Boarding location determination method and boarding location determination device

Abstract

To provide a method for determining a boarding location that enables a user to select a boarding location in an area based on a user's intention.SOLUTION: A method for determining a boarding location to board a vehicle to be dispatched in response to a dispatch request from a user presents a selectable area 41 on a map presented to a terminal 3, which is a range within which the user can travel within a predetermined time and which includes at least one or more candidate boarding locations 61 to 63, accepts the user's selection of a boarding area 53 on the map presented on a terminal 41 when the selectable area 41 is presented on the terminal 3, and presents candidate boarding locations 61 and 62 within the selected boarding area 53 to the terminal 3.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a boarding location determination method and a boarding location determination device. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses that in a vehicle dispatch system that dispatches a vehicle in response to a vehicle dispatch request from a user, a boarding location is searched for using the user's current location as a starting point. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2019 / 220205 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In Patent Document 1, the boarding location is searched for based on the user's current location, which means that it is not possible to select a boarding location in an area that takes into account the user's wishes.

[0005] In view of the above problems, the present disclosure aims to provide a boarding location determination method and a boarding location determination device that can select a boarding location in an area that takes into account the user's wishes. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A boarding location determination method and boarding location determination device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, when determining a boarding location for a vehicle to be dispatched in response to a vehicle dispatch request from a user, presents selectable areas on a map presented on the terminal, which are areas that the user can travel to within a specified time period and which include at least one or more candidate boarding locations, and when the selectable areas are presented on the terminal, accepts a selection of a boarding area from the user on the map presented on the terminal and presents candidate boarding locations within the selected boarding area on the terminal. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a boarding location determination method and a boarding location determination device that can select a boarding location in an area that takes into account the user's wishes. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram showing a boarding location determination device according to a first embodiment. FIG. [Diagram 2] 3 is a schematic diagram showing a display example of a terminal of the boarding location determination device according to the first embodiment. FIG. [Diagram 3] 3 is a schematic diagram showing a display example of a terminal of the boarding location determination device according to the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 4] 3 is a schematic diagram showing a display example of a terminal of the boarding location determination device according to the first embodiment. FIG. [Diagram 5] 3 is a schematic diagram showing a display example of a terminal of the boarding location determination device according to the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 6] 4 is a flowchart for explaining a boarding location determination method according to the first embodiment. [Figure 7] 7 is a flowchart continuing from FIG. 6 for explaining the boarding location determination method according to the first embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing a display example of a terminal of the boarding location determination device according to a modified example of the first embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a boarding location determination device according to a second embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a display on a terminal of the boarding location determination device according to the second embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a display on a terminal of the boarding location determination device according to the second embodiment. [Figure 12] FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a display on a terminal of the boarding location determination device according to the second embodiment. [Figure 13] 13 is a flowchart for explaining a boarding location determination method according to the second embodiment. [Figure 14]15 is a flowchart continuing from FIG. 14 for explaining the boarding location determination method according to the second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] Hereinafter, the first and second embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. In the description of the drawings, the same or similar parts are denoted with the same or similar reference numerals, and duplicated descriptions will be omitted. However, the drawings are schematic, and the dimensions and ratios of each component may differ from the actual ones. In addition, parts with different dimensions and ratios may be included between the drawings. In addition, the first and second embodiments shown below are examples of devices and methods for embodying the technical idea of ​​the present disclosure, and the technical idea of ​​the present disclosure does not specify the structure, arrangement, etc. of the components to those described below.

[0010] (First embodiment) <Boarding location determination device> The boarding location determination device according to the first embodiment is a device that determines the boarding location of a vehicle to be dispatched in a vehicle dispatch service by a vehicle dispatch system that dispatches a vehicle in response to a vehicle dispatch request (vehicle dispatch request) from a user. The vehicle dispatch system constituting the boarding location determination device according to the first embodiment includes a server 1, a vehicle 2, and a terminal 3, as shown in FIG. 1. The boarding location determination device according to the first embodiment may be configured as a vehicle dispatch system including the server 1, the vehicle 2, and the terminal 3, for example, a configuration including the server 1 and the terminal 3 without including the vehicle 2, or a configuration including the server 1 without including the vehicle 2 and the terminal 3. The server 1, the vehicle 2, and the terminal 3 are capable of transmitting and receiving data or information to and from each other via a communication network such as the Internet.

[0011] In response to a vehicle dispatch request from a user, the server 1 dispatches a vehicle for the user to board to a boarding location. The server 1 includes a controller (server-side controller) 11, a storage unit 12, and a communication unit (server-side communication unit) 13.

[0012] The server-side controller 11 may include a processor such as a central processing unit (CPU), a storage device, and an input / output device. The storage device may include any one of a semiconductor storage device, a magnetic storage device, and an optical storage device, and may include a storage medium such as a register, a cache memory, a ROM (Read Only Memory) used as a main storage device, and a RAM (Random Access Memory). The server-side controller 11 includes a selectable area presentation unit 111, a boarding area determination unit 112, a boarding location candidate presentation unit 113, a dispatched vehicle setting unit 114, and a dispatched route calculation unit 115 as functional configurations.

[0013] The functions of the server-side controller 11 may be configured as a single piece of hardware, or may be configured individually as multiple pieces of hardware. The functions of the server-side controller 11 are realized, for example, by a processor of the server-side controller 11 executing a computer program stored in a storage device of the server-side controller 11. The server-side controller 11 may be configured as dedicated hardware for executing each process described below.

[0014] The storage unit 12 may include any one of a semiconductor storage device, a magnetic storage device, and an optical storage device, and may include a storage medium such as a register, a cache memory, a ROM (Read Only Memory) used as a main storage device, and a RAM (Random Access Memory). The storage unit 12 includes a map database 121, a candidate boarding location database 122, and a vehicle database 123. The server-side communication unit 13 provides a communication function between the server 1 and an external device.

