CN113574578B - Information processing apparatus, mobile object, computer-readable storage medium, and method - Google Patents

Abstract

The device of the present invention comprises: an accident determination unit that determines that the first mobile unit has an operation-hampered state; an assignment unit that determines, when it is determined that the operation-hampering state has occurred, to move one or more third mobile bodies different from the first mobile body to a position where the operation-hampering state has occurred; and a reward determination unit that determines a condition relating to reward for use of one or more third mobile units. The operation hampering state may include at least one of a state where the first mobile body has at least one of a malfunction and an accident and a state where a probability of the first mobile body having at least one of a malfunction and an accident is greater than a predetermined value.

Description

Information processing apparatus, mobile object, computer-readable storage medium, and method

Technical Field

The invention relates to an information processing apparatus, a mobile body, a computer-readable storage medium, and a method.

Background

There is known an operation management server capable of quickly judging a substitute vehicle corresponding to the total amount of cargo to be delivered. There is known an alternative vehicle guidance system for quickly guiding an alternative vehicle to a position of a vehicle where an abnormality occurs (for example, refer to patent documents 1 and 2).

Patent document 1: japanese patent laid-open publication No. 2004-307210

Patent document 2: japanese patent laid-open publication No. 2000-172992

Disclosure of Invention

In the conventional system, the settlement or settlement of the fee related to the assignment of the substitute vehicle cannot be efficiently performed.

In a first aspect of the present invention, an information processing apparatus is provided. The information processing apparatus includes, for example, an accident determination unit configured to determine that the first mobile object has an operation-hampered state. The information processing apparatus includes, for example, an assignment unit that determines to move one or more third mobile bodies different from the first mobile body to a position where the operation hampering state occurs, when it is determined that the operation hampering state has occurred. The information processing apparatus includes, for example, a reward determination unit that determines a condition relating to reward for use of one or more third mobile bodies.

In the information processing apparatus, the operation hampering state may include at least one of a state where at least one of a malfunction and an accident occurs in the first moving body and a state where a probability that at least one of a malfunction and an accident occurs in the first moving body is larger than a predetermined value. The assignment unit may determine to move one or more third moving bodies to a position where the operation-hampered state occurs when a person rides on the first moving body or when an article is mounted on the first moving body.

The information processing apparatus may be provided with a contract information acquisition unit configured to acquire contract information indicating a content of a contract relating to use of the first mobile body. The dispatch section may also decide to move a second mobile body different from the first mobile body to a next destination of the first mobile body indicated by the contract information. The reward determination unit may determine a condition relating to reward for use of the second mobile body. When it is determined that the operation-hampered state has occurred, the dispatch unit may determine to move the second mobile unit to the next destination of the first mobile unit before the time indicated by the contract information. The assignment section may not determine the movement of the second mobile body when it is estimated that the third mobile body can reach the next destination of the first mobile body by the time indicated by the contract information.

The information processing apparatus may include a moving body information acquisition unit configured to acquire information indicating at least one of a position and a state of the first moving body. The accident determination unit may determine the occurrence of the operation hampering state based on information indicating at least one of the position and the state of the first mobile body. The information indicating at least one of the position and the state of the first mobile body may include at least one of information relating to a driving mode of the first mobile body, information relating to a speed of the first mobile body, information relating to a driving operation of the first mobile body, information relating to an operating condition of a driving assistance device mounted on the first mobile body, information acquired by an image pickup device external to the vehicle mounted on the first mobile body, and information relating to an emergency notification from the first mobile body or an occupant of the first mobile body.

In the information processing apparatus, the assigning unit may determine to move the plurality of third mobile bodies to a position where the operation-hampered state has occurred, when the mobile body information acquiring unit acquires information indicating that a rescue request is reported from the first mobile body or an occupant of the first mobile body to an administrative agency or a rescue agency. Even when it is determined that the operation-hampering state has occurred, the assignment unit may determine not to move the one or more third mobile bodies to the position where the operation-hampering state has occurred, when the mobile body information acquisition unit acquires information indicating that a rescue request has been reported from the first mobile body or an occupant of the first mobile body to the administration or the rescue institution.

The information processing apparatus may further include a cause determination unit configured to determine a cause of at least one of a failure and an accident. The reward determination unit may have a reward amount determination unit that determines the amount of reward for use of the one or more third mobile units based on the cause determined by the cause determination unit. The reward amount determination unit may determine the amount of the reward such that the amount of the reward when the cause is caused by the user of the first mobile body is larger than the amount of the reward when the cause is not caused by the user of the first mobile body. The value determination unit may determine the amount of the reward for use of the one or more third mobile bodies so that the amount of the reward for use of the one or more third mobile bodies is smaller than the amount of the reward for use of the first mobile body when the cause is not caused by the user of the first mobile body.

In the information processing apparatus, the cause determination unit may determine that the cause is caused by a user of the first mobile body when it is determined that the operation hampering state has occurred, (i) when the first mobile body is in the manual driving mode and the operation hampering state is an accident with another mobile body operating in the automatic driving mode, or (ii) when the first mobile body is in the manual driving mode and an operating condition of an apparatus mounted on the first mobile body satisfies a predetermined condition. When it is determined that the operation-hampering state has occurred, the cause determination unit may determine that the cause is not caused by the user of the first mobile body when the first mobile body is in the automatic driving mode.

In a second aspect of the invention, a method is provided. The information processing apparatus includes an accident determination step of determining that the first mobile object has an operation-hampered state, for example. The information processing apparatus includes an assignment step of, for example, when it is determined that the operation-hampering state has occurred, determining to move one or more third moving objects different from the first moving object to a position where the operation-hampering state has occurred. The information processing device determines a condition relating to reward for use of one or more third mobile bodies, for example.

In a third aspect of the invention, a program is provided. A non-transitory computer readable medium for storing the above program may also be provided. The program may be a program for causing a computer to function as the information processing apparatus according to the first aspect. The program may be a program for causing a computer to execute the method according to the second aspect.

In a fourth aspect of the present invention, a moving body is provided. The mobile object includes, for example, the information processing device according to the first aspect.

In addition, the summary of the invention does not list all necessary features of the invention. In addition, sub-combinations of these features may also be inventive.

Drawings

Fig. 1 schematically shows an example of a system configuration of the management system 100.

Fig. 2 schematically shows an example of a dispatch by the management system 100.

Fig. 3 schematically shows an example of the system configuration of the management server 110.

Fig. 4 schematically shows an example of the internal configuration of the holding unit 350.

Fig. 5 schematically shows an example of the internal configuration of the dispatch management unit 360.

Fig. 6 schematically shows an example of the internal configuration of the alternative vehicle processing portion 540.

Fig. 7 schematically illustrates an example of a screen 700.

Fig. 8 schematically illustrates an example of a screen 800.

Fig. 9 schematically shows an example of the screen 900.

Fig. 10 schematically illustrates an example of the screen 1000.

Fig. 11 schematically shows an example of the system configuration of the computer 3000.

Detailed Description

The present invention will be described below with reference to embodiments thereof, but the following embodiments do not limit the claimed invention. All combinations of the features described in the embodiments are not essential to the means for solving the present invention. In the drawings, the same or similar portions are sometimes assigned the same reference numerals and overlapping descriptions are omitted.

[ overview of management System 100 ]

An outline of an example of the management system 100 is explained with reference to fig. 1 and 2. Fig. 1 schematically shows an example of a system configuration of the management system 100. Fig. 2 schematically shows an example of a dispatch by the management system 100.

As shown in fig. 1, in the present embodiment, the management system 100 includes a management server 110. The management system 100 may include one or more (sometimes, one or more) vehicles 120. The management system 100 may include one or more communication terminals 22 used by the owners 20 of the vehicles 120. The management system 100 may be provided with a communication terminal 42 used by a user 40 who temporarily uses the vehicle 120. Management system 100 may include a maintenance server 132 for managing information related to maintenance of at least one of one or more vehicles 120. The management system 100 may be provided with an emergency rescue server 134 for managing information related to rescue requests. The various elements of the management system 100 may send and receive information to and from each other via the communication network 10.

The management system 100 may include one or more communication terminals 22 used by each of one or more owners 20. The management system 100 may include one or more communication terminals 42 used by each of the one or more users 40. The management system 100 may include one or more maintenance servers 132. The management system 100 may include one or more emergency relief servers 134.

In the present embodiment, the management system 100 manages one or more vehicles 120. The management system 100 may manage the operation of each of the more than one vehicle 120. The management system 100 may also manage the respective schedules of more than one vehicle 120. For example, the schedule of the vehicle 120 is determined by information indicating a time or period and predetermined information indicating the vehicle 120 in the time or period. The reservation of the vehicle 120 includes (i) a standby at a specific place or area, (ii) a movement to a place specified by a request for a vehicle dispatch from the owner 20 or the user 40, (iii) a use of the owner 20 or the user 40, and (iv) maintenance.

In one embodiment, the management system 100 manages the respective dispatch plans for more than one vehicle 120. The dispatch plan may include information indicating the location of the next destination for each of the more than one vehicle 120. The dispatch plan may include information indicative of one or more reservations related to the movement of each of the one or more vehicles 120. The information indicating one or more predetermined times may include information indicating a time or period when the vehicle 120 is dispatched (sometimes referred to as a dispatch time) and information indicating a location where the vehicle 120 is dispatched (sometimes referred to as a dispatch location), respectively. The information indicating one or more predetermined times may include information indicating the predetermined duration, the predetermined end time, or a predicted value thereof. The information indicating one or more predetermined times may include information indicating the position of the vehicle 120 at the predetermined end time.

The management system 100 may manage the dispatch plan for each of the more than one vehicle 120 based on the contract relating to the use of the vehicle 120. The contract may be a contract between an operator (not shown) of the management system 100 and the user 40, or a contract between the owner 20 and the user 40. The management system 100 may also mediate contracts between the owner 20 and the user 40.

In one embodiment, the management system 100 accepts a request from a vehicle 120 that wants to use the vehicle 120 (sometimes referred to as a vehicle dispatch request) for the contract, and the contract is established. In another embodiment, the management system 100 (i) processes the dispatch request to formulate a dispatch plan corresponding to the dispatch request, and (ii) obtains user 40's consent to the dispatch plan, such that the contract is established.

[ overview of vehicle dispatch by management System 100 ]

[ example of dispatching of the vehicle 122 ]

As shown in fig. 2, in the present embodiment, first, the management server 110 of the management system 100 obtains a first dispatch request from the user 40. The first dispatch request may include information indicating a request to dispatch vehicle 120 to the ride location 212 prior to time t 201.

When the management server 110 obtains the first dispatch request, at least one of the one or more vehicles 120 under the management of the management server 110 is assigned to the first dispatch request. For example, the management server 110 assigns a particular vehicle 122 to a first dispatch request from the user 40.

Thereby, for example, a first contract (sometimes referred to as a first reservation) is established. The contents of the first contract (sometimes referred to as reservation conditions of the first reservation) (i) may specify that a person or thing is transported from the boarding location 212 to the alighting location 214 using an arbitrary vehicle 120 or a vehicle 120 meeting specific conditions, (ii) may also specify that the arbitrary vehicle 120 or the vehicle 120 meeting specific conditions is dispatched at time t201, and the user 40 is allowed to use the vehicle 120 for a subsequent specified period. The end of the predetermined period may be a predetermined time or may be a time when the vehicle 120 arrives at the get-off point 214.

Likewise, the management server 110 obtains a second dispatch request from the user 40. The second dispatch request may include information indicating a request to dispatch vehicle 120 to the ride location 222 prior to time t 202. The time t202 may be a time later than the time t 201. The user 40 who sent the second dispatch request may be the same user 40 as the user 40 who sent the first dispatch request or may be a different user 40 than the user 40 who sent the first dispatch request.

When the management server 110 acquires the second dispatch request, at least one of the one or more vehicles 120 under the management of the management server 110 is assigned to the second dispatch request. For example, the management server 110 assigns the vehicle 122 to a second dispatch request from the user 40.

