Management device, management method, and program

Abstract

To provide a management device, a management method, and a program that determine getting-on positions or getting-off positions that provide a more convinced feeling.SOLUTION: In a system including one or more terminal devices that are used by users and can communicate with each other via a network, one or more vehicles, and a management device 300 that manages a service in which the vehicles that can autonomously travel without drivers getting on are made to travel and the users are transported by the vehicles in a designated section, the management device includes a reception unit 322 and a transportation schedule determination unit 330. The reception unit receives from the terminal devices a predetermined distance starting from a reference position or a predetermined time starting from the reference position as a transportation request. The transportation schedule determination unit determines that a position included in a set range within the predetermined distance from the reference position or a set range which is a range of a distance that can be moved by the user during the predetermined time from the reference position is a getting-on position of a transportation schedule.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a management device, a management method, and a program.

Background Art

[0002] An invention related to a pick-up and drop-off service using an autonomous vehicle without a driver on board has been disclosed (Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In this type of service, it is assumed that the vehicle picks up the user at a predetermined pick-up position and drops off the user at a predetermined drop-off position. In this case, for the service operator or the user, it may not be possible to determine an appropriate pick-up position or drop-off position.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of such circumstances, and one of the objectives is to provide a management device, a management method, and a program that can determine a more convincing pick-up position or drop-off position.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The management device, management method, and program according to this invention adopt the following configuration. (1) The management device according to one aspect of the present invention is a management device that manages a service of transporting a user by the vehicle in a designated section by driving a vehicle capable of autonomous driving without a driver on board, and includes a reception unit that receives a transport request from a terminal device, and a determination unit that determines a transport schedule for transporting the user from a boarding position to a disembarking position by the vehicle based on the transport request. The reception unit receives, from the terminal device, a predetermined distance starting from a reference position or a predetermined time starting from the reference position, and the determination unit determines a position included in a set range within the predetermined distance from the reference position or a set range of a distance that the user can move within the predetermined time from the reference position as the boarding position of the transport schedule.

[0007] (2) In the aspect of (1) above, the management device further includes a setting unit that sets a consideration for the service. When the set range is equal to or greater than a first range, the setting unit sets the consideration to be equal to or less than a reference consideration.

[0008] (3) In the aspect of (1) or (2) above, the management device further includes a setting unit that sets a consideration for the service. When the set range is less than a first range, the setting unit sets the consideration to be greater than the reference consideration.

[0009] (4) In any one of the aspects of (1) to (3) above, the predetermined distance or the predetermined time is set by the user operating the terminal device.

[0010] (5) In any one of the aspects of (1) to (4) above, the reception unit receives a predetermined distance starting from a reference position from the terminal device, the determination unit treats the predetermined distance as a straight-line distance, and determines a position included in the set range of the straight-line distance from the reference position as the boarding position of the transport schedule.

[0011] (6) In any one of the aspects (1) to (4) above, the receiving unit receives a predetermined distance from the terminal device starting from a reference position, the determining unit treats the predetermined distance as a route distance, and determines a position included in the setting range of the route distance from the reference position as the boarding position of the transportation schedule.

[0012] (7) In any one of the aspects (1) to (6) above, it further includes an information providing unit that provides information to the terminal device. The information providing unit provides the terminal device with the price for the service set for each of a plurality of available boarding positions existing within the setting range, or one or both of the boarding times for each of the plurality of available boarding positions, and causes the display unit of the terminal device to display the price or the boarding time.

[0013] (8) In any one of the aspects (1) to (7) above, it further includes a setting unit that sets the price of the service. When the setting range is equal to or greater than a reference range, the setting unit sets the price for the boarding position within the reference range or the price for the boarding position within the reference range to be less than or equal to a reference price.

[0014] (9) In any one of the aspects (1) to (7) above, it further includes a setting unit that sets the price of the service. When the setting range is equal to or greater than a reference range, the setting unit sets the price for the boarding position within the reference range or the price for the boarding position within the reference range to be a price exceeding the reference price.

[0015] (10) In any one of the aspects (1) to (9) above, it further includes a setting unit that sets the price of the service. The setting unit determines the price based on one or both of the route from the vehicle to the boarding position or the route from the boarding position to the next destination of the boarding position.

[0016] (11): In any one of the aspects (1) to (10) above, the receiving unit receives a predetermined distance starting from the reference position or a predetermined time starting from the reference position from the terminal device, and the determining unit determines a position included in a setting range within the predetermined distance from the reference position or a setting range that is the range of the distance that the user can move to the reference position within the predetermined time as the alighting position of the transportation schedule.

[0017] (12): A management method according to another aspect of the present invention is a management device that manages a service of transporting a user by the vehicle in a designated section by driving a vehicle capable of autonomous driving without a driver on board, receives a transportation request from a terminal device, determines a transportation schedule for transporting the user from a boarding position to an alighting position by the vehicle based on the transportation request, receives a predetermined distance starting from a reference position or a predetermined time starting from the reference position from the terminal device, and determines a position included in a setting range within the predetermined distance from the reference position or a setting range that is the range of the distance that the user can move based on the predetermined time from the reference position as the boarding position of the transportation schedule.