[0015] The vehicle 2 is one of a plurality of vehicles to be dispatched in the dispatch service by the dispatch system according to the first embodiment. The vehicle 2 may be a manually driven vehicle or an autonomous vehicle. When the vehicle 2 is an autonomous vehicle, there is no particular limitation on whether or not there is a driver, and there is no particular limitation on the autonomous driving level.

[0016] The vehicle 2 includes a controller (vehicle-side controller) 21, a communication unit (vehicle-side communication unit) 22, and a sensor 23. The vehicle-side communication unit 22 provides a communication function between the vehicle 2 and an external device. The sensor 23 may be, for example, a camera, a radar, or a communication device, and the type and number of the sensor 23 are not particularly limited. The sensor 23 detects the current location of the vehicle 2, the surrounding conditions of the vehicle 2, the running state of the vehicle 2, and the like.

[0017] The vehicle-side controller 21 may be an electronic control unit (ECU). The vehicle-side controller 21 may include a processor such as a central processing unit (CPU), a storage device, and an input / output device. The storage device may include any one of a semiconductor storage device, a magnetic storage device, and an optical storage device, and may include a storage medium such as a register, a cache memory, a ROM (Read Only Memory) used as a main storage device, and a RAM (Random Access Memory). The vehicle-side controller 21 includes a vehicle information acquisition unit 211, a route setting unit 212, and a vehicle control unit 213 as functional components.

[0018] The functions of the vehicle-side controller 21 are realized, for example, by the processor of the terminal-side controller 31 executing a computer program stored in a storage device of the vehicle-side controller 21. The vehicle-side controller 21 may be configured with dedicated hardware for executing each process described below.

[0019] The vehicle information acquisition unit 211 acquires vehicle information such as detection results by the sensor 23. The route setting unit 212 sets a route for traveling from the current location of the vehicle 2 to the boarding location in response to a dispatch instruction from the server 1. The vehicle control unit 213 controls the traveling of the vehicle 2 along the route set by the route setting unit 212 based on the vehicle information acquired by the vehicle information acquisition unit 211, etc.

[0020] The terminal 3 is used by a user to make a vehicle dispatch request. The terminal 3 may be, for example, a mobile terminal device such as a smartphone or a tablet, or a notebook or desktop personal computer (PC), and may be any device on which an application runs to allow a user to make a vehicle dispatch request. The terminal 3 includes a controller (terminal side controller) 31, a communication unit (terminal side communication unit) 32, and a human machine interface (HMI) 33.

[0021] The terminal side controller 31 may include a processor such as a central processing unit (CPU), a storage device, and an input / output device. The storage device may include any one of a semiconductor storage device, a magnetic storage device, and an optical storage device, and may include a storage medium such as a register, a cache memory, a ROM (Read Only Memory) used as a main storage device, and a RAM (Random Access Memory). The terminal side controller 31 includes a self-location acquisition unit 311, a boarding area selection unit 312, and a boarding location selection unit 313 as functional configurations.

[0022] The functions of the terminal-side controller 31 are realized, for example, by the processor of the terminal-side controller 31 executing a computer program stored in the storage device of the terminal-side controller 31. The terminal-side controller 31 may be configured with dedicated hardware for executing each process described below. At least some of the functions of the boarding area selection unit 312 and the boarding location selection unit 313 of the terminal-side controller 31 may be possessed by the server-side controller 11, or at least some of the functions of the selectable area presentation unit 111, the boarding area determination unit 112, the boarding location candidate presentation unit 113, etc. of the server-side controller 11 may be possessed by the terminal-side controller 31.

[0023] The terminal side communication unit 32 provides a communication function between the terminal 3 and an external device. The HMI 33 is an interface device that transmits and receives information between the user and the terminal 3. The HMI 33 includes a display unit such as a display screen (display), a speaker for outputting auditory signals, an audio input unit such as a microphone for inputting audio signals, and an operation unit that accepts operation input to the terminal 3. The operation unit may be, for example, a switch, a button, a touch panel, or a keyboard.

[0024] The boarding location determination device according to the first embodiment will be described in detail below. The map database 121 of the server 1 stores map data. The map data may be composed of, for example, high-precision map data or navigation map data, and the type of map data is not particularly limited. The map data includes, for example, information on road nodes indicating reference points on road reference lines (for example, center lines of roads) of roads on which vehicles can travel and roads on which pedestrians can pass, and information on road links indicating the section state of roads between road nodes. The information on road nodes includes the identification number of the road node, position coordinates, the number of road links connected, and the identification number of the road links connected. The information on road links includes the identification number of the road link, road standard, link length, number of lanes, road width, and speed limit. The map data may include information on a lane basis that is more detailed than the information on a road basis. The map data may include the types and position coordinates of features such as traffic lights, stop lines, signs, buildings, utility poles, curbs, and crosswalks.

[0025] The candidate boarding location database 122 stores a list of available candidate boarding locations (candidate boarding location list) associated with the position coordinates of the map data stored in the map database 121. The vehicle database 123 stores information (vehicle information) about vehicles to be dispatched by the vehicle dispatch system according to the first embodiment. The vehicle information may include the current location of the vehicle to be dispatched and whether or not it can be dispatched.

[0026] FIG. 2 shows a schematic configuration in which a map is presented (displayed) on the display screen 33a corresponding to the HMI 33 of the terminal 3. Here, a situation will be described in which a user at point A on the map presented on the display screen 33a uses a vehicle dispatch service by the vehicle dispatch system according to the first embodiment to move to point B. The user makes a vehicle dispatch request via the terminal 3. The vehicle dispatch request may include, for example, the user's current location, boarding location, destination, desired boarding time, desired arrival time, number of passengers, and the like. In response to the vehicle dispatch request from the user, the server 1 dispatches a vehicle to a boarding location near the point A. The user plans to move from the point A to the boarding location, board the vehicle at the boarding location, and move to a disembarking location near the point B. The map database 121 stores map data corresponding to the map presented on the display screen 33a of the terminal 3. The boarding location candidate database 122 stores four boarding location candidates 61 to 64 on the map presented on the display screen 33a of the terminal 3.

