Information processing device and vehicle system

Abstract

To efficiently provide information about a bus on a regular route.SOLUTION: First data concerning an in-vehicle situation is acquired from the vehicle of a bus on a regular route, and a guide image produced based on the first data is output via signage devices each arranged at a bus stop where the vehicle stops.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a route bus. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, attempts have been made to provide information by installing digital signage at bus stops. By using digital signage, it is possible to transmit bus arrival times, operation information, and the like in real time. In this regard, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses a signage device capable of providing traffic information and disaster information in addition to operation information. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2020-060870 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The present disclosure aims to efficiently provide information regarding route buses. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] One aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure is an information processing device having a control unit that acquires first data regarding the in-vehicle situation from a route bus vehicle, and outputs a guidance image generated based on the first data via a signage device installed at a bus stop where the vehicle is stopped.

[0006] One aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure is a vehicle system including a first device mounted on a route bus vehicle and a second device controlling a signage device installed at a bus stop, wherein the first device has a first control unit that transmits first data regarding the in-vehicle situation to the second device, and the second device has a second control unit that outputs a guidance image generated based on the first data via a signage device installed at the bus stop where the vehicle is stopped.

[0007] Another aspect of the present invention is a program for causing a computer to execute the method executed by the above-mentioned device, or a computer-readable storage medium non-transitoryly storing the program. Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to the present disclosure, information regarding route buses can be provided efficiently. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram of a vehicle system according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing components of an in-vehicle device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 3A] A schematic top view of the interior of a bus. [Figure 3B] A schematic top view of the interior of a bus. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating vehicle data transmitted from a vehicle. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the components of the server device in detail. [Figure 6] An example of information displayed by signage. [Figure 7] An example of guidance data sent to signage. [Figure 8] Examples of signage data and route data. [Figure 9] A detailed diagram of the components of signage. [Figure 10] An example of an image generated by the signage. [Figure 11] An example of an image generated by the signage. [Figure 12] FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram of a process in which the in-vehicle device transmits vehicle data to the server device. [Figure 13] FIG. 11 is a sequence diagram of a process in which the server device transmits guidance data to a signage. [Figure 14] 11 is a flowchart of a process executed in step S22. [Figure 15] FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of a vehicle system according to a second embodiment. [Figure 16] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing components of a signage according to a second embodiment. [Figure 17] An example of an interface for entering passenger information. [Figure 18] 3 shows an example of passenger data generated by the information acquisition unit 3012. [Figure 19] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing components of a server device according to a second embodiment. [Figure 20] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing components of an in-vehicle device according to a second embodiment. [Figure 21] An example of a screen output by operation-related equipment. [Figure 22] FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of a vehicle system according to a third embodiment. [Figure 23] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing components of a server device according to a third embodiment. [Figure 24] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing components of a signage according to a third embodiment. [Diagram 25] An example of an interface for entering reservation information. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] There is a known system that uses digital signage devices installed at bus stops to provide route bus information, etc. This system can obtain and display the bus destination, stopovers, arrival time, etc. in real time.

[0011] On the other hand, existing systems have the problem that they cannot convey detailed information about arriving buses. For example, they cannot provide information such as "The next bus is crowded, so it is better to wait for the one after that." Although there are attempts to obtain the degree of congestion for each vehicle, it is not possible to obtain specific information such as "Does the next arriving bus have enough space for a stroller?" The information processing device according to the present disclosure solves such a problem.

[0012] An information processing device according to one aspect of the present disclosure has a control unit that acquires first data regarding the in-vehicle situation from a route bus vehicle, and outputs a guidance image generated based on the first data via a signage device installed at a bus stop where the vehicle is stopped.

[0013] A route bus is a public bus that operates on a set schedule and along a set route. The information processing device is, for example, a computer that controls a signage device installed at a bus stop. The information processing device may manage a plurality of signage devices installed at a plurality of bus stops. The control unit acquires data on the in-vehicle situation for a specific vehicle in operation, and outputs a guide image generated based on the data via the signage device. Note that the guide image may be generated by the information processing device, or the information processing device may cause the signage device to generate the guide image. Examples of data related to the status inside the bus include data showing the degree of congestion, seating status, and distribution of people (which areas inside the bus are occupied). The guide image visualizes this data. This allows passengers waiting at the bus stop to accurately grasp the status inside the bus that will arrive.

[0014] In addition, when a plurality of buses arrive at a bus stop within a given time, the user may select on the signage which vehicle information is to be displayed. A guide image may be output.

[0015] Furthermore, the control unit may obtain information about passengers boarding at the bus stop via the signage device and transmit this information to the bus side. This allows the bus side to be informed in advance that, for example, disabled people, people with strollers, people in wheelchairs, etc. will be boarding. Also, by announcing this to the inside of the bus, the bus side can take measures such as clearing boarding space in advance.

