Information processing apparatus

Abstract

To improve the certainty of task execution by a plurality of vehicles.SOLUTION: An information processing apparatus includes a communication unit, and a control unit configured to communicate, using the communication unit, with a plurality of vehicles each having a schedule for executing a task, and transmit, upon receiving information indicating that a first task in a first time slot cannot be executed as scheduled from a first vehicle, instruction information to cause a second vehicle that has a schedule for executing a second task with a lower priority than the first task in the first time slot to execute the first task instead of the second task in place of the first vehicle.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an information processing apparatus.

Background Art

[0002] Vehicles for various applications are widespread, and technologies for assisting in controlling the operation of vehicles have been proposed. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an in-vehicle device that manages the execution of a plurality of tasks.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] When a plurality of vehicles each execute a task, there is room for improving the certainty of task execution.

[0005] The present disclosure provides an information processing apparatus and the like that enables improvement in the certainty of task execution by a plurality of vehicles.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The information processing apparatus in the present disclosure includes a communication unit, and when the communication unit communicates with a plurality of vehicles each having a plan to execute a task and receives information indicating that a first task in a first time period cannot be executed as planned from a first vehicle, the control unit sends instruction information for causing a second vehicle having a plan to execute a second task with a lower priority than the first task in the first time period to execute the first task instead of the second task on behalf of the first vehicle.

Effects of the Invention

[0007] According to the information processing apparatus and the like in the present disclosure, it is possible to improve the certainty of task execution by a plurality of vehicles.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described.

[0010] <Configuration of Vehicle Management System> FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a vehicle management system according to an embodiment. The vehicle management system 1 includes one or more server devices 10, one or more terminal devices 12, and a plurality of vehicles 13 that are communicably connected to each other via a network 11. The server device 10 belongs to, for example, a cloud computing system or other computing systems, and is a server computer that functions as a server for implementing various functions. The server device 10 corresponds to the "information processing device" in the present embodiment. The terminal device 12 is an information processing terminal used by an operator of the vehicle management system 1, and exchanges various information with the server device 10. The terminal device 12 is, for example, a personal computer. The vehicle 13 is provided with a communication function and an information processing function, and is connected to the network 11 via a mobile communication network. The vehicle 13 is, for example, a multi-purpose bus vehicle, and has an interior space or seats for transporting passengers, store facilities for merchandise sales and service provision, and the like. The vehicle 13 may be driven by a driver, or the driving may be automated at any level (for example, any one of levels 1 to 5 in the SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers)). Also, the vehicle 13 is an electric vehicle that uses at least part of the energy for running with electric power from a battery, or a hybrid vehicle. Hereinafter, when distinguishing each of the plurality of vehicles 13, the vehicle 13-n (n = 1, 2,...) is numbered. The network 11 is, for example, the Internet, but includes an ad hoc network, a LAN (Local Area Network), a MAN (Metropolitan Area Network), or other networks or any combination thereof.

[0011] In this embodiment, the vehicle management system 1 manages and controls the execution of respective tasks by a plurality of vehicles 13. The tasks are, for example, transporting passengers as a bus vehicle, conducting door-to-door sales and services as a mobile store, and the like. Each of the vehicles 13 executes a task by transporting passengers on an arbitrary route during a certain time period, or by carrying goods or the like and conducting door-to-door sales in an arbitrary area during another time period. The server device 10 includes a communication unit 101 and a control unit 103 that communicates via the communication unit. When the control unit 103 communicates with a plurality of vehicles 13 each having a plan to execute a task via the communication unit 101 and receives information (hereinafter referred to as delay information) indicating that the first task during a certain time period cannot be executed as planned from the vehicle 13-1, the control unit 103 sends instruction information for causing the vehicle 13-2 having a plan to execute a second task with a lower priority than the first task during that time period to execute the first task instead of the second task on behalf of the vehicle 13-1. In this way, even when the execution of the first task is likely to be delayed in a certain vehicle 13-1, the first task can be executed by an alternative vehicle 13-2 instead of the second task with a lower priority. Therefore, as a whole of the plurality of vehicles 13, by more surely executing a task with a higher priority, it is possible to improve the certainty of execution of a plurality of tasks by the plurality of vehicles.

[0012] <Configuration of Server Device 10> The server device 10 includes a communication unit 101, a storage unit 102, and a control unit 103. The server device 10 is, for example, a single computer. Alternatively, the server device 10 may be configured by two or more computers that are connected in an information communicable manner and operate in cooperation. In that case, the configuration shown in FIG. 2 is appropriately arranged in two or more computers.