[0027] 1 acquires the user's own position (current location) based on a positioning signal received by a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver built into the terminal 3. The own position acquisition unit 311 may acquire the own position (current location) specified by the user via the terminal 3.

[0028] The selectable area presentation unit 111 of the server 1 searches for a range that the user can travel to within a predetermined time and that includes one or more boarding location candidates as a selectable area, and presents (displays) the range on the terminal 3. For example, the selectable area presentation unit 111 searches for a range that the user can travel to on foot within a predetermined time by analyzing a reachable area starting from the user's current location based on the user's current location acquired by the self-location acquisition unit 311 and the map data stored in the map database 121. The predetermined time is, for example, 15 minutes, but can be set appropriately. The predetermined time may be stored in the storage unit 12 in advance, or may be specified by the user via the terminal 3. By searching for a range that the user can travel to within a predetermined time, a range that is short in terms of straight-line distance from the user's current location but whose travel time exceeds the predetermined time due to factors that impede travel, such as a river, is excluded from the selectable area.

[0029] The selectable area presentation unit 111 refers to the boarding location candidate list stored in the boarding location candidate database 122 and determines whether there is at least one available boarding location candidate in the searched selectable area. When there is no available boarding location candidate in the selectable area, the selectable area presentation unit 111 may update the predetermined time for the user to move to a longer time so as to include at least one available boarding location candidate, and expand the selectable area. For example, the selectable area presentation unit 111 searches for a boarding location candidate that is the shortest distance from the selectable area but takes 15 minutes or more to walk from the user's current location, and expands and sets the selection area to a range that includes the searched boarding location candidate. In this case, the selectable area is also longer than the selectable area before the expansion due to the updated predetermined time, but the selectable area is a range that the user can move to within a predetermined time (e.g., 20 minutes) and that includes one or more boarding location candidates.

[0030] The selectable area presentation unit 111 may present to the terminal 3 as a selectable area an area within which the user can travel within a predetermined time and which includes two or more (plural) candidate boarding locations, rather than one or more. For example, the selectable area presentation unit 111 determines whether or not there are at least two or more available candidate boarding locations within the selectable area. If there is less than one available candidate boarding location within the selectable area, the selectable area presentation unit 111 may sequentially search for candidate boarding locations in order of shortest distance from the selectable area, and expand the selectable area to include two or more available candidate boarding locations.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 3, the selectable area presentation unit 111 presents (displays) a map on the display screen 33a of the terminal 3. Furthermore, the selectable area presentation unit 111 presents a selectable area 41 to which the user can travel within a predetermined time and which includes one or more boarding location candidates on the map presented on the display screen 33a of the terminal 3. The method of presenting the selectable area 41 is not particularly limited as long as it is distinguishable from a non-selectable area 42 that is an area other than the selectable area. For example, the selectable area presentation unit 111 can present the selectable area so as to be distinguishable from the non-selectable area by lowering the brightness of the non-selectable area. In FIG. 3, the boarding location candidates within the selectable area 41 are not presented, but the boarding location candidates may also be presented (described later as a modified example).

[0032] When selectable areas are presented on the terminal 3, the boarding area selection unit 312 of the terminal 3 accepts the selection of a boarding area by the user on the map presented on the terminal 3. The boarding area is an arbitrary range on the map in which the user wishes to board, and is an area that the user can intentionally select. The boarding area selection unit 312 may prompt the user to select a boarding area by a comment, a voice, or the like, or may present a method for selecting a boarding area.

[0033] For example, as shown in Fig. 4, when a selectable area 41 is presented on the display screen 33a of the terminal 3, the user draws a line segment 52 with his / her finger on the map presented on the display screen 33a of the terminal 3, starting from a point 51 and tracing the desired boarding area. The boarding area selection unit 312 determines the area surrounded by the line segment 52 as the boarding area. In Fig. 4, the selectable area 41 is presented on the display screen 33a of the terminal 3, but the candidate boarding locations are not presented. This makes it easier for the user to select a boarding area, for example, when there are many candidate boarding locations.

[0034] The boarding area determination unit 112 of the server 1 shown in Fig. 1 determines whether the center (center of gravity) of the boarding area selected by the user is within the selectable area. For example, as shown in Fig. 5, when the center 54 of the boarding area 53 is set to be within the selectable area 41, the boarding location candidate presentation unit 113 determines that the center 54 of the boarding area 53 is within the selectable area 41.

[0035] When the boarding area determination unit 112 determines that the center of the boarding area selected by the user is outside the selectable area, it is considered that the overlapping portion between the selectable area and the boarding area is small and there are few boarding location candidates in the overlapping portion, so the boarding area determination unit 112 may prompt the user to reselect the boarding area. In addition, instead of determining whether the center of the boarding area is within the selectable area, the boarding area determination unit 112 may determine whether the ratio of the overlapping portion of the boarding area with the selectable area is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold, and may prompt the user to reselect the boarding area when it is determined that the ratio of the overlapping portion of the car area with the selectable area is less than the predetermined threshold. Alternatively, the boarding area determination unit 112 may determine whether there is an overlapping portion of the boarding area with the selectable area, and may prompt the user to reselect the boarding area when it is determined that there is no overlapping portion of the boarding area with the selectable area.

[0036] The boarding area determination unit 112 may refer to the available boarding location candidates stored in the boarding location candidate database 122 and determine whether or not there is one or more available boarding location candidates in the boarding area selected by the user. If the boarding area determination unit 112 determines that there is no available boarding location candidate in the boarding area selected by the user, it may prompt the user to reselect the boarding area. Alternatively, the boarding area determination unit 112 may determine whether or not there are two or more boarding location candidates in the boarding area selected by the user, and may prompt the user to reselect the boarding area if it determines that there are less than two boarding location candidates in the boarding area.

