Vehicle allocation management device and vehicle allocation management method

Abstract

The present invention is 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 creates, on the basis of the vehicle allocation request, a vehicle allocation plan for a vehicle to be allocated to a passenger user, and gives an instruction for allocation to the vehicle; an access-permission-request acquisition unit that acquires an access-permission request which is from an information communication terminal device of a monitoring user associated with the passenger user, and is for requesting permission to access a part of functions of the vehicle which the passenger user is on board; and an alighting-urging control unit that, when the vehicle has arrived at a destination and alighting of the passenger user from the vehicle has not been completed, establishes communication between the vehicle and the information communication terminal device according to an access right based on the access-permission request, and performs control for urging the passenger user to alight. The alighting-urging control unit provides the vehicle with image / voice information of the monitoring user acquired via the information communication terminal device in order to urge the passenger user to alight.

Description

Vehicle Allocation Management Device and Vehicle Allocation Management Method

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[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 guardian arranges a vehicle for the pick-up and drop-off of a protected person such as a child. Children who board a vehicle often fall into a deep sleep inside the vehicle. Therefore, in the case of a driverless vehicle without a driver and without an attendant, even if the vehicle arrives at the destination (drop-off location), the child remains asleep and the vehicle cannot depart for the next vehicle allocation service, resulting in a decrease in vehicle allocation efficiency.

[0003] The following Patent Document 1 discloses a vehicle allocation system that can appropriately respond to users who do not get off at the scheduled drop-off position. Specifically, in the system disclosed in Patent Document 1, when it is detected that a user who is riding in a vehicle capable of autonomous driving without a driver getting off at the user's scheduled drop-off position, the vehicle is controlled to perform a predetermined operation.

[0004] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2021 - 149354

[0005] In the system disclosed in the above Patent Document 1, when the user (riding user) does not get off the vehicle at the drop-off location, for example, because the user is sleeping, the coping method is limited and flexible coping according to various situations at the time of getting off cannot be performed.

[0006] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle allocation management device and a vehicle allocation management method that can effectively cope with a situation where a riding user does not immediately get off at the destination for some reason in a mobility service using a driverless vehicle.

[0007] The present invention for solving the above problems is configured to include the following invention identification matters or technical features.

[0008] According to a certain perspective, the present invention is a vehicle dispatch management device that manages vehicle dispatch in response to a user's dispatch request. The vehicle dispatch management device includes: 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 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; and a disembarkation prompt control unit that, when the vehicle in which the passenger user is riding has arrived at its destination and the passenger user has not yet disembarked from the vehicle, establishes communication between the vehicle and the information and communication terminal device in accordance with the access rights based on the access permission request and performs control to urge the passenger user to disembark. The disembarkation prompt control unit provides the vehicle with image and / or voice information of the monitoring user acquired via the information and communication terminal device in order to urge the passenger user to disembark.

[0009] 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.

[0010] 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.

[0011] According to the present invention, in a mobility service using an unmanned vehicle, it becomes possible to effectively urge the passenger to disembark even if the passenger does not immediately disembark at the destination for some reason. In particular, according to the present invention, since the urge to disembark is made by voice from the monitoring user, the passenger becomes more aware that they should disembark.

[0012] 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.

[0013] 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 illustrating 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 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 access rights granting processing in a dispatch management device according to one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 6 is a sequence chart illustrating an example of passenger disembarkation request processing in a dispatch management system according to one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 7A is a flowchart illustrating an example of vehicle disembarkation request processing in a dispatch management system according to one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 7B is a flowchart illustrating an example of vehicle disembarkation request processing in a dispatch management system according to one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 8 is a flowchart illustrating an example of passenger disembarkation request processing by a dispatch management device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0014] 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.

[0015] 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).

