Hydrogen filling reservation system

Abstract

To provide a reservation system capable of efficiently filling a vehicle with hydrogen even in emergency.SOLUTION: In a system for reserving hydrogen filling for a plurality of vehicles, a hydrogen station database, a filling reservation database, and an operation management database are connected so as to exchange information. The filling reservation database acquires a change request of a reserved filling reservation from any one of the hydrogen station database, the operation management database, and an individual terminal, and outputs information on the change request to the hydrogen station database and the operation management database.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a hydrogen filling reservation system. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent document 1 discloses a hydrogen station filling reservation device which enables a user's vehicle to input reservation information for reserving a date and time for filling up with hydrogen fuel at a hydrogen station, creates a hydrogen filling reservation table, receives access to the hydrogen filling reservation table from the user, receives reservation information, and registers and updates the received reservation information in the hydrogen filling reservation table. Moreover, Patent Document 2 discloses a system for presenting candidate stations.

[0003] Incidentally, when multiple vehicles are used to deliver goods to multiple associated stores, such as when delivering goods to convenience stores, or when vehicles such as buses carry passengers and operate on a specified route, operation plans are made in advance for each of the multiple vehicles, and the vehicles are managed to ensure efficient delivery and operation. 2. Description of the Related Art In the past, when vehicles that use gasoline or diesel as fuel were used, fuel could be easily refueled whenever and wherever necessary. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2016-183768 A [Patent Document 2] JP 2020-045908 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, when the vehicle is a fuel cell vehicle, fuel (hydrogen) refueling is not as flexible as it used to be. Even if a reservation has been made to refuel with hydrogen, hydrogen cannot be refueled as originally planned if there is a road closure or an accident, or if the amount of hydrogen remaining at the hydrogen station changes significantly from the planned amount. As described above, even under normal circumstances, there is less flexibility in refueling with hydrogen than before, so it becomes even more important to be able to change reservation information in an emergency. Therefore, an object of the present disclosure is to provide a reservation system that enables efficient hydrogen filling of vehicles even in an emergency. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present application discloses a hydrogen filling reservation system for reserving hydrogen filling for multiple vehicles, in which a hydrogen station database, a filling reservation database, and an operation management database are connected to enable information exchange, and the filling reservation database receives a request to change an already reserved filling reservation from either the hydrogen station database, the operation management database, or an individual terminal, and outputs information about the change request to the hydrogen station database and the operation management database.

[0007] The filling reservation database may be configured to obtain provisional reservation availability information for changes to each vehicle as a change request from the hydrogen station database, assign a new identification code, and provide the provisional reservation availability information for the changes together with the new identification code to the operation management database.

[0008] The filling reservation database may be configured to obtain provisional reservation information relating to the change from the operation management database as a change request, assign a new identification code, and provide the provisional reservation information together with the new identification code to the hydrogen station database.

[0009] The filling reservation database may be configured so that the new identification symbol associated with the change request is a different identification symbol from the identification symbol associated with the change request, and both the information before the change and the information after the change are stored as history. Effect of the Invention

[0010] According to the present disclosure, efficient hydrogen filling of multiple vehicles is possible even in an emergency in which a filling reservation needs to be changed. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the concept of a hydrogen filling reservation system 10. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an overview of the computer 10a. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the flow of hydrogen filling reservation. [Figure 4] Figure 4 shows the flow of hydrogen filling reservations in the event of an emergency on the part of the hydrogen station. [Diagram 5] Figure 5 shows the flow of hydrogen filling reservations in the event of an emergency change on the part of the operation management. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0012] 1. Hydrogen Refueling Reservation System 1 conceptually illustrates the configuration of a hydrogen filling reservation system 10. The hydrogen filling reservation system 10 is configured so that a filling reservation database (filling reservation DB) 11, a hydrogen station database (hydrogen STDB) 12, and an operation management database (operation management DB) 13 can send and receive information via the Internet or the like. More specifically, the system is configured so that reservations for hydrogen filling are made while the hydrogen STDB 12 and the operation management DB 13 exchange information via the filling reservation DB 11.

[0013] 1.1.Filling reservation database The filling reservation DB 11 acquires information from the hydrogen STDB 12 and provides the information to the operation management DB 13. The filling reservation DB 11 also acquires information from the operation management DB 13 and provides the information to the hydrogen STDB 12. When providing the information, the filling reservation DB 11 assigns an identification symbol (status) to each piece of information. This will be described in detail later. The location where the filling reservation DB 11 is installed is not particularly limited as long as it can perform the necessary functions. Specifically, the location may be a hydrogen station, an operation management facility, or an individual facility independent of these.

[0014] 1.2. Hydrogen STDB The hydrogen station DB 12 prepares information on the hydrogen station side and provides the information to the operation management DB 13 via the filling reservation DB 11. The hydrogen station DB 12 also obtains information from the operation management DB 13 via the filling reservation DB 11 and performs calculations such as whether or not a reservation can be made.