[0018] (13): A program according to another aspect of the present invention causes a computer of a management device that manages a service of transporting a user by the vehicle in a designated section by driving a vehicle capable of autonomous driving without a driver on board to receive a transportation request from a terminal device, determine a transportation schedule for transporting the user from a boarding position to an alighting position by the vehicle based on the transportation request, receive a predetermined distance starting from a reference position or a predetermined time starting from the reference position from the terminal device, and determine a position included in a setting range within the predetermined distance from the reference position or a setting range that is the range of the distance that the user can move within the predetermined time from the reference position as the boarding position of the transportation schedule.

Advantages of the Invention

[0019] According to the above aspects (1) to (13), by determining the position included in the setting range within a predetermined distance from the reference position or the setting range that is the distance that the user can move from the reference position within a predetermined time as the boarding position (or alighting position) of the transportation schedule, a boarding position or alighting position that gives more satisfaction can be determined.

[0020] According to the above aspect (2) or (3), the management device can set an appropriate consideration according to the setting range.

[0021] According to the above aspect (5) or (6), the management device can derive a more appropriate setting range by treating the predetermined distance as a straight-line distance or a route distance.

[0022] According to the above aspect (7), since the management device provides the consideration or boarding time for each boardable position to the user, the convenience of the user is improved.

[0023] According to the above aspect (10), the management device determines the consideration based on one or both of the route until the vehicle reaches the boarding position or the route from the boarding position to the next destination of the boarding position. As a result, the operator can set a usage fee that gives more satisfaction.

Brief Description of Drawings

[0024]

Figure 1

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Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0025] Hereinafter, embodiments of the management device, management method, and program of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The management device is a device that manages a service of transporting a user by a vehicle in a specified section by driving a vehicle that can autonomously drive without a driver getting on. The specified section is a section specified by a user who gets on the vehicle or another user. A predetermined position in the specified section becomes the boarding position or alighting position of the user. In the following description, an example of determining the boarding position where the user gets on the vehicle will be described, but when determining the alighting position, the alighting position may be determined in the same way as the concept when determining the boarding position.

[0026] <First Embodiment> [Overall Configuration] FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a system including a management device 300. This system includes one or more terminal devices 100 used by users, one or more vehicles 200, and a management device 300. These components can communicate with each other via a network NW. The network NW includes the Internet, a WAN (Wide Area Network), a LAN (Local Area Network), a public line, a provider device, a dedicated line, a wireless base station, and the like. The "terminal device used by the user" is a terminal device that can be used by an unspecified number of people, such as a terminal device in an Internet cafe, and may include a terminal device temporarily used by the user. In any case, the "user's terminal device" refers to a terminal device in which the user in operation is identified by, for example, a login operation in which a login name is entered.

[0027] [Terminal device] The terminal device 100 is, for example, a smartphone, a tablet terminal, a personal computer, or the like. In the terminal device 100, an application program for using the above service or a browser or the like is launched to support the service described below. In the following description, it is assumed that the terminal device 100 is a smartphone and an application program (dispatching app) for receiving the service is launched. The dispatching app communicates with the management device 300 according to the operation of the user, transmits a transportation request from the user to the management device 300, or provides information based on the information received from the management device 300. The transportation request is electronic information that requests the vehicle 200 to transport the user over a specified section. In the example of FIG. 1, users U1 and U2 are illustrated. The users U1 and U2 are those who cause the terminal device 100 to transmit a transportation request for receiving the service by themselves. Further, the terminal device 100 includes a position specifying unit that specifies the position of its own device. The position specifying unit measures the position of its own device based on, for example, radio waves arriving from GNSS satellites (for example, GPS satellites), and specifies the position of its own device based on the measurement result.

[0028] [Vehicle] Vehicle 200 is a vehicle including at least a passenger compartment. FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of vehicle 200. Vehicle 200 includes, for example, a monitoring unit 210, a communication device 220, a navigation device 230, an HMI (Human Machine Interface) 238, an in-vehicle monitoring device 240, an authentication device 242, a driving force output device 260, a brake device 262, a steering device 264, a door lock device 266, and an autonomous driving control unit 270.

[0029] The monitoring unit 210 includes, for example, a camera that images the space outside vehicle 200, a radar or LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) whose detection range is the outside of vehicle 200, and an object recognition device that performs sensor fusion processing based on the outputs thereof. The monitoring unit 210 estimates the types of objects existing around vehicle 200 (particularly, vehicles, pedestrians, and bicycles), and outputs the information on their positions and speeds to the autonomous driving control unit 270.

[0030] The communication device 220 is, for example, a wireless communication module for connecting to a network NW or directly communicating with other vehicles or terminal devices of pedestrians. The communication device 220 performs wireless communication based on Wi-Fi, DSRC (Dedicated Short Range Communications), Bluetooth (registered trademark), or other communication standards. A plurality of communication devices 220 may be prepared according to the application.

[0031] The navigation device 230 includes, for example, an HMI (Human Machine Interface) 232, a GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) receiver 234, and a navigation control device 236. The HMI 232 includes, for example, a touch panel display device, a speaker, a microphone, and the like. The GNSS receiver 234 measures the position of the own vehicle (the position of the vehicle 200) based on radio waves arriving from GNSS satellites (for example, GPS satellites). The navigation control device 236 includes, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and various storage devices, and controls the entire navigation device 230. Map information (navigation map) is stored in the storage device. The navigation map is a map that represents roads with nodes and links. The navigation device 230 uploads position information indicating the measured position to the management device 300 using the communication device 220. The upload of the position information is performed periodically, for example, in units of milliseconds to seconds.

