Vehicle allocation management device and vehicle allocation management method

Abstract

The present invention provides a vehicle allocation management device that manages vehicle allocation in response to a vehicle allocation request from a user. The device comprises: a vehicle allocation planning unit that, on the basis of the vehicle allocation request, creates a vehicle allocation plan for a vehicle to be allocated to a riding user, and issues vehicle allocation instructions to the vehicle; an access permission request acquisition unit that acquires an access permission request for requesting permission to access, by an information communication terminal device of a monitoring user associated with the riding user, a specific function of the vehicle the riding user is riding; an in-vehicle environment information providing unit that acquires in-vehicle environment information of an in-vehicle space of the vehicle the riding user is riding according to an access right based on the access permission request, and provides the in-vehicle environment information to the information communication terminal device; an emergency notification reception unit that receives an emergency notification based on the access right from the information communication terminal device that has received the in-vehicle environment information; and an emergency response processing unit that performs control to execute predetermined emergency response processing for the vehicle on the basis of the emergency notification.

Description

Vehicle Allocation Management Device and Vehicle Allocation Management Method

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

[0002] As an example of a mobility service, there is a service in which a caregiver arranges a vehicle for the pick-up and drop-off of a protected person such as a child. For example, Patent Document 1 below discloses a monitoring system capable of early detection of abnormalities and troubles. More specifically, this monitoring system includes a staying space for a user to stay, an acquisition unit configured to acquire the posture of the user in the staying space, and an estimation unit configured to estimate the physical state of the user from the posture of the user acquired by the acquisition unit.

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2023-45038

[0004] However, the monitoring system disclosed in Patent Document 1 above has a problem that uncertainty remains in the determination of whether an abnormality or trouble has occurred because it estimates the physical state of the user from the posture of the user in the vehicle. In particular, in a mobility service using a driverless vehicle without a driver, it is difficult to determine whether an abnormality or trouble has occurred inside the vehicle only in the case of a passenger whose situation judgment ability is not sufficient, such as a child. In addition, when an actual abnormality or trouble occurs inside the vehicle, there is a problem that such a passenger cannot immediately notify the outside.

[0005] On the other hand, publicly exposing the state inside the driverless vehicle (the in-vehicle environment) to the outside without restriction has problems regarding the privacy of the passengers and security problems due to the identification of that person, and requires certain considerations and is not preferable.

[0006] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle allocation management device and a vehicle allocation management method that can monitor the state inside the vehicle from outside the vehicle while considering privacy and security in a mobility service using a driverless vehicle.

[0007] Furthermore, the present invention aims to provide a vehicle dispatch management device and a vehicle dispatch management method that enable rapid emergency response to abnormalities or troubles when abnormalities or troubles occurring inside a vehicle are recognized from outside the vehicle in a mobility service using an unmanned vehicle.

[0008] The present invention, which solves the above problems, is comprised of the following inventive features or technical characteristics.

[0009] According to a certain perspective, the present invention is a dispatch management device that manages the dispatch of vehicles in response to a user's dispatch request. The dispatch management device comprises: a dispatch planning unit that creates a dispatch plan of vehicles to be dispatched to a passenger user based on the dispatch request and instructs the vehicles to be dispatched; an access permission request acquisition unit that acquires an access permission request to request permission for an information and communication terminal device of a monitoring user associated with the passenger user to access at least some functions of the vehicle in which the passenger user is riding; an in-vehicle environment information provision unit that acquires in-vehicle environment information of the in-vehicle space of the vehicle in which the passenger user is riding according to the access rights based on the access permission request and provides the acquired in-vehicle environment information to the information and communication terminal device; an emergency call receiving unit that receives an emergency call based on the access rights from the information and communication terminal device that has received the in-vehicle environment information; and an emergency response processing unit that controls the vehicle to execute a predetermined emergency response process based on the received emergency call. Dispatch management device.

[0010] Furthermore, the present invention may be a dispatch management system that includes an information and communication terminal device and a dispatch management device that is communicatively connected to the information and communication terminal device.

[0011] Furthermore, the present invention also constitutes a dispatch management method using a dispatch management device that manages vehicle dispatch in response to dispatch requests, a computer program for executing the method, and a recording medium that non-temporarily stores the same.

[0012] According to the present invention, in a mobility service using an unmanned vehicle, the conditions inside the vehicle can be monitored from outside the vehicle while taking privacy and security into consideration. In particular, according to the present invention, a guardian or other monitoring user with access rights associated with the passenger, such as a child, can check the conditions inside the vehicle based on the in-vehicle environment information provided by the vehicle. Therefore, in the event of an abnormality or trouble, an emergency call can be made on behalf of the child, enabling the vehicle to be promptly subjected to predetermined emergency response procedures.

[0013] Other technical features, objectives, and effects or advantages of the present invention will be illustrated by the following embodiments described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The effects described herein are illustrative and not limiting, and other effects may also occur.

