Information processing device and information processing method
The information processing device addresses the issue of suggesting rest stops based on destination congestion, providing timely guidance to avoid crowded facilities and ensure adequate rest opportunities.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK
- Filing Date
- 2023-02-22
- Publication Date
- 2026-05-26
AI Technical Summary
Conventional vehicle information systems fail to suggest rest stops based on congestion levels at the vehicle's destination, leading to potential delays and inadequate rest opportunities due to crowded facilities.
An information processing device that acquires destination congestion information and determines whether to output information about rest facilities along the route based on the destination's congestion level, travel time, and optionally road congestion, to guide occupants to appropriate rest stops.
The device effectively suggests rest stops before reaching a congested destination, ensuring timely breaks and reducing the likelihood of prolonged travel times and crowded facilities.
Smart Images
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Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present disclosure relates to a device that provides information to vehicle occupants.
Background Art
[0002] Numerous technologies for providing information to vehicle occupants are known. In this regard, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses a device that generates and outputs congestion information for each stop facility according to the distance from the driving position to the stop facility to vehicle occupants.
Prior Art Documents
Patent Documents
[0003]
Patent Document 1
Summary of the Invention
Problems to be Solved by the Invention
[0004] An object of the present disclosure is to make a proposal regarding rest to a driver of a vehicle according to the congestion situation of a destination.
Means for Solving the Problems
[0005] One aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure is an information processing device that provides information to an occupant of a vehicle in motion, the information processing device having a control unit that executes: acquiring destination congestion information, which is information regarding the degree of congestion of a destination of the vehicle; and determining whether to output information regarding a first rest facility, which is a rest facility existing between the driving position of the vehicle and the destination, based on the destination congestion information.
[0006] One aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure is An information processing method performed by an information processing device that provides information to the occupants of a moving vehicle, the method comprising: acquiring destination congestion information, which is information regarding the degree of congestion at the vehicle's destination; and determining, based on the destination congestion information, whether or not to output information regarding a first rest facility, which is a rest facility located between the vehicle's current position and the destination.
[0007] Other embodiments include a method performed by the above-mentioned device, a program for causing a computer to perform the method, or a computer-readable storage medium that non-temporarily stores the program. [Effects of the Invention]
[0008] According to this disclosure, it is possible to make suggestions to the vehicle driver regarding rest stops, depending on the congestion at the destination. [Brief explanation of the drawing]
[0009] [Figure 1] A diagram illustrating the concept of services provided by the information processing device according to the first to third embodiments. [Figure 2] A diagram illustrating the components of an information processing device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 3] A flowchart of the process executed by the control unit of the information processing device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4] A diagram illustrating the components of an information processing device according to the third embodiment. [Figure 5] A flowchart of the process executed by the control unit of the information processing device according to the third embodiment. [Figure 6] A flowchart of the process executed by the control unit of the information processing device according to a modified example of the third embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]
[0010] A device is known that provides the occupants of a moving vehicle with information about facilities located along the vehicle's planned route.
[0011] However, conventional devices suggest stops at facilities along the vehicle's planned route based on their congestion levels, but they do not suggest stops at facilities along the vehicle's planned route based on the congestion levels at the destination.
[0012] If the destination is congested, for example, restrooms and dining facilities may also be crowded, preventing crew members from getting sufficient rest, or causing delays beyond what was anticipated. In such cases, it is advisable for crew members to take a break at a facility before reaching the destination, rather than at the congested destination itself.
[0013] For example, consider a vehicle heading towards a commercial facility. If the commercial facility is crowded and there are waiting times to use facilities such as restrooms, it may take extra time for the occupants to actually take a break after arriving at the destination. In this case, there is a need for the occupants to take a break in advance at a rest facility such as a parking area located along the route to the commercial facility. Therefore, it is desirable for the information device that provides information to the occupants to take into account the congestion situation at the destination and guide them to facilities along the vehicle's planned route before arriving at the destination. The information processing device disclosed herein solves such problems.
[0014] An information processing device according to one aspect of the present disclosure is an information processing device that provides information to the occupants of a moving vehicle, and includes a control unit that performs the following: acquiring destination congestion information, which is information regarding the degree of congestion at the vehicle's destination; and determining whether or not to output information regarding a first rest facility, which is a rest facility located between the vehicle's current position and the destination, based on the destination congestion information.