[0015] Here, the hydrogen station is a facility equipped with a hydrogen filling device that fills hydrogen into a hydrogen tank provided in a fuel cell vehicle. As is well known, fuel cell vehicles are equipped with a fuel cell system within the vehicle body. The fuel cell system is equipped with a fuel cell and a hydrogen tank, and hydrogen is supplied from the hydrogen tank to the fuel cell. The fuel cell uses the hydrogen supplied from the hydrogen tank as fuel gas, and generates electricity by oxidizing this fuel gas with a separately supplied oxidizing gas (air), and the generated electricity rotates a motor that is the drive source of the vehicle. The hydrogen filling device includes a pressure accumulator in which hydrogen is sealed, a compressor that compresses (pressure-boosting) the hydrogen released from the pressure accumulator into a pipe, a hydrogen supply pipe that supplies the pressurized hydrogen from the compressor to the fuel cell vehicle, and a control device that controls the hydrogen supply. Here, the pressure accumulator, compressor, and hydrogen supply pipe may be any known type and are not particularly limited. Hydrogen is filled by connecting a nozzle at the end of the hydrogen supply pipe to a receptacle (filling port) at the end of the hydrogen introduction pipe of the fuel cell vehicle, and hydrogen released from the pressure accumulator by the compressor passes through the hydrogen supply pipe and the hydrogen introduction pipe of the fuel cell vehicle to fill the hydrogen tank.

[0016] There are no particular limitations on where the hydrogen STDB 12 is installed, as long as it can perform the necessary functions. Typical examples include a hydrogen station or a facility for comprehensively controlling multiple hydrogen stations.

[0017] 1.3.Operation Management DB The operation management DB 13 prepares information on the operation manager's side and provides the information to the hydrogen ST DB 11 via the filling reservation DB 11. The operation management DB 13 also obtains information from the hydrogen ST DB 12 via the filling reservation DB 11 and performs calculations for the desired vehicle adjustments. Here, the driving manager may be someone who manages the product delivery of multiple vehicles that deliver goods to each store along a specified route, or someone who manages the dispatch of multiple vehicles that operate along a specified route, such as long-distance buses. The location where the operation management DB 13 is installed is not particularly limited as long as it can perform the necessary functions. A typical example is an operation management facility.

[0018] 1.4. Aspects of each database Although not particularly limited, each of the databases, ie, the filling reservation DB 11, the hydrogen ST DB 12, and the operation management DB 13, can typically be configured by a computer. An example of the configuration of the computer 10a is conceptually shown in FIG.

[0019] The computer 10a comprises a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 10b which is a processor, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 10c which functions as a working area, a ROM (Read-Only Memory) 10d which serves as a storage medium, a receiving unit 10e which is an interface that accepts information into the computer 10a regardless of whether it is wired or wireless, and an output unit 10f which is an interface that sends information from the computer 10a to the outside regardless of whether it is wired or wireless. The receiving unit 10e is connected to input means such as a keyboard and a mouse, the Internet, etc. On the other hand, the output unit 10f is connected to a monitor, the Internet, etc.

[0020] Various programs for reserving a filling time are stored in the computer 10a. In the computer 10a, the CPU 10b, RAM 10c, and ROM 10d as hardware resources work together with the control programs. Specifically, the CPU 10b executes the computer programs stored in the ROM 10d in the RAM 10c that functions as a work area, thereby realizing various functions. Information acquired or generated by the CPU 10b is stored in the RAM 10c.

[0021] In this embodiment, the computers 10a constituting each database transmit and receive information between these computers 10a, and perform calculations to determine a hydrogen filling plan for multiple vehicles, and reservations for hydrogen filling are made based on this plan. The specific details of hydrogen filling reservations will be explained later.

[0022] 2. Hydrogen refueling reservations during normal times Next, hydrogen filling reservations under normal circumstances will be described. Under normal circumstances, reservations for hydrogen filling for multiple fuel cell vehicles are made as described below by the operation of the hydrogen filling reservation system 10 described above. The specific contents of a hydrogen filling reservation are to make a reservation in advance with the hydrogen station where hydrogen will be filled by providing information including the specification of the hydrogen station where hydrogen will be filled, the filling time, and the amount of hydrogen to be filled.

[0023] Moreover, a program having steps corresponding to each process in this operation can be created, stored in the ROM 10d of the computer 10a corresponding to each database, and executed to make a reservation for hydrogen filling. Each process of hydrogen filling reservation according to one example will be explained below, and by creating a program based on this and recording it in the ROM 10d of the computer 10a corresponding to each database, it will function as one component of the hydrogen filling reservation system 10.