[0014] Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the schematic configuration of a dispatch management system according to one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a functional configuration model of a dispatch management device according to one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3 is a diagram showing an example of the data structure of a user information database in a dispatch management device according to one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the processing related to dispatch requests in a dispatch management device according to one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the access rights granting process in a dispatch management device according to one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 6 is a sequence chart illustrating an example of the in-vehicle monitoring process in a dispatch management system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0015] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. However, the embodiments described below are merely illustrative, and there is no intention to exclude various modifications or applications of techniques not explicitly stated below. The present invention can be implemented by various modifications (for example, by combining each embodiment) without departing from its spirit. In addition, in the following drawings, identical or similar parts are denoted by the same or similar reference numerals. The drawings are schematic and do not necessarily correspond to actual dimensions or proportions. There may be parts in the drawings where the relationships between dimensions or proportions differ from those of other parts.

[0016] Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a schematic configuration of a dispatch management system according to one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the dispatch management system 1 includes a dispatch management device 10, an information and communication terminal device 20, and vehicles V, which are connected to each other so as to be able to communicate with each other via a communication network N. The dispatch management system 1 may also be connected via the communication network N to a road traffic information management system (not shown) that provides various traffic information in real time. The dispatch management system 1 provides a dispatch service using multiple vehicles V. In this disclosure, the vehicles V are assumed to be driverless, unmanned vehicles (autonomous driving vehicles).

[0017] In the dispatch service provided by the dispatch management system 1, for example, a monitoring user associated with a passenger can acquire access rights to specific functions of the vehicle V in which the passenger is riding, and, according to these access rights, remotely monitor the interior of the vehicle V in real time using an in-vehicle camera or the like with the information and communication terminal device 20, thereby keeping an eye on the passenger. Furthermore, if the monitoring user recognizes that something abnormal or trouble has occurred with the passenger, they can issue an emergency call according to their access rights. Upon receiving the emergency call, the dispatch management device 10 executes a predetermined emergency response process for the vehicle V. For example, as a predetermined emergency response process, the dispatch management device 10 remotely controls the vehicle V to output an emergency message to the outside of the vehicle V from the human-machine interface (HMI), or notifies a predetermined agency (e.g., the police) that an emergency has occurred. In this disclosure, children are an example of passenger users, and guardians are an example of monitoring users. Hereafter, when there is no need to distinguish between passenger users and monitoring users, either or both may simply be referred to as "users."

[0018] The dispatch management device 10 is a computing device that comprehensively manages the dispatch service using multiple vehicles V in the service area (hereinafter referred to as the "service area"). The service area may be divided into several areas (sub-areas). The dispatch management device 10 implements, for example, a dispatch management server program and realizes the dispatch service by executing the dispatch management server program under the control of a processor. In particular, the dispatch management server program of this disclosure includes a subprogram or module that grants access rights to the information and communication terminal device 20 (i.e., the dispatch application) in response to an access permission request sent from the information and communication terminal device 20 of a monitoring user, acquires in-vehicle environment information indicating the interior space of the vehicle V in which the passenger is riding, provides the acquired in-vehicle environment information to the information and communication terminal device 20 of the monitoring user, and controls the vehicle V to execute a predetermined emergency response process when an emergency notification based on the access rights is received from the information and communication terminal device 20 that has received the in-vehicle environment information. An access permission request is a request for access permission to at least some of the functions (specific functions) of the vehicle in which the passenger is riding. Specific functions include, for example, access to the in-vehicle cameras and speakers of vehicle V, and emergency call functions. Access permission requests may be, for example, part of or associated with a dispatch request.

[0019] In general terms, the dispatch management device 10 selects a vehicle V to be assigned to a user based on a dispatch request from a user who wishes to use a vehicle dispatch service to travel to their destination, creates a dispatch plan, and proposes the created dispatch plan to the user. The dispatch management device 10 confirms the dispatch plan upon the user's acceptance of the proposed dispatch plan and issues dispatch instructions to the vehicle V in accordance with the confirmed dispatch plan.

[0020] The dispatch management device 10 includes various databases 12 for storing and managing data necessary to realize such dispatch services. The databases 12 may include, for example, a user information database 12a, a road map information database 12b, a vehicle information database 12c, and a dispatch plan database 12d (see Figure 2). The databases 12 may be configured as part of the dispatch management device 10, or all or part of them may be configured separately from the dispatch management device 10.

[0021] Vehicle V is a vehicle registered in the vehicle information database 12c that is made available for use by users in the ride-hailing service. Typically, Vehicle V is an unmanned vehicle (autonomous vehicle) operated by an automated driving system.

[0022] Vehicle V is equipped with a control unit (CTL) that controls the vehicle V itself or its onboard equipment (see Figure 2). Although not shown, the control unit CTL includes a processor and memory, and implements various functions by executing a vehicle control program. The control unit CTL can also acquire the geographical location information of vehicle V in real time using a positioning system such as GPS, and use the acquired location information for navigation functions and transmit it to the dispatch management device 10. Furthermore, under the control of the control unit CTL, vehicle V acquires driving management information necessary for autonomous driving from various sensors and transmits it to the dispatch management device 10. The dispatch management device 10 remotely monitors and controls the autonomous driving of vehicle V according to the driving management information transmitted from vehicle V. The driving management information includes, for example, video and audio information of the area around vehicle V from a camera / microphone, spatial recognition information (point cloud information) from spatial recognition sensors such as LiDAR and RADAR, geographical location information of vehicle V from a GPS system, and status information from status monitoring sensors that monitor the status of vehicle V, each device, and part.