[0013] The communication unit 101 includes one or more communication interfaces. The communication interface is, for example, a LAN interface. The communication unit 101 receives information used for the operation of the server device 10 and transmits information obtained by the operation of the server device 10. The server device 10 is connected to the network 11 by the communication unit 101 and performs information communication with the vehicle 13 via the network 11.

[0014] The storage unit 102 includes, for example, one or more semiconductor memories that function as a main memory device, an auxiliary memory device, or a cache memory, one or more magnetic memories, one or more optical memories, or a combination of at least two of these. The semiconductor memory is, for example, a RAM (Random Access Memory) or a ROM (Read Only Memory). The RAM is, for example, an SRAM (Static RAM) or a DRAM (Dynamic RAM). The ROM is, for example, an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable ROM). The storage unit 102 stores information used for the operation of the server device 10 and information obtained by the operation of the server device 10.

[0015] The control unit 103 includes one or more processors, one or more dedicated circuits, or a combination of these. The processor is, for example, a general-purpose processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), or a dedicated processor such as a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) specialized for specific processing. The dedicated circuit is, for example, an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array), an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), etc. The control unit 103 executes information processing related to the operation of the server device 10 while controlling each part of the server device 10.

[0016] The functions of the server device 10 are realized by executing a control program with a processor included in the control unit 103. The control program is a program for causing a computer to execute the processing of the steps included in the operation of the server device 10, thereby causing the computer to realize the functions corresponding to the processing of those steps. That is, the control program is a program for causing a computer to function as the server device 10. Also, some or all of the functions of the server device 10 may be realized by a dedicated circuit included in the control unit 103. Further, the control program may be stored in a non-transitory recording and storage medium readable by the server device 10, and the server device 10 may read it from the medium.

[0017] <Configuration of the terminal device 12> The terminal device 12 includes a communication unit 121, a storage unit 122, a control unit 123, an input unit 125, and an output unit 126.

[0018] The communication unit 121 includes a communication module corresponding to a wired or wireless LAN standard, a module corresponding to a mobile communication standard such as LTE (Long Term Evolution), 4G (4th Generation), or 5G (5th Generation), etc. The terminal device 12 is connected to the network 11 via the communication unit 121 through a nearby router device or a base station for mobile communication, and performs information communication with other devices via the network 11.

[0019] The storage unit 122 includes one or more semiconductor memories, one or more magnetic memories, one or more optical memories, or a combination of at least two of these. The semiconductor memory is, for example, a RAM or a ROM. The RAM is, for example, an SRAM or a DRAM. The ROM is, for example, an EEPROM. The storage unit 122 functions as, for example, a main storage device, an auxiliary storage device, or a cache memory. The storage unit 122 stores information used for the operation of the control unit 123 and information obtained by the operation of the control unit 123.

[0020] The control unit 123 has, for example, one or more general-purpose processors such as a CPU or an MPU (Micro Processing Unit), or one or more dedicated processors specialized for specific processing. Alternatively, the control unit 123 may have one or more dedicated circuits such as an FPGA or an ASIC. The control unit 123 comprehensively controls the operation of the terminal device 12 by operating according to a control / processing program or by operating according to an operation procedure implemented as a circuit. Then, the control unit 123 transmits and receives various information to and from the server device 10 etc. via the communication unit 121, and executes the operation according to this embodiment.

[0021] The input unit 125 includes one or more input interfaces. The input interface includes, for example, a physical key, a capacitive key, a pointing device, a touch screen provided integrally with a display, a camera that captures an image or an image code, or an IC card reader. The input interface may include a microphone that receives voice input. The input unit 125 receives the input of information used for the operation of the control unit 123, and sends the input information to the control unit 123.

[0022] The output unit 126 includes one or more output interfaces. The output interface is, for example, a display or a speaker. The display is, for example, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or an organic EL (Electro-Luminescence) display. The output unit 126 outputs the information obtained by the operation of the control unit 123.

[0023] The functions of the control unit 123 are realized by a processor included in the control unit 123 executing a control program. The control program is a program for causing the processor to function as the control unit 123. Also, some or all of the functions of the control unit 123 may be realized by a dedicated circuit included in the control unit 123.

[0024] <Configuration example of vehicle 13> The vehicle 13 includes a communication unit 131, a memory unit 132, a control unit 133, a positioning unit 134, an input unit 135, an output unit 136, and a detection unit 137. One or more of these may be configured as a single control device, or it may be configured by a personal computer including a tablet terminal, a smartphone terminal, or a navigation device. Alternatively, each unit may be communicably connected via an in-vehicle network compliant with a standard such as CAN (Controller Area Network).

