Search server, search system, and search method

Abstract

To provide a search server capable of suppressing opportunity loss of boarding on a single bus route.SOLUTION: A search server comprises a receiving unit and an information processing unit. The receiving unit receives a search condition. The information processing unit selects a plurality of bus stops on a single bus route as boarding candidate stops based on the search condition, and outputs information on buses which can be boarded that match the search condition.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a search server, a search system, and a search method for searching for available buses that meet search conditions. [Background technology]

[0002] In the bus stop-based demand bus system, operation plans are determined based on passenger reservations, and passengers board and disembark at bus stops.

[0003] Conventionally, bus stop-based reservation systems for demand buses have adopted a mechanism in which users select one bus stop from which they wish to board and then make a reservation using the search results obtained. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2018-160109 A (Fig. 3) Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Therefore, users must select one bus stop where they wish to board (desired boarding stop) and search for on-demand buses that arrive after the desired boarding time. However, if the timing is bad, the waiting time can be very long.

[0006] For example, as shown in Figure 1, assume that the only bus stop a user wishes to board is stop A, which is closest to the user's home H1. In this case, if the user performs a search immediately after demand bus No. 2 B2 passes stop A, the search result will be demand bus No. 3 B3, which departs from stop S one hour later.

[0007] If the waiting time is too long, passengers may give up on boarding a demand bus, resulting in a loss of opportunity to board.

[0008] The bus search system of Patent Document 1 reduces lost opportunities to board a bus by searching for boarding times at stops on multiple routes. However, in depopulated areas, there may not be multiple routes. For this reason, the system disclosed in Patent Document 1 may not be able to effectively reduce lost opportunities to board a bus.

[0009] In view of the above-mentioned problems, the present invention aims to provide a search server, a search system, and a search method that can reduce the loss of opportunities to board a bus on a single bus route. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] An exemplary search server of the present invention includes a receiving unit and an information processing unit. The receiving unit receives search conditions. The information processing unit selects multiple bus stops on a single bus route as candidate bus stops based on the search conditions, and outputs information on available buses that meet the search conditions. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] According to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to reduce missed opportunities to board a bus on a single bus route. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] A diagram showing the operation status of demand buses [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of a search system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] A diagram showing an example of the configuration of a search server [Figure 4] Flowchart showing an example of the operation of a search server [Figure 5] A diagram showing an example of a search condition input screen. [Figure 6] A diagram showing an example of a screen displaying search results DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0014] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of a search system 1 (hereinafter referred to as "search system 1") according to one embodiment of the present invention. The search system 1 comprises a search server 2 and an information terminal 3. The search system 1 causes the search server 2 to perform a search based on search conditions and causes the search server 2 to output search results. The search system 1 causes the search server 2 to display the search results output by the search server 2 on the information terminal 3.

[0015] The search server 2 receives the search conditions and selects multiple stops on a single bus route as candidate bus stops based on the received search conditions. The search server 2 also searches for available buses that match the received search conditions and outputs the search results.

[0016] The search server 2 is capable of two-way communication with the information terminal 3. The search server 2 is not limited to a server device set up in a single location, but may be a distributed server device or a cloud server in which components are installed in multiple locations.

[0017] The information terminal 3 is a device that is owned and operated by a user, and is, for example, a smartphone, tablet, or personal computer owned by the user. A search app may be installed on the information terminal 3. The search app installed on the information terminal 3 provides the search criteria entered into the information terminal 3 to the search server 2. Furthermore, if a search app is not installed on the information terminal 3, the information terminal 3 may access a search website. In this case, the search website provides the search criteria entered from the information terminal 3 to the search server 2.

[0018] In reality, the search system 1 is a system operated for multiple users, and each user will have an information terminal 3. However, in the following, for the sake of clarity and specificity, unless otherwise specified, the user and information terminal 3 will focus on only one user and the information terminal 3 that the user has.

[0019] Fig. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the search server 2. In the example configuration shown in Fig. 3, the search server 2 includes an information processing unit 21, a recording unit 22, and a communication unit 23. The information processing unit 21, the recording unit 22, and the communication unit 23 are capable of bidirectional communication via a BUS 24. Note that the BUS 24 does not necessarily have to have an entity such as a physical wire, and may be a virtual connection or a conceptual connection.