[0024] Figure 3 shows the flow of each process (method S1) for making a hydrogen filling reservation according to one embodiment. As can be seen from Figure 3, method S1 is made up of processes S11 to S15 in the hydrogen STDB 12, processes S21 to S25 in the filling reservation DB 11, and processes S31 to S39 in the operation management DB 13. Each process will be explained below. However, as the process progresses, information is passed between the filling reservation DB 11, the hydrogen STDB 12, and the operation management DB 13, so the explanation will follow the flow of information. In Figure 3, the flow between processes within each database is shown by solid lines, and the flow of information is shown by dotted lines. In the following, each process will be explained in the order of the symbols (1) to (18) along with the movement of information, and these symbols are assigned to processes that also correspond to those in FIG.

[0025] (1) The hydrogen STDB 12 generates and outputs information about one or more hydrogen stations (step S11). The information generated here may include geographical information (location of hydrogen stations, routes to hydrogen stations, etc.), temporal information (information such as regular business hours of hydrogen stations, non-regular closed days and times of hydrogen stations (maintenance days and times)), number of nozzles available, types of nozzles available, amount of hydrogen available, hydrogen fee, hydrogen production plan, hydrogen inventory plan, reservation availability information (other party reservation information), etc. When reservation availability information is included here, if other party information can be obtained, it is possible to include only whether or not a reservation has been made, and not include specific information such as the names of the other parties.

[0026] (2) The filling reservation DB 11 acquires the information generated in step S11 from the hydrogen STDB 12, assigns an identification symbol (status), and records the information in the filling reservation DB 11 (step S21). Here, the specific form of the identification symbol is not particularly limited, but may be, for example, numbers (1, 2, 3, ...). The identification symbol assigned is a unique symbol assigned in step S21. That is, identification symbols are also assigned in steps S22 to S24, which will be described later, but different identification symbols are assigned in each of these steps. An identification symbol that is different from the identification symbol assigned in the process relating to changes in an emergency on the hydrogen station side, which will be described later, and the identification symbol assigned in the process relating to changes in an emergency on the operation management side, is assigned. This allows the information currently obtained to be associated with which process in the hydrogen filling reservation system it corresponds, based on the various information obtained from the hydrogen STDB 12 and operation management DB 13. Furthermore, each process is recorded in the refill reservation DB 11 in a manner that adds data in chronological order without being overwritten. This recording manner is the same for recording each process in normal times and in emergencies, which will be described later. The filling reservation DB 11 may be configured to provide various information together with the identification code to the next process (hydrogen STDB or operation management DB).

[0027] (3) The filling reservation DB 11 outputs the information recorded in step S21, and the operation management DB 13 acquires this information (step S31). This allows the operation management DB 13 to obtain hydrogen station information that is one element of the criteria for making reservations for hydrogen filling for multiple vehicles.

[0028] (4) The operation management DB13 uses the hydrogen station information obtained in step S31 to calculate a proposed daily operation plan for each vehicle, assigns an ID to each vehicle, and calculates an operation plan for hydrogen filling (temporary reservation information such as a temporary hydrogen station, a temporary hydrogen filling time, and a temporary hydrogen filling amount) (step S32). The calculation of such a driving plan can be performed automatically using known software, taking into consideration the destination, route, and vehicle specifications (particularly information such as the capacity of the hydrogen tank and the type and number of receptacles) required for each vehicle, as well as the current hydrogen status of each vehicle (at least one of the remaining hydrogen amount, remaining hydrogen pressure, and required filling amount) and a combination of acceptable hydrogen stations in light of the information obtained in step S31. The software that calculates the driving plan here is a system that creates a base plan that determines the delivery route for each vehicle and the time to stop at hydrogen stations so that all orders reach their destinations without delay, for example, in response to delivery orders (including delivery destinations and desired delivery times, etc.). While the condition of delivering without delays is given top priority, route optimization is performed using a fuel efficiency model to select the most fuel-efficient route.

[0029] (5) The operation management DB 13 prepares and outputs the results calculated in step S32 (step S33).

[0030] (6) The filling reservation DB 11 acquires the information output by the operation management DB 13 in step S33, assigns an identification symbol (status), and records the information in the filling reservation DB 11 (step S22). As described in step S21 above, the identification symbol assigned here is different from that in step S21, steps S23 to S24 described below, and in an emergency.

[0031] (7) The hydrogen STDB 12 acquires the information recorded in step S22 (step S12).

[0032] (8) The hydrogen STDB 12 performs a calculation for each vehicle as to whether or not a reservation for hydrogen filling can be made based on the information acquired in step S12 and the information generated in step S11 (step S13). This calculation is based on applying each vehicle to the current hydrogen station situation (information from step S11) based on the vehicle information obtained in step S12 in order to fulfill the driving plan for each vehicle obtained in step S12. However, even if there is a vehicle for which a reservation for hydrogen filling is not possible by comparing the information acquired in step S12 with the hydrogen station information generated in step S11, if there is an additional action that can be taken by the hydrogen station at this stage of step S13, this can be applied to determine whether or not hydrogen filling is possible. Examples of additional action that can be taken by the hydrogen station include replenishing new hydrogen stock, changing maintenance times, canceling reservations for vehicles with low priority for reserved hydrogen filling, etc.