[0032] The HMI 238 is an interface device that exchanges information with users inside or outside the vehicle cabin. The HMI 238 includes, for example, input / output interfaces such as a display device, a speaker, a touch panel, buttons, a mouse, and a keyboard.

[0033] The in-vehicle monitoring device 240 includes, for example, a camera that images the space inside the vehicle cabin and an infrared sensor. The image captured by the camera may be uploaded to the management device 300 by the communication device 220.

[0034] The authentication device 242 is a device for confirming (authenticating) that a user attempting to board the vehicle 200 is a legitimate user. A legitimate user refers to a user who has made an agreement to board with the management device 300. The authentication device 242 may be any device having an authentication function, such as a short-range wireless communication device, a biometric authentication device, or a password input device. The authentication device 242 outputs the authentication result to the automatic driving control unit 270.

[0035] The driving force output device 260 outputs the driving force (torque) for the vehicle to travel to the drive wheels. The driving force output device 260 includes, for example, a combination of an internal combustion engine, an electric motor, and a transmission, and a power ECU that controls these components. The power ECU controls the above configuration according to information input from the automatic driving control unit 270 or information input from an operation operator (not shown).

[0036] The braking device 262 includes, for example, a brake caliper, a cylinder that transmits hydraulic pressure to the brake caliper, an electric motor that generates hydraulic pressure in the cylinder, and a brake ECU. The brake ECU controls the electric motor according to information input from the automatic driving control unit 270 or information input from the operation operator, so that braking torque corresponding to the braking operation is output to each wheel. The braking device 262 may include, as a backup, a mechanism that transmits the hydraulic pressure generated by the operation of the brake pedal included in the operation operator to the cylinder via the master cylinder. Note that the braking device 262 is not limited to the above-described configuration, and may be an electronically controlled hydraulic braking device that controls an actuator according to information input from the automatic driving control unit 270 and transmits the hydraulic pressure of the master cylinder to the cylinder.

[0037] The steering device 264 includes, for example, a steering ECU and an electric motor. The electric motor, for example, applies a force to a rack and pinion mechanism to change the direction of the steered wheels. The steering ECU drives the electric motor according to information input from the automatic driving control unit 270 or information input from the operation operator, and changes the direction of the steered wheels.

[0038] The door lock device 266 locks or unlocks the doors provided on the vehicle 200. The door lock device 266 may include a mechanism for automatically opening and closing the doors.

[0039] The automatic driving control unit 270 includes, for example, a route driving control unit 272, a boarding / alighting position search unit 274, a user recognition unit 276, a boarding / alighting control unit 280, and an HMI control unit 290. The boarding / alighting control unit 280 includes, for example, a stop / start control unit 282 and a door lock control unit 284. These components are realized, for example, by a hardware processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) executing a program (software). Some or all of these components may be realized by hardware (including circuitry) such as an LSI (Large Scale Integration), an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array), or a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), or may be realized by the cooperation of software and hardware. The program may be stored in advance in a storage device (a storage device having a non-transitory storage medium) such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or a flash memory, or may be stored in a removable storage medium (a non-transitory storage medium) such as a DVD or a CD-ROM, and may be installed in the storage device by mounting the storage medium on a drive device.

[0040] The route driving control unit 272 controls the driving force output device 260, the brake device 262, and the steering device 264 so that the vehicle 200 travels along the specified route. Information on the route is received from the management device 300 by the communication device 220. The route information includes information on the boarding position and alighting position for each user. The route driving control unit 272, for example, fits the route acquired from the management device 300 to the high-precision map information and determines the recommended lane in which the vehicle 200 should travel on the route. The high-precision map information is more accurate than the map information held by the navigation device 230 and includes, for example, information such as the road width, gradient, curvature, and signal position for each lane. The recommended lane is, for example, a lane determined based on criteria such as staying in the left lane before turning left at an intersection or the like in order to travel efficiently on the route.

[0041] Then, while basically traveling on the recommended lane, the route travel control unit 272 automatically drives the vehicle 200 so as to avoid contact with an object whose position and speed are input from the monitoring unit 210. The route travel control unit 272 generates a target trajectory for the vehicle 200 to travel in the future. The target trajectory includes, for example, a speed element. For example, the target trajectory is expressed as a sequence of points (trajectory points) that the vehicle 200 should reach. The trajectory points are the points that the vehicle 200 should reach at every predetermined travel distance. Separately, a target speed and a target acceleration at every predetermined sampling time (for example, about 0 comma number [sec]) are generated as part of the target trajectory. Also, the trajectory points may be the positions that the vehicle 200 should reach at the sampling time at every predetermined sampling time. In this case, information on the target speed and the target acceleration is expressed by the interval between the trajectory points. The boarding and alighting control unit 280 also has a similar function.

[0042] The boarding and alighting position search unit 274 refers to the input information from the monitoring unit 210, the high-precision map information, etc., and searches for a stop position (boarding and alighting position) where the vehicle 200 can be stopped to allow the user to board or alight at the boarding position and the alighting position included in the route information acquired from the management device 300. The boarding and alighting position search unit 274 searches for and determines the boarding and alighting position based on white lines, yellow lines, road signs, road widths, presence or absence of sidewalks and guardrails, etc. on the road that can be recognized based on the input information from the monitoring unit 210.

