, when the travel route along which the vehicle V1 of the first group travels to the emergency occurrence area includes a boarding and alighting point of a certain user, the vehicle V1 of the first group is selected. The vehicle V1 of the first group picks up the user at the boarding point and drops the user off at the alighting point, and then travels to the emergency occurrence area. This allows the vehicle V1 of the first group traveling to the emergency occurrence area to be used for boarding and alighting of the user, thereby improving the efficiency of vehicle dispatch.

[0022] The vehicle V is a vehicle registered in the vehicle information database 12c and is provided for use by a user. The vehicle V may be a conventional manned vehicle. Alternatively, the vehicle V may be an unmanned vehicle capable of autonomous driving by an automatic driving system, and the so-called level of automatic driving does not matter. In addition, the vehicle type (e.g., sedan, minivan, SUV, etc.) of the vehicle V does not matter, but typically, the vehicle characteristics differ depending on the vehicle type. The vehicle characteristics include information on items such as the power type such as electric power, internal combustion engine, hybrid, etc., the drive wheel type such as 2WD or 4WD, the tire type such as normal tires or winter tires (studless tires, etc.), and the minimum ground clearance indicating the distance from the ground to the bottom of the vehicle body. Such vehicle characteristics are referred to when selecting a vehicle V adapted to the emergency category.

[0023] The vehicle V is equipped with a control device CTL that controls the vehicle V itself or its on-board equipment according to a dispatch instruction from the vehicle dispatch management device 10. Although not shown, the control device CTL is configured to include a processor, memory, etc., and realizes various functions by executing a control program. For example, the control device CTL acquires geographical position information (hereinafter referred to as "position information") of the vehicle V via a GPS system and controls the transmission of this information to the vehicle dispatch management device 10, and also receives dispatch instructions from the vehicle dispatch management device 10 and controls the operation of various devices or equipment of the vehicle V according to the dispatch instructions.

[0024] The terminal device 20 is, for example, a computing device for a user who wishes to ride to make a vehicle dispatch request by operating a user interface. The terminal device 20 is, for example, a smartphone, a pad computer, a notebook personal computer, a desktop computer, etc., but is not limited to these. The terminal device 20 implements, for example, a vehicle dispatch management client program (so-called a vehicle dispatch application). The terminal device 20 executes the vehicle dispatch application under the control of the processor, thereby enabling the user to use the vehicle dispatch service of the vehicle dispatch management device 10. For example, the user can make a vehicle dispatch request from a vehicle dispatch request screen (not shown) on the user interface of the terminal device 20, and accept the vehicle dispatch plan created by the vehicle dispatch management device 10 in response to the request, thereby making a reservation for a ride in the vehicle V.

[0025] The road traffic information management system 30 is an information and communication system that provides road traffic information in real time. For example, the road traffic information management system 30 collects road traffic data from vehicle sensors and cameras installed on roads, and also collects driving data from a control device CTL mounted on the vehicle V, and manages road traffic information that is integrated, processed, and edited from the data. The edited road traffic information may include, for example, information on road closures and detour routes, and the time required between points via a specific route. The road traffic information management system 30 appropriately provides the road traffic information to the vehicle dispatch management device 10 and the vehicle V.

[0026] In the vehicle dispatch management system 1 as described above, the vehicle dispatch management device 10 normally selects an appropriate vehicle V in response to a user's dispatch request, creates or updates a dispatch plan, and issues a dispatch instruction. Then, when an emergency such as a disaster occurs, the vehicle dispatch management device 10 selects a first group of vehicles V1 having vehicle characteristics that can handle the emergency category, creates or updates the dispatch plan, and issues a dispatch instruction so that the first group of vehicles V1 heads to the emergency occurrence area. In this way, when an emergency such as a disaster occurs, it becomes possible to select a vehicle V that can handle the driving environment that has deteriorated due to the emergency, and dispatch it to the area where the emergency has occurred.