[0016] Furthermore, if the bus is a bus with a seating capacity limit, seat reservations may be accepted based on data acquired through the signage device, which allows passengers to reserve seats even if they do not have a terminal.

[0017] Specific embodiments of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. Unless otherwise specified, the hardware configuration, module configuration, functional configuration, and the like described in each embodiment are not intended to limit the technical scope of the disclosure to only those.

[0018] First Embodiment An overview of a vehicle system according to a first embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 1. The vehicle system according to this embodiment includes a vehicle 10 equipped with an in-vehicle device 100, a server device 200, and multiple signages 300. The system may include multiple vehicles 10 (in-vehicle devices 100) and multiple signages 300.

[0019] The vehicle 10 is a route bus vehicle equipped with the on-board device 100. The vehicle 10 runs along a predetermined route according to a predetermined diagram. The on-board device 100 is configured to be capable of wireless communication with the server device 200. The signage 300 is a device that is installed at a bus stop where the vehicle 10 passes and displays images using a display, projector, etc. By using the signage 300, it is possible to provide the arrival time and operation information of the vehicle 10 to passengers waiting for the arrival of the bus. The signage 300 may have a function of outputting sound and a function of acquiring input.

[0020] The server device 200 is a device that receives vehicle-related data from multiple vehicles 10 (on-board devices 100) and generates data to be output to the signage 300 based on the data. The server device 200 receives data from multiple vehicles 10 (on-board devices 100) under its management and stores the data in a database. It also generates data to be provided to each of the multiple signages 300 based on the stored data, and distributes the data to each signage at a specified timing. The signage 300 provides information based on the received data. This makes it possible to provide information about the status of buses in operation to passengers waiting at bus stops.

[0021] The server device 200 may be configured to further provide general information about bus operations to the signage 300. Such information can be acquired, for example, from a traffic information server operated by a bus company.

[0022] Each element that makes up the system will be explained. The vehicle 10 is a connected car that runs as a route bus and has a communication function with an external network. The vehicle 10 is equipped with an in-vehicle device 100.

[0023] The on-board device 100 is a computer installed in a route bus. The on-board device 100 is installed for the purpose of transmitting information about the vehicle, and transmits various information including location information to the server device 200 via a wireless network. The vehicle-mounted device 100 may also serve as a device that provides information to the bus crew or passengers. For example, the vehicle-mounted device 100 may be a device that provides operation guidance to passengers (hereinafter, operation-related device). Examples of the operation-related device include devices that control destination displays and broadcasting devices that the vehicle 10 has. The in-vehicle device 100 may be an electronic control unit (ECU) included in a vehicle platform, or a data communication module (DCM) having a communication function. The in-vehicle device 100 has a function of performing wireless communication with an external network. The in-vehicle device 100 may have a function of downloading traffic information, road map data, and the like by communicating with the external network.

[0024] The in-vehicle device 100 can be configured by a general-purpose computer. That is, the in-vehicle device 100 can be configured as a computer having a processor such as a CPU or a GPU, a main storage device such as a RAM or a ROM, and an auxiliary storage device such as an EPROM, a hard disk drive, or a removable medium. The auxiliary storage device stores an operating system (OS), various programs, various tables, etc., and by executing the programs stored therein, various functions that match a predetermined purpose, as described below, can be realized. However, some or all of the functions may be realized by hardware circuits such as an ASIC or an FPGA.

[0025] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing in detail the components of the in-vehicle device 100 mounted on the vehicle 10. As shown in FIG. The in-vehicle device 100 includes a control unit 101 , a storage unit 102 , a communication unit 103 , a sensor 104 , and a position information acquisition unit 105 .

[0026] The control unit 101 is a calculation unit that executes a predetermined program to realize various functions of the in-vehicle device 100. The control unit 101 may be realized by, for example, a CPU. The control unit 101 is configured to have a data transmission unit 1011 as a functional module. The functional module may be realized by executing a stored program by a CPU.

[0027] The data transmission unit 1011 acquires or generates data related to the host vehicle via the sensor 104 and the position information acquisition unit 105 described later at a predetermined timing, and transmits the data to the server device 200. In this embodiment, the data related to the host vehicle includes the following two types. (1) Operational data (2) Data obtained by sensing inside the vehicle Data on operation (hereinafter, operation-related data) is, for example, the route currently in operation (for example, route number), destination, current running position (between which bus stops the bus is running), etc. Operation-related data can be acquired, for example, from on-board operation-related devices (for example, devices that control announcements, destination displays, etc.). Data obtained by sensing the inside of the vehicle (hereinafter, referred to as in-vehicle data) is data representing the situation inside the vehicle. In this embodiment, the distribution of passengers inside the vehicle is acquired as the situation inside the vehicle.

[0028] The distribution of passengers will now be described. The in-vehicle device 100 according to this embodiment senses where passengers are located inside the vehicle by the in-vehicle sensor 104. FIG. 3A is a schematic top view of the interior of a bus. The bus shown in this example has 25 passenger seats. If the sensor 104 is a seating sensor installed on the seats, the data transmission unit 1011 can determine which seats the passengers are sitting in. In this case, the presence or absence of a passenger for each seat can be obtained.