[0015] The destination congestion level is a value indicating the congestion condition of the destination towards which the vehicle occupants are heading. The destination congestion level may be, for example, the vacancy rate of a parking lot at the destination or the utilization rate of facilities such as toilets. Here, the vacancy rate of the parking lot is the ratio of the spaces in the parking lot where vehicles can park but are not parked. The utilization rate of the facility is the ratio of the facilities (such as private rooms in toilets or seats in rest spaces) that are available but are occupied by users. These data may be provided by an external vendor and acquired by the information processing device.
[0016] The control unit switches whether to output information regarding a first rest facility, which is a rest facility existing between the vehicle's traveling position and the destination, according to the destination congestion level. That is, the control unit may switch whether to propose to the occupants to stop at the first rest facility according to the destination congestion level. Note that the traveling position refers to the position where the vehicle is currently traveling.
[0017] According to such a configuration, the information processing device can propose to the occupants to stop at facilities on the vehicle's planned route or the like during travel according to the congestion situation of the destination.
[0018] Further, the control unit calculates a travel time, which is the time required to move from a second rest facility, which is the last rest facility used by the occupants, to the destination, and when the destination congestion level is equal to or higher than a first threshold value and the travel time is equal to or longer than a predetermined time, the control unit may output information proposing to stop at the first rest facility. Thereby, for example, it can be expected to suppress the situation where the time between the last rest taken by the occupants and the next rest becomes too long in the proposal to stop at facilities on the vehicle's planned route or the like. Also, when the occupants are continuing to drive for a long time, it is possible to guide the occupants to take a rest at a more appropriate timing.
[0019] Further, the control unit may acquire a road congestion level, which is the degree of road congestion from the running position of the vehicle to the destination, and calculate the travel time based at least in part on the road congestion level. For example, in a proposal to stop at a facility on the planned route of a vehicle, the information processing device may take into account not only the distance to the destination but also the road congestion level when calculating the travel time. Thereby, it can be expected to calculate a travel time close to the actual required time.
[0020] Further, when a first congestion level indicating the degree of congestion of the first rest facility is greater than or equal to a second threshold value, the control unit searches for another rest facility different from the first rest facility that exists between the running position of the vehicle and the destination, and may output information regarding the searched other rest facility. For example, the information processing device may avoid a congested rest facility and guide a less congested rest facility. Thereby, it can be expected to encourage the passengers to take a smooth rest.
[0021] Further, when the destination is a facility, the control unit may determine whether to output information regarding the first rest facility based further on genre information, which is information representing the genre of the facility. For example, the information processing device may avoid proposing a rest facility whose genre is the same as the destination and make the proposal. Thereby, it can be expected to encourage the passengers to take a rest at a more appropriate facility.
[0022] Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the present disclosure will be described based on 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 without specific description.
[0023] (First Embodiment) An overview of the information processing device according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to Figure 1. Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating the concept of services provided by the information processing devices according to the first to third embodiments. The information processing device 100 according to this embodiment provides information to the occupants via an in-vehicle terminal 200 mounted on the vehicle 10. The information processing device 100 may be installed outside the vehicle 10 and connected wirelessly to the in-vehicle terminal 200, or it may be mounted on the vehicle 10 and connected to the in-vehicle terminal 200 by wire.
[0024] In this example, we assume that vehicle 10 is traveling on a road towards destination 30. Two methods can be exemplified by the information processing device 100 for suggesting a stop at a rest facility. The first method is to provide information about a first rest facility 20, which is a rest facility located between the vehicle's current position and the destination 30, based on destination congestion information, which is information about the degree of congestion at the destination 30. Specifically, if the destination congestion level is above a first threshold, the information processing device 100 outputs information via the in-vehicle terminal 200 suggesting a stop at the first rest facility 20. In other words, if the destination 30 is congested, the information processing device 100 decides to output information suggesting a stop at the first rest facility 20, which is located before the destination 30.
[0025] The second method involves calculating the travel time, which is the time required for the crew to travel from the second rest facility 40, the last rest facility they used, to the destination 30, and providing information about the first rest facility 20 if the destination congestion level is above a first threshold and the travel time is above a predetermined time. In other words, the information processing device 100 decides to output information suggesting that the crew stop at the first rest facility 20, which is located before the destination 30, if the destination 30 is congested and it will take a long time before the crew can take their next rest.
[0026] In this embodiment, the information processing device 100 provides information by the second method described above. However, the information processing device 100 can also provide information by the first method described above.
[0027] Next, we will describe in detail each element that makes up the system. Figure 2 is a diagram illustrating the components of the information processing device 100 according to the first embodiment. The information processing device 100 according to this embodiment includes a control unit 110, a storage unit 120, and a communication unit 130. The information processing device 100 communicates wirelessly with an in-vehicle terminal 200 mounted on a vehicle 10 and outputs information via the in-vehicle terminal 200.
