Information processing device

Abstract

Improve the technology that controls the provision of services to users. [Solution] The information processing device 20 includes a processor that performs the following processes: acquiring attendance information relating to an employee's working hours and break times; sending instructions to disable a predetermined function during working hours and to enable a predetermined function during break times; and, if an operation to enable a predetermined function is performed from a user terminal assigned to the employee during working hours, enabling the predetermined function and recording the change in the employee's attendance information.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to an information processing apparatus.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, techniques for controlling service provision to users have been known. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a facility control system that can set one or more devices according to the user's requests at that time by predicting the user's requests at that time.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The technique of Patent Document 1 mainly focuses on setting the user interface and the like of devices installed in facilities, and has not considered achieving both the improvement of the work efficiency of users (employees) who use fleet vehicles for work and the enrichment of break time. Thus, there has been room for improvement in the technique of controlling service provision to users.

[0005] In view of such circumstances, an object of the present disclosure is to improve the technique of controlling service provision to users.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] An information processing device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure includes a processor that performs processing including acquiring attendance information relating to an employee's working hours and break times, transmitting instructions to disable a predetermined function during working hours and to enable a predetermined function during break times, and enabling a predetermined function and recording the change in the employee's attendance information if an operation to enable a predetermined function is performed from the user terminal assigned to the employee during working hours. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to one embodiment of this disclosure, the technology for controlling the provision of services to users is improved. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This is a block diagram showing the schematic configuration of the system according to this embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a flowchart showing the operation of an information processing device. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] The embodiments of this disclosure will now be described. Referring to Figure 1, the overview and configuration of System 1 according to this embodiment will be described. System 1 according to this embodiment comprises a vehicle 10, an information processing device 20, and a user terminal 30.

[0010] Vehicle 10 is any type and classification of automobile. The types of vehicle 10 include, for example, gasoline vehicles, diesel vehicles, HV (Hybrid Vehicle), PHV (Plug-in Hybrid Vehicle), EV (Electric Vehicle), or FCV (Fuel Cell Vehicle). Vehicle 10 includes automobiles with any level of automated driving. The classifications of vehicle 10 include, for example, passenger cars, trucks, or buses. Vehicle 10 includes vehicles dedicated to MaaS (Mobility as a Service). In this disclosure, vehicle 10 is a fleet vehicle (a vehicle owned by a specific company, corporation, etc.).

[0011] The information processing device 20 is a device installed, for example, in a data center. The information processing device 20 is a device that constitutes a fleet management system. The information processing device 20 has at least the function of managing a fleet. The information processing device 20 may further have the function of managing employee attendance.

[0012] The user terminal 30 is any device used by each employee. The vehicle 10, the information processing device 20, and the user terminal 30 are connected to each other via a network 2 such as the Internet. Although Figure 1 shows one vehicle 10, one information processing device 20, and one user terminal 30, System 1 may have multiple units of these devices.

[0013] First, an overview of the technology for controlling the provision of services to users according to this embodiment will be described, and details will be described later. The technology according to this embodiment is executed by the control unit 23 of the information processing device 20. The control unit 23 first acquires attendance information relating to the working hours and break times of employees. The control unit 23 sends instructions to disable a predetermined function during working hours and to enable a predetermined function during break times. The predetermined function is an entertainment function that the vehicle 10 can provide. The predetermined function includes a function to output video content such as OTT (Over The Top) via the network 2. If an operation to enable the predetermined function is performed from the user terminal assigned to the employee during working hours, the control unit 23 enables the predetermined function and records the change in the employee's attendance information.

[0014] Thus, according to this embodiment, the control unit 23 disables a predetermined function during the employee's working hours and enables the predetermined function during the employee's break time, thereby enabling the provision of services using the predetermined function during the employee's break time. Therefore, the technology for controlling service provision to users is improved in that it is possible to achieve both improved work efficiency for users (employees) and enrichment of their break time. Furthermore, according to this embodiment, instead of uniformly disabling the predetermined functions of the fleet vehicles, the vehicle 10 can be allowed to perform its inherent service provision functions during the employee's break time. Therefore, the technology for controlling service provision to users is also improved in that it enables the utilization of the functions of the vehicle 10.

