Vehicle allocation control device, vehicle allocation system, and information provision method

Abstract

A vehicle allocation control device (10) performs: a process (S1) for receiving information regarding a pick-up point and a destination of a user; a process (S5, S6) for generating or acquiring first route information that indicates a planned travel route along which a vehicle will travel from the pick-up point to the destination; a process (S9) for generating second route information that has less information regarding waypoints in the planned travel route than the first route information, and indicates the planned travel route in a different representational format from the first route information; and a process (S10) for displaying the second route information on a first terminal device used by the user.

Description

Vehicle allocation control device, vehicle allocation system, and information provision method

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle dispatch control device, a vehicle dispatch system, and an information providing method.

[0002] Patent Document 1 proposes a technology for transmitting a vehicle's driving route to a user's terminal device and displaying the driving route.

[0003] International Publication No. 2019 / 082774

[0004] In the technology described in Patent Document 1, if the planned driving route presented to the vehicle user differs from the route the vehicle is actually traveling, the user may feel uncomfortable because they realize that the vehicle is traveling on a route different from the planned driving route.The present invention aims to prevent the user from feeling uncomfortable about the presented information on the planned driving route when information on the vehicle's planned driving route is presented to the vehicle user.

[0005] According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vehicle dispatch control device that dispatches vehicles to users for providing mobility services. The vehicle dispatch control device includes a controller that executes the following processes: receiving information on a user's boarding point and destination; generating or acquiring first route information representing a planned driving route for the vehicle to travel from the boarding point to the destination; generating second route information representing the planned driving route in a format different from that of the first route information, with the amount of information on waypoints of the planned driving route reduced compared to the first route information; and displaying the second route information on a first terminal device used by the user.

[0006] According to the present invention, when information about a planned driving route of a vehicle is presented to a vehicle user, it is possible to prevent the user from feeling uncomfortable about the presented information about the planned driving route.

[0007] It is a schematic configuration diagram of an example of a vehicle dispatch system of an embodiment. (a) is a schematic diagram of an example of planned driving route information, and (b) is a schematic diagram of an example of route information for users. It is a flowchart of an example of an information providing method of a first embodiment. It is a schematic diagram of an example of route information for drivers. It is a flowchart of an example of an information providing method of a second embodiment.

[0008] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the drawings are schematic and may differ from the actual product. Furthermore, the embodiments of the present invention shown below are examples of devices and methods for embodying the technical concept of the present invention, and the technical concept of the present invention does not limit the structure, arrangement, etc. of component parts to those described below. The technical concept of the present invention can be modified in various ways within the technical scope defined by the claims.

[0009] (First embodiment) (Configuration) Fig. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an example of a vehicle dispatch system according to an embodiment. The vehicle dispatch system 1 according to the embodiment is a system that dispatches a vehicle in response to a vehicle dispatch request made by a user requesting vehicle dispatch, and provides a vehicle-based mobility service. The vehicle dispatch system 1 includes a vehicle dispatch control device 10, a first terminal device 20 used by a user of the mobility service provided by the vehicle dispatch system 1, and a plurality of vehicles 30 used to provide the mobility service. The vehicle dispatch control device 10 includes a controller 11, a communication device 12, a reservation information database 13, a POI (Point Of Interest) information database 14, and a history information database 15. In the drawings, databases are abbreviated as "DB."

[0010] The controller 11 is, for example, a microcomputer, and receives reservation requests for mobility services using vehicles 30 from users, performs vehicle dispatch processing to allocate vehicles 30 for use by the users, and provides information about the mobility services to the users. The processing by the controller 11 will be described later. The communication device 12 provides a communication function between the vehicle dispatch control device 10 and external devices. The communication method used by the communication device 12 may be, for example, wired communication or wireless communication via a public mobile communication network, satellite communication, road-to-vehicle communication with the vehicle 30, etc. The vehicle dispatch control device 10 transmits and receives data between the first terminal device 20 and the vehicle 30 via the communication device 12.