[0033] This makes it possible to create provisional reservation information in which the provisional filling time and provisional filling amount are determined for each vehicle and / or each hydrogen station.

[0034] (9) The hydrogen STDB 12 determines and outputs the result of the calculation in step S13 (whether or not each vehicle can be reserved) (step S14). At this time, the reservation of the vehicle that has been determined to be available for reservation may be confirmed (final reservation) (step S15). In addition, the hydrogen STDB 12 may generate reservation availability information, which is information on dates and times for which reservations have not yet been filled, in addition to determining whether or not reservations can be made for each vehicle.

[0035] (10) The filling reservation DB 11 acquires the information determined in step S14 (whether or not a reservation can be made for each vehicle, and provisional reservation information), assigns an identification code (status), and records the availability of a hydrogen filling reservation for each vehicle and the provisional reservation information (step S23). As explained in step S21 above, the identification code assigned here is different from that used in steps S21 to S22, step S24 explained later, and in an emergency. In the above step S14, when the hydrogen STDB 12 determines whether or not a reservation can be made for each vehicle and creates available reservation slot information, the information can be included in the record.

[0036] (11) The operation management DB 13 acquires the hydrogen filling reservation availability information and tentative reservation information for each vehicle recorded in step S23 from the filling reservation DB 11 (step S34). If the available reservation slot information is recorded in step S23, the operation management DB 13 can also acquire this information.

[0037] (12) The operation management DB 13 separates vehicles into those that can be reserved and those that cannot be reserved based on the reservation availability information and tentative reservation information for each vehicle acquired in step S34, and determines whether there are any vehicles that cannot be reserved (step S35). If there is no vehicle that cannot be reserved in step S35, No is selected and the process proceeds to step S36. On the other hand, if there is a vehicle that cannot be reserved in step S35, Yes is selected and the process proceeds to step S37.

[0038] (13) If there are no vehicles that cannot be reserved in step S35 and No is selected, the reservation may be completed as is, and the vehicle reservation is confirmed and the reservation is made official (step S36).

[0039] (14) If there is a vehicle that cannot be reserved in step S35 and Yes is selected, it is determined whether to abandon the reservation for hydrogen filling of the vehicle that cannot be reserved (step S37). The determination of whether to abandon the reservation for hydrogen filling may be made automatically based on predetermined conditions, or may be made based on input by the operator of the operation management DB. A case where a reservation is automatically abandoned is, for example, when the maintenance time used in the calculation is changed and the scheduled arrival time sent from the delivery plan overlaps with the new maintenance time, and the reservation is abandoned. This makes it possible to automatically determine that the reservation is abandoned because it overlaps with the maintenance time. If in step S37 the reservation for hydrogen filling of the non-reservable vehicle is to be abandoned, then Yes is selected and the program proceeds to step S38. On the other hand, if in step S37 the reservation for hydrogen filling of the non-reservable vehicle is not to be abandoned, then No is selected and the program proceeds to step S39.

[0040] (15) In step S37, if the hydrogen filling reservation for the vehicle that cannot be reserved is abandoned and the judgment is Yes, the hydrogen filling reservation is confirmed (full reservation) for the vehicle that can be reserved for hydrogen filling, and the hydrogen filling reservation is abandoned for the vehicle that cannot be reserved (step S38).

[0041] (16) In step S37, if the hydrogen filling reservation for the unavailable vehicle is not abandoned and the result is No, the driving plan for the unavailable vehicle is modified (step S39). The operation plan is modified in step S39 by modifying the results obtained in steps S32 and S33. If available reservation slot information is included in the record, the operation plan may be modified by referring to this information. The vehicles to be subject to the revision of the operation plan may be all or some of the vehicles that can be reserved and all of the vehicles that cannot be reserved, or may be only the vehicles that cannot be reserved. Thereafter, vehicle information based on the revised driving plan is provided to the filling reservation DB 11, and the process is repeated from step S22.

[0042] (17) The filling reservation DB11 acquires information on vehicle reservations that have been confirmed (fully reserved) in steps S36 and S38, and on any vehicles for which reservations have been abandoned, assigns an identification symbol (status), and records the confirmed information on reservations and abandoned reservations (step S24). The identification code given here is different from that given in steps S21 to S23 and in an emergency, as explained in step S21 above. Also, the identification code may be different depending on whether reservation is possible or not.

[0043] (18) The filling reservation DB 11 notifies each vehicle of the driving schedule information (information regarding the hydrogen filling schedule) based on the information in step S24 (S25). This notification and the means for receiving it are not particularly limited, and may include a terminal provided in the vehicle, a terminal carried by the driver, etc. This notification may also be made together with an identification code.

