Vehicle allocation management device and vehicle allocation management method

Abstract

To allocate the optimal vehicle to a user considering the degree of variation of expected required time for a travel route.SOLUTION: The present invention is a vehicle allocation management device that manages allocation of vehicles on the basis of a vehicle allocation request from a user. The device comprises: a travel actual result information database that stores travel actual result information of a vehicle; and a vehicle allocation planning unit that makes a vehicle allocation plan for a vehicle to be allocated based on a travel route in response to the vehicle allocation request. The vehicle allocation planning unit determines the travel route on the basis of the vehicle allocation request and extracts candidate vehicles, and acquires the amount of energy remaining in the candidate vehicles. The device calculates the degree of variation of expected required time for the travel route on the basis of the travel actual result information, calculates the expected amount of energy consumption on the travel route on the basis of the degree of variation, and selects a vehicle to be allocated to the user from the candidate vehicles on the basis of the amount of energy remaining in the candidate vehicles and the expected amount of energy consumption.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] Fleet management is known as a method for managing vehicle allocation to improve user convenience while increasing vehicle utilization rates. For example, in response to a user's request for vehicle allocation, several available vehicle driving routes are searched for, and a driving route that can efficiently reach the destination is selected from the search results.

[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 listed below discloses a demand-based operation system in which an operation management center generates an operation plan within the allowable range of a standard operation schedule based on usage requests received from user terminals and a standard operation schedule in which the operation section, departure time from the starting point, and arrival time at the end point are preset, and provides the generated operation plan to demand vehicles and user terminals, the user terminals present the provided operation plan to users, and the demand vehicles operate in accordance with the provided operation plan. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2017-182137 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, the operation system disclosed in the above Patent Document 1 creates an operation plan within the tolerance range of the standard operation schedule, but does not fully consider variations in the operation plan. Therefore, if a significant delay occurs in the initially estimated travel time for the route to the destination, depending on the remaining cruising distance of the demand vehicle (for example, the state of SOC), it may become difficult for the demand vehicle to reach the destination, which may undermine the reliability of the vehicle dispatch service.

[0006] Therefore, the present invention aims to provide a vehicle dispatch management device and a vehicle dispatch management method that can dispatch the most suitable vehicle to a user by taking into account the degree of variation in the expected travel time of the route from the departure point to the destination. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The present invention, which aims to solve the above problems, comprises the following invention-specifying matters and technical features.

[0008] According to one aspect, the present invention provides a vehicle dispatch management device that manages vehicle dispatch based on a user's dispatch request, the vehicle dispatch management device including: a driving performance information database that stores driving performance information of each vehicle; and a vehicle dispatch planner that creates a vehicle dispatch plan for assigned vehicles based on driving routes in response to the user's vehicle dispatch request. Here, the vehicle allocation planning unit includes a driving route determination unit that determines the driving route based on the vehicle allocation request, a variation calculation unit that calculates the degree of variation in the expected travel time for the determined driving route based on the driving performance information, a candidate vehicle extraction unit that extracts at least one of the vehicles as candidate vehicles based on the vehicle allocation request, a vehicle information acquisition unit that acquires vehicle information including at least the remaining energy amount of the extracted candidate vehicles, an expected energy consumption calculation unit that calculates the expected energy consumption amount of the candidate vehicles to reach the destination indicated by the driving route based on the degree of variation in the expected travel time, an allocation vehicle selection unit that selects an allocation vehicle to be allocated to the user from among the candidate vehicles based on the difference between the remaining energy amount and the expected energy consumption of the candidate vehicle, and a vehicle allocation instruction unit that issues allocation instructions to the allocation vehicle based on the created vehicle allocation plan.

[0009] The present invention also provides a vehicle allocation management method using a vehicle allocation management device that manages vehicle allocation in response to a vehicle allocation request, a computer program for executing the method, and a recording medium on which the method is non-temporarily recorded.

[0010] In this disclosure, a "system" refers to a logical collection of multiple devices (or functional modules that realize specific functions), regardless of whether each device or functional module is contained within a single housing. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] According to the present invention, it is possible to allocate to a user an optimal vehicle according to the degree of variation in the estimated travel time of the travel route from the departure point to the destination.

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

[0013] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a schematic configuration of a vehicle dispatch management system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a functional configuration model of a vehicle dispatch control device according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of road link travel time information in the travel performance information database of the vehicle dispatch control device according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of details of the vehicle dispatch planning unit of the vehicle dispatch management device according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining an example of a variation threshold value in the vehicle dispatch control device according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a sequence chart for explaining an outline of a vehicle dispatch service in a vehicle dispatch management system according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7A] FIG. 7A is a flowchart illustrating an example of a vehicle dispatch management process performed by the vehicle dispatch management device according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7B] FIG. 7B is a flowchart illustrating an example of a vehicle dispatch management process performed by the vehicle dispatch management device according to one embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the embodiments described below are merely examples, and are not intended to exclude various modifications or applications of techniques not explicitly described below. The present invention can be implemented in various modifications (e.g., combinations of the embodiments) without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Furthermore, in the following description of the drawings, identical or similar parts are denoted by identical or similar reference numerals. The drawings are schematic and do not necessarily correspond to actual dimensions, ratios, etc. Parts in the drawings may have different dimensional relationships or ratios.

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

[0016] The vehicle dispatch management system 1 of the present disclosure provides, for example, a vehicle dispatch service using multiple vehicles V targeting a certain area. The vehicle dispatch service may be either an "on-demand" or "reservation" system. An "on-demand vehicle dispatch service" is a service that allocates (dispatches) a specific vehicle to a user in immediate response to a vehicle dispatch request from the user. In other words, in an on-demand vehicle dispatch service, there is no vehicle dispatch reservation time specified by the user. Furthermore, "immediate response" is a concept that not only means dispatching a vehicle immediately in response to a vehicle dispatch request from a user, but also includes a certain degree of time that the user can normally accept. In contrast, a "reservation vehicle dispatch service" is a service that dispatches a vehicle at a vehicle dispatch reservation time or within a time frame specified by the user.