Thus, for example, a second contract (sometimes referred to as a second reservation) is established. The contents of the second contract (sometimes referred to as reservation conditions of the second reservation) (i) may specify that a person or thing is transported from the boarding location 222 to the alighting location 224 using an arbitrary vehicle 120 or a vehicle 120 meeting specific conditions, (ii) may also specify that the arbitrary vehicle 120 or the vehicle 120 meeting specific conditions is dispatched at time t202, and the user 40 is allowed to use the vehicle 120 for a subsequent specified period. The end of the predetermined period may be a predetermined time or may be a time when the vehicle 120 arrives at the get-off point 224.

According to the present embodiment, the specific vehicle 122 is dispatched to the riding place 212 at time t201 based on the first contract, and the specific vehicle 122 is dispatched to the riding place 222 at time t202 based on the second contract. Here, it is also assumed that the vehicle 122 is restricted from moving when the accident 62 occurs while the vehicle 122 moves from the boarding point 212 to the alighting point 214. It is also possible to assume that an accident 64 occurs while the vehicle 122 in an empty state moves from the getting-off point 214 to the boarding point 222, and the movement of the vehicle 122 is restricted.

The above-described accident may be an event that results in impeding the operation of the vehicle 122. As an accident that causes the movement of the vehicle 122 to be restricted, at least one of (i) a malfunction of the vehicle 122, (ii) an accident involving the vehicle 122, and (iii) an event that restricts at least one of the movement speed and the movement route of the vehicle 122 is exemplified. As an event that restricts at least one of the moving speed and the moving route of the vehicle 122, at least one of an accident on the route on which the vehicle 122 is scheduled to move, congestion on the route, and a traffic restriction on a part of the route on the route is cited.

[ example of assignment of substitute vehicle 124 ]

In this case, depending on the degree of restriction of the movement of the vehicle 122, the vehicle 122 may not reach the riding place 222 before the time t 202. As a result, there is a possibility that the vehicle 122 cannot fulfill the second contract during the fulfillment of the second contract.

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, when a predetermined condition (which may be referred to as a condition relating to the assignment of the substitute vehicle) is satisfied, the management server 110 determines to assign the substitute vehicle 124 to the riding place 222. The management server 110 may also decide to dispatch a plurality of substitute vehicles 124 to the place of occurrence. The management server 110 may also decide to dispatch the same number of substitute vehicles 124 as the number of vehicles 122 to the place of occurrence. Further, the management server 110 may perform processing for dispatching the replacement vehicle 124 to the ride location 222.

In this case, the user 40 requesting use of the vehicle 120 by the second dispatch request uses the substitute vehicle 124 as the vehicle 120 corresponding to the second dispatch request. However, depending on the content of the second dispatch request, the user experience of the user 40 is not affected whether the vehicle 122 is assigned or the alternate vehicle 124 is assigned as the vehicle 120 corresponding to the second dispatch request.

In one embodiment, the management server 110 determines whether the vehicle 122 can fulfill the second contract. When it is determined that the vehicle 122 assigned to the second contract at the time of the second contract cannot fulfill the second contract, the management server 110 determines to dispatch the substitute vehicle 124 to the riding place 222.

In another embodiment, the management server 110 determines whether the vehicle 122 can reach the ride location 222 before time t 202. When it is determined that the vehicle 122 cannot reach the riding place 222 before the time t202, the management server 110 determines to dispatch the substitute vehicle 124 to the riding place 222.

[ other examples of assignment of substitute vehicle 124 ]

Further, depending on at least one of the content of the accident 62 or the accident 64, the location of the place of occurrence, and the period of occurrence, there are situations where the user experience of the user 40 can be greatly improved by dispatching the substitute vehicle 124 to the place of occurrence of the accident 62 or the accident 64. For example, by assigning a replacement vehicle 124 to the user 40 when the vehicle 122 is difficult to move due to an accident or malfunction, the user experience of the user 40 is greatly improved.

By assigning a replacement vehicle 124 to the user 40 when an accident 62 or an accident 64 occurs in an area where the operation frequency of the public transportation is low or an area where transportation service of the public transportation is not provided, the user experience of the user 40 is greatly improved. Further, by assigning a replacement vehicle 124 to the user 40 when an accident 62 or an accident 64 occurs in a time period when the operation frequency of the public transportation is low or a time period when the public transportation is not open hours, the user experience of the user 40 is greatly improved. As the public transportation means, buses, taxis, and railway transportation are exemplified.

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, when a predetermined condition (which may be referred to as a condition relating to the assignment of the substitute vehicle) is satisfied, the management server 110 determines to assign the substitute vehicle 124 to, for example, the accident occurrence point. The management server 110 may determine to dispatch a plurality of substitute vehicles 124 to the accident occurrence location. The accident occurrence may be for the location of the vehicle 122 in an accident duration of the vehicle 122 and may have a range. The management server 110 may also decide to dispatch more replacement vehicles 124 than the number of vehicles 122 to the place of occurrence. Further, the management server 110 may perform processing for dispatching the substitute vehicle 124 to the occurrence place described above.

In one embodiment, the management server 110 determines that an accident has occurred. Specifically, the management server 110 determines whether at least one of a failure or an accident of the vehicle 122 occurs, or whether the probability of at least one of a failure or an accident of the vehicle 122 is large. The management server 110 may determine whether the probability of at least one of a failure and an accident of the vehicle 122 is greater than a predetermined criterion. When it is determined that at least one of a failure or an accident has occurred in the vehicle 122, or when it is determined that the probability of at least one of a failure or an accident occurring in the vehicle 122 is high, the management server 110 decides to dispatch the substitute vehicle 124 to the occurrence point.

In another embodiment, the management server 110 determines whether the movement of the vehicle 122 is restricted. When it is determined that the movement of the vehicle 122 is restricted, the management server 110 decides to dispatch the substitute vehicle 124 to the place of occurrence.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, for example, even in the case where an accident occurs in the specific vehicle 122, the substitute vehicle 124 can be dispatched. Thereby, the user experience of the user 40 is greatly improved. Further, as a technical effect, since the substitute vehicle 124 can be dispatched before the performance period of the second contract comes, the dispatch plan can be made efficiently. For example, the amount of emergency interrupt handling in the management system 100 may be reduced, and the computer resources of the management system 100 may be efficiently utilized.

[ overview of units of the management system 100 ]

In the present embodiment, the communication network 10 transfers information between the respective units of the management system 100. The communication network 10 may be a transmission path for wired communication, a transmission path for wireless communication, or a combination thereof. The communication network 10 may also include a wireless packet communication network, the internet, a P2P network, a private line, a VPN, a power line communication line, and the like. The Communication network 10 may include (i) a mobile Communication network such as a mobile telephone line network, and may also include (ii) a wireless data Communication network such as a wireless MAN (e.g., wiMAX (registered trademark)), a wireless LAN (e.g., wiFi (registered trademark)), bluetooth (registered trademark), zigbee (registered trademark), NFC (Near Field Communication), and the like.

In the present embodiment, the owner 20 uses, for example, a vehicle 120 to transport a person or an object to a specific place (sometimes referred to as a destination). Owner 20 may use vehicle 120 to transport owner 20 itself, or vehicle 120 may be used to transport persons other than owner 20 (sometimes referred to as persons associated with owner 20) or things. The items being transported by vehicle 120 may be the cargo of owner 20 or the cargo of persons associated with owner 20.

The owner 20 may also use the vehicle 120 to transport people or things to a destination under contract. In this case, the owner 20 may drive the vehicle 120 by himself, may instruct a person under the direction of the owner 20 to drive the vehicle 120, or may entrust the driving of the vehicle 120 to a third person.

Owner 20 may also have others use vehicle 120 temporarily. Owner 20 may also contract others to use vehicle 120. For example, owner 20 loans vehicle 120 to others. Owner 20 may use vehicle 120 through an intermediary of management server 110 for users 40 who wish to use vehicle 120.

Owner 20 may be the owner of vehicle 120, a person who has the right to earn use of vehicle 120, or a person who has the right to grant use of vehicle 120 to another person. Owner 20 may also be a person using vehicle 120 based on a rental contract. The owner 20 may be an individual, a legal person, or a group.

Owner 20 may also use vehicle 120, at least temporarily, for taxi or special purpose. Owner 20 may also use vehicle 120 at least temporarily for car rental, car sharing, or ride sharing purposes.

In the present embodiment, the communication terminal 22 is, for example, a communication terminal used by the owner 20. The communication terminal 22 may be a communication terminal used by a person who uses the vehicle 120 for the owner 20. Examples of the person who uses the vehicle 120 for the owner 20 include a family member, a relative, an employee, a member, a person (who may be an individual, a legal person, or a group) who is entrusted with an arbitrary service performed by the vehicle 120, and a family member, a relative, an employee, and a member of the person entrusted with the service.

In the present embodiment, the communication terminal 22 transmits and receives various information to and from each unit of the management system 100 via the communication network 10. The communication terminal 22 may have an input device and an output device utilized as a user interface for the management system 100.

The communication terminal 22 is not particularly limited in detail as long as it is an information processing device having a communication function. The communication terminal 22 is exemplified by a personal computer, a portable terminal, and the like. As the portable terminal, a cellular phone, a smart phone, a PDA, a tablet computer, a notebook or laptop computer, a wearable computer, or the like is exemplified.

In the present embodiment, the user 40 temporarily uses the vehicle 120. The user 40 can obtain the right to temporarily use the vehicle 120 based on the contract. The contract may be mediated by the management server 110. The user 40 can acquire information relating to the above-described contract from the management server 110 using the communication terminal 42. The user 40 may be an individual, a legal person, or a group.

In one embodiment, user 40 uses vehicle 120 to transport a person or thing to a destination, for example, based on a shipping contract with owner 20. In another embodiment, user 40 uses vehicle 120 to transport a person or thing to a destination, for example, based on a rental contract with owner 20. The person transported by the vehicle 120 may be the user 40 or a person other than the user 40 (sometimes referred to as a person related to the user 40). The items being transported by vehicle 120 may be the cargo of user 40, or may be the cargo of personnel associated with user 40.

In the present embodiment, the communication terminal 42 is, for example, a communication terminal used by the user 40. The communication terminal 42 may also be a communication terminal used by a person who uses the vehicle 120 for the user 40. Examples of the person who uses the vehicle 120 for the user 40 include a family member, a relative, an employee, a member, a person (who may be an individual, a legal person, or a group) who is requested to use an arbitrary service performed by the vehicle 120, and a family member, a relative, an employee, and a member of the person who is requested to use the service.

In the present embodiment, the communication terminal 42 transmits and receives various information to and from each unit of the management system 100 via the communication network 10. The communication terminal 42 may have an input device and an output device utilized as a user interface for the management system 100.

The communication terminal 42 may be any information processing device having a communication function, and the details thereof are not particularly limited. The communication terminal 42 is exemplified by a personal computer, a portable terminal, and the like. As the portable terminal, a portable phone, a smart phone, a PDA, a tablet computer, a notebook or laptop computer, a wearable computer, and the like are exemplified.

In the present embodiment, the management server 110 manages one or more vehicles 120. Management server 110 may manage the operation of each of more than one vehicle 120. The management server 110 may manage the respective schedules of more than one vehicle 120. The management server 110 may manage the dispatch of each of the one or more vehicles 120.

In the present embodiment, the management server 110 manages one or more contracts related to the use of at least one of the one or more vehicles 120. The management server 110 may manage the fulfillment of each of the one or more contracts. The management server 110 may manage the performance of each contract by the vehicle 122 assigned to that contract. When it is difficult for the vehicle 122 assigned to each contract to fulfill the contract, the management server 110 may assign a substitute vehicle 124.

Management server 110 may manage consideration for use of at least one of more than one vehicle 120. For example, management server 110 manages remuneration for use of vehicle 122. Management server 110 may manage rewards for use of alternate vehicle 124. More specifically, management server 110 may determine the amount of the consideration, and may also determine the method of settlement of the consideration.

