Information processing apparatus, information processing method, program, and information processing system

Abstract

To provide an information processing device capable of properly correcting an operation plan of a vehicle.SOLUTION: The information processing device issues a first instruction to a first vehicle as a self-driving vehicle based on a predetermined operation plan that includes a business zone providing predetermined services and a non-business zone that executes one or more preparation tasks. If the predetermined operation plan is delayed with respect to the first vehicle entering the non-business zone from the business zone, an execution plan of one or more preparation tasks included in the operation plan is corrected, based on predetermined conditions, to reduce time to be spent in the non-business zone and a second instruction is issued based on the corrected operation plan.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to the provision of services by vehicles.

Background Art

[0002] In a system that provides services to users using a plurality of vehicles, there is a technology for making an appropriate operation plan for the vehicles. In this regard, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses a system that predicts the travel distance and power consumption of a vehicle in order to generate a charging plan for an electric vehicle.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The present disclosure aims to appropriately correct the operation plan of a vehicle.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] One aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure is issuing a first command to a first vehicle, which is an autonomous vehicle, based on a predetermined operation plan including a business section for providing a predetermined service and a non-business section for performing one or more preparation tasks; for the first vehicle entering the non-business section from the business section, when a delay has occurred in the predetermined operation plan, correcting an execution plan of the one or more preparation tasks included in the operation plan based on predetermined conditions so as to shorten the time spent in the non-business section; and issuing a second command based on the corrected operation plan. The information processing device has a control unit that executes the above.

[0006] One aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure is Issuing a first command to a first vehicle, which is an autonomous vehicle, based on a predetermined operation plan including an operating section for providing a predetermined service and a non-operating section for performing one or more preparatory tasks; and for the first vehicle entering the non-operating section from the operating section, when a delay has occurred in the predetermined operation plan, modifying an execution plan of the one or more preparatory tasks included in the operation plan based on predetermined conditions so as to shorten the time spent in the non-operating section; and issuing a second command based on the modified operation plan.

[0007] One aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure is An information processing system including a first information processing device for managing a first vehicle and a second information processing device mounted on the first vehicle, wherein the first information processing device issues a first command to the second information processing device based on a predetermined operation plan including an operating section for providing a predetermined service and a non-operating section for performing one or more preparatory tasks; for the first vehicle entering the non-operating section from the operating section, when a delay has occurred in the predetermined operation plan, modifying an execution plan of the one or more preparatory tasks included in the operation plan based on predetermined conditions so as to shorten the time spent in the non-operating section; and issuing a second command based on the modified operation plan to the second information processing device, and the second information processing device causes the first vehicle to execute a task based on the command; and when receiving the second command, overwriting the task being executed by the second command. This is an information processing system that performs the above.

[0008] Also, as another aspect, there is provided a program for causing a computer to execute the above method, or a computer-readable storage medium that non-temporarily stores the program.

Advantages of the Invention

[0009] According to the present disclosure, the operation plan of the vehicle can be appropriately modified.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0010]

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Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0011] There is known a transportation system that performs passenger transportation by an autonomous vehicle. In such a system, a server device that manages the operation schedules of a plurality of vehicles generates an operation plan and issues an operation command to the vehicles based on requests from users and a predetermined diagram.

[0012] Normally, an operation plan (operation schedule) of a vehicle is generated based on, for example, the predicted result of road conditions. However, since road conditions are constantly changing, it is not always possible to operate the vehicle according to the predicted schedule.

[0013] In order to solve this problem, it is necessary for a server device that manages the operation of the vehicle to appropriately correct the operation plan according to the situation.

[0014] An information processing apparatus according to a first aspect of the present disclosure issues a first command to a first vehicle, which is an autonomous vehicle, based on a predetermined operation plan including a business section for providing a predetermined service and a non-business section for executing one or more preparation tasks, and for the first vehicle entering the non-business section from the business section, when a delay has occurred in the predetermined operation plan, corrects an execution plan of the one or more preparation tasks included in the operation plan based on a predetermined condition so as to shorten the time spent in the non-business section, and issues a second command based on the corrected operation plan.

[0015] The predetermined service can include a plurality of services such as, for example, a passenger transportation service, a freight transportation service, a freight storage service, and a mobile store service. The operation plan is the operation schedule of the vehicle and includes business sections and non-business sections. The business section is the section where services are provided to customers (for example, the section for passenger transportation), and the non-business section is the section where no services are provided (for example, the section for vehicle deadheading). Note that the section may be a geographical section or a time section (period). Examples of the preparatory tasks executed in the non-business section include vehicle deadheading, vehicle cleaning, or vehicle charging. The preparatory task is, as such, a task for making preparations for providing services to customers.

[0016] For the first vehicle entering the non-business section from the business section, the control unit determines whether a delay has occurred from the operation plan. If a delay has occurred, based on predetermined conditions, the control unit takes measures to shorten the time spent in the non-business section by modifying the execution plan of the preparatory tasks included in the operation plan.

[0017] The predetermined conditions are conditions for omitting the execution of one or more preparatory tasks or conditions for shortening the execution period of one or more preparatory tasks compared to the original plan. For example, for a certain vehicle, if there is an operation plan of "charging the vehicle after business ends", when the vehicle is sufficiently charged, the preparatory task of "charging" may be omitted. Or the charging time may be shortened. Also, if there is an operation plan of "cleaning the interior of the vehicle after business ends", when the interior of the vehicle is sufficiently clean, the preparatory task of "cleaning" may be omitted. Or the implementation level of the cleaning work may be reduced.