[0017] The vehicle dispatch management device 10 is a computing device that comprehensively manages a vehicle dispatch service using multiple vehicles V in a target area of ​​the vehicle dispatch service. The target area of ​​the service may be divided into several areas (sub-areas). The vehicle dispatch management device 10, for example, implements a vehicle dispatch management server program and executes the vehicle dispatch management server program under the control of a processor, thereby realizing the vehicle dispatch service.

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

[0019] In general, the vehicle allocation management device 10 refers to the vehicle information database 12c based on a vehicle allocation request received from a user who wishes to allocate a vehicle V to the user from among a plurality of vehicles V, creates a vehicle allocation plan for the vehicle V, and proposes the created vehicle allocation plan to the user. The vehicle allocation management device 10 confirms the proposed vehicle allocation plan upon the user's consent, and issues a vehicle allocation instruction to the vehicle V in accordance with the confirmed vehicle allocation plan.

[0020] The vehicle dispatch plan includes the driving route of vehicle V, which defines the route from the location where vehicle V is waiting (the starting waiting location), via several points along the way where users get on and off (boarding and disembarking points (departure and destination)), to the final waiting location (which is not necessarily the same as the initial waiting location), and the average value of the expected travel time to each point (hereinafter referred to as the "average expected travel time"). If vehicle V is waiting, the vehicle dispatch plan is created anew based on a new vehicle dispatch request, while if vehicle V is already operating with a user on board, it can be updated based on the new vehicle dispatch request. In the present disclosure, vehicle dispatch management device 10 selects, from among the candidate vehicles extracted based on the vehicle dispatch request, a candidate vehicle that has a surplus of remaining energy compared to the expected energy consumption as an assigned vehicle, and creates a vehicle dispatch plan for that candidate vehicle.

[0021] The vehicle V is a vehicle registered in the vehicle information database 12c and available for use by a user. The vehicle V is assumed to be a so-called electric vehicle (BEV), but is not limited thereto and may be an HV, PHEV, or ICEV. The vehicle V may also be a conventional manned vehicle. Alternatively, the vehicle V may be an unmanned vehicle capable of autonomous driving using an automated driving system, regardless of the level of automated driving. The vehicle V is equipped with a control device CTL that controls the vehicle V itself or its onboard equipment in accordance with a dispatch instruction from the vehicle dispatch management device 10. Although not shown, the control device CTL includes a processor, memory, etc., and realizes various functions by executing a control program. For example, the control device CTL acquires geographical position information (hereinafter referred to as "vehicle position information") and remaining energy amount of the vehicle V via a GPS system, controls the transmission of this information to the vehicle dispatch management device 10, and receives dispatch instructions from the vehicle dispatch management device 10 and controls the operation of various devices or equipment of the vehicle V in accordance with the dispatch instructions. The ECU is one form of the control device CTL.

[0022] The terminal device 20 is, for example, a computing device through which a user wishing to ride makes a vehicle dispatch request by operating a user interface. The terminal device 20 is, for example, a smartphone, a pad computer, a laptop personal computer, a desktop computer, etc., but is not limited to these. The terminal device 20 implements, for example, a vehicle dispatch management client program (a so-called vehicle dispatch app). The terminal device 20 executes the vehicle dispatch app under the control of a processor, thereby enabling the user to use the vehicle dispatch service of the vehicle dispatch management device 10. For example, the user can make a vehicle dispatch request from a vehicle dispatch request screen (not shown) on the user interface of the terminal device 20 and, in response, accept the vehicle dispatch plan created by the vehicle dispatch management device 10, thereby making a reservation for a ride in the vehicle V.

[0023] The road traffic information management system 30 is an information and communication system that provides road traffic information in real time. For example, the road traffic information management system 30 collects road traffic data from vehicle sensors and cameras installed on roads, and also collects driving data from a control device CTL mounted on the vehicle V, and manages road traffic information that is integrated, processed, and edited from the collected data. The edited road traffic information may include, for example, information on road closures and detour routes, and the required time between points via a specific route. The road traffic information management system 30 appropriately provides the road traffic information to the vehicle dispatch management device 10 and / or the vehicle V. The road traffic information management system 30 may also provide environmental information (e.g., weather, temperature, and event information) in the area covered by the vehicle dispatch service to the vehicle dispatch management device 10 and / or the vehicle V.

[0024] In the vehicle dispatch management system 1 described above, the vehicle dispatch management device 10 calculates the degree of variation (e.g., variance or standard deviation) of the estimated travel time to the destination for the travel route corresponding to the dispatch request based on the travel history information of each vehicle V, and calculates the estimated energy consumption amount along the travel route of the vehicle V that is a candidate for allocation to the user based on the degree of variation. Next, the vehicle dispatch management device 10 selects the vehicle V whose remaining energy amount is sufficient relative to the estimated energy consumption amount as the vehicle V to be allocated to the user, and creates a vehicle dispatch plan for the vehicle V. The vehicle dispatch management device 10 then proposes the vehicle dispatch plan to the user, and if the user accepts it, issues a dispatch instruction to the vehicle V. This makes it possible to allocate to the user an optimal vehicle based on the degree of variation in the estimated travel time from the departure point to the destination. In particular, according to this embodiment, it is possible to allocate a vehicle V with sufficient remaining energy amount even when the vehicle V travels on a travel route with a large degree of variation in the estimated travel time.

[0025] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration model of a vehicle dispatch management device according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the vehicle dispatch management device 10 is configured as a functional configuration model including functional components such as a front-end processing unit 110, a vehicle dispatch planning unit 120, and a vehicle communication unit 130. As described above, the vehicle dispatch management device 10 also includes various databases 12. This functional configuration model is realized by the vehicle dispatch management device 10 executing a vehicle dispatch management server program under the control of a processor and cooperating with various hardware resources. The functional configuration model shown here is an example, and all or part of the functions of a certain functional component may be realized by other functional components. For ease of explanation, the figure also illustrates a user terminal device 20 and a control device CTL installed in the vehicle V.