In the present embodiment, the user 40 uses the vehicle 120 to transport a person or an object, for example. Vehicle 120 may be used to transport user 40 or a person associated with user 40, and may also be used to transport cargo for user 40 or a person associated with user 40. In addition, there are cases where the owner 20 uses the vehicle 120 as the user 40.

In one embodiment, for example, user 40 uses vehicle 120 based on a contract between owner 20 and user 40. In another embodiment, for example, the user 40 uses the vehicle 120 based on a contract between the operator of the management server 110 and the user 40.

For example, the vehicle 120 starts from a location corresponding to the desire of the user 40 and transports a person or an object to the location corresponding to the desire of the user 40. After transporting the person or thing to the location corresponding to the desire of the user 40, the vehicle 120 may return to the departure location or may move to a location different from the departure location. The vehicle 120 can move to a place designated by a dispatch instruction (sometimes referred to as a dispatch instruction) in accordance with the instruction from the management server 110.

Vehicle 120 may be an unmanned vehicle, an autonomous vehicle, or a manned vehicle. Examples of the vehicle 120 include a bicycle, an automobile, a motorcycle, and an electric train. Examples of the vehicle include an engine vehicle, an electric vehicle, a fuel cell vehicle, a hybrid vehicle, and a construction machine. Examples of the motorcycle include (i) a motorcycle, (ii) a three-wheeled motorcycle, and (iii) a standing two-wheeled vehicle or a three-wheeled vehicle having a power unit.

In the present embodiment, maintenance server 132 may be a communication terminal used by a maintenance operator (not shown) that performs at least one maintenance of one or more vehicles 120. For example, maintenance server 132 manages information related to at least one maintenance of one or more vehicles 120.

As the maintenance of the vehicle 120, at least one of (i) cleaning of the vehicle 120, (ii) inspection of the vehicle 120, (iii) maintenance or equipment of the vehicle 120, and (iv) supplementing energy or energy to the vehicle 120 is exemplified. The cleaning may be performed by cleaning the inside of the vehicle, cleaning the outside of the vehicle, or the like. Examples of the maintenance or equipment of the vehicle 120 include (i) repair, adjustment, or replacement of parts or consumables, and (ii) replenishment of consumables. Examples of the energy or energy source include electric power, gasoline, light oil, alcohol, natural gas, propane gas, and hydrogen gas.

In the present embodiment, the details of the maintenance server 132 are not particularly limited as long as it is an information processing apparatus capable of transmitting and receiving various information to and from each unit of the management system 100 via the communication network 10. The maintenance server 132 is exemplified by a personal computer, a mobile terminal, and the like. As the portable terminal, a portable phone, a smart phone, a PDA, a tablet computer, a notebook or laptop computer, a wearable computer, and the like are exemplified.

In the present embodiment, emergency services server 134 may be a communication terminal used by at least one of (i) an administrative agency, (ii) an emergency services agency such as a hospital or a fire station, and (iii) a security agency such as a police or a private security company. Emergency relief server 134 manages information related to a relief request, for example.

Emergency rescue server 134 receives a rescue request, for example, from at least one of more vehicles 120. Emergency relief server 134 receives a request for relief, for example, from at least one user 40 of more than one vehicle 120. Emergency rescue server 134 may save information related to the rescue request in an appropriate storage device. The information related to the rescue request includes information related to a person who needs rescue, information related to whether or not a rescue vehicle needs to be dispatched, information indicating a destination of the rescue vehicle, and the like.

In the present embodiment, the details of emergency rescue server 134 are not particularly limited as long as it is an information processing device capable of transmitting and receiving various information to and from each unit of management system 100 via communication network 10. The emergency relief server 134 may be a personal computer or a mobile terminal. As the portable terminal, a cellular phone, a smart phone, a PDA, a tablet computer, a notebook or laptop computer, a wearable computer, or the like is exemplified.

[ concrete constitution of units of the management system 100 ]

The units of the management system 100 may be implemented by hardware, by software, or by hardware and software. At least a portion of the elements of the management system 100 may be implemented by a single server or may be implemented by a plurality of servers. At least a portion of the elements of management system 100 may also be implemented on a virtual server or cloud system. At least a part of each unit of the management system 100 may be implemented by a personal computer or a portable terminal. Examples of the portable terminal include a mobile phone, a smartphone, a PDA, a tablet computer, a notebook or laptop computer, and a wearable computer. The elements of the management system 100 may also maintain information using distributed accounting techniques such as blockchains or distributed networks.

When at least a part of the components constituting the management system 100 is implemented by software, the components implemented by the software can be implemented by starting a program that specifies an action associated with the components in an information processing apparatus generally configured. The information processing apparatus of the above general configuration may include: the present invention relates to a portable electronic device, and more particularly to a portable electronic device including (i) a data processing apparatus including a processor such as a CPU or a GPU, a ROM, a RAM, a communication interface, and the like, (ii) a keyboard, a pointing device, a touch panel, a camera, a sound input device, a gesture input device, various sensors, an input device such as a GPS receiver, (iii) an output device such as a display device, a sound output device, a vibration device, and the like, (iv) a storage device (including an external storage device) such as a memory, an HDD, and an SSD.

In the information processing apparatus of the above general configuration, the data processing apparatus or the storage apparatus may store the program. The program causes the information processing apparatus to execute an operation defined by the program when the program is executed by a processor. The above-described program may also be stored in a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium. The program may be stored in a computer-readable medium such as a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM, a memory, a hard disk, or a storage device connected to a network.

The program may be a program for causing a computer to function as the management system 100 or a part thereof. The program may include a module that specifies the operation of each unit of the management system 100. These programs and modules drive the data processing device, the input device, the output device, the storage device, and the like, cause the computer to function as each unit of the management system 100, or cause the computer to execute the information processing method in each unit of the management system 100.

The above-described program may be installed from a computer-readable medium or a storage device connected to a network into a computer constituting at least a part of the management system 100. By executing the program, the computer can function as at least a part of each unit of the management system 100. The information processing described in the above program functions as a specific device that cooperates with software related to the program and various hardware resources of the management system 100 or a part thereof by reading the program by a computer. The specific apparatus described above implements calculation or processing of information according to the purpose of use of the computer in the present embodiment, and configures the management system 100 corresponding to the purpose of use.

The program may be a program for causing a computer to function as the management server 110. The program may be a program for causing a computer to execute the information processing method in the management server 110. The program may be a program for causing a computer to function as a control device of vehicle 120. The program may be a program for causing a computer to execute an information processing method in a control device of the vehicle 120.

The method may include: an accident determination step of determining that an operation-hampering state has occurred for the first mobile body; an assignment step of deciding to move one or more third mobile bodies different from the first mobile body to a position where the operation hampering state occurs, when it is determined that the operation hampering state occurs; and a reward determination step of determining a condition relating to reward for use of one or more third mobile bodies. The steps of the above method may be performed by a computer.

The method can comprise the following steps: a mobile body information acquisition step of acquiring information indicating at least one of a position and a state of a first mobile body assigned to a use request; a restriction determination step of determining whether or not the movement of the first mobile body is restricted based on the information acquired in the mobile body information acquisition step; an assigning step of assigning a third mobile body different from the first mobile body when it is determined that the movement of the first mobile body is restricted; and a condition information acquisition step of acquiring information indicating a condition requested by a user of the first mobile body to the third mobile body. The assigning step may include the step of deciding the third mobile body based on the information acquired in the condition information acquiring step. Each step of the above method may be performed by a computer.

The above method may be a method for managing reservation of a mobile body and reservation conditions of the reservation. The method may include: a first deciding step of deciding that a first mobile is allocated for fulfillment of a reservation; a fulfillment determination step of determining whether or not the reservation can be fulfilled by the first mobile body before the reservation time indicated by the reservation condition after the determination in the first determination step; a second decision step of deciding, in a case where it is determined in the fulfillment determination step that the first mobile body cannot fulfill the reservation, a second mobile body different from the first mobile body in fulfillment allocation to the reservation; and an adjusting step of adjusting a content of at least one of the claim and the debt between the parties of the reservation in a case where a part of the reservation condition is not fulfilled by the decision in the second deciding step. Each step of the above method may be performed by a computer.

The method may include: a reservation information acquisition step of acquiring reservation information indicating a reservation condition of reservation of a first mobile body; an arrival determination step of determining whether or not the first mobile body can arrive at a position indicated by the reservation information before a time indicated by the reservation information; an assignment step of deciding to move a second mobile body different from the first mobile body to a position indicated by the reservation information, when it is determined that the first mobile body cannot reach the position indicated by the reservation information before a time indicated by the reservation information; and a reward determination step of determining a condition relating to reward for use of the second mobile body. Each step of the above method may be performed by a computer.

The management system 100 may be an example of an information processing apparatus. The management server 110 may be an example of an information processing apparatus. Vehicle 120 may be an example of a mobile body. The vehicle 120 may be an example of a first mobile body, a second mobile body, and a third mobile body. The vehicle 122 may be an example of a first mobile body. The substitute vehicle 124 may be an example of a second mobile body and a third mobile body.

The first dispatch request may be an example of a request for use. The first dispatch request may be an example of reservation information. The first dispatch request may be an example of a first reservation. The first reservation may be an example of a reservation. The content of the first reservation may be an example of a reservation condition. The second dispatch request may be an example of a use request. The second dispatch request may be an example of reservation information. The second dispatch request can be an example of a second reservation. The second reservation may be an example of a reservation. The contents of the second reservation may be an example of the reservation condition.

Time t201 may be an example of the performance period of the first contract. The time t201 may be an example of a period represented by contract information representing the content of the first contract. The ride venue 212 can be an example of a location represented by contract information representing the content of the first contract. Time t202 may be an example of the performance period of the second contract. Time t202 may be an example of a period represented by contract information representing the content of the second contract. The ride venue 212 can be an example of a location represented by contract information representing the content of the second contract.

The user 40 of the second contract may be an example of an applicant of the contract. The user 40 of the second contract may be an example of a user of the vehicle 120. The personnel associated with the user 40 of the second contract may be an example of a user of the vehicle 120.

The occurrence of the accident 62 may be an example of an occurrence of a blocking operating condition. The occurrence of the accident 64 may be an example of an occurrence of a blocked operating condition. Whether the vehicle 122 has at least one of a malfunction and an accident shows an example of whether an operation hampering state has occurred. Whether the probability of at least one of the vehicle 122 failing and the accident being great shows an example of the presence or absence of occurrence of the hampering operation state.

In addition, in the present embodiment, an example of the management system 100 will be described taking as an example a case where the management server 110 performs information processing for managing the vehicle 120 or the contract related to the vehicle 120. In the present embodiment, the management server 110 manages the operation of the vehicle 120 through the communication network 10 including a wireless communication network. However, the management system 100 is not limited to this embodiment. In another embodiment, at least a part of the information processing in the management server 110 according to the present embodiment may be executed by an information processing device mounted on the vehicle 120. In this case, the information processing apparatus mounted on the vehicle 120 may be an example of the information processing apparatus.

In the present embodiment, an example of the management system 100 will be described taking a case where the vehicle 120 is used to transport a transport object to a destination as an example. However, the management system 100 is not limited to this embodiment. In another embodiment, any moving body may be used to transport the transport object to the destination.

Examples of the mobile body include a vehicle, a ship, and an aircraft. Examples of the vehicle include a bicycle, an automobile, a motorcycle, and an electric train. Examples of the vessel include ships, hovercraft, water motorcycles, submarines, submersibles, and underwater scooters. The aircraft may be an airplane, an airship, a hot air balloon, a helicopter, an unmanned aerial vehicle, or the like.

Fig. 3 schematically shows an example of the system configuration of the management server 110. In the present embodiment, the management server 110 includes, for example, a request receiving unit 320, a vehicle management unit 330, a screen generating unit 340, and a storage unit 350. In the present embodiment, the management server 110 includes, for example, a dispatch management unit 360. In the present embodiment, the management server 110 includes, for example, a settlement management unit 370.