[0011] The reservation information database 13 stores vehicle dispatch reservation information, which is reservation information for a vehicle 30 dispatched in response to a reservation request from a user. The vehicle dispatch reservation information may include, for example, identification information of the vehicle 30, identification information of the driver, identification information of the user, the planned boarding point and planned boarding time where the user plans to board the vehicle 30, and information on the user's destination. The POI information database 14 stores map information and POI information related to POIs, which are specific points set on the map. The POI information may include, for example, coordinate information and name (point name) information of points that serve as nodes forming a road network, such as road intersections, branch points, and merging points. Furthermore, for example, the POI information may include coordinate information and name (point name) information of landmarks near roads. Note that a POI is an example of a "specific point" as defined in the claims, and POI information is an example of "point information" as defined in the claims.

[0012] The history information database 15 stores driving history information of the vehicle 30 and recommended route information. For example, the driving history information may be history information of driving routes that have been driven in the past by multiple vehicles 30 operated by the vehicle dispatch system 1. For example, the driving history information may include information on the start point (e.g., a boarding point) and end point (e.g., a destination) of the driving route driven by the vehicle 30, waypoints on this driving route, and the number of times this route has been driven. Furthermore, for example, the history information database 15 may store driving history information for each driver. In other words, it may be history information of driving routes that each driver has driven the vehicle 30 in the past.

[0013] The recommended route information is information that specifies a recommended route, which is a recommended driving route among driving routes having the same combination of start points and end points included in the driving history information. For example, the recommended route information specifies as the recommended route the driving route that has the highest probability (possibility) of being selected by the driver. For example, the recommended route information may specify as the recommended route the driving route that has been driven the most frequently among driving routes having the same combination of start points and end points included in the driving history information. Furthermore, the recommended route information may be information that specifies one recommended route for each combination of the same start points and end points regardless of the driver, or information that specifies a different recommended route for each driver.

[0014] The first terminal device 20 is, for example, a smartphone or a tablet terminal, and includes a communication device 21, an input device 22, and a display device 23. The communication device 21 provides a communication function between the first terminal device 20 and an external device. The communication method used by the communication device 21 may be, for example, wireless communication via a public mobile communication network, satellite communication, etc. The first terminal device 20 transmits and receives data to and from the dispatch control device 10 via the communication device 21. The input device 22 is a user interface device that accepts operation input from a user to the first terminal device 20. The display device 23 is a user interface device that displays visual information from the first terminal device 20 to the user.

[0015] The vehicle 30 is a vehicle that operates in response to requests from users of a mobility service (a so-called on-demand transportation vehicle), and may be, for example, a shared taxi or a robot taxi. For example, the vehicle 30 may be an autonomous vehicle that operates automatically without the involvement of a driver. Alternatively, for example, the vehicle 30 may be a manually operated vehicle that is driven by a driver (human). In this case, the vehicle 30 can prompt the driver to operate the vehicle 30 along the planned driving route by presenting the planned driving route transmitted from the vehicle dispatch control device 10 to the driver. The vehicle 30 is equipped with a communication device 31, a positioning device 32, and a second terminal device 33.

[0016] The communication device 31 provides a communication function between the vehicle 30 and an external device. The communication method used by the communication device 31 may be, for example, wireless communication via a public mobile communication network, satellite communication, road-to-vehicle communication, etc. The vehicle 30 transmits and receives data to and from the vehicle dispatch control device 10 via the communication device 31.

[0017] The positioning device 32 measures the current position and attitude of the vehicle 30. The positioning device 32 may include, for example, a Global Navigation System (GNSS) receiver. The GNSS receiver may be, for example, a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver. The positioning device 32 may also include an inertial navigation system. Information about the measured current position is transmitted to the vehicle dispatch control device 10 via the communication device 31.

[0018] The second terminal device 33 is a terminal device used by the driver of the vehicle 30, and outputs visual information and auditory information presented to the driver from the vehicle dispatch system 1. For example, the second terminal device 33 may be a fixed terminal mounted on the vehicle 30, or may be a smartphone or tablet terminal. If the vehicle 30 is an autonomous vehicle, the second terminal device 33 may be omitted.

[0019] Next, a description will be given of the configuration and functions of the controller 11 of the vehicle dispatch control device 10. The controller 11 includes an information acquisition unit 11a, a vehicle allocation unit 11b, a planned driving route setting unit 11c, a route information presentation unit 11d, and a history information update unit 11e. The functions of the information acquisition unit 11a, the vehicle allocation unit 11b, the planned driving route setting unit 11c, the route information presentation unit 11d, and the history information update unit 11e are realized by a processor, such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or an MPU (Micro-Processing Unit), included in the controller 11, executing a computer program stored in a storage device.