[0023] Vehicle V is also equipped with various in-vehicle user interface (UI) functions for acquiring in-vehicle environmental information showing the interior of the vehicle. An in-vehicle camera, microphone, and speaker are part of the in-vehicle user interface (UI). Furthermore, vehicle V is equipped with an authentication terminal device (not shown) for identifying a user who intends to board the vehicle. For example, when boarding a dispatched vehicle V, the user holds an electronic boarding ticket displayed on the user interface of the dispatch application running on the information and communication terminal device 20 over the authentication terminal device, and the authentication terminal device, under the control of the control device CTL, reads the boarding ticket as authentication information. Based on the authentication information read by the authentication terminal device, the control device CTL determines whether or not the user is the one corresponding to the dispatch request and transmits the result of the determination to the dispatch management device 10. Alternatively, in order to obtain the determination result of whether or not the user is the one corresponding to the dispatch request, the control device CTL may be controlled to transmit the authentication information read by the authentication terminal device to the dispatch management device 10. Furthermore, vehicle V is equipped with a human-machine interface (HMI) for notifying the outside of an emergency in the event of an emergency. Displays and speakers are one form of human-machine interface (HMI).

[0024] Returning to Figure 1, the information and communication terminal device 20 is a computing device for a user (e.g., a monitoring user) to request a vehicle by operating a user interface. The information and communication terminal device 20 is, but is not limited to, a smartphone, a tablet computer, a notebook personal computer, or a desktop computer. The information and communication terminal device 20 implements, for example, a dispatch management client program (a so-called dispatch application). Typically, the information and communication terminal device 20 has a positioning function that acquires its own geographical location information in real time using a positioning system such as GPS. The information and communication terminal device 20 enables the user to use the dispatch service of the dispatch management device 10 by executing the dispatch application under the control of the processor. This disclosure does not exclude the possibility that the passenger possesses the information and communication terminal device 20. For example, when a passenger boards vehicle V, they display a boarding ticket on the user interface of their information and communication terminal device 20.

[0025] Figure 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a functional configuration model of a dispatch management device according to one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the dispatch management device 10 may be configured as a functional configuration model that includes, for example, a front-end processing unit 110, a user management unit 120, a dispatch planning unit 130, a vehicle communication unit 140, and an in-vehicle monitoring and control unit 150. In this example, the in-vehicle monitoring and control unit 150 includes an access permission request acquisition unit 151, an access permission management unit 152, an in-vehicle environment information provision unit 153, an emergency call receiving unit 154, and an emergency response processing unit 155. The dispatch management device 10 is also configured to be able to access various databases 12. Such a functional model is realized by the dispatch management device 10 executing a dispatch management server program under the control of a processor, thereby cooperating with various hardware resources. The functional configuration model shown here is just one example, and all or part of the functions of one functional component may be realized by other functional components.

[0026] The user information database 12a stores information about users who use the ride-hailing service (hereinafter referred to as "user information"). Figure 3 is a diagram showing an example of the data structure of the user information database 12a. As shown in the figure, the user information includes, for example, the user's user ID and password, email address, personal attributes (gender, age, and address, etc.), usage history, user trust level, etc. The user information is registered in the user information database 12a under the control of the ride-hailing management device 10 when the user enters predetermined information, for example, when the ride-hailing app is first launched. In this disclosure, if the user is a monitored user, the user information is configured to be associated with or include information about passengers such as children (hereinafter referred to as "passenger user information"). The passenger user information includes, for example, the passenger's user ID and information about personal attributes, etc.

[0027] Returning to Figure 2, the road map information database 12b stores road map information for the area covered by the ride-hailing service. The road map information includes, for example, map data related to addresses, place names, road networks (links and nodes), pick-up and drop-off locations (bus stops), and various facilities (e.g., police stations). The road map information also includes information necessary for searching for a driving route, such as road information, feature information, and environmental information. The road information includes, for example, road type such as local roads and main roads, and road attribute information such as road width, pedestrian / vehicle separation, median strip, and lanes. The road map information is used, for example, to determine the driving route of vehicle V indicated by the ride-hailing plan.

[0028] The vehicle information database 12c stores information about vehicles V available for use by users (vehicle information). The vehicle information includes information such as vehicle ID, vehicle attributes (vehicle registration number, vehicle type, and maximum passenger capacity / maximum load capacity, level of automation, etc.), vehicle characteristics, other specifications (overall length, overall width, vehicle height, and weight, and specifications of the in-vehicle user interface, etc.), current dispatch plan, current location, and current status (service status, battery remaining capacity (driving range), and number of passengers, etc.). The vehicle information is used, for example, to select the optimal vehicle V to dispatch to the user.

[0029] The dispatch plan database 12d stores the dispatch plan for each vehicle V, which is created by the dispatch plan unit 130 based on the dispatch request. The dispatch plan includes the travel route from the starting waiting location, through several pick-up / drop-off locations, to the final waiting location, and the estimated arrival time at each intermediate location.

