JP6519339B2 - Shared vehicle management apparatus and shared vehicle management method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a shared vehicle management apparatus and a shared vehicle management method for managing a plurality of shared vehicles used by a plurality of users.

  A car sharing system is known in which a plurality of users use a plurality of shared vehicles. In this car sharing system, there has been proposed a system in which the user can freely set the place for borrowing the shared vehicle and the place for returning the shared vehicle. In such a car sharing system, the use mode in which the user reserves use of a specific shared vehicle in advance, and the use of the currently available shared vehicle without requiring the user to set a return time without requiring a reservation There is known a technology for managing the use of a shared vehicle according to an aspect (Patent Document 1).

Patent 4628576

  However, in the above-mentioned prior art, in the usage mode where the user uses the shared vehicle without making a reservation and setting the return time of the shared vehicle, another user can use the shared vehicle when the shared vehicle is returned. There is a problem that it is inconvenient for the user because it is necessary to make an application for use at a timing when the shared vehicle becomes available without knowing whether it will be in the state.

  The problem to be solved by the present invention is to improve the convenience for the user when using the shared vehicle without setting the return time of the shared vehicle without the user making a reservation.

  The present invention predicts the usage time of a shared vehicle for a user who uses a shared vehicle, and determines, based on the predicted usage time, whether or not another user can reserve the shared vehicle. Solve.

  According to the present invention, the other user next uses the shared vehicle, in order to determine whether the shared vehicle can be reserved by the other user based on the predicted usage time of the user using the shared vehicle. It becomes possible to make a reservation to the effect that the convenience for the user is improved.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the shared vehicle management system provided with the shared vehicle management apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention, it is a schematic diagram which shows an example of the method a user utilizes a shared vehicle. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It is a block diagram of the shared vehicle management system provided with the shared vehicle management apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the station in which the shared vehicle which the shared vehicle management system of FIG. 1B manages is arrange | positioned. It is a figure for demonstrating an example of the method of making a reservation to the effect of the user B using the shared vehicle which the user A is using next. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the control procedure which manages utilization and return of a common vehicle by the common vehicle management apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the control procedure at the time of another user reserving the shared vehicle which one user is using with the shared vehicle management apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

  Hereinafter, based on the drawings, a shared vehicle management apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. The present embodiment will be described using an example in which the shared vehicle management apparatus is applied to a shared vehicle management system that manages and operates a car sharing system in which a plurality of users share a plurality of shared vehicles arranged in a plurality of stations. In the car sharing system of the present embodiment, the station for borrowing the shared vehicle and the station for returning the shared vehicle may be the same or different. Each station is a place where the shared vehicle can be parked, and the shared vehicle can be rented and returned, or the shared vehicle not being used can be kept on standby, and the station is prepared in advance for the car sharing system. A parking lot etc. are mentioned.

  Here, FIG. 1A is a schematic view showing an example of a method in which a user uses a shared vehicle in the shared vehicle management system 1000 including the shared vehicle management apparatus 100 of the present embodiment. In FIG. 1A, the user U1 uses the shared vehicle V2 and sets the station ST2 as a station (return station) for returning the shared vehicle V2 after use, while the user U2 uses the user terminal device 400X. Show a scene in which one of the shared vehicles is about to be used. In the shared vehicle management system 1000 of the present embodiment, the user U2 operates the user terminal device 400X to select a station from which the shared vehicle should be rented out of the plurality of stations managed by the shared vehicle management device 100 ( Select a departure station) and request use of the shared vehicle waiting at the selected departure station.

  For example, in the situation shown in FIG. 1A, when user U2 selects station ST1 as a departure station, shared vehicle V1 waiting at station ST1 can be used. At this time, an arbitrary station may be set as a station (return station) for returning the shared vehicle after use. Alternatively, the user U2 may set this return station at a desired timing after making a request for use of the shared vehicle. As a result, the user can get on the shared vehicle that has made the usage request and can use the shared vehicle, and then return the used shared vehicle to the set return station, thereby allowing the one-way car sharing of the throwaway type. The system is available.

  On the other hand, when the user U2 selects the station ST2 as the departure station in the scene shown in FIG. 1A, the shared vehicle management apparatus 100 does not have the shared vehicle management station 100 at the station ST2 because there is no shared vehicle waiting at the station ST2. There is no currently available shared vehicle, and the station ST2 transmits information to the effect that the shared vehicle can not be rented to the user terminal device 400X of the user U2. Alternatively, when the user U2 selects the station ST2 as the departure station in the scene shown in FIG. 1A, the shared vehicle management apparatus 100 maintains a state in which the shared vehicle can not be accepted for lending.

  The above is the basic configuration of the one-way car sharing system in the present embodiment. In this embodiment, in such a one-way car sharing system, when there is no shared vehicle currently available to user U2 in the situation as shown in FIG. 1A, the user using the shared vehicle (actually shared) The usage time of the shared vehicle predicted for the user who is using the vehicle or the user who is planning to use the shared vehicle is calculated, and whether or not the reservation can be accepted from the user U2 based on the calculated time judge.