[0016] In the dispatch service provided by the dispatch management system 1, for example, a monitoring user associated with a passenger acquires access rights to specific functions of the vehicle V in which the passenger is riding when a dispatch request is made. If the passenger does not alight when the vehicle V, which was dispatched based on the dispatch request, arrives at the destination (drop-off point) stop, the monitoring user, in response to a request from the dispatch management device 10 to urge the passenger to alight, can use the information and communication terminal device 20 to visually confirm the interior of the vehicle V and verbally urge the passenger to alight, according to the acquired access rights. Furthermore, if the passenger still does not alight, the monitoring user, in response to a request from the dispatch management device 10 to change the destination, can use the information and communication terminal device 20 to instruct the passenger to change their destination. In this disclosure, children are an example of passengers, and guardians are an example of monitoring users. Hereafter, when there is no need to distinguish between passengers and monitoring users, either or both may simply be referred to as "users."

[0017] 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 in response to an access permission request sent from the monitoring user's information and communication terminal device 20 (i.e., the dispatch application), establishes communication between the vehicle V in which the passenger is riding and the information and communication terminal device 20 according to the granted access rights, provides the information and communication terminal device 20 with information about the in-vehicle environment of the vehicle V, and controls the monitoring user's information and communication terminal device 20 to provide image and / or audio information to the vehicle V. 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, the ability to access the in-vehicle user interface UI of vehicle V. Access permission requests are, for example, part of or associated with a dispatch request.

[0018] 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.

[0019] 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.

[0020] 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.

[0021] 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.

[0022] Furthermore, vehicle V is equipped with various in-vehicle user interface UIs that acquire in-vehicle environment information showing the interior of the vehicle and provide predetermined information to passengers (riding users). In-vehicle cameras, microphones, and speakers are one aspect of the in-vehicle user interface UI. In addition, vehicle V is equipped with an authentication terminal device (not shown) for identifying users who intend to board. 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 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 a riding user 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 a riding user corresponding to the dispatch request, the control device CTL may control the transmission of the authentication information read by the authentication terminal device to the dispatch management device 10.

[0023] 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.

[0024] 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, and a disembarkation prompt control unit 153. 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.

[0025] 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.

[0026] 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., cram schools and extracurricular activity facilities). Cram schools and extracurricular activity facilities are specific facilities that the passenger intends to visit. Specific facilities may be associated with nearby bus stops. The road map information also includes information necessary for searching for a travel route, such as road information, feature information, and environmental information. 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 travel route of vehicle V indicated by the ride-hailing plan.

[0027] 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.

[0028] 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.

[0029] 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 vehicle dispatch 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, receives voice notifications from the monitored user's ride-hailing application and transmits them to the vehicle V.

[0030] 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 granted access to specific functions related to disembarking from 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.

[0031] 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 a dispatch instruction to the corresponding vehicle V via the vehicle communication unit 140. In addition, the dispatch planning unit 130 updates the dispatch plan of vehicle V based on a destination change instruction from a monitored user and issues a dispatch instruction to the corresponding vehicle V via the vehicle communication unit 140.

[0032] 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 disembarkation prompting control unit 153. The vehicle communication unit 140 also transmits images and / or audio information received from the monitoring user's information communication terminal device 20 to the vehicle V.

[0033] The in-vehicle monitoring control unit 150 controls the interaction between the vehicle V and the information and communication terminal device 20 so that the monitoring user can monitor the interior of the vehicle V in which the passenger is riding and can call out to the passenger inside the vehicle, 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. For example, if the passenger does not disembark from the vehicle V at the destination, the in-vehicle monitoring control unit 150 sends a request to disembark to the monitoring user's information and communication terminal device 20, receives image and / or audio information from the monitoring user's information and communication terminal device 20 prompting the passenger to disembark, and transmits audio information to the vehicle V so that audio based on the audio information is output inside the vehicle V. In this case, an image prompting disembarkation may be displayed on the in-vehicle user interface. As described above, the in-vehicle monitoring control unit 150 is configured to include an access permission request acquisition unit 151, an access rights management unit 152, and a disembarkation prompt control unit 153.

[0034] 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.

[0035] 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.

[0036] 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 relation to prompting passengers to disembark, functions such as monitoring the in-vehicle environment using in-vehicle cameras / microphones and calling out to passengers using in-vehicle speakers. 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.