[0026] The user information database 12a stores information about users who use the vehicle dispatch service (hereinafter referred to as "user information"). The user information includes, for example, a user ID and password, personal attributes (gender, age, etc.), and information about service usage status. The user information is registered in the user information database 12a under the control of the vehicle dispatch management device 10, for example, when the user inputs predetermined information when the vehicle dispatch app is first launched.

[0027] The road map information database 12b stores road map information for the target area of ​​the vehicle dispatch service. The road map information includes map data related to addresses, place names, road networks (links and nodes), facilities, etc. The road map information may also include information necessary for searching for a driving route, such as road information (road type, road standards, traffic regulations, signal control information, etc.) and feature information.

[0028] The vehicle information database 12c stores information (vehicle information) about the vehicle V available for use by the user. The vehicle information includes, for example, a vehicle ID, vehicle attributes (vehicle registration number, vehicle model, maximum number of occupants / maximum load capacity, whether the vehicle is driven by a driver or not, etc.), vehicle characteristics, other specifications, a current vehicle dispatch plan, location and direction, service status, driving energy status (battery SOC and remaining fuel), cruising range, and information about the number of occupants. The vehicle information acquired from the vehicle V via the vehicle communication unit 130 can be updated as needed.

[0029] The vehicle allocation plan database 12d stores a vehicle allocation plan for each vehicle V created by the vehicle allocation planning unit 120 based on a vehicle allocation request. As described above, the vehicle allocation plan includes a driving route from a waiting location serving as a starting point to a waiting location serving as a terminal point via several boarding and disembarking points (departure and arrival points), an estimated arrival time at each intermediate point, and the like.

[0030] The driving history information database 12e stores information (hereinafter referred to as "driving history information") relating to the past driving history of each vehicle V. The driving history information includes, for example, various specification information for each vehicle V, such as the operating date and time (start and end times of operation, etc.), driving route, arrival and departure times at each point (e.g., destination), driving distance, and fuel efficiency (electricity cost). The driving route is, for example, made up of links and nodes traveled by the vehicle V. The driving history information also includes road link required time information indicating the required time for each link. The road link required time information is created, for example, by the driving history information management unit 129, which will be described later.

[0031] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of road link travel time information in the travel performance information database of a vehicle dispatch management device according to one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 3(a), the road link travel time information includes the average travel time for each date type and time period for each link identified by an identifier (ID). The road link travel time information is used to calculate the degree of variation in the travel time from the departure point to the destination for each travel route based on the user's vehicle dispatch request. Note that FIG. 3(b) shows the average expected travel time for each travel route to the departure point and destination calculated based on FIG. 3(a).

[0032] Returning to FIG. 2 , the front-end processing unit 110 performs various processes with the user's terminal device 20. As an example, the front-end processing unit 110 refers to the user information database 12a and performs login authentication processing in response to a login request from a vehicle dispatching app on the user's terminal device 20. The front-end processing unit 110 also communicates with the terminal device 20 to respond to a vehicle dispatch request from the vehicle dispatching app on the user's terminal device 20. More specifically, the front-end processing unit 110 receives a vehicle dispatch request and passes it to the vehicle dispatch request receiving unit 121. In response to this, the front-end processing unit 110 transmits a vehicle dispatch plan created by the vehicle dispatch planning unit 120 to the terminal device 20, causing the terminal device 20 to display the vehicle dispatch plan on the user interface. The front-end processing unit 110 receives a notification of user acceptance or rejection transmitted from the terminal device 20 in response to this, and passes it to the vehicle dispatch planning unit 120.

[0033] Based on the given vehicle allocation request, the vehicle allocation planning unit 120 extracts candidate vehicles (candidate vehicles) to be allocated to the user from among the vehicles V in the target area, and provisionally creates a vehicle allocation plan. A provisional vehicle allocation plan may be created for each of several different driving routes. The vehicle allocation planning unit 120 proposes the provisional vehicle allocation plan to the user and confirms it upon receiving the user's approval. The vehicle allocation planning unit 120 then stores the confirmed vehicle allocation plan in the vehicle allocation plan database 12d, and issues a vehicle allocation instruction to the corresponding vehicle V via the vehicle communication unit 130. After the vehicle V that has been allocated (dispatched) based on the vehicle allocation request completes the vehicle allocation service, it transmits driving performance information to the vehicle allocation management device 10, and the vehicle allocation planning unit 120 stores this in the driving performance information database 12e.

[0034] In the present disclosure, when creating a vehicle allocation plan, the vehicle allocation planner 120 determines a driving route based on a vehicle allocation request, calculates the degree of variation in the actual value of the required time indicated in the driving performance information for the driving route, and further calculates the expected energy consumption amount for the driving route of the vehicle V based on the degree of variation. Next, the vehicle allocation planner 120 selects the vehicle V whose remaining energy amount is sufficient relative to the expected energy consumption amount as the vehicle V to be allocated to the user, and creates a vehicle allocation plan for the vehicle V. Then, the vehicle allocation management device 10 proposes the vehicle allocation plan to the user, and if the user accepts it, issues a vehicle allocation instruction to the vehicle V. This makes it possible to allocate to the user the optimal vehicle based on the degree of variation in the expected required time from the departure point to the destination.

[0035] The vehicle communication unit 130 exchanges various types of information with the vehicle V via the communication network N. For example, the vehicle communication unit 130 acquires vehicle information including vehicle position information and remaining energy amount of the vehicle V and passes it on to the vehicle allocation planning unit 120, and also transmits driving instructions to the vehicle V in accordance with the vehicle allocation plan by the vehicle allocation planning unit 120. In addition, the vehicle communication unit 130 acquires driving performance information from the vehicle V that has completed the vehicle allocation service and passes it on to the vehicle allocation planning unit 120.