  FIG. 1B is a block diagram showing a shared vehicle management system 1000 of the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1B, shared vehicle management system 1000 according to the present embodiment includes shared vehicle management apparatus 100 and a plurality of shared vehicles V1 to Vn used by a plurality of users (hereinafter collectively referred to as shared vehicle Vn). In-vehicle devices 200V1 to 200Vn (hereinafter sometimes collectively referred to as in-vehicle devices 200Vn) and user terminal devices 400X to 400Z (hereinafter referred to as user terminal devices 400X) possessed respectively by a plurality of users. There is and). The numbers of in-vehicle devices 200V1 to 200Vn and user terminal devices 400X to 400Z that configure the shared vehicle management system 1000 of the present embodiment are not limited.

  Shared vehicle management device 100, in-vehicle devices 200V1 to 200Vn, and user terminal devices 400X to 400Z respectively include communication devices (20, 220, 420), and mutually exchange information via a telecommunication network such as Internet 300. It is possible. The communication path may be wired or wireless.

  The user terminal device 400X of the present embodiment executes a ROM (Read Only Memory) storing a program applied to the user terminal device 400X according to the present embodiment of the present invention and the program stored in the ROM. A computer is provided with a central processing unit (CPU) as an operation circuit for executing each function, and a random access memory (RAM) functioning as an accessible storage device. The user terminal device 400X of the present embodiment may be a portable computer such as a personal computer, a smartphone, or a personal digital assistant (PDA).

  The user terminal device 400X of the present embodiment receives the input information for requesting use of the shared vehicle Vn of the desired departure station by each user, and the communication device 420 which communicates with an external device such as the shared vehicle management device 100. And a display device 430 for notifying each user of information, and a control device 440 for executing control processing of use of the shared vehicle Vn by the user.

  As the input device 410 of the user terminal device 400X, for example, a device such as a touch panel or joystick disposed on a display screen capable of manual input by the user, or a microphone capable of input by the user's voice may be used. it can. As the display device 430, a display or the like can be given, and in the case of using a touch panel display, the display device 430 can also be used as the input device 410.

  The control device 440 according to the present embodiment uses the position acquisition device such as a GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver (not shown) provided in the user terminal device 400X to obtain information on the current position of the user operating the user terminal device 400X. The acquired and acquired current position information is transmitted to shared vehicle management apparatus 100 via communication device 420.

  Further, control device 440 receives input information such as a use request for requesting use of shared vehicle Vn by each user, and transmits the same to shared vehicle management device 100 via communication device 420. In the present embodiment, as the use request of the shared vehicle Vn, there is an aspect of immediate use where the use of the shared vehicle Vn is started immediately after the user transmits the use request.

  The above-mentioned use request includes the ID information of the user, the information of the current position of the user, the information of the departure station set by the user, the ID information of the shared vehicle Vn which the user intends to use, the information of the return station set by the user, etc. Is included. In the car sharing system of the present embodiment, the usage request may not include information on the usage start time of the shared vehicle Vn by the user and the return time of the shared vehicle Vn by the user. That is, in the car sharing system of the present embodiment, the user can start using the shared vehicle Vn without setting the usage start time and return time of the shared vehicle Vn, and can return the shared vehicle Vn at an arbitrary timing. Note that the user terminal device 400X of the present embodiment receives, from the shared vehicle management device 100, information on each station, information on the shared vehicle Vn that is a candidate for use in each station, and the like, as necessary.

  Further, in the present embodiment, one or both of the user terminal device 400X and the in-vehicle device 200Vn may function as a navigation device for guiding the traveling route of the shared vehicle Vn to the user. When the user terminal device 400X functions as a navigation device, the user terminal device 400X stores map information in, for example, a ROM provided in the user terminal device 400X in advance, and the display device 430 with the map information. Displaying the current position of the shared vehicle Vn currently used by the user and the position of the return station set by the user, and guiding the traveling route from the current position of the shared vehicle Vn to the return station Can.

The in-vehicle device 200Vn of the present embodiment uses the GPS receiver 210 for detecting the current position of each shared vehicle Vn, the communication device 220 for communicating with an external device such as the shared vehicle management device 100, and the use of the shared vehicle Vn by the user. And a controller 230 for executing the control process of
This in-vehicle device 200Vn may be a simple mechanism using the function of the user terminal device 400X. For example, when the GPS receiver, communication device, route calculation and route guidance device, etc. are installed in the user terminal device 400X, the function is used, and the on-vehicle device 200Vn performs only authentication of the user shown below. May be

  In the present embodiment, using the authentication device (not shown) provided in on-vehicle apparatus 200 Vn, control device 230 matches the user who got on shared vehicle Vn with the user who made a request for using shared vehicle Vn. Perform user authentication whether or not to For example, using an apparatus capable of NFC (Near Field Communication) communication as an authentication apparatus, control apparatus 230 reads user ID information from user terminal apparatus 400X owned by the user, a membership card, etc. The shared vehicle management apparatus 100 is accessed via the device 220, information on the usage request for the shared vehicle Vn is acquired, and user authentication of the user who has got on the shared vehicle Vn is performed.

