Vehicle dispatch management device, vehicle dispatch management system, and vehicle dispatch management method

Abstract

To provide a vehicle allocation management device, a vehicle allocation management system and a vehicle allocation management method that can shorten a waiting time for a passenger at a riding spot when a driver of a vehicle collects / delivers a cargo at the riding spot at which the passenger rides on the vehicle.SOLUTION: With respect to a vehicle allocation plan for allocating a vehicle for transporting a passenger and a cargo, when a riding spot where the user rides on the vehicle is the same spot as a collection / delivery spot where the cargo is collected / delivered, the collection / delivery completion time when the collection / delivery of the cargo is completed at the riding spot is calculated based upon a collection / delivery plan, and a control command is generated which informs the user of collection / delivery completion time information representing the collection / delivery completion time before the user reaches the riding spot.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle allocation management device, a vehicle allocation management system, and a vehicle allocation management method.

Background Art

[0002] Based on the movement requests of passengers and the movement requests of goods, a running route passing through the boarding / alighting points for passengers to board and alight and the collection points for goods to be collected is calculated. When the boarding / alighting points for passengers and the collection points for goods are the same point, there is a known technique of automatically loading goods while passengers are boarding and alighting (Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, in the technique of Patent Document 1, when the boarding point of a passenger is the same point as the collection / delivery point of goods and the driver of the vehicle leaves the vehicle to perform the collection / delivery of goods at the boarding point, even if the passenger arrives at the boarding point in accordance with the arrival time of the vehicle, there is a problem that the passenger has to wait at the boarding point for a long time until the collection / delivery of goods by the driver is completed.

[0005] The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a vehicle allocation management device, a vehicle allocation management system, and a vehicle allocation management method that can shorten the waiting time of passengers at the boarding point when the driver of the vehicle performs the collection / delivery of goods at the boarding point where the passengers board the vehicle.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The present invention relates to a dispatch plan for dispatching vehicles to transport passengers and cargo, in which case, if the boarding point where a user boards a vehicle is the same as the collection and delivery point where cargo is collected and delivered, the dispatch plan is used. The collection and delivery time for cargo at the boarding point is calculated, and based on the vehicle arrival time at the boarding point and the collection and delivery time, The above problem is solved by calculating the time when cargo collection and delivery is completed at the boarding point, and generating a control command that notifies the user of the collection and delivery completion time information before the user arrives at the boarding point. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, when the vehicle driver collects and delivers cargo at the boarding point where passengers board the vehicle, the waiting time for passengers at the boarding point can be reduced. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This is a schematic block diagram of a dispatch management system using the dispatch management device and method according to the present invention. [Figure 2A] This figure shows an example of an image that displays notification information to the user. [Figure 2B] This figure shows an example of an image that displays the delivery status to notify the user. [Figure 2C] This figure shows an example of an image that displays the delivery status to notify the user. [Figure 2D] This figure shows an example of an image that displays the delivery status to notify the user. [Figure 3] This flowchart illustrates an example of the dispatch management control process performed by the dispatch management device. [Figure 4] This flowchart illustrates an example of the dispatch management control process performed by the dispatch management device. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] The following describes a dispatch management system using the dispatch management device and method according to the present invention with reference to the figures. Figure 1 is a block diagram illustrating the schematic of the dispatch management system 100 using the dispatch management device 1 and method according to this embodiment. The dispatch management system 100 of this embodiment receives usage requests from multiple users and determines the dispatch location according to the identification information of the transport object (whether it is a passenger or cargo) included in the usage request. The dispatch management system 100 then selects a vehicle to dispatch to the dispatch location and formulates a dispatch plan that includes the driving route and dispatch time of the selected vehicle based on the usage request received from the user and map information. Based on this dispatch plan, the dispatch management system 100 sequentially loads passengers and cargo onto vehicles and transports them to their destinations, using vehicles such as manned taxis, unmanned taxis, and commercial vehicles equipped with autonomous driving functions. In the following, the system of this embodiment will be described using an example applied to a transportation service using manned taxis.

[0010] As shown in Figure 1, the dispatch management system 100 of this embodiment comprises a dispatch management device 1 installed in a dispatch management center or the like, terminal devices 2 each owned by multiple users, and on-board control devices 3 each owned by multiple vehicles used by users. Although Figure 1 shows only one dispatch management device 1, one terminal device 2, and one on-board control device 3, the number of each of the dispatch management device 1, terminal device 2, and on-board control device 3 constituting the dispatch management system 100 of this embodiment is not particularly limited.

[0011] In the dispatch management system 100 of this embodiment, users who wish to transport people and / or users who wish to transport goods input usage request information by operating the application software on their respective terminal devices 2. Users who wish to transport people input usage request information such as the desired boarding location, boarding time, number of passengers, disembarking location, and disembarking time. Users who wish to transport goods input usage request information such as the desired collection and delivery locations. Collection and delivery locations are the locations where goods are collected and loaded onto vehicles and / or where goods are unloaded and delivered. The usage request information also includes cargo information such as the amount of cargo to be transported. Upon receiving the user's usage request information, the dispatch management device 1 sets the user's boarding and disembarking locations, or the cargo collection and delivery locations, and extracts a vehicle capable of responding to the user's request from among multiple available vehicles.

[0012] The dispatch management device 1 calculates the route taken by the vehicle from its current location, passing through the boarding point, alighting point, and collection / delivery point, and formulates a dispatch plan by calculating an operation plan that includes the arrival time at each point. Based on this dispatch plan, the dispatch management device 1 presents the operation plan to the vehicle and starts guiding the vehicle to board the first set user. For example, the vehicle will board the user at the boarding point, travel to the cargo collection / delivery point, and load the cargo at the collection / delivery point. Then, the vehicle will travel according to the presented operation plan, sequentially dropping off users at the alighting points and unloading the cargo at the collection / delivery points.