[0027] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a functional configuration model of a vehicle dispatch management device according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the vehicle dispatch management device 10 can be configured as a functional configuration model including functional components such as a front-end processing unit 110, a vehicle dispatch plan formulation unit 120, and a vehicle communication unit 130. In addition, as described above, the vehicle dispatch management device 10 includes various databases 12. Such a functional model is realized by the vehicle dispatch management device 10 executing a vehicle dispatch management server program under the control of a processor, thereby cooperating with various hardware resources. The functional configuration model shown here is an example, and all or part of the functions of a certain functional component may be realized by other functional components. In addition, in the figure, for convenience of explanation, a user's terminal device 20 and a control device CTL in a vehicle V are also shown.

[0028] The user information database 12a stores information about users who use the vehicle dispatch service (hereinafter referred to as "user information"). The user information includes, for example, a user ID and password, personal attributes (gender, age, etc.), and information about the service usage status. The user information is registered in the user information database 12a under the control of the vehicle dispatch management device 10 by the user inputting predetermined information, for example, when the vehicle dispatch app is first started.

[0029] The road map information database 12b stores road map information for the target area of ​​the vehicle dispatch service. The road map information includes map data related to addresses, place names, road networks (links and nodes), facilities, etc. The road map information may also include information necessary for searching for a driving route, such as road information, feature information, and environmental information. The road map information also includes, for example, a hazard map showing damage to the driving environment expected in the event of an actual disaster or the like.

[0030] The vehicle information database 12c stores information (vehicle information) about the vehicle V used by the user. The vehicle information includes, for example, a vehicle ID, vehicle attributes (vehicle registration number, vehicle model, maximum number of passengers / maximum load capacity, manned or unmanned driving type, etc.), vehicle characteristics, other specifications, current vehicle dispatch plan, current location, and current status (service status, remaining battery capacity (driving range), number of passengers, and usage status of transportation space, etc.). The vehicle characteristics include, for example, information about items such as power type such as electric, internal combustion engine, and hybrid, drive wheel type such as 2WD or 4WD, tire type such as normal tires or winter tires (studless tires, etc.), and minimum ground clearance indicating the distance from the ground to the bottom of the vehicle body. The vehicle information acquired from the vehicle V via the vehicle communication unit 130 may be updated at any time.

[0031] The vehicle allocation plan database 12d stores a vehicle allocation plan for each vehicle V created by the vehicle allocation plan formulation unit 120 based on a vehicle allocation request. As described above, the vehicle allocation plan includes a driving route from a waiting location serving as a starting point to a waiting location serving as an end point via several boarding and disembarking points (start and end points), an expected arrival time at each intermediate point, and the like.

[0032] The front-end processing unit 110 performs various processes with the user's terminal device 20. As an example, the front-end processing unit 110 refers to the user information database 12a in response to a login request from a vehicle dispatch application on the user's terminal device 20, and performs a login authentication process. The front-end processing unit 110 also communicates with the terminal device 20 in order to respond to a vehicle dispatch request from the vehicle dispatch application on the user's terminal device 20. More specifically, the front-end processing unit 110 receives a vehicle dispatch request, transfers it to the vehicle dispatch request acceptance unit 121, and in response thereto, transmits a vehicle dispatch plan created by the vehicle dispatch plan formulation unit 120 to the terminal device 20, and causes the vehicle dispatch plan (candidate vehicles) to be displayed on the user interface of the terminal device 20. The front-end processing unit 110 receives a notification of acceptance or rejection by the user transmitted from the terminal device 20 in response thereto, and transfers it to the vehicle dispatch plan formulation unit 120.