  Further, control device 230 transmits information on the current position acquired using GPS receiver 210 to shared vehicle management device 100 via communication device 220.

  Further, control device 230 notifies the user of information and the like transmitted from shared vehicle management apparatus 100 using a display, a speaker, and the like (not shown). In the present embodiment, for example, the control device 230 receives, from the shared vehicle management device 100, information on each station, information on available shared vehicles Vn at each station, and the like, and notifies the user.

  In the present embodiment, the in-vehicle device 200Vn functions as a navigation device for guiding a traveling route from the current position of the shared vehicle Vn to the return station, as in the user terminal device 400X described above. It is also good.

  Shared vehicle management apparatus 100 of the present embodiment functions as a server of shared vehicle management system 1000, and executes control processing for managing and operating a car sharing system, on-vehicle apparatus 200Vn, and user terminal apparatus 400X. Communication device 20 capable of mutual communication, information received by communication device 20, information on each shared vehicle Vn, information on each station, user performance information indicating usage history for each user, and usage history for each shared vehicle Vn And a database 30 storing vehicle performance information and the like.

  In the present embodiment, control device 10 manages the use and return of shared vehicle Vn by the user based on the information received by communication device 20 and the information stored in database 30 by each function described later. .

  For example, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of stations indicated by circles are provided in a predetermined use area on the map (the area shown by the broken line in FIG. 2). In a situation where the shared vehicle Vn borrowed is used and thereafter the shared vehicle Vn is returned to the station ST2, the control device 10 can manage the use and return of the shared vehicle Vn by the user. In the example shown in FIG. 2, the stations are arranged such that the distances between adjacent stations are equal, but the arrangement mode is not limited to this.

  Furthermore, in the present embodiment, control device 10 calculates the usage time of shared vehicle Vn predicted for the user who uses shared vehicle Vn as the predicted usage time, and based on the predicted usage time, the other user Has a function of determining whether the shared vehicle Vn can be reserved. For example, the control device 10 first predicts a traveling route of a user who uses the shared vehicle Vn. Next, the control device 10 calculates the predicted use time when the user travels the traveling route with the shared vehicle Vn, using information of the usage result of the shared vehicle Vn, and the like. Then, if the predicted use time calculated for the user using shared vehicle Vn is equal to or less than the predetermined time, control device 10 can make it possible to receive a reservation of shared vehicle Vn from another user.

  In the present embodiment, as exemplified in FIG. 3, in a scene where a user U3 sets the departure station (station ST3) and the return station (station ST4) and uses the shared vehicle V3, the control device 10 If the predicted use time of shared vehicle V3 used by user U3 is equal to or less than a predetermined time, reservation of shared vehicle V3 is accepted from another user (user U4).

  In the scene shown in FIG. 3, the user U3 occupies the departure station (station ST3) until departure by the shared vehicle V3 and occupies the return station (station ST4) until returning the shared vehicle V3. Furthermore, in the present embodiment, when reservation of shared vehicle V3 is accepted from user U4, the departure station (station ST4 in which shared vehicle V3 is returned by user U3 until user U4 departs from shared vehicle V3) ) Is temporarily occupied (pre-reserved), and until the shared vehicle V3 is returned, the user U4 tentatively occupies (pre-reserved) the station ST5 set as a return station. At this time, the station ST4 is occupied by the user U3 as a return station, and redundantly, temporarily occupied (pre-reserved) as a departure station by the user U4.

  Although it does not specifically limit as a method in which the control apparatus 10 calculates estimated utilization time, For example, the following methods can be used.

  First, in the scene illustrated in FIG. 3, the control device 10 obtains a traveling route (hereinafter, referred to as a predicted traveling route) that is predicted to be traveled by the user U3 based on the departure station and the return station set by the user U3. At this time, the control device 10 refers to the user performance information (information indicating the usage results for each user) stored in the database 30, and relates to the route traveled by each user who uses each shared vehicle Vn in the past Information may be extracted, and a predicted travel route may be determined based on the extracted information. For example, when the user U3 tends to always travel the same route for the purpose of commuting, transportation, shopping, hospitalization, etc., the control device 10 can set the route as the predicted travel route of the user U3. .

Next, the control device 10 calculates the time required for the user U3 to travel on the predicted traveling route as the predicted use time. For example, the control device 10 refers to the user performance information stored in the database 30, extracts the information of the average traveling time T _Ave required when the user U3 travels the predicted traveling route, and extracts the extracted average traveling time T _Ave can be set as the predicted use time of the user U3.

When user U3 has already departed from the departure station (station ST3), control device 10 determines the time elapsed since user U3 departed (ie, from the departure time of user U3 to the current time). The predicted use time may be determined in consideration of time). For example, a time obtained by subtracting the time elapsed since the departure of the user U3 from the above-described average travel time T _Ave can be used as the predicted use time. In this case, the control device 10 may obtain information on the current position of the user U3 and obtain the predicted use time as a shorter value as the user U3 approaches the return station.