[0044] 3. Emergency situations at hydrogen stations In the event of an emergency at the hydrogen station, such as emergency maintenance at the hydrogen station or a shortage in the hydrogen supply, the hydrogen filling reservation system 10 carries out a process to change the reservations that were confirmed during normal times. An explanatory diagram is shown in Figure 4. Each database in the hydrogen filling reservation system 10 exchanges information as shown in Figure 4, and the change to the filling reservation is confirmed. More details are as follows.

[0045] Fig. 4 shows the flow of each process (method S101) for changing a hydrogen filling reservation in an emergency on the hydrogen station side according to one embodiment. As can be seen from Fig. 4, method S101 is composed of processes S111 to S115 in the hydrogen STDB 12, processes S121 to S125 in the filling reservation DB 11, and processes S131 to S140 in the operation management DB 13. Each process will be explained below. However, as the process progresses, information is exchanged between the filling reservation DB 11, hydrogen STDB 12, and operation management DB 13 in the same manner as in normal times, so the explanation will follow the flow of information. In Fig. 4, the flow between processes within each database is indicated by solid lines, and the flow of information is indicated by dotted lines. In the following, each process will be explained in the order of the symbols (101) to (118) along with the movement of information, and these symbols are assigned to processes that also correspond to those in FIG.

[0046] (101) The hydrogen STDB 12 generates and outputs change information (step S111). The information generated here includes identification of vehicles that cannot be reserved due to the emergency situation, and further includes hydrogen station information that reflects the emergency situation. Hydrogen station information may include geographical information (location of hydrogen station, route to hydrogen station, etc.), temporal information (regular business hours of hydrogen station, non-regular closing date and time of hydrogen station (maintenance date and time) etc.), number of nozzles available, type of nozzles available, amount of hydrogen available, hydrogen fee, hydrogen production plan, hydrogen inventory plan, reservation availability information (other person's reservation information), etc. When reservation availability information is included here, if other person's information can be obtained, it is possible to include only whether or not there is a reservation, and not include specific information such as the name of the other person.

[0047] (102) The filling reservation DB11 acquires the change information of process S111 generated by the hydrogen STDP12, assigns an identification symbol (status), and records the acquired information (process S121). The identification symbol assigned here is different from other identification symbols used in the filling reservation DB, as explained above in normal operation. Therefore, the identification symbol assigned here is different from the identification symbols assigned in processes S122 to S124, different from the identification symbol assigned when reserving filling under normal conditions as described above, and different from the identification symbol assigned when the operation management side changes the filling reservation in an emergency as described later.

[0048] (103) The filling reservation DB 11 outputs the information recorded in step S121, and the operation management DB 13 acquires this information (S131).

[0049] (104) The operation management DB13 uses the information regarding the change in the hydrogen station obtained in step S131 to calculate a proposed change in the operation plan for each vehicle, assigns an ID to each vehicle, and calculates an operation plan for hydrogen filling (tentative reservation information such as a tentative hydrogen station, a tentative hydrogen filling time, and a tentative hydrogen filling amount) (step S132). The specific calculation method is not particularly limited, but can be performed in the same manner as in the normal process S32 described above.

[0050] (105) In the operation management DB13, as a result of the calculation in step S132, if the operation plan can be changed, Yes is selected and the calculation result is prepared as information and output. If the operation plan cannot be changed, No is selected and the process proceeds to step S134 (step S133).

[0051] (105a) If No is selected in step S133 and the process proceeds to step S134, in step S134, a decision is made to give up on filling up with hydrogen at the hydrogen station where the information has changed, and to take other measures such as arranging for a substitute car, changing to another hydrogen station, or driving without filling up, and the process proceeds to step S124.

[0052] (106) The filling reservation DB 11 obtains information related to the change prepared when Yes was selected in step S133 from the operation management DB 13, assigns an identification symbol (status), and records the information in the filling reservation DB 11 (step S122). As described above, the identification symbol assigned here is different from step S121 and steps S123 to S124 described below, and is also different from the identification symbol assigned when the filling reservation is made under normal circumstances as described above, and is also different from the identification symbol assigned when the filling reservation is changed in an emergency on the operation management side as described below.

[0053] (107) The hydrogen STDB 12 acquires information related to the change recorded in step S122 (step S112).

[0054] (108) The hydrogen STDB 12 performs a calculation for each vehicle as to whether or not to permit a change to the reservation for hydrogen filling based on the information regarding the change acquired in step S112 and the information regarding the change generated in step S111 (step S113). The specific calculation is not limited, but can be considered to be similar to the above-mentioned step S13.