[0029] Furthermore, if the sensor 104 is an image sensor that captures an image of the inside of the vehicle, the positions of standing passengers can also be captured. For example, as shown in Fig. 3B, the inside of the vehicle can be divided into a number of grids, and it can be determined whether or not each grid contains a person based on the image. Furthermore, the sensor 104 may include a weight sensor installed on the floor surface of the vehicle 10. In this case, it is possible to determine whether or not each grid includes a person based on the weight corresponding to each grid.

[0030] The data transmission unit 1011 generates in-vehicle data (for example, bitmap data representing the distribution of people inside the vehicle) and transmits it together with the operation-related data to the server device 200. The operation-related data and the in-vehicle data are collectively referred to as "vehicle data."

[0031] An example of vehicle data is shown in Fig. 4. The field indicated by reference numeral 401 corresponds to operation-related data. The vehicle data includes fields for vehicle ID, date and time information, route ID, destination, location information, vehicle information, and in-vehicle data. The vehicle ID field stores an identifier that uniquely identifies the vehicle. The date and time information field stores the date and time when the vehicle data was generated. The route ID and destination fields store identifiers of the route on which the vehicle 10 is traveling and the destination. The location information field stores the section in which the vehicle 10 is currently traveling. The location information may be represented by, for example, latitude and longitude, or by a bus stop ID. The location information may be, for example, information such as "traveling between bus stops X1 and X2." The location information can be acquired via the location information acquisition unit 105 described later. Alternatively, the location information may be acquired from the operation-related device described above. For example, the section in which the vehicle is traveling may be determined based on data acquired from the operation-related device. The vehicle information field stores information about the vehicle 10. The information about the vehicle 10 may be, for example, information about the type of the vehicle 10 (such as a low-floor bus) or information about facilities that the vehicle 10 has (such as a wheelchair space or a wheelchair ramp).

[0032] The storage unit 102 is a means for storing information, and is configured with a storage medium such as a RAM, a magnetic disk, a flash memory, etc. The storage unit 102 stores various programs executed by the control unit 101, data used by the programs, etc.

[0033] The communication unit 103 includes an antenna and a communication module for wireless communication. The antenna is an antenna element for inputting and outputting wireless signals. In this embodiment, the antenna is suitable for mobile communication (e.g., mobile communication such as 3G, LTE, and 5G). The antenna may be configured to include multiple physical antennas. For example, when performing mobile communication using radio waves in a high frequency band such as microwaves and millimeter waves, multiple antennas may be distributed and arranged to stabilize communication. The communication module is a module for performing mobile communication.

[0034] The sensor 104 is one or more sensors for acquiring the above-mentioned in-vehicle data. The sensor 104 can be configured to include, for example, a sensor for detecting whether a person is seated in a seat, a weight sensor installed on the floor surface, an image sensor for detecting the distribution of people in the vehicle (a visible light image sensor, a distance image sensor, an infrared image sensor), etc. The sensor 104 may be another sensor as long as it can detect the distribution of people in the vehicle.

[0035] The location information acquisition unit 105 includes a GPS antenna and a positioning module for measuring location information. The GPS antenna is an antenna that receives positioning signals transmitted from positioning satellites (also called GNSS satellites). The positioning module is a module that calculates location information based on the signals received by the GPS antenna.

[0036] Next, the server device 200 will be described. The server device 200 is a device that collects vehicle data from a plurality of vehicles 10 (vehicle-mounted devices 100) and provides guidance via the signage 300 based on the collected vehicle data.

[0037] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing in detail the components of the server device 200 included in the vehicle system according to this embodiment.

[0038] The server device 200 can be configured by a general-purpose computer. That is, the server device 200 can be configured as a computer having a processor such as a CPU or a GPU, a main storage device such as a RAM or a ROM, and an auxiliary storage device such as an EPROM, a hard disk drive, or a removable medium. The auxiliary storage device stores an operating system (OS), various programs, various tables, and the like, and the programs stored therein are loaded into a working area of ​​the main storage device and executed. Each component is controlled through the execution of the programs, thereby realizing each function that matches a predetermined purpose, as described below. However, some or all of the functions may be realized by a hardware circuit such as an ASIC or an FPGA.

[0039] The server device 200 includes a control unit 201 , a storage unit 202 , and a communication unit 203 . The control unit 201 is a calculation device that manages the control performed by the server device 200. The control unit 201 can be realized by a calculation processing device such as a CPU. The control unit 201 is configured to have, as functional modules, a data collection unit 2011 and a signage control unit 2012. Each functional module may be realized by causing a CPU to execute a stored program.

[0040] The data collection unit 2011 executes a process of collecting vehicle data from a plurality of vehicles 10 (on-vehicle devices 100) and storing the collected vehicle data as vehicle data 202A in the storage unit 202, which will be described later.