[0043] The user recognition unit 276 recognizes a user who is about to board the vehicle 200 based on the input information from the monitoring unit 210. The user recognition unit 276 recognizes a user who is about to board the vehicle 200, for example, by inputting an image of a camera included in the monitoring unit 210 into a model that has been learned by machine learning and can discriminate a "user who is about to board".

[0044] The stop / start control unit 282 of the boarding / alighting control unit 280 performs deceleration control and steering control to stop the vehicle 200 at the boarding / alighting position searched and determined by the boarding / alighting position search unit 274, or performs deceleration control and steering control to start the vehicle 200 from the boarding / alighting position toward the road lane.

[0045] The door lock control unit 284 unlocks the door lock of a predetermined door of the door lock device 266 when, for example, the vehicle 200 stops at the boarding / alighting position and information indicating that the authentication of the user by the authentication device 242 has been successful is obtained. Further, the door lock control unit 284 locks the door lock of a predetermined door of the door lock device 266 after the user boards the vehicle 200 and before the vehicle 200 is started by the stop / start control unit 282.

[0046] The HMI control unit 290 controls the HMI 238 to output various information to the user, or controls the HMI 238 and other devices to reflect the instructions from the user received by the HMI 238.

[0047] [Management device] FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of the management device 300. The management device 300 includes, for example, a communication unit 310, a front processing unit 320, a transport schedule determination unit (determination unit) 330, a route determination unit 340, and a fee processing unit (setting unit) 350. The front processing unit 320 includes a reception unit 322 and an information providing unit 324. These components are realized, for example, when a hardware processor such as a CPU executes a program (software). Some or all of these components may be realized by hardware (including circuitry such as LSI, ASIC, FPGA, GPU), or may be realized by the cooperation of software and hardware. The program may be stored in advance in a storage device (a storage device having a non-transitory storage medium) such as an HDD or a flash memory, or may be stored in a removable storage medium (a non-transitory storage medium) such as a DVD or a CD-ROM, and may be installed in the storage device when the storage medium is mounted on a drive device. The management device 300 may include a storage unit 370. The storage unit 370 is realized by a DVD, a RAM (Random Access Memory), a flash memory, or the like. Information such as user information 372, transport request list information 374, transport schedule information 376, map information 378, and fee information 380, which are information about the user, is stored in the storage unit 370. Details of the information stored in the storage unit 370 will be described later.

[0048] The communication unit 310 is, for example, a network card for connecting to the network NW. The communication unit 310 communicates with the terminal device 100 and the vehicle 200 via the network NW.

[0049] The reception unit 322 acquires a transport request issued from the user's terminal device 100 via the communication unit 310 and registers it in the storage unit 370 as transport request list information 374.

[0050] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the content of the transport request list information 374. The transport request list information 374 is, for example, an applicant ID which is the user ID of the user (applicant) who sent the transport request, a passenger ID which is the user ID of the user (passenger) who gets on the vehicle 200, a boarding position which is the starting point of the section related to the transport and a getting-off position which is the ending point, a desired boarding time, and a transport determination flag indicating whether it has been determined by the transport schedule determination unit 330 to perform the transport (for example, 1 indicates that the transport has been determined, and 0 indicates that the transport has not been determined). Information such as these is information in which the information is associated with each other. What is called a record is a set of an applicant ID, a passenger ID, a boarding position, a getting-off position, a desired boarding time, and a transport determination flag related to one transport request. A transport request is information in an arbitrary format including the content necessary for generating one record.

[0051] The information providing unit 324 transmits information to the terminal device 100 of the user, and in cooperation with the application program of the terminal device 100, causes the terminal device 100 to provide information to the user. The form of information provision is not limited to this, and it may be performed in the form of e-mail or web page provision. Details will be described later.

[0052] Based on the records registered in the transport request list information 374, the transport schedule determination unit 330 determines the transport schedule of the user by the vehicle 200 and registers it in the transport schedule information 376. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the content of the transport schedule information 376. The transport schedule information 376 is, for example, vehicle ID which is the identification information of the vehicle 200 used when there are a plurality of vehicles 200, and is generated for each operation day. The transport schedule information 376 is information in which information such as boarding and alighting positions, scheduled arrival times, information indicating boarding or alighting, and the user ID of the user boarding or alighting is arranged in time series. The transport schedule determination unit 330 determines the scheduled arrival time in the case of boarding based on the desired boarding time of the record of the transport request list information 374, and determines the scheduled arrival time in the case of alighting in consideration of the traffic information of the day and the information of the legal speed.

[0053] Based on the transportation schedule information 376 and the map information 378, the route determination unit 340 determines the route to be instructed to the vehicle 200 and transmits the route information to the vehicle 200 using the communication unit 310. The function of the route determination unit 340 is the same as that of an existing navigation system.

[0054] The fare processing unit 350 determines the fare (usage fee) for the user's transportation request. The fare processing unit 350 performs processing for collecting the fare from the user. For example, the fare processing unit 350 cooperates with a credit card or electronic money management server to collect the fare from the user.