[0030] The front-end processing unit 110 performs various processes by communicating information with the user's information and communication terminal device 20. As an example, the front-end processing unit 110 performs login authentication processing for login requests with the ride-hailing application running on the user's information and communication terminal device 20. As another example, under the control of the ride-hailing planning unit 130, the front-end processing unit 110 performs processing with the user's ride-hailing application to propose a ride-hailing plan for the passenger and to accept or reject it. As yet another example, under the control of the in-vehicle monitoring control unit 150, the front-end processing unit 110 performs processing with the monitored user's ride-hailing application to obtain an access permission request to request permission for the information and communication terminal device 20 to access various functions of the vehicle V in which the passenger is riding. The access permission request may be part of the ride-hailing request or separate. As yet another example, under the control of the in-vehicle monitoring control unit 150, the front-end processing unit 110 provides the monitored user's ride-hailing application with in-vehicle environment information obtained from the vehicle V and receives emergency calls from the monitored user's ride-hailing application.

[0031] The user management unit 120 manages users who use the ride-hailing service. In this disclosure, the user management unit 120 manages user information of monitored users who are permitted to access specific functions of the vehicle V when using the ride-hailing service. For example, the user management unit 120 obtains user information of monitored users from the ride-hailing application on the monitored user's information communication terminal device 20 and stores the obtained user information in the user information database 12a. The user management unit 120 also calculates the user reliability score of monitored users based on predetermined user information and stores the calculated user information in the user information database 12a. The user reliability score may be calculated based on, for example, the monitored user's personal attribute information and ride-hailing service usage history in the user information.

[0032] The dispatch planning unit 130 extracts candidate vehicles from the vehicles V in the service area based on the dispatch request and provisionally creates a dispatch plan. A provisional or temporary dispatch plan may be created for each of several different candidate routes. The dispatch planning unit 130 proposes the provisional dispatch plan to the user and confirms it after receiving the user's approval. The dispatch planning unit 130 then stores the confirmed dispatch plan in the dispatch plan database 12d and issues dispatch instructions to the corresponding vehicles V via the vehicle communication unit 140.

[0033] The vehicle communication unit 140 exchanges various types of information with the vehicle V via the communication network N. For example, the vehicle communication unit 140 acquires vehicle information, including the location information of the vehicle V, and hands it over to the dispatch planning unit 130, and also transmits dispatch instructions to the vehicle V according to the dispatch plan made by the dispatch planning unit 130. The vehicle communication unit 140 also receives in-vehicle environment information from the vehicle V in order to monitor the conditions inside the vehicle V. The received in-vehicle environment information is handed over to the in-vehicle environment information provision unit 153. In addition, based on an emergency call received from a monitoring user, the vehicle communication unit 140 transmits a predetermined emergency response instruction to the vehicle V from the emergency response processing unit 155.

[0034] The in-vehicle monitoring control unit 150 controls the interaction between the vehicle V and the information and communication terminal device 20 so that a monitoring user can monitor the interior of the vehicle V in which a passenger is riding, according to the access rights based on the access rights requested. The monitoring user's access rights are valid from the time the passenger boards the vehicle V until they disembark. The in-vehicle monitoring control unit 150 also controls the system to execute a predetermined emergency response process when it receives an emergency call from a monitoring user monitoring the interior of the vehicle. As described above, the in-vehicle monitoring control unit 150 is composed of an access permission request acquisition unit 151, an access rights management unit 152, an in-vehicle environment information provision unit 153, an emergency call receiving unit 154, and an emergency response processing unit 155.

[0035] The access permission request acquisition unit 151 acquires an access permission request to request permission for the monitoring user's information and communication terminal device 20 to access at least some functions of the vehicle V in which the passenger is riding. For example, the access permission request is included in or associated with the dispatch request. The monitoring user associated with the passenger operates the information and communication terminal device 20 to send a dispatch request including the access permission request to the dispatch management device 10, and the access permission request acquisition unit 151 can extract and acquire the access permission request from the dispatch request via the front-end processing unit 110. The access permission request acquisition unit 151 hands over the acquired access permission request to the access rights management unit 152.

[0036] The access rights management unit 152 refers to the user information database 12a and, based on the user information of the monitored user, grants the monitored user access rights based on the acquired access permission request. The access rights management unit 152 may notify the monitored user's information communication terminal device 20 that access rights have been granted. For example, the access rights management unit 152 may notify the monitored user that access rights have been granted when proposing a dispatch plan based on a dispatch request. As a result, only monitored users who have been granted access rights can access specific functions of the vehicle V, thus preventing the abuse of access rights based on access permission requests.

[0037] Furthermore, the access rights management unit 152 may determine whether to allow the monitoring user to access specific functions of vehicle V using the information and communication terminal device 20, based on the user trust level of the monitoring user, and may grant access rights to the monitoring user if it determines that access should be permitted. Specific functions include, for example, in-vehicle environment monitoring functions using in-vehicle cameras / microphones and emergency notification functions when abnormalities or troubles are detected. The access rights management unit 152 may also determine the specific functions of vehicle V and the scope of access rights according to the user trust level of the monitoring user. Note that the vehicle V in which the monitoring user can access its functions using the information and communication terminal device 20 is limited to the vehicle V in which a passenger associated with the monitoring user is riding. Also, the monitoring user's access rights are valid from the time the passenger boards vehicle V until they disembark. This makes it possible to restrict users who can monitor the interior of vehicle V from outside to specific monitoring users with high trust levels, thereby ensuring the privacy and security of other passengers.