[0018] In this way, the control unit modifies (typically, omits or shortens the execution of) the execution plan of the preparatory tasks included in the operation plan based on the predetermined conditions and issues a second command based on the modified operation plan. The second command may be sent to the first vehicle or may be sent to a device related to the preparatory task (for example, a device for charging the vehicle). This makes it possible to recover the schedule delay.

[0019] Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. The hardware configuration, module configuration, functional configuration, etc. described in each embodiment are not intended to limit the technical scope of the disclosure only to those unless otherwise specified.

[0020] (First Embodiment) The outline of the vehicle system according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 1. The vehicle system according to the present embodiment includes a vehicle 10 equipped with an in-vehicle device 300, a user device 100, and a control server 200. There may be a plurality of vehicles 10 (in-vehicle devices 300) included in the system.

[0021] The vehicle 10 is an autonomous driving vehicle capable of providing a predetermined service to a customer. Examples of the predetermined service include, for example, passenger transportation, cargo transportation, cargo storage, provision of a mobile store, provision of a working space, and provision of a sleeping space. The vehicle 10 is configured to be capable of wireless communication with the control server 200 via the in-vehicle device 300 and operates autonomously based on an instruction from the control server 200.

[0022] A user who wishes to use the service provided by the vehicle 10 transmits a service request to the control server 200 via the user device 100. The service request includes, for example, the type of service desired (e.g., "taxi"), the location and time at which the vehicle 10 is desired to be dispatched , the destination (when a transportation service is desired), the name of the product (when a store service is desired), and the like.

[0023] This information can be generated and transmitted, for example, by application software for using a vehicle system installed in the user device 100. This information may be generated using a mobile terminal, or may be generated using any terminal connectable to a network (such as a smartphone, mobile phone, tablet terminal, personal information terminal, or wearable computer) or a personal computer.

[0024] Based on the service request transmitted from the user device 100, the control server 200 generates an operation schedule for the vehicle 10. The control server 200 has a database for managing the operation schedules of a plurality of vehicles 10, and when the operation schedule of the vehicle 10 is updated, the control server 200 updates the database. In this specification, the operation plan and the operation schedule are synonymous.

[0025] Furthermore, based on the updated operation schedule, the control server 200 transmits data for instructing the operation to each vehicle (hereinafter referred to as an operation instruction) to the target vehicle 10 (in-vehicle device 300). The operation instruction is data for instructing the vehicle 10 to perform a plurality of tasks, such as "drive to a predetermined point A", "let the user board", "drive to a predetermined point B", "let the user get off", and "return to the vehicle base". The operation instruction may include a scheduled time for the execution of each task.

[0026] The in-vehicle device 300 receives the operation instruction from the control server 200. When the vehicle 10 is an autonomous driving vehicle, the operation instruction is transmitted to a device mounted on the vehicle 10 for controlling autonomous driving. Note that the vehicle 10 may be a manned vehicle. In this case, the operation instruction is provided to the crew via the in-vehicle device 300.

[0027] In the vehicle system according to this embodiment, a plurality of user devices 100, a control server 200, and an in-vehicle device 300 are interconnected by a network. As the network, for example, a WAN (Wide Area Network) which is a worldwide public communication network such as the Internet or other communication networks may be adopted. Further, the network may include a telephone communication network such as a mobile phone or a wireless communication network such as Wi-Fi (registered trademark).

[0028] Each element constituting the system will be described. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the system configuration of the user device 100. The user device 100 is a small computer such as a smartphone, a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a personal information terminal, a notebook computer, or a wearable computer (such as a smartwatch). The user device 100 includes a control unit 101, a storage unit 102, a communication unit 103, an input / output unit 104, and a position information acquisition unit 105.

[0029] The control unit 101 is an arithmetic device that controls the operations performed by the user device 100. The control unit 101 can be realized by an arithmetic processing device such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit). be realized. The control unit 101 is configured to include a request unit 1011 as a functional module. This functional module may be realized by executing a program stored in the storage unit 102 described later by the CPU.

[0030] The request unit 1011 acquires information necessary to request the provision of services by the vehicle from the user of the device, and transmits a service request including the information to the control server 200. to transmit. A service request includes the type of the desired service, service details, etc. For example, when the desired service is a passenger transportation service, the service details can include the pick-up location, pick-up time, drop-off location, etc. When the desired service is a mobile vending service, the service details can include the type, identifier, and quantity of the product to be purchased. The service details can vary depending on the type of service. The request unit 1011 acquires these pieces of information via the input / output unit 104 described later. The acquired information is transmitted as a service request to the control server 200. FIG. 3 is an example of a service request generated by the request unit 1011. Also, the request unit 1011 performs a process of finalizing the reservation of the vehicle 10 by interacting with the control server 200.

[0031] The storage unit 102 includes a main storage device and an auxiliary storage device. The main storage device is a memory in which programs executed by the control unit 101 and data used by the control programs are expanded. The auxiliary storage device is a device in which programs executed in the control unit 101 and data used by the control programs are stored. The auxiliary storage device may store the programs executed by the control unit 101 packaged as applications. Also, an operating system for executing these applications may be stored. The programs stored in the auxiliary storage device are loaded into the main storage device and executed by the control unit 101, whereby the processes described later are performed.