[0055] [Sequence] The reception unit 322 receives from the terminal device 100 a predetermined distance starting from the reference position or a predetermined time starting from the reference position, and the transportation schedule determination unit 330 determines the position included in the set range within a predetermined distance from the reference position or the set range of the distance that the user can move within a predetermined time from the reference position as the boarding position of the transportation schedule. For example, when the set range is equal to or greater than the first range, the fare processing unit 350 sets the usage fee (consideration) to be equal to or less than the reference fare (reference consideration), and when the set range is less than the first range, the fare processing unit 350 sets the usage fee to be higher than the reference fare. This process will be described below.

[0056] FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram for explaining an example of the processing flow executed by the terminal device 100, the vehicle 200, and the management device 300. The order of processing in this sequence diagram may be changed, and a part of the processing may be omitted.

[0057] First, the terminal device 100 transmits a transportation request to the management device 300 (step S100). The transportation request includes the applicant ID and the position information of the terminal device 100. Further, the transportation request includes the boarding date and time when the user boards the vehicle 200, the boarding position, and the set range from the reference position. The set range is the range of the boarding position that the user can accept.

[0058] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of an image IM1 displayed on the screen of the terminal device 100. The image IM1 includes a button G1 for setting the boarding date and time, a button G2 for setting a reference position of the boarding position, buttons G3 and G4 for setting a range of the boarding position, a button G5 for setting the boarding date and time and the boarding position, and a button G6 for transmitting information on the set boarding date and time and boarding position to the management device 300. These buttons G1 to G6 are, for example, a GUI (Graphical User Interface).

[0059] The button G2 is a button for setting a reference position for setting a setting range. In the example of FIG. 7, for example, the reference position is the current location (the position of the terminal device 100). The user can operate the button G2 to set an arbitrary position from the map.

[0060] The button G3 is a button for setting the distance from the reference position for the range of the boarding position that the user allows. For example, the user can set the boarding position within a range that allows a predetermined distance from the reference position.

[0061] The button G4 is a button for setting the range that the user can reach on foot from the reference position for the range of the boarding position that the user allows. For example, the user can set the boarding position within a range that can be reached on foot from the reference position within a predetermined time.

[0062] The distance from the reference position may be set in advance for the user, for example, like 〇〇 meters in advance. Also, the time allowed for the user to walk from the reference position may be set in advance for the user, for example, the walking time is set in advance like 〇 minutes, or the walking speed and the walking time may be set in advance for the user, such as walking slowly for 〇 minutes or walking fast for 〇 minutes.

[0063] As described above, the user can operate the terminal device 100 to set the boarding date and time, the reference position of the boarding position, the range including the boarding position from the reference position, and the like.

[0064] Return to the description of FIG. 6. When the management device 300 receives a transportation request from the terminal device 100 (step S102), it derives a boarding position based on the transportation request and the map information, and provides the information on the derived boarding position to the terminal device 100 (step S104). In the map information 378, the boarding position is associated with the position information. The management device 300 provides the terminal device 100 with the information on the boarding position included in the range acceptable to the user.

[0065] For example, when the management device 300 obtains a request from the terminal device 100 to wish to slowly walk within the set range for 〇 minutes, it derives the set range that can be reached in 〇 minutes by walking based on a predetermined function or algorithm, and provides the terminal device 100 with the information on the boarding position included in the derived set range.

[0066] Next, the terminal device 100 displays the information on the boarding position provided by the management device 300 on the display unit, and determines the boarding position according to the user's operation (step S106). Next, the terminal device 100 transmits the information on the determined boarding position to the management device 300 (step S108).

[0067] FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of an image IM2 displayed on the display unit of the terminal device 100. The image IM2 is the information on the boarding position (boarding candidate position) provided by the management device 300. For example, assume that a set range AR1 is set from the reference position. As shown in the image IM2, assume that one boarding candidate position is presented to the user within the set range AR1. The user's usage fee varies according to the set range. For example, the smaller the set range, the higher the usage fee. The image IM2 includes, for example, information on the addition rate (or discount rate) for the usage fee. The usage fee to which the discount rate associated with the set range AR1 is applied is an example of the usage fee corresponding to the "reference consideration" or the usage fee "exceeding the reference consideration".

[0068] When the user selects a boarding position within the above setting range and performs a predetermined operation, the terminal device 100 transmits information on the selected boarding position to the management device 300. For example, when multiple boarding positions are included in the setting range, the user may select multiple acceptable boarding positions. The management device 300 sets the selected boarding position as the boarding position.

[0069] When the user wants to select a boarding position different from the above boarding position, the user operates the button G10 for resetting the setting range. By operating the button G10, the user can reset the set distance or the set distance.

[0070] For example, when the user resets the set distance or the set time, the terminal device 100 transmits the reset set distance or set time to the management device 300. The management device 300 derives a boarding position based on the reset set distance or set time, and transmits information on the derived boarding position to the terminal device 100. The terminal device 100 acquires the information on the boarding position from the management device 300, and causes the display unit to display the acquired information (image IM3).

[0071] FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of the image IM3. For example, the setting range AR2 is a setting range derived based on the set distance or set time reset by the user. The setting range AR2 includes four boarding positions in addition to the boarding positions included in the setting range AR1. When the setting range expands, the discount rate of the user's usage fee increases. The discount rate in the case of the setting range AR2 is larger than the discount rate in the case of the setting range AR1 (the usage fee for the setting range AR2 is lower than the usage fee for the setting range AR1). The usage fee to which the discount rate is applied when the setting range expands is an example of the usage fee "below the reference consideration".