Further, control device 10 may obtain the predicted usage time of user U3 based on the usage results of shared vehicle Vn by users other than user U3. That is, control device 10 refers to the user track record information of the other users stored in database 30, and calculates the average travel time T _{Ave_users} required for each user to travel the predicted travel route of user U3. The calculated average travel time T _{Ave —} users may be used as the predicted use time of the user U3. In this case, the controller 10 further with respect to the calculated average running time _{T Ave_users,} set the coefficients k1 based on the tendency of the past travel of the user U3, multiplied by the coefficient k1 to the average transit time _{T Ave_users} This value may be used as the predicted use time of the user U3.

The coefficient k1 can be determined, for example, as follows. That is, the control device 10 calculates the average traveling time T _{Ave —} all when each user travels various routes based on the user performance information of each user. Furthermore, the control device 10 calculates an average travel time T _{Ave_U3} when the user U3 travels various routes based on the user performance information of the user U3. Then, the control unit 10, the longer the average running time _{T Ave_U3} relative to the average transit time _{T Ave_all,} and a large value of the coefficient of the user U3 k1, the shorter the average running time _{T Ave_U3} relative to the average transit time _{T Ave_all} The coefficient k1 of the user U3 is set to a small value. For example, the coefficient k1 can be a value _obtained by dividing the average traveling time T _{Ave_U3} by the average traveling time T _{Ave_all} (average traveling time T _{Ave_U3} / average traveling time T _{Ave_all} ). Thus, in the present embodiment, by obtaining the predicted use time of the user U3 according to the coefficient k1 of the user U3, a predicted use time close to the actual traveling tendency of the user U3 can be obtained.

  In the present embodiment, the coefficient k1 is set to a predetermined initial value (for example, a value larger than 1.0) for a user without user record information, that is, a user without use record of the shared vehicle Vn. Is preferable, and 2.0 etc. can be mentioned.

  In addition, in the present embodiment, the control device 10 may obtain the predicted use time of the user U3 in consideration of traffic information on roads, weather information, and the like. For example, the control device 10 acquires traffic information of the current road from each on-vehicle device 200 Vn or the like via the communication device 20, and calculates a coefficient k2 according to the traffic of the road. Here, for example, the coefficient k2 is set to a higher value as the road is congested. Further, the control device 10 acquires weather information via the communication device 20, and calculates a coefficient k3 according to the weather. For example, the coefficient k3 is set to a high value when the traveling speed of the vehicle tends to decrease, such as rain or snow, and the coefficient k3 is set to a low value when the weather is good. Then, the control device 10 obtains the predicted use time of the user U3 according to the coefficient k2 based on the traffic information and the coefficient k3 based on the weather information, so that the prediction according to the situation when the user U3 actually travels Usage time can be obtained.

  In the present embodiment, as described above, the control device 10 calculates the predicted use time for the user U3 who uses the shared vehicle Vn.

  Next, in the present embodiment, the control device 10 determines whether another user U4 can reserve the shared vehicle Vn based on the predicted use time of the user U3. For example, in the scene illustrated in FIG. 3, the control device 10 can determine that the user U4 can reserve the shared vehicle V3 if the predicted use time calculated for the user U3 is equal to or less than a predetermined time. Specifically, it is determined that the user U4 can receive a reservation of contents that the shared vehicle Vn is to be used from the departure station (station ST4) set by the user U4 to the return station (station ST5).

  Although the predetermined time described above is not particularly limited, it may be set in view of the time that user U4 can wait before starting to use shared vehicle V3, for example, about 5 to 30 minutes. it can.

  In the present embodiment, when it is determined that the user U4 can reserve the shared vehicle V3, the control device 10 notifies the user U4 of the determination result. At this time, the control device 10 can notify the user U4 of not only the information on the availability of reservation but also the information on the predicted time when the use of the shared vehicle V3 can be started. Note that the method of notification is not particularly limited, and a method in which the control device 10 notifies via the communication device 20 from the in-vehicle device 200Vn or the user terminal device 400X by video or audio may be mentioned.

  Further, when the control device 10 actually accepts the reservation of the shared vehicle V3 by the user 4 based on the determination result described above, the user U4 sets it as the arrival station until the user U4 returns the shared vehicle V3. A process of securing the station ST5 for the user U4 is performed. That is, the other user can not set station ST5 as a return station (the other user can not return shared vehicle Vn to station ST5), and user U4 returns shared vehicle V3 to station ST5. Be ready to do it.

  Next, the database 30 of the shared vehicle management device 100 of the present embodiment will be described. The database 30 includes shared vehicle information 31, station information 32, and a use request received from each user (application for directly using the shared vehicle V3 as the user U3 in the scene shown in FIG. 3 described above, Such as user U4 and the like, including a request for reservation to use shared vehicle V3 next), actual information 34 which is a usage history of shared vehicle Vn by each user, and map information 35 Remember. In the example shown in FIG. 1B, only one database 30 is provided. However, in the shared vehicle management apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment, a plurality of databases 30 are provided, and the shared vehicle information 31, The station information 32, the usage application information 33, the record information 34, and the map information 35 may be stored separately.