[0036] Next, details of the vehicle allocation planning unit 120 will be described. Fig. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of details of the vehicle allocation planning unit of a vehicle allocation management device according to one embodiment of the present invention. In the example shown in the figure, the vehicle allocation planning unit 120 includes a vehicle allocation request acquisition unit 1201, a driving route determination unit 1202, a demand calculation unit 1203, a variation calculation unit 1204, a vehicle information acquisition unit 1205, a candidate vehicle extraction unit 1206, a predicted energy consumption calculation unit 1207, an allocation vehicle selection unit 1208, a vehicle allocation plan creation unit 1209, a vehicle allocation plan proposal unit 1210, a vehicle allocation instruction unit 1211, and a driving performance information management unit 1212.

[0037] The vehicle allocation request acquisition unit 1201 acquires or accepts a vehicle allocation request from a user via the front-end processing unit 110. The time when the vehicle allocation request acquisition unit 1201 acquires the vehicle allocation request becomes the time when timing of various limit times (for example, the boarding limit time and disembarking limit time, which are the limit times by which the user must board or disembark) begins. The vehicle allocation request acquisition unit 1201 passes the acquired vehicle allocation request to each of the demand amount calculation unit 1203, the candidate vehicle extraction unit 1206, the driving route determination unit 1202, etc.

[0038] The driving route determination unit 1202 determines an optimal driving route based on the vehicle dispatch request. Typically, a driving route is associated with its average expected travel time. For example, the driving route determination unit 1202 determines a driving route by having the route search engine perform a route search while referring to the road map information database 12b based on the boarding location (departure location) and disembarking location (destination) indicated in the vehicle dispatch request, and calculates the average expected travel time by referring to the driving performance information database 12e. For example, when several driving routes are extracted, the driving route determination unit 1202 may select and determine the driving route with the shortest average expected travel time, or may select a driving route that avoids toll roads. The driving route determination unit 1202 passes the determined driving route to each of the variation calculation unit 1204, the vehicle information acquisition unit 1205, the candidate vehicle extraction unit 1206, etc.

[0039] The demand calculation unit 1203 calculates the demand for the dispatch of a vehicle V in a predetermined time period, for example, by referring to various databases 12. The demand may include the current demand for the dispatch of a vehicle V and / or the predicted future demand. For example, the current demand may be the number of vehicles V (waiting) for which a dispatch plan is being created based on another dispatch request and for which a dispatch service is being performed at the time when a certain dispatch request is received, based on the dispatch plan database 12d. Furthermore, the future demand may be the number of vehicles V for which demand (dispatch requests) is expected at a specific future time or time period, such as 10 minutes, 20 minutes, 30 minutes, or 1 hour after a reference time (e.g., the current time), based on the driving performance information in the driving performance information database 12e. As will be described later, for example, when the current and / or future demand is high, the predicted energy consumption calculated by the predicted energy consumption calculation unit 1207 will be high. Time periods with high demand may include, for example, commuting hours and time periods when events are held. As a result, when demand for vehicle dispatch is high or expected, the number of vehicles V traveling in the city will be relatively large. Furthermore, since the city is considered to be bustling and traffic congestion is expected, vehicles with sufficient remaining energy capacity relative to their expected energy consumption can be preferentially dispatched. Furthermore, the demand calculation unit 1203 may calculate the demand by taking into account, in addition to the driving performance information, environmental factors such as time, seasonal factors, and event dates. The demand calculation unit 1203 may include a demand prediction model that has been machine-learned according to a predetermined machine learning algorithm, with, for example, operation performance information and the like as explanatory variables and the predicted demand as a target variable. In this way, by using the current and / or future demand calculated by the demand calculation unit 1203, the degree of variation in the predicted travel time for a driving route can be calculated more accurately, enabling efficient operation of the vehicles V. The demand calculation unit 1203 passes the calculated demand to the variation calculation unit 1204.

[0040] The variability calculation unit 1204 calculates the variability of the estimated travel time for the extracted travel route based on, for example, the travel performance information stored in the travel performance information database 12e. More specifically, for the travel route determined by the travel route determination unit 1202, the variability calculation unit 1204 calculates the variability of the average estimated travel time for the travel route by calculating a probability distribution of the average estimated travel time for the travel route, which includes multiple links from the departure point to the destination, based on the road link travel time information stored in the travel performance information database 12e. That is, the variability calculation unit 1204 calculates the variability based on the difference between the average estimated travel time (reference value) for the travel route and the effective estimated travel time corresponding to a predetermined variability threshold. As a result, by appropriately setting the predetermined variability threshold, it becomes possible to calculate the variability of the desired estimated travel time. The variability calculation unit 1204 may be configured to calculate the variability when it is determined that the demand for dispatching vehicle V exceeds the predetermined demand threshold.

[0041] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a variation threshold in a vehicle dispatch management device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Specifically, the diagram illustrates the probability distribution of the estimated travel time based on actual travel information for two travel routes A and B. The variation threshold is a value indicating the probability of deviation from a reference value (average value). For example, |±σ| and |±2σ| in the standard normal distribution are examples of variation thresholds. In other words, the degree of variation is the difference between the average value of the estimated travel time in the probability distribution of the estimated travel time and the travel time corresponding to the variation threshold. Therefore, as shown in the diagram, the range from the average value to the variation threshold is larger for travel route B than for travel route A, and therefore the degree of variation in the estimated travel time is larger. Note that the degree of variation may be determined by using the third quartile instead of the standard deviation as described above.