[0020] The information acquisition unit 11a receives reservation request information from a user reserving a transportation service using a vehicle 30 via the communication device 12. The reservation request information may include, for example, the user's identification information, the boarding location and planned boarding time, and destination information. Upon receiving the reservation request information, the vehicle allocation unit 11b selects an available vehicle 30 from among multiple vehicles 30 currently in operation and allocates it to the user who made the reservation. The vehicle allocation unit 11b generates vehicle allocation reservation information including the identification information of the selected vehicle 30, the identification information of the driver who will drive the vehicle 30, the identification information of the user who made the reservation, the boarding location and planned boarding time, and destination information, and stores the information in the reservation information database 13.

[0021] The planned driving route setting unit 11c sets a planned driving route RT for driving the vehicle 30 from the boarding point to the destination based on the vehicle dispatch reservation information stored in the reservation information database 13 and the driving history information and recommended route information stored in the history information database 15. When setting the planned driving route RT, the information acquisition unit 11a acquires the vehicle dispatch reservation information from the reservation information database 13, and acquires the driving history information and recommended route information from the history information database 15.

[0022] For example, the planned traveling route setting unit 11c determines whether or not a recommended route having the same boarding point and destination as the user's boarding point and destination exists in the recommended route information extracted from the history information database 15. If a recommended route exists, the planned traveling route setting unit 11c sets the recommended route as the planned traveling route RT. If a recommended route does not exist, the planned traveling route setting unit 11c calculates a traveling route with the shortest required time or traveling distance and sets it as the planned traveling route RT.

[0023] 2A is a schematic diagram of an example of planned traveling route information representing the planned traveling route RT set by the planned traveling route setting unit 11c. For example, the planned traveling route information may be information that expresses the planned traveling route RT using a graph, which is a data structure in which the boarding point Ps, passing points Pt1 to Pt6, and destination Pe are nodes, and these nodes are connected by links L1 to L7 on a road-by-road basis.

[0024] The planned driving route information includes information on passing points Pt1 to Pt6 as information specifying waypoints on the planned driving route RT. Furthermore, the information on the passing points Pt1 to Pt6 may include point name information and coordinate information (e.g., coordinate information on a map, longitude information, and latitude information) for each of the passing points Pt1 to Pt6. The planned driving route information is an example of "first route information" as defined in the claims.

[0025] See FIG. 1. Next, the route information presentation unit 11d generates user route information for presenting the planned travel route RT to the user. The user route information is route information that represents the planned travel route RT in a different format from the planned travel route information, with a reduced amount of information about intermediate points on the planned travel route RT compared to the planned travel route information. FIG. 2(b) is a schematic diagram of an example of user route information. For example, the user route information may include location name information 40 for the boarding point Ps, location name information 41 for the destination Pe, location name information 42a and 42b for the passing points Pt2 and Pt5, which are intermediate points, progress information 43, boarding time information 44, and scheduled arrival time information 45. The user route information is an example of "second route information" as defined in the claims.

[0026] When generating user route information, the information acquisition unit 11a acquires POI information from the POI information database 14. The route information presentation unit 11d extracts place name information 40, 41, 42a, and 42b for the boarding point Ps, the destination Pe, and the passing points Pt2 and Pt5 from the POI information acquired by the information acquisition unit 11a. The route information presentation unit 11d may acquire names of landmarks near the boarding point Ps, the destination Pe, and the passing points Pt2 and Pt5 on the road as the place name information 40, 41, 42a, and 42b. Alternatively, instead of the actual place names (e.g., intersection names or addresses) of the boarding point Ps, the destination Pe, and the passing points Pt2 and Pt5 on the road, the route information presentation unit 11d may acquire names of landmarks near these points as the place name information 40, 41, 42a, and 42b.

[0027] For example, the names of landmarks located within a predetermined distance from the boarding point Ps, the destination Pe, and the passing points Pt2 and Pt5 on the road may be acquired as the place name information 40, 41, 42a, and 42b, respectively. When extracting landmark information from the POI information as place name information, the route information presentation unit 11d may determine whether the user has a history of visiting the landmark. For example, the route information presentation unit 11d may determine whether the user has a history of visiting the landmark based on history information when the user specified the landmark as a destination when using a transportation service of the vehicle dispatch system 1 in the past. Furthermore, for example, the route information presentation unit 11d may collect location information of the user's first terminal device 20 and estimate that landmarks located at locations where the user stayed for a predetermined period of time are the landmarks visited by the user.