[0037] The disembarkation prompting control unit 153, when the vehicle V carrying the passenger has arrived at its destination but the passenger has not yet disembarked from the vehicle V, establishes communication between the vehicle V and the monitoring user's information communication terminal device 20 according to the access rights based on the access permission request, and performs processing to prompt the passenger to disembark.

[0038] Specifically, the disembarkation request control unit 153 may send a disembarkation request to the monitoring user's information and communication terminal device 20 if it determines that the passenger has not yet disembarked from the vehicle V. This allows the system to request the passenger to disembark if the passenger does not disembark from the vehicle V, with the cooperation of the monitoring user. For example, if the vehicle V carrying the passenger arrives at its destination, and no movement related to the passenger's disembarkation is detected within a predetermined waiting time for disembarkation, the disembarkation request control unit 153 determines that the passenger has not yet disembarked and sends a disembarkation request to the information and communication terminal device 20. For example, if the vehicle V has arrived at its destination and an arrival announcement is played inside the vehicle, but the passenger is asleep and shows no sign of moving, this is considered a state where the passenger has not yet disembarked. This makes it possible to prevent a decrease in the vehicle V dispatch efficiency while giving as much consideration as possible to the passenger's voluntary disembarkation.

[0039] Furthermore, after sending a request to disembark, the disembarkation request control unit 153 acquires in-vehicle environment information of the vehicle V in which the passenger is riding, in accordance with the access rights based on the monitoring user's access permission request, and provides the acquired in-vehicle environment information (e.g., video information and audio information) to the information and communication terminal device 20. As a result, when urging a passenger to disembark, the conditions inside the vehicle V are provided to the user interface of the monitoring user's information and communication terminal device 20, and the monitoring user can check the conditions inside the vehicle V in real time via the user interface.

[0040] In this case, the disembarkation request control 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 sitting 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 in-vehicle environment information relating only to the passenger being monitored. The disembarkation request control unit 153 may also identify the seat where the passenger is sitting if it is authenticated that the passenger who has boarded the vehicle V is the passenger associated with the dispatch request. For example, the disembarkation request control unit 153 instructs the vehicle V to identify the location of the passenger's seat. In response, the vehicle V's 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 sitting. 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 passenger disembarkation request control unit 153 transmits in-vehicle environment information sent from the vehicle V to the monitoring user's information and 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.

[0041] Furthermore, the passenger disembarkation request control 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 passenger disembarkation request control 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 passenger disembarkation request control unit 153 may apply mosaic processing to the faces of other passengers so that the faces of other passengers 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.

[0042] Furthermore, the passenger disembarkation request control unit 153 receives image and / or audio information transmitted from the monitoring user's information and communication terminal device 20 in response to a passenger disembarkation request and provides it to the vehicle V. For example, when a monitoring user receives a passenger disembarkation request, they confirm and accept the content of the request on the user interface of the dispatch app and confirm the status of the passenger based on the in-vehicle video of the vehicle V based on the in-vehicle environment information. Subsequently, the monitoring user can call out to the passenger via the user interface. The information and communication terminal device 20 transmits the monitoring user's image and / or audio information to the dispatch management device 10, and the passenger disembarkation request control unit 153 provides this to the vehicle V. The passenger disembarkation request control unit 153 can provide audio and display images on the in-vehicle user interface. This allows the monitoring user to directly speak to passengers who do not disembark from the vehicle V. In particular, for children, a familiar parent's voice is easier to distinguish and provides a sense of security than a simple in-vehicle announcement, making it effective in prompting them to disembark.

[0043] Further, while the alighting prompting control unit 153 is prompting the boarding user to alight, the control is performed so that the boarding and alighting doors of the vehicle V are closed. For example, when the boarding user does not complete alighting within a predetermined alighting waiting time, the control device CTL of the vehicle V controls to temporarily close the boarding and alighting door that was opened for alighting. When it is confirmed that the boarding user approaches the boarding and alighting door and makes a sign of getting off, etc., the control device CTL controls to open the closed boarding and alighting door again. This can prevent a boarding user who was sleeping without getting off from suddenly waking up due to the alighting prompt, rushing out of the vehicle V without checking the surrounding situation, and being involved in an accident such as a collision.