[0037] The boarding location candidate presentation unit 113 causes the terminal 3 to present boarding location candidates that are within the selectable area and the boarding area, based on the selectable area set by the selectable area presentation unit 111, the boarding area selected by the user, and the boarding location candidate list stored in the boarding location candidate database 122. In other words, the boarding location candidate presentation unit 113 causes the terminal 3 to present boarding location candidates that are within the overlapping range of the selectable area and the boarding area.

[0038] For example, as shown in Fig. 5, the boarding location candidate presentation unit 113 causes boarding location candidates 61, 62 that are within the selectable area 41 and within the boarding area 53 to be presented on a map presented on the display screen 33a of the terminal 3. The boarding location candidate 63, which is shown in Fig. 5 by a dashed line, is within the selectable area 41 but outside the boarding area 53, and is therefore not presented on the display screen 33a of the terminal 3. The boarding location candidate 64, which is shown in Fig. 5 by a dashed line, is outside the selectable area 41 and outside the boarding area 53, and is therefore not presented on the display screen 33a of the terminal 3. Although not shown, a boarding location candidate that is within the boarding area 53 but outside the selectable area 41 is also not presented on the display screen 33a of the terminal 3.

[0039] The boarding location selection unit 313 of the terminal 3 in Fig. 1 accepts the user's selection of a boarding location when boarding location candidates are presented by the boarding location candidate presentation unit 113. For example, as shown in Fig. 5, when boarding location candidates 61 and 62 are presented on the display screen 33a of the terminal 3, the user can select and specify either of the boarding location candidates 61 and 62 as a boarding location.

[0040] Note that, although the range of the map presented on the display screen 33a of the terminal 3 when selecting the boarding location in Fig. 5 is illustrated as being the same as the range of the map presented on the display screen 33a of the terminal 3 when selecting the boarding area in Fig. 4, the range of the map presented on the display screen 33a of the terminal 3 when selecting the boarding location in Fig. 5 may be narrower than the range of the map presented on the display screen 33a of the terminal 3 when selecting the boarding area in Fig. 4, and the boarding area may be presented in an enlarged form. This makes it easier for the user to compare the boarding location candidates 61, 62 within the boarding area, and makes it easier to select a boarding location.

[0041] 1 sets a vehicle to be dispatched based on vehicle information stored in the vehicle database 123. The vehicle dispatch route calculation unit 115 calculates a vehicle dispatch route based on the contents of the vehicle dispatch request from the user and information on the vehicle to be dispatched stored in the vehicle database 123. The vehicle dispatch route may include a route from the current location of the vehicle to be dispatched to a boarding location and a route from the boarding location to a destination.

[0042] <How to determine boarding location> Next, an example of a boarding location determination method according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIG. 6 and FIG.

[0043] 6, in step S101, the user makes a vehicle dispatch request via the terminal 3. The self-location acquisition unit 311 acquires the user's self-location (current location). The terminal-side communication unit 32 transmits the vehicle dispatch request from the user and data on the user's current location to the server-side communication unit 13.

[0044] In step S102, the server-side communication unit 13 receives the vehicle dispatch request from the user and data on the current location transmitted from the terminal-side communication unit 32. The selectable area presentation unit 111 searches for an area within which the user can travel within a predetermined time based on the user's current location and the map data stored in the map database 121, and sets the area as a selectable area.

[0045] In step S103, the selectable area presentation unit 111 checks the boarding candidate location database From the list of candidate boarding locations stored in 122, a search is made for candidate boarding locations within the selectable area set in step S102.

[0046] In step S104, the selectable area presentation unit 111 determines whether or not there are two or more boarding location candidates in the selectable area. If it is determined in step S104 that there are two or more boarding location candidates, the process proceeds to step S107.

[0047] On the other hand, if it is determined in step S104 that there are less than two candidate boarding locations, the process proceeds to step S105. In step S105, the selectable area presentation unit 111 searches for candidate boarding locations outside the selectable area, starting with those closest to the selectable area. In step S106, the selectable area presentation unit 111 updates the predetermined time during which the user can travel to be longer so that there are two or more candidate boarding locations, including the candidate boarding locations searched for in step S105, and expands and sets the selectable area. Then, the process proceeds to step S107.

[0048] In step S104, the selectable area presentation unit 111 may determine whether there is one or more candidate boarding locations within the selectable area 41, rather than two or more. If it is determined that there is one or more candidate boarding locations within the selectable area 41, the process may proceed to step S107. On the other hand, if it is determined that there is no candidate boarding location within the selectable area 41, the selectable area may be expanded in step S105 to search for a candidate boarding location that is the shortest distance from the selectable area, and in step S106, the selectable area may be expanded and set so that there is one or more candidate boarding locations. In this case, the selectable area is a range that the user can travel within a specified time and that includes one or more candidate boarding locations.

[0049] In step S107, the server-side communication unit 13 transmits data of the selectable area, which is set in step S103 or step S105 and is a range within which the user can travel within the predetermined time and which includes two or more candidate boarding locations, to the terminal-side communication unit 32. The terminal-side communication unit 32 receives the data of the selectable area transmitted from the server-side communication unit 13. The terminal 3 presents a map including the vicinity of the user's current location, and also presents the selectable area on the map.

[0050] 7, the boarding area selection unit 312 accepts a boarding area selection (designation) from the user. The user draws a line segment by tracing the desired boarding area on the map presented on the terminal 3 with their finger. The boarding area selection unit 312 acquires the area surrounded by the line segment as the boarding area. The terminal side communication unit 32 transmits the data of the boarding area to the server side communication unit 13.