[0013] For example, if the boarding point where a user gets into a vehicle is the same as the delivery point where cargo is collected and delivered, the user may arrive at the boarding point while the driver is temporarily away from the vehicle to collect and deliver cargo as a delivery person, or while loading or unloading cargo. In such cases, it is necessary to avoid a situation where the driver leaves the vehicle for collection and delivery after the user has boarded. Also, if cargo collection and delivery are performed first, the user cannot board the vehicle until the driver has completed the collection and delivery, resulting in a waiting time at the boarding point. Therefore, in this embodiment, the dispatch management device 1 calculates the time when cargo collection and delivery will be completed in the dispatch plan if the user's boarding point is the same as the cargo collection and delivery point, and notifies the user of the collection and delivery completion time information. This allows the user to know when to arrive at the boarding point so that cargo collection and delivery will be completed and they can board the vehicle immediately.

[0014] The dispatch management device 1 is equipped with a communication unit 18, the terminal device 2 is equipped with a communication unit 22, and the in-vehicle control device 3 is equipped with a communication unit 32, enabling them to send and receive information from each other via a telecommunications network NW such as the Internet. The communication path may be wired or wireless.

[0015] Terminal device 2 is a computer comprising a ROM containing a vehicle reservation program, a CPU as an operating circuit that executes each function by running the program stored in the ROM, and RAM as an accessible storage device. Terminal device 2 may be a personal computer, smartphone, tablet terminal, PDA, or other portable terminal device. Furthermore, terminal device 2 may have different forms for passenger terminal devices for users who wish to transport people and cargo terminal devices for users who wish to transport cargo.

[0016] The terminal device 2 includes a control unit 21 that executes control processing for the user to use the vehicle V, a communication unit 22 that communicates with an external device such as the vehicle dispatching management device 1 or the in-vehicle control device 3, an input unit 23 that inputs information such as a usage request for the user to request the use of the vehicle V, a display unit 24 that notifies the user of information, and a position detection unit 25 that detects the position of the terminal device 2.

[0017] The control unit 21 has functions for the user to use the vehicle V. Specifically, the control unit 21 receives input information such as usage request information for the user to request the use of the vehicle V, and transmits it to the vehicle dispatching management device 1 via the communication unit 22. Such usage request information includes the user's unique identifier (hereinafter referred to as ID information), the user's current position information, and the like. In addition to these information, when the user hopes to transport people, information such as the boarding point, boarding time, number of passengers, alighting point, alighting time, etc. that the user hopes for is included. Also, when the user hopes to transport goods, information such as the collection and delivery point that the user hopes for is included. Further, the usage request information includes cargo information regarding the cargo. The cargo information includes the number, weight, shape, and content of the cargo.

[0018] For example, when a user who hopes to transport people operates the input unit 23 and performs a reservation process such as boarding at the boarding point at the boarding time t1 and alighting at the alighting point at the alighting time t2, the control unit 21 includes the identification information of the transport target (passenger), the position information of the boarding point (latitude and longitude), the boarding time t1, the position information of the alighting point (latitude and longitude), and the alighting time t2 in the usage request and transmits it to the vehicle dispatching management device 1. Thereby, in the vehicle dispatching management device 1, the reservation process for the user to use the desired vehicle V is started. Note that for the identification of the transport target, when the user inputs the usage request, it may be in a form where the user selects whether the transport target is a passenger or a cargo and includes it in the input information of the usage request, or it may be in a form where different system IDs are assigned to the ID information when logging in to the application software for passengers and for cargo.

[0019] Also, when the user starts or ends the use of the vehicle V, the control unit 21 communicates with the vehicle dispatching management device 1 and the in-vehicle control device 3 via short-range wireless communication or the like, and executes user authentication processing. The authentication processing determines whether the terminal device 2 that performed the authentication operation is the terminal device 2 that transmitted the use request, using the user's ID information and the like output from the control unit 21.

[0020] The input unit 23 can use, for example, a touch panel or a joystick arranged on a display screen enabling manual input operations by the user, a microphone and a voice recognition device enabling voice input by the user, and the like. Examples of the display unit 24 include a display. When using a touch panel display, it can be used in combination with the input unit 23. The display unit 24 displays notification information to be notified to the user on the display based on the control command transmitted from the vehicle dispatching management device 1. The user can transmit information such as the user's ID information, identification information of the transportation target, when the transportation target is a passenger, the desired boarding location, boarding time, number of passengers, alighting location, alighting time, etc., and when the transportation target is cargo, the information of the desired collection and delivery location and cargo information to the vehicle dispatching management device 1 via the input unit 23.

[0021] The position detection unit 25 is a position detection device such as a so-called GPS receiver, acquires the current position information of the user operating the terminal device 2, and transmits the acquired position information to the vehicle dispatching management device 1.

[0022] The in-vehicle control device 3 includes a control unit 31 that executes control processing for the use of the vehicle V by the user, a communication unit 32 that communicates with external devices such as the vehicle dispatching management device 1 and the terminal device 2, an input unit 33 for the passengers of the vehicle V to input information, a display unit 34 for presenting information to the passengers of the vehicle V, and a position detection unit 35 composed of a GPS receiver and the like.

[0023] The control unit 31 transmits the current location information of the vehicle V, acquired using the position detection unit 35, to the dispatch management device 1. Furthermore, the control unit 31 presents information such as the operation plan transmitted from the dispatch management device 1 to the occupants of the vehicle V using a display unit 34 such as a display. The input unit 33 can use a button switch that can be manually operated by the occupants, a touch panel on a display, a microphone that allows voice input, etc., and may also be used in conjunction with the display unit 34 using a touch panel display.