[0020] The information processing unit 21 is a computer having at least one processor. That is, the information processing unit 21 is an information processing device. Specifically, the information processing unit 21 is a computer having a CPU (Central Processing Unit) (not shown), a volatile memory such as RAM (Random Access Memory), and a non-volatile memory such as ROM (Read Only Memory). The information processing unit 21 processes, transmits, and receives information based on a program non-volatilely recorded in the recording unit 22, and controls the entire search server 2.

[0021] The communication unit 23 performs wireless communication with the information terminal 3. The communication unit 23 is a receiving unit that receives data transmitted from the information terminal 3. The communication unit 23 is also a transmitting unit that transmits or outputs data to the information terminal 3.

[0022] Next, the operation of the search server 2 will be described with reference to Fig. 4. The search server 2 performs the operation of the flowchart shown in Fig. 4 while the search system 1 is running.

[0023] First, the information processing unit 21 determines whether the communication unit 23 has received a search condition from the information terminal 3 (step S10).

[0024] The information terminal 3 transmits the search conditions to the search server 2 via an app, a website, etc. In this embodiment, when the information terminal 3 accesses the search server 2, the search conditions are input using a screen that the search server 2 displays on the screen of the information terminal 3, etc.

[0025] For example, the information processing unit 21 displays a screen for inputting search conditions on an information terminal 3 that has accessed the search server 2 using an app, a website, or the like. Fig. 5 is an example of an input screen for search conditions displayed on the information terminal 3. In the input screen shown in Fig. 5, "Home" is input in the input field IN1 for the departure place, "Stop G" is input in the input field IN2 for the destination, and "September 14th, 12:20" is input in the input field IN3 for the departure date and time.

[0026] When the arrival date and time software key K2 is selected by the touch panel, cursor, etc. instead of the departure date and time software key K1, the departure date and time cannot be input, but the arrival date and time can be input. When the search execution software key K3 is selected by the touch panel, cursor, etc., the search conditions are transmitted from the information terminal 3 to the search server 2, and the communication unit 23 receives the search conditions.

[0027] The information processing unit 21 repeats the process of step S10 until it determines that the communication unit 23 has received the search conditions.

[0028] When the information processing unit 21 determines that the communication unit 23 has received the search conditions, the information processing unit 21 selects a plurality of stops on a single bus route as candidate stops for boarding (step S20).

[0029] For example, when "home" is entered in the input field IN1 for the departure point of the search conditions as in the input screen shown in Fig. 5, the location of each user's home and the locations of multiple bus stops on a single bus route may be linked in advance and registered in the recording unit 22. In this case, the information processing unit 21 selects multiple bus stops on a single bus route as candidate bus stops in accordance with the registered contents recorded in the recording unit 22.

[0030] Furthermore, for example, when "home" is entered in the input field IN1 for the departure point included in the search conditions as in the input screen shown in Fig. 5, the location information of each user's home may be registered in the recording unit 22. In this case, the information processing unit 21 selects, for example, multiple stops on a single bus route that are within a five-minute walk from the home as candidate stops for boarding, in accordance with the registered content recorded in the recording unit 22 and the map information recorded in the recording unit 22. For example, in the example shown in Fig. 1, the information processing unit 21 selects stops A and E, which are within a five-minute walk from the home H1, as candidate stops for boarding.

[0031] In addition, if the information terminal 3 has a location information acquisition means such as GPS, the departure point included in the search conditions may be set as the "current location," and multiple stops on a single bus route that are within a 5-minute walk from the current location may be selected as potential boarding stops.

[0032] In the above example, the information processing unit 21 automatically selects candidate bus stops based on the departure point included in the search conditions. Therefore, the user does not need to input multiple bus stops as candidate bus stops each time they perform a search. This improves convenience. However, the user may manually input multiple bus stops on a single bus route as departure points (candidate bus stops) on the search condition input screen.