[0028] The control unit 110 is implemented using a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) and memory. The control unit 110 includes, as functional modules, an acquisition unit 111, a determination unit 112, a calculation unit 113, and an output unit 114. These functional modules may be implemented by executing a program using the control unit 110.
[0029] The acquisition unit 111 acquires destination congestion information, which is information regarding the degree of congestion at the destination 30 of the vehicle 10. As described above, the destination congestion is a value that indicates the degree of congestion at the destination 30 that the occupants of the vehicle 10 are heading to. For example, it may be the vacancy rate of the parking lot at the destination 30 or the utilization rate of toilets, dining spaces, etc. The acquisition unit 111 may also acquire data representing the destination congestion from an external vendor.
[0030] The determination unit 112 determines, based on destination congestion information and travel time, whether or not to output information about the first rest facility 20, which is a rest facility located between the vehicle's current location and the destination 30. In this embodiment, travel time is the time required for the crew to travel from the last rest facility they used to the destination 30. Travel time can be obtained from the calculation unit 113, which will be described later. Specifically, the determination unit 112 determines that if the destination congestion level is above a first threshold and the travel time is above a predetermined time, it will output information to the in-vehicle terminal 200 suggesting that the vehicle stop at the first rest facility 20.
[0031] The calculation unit 113 calculates the aforementioned travel time, that is, the time required to travel from the second rest facility 40, which is the last rest facility used by the crew, to the destination 30. The calculation unit 113 may calculate the travel time based on the distance from the second rest facility 40 to the destination 30. Alternatively, the calculation unit 113 may calculate the travel time as the length of time from the departure time from the rest facility where the crew took their last rest to the estimated arrival time at the destination 30. The calculation unit 113 transmits the calculated travel time to the determination unit 112.
[0032] Furthermore, when calculating travel time, the calculation unit 113 also performs the process of identifying the second rest facility 40, which is the facility where the crew last rested, from among multiple rest facilities. Specifically, the calculation unit 113 uses the information on multiple rest facilities acquired by the acquisition unit 111 and the driving data of the vehicle 10. Based on this information, as well as route information, it is determined which of the multiple rest facilities the second rest facility 40 was.
[0033] The second rest facility 40 does not necessarily have to be a facility intended for rest, as long as it allows for a suspension of operations. Also, if the crew has not taken a rest along the route, the calculation unit 113 may treat the departure point of the vehicle 10 as the second rest facility 40.
[0034] The output unit 114 sends an instruction to the in-vehicle terminal 200 to output information suggesting a stop at the first rest facility 20. More specifically, the output unit 114 outputs information suggesting a stop at the first rest facility 20 when the determination unit 112 determines that it should output information regarding the first rest facility 20. Specifically, the output unit 114 may cause the in-vehicle terminal 200 to output information suggesting a stop at the first rest facility 20.
[0035] The memory unit 120 is a main memory device such as RAM or ROM, an EPROM, a hard disk drive, and an auxiliary memory device such as removable media. The auxiliary memory device stores the operating system (OS), various programs, various tables, etc., and by executing the programs stored therein, each function that matches the predetermined purpose of each part of the control unit 110 can be realized. However, some or all of the functions may be realized by hardware circuits such as ASICs or FPGAs.
[0036] The storage unit 120 stores data used or generated in the processing performed by the control unit 110. The storage unit 120 may also store map data acquired by the acquisition unit 111 from an external device, or data such as destination congestion levels.
[0037] The communication unit 130 is composed of a communication circuit that performs wireless communication. The communication unit 130 may be, for example, a communication circuit that performs wireless communication using 4G (4th Generation), or a communication circuit that performs wireless communication using 5G (5th Generation). Alternatively, the communication unit 130 may be a communication circuit that performs wireless communication using LTE (Long Term Evolution), or LPWA (Low Power Wide Area). The communication circuit may perform communication using Area. Alternatively, the communication unit 130 may be a communication circuit that performs wireless communication using Wi-Fi (registered trademark). Furthermore, the communication unit 130 may include a wired communication circuit, and may communicate with, for example, an in-vehicle terminal 200 connected to the communication unit 130 by a wire.
[0038] Next, we will describe devices other than the information processing device 100. The in-vehicle terminal 200 is typically a terminal that provides information to the occupants of the vehicle 10, such as a car navigation system. The in-vehicle terminal 200 may be implemented as a smartphone or tablet. The control unit 210 of the in-vehicle terminal 200 is implemented with a processor such as a CPU or GPU and memory. The control unit 210 implements the following functions. These functional modules may be implemented by executing a program by the control unit 210.