[0041] The signage control unit 2012 controls the multiple signages 300 based on the collected vehicle data and pre-stored data related to bus stops and signage. The signage control unit 2012 determines the vehicles approaching each bus stop based on this data, and transmits data (hereinafter, guidance data) to the signage 300 installed at each bus stop so as to output information related to the vehicle.

[0042] 6 is an example in which signage 300 installed at each bus stop outputs information. Here, the signage installed at bus stop X1 is labeled 300A, the signage installed at bus stop X2 is labeled 300B, and the signage installed at bus stop X3 is labeled 300C to distinguish them from one another.

[0043] In the illustrated example, bus A and bus B are approaching bus stop X1. Bus B is approaching bus stops X2 and X3. The bus stops that a bus traveling on a certain route passes through can be determined by referring to pre-stored data (described later) related to the route.

[0044] In this case, if there is a rule that "information about the bus that departed from the bus stop three stops before is displayed on the signage 300," the signage control unit 2012 displays the information about the signage installed at the bus stop X1. The signage control unit 2012 determines to have signage 300A output information about buses A and B. In addition, the signage control unit 2012 determines to have signage 300B and 300C installed at bus stops X2 and X3 output information about bus B.

[0045] Then, the signage control unit 2012 generates data to be transmitted to each signage 300. That is, the signage control unit 2012 (1) Generate guidance data to be transmitted to the signage 300A based on the vehicle data transmitted from the buses A and B. (2) Generate guidance data to be transmitted to the signage 300B based on the vehicle data transmitted from the bus B. (3) Based on the vehicle data transmitted from bus B, generate guidance data to be transmitted to signage 300C. The following process is executed.

[0046] The guidance data includes information to be output by each signage 300. In this embodiment, the guidance data is data for causing the signage 300 to generate image data. In this embodiment, the signage 300 generates and outputs the image data based on the guidance data.

[0047] 7 is an example of guidance data transmitted from server device 200 to signage 300. The guidance data includes an identifier of signage 300 to which the data is transmitted, and date and time information. The guidance data also includes a set of a route identifier, a destination, an expected time to arrival, vehicle information, and in-vehicle data (reference numeral 801). The in-vehicle data may be binary data. Such data is defined for each vehicle. For example, in the illustrated example, data for two vehicles, the next arriving vehicle and the vehicle following that, is included.

[0048] The storage unit 202 includes a main storage device and an auxiliary storage device. The main storage device is a memory in which the programs executed by the control unit 201 and data used by the control programs are expanded. The auxiliary storage device is a device in which the programs executed by the control unit 201 and data used by the control programs are stored.

[0049] Furthermore, the storage unit 202 stores vehicle data 202A, signage data 202B, and route data 202C. The vehicle data 202A is a collection of a plurality of vehicle data transmitted from the in-vehicle device 100. The vehicle data 202A stores the plurality of vehicle data described in Fig. 4. The stored vehicle data 202A may be deleted at a predetermined timing (for example, when a predetermined time has elapsed since the data was received).

[0050] The signage data 202B is data related to the signage 300 installed at a plurality of bus stops. The route data 202C is data related to routes on which route buses under the management of the device run.

[0051] FIG. 8 shows examples of signage data 202B and route data 202C. Signage data 202B includes an identifier of signage 300, an identifier of a bus stop where the signage is installed, a network address of the signage, etc. Server device 200 can specify a transmission destination of the guidance data by referring to signage data 202B. The route data 202C includes a route identifier, an identifier of a bus stop that is a starting point, an identifier of bus stops that are routed through, an identifier of a bus stop that is a destination, etc. The server device 200 can identify bus stops that any bus will route through by referring to the route data 202C.

[0052] The communication unit 203 is a communication interface for connecting the server device 200 to a network. The communication unit 203 includes, for example, a network interface board and a wireless communication interface for wireless communication.

[0053] Next, the signage 300 will be described. The signage 300 is a device that provides guidance to passengers waiting at bus stops based on guidance data transmitted from the server device 200.

[0054] FIG. 9 is a diagram showing in detail components of the signage 300 included in the vehicle system according to this embodiment.

[0055] The signage 300 can be configured as a computer having a processor such as a CPU or a GPU, a main memory such as a RAM or a ROM, and an auxiliary memory such as an EPROM, a hard disk drive, a removable medium, etc. However, some or all of the functions may be realized by a hardware circuit such as an ASIC or an FPGA.

[0056] The signage 300 includes a control unit 301 , a storage unit 302 , a communication unit 303 , and an input / output unit 304 . The control unit 301 is a calculation device that controls the signage 300. The control unit 201 can be realized by a calculation processing device such as a CPU. The control unit 301 is configured to have an image display unit 3011 as a functional module. The functional module may be realized by executing a stored program by a CPU.

[0057] The image display unit 3011 outputs an image based on the guidance data received from the server device 200. In this embodiment, the image display unit 3011 generates image data based on the guidance data and outputs the image data via the input / output unit 304. Therefore, the image display unit 3011 may execute a process of generating image data according to a predetermined rule.