In the present embodiment, the request receiving unit 320 receives various requests from at least one of the owner 20 and the user 40. In one embodiment, the request accepting unit 320 accepts a registration request from the owner 20. In another embodiment, the request accepting unit 320 accepts a vehicle dispatch request from the user 40. Thus, request receiving unit 320 can acquire information (sometimes referred to as contract information) indicating the content of the contract related to the use of vehicle 120.

In the present embodiment, the vehicle management unit 330 manages one or more vehicles 120. In one embodiment, vehicle management unit 330 manages the respective positions of one or more vehicles 120. For example, vehicle management unit 330 manages the respective positions of one or more vehicles 120 by transmitting a dispatch instruction, a standby instruction, or a return instruction to each of one or more vehicles 120.

The dispatch indication may be an instruction to indicate to the vehicle 120 or the driver of the vehicle 120 to move to a particular location. The dispatch indication may be an instruction to indicate to the vehicle 120 or the driver of the vehicle 120 to move to a particular location before a particular time.

The standby instruction may be an instruction for instructing the vehicle 120 or the driver of the vehicle 120 to stand by in a specific location or area. The standby instruction may be an instruction for instructing the vehicle 120 or the driver of the vehicle 120 to stand by in a specific position or area until a specific condition is satisfied. The specific conditions include a condition that a specific time comes, a condition that the remaining amount of energy or energy does not satisfy a specific criterion, and the like.

The return indication may be an instruction for indicating to the vehicle 120 or the driver of the vehicle 120 to move to a predetermined return position. The return indication may be an indication to the vehicle 120 or the driver of the vehicle 120 to move to a predetermined return position before a particular time.

Vehicle management unit 330 may acquire information indicating the current position or movement history of each of one or more vehicles 120 from each of one or more vehicles 120. The information indicating the current position may be information in which identification information of the vehicle 120, information indicating the time of day, and information indicating the position of the vehicle 120 at that time are associated with each other. The information indicating the movement history may be information including identification information of the vehicle 120 and a plurality of records related to the position of the vehicle 120. Each record relating to the position of the vehicle 120 may be information in which information indicating the time of day and information indicating the position of the vehicle 120 at that time are associated with each other.

In another embodiment, vehicle management unit 330 manages the status of each of the one or more vehicles 120. For example, vehicle management unit 330 acquires information indicating the state of each of one or more vehicles 120 from each of one or more vehicles 120. The vehicle management unit 330 may acquire information in which information indicating the time and information indicating the state of the vehicle 120 at that time are associated with each other from each of the one or more vehicles 120.

As the information indicating the state of vehicle 120, at least one of information relating to a driving mode of vehicle 120, information relating to a speed of vehicle 120, information relating to a driving operation of vehicle 120, information relating to an operating condition of a driving assistance device mounted on vehicle 120, information acquired by an external imaging device mounted on vehicle 120, and information relating to an emergency notification from an occupant of vehicle 120 or vehicle 120 is cited. As the information on the driving mode of vehicle 120, information indicating whether vehicle 120 is in the manual driving mode, whether vehicle 120 is in the automatic driving mode, and the like are exemplified. The information on the speed of vehicle 120 includes, for example, information indicating the speed of vehicle 120, the acceleration of vehicle 120, the angular velocity of vehicle 120, the angular acceleration of vehicle 120, and the like. As the information related to the driving operation of vehicle 120, information indicating a state of an operation input by the driver of vehicle 120, a state of the inside of vehicle 120, and the like are exemplified. The information on the operation state of the driving assistance device mounted on the vehicle 120 includes the operation state of the advanced driving assistance system, the operation state of the collision avoidance system, the operation state of the automatic braking system, the operation state of the automatic steering system, the operation state of the airbag, and the like. The information acquired by the image pickup device outside the vehicle mounted on the vehicle 120 includes, for example, recorded data of a drive recorder mounted on the vehicle 120. As the information related to the emergency notification from vehicle 120 or the occupant of vehicle 120, information indicating the presence or absence of the emergency notification, the presence or absence of a rescue request, the presence or absence of the operation of an airbag, and the like may be mentioned.

The in-vehicle situation of the vehicle 120 includes image data of an image captured by an in-vehicle camera mounted on the vehicle 120, analysis data of the image, and the like. The in-vehicle condition of vehicle 120 may be voice data of voice recorded by an in-vehicle microphone mounted on vehicle 120 or analysis data of the voice. The external conditions of vehicle 120 include image data of an image captured by an external camera mounted on vehicle 120, and analysis data of the image. The vehicle-exterior state of vehicle 120 may be voice data of voice recorded by a microphone mounted on vehicle 120 or analysis data of the voice.

In the present embodiment, the screen generating section 340 generates various screens usable as a user interface between the management server 110 and at least one of the owner 20 and the user 40. The screen includes a vehicle registration screen, a vehicle dispatch request screen, a vehicle dispatch confirmation screen, and a change notification screen.

The vehicle registration screen is used, for example, in a registration process in which the owner 20 registers the own vehicle 120 as the vehicle 120 usable by the user 40 in the management server 110. Management server 110 can receive a registration request from owner 20 via the vehicle registration screen. Details of the vehicle registration screen will be described later.

The dispatch request screen is used, for example, in a dispatch request process in which the user 40 requests the management server 110 to dispatch the vehicle 120. The management server 110 can receive a vehicle dispatch request from the user 40 via the vehicle dispatch request screen. The details of the dispatch request screen will be described later.

The dispatch confirmation screen is used, for example, in a dispatch confirmation process in which the management server 110 presents the user 40 with the content of a contract that is made based on a dispatch request from the user 40. The details of the dispatch confirmation screen will be described later.

The change notification screen is used in a change notification process in which, when the contract content with the user 40 is changed in accordance with the dispatch of the substitute vehicle 124 by the management server 110, the management server 110 presents the changed content to the user 40. Details of the change notification screen will be described later.

In the present embodiment, the storage unit 350 stores various information. The storage unit 350 may store information used for information processing of the management server 110. The storage unit 350 may store information generated in the information processing of the management server 110. Details of the holding section 350 will be described later.

In the present embodiment, the dispatch management unit 360 manages the dispatch of the vehicle 120. Dispatch of at least one of the more than one vehicles 120 may be managed. In one embodiment, the dispatch management section 360 obtains a dispatch request from the user 40 and assigns a particular vehicle 122 to the dispatch request. The dispatch management unit 360 manages the operation of the vehicle 122 so that the vehicle 122 reaches the position indicated by the dispatch request before the time indicated by the dispatch request.

In another embodiment, the dispatch management section 360 monitors at least one of the location and status of the vehicle 122. For example, the dispatch management section 360 dispatches one or more substitute vehicles 124 when at least one of the position and the state of the vehicle 122 satisfies a condition relating to dispatch of the substitute vehicle. The details of the dispatch management unit 360 will be described later.

In the present embodiment, settlement management unit 370 manages settlement related to consideration of use of vehicle 120. In one embodiment, settlement management section 370 performs a process for settling the consideration for use of vehicle 122. In another embodiment, settlement management section 370 performs a process for settling the consideration for use of substitute vehicle 124.

The request accepting section 320 may be an example of a contract information acquiring section. The request accepting unit 320 may be an example of a use request acquiring unit. The vehicle management section 330 may be an example of a moving body information acquisition section. The dispatch management section 360 may be an example of an information processing apparatus.

Fig. 4 schematically shows an example of the internal configuration of the holding section 350. In the present embodiment, the storage unit 350 includes, for example, a vehicle information storage unit 422, an owner information storage unit 424, a user information storage unit 426, a contract information storage unit 432, a dispatch plan storage unit 434, and a settlement information storage unit 436.

In the present embodiment, the vehicle information storage unit 422 stores various information (sometimes referred to as vehicle information) relating to each of the one or more vehicles 120. The vehicle information storage unit 422 may store the identification information of the vehicle and the vehicle information of the vehicle in association with each other for each of the one or more vehicles 120. The vehicle information may be information indicating the position of the vehicle 120, information indicating the state of the vehicle 120, information indicating the attribute of the vehicle 120, or the like.

The attribute of the vehicle 120 may include a condition related to a usage purpose or a usage method of the vehicle 120. More specifically, as the attribute of vehicle 120, at least one of the type of vehicle 120, the class of vehicle 120, the specification of the living space of vehicle 120, the maximum loadable amount of vehicle 120, the specification of the cargo accommodation space of vehicle 120, the type of equipment mounted on vehicle 120, the specification of equipment mounted on vehicle 120, the attribute of an object that can be mounted on vehicle 120, whether or not smoking is possible in vehicle 120, and the clean state of vehicle 120 is mentioned. The type of the vehicle 120 includes a vehicle type, a manufacturer name, a seller name, a model number, a name, a year of manufacture, and the like. Examples of the vehicle type or type include SUV, car, motorcycle, and the like. The specification of each space includes the capacity of the space, the size of the space, and the like.

Examples of the device mounted on vehicle 120 include an audio device, a video device, an air conditioner, an advanced driving assistance system, a collision avoidance system, an automatic brake system, an automatic steering system, and an airbag. Examples of the attribute of the object that can be mounted on the vehicle 120 include whether or not a pet can be mounted, whether or not an infant can be mounted, whether or not a child or infant of a specific age is not reached, whether or not a smoker can be mounted, and whether or not an object emitting an odor of a specific odor level or more can be mounted.

In the present embodiment, the owner information storage unit 424 stores various information on each of one or more owners 20. The owner information storage unit 424 stores the identification information of the owner and the information on the owner in association with each other for each of one or more owners 20. The information on the owner 20 includes information on a name, a residence, an account for settlement, an account for communication, and the like.

In the present embodiment, the user information storage unit 426 stores various information on each of one or more users 40. The user information storage unit 426 stores, for each of the one or more users 40, the identification information of the user and the information about the user in association with each other. The information on the user 40 includes information on a name, an address, an account for settlement, an account for communication, and the like.

In the present embodiment, the contract information holding unit 432 holds information (sometimes referred to as contract information) relating to each of one or more contracts. The contract information storage unit 432 may store the identification information of each contract in association with information indicating the content of each contract. The identification information of the contract may be identification information of a vehicle dispatch request corresponding to the contract. As the information indicating the contract content, information indicating at least one of contract parties (for example, the user 40), information indicating a condition related to the performance period of the contract, information indicating a condition related to the position of the mobile body in the performance period of the contract, information indicating the amount of the reward, information indicating a payment settlement method, and the like are exemplified.

In the present embodiment, the dispatch plan storage unit 434 stores information relating to at least one dispatch plan for one or more vehicles 120. The dispatch plan storage unit 434 may store, for example, for at least one of the one or more vehicles 120, the identification information of the vehicle and information indicating a dispatch plan of the vehicle in association with each other. The information indicating the dispatch plan for the vehicle 120 may include information indicating a user of the vehicle 120, information indicating a condition related to a dispatch period, and information indicating a condition related to a dispatch location. The dispatch period may be a period when use of the vehicle 120 is initiated. The dispatch location may be the location of the vehicle 120 during the dispatch period.

In the present embodiment, the settlement information storage unit 436 stores information on the settlement for each of one or more contracts. The settlement information storage unit 436 may store, for each of one or more contracts, identification information of the contract and information on the settlement of the consideration of the contract in association with each other.

Fig. 5 schematically shows an example of the internal configuration of the dispatch management unit 360. In the present embodiment, the dispatch management unit 360 includes, for example, a dispatch processing unit 520, a dispatch instructing unit 530, and an alternative vehicle processing unit 540.

In the present embodiment, the car dispatch processing unit 520 performs a car dispatch process. For example, the dispatch processing unit 520 obtains a first dispatch request from the user 40. In response to the first dispatch request received from the user 40, the dispatch processing unit 520 determines to assign any vehicle 120 to the first dispatch request.

More specifically, the dispatch processing unit 520 extracts the vehicle 120 assigned to the first dispatch request from the one or more vehicles 120 managed by the management server 110. The dispatch processing portion 520 may extract the vehicle 120 matching the conditions expected by the user 40 in the first dispatch request as the vehicle 120 assigned to the first dispatch request. Thereby, the vehicle 120 for fulfilling the contract made based on the first dispatch request is decided. For example, the dispatch process 520 decides to assign a particular vehicle 122 to fulfill the contract that was contracted based on the first dispatch request.