  Here, the shared vehicle information 31 is information including the ID of each shared vehicle Vn, the vehicle type / vehicle type, the output, and the like. The station information 32 is information including position information of each station, the maximum number of parkable cars of each station, the number of parked cars or vacant cars of each station, names of nearby places serving as marks, distance between each station, road slope and the like.

  The usage application information 33 is input information input by each user to request the use of the shared vehicle Vn using the user terminal device 400X and the in-vehicle device 200Vn. The usage application information 33 directly uses information of an application for using the shared vehicle V3 as the user U3 in the above-described scene of FIG. 3 and uses the shared vehicle V3 next as the user U4. And information on a reservation application to be made. The record information 34 is information in which the information of the record of each user using the shared vehicle Vn is stored, for example, the information of the use time of the shared vehicle Vn when the shared vehicle Vn is used by each user And information on departure stations and return stations used by each user. The performance information 34 includes user performance information in which usage results for each user are accumulated, and vehicle performance information in which usage results for each shared vehicle Vn are accumulated.

  The map information 35 is map information including at least all the stations shown in FIG. 2, and is information including roads, distances between nodes, slopes, road widths, road types, names of buildings, and the like.

  As shown in FIG. 1B, the control device 10 of the shared vehicle management device 100 of the present embodiment has a ROM (Read Only Memory) 12 storing a program for executing a process of managing and operating the car sharing system, and By executing a program stored in the ROM 12, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 11 as an operation circuit functioning as the shared vehicle management device 100 and a RAM (Random Access Memory) 13 functioning as an accessible storage device Prepare.

  The control device 10 of the shared vehicle management device 100 realizes a use request receiving function, a use record management function, a predicted use time calculation function, a reservation availability determination function, a notification function, and a return reception function. The control device 10 of the shared vehicle management device 100 according to the present embodiment is a computer that realizes each function by cooperation of the software for realizing the above function and the hardware described above.

  Hereinafter, each function realized by the control device 10 of the shared vehicle management device 100 will be described.

  First, the usage request reception function executed by the control device 10 of the present embodiment will be described. The control device 10 receives the use request of the shared vehicle Vn from the user terminal device 400X by the use request receiving function, and stores information of the received use request in the database 30 as the use application information 33. In the use request, as described above, the ID information of the user, the information of the current position of the user, the information of the departure station set by the user, the ID information of the shared vehicle Vn to be used by the user, the information set by the user It includes information on return stations.

  Subsequently, the usage record management function executed by the control device 10 of the present embodiment will be described. In the present embodiment, the control device 10 uses, as the record information 34, information such as the use time when each user uses the shared vehicle Vn, and information such as the departure station and return station used by the use record management function. Remember.

  Then, the estimated utilization time calculation function which the control apparatus 10 of this embodiment performs is demonstrated. In the present embodiment, the predicted use time calculating function calculates the predicted use time of the user who uses the shared vehicle Vn, as described above, based on the record information 34 stored in the database 30. Then, with respect to the shared vehicle Vn used by a certain user, the control device 10 uses the reservation availability determination function when another user applies for the use of the shared vehicle Vn or the return of the shared vehicle Vn When there is an application for using the shared vehicle Vn from a station set as a station, as described above, based on the predicted usage time of the user who uses the shared vehicle Vn, a reservation from the other user is made. It is determined whether it is possible to accept

  Then, the notification function which the control apparatus 10 of this embodiment performs is demonstrated. The control device 10 communicates with each of the in-vehicle devices 200Vn and each of the user terminal devices 400X by using a notification function, and notifies the user of information indicating that the request for using the shared vehicle Vn has been received. Further, the control device 10 notifies the user of the determination result of the reservation availability determination function, the information of the predicted time when the shared vehicle Vn can be started to be used, and the like by the notification function.

  Then, the return acceptance function which control device 10 of this embodiment performs is explained. The return acceptance function of the control device 10 is a function for accepting return of the shared vehicle Vn in response to a return request of the shared vehicle Vn transmitted by the user via the in-vehicle apparatus 200Vn or the user terminal device 400X.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 1A, when the return station of shared vehicle V2 is set to station ST2, user U1 operates on-vehicle apparatus 200V2 after stopping shared vehicle V2 at station ST2. By transmitting a return request to shared vehicle management apparatus 100, control device 10 can receive return of shared vehicle V2.

  The return request transmitted by the user includes the ID information and the current position information of the shared vehicle Vn used by the user, and the control device 10 uses the ID information of the shared vehicle Vn included in the received return request. Based on the usage application information 33 stored in the database 30, the information corresponding to the ID information of the shared vehicle Vn is read out, and it is determined whether the shared vehicle Vn is located at a preset return station. If it is determined that the shared vehicle Vn is located at the return station, the shared vehicle Vn is processed as if it was correctly returned.

  In the present embodiment, as described above, the management operation of the car sharing system is performed by the respective functions realized by the control device 10 of the shared vehicle management apparatus 100.