[0051] In step S109, the server-side communication unit 13 receives the boarding area data transmitted from the terminal-side communication unit 32. The boarding area determination unit 112 determines whether or not the center of the boarding area is within the selectable area. If it is determined in step S109 that the center of the boarding area is within the selectable area, the process proceeds to step S110.

[0052] On the other hand, if it is determined in step S109 that the center of the boarding area is outside the selectable area, the process returns to step S108 and prompts the user to select the boarding area again. Note that step S109 may be omitted and the process may proceed from step S108 to step S110.

[0053] In step S110, the boarding area determination unit 112 determines whether the area is within the selectable area and whether there is a boarding location candidate within the boarding area. If it is determined in step S110 that the area is within the selectable area and there is a boarding location candidate within the boarding area, the process then proceeds to step S111.

[0054] On the other hand, if it is determined in step S110 that the location is within the selectable area and that there is no boarding location candidate within the boarding area, the process returns to step S108 and prompts the user to select the boarding area again. Note that step S110 may be omitted and the process may proceed from step S109 to step S111.

[0055] In step S111, the candidate boarding location presentation unit 113 causes the terminal 3 to present candidate boarding locations that are within the selectable area and within the boarding area. The server-side communication unit 13 transmits data of the candidate boarding locations that are within the selectable area and within the boarding area to the terminal 3. The terminal-side communication unit 32 receives the data of the candidate boarding locations that are within the selectable area and within the boarding area transmitted from the server-side communication unit 13. The terminal 3 presents the candidate boarding locations that are within the selectable area and within the boarding area on the map presented on the terminal 3.

[0056] In step S112, the boarding location selection unit 313 accepts the selection (designation) of the boarding location by the user. The user selects a desired boarding location from among the boarding location candidates on the map presented on the terminal 3. The boarding location selection unit 313 acquires the boarding location selected by the user. The terminal side communication unit 32 transmits data of the boarding location to the server side communication unit 13.

[0057] In step S113, the server-side communication unit 13 receives the boarding location data transmitted from the terminal-side communication unit 32. The boarding location data is registered in the storage unit 12. After that, for example, the dispatched vehicle setting unit 114 sets a vehicle to be dispatched based on the dispatch request from the user, the boarding location registered in the storage unit 12, the vehicle information stored in the vehicle database 123, and the like. The dispatch route calculation unit 115 calculates a route from the current location of the vehicle to be dispatched to the boarding location based on the boarding location registered in the storage unit 12. After that, the vehicle is dispatched to the boarding location.

[0058] <Effects> As described above, according to the boarding location determination method and boarding location determination device of the first embodiment, a selectable area that is an area that the user can travel to within a predetermined time and that includes at least one or more candidate boarding locations is presented on a map presented on terminal 3, and when the selectable area is presented on terminal 3, the selection of a boarding area is accepted on the map presented on terminal 3, and candidate boarding locations within the selected boarding area are presented on terminal 3. This makes it possible to select a boarding location in an area that takes into account the user's intention.

[0059] Furthermore, when selecting a boarding area, the boarding area is determined as an area enclosed by a line drawn by the user on the map presented on the terminal 3. This allows the user to intuitively select the desired boarding area.

[0060] Furthermore, when the boarding location candidates are presented to the terminal 3, boarding location candidates that are within the selectable area and the boarding area are presented. This allows the user to select a boarding location that is in an area that takes into account the user's intention and that the user can travel to within a predetermined time.

[0061] Furthermore, when the selectable area is presented on the terminal 3, a selectable area that is an area including two or more boarding location candidates is presented. This allows the user to select a desired boarding area while comparing multiple boarding location candidates.

[0062] <Modification of the first embodiment> As a modified example of the first embodiment, the selectable area presentation unit 111 may display candidate boarding locations 61-63 within the selectable area 41 when presenting the selectable area 41 on a map presented on the display screen 33a of the terminal 3, as shown in Fig. 8. In Fig. 8, the candidate boarding location 64 is shown diagrammatically by a dashed line, but since the candidate boarding location 64 is outside the selectable area 41, it is not presented on the display screen 33a of the terminal 3. Note that the candidate boarding location 64 outside the selectable area 41 may also be displayed on the display screen 33a of the terminal 3.

[0063] According to the modified example of the first embodiment, when a selectable area is presented on the terminal 3, candidate boarding locations within the selectable area are also presented. This allows the user to select a boarding area while referring to the candidate boarding locations within the selectable area. This allows the user to select a boarding area including the candidate boarding locations, eliminating the need to select a boarding area again when there are no candidate boarding locations within the boarding area.

[0064] Second embodiment <Boarding location determination device> As shown in Fig. 9, the dispatch system constituting the boarding location determination device according to the second embodiment differs from the boarding location determination device according to the first embodiment shown in Fig. 1 in that the server-side controller 11 of the server 1 further includes a boarding area creation unit 116, a land knowledge determination unit 117, and a boarding area expansion unit 118, the storage unit 12 further includes a user database 124, and the terminal-side controller 31 of the terminal 3 further includes a boarding location candidate highlighting unit 314. The functions of the boarding area creation unit 116, the land knowledge determination unit 117, and the boarding area expansion unit 118 of the server-side controller 11 may be possessed by the terminal-side controller 31. Also, the function of the boarding location candidate highlighting unit 314 of the terminal-side controller 31 may be possessed by the server-side controller 11 of the server 1.

[0065] The boarding area creation unit 116 creates a predetermined range centered on a point selected (specified) by the user on a map presented on the terminal 3 as a boarding area. For example, as shown in FIG. 10, consider a case where a selectable area 41 and a non-selectable area 42 are presented on a map presented on the display screen 33a of the terminal 3. The user selects (specifies) a point 55 as the center of the boarding area where the user wishes to board on the map presented on the display screen 33a of the terminal 3. The user also selects (specifies) a radius r as the size of the boarding area via the terminal 3. The radius r is, for example, 1 km, but can be set appropriately. The radius r does not have to be selected by the user and may be set in advance in the storage unit 12. The boarding area creation unit 116 creates a circle of radius r centered on the point 55 as the boarding area 56.