[0039] When the control unit 210 receives an instruction from the information processing device 100 to output information suggesting a stop at the first rest facility 20, it outputs a screen showing the information on the display 240. The control unit 210 may also output audio from the audio output unit indicating the content of the information received from the information processing device 100. The control unit 210 also periodically transmits probe information (such as the location information or speed of the vehicle 10) to the information processing device 100.
[0040] The memory unit 220 is a main memory device such as RAM or ROM, an EPROM, a hard disk drive, and an auxiliary storage device such as removable media. The operating system (OS), various programs, various tables, etc., are stored there, and by executing the programs stored there, each function of the control unit 110 that matches the predetermined purpose of each part can be realized. However, some or all of the functions may be realized by hardware circuits such as ASICs or FPGAs.
[0041] The storage unit 220 stores data used or generated in the processing performed by the control unit 210.
[0042] The communication unit 230 is composed of a communication circuit that performs wireless communication. The communication unit 230 may be, for example, a communication circuit that performs wireless communication using 4G, or a communication circuit that performs wireless communication using 5G. The communication unit 130 may be a communication circuit that performs wireless communication using LTE, or a communication circuit that performs communication using LPWA. The communication unit 230 may also be a communication circuit that performs wireless communication using Wi-Fi (registered trademark). The communication unit 230 may also include a wired communication circuit, and may communicate with an information processing device 100, etc., that is connected to the communication unit 230 by a wire.
[0043] The display 240 is a display device that outputs information received from the information processing device 100. Specifically, the display 240 receives instructions from the control unit 210 of the in-vehicle terminal 200 and outputs the information received from the information processing device 100. The display 240 may be a touch panel display, an organic EL (Electro-Luminescence) display, or a liquid crystal display.
[0044] Note that the configuration shown in Figure 2 is just one example, and all or part of the illustrated functions may be performed using specially designed circuits. Furthermore, program storage and execution may be performed using combinations of main memory and auxiliary memory other than those shown.
[0045] Next, the specific details of the processing performed by the information processing device 100 will be explained. Figure 3 is a flowchart of the processing performed by the control unit 110 of the information processing device 100 according to the first embodiment. The illustrated processing is repeatedly performed while the vehicle 10 is in motion. Before step S11 is started, the vehicle 10 is assumed to be in motion toward the destination 30. Being in motion toward the destination 30 means being in motion toward the destination 30, and includes being temporarily stopped at a traffic light or the like.
[0046] First, in step S11, the acquisition unit 111 acquires destination congestion information. Destination congestion information is information regarding the degree of congestion at the destination. As mentioned above, the degree of congestion at the destination is a value that indicates the degree of congestion at the destination 30 to which the vehicle 10 is heading. For example, the acquisition unit 111 may access an external server or the like and acquire destination congestion information provided therein.
[0047] Next, in step S12, the calculation unit 113 identifies the second rest facility 40, which is the last facility where the vehicle took a break. The calculation unit 113 may determine the second rest facility 40 based on the vehicle's driving history and information about multiple rest facilities. Information about multiple rest facilities may be stored in the storage unit 120 or provided by an external server.
[0048] Next, in step S13, the calculation unit 113 calculates the travel time, which is the time required for the occupants of the vehicle 10 to travel from the second rest facility 40, which is the last rest facility they used, to the destination 30. The calculation unit 113 calculates the distance from the second rest facility 40 to the destination 30 based on pre-stored map data, location information of individual rest facilities, or location information of the second rest facility 40 and the destination 30 obtained from an external server, etc. The calculation unit 113 may then calculate the travel time based on the calculated distance.
[0049] Next, in step S14, the determination unit 112 determines whether the destination congestion level is equal to or greater than the first threshold. If the determination unit 112 determines that the destination congestion level is equal to or greater than the first threshold, this step results in a positive determination.
[0050] If the result in step S14 is positive, the process proceeds to step S15.
[0051] If the result in step S14 is negative, the process terminates.
[0052] If the process proceeds to step S15, the determination unit 112 determines whether the travel time, which is the time required for the occupants of the vehicle 10 to travel from the second rest facility 40 (the last rest facility they used) to the destination 30, is equal to or greater than a predetermined time. If the determination unit 112 determines that the travel time is equal to or greater than a predetermined time, this step results in a positive determination.
[0053] If the result in step S15 is positive, the process proceeds to step S16.
[0054] If the result in step S15 is negative, the process terminates.