[0032] The main storage device may include a RAM (Random Access Memory) and a ROM (Read Only Memory). Also, the auxiliary storage device may include an EPROM (Erasable Programmable ROM) and a hard disk drive (HDD, Hard Disk Drive). Further, the auxiliary storage device may include a removable medium, that is, a portable recording medium.

[0033] The communication unit 103 is a wireless communication interface for connecting the user device 100 to the network. The communication unit 103 provides access to the network via, for example, mobile communication services such as wireless LAN, 3G, and LTE. The input / output unit 104 is a means for receiving input operations performed by the user of the device and presenting information. In this embodiment, it consists of a single touch panel display. That is, it is composed of a liquid crystal display and its control means, and a touch panel and its control means.

[0034] Next, the configuration of the control server 200 will be described. The control server 200 can be configured as a computer having a processor such as a CPU or GPU, a main storage device such as a RAM or ROM, and an auxiliary storage device such as an EPROM, a hard disk drive, or a removable medium. The auxiliary storage device stores an operating system (OS), various programs, various tables, etc., and by executing the programs stored therein, various functions that meet predetermined purposes as described later can be realized. However, some or all of the functions may be realized by a hardware circuit such as an ASIC or FPGA. Note that the control server 200 may be composed of a single computer, or may be composed of a plurality of computers that cooperate with each other.

[0035] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the system configuration of the control server 200. The control server 200 includes a control unit 201, a storage unit 202, and a communication unit 203.

[0036] The control unit 201 is an arithmetic device that controls the operations performed by the control server 200. The control unit 201 can be realized by an arithmetic processing device such as a CPU. The control unit 201 is configured to have two functional modules: a plan generation unit 2011 and a plan modification unit 2012. Each functional module may be realized by executing a program stored in the auxiliary storage means by the CPU. ​

[0037] First, the plan generation unit 2011 updates data for managing the operation schedule of the vehicle 10 based on the service request received from the user device 100. Second, the plan generation unit 2011 transmits an operation command to the vehicle 10 based on the operation schedule. In this embodiment, operation data is exemplified as the data for managing the operation schedule of the vehicle 10. The operation data is a set of operation schedules of a plurality of vehicles 10 (to be described later in the description of the storage unit 202). Specifically, when a service request is transmitted, the plan generation unit 2011 refers to the operation schedule for each vehicle, determines the vehicle 10 that provides the service, and updates the operation schedule of the vehicle. When the operation schedule is determined, the plan generation unit 2011 generates an operation command (first command) for operating the vehicle 10 along the operation schedule and transmits it to the target vehicle 10.

[0038] FIG. 5(A) is a diagram showing a state where no operation schedule is set for the vehicle 10. In this case, the vehicle 10 is in a standby state at a predetermined vehicle base. FIG. 5(B) is an example of an operation schedule updated based on a service request for requesting a transportation service. In this example, the vehicle 10 departs from the vehicle base at time T1 and heads to the designated location. Also, at time T2, the vehicle picks up the user and provides a transportation service. When the provision of the service ends, the vehicle 10 returns to the vehicle base and starts charging from time T3. When the charging ends at time T4, the vehicle becomes a standby state again and is in a state capable of responding to another request. The business section in the figure indicates the section where business is being conducted, and the non-business section indicates the section where business is not being conducted. The vehicle 10 executes tasks (preparation tasks) for service provision, such as vehicle recovery, charging, or cleaning, in the non-business section.

[0039] In addition, when executing any service, what preparatory tasks are to be executed and the execution order of the preparatory tasks may be determined based on predetermined rules. For example, priorities may be assigned to each of a plurality of preparatory tasks, and the execution order of the preparatory tasks may be determined based on such priorities. Also, the vehicle base from which the vehicle 10 departs and the vehicle base to which the vehicle 10 returns may be different. The vehicle base to which the vehicle 10 returns may be dynamically determined based on, for example, the distance from the location where the service has ended and the status of the parking space (occupied / vacant information) at the vehicle base.

[0040] Note that the schedule generation unit 2011 may reflect the actual performance in the operation schedule based on the data received from the vehicle 10 (in-vehicle device 300) (hereinafter referred to as vehicle data). For example, the hatched portion in FIG. 5(C) represents the tasks that have already been completed. For a specific vehicle, which tasks have been completed can be determined from the vehicle data received from the vehicle 10 (in-vehicle device 300).

[0041] On the other hand, since the operation schedule generated by the schedule generation unit 2011 is based on the result of predicting the traffic situation, there is a possibility of delays occurring when the traffic situation, environment, etc. change. Also, if delays accumulate, there is a possibility that the services specified in the operation schedule cannot be provided as scheduled (for example, the vehicle cannot arrive at the specified location by the time desired by the user). In response to this, the schedule correction unit 2012 determines that a delay has occurred in the operation of a specific vehicle 10 based on the default operation schedule and the data received from the vehicle 10, and corrects the operation schedule.

[0042] FIG. 6(A) is an example of an operation schedule generated for a certain vehicle 10. In this example, the operation indicated by reference numeral 601 and the operation indicated by reference numeral 602 are continuously performed. Here, as shown in FIG. 6(B), it is assumed that the provision of the service is delayed from the schedule. For example, when the service is a passenger transportation service, due to traffic congestion or the like, it may not arrive at the destination by the scheduled time. In this case, if the vehicle is towed and charged as scheduled, it will not be able to arrive at the designated location by the next time T2. Therefore, in the present embodiment, when a delay occurs in the operation schedule of a predetermined vehicle, the plan modification unit 2012 attempts to recover the delay by omitting or shortening the preparation tasks included in the non-business section.