[0072] For example, when a plurality of boarding positions are included in the setting range AR2 as in the image IM3, it is assumed that the user allows boarding at the boarding position included in the setting range AR2 selected by the management device 300. For example, when the user allows boarding the vehicle at the boarding position in the setting range AR2, a predetermined operation is performed on the terminal device 100. Thereby, the management device 300 acquires information indicating that a predetermined operation has been performed from the terminal device 100. Then, the management device 300 selects a desired boarding position from the setting range AR2. For example, the management device 300 selects a boarding position that can efficiently provide services based on the route of the vehicle that picks up the user.

[0073] For example, when a plurality of boarding positions are included in the setting range AR2, if the user wants to use a desired position among the boarding positions included in the setting range AR2 as the boarding position, the boarding position may be specified. In this case, the management device 300 may set the discount rate according to the setting range AR2, or may reduce the discount rate. When reducing the discount rate, for example, the distance from the reference position to the boarding position or the time it takes for the user to reach the boarding position from the reference position is regarded as the set distance or set time set by the user, and the discount rate may be determined based on the set range according to the set distance or set time.

[0074] Returning to the description of FIG. 6. The management device 300 derives a route for picking up the user based on the transportation request and boarding position information acquired from the terminal device 100 and the transportation requests of other users, and determines a transportation schedule including the derived route (step S110). Next, the management device 300 derives the user's usage fee based on the transportation schedule determined in step S110 (step S112). Next, the management device 300 provides the transportation schedule determined in step S110 and the usage fee derived in step S112 to the terminal device 100 (step S114).

[0075] Next, the terminal device 100 causes the display unit to display the provided transportation schedule and usage fee, and when the user performs an operation indicating acceptance of the transportation schedule and usage fee, it transmits information to that effect to the management device 300 (step S116). When the management device 300 acquires the information transmitted in step S116, it transmits the information of the transportation schedule to the vehicle 200 that operates according to the transportation schedule based on the transportation schedule (step S118).

[0076] In this way, the management device 300 derives a setting range based on the set distance or set time set by the user, and determines a transportation schedule based on the boarding positions included in the derived setting range. As a result, a more satisfactory boarding position (or alighting position) is determined. Specifically, by setting a larger setting range, the user can use the service at a lower fee, so the user's satisfaction increases. For the operator, since the degree of freedom in selecting the boarding position or alighting position increases when the setting range is set large, and the service can be operated at a lower cost, the operator's satisfaction also increases even if the usage fee is set low. The cost is based on one or more of items such as time, money, vehicle fuel efficiency, distance to the destination, complexity of control when traveling on a route, and difficulty of traveling on a route.

[0077] In the example described above, it is assumed that the set distance or set time is set by operating a button displayed in the image. Instead of (or in addition to) these, the user may set the setting range by operating the screen with a finger. The operation is, for example, a drag operation, a pinch-out operation, or a swipe operation. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a scene where the setting range is specified. In the image IM4 of FIG. 10, when the user places a finger on a predetermined position of the image IM4 and performs a drag operation, the dragged range is recognized as the setting range for deriving the boarding position. The management device 300 derives the boarding position based on the target area.

[0078] In the above example, it has been described that information in which the boarding position is associated with the map information is displayed on the display unit of the terminal device 100. However, instead of (or in addition to) these, as shown in the image IM4 of FIG. 10, one or both of the information of the boarding position and the time of arrival at the boarding position or the usage fee information when picking up a passenger at the boarding position may be associated with the map information. For example, the closer the distance from the reference position, the higher the usage fee associated with the boarding position may be, or the closer the distance from the reference position step by step, the higher the usage fee associated with the boarding position may be. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of the image IM5.

[0079] In this case, the terminal device 100 transmits a transportation request including the set distance or the set time to the management device 300. The management device 300 derives the fare or the arrival time for each boarding position included in the area derived based on the set distance or the set time, and transmits the derived information to the terminal device 100. Thereby, the image IM5 is displayed on the display unit of the terminal device 100.

[0080] As described above, since the user can easily recognize the boarding position and the usage fee when receiving the service using the boarding position, the convenience for the user is improved.

[0081] [Method for Deriving Usage Fee] The fare processing unit 350 refers to the fare information 380 and derives the discount rate for each boarding position. FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of the content of the fare information 380. The fare information 380 is information in which the set distance, the set time, and the discount rate are associated with each other. In the fare information 380, the larger the set distance or the set time, the larger the associated discount rate.

[0082] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of the relationship between the discount rate and the area based on the set distance or set time. The set range AR10 in FIG. 13 is an area derived based on the first set distance or the first set time. The set range AR11 in FIG. 13 is an area derived based on the second set distance or the second set time. The set range AR12 in FIG. 13 is an area derived based on the third set distance or the third set time. The distances are in the order of the third set distance, the second set distance, and the first set distance from long to short, and the set times are in the order of the third set time, the second set time, and the first set time from long to short. The set range AR12 includes the set range AR11, and the set range AR11 includes the set range AR10. The set ranges are in the order of AR12, AR11, and AR11 from large to small. The discount rate when the set range AR10 is set is smaller than the discount rate when the set range AR11 is set. The discount rate when the set range AR11 is set is smaller than the discount rate when the set range AR12 is set. As described above, the larger the set distance or set time set by the user, the larger the discount rate.

