Reservation system

Abstract

When booking EV charging facilities along with accommodation, the system will prompt users to change their EV charging facility reservation information at the appropriate time. [Solution] The reservation system 1000 includes a reception unit 120 that receives facility-related reservation information from the user, including the scheduled arrival time, scheduled departure time, and desired charge amount or desired charging time using the vehicle charging equipment, and a charging plan control unit 330 that, based on the charging status information of each vehicle charging equipment 200 and the facility-related reservation information, determines that it is not possible to create a charging plan that will secure the user's desired charge amount or desired charging time using the vehicle charging equipment 200 by the scheduled departure time, and proposes to the user a change in the facility-related reservation information.

Description

【Technical Field】 【0001】 The present invention relates to a reservation system suitable for reserving charging facilities for electric vehicles and parking spaces together with accommodation facilities. 【Background Art】 【0002】 Electric vehicles (EVs) have attracted attention as part of efforts to address environmental issues and are expected to be the ultimate eco-cars. When a user reserves an accommodation facility, if the accommodation facility has a charging stand for electric vehicles (hereinafter also referred to as "EV charging facility"), the user can charge the electric vehicle during their stay. However, at present, there are still few accommodation facilities equipped with EV charging facilities. 【0003】 In view of such a situation, before an electric vehicle arrives at an EV charging facility, by obtaining reservation information such as the planned usage time, end time, remaining battery level at arrival, and minimum guaranteed charging amount from the user, a system has been proposed that creates (formulates) a charging plan aimed at minimizing charging losses (see, for example, Patent Document 1). 【Prior Art Documents】 【Patent Documents】 【0004】 【Patent Document 1】 Japanese Patent No. 5680222 【Summary of the Invention】 【Problems to be Solved by the Invention】 【0005】 However, in the charging plan created in the above system, it is not known whether the required charging amount desired by the user is ensured at the creation stage. In this regard, when reserving an EV charging facility, if the user can confirm whether the required charging amount they desire can be ensured, for example, it becomes possible to take measures such as newly reserving another EV charging facility. However, there is still no system that proposes such a method. 【0006】 This invention has been made in view of the circumstances described above, and one of its objectives is to provide a reservation system that, when reserving EV charging facilities along with accommodation, can propose changes to the reservation information regarding EV charging facilities to the user if it is determined that a charging plan that secures the user's desired amount of charge cannot be formulated. [Means for solving the problem] 【0007】 A reservation system according to one aspect of this disclosure is a reservation system for making reservations for vehicle charging facilities along with accommodation facilities, comprising: a reception unit that receives facility-related reservation information from the user, including the scheduled arrival time, scheduled departure time, and desired charge amount or desired charging time using the vehicle charging facilities; and a charging plan control unit that formulates a charging plan for the user's vehicle, wherein the charging plan control unit, based on the charging status information of each vehicle charging facility and the facility-related reservation information, determines that it cannot formulate a charging plan that will secure the user's desired charge amount or desired charging time using the vehicle charging facilities by the scheduled departure time, and proposes to the user a change to the facility-related reservation information. [Effects of the Invention] 【0008】 According to a predetermined aspect of the present invention, when booking EV charging facilities along with accommodation, if it is determined that a charging plan that secures the user's desired amount of charge cannot be formulated, it is possible to propose to the user a change in the reservation information regarding the EV charging facilities. [Brief explanation of the drawing] 【0009】 [Figure 1] This figure shows an example of the configuration of the reservation system 1000 according to this embodiment. [Figure 2] This diagram shows an example of the hardware configuration of the accommodation management server 100, the EV charging equipment management server 300, and the user terminal 400. [Figure 3] This is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the accommodation management server 100. [Figure 4]This is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the EV charging equipment management server 300. [Figure 5A] This is an explanatory diagram illustrating charging plan information. [Figure 5B] This is an explanatory diagram illustrating information about revising charging reservations. [Figure 6] This is a sequence chart showing the flow of the accommodation reservation process. [Modes for carrying out the invention] 【0010】 A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the attached drawings. In each drawing, components denoted by the same reference numerals have the same or similar configuration. 