[0033] The vehicle allocation plan formulation unit 120 extracts candidate vehicles V from among the vehicles V that can operate in the target area based on the vehicle allocation request delivered from the front-end processing unit 110, and creates and / or updates the vehicle allocation plan. The vehicle allocation plan formulation unit 120 proposes the created or updated vehicle allocation plan to the user via the front-end processing unit 110. When the vehicle allocation plan formulation unit 120 receives approval from the user for the proposed vehicle allocation plan, it finalizes the approved vehicle allocation plan, stores the finalized vehicle allocation plan in the vehicle allocation plan database 12d, and issues a dispatch instruction to the vehicle V of the vehicle allocation plan. In the present disclosure, when an emergency such as a disaster occurs in a certain area, the vehicle allocation plan formulation unit 120 preferentially selects a vehicle V having vehicle characteristics that can handle the emergency category and issues a dispatch instruction to the area. As a result, even if the driving environment in the area is expected to deteriorate due to the occurrence of an emergency, it becomes possible to dispatch a vehicle V adapted to such an emergency area preferentially.

[0034] The vehicle communication unit 130 exchanges various information with the vehicle V via the communication network N. For example, the vehicle communication unit 130 transmits a vehicle information transmission request to the vehicle V, and receives vehicle information transmitted by the vehicle V in response to the request. The vehicle information includes, for example, position information of the vehicle V. In addition, the vehicle communication unit 130 transmits driving instructions to the vehicle V according to the determined vehicle dispatch plan.

[0035] 3 is a block diagram showing details of a vehicle dispatch plan formulation unit in a vehicle dispatch management device according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the vehicle dispatch plan formulation unit 120 includes, for example, a vehicle dispatch request acceptance unit 121, a travel route extraction unit 122, a vehicle information acquisition unit 123, a vehicle selection unit 124, a vehicle dispatch plan creation unit 125, a vehicle dispatch plan proposal unit 126, and a vehicle dispatch instruction unit 127. Furthermore, in the present disclosure, the vehicle dispatch plan formulation unit 120 includes an emergency report acquisition unit 128 and an emergency determination unit 129.

[0036] The dispatch request reception unit 121 acquires and accepts a dispatch request from a user via the front-end processing unit 110. The time when the dispatch request reception unit 121 accepts the dispatch request becomes the time when timing of various limit allowable times (for example, limit allowable waiting time for boarding, limit allowable waiting time for departure, limit allowable time for arrival at the destination, etc.) of the user is started when creating a dispatch plan. The dispatch request reception unit 121 passes the accepted dispatch request to the vehicle selection unit 124.

[0037] The travel route extraction unit 122 calculates and extracts at least one or more travel routes based on the user's vehicle dispatch request. For example, the travel route extraction unit 122 extracts a travel route by having a route search engine (not shown) perform a route search while referring to the road map information database 12b based on the boarding location and the disembarking location indicated in the vehicle dispatch request. The travel route extraction unit 122 passes the extracted travel route to the vehicle selection unit 124.

[0038] The vehicle information acquisition unit 123 communicates with the control device CTL of the vehicle V under the vehicle dispatch service via the vehicle communication unit 130, and acquires vehicle information including position information of the vehicle V. The vehicle information acquisition unit 123 may acquire the vehicle information from the vehicle V at the time of acquiring a dispatch request. Alternatively, the vehicle information acquisition unit 123 may acquire the vehicle information from the vehicle V at a predetermined period. The vehicle information acquisition unit 123 updates the vehicle information database 12c based on the acquired vehicle information. In addition, the vehicle information acquisition unit 123 passes the acquired vehicle information to the vehicle selection unit 124.

[0039] The vehicle selection unit 124 extracts and selects a specific vehicle adapted to the travel route from among a plurality of vehicles V. More specifically, the vehicle selection unit 124 first extracts vehicles V that are in the vicinity of a boarding location indicated by a dispatch request and based on the location information indicated by the vehicle information. Next, the vehicle selection unit 124 selects a vehicle V adapted to the travel route from among the extracted vehicles V, taking into consideration constraint conditions such as various limit allowable times.