[0044] Further, the alighting prompting control unit 153 may transmit an alighting assistance prompting message to the information communication terminal device 20 so that the monitoring user requests the alighting assistance prompting for a specific facility. The specific facility includes a cram school, a hobby facility, etc., which are the destinations visited by the boarding user. For example, when the boarding user still does not alight at the destination, the alighting prompting control unit 153 transmits an alighting assistance prompting message to the information communication terminal device 20 of the monitoring user so that the monitoring user is asked to prompt the boarding user to alight on behalf of the specific facility associated with the destination stop. Alternatively, when the boarding user still does not alight at the destination, the alighting prompting control unit 153 may directly transmit an alighting assistance prompting message to the specific facility associated with the destination without going through the monitoring user. This enables the person in charge of the specific facility to be requested to assist in prompting the boarding user to alight, increasing the possibility of getting the boarding user to alight. Especially when the destination visited by the boarding user is a cram school, a hobby facility, etc., since there is a personal relationship with the boarding user, it is easy to request such assistance in prompting alighting, and it becomes possible to effectively prompt alighting.

[0045] When prompting for alighting assistance to a specific facility, the alighting prompting control unit 153 may estimate a specific facility associated with the destination of the vehicle V where the boarding user alights based on the road map information stored in the road map information database 12b. This enables the specific facility of the destination to be estimated from the alighting location of the boarding user.

[0046] Further, when the boarding user does not complete boarding after being urged to alight by the alighting urging control unit 153, the alighting urging control unit 153 can transmit a destination change request for changing to another destination different from the destination to the information communication terminal device 20 of the monitoring user. For example, when the information communication terminal device 20 receives the destination change request, it displays this on the user interface to prompt the monitoring user to change the destination. When the monitoring user fails to respond to the boarding user's alighting urge, the monitoring user gives up the boarding user's alighting at the originally planned destination and operates the vehicle allocation app to specify a new destination (for example, a stop near the home that was the departure point). As a result, the vehicle allocation plan for the vehicle V carrying the boarding user who does not respond to the alighting urge at all can be flexibly changed, and a decrease in vehicle allocation efficiency can be suppressed. In this case, the alighting urging control unit 153 can transmit the destination change request when a predetermined alighting urging time has elapsed since the first alighting urge to the boarding user. Thereby, it becomes possible to prevent the vehicle V from being delayed in departing for the next destination due to the boarding user not alighting, and to suppress a decrease in vehicle allocation efficiency.

[0047] The vehicle allocation planning unit 130 updates the vehicle allocation plan based on the new destination indicated by the destination change instruction transmitted from the information communication terminal device 20 in response to the destination change request. As a result, the vehicle allocation plan for the vehicle V carrying the boarding user who does not respond to the alighting urge at all can be flexibly changed, and a decrease in vehicle allocation efficiency can be suppressed.

[0048] 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.

[0049] As shown in the figure, the dispatch management device 10 waits until a new dispatch request is received from a user (monitoring user) (S401). Meanwhile, for example, the monitoring user operates the dispatch application on the user interface of the information and communication terminal device 20 to input a dispatch request. For example, when a parent arranges a vehicle V for their child, the parent makes a dispatch request using the dispatch application. When making a dispatch request, the monitoring user may also make an access permission request. When the dispatch management device 10 receives a dispatch request from a user (Yes in S401), it refers to the road map information database 12b based on the dispatch request and determines the stops (boarding point and alighting point) for the user to get on and off (S402).

[0050] Next, the dispatch management device 10, based on the determined bus stops, refers to the road map information database 12b to determine a travel route consisting of road links from the boarding point to the alighting point (S403). The dispatch management device 10 may also extract several candidate travel routes.