[0028] The route information presenting unit 11d may select landmark information to extract as place name information from the POI information in accordance with a priority according to the user's landmark visit history. For example, the route information presenting unit 11d may extract, as place name information, information on landmarks that have been visited more preferentially from the POI information than information on landmarks that have not been visited.

[0029] For example, if there are multiple landmarks within a predetermined distance from a target point (in the example of FIG. 2(b) , the boarding point Ps, the destination Pe, the passing point Pt2, or the passing point Pt5), the landmarks may be extracted based on priorities according to the visit history of these multiple landmarks. For example, among these multiple landmarks, priority may be given to extracting landmarks with a visit history, or priority may be given to extracting landmarks with the most frequent visits.

[0030] 2(a), the user route information in FIG. 2(b) has information on passing points Pt1, Pt3, Pt4, and Pt6, which represent waypoints on the planned traveling route RT, deleted, and coordinate information on the boarding point Ps, the destination Pe, and passing points Pt2 and Pt5 deleted. In this way, the route information presentation unit 11d generates user route information as route information in which the amount of information on waypoints on the planned traveling route RT is reduced compared to the planned traveling route information.

[0031] Furthermore, while the planned traveling route information expresses the planned traveling route RT using nodes having coordinate information for the boarding point Ps, passing points Pt1 to Pt6, and destination Pe, and a graph connecting these nodes with road-by-road links L1 to L7, the user's route information expresses the planned traveling route RT in a list format consisting of point name information 40, 41, 42a, and 42b for the boarding point Ps, destination Pe, and passing points Pt2 and Pt5, with the coordinate information and information for links L1 to L7 deleted. In this way, the route information presentation unit 11d generates the user's route information as route information that expresses the planned traveling route RT in a format different from that of the planned traveling route information.

[0032] The progress information 43 is visual information that indicates the progress of the vehicle 30 traveling along the planned travel route. For example, the progress information 43 may be information that displays the distance from the boarding point Ps to the destination Pe in different forms depending on the progress. Furthermore, for example, the progress information 43 may be information that indicates the ratio of the distance from the boarding point Ps to the current point to the distance from the boarding point Ps to the destination Pe. For example, the progress information 43 may be a progress bar as illustrated in FIG. 2( b). The progress bar may include status marks 43 a, 43 b, and 43 c that indicate whether the passing points Pt2, Pt5, and the destination Pe have been reached, respectively.

[0033] For example, the progress information 43 may be visual information that displays location name information for unarrived or unpassed points Pt5 and Pe in a different display format than the location name information for the boarding point Ps and the arrived at or passed point Pt2. For example, the display format of the location name information may be changed by changing the color, brightness, size, font thickness, or font of the location name information. The status marks 43b and 43c for unarrived or unpassed points may be displayed in a different display format than the status mark 43a for arrived at or passed points. Furthermore, for example, the progress information 43 may be a graph (e.g., a pie chart or a bar graph) that shows the ratio of the distance from the boarding point Ps to the current point relative to the distance from the boarding point Ps to the destination Pe.

[0034] 1 , the route information presentation unit 11d transmits the user route information to the first terminal device 20. The first terminal device 20 presents the user route information to the user by displaying the user route information received by the communication device 21 on the display device 23. When the vehicle 30 subsequently arrives at the destination, the history information update unit 11e updates the driving history information and recommended route information stored in the history information database 15 based on the current driving record of the vehicle 30.

[0035] The history information update unit 11e adds the travel history of the current travel route to the travel history information in the history information database 15. If the current travel route does not yet exist in the travel history information in the history information database 15, the current travel route is added to the travel history information. If the current travel route already exists in the travel history information, the number of times this travel route has been traveled is increased by one.

[0036] If a travel route with the same boarding point and destination as the current travel route does not yet exist in the travel history information, the route information presentation unit 11d generates recommended route information that designates the current travel route as a recommended route and stores the information in the history information database 15. Furthermore, if multiple travel routes with the same boarding point and destination as the current travel route already exist in the travel history information and the current recommended route information does not designate the current travel route as a recommended route, the route information presentation unit 11d determines whether the current travel route has been traveled the most among these multiple travel routes, and if the current travel route has been traveled the most, modifies the recommended route information to designate the current travel route as a recommended route.