[0040] The vehicle selection unit 124 may include an emergency vehicle characteristic table 1242. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the emergency vehicle characteristic table in the vehicle dispatch management device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The emergency vehicle characteristic table 1242 is a table that defines vehicle characteristics that can be adapted to each category of emergency. When an emergency report is received, the vehicle selection unit 124 refers to the vehicle information database 12c, extracts a vehicle V having vehicle characteristics that can correspond to the emergency category indicated by the emergency report according to the emergency vehicle characteristic table 1242, and selects the vehicle V1 of the first group. For example, when the emergency report indicates road flooding, the vehicle selection unit 124 selects a vehicle V having vehicle characteristics of 2WD (two-wheel drive) or 4WD (four-wheel drive), high floor, normal or winter tires, and internal combustion engine power. This makes it possible to appropriately select and dispatch a vehicle that corresponds to the deteriorated driving environment. When an emergency report is received, the vehicle selection unit 124 selects a vehicle V that has not yet been dispatched to a user as a vehicle V1 of the first group. This makes it possible to avoid impairing the convenience of users who have already received a dispatched vehicle.

[0041] Furthermore, when an emergency report is received, the vehicle selection unit 124 extracts the first group of vehicles V1 based on the geographical relationship between the emergency area and the position information of the vehicle V. For example, the vehicle selection unit 124 sequentially extracts and selects the vehicles V in the emergency area or the vehicles V close to the emergency area. This makes it possible to send the first group of vehicles V1 to the emergency area quickly in the event of an emergency. Furthermore, the vehicle selection unit 124 determines whether the cruising distance calculated based on the vehicle information of the vehicle V is equal to or greater than a predetermined value relative to the travel distance from the current position of the vehicle V indicated by the position information to the emergency area, and selects the first group of vehicles V1 whose cruising distance is equal to or greater than the predetermined value. This allows the vehicles V that cannot be fully active in the emergency area in the event of an emergency to be excluded, and allows such vehicles V to be preferentially assigned for charging or refueling, for example, and to be placed on standby.

[0042] Furthermore, when the number of extracted vehicles V is less than a predetermined value, the vehicle selection unit 124 may calculate the number of vehicles V that are insufficient and extract vehicles V having vehicle characteristics corresponding to the emergency category from areas other than the emergency area. That is, the vehicle selection unit 124 sequentially selects and replenishes the insufficient number of vehicles V from each area. This makes it possible to allocate the first group of vehicles V1 from other areas even when the number of vehicles V having vehicle characteristics corresponding to the emergency category cannot be secured in the emergency area.

[0043] Returning to FIG. 3, the vehicle allocation plan creation unit 125 creates a vehicle allocation plan for the selected vehicle V based on the travel route. As described above, the vehicle allocation plan includes a travel route that defines a location where the vehicle V is waiting (a waiting location that is a starting point) via several points (boarding and disembarking points) on the way where the user gets on and off, to a waiting location that is an end point (not necessarily the same as the initial waiting location). If the vehicle V is waiting, the vehicle allocation plan creation unit 125 creates a new vehicle allocation plan based on a vehicle allocation request, and if the vehicle V is in operation, updates the vehicle allocation plan of the vehicle V stored in the vehicle allocation plan database 12d. For example, when a user gets on and off based on a vehicle allocation request on the travel route of the first group vehicle V1, the vehicle allocation plan creation unit 125 updates the vehicle allocation plan of the first group vehicle V1 so that the time for the user to get on and off is taken into consideration. This allows the first group vehicle V1 moving to the emergency occurrence area to be made available for use by the user, thereby improving the efficiency of vehicle allocation.