[0055] If the process proceeds to step S16, the determination unit 112 determines to output information about a first rest facility 20, which is a rest facility located between the vehicle's current location (i.e., current location) and the destination 30. Specifically, the determination unit 112 identifies the first rest facility 20 and determines to output information suggesting a stop at that rest facility. The output unit 114 then sends an instruction to the in-vehicle terminal 200 to output information suggesting a stop at the first rest facility 20.
[0056] Upon receiving an instruction from the output unit 114 to output information suggesting a stop at the first rest facility 20, the control unit 210 of the in-vehicle terminal 200 causes the display 240 to output information suggesting a stop at the first rest facility 20. In other words, the display 240 displays information suggesting a stop at the first rest facility 20.
[0057] In Figure 3, an example is shown in which the determination unit 112 makes a determination regarding both destination congestion and travel time. However, the determination unit 112 may only make a determination regarding destination congestion and not travel time. Specifically, the determination unit 112 may decide to output information regarding the first rest facility 20 if it determines that the destination congestion is equal to or greater than a first threshold. In other words, the determination unit 112 may decide to output information suggesting a stop at the first rest facility 20 if it determines that the destination congestion is equal to or greater than a first threshold. The output unit 114 may then send an instruction to the in-vehicle terminal 200 to output information suggesting a stop at the first rest facility 20. In this case, the processing in steps S13 and S15 may be omitted.
[0058] (Second Embodiment) In the first embodiment, the information processing device 100 switched whether or not to output information about the first rest facility 20 based on the destination congestion level, which represents the level of congestion at the destination 30, and the travel time from the second rest facility 40 to the destination 30. Specifically, the information processing device 100 output information suggesting a stop at the first rest facility 20 when the destination congestion level was above a first threshold and the travel time was above a predetermined time.
[0059] One of the purposes of this disclosure is to ensure that the time it takes for the occupants of vehicle 10 to take a break does not become too long, and to allow them to take a break at an appropriate time. Therefore, in order to provide more accurate guidance, it is preferable to take into account the actual traffic congestion on the road when calculating the travel time.
[0060] The second embodiment is one in which, in order to address this, the information processing device 100 calculates the travel time based on the road congestion status.
[0061] In the second embodiment, the calculation unit 113 calculates the travel time, which is the time required for the occupants of the vehicle 10 to travel from the second rest facility 40, which is the last rest facility used by the occupants of the vehicle 10, to the destination 30, using the road congestion level, which is the degree of road congestion from the vehicle 10's current location to the destination 30. For example, the calculation unit 113 may calculate a longer travel time if the road congestion level is high, that is, if the road is congested.
[0062] Here, the road congestion level is a value that indicates the degree of congestion on the road from the vehicle's position to the destination 30. For example, the road congestion level may be an index calculated based on the number of vehicles traveling per unit distance, or it may be an index calculated based on the speed at which vehicles can travel on the road from the vehicle's position to the destination 30. The road congestion level may be a value that increases as the volume of traffic passing through the road increases.
[0063] By performing the above operations, the calculation unit 113 can calculate a travel time that is closer to the actual time. The information processing device 100 can then provide passengers with more accurate information about rest facilities.
[0064] In this embodiment, the acquisition unit 111 is configured to further acquire road congestion levels. The acquisition unit 111 accesses an external server or the like to acquire the provided road congestion levels.
[0065] In the first embodiment, destination congestion and travel time were used to determine whether or not to output information regarding the first rest facility 20. In the second embodiment, destination congestion and travel time are used to determine whether or not to output information regarding the first rest facility 20, but in addition to this, road congestion, which is the degree of road congestion from the vehicle's position to the destination 30, is also used to calculate the travel time.
[0066] In the second embodiment, the following process is performed in step S13 of the first embodiment (Figure 3). The processes in the other steps are the same as in the first embodiment.
[0067] First, the acquisition unit 111 acquires the road congestion level. The acquisition unit 111 accesses an external server or the like and acquires information about the road congestion level that is provided.
[0068] Next, the calculation unit 113 calculates the travel time, which is the time required for the occupants of the vehicle 10 to travel from the second rest facility 40, which was the last rest facility used by the occupants of the vehicle 10, to the destination 30, using the road congestion level. For example, the calculation unit 113 may calculate the travel time using the road congestion level in addition to the distance to the destination 30, as used in the first embodiment. For example, the calculation unit 113 may calculate the average speed based on the road congestion level and then calculate the travel time using the calculated average speed and distance.
[0069] (Third embodiment) In the first embodiment, the information processing device 100 switched whether or not to output information about the first rest facility 20 based on the destination congestion level, which represents the level of congestion at the destination 30, and the travel time from the second rest facility 40 to the destination 30. Specifically, the information processing device 100 output information suggesting a stop at the first rest facility 20 when the destination congestion level was above a first threshold and the travel time was above a predetermined time.