[0037] (Operation) Figure 3 is a flowchart of an example of the information provision method of the first embodiment. In step S1, the information acquisition unit 11a receives reservation request information for a transportation service. In step S2, the vehicle allocation unit 11b selects a vehicle 30 that can be allocated from among multiple vehicles 30 currently in operation, allocates it to the user who made the reservation, and generates vehicle allocation reservation information. In step S3, the information acquisition unit 11a acquires the driver's driving history information and recommended route information from the history information database 15.

[0038] In step S4, the planned travel route setting unit 11c determines whether there is a recommended route that has the same boarding point and destination as the user's boarding point and destination. If there is a recommended route (step S4: Y), the process proceeds to step S5. If there is no recommended route (step S4: N), the process proceeds to step S6.

[0039] In step S5, the planned travel route setting unit 11c sets the recommended route as the planned travel route RT. Then, the process proceeds to step S7. In step S6, the planned travel route setting unit 11c calculates the travel route with the shortest required time or travel distance and sets it as the planned travel route RT. Then, the process proceeds to step S7.

[0040] In step S7, the information acquisition unit 11a acquires POI information from the POI information database 14. In step S8, the route information presentation unit 11d extracts information about waypoints on the planned traveling route RT to be used for the user route information from the POI information. In step S9, the route information presentation unit 11d generates the user route information.

[0041] In step S10, the route information presentation unit 11d transmits the user route information to the first terminal device 20. The first terminal device 20 presents the user route information to the user by displaying the user route information on the display device 23. In step S11, the history information update unit 11e updates the driving history information and recommended route information stored in the history information database 15 based on the current driving record of the vehicle 30. Thereafter, the processing ends.

[0042] Second Embodiment In addition to the configuration and processing of the first embodiment described above, the vehicle dispatch system 1 of the second embodiment generates driver's route information for presenting a planned driving route RT to the driver of the vehicle 30 and displays it on the second terminal device. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of an example of driver's route information. The driver's route information includes a boarding point mark mps, a destination mark mpe, and pass point marks mp1 to mp7, which are information on the boarding point Ps, the destination Pe, and the pass points Pt1 to Pt6. The boarding point mark mps, the destination mark mpe, and the pass point marks mp1 to mp7 are displayed at the positions of the boarding point Ps, the destination Pe, and the pass points Pt1 to Pt6, respectively, on a map displayed on the second terminal device.

[0043] Furthermore, the driver's route information may include travel direction marks md1 to md6 that are information on the travel direction of the vehicle 30 at the passing points Pt1 to Pt6. The travel direction marks md1 to md6 are displayed near the positions of the passing points Pt1 to Pt6, respectively, on the map displayed on the second terminal device.

[0044] See FIG. 1. The route information presentation unit 11d extracts information about the boarding point Ps, the destination Pe, and the passing points Pt1 to Pt6 from the POI information acquired by the information acquisition unit 11a. For example, the route information presentation unit 11d extracts identification information of these points (e.g., intersection identification information), point name information, and map coordinate information. The route information presentation unit 11d sets the extracted coordinate information as coordinate information for the boarding point mark mps, the destination mark mpe, and the passing point marks mp1 to mp7. The route information presentation unit 11d also determines the traveling direction of the vehicle 30 at the passing points Pt1 to Pt6 based on the planned traveling route RT. The route information presentation unit 11d selects the type of traveling direction marks md1 to md6 (e.g., selects a straight-ahead mark, a right-turn mark, or a left-turn mark) based on the set traveling direction, and sets the orientation of the traveling direction marks md1 to md6.

[0045] Furthermore, the route information presenting unit 11d may extract, from the POI information, the location name information 40, 41, 42a, and 42b of the boarding point Ps, the destination Pe, and the passing points Pt2 and Pt5 included in the user route information, based on the coordinate information of these points extracted from the POI information. For example, the names of landmarks that exist within a predetermined distance range from the positions represented by the coordinate information of the boarding point Ps, the destination Pe, and the passing points Pt2 and Pt5 extracted from the POI information may be extracted from the POI information as the location name information 40, 41, 42a, and 42b included in the user route information.