[0044] The vehicle allocation plan proposal unit 126 proposes the created / updated vehicle allocation plan to the user and accepts the user's consent to the vehicle allocation plan. That is, the vehicle allocation plan proposal unit 126 transmits the vehicle allocation plan to the user's terminal device 20 via the front-end processing unit 110 and displays the vehicle allocation plan on the user interface of the terminal device 20. The user accepts or rejects the vehicle allocation plan, and in response, the terminal device 20 transmits a notification of the acceptance or rejection. When the vehicle allocation plan proposal unit 126 receives the user's consent notification via the front-end processing unit 110, it confirms the vehicle allocation plan and notifies the vehicle allocation plan creation unit 125. In response, the vehicle allocation plan creation unit 125 registers the confirmed vehicle allocation plan in the vehicle allocation plan database 12d and notifies the vehicle allocation instruction unit 127.

[0045] The dispatch instruction unit 127 issues dispatch instructions to the corresponding vehicles V according to the confirmed dispatch plan. The control device CTL of the vehicle V that receives the driving instructions uses a navigation function to display, for example, a driving route according to the dispatch plan and a predicted arrival time at each point on a user interface (not shown) of the vehicle V. Alternatively, the control device CTL determines a detailed actual driving route according to the driving route in the dispatch plan, and performs control so that the vehicle autonomously drives along the actual driving route.

[0046] The emergency report acquisition unit 128 acquires an emergency report such as a disaster sent from, for example, a national or local government. The emergency report acquisition unit 128 may also acquire an emergency report from the road traffic information management system 30. Upon acquiring the emergency report, the emergency report acquisition unit 128 notifies the emergency determination unit 129 of the acquisition.

[0047] The emergency determination unit 129 determines the content of the emergency based on the notified emergency report. For example, the emergency determination unit 129 identifies the area where the emergency has occurred and determines the category of the emergency report according to the hazard map in the road map information database 12C. The emergency determination unit 129 passes the determined content of the emergency (occurrence area, category, etc.) to the vehicle selection unit 124. In response to this, the vehicle selection unit 124 refers to the emergency-adapted vehicle characteristics table 1242, and extracts and selects a vehicle V1 of the first group adapted to the emergency category from the vehicle information database 12c.

[0048] Fig. 5 is a flow chart for explaining an example of vehicle dispatch management processing by a vehicle dispatch management device according to an embodiment of the present invention. More specifically, Fig. 5 shows vehicle dispatch management processing in normal times. This processing is realized by the vehicle dispatch management device executing a vehicle dispatch management server program under the control of a processor, in cooperation with various hardware resources.

[0049] As shown in the figure, the vehicle dispatch management device 10 waits until a new vehicle dispatch request is received from a user (S501). Meanwhile, for example, a user who wishes to ride inputs a vehicle dispatch request by operating a vehicle dispatch application on the user interface of the terminal device 20. When a vehicle dispatch request is received from a user (Yes in S501), the vehicle dispatch management device 10 refers to the road map information database 12b based on the vehicle dispatch request, and determines the user's departure point and destination (boarding and disembarking points) (S502).

[0050] Next, the vehicle dispatch management device 10 extracts one or more travel route candidates by referring to the road map information database 12b based on the determined starting and ending points (S503). Each travel route candidate has the same boarding and disembarking points, but different roads (links and nodes) along the way. Each travel route candidate may be associated with an average expected travel time, a travel distance, and the like.

[0051] Next, the vehicle dispatch management device 10 extracts one or more vehicles V as candidate vehicles according to the boarding and disembarking points and the candidate travel routes (S504). For example, the vehicle dispatch management device 10 extracts vehicles V that are waiting or moving near the boarding point according to the current position indicated by the acquired vehicle information of each vehicle V.

[0052] Next, the vehicle allocation management device 10 determines the optimal travel route from among the travel route candidates as a recommended travel route based on, for example, the average expected travel time and the travel distance (S505). Next, the vehicle allocation management device 10 creates or updates a vehicle allocation plan based on the determined travel route (S506). In other words, the vehicle allocation management device 10 determines the vehicle V to be assigned to the determined recommended travel route from among the vehicle V candidates.