[0043] For example, when the driving battery of vehicle 10 is sufficiently charged and the next service can be provided even if the charging time is shortened, as shown in FIG. 6(C), the delay can be recovered by shortening the time required for the task of "charging". Or, when the next service can be provided without performing the charging itself, as shown in FIG. 6(D), the delay can be recovered by omitting the task of "charging".

[0044] The plan modification unit 2012 acquires data (hereinafter referred to as condition data) that defines under what conditions and which preparation tasks can be omitted or shortened, and based on this, modifies the operation schedule. Further, an operation command (second command) for operating vehicle 10 along the operation schedule is generated and transmitted to the target vehicle 10.

[0045] The storage unit 202 is configured to include a main storage device and an auxiliary storage device. The main storage device is a memory in which programs executed by the control unit 201 and data used by the control program are developed. The auxiliary storage device is a device that stores programs executed in the control unit 201 and data used by the control program. The storage unit 202 stores operation data 202A, condition data 202B, base data 202C, and vehicle data 202D.

[0046] The operation data 202A is data that records the operation schedules of a plurality of vehicles 10. The operation data 202A can be, for example, data representing the operation schedules of the vehicles 10 in chronological order as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.

[0047] As described above, the condition data 202B is data that defines under what conditions which tasks can be omitted or shortened. FIG. 7 is an example of the condition data. The condition data is data that associates the identifier of the vehicle base, the type of preparation task, the original required time, the omission condition of the preparation task, the shortening condition of the preparation task, and the like. For example, in the illustrated example, it is shown that when the difference between the current charge amount and the target charge amount of the vehicle 10 is 10% or less, the preparation task of charging, which originally takes 30 minutes, can be omitted. Also, in the illustrated example, it is shown that when the difference between the current charge amount and the target charge amount of the vehicle 10 is 30% or less, the preparation task of charging, which originally takes 30 minutes, can be shortened to 15 minutes. Note that in this example, the charge amount is set as a fixed value, but the threshold value of the charge amount may be dynamically determined based on the content of the next scheduled service and the like.

[0048] The base data 202C includes data regarding a plurality of vehicle bases. FIG. 8 is an example of the base data 202C. The base data is data that associates the identifier of the vehicle base, the position information of the vehicle base, the occupancy information (information on the availability of parking spaces), the types of preparatory tasks that can be executed, and the like. By referring to the base data 202C, it is possible to determine to which vehicle base the vehicle 10 should be returned in order to continue providing the service (or to maintain the quality of the service). That is, it is possible to determine which vehicle base the vehicle 10 should be returned to in order to continue providing the service (or to maintain the quality of the service).

[0049] The vehicle data 202D is a set of vehicle data received from the vehicle 10 (in-vehicle device 300). As described above, the vehicle data is data representing the current situation of the vehicle 10. FIG. 9 shows an example of vehicle data. The vehicle data includes an identifier of the vehicle 10, date and time information, location information of the vehicle 10, and a task processing state (for example, among a plurality of given tasks, which one has been completed or which one is currently being executed). The task processing state may include a delay time from a scheduled schedule.

[0050] The communication unit 203 is a communication interface for connecting the control server 200 to the network. The communication unit 203 is configured to include, for example, a network interface board or a wireless communication circuit for wireless communication.

[0051] Here, the flow of the processes executed by the plan generation unit 2011 and the plan modification unit 2012 described above will be described in more detail.

[0052] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the flow of a process of determining an operation schedule for the vehicle 10 based on a service request and instructing the vehicle 10 to operate. The plan generation unit 2011 determines the vehicle 10 that provides the service based on the service request received from the user device 100. The vehicle 10 that provides the service can be determined based on the operation data 202A. For example, when the requested service is a transportation service, the plan generation unit 2011 determines the vehicle 10 that can assign a series of tasks such as "going from the vehicle base to the designated location, providing the transportation service, returning to the vehicle base again, and charging". When there is a vehicle 10 that can be assigned a series of tasks, the operation schedule shown in FIG. 5(A) is updated as shown in FIG. 5(B). When the operation schedule is determined, the plan generation unit 2011 generates a corresponding operation command and transmits the operation command to the in-vehicle device 300 mounted on the target vehicle 10.

[0053] FIG. 11 shows an example of an operation command. As shown in the figure, the operation command includes a plurality of tasks that the vehicle 10 should execute. Each task may be associated with a scheduled time and a deadline time.

[0054] Returning to FIG. 10, the description will be continued. The schedule modification unit 2012 periodically receives vehicle data from the vehicle 10 (in-vehicle device 300), and updates the operation schedule based on this data. For example, in the case of FIG. 6(B), assume that the service provision (i.e., passenger transportation) is delayed by 10 minutes from the schedule. The delay in the schedule can be determined, for example, based on the processing status of tasks included in the vehicle data. In this case, the timing when the next service becomes available is delayed by 10 minutes. Therefore, the schedule modification unit 2012 regenerates an operation schedule in which the preparation tasks in the non-business section are omitted or shortened, as shown in FIG. 5(C) or FIG. 5(D), based on the condition data 202B. If the conditions are not met and the preparation tasks cannot be omitted or shortened, or if the subsequent schedule is delayed as a result, the schedule modification unit 2012 may send a notification to that effect to the system administrator or the user device 100.