【0011】 A. Embodiment <System Configuration> Figure 1 shows an example of the configuration of the reservation system 1000. The reservation system 1000 comprises an accommodation management server 100 that manages accommodation reservations for users of electric vehicles, EV charging equipment 200 installed at each accommodation facility and nearby parking lots, an EV charging equipment management server 300 that manages each EV charging equipment 200, predicts charging demand, and develops charging plans to smooth out charging demand, and user terminals 400 for users who use the system 1000. 【0012】 The accommodation management server 100, the EV charging equipment 200, the EV charging equipment management server 300, and the user terminal 400 are able to communicate with each other via network N. There are no particular restrictions on the number of EV charging equipment 200 or user terminal 400; there may be one or more. Furthermore, the computers that make up the accommodation management server 100 and the EV charging equipment management server 300 do not necessarily have to be a single unit; they may consist of multiple computers and storage distributed on network N. 【0013】 One or more parts of network N may be wired or wireless networks. Network N may include, but is not limited to, an ad hoc network, intranet, extranet, virtual private network (VPN), local area network (LAN), wireless LAN (WLAN), wide area network (WAN), wireless WAN (WWAN), metropolitan area network (MAN), part of the internet, part of a public switched telephone network (PSTN), mobile phone network, ISDNs (Integrated Service Digital Networks), wireless LANs, LTE (Long Term Evolution), CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access), Bluetooth®, satellite communications, or two or more combinations thereof. 【0014】 The accommodation management server 100 and the EV charging equipment management server 300 are configured, for example, as server computers and store various information about accommodations and EV charging equipment in on-premise or cloud-based databases (described later). 【0015】 The accommodation facility management server 100 centrally manages various reservation information (hereinafter also referred to as "facility-related reservation information") regarding the accommodation facilities desired by each user in response to requests from each user terminal 400. The facility-related reservation information includes facility reservation information such as the name of the accommodation facility, the name of the occupant (user), contact information, the number of occupants, the accommodation plan, etc., as well as arrival scheduled time at the accommodation facility, departure scheduled time from the accommodation facility, the amount of charge (hereinafter also referred to as "desired charge amount") using the EV charging equipment desired by the user, etc., and charging reservation information related to the reservation of EV charging. Note that instead of (or in addition to) the desired charge amount, the desired charging time (for example, at an output of 6 kW for ○× hours, etc.) may be included in the facility-related reservation information. 【0016】 Based on the information provided by each EV charging facility 200, the EV charging facility management server 300 grasps and manages the usage status (including reservation status) of each EV charging facility 200, and based on the information provided by each EV charging facility 200, predicts the charging demand amount and formulates a charging plan so as to smooth the charging demand amount. In this embodiment, as an example of a vehicle using the EV charging facility 200, an externally chargeable electric vehicle (for example, a battery electric vehicle (BEV), a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), a plug-in fuel cell electric vehicle (PFCEV), etc.) is assumed, but it is not intended to be limited thereto, and it is applicable to various wheeled vehicles (vehicles) using externally chargeable electricity as a driving source, such as electric motorcycles and electric bicycles. 【0017】 The user terminal 400 is a terminal operated by the user and is composed of a personal computer, a handheld computer device, a smartphone, a mobile phone, a wearable terminal, etc. 【0018】 <Hardware Configuration> FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the accommodation facility management server 100, the EV charging facility management server 300, and the user terminal 400. 【0019】 The accommodation facility management server 100, the EV charging facility management server 300, and the user terminal 400 each include a control device 1 such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a storage device 2 such as a ROM (Read Only Memory) and a RAM (Random Access Memory), a communication IF (Interface) 3 for wired or wireless communication, an input device 4 for receiving input operations, and an output device 5 for outputting information. The input device 4 is, for example, a keyboard, a mouse, a touch panel, a microphone, etc. The output device 5 is, for example, a display panel (display device) such as a liquid crystal display and / or a speaker, etc. 【0020】 Hereinafter, the functional configuration and functional overview of the accommodation facility management server 100 will be described while referring to the drawings. 