[0033] See FIG. 4. Next, the information processing unit 21 searches for available buses that meet the search criteria (step S30). In the case of search criteria such as those in the input screen shown in FIG. 5, in order to meet the search criteria, the user needs to depart from "home," which is entered in the departure point input field IN1, after "September 14th, 12:20," which is entered in the departure date and time input field IN3, and arrive on time. In the case of search criteria such as those in the input screen shown in FIG. 5, the information processing unit 21 determines the travel time from home to each of the candidate bus stops and the bus timetable, and searches for available buses that meet the search criteria. Note that if multiple stops on a single bus route are entered as departure points (candidate bus stops), the information processing unit 21 does not need to determine the travel time from home to each of the candidate bus stops.

[0034] The information processing unit 21 obtains the search results by sorting available buses that meet the search conditions, for example, by the arrival date and time at the destination.

[0035] See Fig. 4. Next, the communication unit 23 transmits or outputs the search results to the information terminal 3 (step S40). The information terminal 3 that has received the search results displays the search results as shown in Fig. 6 on a display screen provided on the information terminal 3. The search results shown in Fig. 6 indicate a case where the operation status of the demand bus is the situation shown in Fig. 1 as of 12:20 on September 14, and the candidate stops for boarding are stop A and stop E.

[0036] In the search results shown in FIG. 6, the search result display field D1 displays, from top to bottom, search result R1 that will arrive at the destination the fastest, search result R2 that will arrive at the destination the second fastest, and search result R3 that will arrive at the destination the third fastest.

[0037] The search result R1 that arrives at the destination earliest is a display that shows the specific route that arrives at the destination earliest, "Depart from departure point at 12:23 → Depart from bus stop E at 12:25 → Arrive at destination at 12:38."

[0038] The search result R2 for arriving at the destination second earliest is a display showing the specific route for arriving at the destination second earliest, "Depart from origin at 12:39 → Depart from stop E at 12:42 → Arrive at destination at 12:55."

[0039] The search result R3, which arrives at the destination third earliest, is displayed as "Depart from departure point at 13:02 → Depart from stop A at 13:04 → Arrive at destination at 13:28," indicating the specific route that arrives at the destination third earliest.

[0040] If the demand bus operation status as of 12:20 on September 14th is as shown in Figure 1, and the only bus stop available is stop A, which is closest to the user's home H1, then the user can only board demand bus B3. However, by including multiple bus stops (stop A and stop E) as the bus stop available, as in the example above, the user can also board demand buses B1 and B2, which have already passed stop A. In other words, it is possible to reduce the loss of opportunities to board on a single bus route. From the bus operator's perspective, this can help increase occupancy rates.

[0041] After completing the process of step S40, the search server 2 performs the process of step S10 again.

[0042] The above-described embodiments should be considered to be illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. The technical scope of the present invention is indicated by the claims, not by the description of the above-described embodiments, and should be understood to include all modifications that fall within the meaning and scope of the claims.

[0043] For example, the search conditions may include additional conditions that are conditions that are applied in addition to the bus operation conditions, which are conditions related to bus operation. Examples of additional conditions include conditions related to travel from the departure point to the bus stop, conditions related to waiting at the bus stop, etc. Examples of conditions related to travel from the departure point to the bus stop include the following (1) to (4). Also, examples of conditions related to waiting at the bus stop include the following (5). (1) In case of rain, the travel from the departure point to the bus stop where you would like to board must be as dry as possible. (2) The condition that the travel from the departure point to the proposed boarding stop should be in as much shade as possible. (3) The number of stairs from the departure point to the bus stop is as small as possible. (4) The condition that the gradient from the departure point to the proposed boarding stop is as small as possible. (5) The condition that there is a seat at the bus stop where you are considering boarding.

[0044] Then, the information processing unit 31 may sort the search results according to the additional conditions. For example, the search results may be sorted with the additional conditions given top priority. Alternatively, for example, the arrival date and time at the destination may be divided into fixed time periods, and the search results may be sorted according to the additional conditions within each fixed time period. Sorting the search results according to the additional conditions makes it easier for users to find a bus travel method that suits their preferences and attributes.

[0045] An example of a user's attribute is the user's age. If the user is elderly, they may have difficulty climbing up and down long stairs or walking on steep roads. Therefore, by using the additional conditions (3) and (4) above, it is possible to search for bus stops that can be reached safely even by elderly users.

[0046] The above additional conditions (1) to (5) may be automatically applied based on the user's attributes. In this case, the information terminal 3 has information on the user's attributes and selects the conditions to be applied from the above additional conditions (1) to (5). Then, the information terminal 3 transmits the selected additional conditions when transmitting the search conditions.