[0038] The in-vehicle environment information provision unit 153 acquires in-vehicle environment information of the interior space in the vehicle V in which the passenger is riding, according to the access rights based on the access permission request of the monitoring user, and provides the acquired in-vehicle environment information to the information communication terminal device 20. For example, the in-vehicle environment information provision unit 153 responds to an access request from the monitoring user's information communication terminal device 20 and determines whether the monitoring user has access rights. Subsequently, if the in-vehicle environment information provision unit 153 determines that the monitoring user has been granted access rights, it controls the provision of in-vehicle environment information (e.g., video information and audio information) acquired from the vehicle V to the information communication terminal device 20. As a result, when prompting the passenger to disembark, the interior of the vehicle V is provided to the user interface of the monitoring user's information communication terminal device 20, and the monitoring user can check the interior of the vehicle V in real time via the user interface.

[0039] Furthermore, the in-vehicle environment information provision unit 153 may control the information and communication terminal device 20 to provide in-vehicle environment information based on video and / or audio information of the seat where the passenger is seated and a specific in-vehicle space near it, according to the monitoring user's access rights. This makes it possible to provide the monitoring user with only in-vehicle environment information relating to the passenger being monitored. In this case, the in-vehicle environment information provision unit 153 may identify the seat where the passenger is seated when it is authenticated that the user who has boarded the vehicle V is the passenger associated with the dispatch request. For example, the in-vehicle environment information provision unit 153 instructs the vehicle V to identify the location of the passenger's seat. In response, the vehicle V control device CTL authenticates the passenger via the authentication terminal device when the passenger boards the vehicle V, and then uses an in-vehicle camera to track the passenger's movements and identify the location of the seat where the passenger is seated. The control device CTL acquires video and audio information centered on the passenger seated in the seat and transmits in-vehicle environment information based on the acquired video and audio information to the dispatch management device 10 while the passenger is on board. The in-vehicle environment information provision unit 153 transmits the in-vehicle environment information sent from the vehicle V to the monitoring user's information communication terminal device 20. This allows the monitoring user to monitor the passengers associated with them, while also ensuring the privacy and security of other passengers.

[0040] Furthermore, the in-vehicle environment information provision unit 153 may be controlled to provide the information and communication terminal device 20 with in-vehicle environment information based on processed video information obtained by applying image processing to the video information from the in-vehicle camera so that the faces of other passengers other than the passenger being monitored in the video are not visually recognized. For example, the in-vehicle environment information provision unit 153 may apply mosaic processing along the contours of the passenger associated with the monitoring user so that only the passenger associated with the monitoring user is visually recognized in the video. Alternatively, the in-vehicle environment information provision unit 153 may apply mosaic processing to the faces of other passengers so that the faces of other passengers other than the passenger being monitored cannot be recognized. This allows the monitoring user to check the status of the passenger being monitored while also considering the privacy and security of other passengers.

[0041] The emergency call receiving unit 154 receives emergency calls from the monitoring user's information and communication terminal device 20 based on access rights. For example, the monitoring user monitors passengers in vehicle V via the user interface of the ride-hailing application running on the information and communication terminal device 20, according to their access rights, and selects the emergency call button in the ride-hailing application when they recognize that any abnormality or trouble has occurred with the passengers. In response, the information and communication terminal device 20 transmits an emergency call to the ride-hailing management device 10. The emergency call receiving unit 154 receives the emergency call from the information and communication terminal device 20 via the front-end processing unit 110. The emergency call receiving unit 154 then forwards the received emergency call to the emergency response processing unit 155.

[0042] The emergency response processing unit 155 controls the vehicle V to execute a predetermined emergency response process based on the received emergency notification. For example, the emergency response processing unit 155 issues an instruction to the vehicle V to output an emergency message to the outside of the vehicle V in response to the received emergency notification. In response to this, the vehicle V outputs an emergency message to the outside of the vehicle V from the human machine interface (HMI) under the control of the control device CTL. Alternatively, the emergency response processing unit 155 may notify a predetermined organization that an emergency has occurred in the vehicle V. The police agency and the security company are examples of the predetermined organization.

[0043] Also, the emergency response processing unit 155 can make a decision of either approval or rejection for the received emergency notification. For example, in response to an emergency notification from the monitoring user, the emergency response processing unit 155 provides the in-vehicle environment of the vehicle V to the operator and accepts approval or rejection of the emergency notification from the operator who has visually or audibly confirmed the in-vehicle environment. When the emergency response processing unit 155 determines to approve the emergency notification, it controls to execute a predetermined emergency response process. Thereby, a predetermined emergency response process can be executed only when the emergency notification from the monitoring user is appropriate, and the uncertainty of the emergency notification can be reduced.