[0053] Next, the vehicle allocation management device 10 proposes the contents of the created / updated vehicle allocation plan to the user (S507). That is, the vehicle allocation management device 10 transmits the contents of the created / updated vehicle allocation plan to the terminal device 20, and in response, the terminal device 20 displays the contents on the user interface and prompts the user to accept or reject the proposed vehicle allocation plan.

[0054] The vehicle allocation management device 10 determines whether or not the proposed vehicle allocation plan has been accepted from the user (S508). If the proposed vehicle allocation plan has been accepted from the user (Yes in S508), the vehicle allocation management device 10 confirms the current vehicle allocation plan (S509). The vehicle allocation management device 10 stores the confirmed vehicle allocation plan in the vehicle allocation plan database 12d. Next, the vehicle allocation management device 10 transmits a notification of confirmation of the vehicle allocation reservation to the terminal device 20, and transmits a vehicle allocation instruction based on the vehicle allocation plan to the vehicle V (S510).

[0055] On the other hand, when the vehicle dispatch management device 10 receives a non-acceptance (rejection) from the user for the proposed vehicle dispatch plan (No in S508), it cancels the current vehicle dispatch plan based on the vehicle dispatch request of the user (S511). In this case, the vehicle dispatch management device 10 returns the temporarily reserved vehicle dispatch plan used for re-creating the vehicle dispatch plan to the original reserved vehicle dispatch plan. If the user desires a different vehicle dispatch service, the user will make a new vehicle dispatch request.

[0056] 6 is a flowchart for explaining an example of vehicle dispatch management processing by a vehicle dispatch management device according to an embodiment of the present invention. More specifically, the figure shows vehicle dispatch management processing in an emergency.

[0057] As shown in the figure, the vehicle dispatch management device 10 monitors whether or not there is an emergency report such as a disaster (S601). For example, the vehicle dispatch management device 10 monitors whether or not an emergency report has been acquired from a national or local government and / or a road traffic information management system 30.

[0058] When the vehicle dispatch management device 10 determines that an emergency report has been received (Yes in S601), the vehicle dispatch management device 10 determines the area in which the emergency has occurred and the category of the emergency based on the received emergency report (S602). For example, the vehicle dispatch management device 10 determines that road flooding due to heavy rain has occurred in area A in the target area of ​​the vehicle dispatch service based on the emergency report.

[0059] Next, the vehicle dispatch management device 10 refers to the vehicle information database 12c and extracts vehicles V having vehicle characteristics corresponding to the emergency category from among the vehicles V in the emergency area according to the emergency-adapted vehicle characteristics table 1242 (S603). For example, when the emergency category is road flooding, the vehicle dispatch management device 10 preferentially extracts vehicles V having vehicle characteristics of a high floor and an internal combustion engine as the first group of vehicles V1. The vehicle dispatch management device 10 extracts vehicles V based on the geographical positional relationship between the emergency occurrence area and the positional information of the vehicles V. That is, the vehicle dispatch management device 10 first attempts to extract the first group of vehicles V1 from the vehicles V in the emergency occurrence area. This makes it possible to quickly secure the necessary vehicles V that can respond to the emergency.

[0060] Next, the vehicle dispatch management device 10 judges whether the number of the extracted vehicles V is equal to or greater than a predetermined value (S604). The predetermined value may be set arbitrarily, for example, appropriately according to a request for assistance to the emergency area. It may also be set according to the scale of the emergency. When the vehicle dispatch management device 10 judges that the number of the extracted vehicles V is equal to or greater than a predetermined value (Yes in S604), the vehicle dispatch management device 10 determines the driving route of the extracted vehicles V, creates and confirms the vehicle dispatch plan (S605). In this case, the user's consent to the vehicle dispatch plan is not required. Next, the vehicle dispatch management device 10 issues a dispatch instruction to the vehicles V for which the vehicle dispatch plan has been created (S606). As a result, even if the driving environment in the area is expected to deteriorate due to the occurrence of an emergency, it becomes possible to dispatch vehicles V adapted to such an emergency area with priority.