[0047] The above additional conditions (1) to (5) may be applied taking into account the time of day and weather. For example, the location of the shade included in the above additional condition (2) changes depending on the time of day and weather. Therefore, applying the above additional conditions (1) to (5) taking into account the time of day and weather can result in more effective searches.

[0048] The search server 2 may have a database that records the attributes of users. In this case, the search server 2 performs a search based on the attributes of the users, taking into consideration which of the above additional conditions (1) to (5) should be applied.

[0049] For example, the information processing unit 31 may search for available buses that meet the search criteria, allowing combinations with transportation modes other than buses. For example, it may allow travel by taxi from the departure point to the bus stop of the candidate bus. This diversifies the search results, further reducing the opportunity loss of riding on a single bus route.

[0050] For example, the information processing unit 31 may select multiple stops on a single bus route as potential disembarking stops based on the search conditions. Similar to the potential boarding stops, the multiple potential disembarking stops may be automatically selected by the information processing unit 31 or may be manually input by the user. This diversifies the search results when, for example, there are restrictions on the arrival date and time at the destination, thereby further reducing the loss of opportunities to board a single bus route.

[0051] Furthermore, for example, if a single bus route is a demand bus route, the information processing unit 31 may accept reservations for the demand bus. In this case, the information terminal 3 may prompt the user to make a reservation for the demand bus on the screen displaying the search results. This makes the search and reservation process seamless for users, improving convenience.

[0052] In addition, when a single bus route is a route of a bus other than a demand bus for which seats can be reserved, the information processing unit 31 may similarly accept bus seat reservations. [Explanation of symbols]

[0053] 1. Search System 2 Search Server 3. Information terminals 21 Information Processing Department 22 Recording section 23 Ministry of Communications 24 BUS

Claims

1. A search server that determines bus stops where multiple vehicles running at different times on a single route stop based on boarding and alighting reservations, The search server is capable of communicating with the user's information terminal, receiving the user's location, destination, and departure date and time from the information terminal; determining a plurality of candidate stops within the single route based on the user's location; arrival times when a vehicle traveling on the single route stops at the plurality of candidate stops; Calculating a travel time from the user's location to the plurality of candidate stops and a ride time from the plurality of candidate stops to the destination, transmitting the plurality of candidate bus stops at which passengers can board to the information terminal; When a reservation for a bus ride at a candidate stop selected from the plurality of candidate stops is received from the information terminal, a route of the vehicle for which the reservation is made is determined, with the selected candidate stop being a stop at which the vehicle for which the reservation is made will stop. Search server.

2. The search server according to claim 1 , wherein travel by public transport is permitted for travel from the user's location to the candidate bus stop.

3. The search server according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the candidate bus stops are determined in accordance with conditions for the user to wait at the candidate bus stops.

4. 4. The search server according to claim 1, wherein the candidate bus stops are sorted based on the weather at the time of travel from the user's location to the candidate bus stop.

5. The search server according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the candidate bus stops are sorted based on an arrival date and time from the user's location to the destination.

6. A search server according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein when it is determined that it is difficult to reach the candidate bus stop based on attributes including the age of the user, the candidate bus stops are sorted based on the attributes.

7. A search server according to any one of claims 1 to 6; an information terminal that transmits the user's location, destination, and departure date and time and receives and displays the plurality of candidate stops; A search system comprising:

8. A search method for determining bus stops at which multiple vehicles traveling at different times on a single route stop by using boarding and alighting reservations, comprising: receiving the user's location, destination, and departure date and time from the user's information terminal; determining a plurality of candidate stops within the single route based on the user's location; arrival times when a vehicle traveling on the single route stops at the plurality of candidate stops; Calculating a travel time from the user's location to the plurality of candidate stops and a ride time from the plurality of candidate stops to the destination, transmitting the plurality of candidate bus stops at which passengers can board to the information terminal; When a reservation for a bus ride at a candidate stop selected from the plurality of candidate stops is received from the information terminal, a route of the vehicle for which the reservation is made is determined, with the selected candidate stop being a stop at which the vehicle for which the reservation is made will stop. An information processing device provided in the search server executes How to search.

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