【0021】 <Functional Configuration and Functional Overview> FIGS. 3 and 4 are block diagrams showing the functional configurations of the accommodation facility management server 100 and the EV charging facility management server 300, respectively. In this embodiment, it is assumed that an EV charging facility (including a parking space equipped with an EV charging facility) installed in an accommodation facility is used. However, for example, an EV charging facility installed near an accommodation facility may also be used. In this case, the scheduled arrival time and scheduled departure time at the accommodation facility can be read as the scheduled arrival time and scheduled departure time at an EV charging facility installed near the accommodation facility, respectively. 【0022】 <<Accommodation Facility Management Server 100>> As shown in FIG. 3, the accommodation facility management server 100 includes a storage unit 110, a reception unit 120, and a display control unit 130. The memory unit 110, the reception unit 120, and the display control unit 130 are realized by the CPU 1 of the accommodation management server 100 executing various programs stored in the storage device 2. The programs can be stored on a storage medium such as a USB memory stick or CD-ROM. 【0023】 The memory unit 110 is implemented by the memory device 2 and stores an application program (hereinafter referred to as the reservation app) AP for making reservations for EV charging facilities (including parking spaces where EV charging facilities are installed) along with accommodation facilities, as well as various data related to accommodation facility reservations. 【0024】 Furthermore, the memory unit 110 is equipped with a lodging facility database DB11 that stores various information about each lodging facility. The lodging facility database DB11 stores basic information about each lodging facility (for example, name, address, telephone number, available facilities, lodging plan, etc.) as well as facility-related reservation information. As already explained, facility-related reservation information includes facility reservation information such as the name of the lodging facility, the name of the guest (user), contact information, number of guests, and lodging plan, as well as charging reservation information such as the expected arrival time at the lodging facility, the expected departure time from the lodging facility, and the user's desired charge amount (or desired charging time). 【0025】 The reception unit 120 receives various information entered (selected) by the user from the user terminal 400. To give an example, when the reception unit 120 receives facility-related reservation information from the user terminal 400, it extracts charging reservation information from the facility-related reservation information and sends it to the EV charging equipment management server 300. 【0026】 The display control unit 130 displays various types of information on the display panel of the user terminal 400, such as information regarding the reservation of accommodation facilities and information regarding the reservation of EV charging facilities. For example, the display control unit 130 displays information regarding the accommodation facility and accommodation plan selected by the user on the display panel. Further, when the desired charging amount of the user cannot be secured, the display control unit 130 displays a message on the display panel that proposes a change to the charging reservation information (for example, a change in the desired charging amount, the scheduled arrival time at the accommodation facility, the scheduled departure time from the accommodation facility, etc.) (details will be described later). 【0027】 <<EV Charging Facility Management Server 300>> As shown in FIG. 4, the EV charging facility management server 300 includes a reception unit 310, a storage unit 320, and a charging plan control unit 330. The reception unit 310, the storage unit 320, and the charging plan control unit 330 are realized by the CPU 1 of the EV charging facility management server 300 executing various programs stored in the storage device 2. The programs can be stored in storage media such as USB memory and CD-ROM. 【0028】 The reception unit 310 receives various types of information transmitted from the accommodation facility management server 100 and various types of information transmitted from each EV charging facility 200. 【0029】 The storage unit 320 is realized by the storage device 2 and stores various types of data regarding the reservation of EV charging facilities (including the parking spaces where the EV charging facilities are installed). The storage unit 320 includes a charging reservation information database DB31 and a charging status information database DB32. 【0030】 The charging reservation information database DB31 stores charging reservation information including the scheduled arrival time at the accommodation facility (EV charging facility) received from the accommodation facility management server 100 via the reception unit 310, the scheduled departure time from the accommodation facility, the user's desired charging amount, etc. 【0031】 The charging status information database DB32 stores charging status information received from each EV charging station 200 via the reception unit 310, indicating the charging status. Examples of charging status information include the equipment identification ID of the EV charging station, the available dates and times (including time slots), and the name of the parking lot where the EV charging station is located. This information is merely an example of charging status information, and the system may include other types of information. 