[0042] Returning to FIG. 4 , the vehicle information acquisition unit 1205 acquires vehicle information from each vehicle V via the vehicle communication unit 130 at a predetermined timing. The vehicle information may include vehicle position information and remaining energy amount of the vehicle V. The vehicle information may also include the temperature outside the vehicle V (outside temperature). For example, the vehicle information acquisition unit 1205 may periodically acquire vehicle information transmitted from each vehicle V, or may periodically or irregularly request a specific vehicle V to transmit vehicle information, and acquire vehicle information transmitted from the specific vehicle V in response to the request. The vehicle information acquisition unit 1205 stores the acquired vehicle information of each vehicle V in the vehicle information database 12C. The vehicle position information included in the vehicle information of the vehicle V may be used when extracting candidate vehicles based on their positional relationship with the driving route.

[0043] The candidate vehicle extraction unit 1206 extracts one or more vehicles V as candidate vehicles based on the received vehicle allocation request. For example, the candidate vehicle extraction unit 1206 extracts, as candidate vehicles, vehicles V that are available for allocation and traveling in the vicinity of the boarding and alighting points (starting point and destination) of the travel route indicated in the vehicle allocation request and the vehicle position indicated by the vehicle position information of the vehicle V. This makes it possible to exclude from the candidate vehicles vehicles vehicles V that cannot be allocated to the user within various time limits from the time of receipt of the vehicle allocation request. The candidate vehicle extraction unit 1206 may associate a priority with the extracted candidate vehicles. For example, a candidate vehicle traveling toward the boarding and alighting point or its vicinity is given a higher priority than a candidate vehicle traveling away from the boarding and alighting point. The candidate vehicle extraction unit 1206 passes the extracted candidate vehicles to the allocation vehicle selection unit 1208.

[0044] The expected energy consumption calculation unit 1207 calculates the expected energy consumption of the vehicle V to the destination indicated by the travel route, based on the degree of variation in the expected required time for the travel route. Furthermore, the expected energy consumption calculation unit 1207 may calculate the expected energy consumption based on the vehicle characteristics of the vehicle V, the demand for dispatching the vehicle V, road traffic conditions, and / or environmental factors, in addition to the degree of variation.

[0045] As one example, the expected energy consumption calculation unit 1207 may calculate the expected energy consumption amount according to the electric power (fuel efficiency) characteristics of the candidate vehicles. As another example, when the expected energy consumption calculation unit 1207 determines that the demand amount for the dispatch of vehicle V exceeds a predetermined demand threshold, it calculates a new expected energy consumption amount by adding a predetermined margin amount according to the demand amount to the already calculated expected energy consumption amount. This makes it possible to preferentially dispatch vehicles that have a remaining energy amount that is sufficient to cover the expected energy consumption amount, taking into account the occurrence of traffic congestion due to an increase in the demand amount for dispatch.

[0046] As another example, if the expected energy consumption calculation unit 1207 determines, based on road traffic information, that there is traffic congestion on a road along the travel route, it calculates a new expected energy consumption by adding a predetermined margin corresponding to the road traffic conditions to the already calculated expected energy consumption. As yet another example, if the expected energy consumption calculation unit 1207 determines, based on environmental information, that the outside temperature is low and will affect the battery of the vehicle V, it calculates a new expected energy consumption by adding a predetermined margin corresponding to the deviation between the outside temperature and the battery temperature to the already calculated expected energy consumption. This allows the required expected energy consumption to be calculated more accurately, taking various factors into consideration, making it possible to select a vehicle V with a remaining energy amount that matches the required expected energy consumption.

[0047] The allocation vehicle selection unit 1208 selects a vehicle (allocation vehicle) V to be allocated to the user from among multiple candidate vehicles based on the difference between the remaining energy amount and the expected energy consumption amount of the extracted candidate vehicle. Specifically, the allocation vehicle selection unit 1208 may select, as the allocation vehicle V, a candidate vehicle having the largest difference between the remaining energy amount and the expected energy consumption amount of the candidate vehicle. Furthermore, the greater the calculated degree of variation, the greater the candidate vehicle may select, as the allocation vehicle V, a candidate vehicle having a larger difference between the remaining energy amount and the expected energy consumption amount. This makes it possible to preferentially allocate vehicles with sufficient remaining energy amount, since the greater the degree of variation in the expected required time, the more likely it is that the expected required time will be significantly delayed. Furthermore, when there are multiple candidate vehicles whose difference between the remaining energy amount and the expected energy consumption amount exceeds a predetermined threshold, the allocation vehicle selection unit 1208 may select, as the allocation vehicle V, a candidate vehicle that is likely to arrive at the user's boarding location the earliest.

[0048] The vehicle allocation plan creation unit 1209 creates a vehicle allocation plan based on the travel route and the assigned vehicle V. At this point, the vehicle allocation plan is provisional because it has not yet been approved by the user. The vehicle allocation plan creation unit 1209 passes the provisional vehicle allocation plan to the vehicle allocation plan proposal unit 1210.

[0049] The vehicle allocation plan proposal unit 1210 proposes to the user a vehicle allocation plan for the assigned vehicle V created based on the determined traveling route, and upon receiving the user's acceptance of the proposal, finalizes the vehicle allocation plan. That is, the vehicle allocation plan proposal unit 1210 transmits the vehicle allocation plan for the assigned vehicle V to the user's terminal device 20 via the front-end processing unit 110, and causes the terminal device 20 to display the vehicle allocation plan on the user interface. The user accepts or rejects the vehicle allocation plan, and in response, the terminal device 20 transmits a notification of acceptance or rejection. Upon receiving the user's acceptance notification via the front-end processing unit 110, the vehicle allocation plan proposal unit 1210 finalizes the vehicle allocation plan and registers it in the vehicle allocation plan database 12d.

[0050] The vehicle allocation instruction unit 1211 issues an allocation instruction to the assigned vehicle V according to the determined vehicle allocation plan. The control device CTL of the vehicle V that has received the allocation instruction uses a navigation function to display a travel route according to the vehicle allocation plan, for example, on a user interface. Alternatively, in the case of an unmanned vehicle, the control device CTL determines a detailed actual travel route according to the travel route in the vehicle allocation plan, and performs control so that the vehicle travels autonomously along the actual travel route.