[0015] Next, the configurations of the vehicle 10, information processing device 20, and user terminal 30 will be described in detail. As shown in Figure 1, the vehicle 10 comprises an ECU (Electronic Control Unit) 11, an output unit 12, and a control device 13. The ECU 11, the output unit 12, and the control device 13 are communicated together via an in-vehicle network such as CAN or a dedicated line. The ECU 11 is a control unit that controls various devices mounted on the vehicle 10. The output unit 12 may be configured to include at least one output interface. The output interface may be, for example, a display that outputs information as video, or a speaker that outputs sound. The output unit 12 presents various information based on the control of the control device 13. When a predetermined function is used, the output unit 12 outputs video content, etc., provided by the predetermined function from the display or speaker, etc. The control device 13 is a device that constitutes an IVI (In-Vehicle Infotainment) system. The control device 13 may be part of the ECU 11. The control device 13 includes a communication unit 14, a positioning unit 15, a storage unit 16, and a control unit 17. The communication unit 14 may be configured to include at least one communication module that can connect to the network 2. The communication module is, for example, a communication module compatible with mobile communication standards such as LTE (Long Term Evolution), 4G (4th Generation), or 5G (5th Generation). The communication unit 14 may be configured to include in-vehicle communication equipment such as a DCM (Data Communication Module). The communication unit 14 communicates with the communication unit 21 of the information processing device 20, for example, to receive instructions regarding the activation or deactivation of a predetermined function. Also, when a predetermined function is used, the communication unit 14 communicates with a server device (not shown) to receive information related to video content, etc. The positioning unit 15 acquires location information of the vehicle 10 based on the control of the control unit 17. The storage unit 16 may be configured to include at least one semiconductor memory, at least one magnetic memory, at least one optical memory, or at least two combinations thereof. The storage unit 16 may function as a main memory, auxiliary memory, or cache memory.The memory unit 16 stores data used for the operation of the control device 13 and data obtained by the operation of the control device 13. The control unit 17 may be configured to include at least one processor, at least one dedicated circuit, or a combination thereof. The control unit 17 can execute processes related to the operation of the control device 13 while controlling each part of the control device 13. For example, the control unit 17 controls the switching of enabling and disabling predetermined functions based on instructions received via the communication unit 14.

[0016] The information processing device 20 comprises a communication unit 21, a storage unit 22, and a control unit 23. The communication unit 21 may be configured to include at least one communication module that can connect to the network 2. The communication module is, for example, a communication module that complies with standards such as wired LAN (Local Area Network) or wireless LAN. The communication unit 21 can connect to the network 2 via the wired LAN or wireless LAN using the communication module. The storage unit 22 may be configured to include at least one semiconductor memory, at least one magnetic memory, at least one optical memory, or at least two combinations thereof, similar to the configuration of the storage unit 16. The storage unit 22 may function as a main memory, auxiliary memory, or cache memory. The storage unit 22 stores data used for the operation of the information processing device 20 and data obtained by the operation of the information processing device 20. The storage unit 22 stores, for example, attendance information related to employees' working hours and break times. The information stored in the storage unit 22 may be updated as appropriate. The control unit 23 may be configured similarly to the control unit 17, including at least one processor, at least one dedicated circuit, or a combination thereof. The control unit 23 can control each part of the information processing device 20 and execute processes related to the operation of the information processing device 20.

[0017] The user terminal 30 comprises a communication unit 31, a storage unit 32, a control unit 33, an input unit 34, and an output unit 35. In this disclosure, the configurations of the communication unit 31, the storage unit 32, and the control unit 33 are equivalent to those of the communication unit 21, the storage unit 22, and the control unit 23. The input unit 34 may be configured to include at least one input interface. The input interface is, for example, a physical key, a capacitive key, a pointing device, etc. The input unit 34 receives input related to operations that activate predetermined functions based on the control unit 33. The output unit 35 may be configured to include at least one output interface. The output interface is, for example, a display that outputs information as video. The output unit 35 presents various information such as alerts based on the control unit 33.