[0024] The on-board control device 3 may also be configured to include an autonomous driving control function. The autonomous driving control function is a function for autonomously controlling the vehicle's movement without driver intervention. The autonomous driving control function includes an autonomous speed control function that autonomously controls the vehicle's speed and an autonomous steering control function that autonomously controls the vehicle's steering. Autonomous control without driver intervention may also include some operations being performed by the driver.

[0025] Furthermore, when a user starts using vehicle V, if the terminal device 2 performs an authentication operation, the control unit 31 communicates with the dispatch management device 1 and terminal device 2 and executes the user authentication process. If the control unit 31 determines that the terminal device 2 that performed the authentication operation is the same terminal device 2 that sent the usage request, it permits the user to use vehicle V. If the control unit 31 determines that the terminal device 2 that performed the authentication operation is not the same terminal device 2 that sent the usage request, it notifies the user using the display unit 34 or the like that vehicle V is not the vehicle that the user reserved. Similarly, when a user finishes using vehicle V, if the user performs an authentication operation using terminal device 2, the control unit 31 executes the user authentication process.

[0026] The dispatch management device 1 functions as a server for the dispatch management system 100 and comprises a processor 10 and a database 11 that stores various data. The processor 10 comprises a ROM that stores programming for executing various processes, a CPU that functions as an operating circuit by executing the programs stored in the ROM, and RAM that functions as an accessible storage device. The processor 10 dispatches vehicles based on a dispatch plan for transporting passengers and cargo. The processor 10 comprises, as functional blocks, a usage request reception unit 12, a dispatch planning unit 13, a plan acquisition unit 14, a collection and delivery completion time calculation unit 15, a dispatch management unit 16, a user notification unit 17, and a communication unit 18 that can communicate with the terminal device 2 and the in-vehicle control device 3. The processor 10 may also be provided in the terminal device 2. Furthermore, although the database 11 is configured to be included in the dispatch management device 1, it may acquire various data by communicating with an externally provided server.

[0027] Database 11 stores user ID information, name, address, telephone number, age, service usage status, and other user information of service users who use the dispatch management system 100. Database 11 also stores cargo information. Cargo information includes the unique identifier of the cargo (hereinafter referred to as ID information), quantity, weight, shape, and contents. The contents of the cargo include, for example, whether or not it is cargo that requires special handling.

[0028] Furthermore, database 11 stores vehicle V dispatch location information extracted from map information. Dispatch location information includes at least location information (latitude and longitude) of a point where the vehicle can be parked. In this embodiment, the user selects the desired pick-up point, drop-off point, and collection / delivery point from the dispatch location.

[0029] The dispatch location information includes both characteristic information and past performance information for the dispatch location. The characteristic information for the dispatch location includes attribute information and facility information for the dispatch location. The attribute information for the dispatch location is, for example, the attribute of the location such as a public facility, private residence, supermarket, or roadside station. The facility information includes the location of the collection and delivery depot where goods are picked up and delivered, the distance from the collection and delivery depot to the dispatch location, the size of the collection and delivery depot, and whether or not there are recipients at the collection and delivery depot, and the number of recipients. The location of the collection and delivery depot is the place where goods are collected and delivered, for example, an office, reception desk, front door, delivery bag, parcel locker, or garage. If the facility is a building or apartment complex, the location of the collection and delivery depot may be the floor on which the depot is located. Past performance information is information about past performance of goods collection and delivery at the dispatch location. For example, past performance information includes information on the collection and delivery time taken when collection and delivery were performed at the dispatch location.

[0030] Furthermore, database 11 stores vehicle information for vehicles dispatched to users. Vehicle information includes vehicle ID information, vehicle type, specifications, passenger capacity, load capacity, fuel / electricity levels, maintenance status, delivery personnel on board, presence or absence of a trolley, and other vehicle-related information. Delivery personnel information includes the age and gender of the delivery personnel.

[0031] Furthermore, the database 11 stores vehicle driving information transmitted from the vehicle's onboard control device 3. Since there are multiple vehicles V, the driving information of all vehicles V located in a predetermined service area where the dispatch management system 100 provides services is stored in this database 11. The driving information includes at least the location information of the vehicle V. The driving information also stores dispatch-related information, such as whether or not the vehicle V is available to receive service requests from users, whether or not the vehicle V is operating the service, whether or not it is being refueled, whether or not it is carrying passengers and cargo, and whether or not it has arrived at the dispatch location for the movement instruction, all associated with the vehicle ID information of each vehicle V.

[0032] Database 11 stores map information such as a so-called navigation map containing at least road link information that vehicle V can travel on, as well as energy refueling locations (refueling or charging locations) and vehicle V waiting locations. A vehicle V waiting location refers to a space where vehicle V parks when it is available for dispatch and waiting for a dispatch request, and one or more waiting locations are set up in a single service area. In addition to these, the map information includes traffic environment information such as road signs, road markings, and lane markings. Furthermore, the map information may also include pedestrian road link information for calculating the route the user will walk.

[0033] Furthermore, the database 11 stores the dispatch plan formulated by the dispatch planning unit 13 for each vehicle V. The dispatch plan includes the operation plan, boarding and alighting plan, and collection and delivery plan. The operation plan includes the route traveled by vehicle V, the dispatch locations, and the dispatch time for each dispatch location. The boarding and alighting plan is a plan for passengers to board and alight at each dispatch location, and for each dispatch location, it includes the boarding time, alighting time, and information on passengers scheduled to board and / or alight. The collection and delivery plan is a plan for the collection and delivery of goods at each dispatch location, and for each dispatch location, it includes the collection and delivery time and cargo information for the goods scheduled to be collected and delivered.