[0025] The memory unit 132, the control unit 133, the input unit 135, and the output unit 136 have the same configurations as the memory unit 122, the control unit 123, the input unit 125, and the output unit 126 of the terminal device 12, respectively.

[0026] The communication unit 131 includes one or more communication interfaces. The communication interface is, for example, an interface corresponding to a mobile communication standard such as LTE, 4G, or 5G. The communication unit 131 receives information used for the operation of the control unit 133 and transmits information obtained by the operation of the control unit 133. The control unit 133 is connected to the network 11 via a base station for mobile communication by the communication unit 131 and performs information communication with other devices via the network 11.

[0027] The positioning unit 134 includes one or more GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) receivers. GNSS includes, for example, at least any one of GPS (Global Positioning System), QZSS (Quasi-Zenith Satellite System), BeiDou, GLONASS (Global Navigation Satellite System), and Galileo. Based on the information acquired by the positioning unit 134, the position information of the vehicle 13 is obtained.

[0028] The detection unit 137 has an interface with one or more sensors that detect the states of various parts of the vehicle 13, or has one or more sensors. The sensors include, for example, a sensor that detects the remaining battery level of the vehicle 13, a sensor that detects the motion state of the vehicle 13 (such as speed, longitudinal acceleration, lateral acceleration, deceleration, etc.). The detection unit 127 sends information indicating each state detected by the sensor to the control unit 123.

[0029] The control unit 133 controls each of these parts while exchanging various information with the communication unit 131, the storage unit 132, the positioning unit 134, the input unit 135, the output unit 136, and the detection unit 137, and controls the operation of the vehicle 13. When the vehicle 13 is in operation, the control unit 133 controls the operation of the vehicle 13 by presenting various information necessary for driving to the driver via the output unit 136 or controlling the automatic driving of the vehicle 13.

[0030] <Operation of the vehicle management system 1> FIG. 2 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the procedure of the cooperative operation of the server device 10, the terminal device 12, and the vehicle 13. The steps related to various information processing of the server device 10, the terminal device 12, and the vehicle 13 in FIG. 2 are executed by the respective control units 103, 123, and 133. Also, the steps related to the transmission and reception of various information of the server device 10, the terminal device 12, and the vehicle 13 are executed by the respective control units 103, 123, and 133 transmitting and receiving information to and from each other via the communication units 101, 121, and 131, respectively. In the server device 10, the terminal device 12, and the vehicle 13, the control units 103, 123, and 133 respectively store the information to be processed, transmitted, and received in the storage units 102, 122, and 132 as appropriate.

[0031] The procedure in FIG. 2 is an example of the procedure when the operator uses the terminal device 12 to manage and control the task execution of the vehicle 13 via the server device 10.

[0032] In step S20, the server device 10 acquires the schedule information of each of the plurality of vehicles 13. The schedule information includes information such as the type of task, the scheduled start and end times of the task, and the location where the task is to be executed. The schedule information is stored in each vehicle 13 and may be sent from the vehicle 13 to the server device 10, or the schedule information for each vehicle 13 may be stored in the server device 10 and read out by the control unit 103. Alternatively, the operator may appropriately input the schedule information of an arbitrary vehicle 13 to the terminal device 12, and the schedule information may be sent to the server device 10. Step S20 is executed, for example, once a day.

[0033] In step S21, the server device 10 receives the position information and the battery information from each vehicle 13. Step S31 is executed at an arbitrary period, for example, a period of several seconds to several tens of seconds.

[0034] In step S22, the server device 10 receives progress information from each vehicle 13. The progress information is information indicating the progress of tasks in each vehicle 13. The progress information includes completion information or delay information. The completion information indicates the completion of each task. For example, when the crew of vehicle 13 confirms the completion of a task, an input indicating the completion of that task is made to the input unit 135, and in response to that input, the control unit 133 generates completion information. Alternatively, the control unit 133 may generate completion information when a preset condition is satisfied according to an arbitrary algorithm. On the other hand, the delay information indicates that the completion of a task is delayed, and thus the subsequent tasks will not be executed as scheduled. For example, when the crew of vehicle 13 recognizes that it is difficult to complete a task at the scheduled completion time, an input indicating difficulty in completion is made to the input unit 135, and in response to that input, the control unit 133 generates delay information. Alternatively, the control unit 133 may send delay information when a preset condition is satisfied according to an arbitrary algorithm. For example, the control unit 133 may determine difficulty in completion when the vehicle 13 is not in a reference state at an arbitrary reference time before the scheduled completion time of a task, for example, a few minutes to a dozen or so minutes before the scheduled completion time. For example, the reference state is that the vehicle 13 is located at the transport destination or a point at an arbitrary distance from there, or at the end point of a circuit or a point at an arbitrary distance from there. Also, when the reference state relates to the position of the vehicle 13, the reference time may be advanced or postponed according to the distance between the current position of the vehicle and the position defined in the reference state. In a modified example, based on the scheduled information and the current position of the vehicle 13, the server device 10 may determine the scheduled completion of a task or the difficulty in the scheduled completion of a task.