[0051] 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).

[0052] 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.

[0053] 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).

[0054] 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).

[0055] 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.

[0056] 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.

[0057] 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).

[0058] 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).

[0059] Next, an outline of the disembarkation request process in the dispatch management system 1 of this embodiment will be described. Figure 6 is a sequence chart illustrating an example of the disembarkation request process in the dispatch management system according to one embodiment of the present invention. The figure shows the sequence of 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.

[0060] 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).

[0061] 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.

[0062] 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 where the passenger is seated. This allows the control unit CTL to provide in-vehicle environment information (e.g., video information) to the monitoring user's information and communication terminal device 20 in response to a request to disembark, providing in-vehicle environment information only for the passenger and their immediate vicinity.

[0063] When the vehicle V arrives at the passenger's destination, the control device CTL opens the passenger doors and plays a disembarking announcement to prompt the passenger to disembark (S606). If the control device CTL determines that the passenger has not disembarked for reasons such as being asleep, even though a predetermined waiting time for disembarking has elapsed, it sends a request to the dispatch management device 10 to urge the passenger to disembark (S607).

[0064] When the dispatch management device 10 receives a request to disembark, it transmits it to the information and communication terminal device 20 of the monitoring user associated with the passenger (S608). When the information and communication terminal device 20 receives the request to disembark, it displays it on the user interface and prompts the monitoring user to accept the request to disembark (S609). When the monitoring user accepts the request to disembark, the information and communication terminal device 20 then transmits an acceptance notification of the request to disembark to the dispatch management device 10 (S610), and the dispatch management device 10 transmits the acceptance notification of the request to disembark to the vehicle V (S611). As a result, the dispatch management device 10 establishes communication between the information and communication terminal device 20 and the vehicle V (control device CTL).

[0065] Upon receiving a notification of acceptance of a request to disembark, the control device CTL acquires in-vehicle environment information (e.g., video information) relating to the passenger (S612) and transmits it to the dispatch management device 10 (S613). The dispatch management device 10 transmits the in-vehicle environment information received from the vehicle V to the information and communication terminal device 20 (S614). In this case, when the dispatch management device 10 receives the in-vehicle environment information from the vehicle V, it may process the in-vehicle environment information (i.e., video information) by image processing so that the faces of other passengers other than the passenger being monitored are not visually recognized, and then transmit the processed in-vehicle environment information to the information and communication terminal device 20.

[0066] When the information and communication terminal device 20 receives in-vehicle environment information, it provides the received in-vehicle environment information to the monitoring user (S615). 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.

[0067] The monitoring user, via the user interface, confirms the passengers inside vehicle V and calls out to them to urge them to disembark. In response, the information and communication terminal device 20 transmits the monitoring user's voice information to the dispatch management device 10 (S616), and the dispatch management device 10 transmits the voice information from the information and communication terminal device 20 to vehicle V (S617). In response, the control device CTL outputs voice based on the received voice information from the in-vehicle speaker (S618).

[0068] Figures 7A and 7B are flowcharts illustrating an example of a vehicle disembarkation request process in a dispatch management system according to one embodiment of the present invention. In these figures, it is assumed that the monitoring user already has access rights to specific functions of vehicle V.

[0069] As shown in the figure, the control device CTL of the vehicle V carrying the passenger controls the autonomous driving of the vehicle V in accordance with the dispatch instructions and drives toward the destination (the passenger's disembarking point) (S701). In this case, the control device CTL transmits driving management information acquired from various sensors to the dispatch management device 10, and the dispatch management device 10 can monitor and control the autonomous driving of the vehicle V based on the received driving management information.

[0070] The control unit CTL monitors whether vehicle V has arrived at its destination (S702). If it determines that vehicle V has arrived at its destination (Yes in S702), the control unit CTL opens the passenger doors and plays a disembarking announcement to prompt passengers to disembark (S703). After playing the disembarking announcement to passengers, the control unit CTL waits until a predetermined waiting time for disembarking has elapsed (S704). In this case, the control unit CTL may repeatedly play the disembarking announcement. If the control unit CTL determines that the predetermined waiting time for disembarking has elapsed (Yes in S704), it determines whether the passengers have finished disembarking (S705).