[0046] The route information presentation unit 11d transmits driver's route information including information on the boarding point mark mps, the destination mark mpe, the passing point marks mp1 to mp7, and the traveling direction marks md1 to md6 to the vehicle 30. If the vehicle 30 does not have a map information database, the route information presentation unit 11d may transmit map image information displaying the boarding point mark mps, the destination mark mpe, the passing point marks mp1 to mp7, and the traveling direction marks md1 to md6 to the vehicle 30 as driver's route information.

[0047] The second terminal device 33 of the vehicle 30 presents the driver's route information to the driver by displaying an image in which the boarding point mark mps, the destination mark mpe, the passing point marks mp1 to mp7, and the traveling direction marks md1 to md6 are arranged on a map based on information on the boarding point mark mps, the destination mark mpe, the passing point marks mp1 to mp7, and the traveling direction marks md1 to md6 included in the driver's route information received by the communication device 31. The second terminal device 33 may display, among the passing point marks mp1 to mp7 and the traveling direction marks md1 to md6, the passing point mark and the traveling direction mark only for the passing point immediately before the vehicle 30 passes through.

[0048] 5 is a flowchart of an example of an information providing method according to the second embodiment. The processes in steps S21 to S27 are the same as those in steps S1 to S7 in FIG. 3. In step S28, the route information presenting unit 11d extracts map coordinate information for the passing points Pt1 to Pt6 from the POI information. In step S29, the route information presenting unit 11d determines the traveling direction of the vehicle 30 at the passing points Pt1 to Pt6 based on the planned traveling route RT.

[0049] In step S30, the route information presentation unit 11d generates driver's route information. In step S31, the route information presentation unit 11d transmits the driver's route information to the vehicle 30. The second terminal device 33 of the vehicle 30 displays the user's route information to present the driver's route information to the driver. The processing of steps S32 to S35 is the same as the processing of steps S8 to S11 in FIG. 3.

[0050] (Effects of the embodiment) (1) The vehicle dispatch control device 10, which dispatches vehicles 30 to users for providing mobility services, includes a controller 11 that executes the following processes: receiving information on the user's boarding point and destination; generating or acquiring first route information representing the planned driving route for the vehicle 30 to travel from the boarding point to the destination; generating second route information representing the planned driving route in an expression format different from that of the first route information, in which the amount of information on intermediate points on the planned driving route is reduced compared to the first route information; and displaying the second route information on the first terminal device 20 used by the user.

[0051] As a result, even if the actual driving route on which the vehicle 30 actually travels differs from the planned driving route, a discrepancy between the driving route represented by the second route information and the actual driving route is unlikely to occur. Therefore, when the second route information is presented to the user as information on the planned driving route, it is possible to prevent the user from feeling uncomfortable with the second route information.

[0052] (2) The controller 11 may execute a process of calculating the progress of the vehicle 30 traveling along the planned traveling route and a process of notifying the first terminal device 20 of the progress. This allows the user to be notified of the progress of the vehicle 30 traveling along the planned traveling route.

[0053] (3) As a progress notification, the controller 11 may execute a process of causing the first terminal device 20 to display a display showing the journey from the boarding point to the destination in a different format depending on the progress. This makes it easier to understand the progress of the vehicle 30 traveling along the planned travel route.

[0054] (4) A process may be executed to set a route between the boarding point and the destination that is likely to be selected by the driver as the planned driving route based on driving history information from the boarding point to the destination. This makes it possible to prevent the actual driving route that the vehicle 30 actually travels from deviating from the planned driving route. Therefore, when information about the planned driving route is presented to the user, it is possible to prevent the user from feeling uncomfortable with the information about the planned driving route.

[0055] (5) The system may execute a process of receiving point information indicating a specific point on a map, and a process of displaying, on the second terminal device 33 used by the driver of the vehicle 30, only a specific point immediately before the vehicle 30 passes through, among multiple specific points present on the planned driving route. This makes it easier for the driver to drive the vehicle 30 along the planned driving route, thereby preventing the actual driving route on which the vehicle 30 actually travels from deviating from the planned driving route. Therefore, when information on the planned driving route is presented to a user, it is possible to prevent the user from feeling uncomfortable with the information on the planned driving route.

[0056] (6) A process for receiving point information indicating specific points on a map may be executed, and second route information may be generated so as to include at least one of the specific points present on the planned driving route. This allows, for example, famous landmarks to be presented to the user as waypoints, making it easier for the user to understand where the planned driving route will pass through.