[0083] For example, in a service that transports a user by vehicle, when the area near the reference position is congested or the road near the reference position is narrow, it may cost (time and effort) for the self-driving vehicle to reach the area near the reference position. Also, picking up passengers near the reference position may not be preferable depending on the road conditions and social circumstances.

[0084] Due to the above circumstances, the self-driving vehicle may be arranged to pick up or drop off the user at a preset boarding position (hereinafter, virtual boarding position).

[0085] The operator can select a suitable boarding position according to the transportation schedule from more boarding positions as the set range is larger. As a result, the operator can operate a more efficient service.

[0086] Note that, for example, when the range AR11 in FIG. 13 is the reference range and the set range AR12 is the set range, the management device 300 may set the usage fee to be equal to or less than the reference fee when a position within the range AR11 or within the range AR10 is determined as the boarding position.

[0087] Also, for example, when the range AR11 in FIG. 13 is the reference range and the set range AR11 is the set range, the management device 300 may set the usage fee to be the reference fee or a usage fee exceeding the reference fee when a position within the range AR11 or within the range AR10 is determined as the boarding position. For example, the usage fee may be set to increase as the distance from the reference position to the boarding position becomes shorter.

[0088] Further, the management device 300 may handle the set distance set by the above user as a straight-line distance or as a route distance. When handling it as a route distance, the management device 300 may refer to the map information 378 and set the set range based on the position when moving the route distance that the user can move from the reference position. FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of an image IM6 including a set range AR15 set based on the route distance. Also, the shape of the set range based on the set time may be in a form like the set range AR15 of the image IM6.

[0089] According to the first embodiment described above, the management device 300 determines a position included in a set range within a predetermined distance from the reference position or a set range that is the distance that the user can move from the reference position within a predetermined time as the boarding position of the transportation schedule, thereby being able to determine a more convincing boarding position or alighting position.

[0090] <Second Embodiment> Hereinafter, the second embodiment will be described. In the second embodiment, the usage fee is derived based on the routes of the vehicles before and after the boarding position of the target user. Hereinafter, the description will focus on the differences from the first embodiment.

[0091] The management device 300 determines the usage fee based on one or both of the route until the vehicle reaches the boarding position or the route from the boarding position to the next destination after the boarding position. For example, when the first cost when traveling the first route until reaching the first boarding position is greater than the second cost when traveling the second route until reaching the second boarding position, the management device 300 sets the usage fee when the first boarding position is the boarding position to be higher than the usage fee when the second boarding position is the boarding position.

[0092] For example, when the third cost when traveling the third route from the third boarding position to the next destination is greater than the fourth cost when traveling the fourth route from the fourth boarding position to the next destination, the management device 300 sets the usage fee when the third boarding position is the boarding position to be higher than the usage fee when the fourth boarding position is the boarding position.

[0093] FIG. 15 is a diagram for explaining the processing of the second embodiment. For example, it is assumed that boarding positions P1 - P3 exist within a set range AR20 centered on a reference position Ps. Also, it is assumed that it is efficient for the vehicle to travel along route R1 towards the destination. By efficient, it means that the cost for reaching the destination is low. Route R1 is a route that passes through boarding position P1, and in order to reach boarding position P2 or P3, the vehicle needs to deviate from route R1 and make a detour. For example, when the management device 300 picks up the user at boarding position P1, it may set the usage fee lower than when picking up the user at boarding position P2 or P3.

[0094] As described above, when the boarding position selected by the user is a position where the service can be provided efficiently, the management device 300 sets the usage fee lower than when it is a position where the service cannot be provided efficiently. As a result, the operator or the user can obtain a greater sense of satisfaction.

[0095] According to the second embodiment described above, since the management device 300 determines the usage fee based on one or both of the route until the vehicle reaches the boarding position or the route from the boarding position to the next destination from the boarding position, it is possible to determine a boarding position or a disembarking position that gives a greater sense of satisfaction.

[0096] The above-described embodiment can be expressed as follows. A management device that manages a service of transporting a user by the vehicle in a specified section by driving a vehicle capable of autonomous driving without a driver getting on, a storage device that stores a program, and a hardware processor, wherein, by the hardware processor executing the program, a transportation request is received from a terminal device, a transportation schedule for transporting a user from a boarding position to a disembarking position by the vehicle is determined based on the transportation request, a predetermined distance starting from a reference position or a predetermined time starting from the reference position is received from the terminal device, and a position included in a set range within the predetermined distance from the reference position or a set range of a distance that the user can move within the predetermined time from the reference position is determined as the boarding position of the transportation schedule. Management device.

[0097] As described above, the embodiments for carrying out the present invention have been described using the embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to such embodiments, and various modifications and substitutions can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.

[0098] For example, the management device 300 may be mounted on the vehicle 200. Also, the vehicle 200 may be a remotely operated vehicle that is remotely operated from a remote location. In this case, the vehicle 200 transmits various information acquired by the monitoring unit 210 to an external device via the communication device 220. The external device generates (or reproduces) an image showing the surrounding situation of the vehicle 200 based on the received various information, and presents it to the remote operator. At this time, in order to cover the delay due to communication, the image or the like may be corrected by the pre-reading process. The remote operator operates the driving operator based on the presented image. The operation performed on the driving operator is transmitted to the vehicle 200, and the vehicle 200 travels based on the received operation.