[0034] The request reception unit 12 receives request information from the user's terminal device 2. Upon receiving the request information, the request reception unit 12 identifies whether the transported object included in the request information is a passenger or cargo. After receiving the request information, the request reception unit 12 also receives cancellation information to cancel the request.

[0035] When the dispatch planning unit 13 receives a usage request information from the usage request receiving unit 12, it uses the usage request information received by the usage request receiving unit 12 and various information stored in the database 11 to determine which vehicle V to dispatch and formulate a dispatch plan for vehicle V.

[0036] The dispatch planning unit 13 identifies the user's desired pick-up location, drop-off location, and delivery location as the pick-up location, based on the pick-up location information and usage request information stored in the database 11. The dispatch planning unit 13 then determines a vehicle V based on the vehicle information and vehicle driving information stored in the database 11 and formulates a dispatch plan with that vehicle V as the dispatched vehicle. For example, the dispatch planning unit 13 uses the vehicle V driving information stored in the database 11 to extract all vehicles V that can receive the dispatch request and selects the vehicle V closest to the initial pick-up location as the vehicle V to be dispatched. The dispatch planning unit 13 then uses the vehicle V driving information, pick-up location information, and map information to calculate an operation plan including the vehicle V's driving route and the dispatch time at each point. The dispatch planning unit 13 formulates a dispatch plan including the calculated operation plan.

[0037] Furthermore, the dispatch planning unit 13 formulates boarding and alighting plans and / or collection and delivery plans for each dispatch location included in the dispatch plan. The dispatch planning unit 13 formulates boarding and alighting plans for each dispatch location based on information such as boarding points, alighting points, and the number of passengers included in the usage request information. Furthermore, the dispatch planning unit 13 formulates collection and delivery plans for each dispatch location based on information such as collection and delivery points and cargo included in the usage request information.

[0038] Furthermore, in this embodiment, when the dispatch planning unit 13 receives usage request information for transporting passengers and usage request information for transporting cargo, it may formulate a single dispatch plan for transporting both passengers and cargo. For example, the dispatch planning unit 13 formulates a dispatch plan that travels via the boarding and alighting points desired by the user transporting passengers and the collection and delivery points desired by the user transporting cargo. In this case, if the boarding point desired by the user transporting passengers and the collection and delivery point desired by the user transporting cargo are the same location, the dispatch planning unit 13 formulates a dispatch plan that performs both boarding and cargo collection and delivery at that location.

[0039] Furthermore, in this embodiment, if the dispatch planning unit 13 receives cancellation information from the usage request reception unit 12 after notifying the user of the collection and delivery completion time, it formulates a new collection and delivery plan to collect other cargo that was scheduled to be collected at a later time at the boarding point. That is, the dispatch planning unit 13 formulates a collection and delivery plan that includes other cargo that was scheduled to be collected at a later time than the collection and delivery time of the canceled cargo. For example, the dispatch planning unit 13 compares the collection and delivery completion time notified to the user with the collection and delivery completion time when other cargo is included in the collection and delivery plan. If the collection and delivery completion time when other cargo is included in the collection and delivery plan is earlier than the collection and delivery completion time notified to the user, the dispatch planning unit 13 changes the collection and delivery plan to the collection and delivery plan that includes other cargo.

[0040] Furthermore, if the time of completion of collection and delivery when other cargo is included in the collection and delivery target is later than the time of completion of collection and delivery notified to the user, the dispatch planning unit 13 will not include the other cargo in the collection and delivery target and will change the collection and delivery plan to a collection and delivery plan after the collection and delivery of the cargo has been canceled, because including the other cargo would delay the completion of collection and delivery of the cargo.

[0041] The plan acquisition unit 14 acquires a delivery plan for cargo collection and delivery if the boarding point where the user boards the vehicle in the dispatch plan is the same as the delivery point where cargo is collected and delivered. First, the plan acquisition unit 14 acquires the dispatch plan from the database 11 and determines whether the user's boarding point is the same as the cargo delivery point. If the plan acquisition unit 14 determines that the user's boarding point is the same as the cargo delivery point, it acquires the delivery plan corresponding to the dispatch plan.

[0042] The delivery completion time calculation unit 15 calculates the delivery completion time at the user's boarding location, based on the delivery plan acquired by the plan acquisition unit 14. First, the delivery completion time calculation unit 15 calculates the vehicle arrival time at which the vehicle V arrives at the boarding location. Next, the delivery completion time calculation unit 15 calculates the delivery time required for the delivery of goods at the boarding location, based on the delivery plan. The delivery time is the sum of the delivery person's travel time for the delivery person to travel back and forth between the vehicle V and the delivery depot at the boarding location, and the delivery work time for the handover of goods at the delivery depot, loading and / or unloading of goods in the vehicle V. Then, the delivery completion time calculation unit 15 calculates the delivery completion time based on the vehicle arrival time and the delivery time. For example, if the vehicle arrival time is 15:00 and the delivery time is 15 minutes, the delivery completion time is calculated as 15:15.

[0043] The collection and delivery completion time calculation unit 15 calculates the collection and delivery completion time based on at least one of the following pieces of information: delivery person information regarding the delivery person who collects and delivers the cargo, cargo information regarding the cargo, cart usage information regarding the use of carts when collecting and delivering cargo, environmental information of the boarding point, characteristic information of the boarding point, and past performance information regarding past cargo collection and delivery performance at the boarding point. For example, the collection and delivery completion time calculation unit 15 calculates the collection and delivery time as shown below, and calculates the collection and delivery completion time based on the vehicle arrival time and the collection and delivery time.