[0057] (7) A specific point near a passing point on the planned travel route may be extracted. The second route information may include the extracted specific point as at least one specific point. This makes it possible to present, for example, landmarks that are more likely to be known to the user as passing points. For example, as specific points near passing points, points that the user has visited may be preferentially extracted. Furthermore, for example, as specific points near passing points, points closer to the passing point may be preferentially extracted from specific points within a predetermined distance from the passing point.

[0058] 1... Vehicle dispatch system, 10... Vehicle dispatch control device, 11... Controller, 11a... Information acquisition unit, 11b... Vehicle allocation unit, 11c... Planned driving route setting unit, 11d... Route information presentation unit, 11e... History information update unit, 12... Communication device, 13... Reservation information database, 14... POI information database, 15... History information database, 20... First terminal device, 21... Communication device, 22... Input device, 23... Display device, 30... Vehicle, 31... Communication device, 32... Positioning device, 33... Second terminal device

Claims

1. A vehicle allocation control device that allocates vehicles to users for providing mobility services, receiving information about the user's boarding point and destination; generating or acquiring first route information representing a planned travel route for the vehicle to travel from the boarding point to the destination; a process of converting the first route information into second route information in which the amount of information on waypoints on the planned traveling route is reduced compared to the first route information and which simultaneously represents the planned traveling route from the boarding point to the destination in an expression format different from that of the first route information; a process of displaying the second route information on a first terminal device used by the user; A vehicle dispatch control device comprising a controller that executes the above.

2. The controller A process of calculating a progress status of the vehicle traveling along the planned traveling route; a process of notifying the first terminal device of the progress status; 2. The vehicle dispatch control device according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle dispatch control device executes the following.

3. The dispatch control device according to claim 2, characterized in that the controller executes a process of displaying on the first terminal device, as notification of the progress status, a display showing the journey from the boarding point to the destination in a different form depending on the progress status.

4. The vehicle dispatch control device according to claim 1, characterized in that the controller executes a process of setting, as the planned driving route, a route between the boarding point and the destination that is likely to be selected by the driver, based on driving history information from the boarding point to the destination.

5. The controller receiving location information indicating a specific location on a map; a process of displaying, on a second terminal device used by a driver of the vehicle, only the specific point immediately before the vehicle passes through, among the plurality of specific points present on the planned travel route; 2. The vehicle dispatch control device according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle dispatch control device executes the following.

6. The controller receiving location information indicating a specific location on a map; generating the second route information so as to include at least one specific point among the plurality of specific points that exist on the planned traveling route; The vehicle dispatch control device according to claim 1 .

7. the controller extracts the specific point in the vicinity of a passing point on the planned travel route; The vehicle dispatch control device according to claim 6 , wherein the second route information includes the extracted specific point as the at least one specific point.

8. The vehicle dispatch control device according to claim 7, wherein the controller preferentially extracts, as the specific points near the passing points, points that have been visited by the user in a history.

9. 8. The vehicle dispatch control device according to claim 7, wherein the controller preferentially extracts, as the specific point near the passing point, a point that is closer to the passing point from among the specific points that are within a predetermined distance range from the passing point.

10. A vehicle dispatch system including a vehicle dispatch control device that dispatches vehicles to be used for providing a mobility service to users, and a first terminal device used by the users, The vehicle dispatch control device, receiving information about the user's boarding point and destination; generating or acquiring first route information representing a planned travel route for the vehicle to travel from the boarding point to the destination; a process of converting the first route information into second route information in which the amount of information on waypoints on the planned traveling route is reduced compared to the first route information and which simultaneously represents the planned traveling route from the boarding point to the destination in an expression format different from that of the first route information; a process of transmitting the second route information to the first terminal device; a controller that executes the first terminal device displays the second route information; A vehicle dispatch system characterized by:

11. 1. An information providing method for providing a user with information about a transportation service that transports the user by vehicle, comprising: receiving information about the user's boarding point and destination; generating or acquiring first route information representing a planned travel route for the vehicle to travel from the boarding point to the destination; a process of converting the first route information into second route information in which the amount of information on waypoints on the planned traveling route is reduced compared to the first route information and which simultaneously represents the planned traveling route from the boarding point to the destination in an expression format different from that of the first route information; a process of displaying the second route information on a first terminal device used by the user; The information providing method is characterized in that the controller executes the above.