[0044] For example, as a predetermined emergency response process, the emergency response processing unit 155 can control to output an emergency message such as "SOS" from the human machine interface HMI of the vehicle V to the outside of the vehicle V. For example, when the operator determines that it is appropriate to issue an emergency message from the confirmed in-vehicle environment of the vehicle V, the operator selects an instruction to issue the emergency message. In response to this, the emergency response processing unit 155 controls the vehicle V to output an emergency message. Thereby, when it is confirmed that an abnormality or trouble has occurred in the company of the vehicle V, it becomes possible to quickly notify the surroundings of the vehicle V.

[0045] In addition, as a predetermined emergency response process, the emergency response processing unit 155 can perform control to issue an emergency notification to a predetermined institution. For example, when the operator determines that it is appropriate to notify a predetermined institution from the confirmed in-vehicle environment of the vehicle V, the operator selects a notification to the predetermined institution. In response to this, the emergency response processing unit 155 issues an emergency notification to the predetermined institution on behalf of the monitoring user or the riding user. Thereby, when it is confirmed that an abnormality or trouble has occurred within the company of the vehicle V and cooperation from a predetermined institution is required, it is possible to quickly issue an emergency notification to the predetermined institution on behalf of the monitoring user or the riding user.

[0046] FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining an example of processing related to a vehicle allocation request in the vehicle allocation management device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Such processing is realized by the vehicle allocation management device 10 executing a vehicle allocation management server program under the control of a processor in cooperation with various hardware resources.

[0047] As shown in the figure, the vehicle allocation management device 10 waits until there is a new vehicle allocation request from a user (monitoring user) (S401). On the other hand, for example, the monitoring user operates a vehicle allocation application on the user interface of the information communication terminal device 20 to input a vehicle allocation request. For example, when a guardian arranges a vehicle V for a child, the guardian makes a vehicle allocation request using the vehicle allocation application. When making a vehicle allocation request, the monitoring user can also make an access permission request. When there is a vehicle allocation request from the user (Yes in S401), the vehicle allocation management device 10 refers to the road map information database 12b based on the vehicle allocation request and determines a stop (boarding point and alighting point) for the user to board and alight (S402).

[0048] Next, the vehicle allocation management device 10 refers to the road map information database 12b based on the determined stop and determines a driving route composed of road links from the boarding point to the alighting point (S403). The vehicle allocation management device 10 may extract several driving route candidates.

[0049] Next, the dispatch management device 10 selects the optimal vehicle V according to the travel route (S404). For example, the dispatch management device 10 selects a vehicle V that is waiting or moving near the boarding stop. Subsequently, the dispatch management device 10 creates or updates a provisional dispatch plan based on the determined travel route (S405).

[0050] Next, the dispatch management device 10 determines whether or not there is an access permission request associated with the dispatch request (S406). If the dispatch management device 10 determines that there is an access permission request associated with the dispatch request (Yes in S406), the dispatch management device 10 performs processing related to granting access rights to the monitored user (S407). Details of the access rights granting process will be described later. Next, the dispatch management device 10 proposes the contents of the created / updated dispatch plan to the user (S408). That is, the dispatch management device 10 transmits the contents of the created / updated dispatch plan to the information and communication terminal device 20, and in response, the information and communication terminal device 20 displays the contents on the user interface and prompts the user to accept or reject the proposed dispatch plan.

[0051] On the other hand, if the dispatch management device 10 determines that there is no access permission request associated with the dispatch request (No. in S406), the dispatch management device 10 proposes the contents of the created / updated dispatch plan to the user (S408).

[0052] The dispatch management device 10 determines whether or not it has received acceptance from the user for the proposed dispatch plan (S409). If the dispatch management device 10 has received acceptance from the user for the proposed dispatch plan (Yes in S409), it confirms the current dispatch plan (S410). The dispatch management device 10 stores the confirmed dispatch plan in the dispatch plan database 12d. Subsequently, the dispatch management device 10 sends a dispatch reservation confirmation notification to the information and communication terminal device 20 and sends a dispatch instruction based on the dispatch plan to the vehicle V (S411).

[0053] In response to this, if the dispatch management device 10 receives a rejection (no. in S409) from the user regarding the proposed dispatch plan, it cancels the current dispatch plan based on the user's dispatch request (S42). In this case, the dispatch management device 10 returns the temporarily held dispatch plan, which was used to recreate the dispatch plan, back to the original held dispatch plan. If the user wishes to use a different dispatch service, they will make a new dispatch request.

[0054] Figure 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the access rights granting process in a dispatch management device according to one embodiment of the present invention. Specifically, this figure is a flowchart detailing the access rights granting process (S407) shown in Figure 4.

[0055] In other words, upon receiving an access permission request, the dispatch management device 10 refers to the user information database 12a and obtains the user trust level of the monitored user (S501). The user trust level is calculated based on the monitored user's personal attribute information and usage history of the dispatch service. Next, the dispatch management device 10 determines whether the user trust level exceeds a predetermined threshold (S502). In other words, since access rights enable the user to monitor the in-vehicle environment of the vehicle V and access specific functions such as emergency calls, access rights are granted only to trusted users. When proposing a dispatch plan, the dispatch management device 10 informs the user that access rights have been granted (S408 in Figure 4).