  According to the present embodiment, control device 10 of shared vehicle management apparatus 100 calculates the predicted usage time of the user using shared vehicle Vn, and based on the predicted usage time, another user reserves the shared vehicle Vn. Determine if you can. As a result, the other user can make a reservation to use the shared vehicle Vn next, and convenience for the user is improved.

  In the conventional car sharing system, when the shared vehicle Vn is reserved, it is necessary to previously set a return time in addition to the use start time of the shared vehicle Vn. That is, if the reservation of shared vehicle Vn is accepted without setting the return time, the user who intends to use shared vehicle Vn next does not know when it can start using the shared vehicle Vn. It was necessary to set the return time of Vn beforehand.

  On the other hand, in the car sharing system, it is also known that the user starts using the shared vehicle Vn without making a reservation without setting the use start time and return time of the shared vehicle Vn and returns it at any timing. It is done. However, in such a mode of use, as described above, since the return time of shared vehicle Vn is not set, the user can not know when it can start to use and can reserve shared vehicle Vn. It was not. That is, in a scene where user A using shared vehicle Vn sets a specific station as a return station, temporarily, shared vehicle Vn scheduled to be returned from the other user B to the specific station If the user A does not return the shared vehicle Vn by the usage start time even if the reservation is made from the desired usage start time, the user B uses the shared vehicle Vn at the usage start time at which the reservation was made. There is a problem that you can not use Therefore, the process of reservation in the conventional car sharing system can not be applied to a usage mode in which the user can return the shared vehicle Vn at an arbitrary timing.

  On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the control device 10 of the shared vehicle management apparatus 100 calculates the predicted use time of the user who uses the shared vehicle Vn, and based on the predicted use time, another user uses the shared vehicle By determining whether or not Vn can be reserved, it becomes possible for the other user to reserve the shared vehicle Vn. Thereby, in the car sharing system, the convenience for the user is improved, and the shared vehicle Vn returned by a certain user is immediately used by the other user who made the reservation. The time during standby (the time when shared vehicle Vn is not used) is reduced, and the operation rate of shared vehicle Vn is improved.

  Next, an operation example of the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a control procedure of the car sharing system by the shared vehicle management apparatus 100 of the present embodiment. In the flowchart shown in FIG. 4, a control procedure for one user to transmit a use request to use shared vehicle Vn, use shared vehicle Vn, and return shared vehicle Vn to the return station is described. It is shown.

  First, in step S101, the control device 10 of the shared vehicle management apparatus 100 determines whether or not the use request has been transmitted from the user via the user terminal device 400X. The usage request includes the ID information of the user, the information on the current position of the user, the information on the departure station set by the user, the ID of the shared vehicle Vn to be used by the user, and the information on the return station set by the user. And so on. Then, if it is determined in step S101 that the use request has been transmitted, the process proceeds to step S102. On the other hand, when it is determined in step S101 that the use request is not transmitted, the process waits in step S101.

  In step S102, the control device 10 receives the usage request transmitted from the user in step S101, and stores the usage request information 33 in the database 30.

  In step S103, the control device 10 refers to the use request received in step S102 and determines whether or not the return station set by the user is currently available. For example, if there is a space where the shared vehicle Vn can be newly parked at a station set as a return station, it is determined that the return station is currently available. If it is determined in step S103 that the return station is currently available, the process proceeds to step S104. On the other hand, when it is determined in step S103 that the return station is not currently available, the process proceeds to step S112, and in step S112, the control device 10 re-returns the return station to the user via the user terminal device 400X. It notifies to set, and it returns to step S101 mentioned above.

In step S104, the control device 10 refers to the usage request received in step S102, and determines whether the departure station set by the user is currently available. For example, if there is a shared vehicle Vn waiting at a station set as a departure station, and the shared vehicle Vn is currently in a state where it can accept lending, it is determined that the departure station is currently available. . Then, when it is determined in step S104 that the departure station is currently available, the process proceeds to step S105, and the control device 10 completes acceptance of the use request received in step S102. On the other hand, when it is determined in step S104 that the departure station is not currently available, the process proceeds to step S113, and in step S113, the control device 10 uses the reservation determination process to share based on the use request from the user. It determines whether or not it is possible the reservation of the car both Vn.

  Here, FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of the reservation determination process. The reservation determination process will be described below with reference to FIG.

  First, in step S201 shown in FIG. 5, the control device 10 refers to the use request received in step S102 and determines whether or not the departure station set by the user is set as a return station by another user. Do. When it is determined in step S201 that the departure station is set as a return station by another user, the process proceeds to step S202. On the other hand, when it is determined in step S201 that the departure station is not set as a return station by another user, the process proceeds to step S207, and in step S207, the control device 10 transmits the shared vehicle to the user. It notifies that Vn can not be reserved, and ends the reservation determination process.

  In step S202, the control device 10 communicates with the in-vehicle device 200Vn or the user terminal device 400X via the communication device 20 to determine whether the other user has departed from the shared vehicle Vn. . When it is determined in step S202 that the other user has departed, the process proceeds to step S203. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S202 that the other user has not departed, the process proceeds to step S206.