[0055] (109) The hydrogen STDB 12 determines and outputs the result of the calculation in step S113 (whether or not the reservation can be changed for each vehicle) (step S114). At this time, the reservation for the vehicle that has been made available for reservation may be confirmed (final reservation) (step S115). In addition, the hydrogen STDB 12 may generate reservation availability information, which is information on dates and times for which reservations have not yet been filled, in addition to determining whether or not reservations can be made for each vehicle.

[0056] (110) The filling reservation DB11 acquires the information determined in step S114 (whether or not a change to the reservation for each vehicle can be made, and the changed provisional reservation information), assigns an identification symbol (status), and records the changed hydrogen filling reservation for each vehicle and the changed provisional reservation information (step S123). As described above, the identification symbol assigned here is different from that in steps S121 to S122 and step S124, which will be described later, and is also different from the identification symbol assigned when a filling reservation is made under normal circumstances as described above, and is also different from the identification symbol assigned when a filling reservation is changed in an emergency by the operation management side, which will be described later. In the above step S114, when the hydrogen STDB 12 determines whether or not a reservation can be made for each vehicle and creates available reservation slot information, the information can be included in the record.

[0057] (111) The operation management DB 13 acquires the changed hydrogen filling reservation availability information for each vehicle recorded in step S123 and the changed tentative reservation information from the filling reservation DB 11 (step S135). If the available reservation slot information is recorded in step S123, the operation management DB 13 can also acquire this information.

[0058] (112) The operation management DB13 separates vehicles into those for which rebooking is possible and those for which rebooking is not possible based on the information on whether rebooking is possible for each vehicle and the tentative reservation information acquired in step S135, and determines whether there are any vehicles for which rebooking is not possible (step S136). If there is no vehicle for which rebooking is not possible in step S136, No is selected and the process proceeds to step S137. On the other hand, if there is a vehicle for which rebooking is not possible in step S136, Yes is selected and the process proceeds to step S138.

[0059] (113) If there is no vehicle for which reservation cannot be changed in step S136 and No is selected, the reservation with the changed vehicle can be completed as is, and the reservation with the changed vehicle is confirmed as the real reservation (step S137).

[0060] (114) In step S136, if there is a vehicle for which the reservation cannot be changed and Yes has been selected, it is determined whether to abandon the reservation for hydrogen filling of the vehicle for which the reservation cannot be changed (step S138). The determination of whether to abandon the reservation for hydrogen filling is not limited, but can be considered to be similar to the above-mentioned step S37. If in step S138 the hydrogen filling reservation for the non-changeable vehicle is to be abandoned, Yes is selected and the program proceeds to step S139. On the other hand, if in step S138 the hydrogen filling reservation for the non-changeable vehicle is not to be abandoned, No is determined and the program proceeds to step S140.

[0061] (115) In step S138, the hydrogen filling reservation for vehicles that cannot be changed is abandoned. If the answer is Yes, the hydrogen filling reservation for vehicles that can be changed is confirmed (main reservation), and the hydrogen filling reservation for vehicles that cannot be changed is abandoned (step S139).

[0062] (116) If the hydrogen filling reservation for the vehicle for which the reservation cannot be changed is not abandoned in step S138 and the result is No, the driving plan for the vehicle for which the reservation cannot be changed is modified (step S140). The operation plan is modified in step S140 by modifying the results obtained in steps S132 and S133. If available reservation slot information is included in the record, the operation plan may be modified by referring to this information. The vehicles to be subject to the revision of the operation plan may be all or some of the vehicles that can be reserved and all of the vehicles that cannot be reserved, or may be only the vehicles that cannot be reserved. Thereafter, vehicle information is provided to the filling reservation DB 11 based on the revised driving plan, and the process is repeated from step S122.

[0063] (117) The filling reservation DB11 acquires information on vehicle reservations that have been confirmed (actually reserved) in steps S137, S139, and S134, as well as information on vehicles for which reservations have been abandoned, if any, assigns an identification symbol (status), and records the confirmed information on reservations and abandoned reservations (step S124). The identification symbol given here is different from that given in steps S121 to S123, as described above, and also different from the identification symbol given when reserving a filling reservation under normal circumstances as described above, and different from the identification symbol given when the operation management side changes the filling reservation in an emergency, as described later. Also, this identification symbol may be different depending on whether a reservation is possible or not possible.

[0064] (118) The filling reservation DB 11 notifies each vehicle of the changed driving schedule information (information regarding the hydrogen filling schedule) based on the information in step S124 (S125). This notification and the means for receiving it are not particularly limited, and may include a terminal provided in the vehicle, a terminal carried by the driver, etc. This notification may also be made together with an identification code.

[0065] 4. Emergency situations for operation management In the event of an emergency involving a change in the operation plan on the operation management side, such as a change in the vehicle transportation plan, the hydrogen filling reservation system 10 carries out a process to change the reservations that were confirmed under normal circumstances. An explanatory diagram is shown in Figure 5. Each database in the hydrogen filling reservation system 10 exchanges information as shown in Figure 5, and the change to the filling reservation is confirmed. More details are as follows.