[0070] However, if the first rest area 20, which is the subject of the proposal, is crowded, the crew will propose Even if the crew stops at the designated first rest facility 20, they may not be able to get enough rest or take a rest within the allotted time. Therefore, it is preferable that the information processing device 100 considers not only the congestion level of the destination 30 but also the congestion level of the first rest facility 20 to guide the crew to stop at an appropriate rest facility.
[0071] The third embodiment is one in which, in order to address this, the information processing device 100 switches between suggesting a stop at the first rest facility 20 or suggesting a stop at another facility, based on the congestion status of the first rest facility 20.
[0072] Figure 4 is a diagram illustrating the components of the information processing device 100A according to the third embodiment. The control unit 110A of the information processing device 100A in the third embodiment includes a search unit 115 in addition to the components of the information processing device 100 in the first and second embodiments.
[0073] The search unit 115 searches for other rest facilities different from the first rest facility 20 that are located between the vehicle's current location and the destination 30, if the first congestion level, which indicates the degree of congestion at the first rest facility 20, is equal to or greater than the second threshold. Specifically, the search unit 115 may select an appropriate rest facility from information on multiple rest facilities pre-stored in the storage unit 120, based on the vehicle's current location and the location information of the destination 30. For example, the search unit 115 may select another rest facility closest to the first rest facility 20 if the first congestion level corresponding to the first rest facility 20 is equal to or greater than the second threshold.
[0074] In the third embodiment, the determination unit 112 determines whether the first level of congestion corresponding to the first rest facility 20 is equal to or greater than the second threshold. In other words, the determination unit 112 determines whether the first rest facility 20 is more crowded than a predetermined state.
[0075] In the third embodiment, the acquisition unit 111 accesses an external server or the like to acquire information regarding the first congestion level that is provided.
[0076] In the first embodiment, the only rest facility suggested for a visit was the first rest facility 20. In contrast, in the third embodiment, based on a first congestion level indicating the degree of congestion at the first rest facility 20, the system switches between outputting information suggesting a visit to the first rest facility 20 or information suggesting a visit to another rest facility.
[0077] Figure 5 is a flowchart of the process executed by the control unit 110A of the information processing device 100A according to the third embodiment. The process in this flowchart is executed following step S15 of the first embodiment (Figure 3).
[0078] In step S21, the acquisition unit 111 identifies the first rest facility 20 and acquires a first congestion level indicating the degree of congestion at the first rest facility 20. The first congestion level may be, for example, the vacancy rate of the parking lot at the first rest facility 20 or the utilization rate of rest facilities such as toilets. The acquisition unit 111 accesses an external server or the like and acquires the provided first congestion level.
[0079] In step S22, the determination unit 112 determines whether the first level of congestion corresponding to the first rest facility 20 is equal to or greater than the second threshold. If the determination unit 112 determines that the first level of congestion is equal to or greater than the second threshold, this step is a positive determination.
[0080] If step S22 results in a positive outcome, the process proceeds to step S23.
[0081] If step S22 results in a negative outcome, the process proceeds to step S25.
[0082] If the process proceeds to step S23, the search unit 115 searches for other rest facilities different from the first rest facility 20 that are located between the vehicle's current position and the destination 30. At this time, the search unit 115 takes into account the location information and congestion level of the other rest facilities and selects a rest facility as the other rest facility where the occupants of the vehicle 10 can take a rest at an appropriate time.
[0083] Next, in step S24, the determination unit 112 determines to output information about other rest facilities that have been searched. That is, the determination unit 112 determines to send an instruction to the in-vehicle terminal 200 to the output unit 114 to output information suggesting a stop at other rest facilities. At this time, the determination unit 112 does not determine to send an instruction to the in-vehicle terminal 200 to the output unit 114 to output information suggesting a stop at the first rest facility 20.
[0084] Upon receiving an instruction from the output unit 114 to output information suggesting a stop at another rest facility, the control unit 210 of the in-vehicle terminal 200 causes the display 240 to output information suggesting a stop at another rest facility. In other words, the display 240 displays information suggesting a stop at another rest facility.
[0085] If the process proceeds to step S25, the determination unit 112 determines to output information regarding the first rest facility 20. In other words, the determination unit 112 determines to send an instruction to the in-vehicle terminal 200 to the output unit 114 to output information suggesting a stop at the first rest facility 20.