[0061] On the other hand, when the vehicle allocation management device 10 determines that the number of extracted vehicles V is not equal to or greater than the predetermined value (No in S604), the vehicle allocation management device 10 calculates the number of vehicles V that are insufficient (S607), and then extracts vehicles V having vehicle characteristics corresponding to the emergency category from areas other than the emergency area (S608). For example, the vehicle allocation management device 10 sequentially selects areas adjacent to or close to the emergency area and extracts vehicles V. The vehicle allocation management device 10 repeats the above processing steps until the number of vehicles V extracted so far becomes equal to or greater than the predetermined value. Then, when the vehicle allocation management device 10 determines that the total number of extracted vehicles V is equal to or greater than the predetermined value (S604), it determines the driving routes of the extracted vehicles V, creates and confirms a vehicle allocation plan for the vehicle allocation plan (S605), and then issues a vehicle allocation instruction to the vehicles V for which the vehicle allocation plan has been created (S606). This makes it possible to allocate vehicles V1 from the first group from another area even if it is not possible to secure a number of vehicles V having vehicle characteristics corresponding to the emergency category in the emergency area.

[0062] As described above, according to this embodiment, when an emergency occurs in a certain area, it becomes possible to appropriately select and dispatch vehicles suited to the worsened driving environment of the area. In particular, according to this embodiment, first, an attempt is made to extract the first group of vehicles V1 from the vehicles V in the emergency area, and if the required number cannot be secured, the first group of vehicles V1 are appropriated from other areas, so that the required vehicles V capable of responding to the emergency can be secured quickly.

[0063] The above-described embodiments are merely examples for explaining the present invention, and are not intended to limit the present invention to these embodiments. The present invention can be embodied in various forms without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0064] For example, in the methods disclosed herein, steps, operations, or functions may be performed in parallel or in a different order, provided that the results are consistent. The steps, operations, and functions described are provided merely as examples, and some of the steps, operations, and functions may be omitted or combined into one, or other steps, operations, or functions may be added, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

[0065] In addition, although various embodiments are disclosed in this specification, specific features (technical matters) in one embodiment can be added to or replaced with specific features in other embodiments, with appropriate modifications, and such forms are also included in the spirit of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0066] 1. Vehicle dispatch management system 10...Vehicle allocation management device 110...Front-end processing unit 120… Vehicle Allocation Planning Department 121…Vehicle dispatch request reception department 122...Route extraction unit 123…Vehicle information acquisition unit 124…Vehicle selection section 1242…Emergency Vehicle Characteristics Table 125… Vehicle Allocation Planning Department 126… Vehicle Allocation Planning Proposal Department 127…Dispatch Instructions Department 128…Emergency notification acquisition department 129...Emergency Identification Department 130…Vehicle communication unit 12. Database 12a…User information database 12b…Road map information database 12c…Vehicle information database 12d…Vehicle allocation plan database 20...Terminal device 30...Road Traffic Information Management System N: Communication network V…Vehicle CTL: Control device

Claims

1. A vehicle dispatch management device that manages dispatch of a plurality of vehicles in a predetermined service target area, a vehicle information acquisition unit that acquires vehicle information from each of the plurality of vehicles; a vehicle information database that stores the vehicle information of each of the vehicles; a vehicle selection unit that refers to the vehicle information database and selects a vehicle from among the plurality of vehicles; a vehicle dispatch instruction unit that issues a dispatch instruction to the selected vehicle, The vehicle selection unit: When an emergency call is received, refer to the vehicle information database to select at least one first group of vehicles having vehicle characteristics compatible with the emergency category indicated by the emergency call, while selecting a second group of vehicles in response to a user's request for dispatch during the emergency; The vehicle dispatch instruction unit issues a vehicle dispatch instruction to at least one or more vehicles of the first group, while issuing a vehicle dispatch instruction to have the user board a vehicle of the second group. Vehicle dispatch management device.