[0058] Fig. 10 is an example of an image generated by image display unit 3011 based on the guidance data shown in Fig. 7. Image display unit 3011 generates an image as shown in Fig. 10(A) based on the guidance data, and outputs it via input / output unit 304. If the guidance data includes data on multiple buses, image display unit 3011 generates an image including information for multiple buses. If the arrival time is represented by the remaining time, image display unit 3011 may keep time and update the time display.

[0059] Furthermore, the image display unit 3011 can generate an image showing the inside of the vehicle based on the inside of the vehicle data. For example, when a passenger selects a vehicle (for example, taps inside the dotted line) via the input / output unit 304, the image display unit 3011 generates and outputs an image showing the inside of the vehicle based on the inside of the vehicle data corresponding to the selected vehicle. For example, when the situation inside the vehicle is a seated situation, the image display unit 3011 may generate an image as shown in Fig. 10(B). Also, when the situation inside the vehicle is a seated and standing situation, the image display unit 3011 may generate an image as shown in Fig. 11.

[0060] In this embodiment, the image display unit 3011 generates an image showing the distribution of passengers inside the vehicle based on the vehicle interior data, but the image display unit 3011 may generate an image including other information. For example, the image display unit 3011 may generate an image showing locations where wheelchairs, strollers, etc. can be loaded, and locations of seats that have equipment for fixing wheelchairs, strollers, etc. For this reason, the server device 200 may provide detailed information about the vehicle. It may be included in the data.

[0061] The storage unit 302 includes a main storage device and an auxiliary storage device. The main storage device is a memory in which the programs executed by the control unit 301 and data used by the control programs are expanded. The auxiliary storage device is a device in which the programs executed by the control unit 301 and data used by the control programs are stored.

[0062] The communication unit 303 is a communication interface for connecting the signage 300 to a network. The communication unit 303 includes, for example, a network interface board and a wireless communication interface for wireless communication.

[0063] The input / output unit 304 is a device for inputting and outputting information. Specifically, the input / output unit 304 is composed of a display 304A and its control means, and a touch panel 304B and its control means. In this embodiment, the touch panel and the display are composed of one touch panel display. The input / output unit 304 may include a unit for outputting sound (an amplifier and a speaker), etc. The input / output unit 304 can output images through a display 304A, and can also receive input through a touch panel 304B.

[0064] 2, 5, and 9 are merely examples, and all or part of the functions shown in the figures may be executed using specially designed circuits. Furthermore, programs may be stored or executed using a combination of a main memory device and an auxiliary memory device other than those shown in the figures.

[0065] Next, a flowchart of the process executed by each device will be described. 12 is a sequence diagram of a process for transmitting and receiving vehicle data between the in-vehicle device 100 and the server device 200. The process shown in the figure is repeatedly executed at a predetermined cycle while the vehicle 10 is traveling.

[0066] First, in step S11, the data transmission unit 1011 determines whether a predetermined transmission period has arrived. If the predetermined period (for example, every minute) has arrived, the process proceeds to step S12. If the predetermined period has not arrived, the process waits for a predetermined time and repeats the process. In step S12, the data transmission unit 1011 generates vehicle data. As described above, the data transmission unit 1011 generates vehicle data including operation-related data and in-vehicle data. As described above, the operation-related data can be acquired via operation-related devices mounted on the vehicle 10 and the position information acquisition unit 105. In addition, the in-vehicle data can be acquired via the sensor 104.

[0067] The generated vehicle data is transmitted to the server device 200 in step S13. In step S14, the server device 200 (the data collection unit 2011) receives the vehicle data transmitted from the in-vehicle device 100, and stores it in the storage unit 202. As a result, the storage unit 202 of the server device 200 accumulates the vehicle data received from the multiple vehicles 10 as needed.

[0068] 13 is a sequence diagram of a process in which server device 200 transmits guidance data to signage 300. The illustrated process is repeatedly executed at a predetermined cycle while the route bus is in operation.

[0069] First, in step S21, the signage control unit 2012 determines whether a predetermined transmission period has arrived. If the predetermined period (for example, every minute) has arrived, the process proceeds to step S2 Transition to 2. If the specified period has not arrived, wait for a specified time and repeat the process. In step S22, the signage control unit 2012 generates guidance data for each signage 300.

[0070] 14 is a flowchart of the process executed by signage control unit 2012 in step S22. The illustrated process is executed for each of the multiple signages 300. First, in step S221, vehicle data corresponding to buses in operation that are approaching a target bus stop are extracted. The extraction can be performed based on vehicle data 202A, signage data 202B, and route data 202C. Specifically, the route to which the target bus stop belongs is identified, and among buses running on the route, those that are within a predetermined distance (e.g., within three stops) or within a predetermined time (e.g., three minutes) from the target bus stop are extracted. Next, in step S222, guidance data as shown in FIG. 7 is generated based on the extracted vehicle data corresponding to one or more buses.