[0018] The functions of the vehicle 10's control device 13, information processing device 20, or user terminal 30 are realized by executing a program that causes a computer to perform the processing according to this embodiment on a processor corresponding to the control unit 17, control unit 23, or control unit 33. The program causes the computer to perform the operations of the control device 13, information processing device 20, or user terminal 30, thereby causing the computer to function as the control device 13, information processing device 20, or user terminal 30. Alternatively, some or all of the functions of the vehicle 10, information processing device 20, or user terminal 30 may be realized by a dedicated circuit corresponding to the control unit 17, control unit 23, or control unit 33.

[0019] Referring to Figure 2, the operation of the information processing device 20 according to this embodiment will be described. The control unit 23 of the information processing device 20 acquires attendance information relating to the working hours and break times of employees (S100). The control unit 23 acquires the attendance information of employees from the storage unit 22.

[0020] The control unit 23 transmits an instruction to disable a predetermined function during working hours and to enable a predetermined function during break times (S200). The control unit 17 transmits this instruction to the communication unit 14 of the vehicle 10 via the network 2. The control unit 17 of the vehicle 10 enables or disables the predetermined function based on this instruction.

[0021] When an operation to enable a predetermined function is performed from the user terminal 30 assigned to an employee during the period corresponding to the working hours, the control unit 23 enables the predetermined function and records the change in the attendance information of the employee (S300). The control unit 23 accepts an operation to enable a predetermined function from the input unit 34 of the user terminal 30 even during the period corresponding to the working hours. When an operation to enable a predetermined function is performed from the user terminal 30 during the period corresponding to the working hours, an alert to the effect that if the predetermined function is enabled as it is, the current work situation will be changed to a break time is presented via the output unit 35 of the user terminal 30. When an operation to enable a predetermined function is performed from the user terminal 30 despite the presentation, the control unit 23 changes the attendance information on the assumption that the current work situation of the employee is a break time. The control unit 23 records the change. The control unit 23 records the change by causing the storage unit 22 to store the changed attendance information.

[0022] According to such a configuration, the information processing apparatus 20 can make a predetermined function available to an employee during a break time by disabling the predetermined function during the period corresponding to the working hours of the employee and enabling the predetermined function during the period corresponding to the break time. Also, in exchange for recording a change in the attendance information of an employee when an operation to enable a predetermined function is performed during the period corresponding to the working hours, the predetermined function is made available. In this way, it is possible to achieve both improvement in the work efficiency of a user (employee) who uses the vehicle 10 for business and enrichment of the break time, and further, in that the function of the vehicle 10 can be exhibited during the break time, the technology for controlling service provision to the user is improved.

[0023] Here, when the system 1 includes, separately from the information processing apparatus 20, an apparatus for managing the attendance of employees, the information processing apparatus 20 and the apparatus may be communicably connected. In this case, the information processing apparatus 20 acquires the attendance information of the employees from the apparatus.

[0024] While this disclosure has been described based on the drawings and embodiments, it should be noted that those skilled in the art may make various modifications and alterations based on this disclosure. Therefore, it should be noted that these modifications and alterations are within the scope of this disclosure. For example, the functions, etc., included in each component or step can be rearranged in a logically consistent manner, and multiple components or steps can be combined into one or divided into two.

[0025] For example, in the embodiment described above, it is also possible to have an embodiment in which the configuration and operation of the vehicle 10, the information processing device 20, or the user terminal 30 are distributed among multiple computers that can communicate with each other. [Explanation of symbols]

[0026] 1: System, 2: Network, 10: Vehicle, 11: ECU, 12: Output Unit, 13: Control Unit, 14: Communication Unit, 15: Positioning Unit, 16: Memory Unit, 17: Control Unit, 20: Information Processing Unit, 21: Communication Unit, 22: Memory Unit, 23: Control Unit, 30: User Terminal, 31: Communication Unit, 32: Memory Unit, 33: Control Unit, 34: Input Unit, 35: Output Unit

Claims

[Claim 1] An information processing device, To obtain attendance information regarding employees' working hours and break times, Send an instruction to disable the specified function during the aforementioned working hours and to enable the specified function during the aforementioned break time. If an operation to activate the predetermined function is performed from the user terminal assigned to the employee during the aforementioned working hours, the predetermined function will be activated and the changes to the employee's attendance information will be recorded. An information processing device equipped with a processor that performs processing including the following.

Images