The vehicle dispatching processing unit 520 may extract the specific vehicle 122 from the one or more vehicles 120 based on the content of another vehicle dispatching request for which the assignment processing of the vehicle 120 has been completed. For example, first, when a substitute vehicle is assigned in the other vehicle dispatch request, the dispatch processing unit 520 determines whether or not a desired condition is present for the substitute vehicle. When the another vehicle dispatching request includes information indicating the desired condition regarding the alternative vehicle, the vehicle dispatching processing unit 520 extracts the vehicle 120 that is the candidate of the alternative vehicle regarding the another vehicle dispatching request. Then, the dispatch processing unit 520 determines the vehicle 120 to which the first dispatch request is assigned, from among the one or more vehicles 120 managed by the management server 110, from among the vehicles 120 different from the vehicle 120 extracted as the candidate vehicle 120 for the substitute vehicle.

In the present embodiment, the vehicle dispatch processing unit 520 may perform the process for dispatching the vehicle 122. More specifically, the dispatch processing unit 520 outputs an instruction to the dispatch instructing unit 530 to move the vehicle 122 to a position specified by the contract before a time specified by the contract made based on the first dispatch request.

In the present embodiment, dispatch instructing unit 530 obtains from dispatch processing unit 520 an instruction to move vehicle 122 to a contractual position prior to a contractual time established based on the first dispatch request. The dispatch instructing unit 530 transmits the instruction acquired from the dispatch processing unit 520 to the communication terminal of the vehicle 122 or the driver of the vehicle 122. Thus, an indication to move the vehicle 122 to the location indicated by the first dispatch request prior to the time period indicated by the first dispatch request is sent to the communication terminal of the vehicle 122 or the driver of the vehicle 122.

In another embodiment, the dispatch instructing unit 530 obtains an instruction to move the substitute vehicle 124 from the substitute vehicle processing unit 540. The dispatch instructing unit 530 transmits the instruction acquired from the alternative vehicle processing unit 540 to the alternative vehicle 124 or the communication terminal of the driver of the alternative vehicle 124. Thus, an indication to move the replacement vehicle 124 is sent to the replacement vehicle 124 or the communication terminal of the driver of the replacement vehicle 124.

In the present embodiment, the substitute vehicle processing unit 540 executes the process for assigning the substitute vehicle 124 when a predetermined condition (which may be referred to as a condition relating to assignment of a substitute vehicle) is satisfied. Details of the alternative vehicle processing section 540 will be described later.

The dispatch processing unit 520 may be an example of the first determination unit. The dispatch instructing section 530 may be an example of an instruction transmitting section. The alternative vehicle processing section 540 may be an example of a fulfillment determination section, a second determination section, an adjustment section, a reward determination section, and a notification section.

The alternative vehicle processing unit 540 may be an example of an arrival determination unit, a dispatch unit, a reward determination unit, and a cause determination unit. The substitute vehicle processing unit 540 may be an example of a payment amount determination unit and a settlement manner determination unit.

The alternative vehicle processing unit 540 may be an example of an accident determination unit, a dispatch unit, a reward determination unit, and a cause determination unit. The substitute vehicle processing unit 540 may be an example of a payment amount determination unit and a settlement manner determination unit.

The dispatch processing section 520 may be an example of a distribution section. The dispatch instructing section 530 may be an example of an instruction transmitting section. The alternative vehicle processing unit 540 may be an example of the restriction determination unit and the assignment unit.

Fig. 6 schematically shows an example of the internal configuration of the alternative vehicle processing portion 540. In the present embodiment, the substitute vehicle processing unit 540 includes, for example, a necessity determining unit 622, a change notifying unit 624, a substitute vehicle assigning unit 626, and a reward calculating unit 628. In the present embodiment, the alternative vehicle processing unit 540 will be described in detail with reference to fig. 2 for convenience of description. However, it should be noted that the alternative vehicle processing portion 540 is not limited to the present embodiment.

In the present embodiment, the necessity determining unit 622 determines whether or not a condition related to the assignment of the substitute vehicle is satisfied. For example, the necessity determining unit 622 determines whether or not an event that hinders the operation of the vehicle 122 has occurred. More specifically, the necessity determining section 622 can determine (i) whether the vehicle 122 can fulfill the second contract; (ii) Whether the vehicle 122 can arrive at the position shown by the contract information of the second contract before the period shown by the contract information of the second contract; (iii) Whether the vehicle 122 has at least one of a failure and an accident, or whether the probability of at least one of a failure and an accident occurring to the vehicle 122 is large; and (iv) whether movement of the vehicle 122 is restricted.

A condition related to the dispatch of the replacement vehicle may be that the vehicle 122 is unable to fulfill the second contract. The condition relating to the dispatch of the substitute vehicle may be that the vehicle 122 cannot reach the location represented by the contract information of the second contract before the period represented by the contract information of the second contract.

The condition related to the dispatch of the replacement vehicle may be at least one of a malfunction and an accident in the vehicle 122. The condition related to the assignment of the substitute vehicle may be that the probability of at least one of a malfunction and an accident occurring in the vehicle 122 is high. The condition related to the dispatch of the replacement vehicle may be that a probability of at least one of a failure and an accident occurring in the vehicle 122 is greater than a predetermined criterion. The fault or incident may be one whose size meets certain criteria. The occurrence of at least one of a fault and an accident with the vehicle 122 may be an example of an event that impedes the operation of the vehicle 122.

A condition related to the dispatch of a replacement vehicle may be that the movement of vehicle 122 is restricted. The condition related to the dispatch of the replacement vehicle may also be that the size of the limit of movement of vehicle 122 meets a certain criterion. Limiting movement of the vehicle 122 may be an example of an event that impedes operation of the vehicle 122.

The necessity determining unit 622 may determine whether or not the condition relating to the assignment of the substitute vehicle is established before the performing period of the second contract. The necessity determining unit 622 may determine whether or not the condition relating to the assignment of the substitute vehicle is satisfied before the performance period of the second contract after the vehicle 122 is assigned to the second request for dispatching. The performance period of the second contract may be the time of departure indicated by the second contract.

[ first specific example of judgment processing ]

In the present embodiment, the necessity determining portion 622 determines whether the vehicle 122 can fulfill the second contract. When it is determined that the vehicle 122 cannot fulfill the second contract, the necessity determination section 622 may decide to dispatch the substitute vehicle 124 to the riding place 222.

According to one embodiment, the necessity determining section 622 determines that the vehicle 122 cannot fulfill the second contract when the occurrence of an event that impedes the operation of the vehicle 122 is detected. For example, the necessity determining part 622 determines that the vehicle 122 cannot fulfill the second contract when at least one of (i) a failure of the vehicle 122, (ii) an accident involving the vehicle 122, and (iii) a limitation of movement of the vehicle 122 is detected. The necessity determining section 622 may also determine that the vehicle 122 cannot fulfill the second contract when detecting at least one of (i) the scale of the failure of the vehicle 122 satisfies the specific criterion, (ii) the scale of the accident of the vehicle 122 satisfies the specific criterion, and (iii) the scale of the restriction of the movement of the vehicle 122 satisfies the specific criterion.

As the restriction of the movement of the vehicle 122, at least one of an accident occurring on a route on which the vehicle 122 is planned to move, a traffic jam occurring on the route, and a traffic restriction on a part of the route on the route is exemplified. In addition, when the scale of the above-described accident, traffic congestion, and traffic restriction meets certain criteria, it may also be determined that the movement of the vehicle 122 is restricted.

In another embodiment, the necessity determining unit 622 determines whether the vehicle 122 can reach the position indicated by the second contract (i.e., the riding place 222) before the heading time of the second contract (i.e., the time t 202). When it is determined that the vehicle 122 cannot reach the boarding location 222 before the time t202, the necessity determining portion 622 may determine that the vehicle 122 cannot fulfill the second contract.

[ second specific example of judgment processing ]

In the present embodiment, the necessity determining unit 622 determines whether or not the vehicle 122 can reach the riding place 222 before the time t 202. When determining that the vehicle 122 cannot reach the riding place 222 before the time t202, the necessity determining unit 622 may determine to assign the substitute vehicle 124 to the riding place 222.

For example, the necessity determining unit 622 first acquires the contract information of the second contract with reference to the contract information holding unit 432. Next, the necessity determining section 622 analyzes the contract information, and determines that the time indicated by the contract information of the second contract is the time t202, and the position indicated by the contract information of the second contract is the riding place 222. Thereafter, the necessity determining unit 622 determines whether or not the vehicle 122 can reach the riding place 222 before the time t 202.

The necessity determining unit 622 may determine whether the vehicle 122 can reach the riding point 222 before the time t202 based on the information collected by the vehicle managing unit 330. For example, the necessity determining unit 622 determines whether the vehicle 122 can reach the riding place 222 before the time t202 based on information indicating a traffic state on a route from the current position of the vehicle 122 to the riding place 222, a distance from the current position of the vehicle 122 to the riding place 222, and an average speed per hour of the vehicle 122.

[ third example of judgment processing ]

In the present embodiment, the necessity determining unit 622 determines whether or not an event that inhibits the operation of the vehicle 122 has occurred. For example, the necessity determining unit 622 determines whether or not at least one of a failure and an accident has occurred in the vehicle 122, or whether or not the probability of at least one of a failure and an accident having occurred in the vehicle 122 is high. When it is determined that at least one of a failure and an accident has occurred in the vehicle 122, or when it is determined that the probability of at least one of a failure and an accident having occurred in the vehicle 122 is large, the necessity determining part 622 may decide to assign the substitute vehicle 124 to the place of occurrence of the accident 62 or the accident 64.

In one embodiment, when the substitute vehicle 124 is assigned to the place of occurrence of the accident 62 or the accident 64 at a time before the covered period of the second contract, the necessity determining unit 622 may determine whether to assign another substitute vehicle 124 to the riding place 222. For example, when the substitute vehicle 124 assigned to the place of occurrence of the accident 62 or the accident 64 can fulfill the second contract after being used by the user 40 of the first contract, the necessity determining unit 622 may not assign another substitute vehicle 124 to the riding place 222. While the decision section 622 may assign another substitute vehicle 124 to the riding place 222 when the substitute vehicle 124 assigned to the place of occurrence of the accident 62 or the accident 64 cannot fulfill the second contract after being used by the user 40 of the first contract.

In another embodiment, the necessity determining unit 622 determines to assign another substitute vehicle 124 to the riding place 222 when a person rides on the vehicle 122 or when an object is mounted on the vehicle 122. The case where the item is mounted on the vehicle 122 may be a case where the vehicle 122 transports the item based on a contract. On the other hand, the necessity determining unit 622 may not assign another substitute vehicle 124 to the boarding location 222 when no passenger is present on the vehicle 122 or no article is mounted on the vehicle 122.

For example, the necessity determining unit 622 refers to the vehicle information storage unit 422 and acquires information indicating at least one of the position and the state of the vehicle 122. Next, the necessity determining section 622 determines whether at least one of a failure and an accident has occurred in the vehicle 122 or whether the probability of at least one of a failure and an accident occurring in the vehicle 122 is large, based on the information indicating at least one of the position and the state of the vehicle 122.

More specifically, for example, (i) when the vehicle 122 transmits an emergency notification, or (ii) when at least one of an advanced driving assistance system, a collision avoidance system, an automatic braking system, an automatic steering system, and an airbag mounted on the vehicle 122 is operated and the average moving speed of the vehicle 122 is less than a predetermined value, the necessity determining section 622 determines that at least one of a malfunction and an accident has occurred in the vehicle 122.

[ fourth example of judgment processing ]

In the present embodiment, the necessity determining unit 622 determines whether or not the movement of the vehicle 122 is restricted. When it is determined that the movement of the vehicle 122 is restricted, the necessity determining part 622 may decide to assign the substitute vehicle 124 to the current position of the vehicle 122 (typically, the place of occurrence of the accident 62 or the accident 64) or the vicinity thereof. In the present embodiment, the destination of the substitute vehicle 124 may be determined based on an instruction or request from the user 40.