[0066] The local knowledge determination unit 117 calculates the degree of the user's local knowledge of the boarding area. The user's local knowledge of the boarding area is a numerical value of the amount of knowledge the user has about the topography, geography, road structure, security, traffic conditions, etc. of the boarding area. For example, the local knowledge determination unit 117 calculates the degree of the user's local knowledge of the boarding area by quantifying it based on information about the user (user information) stored in the user database 124. The user information may include information entered when registering for the ride-hailing service (registration information) and the frequency of use of the ride-hailing service. The registration information includes the user's home address, work address, and addresses of places where the user often goes out. The frequency of use of the service may include the number of times a boarding location in the boarding area has been used in the past, or the number of days since the most recent date of use of a boarding location in the boarding area.

[0067] The local knowledge determination unit 117 may score elements indicating the relevance to the user's boarding area, such as the user's home address, work address, address of a place frequently visited, the number of times a boarding location in the boarding area has been used in the past, or the number of days since the most recent use of a boarding location in the boarding area, as parameters, and calculate the weighted sum of each parameter as the degree of local familiarity. The local familiarity determination unit 117 calculates a larger value for the degree of local familiarity the closer the boarding area is to the user's home address, work address, or address of a place frequently visited. The local familiarity determination unit 117 calculates a larger value for the degree of local familiarity the more times a boarding location in the boarding area has been used in the past. The local familiarity determination unit 117 calculates a larger value for the degree of local familiarity the shorter the number of days since the most recent use of a boarding location in the boarding area.

[0068] The local knowledge determination unit 117 determines whether the degree of the user's local knowledge of the boarding area is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold. The predetermined threshold may be stored in advance in the storage unit 12. When the local knowledge determination unit 117 determines that the degree of the user's local knowledge of the boarding area is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold, it is considered that the user is familiar with the boarding area (in other words, the user has a large amount of knowledge about the boarding area and is familiar with the boarding area). For this reason, even if the center 55 of the boarding area 56 is outside the selectable area 41 as shown in FIG. 10, for example, reselection of the boarding area 56 is not necessary, and the user can select and maintain the boarding area 56 outside the selectable area 41. In addition, the boarding location candidate presentation unit 113 may present a boarding location candidate 64 that is outside the selectable area 41 but within the boarding area 56, in addition to the boarding location candidate that is within the selectable area 41 and within the boarding area 56 (not applicable in FIG. 10). In other words, the boarding location candidate presentation unit 113 may present boarding location candidates 64 within the boarding area 56 regardless of whether they are within the selectable area 41 or not.

[0069] On the other hand, if the local knowledge determination unit 117 determines that the degree of the user's local knowledge of the boarding area is less than a predetermined threshold, it is considered that the user has no local knowledge of the boarding area (in other words, the user has little knowledge about the boarding area and is unfamiliar with the boarding area). For this reason, for example, as shown in FIG. 10, if the center 55 of the boarding area 56 is outside the selectable area 41, the user may be prompted to reselect the boarding area 56. In addition, the boarding location candidate presentation unit 113 may present only boarding location candidates that are within the selectable area 41 and within the boarding area 56 (none in FIG. 10), and may not present boarding location candidates 64 that are outside the selectable area 41 but within the boarding area 56.

[0070] When there are less than two available boarding location candidates in the boarding area, the boarding area expansion unit 118 expands the boarding area so that there are two or more boarding location candidates. For example, as shown in Fig. 11, when there is only one boarding location candidate 64 in the boarding area 56 before expansion, which is shown in a schematic broken line, the boarding area expansion unit 118 searches for a boarding location candidate 61 that is located at the shortest distance from the boarding area 56 outside the boarding area 56 based on the boarding location candidate list stored in the boarding location candidate database 122, and expands the boarding area 56 to include the searched boarding location candidate 61, thereby setting it as the boarding area 57.

[0071] In addition, if there is no boarding location candidate within the boarding area 56 before expansion, the boarding area expansion unit 118 may sequentially search for two boarding location candidates that are the shortest distance from the boarding area 56 outside the boarding area 56, and expand the boarding area to include the two searched boarding location candidates. In addition, when searching for a boarding location candidate 61 that is the shortest distance from the boarding area 56 outside the boarding area 56, the boarding location candidate 61 that is the shortest distance from the boarding area 56 may be searched for within the selectable area 41. Alternatively, when searching for a boarding location candidate 61 that is the shortest distance from the boarding area 56 outside the boarding area 56, the boarding location candidate 61 that is the shortest distance from the boarding area 56 may be searched for regardless of whether it is within the selectable area 41.

[0072] The boarding location candidate highlighting unit 314 presents boarding location conditions (boarding location options) when boarding location candidates are presented on the terminal 3. The boarding location conditions may be, for example, that the walking time from the user's current location is the shortest, that the user's waiting time is the shortest, that the user's boarding time is the shortest, and the like. The boarding location candidate highlighting unit 314 accepts a selection of a boarding location condition desired by the user, and highlights a boarding location candidate that matches the condition selected by the user. For example, when the user selects that the walking time from the user's current location is the shortest as a boarding location condition, the boarding location candidate highlighting unit 314 highlights, among the multiple boarding location candidates, a boarding location candidate that has the shortest walking time from the user's current location. The highlighting method is not particularly limited, and for example, the icon of the boarding location candidate may be made to flash, or may be made brighter than other boarding location candidates.

[0073] For example, as shown in Fig. 12, the candidate boarding location highlighting unit 314 presents "shortest walking time", "shortest waiting time", and "shortest boarding time" as boarding location conditions (boarding location options) on the display screen 33a of the terminal 3. The user can select either "shortest walking time", "shortest waiting time", or "shortest boarding time", and here, "shortest walking time" is selected. The candidate boarding location highlighting unit 314 highlights the candidate boarding location 61 that has the shortest walking time from the user's current location out of the multiple candidate boarding locations 61, 64.