[0055] Next, the configuration of the in-vehicle device 300 will be described. The in-vehicle device 300 is a computer mounted on the vehicle 10. The in-vehicle device 300 exchanges information related to operation by communicating with the control server 200. The in-vehicle device 300 may also serve as a device that provides information to the passengers or riders of the vehicle 10. Alternatively, the in-vehicle device 300 may be an electronic control unit (ECU) of the vehicle platform. Alternatively, the in-vehicle device 300 may be a data communication module (DCM) having a communication function. The in-vehicle device 300 has a function of performing wireless communication with an external network. The in-vehicle device 300 may have a function of downloading traffic information, road map data, etc. by communicating with the external network.

[0056] The in-vehicle device 300 can be configured as a computer having processors such as a CPU and a GPU, a main storage device such as a RAM and a ROM, and auxiliary storage devices such as an EPROM, a hard disk drive, and a removable medium. The auxiliary storage device stores an operating system (OS), various programs, various tables, etc. By executing the programs stored therein, various functions that meet predetermined purposes, as described later, can be realized. However, some or all of the functions may be realized by a hardware circuit such as an ASIC or an FPGA.

[0057] FIG. 12 is a diagram showing the components of the in-vehicle device 300 in detail. The in-vehicle device 300 is configured to include a control unit 301, a storage unit 302, a communication unit 303, and an input / output unit 304.

[0058] The control unit 301 is an arithmetic unit that realizes various functions of the in-vehicle device 300 by executing a predetermined program. The control unit 301 may be realized by, for example, a CPU or the like. The control unit 301 may realize its function by executing the stored program by the CPU.

[0059] The control unit 301 acquires or generates data related to the operation of the vehicle 10 (vehicle data) at a predetermined timing and transmits it to the control server 200. The vehicle data includes, for example, position information, the processing status of tasks, and the like. In addition, the control unit 301 has a function of acquiring position information via a GPS module or the like.

[0060] The storage unit 302 is a means for storing information and is composed of a storage medium such as a RAM, a magnetic disk, or a flash memory. The storage unit 302 stores various programs executed by the control unit 301, data used by the programs, and the like.

[0061] The communication unit 303 includes an antenna and a communication module for performing wireless communication. The antenna is an antenna element for inputting and outputting wireless signals. In this embodiment, the antenna is suitable for mobile communication (for example, mobile communication such as 3G, LTE, 5G, etc.). Note that the antenna may be configured to include a plurality of physical antennas. For example, when performing mobile communication using radio waves in a high frequency band such as microwaves or millimeter waves, a plurality of antennas may be distributed and arranged to achieve communication stabilization. The communication module is a module for performing mobile communication.

[0062] The input / output unit 304 is a means for receiving the input operation and presenting information. In this embodiment, it consists of a single touch panel display. That is, it is composed of a liquid crystal display and its control means, and a touch panel and its control means.

[0063] Note that the configurations shown in FIGS. 2, 4, and 12 are examples, and all or part of the illustrated functions may be executed using a dedicatedly designed circuit. Also, storage or execution of the program may be performed by a combination of a main storage device and an auxiliary storage device other than those shown.

[0064] Next, the processing executed by each device will be described. FIG. 13 is a sequence diagram of the process in which the control server 200 receives a service request. The illustrated process is started based on the operation of the user.

[0065] First, in step S11, the user device 100 (request unit 1011) generates a service request. In this step, the user is made to input the service to be requested and the data related to its content via a predetermined interface. The service request includes the type of the desired service, the details of the service, etc. For example, when the desired service is a passenger transportation service, the details of the service can include the pick-up location, the desired pick-up time, the drop-off location, etc. Also, when the desired service is a mobile vending service, the details of the service can include the type, identifier, and quantity of the product to be purchased, etc. The request unit 1011 transmits the generated service request to the control server 200 (the plan generation unit 2011).

[0066] In step S12, the control server 200 (the plan generation unit 2011) determines the vehicle 10 that provides the service based on the operation data 202A and generates its operation schedule. The vehicle 10 that provides the service can be determined based on the time required to provide the requested service and the attributes of the vehicle 10, etc. When the operation schedule is determined, the plan generation unit 2011 generates the corresponding operation command and transmits the operation command to the in-vehicle device 300 mounted on the target vehicle 10. Also, the plan generation unit 2011 transmits the reservation result to the user device 100, and the request unit 1011 outputs this (step S13). Thereby, the user can confirm that the reservation of the vehicle 10 has been established. Also, the in-vehicle device 300 transmits the operation command to the device that controls autonomous driving or provides it to the crew. Thereby, the operation of the vehicle 10 is started.

[0067] FIG. 14 is a sequence diagram of the process in which the in-vehicle device 300 and the control server 200 transmit and receive vehicle data. The illustrated process is repeatedly executed by the control unit 301 at a predetermined cycle during the operation of the vehicle 10.

[0068] First, in step S21, the in-vehicle device 300 determines whether the predetermined transmission cycle has arrived. When the predetermined cycle (for example, every 1 minute) has arrived, the process transitions to step S12. When the predetermined cycle has not arrived, it waits for a predetermined time and repeats the process. In step S22, the in-vehicle device 300 generates vehicle data. The generated vehicle data is transmitted to the control server 200 in step S13. In step S23, the control server 200 (the schedule modification unit 2012) receives the vehicle data transmitted from the in-vehicle device 300, and updates the operation schedule (operation data 202A) of the vehicle 10 based on the vehicle data.