  In step S203, the control device 10 acquires the information on the current position of the other user, and calculates the predicted use time based on the current position of the other user. For example, as described above, the control device 10 calculates the predicted use time of the other user, and the calculated predicted use time is set to a shorter value as the current position of the other user approaches the return station. Correct to become

  On the other hand, in step S206, the control device 10 calculates the predicted use time without considering the current position of the other user.

  In step S204, the control device 10 determines whether the predicted use time calculated in step S203 or S206 described above is equal to or less than a predetermined time. When it is determined in step S204 that the predicted use time is equal to or less than the predetermined time, the process proceeds to step S205. On the other hand, when it is determined in step S204 that the predicted use time is not equal to or less than the predetermined time, the process proceeds to step S207, and in step S207, the control device 10 can not reserve the shared vehicle Vn for the user. Is notified and the reservation determination process is ended.

  In step S205, the control device 10 accepts, for the user who received the use request in step S102, a reservation of contents that the shared vehicle Vn is used from the departure station set in the use request to the return station, and performs the reservation determination process. finish.

  Subsequently, returning to FIG. 4, in step S114 of FIG. 4, it is determined whether or not a reservation has been accepted by the above-described reservation determination process. When it is determined in step S114 that the reservation has been accepted, the process proceeds to step S106. On the other hand, when it is determined in step S114 that the reservation has not been accepted, the present process ends.

  In step S106, control device 10 determines whether or not a return request to return shared vehicle Vn has been transmitted from the user. The return request transmitted by the user includes the ID information of the user and the ID information and position information of the shared vehicle Vn used by the user. When it is determined in step S106 that the return request has been transmitted, the process proceeds to step S107. On the other hand, when it is determined in step S106 that the return request is not transmitted, the process waits in step S106.

  In step S107, the control device 10 receives the return request transmitted from the user in step S106.

  In step S108, based on the return request received in step S107 and the information on the usage application information 33 stored in the database 30, the shared vehicle Vn to be returned by the user is shared with the shared vehicle Vn. Check if it is located at the set return station.

  In step S109, the control device 10 uses the ID information of the shared vehicle Vn to be returned by the user based on the return request received in step S107 and the information of the use application information 33 stored in the database 30, and It is confirmed whether or not the ID information of the shared vehicle Vn included in the application information 33 matches.

  In step S110, the control device 10 determines whether or not the return process can be completed for the shared vehicle Vn to be returned by the user. Specifically, based on the information confirmed in step S108 and step S109, control device 10 matches the position of the return station at which the current position is set for shared vehicle Vn which is about to be returned by the user. When it is determined that the ID information matches the ID information of the shared vehicle Vn included in the usage application information 33, it is determined that the return processing of the shared vehicle Vn can be completed. Then, when it is determined in step S110 that the return processing of the shared vehicle Vn can be completed, the process proceeds to step S111. On the other hand, when it is determined in step S110 that the return process of the shared vehicle Vn can not be completed, the process proceeds to step S115, the control device 10 interrupts the return process of the shared vehicle Vn, and returns to step S106 described above.

  In step S110, when it is determined that the return processing of the shared vehicle Vn can be completed, the process proceeds to step S111, and in step S111, the control device 10 completes the return processing of the shared vehicle Vn. The usage time of shared vehicle Vn is calculated, and according to the calculated usage time, the usage fee for shared vehicle Vn is charged to the user, and the process is ended.

  In the present embodiment, as described above, shared vehicle management apparatus 100 calculates the predicted use time of the user who uses shared vehicle Vn, and based on the predicted use time, another user uses shared vehicle Vn. It is determined whether the reservation can be made.

  Since the embodiment of the shared vehicle management system according to the present invention is configured and operates as described above, the following effects can be obtained.

  [1] In the present embodiment, based on the predicted usage time of the user who uses the shared vehicle Vn, in order to determine whether another user can reserve the shared vehicle Vn, the other user next It is possible to make a reservation to use the shared vehicle Vn, and the convenience for the user is improved. Furthermore, since shared vehicle Vn returned by a certain user is immediately used by another user who has made a reservation, the time during which shared vehicle Vn is not used is reduced, and shared vehicle Vn is operated. Improve the rate.

  [2] In this embodiment, in order to notify the user who has applied for the use of shared vehicle Vn of the determination result as to whether or not the reservation to the effect of using shared vehicle Vn can be accepted, the user can It is possible to know and improve the convenience for the user.

  [3] In this embodiment, when the predicted use time of the user who uses shared vehicle Vn is equal to or less than the predetermined time, in order to receive a reservation of shared vehicle Vn from another user, according to the predetermined time set by the user Therefore, the reservation can be accepted only when the shared vehicle Vn becomes available in a relatively short time, and the user who made the reservation does not have to wait for a long time until the use start of the shared vehicle Vn. The convenience for

  [4] In the present embodiment, sharing is performed based on at least one of user record information indicating the use record for each user, vehicle record information indicating the travel record for each shared vehicle, traffic information on the road, and weather information Since the predicted usage time of the user using the vehicle Vn is calculated, the predicted usage time close to the actual travel time of the user can be obtained, and the propriety of reservation from other users can be judged more appropriately.