[0056] If the dispatch management device 10 determines that the user confidence level exceeds a predetermined threshold (Yes in S502), the dispatch management device 10 grants access rights to specific functions of the vehicle V within a range corresponding to the user confidence level (S503). If the dispatch management device 10 determines that the user confidence level does not exceed a predetermined threshold (No in S502), the dispatch management device 10 does not grant access rights to the user, but instead informs the user that access rights have been granted (S408 in Figure 4).

[0057] Figure 6 is a sequence chart illustrating an example of in-vehicle monitoring processing in a dispatch management system according to one embodiment of the present invention. The figure shows the sequence of events for each of the following: the information and communication terminal device 20 of the monitoring user that made the dispatch request, the dispatch management device 10 that issued a dispatch instruction to the vehicle V based on the dispatch request, and the vehicle V that was dispatched according to the dispatch instruction.

[0058] As shown in the figure, first, the control unit CTL of vehicle V acquires authentication information of the passenger based on the dispatch request (S601). For example, when a user boards the dispatched vehicle V, they hold the electronic boarding ticket displayed on the user interface of the dispatch app over the authentication terminal device of vehicle V, and the authentication terminal device reads the boarding ticket. In response, the control unit CTL transmits the information read by the authentication terminal device to the dispatch management device 10 (S602).

[0059] When the dispatch management device 10 obtains authentication information from the vehicle V, it authenticates the passenger (S603). That is, the dispatch management device 10 determines whether the user indicated in the dispatch request matches the passenger who is in the vehicle V. After authenticating the passenger, the dispatch management device 10 then checks whether the monitoring user (i.e., the information and communication terminal device 20) has been granted access rights to specific functions of the vehicle V in which the passenger is riding (S604). Next, the dispatch management device 10 transmits the passenger authentication result to the vehicle V (S605). In this example, the dispatch management device 10 performs the passenger authentication, but it is not limited to this, and the passenger authentication may be performed in the vehicle V.

[0060] Upon receiving the authentication result, the control unit CTL of vehicle V uses an in-vehicle camera to track the movements of the passenger and determine the position of the seat in which they are seated (S606). Subsequently, while the passenger is in the vehicle, the control unit CTL acquires video and audio information centered on the passenger seated in the vehicle and transmits in-vehicle environment information based on the acquired video and audio information to the dispatch management device 10 (S608).

[0061] When the dispatch management device 10 receives in-vehicle environment information from the vehicle V, it processes the in-vehicle environment information (i.e., video information) by applying image processing to prevent the visual recognition of faces of other passengers other than the passenger being monitored (S609), and then transmits the processed in-vehicle environment information to the information and communication terminal device 20 (S610).

[0062] When the information and communication terminal device 20 receives the processed in-vehicle environment information, it provides the received processed in-vehicle environment information to the monitoring user (S611). This allows the monitoring user to check the status of the monitored passenger via the user interface of the information and communication terminal device 20.

[0063] When a monitoring user detects an abnormality or trouble while monitoring a passenger in vehicle V, they select the emergency call button on the dispatch app. In response, the information and communication terminal device 20 transmits an emergency call to the dispatch management device 10 (S612).

[0064] The dispatch management device 10 makes a decision to either approve or reject the emergency call transmitted from the information and communication terminal device 20 (S613). For example, in response to an emergency call from a monitoring user, the dispatch management device 10 receives approval or rejection of the emergency call from the operator after the operator visually or audibly checks the in-vehicle environment.

[0065] When the dispatch management device 10 approves an emergency call from a monitoring user, it sends an emergency response instruction to the vehicle V (S614). In response, the vehicle V performs a predetermined emergency response process under the control device CTL (S615). For example, upon receiving the emergency response instruction from the dispatch management device 10, the vehicle V outputs an emergency message to the outside of the vehicle V via its human-machine interface (HMI). The dispatch management device 10 may also notify a designated agency, such as a police agency, that an emergency has occurred when it approves an emergency call from a monitoring user.

[0066] As described above, according to this embodiment, in a mobility service using an unmanned vehicle, the conditions inside the vehicle can be monitored from outside the vehicle while taking privacy and security into consideration. In particular, according to the present invention, a guardian or other monitoring user who has access rights associated with the passenger user, such as a child, can check the conditions inside the vehicle based on the in-vehicle environment information provided by the vehicle. Therefore, in the event of an abnormality or trouble, an emergency call can be made on behalf of the child, and this enables the vehicle to be promptly subjected to predetermined emergency response procedures.

[0067] The embodiments described above are illustrative examples for illustrating the present invention and are not intended to limit the invention to these embodiments only. The present invention can be implemented in various forms without departing from its spirit.

[0068] For example, in the methods disclosed herein, steps, operations, or functions may be performed in parallel or in different orders, as long as this does not result in a contradiction in the outcome. The steps, operations, and functions described are provided merely as examples, and some of the steps, operations, and functions may be omitted, combined with each other to form a single unit, or other steps, operations, or functions may be added, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

[0069] Furthermore, although various embodiments are disclosed herein, specific features (technical matters) in one embodiment can be added to or replaced in other embodiments, with appropriate modifications, and such forms are also included in the gist of the present invention.