[0071] The control unit CTL terminates the disembarkation process when it determines that the passenger has finished disembarking (Yes in S705).

[0072] On the other hand, if the control device CTL determines that the passenger has not yet disembarked (No. in S705), the control device CTL closes the passenger doors of the vehicle V (S706). This prevents sleeping passengers from suddenly waking up and hastily getting out of the vehicle. Next, the control device CTL sends a request to the dispatch management device 10 to urge the monitoring user to disembark (S707). In response, the dispatch management device 10 sends the request to the monitoring user's information and communication terminal device 20, obtains the monitoring user's consent to the disembarkation request, and establishes communication between the information and communication terminal device 20 and the vehicle V (control device CTL).

[0073] Next, the control device CTL transmits the in-vehicle environment information acquired from the in-vehicle user interface UI to the dispatch management device 10 (S708), and the dispatch management device 10 transmits the in-vehicle environment information to the monitoring user's information and communication terminal device 20. The in-vehicle environment information is, for example, video information including passengers. In this case, the dispatch management device 10 may provide the monitoring user with a mosaic-processed image along the contours of the passengers so that only the passengers are visually recognizable. The monitoring user can visually confirm the in-vehicle environment information through the user interface of the distribution application on the information and communication terminal device 20 and call on the passengers to get off the vehicle.

[0074] The control device CTL, in response to the monitoring user providing in-vehicle environment information to the information and communication terminal device 20, receives voice information from the monitoring user transmitted from the information and communication terminal device 20, and outputs voice based on the received voice information into the vehicle via the in-vehicle speaker (S709). The control device CTL continues to transmit in-vehicle environment information (S708) and output voice based on the voice information into the vehicle (S709) until a predetermined time for requesting passengers to disembark has elapsed (No. in S710), and continues the monitoring user's call for passengers to disembark.

[0075] If the control device CTL determines that a predetermined time for requesting passengers to disembark has elapsed (Yes in S710), the control device CTL determines whether or not the passenger is in a situation where they can disembark (S711). A situation where the passenger is in a situation where they can disembark typically refers to a situation in which the passenger responds to the supervisor's call, engages in conversation, or makes movements to disembark.

[0076] If the control unit CTL determines that the passenger is in a position to disembark (Yes in S711), the control unit CTL opens the passenger doors to allow the passenger to disembark (S712) and terminates the process.

[0077] On the other hand, if the control device CTL determines that the passenger is in a position to disembark (No. in S711), the control device CTL transmits a destination change request to the dispatch management device 10 (S713). In response, the dispatch management device 10 transmits the destination change request to the monitoring user's information and communication terminal device 20. When the monitoring user confirms the destination change request on the information and communication terminal device 20, they transmit a destination change instruction to the dispatch management device 10 in order to change the passenger's current destination to the new destination. Based on the new destination indicated by the destination change instruction from the monitoring user, the dispatch management device 10 updates the dispatch plan for vehicle V and transmits a dispatch instruction to vehicle V based on the updated dispatch plan.

[0078] The control unit CTL receives a dispatch instruction based on the updated dispatch plan (S714). Subsequently, the control unit CTL controls the autonomous driving of vehicle V in accordance with the received dispatch instruction, and the vehicle autonomously drives toward the destination (the disembarking point of the passenger) (S701).

[0079] Figure 8 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a passenger disembarkation request process by a dispatch management device according to one embodiment of the present invention. In this figure, it is assumed that the monitoring user already has access rights to a specific function of vehicle V.

[0080] As shown in the figure, the dispatch management device 10 monitors whether or not it has received notification from vehicle V that the passenger has disembarked (S801). That is, the dispatch management device 10 remotely monitors whether or not vehicle V has arrived at its destination and whether or not the passenger has disembarked. During this time, if the dispatch management device 10 has not received notification from vehicle V that the passenger has disembarked (No. in S801), it monitors whether or not it has received a request from vehicle V to expedite disembarkation (S802).