【0032】 The charging plan control unit 330 is responsible for planning (generating) a charging plan for the user's electric vehicle (user vehicle). Specifically, the charging plan control unit 330 generates charging plan information if it determines that it can generate a charging plan for the user vehicle based on the charging status information transmitted from each EV charging facility 200 and the charging reservation information transmitted from the accommodation facility management server 100. On the other hand, if it determines that it cannot generate a charging plan for the user vehicle, it generates charging reservation revision information to propose a revision of the charging reservation information. 【0033】 Figures 5A and 5B are explanatory diagrams illustrating charging plan information and charging reservation review information, respectively. As shown in Figure 5A, the charging plan information IFp includes the equipment identification ID of the parking space where the EV charging equipment is available (hereinafter also referred to as "EV parking space"), the estimated arrival and departure times of the user's electric vehicle entering the EV parking space, the desired charge amount for the electric vehicle (including the specified charge amount or maximum charge amount), and the estimated time until the electric vehicle reaches the desired charge amount. 【0034】 By receiving feedback from this charging plan information IFp, users can understand which EV parking space to use and quickly determine the estimated time of completion of charging if their electric vehicle arrives on schedule. 【0035】 On the other hand, as shown in Figure 5B, the charging reservation review information IFr includes a message indicating that the user's desired charging amount shown in the charging reservation information cannot be secured, as well as a message suggesting that the user should rebook the accommodation with different conditions. However, the information included in the charging reservation review information IFr is not limited to these; for example, it may also include facility information for another accommodation that can meet the user's desired charging amount, or revised time information indicating a new arrival / departure time that can meet the user's desired charging amount. 【0036】 When the charging plan control unit 330 generates charging plan information or charging reservation revision information as described above, it transmits this information to the accommodation management server 100. When the display control unit 130 of the accommodation management server 100 receives the charging plan information or charging reservation revision information from the EV charging equipment management server 300, it displays the received charging plan information or charging reservation revision information on the display panel of the user terminal 400. For example, if charging plan information is displayed on the display panel, the user uses the user terminal 400 to perform input operations to confirm the reservation. On the other hand, if charging reservation revision information is displayed on the display panel, the user uses the user terminal 400 to perform input operations to change the conditions of the accommodation reservation (i.e., facility-related reservation information), such as changing the accommodation. 【0037】 The following explains the reservation process for accommodations using reservation system 1000, with reference to the diagrams. 【0038】 <Operation> Figure 6 is a sequence chart showing the flow of the accommodation reservation process. The user accesses the accommodation management server 100 using the user terminal 400 and enters their desired conditions regarding the accommodation (i.e., accommodation-related reservation information) (step S1). As already explained, the accommodation-related reservation information includes accommodation reservation information such as the name of the accommodation, the name of the guest (user), contact information, number of guests, and accommodation plan, as well as charging reservation information related to EV charging reservations, such as the expected arrival time at the accommodation, the expected departure time from the accommodation, and the user's desired charge amount. 【0039】 When the reception unit 120 of the accommodation management server 100 receives input of facility-related reservation information (step S2), it extracts charging reservation information from the facility-related reservation information (step S3) and sends it to the EV charging equipment management server 300. 【0040】 When the reception unit 310 of the EV charging equipment management server 300 receives charging reservation information (step S4), it sends the charging reservation information to the charging plan control unit 330. When the charging plan control unit 330 receives the charging reservation information, it refers to the storage unit 320 and determines whether or not it can formulate (generate) a charging plan for the user vehicle based on the charging status information received from each EV charging equipment 200 and the charging reservation information received from the accommodation management server 100 (step S5). 