[5] In this embodiment, in order to calculate the predicted use time based on the average travel time T _{Ave_users} based on the results of the travel of each user on the predicted travel route of the user who uses the shared vehicle Vn, The predicted utilization time close to the traveling time of the vehicle can be obtained, and the propriety of reservation from other users can be judged more appropriately.

[6] In this embodiment, for a user who does not have the usage _history of shared vehicle Vn, the value obtained by multiplying the above-mentioned average travel time T _{Ave_users} by a predetermined coefficient is calculated as the predicted usage time. For users who are not accustomed to using and tend to have long usage times, predicted usage times close to actual travel times are obtained, and it is possible to more appropriately determine whether or not reservations from other users can be made.

[7] In the present embodiment, the average travel time _{T Ave_all} at the time when each user has traveled a different route, the shared vehicle Vn specific user using the (e.g., the user U3 in FIG. 3) average travel time by _{T Ave_U3} And calculate. Then, the longer the average running time _{T Ave_U3} relative to the average transit time _{T Ave_all,} and a large value of the coefficient k1 described above, the shorter the average running time _{T Ave_U3} relative to the average transit time _{T Ave_all,} the coefficients k1 described above Use a small value. As a result, when the average travel time T _{Ave —} users is multiplied by the coefficient k1 to calculate the predicted usage time, the predicted usage time close to the actual travel time of a specific user who uses the shared vehicle Vn is obtained. It is possible to determine the availability of reservations from other users.

  [8] When the shared vehicle management method of the present embodiment is executed, the above-described operation and effects can be obtained.

  Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, these embodiments are described to facilitate the understanding of the present invention, and not to limit the present invention. Therefore, each element disclosed in the above embodiment is intended to include all design changes and equivalents that fall within the technical scope of the present invention.

  In the embodiment described above, the control device 10 of the shared vehicle management apparatus 100 corresponds to the reception means, the calculation means, the determination means and the notification means of the present invention, and the database 30 of the shared vehicle management apparatus 100 corresponds to the first storage of the present invention. It corresponds to the means and the second storage means.

1000 ... shared vehicle management system 100 ... shared vehicle management device 10 ... control device 20 ... communication device 30 ... database V1 to Vn ... shared vehicle 200V1 to 200 Vn ... in-vehicle device 300 ... Internet 400X to 400 Z ... user terminal device

Claims (6)

A shared vehicle management apparatus that manages multiple shared vehicles shared by multiple users, comprising:
First storage means for storing information of a plurality of stations capable of lending and returning the shared vehicle;
A second storage unit that stores user performance information indicating the usage performance for each user;
Reception means for receiving a use request to return a shared vehicle borrowed from one station to an arbitrary station without specifying a departure time and a return time from the user;
Calculating means for calculating, as a predicted use time, a use time of the common vehicle predicted for a user who uses the common vehicle;
A determination unit that determines whether it is possible to receive from another user a reservation indicating that the shared vehicle used by the user is to be used next to the user, based on the predicted use time;
The calculation means is stored in the second storage means an average travel time based on the results of the travel of each user on the shared vehicle in the specific travel route where the user using the shared vehicle is predicted to travel. The shared vehicle management device calculates with reference to the stored information and calculates the predicted use time based on the average travel time.   The shared vehicle management device according to claim 1, further comprising notification means for notifying the other user of the determination result by the determination means.   The shared vehicle management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit determines that the reservation can be received from the other user when the predicted use time is equal to or less than a predetermined time.   The shared vehicle management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the calculation unit calculates, as the predicted use time, a value obtained by multiplying the average travel time by a predetermined coefficient for a user who does not have a use record of the shared vehicle. The calculation means refers to the information stored in the second storage means to calculate, for each travel route, an average travel time based on the results of the travel of each user by the shared vehicle, and the shared vehicle Calculate the average travel time for each of the travel routes by the particular user to use,
As the average travel time by the specific user is longer than the average travel time by each user, the predicted usage time of the specific user is increased,
The shared vehicle management according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the predicted usage time of the specific user is shortened as the average travel time by the specific user is shorter than the average travel time by each user. apparatus. A computer managing a plurality of shared vehicles shared by a plurality of users is
Storing information of a plurality of stations where the shared vehicle can be rented and returned;
Storing user result information indicating a use result for each of the users;
Accepting from the user a use request to return a shared vehicle borrowed from one station to an arbitrary station without specifying a departure time and a return time;
The average travel time based on the results of the travel by each user on the shared vehicle is calculated with reference to the user performance information, and in the specific travel route where the user using the shared vehicle is predicted to travel, and Calculating the usage time of the shared vehicle predicted for the user using the shared vehicle as the predicted usage time based on the average traveling time;
Determining based on the predicted use time whether or not it is possible to receive from another user a reservation to use the shared vehicle used by the user next to the user, shared vehicle management Method.

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