[0035] In step S23, the server device 10 sends the progress information including the completion information or the delay information to the terminal device 12. When the completion information is sent, steps S24 and subsequent steps are omitted. When the delay information is sent, step S24 is executed.

[0036] In step S24, the server device 10 receives an alternative vehicle search instruction from the terminal device 12. The alternative vehicle search instruction is an instruction for the server device 10 to search for another vehicle 13-2 that replaces the task of one vehicle 13-1 and executes it on vehicle 13-1. In vehicle 13-1, if the completion of a certain task is delayed, there is a high probability that subsequent tasks cannot start as scheduled (hereinafter, a task that cannot start as scheduled is referred to as a delayed task). The alternative vehicle 13-2 is a vehicle for executing the delayed task of vehicle 13-1 in place of vehicle 13-1. Note that the delayed task may be the task immediately following the task whose completion is delayed, or may be a subsequent task. In the terminal device 12, when delay information is output, an operator who has confirmed the delay information performs an operation for instructing an alternative vehicle search. In response to that operation, the terminal device 12 sends an alternative vehicle search instruction to the server device 10.

[0037] In step S25, the server device 10 executes an alternative vehicle search in response to the alternative vehicle search instruction. Details of step S25 are shown in FIG. 3.

[0038] FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation procedure of the server device 10 that performs an alternative vehicle search. Each step in FIG. 3 is executed by the control unit 103.

[0039] In step S30, the control unit 103 searches for candidate vehicles that are candidates for alternative vehicles. The candidate vehicles are the vehicles 13 for which the control unit 103 has acquired schedule information and position information. If one or more candidate vehicles are searched (Yes in step S31), the control unit 103 proceeds to step S32. If no candidate vehicle is searched (No in step S31), the control unit 103 proceeds to step S38.

[0040] In step S32, the control unit 103 selects a candidate vehicle eligible as an alternative vehicle according to the priority of the task. FIG. 4 shows an example of task comparison. FIG. 4 schematically shows the schedule or progress of the task with the horizontal axis as the time axis. For example, the initial schedule P1 of vehicle 13-1, the progress D1 with a delay occurred, and the initial schedule (or in this case, the progress without a delay) P2 of vehicle 13-2 are shown. In the schedule P1 of vehicle 13-1, task 40 is scheduled in the time period from time T0 to T1, the predetermined interval is in the time period from time T1 to T2, and the subsequent task 41 is scheduled in the time period from time T2 to T3. The progress D1 is due to some reason, such as traffic congestion, mechanical trouble, human error, etc., and the end of task 40 is delayed from the scheduled end time T1, so that task 41 after the interval from time T1 to T2 cannot start at the scheduled start time T2. In the schedule P2 of vehicle 13-2, task 43 is scheduled in the time period overlapping with the time period originally scheduled for the delayed task 41 of vehicle 13-1, that is, the time period from time T2 to T3, together with task 42. When, for example, the time when the alternative vehicle search instruction is received is before the scheduled start time of task 43, the control unit 103 compares the priority of the delayed task 41 of vehicle 13-1 with the priority of task 43 of vehicle 13-2 (hereinafter referred to as the comparison task). Then, when the priority of the comparison task 43 is lower than the priority of the delayed task 41, the control unit 103 determines that vehicle 13-2 is eligible as an alternative vehicle, and in other cases, determines that vehicle 13-2 is ineligible as an alternative vehicle.

[0041] The information on the priority of the tasks of the vehicle 13 may be included in the schedule information of each vehicle 13, or a table associating tasks with priorities may be stored in advance in the storage unit 102. Alternatively, the priority information may be sent from the terminal device 12. For example, the higher the number of users affected by a task, the higher the priority. The number of users affected by a task is, for example, the number of users expected to be transported, the number of users expected to use door-to-door sales / services, etc. Alternatively, the priority is arbitrarily set according to the attributes of the users affected by the task. For example, when the vehicle 13 circulates within a company or factory, if the largest number of users expected to be transported or use sales / services are external users, the priority is higher than that for internal users.