[0066] FIG. 5 shows the flow of each process (method S201) for changing a hydrogen filling reservation in an emergency on the operation management side according to one embodiment. As can be seen from FIG. 5, method S201 is configured with steps S211 to S214 in the hydrogen STDB 12, steps S221 to S224 in the filling reservation DB 11, and steps S231 to S238 in the operation management DB 13. Each process will be explained below. However, as the process progresses, information is exchanged between the filling reservation DB 11, the hydrogen STDB 12, and the operation management DB 13 in the same manner as in normal times, so the explanation will follow the flow of information. In FIG. 5, the flow between processes within each database is indicated by solid lines, and the flow of information is indicated by dotted lines. In the following, each process will be explained in the order of the symbols (201) to (215) along with the movement of information, and these symbols are assigned to processes that also correspond to those in FIG.

[0067] (201) The operation management DB13 calculates a proposed change to the operation plan for each vehicle from the operation plan to be changed, assigns an ID to each vehicle, and calculates an operation plan for hydrogen filling (temporary reservation information such as a temporary hydrogen station, a temporary hydrogen filling time, and a temporary hydrogen filling amount) (process S231). The specific calculation method is not particularly limited, but can be performed in the same manner as in the normal process S32 described above.

[0068] (202) In the operation management DB 13, the result of the calculation in step S231 is prepared as information and output (step S232).

[0069] (203) The filling reservation DB 11 obtains the information related to the change prepared in step S232 from the operation management DB 13, assigns an identification symbol (status), and records the information in the filling reservation DB 11 (step S221). The identification symbol assigned here is different from the identification symbols assigned in steps S222 to S223 described below, and also different from the identification symbols assigned when reserving filling under normal circumstances and the identification symbols assigned when the hydrogen station changes the filling reservation in an emergency.

[0070] (204) The hydrogen STDB 12 acquires information related to the change recorded in step S221 (step S211).

[0071] (205) The hydrogen STDB 12 performs a calculation for each vehicle as to whether or not a change reservation for hydrogen filling can be made based on the information related to the change acquired in step S211 (step S212). The specific calculation is not limited, but can be considered to be similar to the above-mentioned step S13.

[0072] (206) The hydrogen STDB 12 determines and outputs the result of the calculation in step S212 (whether or not the reservation for each vehicle can be changed) (step S213). At this time, the reservation for the vehicle that can be reserved may be confirmed (final reservation) (step S214). In addition, the hydrogen STDB 12 may generate reservation availability information, which is information on dates and times for which reservations have not yet been filled, in addition to determining whether or not reservations can be made for each vehicle.

[0073] (207) The filling reservation DB11 acquires the information determined in step S213 (whether or not a change to the reservation for each vehicle can be made, and the changed provisional reservation information), assigns an identification symbol (status), and records the changed hydrogen filling reservation for each vehicle and the changed provisional reservation information (step S222). As described above, the identification symbol assigned here is different from that in steps S221 and S223, and is also different from the identification symbol assigned to the filling reservation during normal times and the identification symbol assigned to the hydrogen station when making an emergency change. In the above step S213, when the hydrogen STDB 12 determines whether or not a reservation can be made for each vehicle and creates available reservation slot information, the information can be included in the record.

[0074] (208) The operation management DB 13 acquires the changed hydrogen filling reservation availability information for each vehicle recorded in step S222 and the changed tentative reservation information from the filling reservation DB 11 (step S233). If the available reservation slot information is recorded in step S222, the operation management DB 13 can also acquire this information.

[0075] (209) The operation management DB13 separates vehicles into those for which rebooking is possible and those for which rebooking is not possible based on the information on whether or not rebooking can be performed for each vehicle acquired in step S233 and the tentative reservation information after the change, and determines whether there are any vehicles for which rebooking is not possible (step S234). If there is no vehicle for which rebooking is not possible in step S234, then "No" is selected and the process proceeds to step S235. On the other hand, if there is a vehicle for which rebooking is not possible in step S234, then "Yes" is selected and the process proceeds to step S236.

[0076] (210) If there is no vehicle for which reservation cannot be changed in step S234 and No is selected, the reservation with the changed vehicle can be completed as is, and the reservation with the changed vehicle is confirmed as the real reservation (step S235).

[0077] (211) In step S234, if there is a vehicle for which the reservation cannot be changed and Yes is selected, it is determined whether to abandon the reservation for hydrogen filling of the vehicle for which the reservation cannot be changed (step S236). The determination of whether to abandon the reservation for hydrogen filling is not limited, but can be considered to be similar to the above-mentioned step S37. If in step S236 the hydrogen filling reservation for the non-changeable vehicle is to be abandoned, Yes is selected and the program proceeds to step S237. On the other hand, if in step S236 the hydrogen filling reservation for the non-changeable vehicle is not to be abandoned, No is determined and the program proceeds to step S238.