[0070] 1... Dispatch management system 10... Dispatch management device 110... Front-end processing unit 120... User management unit 130... Dispatch planning unit 140... Vehicle communication unit 150... In-vehicle monitoring and control unit 151... Access permission request acquisition unit 152... Access rights management unit 153... In-vehicle environment information provision unit 154... Emergency call receiving unit 155... Emergency response processing unit 12... Database 12a... User information database 12b... Road map information database 12c... Vehicle information database 12d... Dispatch planning database 20... Information and communication terminal device N... Communication network V... Vehicle CTL... Control unit HMI... Human-machine interface UI... In-vehicle user interface

Claims

1. A dispatch management device for managing vehicle dispatch in response to a user's dispatch request, comprising: a dispatch planning unit that creates a dispatch plan for vehicles to be dispatched to a passenger user based on the dispatch request and instructs the vehicles to be dispatched; an access permission request acquisition unit that acquires an access permission request to request permission for an information and communication terminal device of a monitoring user associated with the passenger user to access at least some functions of the vehicle in which the passenger user is riding; an in-vehicle environment information provision unit that acquires in-vehicle environment information of the in-vehicle space of the vehicle in which the passenger user is riding, in accordance with the access rights based on the access permission request, and provides the acquired in-vehicle environment information to the information and communication terminal device; an emergency notification receiving unit that receives an emergency notification based on the access rights from the information and communication terminal device that has received the in-vehicle environment information; and an emergency response processing unit that controls the vehicle to execute a predetermined emergency response process based on the received emergency notification.

2. The dispatch management device according to claim 1, further comprising a user information database for managing user information of the user, including the monitoring user, and an access rights management unit for granting the monitoring user the access rights based on the access permission request based on the user information.

3. The vehicle dispatch management device according to claim 2, wherein the access rights management unit determines whether or not to grant the access rights based on the trustworthiness of the monitored user indicated by the user information.

4. The vehicle dispatch management device according to claim 2, wherein the vehicle environment information provision unit controls the provision of the vehicle environment information to the information communication terminal device in response to an access request based on the access rights from the information communication terminal device of the monitoring user.

5. The vehicle dispatch management device according to claim 4, wherein the vehicle environment information provision unit controls the information and communication terminal device to provide the vehicle environment information based on video information and / or audio information of the seat in which the passenger is seated and a specific interior space near thereto, in accordance with the access rights.

6. The vehicle dispatch management device according to claim 5, wherein the vehicle environment information provision unit identifies the seat in which the passenger is seated when it is confirmed that the passenger who has boarded the vehicle is the passenger associated with the dispatch request.

7. The vehicle dispatch management device according to claim 6, wherein the vehicle environment information providing unit controls the vehicle to provide the information and communication terminal device with the vehicle environment information based on processed video information obtained by applying image processing to the video information so that the faces of other passengers other than the passenger in the video based on the video information are not visually recognized.

8. The dispatch management device according to claim 2, wherein the emergency response processing unit makes a decision to approve or reject the emergency call and controls the system to execute the predetermined emergency response process in accordance with the decision to approve.

9. The dispatch management device according to claim 8, wherein the emergency response processing unit controls the output of an emergency message from the vehicle's human-machine interface to the outside of the vehicle as the predetermined emergency response processing.

10. The dispatch management device according to claim 8, wherein the emergency response processing unit controls the system to issue an emergency notification to a predetermined agency as the predetermined emergency response processing.

11. A dispatch management system comprising an information and communication terminal device and a dispatch management device communicateable with the information and communication terminal device, wherein the dispatch management device includes: a dispatch planning unit that creates a dispatch plan of vehicles to be dispatched to a passenger user based on a user's dispatch request and instructs the vehicle to be dispatched; an access permission request acquisition unit that acquires an access permission request to request permission for the information and communication terminal device of a monitoring user associated with the passenger user to access at least some functions of the vehicle in which the passenger user is riding; an in-vehicle environment information provision unit that acquires in-vehicle environment information of the in-vehicle space of the vehicle in which the passenger user is riding, in accordance with the access rights based on the access permission request, and provides the acquired in-vehicle environment information to the information and communication terminal device; an emergency call receiving unit that receives an emergency call from the information and communication terminal device; and an emergency response processing unit that controls the vehicle to execute a predetermined emergency response process based on the received emergency call, wherein the information and communication terminal device provides the in-vehicle environment information to the monitoring user based on the access rights and transmits the emergency call by the monitoring user to the dispatch management device.

12. A dispatch management method by a dispatch management device that manages the dispatch of vehicles in response to a user's dispatch request, comprising: creating a dispatch plan of vehicles to be dispatched to a passenger user based on the dispatch request; instructing the vehicle to be dispatched based on the created dispatch plan; obtaining an access permission request to request permission for an information and communication terminal device of a monitoring user associated with the passenger user to access at least some functions of the vehicle in which the passenger user is riding; obtaining in-vehicle environment information of the in-vehicle space of the vehicle in which the passenger user is riding, in accordance with the access rights based on the access permission request; providing the obtained in-vehicle environment information to the information and communication terminal device; receiving an emergency notification based on the access rights from the information and communication terminal device that received the in-vehicle environment information; and controlling the vehicle to execute a predetermined emergency response process based on the received emergency notification.

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