[0069] FIG. 15 is a flowchart for explaining in more detail the process executed in step S23. First, in step S231, it is determined whether the target vehicle 10 has entered a non-business section from a business section. If the target vehicle 10 has ended its business, an affirmative determination is made in this step. The business state of the vehicle 10 can be determined based on the processing state of the task included in the vehicle data.

[0070] Next, in step S232, it is determined whether a delay has occurred in the operation schedule. Similarly, the presence or absence of a delay can be determined based on the processing state of the task included in the vehicle data. If a delay has occurred, the process transitions to step S233.

[0071] In step S233, based on the condition data 202B, it is determined whether it is possible to recover from the delay by omitting at least a part of the preparation task. In this step, records are extracted from the condition data 202B based on the vehicle base and the type of the preparation task, and it is determined whether there is any that satisfies either the omission condition or the shortening condition. If it is possible to recover from the delay by omitting or shortening the preparation task, the process proceeds to step S234, and a new operation schedule with the preparation task omitted or shortened is regenerated. When the operation schedule is modified, an operation command corresponding to the modified operation schedule is generated and transmitted to the vehicle 10 (the in-vehicle device 300). Further, the in-vehicle device 300 overwrites the task being executed with the new operation command. In addition, when the operation schedule cannot be modified, the schedule modification unit 2012 may notify a predetermined device to that effect.

[0072] In this example, the in-vehicle device 300 transmits vehicle data at a predetermined cycle. However, the vehicle data may be transmitted only at the timing when a predetermined event occurs. Examples of such timing include, for example, the timing when the vehicle 10 starts a new task, the timing when a task being executed by the vehicle 10 is completed, or the timing when the vehicle 10 arrives at a predetermined spot.

[0073] As described above, in the vehicle system according to the first embodiment, the control server 200 monitors the operations of a plurality of vehicles 10, and when a delay occurs in the operation schedule, omits or shortens one or more preparatory tasks to be executed in a non-business section. According to such a configuration, even when a delay occurs in the operation schedule of the vehicle 10, it is possible to recover the delay while minimizing the impact on the customers.

[0074] (Second Embodiment) In the first embodiment, the information regarding the modified operation schedule is transmitted only to the vehicle 10 (in-vehicle device 300). In contrast, the second embodiment is an embodiment in which the information regarding the modified operation schedule is also transmitted to an information processing device corresponding to the vehicle base.

[0075] For example, when cleaning the vehicle interior, it is preferable to instruct the cleaner about the cleaning level, cleaning start time, cleaning end time, etc., and to obtain information regarding the completion status of the cleaning from the cleaner. Also, when charging the vehicle, it is preferable to notify a device for managing the charging and the administrator of the charging station about the amount of charge, charging start time, charging end time, etc. In the second embodiment, when the control server 200 generates or modifies the operation schedule of the vehicle, the control server 200 transmits information regarding the preparatory tasks included in the operation schedule to a device associated with the vehicle base (hereinafter referred to as the base server). Further, the control server 200 determines the progress status of the preparation task and the like based on the information acquired from the base server.

[0076] FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram of a vehicle system according to the second embodiment. As shown in the figure, in the second embodiment, the control server 200 is configured to be communicable with the base server 400. The base server 400 is a device installed at each of a plurality of vehicle bases. For example, it is a device for managing the charging of the vehicle 10, a device for managing the cleaning of the vehicle 10, a device for managing the parking of the vehicle 10, and the like. The base server 400 may be a fixed device or a portable terminal possessed by a cleaner or the like.

[0077] FIG. 17 is a diagram showing the components of the base server 400 in detail. The base server 400 includes a control unit 401, a storage unit 402, a communication unit 403, and an input / output unit 404.

[0078] The control unit 401 is an arithmetic unit that realizes various functions of the base server 400 by executing a predetermined program. The control unit 401 may be realized by, for example, a CPU or the like. The control unit 401 may realize its function by executing the stored program by the CPU.

[0079] The control unit 401 includes two functional modules: an instruction unit 4011 and a completion determination unit 4012. Each functional module may be realized by executing a program stored in an auxiliary storage means by the CPU.

[0080] The instruction unit 4011 receives data (hereinafter referred to as instruction data) for instructing the execution of the preparation task from the control server 200, and based on the instruction data, instructs the execution of the preparation task to the entity responsible for executing the preparation task. For example, when the preparation task is cleaning, the instruction unit 4011 instructs the cleaner to perform the interior cleaning of the vehicle. Also, when the preparation task is charging, the instruction unit 4011 instructs the execution of charging to a device or the like that manages the charging of the vehicle 10. The instructions include the type of the preparation task (e.g., cleaning, charging, etc.), the execution order of the preparation task, the status to be achieved (e.g., cleaning level, charge amount, etc.), the start time, and the end time, etc.

[0081] The completion determination unit 4012 acquires information regarding the progress status of the preparation task from the entity responsible for executing the preparation task, and based on the information, determines whether or not the completion conditions of the preparation task are satisfied. For example, the completion determination unit 4012 determines that the vehicle 10 has reached a predetermined cleaning level based on the information input by the cleaner. Also, the completion determination unit 4012 determines that the charge amount of the vehicle 10 has reached a predetermined value based on the information acquired from the device that manages the charging of the vehicle 10. Therefore, the completion determination unit 4012 may periodically acquire information regarding the progress status of the preparation task. When the progress status of the preparation task satisfies the completion conditions, the completion determination unit 4012 instructs the entity responsible for executing the preparation task to terminate the execution of the preparation task. Note that even when the completion conditions are not satisfied, if the scheduled time has been exceeded, the completion determination unit 4012 may terminate the execution of the preparation task.