[0044] For example, the delivery completion time calculation unit 15 calculates the delivery person's travel time and / or delivery work time based on the delivery person information. The delivery person information includes the number of delivery persons, their gender, and their age. The delivery person's travel time and / or delivery work time is calculated to be shorter the more delivery persons there are. Also, the delivery person's travel time and / or delivery work time is calculated according to the gender and / or age of the delivery persons. For example, the delivery person's travel time and / or delivery work time is calculated to be shorter the younger the person is. Also, the delivery person's travel time and / or delivery work time is calculated to be shorter when the delivery person is male than when the delivery person is female. Furthermore, the delivery completion time calculation unit 15 may, by referring to laws and regulations, identify the weight of goods that can be carried by a delivery person of a given gender and / or age based on the delivery person's gender and / or age. The delivery completion time calculation unit 15 calculates the delivery person's travel time and / or delivery work time based on the identified weight of the goods.

[0045] Furthermore, the delivery completion time calculation unit 15 calculates the delivery person's travel time and / or delivery work time based on the cargo information. The delivery person's travel time and / or delivery work time is calculated to be longer the more cargo there is. The delivery person's travel time and / or delivery work time is calculated to be longer the heavier the cargo is. The delivery person's travel time and / or delivery work time is calculated to be longer the more difficult the shape of the cargo is to handle. The delivery person's travel time and / or delivery work time is calculated to be longer for cargo designated as requiring careful handling than for cargo that is not designated as requiring careful handling.

[0046] Alternatively, for example, the delivery completion time calculation unit 15 may calculate the delivery person's travel time by dividing the distance between the vehicle V and the delivery station at the boarding point by the delivery person's walking speed. The delivery person's walking speed Vd is calculated based on the following formula (1).

number

[0047] Furthermore, the delivery completion time calculation unit 15 calculates the delivery person's travel time and / or delivery work time based on the characteristic information of the pick-up location. For example, the delivery person's travel time and / or delivery work time are pre-set for each attribute of the pick-up location (public facility, private residence, supermarket, roadside station, etc.). The delivery completion time calculation unit 15 obtains the attribute information of the user's pick-up location and obtains the pre-set delivery person's travel time and / or delivery work time according to the attribute of the user's pick-up location. In addition, the delivery work time is calculated to be shorter the larger the size of the delivery center at the pick-up location. Also, the delivery work time is calculated to be shorter the more people are at the delivery center at the pick-up location. Furthermore, the delivery work time is calculated to be shorter when there is no recipient at the delivery center than when there is a recipient at the delivery center.

[0048] The delivery completion time calculation unit 15 may calculate the delivery person's travel time based on the distance from the vehicle V to the delivery depot at the boarding point. For example, the longer the distance from the vehicle V to the delivery depot, the longer the delivery person's travel time will be calculated. Also, for example, the higher the floor on which the delivery depot is located, the longer the delivery person's travel time will be calculated. Furthermore, if there are stairs on the way to the delivery depot, the delivery completion time calculation unit 15 may calculate the delivery person's travel time based on the time it takes for the delivery person to go up and down the stairs.

[0049] Furthermore, the delivery completion time calculation unit 15 acquires environmental information such as the weather at the pick-up location and calculates the delivery person's travel time based on the environmental information. For example, if it is raining, the delivery person's travel time will be longer than if it is sunny. The delivery completion time calculation unit 15 may also calculate the delivery time based on past performance information. For example, the delivery completion time calculation unit 15 may calculate the average delivery time by averaging the delivery times when cargo was collected and delivered at the pick-up location in the past, or it may calculate the delivery person's travel time and / or delivery work time by averaging the delivery person's travel time and / or delivery work time when cargo was collected and delivered at the pick-up location in the past.

[0050] Here, we will explain an example of how to calculate the collection and delivery completion time information. For example, suppose the collection and delivery completion time calculation unit 15 calculates the collection and delivery completion time based on the delivery person information, cargo information, and trolley usage information. If the delivery person is a male, the number of cargo items is 1, the cargo weight is 2 kg, the cargo size is 100, and a trolley is not used, for example, the collection and delivery completion time calculation unit 15 calculates the delivery person's travel time as 3 minutes and the collection and delivery work time as 3 minutes, and adds the delivery person's travel time and collection and delivery work time to calculate the collection and delivery time as 6 minutes. Also, if the delivery person is a male, the number of cargo items is 2, the cargo weight is 35 kg, the cargo size is 120, and a trolley is not used, for example, the collection and delivery completion time calculation unit 15 calculates the delivery person's travel time as 8 minutes and the collection and delivery work time as 5 minutes, and adds the delivery person's travel time and collection and delivery work time to calculate the collection and delivery time as 13 minutes. As shown above, the larger the number and weight of cargo items, the longer the calculated collection and delivery time will be.

[0051] Furthermore, the delivery completion time calculation unit 15 may calculate the time it takes for other users to get off the vehicle V at the user's boarding point, and then calculate the delivery completion time based on the vehicle arrival time, the time taken to get off, and the delivery time. When there are other users getting off at the pick-up location, the delivery person will first assist the other users in getting off before carrying out the delivery. In this case, if there are many other users getting off, it may take time for the delivery person just to assist them, and the delivery completion time will be delayed by the time it takes to do so. Therefore, the delivery completion time calculation unit 15 may, for example, calculate the time taken to get off according to the number of other users getting off, and then calculate the delivery completion time based on the vehicle arrival time, the time taken to get off, and the delivery time.