When the substitute vehicle 124 is dispatched to the current position of the vehicle 122 or its vicinity at a time before the performance period of the second contract, the necessity determining unit 622 may determine whether or not to dispatch another substitute vehicle 124 to the riding place 222. For example, when the substitute vehicle 124 assigned to the current position of the vehicle 122 or the vicinity thereof is able to fulfill the second contract after being used by the user 40 of the first contract, the necessity determining unit 622 may not assign another substitute vehicle 124 to the riding place 222. On the other hand, when the substitute vehicle 124 assigned to the current position of the vehicle 122 or the vicinity thereof cannot fulfill the second contract after being used by the user 40 of the first contract, the wanting determination section 622 may assign another substitute vehicle 124 to the riding place 222.

For example, the necessity determining unit 622 refers to the vehicle information storage unit 422 and acquires information indicating at least one of the position and the state of the vehicle 122. Next, the necessity determining portion 622 determines whether the movement of the vehicle 122 is restricted based on information indicating at least one of the position and the state of the vehicle 122.

In one embodiment, the necessity determining unit 622 determines whether or not at least one of a failure and an accident has occurred in the vehicle 122 based on the above information. The necessity determining section 622 determines that the movement of the vehicle 122 is restricted when it is determined that at least one of a failure and an accident has occurred in the vehicle 122.

In another embodiment, the necessity determining unit 622 may also determine whether or not at least one of an accident, traffic jam, and traffic restriction exists on the moving route of the vehicle 122 based on the above information. The necessity determining section 622 determines that the movement of the vehicle 122 is restricted when determining that at least one of an accident, a traffic jam, and traffic restriction has occurred on the moving route of the vehicle 122.

In the present embodiment, when the content of the second contract is changed due to the dispatch of the substitute vehicle 124 of the substitute vehicle 122, the change notifying part 624 transmits a message indicating that the contract content has been changed to the communication terminal 42 of the user 40 of the second contract. When a portion of the second contract is not fulfilled due to the dispatch of the substitute vehicle 124 for the substitute vehicle 122, the change notification 624 may send a message to the communication terminal 42 of the user 40 of the second contract indicating the content not fulfilled.

For example, when the condition related to the attribute of the vehicle 120 to be dispatched is specified in the second contract, there is a possibility that the attribute of the substitute vehicle 124 does not conform to at least a part of the condition related to the attribute of the vehicle 120 specified in the second contract. In this case, the change notification portion 624 may notify the communication terminal 42 used by the user 40 of the second contract of a message indicating that the attribute of the substitute vehicle 124 does not comply with the condition regarding the attribute of the vehicle 120 indicated by the second contract.

The message may include a message confirming whether the management server 110 dispatched the substitute vehicle 124. In this case, when information indicating that it is sufficient to dispatch the substitute vehicle 124 is acquired from the communication terminal 42, the management server 110 may execute the dispatch process of the substitute vehicle 124. The management server 110 may interrupt or wait for execution of the dispatch process of the substitute vehicle 124 until information indicating that it is sufficient to dispatch the substitute vehicle 124 is acquired from the communication terminal 42.

The message may contain a message relating to a change in consideration of the use of the vehicle 122. The message may contain a message relating to a reward for use of the substitute vehicle 124.

In the present embodiment, the substitute vehicle assigning unit 626 extracts the vehicle 120 serving as the substitute vehicle 124 from the one or more vehicles 120 managed by the management server 110. For example, the substitute vehicle assigning unit 626 acquires information indicating that the substitute vehicle 124 is assigned from the necessity determining unit 622. The substitute vehicle assigning section 626 may decide the vehicle 120 serving as the substitute vehicle 124 through the same procedure as the vehicle dispatching process in the vehicle dispatching processing section 520 in response to the fact that the information is acquired.

The substitute vehicle dispatch 626 may obtain information indicating that a rescue request is reported to the emergency rescue server 134. The substitute vehicle assigning section 626 acquires information related to the rescue request described above, for example, from the vehicle 122 or the communication terminal 42 of the user 40 who uses the vehicle 122. The substitute vehicle assigning section 626 may also acquire information related to the rescue request from the emergency rescue server 134.

When the substitute vehicle assigning section 626 acquires the information related to the rescue request described above, the substitute vehicle assigning section 626 may decide to assign a plurality of substitute vehicles 124. For example, the substitute vehicle assigning section 626 assigns more substitute vehicles 124 than the number of vehicles 122. Thus, the substitute vehicle assigning section 626 can assign the substitute vehicle 124 used by the accident party differently from the substitute vehicle 124 used for the user 40 who uses the vehicle 122.

Conversely, when the substitute vehicle assigning section 626 acquires the information related to the rescue request described above, the substitute vehicle assigning section 626 may also decide not to assign the substitute vehicle 124. Thus, for example, when personnel associated with an accident are being transported by an emergency vehicle, the substitute vehicle 124 may be inhibited from traveling to the accident site.

In the present embodiment, the substitute vehicle dispatch section 626 may acquire information indicating a condition under which the user 40 using the vehicle 122 based on the second contract wishes or requests the substitute vehicle 124. The substitute vehicle dispatch portion 626 may decide to substitute the vehicle 124 based on the above-described conditions under which the user 40 wishes or requests the substitute vehicle 124.

The substitute vehicle assigning section 626 may acquire information indicating the condition that the user 40 desires or requests the substitute vehicle 124 described above at a time period before the time t 202. The substitute vehicle assigning unit 626 can acquire information indicating the condition that the user 40 desires or requests the substitute vehicle 124, for example, through a vehicle dispatch request screen generated by the screen generating unit 340.

The information indicating the condition that the user 40 desires or requests the substitute vehicle 124 described above may include information indicating a condition related to an attribute of the vehicle 120 serving as the substitute vehicle 124. The information indicating the condition that the user 40 desires or requests the substitute vehicle 124 described above may include information indicating which of the attribute of the vehicle 120 serving as the substitute vehicle 124 and the arrival time of the substitute vehicle 124 takes precedence. As a specific example of the attribute of the vehicle 120 serving as the substitute vehicle 124, the same attribute as the specific example of the attribute of the vehicle 120 described above is exemplified.

In one embodiment, the substitute vehicle assigning unit 626 extracts, as the substitute vehicle 124, a vehicle 120 that can reach the riding place 222 before the time t202 from the one or more vehicles 120 managed by the management server 110. The substitute vehicle assigning section 626 may extract, as the substitute vehicle 124, (i) the vehicle 120 that can reach the riding place 222 before the time t202 and that meets the condition on the attribute of the vehicle 120 specified in the second contract, from the one or more vehicles 120 managed by the management server 110.

In another embodiment, the substitute vehicle assigning unit 626 extracts, as the substitute vehicle 124, a vehicle 120 having the earliest arrival scheduled time at the boarding location 222 from the one or more vehicles 120 managed by the management server 110. The substitute vehicle assigning unit 626 may extract, as the substitute vehicle 124, a vehicle 120 having the earliest arrival scheduled time at the boarding location 222 from among the vehicles 120 meeting the condition on the attribute of the vehicle 120 specified in the second contract, among the one or more vehicles 120 managed by the management server 110.

In the case where the condition that the user 40 who uses the vehicle 122 based on the second contract wishes or requests the substitute vehicle 124 contains information indicating that the attribute of the substitute vehicle 124 is prioritized over the arrival time of the substitute vehicle 124, the substitute vehicle dispatch section 626 may decide the vehicle 120 that meets the attribute-related condition shown by the user 40 or the vehicle 120 that has the same or similar attribute as that of the vehicle 122 as the substitute vehicle 124. On the other hand, in the case where the information indicating that the arrival time of the substitute vehicle 124 has priority over the attribute of the substitute vehicle 124 is included as the condition under which the user 40 desires or requests the substitute vehicle 124, the substitute vehicle assigning unit 626 may determine the vehicle 120 with the earliest scheduled time at which the vehicle can merge with the user 40 using the vehicle 122 as the substitute vehicle 124.

In the present embodiment, the substitute vehicle assigning unit 626 may execute a process for assigning the substitute vehicle 124. The substitute vehicle assigning section 626 may also execute the process for assigning the substitute vehicle 124 through the same procedure as the process in the vehicle assignment processing section 520.

In one embodiment, the alternative vehicle dispatch portion 626 determines to move the alternative vehicle 124 to the ride location 222. The alternative vehicle assignment unit 626 may determine to move the alternative vehicle 124 to the boarding location 222 before the time t 202.

In another embodiment, the replacement vehicle dispatch 626 decides to move the replacement vehicle 124 to the site of occurrence of the accident 62 or 64. The replacement vehicle dispatch 626 may also decide to move a portion of the plurality of replacement vehicles 124 to the occurrence of the accident 62 or 64 and move the remaining portion of the plurality of replacement vehicles 124 to the ride location 222.

In another embodiment, substitute vehicle dispatch 626 decides to move substitute vehicle 124 to or near the current location of restricted movement vehicle 122, or to a location indicated by user 40. The alternate vehicle assignment section 626 may also decide to move a portion of the plurality of alternate vehicles 124 to or near the current location of the restricted-movement vehicle 122 or to a location indicated by the user 40 and move the remaining portion of the plurality of alternate vehicles 124 to the ride location 222.

In the present embodiment, consideration calculating unit 628 determines various items related to consideration of use of vehicle 120. In one embodiment, consideration calculating section 628 decides a condition related to consideration when the contract relating to use of vehicle 120 is fully fulfilled. In another embodiment, consideration calculating section 628 determines a condition related to consideration when a portion of the contract relating to use of vehicle 120 is not fulfilled. In still another embodiment, consideration calculating section 628 decides a condition related to consideration when all of the contracts relating to use of vehicle 120 are not fulfilled.

Thus, for example, when a portion or all of the second contract is not fulfilled due to dispatch of a replacement vehicle 124 in place of vehicle 122, the content of at least one of the claims and debt between the parties of the second contract may be adjusted. (i) In a case where a part of the terms included in the single contract relating to the use of vehicle 120 is not fulfilled, or (ii) in a case where at least a part of the contracts contracted in association with the use of vehicle 120 is not fulfilled, consideration calculating section 628 may determine that the part of the contract is not fulfilled. The plurality of contracts may be contracts that are closely related to each other.

For example, consideration calculating section 628 determines the amount of consideration. The amount of the reward may be a number or amount of the reward. In the case where the kind of the reward is other than a monetary value, the amount of the reward may be a monetary equivalent. Reward calculation unit 628 may determine the method of settlement of the reward. The payment settlement method may be, for example, the type of payment and the type of settlement means.

The types of the reward include (i) a money value, (ii) an electronic value, (iii) a property value, and (iv) a right. Examples of the money value include money and money. The electronic value includes points, mileage, electronic money, and the like. As the property value, cryptocurrency is exemplified. In addition, the cryptocurrency may be an example of a monetary value or an electronic value depending on the country. As the right, a right to preferentially use the vehicle 120, a right to use a service provided by the management system 100, a right to receive a product (sometimes referred to as a coupon, etc.), and the like are listed. The types of settlement means include cash settlement, credit card settlement, electronic settlement, cash return, cancellation of electronic value, and cancellation of other value.

As described above, the second contract sometimes contains conditions relating to attributes of the vehicle 120 used to fulfill the second contract. In one embodiment, when the attribute of substitute vehicle 124 does not meet the condition relating to the attribute of vehicle 120 specified in the second contract, consideration calculation section 628 decides the amount of the consideration for reducing use of vehicle 122 as compared to the case where the attribute of substitute vehicle 124 meets the condition relating to the attribute of vehicle 120 specified in the second contract. Whereby the content of at least one of the claims and debts between the parties to the second contract is adjusted when a portion of the second contract is not fulfilled.