[0074] Other configurations of the boarding location determination device according to the second embodiment are substantially similar to those of the boarding location determination device according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1, so duplicated explanations will be omitted.

[0075] <How to determine boarding location> Next, an example of a boarding location determination method according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIG. 6, FIG. 13, and FIG.

[0076] The first half of the boarding location determination method according to the second embodiment is similar to steps S101 to S107 in the flowchart of Fig. 6, so a duplicated explanation will be omitted. In the boarding location determination method according to the second embodiment, after step S107 in the flowchart of Fig. 6, the process proceeds to step S201 in Fig. 13.

[0077] In step S201, the user selects (specifies) an arbitrary point where the user wishes to board on the map presented on the terminal 3. The boarding area selection unit 312 acquires the point selected by the user as the user's selection of the boarding area. In step S202, the user selects (specifies) a radius r of the range where the user wishes to board via the terminal 3. The boarding area selection unit 312 acquires the radius r selected by the user as the selection of the boarding area. The terminal side communication unit 32 transmits data of the point selected by the user and the radius r to the server side communication unit 13.

[0078] In step S203, the server-side communication unit 13 receives data on the point selected by the user and the radius r transmitted from the terminal-side communication unit 32. The boarding area creation unit 116 creates a circle with a radius r centered on the point selected by the user as the boarding area.

[0079] In step S204, the boarding area determination unit 112 determines whether the center of the boarding area is within the selectable area. If it is determined in step S204 that the center of the boarding area is within the selectable area, the process proceeds to step S207 in the flowchart of FIG.

[0080] On the other hand, if it is determined in step S204 that the center of the boarding area is outside the selectable area, the process proceeds to step S205. In step S205, the local knowledge determination unit 117 calculates the user's degree of local knowledge for the boarding area. In step S206, the local knowledge determination unit 117 determines whether the degree of local knowledge calculated in step S205 is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold. If it is determined in step S206 that the degree of local familiarity is less than the predetermined threshold, the process returns to step S201, and the user is prompted to select a boarding area again.

[0081] On the other hand, if it is determined in step S206 that the degree of local familiarity is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold, the boarding area is maintained even if the center of the boarding area is outside the selectable area 41, and the process proceeds to step S207 in the flowchart of FIG. 14.

[0082] In step S207, the boarding area determination unit 112 determines whether there are two or more boarding location candidates in the boarding area. If it is determined in step S207 that there are two or more boarding location candidates in the boarding area, the process proceeds to step S209.

[0083] On the other hand, if it is determined in step S207 that there are less than two boarding location candidates in the boarding area, the process proceeds to step S208. In step S208, the boarding area expansion unit 118 sequentially searches for boarding location candidates outside the boarding area that are the shortest distance from the boarding area, and expands the boarding area so that there are two or more boarding location candidates. Then, the process proceeds to step S209.

[0084] In step S209, the candidate boarding location presentation unit 113 causes the terminal 3 to present candidate boarding locations within the boarding area determined in step S207 to have two or more candidate boarding locations within the boarding area, or within the boarding area expanded in step S208. The server-side communication unit 13 transmits data of the candidate boarding locations within the boarding area to the terminal-side communication unit 32. The terminal-side communication unit 32 receives data of the candidate boarding locations within the boarding area transmitted from the server-side communication unit 13. The terminal 3 presents the candidate boarding locations within the boarding area on the map presented on the terminal 3. If it is determined in step S206 that the degree of local familiarity is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold, in step S209, the candidate boarding location presentation unit 113 may present candidate boarding locations within the boarding area, regardless of whether they are within a selectable area or not. Also, if it is determined in step S206 that the degree of local familiarity is less than a predetermined threshold, in step S209, the candidate boarding location presentation unit 113 may present candidate boarding locations within the selectable area and within the boarding area.

[0085] In step S210, the boarding location candidate highlighting unit 314 causes the terminal 3 to present boarding location options and prompts the user to select (specify) a desired boarding location option. The user specifies the desired boarding location option via the terminal 3. In step S211, the boarding location candidate highlighting unit 314 highlights boarding location candidates that match the boarding location option specified by the user.

[0086] Steps S212 and S213 are similar to steps S112 and S113 in the flowchart of FIG. 7, and therefore a duplicated description will be omitted.

[0087] <Effects> As described above, according to the boarding location determination method and boarding location determination device of the second embodiment, a selectable area that is an area that the user can travel to within a predetermined time and that includes at least one or more candidate boarding locations is presented on a map presented on terminal 3, and when the selectable area is presented on terminal 3, the selection of a boarding area is accepted on the map presented on terminal 3, and candidate boarding locations within the selected boarding area are presented on terminal 3. This makes it possible to select a boarding location in an area that takes into account the user's intention.

[0088] Furthermore, the boarding area is selected by setting the range centered on a point selected by the user on the map presented on the terminal 3. This allows the user to intuitively and easily select the desired boarding area.

[0089] Furthermore, it is determined whether the boarding area selected by the user includes two or more candidate boarding locations, and if it is determined that the area does not include two or more candidate boarding locations, the boarding area is expanded to include two or more candidate boarding locations. This allows the user to determine a boarding location while comparing multiple candidate boarding locations.

[0090] Furthermore, the degree of familiarity of the user with respect to the boarding area is calculated, and it is determined whether the degree of familiarity is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold. When it is determined that the degree of familiarity is equal to or greater than the predetermined threshold, when presenting candidate boarding locations, candidate boarding locations within the boarding area are presented regardless of whether they are within the selectable area. As a result, if the user is familiar with the boarding area, even if the user arbitrarily selects the boarding area outside the selectable area, it is possible to select a candidate boarding location outside the selectable area. Therefore, the user can use a boarding location that is convenient for the user without interfering with the use of, for example, shortcuts, uncrowded places, places with good security, etc. that the user is aware of.