[0052] Furthermore, in this embodiment, if the collection and delivery of cargo scheduled at the boarding point is canceled after notifying the user of the collection and delivery completion time, the collection and delivery plan may be modified to collect other cargo that was not included in the original collection and delivery plan. For example, the other cargo is cargo that was scheduled to be collected at a later time than the collection and delivery time in the original collection and delivery plan. In this case, the collection and delivery completion time calculation unit 15 newly calculates the collection and delivery completion time when the other cargo is included in the collection and delivery target.

[0053] The dispatch management unit 16 presents the dispatch plan formulated by the dispatch planning unit 13 to the user via the communication unit 18. The dispatch plan includes the boarding location and the vehicle's arrival time. When the user accepts it, the reservation is confirmed. Once the reservation is confirmed, the dispatch management unit 16 transmits a dispatch request signal and the operation plan to the vehicle V via the communication unit 18. Upon receiving this, the vehicle V displays the operation plan on a display unit 34 such as a display and begins driving guidance to head towards the first pick-up location.

[0054] Furthermore, the user notification unit 17 notifies the user of various information. The user notification unit 17 generates control commands to notify the user of various information and transmits the control commands to the terminal device 2. For example, when a reservation is confirmed, the user notification unit 17 notifies the user of notification information. The notification information includes map information including the user's location, the location of the vehicle V, the location of the boarding point, and the route to the boarding point, as well as text information. The text information includes the vehicle's arrival time, the name of the boarding point, and the travel time if the user were to walk to the boarding point.

[0055] Furthermore, if the user notification unit 17 is performing cargo collection and delivery at the user's boarding location, it notifies the user of collection and delivery completion time information indicating the time of completion. For example, the user notification unit 17 calculates the user's arrival time, which is the time when the user arrives at the boarding location. The user notification unit 17 acquires the user's location information and the location information of the boarding location. Based on the user's location information and the location information of the boarding location, the user notification unit 17 calculates the user's travel time and adds the travel time to the time the user requested the service to calculate the user's arrival time. The user notification unit 17 compares the collection and delivery completion time with the user's arrival time, and if the user's arrival time is earlier than the collection and delivery completion time, it notifies the user of collection and delivery completion time information indicating the collection and delivery completion time calculated by the collection and delivery completion time calculation unit 15. In other words, in this embodiment, if the user arrives earlier than the time when the cargo collection and delivery is completed, the collection and delivery completion time information is notified to the user.

[0056] For example, the user notification unit 17 notifies the user of notification information including the time of completion of collection and delivery. Figure 2A is an example of an image displaying the notification information to be notified to the user. In Figure 2A, the notification information includes map information and text information. The map information includes the user's location P1, the location of the vehicle V P2, the location of the pick-up point P3, and the route L to the pick-up point. The text information includes the time of vehicle arrival, the name of the pick-up point, the travel time if the user walked to the pick-up point, and the time of completion of collection and delivery.

[0057] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the user notification unit 17 notifies the user of the collection and delivery completion time information before the user arrives at the pick-up location. For example, the user notification unit 17 acquires the user's location information and notifies the user of the collection and delivery completion time information before the user's location arrives at the pick-up location. Alternatively, before the user departs, the user notification unit 17 may notify the user of map information including the user's location, the location of the vehicle V, the location of the pick-up location, and the route to the pick-up location, and may also include text information indicating the collection and delivery completion time information. Alternatively, the user notification unit 17 may calculate the user's arrival time and notify the user of the collection and delivery completion time information at a time before the user's arrival time.

[0058] Furthermore, if the user's arrival time is later than the collection and delivery completion time, the user notification unit 17 may notify the user of the vehicle arrival time information instead of the collection and delivery completion time information. Alternatively, the user notification unit 17 may calculate the time difference between the user's arrival time and the collection and delivery completion time, and notify the user of the time difference information showing the calculated time difference along with the collection and delivery completion time information.

[0059] Furthermore, the user notification unit 17 may notify the user of delivery information, including the delivery status at the boarding location. The delivery status may be, for example, one of the following: delivery person on the move, receiving cargo, delivering cargo, delivery completed, delivery person returning, or boarding guidance. As shown in Figure 2B, the user notification unit 17 displays an image representing the delivery status to the user. In Figure 2B, each delivery status is displayed, and an arrow indicates that the current delivery status is "delivery in progress."

[0060] Furthermore, the delivery status may include the location of the delivery person during delivery. As shown in Figure 2C, the user notification unit 17 displays a map image to the user that includes the location P4 of the vehicle V at the boarding point and the location P5 of the delivery person. The delivery status may also be the number or percentage of packages that have been delivered. As shown in Figure 2D, the user notification unit 17 displays an image to the user that includes the number of packages that have been delivered and the number of packages remaining. The delivery status may also be the time it takes for the delivery person to return to the vehicle V.

[0061] Furthermore, the user notification unit 17 may notify the user of completion information indicating that the collection and delivery of cargo has been completed when the collection and delivery of cargo is finished. In addition, the user notification unit 17 may notify the user of boarding availability information indicating that the vehicle is now available for boarding when the collection and delivery is completed.

[0062] Furthermore, if, after notifying the user of the collection and delivery completion time, the collection and delivery of cargo is canceled and the collection and delivery plan is changed to include other cargo that was scheduled to be collected and delivered at a later time at the boarding point, the user notification unit 17 may also notify the user of the revised collection and delivery completion time.

[0063] Here, an example of the dispatch management control process according to this embodiment will be explained using Figure 3. Figure 3 is a flowchart showing an example of the dispatch management control process performed by the dispatch management device 1.