In another embodiment, when the attribute of the substitute vehicle 124 does not meet the condition relating to the attribute of the vehicle 120 specified in the second contract, the consideration calculating section 628 decides to assign at least one of (i) a monetary value, (ii) an electronic value, (iii) a property value, and (iv) a right to at least one of the user 40 and a person related to the user 40 involved in the second contract. Whereby the content of at least one of the claims and debts between the parties to the second contract is adjusted in the event that a portion of the second contract is not fulfilled.

In the present embodiment, reward calculation unit 628 determines the reward so that the amount of the reward for use of vehicle 122 differs between a case where the contract relating to use of vehicle 120 includes information specifying the attribute of vehicle 120 used for fulfillment of the contract and a case where the contract does not include information specifying the attribute of vehicle 120 used for fulfillment of the contract, for example. Reward calculation section 628 may determine the reward in such a manner that the amount of the reward for use of substitute vehicle 124 differs between the case where the contract relating to use of vehicle 120 contains information that determines the attribute of vehicle 120 used for fulfillment of the contract and the case where the contract does not contain information of the attribute of vehicle 120 used for fulfillment of the contract.

In the present embodiment, reward calculation unit 628 determines the reward so that the amount of reward for use of vehicle 122 differs between a case where the contract relating to use of vehicle 120 includes information on the first attribute of vehicle 120 used for fulfillment of the contract and a case where the contract does not include information on the first attribute of vehicle 120 used for fulfillment of the contract, for example. Reward calculation section 628 may determine the reward in such a manner that the amount of the reward for use of substitute vehicle 124 differs between the case where the contract relating to use of vehicle 120 contains information of the first attribute of vehicle 120 for fulfillment of the contract and the case where the contract does not contain information of the first attribute of vehicle 120 for fulfillment of the contract.

In the present embodiment, reward calculation unit 628 determines the reward so that the amount of reward for use of vehicle 122 differs between the case where the contract relating to use of vehicle 120 includes information on the first attribute of vehicle 120 used for fulfillment of the contract and the case where the contract includes information on the second attribute of vehicle 120 used for fulfillment of the contract, for example. Reward calculation portion 628 may determine the reward in such a manner that the amount of the reward for use of substitute vehicle 124 differs between the case where the contract relating to use of vehicle 120 contains information of the first attribute of vehicle 120 used for fulfillment of the contract and the case where the contract contains information of the second attribute of vehicle 120 used for fulfillment of the contract. The first attribute and the second attribute may be different attributes from each other.

In the present embodiment, (i) in the case where the user 40 who uses the vehicle 122 under the second contract is the owner 20 of the vehicle 122 or a person who uses the vehicle 122 for the owner 20 (sometimes referred to as the owner 20 of the vehicle 122 or the like), the reward calculation section 628 may not request the amount of the reward for use of the vehicle 122. Even in this case, consideration calculation section 628 may request an amount equivalent to the usage fee of management system 100. Further, reward calculation portion 628 may decide the amount of reward for use of substitute vehicle 124 in such a manner that the amount of reward for use of substitute vehicle 124 differs between (i) a case where user 40 who uses vehicle 122 according to the second contract is owner 20 of vehicle 122 or the like and (ii) a case where user 40 who uses vehicle 122 according to the second contract is not owner 20 of vehicle 122 or the like.

In the present embodiment, consideration calculating unit 628 may determine the reason why substitute vehicle 124 needs to be dispatched. Reward calculation section 628 may decide the amount of reward for use of substitute vehicle 124 based on the reason why substitute vehicle 124 needs to be dispatched. Reward calculation unit 628 may determine the amount of reward for use of substitute vehicle 124 so that the amount of reward for use of substitute vehicle 124 differs between (i) when the reason why substitute vehicle 124 needs to be dispatched in place of use of vehicle 122 is due to owner 20 of vehicle 122, and (ii) when the reason is not due to owner 20 of vehicle 122.

When the user of vehicle 122 is owner 20 of vehicle 122, etc., reward calculation unit 628 may determine the amount of reward for use of substitute vehicle 124 in such a manner that the amount of reward that is caused by owner 20 of vehicle 122, etc., for the reason described above is greater than the amount of reward that is not caused by owner 20 of vehicle 122, etc. In a case where the user of vehicle 122 is owner 20 of vehicle 122 or the like, and the reason is not attributable to owner 20 of vehicle 122 or the like, consideration calculating section 628 may determine the amount of consideration for use of substitute vehicle 124 in such a manner that the amount of consideration for use of substitute vehicle 124 is smaller than the amount of consideration for use of vehicle 122.

In this case, the amount of the reward for use of the substitute vehicle 124 may be free. It is also possible to give (i) monetary value, (ii) electronic value, (iii) property value, (iv) rights, etc., so that the use fee of the substitute vehicle 124 is substantially free.

The reason why the alternative vehicle 122 needs to be dispatched instead of using the vehicle 122 may be that the vehicle 122 cannot fulfill the second contract, or that the vehicle 122 cannot reach the riding place 222 before the time t 202. The reason why the substitute vehicle 124 needs to be dispatched may be the cause of a failure of the vehicle 122, an accident involving the vehicle 122, or a cause of a limitation in movement of the vehicle 122.

In one embodiment, when the cause of the need to assign the substitute vehicle 124 is due to a maintenance failure of the vehicle 122, the consideration calculation unit 628 determines that the cause is due to the owner 20 of the vehicle 122 or the like. More specifically, the reward calculation section 628 acquires maintenance information indicating the maintenance condition of the vehicle 122. The reward calculation unit 628 may acquire the maintenance information from the maintenance server 132, or may acquire the maintenance information collected by the vehicle management unit 330 by referring to the vehicle information storage unit 422.

Reward calculation unit 628 determines whether the cause of need to assign substitute vehicle 124 is due to a maintenance failure of vehicle 122, based on the maintenance information of vehicle 122.

According to another embodiment, when the cause of the need to assign the substitute vehicle 124 is due to an accident between the vehicle 122 and a third party and the percentage of delinquent by the third party satisfies a predetermined condition, the consideration calculating section 628 determines that the cause is not due to the owner 20 of the vehicle 122 or the like. According to another embodiment, in the case where the reason why the substitute vehicle 124 needs to be assigned is due to traffic conditions, the consideration calculating section 628 determines that the reason is not due to the owner 20 of the vehicle 122 or the like.

According to another embodiment, when the necessity determining unit 622 determines that an accident involving the vehicle 122 has occurred, or when the necessity determining unit 622 determines that the probability of occurrence of an accident involving the vehicle 122 is high, (i) when the vehicle 122 is in the manual driving mode and the other party of the accident is another moving body that operates in the automatic driving mode, or (ii) when the vehicle 122 is in the manual driving mode and the operating conditions of the devices mounted on the vehicle 122 satisfy predetermined conditions, the reward calculating unit 628 determines that the above-described cause is due to the owner 20 of the vehicle 122, or the like. On the other hand, when the necessity determining unit 622 determines that the accident involving the vehicle 122 has occurred, or when the necessity determining unit 622 determines that the probability of the accident involving the vehicle 122 has been large, the reward calculating unit 628 determines that the above-described cause is not caused by the owner 20 of the vehicle 122 or the like when the vehicle 122 is in the automatic driving mode.

The necessity determining part 622 may be an example of a fulfillment determining part. The change notifying section 624 may be an example of a notifying section. The substitute vehicle assignment section 626 may be an example of the second decision section. Reward calculation section 628 may be an example of an adjustment section and a reward determination section.

The necessity determining unit 622 may be an example of a reservation information acquiring unit and an arrival determining unit. The alternative vehicle dispatch 626 may be an example of a dispatch. The consideration calculating unit 628 may be an example of a maintenance information acquiring unit, a consideration determining unit, a consideration amount determining unit, a settlement method determining unit, and a cause determining unit.

The necessity determining unit 622 may be an example of a reservation information acquiring unit, a moving object information acquiring unit, and an accident determining unit. The alternative vehicle assignment section 626 may be an example of an assignment section. Reward calculation unit 628 may be an example of a reward determination unit, a reward amount determination unit, and a cause determination unit.

The necessity determining unit 622 may be an example of a moving object information acquiring unit and a restriction determining unit. The substitute vehicle assigning section 626 may be an example of an assigning section and a condition information acquiring section.

The case where the attribute of the substitute vehicle 124 meets the condition relating to the attribute of the vehicle 120 specified in the second contract may be an example of the case where the second contract is fulfilled. The user 40 associated with the second contract may be an example of at least one of an applicant applying for use of the vehicle 120 according to the second contract and a user using the vehicle 120 according to the second contract. The person associated with the user 40 associated with the second contract may be an example of a user using the vehicle 120 according to the second contract. The user 40 who uses the vehicle 122 according to the second contract may be an example of the user of the first mobile body shown by the contract information described above. The period of performance of the second contract may be an example of a reservation time.

Fig. 7 schematically shows an example of a screen 700. Screen 700 may be an example of a vehicle registration screen. The screen 700 may be an example of a screen for a vehicle registration process in which the owner 20 registers the own vehicle 120 as a vehicle 120 rentable to others in the management server 110.

In the present embodiment, on screen 700, input receiving unit 720 for inputting basic information of vehicle 120, input receiving unit 730 for inputting information related to the rental period of vehicle 120, and input receiving unit 740 for inputting conditions related to the use of vehicle 120 are arranged. An icon 752 embedded with an instruction for executing a process of transmitting an item input to screen 700 to management server 110 may be disposed on screen 700.

Fig. 8 schematically shows an example of a screen 800. The screen 800 may be an example of a car dispatch request screen. The screen 800 may be an example of a screen for a dispatch request process in which the user 40 requests the management server 110 to use the vehicle 120.

In the present embodiment, on screen 800, input receiving unit 820 for inputting desired conditions relating to the period of use of vehicle 120, input receiving unit 830 for inputting desired conditions relating to the attributes of vehicle 120, and input receiving unit 840 for inputting desired conditions relating to the assignment of a substitute vehicle when the substitute vehicle needs to be assigned are arranged. An icon 852 embedded with an instruction for executing a process of transmitting an item input to the screen 800 to the management server 110 may be disposed on the screen 800.

Fig. 9 schematically shows an example of a screen 900. Screen 900 may be an example of a dispatch confirmation screen. The screen 900 may be an example of a screen for a car dispatch confirmation process in which the management server 110 presents the user 40 with the contents of a contract that is established based on a car dispatch request from the user 40.

In the present embodiment, on screen 900, an area 920 presenting a condition related to the use period of vehicle 120, an area 930 presenting a condition related to the attribute of vehicle 120, and an area 940 presenting a condition related to the assignment of a substitute vehicle are arranged. An icon 952 embedded with an instruction for executing a process of transmitting information indicating that the user 40 confirmed that the information presented on the screen 900 is not erroneous to the management server 110 may also be arranged on the screen 900. An icon 954 for requesting a command for processing for changing input content from management server 110 may be placed on screen 900. An icon 956 in which an instruction for canceling processing of an input content or a request for carriage dispatch is requested from the management server 110 may be disposed on the screen 900.

Fig. 10 schematically illustrates an example of the screen 1000. Screen 1000 may be an example of a change notification screen. The screen 1000 may be an example of a screen for change notification processing in which, when the content of the contract with the user 40 is changed as the management server 110 assigns the substitute vehicle 124, the management server 110 presents the changed content to the user 40.

In the present embodiment, the screen 1000 includes an area 1020 in which a message related to a change in contract content is presented and an area 1030 in which information related to the substitute vehicle selected by the management server 110 is presented. An icon 1052 embedded with an instruction to perform processing of transmitting information indicating that the user 40 agrees to the information presented in the area 1020 and the area 1030 to the management server 110 may also be configured on the screen 1000.

In the present embodiment, an input receiving unit 1040 for inputting information that the user 40 changes the information on the assignment of the substitute vehicle may be disposed on the screen 1000. An icon 1054 for executing a command for transmitting an item input to the input receiving unit 1040 to the management server 110 may be embedded in the screen 1000.