[0071] In step S23, the generated guidance data is transmitted to the target signage 300. When there are multiple target signages 300, the signage control unit 2012 transmits the guidance data to each of the target signages 300.

[0072] In step S24, the control unit 301 (image display unit 3011) of each signage 300 generates image data based on the received guidance data, and outputs the image data to the input / output unit 304. In addition, as shown in Fig. 10, when a plurality of images are output, the control unit 301 may switch the image to be output based on an operation performed on the touch panel. In the example of Fig. 10, for example, when the first bus is selected, an image corresponding to the first arriving bus (an image showing the interior of the bus) is displayed, and when the second bus is selected, an image corresponding to the next arriving bus (an image showing the interior of the bus) is displayed.

[0073] As described above, in the system according to the first embodiment, a plurality of buses transmit data on the in-vehicle situation to the server device 200, which distributes the data to a plurality of signage devices 300. The signage device 300 outputs an image that visualizes the in-vehicle situation of the target bus based on the distributed data. This enables passengers waiting for a bus to obtain information on the in-vehicle situation of the arriving bus in advance, and to plan in advance what they will do after boarding the bus (for example, which seat to take, etc.).

[0074] In this embodiment, the signage 300 generates image data based on the guidance data generated by the server device 200, but the guidance data may be image data generated by the server device 200. In this case, the image display unit 3011 may execute a process of outputting the received image data via the input / output unit 304 described later.

[0075] In addition, in the present embodiment, an example of informing the distribution of people inside the bus has been given, but if it is possible to estimate the people who will get off at the target bus stop, the result of the estimation may be output via the signage 300. For example, when a get-off button provided on the vehicle 10 is pressed, it can be estimated that the people in the vicinity of the get-off button will get off at the next bus stop. In such a case, it is also possible to output a notification that a nearby seat may become vacant.

[0076] Second Embodiment In the second embodiment, the signage 300 acquires information about passengers boarding at a bus stop. In this embodiment, the information is notified to the vehicle 10 via the server device 200.

[0077] FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram of a vehicle system according to the second embodiment. In this embodiment, the signage 300 has a function of outputting an image based on the guidance data, as well as a function of acquiring data related to passengers who plan to board based on operations performed using the touch panel, and transmitting the data to the server device 200. The data related to passengers who plan to board includes, for example, data indicating that the passenger is accompanied by a wheelchair or a stroller, or that the passenger needs some kind of assistance. When the server device 200 receives the data, it identifies the vehicle 10 in which the passenger plans to board, and transfers the data to the in-vehicle device 100 installed in the vehicle 10. Based on the received data, the in-vehicle device 100 also notifies the bus driver that a passenger who needs assistance is about to board the bus. This allows the bus driver to know that a passenger who needs assistance is about to board the bus.

[0078] 16 is a diagram illustrating in detail components of signage 300 according to the second embodiment. In this embodiment, control unit 301 included in signage 300 is different from that of the first embodiment in that it further includes information acquisition unit 3012.

[0079] The information acquisition unit 3012 acquires information specifying the vehicle 10 to board and details of necessary assistance from passengers who plan to board. This information is referred to as passenger information. For example, as shown in FIG. 10, if the signage 300 is capable of displaying the in-vehicle situation for each vehicle, an interface for inputting passenger information may be added to the screen displaying the in-vehicle situation.

[0080] 17 is an example of an interface for inputting passenger information. In this example, three buttons (wheelchair, stroller, and other assistance) are displayed on the screen, and any one of them can be pressed. When a passenger presses any button, the information acquisition unit 3012 generates data (hereinafter, passenger data) for notifying the contents of the necessary assistance, and transmits it to the server device 200.

[0081] FIG. 18 is an example of passenger data generated by information acquisition unit 3012. As shown in the figure, the passenger data includes fields for date and time information, bus stop ID, vehicle ID, and assistance content. The date and time information field stores the date and time when the passenger data was generated. The bus stop ID field stores the identifier of the bus stop where the signage 300 that transmitted the passenger information is installed. The vehicle ID field stores the identifier of the specified vehicle. The assistance content field stores the desired assistance content (wheelchair, stroller, etc.).

[0082] The passenger data transmitted from the signage 300 is received by the server device 200. 19 is a diagram showing in detail components of the server device 200 in the second embodiment. As shown in the figure, in this embodiment, the control unit 201 included in the server device 200 is different from the first embodiment in that it further includes a transfer unit 2013.

[0083] The forwarding unit 2013 receives the passenger data transmitted from the signage 300. Also, based on the received passenger data, the forwarding unit 2013 specifies the bus (vehicle 10) in which the passenger who made the declaration plans to board. The vehicle 10 (in-vehicle device 100) in which the passenger plans to board can be identified by the vehicle ID included in the passenger data. In addition, the transfer unit 2013 transfers the passenger data to the in-vehicle device 100 installed in the identified vehicle 10.