[0064] In step S1 of Figure 3, the processor 10 determines whether or not it has received usage request information from the terminal device 2. If it determines that it has received usage request information, the processor 10 proceeds to step S2. If it determines that it has not received usage request information, the processor 10 returns to step S1 and repeats the following flow. In step S2, the processor 10 formulates a dispatch plan based on the usage request information, dispatch location information, and vehicle travel information. For example, the processor 10 determines the dispatch locations and the vehicles V to be dispatched to each dispatch location, calculates an operation plan that includes the travel route passing through each dispatch location and the dispatch time at each location, and formulates a dispatch plan that includes the operation plan.

[0065] In step S3, the processor 10 determines whether the pick-up point where the user boards the vehicle and the delivery point are the same location. If it determines that the pick-up point and the delivery point are the same location, the processor 10 proceeds to step S4. If it determines that the pick-up point and the delivery point are not the same location, the processor 10 proceeds to step S9.

[0066] In step S4, the processor 10 obtains the delivery plan. In step S5, the processor 10 calculates the delivery completion time. For example, the processor 10 calculates the vehicle arrival time when the vehicle arrives at the pick-up point and the delivery time required for the delivery of goods at the pick-up point, and adds the delivery time to the vehicle arrival time to calculate the delivery completion time. In step S6, the processor 10 calculates the user arrival time when the user arrives at the pick-up point. In step S7, the processor 10 determines whether the user arrival time is earlier than the delivery completion time. If it is determined that the user arrival time is earlier than the delivery completion time, the processor 10 proceeds to step S8. If it is determined that the user arrival time is not earlier than the delivery completion time, the processor 10 proceeds to step S9.

[0067] In step S8, the processor 10 notifies the user of the delivery completion time information, including the time of delivery completion. For example, the processor 10 generates a control command to notify the user of the delivery completion time information and transmits the control command to the terminal device 2. Upon receiving the control command, the terminal device 2 notifies the user of the delivery completion time information via the display unit 24. In step S9, the processor 10 notifies the user of the vehicle arrival time information. For example, the processor 10 calculates the vehicle arrival time when the vehicle arrives at the boarding point and transmits a control command to the terminal device 2 to notify the user of the vehicle arrival time information indicating the vehicle arrival time. Upon receiving the control command, the terminal device 2 notifies the user of the vehicle arrival time information via the display unit 24.

[0068] Furthermore, in this embodiment, if, after notifying the user of the collection and delivery completion time, the system receives cancellation information to cancel the collection and delivery of cargo, it may calculate the collection and delivery completion time if other cargo is included in the collection and delivery target, and if this is earlier than the collection and delivery completion time notified to the user, it may change the collection and delivery plan to include other cargo in the collection and delivery target. An example of the dispatch management control process after notifying the user of the collection and delivery completion time will be explained using Figure 4. Figure 4 is a flowchart of an example of the dispatch management control process executed by the dispatch management device 1. After notifying the user of the collection and delivery completion time, the dispatch management device 1 starts the control flow from step S11.

[0069] In step S11 of Figure 4, the processor 10 determines whether it has received cancellation information from terminal device 2 to cancel the collection and delivery of cargo. If it determines that it has received cancellation information, the processor 10 proceeds to step S12. If it determines that it has not received cancellation information, the processor 10 returns to step S11 and repeats the following flow. In step S12, the processor 10 determines whether there are other cargo scheduled for collection and delivery at a later time than the collection and delivery time in the initially scheduled collection and delivery plan. If it determines that there are other cargo scheduled for collection and delivery at a later time, the processor 10 proceeds to step S13. If it determines that there are no other cargo scheduled for collection and delivery at a later time, the processor 10 terminates the control flow.

[0070] In step S13, the processor 10 calculates the collection and delivery completion time when other cargo is included in the collection and delivery. In step S14, the processor 10 determines whether the collection and delivery completion time calculated in step S13 is earlier than the collection and delivery completion time notified to the user. If the processor 10 determines that the collection and delivery completion time calculated in step S13 is earlier than the collection and delivery completion time notified to the user, the processor 10 proceeds to step S15. In step S15, the processor 10 formulates a new collection and delivery plan that includes other cargo scheduled for collection and delivery at a later time, and changes the collection and delivery plan to the newly formulated plan. If the processor 10 determines that the collection and delivery completion time calculated in step S13 is not earlier than the collection and delivery completion time notified to the user, the processor 10 terminates the control flow.

[0071] As described above, this embodiment provides a dispatch management device equipped with a processor that dispatches vehicles based on a dispatch plan for transporting passengers and cargo. The processor, when the boarding point where a user boards a vehicle is the same as the collection and delivery point where cargo is collected and delivered, acquires a collection and delivery plan for cargo, calculates the time when cargo collection and delivery is completed at the boarding point based on the collection and delivery plan, and generates a control command that notifies the user of the collection and delivery completion time information before the user arrives at the boarding point. This makes it possible to shorten the waiting time for passengers at the boarding point when the vehicle driver collects and delivers cargo at the boarding point where the passengers board the vehicle.

[0072] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the processor calculates the estimated time of vehicle arrival when the vehicle arrives at the pick-up point, calculates the pick-up and delivery time required for cargo collection and delivery at the pick-up point based on the pick-up and delivery plan, and calculates the pick-up and delivery completion time based on the estimated time of vehicle arrival and the pick-up and delivery time. This makes it possible to calculate the time when cargo collection and delivery will be completed based on the time required for cargo collection and delivery at the pick-up point.