FIG. 11 illustrates an example of a computer 3000 that can fully or partially embody aspects of the invention. The management system 100 or a part thereof may be implemented by the computer 3000. For example, the management system 100 or a part thereof is implemented by a computer 3000. Vehicle 120 or a portion thereof may be implemented by computer 3000. For example, a control device mounted on vehicle 120 and controlling vehicle 120, or a part thereof, is realized by computer 3000.

The program installed in the computer 3000 can cause the computer 3000 to function as an operation related to the apparatus according to the present embodiment or one or more "units" of the apparatus, or can cause the computer 3000 to execute the operation or the one or more "units", and/or can cause the computer 3000 to execute the process according to the present embodiment or the steps of the process. Such programs may be executed by the CPU3012 in order to cause the computer 3000 to perform certain operations associated with some or all of the functional blocks of the flowcharts and block diagrams described herein.

The computer 3000 of the present embodiment includes a CPU3012, a RAM3014, a graphic controller 3016, and a display device 3018, which are connected to each other through a main controller 3010. The computer 3000 further includes a communication interface 3022, a hard disk drive 3024, a DVD-ROM drive 3026, and an input/output unit such as an IC card drive, which are connected to the main controller 3010 via the input/output controller 3020. The computer 3000 further includes a conventional input/output unit such as a ROM3030 and a keyboard 3042, which are connected to the input/output controller 3020 via an input/output chip 3040.

The CPU3012 operates according to programs stored in the ROM3030 and the RAM3014, thereby controlling the respective units. The graphics controller 3016 acquires image data generated by the CPU3012 in a frame buffer or the like provided in the RAM3014 or itself, and causes the image data to be displayed on the display device 3018.

The communication interface 3022 communicates with other electronic apparatuses via a network. The hard disk drive 3024 stores programs and data used by the CPU3012 in the computer 3000. The DVD-ROM drive 3026 reads programs or data from the DVD-ROM3001 or the like, and supplies the programs or data to the hard disk drive 3024 via the RAM3014. The IC card driver reads and/or writes a program and data from/to the IC card.

The ROM3030 internally stores a startup program or the like executed by the computer 3000 when activated, and/or a program dependent on hardware of the computer 3000. The input/output chip 3040 may also connect various input/output units with the input/output controller 3020 via a parallel port, a serial port, a keyboard port, a mouse port, or the like.

The program is provided by a computer-readable storage medium such as a DVD-ROM3001 or an IC card. The program is read from a computer-readable storage medium, installed to the hard disk drive 3024, the RAM3014, or the ROM3030, which is also an example of the computer-readable storage medium, and executed by the CPU 3012. The information processing described in these programs is read by the computer 3000, and the cooperation between the programs and the various types of hardware resources described above is realized. The apparatus or method may be configured to perform operations or processes on information in accordance with the use of the computer 3000.

For example, in the case of performing communication between the computer 3000 and an external device, the CPU3012 may execute a communication program loaded into the RAM3014, and instruct a communication process to the communication interface 3022 based on a process described in the communication program. The communication interface 3022 reads transmission data stored in a transmission buffer processing area provided in a recording medium such as the RAM3014, the hard disk drive 3024, the DVD-ROM3001, or the IC card, and transmits the read transmission data to the network, or writes reception data received from the network into a reception buffer processing area provided in the recording medium, or the like, under the control of the CPU 3012.

In addition, the CPU3012 can cause all or a necessary part of a file or database held in an external recording medium such as a hard disk drive 3024, a DVD-ROM drive 3026 (DVD-ROM 3001), an IC card, or the like to be read into the RAM3014, and perform various types of processing on data on the RAM3014. The CPU3012 may then write the processed data back to the external recording medium.

Various information such as various types of programs, data, tables, and databases can be stored in a recording medium and received for information processing. The CPU3012 can execute various processes including various operations specified by an instruction sequence of a program, information processing, condition judgment, conditional branching, unconditional branching, and retrieval/replacement of information, which are described in various places in the present disclosure, on data read from the RAM3014, and write the result back to the RAM3014. In addition, the CPU3012 can retrieve information in a file, a database, or the like within the recording medium. For example, when a plurality of items each having an attribute value of the 1 st attribute associated with an attribute value of the 2 nd attribute are stored in the recording medium, the CPU3012 may retrieve an item matching the condition, which specifies an attribute value of the 1 st attribute, from the plurality of items, and read the attribute value of the 2 nd attribute stored in the item, thereby acquiring the attribute value of the 2 nd attribute associated with the 1 st attribute satisfying the preset condition.

The programs or software modules described above may be stored on the computer 3000 or in a computer-readable storage medium near the computer 3000. A recording medium such as a hard disk or a RAM provided in a server system connected to a dedicated communication network or the internet may be used as a computer-readable storage medium, and the program may be supplied to the computer 3000 via the network.

The present invention has been described above with reference to the embodiments, but the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope described in the above embodiments. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made in the above embodiments. In addition, the matters described with respect to a specific embodiment can be applied to other embodiments within a range not technically contradictory. Each component may have the same features as those of other components having the same names and different reference numerals. It is apparent from the description of the claims that such modifications and improvements can be made within the technical scope of the present invention.

Note that the order of execution of the respective processes such as the operations, flows, steps, and stages in the devices, systems, programs, and methods shown in the claims, the description, and the drawings is not particularly explicitly indicated as "preceding" or "preceding", and may be realized in any order as long as the output of the preceding process is not used in the subsequent process. Even if the operation flows in the claims, the description, and the drawings are described using "first", "next", and the like for convenience, the description does not mean that the operations are necessarily performed in this order.

[ description of reference numerals ]

10 a communication network; 20 owners; 22 a communication terminal; 40 users; 42 a communication terminal; 62, accident; 64 accident; 100 a management system; 110 a management server; 120 vehicles; 122 vehicles; 124 replacement vehicle; 132 maintaining the server; 134 emergency rescue server; 212 a riding place; 214 a drop-off location; 222, a riding place; 224 a drop-off location; 320 a request receiving unit; 330 a vehicle management unit; 340 a screen generating section; 350 a storage unit; 360 dispatch management department; 370 a settlement management unit; 422 a vehicle information storage unit; 424 owner information holding unit; 426 a user information storage unit; 432 a contract information storage unit; 434 dispatch plan storage unit; 436 settlement information storage section; 520 a dispatching processing unit; 530 a car dispatch instruction unit; 540 substitute vehicle processing; a 622 necessity determining part; 624 a change notification unit; 626 substitute vehicle dispatch; 628 reward calculating part; 700 screen, 720 input receiving unit; 730 an input receiving unit; 740 an input receiving unit; 752 icon; 800 frames; 820 an input receiving unit; 830 an input receiving unit; 840 an input receiving unit; 852 an icon; a 900 frame; a region 920; a region 930; 940 area; 952 icon; 954 icon; 956 icons; 1000 frames; 1020, area; 1030 area; 1040 an input receiving unit; 1052 icon; a 1054 icon; 3000 computers; 3001DVD-ROM;3010 a master controller; 3012 a CPU;3014RAM;3016 a graphics controller; 3018 a display device; 3020 an input/output controller; 3022 a communication interface; 3024 a hard disk drive; 3026DVD-ROM drive; 3030ROM;3040 an input/output chip; 3042 a keyboard.

Claims (16)

1. An information processing apparatus, comprising:

an accident determination unit that determines that the first mobile unit has an operation-hampered state;

an assignment unit that determines to move one or more third moving bodies different from the first moving body to a position where the operation hampering state occurs, when it is determined that the operation hampering state has occurred;

a cause determination unit that determines a cause of the operation state obstruction; and

a reward determination unit that determines a condition relating to reward for use of the one or more third mobile units;

the reward determination unit has a reward amount determination unit that determines the amount of the reward for the use of the one or more third mobile units based on the cause determined by the cause determination unit.

2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1,

the operation hampering state includes at least one of a state where the first mobile body has at least one of a failure and an accident and a state where a probability of at least one of the failure and the accident occurring in the first mobile body is greater than a predetermined value.

3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,

the assignment unit determines to move the one or more third moving bodies to a position where the operation hampering state occurs, when a person rides on the first moving body or when an article is mounted on the first moving body.

4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,

further comprises a contract information acquiring unit for acquiring contract information indicating the content of a contract relating to the use of the first mobile object,

the dispatch section further decides to move a second mobile body different from the first mobile body to a next destination of the first mobile body indicated by the contract information,

the reward determination unit further determines a condition relating to reward for use of the second mobile unit.

5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4,

when it is determined that the operation hampering state has occurred, the dispatch unit determines to move the second mobile body to the next destination of the first mobile body before the time indicated by the contract information.

6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 5,

the dispatch section does not determine the movement of the second mobile body when it is estimated that the third mobile body can reach the next destination of the first mobile body by the time indicated by the contract information.

7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,

further comprising a moving object information acquiring unit for acquiring information indicating at least one of a position and a state of the first moving object,

the accident determination unit determines the occurrence of the operation hampering state based on the information indicating at least one of the position and the state of the first mobile body.

8. The information processing apparatus according to claim 7,

the information indicating at least one of the position and the state of the first mobile body includes at least one of information relating to a driving mode of the first mobile body, information relating to a speed of the first mobile body, information relating to a driving operation of the first mobile body, information relating to an operating condition of a driving assistance device mounted on the first mobile body, information acquired by an image pickup device outside the vehicle mounted on the first mobile body, and information relating to an emergency notification from the first mobile body or an occupant of the first mobile body.

9. The information processing apparatus according to claim 7,

when the mobile body information acquisition unit acquires information indicating that a rescue request is reported from the first mobile body or an occupant of the first mobile body to an administrative department or a rescue department, the dispatch unit determines to move the plurality of third mobile bodies to a position where the operation hampering state occurs.

10. The information processing apparatus according to claim 7,

the assignment unit may determine not to move the one or more third mobile bodies to a position where the operation hampering state occurs, even when the mobile body information acquisition unit acquires information indicating that a rescue request is reported from the first mobile body or an occupant of the first mobile body to a government agency or a rescue agency when it is determined that the operation hampering state occurs.

11. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1,

the reward amount determination section determines the amount of the reward such that the amount of the reward when the cause is caused by the user of the first mobile body is larger than the amount of the reward when the cause is not caused by the user of the first mobile body.

12. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1,

the reward amount determination unit determines the amount of the reward for the use of the one or more third mobile bodies such that the amount of the reward for the use of the one or more third mobile bodies is smaller than the amount of the reward for the use of the first mobile body when the cause is not caused by the user of the first mobile body.

13. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,

when it is determined that the operation hampering state has occurred, (i) when the first mobile body is in the manual drive mode and the operation hampering state is an accident with another mobile body operating in the automatic drive mode, or (ii) when the first mobile body is in the manual drive mode and an operating condition of an apparatus mounted on the first mobile body satisfies a predetermined condition, the cause determination unit determines that the cause is caused by a user of the first mobile body.

14. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,

when it is determined that the operation hampering state has occurred, the cause determination unit determines that the cause is not caused by the user of the first mobile body when the first mobile body is in the automatic driving mode.

15. A computer-readable storage medium, wherein,

stored with a program that, when executed by a processor, performs a method having the steps of:

an accident determination step of determining that the first mobile unit has an operation-hampered state;

an assignment step of determining to move one or more third mobile bodies different from the first mobile body to a position where the operation hampering state occurs, when it is determined that the operation hampering state occurs;

a cause determination step of determining a cause of the operation hampering state; and

a reward determination step of determining a condition relating to reward for use of the one or more third mobile bodies;

the reward determination step includes a reward amount determination step of determining an amount of the reward for the use of the one or more third mobile bodies based on the cause determined by the cause determination step.

16. An information processing method, comprising:

an accident determination step of determining that the first mobile unit has an operation-hampered state;

an assignment step of determining to move one or more third mobile bodies different from the first mobile body to a position where the operation hampering state occurs, when it is determined that the operation hampering state occurs;

a cause determination step of determining a cause of the operation hampering state; and

a reward determination step of determining a condition relating to reward for use of the one or more third mobile bodies;

the reward determination step includes a reward amount determination step of determining an amount of the reward for the use of the one or more third mobile bodies based on the cause determined by the cause determination step.

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