Explanation of Signs

[0099] 100 Terminal device 200 Vehicle 220 Communication device 240 In-vehicle monitoring device 242 Authentication device 270 Automatic driving control unit 300 Management device 310 Communication unit 320 Front processing unit 322 Reception unit 324 Information providing unit 330 Transportation schedule determination unit 340 Route determination unit 350 Fare processing unit 370 Storage unit 372 User information 374 Transportation request list information 376 Transportation schedule information 378 Map information U User

Claims

1. A management device that manages a service of transporting a user by the vehicle in a specified section by driving a vehicle capable of autonomous driving without a driver on board, comprising: a reception unit that receives a transportation request from a terminal device; a determination unit that determines a transportation schedule for transporting the user from a boarding position to a disembarking position by the vehicle based on the transportation request; wherein the reception unit receives, from the terminal device, a predetermined distance starting from a reference position or a predetermined time starting from the reference position; the determination unit determines, as the boarding position of the transportation schedule, a position included in a set range within the predetermined distance from the reference position or a set range of a distance that the user can move within the predetermined time from the reference position; the management device receives a change of the set range by the user and displays a discount rate of the usage fee based on the change; the predetermined distance or the distance that the user can move is a route distance; the route distance is the distance when moving along a route that the user can move from the reference position; management device.

2. The management device receives a selection by the user from the terminal device that displays candidates for the boarding position on a map. The management device according to Claim 1.

3. The determination unit sets, as the set range, a range arbitrarily set by the user on the map displayed on the terminal device, and determines, as the boarding position of the transportation schedule, a position included in the set range. The management device according to Claim 1.

4. further comprising a setting unit that sets a consideration for the service; when the set range is equal to or greater than a first range, the setting unit sets the consideration to be equal to or less than a reference consideration; The management device according to any one of Claims 1 to 3.

5. further comprising a setting unit that sets a consideration for the service; when the set range is less than a first range, the setting unit sets the consideration to be greater than the reference consideration; The management device according to any one of Claims 1 to 4.

6. the predetermined distance or the predetermined time is set by the user operating the terminal device; The management device according to any one of Claims 1 to 5.

7. the reception unit receives, from the terminal device, a predetermined distance starting from a reference position; The determination unit treats the predetermined distance as a straight-line distance, and determines a position included in the setting range of the straight-line distance from the reference position as the boarding position of the transportation schedule. The management device according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. Further comprising an information providing unit for providing information to the terminal device, The information providing unit provides the terminal device with the price for the service set for each of a plurality of boarding possible positions existing within the setting range, or one or both of the boarding times for each of the plurality of boarding possible positions, and causes the display unit of the terminal device to display the price or the boarding time. The management device according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. Further comprising a setting unit for setting the price of the service, When the setting range is equal to or greater than the reference range, The setting unit sets the boarding position within the reference range or the price of the boarding position within the reference range to be equal to or less than the reference price. The management device according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. Further comprising a setting unit for setting the price of the service, When the setting range is equal to or greater than the reference range, The setting unit sets the boarding position within the reference range or the price of the boarding position within the reference range to a price exceeding the reference price. The management device according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

11. Further comprising a setting unit for setting the price of the service, The setting unit determines the price based on one or both of the route until the vehicle reaches the boarding position or the route from the boarding position to the next destination of the boarding position. The management device according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

12. The reception unit receives from the terminal device a predetermined distance starting from the reference position or a predetermined time starting from the reference position, The determination unit determines a position included in the setting range within the predetermined distance from the reference position or the setting range that is the range of the distance that the user can move to the reference position within the predetermined time as the alighting position of the transportation schedule. The management device according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

13. A management device that manages a service for transporting a user by the vehicle in a designated section by driving a vehicle that can autonomously drive without a driver on board, Receives a transportation request from a terminal device, Determine a transportation schedule for transporting a user from a boarding position to an alighting position by the vehicle based on the transportation request, Receive, from the terminal device, a predetermined distance starting from a reference position or a predetermined time starting from the reference position, Determine a position included in a set range within the predetermined distance from the reference position or a set range of a distance that the user can move within the predetermined time from the reference position as the boarding position of the transportation schedule, Receive a change to the set range by the user and display a discount rate for the usage fee based on the change, The predetermined distance or the distance that the user can move is a route distance, The route distance is the distance when moving along a route that the user can move from the reference position, Management method.

14. In a computer of a management device that manages a service for transporting a user by the vehicle in a specified section by driving a vehicle capable of autonomous driving without a driver getting on, Cause the terminal device to receive a transportation request, Cause to determine a transportation schedule for transporting a user from a boarding position to an alighting position by the vehicle based on the transportation request, Cause the terminal device to receive a predetermined distance starting from a reference position or a predetermined time starting from the reference position, Cause to determine a position included in a set range within the predetermined distance from the reference position or a set range of a distance that the user can move within the predetermined time from the reference position as the boarding position of the transportation schedule, Receive a change to the set range by the user and cause to display a discount rate for the usage fee based on the change, The predetermined distance or the distance that the user can move is a route distance, The route distance is the distance when moving along a route that the user can move from the reference position, Program.

Images