[0082] The storage unit 402 is a means for storing information, and is composed of a storage medium such as a RAM, a magnetic disk, or a flash memory. The storage unit 402 stores various programs executed by the control unit 401, data used by the programs, and the like.

[0083] The communication unit 403 includes an antenna and a communication module for performing wireless communication. The antenna is an antenna element for inputting and outputting wireless signals. The communication module is a module for performing mobile communication.

[0084] The input / output unit 404 is a means for receiving the input operation and presenting information. In the present embodiment, it consists of a single touch panel display. That is, it is composed of a liquid crystal display and its control means, and a touch panel and its control means.

[0085] In the second embodiment, the control server 200 transmits data (instruction data) for instructing the execution of the preparation task to the base server 400 associated with the corresponding vehicle base at the timing of transmitting the operation command to the vehicle 10 (in-vehicle device 300). The instruction data includes data regarding the type of the preparation task, the execution order of the preparation task, the start time, the end time, and the situation to be achieved.

[0086] In the second embodiment, the control server 200 transmits an operation command to the vehicle 10 (in-vehicle device 300), and at the same time, transmits the instruction data to the base server 400. Also, when the operation schedule is modified, the control server 200, as a second command, transmits a new operation command to the vehicle 10 (in-vehicle device 300), and transmits new instruction data to the base server 400.

[0087] FIG. 18 is a flowchart of the process executed by the base server 400 that has received the instruction data. The illustrated process starts at the timing when the base server 400 receives the instruction data. The base server 400 (instruction unit 4011) that has received the instruction data waits for the arrival of the vehicle 10 specified by the instruction data (step S31). When the vehicle 10 arrives, the process transitions to step S32, and the instruction unit 4011 instructs the start of the preparation task to the execution entity of the preparation task based on the received instruction data.

[0088] In step S33, the completion determination unit 4012 determines whether the completion conditions of the preparation task are satisfied. In this step, an affirmative determination is made when the progress of the preparation task reaches a predetermined situation. The progress of the preparation task can be determined based on data obtained from the execution entity of the preparation task (for example, a cleaner or a charging device). When the completion conditions of the preparation task are satisfied, the process transitions to step S34, and the completion determination unit 4012 instructs the end of the preparation task.

[0089] In addition, when the operation schedule of the vehicle 10 is modified, that is, when the content or period of the preparation task is changed, the control server 200 regenerates the instruction data based on the modification content and transmits it to the base server 400. Thereby, it becomes possible to appropriately change the content of the preparation task according to the situation.

[0090] (Modification example) The above embodiments are merely examples, and the present disclosure can be appropriately modified and implemented without departing from the gist thereof. For example, the processes and means described in the present disclosure can be freely combined and implemented as long as no technical contradiction occurs.

[0091] Also, in the description of the embodiment, an example in which the vehicle 10 is operated on demand in response to a request from a customer is given. However, the vehicle 10 may have a predetermined operation schedule and operation route.

[0092] Also, the processes described as being performed by one device may be shared and executed by a plurality of devices. Alternatively, the processes described as being performed by different devices may be executed by one device. In a computer system, it is possible to flexibly change how each function is realized by a hardware configuration (server configuration).

[0093] The present disclosure can also be realized by supplying a computer program that implements the functions described in the above embodiments to a computer and causing one or more processors included in the computer to read and execute the program. Such a computer program may be provided to the computer by a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium connectable to the system bus of the computer, or may be provided to the computer via a network. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium includes, for example, any type of disk such as a magnetic disk (e.g., a floppy (registered trademark) disk, a hard disk drive (HDD), etc.), an optical disk (e.g., a CD-ROM, a DVD disk, a Blu-ray disk, etc.), a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), an EPROM, an EEPROM, a magnetic card, a flash memory, an optical card, and any type of medium suitable for storing electronic instructions.

Explanation of Signs

[0094] 10 ··· Vehicle 100 ··· User device 200 ··· Control server 300 ··· In-vehicle device 400 ··· Base server 101, 201, 301, 401 ··· Control unit 102, 202, 302, 402 ··· Storage unit 103, 203, 303, 403 ··· Communication unit 104, 304, 404 ··· Input / output unit 105 ··· Position information acquisition unit

Claims

Issuing a first command to a first vehicle that is an autonomous vehicle based on a predetermined operation plan including both a business section that provides a predetermined service including any one of a passenger transportation service, a luggage transportation service, a luggage storage service, and a mobile store service, and a non-business section after the business section that performs one or more preparation tasks including at least one of in-vehicle cleaning and vehicle charging. For the first vehicle, acquiring vehicle data including at least the processing status of the tasks of the predetermined service and the one or more preparation tasks included in the predetermined operation plan at a predetermined cycle. Based on the status of the tasks in the vehicle data, determining whether the first vehicle has entered the non-business section from the business section. When the first vehicle enters the non-business section from the business section, based on the status of the tasks, determining whether there is a delay in the predetermined operation plan due to a delay occurring in the business section for the first vehicle that has entered the non-business section from the business section. When there is a delay in the predetermined operation plan due to a delay occurring in the business section, based on predetermined conditions, omitting the execution of the one or more preparation tasks included in the operation plan, or shortening the execution period of the one or more preparation tasks to be shorter than the original plan, thereby modifying the execution plan of the one or more preparation tasks so as to shorten the time spent in the non-business section. Issuing a second command based on the modified operation plan. An information processing apparatus having a control unit that executes the above.