2. the vehicle selection unit selects the at least one first group of vehicles based on a geographical positional relationship between an emergency occurrence area indicated by the emergency notification and location information indicated by the vehicle information; The vehicle dispatch management device according to claim 1.

3. The vehicle selection unit selects the vehicles of the first group in order from the vehicle closest to the emergency occurrence area in the geographical positional relationship. The vehicle dispatch management device according to claim 2.

4. the vehicle selection unit selects a vehicle of the first group having a cruising distance calculated based on the vehicle information that is equal to or greater than a predetermined value relative to a travel distance from a current position based on the position information to the emergency area; The vehicle dispatch management device according to claim 3.

5. When a predetermined number or more of the first group of vehicles cannot be selected from a first area in the predetermined service target area, the vehicle selection unit selects a number of the first group of vehicles that is insufficient for the predetermined number of vehicles from a second area in the predetermined service target area. The vehicle dispatch management device according to claim 1.

6. The vehicle selection unit selects vehicles that have not yet been dispatched to the user as the at least one first group of vehicles. The vehicle dispatch management device according to claim 1.

7. An emergency determination unit that determines a category of the emergency, The vehicle selection unit selects, as the first group of vehicles, vehicles having vehicle characteristics corresponding to a driving environment according to the category of the emergency. The vehicle dispatch management device according to claim 1.

8. When the category of the emergency situation includes road flooding, the vehicle selection unit selects the first group of vehicles whose vehicle characteristics are a high floor and an internal combustion engine. The vehicle dispatch management device according to claim 7.

9. When the category of the emergency situation includes road flooding, the vehicle selection unit selects the first group of vehicles, the vehicle characteristics of which include at least a high floor and an internal combustion engine. The vehicle dispatch management device according to claim 7.

10. When the category of the emergency situation includes heavy snow, the vehicle selection unit selects the first group of vehicles, the vehicle characteristics of which include at least four-wheel drive, high floor, and winter tires. The vehicle dispatch management device according to claim 7.

11. When the category of the emergency includes road damage, the vehicle selection unit selects the first group of vehicles, the vehicle characteristics of which include at least four-wheel drive, high floor, and normal tires. The vehicle dispatch management device according to claim 7.

12. When the category of the emergency situation includes a power outage, the vehicle selection unit selects the first group of vehicles, the vehicle characteristics of which include at least an internal combustion engine power. The vehicle dispatch management device according to claim 7.

13. When the category of the emergency situation includes a fuel supply interruption, the vehicle selection unit selects the first group of vehicles whose vehicle characteristics include at least electric power. The vehicle dispatch management device according to claim 7.

14. the vehicle selection unit selects the vehicle of the first group when a travel route along which the vehicle of the first group moves to the emergency situation occurrence area includes a boarding location and a disembarking location of the user based on the dispatch request; The vehicle dispatch instruction unit issues a vehicle dispatch instruction to the first group of vehicles to move to the boarding location for the user to board the vehicle, and to move to the emergency occurrence area after the user gets off at the disembarking location. The vehicle dispatch management device according to claim 2.

15. A vehicle allocation management method for managing the allocation of a plurality of vehicles in a predetermined service area, comprising: acquiring vehicle information from each of the plurality of vehicles; storing the vehicle information for each of the vehicles in a vehicle information database; selecting a vehicle from the plurality of vehicles by referring to the vehicle information database; and issuing a dispatch instruction to the selected vehicle. Selecting the vehicle includes: When an emergency call is received, refer to the vehicle information database to select at least one first group of vehicles having vehicle characteristics compatible with the emergency category indicated by the emergency call, while selecting a second group of vehicles in response to a user's request for dispatch during the emergency; The issuing of the dispatch instruction includes issuing a dispatch instruction to at least one or more vehicles of the first group, while issuing a dispatch instruction to have the user board a vehicle of the second group. Vehicle allocation management methods.

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