[0073] Furthermore, in this embodiment, if there are other users alighting from the vehicle at the boarding point, the processor calculates the time it takes for those other users to alight, and calculates the completion time of collection and delivery based on the scheduled vehicle arrival time, the alighting time, and the collection and delivery time. This makes it possible to calculate the time when the collection and delivery of cargo is completed, including the time it takes to get other users alighting at the boarding point.

[0074] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the processor calculates the completion time of collection and delivery based on at least one of the following pieces of information: delivery person information regarding the delivery person who collects and delivers the cargo, cargo information regarding the cargo, cart usage information regarding the use of carts when collecting and delivering cargo, environmental information of the boarding point, characteristic information of the boarding point, and past performance information regarding past performance of cargo collection and delivery at the boarding point. This makes it possible to calculate the time when cargo collection and delivery will be completed based on the actual conditions of the collection and delivery work.

[0075] Furthermore, in this embodiment, when the collection and delivery of cargo is completed, the processor generates a control command to notify the user of the completion of collection and delivery information and / or boarding availability information indicating that the vehicle is ready for boarding. This allows the user to know that the collection and delivery of cargo has been completed and that the vehicle is ready for boarding.

[0076] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the processor calculates the user's arrival time at the pickup location based on the user's location information and the pickup location information, calculates the time difference between the user's arrival time and the pickup / delivery completion time, and generates a control command to notify the user of the time difference information. This allows the user to understand how long the waiting time will be at the pickup location if they arrive at the pickup location on schedule.

[0077] The embodiments described above are provided to facilitate understanding of the present invention and are not intended to limit it. Therefore, each element disclosed in the above embodiments is intended to include all design modifications and equivalents that fall within the technical scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0078] 100... Dispatch management system 1… Dispatch management device 10… Processor 12…Service Request Reception Department 13… Dispatch Planning Department 14…Planning and Acquisition Department 15…Pickup and delivery completion time calculation unit 16… Dispatch Management Department 17...User notification section 18… Communications Department 11…Database 2…Terminal device 3…In-vehicle control device

Claims

1. A dispatch management device equipped with a processor that dispatches vehicles based on a dispatch plan for transporting passengers and cargo, The aforementioned processor, In the aforementioned dispatch plan, if the boarding point where the user boards the vehicle is the same as the collection and delivery point where the cargo is collected and delivered, the plan acquisition unit acquires the collection and delivery plan for the cargo. A collection and delivery completion time calculation unit calculates the collection and delivery completion time at the boarding point based on the collection and delivery plan, The system includes a user notification unit that generates a control command to notify the user of the collection and delivery completion time information indicating the collection and delivery completion time before the user arrives at the boarding location, The aforementioned collection and delivery completion time calculation unit: The vehicle arrival time at the boarding point is calculated. Based on the aforementioned delivery plan, the delivery time for the collection and delivery of the cargo at the boarding point is calculated. A dispatch management device that calculates the completion time of collection and delivery based on the vehicle arrival time and the collection and delivery time.

2. The aforementioned collection and delivery completion time calculation unit: If there are other users alighting from the vehicle at the aforementioned boarding point, the time required for those other users to alight is calculated. The dispatch management device according to claim 1, which calculates the time of completion of collection and delivery based on the time of arrival of the vehicle, the time of alighting, and the collection and delivery time.

3. The aforementioned collection and delivery completion time calculation unit: A dispatch management device according to claim 1 or 2, which calculates the time of completion of collection and delivery based on at least one of the following pieces of information: delivery person information relating to a delivery person who collects and delivers the cargo, cargo information relating to the cargo, cart usage information relating to the use of a cart when collecting and delivering the cargo, environmental information of the boarding point, characteristic information of the boarding point, and past performance information relating to past performance of collection and delivery of the cargo at the boarding point.

4. The dispatch management device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the user notification unit generates a control command to notify the user of the completion of the collection and delivery of the cargo and / or the availability of boarding information indicating that the vehicle is available for boarding when the collection and delivery of the cargo is completed.

5. The user notification unit, Based on the user's location information and the boarding location information, the user's arrival time at the boarding location is calculated. The time difference between the user's arrival time and the completion time of collection and delivery is calculated. The dispatch management device according to claim 1 or 2, which generates a control command to notify the user of the time difference information indicating the aforementioned time difference.

6. A dispatch management system comprising: a dispatch management device equipped with a processor that dispatches vehicles based on a dispatch plan for transporting passengers and cargo; and a terminal device capable of communicating with the dispatch management device, The aforementioned processor, In the aforementioned dispatch plan, if the boarding point where the user boards the vehicle is the same as the collection and delivery point where the cargo is collected and delivered, then the collection and delivery plan for the cargo is obtained. The vehicle arrival time at the boarding point is calculated. Based on the aforementioned delivery plan, the delivery time for the collection and delivery of the cargo at the boarding point is calculated. Based on the vehicle arrival time and the delivery time, the delivery completion time at the boarding point is calculated. A dispatch management system that transmits a control command to the terminal device to notify the user of the time of completion of collection and delivery, indicating the time of completion of collection and delivery, before the user arrives at the pick-up location.

7. A dispatch management method performed by a processor that dispatches vehicles based on a dispatch plan for transporting passengers and cargo, The aforementioned processor, In the aforementioned dispatch plan, if the boarding point where the user boards the vehicle is the same as the collection and delivery point where the cargo is collected and delivered, then the collection and delivery plan for the cargo is obtained. The vehicle arrival time at the boarding point is calculated. Based on the aforementioned delivery plan, the delivery time for the collection and delivery of the cargo at the boarding point is calculated. Based on the vehicle arrival time and the delivery time, the delivery completion time at the boarding point is calculated. A dispatch management method that generates a control command to notify the user of the completion time information indicating the time of completion of collection and delivery before the user arrives at the boarding location.

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