2. The predetermined conditions include conditions for omitting the execution of the one or more preparation tasks. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1.

3. The preparation task includes in-vehicle cleaning of the first vehicle. The predetermined conditions stipulate that the in-vehicle cleaning is omitted when the start time of the in-vehicle cleaning is delayed from the predetermined operation plan. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2.

4. The preparation task includes charging of the first vehicle. The predetermined conditions stipulate that the charging is omitted when the start time of the charging is delayed from the predetermined operation plan and the charge amount of the first vehicle exceeds a predetermined value. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2.

5. The predetermined conditions include conditions for shortening the execution period of the one or more preparatory tasks compared to the original plan. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2.

6. The preparatory task includes cleaning the interior of the first vehicle. The predetermined conditions define that when the interior cleaning is completed to a predetermined level, the interior cleaning is terminated. The information processing apparatus according to claim 5.

7. The preparatory task includes charging the first vehicle. The predetermined conditions define that when the charge amount of the first vehicle exceeds a predetermined value, the charging is terminated. The information processing apparatus according to claim 5.

8. A step of issuing a first command to a first vehicle, which is an autonomous vehicle, based on a predetermined operation plan including both a business section for providing a predetermined service including any one of a passenger transportation service, a freight transportation service, a freight storage service, and a mobile store service, and a non-business section after the business section, the non-business section being for performing one or more preparatory tasks including at least one of interior cleaning and vehicle charging. A step of acquiring vehicle data including at least the processing status of the tasks of the predetermined service and the one or more preparatory tasks included in the predetermined operation plan for the first vehicle at a predetermined cycle. A step of determining whether the first vehicle has entered the non-business section from the business section based on the task status of the vehicle data. When the first vehicle has entered the non-business section from the business section, a step of determining whether there is a delay in the predetermined operation plan due to a delay occurring in the business section for the first vehicle that has entered the non-business section from the business section based on the task status. When there is a delay in the predetermined operation plan due to a delay occurring in the business section, a step of modifying the execution plan of the one or more preparatory tasks by omitting the execution of the one or more preparatory tasks included in the operation plan or shortening the execution period of the one or more preparatory tasks to be shorter than the original plan based on predetermined conditions so as to shorten the time spent in the non-business section. A step of issuing a second command based on the modified operation plan. An information processing method including the above.

9. The predetermined conditions include conditions for omitting the execution of the one or more preparatory tasks. The information processing method according to claim 8.

10. The preparation task includes cleaning the interior of the first vehicle, The predetermined condition stipulates that when the start time of the interior cleaning is delayed from the predetermined operation plan, the interior cleaning is omitted. The information processing method according to claim 9.

11. The preparation task includes charging the first vehicle, The predetermined condition stipulates that when the start time of the charging is delayed from the predetermined operation plan and the charge amount of the first vehicle exceeds a predetermined value, the charging is omitted. The information processing method according to claim 9.

12. The predetermined condition includes a condition for shortening the execution period of the one or more preparation tasks compared to the original plan. The information processing method according to claim 8.

13. The preparation task includes cleaning the interior of the first vehicle, The predetermined condition stipulates that when the interior cleaning is completed to a predetermined level, the interior cleaning is terminated. The information processing method according to claim 12.

14. The preparation task includes charging the first vehicle, The predetermined condition stipulates that when the charge amount of the first vehicle exceeds a predetermined value, the charging is terminated. The information processing method according to claim 12.

15. A program for causing a computer to execute the information processing method according to any one of claims 8 to 14.

16. An information processing system including a first information processing device that manages a first vehicle and a second information processing device mounted on the first vehicle, The first information processing device issues a first command to the second information processing device based on a predetermined operation plan including both a business section that provides a predetermined service including any one of a passenger transportation service, a freight transportation service, a freight storage service, and a mobile store service, and a non-business section after the business section that executes one or more preparation tasks including at least one of interior cleaning and vehicle charging. The first information processing device acquires vehicle data including at least the processing status of the tasks of the predetermined service and the one or more preparation tasks included in the predetermined operation plan for the first vehicle at a predetermined cycle. Based on the task status of the vehicle data, the first information processing device determines whether the first vehicle has entered the non-business section from the business section. ​ ​ ​ When the first vehicle enters the non - business section from the business section, based on the state of the task, for the first vehicle that has entered the non - business section from the business section, it is determined whether a delay has occurred in the predetermined operation plan due to a delay occurring in the business section. When a delay has occurred in the predetermined operation plan due to a delay occurring in the business section, based on predetermined conditions, the execution of one or more preparatory tasks included in the operation plan is omitted so as to shorten the time spent in the non - business section, or the execution plan of the one or more preparatory tasks is modified by shortening the execution period of the one or more preparatory tasks to be shorter than the original plan. Issuing a second command to the second information processing device based on the modified operation plan. Execute, The second information processing device, Based on the first command, causing the first vehicle to execute a task. When the second command is received, overwriting the task being executed by the second command. An information processing system that executes.

17. The predetermined conditions include conditions for omitting the execution of the one or more preparatory tasks. The information processing system according to claim 16.

18. The predetermined conditions include conditions for shortening the execution period of the one or more preparatory tasks to be shorter than the original plan. The information processing system according to claim 16 or 17.

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