[0051] When the driving history information management unit 1212 acquires, via the vehicle communication unit 130, driving history information transmitted from the vehicle V that has completed the vehicle dispatch service in accordance with the dispatch plan, the driving history information management unit 1212 stores the information in the driving history information database 12e. In addition, the driving history information management unit 120811 creates road link required time information such as that shown in FIG. 3 based on the driving history information acquired from the vehicle V.

[0052] FIG. 6 is a sequence chart for explaining an outline of a vehicle dispatch service in a vehicle dispatch management system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0053] First, vehicle V transmits its own vehicle position information acquired from the GPS system to the vehicle dispatch management device 10 at a predetermined timing (S601). Note that the acquisition and transmission of vehicle position information of vehicle V is performed periodically or in response to a transmission request from the vehicle dispatch management device 10. As a result, the vehicle dispatch management device 10 acquires the vehicle position information transmitted from vehicle V (S602).

[0054] Meanwhile, a user who wishes to use the vehicle dispatch service executes a vehicle dispatch app implemented in the terminal device 20 and inputs the necessary information for the vehicle dispatch request on a vehicle dispatch request screen displayed on the user interface, and the terminal device 20 then transmits the vehicle dispatch request to the vehicle dispatch management device 10 (S603). For example, a user who wishes to board a vehicle inputs the boarding and disembarking locations, the number of passengers, etc. The boarding and disembarking locations can be selected, for example, from a geographical map displayed by the vehicle dispatch app. The boarding location (loading location) can also be the current location obtained, for example, by a GPS function installed in the user's smartphone.

[0055] When the vehicle allocation management device 10 receives a vehicle allocation request from the terminal device 20 (S604), it creates a vehicle allocation plan for the vehicle V to be allocated to the user based on the received vehicle allocation request (S605). Specifically, the vehicle allocation management device 10 determines a driving route and extracts candidate vehicles based on the vehicle allocation request. Next, the vehicle allocation management device 10 refers to the driving performance information database 12e to calculate the degree of variation in the estimated required time for the determined driving route, and further calculates the estimated energy consumption amount for the driving route based on the calculated degree of variation. Then, the vehicle allocation management device 10 selects, from the extracted candidate vehicles, a candidate vehicle that has a surplus of remaining energy amount relative to the estimated energy consumption amount as an allocated vehicle V, and creates a vehicle allocation plan for that vehicle. The vehicle allocation management device 10 transmits the contents of the created vehicle allocation plan to the terminal device 20 to propose it to the user.

[0056] When the terminal device 20 receives the contents of the vehicle allocation plan, it displays it on the user interface as a vehicle allocation plan proposal screen and prompts the user to accept or reject (accept or reject) the proposed vehicle allocation plan (S606). When the user inputs acceptance or rejection on the vehicle allocation plan proposal screen, the terminal device 20 receives this and transmits an acceptance or rejection notice to the vehicle allocation management device 10 (S607), and the vehicle allocation management device 10 receives the acceptance or rejection notice transmitted from the terminal device 20 (S608). For example, if the acceptance or rejection notice indicates acceptance of the vehicle allocation plan, the vehicle allocation management device 10 confirms the vehicle allocation plan for vehicle V in accordance with the vehicle allocation plan, transmits a confirmation notice of the vehicle allocation reservation to the terminal device 20, and transmits a vehicle allocation instruction in accordance with the vehicle allocation plan to vehicle V (S609).

[0057] When the terminal device 20 receives the notification of confirmation of the vehicle dispatch reservation, it displays this on the user interface to notify the user that the vehicle dispatch reservation has been confirmed (S610). Meanwhile, when the vehicle V receives the dispatch instruction, it displays the driving route according to the dispatch plan indicated in the dispatch instruction on, for example, a navigation screen to guide the driver (S611). Although not shown, the vehicle V, after completing the dispatch service according to the dispatch plan, transmits driving performance information to the vehicle dispatch management device 10. The vehicle dispatch management device 10 stores the driving performance information received from the vehicle V in the driving performance information database 12e and updates the road link travel time information.

[0058] 7A and 7B are flowcharts illustrating an example of a vehicle dispatch management process performed by a vehicle dispatch management device according to an embodiment of the present invention. This process is realized by the vehicle dispatch management device 10 executing a vehicle dispatch management server program under the control of a processor, in cooperation with various hardware resources.

[0059] 7A, the vehicle dispatch management device 10 waits until a new vehicle dispatch request is received from a user (S701). Meanwhile, for example, a user who wishes to ride inputs a vehicle dispatch request by operating a vehicle dispatch application on the user interface of the terminal device 20. When a vehicle dispatch request is received from the user (Yes in S701), the vehicle dispatch management device 10 refers to the road map information database 12b based on the vehicle dispatch request, and determines the user's departure point and destination (S702).

[0060] Next, the vehicle dispatch management device 10 determines a travel route based on the determined departure point and destination, with reference to the road map information database 12b (S703). The travel route is associated with an average expected travel time. The vehicle dispatch management device 10 may extract two or more travel routes.

[0061] Next, the vehicle dispatch management device 10 acquires vehicle information of vehicle V (S704). The vehicle information includes, for example, current vehicle position information and remaining energy amount (e.g., SOC) of vehicle V. Subsequently, the vehicle dispatch management device 10 extracts one or more candidate vehicles based on the driving route and the vehicle position information of vehicle V (S705). For example, the vehicle dispatch management device 10 extracts vehicle V that is waiting near the departure point or is moving as a candidate vehicle. In this case, the vehicle dispatch management device 10 may exclude candidate vehicles for which the boarding waiting time of a user who has made a new vehicle dispatch request exceeds the vehicle dispatch delay limit time.

[0062] Next, the vehicle dispatch management device 10 refers to various databases 12 to calculate the demand for dispatching vehicle V in a predetermined time period (S706). The demand may include the current demand and / or the predicted future demand for dispatching vehicle V. Subsequently, the vehicle dispatch management device 10 determines whether the calculated demand exceeds a predetermined demand threshold (S707).