[0091] Furthermore, when calculating the degree of local familiarity, the degree of local familiarity is calculated based on at least one of the user's registration information and the user's frequency of use of the vehicle dispatch service, thereby making it possible to calculate the degree of local familiarity that is in line with the user's actual situation.

[0092] Furthermore, when the boarding location candidates are presented on the terminal 3, those that match the conditions specified by the user are highlighted and presented. This allows the user to easily grasp the boarding location that meets the user's needs and efficiently determine the desired boarding location.

[0093] Furthermore, if it is determined that the degree of local familiarity is less than a predetermined threshold, then when presenting candidate boarding locations to the terminal 3, candidate boarding locations that are within the selectable area and within the boarding area are presented. This allows a boarding location to be selected that is in an area that takes into account the user's intentions and that the user can travel to within a predetermined time.

[0094] Furthermore, presenting the selectable area on the terminal 3 presents a selectable area that is an area including two or more boarding location candidates. This allows the user to select a desired boarding area while comparing multiple boarding location candidates.

[0095] (Other embodiments) As described above, the present disclosure has been described by the first and second embodiments, but the descriptions and drawings forming a part of this disclosure should not be understood as limiting the present disclosure. Various alternative embodiments, examples and operating techniques will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure.

[0096] For example, the configurations disclosed in the first and second embodiments may be appropriately combined within a range that does not cause a contradiction. Step S108 in FIG. 7 of the first embodiment and steps S201 to S203 in FIG. 13 of the second embodiment may be interchanged. Step S110 in FIG. 7 of the first embodiment and steps S207 to S208 in FIG. 13 of the second embodiment may be interchanged. Step S205 to S206 in FIG. 13 of the second embodiment may be added after step S109 in FIG. 7 of the first embodiment. Step S210 to S211 in FIG. 13 of the second embodiment may be added after step S112 in FIG. 7 of the first embodiment.

[0097] Thus, the present disclosure naturally includes various embodiments not described herein. Therefore, the technical scope of the present disclosure is defined only by the invention-specifying matters related to the scope of the claims appropriate from the above description. [Explanation of symbols]

[0098] 1...server, 2...vehicle, 3...terminal, 11...controller, 12...memory unit, 13...communication unit, 21...controller, 22...communication unit, 23...sensor, 31...controller, 32...communication unit, 33...HMI, 33a...display screen, 41...selectable area, 42...non-selectable area, 51...location, 52...line segment, 53...boarding area, 54...location, 55...center, 56-57...boarding area, 61-64...boarding location candidate 111...selectable area presentation unit, 112...boarding area determination unit, 113...boarding location candidate presentation unit, 114...vehicle allocation setting unit, 115...vehicle allocation route calculation unit, 116... Boarding area creation unit, 117... local knowledge determination unit, 118... boarding area expansion unit, 121... map database, 122... boarding location candidate database, 123... vehicle database, 124... user database, 211... vehicle information acquisition unit, 212... route setting unit, 213... vehicle control unit, 311... self-position acquisition unit, 312... boarding area selection unit, 313... boarding location selection unit, 314... boarding location candidate highlighting unit

Claims

1. A boarding location determination method for determining a boarding location of a vehicle to be dispatched in response to a vehicle dispatch request from a user, comprising: presenting a selectable area on a map presented on the terminal, the selectable area being an area within which the user can travel within a predetermined time and including at least one candidate boarding location; When the selectable area is presented on the terminal, a selection of a boarding area is accepted from the user on a map presented on the terminal; Present on the terminal boarding location candidates within the selected boarding area. A boarding location determination method including:

2. The selection of the boarding area is The area enclosed by the line drawn by the user on the map presented on the terminal is defined as the boarding area. The boarding location determination method according to claim 1.

3. The selection of the boarding area is The boarding area is defined as an area centered on a point designated by the user on a map presented on the terminal. The boarding location determination method according to claim 1 or 2.

4. determining whether the selected boarding area includes two or more potential boarding locations; If it is determined that the boarding area does not include the two or more boarding location candidates, the boarding area is expanded to include the two or more boarding location candidates. It further includes The boarding location determination method according to claim 1 or 2.

5. Calculating a degree of familiarity of the user with respect to the boarding area; Determine whether the degree of local familiarity is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold. Further including: When it is determined that the degree of local familiarity is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold, presenting the boarding location candidates is independent of whether the boarding location candidates are within the selectable area, and presenting the boarding location candidates within the boarding area. The boarding location determination method according to claim 1 or 2.

6. Calculating the degree of local familiarity The degree of local familiarity is calculated based on at least one of the user's registration information and the user's frequency of use of vehicle dispatch services. The boarding location determination method according to claim 5.

7. Presenting the boarding location candidates The boarding location candidates that meet the conditions specified by the user are highlighted and presented. The boarding location determination method according to claim 1 or 2.

8. Presenting the selectable areas includes: Present the selectable area, which is a range including two or more boarding location candidates. The boarding location determination method according to claim 1 or 2.

9. Presenting the boarding location candidates Presenting the boarding location candidates that are within the selectable area and within the boarding area The boarding location determination method according to claim 1 or 2.

10. Presenting the selectable areas includes: Present the selectable area together with potential boarding locations within the selectable area The boarding location determination method according to claim 1.

11. A boarding location determination device that determines a boarding location of a vehicle to be dispatched in response to a vehicle dispatch request from a user, a selectable area presentation unit that presents, on a map presented on the terminal, a selectable area within a predetermined time range that the user can travel to and that includes at least one or more candidate boarding locations; a boarding area selection unit that accepts a selection of a boarding area from the user on a map presented on the terminal when the selectable area is presented on the terminal; a boarding location candidate presentation unit that presents boarding location candidates within the selected boarding area on the terminal; A boarding location determination device comprising:

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