[0086] Upon receiving an instruction from the output unit 114 to output information suggesting a stop at the first rest facility 20, the control unit 210 of the in-vehicle terminal 200 causes the display 240 to output information suggesting a stop at the first rest facility 20. In other words, the display 240 displays information suggesting a stop at the first rest facility 20.
[0087] (Modified version of the third embodiment) In the third embodiment, the system switches between suggesting a visit to the first rest facility 20 or suggesting a visit to another facility depending on a first congestion level indicating the degree of congestion at the first rest facility 20. In contrast, in a modified version of the third embodiment, the system switches between suggesting a visit to the first rest facility 20 or suggesting a visit to another facility depending not on the first congestion level, but on information indicating the genre of the first rest facility 20.
[0088] In this modified example, the acquisition unit 111 is configured to acquire genre information representing the genre of the first rest facility 20. The genre of the first rest facility 20 may be information indicating the genre (category) of use of the first rest facility 20, such as a commercial facility or a parking area. The acquisition unit 111 may also access an external server or the like to acquire the genre information provided.
[0089] The determination unit 112 determines whether or not to output information about the first rest facility 20 based on the genre of the first rest facility 20 acquired by the acquisition unit 111. For example, the determination unit 112 may determine to output information about the first rest facility 20 if it determines that the genre of the first rest facility 20 belongs to a predetermined genre.
[0090] Here, the specified genre can be, for example, a different genre from the genre to which the destination 30 belongs if the destination 30 is a facility. In this case, it is possible to prevent a facility belonging to the same genre as the destination 30 from being proposed as a rest facility. Alternatively, the specified genre could be a small commercial facility such as a convenience store or supermarket. This is also acceptable. In this case, a facility that allows for smooth rest without waiting time can be proposed as a rest facility. The designated genre may be anything other than those specified. For example, the designated genre may be determined based on the preferences of the occupants of vehicle 10.
[0091] If the determination unit 112 determines that the genre of the first rest facility 20 is a predetermined genre, it may determine to send an instruction to the output unit 114 to output information suggesting a stop at the first rest facility 20 to the in-vehicle terminal 200. Alternatively, if the determination unit 112 determines that the genre of the first rest facility 20 is not a predetermined genre, it may not determine to send an instruction to the output unit 114 to output information suggesting a stop at the first rest facility 20 to the in-vehicle terminal 200.
[0092] If the genre of the first rest facility 20 is not a predetermined genre, the search unit 115 searches for other rest facilities different from the first rest facility 20 that exist between the vehicle's current location and the destination 30.
[0093] Figure 6 is a flowchart of the process executed by the control unit 110A of the information processing device 100A according to a modified example of the third embodiment. The process in this flowchart is executed following step S15 of the first embodiment (Figure 3).
[0094] In step S31, the acquisition unit 111 identifies the first rest facility 20 and acquires genre information indicating the genre of the first rest facility 20. The genre information may be, for example, information indicating the use of the first rest facility 20, such as a commercial facility or a parking area. The acquisition unit 111 accesses an external server or the like and acquires the genre information provided.
[0095] In step S32, the determination unit 112 determines whether the genre of the first rest facility 20 is a predetermined genre. If the determination unit 112 determines that the genre of the first rest facility 20 is a predetermined genre, this step is an affirmative determination.
[0096] If step S32 results in a positive outcome, the process proceeds to step S35.
[0097] If step S32 results in a negative outcome, the process proceeds to step S33.
[0098] When the process transitions to step S33, the search unit 115 searches for other rest facilities different from the first rest facility 20 that are located between the vehicle's current position and the destination 30. At this time, the search unit 115 takes into account the location information and congestion level of the other rest facilities and selects a rest facility as the other rest facility where the occupants can take a rest at an appropriate time.
[0099] Next, in step S34, the determination unit 112 determines to output information about other rest facilities that have been searched. That is, the determination unit 112 determines to send an instruction to the output unit 114 to output information suggesting a stop at other rest facilities. At this time, the determination unit 112 does not determine to send an instruction to the output unit 114 to output information suggesting a stop at the first rest facility 20.
[0100] Upon receiving an instruction from the output unit 114 to output information suggesting a stop at another rest facility, the control unit 210 of the in-vehicle terminal 200 causes the display 240 to output information suggesting a stop at another rest facility. In other words, the display 240 displays information suggesting a stop at another rest facility.
[0101] If the process proceeds to step S35, the determination unit 112 determines the first rest facility 20 The determination unit 112 determines that it will output information. In other words, the determination unit 112 determines that it will send an instruction to the in-vehicle terminal 200 to the output unit 114 to output information suggesting a stop at the first rest facility 20.