[0063] When the vehicle dispatch management device 10 determines that the calculated demand amount exceeds the predetermined demand threshold (Yes in S707), the vehicle dispatch management device 10 calculates the degree of variation in the average expected travel time for the travel route (S708). For example, the vehicle dispatch management device 10 calculates the degree of variation in the average expected travel time for the travel route by calculating the probability distribution of the average expected travel time for the travel route that includes multiple links from the departure point to the destination, based on the road link travel time information in the travel performance information database 12e.

[0064] Next, the vehicle dispatch management device 10 determines whether the calculated degree of variation is large (S709). For example, the vehicle dispatch management device 10 determines that the degree of variation is large when the difference between the average value of the estimated travel time for the travel route and the travel time indicated by the variation threshold exceeds a predetermined value. When the vehicle dispatch management device 10 determines that the degree of variation is large (Yes in S709), the vehicle dispatch management device 10 calculates the estimated amount of energy consumption for the travel route based on the calculated degree of variation (S710).

[0065] Next, the vehicle allocation management device 10 attempts to extract an allocated vehicle V to be allocated to a user from among the plurality of candidate vehicles based on the remaining energy amount and the estimated energy consumption amount indicated by the vehicle information of each candidate vehicle (S711 in FIG. 7B). For example, the vehicle allocation management device 10 may select, as the allocated vehicle V, a candidate vehicle having the largest difference between the remaining energy amount and the estimated energy consumption amount of the candidate vehicle.

[0066] On the other hand, when the vehicle dispatch management device 10 determines that the issued demand amount does not exceed the predetermined demand threshold (No in S707), it selects an arbitrary candidate vehicle from the extracted candidate vehicles as the assigned vehicle V (S714 in FIG. 7B). In other words, in this case, the assigned vehicle V is not selected based on the expected energy consumption amount according to the degree of variability in the expected required time. This is because when the demand amount for vehicle dispatch is low, the number of vehicles traveling in the city is relatively small, and traffic congestion is unlikely to occur.

[0067] Furthermore, when the vehicle dispatch management device 10 determines that the degree of variation is not large (No in S709), the vehicle dispatch management device 10 subsequently selects an arbitrary candidate vehicle from the extracted candidate vehicles as an assigned vehicle V (S714). This is because when the degree of variation is small, there is no need to add a margin amount to the predicted energy consumption amount, and it is sufficient to select an assigned vehicle V from the candidate vehicles according to normal criteria.

[0068] As a result of attempting to extract an assigned vehicle V, the vehicle dispatch management device 10 determines whether or not there is a suitable assigned vehicle V (S712). If it determines that there is no suitable assigned vehicle V (No in S712), the vehicle dispatch management device 10 determines an alternative driving route (S713). For example, the vehicle dispatch management device 10 may select a driving route with the next shortest average expected travel time after the average expected travel time for the initial driving route. Next, the vehicle dispatch management device 10 selects any candidate vehicle from the extracted candidate vehicles as the assigned vehicle V (S714). Next, the vehicle dispatch management device 10 creates or updates a vehicle dispatch plan based on the determined driving route and assigned vehicle V (S715).

[0069] On the other hand, if the vehicle allocation management device 10 determines that there is an assigned vehicle V (Yes in S712), then the vehicle allocation management device 10 creates or updates a vehicle allocation plan based on the determined traveling route and the assigned vehicle V (S715). Next, the vehicle allocation management device 10 proposes the content of the created or updated vehicle allocation plan to the user (S716). That is, the vehicle allocation management device 10 transmits the content of the created or updated vehicle allocation plan to the terminal device 20, and in response, the terminal device 20 displays the content on the user interface and prompts the user to accept or reject the proposed vehicle allocation plan.

[0070] The vehicle dispatch management device 10 determines whether or not consent has been received from the user for the proposed vehicle dispatch plan (S717). If consent has been received from the user for the proposed vehicle dispatch plan (Yes in S717), the vehicle dispatch management device 10 confirms the current vehicle dispatch plan (S718). The vehicle dispatch management device 10 stores the confirmed vehicle dispatch plan in the vehicle dispatch plan database 12d. Subsequently, the vehicle dispatch management device 10 transmits a notification of confirmation of the vehicle dispatch reservation to the terminal device 20, and transmits a dispatch instruction based on the vehicle dispatch plan to the vehicle V (S719).

[0071] On the other hand, if the vehicle dispatch management device 10 receives a non-acceptance (rejection) from the user in response to the proposed vehicle dispatch plan (No in S717), it cancels the current vehicle dispatch plan based on the user's vehicle dispatch request (S720). In this case, the vehicle dispatch management device 10 returns the temporarily held vehicle dispatch plan that was used to recreate the vehicle dispatch plan to the original held vehicle dispatch plan. If the user desires a different vehicle dispatch service, the user will make a new vehicle dispatch request.

[0072] As described above, according to this embodiment, it is possible to allocate to a user an optimal vehicle V according to the degree of variation in the estimated travel time of a travel route from a departure point to a destination. In particular, according to this embodiment, even when the vehicle V travels on a travel route with a large degree of variation in the estimated travel time, it is possible to allocate a vehicle V with a sufficient amount of remaining energy, and it is possible to avoid a situation in which the vehicle V is unable to reach the destination even if there is a significant delay in the estimated travel time.