【0041】 If the charging plan control unit 330 determines that it can generate a charging plan based on the charging status information and charging reservation information (step S5; YES), it generates charging plan information (step S6; see Figure 5A). On the other hand, if the charging plan control unit 330 determines that it cannot generate a charging plan based on the charging status information and charging reservation information (step S5; NO), it generates charging reservation revision information to propose a revision of the charging reservation information (step S7; see Figure 5B). 【0042】 When the charging plan control unit 330 generates charging plan information or charging reservation review information, it sends this information to the accommodation management server 100 as feedback information for the charging plan (step S8). 【0043】 When the display control unit 130 of the accommodation management server 100 receives charging plan feedback information from the EV charging equipment management server 300 (step S9), it displays the charging plan feedback information (i.e., charging plan information or charging reservation review information) on the display panel of the user terminal 400 (step S10). 【0044】 When the user checks the charging plan feedback information displayed on the display panel of the user terminal 400, they perform an operation according to the feedback information. The reception unit 120 of the accommodation management server 100 receives input operations according to the feedback information from the user. For example, if charging plan information is displayed on the display panel, the user uses the user terminal 400 to perform an input operation to confirm the reservation. When the reception unit 120 of the accommodation management server 100 receives the reservation confirmation instruction from the user terminal 400, it confirms the reservation (step S11 → step S12). 【0045】 On the other hand, if charging reservation review information is displayed on the display panel, the user uses the user terminal 400 to perform input operations to change the conditions of the accommodation reservation (i.e., facility-related reservation information), such as changing the accommodation. When the reception unit 120 of the accommodation management server 100 receives an instruction from the user terminal 400 to change the facility-related reservation information (for example, changing the accommodation), it instructs the charging plan control unit 330 of the EV charging equipment management server 300 to formulate (generate) a charging plan for the user's vehicle based on the changed facility-related reservation information (step S11 → step S13), and returns to step S1. Note that the subsequent operations have already been explained in detail above, so we will omit further explanation. 【0046】 As described above, according to this embodiment, when making a reservation for EV charging equipment along with accommodation, if it is determined that a charging plan that secures the required amount of charge desired by the user cannot be formulated, it becomes possible to propose to the user a change in the reservation information regarding the EV charging equipment. 【0047】 B. Variations The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and can be implemented in various other forms without departing from the spirit of the invention. For this reason, the above embodiments are merely illustrative in all respects and should not be interpreted restrictively. For example, the order of the above processing steps can be arbitrarily changed or executed in parallel, as long as there is no inconsistency in the processing content. 【0048】 Furthermore, in this specification, "part" does not merely mean a physical configuration, but also includes cases where the processing performed by that "part" is implemented by software. Also, the processing performed by one "part" or device may be implemented by two or more physical configurations or devices, or the processing performed by two or more "parts" or devices may be implemented by one physical means or device. [Explanation of Symbols] 【0049】 1000...Reservation system, 100...Accommodation management server, 110...Storage unit, 120...Reception unit, 130...Display control unit, 200...EV charging equipment, 300...EV charging equipment management server, 310...Reception unit, 320...Storage unit, 330...Charging plan control unit, 400...User terminal, AP...Reservation application, DB11...Accommodation database, DB31...Charging reservation information database, DB32...Charging status information database, IFp...Charging plan information, IFr...Charging reservation review information

Claims

[Claim 1] A reservation system that allows you to reserve accommodations along with vehicle charging facilities. A reception desk that receives facility-related reservation information from users, including estimated arrival time, estimated departure time, and desired charge amount or charging time using vehicle charging equipment. The system includes a charging plan management unit that plans the charging schedule for the user's vehicle, The charging plan control unit, based on the charging status information of each vehicle charging facility and the facility-related reservation information, determines that it is not possible to formulate a charging plan that will secure the user's desired charge amount or charging time using the vehicle charging facility by the scheduled departure time, and then proposes to the user a change to the facility-related reservation information.

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