[0042] When the control unit 103 determines that a plurality of candidate vehicles 13 are qualified as substitute vehicles according to the priority of the tasks as described above (Yes in step S33), it proceeds to step S34. When it determines that one candidate vehicle 13 is qualified as a substitute vehicle (No in step S33), it skips step S34 and proceeds to step S35.

[0043] In step S34, the control unit 103 compares the remaining battery levels of the plurality of candidate vehicles 13 determined to be qualified as substitute vehicles, and selects the vehicle 13 with the largest remaining battery level as the most suitable substitute vehicle. In a modification, the control unit 103 may select the most suitable substitute vehicle using the current position of the vehicle 13 instead of the remaining battery level. For example, it is possible to select the vehicle 13 closest to the scheduled start location of the delayed task as the most suitable substitute vehicle.

[0044] In step S36, the control unit 103 generates information on the selection result. The selection result includes information identifying the selected substitute vehicle 13. Then, the control unit 103 ends the process of FIG. 3.

[0045] On the other hand, in step S38, the control unit 103 generates non-corresponding information. The non-corresponding information is information indicating that there are no candidate vehicles. Then, the control unit 103 ends the process of FIG. 3.

[0046] Returning to FIG. 2, in step S26, the server device 10 sends the search result of the alternative vehicle to the terminal device 12. The search result includes a selection result that identifies the alternative vehicle or non-corresponding information.

[0047] In step S28, the server device 10 receives an instruction information sending instruction from the terminal device 12. The instruction information is information including an instruction for causing the alternative vehicle 13-2 to execute the delay task 41 of the vehicle 13-1 instead of the comparison task 43 for the vehicle 13-1. The instruction information includes information such as the start time of the task, the type of the task, the equipment required for the task, and the start point of the task, which are necessary for executing the delay task 41. In the terminal device 12, when the selection result of the alternative vehicle is output as the search result, an operator who has confirmed the selection result performs an operation for instructing the execution of the delay task on the alternative vehicle. In response to the operation, the terminal device 12 generates an instruction information sending instruction and sends it to the server device 10. When a search result indicating non-correspondence is output, the operator confirms the non-correspondence, and the procedure in FIG. 2 ends.

[0048] In step S29, the server device 10 sends the instruction information to the alternative vehicle 13-2. Then, in response to the instruction information, the vehicle 13-2 executes the delay task.

[0049] According to the above procedure, even when a delay task occurs in a certain vehicle 13-1, the alternative vehicle 13-2 can execute the delay task instead of the comparison task with a lower priority. Therefore, as a whole of the plurality of vehicles 13, by more surely executing a task with a higher priority, it is possible to improve the certainty of task execution.

[0050] In a modification, when a delay task occurs from a subsequent task due to a delay in the end of the current task in the vehicle 13, the server device 10 may instruct the vehicle 13 to cancel the current task and execute the delay task as scheduled, on the condition that the priority of the delay task is higher than the priority of the current task.

[0051] In the above, the embodiments have been described based on the drawings and examples. However, it should be noted that those skilled in the art can easily make various modifications and corrections based on this disclosure. Therefore, it should be noted that these modifications and corrections are included in the scope of this disclosure. For example, the functions and the like included in each means, each step, etc. can be rearranged so as not to be logically inconsistent, and a plurality of means, steps, etc. can be combined into one or divided.

Description of Reference Numerals

[0052] 1 Vehicle management system 10 Server device 11 Network 12 Terminal device 13 Vehicle 101, 121, 131 Communication unit 102, 122, 132 Storage unit 103, 123, 133 Control unit 125, 135 Input unit 126, 136 Output unit 134 Positioning unit 137 Detection unit

Claims

1. A communication unit, When the communication unit communicates with a plurality of vehicles each having a task to be executed, and receives information indicating that the first task in the first time period cannot be executed as scheduled from the first vehicle, the communication unit sends instruction information to a second vehicle having a scheduled execution of a second task with a lower priority than the first task in the first time period to cause the second vehicle to execute the first task on behalf of the first vehicle instead of the second task. A control unit for doing so, An information processing apparatus having the above.

2. In Claim 1, The control unit receives information on the task schedule from the plurality of vehicles, An information processing apparatus.

3. In Claim 1, The control unit generates the instruction information using information on the priority of each task of the plurality of vehicles, An information processing apparatus.

4. In Claim 1, The control unit receives information on the remaining battery level of each of the plurality of vehicles, and sends the instruction information to a vehicle among the plurality of second vehicles having a larger remaining battery level than the others, An information processing apparatus.

5. In Claim 1, The control unit receives position information of each of the plurality of vehicles, and sends the instruction information to a vehicle among the plurality of second vehicles having a shorter distance to the point where the execution of the first task starts than the others, An information processing apparatus.

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