Dynamic Vehicle Return Point Scheduling for Rental Efficiency
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Solution Overview
Problem
In vehicle sharing systems, inefficiencies arise when not enough vehicles are available at return points, leading to rejected rental requests and suboptimal operation rates.
Innovation Solution
An information processing apparatus that generates rental schedules for users, obtains demand data, and dynamically changes vehicle return points to optimize vehicle usage by allowing users to return vehicles at different locations, thereby enabling more efficient rental transitions between users.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If vehicles are required to be returned to departure points, then users have simple return procedures, but vehicle operation rates decrease due to insufficient vehicles at return points
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the vehicle return point flexible rather than fixed. The system dynamically determines return points based on real-time demand data, allowing the return location to adapt to changing conditions. This resolves the contradiction by enabling simple return procedures for users while simultaneously optimizing vehicle operation rates through adaptive return point selection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of return point location from a fixed departure point to a dynamically selected location based on demand. By modifying this key parameter, the system achieves both user convenience (maintaining simple return procedures) and improved vehicle utilization (increasing operation rates through strategic return point selection).
2Productivity
If vehicles are returned to different locations, then vehicle operation rates improve, but rental schedule complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by automatically generating optimized rental schedules that incorporate dynamic return points. The system autonomously processes demand data, calculates optimal return locations, and adjusts schedules without manual intervention. This resolves the contradiction by improving vehicle operation rates through location flexibility while managing schedule complexity via automated scheduling algorithms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs feedback mechanisms by continuously monitoring demand data and using it to adjust return points and rental schedules. The system receives feedback about vehicle demand at various locations and dynamically modifies schedules accordingly. This resolves the contradiction by improving operation rates through data-driven location selection while keeping schedule management tractable through automated feedback-based adjustment.
3Ease of manufacture
If rental schedules are generated based on fixed return points, then schedule generation is simple, but vehicle allocation efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-calculating optimal return points based on demand data before finalizing rental schedules. The system proactively determines the most efficient return locations in advance, allowing simple schedule generation processes to produce optimized results. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining schedule generation simplicity while improving vehicle allocation efficiency through pre-computed optimal return points.
Data Source
AI summary
In a system for renting vehicles to users, the operation rate of the vehicles is improved. An information processing apparatus for managing the rental of vehicles to users is configured to perform: generating a rental schedule of a vehicle for a first user; obtaining demand data related to a demand for the vehicle; and changing, based on the demand data, a vehicle return point included in the rental schedule, the vehicle return point being a point at which the first user returns the vehicle.