[0078] (212) In step S236, the hydrogen filling reservation for vehicles that cannot be changed is abandoned. If the answer is Yes, the hydrogen filling reservation for the changed vehicle is confirmed (main reservation) for vehicles that can be reserved for hydrogen filling, and the hydrogen filling reservation for vehicles that cannot be changed is abandoned (step S237).

[0079] (213) In step S236, if the hydrogen filling reservation for the vehicle for which the reservation cannot be changed is not abandoned and the result is No, the driving plan for the vehicle for which the reservation cannot be changed is modified (step S238). The operation plan is modified in step S238 by modifying the results obtained in steps S231 and S232. If available reservation slot information is included in the record, the operation plan may be modified by referring to this information. The vehicles to be subject to the revision of the operation plan may be all or some of the vehicles that can be reserved and all of the vehicles that cannot be reserved, or may be only the vehicles that cannot be reserved. Thereafter, vehicle information is provided to the filling reservation DB 11 based on the revised driving plan, and the process is repeated from step S221.

[0080] (214) The filling reservation DB11 acquires information on vehicle reservations that were confirmed (actually reserved) in steps S235 and S237, and on any vehicles for which reservations were abandoned, assigns an identification symbol (status), and records the confirmed information on reservations and abandoned reservations (step S223). The identification code given here is different from that in steps S221 and S222, as described above, and also different from the identification code given when reserving a filling tank under normal circumstances and the identification code given by the hydrogen station in an emergency. In addition, the identification code may be different depending on whether a reservation is possible or not.

[0081] (215) The filling reservation DB 11 notifies each vehicle of the changed driving schedule information (information regarding the hydrogen filling schedule) based on the information from step S223 (S224). This notification and the means for receiving it are not particularly limited, and may include a terminal provided in the vehicle, a terminal carried by the driver, etc. This notification may also be made together with an identification code.

[0082] 5. Effects and Others As described above, the present disclosure provides a reservation system that enables efficient hydrogen filling of multiple vehicles under normal circumstances. From the perspective of vehicle operation management, this allows for a reduction in driving distances just for hydrogen filling, a reduction in waiting time at hydrogen stations, and dispersion of filling timing, etc., and reduces the impact on vehicle operation plans, allowing hydrogen to be filled efficiently. From the perspective of the hydrogen station, it is also possible to prevent vehicles that require a large amount of hydrogen, such as delivery vehicles and large vehicles such as buses, from being concentrated at any one hydrogen station, thereby leveling out the hydrogen supply.

[0083] Furthermore, according to the present disclosure, even when an operation change is unavoidable due to an emergency on the hydrogen station side or on the operation management side, the operation change can be made smoothly.

[0084] In addition, when there are multiple hydrogen station operators and multiple operation managers, the above-mentioned filling reservation DB will manage the information in such a way that hydrogen station information is managed for each hydrogen station operator, operation plans, vehicle information, and reservation information for each operation manager, and hydrogen station information, operation plans, vehicle information, and reservation information cannot be viewed or obtained between different hydrogen station operators and different operation managers. This makes it possible to fill hydrogen tanks across multiple operators while protecting trade secrets, improving versatility and convenience, and improving filling efficiency.

[0085] In addition, in the above example, a reservation change in an emergency is requested from either the hydrogen station DB 12 or the operation management DB 13, but a reservation change request based on an emergency situation can also be provided to the filling reservation DB 11 from an individual terminal at the hydrogen station or an individual terminal of the driver. Even in this case, only the terminal to which the change request is made is different, and the change can be made in the order shown in Figures 4 and 5. [Explanation of symbols]

[0086] 10 Hydrogen refueling reservation system 11 Filling reservation database 12 Hydrogen station database 13 Operation Management Database

Claims

1. A system for reserving hydrogen filling for multiple vehicles, comprising: The hydrogen station database, filling reservation database, and operation management database are connected to enable information exchange. the filling reservation database acquires a request to change an already-booked filling reservation from the hydrogen station database, the operation management database, or an individual terminal, and outputs information about the change request to the hydrogen station database and the operation management database; the filling reservation database acquires provisional reservation availability information for the change for each vehicle from the hydrogen station database as the change request, assigns a new identification code to the filling reservation database, and provides the provisional reservation availability information for the change together with the new identification code to the operation management database; Hydrogen filling reservation system.

2. 2. The hydrogen filling reservation system of claim 1, wherein the filling reservation database obtains provisional reservation information relating to the change from the operation management database as the change request, assigns a new identification symbol, and provides the provisional reservation information together with the new identification symbol to the hydrogen station database.

3. 3. The hydrogen filling reservation system of claim 1 or 2, wherein the new identification symbol in the change request in the filling reservation database is a different identification symbol from the identification symbol before the change request, and both the information before the change and the information after the change are stored as history.

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