[0073] The above-described embodiments are merely examples for explaining the present invention, and are not intended to limit the present invention to these embodiments. The present invention can be embodied in various forms without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0074] For example, in the methods disclosed herein, steps, operations, or functions may be performed in parallel or in a different order unless the results are inconsistent. The steps, operations, and functions described are provided merely as examples, and some of the steps, operations, and functions may be omitted or combined into one, or other steps, operations, or functions may be added, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

[0075] Furthermore, although various embodiments are disclosed in this specification, specific features (technical matters) in one embodiment can be added to or substituted for specific features in other embodiments, with appropriate modifications, and such forms are also included in the spirit of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0076] 1...Vehicle dispatch management system 10...Vehicle dispatch management device 110...Front-end processing unit 120... Vehicle Allocation Planning Department 1201...Vehicle dispatch request acquisition unit 1202...Route determination unit 1203…Demand quantity calculation section 1204...Variation calculation unit 1205...Vehicle information acquisition unit 1206...Candidate vehicle extraction unit 1207...Predicted energy consumption calculation unit 1208...Allocated vehicle selection section 1209... Vehicle Allocation Planning Department 1210... Vehicle Allocation Planning Department 1211...Dispatch Instruction Department 1212...Driving Performance Information Management Department 130...Vehicle communication unit 12...Database 12a...User information database 12b...Road map information database 12c...Vehicle information database 12d... Vehicle dispatch plan database 12e...Driving performance information database 20...Terminal device 30...Road traffic information management system N: Communication network V...Vehicle CTL: Control unit

Claims

1. A vehicle allocation management device that manages vehicle allocation based on a user's vehicle allocation request, a driving performance information database that stores driving performance information of each vehicle; a vehicle allocation planning unit that creates a vehicle allocation plan for allocated vehicles based on a travel route in response to the vehicle allocation request from the user; The vehicle dispatch planning unit a travel route determination unit that determines the travel route based on the vehicle dispatch request; a variation calculation unit that calculates a variation in an estimated required time for the determined travel route based on the travel history information; a candidate vehicle extraction unit that extracts at least one of the vehicles as a candidate vehicle based on the vehicle allocation request; a vehicle information acquisition unit that acquires vehicle information including at least the remaining energy amount of the extracted candidate vehicle; an expected energy consumption amount calculation unit that calculates an expected energy consumption amount of the candidate vehicle to reach the destination indicated by the travel route based on the degree of variation in the expected required time; an allocation vehicle selection unit that selects an allocation vehicle to be allocated to the user from among the candidate vehicles based on a difference between the remaining energy amount and the predicted energy consumption amount of the candidate vehicle; a vehicle allocation instruction unit that issues vehicle allocation instructions to the assigned vehicles based on the created vehicle allocation plan, Vehicle dispatch management device.

2. the estimated energy consumption calculation unit calculates the estimated energy consumption when the calculated degree of variation is greater than a predetermined variation threshold value; the allocation vehicle selection unit selects the allocation vehicle using the calculated predicted energy consumption amount. The vehicle dispatch control device according to claim 1 .

3. the allocation vehicle selection unit selects, as the allocation vehicle, the candidate vehicle having a larger difference between the remaining energy amount and the predicted energy consumption amount as the degree of variation increases; The vehicle dispatch control device according to claim 1 .

4. the variation degree calculation unit calculates the variation degree based on a reference value of the estimated required time for the travel route and an effective estimated required time corresponding to a predetermined variation threshold value; The vehicle allocation management device according to claim 3.

5. The vehicle information further includes vehicle position information, the candidate vehicle extraction unit extracts the candidate vehicles based on a positional relationship between the vehicle position indicated by the vehicle position information and the travel route. The vehicle dispatch control device according to claim 1 .

6. the estimated energy consumption calculation unit calculates the estimated energy consumption amount based on road traffic information and / or environmental information of the travel route; The vehicle dispatch control device according to claim 1 .

7. a demand amount calculation unit that calculates a demand amount related to the dispatch of the vehicle in a predetermined time period; The vehicle dispatch control device according to claim 1 .

8. the estimated energy consumption calculation unit calculates the estimated energy consumption amount so that the estimated energy consumption amount increases according to the demand amount when the demand amount exceeds a predetermined demand threshold value; The vehicle allocation management device according to claim 7.

9. A vehicle allocation management method for managing vehicle allocation based on a user's vehicle allocation request, comprising: managing driving record information of the dispatched vehicle in a driving record information database; accepting the vehicle dispatch request from the user; and creating a vehicle dispatch plan for the vehicles based on a travel route in response to the vehicle dispatch request; Creating the vehicle dispatch plan includes: determining the travel route based on the vehicle dispatch request; calculating a degree of variation in the estimated required time for the determined travel route based on the travel record information; extracting at least one of the vehicles as candidate vehicles based on the vehicle allocation request; acquiring vehicle information including at least a remaining energy amount of the extracted candidate vehicle; calculating an expected amount of energy consumption of the candidate vehicle to the destination indicated by the travel route based on the degree of variation in the expected required time; selecting an allocation vehicle to be allocated to the user from among the candidate vehicles based on a difference between the remaining energy amount and the predicted energy consumption amount of the candidate vehicle; and issuing a vehicle allocation instruction to the assigned vehicles based on the created vehicle allocation plan. Vehicle allocation management method.

10. 1. A computer program product causing a computing device, under control of a processor, to perform a method for managing vehicle dispatches in response to user dispatch requests, the computer program comprising: The method comprises: managing driving record information of the dispatched vehicle in a driving record information database; accepting the vehicle dispatch request from the user; and creating a vehicle dispatch plan for the vehicles based on a travel route in response to the vehicle dispatch request; Creating the vehicle dispatch plan includes: determining the travel route based on the vehicle dispatch request; calculating a degree of variation in the estimated required time for the determined travel route based on the travel record information; extracting at least one of the vehicles as candidate vehicles based on the vehicle allocation request; acquiring vehicle information including at least a remaining energy amount of the extracted candidate vehicle; calculating an expected amount of energy consumption of the candidate vehicle to the destination indicated by the travel route based on the degree of variation in the expected required time; selecting an allocation vehicle to be allocated to the user from among the candidate vehicles based on a difference between the remaining energy amount and the predicted energy consumption amount of the candidate vehicle; and issuing a vehicle allocation instruction to the assigned vehicles based on the created vehicle allocation plan. Computer program.

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