[0084] The passenger data transferred by the server device 200 is received by the vehicle-mounted device 100 . 20 is a diagram showing in detail components of the in-vehicle device 100 in the second embodiment. As shown in the figure, in this embodiment, the control unit 101 of the in-vehicle device 100 is different from the first embodiment in that it further includes a notification unit 1012. In addition, the in-vehicle device 100 is different from the first embodiment in that it further includes an output unit 106.

[0085] The notification unit 1012 receives passenger data transferred from the server device 200. Furthermore, based on the received passenger data, the notification unit 1012 notifies the bus driver of "the bus stop where the target passenger plans to board" and "the details of the necessary assistance" via the output unit 106. The notification may be performed visually or by audio or the like. The output unit 106 is a unit that outputs information, and includes, for example, a display device, an audio output device, etc. When a driving-related device is mounted on the vehicle 10, the output unit 106 may output images, sounds, etc. in cooperation with the device.

[0086] Fig. 21 is an example of a screen output by the operation-related device. The operation-related device is configured to include, for example, a monitor device installed near the driver's seat. The monitor device usually outputs information related to operation (current time, bus stops to be passed, scheduled passing times, whether passengers are getting on or off, etc.). In this example, a message is displayed in the area corresponding to the bus stop (X3) where the target passenger is planning to board the bus, indicating that a passenger who needs assistance is planning to board the bus. This allows the bus driver to recognize that a passenger who needs assistance is boarding the bus.

[0087] In the present embodiment, an example is given in which a passenger who needs assistance to board a bus declares the details of that assistance, but the information transmitted to the target bus may be information other than that related to assistance. For example, a passenger who needs some kind of special consideration to board a bus may declare that fact.

[0088] In addition, in the present embodiment, the bus driver is notified, but the bus passengers may be notified as well. For example, an announcement may be output requesting passengers to secure space for a wheelchair or a stroller to board the bus.

[0089] Furthermore, in the present embodiment, an example has been given in which passengers input information via the signage 300, but passenger information may be acquired by other methods. For example, the signage 300 may acquire passenger information by communicating with a portable terminal carried by the passenger. For example, the portable terminal may transmit passenger information by short-range wireless communication, and the nearby signage 300 may receive the passenger information. With this configuration, passenger-related information can be automatically notified to the bus side.

[0090] Third embodiment In the third embodiment, the vehicle 10 is a bus with a seating capacity limit, and the server device 200 provides a bus seat reservation service.

[0091] 22 is a schematic diagram of a vehicle system according to a third embodiment. As shown in the figure, in this embodiment, a server device 200 is configured to be able to communicate with a user terminal 400. The user terminal 400 is a terminal used by a passenger who gets on a bus. In the third embodiment, the server device 200 provides a seat reservation function in addition to the functions described in the first embodiment.

[0092] FIG. 23 is a system configuration diagram of a server device 200 according to the third embodiment. As shown in the figure, the server device 200 (control unit 201) according to the third embodiment differs from that of the first embodiment in that it further includes a reservation receiving unit 2014. The reservation reception unit 2014 communicates with the user terminal 400 and executes bus seat reservations. The server device 200 stores a reservation ledger (reference numeral 202D) in the storage unit 202, and can accept reservations based on this data. The reservation register 202D stores the vehicle (flight name) that is the subject of the reservation, the details of the reservation, personal information of the passenger, and the like.

[0093] In a system that accepts seat reservations online, passengers must access the reservation system in advance and follow the prescribed procedures. In the third embodiment, convenience is improved by allowing passengers to access the reservation system via signage 300 installed at bus stops.

[0094] 24 is a diagram illustrating in detail components of signage 300 according to the third embodiment. As illustrated, in this embodiment, control unit 301 included in signage 300 differs from that of the first embodiment in that it further includes reservation unit 3013.

[0095] The reservation unit 3013 acquires information regarding seat reservations from passengers who plan to board the bus. For example, as shown in FIG. 10, when signage 300 is capable of displaying the in-vehicle situation for each vehicle, an interface for inputting reservation information may be added to the screen displaying the in-vehicle situation.

[0096] Fig. 25 is an example of an interface for inputting reservation information. In this example, vacant seats can be pressed. When a passenger presses any seat, the reservation unit 3013 collects information required for reservation and generates reservation data based on the information. Information required for reservation includes, for example, passenger identifiers and ages (fare categories) of passengers.

[0097] 25, the reservation information is acquired via a touch panel of the signage 300, but the reservation information may be acquired from a mobile terminal carried by the passenger. For example, the reservation unit 3013 may transmit a URL or the like for inputting the reservation information to the mobile terminal and acquire the reservation information via a network. The URL or the like may be transmitted to the mobile terminal by wireless communication, or may be read by the mobile terminal using a two-dimensional code or the like. The reservation unit 3013 generates reservation data based on the acquired reservation information, and transmits the same to the server device 200 .