[0081] If the dispatch management device 10 determines that it has received a request from vehicle V to disembark (Yes in S802), it transmits the received request to disembark to the monitoring user's information and communication terminal device 20 (S803). In response, the monitoring user's information and communication terminal device 20 displays the request to disembark on the user interface of the dispatch application and prompts the monitoring user for their consent. If the monitoring user consents to the request to disembark, the information and communication terminal device 20 transmits a notification of consent to the request to disembark to the dispatch management device 10. When the dispatch management device 10 receives the notification of consent from the information and communication terminal device 20, it transmits a message to vehicle V indicating that consent has been given (S804). In response, vehicle V begins transmitting in-vehicle environment information (e.g., video information) to the dispatch management device 10.

[0082] When the dispatch management device 10 receives in-vehicle environment information from the vehicle V, it transmits this information to the information and communication terminal device 20 (S805). The monitoring user checks the in-vehicle conditions based on the in-vehicle environment information on the user interface of the dispatch application and makes a call to urge the passenger to get off. The information and communication terminal device 20 transmits voice information based on the monitoring user's call to the dispatch management device 10.

[0083] When the dispatch management device 10 receives voice information from the information and communication terminal device 20, it transmits it to the vehicle V (S806). The dispatch management device 10 also determines whether or not it has received a request to change the destination (S807). A request to change the destination is notified by the control device CTL of the vehicle V when a predetermined time for urging passengers to disembark has elapsed. If the dispatch management device 10 determines that it has not received a request to change the destination (No. in S807), the dispatch management device 10 will ask the monitoring user to urge the passenger to disembark if there is no notification of disembarkation completion (No. in S808). In this case, the control device CTL may also send a message to the information and communication terminal device 20 urging the monitoring user to request a disembarkation assistance from a specific facility.

[0084] On the other hand, if the dispatch management device 10 determines that it has received a destination change request (Yes in S807), the dispatch management device 10 transmits the destination change request to the information and communication terminal device 20 (S809). In response, the monitoring user's information and communication terminal device 20 displays the destination change request on the user interface of the dispatch application and prompts the monitoring user to input a new destination. When the monitoring user provides a new destination in response to the destination change request, the information and communication terminal device 20 transmits a destination change instruction indicating the new destination to the dispatch management device 10, and the dispatch management device 10 receives the destination change instruction from the information and communication terminal device 20 (S810).

[0085] In this example, the control device CTL of vehicle V transmits the destination change request, but this is not limited to this. The dispatch management device 10 may also transmit a destination change request to the information and communication terminal device 20 when a predetermined time for requesting passengers to disembark has elapsed, while simultaneously notifying vehicle V of this fact.

[0086] Next, the dispatch management device 10 updates the dispatch plan for vehicle V based on the received destination change instruction (S811). In other words, the dispatch management device 10 creates and updates a dispatch plan to go to the new destination indicated by the destination change instruction. Subsequently, the dispatch management device 10 issues a dispatch instruction to vehicle V based on the updated dispatch plan (S812). In response, vehicle V begins autonomous driving toward the new destination. As described above, the dispatch management device 10 monitors whether or not a notification of completion of alighting at the new destination has been received (S801).

[0087] As described above, according to this embodiment, in a mobility service using an unmanned vehicle, it becomes possible to effectively urge the passenger to disembark even if the passenger does not immediately disembark at the destination for some reason. In particular, according to this embodiment, since the urge to disembark the passenger is made by voice from the monitoring user, the passenger is more likely to realize that they should disembark. Furthermore, according to this embodiment, if the passenger does not disembark even after a predetermined disembarkation time has elapsed, the dispatch plan for vehicle V carrying the passenger who did not respond to the disembarkation urge can be flexibly changed by giving up on disembarking the passenger at the originally planned destination and having the monitoring user specify a new destination (for example, a bus stop near the passenger's home, which was the starting point), thereby suppressing a decrease in dispatch efficiency.