[0102] Upon receiving an instruction from the output unit 114 to output information suggesting a stop at the first rest facility 20, the control unit 210 of the in-vehicle terminal 200 causes the display 240 to output information suggesting a stop at the first rest facility 20. In other words, the display 240 displays information suggesting a stop at the first rest facility 20.
[0103] (modified version) The embodiments described above are merely examples, and this disclosure may be modified as appropriate without departing from its essence. For example, the processes and means described in this disclosure can be freely combined and implemented, as long as no technical inconsistencies arise.
[0104] Furthermore, a process described as being performed by a single device may be divided and executed by multiple devices. Conversely, a process described as being performed by different devices may be executed by a single device. In a computer system, the hardware configuration (server configuration) by which each function is implemented can be flexibly changed.
[0105] The present disclosure can also be realized by supplying a computer program implementing the functions described in the embodiments above to a computer, and having one or more processors in the computer read and execute the program. Such a computer program may be provided to the computer by a non-temporary computer-readable storage medium that can be connected to the computer's system bus, or it may be provided to the computer via a network. Non-temporary computer-readable storage mediums include, for example, any type of disk such as magnetic disks (floppy disks, hard disk drives (HDDs), etc.), optical disks (CD-ROMs, DVDs, Blu-ray discs, etc.), read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), EPROM, EEPROM, magnetic cards, flash memory, optical cards, and any type of medium suitable for storing electronic instructions. [Explanation of Symbols]
[0106] 10.. Vehicles 20. First rest area 30...destination 40...Second rest area 100... Information Processing Device 110, 210... Control Unit 111...Acquisition part 112...Judgment section 113...Calculation Department Output section of 114... 115... Search section 120, 220...Storage section 130, 230... Communications Department 200...In-vehicle terminals 240... Display
Claims
1. An information processing device that provides information to the occupants of a moving vehicle, To obtain destination congestion information, which is information regarding the degree of congestion at the destination of the aforementioned vehicle, Based on the aforementioned destination congestion information, it is determined whether or not to output information regarding a first rest facility, which is a rest facility located between the vehicle's current location and the destination. It has a control unit that performs the following: The control unit, The travel time is calculated as the time required to travel from the second rest facility, which is the last rest facility used by the crew, to the destination. If the congestion level at the destination is equal to or greater than a first threshold, and the travel time is equal to or greater than a predetermined time, information suggesting a stop at the first rest facility is output. Information processing device.
2. The control unit, The degree of road congestion, which is the degree of road congestion from the vehicle's current location to the destination, is obtained. The travel time is calculated based in part on the aforementioned road congestion level. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1.
3. The control unit, If the first congestion level, which indicates the degree of congestion at the first rest facility, is equal to or greater than the second threshold, the system searches for other rest facilities different from the first rest facility that exist between the vehicle's current location and the destination. Output information about the other rest facilities found through the search. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1.
4. The control unit, If the aforementioned destination is a facility, the genre information, which is information representing the genre of the facility, Furthermore, based on this, it is determined whether or not to output information regarding the first rest facility. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1.
5. An information processing device that provides information to the occupants of a moving vehicle, To obtain destination congestion information, which is information regarding the degree of congestion at the destination of the aforementioned vehicle, Based on the aforementioned destination congestion information, it is determined whether or not to output information regarding a first rest facility, which is a rest facility located between the vehicle's current location and the destination. It has a control unit that performs the following: The control unit, If the destination is a facility, the system determines whether or not to output information about the first rest facility based on genre information, which is information representing the genre of the facility. Information processing device.
6. An information processing method performed by an information processing device that provides information to the occupants of a moving vehicle, To obtain destination congestion information, which is information regarding the degree of congestion at the destination of the aforementioned vehicle, Based on the aforementioned destination congestion information, it is determined whether or not to output information regarding a first rest facility, which is a rest facility located between the vehicle's current location and the destination. Includes, The travel time is calculated as the time required to travel from the second rest facility, which is the last rest facility used by the crew, to the destination. If the congestion level at the destination is equal to or greater than a first threshold, and the travel time is equal to or greater than a predetermined time, information suggesting a stop at the first rest facility is output. Information processing methods.
7. An information processing method performed by an information processing device that provides information to the occupants of a moving vehicle, To obtain destination congestion information, which is information regarding the degree of congestion at the destination of the aforementioned vehicle, Based on the aforementioned destination congestion information, it is determined whether or not to output information regarding a first rest facility, which is a rest facility located between the vehicle's current location and the destination. Includes, If the destination is a facility, the system determines whether or not to output information about the first rest facility based on genre information, which is information representing the genre of the facility. Information processing methods.