[0098] When the reservation reception unit 2014 of the server device 200 receives the reservation data from the signage 300, it reflects the contents of the reservation in the reservation register 202D and transmits data related to the reservation to the vehicle 10 (the in-vehicle device 100). This allows the bus driver to recognize that a new seat reservation has been made.

[0099] The reservation unit 3013 may acquire information regarding the payment of the fare at the same time as the reservation information, and may perform payment of the fare. For example, the reservation unit 3013 may output a two-dimensional code for performing electronic payment, and cause the mobile terminal to perform the electronic payment. In this case, the reservation unit 3013 may generate reservation data on the condition that the payment is completed. For this reason, the signage 300 may be configured to be capable of communicating with a server device that performs electronic payment.

[0100] (Modification) The above-described embodiment is merely an example, and the present disclosure can be modified and implemented as appropriate without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. For example, the processes and means described in this disclosure may be used without technical contradiction. , can be implemented in any combination.

[0101] In the description of the embodiment, a graphic showing the situation inside the vehicle is output by the signage 300, but an image of the inside of the vehicle itself may be output. In this case, the inside-vehicle data may include an image captured by an in-vehicle camera. Furthermore, the image inside the vehicle may be a moving image. In this case, streaming may be performed from the in-vehicle device 100 to the signage 300 via the server device 200.

[0102] In addition, in the description of the embodiment, the server device 200 that controls the multiple signages 300 has been exemplified, but each of the multiple signages 300 may execute the functions of the server device 200. That is, the control unit 201 and the control unit 301 may be realized by the same hardware. In this case, each of the multiple signages 300 may be configured to be able to communicate with the in-vehicle device 100, and the server device 200 may be omitted.

[0103] Furthermore, a process described as being performed by one device may be shared and executed by multiple devices. Alternatively, a process described as being performed by different devices may be executed by one device. In a computer system, the hardware configuration (server configuration) by which each function is realized can be flexibly changed.

[0104] The present disclosure can also be realized by supplying a computer program implementing the functions described in the above embodiments to a computer, and having one or more processors of the computer read and execute the program. Such a computer program may be provided to the computer by a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium connectable to the system bus of the computer, or may be provided to the computer via a network. Non-transitory computer-readable storage media include, for example, any type of disk, such as a magnetic disk (floppy disk, hard disk drive (HDD), etc.), an optical disk (CD-ROM, DVD disk, Blu-ray disk, etc.), a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), an EPROM, an EEPROM, a magnetic card, a flash memory, an optical card, and any type of medium suitable for storing electronic instructions. [Explanation of symbols]

[0105] 10. Vehicle 100...In-vehicle equipment 200 Server device 300··Signage 101, 201, 301...Control unit 102,202,302...Storage section 103, 203, 303... Communications Department 104 Sensor 105...Location information acquisition unit 304...Input / output section

Claims

1. Acquiring first data obtained by sensing an in-vehicle vacancy status and a distribution of standing passengers from a route bus vehicle; outputting a guide image visualizing the vacant seat situation and the distribution of standing passengers in the bus based on the first data via a signage device installed at a bus stop where the bus stops; Identifying a seat selected by a passenger getting on at the bus stop via a touch panel of the signage device; transmitting reservation information for reserving the selected seat to an in-vehicle device mounted in the vehicle; An information processing device having a control unit that executes the above.

2. When the control unit acquires the first data from a plurality of vehicles, the control unit outputs the guide image corresponding to a vehicle specified by a user. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

3. The control unit outputs the guide image corresponding to the vehicle via the signage device installed at a bus stop to which the vehicle approaches within a predetermined distance.

3. The information processing device according to claim 1 or 2.

4. the control unit outputs the guide image corresponding to the vehicle via the signage device installed at a bus stop where the vehicle will arrive within a predetermined time. The information processing device according to claim 3 .

5. The reservation information includes whether or not a stroller or wheelchair is used, The information processing device according to claim 1 .

6. A vehicle system including a first device mounted on a route bus and a second device that controls a signage device installed at a bus stop, The first device comprises: The first data obtained by sensing the vacant seat situation and the distribution of standing passengers in the vehicle is a first control unit for transmitting to a second device; The second device comprises: outputting a guide image visualizing the vacant seat situation and the distribution of standing passengers in the bus based on the first data via a signage device installed at a bus stop where the bus stops; Identifying a seat selected by a passenger getting on at the bus stop via a touch panel of the signage device; transmitting reservation information reserving the selected seat to the first device; A second control unit that executes Vehicle systems.

7. The first device includes a sensor that senses the interior of the vehicle, and transmits the first data including a result of the sensing to the second device. The vehicle system of claim 6.

8. The second control unit outputs the guide image corresponding to the vehicle via the signage device installed at a bus stop to which the vehicle approaches within a predetermined distance.

8. A vehicle system according to claim 6 or 7.

9. The first control unit notifies the passenger information to the interior of the vehicle. The vehicle system of claim 6.

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