[0088] 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.

[0089] 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.

[0090] 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.

[0091] 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 control unit 151... Access permission request acquisition unit 152... Access rights management unit 153... Disembarkation prompt control 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 vehicle 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; and a disembarkation prompt control unit that, when the vehicle in which the passenger user is riding has arrived at its destination and the passenger user has not yet disembarked from the vehicle, establishes communication between the vehicle and the information and communication terminal device in accordance with the access rights based on the access permission request and performs control to prompt the passenger user to disembark, wherein the disembarkation prompt control unit provides the vehicle with image and / or voice information of the monitoring user acquired via the information and communication terminal device in order to prompt the passenger user to disembark.

2. The dispatch management device according to claim 1, wherein the disembarkation request control unit transmits a disembarkation request to the information and communication terminal device of the monitored user when the passenger has not yet disembarked from the vehicle.

3. The dispatch management device according to claim 2, wherein the disembarkation request control unit transmits the disembarkation request to the information and communication terminal device if, after the vehicle has arrived at its destination, no movement related to the disembarkation of the passenger is recognized within a predetermined waiting time for disembarkation.

4. The dispatch management device according to claim 2, 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 rights request based on the user information.

5. The dispatch management device according to claim 4, 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.

6. The dispatch management device according to claim 5, wherein the passenger disembarkation prompting control unit acquires in-vehicle environment information of the in-vehicle space in the vehicle in which the passenger is riding, in accordance with the access rights, and provides the acquired in-vehicle environment information to the information and communication terminal device.

7. The dispatch management device according to claim 6, wherein the disembarkation request control unit provides the vehicle with image and / or audio information transmitted from the information and communication terminal device in response to the disembarkation request.

8. The vehicle dispatch management device according to claim 7, wherein the disembarkation prompting control unit controls the vehicle's passenger doors to close while prompting the passenger to disembark.

9. The dispatch management device according to claim 1, wherein the disembarkation request control unit controls the information and communication terminal device to send a disembarkation request message to the monitoring user so that the monitoring user requests disembarkation to a specific facility.

10. The dispatch management device according to claim 9, further comprising a road map information database storing road map information relating to at least roads and facilities, wherein the disembarkation prompting control unit estimates the specific facility associated with the destination where the passenger is to disembark, based on the road map information.

11. The dispatch management device according to claim 1, wherein the disembarkation prompt control unit transmits a destination change request to the monitoring user's information and communication terminal device if the passenger does not complete disembarking in response to a request to disembark the passenger.

12. The dispatch management device according to claim 11, wherein the disembarkation request control unit transmits the destination change request when a predetermined disembarkation request time has elapsed since the initial disembarkation request to the passenger.

13. The dispatch management device according to claim 12, wherein the dispatch planning unit updates the dispatch plan based on the new destination indicated by the destination change instruction transmitted from the information and communication terminal device in response to the destination change request.

14. A dispatch management system comprising an information and communication terminal device and a dispatch management device communicateably connected to 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; and a disembarkation prompt control unit that, when the vehicle in which the passenger user is riding has arrived at its destination and the passenger user has not yet disembarked from the vehicle, establishes communication between the vehicle and the information and communication terminal device in accordance with the access rights based on the access permission request and performs control to prompt the passenger user to disembark, wherein the information and communication terminal device transmits the image and / or voice information of the monitoring user to the dispatch management device in order to prompt the passenger user to disembark based on the access rights, and the disembarkation prompt control unit provides the image and / or voice information of the monitoring user acquired via the information and communication terminal device to the vehicle.

15. 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 according to the 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; establishing communication between the vehicle and the information and communication terminal device in accordance with the access rights based on the access permission request, when the vehicle in which the passenger user is riding has arrived at its destination and the passenger user has not yet disembarked from the vehicle, and taking control to urge the passenger user to disembark; and providing the vehicle with image and / or voice information of the monitoring user obtained via the information and communication terminal device in order to urge the passenger user to disembark.

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